Nantes-Juventus is a match valid for the return leg of the play-offs for access to the Europa League round of 16 and is played on Thursday at 18:45: TV, formations, predictions.
In the autumn Juventus had repeatedly managed to complicate their lives in the Champions League and too many missteps were the cause of an elimination that made a lot of noise. The trend does not seem to be changing in the Europa League either, where the Bianconeri were relegated to third place behind Benfica and Psg in the premier competition.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Nantes, currently 13th in the French league, in the first leg of their play-off to reach the round of 16. Despite barely firing once on goal, Antoine Kombouare’s Giallorossi snatched an unhoped-for draw at the Stadium, taking advantage of Juventus’ over-passive attitude once the game had been unblocked by Vlahovic’s goal. The coach from Livorno was not at all satisfied at the end of the match and in front of the cameras – as well as denying the so-called ‘short-sightedness’ – accused his players of having fallen asleep too much, allowing the French side to catch their breath and courage.
Juventus have no alternative
Then there was a controversial episode in the final minutes of the match that could have given the victory to the Lady: the referee went to the Var monitor, ready to indicate the penalty spot for an evident foul of hand by a Nantes defender, but surprisingly decided not to concede it because of a contextual push by Bremer.
Vlahovic and Girotto
All in all, a Juventus side that was anything but lucky – they even picked up two woodwork goals – will now have to win in France to get through the round. There is no longer the away goals rule: the return leg against Nantes therefore takes on the contours of a dry game, which, if it ends in a draw again, will drag on into extra time and possibly penalties. In the championship, on the other hand, it is a different Juve: the Bianconeri are reacting to the blow of the penalty and on Sunday, against Spezia (0-2) came their third success in a row, topped by yet another clean sheet. Nantes, on the other hand, paid the price for their cup exertions by losing 3-1 at home to Lens: it was their first defeat after two successes against Ajaccio and Lorient.
Kombouare should once again adopt the five-man defence to counter the Juventus manoeuvre: the yellow-green coach’s only doubts are in midfield and in attack, where Mollet is in the ballot with Moutoussamy and Mohamed suffers competition from Guessand. On the other side, everything revolves around Chiesa: if he does not recover, it will be Di Maria again to support Vlahovic. On the right, De Sciglio will play instead, preferred to Cuadrado.
The prediction
Juventus have often disappointed in Europe so far, and in the return match they will have to reckon with the enthusiasm of the Nantes crowd, ready to push their favourites in a challenge in which they will have nothing to lose. A difficult away match, from which the Bianconeri should nevertheless emerge victorious thanks to their greater quality compared to the yellow-greens. The total goals are likely to be less than three.
The probable line-ups for Nantes-Juventus
- NANTES (3-5-2): Lafont; Girotto, Castelletto, Pallois; Centonze, Sissoko, Chirivella, Moutoussamy, Coco; Blas, Mohamed.
- JUVENTUS (3-5-1-1): Szczesny; Danilo, Bremer, Alex Sandro; De Sciglio, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Di Maria; Vlahovic.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-1
