At San Siro tonight, the current taxing schedule continues as League leaders and the only unbeaten side in the top 5 leagues in Europe currently travel to town.
It's the semi final of the Coppa Italia,a competition we are not exactly proficient in. Last season, we lost a very hard fought semi final 4-3 on aggregate to Palermo who in turn lost the final to Internazionale. Overall, we've won it only five times, with the last win all the way back in 2003; any wonder we've never done the domestic double?
This clash with Juventus comes at a rather inopportune moment, as I mentioned earlier. Not only is it just a couple of weeks before the Scudetto showdown with the Biaconeri, it's sandwiched during a tight spot in the Serie A fixture list, just a week before a make or break Champions League tie; and at a time when Allegri can barely call upon 20 players for a game, so filled is the treatment room at Milanello.
For the game itself, it should be a cagey affair. Being a cup game and just as a short precursor to the real meeting on the 26th, neither manager would like to show their hands too much. Conte has already stated that he would give all his January signings a run out; a prestigious cast featuring a certain Marco Borriello who I'm sure we all fondly remember. Juventus are currently on a roll, unbeaten in all competitions this season and playing a brand of harrying football based on tremendous work ethic and the genius of Andrea Pirlo. So far their luck seem to be holding, and while I keep telling mysellf nothing lasts forever, and that they should run into a brick wall sooner or later, they seem to be holding out very well. Who knows, we can precipitate that free fall by hhanding them their first loss tonight, something easier said than done.
TEAM NEWS:
Allegri has called up 19 men for the game, which is the best he can do now with his injury list.
Amelia, Roma, Abate, Antonini, Bonera, Mesbah, Mexes, Silva, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Cristante, Emmanuelson, Seedorf, van Bommel, El Shaarawy, Ibrahimovic, Inzaghi, Maxi, Robinho
INJURIES
Cassano, Abbiati, Yepes, Nesta, Gattuso,Strasser, Flamini, Boateng, Aquilani, Merkel, and Pato.
Juventus boss Antonio Conte has named 22 players for the trip
Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres, Marchisio, Del Piero, De Ceglie, Manninger, Vucinic, Barzagli, Elia, Quagliarella, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Vidal, Borriello, Giaccherini, Lichtsteiner, Estigarribia, Storari, Matri, Marrone.
It's imperative we grab a win tonight; not only for enhancing our chances in the competition but to halt the recent downward slump of the team. With games against Udinese and Arsenal to follow straight away, the commitment level to thiss game wouldn't be as high as I'd like but Allegri should keep in mind that a loss is the last thing we need during such a trying period...
moonbyte
No comments:
Post a Comment