The playoff is approaching. Difficult to find another noun to define this Juventus-Milan number 218 (the 193rd in the league), one of the most unusual ever. In fact, on Saturday evening, for the first time since time immemorial, the Bianconeri and the Rossoneri will not compete for a prestigious position but rather the last chance to chase it. In the past it happened that one of the two was in trouble, but this time both are which, paradoxically, adds even more flavor to an already peppered challenge of him.
Difficult to say too much and indicate a favorite: the home factor would favor Juventus (always victorious against Milan at the Stadium), except that this year the former Delle Alpi has proved to be much less of a fort than usual. The classification sees the Rossoneri in sixth place and the Bianconeri in seventh, divided by just 2 points: few, a bit like those which separate them from the more noble areas of the championship.
Never like this time, however, losing would have negative implications and even a draw, on balance, would have a rather bitter taste. The speech is especially true for Juventus, behind in the standings and therefore forced to take the 3 points even more than their rivals. But even Milan certainly cannot sleep peacefully: a defeat at the Stadium would wipe out all the progress shown in the last period, not counting the side effects for Mihajlovic.
The Serbian looks down on Allegri, yet, paradoxically, he is the one who risks the most. That his football doesn't drive Berlusconi crazy is a fact (they don't remember, by heart, so many compliments to their opponents as in recent times), that his bench is anything but armored, weak denials aside, too . Mihajlovic pays off a very negative start, made up of burning defeats especially in direct clashes.
Fiorentina, Inter and Napoli risked destroying his project right from the start, which is why the match against Juve takes on a very special value: Berlusconi's reaction in the event of a defeat is not predictable and this, if you think about it, is not a good thing. Sinisa knows it well and also crosses his fingers because, calendar in hand, after the road to panettone it would be downhill: Sampdoria, Verona and Bologna at San Siro, Carpi, Frosinone and Rome outside.
Giallorossi aside, this is not a particularly tough cycle, which is why the black and white obstacle must be overcome, at all costs. Sinisa's problem is that Allegri also has roughly the same problems. Of course, the coach from Livorno has the excellent last season and the good progress in the Champions League on his side, very valid reasons to consider the bench firm. However, the Juventus environment is experiencing badly, indeed very badly, the seventh place in the championship, however conquered only after the last two tiring victories (Turin and Empoli).
The club expects a comeback by Christmas and it is difficult to imagine them without 3 points ahead of Saturday, also because the Juve calendar, unlike the AC Milan one, presents several pitfalls. The rush between now and next December 20 includes the away games in Palermo, Rome on the Lazio side, and Carpi, but above all the big match at the Stadium with Fiorentina, all without forgetting the Champions League commitments with Manchester City and Sevilla.
A real tour de force, to be tackled immediately on the right foot. Two coaches in the balance, two teams forced to win, two fans with their hearts in their mouths: all this will be Juventus-Milan, a truly unmissable match. And the double meaning, this time, is not purely coincidental.
