Like many others, I was very much looking forward to this match. The first opportunity to test our new system outside of Serie A, against at least on paper, the strongest side we have faced in 2017. This was a step up to the biggest stage of all and the furore of Bonucci’s nuisance had been matched with talk of our standing as potential winners of the tournament in quarters high and low.
First step on the voyage was a trip to Porto, the side which had finished second in a fairly easy group, smashing 5 past Leicester City in the final fixture to secure qualification to the knock-out stage. Their european pedigree is solid and they continue to produce talented players plucked by sides elsewhere in Europe for mega money. One of which in recent times, was our very own Alex Sandro.
I felt excited and confident. And was buoyed by the emergence from the tunnel of a German referee. For the Germans are generally no nonsense, get on with it kind of officials. They don’t beat around the bush and have no issue imposing themselves on games. Yet also like to let the football flow. I had hoped Dr Felix Brych would be Brick by name, brick by nature. As he proved…
Player Ratings
Buffon – Such was our dominance, Santo Buffon had not one save to make. A passenger, who distributed the ball calmly and exuded authority throughout. 6.5
Chiellini – Other than the one misplaced pass which Buffon headed out to safety, Giorgio was sturdy and hardly needed to make a tackle. 7
Barzagli – More of a worry was Andrea, for his fitness had been questionable of late. Yet he fared well, was composed and showed pace on the few occasions required which belied his ageing legs. 7
Lichsteiner – Great to have him back in Europe, for his experience was welcome as was his guile. Positioned himself well to make damn sure that scything challenge took him down without breaking his leg and led to the expulsion of the hapless Telles. Showed good support up top and picked up his trademark booking for a 50/50 challenge in the opposing box, which I felt was a little harsh. 7
Sandro – Alex did not put a foot wrong for the entirety of the game, other than losing Herrera for a header which he skewed comfortably wide. Given plenty of space to work with, he was superb both on and off the ball. I struggle to suggest an equal, let alone superior Left Back in the world. Technically gifted, fast, strong with great stamina. A constant threat in the final third and always manages to play the ball intelligently when under pressure. Lovely assist for Ales for the second goal. World class. 9
Khedira – Given licence to bomb forward with Pjanic appearing closer to a sweeper in turn, Big Sami went agonisingly close with a sliding shot in the box and also tested the keeper from range. Bossed the midfield. Showed some glorious touches and had a header drift just wide. 8
Pjanic – As mentioned, he was sitting mightily deep, making the defence almost a back three for the opening 20 minutes. Produced a few brilliant passes and used the ball smartly. 7
Cuadrado – Not one of his better games, yet he did supply several decent balls into the box and drew the first yellow which soon after led to the red. 6
Dybala – Found the going tough in terms of making inroads into the always congested 18 yard area yet came ever so close with a beautiful strike from outside the box which hit the post and it was his work which led to the opener. Also had a close range finish into the top of the net wrongly cancelled out for offside. 7
Higuain – Porto played very deep, with a strong centre back pairing leading to little service for Gonzalo, who fashioned just the one decent shot towards goal which sailed a few feet wide, yet even that was conjured with three defenders in close attendance. He became frustrated as the game wore one, which is fine, as long as it doesn’t boil over into trouble. 6
Mandzukic – Failed to achieve much in the final third, though worked exceptionally hard and locked down the left central midfield area with his hard running and berserker determination. He did his job. 6.5
Pjaca – Took his first goal for the club superbly and showed more than a few glimpses of his potential on the ball when driving towards goal. In my eyes and heart he became a juventino with that strike. 7
Alves – Finally provided the very potency we signed him to produce, just when it mattered most. Barely warmed up, he found himself in the box to collect a perfect pass from Sandro, took the ball down with his chest and poked the ball through the legs of a defender into the top corner. 7.5
Make no mistake, Porto are a quality side. They showed some magnificent defensive prowess, the two centre-backs impressed me as did that spiteful rat merchant Pereria at RB. Setting out their stall to defend, offer us the ball seemed a strange choice of tactic, for we are often ragged when faced with a high press. Their aim was to hit us on the counter attack. Yet even before the red card, we looked comfortable and in full control. It was equally odd to find them gifting us close to complete control of the flanks. Tactically they got this game wrong.
The sending off was warranted and it is pathetic, yet to be expected, to find the Porto coach and players focusing on the decision rather than pay respect to a superior opponent who outplayed them, showed more endeavour for the full 90 minutes.
They took a few dives, and committed several quite nasty fouls. The card count could have been worse for the hosts. Yet the german ref did well, in a cauldron of maniacal partisan support, with the volume raised with every 50/50 decision. He stood firm in the face of players and thousands of fans. Which is to be expected. For he is German. There were however, a couple of dodgy decisions by the linesmen. Namely the offside for Dybala’s ruled out goal and also a passage of play which was allowed to continue long after the ball had clearly gone out of play. Pjanic was also punished for the ball striking his knee.
We played well, with Sandro and Khedira the stand out performers. Pjaca took his goal with power and poise and Alves added the icing to the cake. Allegri’s substitutions seemed heaven sent!
