Max Allegri explains his Juventus choices against Malmo, but also warns the Italian media is excessive in positive and negative treatment of clubs. ‘We leap from total disaster to being revived from death, but it’s neither one.’
It kicks off at 17.45 GMT at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin.
You can follow the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
Champions League Liveblog: Juventus-Malmo, Atalanta-Villarreal
There are quite a few surprises in the starting XI, as Moise Kean was said to be in doubt with an ankle issue, but he starts rather than Alvaro Morata.
“Kean is fine, Morata has played a lot lately. Koni De Winter is a young lad who is ready for a game like this, we made some changes in midfield with a side that must try to win,” the coach told Sky Sport Italia.
“I am happy that Mattia Perin is playing. Daniele Rugani has done well when called upon, Arthur has his second start tonight after Verona, so needs to get minutes in his legs. We will need everyone to be in good shape.”
Juventus and Inter have already qualified for the Champions League Round of 16, while Atalanta could follow tonight if they beat Villarreal.
After Milan went out of Europe entirely, Allegri said the media response has tended to go too far one way or the other.
“Up until the other night, people said Italian teams were level with all the others, then last night Milan lost to Liverpool. Right now, the English clubs, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG are stronger than the others.
“Milan had a tough Champions League, Atalanta are in the running and we hope they can reach the Round of 16. Inter are already there, so are we, I consider it positive.
“The problem is that in Italy we leap from considering our teams a total disaster or being revived from death. We are neither one, nor the other, it’s just a growth process and at this moment there are teams a step above. We just have to acknowledge that.”
Allegri and Nedved-Absolutely correct. A few weeks ago everybody with Allegri this and that when instead we are supposed to support the coach!
Also keep doing your disciplinarian tactics on the players, that stuff works look at Conte’s approach. And please ban candies, chips, cotton candy, ketchup, pizzas, etc. Please ban that from the canteens.
That is why Don Allegri is a genius. He is already getting the excuse ready if they meet Lille, Salzburg or Sporting. The maestro will be carefully reading through the bus parking manual and his catenaccio bible.
Fair comments by Allegri.
Potentially 3 of the 4 Italian clubs can advance. The only one not being Milan who decided to not show up yesterday.
Yet, only 1 of the 4 Bundesliga will go through. No Russian, Swedish, Turkish, Greek.
Behind the Prempiership? Sure. But not as doom and gloom as making it out to be.
The low percentage of Italians in ‘A’ is the bigger concern for me.
Allegri has a point.But the truth here is that all Italian clubs are likely to go out in the next stage like they did last season. Inter and Juve will likely face a a group winner which will be tough for them. I believe our league is too slow. Serie A players like CR7,Lukaku,Donnarumma do well when they go abroad so it is not about Quality.We have talented teams and players and coaches but the finances and facilities are in bad condition so we cannot compete at the ELITE Club level. Even if Inter,Juve and Atalanta get through,none of them has a chance at even reaching the semis.
That is the sad state of Club Calcio right now.
A potential Italy v Portugal and Juventus v Chelsea is going to make for a crazy March 2022. Damn.
Possible Zenit 3-3, LOL
@Brandon: juve can’t face Chelsea in the round of 16 !
Juve can face Atletico Madrid and PSG, which will be hella fun.
I am so glad that even though Juve drew the defending Champions League winners we still came in First ! And Juve did that because it does not take Juve over 10 years to beat a Pot A team in Champions League unlike Inter !!!
Thankfully Juve has no possibility of facing Bayern/Liverpool/Man CIty next round unlike Interisti – if you have beat a Pot B team in over 2 years imagine facing these 3 teams !!!!
@ I miss Marco Branca
Yes, of course. Meant to write Manure. Accidentally wrote Chelsea.
Could have been a March that would have seen the Juve block of Italy play CR7 on 2 fronts.
Also, meant to write. OK, fine, Milan had a rough go in the UCL (various reasons we all know about) but those swines Atletico Madrid are an embarrassment to football. Every match they are up to no good, the cynicism, the clutching of the faces, goading Porto into Red Cards. They were not like this a few years ago.
All under the guidance of Cholo Simeone who was all that and more as a player and insists to manage his teams to play as he did. Bring us (Juve) Atletico. Their act will run out sooner or later.