Thursday evening’s Europa League play-off clash between Juventus and Nantes at the Beaujoire Stadium is a must-win for the Bianconeri following last week’s 1-1 draw in Turin: here’s what the Serie A giants need to improve on to make it to the Round of 16.
Dusan Vlahovic’s 13th minute opener was eventually cancelled out by Ludovic Blas, who finished a swift counter-attacking move to level the game after an hour.
For Juve, a decent run in the Europa League could be their best hope in qualifying for next year’s Champions League after their recent points deduction took them down to the seventh place and 12 points adrift of the Serie A top four.
There are certain things Juventus will need to improve on if they are to progress to the next round of the competition:
- Keep the intensity levels high
According to Danilo and coach Massimiliano Allegri, Juve’s drop in intensity after going ahead allowed Nantes back into last week’s game, subsequently giving the visitors a much-needed boost in confidence.
“Clearly, we started well, moving the ball and finding the right spaces. We slowed down and they regained confidence, the Brazilian defender told Sky Sport Italia. “In Europe, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, if you don’t play with the right intensity, you will struggle.”
Allegri’s side will need to play at the highest level of intensity for the entirety of Thursday’s second-leg clash if they are to progress to the next round in the competition.
In midfield, the Bianconeri need to ensure they keep control of the ball better than they did last time out. Over the course of this season, Nantes have successfully won 76% of their tackles, compared to Juve’s 68%, whilst the French side also boast better stats in terms of interceptions and aerial duels.
- Create enough chances
The recent return of both Vlahovic has provided a major boost to Allegri and his team. The Serbian is still Juve’s top scorer this season with 10 goals across all competitions, despite being sidelined for various spells through injury.
Vlahovic converted from Federico Chiesa’s neat cut-back after the 13th minute of the first leg, however, neither are expected to start in western France, with Chiesa out of the squad altogether.
Only one of Juventus’ six shots on target came through Vlahovic during the last encounter. The Bianconeri will need to create enough opportunities in front of the goal for his replacement if they are to find their way through the Nantes back line, whether Vlahovic or Moise Kean start.
- Handle the pressure
The second-round fixture will also be a massive test of Juve’s mental strength. Allegri will need to make sure his players are able to handle the pressure and not succumb to a potentially disastrous giant killing in France.
Juve have won just one of their last nine matches in Europe, conceding an average of two goals per game during that period. Whilst Nantes are still considered the underdog, they are unbeaten in their last three in European competitions for the first time since the 2000-01 season.
Given the potential ramifications, both on and off the pitch following Juve’s latest controversies, a run in the Europa League could be crucial to their rebuild in the coming seasons.