They did not test us defensively, played too deep and my only hint of angst comes from yet again our profligacy, for I counted 16 chances, 6 of which were begging to be finished. We must improve on this as it has been a facet of our play since we changed tactics. Yes, it is great to be making so many chances, especially against a very well drilled and technically capable outfit, yet we will find fewer chances against the better sides in the tournament.
It comes as no surprise to find us the only team in this round to keep a clean sheet and to register zero serious shots on our goal. In terms of a threat, just the Herrera header, which danced wide. Other than which they caused us no problems whatsoever in our own third. And I doubt the game or scoreline would have been markedly more different had they kept 11 on the field. We were more inventive, more adventurous and more determined from the first whistle to the last.
This was a game which truly set my heart ablaze, even watching the full match replay this morning, I found myself shouting and roaring, charging round my room to celebrate with my faithful hellhound Oscar, who despite my volume, remained uninterested and fast asleep with his paws in the air!
Lichsteiner and Cuadrado need to stop rolling over and over when fouled. It is not becoming of a Juventino to behave in this way and causes more harm than good.
Overall, this was a professional, well deserved victory. We have one foot in the quarter finals. And must now focus on Empoli for the weekend.
The club are once again filling me with pride. Allegri must be given credit for weathering a needless storm and using it to his and the club’s advantage. There was no hint of dissent in the ranks, we appeared very much together, all hearts beating as one. I have no inkling that Max is planning on leaving the club in the Summer. Much has been written of the possible opening at Arsenal, yet I cannot imagine he will consider leaving unless we win the treble, for then, what more would there be to achieve with Juve? He strikes me always as far more pragmatic and canny than most give him credit for. Yes, Conte dragged us back from the shadows into the limelight of the elite, but Allegri has changed our style and dealt amazingly well with all that has threatened to derail our progress. I hope he stays for many moons to come.
I must add that we remain a work in progress, and find ourselves in the strange position of entering the final segment of the season still unsure of our potential. I believe we need to be pushed,by the very best to now grow further, to continue to blossom. For one thing is for certain; we are not yet playing at our peak.
We are one of very few sides in the last 16 who can defend as well as attack with purpose. Yes, we still need to grow, but the dream remains very much alive. Great to watch, at times delightful on the ball with grinta in spades…
Forza Juve
TGP
(Follow me on twitter here)
25 Comments
Its not finished now.
Will be hard.
Before next game against Porto. Its Napoli and Milan knocking at our door.
The game yesterday was lovely. Could make 3 or 4 goals.
We will see.
If we are to lose 0-2 or 1-3 at home to any side after outclassing them in every department other than at CB in their own backyard, we do not deserve to be dreaming big my friend…
Our home form in Europe this term has been average at best, but our form in general before christmas was average at best so I look at 2017, and the change in formation and the return to something close to a fully fit squad as the turning point in our season. Everything seems to be coming together at the right time.
Yap. Youre right.
I hope Alle rotate the team. Give Pjaca a chance. Rest Khedira.
Give Kean 35 min on Saturday.
Juve has changed to almost brilliant in short time. There is such an aura.
So I have to say fuck the coppa.
Totally blitzkrieg focus on CL and the 6th scudetto.
Even if play the second line we can win it. So who are the seconds. Dani Alves Asamoah Rugani Sturaro Marchisio Pjaca Rincon. Many of them are better than the opponents first 11.
I was impressed with Juve yesterday. We completely dominated the game, we had over 70% ball possession in the first half! We gave close to nothing away at the back, all Buffon had to do was collect some tame shots that looked more like passes and that one misplaced pass from Chiellini.
The midfielders were helping out everywhere and we created loads of chances to score up front, despite a robust Porto defense mauling our strikers down at every turn.
All that lacked was an early goal, yet against a side that was playing with 10 so early, it is no wonder they lock everything up tight at the back. And they were already hard to break down as it was! Bear in mind, Porto hasn’t lost a home game in CL since 2009 and they were completely overrun yesterday.
Even in Belgium, people are tipping Juve as potential winners. Juve made me proud yesterday.
No standout player for me, everyone was working hard and nobody came up short. Some things could have been better, but against a rugged Porto, I think Juve performed admirably. The finishing has to become just a tad more clinical and that is pretty much the most negative thing I can say about this game.
Onwards to Empoli and then those Neapolitan goons in the Coppa!
It was like a serie A match like against a relegated side
If you want an entertaining game, you need 3 teams going for the win, which wasnt Porto’s plan. Especially not after the red card. I see why you say that, they played much the same tactic as a low Serie A team against us.
But what is wrong about it, Juve knows how to handle exactly that. By being patient and finding the right opportunity. And we have a sound advantage now
No i say it with prideness mind they are afraid very afraid of us. We reduced them just liks a bottom serie A side. And this to answer that in Europe we are not as in Italy. We have the route for ourselves we can beat anyone anywhere.
That is a great point, James! Their record in Europe, especially at home, is rock solid…or at least it was until we came to town.
