Juventus v Inter
Serie A Week 27 – Sunday, 28th February – 19:45 GMT – Juventus Stadium
Juventus
The Bayern Munich clash managed to be both disappointing and exciting at the same time. It was certainly a concern to see Juventus severely outplayed by the German champions for an hour. Then the reaction by Bianconeri, who simply refused to lose at home, was fantastic. The final result is bittersweet and leaves room for big regrets.
It’s always easy to speak in hindsight, but maybe sitting back and counter was not the right strategy. Bayern were vulnerable in the back because of many absentees and Joshua Kimmich was brutal. I don’t know if in three weeks we will have the same luxury: something more should have been done to take advantage of the situation.
On the other hand, execution was a big problem: we missed so many counterattacking opportunities in the first half because of misplaced passes, poor first touches or bad decisions in the build-up of the actions. We were miuch sharper on this front, later in the game. Also, it is totally feasible that Bayern got tired because of an hour of intense pressing and possession and maybe they would have played a more complete game if Juventus were less passive. Some of these questions will be answered in the return leg when the Bianconeri will be forced to seek a goal. Bottom line, Juventus need to be better if they want to achieve what would be an incredible feat: beating Bayern at Allianz Arena, where they have always won this season.
Now it’s time to focus on Serie A as the usually much-anticipated Inter game approaches. Juventus received a big help by Milan last Monday as the Rossoneri stopped Napoli at home, preventing them from overtaking us. Napoli face Fiorentina on the road on Monday, a very interesting matchup.
As always, mixed news from the infirmary: Claudio Marchisio has a sore hamstring and will miss the two Inter matches. In fact, the two teams will square up again on Wednesday in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final, where Juventus will defend the 3-0 lead. Luckily enough, Hernanes not only showed signs of life, but was superb against Bayern and played with great confidence. These next two games will tell if he has a place in this Juventus, especially in a scheme with no pure no.10.
It’s reported that Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro and Kwadwo Asamoah have all recovered and obviously Mario Mandzukic returned to action with a roar against his former team. This means that Massimiliano Allegri will go back to 3-5-2 and will be able to field most of the “A” team, minus Marchisio.
Sandro is likely to start relieving Patrice Evra who played the last three games in a row. Consequently, Stephen Lichsteiner will be on the right flank. Sami Khedira is set to play and somehow we are still undefeated when he is on the pitch: 14 wins and 3 draws. The German midfielder has been pretty inconsistent mainly due to injuries and poor conditioning, but he adds an element of poise that other players do not possess.
The attack should be the same of the midweek game: at this point, it is clear that it is the best combination and the coaching staff likes to give returning players more minutes to help them re-gain the game form.
On Wednesday, we will definitely see some rotation: Alvaro Morata-Simone Zaza has been the usual Coppa striking pair, then we will probably see from the get-go Neto, Daniele Rugani, Stefano Sturaro, Kwadwo Asamoah and/or Roberto Pereyra depending what the tactics will be: 4-3-1-2 is a possibility in order to sit more centre-backs. Gianluigi Buffon will rest for sure, Andrea Barzagli, Sami Khedira and Paul Pogba might be on the bench as well in an easy match where Juventus simply need to avoid conceding three goals to reach the final.
Probable lineup:
3-5-2: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichsteiner, Khedira, Hernanes, Pogba, Sandro; Mandzukic, Dybala.
Injuries:
Marchisio (hamstring), Caceres (Achilles).
Suspensions:
None.
Inter Milan
Not much has changed at Inter since when we smashed them in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. They have been able to beat some sorry teams like Sampdoria and Chievo Verona, but in general their slump has continued and they are conceding way more than they used to do, especially on set pieces. They are still in fifth position: a swift freefall considering that they have been on top of the table for few months.
Roberto Mancini is still trying to figure out what the best lineup and the best XI are. He appears to have liked what he saw against Sampdoria, therefore the favourite formation is 4-4-2. One of the mistakes they made in the transfer market is that they pushed hard to get Ivan Perisic but they did not pair him up with another pure winger. Jonathan Biabiany is the only right winger they have on the roster and he is likely to start. The other option would be using Perisic on the right and Adem Ljajic on the left, but it has proven to be ineffective and dangerous for the team’s balance in the past.
Geoffrey Kondogbia has won his appeal to get his suspension reduced so he will be available for this game, while Marcelo Brozovic is disqualified. Gary Medel has been a regular, then the coach will decide his partner in the midfield between the Frenchman, who brings more technique but has been up and down, or Felipe Melo, who adds grit and muscles, but whose head is not always 100 percent in the game.
It looks like that 3-5-2 is gaining traction as Mancini might opt to play in a specular way. If that was the case, Biabiany and Perisic would be benched, Jesus would enter the starting XI and Telles would likely replace Nagatomo as he is more offensive.
