Sevilla v Juventus
Champions League – Game 6 – Tuesday, 7th December- 19:45 GMT – Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium
Juventus
When the draw was announced for the group stage of the Champions League I will admit I was a little worried. And this was before I watched us slump into a lethargy on the field domestically as the season drew close enough to embrace. For Man City with their billions bankrolling a fine selection of superstars, when fit and firing on all cylinders, are a very serious force to be reckoned with. Add to the mix Seville, who are canny operators on the European stage and a plucky Monchengladbach side and progression appeared far from a given.
However, as we approach our final fixture of the group stage, the only fight left is not for qualification, but to head through in 1st, thus avoiding the other group winners such as Bayern, Real and Barca.
Arguably, our best form up until recently has come in Europe. Perhaps I am paying Allegri too much credit, but the results and current state of play speak for themselves. With the loss of three world class, seasoned professionals and the intake of new, talented recruits we then found ourselves suffering our worst injury crisis for many moons. With forced changes and newcomers our only option, Allegri decided to prioritise the Champions League, whilst perhaps hedging his bets in the league. Believing that once key players returned from injury, league form would settle and we would climb the table before it was too late to mount a serious defence of our title.
Some continue to criticise the coach, but presently, his bets are paying off.
Regardless of Man City’s efforts at home to the Germans, due to our head to head record against the boys in blue, a draw in Spain will be enough to retain pole position of the group. Which will be a solid achievement, especially so given our struggles.
Our form of late has been greatly improved. Five wins on the bounce. Points gained on the leading pack domestically. Key players finding their rhythm and more returning to the ranks. The defence has regained its solidity, the Dybala/Mandzukic tandem is working. Lichsteiner has returned from heart surgery every bit the locomotive of a player we all adore. Plenty of reasons to be cheerful.
As for our opponents…
Whilst placed presently bottom of the table, Seville can still qualify for the Europa league with a victory coupled with the expected Monchengladbach defeat in Manchester. Their pedigree in that competition is brilliant, having won the cup in both the last two seasons.
Widely respected coach Unai Emery has been experiencing mixed form domestically, with his side presently sitting in a disappointing 10th spot of La Liga. Their latest result was a 1-1 draw away to La Coruna.
We will have to be careful with Banega and Gameiro. For the two can combine well through the middle, yet we should be capable of dealing with the threat from wide positions, given our height in the box and power on the flanks.
A victory would not only breed confidence, assure us of first place and aid the Italian european co-efficient, it would also add another EU1.5m to the prize money already obtained. We receive 12m for merely group stage qualification, 0.5m for each draw and 1.5m for each victory, with a further 5.5m for progressing to the knock-out phase. Which seems to have our champions league income, presently running at –
12m group stage inclusion prize
1m two draws
4.5m three victories
5.5m Knock-out stage qualification
EU23m
Which doesn’t take into account the TV money. Too much work on the calculations are required to glean an approximate figure for the market pool TV funds earned thus far. Yet for comparison, last season’s path to the final brought us close to EU60m from the market pool. Its plain to see why champions league qualification is essential for the club’s ambitions.
It seems that plenty of supporters have rather short memories. For the return to the 3-5-2 has brought not only an upturn in our fortunes but also yet more wailing of ‘players demanded the change‘ and ‘Allegri has tinkered too much‘. Which seems at best odd, for Allegri began the season deploying the same 3-5-2 we now see as the answer to our hopefully fast vanishing woes.
It wasn’t until the Chievo game that we changed to a back four, and this was more forced by selection options, than through attempting a new system. In Europe however, Allegri has deployed…
Man City 1-2 Juventus 4-3-3
Juventus 2-0 Seville 3-5-2
Juventus 0-0 Monchengladbach 4-3-3
Monchengladbach 1-1 Juventus 4-3-1-2
Juventus 1-0 Man City 3-5-2
Present reports suggest we will go with a 3-5-2.
There are some doubts over Mandzukic, which could allow Morata his first start for a while. Great chance to stake his claim for a place in the starting XI. Khedira and Pererya continue their comebacks on the training field though are out of contention for this match. Asamoah was not selected for our group stage squad due to injury, neither was – much to the rageful chagrin of his die hard supporters – Padoin.
We can afford to set out to soak up pressure and hit the spaniards on the break. Which is different from playing for a draw. It is Seville who have to win to continue their european adventure in the Europa League. And as the home side, in front of their own fans, they will have far more pressure on their shoulders to perform.
For us, it is a chance to continue decent form in Europe, add pace to the momentum and see how our newfound confidence in Serie A translates to the continental stage where we have raised our game and played well in all but the matches against the Germans.
Probable lineup:
3-5-2: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Alex Sandro; Dybala, Morata.
