Qualification goal. Juventus and Roma have the possibility of blocking the passage to the round of XNUMX, but also of calling it into question. It all depends on how tonight's matches go, with the Bianconeri awaiting the treacherous away match in Lisbon and the Giallorossi receiving England champion Chelsea at the Olimpico. The match point is above all for Allegri's men: if they beat Sporting and Olympiacos don't win against Barcelona, it will be mathematical qualification with two games to spare.
“To make it, we'll need a great game – explained the Juventus coach – They play well at home, they also put Barça in difficulty. It will take the intelligence to understand how and when to expose yourself, while keeping the switch on for the entire 90 minutes”. There is a great desire to close the discussion, above all because it would allow all energies to be shifted towards the championship at least until February.
But Allegri is well aware that Sporting will play for everything and that they will sell their skin dearly, which is why they will field the best possible formation in defiance of tiredness and turnover logic. Apart from Lichsteiner (he has not been included in the Champions League list), we will therefore see the best possible 4-2-3-1 with Buffon in goal, Sturaro (ballot with De Sciglio), Barzagli, Chiellini and Alex Sandro in defence, Pjanic and Khedira in midfield, Cuadrado, Dybala and Mandzukic in the frontline, Higuain in attack.
Same game system for Jorge Jesus, who will respond with Rui Patricio in goal, Ristovski, Coates, André Pinto and Coentrao in the back, Bruno Cesar and Battaglia in the midfield, Gelson Martins, Bruno Fernandes and Acuna behind the lone striker Dost .
Roma, on the other hand, are not playing the mathematical qualification but of course beating Chelsea, or at least not losing, would help. Assuming that Atletico Madrid beat Qarabag (which they are not, as the first leg showed), the Giallorossi need not to be caught up, otherwise they risk going all out in the very difficult away match at home of Simeon. At least one point is needed, although the full tally would certainly be welcome: in that case, in fact, qualification would really be one step away.
“I want the same mentality as the first leg – Di Francesco said – In my head there is only Chelsea and I hope that the environment around us is very positive, it will help the team to give its best”. However, Chelsea will face a very motivated Antonio Conte, determined to take the 3 points which, in fact, would send him to the second round, but also to redeem the bad impression of the first leg, when Roma certainly deserved to win.
“I predict a very hard-fought match, we will find a strong team up front – his thought. – We come from three consecutive victories but it doesn't mean anything, we will have to have the right spirit”. Both coaches, net of injuries (the last, in chronological order, is Bruno Peres, stopped by a muscle problem), will line up the best possible formations.
Di Francesco will play with the classic 4-3-3 with Alisson in goal, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio and Kolarov in defense, Strotman, Gonalons and Nainggolan in midfield, El Shaarawy, Dzeko and Perotti in attack. Conte will respond with a 3-4-3 with Courtois in goal, Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Cahill in the back, Zappacosta, Fabregas, Bakayoko and Marcos Alonso in the midfield, Willian, Morata and Hazard in the offensive trident.
