Two points and many regrets. Saturday to forget for Milan e Juventus, unable to go beyond the draw on the fields of Udinese and Venice and thus putting their respective goals at risk. The Rossoneri risk being overtaken by Inter, hooked up by Napoli and approached by Atalanta, while the Bianconeri, if the Bergamo players managed to win in Verona, would even be 9 points behind fourth place. In short, a difficult day for both, with the efforts of the Champions League which evidently made themselves felt, both from a technical and mental point of view.
Pioli's team, in particular, suffered a lot at the Dacia Arena, managing to find an equalizer only in full recovery thanks to a magic from Ibrahimovic, capable of flying in acrobatics (just like last year, in the same stadium) and at least avoiding defeat. However, the 1-1 final didn't change the substance of things that much: first place was at risk, just a week after conquering it. It was already understood in the 17th minute that the evening in Udine would have been difficult when Bakayoko, chosen by Pioli in place of Kessié, lost a bloody ball on which Beto pounced with his usual fury, for the Friuli 1-0 . Cioffi, who took over from Gotti last Monday, was thus able to build the match he wanted, made up of intensity in the middle of the field and lightning-fast counterattacks, also because Milan were certainly not having a day of grace. Slow, predictable, unable to move without the ball, the Diavolo didn't take a shot on goal until the 92nd minute, limiting himself to throwing the ball towards Ibrahimovic and hoping for a play from him, even after Pioli's substitutions, who denied the ambitions of turnover by inserting Kessié, Tonali and Messias. The tactic didn't lead to a comeback but yes to a draw, because in full recovery, on one of the many balls thrown into the area, the Swede hit the mark, punching Silvestri with a stunt that recalled last season's.
“We had a hard time proposing our game, we weren't clear-headed and precise enough to unhinge Udinese – Pioli's analysis -. We also gave away the goal and the match got a lot more complicated, we had few chances even if we often entered the box. Lately we've conceded goals after giving the ball away to the opponents, these are things you pay for and make you lose your clarity. In the last few games we have lost compactness in the defensive phase, with little clarity in the pressure phase: we need to fix some things in both phases".
Juventus also failed to win, stopped at 1-1 from Zanetti's Venice. Bad misstep, which risks having major repercussions in the standings: if Atalanta were to win in Verona today, in fact, the gap from fourth place would even become 9. The specter of a season without the Champions League takes on ever more real contours, after all, with this trend it is difficult to think of entering the top European competition.
Yesterday too Juventus showed their usual limits, starting with a reviewable offensive phase, further weakened by the umpteenth muscle injury by Dybala, forced out already in the 12th minute by virtue of Kaio Jorge. However, Morata's goal (32') seemed to erase the problems, also because Venice, up until then, had been very little, but the Bianconeri were wrong in not doubling (big chance with Cuadrado) and Zanetti's team, once she returned from halftime, she found courage and geometry admired in other races. Right from the start it was understood that the second half would be different and when Aramu, in the 55th minute, caught the joker with a nice left-footed shot from distance, the tie became reality. At that point the Lady tried to throw herself into the opponent's half of the field, but Venezia withstood the impact well, also because the opportunities, to tell the truth, were few and confused. And so the 1-1 remained that way, casting further shadows on the Juventus season, so far far below expectations.
“We had a good first half, created and shot on goal, then there was a Blackout up until the moment of their goal, it had also happened in Salerno – he sighed Allegri -. It's something we need to improve on, we weren't good at bringing home a victory that was important, it's two points thrown away against a good Venice team. Dybala? We took a risk, he went out on Wednesday due to fatigue: we thought he was fine, but that was not the case ”.
The XNUMX-in-a-row mission has therefore failed, now all that remains is to hope for the braking of one or more competitors, knowing however that, a comeback in the standings, passes first of all from a sharp and sudden change of gear, otherwise it will be better to familiarize yourself with the idea of not participate in the next Champions League.
