Porto v Juventus
Champions League – Wednesday, 22nd February – 19:45 GMT – Estádio Do Dragão (Porto)
Juventus
There’s a real feeling that Juve have turned a corner since the start of the year. Seven victories in a row in all competitions, 15 goals scored and just two goals conceded speaks volumes about the change in tactics, attitude and approach. Allegri’s biggest complaint was that his players had a habit of not seeing out results, of switching off and letting opponents back into the game. What we’ve seen since Allegri switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation is a more robust, hardworking and inventive Juve side, able to switch from attack to defence and back again, without the need for major changes to the line-up. While it’s been an impressive few weeks in the league where we’ve seldom been troubled, (with only a few exceptions) the Champions League game against Porto looks like a true test of where the team are at present.
Despite the impressive 4-1 score line, last weekend’s victory over Palermo looked a foregone conclusion after the first goal. The away side looked all too content to sit back and soak up pressure until Marchisio broke the deadlock. As they tried to play on the counter, Juve found space all over the pitch to exploit their weak points and despite not playing to their very best, they were able to win comfortably. Perhaps the most important aspect of the game was Dybala’s impressive performance; La Joya was instrumental in the victory, scoring a superb brace and setting up Higuain’s 18th league goal of the season. Despite looking a withdrawn figure in previous games, Paulo was more influential in this match, largely due to him being more decisive and imposing himself on the game. Its a welcome boost ahead of a tricky Champions League tie when every player needs to be at their absolute best.
Despite the optimism, the biggest talking point of the last few days has been the argument between Leo Bonucci and Max Allegri. The defender exchanged heated words with the mister before sprinting off the pitch at full-time without acknowledging the supporters. Tuttosport suggested that Juve would fine the player, but in his earlier press conference Max Allegri confirmed that Bonucci will be watching the game from the stands as punishment for his outburst. There’s a suggestion that the club are looking to send a message to the entire following a series of heated exchanges between certain players and the coach. For his part, Allegri acknowledged that his reaction wasn’t the right one and that he’d be making a donation to a charity tomorrow. “Nothing else happened. I spoke to Leo, he understood and we move forward,” Allegri concluded.
Gigi Buffon will start in goal while Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini both made the trip to Portugal making them likeliest pairing to start at the back, although Medhi Benatia might get a look in after his strong display last weekend. Alex Sandro is back at LB and Stephan Lichtsteiner will make his first Champions League appearance this season. Mario Mandzukic is fit and ready having missed out the Palermo game through suspension and he’ll play in his new role, alternating as a striker/winger who defends with all the tenacity of a veteran full-back. Juan Cuadrado was rested at the weekend and Allegri has confirmed he’ll start the game along with Dybala and Higuain in attack. Miralem Pjanic is also a confirmed starter with Sami Khedira most likely to play alongside him.
Probable lineup:
4-2-3-1: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Chiellini, Barzagli, Alex Sandro; Pjanic, Khedira; Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain.
Injuries:
Mandragora (foot)
Suspensions:
None.
Porto
Probable lineup:
4-1-3-2: Casillas; Telles, Marcano, Felipe, Pereira; Pereira; Brahimi, Torres, Corona, Silva, Jota
Injuries:
None
Suspensions:
None.
Formation
No Bonucci.
Bonucci you are idiot! You are there to play, not to argue coach’ decisions god damn.
Right and couragous thing to do. Bonucci should know better. If I insulted my manager i d be suspended. Juventus has shown him support during difficult times. Allegri also relegating a youngster playing well to the bench. In Firenze he was one of the worst yet he played always. He gets millions in pay. He should know better. Kudos to Juve and Allegri on this one.
I wouldn’t make too much of the recent skirmishes between coach and players, although it could be seen as dissent in the ranks. However…Dybala was merely petulant, then well behaved thereafter. With Lichsteiner, it was a mixup of communication. No real harm done. Bonucci was simply being a dick, as he has shown he can be in the past. Also, it must be acknowledged that he has been suffering this season with his son’s illness. No excuse, but will have been taken into account.
On the other hand…Allegri is perhaps lighting fires.
Whilst our form has improved, as have our results, we remain so very pleasant as a squad. To win in Europe, which is where we are aiming to succeed, we need to get nasty, we need to get spiteful, we need to get angry. So perhaps this is partly Max’s aim. Not to unsettle, but to remind the tea to get fired up and get focused and get together…He is a canny operator, always has been. And despite the injury bothers suffered most the second half of 2016, Allegri has conjured from a hat a new system which has been working splendidly. He knows what he is doing. And lest we forget…he took us to our first champions league final, against the odds, for many moons indeed. And last year we were desperately unlucky not to delve deeper into the competition.
Essentially, I would be concerned if arguments occurred which involved Chiellini, Buffon, Barzagli or Marchisio, by far the most senior and mature of the senatori…Instead it has been a capricious child, ranting Swiss menace and often bungling Bonucci. No reason for concern.
As for the game…
Its how the champions league used to be and I wish still was. For it is the champions of Portugal against the champions of Italy. Both sides top of their domestic pyramids.
An away goal draw or victory is what we seek. How does our dominant domestic form match up against Porto’s dominant domestic form?
they are not so dominant as they used to be, sit on second place 1 point behind league leaders Benfica. They are not even portugal champions lol, finished 3rd last season behind sporting and champions Benfica.
Good points, and signs of my times…as I am prone to consider Porto as the Kings of Portugal, unless they fuck up.
Aside from which, they are used to winning, and clubs pay mega bucks for their players. They cannot be too bad.
they defenitely know how to sell, they have probably the best scouting team in europe.