Indeed, the pride which was lacking before 2017 has returned with aplomb. And yes yes! the sending off changed them a little, though I suspect we might have found more goals had they kept 11 on the field, as they might have pushed up a little, leaving gaps to expose, whereas the 4-4-1 they adopted, literally kept two banks of 4 very central and asked us to break them down.
It was a great game to watch, we are progressing and just need to start converting more of our chances, and hope the defence as a whole becomes more fit and sharp and then…I do not see why we cannot dream of glory.
Indeed, Porto at home is a caged lion and the stadium is 100% behind the team, a true fortress to conquer. And so we did!
The sending off was deserved and unfortunately influenced Porto to play even more defensively indeed. The scoreline could have been even more in our advantage.
I was also really entertained, perhaps not for the goal flurry we would have wanted, but for the sheer dominance we exerted. Porto had no chance at all. They might not be Real Madrid or Bayern, they are still top level.
I believe more than ever that Juve can win it now
It was so one sided I became more frustrated over time. If Porto shoot more than twice in Turin i will be our fault. If it had been Barcellona with a similar display we could have written they (Porto were outclassed) Fu…. say it we are a top European side and Porto infront of their own barely had a shot on goal the only one being from a diving simulation which awarded a freekick.We could have easily scored 4. What is the problem peaple we have world class player all over ths pitch. Look at the match statistics. Porto is nothing like Juventus we are becoming the Elite of European Football we have great players and now good tactics. Until next…….
I’d agree with the world class talent in some areas of the pitch. At LB, RB, CB, GK, DM, CM, AM and CF.
Which leaves Mandzukic and Cuadrado, the two wide attacking midfielder positions, where we lack the technique and consistency. Mario is a trojan, his work rate is top drawer but he is far removed from world class in terms of technique. Decent enough but presently in the first XI due to his experience, aerial ability and work rate, more than his technique.
As for Juan…he delivers a moment of brilliance 1 in 10 games, has improved now to produce a handful of decent crosses in 5 out of 10 games, yet for every 3-4 games out of 10, he is far more woeful than potent, with his most consistent asset the ability to win free kicks.
I truly hope Pjaca can improve, can stop trying too hard, see this goal as the starting point of his juve career and calmly grow…to such a degree that he takes Cuadrado’s role in the first XI. I believe he would be a far more consistent threat.
Poet we can beat anyone anywhere. This should become our motto. The way forward. Tactically we are the best no doubt.
Hard for me to agree that we are tactically the best when we changed tactics completely barely 6 weeks back and tinker the system still further when we include Pjaca and Marchisio…There are top drawer managers at Munich, Atletico and Emery seems a crafty bugger.
Real and Bayern both have stronger squads than us. Still, we can beat any team on our day.
Yeah i remember excactly Bayern M some a year ago. They were posed to destroy us at the Allianz Arena. They should have been 0 4 by the first 10 min of the second half. ;). Love reading your articles man. You’re great!!
Thanks for the support mate! Also enjoy your contributions.
In terms of where we are as a side I would still place us a little behind BM and RM. Alongside Atletico as a side nobody really wants to face. We simply do not have the finances to develop a squad of superstars but our first XI is rock solid and many of the second string are of sound quality. We are progressing season upon season, which is all we can hope for.
By the way we are second in the champions league club ranking only behind atletico madrid.
What a Joke this Fiorentina, threw away the tie. So long for Italian pride, only Juve embodies it. Germans are laughing to death on this one.
Good: Pjaca’s perfect shot – clean, flat, straight and hard
Bad: SL’s film stuntman like multiple barrel rolls after foul.
Only a disaster will prevent quarter final progression.
Only Bayern and Real look tough in the quarters…yet Id be happier to play either of them over two legs than one. And we have a few decent opponents to face before we reach that stage, domestically, and Porto coming to our backyard. We need the tougher games to keep growing.
It is reported that we will recall Leonardo Spinazolla after the end of the season.
One of the most well traveled players on our book, for the last time I peeked when compiling the youth report it seemed close to ten clubs he had played for, which is odd for a 23 year old. Still, he has come good this season. Will be a shame to bring him home earlier than planned if he wants to stay at Atalanta. And even more of a shame to see such a surprise packet basically lose their best players in the Summer. I hope this doesn’t happen. Gagliardini has gone. Caldara will come to us (2018), maybe Leonardo in the Summer. If they get European football, we should let him stay put…
i dont know why he cant stay there for one more year, im not sure if he got any playing time with us.i dont even know what kind of midfielder he is, could he play in 2 men midfield?plus if we really get tolliso there would be no place for leo.so best solution is to keep him there one more year
Mate, he has never been near the first team squad or even considered for it…His path has been>
Siena U19 to Juve U19
Then signed by Juve…After which he was loaned to Empoli. Lanciano, Siena, Atalanta, Vicenza, Perugia, then back to Atalanta last Summer (on a two year loan deal).
He has only been a first team regular at Siena and Perugia, both for Serie B campaigns.
there is no point to call him back then
Comments are closed