Monaco and Juventus meet on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal. Ahead of the game, Julien Laurens and James Horncastle got to talking ...
Julien gets the debate going:
My dear James,
As you know, given you are still a young man yourself, youth is a great thing. You might lack some experience, but you have that incredible insouciance, that energy, that hunger and desire to make you achieve great things and reach summits you have never reached before.
Monaco have all of that; with an average age of 24, they are the youngest team in the Champions League this season. But they have taken the competition by storm, becoming the first team to get to the last four after having started at the third qualifying round stage, back on July 27 against Fenerbahce. They have never felt any pressure and never given up, even when they were behind at Manchester City in the first leg of the Round of 16; throughout this run, they have believed in themselves and their destiny.
You would also agree with me if I tell you that Gianluigi Buffon knows his football, no? Well, Buffon revealed this week that, 30 minutes into watching that game at the Etihad Stadium, he texted one of Juventus' directors that Monaco would reach the Champions League final this season. He knew then that the French side would be too good, even for Juve. Surely, you can't go against Gigi, can you?
Julien, mon ami,
I have a sneaking suspicion Buffon thought Juventus might make the final, as well. After all, this happens every time they play Monaco in the knockout stages. Out of kindness to you, I wasn't going to bring up 1998 and 2015, but go on, if you insist. Of course, Jules, you know Juventus' record against French teams in the Champions League: They've never once been eliminated by a team from Ligue 1 and, although Monaco can count on their full respect -- Massimiliano Allegri tweeted after the draw that it's simply not in Juventus' nature to underestimate anybody -- they will fancy themselves to reach a second final in three years.
I mean, be honest and put yourself in Juve's shoes. If you were asked to pick a semifinal opponent out of Atletico, Real and Monaco, who would you pick? Even knowing what we know now about Monaco, you'd still pick them, right? Kamil Glik said everybody makes this mistake: "They all want us, then they regret it," the ex-Torino captain warned. But Juventus remain wary. Buffon didn't want Leicester in the last round for the simple reason that everybody would expect Juve to go through comfortably and, while it's true that this matchup is more even, the psychology is similar.
Monaco have surprised people by getting this far, and they go into this tie with less pressure; they're playing with house money. (Fitting, really, given the Principality is home to the Casino Royale!) We also shouldn't forget that two years ago a very different Monaco were the most awkward opponent Juventus faced en route to the final. Allegri's side were fortunate the referee gave a penalty for a foul outside the box in Turin. Arturo Vidal converted and, in the end, that was all that separated the sides. I doubt this tie will see only one goal, though.
James, my great friend,
That is probably the only thing I will agree with you over this tie! You are right; there will be more than one goal because, unlike two seasons ago, Juventus will not keep this team quiet. It is almost impossible to do so: Monaco have scored 146 goals in all competitions this season, with 95 in Ligue 1!
When I remember the two Juventus vs. Lyon games this season -- the French club caused all sorts of problems in both matches -- I can't help but think that Monaco will get a few opportunities. That's all they need, because they have been so efficient this season. I know you keep going on about how this Juventus defence kept two clean sheets against Barcelona in the last round, but this is an average Barcelona side that should have never gone that far in the competition anyway.
Monaco have many more assets going forward, including wonderful full-backs Djibril Sidibe and Benjamin Mendy, movement from Radamel Falcao, pace from Kylian Mbappe, creativity from Thomas Lemar and Bernardo Silva and the power of Bakayoko in midfield. The danger comes from everywhere.
Jules, Jules, Jules,
That "average Barcelona side" still put six past Paris Saint-Germain, but Juve shut out Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar & Co. in back-to-back games. And as Allegri put it: "When [Andrea] Barzagli came on, we could've played a whole day and not conceded." They are unbeaten in the Champions League this season and haven't conceded in forever (531 minutes).
The Lyon game feels like a long time ago, and besides, it happened before Allegri decided over breakfast one morning to go all-in, fielding all of his attacking talent simultaneously in their new "Max-Five"/"Five Star" 4-2-3-1 formation. The spotlight really needs to shift onto the damage this Juventus attack can do to a flakey Monaco defence, because not enough people are talking about it. Like moths to the flame, it's all about Mbappe and Falcao versus Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. But Jules, are you not afraid Monaco will get burned at the other end?
I mean, how many goals have Monaco shipped up until now? Eighteen, isn't it? EIGHTEEN. Even the unfairly maligned Gonzalo Higuain might score his first Champions League knockout goal in four years. I trust in Juventus' maturity. As Allegri says, this team is able to play several games in one; they know when to defend and how to suffer, when to kick the ball into the stands, as well as when to get the ball down and play and take the game to their opponent. Their game management is excellent. Monaco, on the other hand, were 3-1 up away to City, kept attacking and lost 5-3.
Good point, James!
I am actually glad you are mentioning Juve's system, because the 4-2-3-1, with Mario Mandzukic on the left, is perfect for Monaco; there is no way he will be able to defend the Monaco full-back on his side, for example. Sami Khedira is suspended for the first leg and will leave a huge hole that Claudio Marchisio can't fill. Leonardo Jardim could even mirror the Juve system by putting Mbappe on the left instead of the centre. Monaco won't fear Juventus in this tie; they have learned so much from all the big games they have played so far and now are ready for the biggest two of all.
What, Julien?
Mandzukic unable to defend his full-back? Sacre bleu, Jules! He could defend Castle Black on his own. His spirit of sacrifice is exactly what makes this system work; he presses from the front, tracks back and does an awesome job as an auxiliary full-back. It's Samuel Eto'o for Jose Mourinho in 2010 all over again and, come on now, don't make me ask what Inter did that year? Yes, Jules, they won the treble. It's on. It's time for Juve.
Julien and James will resume their conversation after the first leg has been played!
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