Allegri still believes in miracle
On the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg showdown at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid tonight, Juventus' iconic goalkeeper Gigi Buffon spoke about his side's slim chances of having to remount a 3-0 home first leg loss a week ago in Turin.
"During the first leg, I believe that we were still in the game until we lost Dybala through a red card. However, the game was characterised by episodes which, like Cardiff, every time everything went wrong for us and this obviously had an impact on the result.
"In Madrid, we will be playing with the same pride we have always played since we are Juventus. Our aim is always to try to get the best result ever. We will not be focusing to do the impossible, but rather will be focusing on giving our best and in the end we will hope for the best. I am aware that there are other games that, during the second leg, changed the score completely, however, this also depends on the consistency which the opponent plays and this is a huge variable. We have to go into this important match not to expect the worst but hoping for the best. That will be our philosophy of the game for tomorrow."
When asked if this might be his last champions league game, Buffon answered briskly: "If I had to sign for Juventus knowing that I would finish up in such a scenario I would do it all again. It fills me with positivity. Who would have told a young Buffon that he might end his Champions League career at the Bernabeu?"
Buffon was asked if Cristiano Ronaldo is the complete player at the moment. "With regards to Ronaldo, I am not sure whether he is currently the best player I have ever played against. However, for sure, right now, he is the most decisive bomber who scores at a phenomenal rate."
Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegrii: "Our duty is to cancel the 3-0 result of the first game. To do this, we will be playing a tight game and hope to do the impossible. What will change in this game, in difference to the first game, is that Dybala will not be playing and therefore I can choose only from three attackers instead of doue. Higuain will surely play apart from either Cuadrado or Mandzukic.
"It will also be important that we also play a defensive game since we know that Real Madrid have the experience to know that anything can happen in the game. Our aim for the game will be to play a great game and cancel the undeserved 3-0 of the first game."
Cold, rainy wintry conditions in Madrid will be welcoming Italian champions Juventus who will surely be facing a hostile reception from the local big crowd when on Wednesday evening they will again come up against the might of Uefa Champions League holders and Spanish champions Real Madrid on home soil at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain.
Trailing 3-0 after the first leg in Turin, the Italians still feel they are very much into it. Football can be very unpredictable and yes anything can happen but Juve have probably got to put up an extraterrestrial performance to see them through to the last four of the competition. Top Gear On the contrary the Spanish giants have kicked in top gear at the right moment despite their failings in La Liga this season. With their biggest rivals Barcelona well on course to lift the Spanish title, Real have launched on their full force to go on and lift Europe's top prize for a third year running.
All eyes will again be on Cristiano Ronaldo after his wonder goal in Turin, but besides the Portuguese genius there will be quite a good number of other big names on show on the night.
Frenchman Zinedane Zidane took over the Galacticos in January 2016 and since then he has adjudicated no less than eight trophies under his belt - quite an extraordinary feat.