Napoli set the example, now we will see if Juventus and Roma will follow. The second matchday of the Champions League for the Italians opened with the very important victory of the Azzurri over Feyenoord (3-1) and will continue today with the Bianconeri and Giallorossi trying to do the same, otherwise the road will be complicated, perhaps irreparably, towards qualifying for the eighths. Allegri's team cannot afford any more missteps after the one in Barcelona, moreover its coat of arms requires them to win without ifs and buts in Turin against Olympiacos.
"The defeat at the Camp Nou didn't jeopardize our progress but it's clear that now we have to win - said the coach - Against the Greeks and against Sporting Lisbon we'll play for the next round, we absolutely cannot afford to underestimate the opponent otherwise the qualification would complicate a lot”.
In short, no joke but great concentration and desire for revenge after the shocking start two weeks ago. On paper, Juventus shouldn't have major difficulties: the technical difference with Olympiacos is evident, furthermore the derby won against Toro demonstrates how the team is getting more and more into the seasonal mood.
Yet even in the Juventus home there is a headache, moreover a big one and it corresponds to the name of Gonzalo Higuain. Il Pipita, on the bench on Saturday due to a technical choice, is going through a difficult moment and even risks a second consecutive exclusion.
"I don't know yet if he'll play, I'll decide only after the last finishing touch - the coach glossed over - In any case, there's no problem with him, I spoke to him and I found him serene: he knows he just has to think about doing well and continuing to work".
It was probably just pre-tactical, but it is certain that just the fact of questioning someone like Higuain suggests that something isn't working as it should.
Juve's 4-2-3-1 should still see Gonzalo starting in attack, with Buffon in goal, Barzagli (ballot with Sturaro), Benatia, Chiellini and Alex Sandro in defense, Pjanic and Matuidi in midfield, Cuadrado, Dybala and Mandzukic on the trocar.
Olympiacos, in a black crisis after the bad defeat in the derby against AEK Athens (which cost Hasi the bench, in his place Lemonis), will try to subvert the predictions with a 4-2-3-1 that will see Choutesiotis in between the posts, Elabdellaoui, Romao, Engels and Diogo Figueiras in the backline, Odjidjia-Ofoe and Gillet in the midfield, Carcela-Gonzalez, Fortounis and Marin in the trocar behind the lone striker Djurdjevic.
However, the Wednesday of the Italian Champions League will begin a few hours earlier (18pm), when Roma will face Qarabag in Baku. This match must also be won at all costs, otherwise the chances of qualifying, already reduced by a draw that also sees Chelsea and Atletico Madrid in the group, could even be eliminated.
"We take our victory almost for granted but I respect our opponents a lot - warned Di Francesco - This match must be played to the fullest, that's why we shouldn't think of Milan but only of the Azerbaijani team".
The coach, Perotti aside (the Argentine abandoned finishing due to a muscle problem), will not indulge in excessive turnover and will line up a 4-3-3 with Alisson in goal, Bruno Peres, Manolas, Juan Jesus and Kolarov in defense, Nainggolan, De Rossi and Pellegrini in midfield, El Shaarawy, Dzeko and Defrel in attack.
Gurbanov will respond with the same game system with Kanibolotskiy in goal, Medvedev, Huseynov, Yunuszade and Rzezniczak in the back, Michel, Almeyda and Elyounoussi in the midfield, Pedro Henrique, Madatov and Ndlovu in the offensive trident.
Italian football wishes two more good victories after that of Napoli, capable of eating Feyenoord in one bite. The San Paolo game was essentially without history, which after having paid homage to the very unfortunate Milik enjoyed the usual great performance of the blue attack, scoring with all three of its tenors: Insigne (7'), Mertens (49') and Callejon (70'), before experiencing a few too many thrills for a penalty from Toornstra (68', nice save from Reina) and the final goal from Amrabat (93').
"That mistake in full stoppage time made me really angry, in the Champions League goal difference can change everything – thundered Sarri – Having said that, I'm obviously happy with the win, getting it was very important and we managed it without conceding almost anything to the Dutch ”.
With this success, Napoli, thanks to Manchester City's 2-0 win over Shakhtar, takes second place in the group on equal points with the Ukrainians, their real rivals in terms of qualification. As long as the Azzurri don't allow themselves the luxury of beating Guardiola's team, in what is already shaping up to be one of the most spectacular matches in the entire Champions League.