Notorious Juventus killer Mauro Icardi will undoubtedly start: he has scored three goals in the last four games. Since Stevan Jovetic never clicked with the Argentinian striker and seems to have fallen out of favour, Icardi’s partner will be one between Rodrigo Palacio, who has played quite well recently, or Eder, who has yet to find the back of the net with the black and blue jersey and has not had the impact they were hoping for.
On Sunday, they will able to use the starting defence formed by Danilo D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Jeison Murillo and Yuto Nagatomo. However, that will not be the case on Wednesday, when both centre-backs will be suspended. They will have to find a partner for Juan Jesus: Medel has played as defender before, while Mancini hinted in the past that D’Ambrosio would play there if they did not find a replacement for the departed Andrea Ranocchia. In the midweek match, Alex Telles, Brozovic, Ljajic and Jovetic are expected to make an appearance.
Probable lineup:
3-5-2: Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Murillo, Miranda, Nagatomo; Biabiany, Melo, Medel, Perisic; Palacio, Icardi.
Injuries:
None.
Suspensions:
Brozovic.
Formation
Statistics
Infographics from Sporticos.com
There’s an unsettling feeling i have before this game – can’t quite put my finger on it.
In theory, we should be wiping the floor with them, but when so much is at stake, i can’t help but feel this won’t be straightforward.
A sincere hope that Hernanes continues on from his midweek heroics v Bayern and we score some early goals that will put my nerves at ease. There’s a huge chance that Napoli drop points against Fiorentina so we simply can’t afford anothe slip up like the game v Bologna.
4 fit striker, 2 of whom work in perfect tandem – I should be more optimistic.
Lets get it done !
I suffer the same, comrade. When on paper, and form, we should be confident. However, I choose to focus more on the last half hour against Bayern, which should have given the squad a major boost in terms of confidence. For if we can justly hold a team many, myself included, consider second to, if not equal to, the finest side on the planet, with a patched up squad, we have no reason to fear anyone.
I disagree with the suggestion, comrade Enrico, that it was a tactical, or in any way witting move, to sit back and play on the counter against Bayern. Allegri is far too canny for such a move, played into the hands of our enemies. They were simply eager to maul, and we had two of our three CMs horribly out of sorts, which allowed the onslaught to continue, until, 0-2 down, we changed the two mangled of our number, and then…emerged a different beast.
There is something to be said for our collective mentality when it comes to European games – it’s like we’ve jumped from a jacuzzi into the freezing waters of the Antarctic – Why on earth do we play as if we’re inferior to the big boys ? That was somethign Allegri did wonders in fixing last season, especially against Dortmund and Real. Against Bayern, they looked in awe of them for the first 45 mins which was so damn disappointing to see, given the year we’ve had.
Like you say, i suspect Allegri had them set up to play to strengths of the players he had available and it wasn’t so much tactical as it was Juve being intimidated and bullied all over the pitch.
Tonight we know what to expect….i just hope and pray we can deliver. Something about inter always makes me nervy – a game within itself where everything else is sometimes forgotten.
Hernanes to be our saviour tonight……
I have a feeling we will be either high on confidence and play like devils or we will be drained from the Bayern game and play like drunken slugs.
Pray it is the first option!
Hernanes what a shot!!!
Hernanes 😐 Someone wants to show off for his old team!
A goal would be a nice way of doing that!
Our new winger Leonardo Bonucci :DDD
so chiellini is out.
Our new striker Leonardo Bonucci xD
Leo!!!!! 1-0
Merda fans are destroying our stadium seats…
Dont blame them, they dont know better…
Don’t worry, the bill will be sent for accordingly
Moratatatatata
Moratatatata! (This is a thing now!)
Copyrighted lol
Buffon making some precious saves kn the dying minutes, Superman for a reason!!
tHANK cHRIST !
That was a game i had a strange feeling about – after all the missed early chances, i had an inkling they might get something from the match….praise Jesus for Leo Bonucci.
Allegri outhunk them…..again – Hope we play the reserves and the youth team midweek for the coppa match – 4 points clear and still on a roll
FORZA JUVE!!!!
The only bother I have here… Why did Chiellini play? He is injured again and might miss the return to Bayern as well now.
Rugani played solid, Chiello should not have played
Great win. Did you guys notice that there is a serious bromance between Zaza and Morata? They are always running to each other when they score a goal.
I noticed that too, was great to see 🙂 Morata celebrating hard with Zaz and Neto after his goal
Heh, those neapolitans drew again!
I find myself in earnest troubles, as I have received a Juve giftcard and I cant decide how to spend it! I just cant help but ponder getting a jersey with del piero’s name on it…
If it doesn’t expire till next season, maybe you can save a few bucks buying next season’s kit?