‘IT’S LIKE A FINAL’
Atletico meet Juventus in a clash of high stakes
MASSIMILIANO Allegri told Juventus not to be afraid of Atletico Madrid but for one of these teams their worst fears in this season’s Champions League are about to become a reality.
Crashing out in the last 16 would be unthinkable for two clubs that were among the favourites when the draw for the knockout stages was made in December.
“Those that have ambition are not afraid,” Allegri said, after his side were drawn to play Atletico, with the first leg today.
“It’s like a final, we cannot put a foot wrong,” Atletico boss Diego Simeone said.
Juventus and Atletico Madrid have reached 12 European Cup finals between them, with last season’s game in Kiev the first in five years in which neither had featured.
Atletico went on to win the Europa League instead, proving themselves too strong for Europe’s second-tier competition, while Juventus were dumped out by eventual winners Real Madrid, undone by a controversial Cristiano Ronaldo penalty in the 98th minute.
There was understandable relief, as well as joy, when the Portugese switched sides last summer and now, there is belief. Ronaldo has not finished in single figures for goals in the Champions league since 2011.
As Barcelona star Lionel Messi said: “They already had a good team and now they have Cristiano Ronaldo.”
But with anticipation comes pressure.
Juventus, unbeaten in the Serie A with only six points dropped and 13 points clear at the top, are on course to win an eighth consecutive Scudetto but this is the one trophy they crave.
Miss out again and it will be 23 years since they last lifted Europe’s premier prize, this time with its most prolific player ever among their ranks.
Allegri, however, has tried to play down expectations.
“It’s not the case that Ronaldo has come in and we’ll win for certain,” he said recently. “It takes respect too. We’re working to win, but there are the other teams who want to win as well.”
“It would be madness to say that we are runaway favourites to win the Champions League. We have an objective, to bring home the trophy — if we play well and are lucky.”
Atletico’s own record signing last summer, Thomas Lemar, was not even born when Gianluca Vialli hoisted the trophy in 1996 for the Italians but expectation weighs heavy on them too.
Atletico have the chance to play a final at home this year, at the Metropolitano Stadium, and not only snatch the cup away from rivals Real but do it in the city they both call their own.
“Of course we are inspired by playing a final in our own stadium, in our own city, in front of our own fans,” Simeone, who extended his contract as Atletico coach until 2022 last week, said. “But it is pointless only to imagine it. The reality will be what we deserve.”
Winning a trophy on their own patch would be even better.
“It’s an extra motivation for us and for the fans. The road to get there will be tough but we’ll give it our all,” World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann said.