CL: Deportivo - Juventus (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Len
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Deportivo - Juventus Preview (Part 1)
First knock-out Round
25 February 2004
20:45 (CET)Riazor - La Coruña
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Juve will be visting Deportivo's Raizor stadium for the umpteenth time on Wednesday in another Italian-Spanish European encounter. The Juve players must be familiar with the stadium's surroundings and locker rooms already as they continually face Deportivo during different stages of the competition.
Since 2000, Juve have won once, Deportivo once, and 4 matches ended in a draw. That's how close it could be whenever Juve meets Deportivo. Last season's first match in La Coruna ended in a 2-2 draw but Juve had the upper hand and won the return match 3-2 with a last gasp winner from Igor Tudor.
Deportivo have shown a contrasting display between playing at home and away. At home, the Spanish team was formidable, never conceded a goal, and won all three matches played during the group stages (2-0 vs PSV, 1-0 vs. Monaco, and 3-0 vs. AEK Athens). However, the floodgates were wide open on the team travels as the team was heavily exposed in the record breaking 3-8 defeat against Monaco, not to mention the 2-3 blow to PSV and the unconvincing 1-1 draw in Athens.
Juve however have been more balanced in the group stages as the team was able to win both at home and away from the Delle Alpi. Juve started the European adventure with a win against tough opponents Galatasaray 2-1 at home before winning away with the same scoreline against Olympiakos. After that Juve defeated Spain's Real Soceidad 4-2 and snatched a 0-0 away draw that secured qualification. And despite a loss in Turkey, Juve bounced back emphatically and the victims were Olympiakos who suffered a backlash of 7 goals scored by six different players without a reply.
Juve's defence have been criticized heavily this season for leaking many a goals this season as compared to the past seasons. Every move made by the Bianconeri defenders will be put under the microscope from now on. However, the defenders have improved recently, keeping a double clean sheet in the league ad also having enough time to score themselves and win matches (Iuliano against Bologna). A heavy guest to Spanish grounds in the form of Alessandro Birindelli will be missing though, much to the relief of the Galicians. However, other than Birindelli Lippi should have the compete squad to chose from. Juve's defence should be made up of the following players:
-- Thuram – Legrottaglie – Montero --- Zambrotta --
I can't see Camoranesi and Maresca both starting this match as Lippi is expected to play a defensive approach with a midfield line-up that includes both Tacchinardi and Appiah. Tacchinardi missed the Bologna win as he was suspended and didn't join the Azzurri for the International friendly against the Czechs. A well deserved rest one would say. Anyway, I think our midfield would look something like this:
--------------------- Tacchi --------------------
---- Appiah -------------------- Maresca ----
--------------------- Nedved ----------------
The key to the game now is to score away goals. That would be extremely crucial in progressing to the next stage, thus a lot of effort is expected from Alex Del Piero and David Trezeguet. The Treviso-born star thrives on outwitting defenders and is a major threat from free-kicks. The French hitman, however, is a deadly finisher and after resting a match with Juve and skipping the International friendly for France would be eager to resume duty and score goals again. Expected attack line:
------ Trezeguet ------- Del Piero --------
So, will Deportivo continue their winning tradition at the Raizor or will Lippi's boys prove too hot to handle? Admittedly, both teams are no where near their top form but a Champions League place in the quarterfinals is at stake here and as such both teams will be fighting until death tears them apart.
Quote by IceBlu:
The positive sign for Juve is that the team didn't let in any goals in the last 2 games so thats something to build on.
Dude, we played Bologna and Reggina. Give me a break !!!!!
This is Deportivo, a much more offensive team than the mid-table sides we have beaten in the last few weeks
Depor will attack, attack, attack !!!!!
The ONLY chance we have is to match them offensively
If we get a lead late in the game, we cannot shut our offense down ala Catenaccio. Our defense doesnt have the skill or discipline to do that anymore. We MUST keep attacking, and go for the knockout punch !!!!!!
Still, I'm doubtful...
Depor 3 Juve 1
The positive sign for Juve is that the team didn't let in any goals in the last 2 games so thats something to build on.
Dude, we played Bologna and Reggina. Give me a break !!!!!
This is Deportivo, a much more offensive team than the mid-table sides we have beaten in the last few weeks
Depor will attack, attack, attack !!!!!
The ONLY chance we have is to match them offensively
If we get a lead late in the game, we cannot shut our offense down ala Catenaccio. Our defense doesnt have the skill or discipline to do that anymore. We MUST keep attacking, and go for the knockout punch !!!!!!
Still, I'm doubtful...
Depor 3 Juve 1
I think vin-man and dpforever made great posts.
Lippi said Juve are focusing more on CL this year so im expecting to see the same Juve that did so well against Socidad, not the one we've been seeing in the league. Against bologna Juve showed some sighns of what to expect against Depor, They had some great spells in which some great football was played but i dont think it will be just spells that are going to be great against Depor i think Juve are gonna play great from the start till the finish and leave us with something to look forward to at the deli alpi. I would like to see the same line out that DP forever is thinking of for the first leg and maybe in the secon leg camoransi will take appiah's place, because he was great against Bologna.
I would also like to see Miccoli play a role in at least one of the games.
my guess for both games is:
3-3 and 3-1
Lippi said Juve are focusing more on CL this year so im expecting to see the same Juve that did so well against Socidad, not the one we've been seeing in the league. Against bologna Juve showed some sighns of what to expect against Depor, They had some great spells in which some great football was played but i dont think it will be just spells that are going to be great against Depor i think Juve are gonna play great from the start till the finish and leave us with something to look forward to at the deli alpi. I would like to see the same line out that DP forever is thinking of for the first leg and maybe in the secon leg camoransi will take appiah's place, because he was great against Bologna.
I would also like to see Miccoli play a role in at least one of the games.
my guess for both games is:
3-3 and 3-1
My Lord the CL is back!! After months of waiting in vain it's finally here! I even skipped school today just to welcome it! 
anyway
With or without Makaay or whatever, Deportivo scares the shite out of me. They may not seem as strong as previous seasons, but they're still strong. The greatest mistake Juve could ever do is underestimating them. Let's hope not.
CHEERS to Champions League!!
anyway
With or without Makaay or whatever, Deportivo scares the shite out of me. They may not seem as strong as previous seasons, but they're still strong. The greatest mistake Juve could ever do is underestimating them. Let's hope not.
CHEERS to Champions League!!