Italy challenges Spain. In this case, it will be Juventus and Roma to contend with Valencia and Real Madrid, in a night that could sanction the passage to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Of course, for this to happen two positive results will be needed, vice versa things would risk getting complicated and the verdicts would inevitably be postponed to the last round. An eventuality that would not prejudice anything (the next opponents will be Young Boys and Viktoria Plzen, not really the elite of world football) but in any case, from the parts of Turin and Rome, they would gladly avoid.
“We have to respect Valencia, in the last 10 races they have only lost once – Allegri warned – If they win, they will keep everything open, nothing is decided and therefore we need to be concentrated. However, the defeat against Manchester did us good, otherwise we would have fallen in Milan in the next match”.
The Juventus coach wants to pick up the thread with victory (in the Champions League of course) interrupted in the last round, when his team was reassembled in the final by Mourinho. A knockout that could prove to be painless, both for qualification and for first place: provided, of course, that 3 points arrive tonight against Marcelino's Valencia, who is determined to play his cards to clear the Stadium and stay in the running for the eighths.
Allegri, however, wants to close everything as soon as possible and is ready to field a very offensive 4-3-3 with Szczesny in goal, Cancelo, Bonucci, Chiellini and Alex Sandro in defence, Bentancur, Pjanic and Matuidi in midfield, Dybala, Mandzukic and Cristiano Ronaldo in attack. Marcelino's 4-4-2 was more shrewd, who will rely on the ex Neto between the posts for the feat, Wass, Gabriel Paulista, Diakhaby and Gayà in the back, Soler, Kondogbia, Parejo and Guedes in the midfield, Rodrigo and Santi Mina offensive couple.
An evening full of tension at the Stadium but never like at the Olimpico, where Roma will have to face the European champions Real Madrid. However, the two teams are distant relatives of those who, a few months ago, were among the great protagonists of the Champions League: the blancos are going through a crisis that not even Solari's arrival seems to be able to resolve, the Giallorossi are in slightly better shape but neither are they they can smile.
It is no coincidence that in the parts of Trigoria there is already talk of a Di Francesco post, with Paulo Sousa on the launch pad and the current coach forced to score points between tonight and Sunday, when Inter arrive at the Olimpico. Difficult but not impossible situation: winning today, for example, would mean mathematical qualification for the round of XNUMX and almost certainty of first place in the group.
“This alone would be a very positive element for the whole environment – commented the coach – Both we and they are “sick”, we have problems in the league but we wake up in the Champions League. Compared to the first leg, their psychological state has changed, I'm confident I can do it”.
But good luck doesn't help: in fact, Dzeko stopped yesterday and his presence is in strong doubt. However, Di Francesco will confirm the 4-2-3-1 with Olsen in goal, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio and Kolarov in defence, Cristante and Nzonzi in midfield, Under, Zaniolo and El Shaarawy in the trocar, Schick in attack.
Ordinance system also for Solari, who will try to cancel the 0-3 collected by Eibar (and not complicate life in terms of qualification) with Courtois between the posts, Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Varane and Marcelo in the back department, Modric, Ceballos and Kroos in the midfield, Isco, Benzema and Bale in the offensive trident.