Dominant or non dominant we have no excuses if we lose its our fault. Portugese league is not what it used to be. We have one of the most equipped talented team in Europe. COM ON NOW ITS TIME !!! Today no overtime at work already pumped up!!!!! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/08f086dc9e0f0b49711375dc5a611b9ee4587cfe20c0d3d12bd02def725ac84d.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f58fd8c6fe72f9b245df32039d0a1d493844319e306dde5729676fbcaebd7728.jpg
lol no overtime, i finish in 2 hours, then 5 days off, hell yeah
Wish that i have some leave to play some playstation as well. But i dont (sad face)
im going on titanfall 2 (ps4)after work, then CL of course
Im playing Battleborn fine game lixei32 if you want to add me
i will add you later, isnt it the MP game?
Yeah it can be played single not like like overwatch the main thing i love boderlands and this has the same graphical likeness
im not a big fan of borderlands, latest doom was great, or fallout 4
Doom that intro fallout i have as well. Part of my collection https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c7df58bc2f913e8c201d406ab7a2e92d4b8258bde28d5993131cb94abd7b8b2a.
did you try bloodbourne? im thinking about it, but ive started so many games and didnt finish them yet lol,(cod iw, titanfall, fallout4,project cars,witcher3,alien,shadow of mordor and maybe more)
Part of my collection https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c7df58bc2f913e8c201d406ab7a2e92d4b8258bde28d5993131cb94abd7b8b2a.jpg
such a “little” collection lol
“An away goal draw or victory is what we seek.”
I respectfully disagree on the draw part. Our rivals have crushed their opposition, all of them scoring at least 3 goals. I want the same kind of bloodbath by our boys against Porto, as I’ve seen from PSG against Barca. Let’s make the Turin game a relaxed one by destroying them today.
I feel somthing more happened with Bonucci. I remember the same player having an argument with Cuadrado not so long ago. Even his wife instagram photos and comments are a bit out of place. Today i would rather see Rugani not Barzagli in the centre 2 with Chiellini
Id also prefer Rugani!
so barzagli and chiellini as CBs tonight. Not sure with this decision.Barza didnt play much lately.fingers crossed
Rugani is so much better. Youll see Silva will crush Barza.
I hate Juve sometimes for being so stupid.
He’s always been very good in CL matches tho.
silva going out lol
They are going full defence for the remainder of the match.
looks so, but we are used to such play style, come on guys, lets use the red
Almost starting…… FORZA JUVE, Lets do this!!
Ohohohoh
They dont have a Pjanic
I’d still rather have a Pirlo 🙁 Shouldn’t think about the past, but every free kick i miss him)
Yes.
So no panic
Porto is going to dive and play dirty tonight.
Counterattack JUVE!
Typical Lichtsteiner
Bye bye Telles 😀
Well baited both times, good job!
some one please tell mandzu that the match already started , he is totaly lost
Thats not his position for me we play a straight 433 what are we defending from a ghost??
we are too static in final third, no movement, stupid crosses from left, right, wtf
We should make chances from the middle let dybala fly those shots we should have easily been 2 up game over
Mandzu is watching the game for free, another spectator. Bring Asamoah in make Sandro winger. or Bring Pjaca in NOW!.
Its like juve pescara they are playing dirty but we are miles ahead.
OT
Zaza scored his second goal for Valencia. They won 2:1 against RMadrid
Who are these linesmen? please get me a robot for offside plays we have just been robbed of a legitimate goal. When this people are not completely paid to make the wrong decisions they do it out of their own incompetence or even as a hobby. At least award challenges ATP tour or NFL style.
As usual opposition are playing the game of their lives. Porto in Super Minnow mode. We are playing too slow. we need gear shifts up front.
I am feelin sick wtf
Since we have no Pirlo A Leo Bonucci mid/long range ball could come in handy, a set piece or a rehearsed play, preferably from a throw in to break this open with the current personnel. We also need Cuadrado, Dybala and Sandro/Pjaca to jump their man.
The nth cross of the match. When will cuadrado jump his man? Thank God finally Pjaca in. We were playing the 4-2-3-1 without wingers, a 4-2-1-1 in practice… too optimistic.
YES” THANK GOD. MARKOOOOOOOOOO. GOD IS GOOD
PJACAAAAA
ALVEEEEEEES
2 subs, 2 goals!!
Gololololololl
DON’T YOU DARE STOP NOW
C’mon boys, get the 3rd and end this!
Nuno Espirito Santo reminds me of Lawrence Fishburne (Morpheus).
yeah exactly lol
Pjaca MVP hands down no doubt. Singlehandedly changed the game. The only rebel in town.
Agree and its game over there is no way this porto can score in turin.
I agree, still we must improve if we are thiking o going all the way. Last season we also had an easy round of 16. We need to get our act together, round of 8 is decisive.
last season we faced bayern , so hardly an easy draw lol
5 games to go my friend. 5 will be 4 in fifteen days
I am not much into ratings but here is my takeaway:
1) Our wingers didn´t play much at all.
-Cuadrado took the easy route and instead of doing his job jumping his man sent a myriad of wishful crosses without any particular target.
– Mandzukic may be a useful winger but europe is another level. He is no natural winger. I don´t know he can pull it off in europe.
Apart from that the rest of the team lacked spark and speed, moving the ball laterally without precision or any semblance of speed changes.
– Dybala lacked a bit of edge and mid range shots were his major asset, his repertoire is much greater.
– I won´t blame Higuaín if he doesn´t get decent service from mid, wings, fullbacks.
Khedira was one of the few who showed willingness to break things open even if facing shortcomings. One of the liveliest.
I may be a bit harsh but we were against 10 men for more than 50 minutes. We could have played much better.
Pjaca pretty much won this match for us. It’s hard to judge our performance when the opponent does not want to play, we finished the job, that’s most important. Now keep it up in Torino and move on to the quarter finals.