Injuries:
Khedira (hamstring), Pereyra (hamstring), Hernanes (hamstring), Mandzukic (Flu), Evra (Knee), Lemina (Tendon)
Suspended:
Hernanes
Sevilla
Probable lineup:
4-2-3-1: Rico; Escudero, Rami, Kolodziejczak, Mariano; Iborra, Krychowiak; Vitolo, Krohn-Dehli, Konoplyanka; Llorente
Injuries:
Beto, Daniel Carriço, Nico Pareja, Gaël Kakuta, Marco Andreolli, Benoît Trémoulinas
Suspended:
None
Formation
Stats and Facts
Fantastic preview, chief! I like our chances of advancing as top seed in the group. Beating Sevilla at Ramon Sanchez would be tough, but a draw should be doable. Plus, it won’t be surprising to see BMG beating or drawing against Man City.
Glad you enjoyed it, Jack! I had fun mashing it together last night in the darkness over a glass of russian fire water or three…It wouldn’t be surprising to see City lose, especially as I learn now that not just Kompany remains absent, but Aguero and Big Yaya are also out of selection. Pellegrini will be sacked by, or before the Summer. And rightly so. They have spent mega money and yet still rely hugely on three key players in Toure, Kompany and Aguero, without which, there is very little leadership on the field….
Also to note…our U19s head to Spain with qualification to the knockout stage still up for grabs. Nothing but a win will do, yet the youngsters must be on a high after rising to the top of the Primavera league last weekend with a 2-1 win over Livorno. Pozzebon grabbing his 8th and 9th of the season.
I liked how thorough and enjoyable your preview is. Whatever you are drinking, it is working 🙂
I was worried Juve would underestimate Sevilla, but Allegri and Buffon’s comments assured me that they will be taking this game very seriously.
It is great that the Juve Primavera team is doing well. We haven’t promoted anyone of note in a few years, but I hope some of them make the jump soon.
Does anyone have a stream please? Can’t find a decent one
Italian: https://wiz1.net/channel30
English: https://wiz1.net/channel4
The english one is lagging for me, the Italian is decent.
Thanks a lot !!
Almost a perfect evening so far. City losing, we keep things even. Only improvement would be a win for us too and I hope we get it – for our own sake and that of the Serie A coëfficiënt.
Forza Juve, hopefully we snatch a goal in the second half and put the game to bed
Dont forget Manchester United is loosing. Good for seria a too.
City winning now and we are loosing. This is not good.
Oh my… We’re gonna end up in 2nd place.
Yes this sucks..
Morata missed a big chance in the 1st half though.. Just great..
Make that 2 big chances now. Whats up with him? He was great just a couple of months ago.
What a terrible evening..
Well, as long as we don’t get bayern or barca..
I think the next round will be the last round for us. We are not a very strong team at the moment.
IF morata had scored those 2 goals, we would’ve topped the group.. This game reminded me of the game against galatasaray when a draw was also enough.. Juve just had to draw, and they failed.. Unbelievable.
Still don’t like the formation though, not that i’m saying that it has anything to do with the game. But I just didn’t like it when Conte used it and still don’t like it now..
It only worked in the Serie A in 2011/12, when it was still kind of new and teams didn’t know what to expect. That was also only in Italy and we didn’t play in europe back then. Since then alot of teams have adapted to it.
If you’re harping on 3-5-2, many teams were using variants at that time. I’ve always liked the formation, and Udinese, together with Napoli used that a lot. Juve and Palermo adopted it after them (but Palermo went back to a 4 at the back formation shortly after). The formation relies heavily on a terrifying midfield, and hinges completely on the CAM. It’s tougher to use now with our current roster though.
I feel the same way. I’ve never liked 3-5-2 and i never will. Allegri really needs to find a formation and stick with it. Hopefully it wont be the 3-5-2.
Wolfsburg wouldn’t be a real punishment. I can see a replay of the Dortmund matchup of last year happen then.
it hurts to finish second
Atleast we are through, i’m very happy with that, but…. This shouldn’t have happened.
I agree – however we do seem to lift when we play stronger teams so it’s not the worst outcome
easy easy easy!! last season we ended up also as second. and finished where??
So relax. And lets pray for Wolfsburg!!
Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Chelsea/Porto/Dynamo Kiev. All teams we could defeat. Just gotta avoid Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Madrid doesnt scare me.
Gad to see Man U got eliminated … Bahahaha.
Hate him or love him, Cuadrado should start RWB every 3-5-2 game. He’s more dangerous than Licht, who hasnt been up to his average this season, moreso after the surgery. With Barzagli and his incredible positioning at RCB, it doesn’t matter too much if Cuadrado attacks a bit more. And thats what we need in the 3-5-2, more attack. Sandro brings that as well.
Shit result. And of course it just had to be Llorente who did it..
At least we can hope for a favourable draw in the last 16. Barca and Bayern have to be avoided or we are fucked already. Real Madrid can go either way