TOP TEAMS CLASH
JUVENTUS coach Massimiliano Allegri believes that defending is just as much an art form as attacking and advises anyone who wants to watch a show to go to the circus.
The dominant force in Italian football, Juventus will take on the role of underdogs when they host Barcelona’s array of creative talent in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal today.
Yet while Barca boast Europe’s most spectacular strikeforce, Juve have arguably the continent’s best defence, based on the “BBC” lineup of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, underpinned by veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Juventus, well on course for a sixth successive Italian title, have conceded only two Champions League goals this season and just 20 in 31 Serie A games, making them a tough nut to crack even for Barcelona’s prolific trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
Despite this, Allegri has faced criticism that his side have often had to grind out results rather than winning in style, but he reckons such comments make him smile rather than anger him.
“Football is very simple and consists of two aspects that you have to do well – attacking and defending,” he said.
“There’s no shame in being good at defending. In fact, it’s just as beautiful as a great attacking move.
“I am very happy for those who can turn football into a show but, as far as I’m concerned, if you want to see a show, you should go to the circus.”
Not that the omens are too promising for Allegri, who has already faced Barcelona nine times, including eight Champions League meetings in three seasons when he was coach of AC Milan, and managed just one win.
Milan were knocked out 3-1 on aggregate in the 2011-12 quarterfinals, then lost 4-2 on aggregate in the round of 16 the following season despite winning the first leg 2-0 at San Siro.
He also faced them as Juventus coach in the 2014-15 final when Barcelona won 3-1 but the phlegmatic coach remains undeterred.
Meanwhile, despite their attacking qualities, Borussia Dortmund and Monaco face similar concerns as they prepare for their quarterfinal first leg tomorrow, with both having their defensive frailties brutally exposed in recent weeks.
No side had ever advanced through a knockout tie conceding six goals but swashbuckling Monaco threw caution to the wind to oust Manchester City, netting three away goals in a 5-3 defeat in the first leg before running out 3-1 winners at home to advance on away goals. Youngster Kylian Mpabbe has been a revelation, while Radamel Falcao, 31, is enjoying a new lease on life after appearing to put his fitness problems behind him.
Dortmund, with sevengoal frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the way, broke the record for goals scored in the competition’s group stage when they netted 21 to finish in top spot above Real Madrid, after a group-stage campaign that included an 8-4 demolition of Legia Warsaw.
Against Benfica in the round of 16, they also demonstrated their offensive class to come back from a 1-0 first-leg defeat and win 4-0 at home.
Like Monaco, Dortmund have enjoyed the emergence of a talented sensation, with French international Ousmane Dembele, 19, contributing five assists in his maiden European campaign.
While there are no doubts about either side’s attacking quality ahead of their first competitive meeting, both have recently been brutally exposed defensively against highquality opposition.
Monaco have conceded eight goals in their last two away games and 13 in their entire Champions League campaign – more than any of the other quarterfinalists – and they were crushed 4-1 by Paris St Germain in the League Cup final on April 1.
Dortmund were outclassed 4-1 by Bayern Munich at the weekend and it is little surprise coach Thomas Tuchel predicts both sides will look to play to their strengths today.