Galatasaray leave Euro Juventus with backs to the wall

Date: 3rd October 2013 at 11:00pm
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Juventus squandered another result in the Champions League, making it an uphill task from here.

Juventus squandered another result in the Champions League, making it an uphill task from here.

There was an Italian team on the pitch in Turin this midweek, but judging by their performance, it wasn’t Juventus.

Instead it was Roberto Mancini’s Galatasaray, running out for their baptism of fire under their new coach away to the Serie A juggernauts in the Champions League, that looked more the part in the 2-2 draw.

For 90 minutes, the lions from Istanbul appeared unmistakably more composed, assertive, gritty and clinical where it mattered; everything their hosts should have been but were not.

Paradoxically, it was Juventus who failed to shift into gear against a team that were trounced 6-1 by Real Madrid only two weeks ago. Despite boasting 27 attempts on goal, 11 corners and the bulk of possession, the Bianconeri mustered little by comparison in terms of end result to show for their endeavour.

Juventus succumbed to situations that neither reflected the dominance exerted nor the overall quality of her team. Following the prior debacle against Copenhagen when they naively conceded at a set-piece, Antonio Conte was left to watch in horror again as his side were undone by comic defensive blunders, first when trailing behind then later at conceding an equaliser at the death.

Bullied into submission for the most on Wednesday, Leonardo Bonucci and Mauricio Isla stood out as their outfit’s unlikely Achilles heels – the pair now being left to draw enlightenment from their Turkish counterparts Aurelien Chedjou and Hakan Balta, who epitomised strength and stability at the back on the night.

The uncharacteristic shortcomings at the back have lead Juventus to showcase their typical propensity to battle and fight back, but crucially like they are missing the conviction of believing they can get the win. Too often in Group B this term, Conte’s men have looked indecisive and casual on the warpath, taking one touch too many here, or attempting neat flicks that never come off there.

And when that has failed to rouse them from their slumber and as scoring opportunities go begging, the Turin outfit have not been able to dig deep down within themselves to bring alternatives to the table. Insipid, pedestrian and lacklustre in Europe till now, Juventus were most lately given a timely reminder of the killer instinct, basic intent and blunt effectiveness taken to go forward by one of the tournament’s luminaries, Didier Drogba.

Antonio Conte faces the unenviable task of galvanising his men ahead of a double showdown with Real Madrid.

Antonio Conte faces the unenviable task of galvanising his men ahead of a double showdown with Real Madrid.

It’s perilous to claim the Turin giants have been content to stand on ceremony in the initial two rounds, but in the second fixture one would already expect them to show more of what they’re capable of. Though not yet possessing the A-list squad capabilities of their contemporaries, the encounters with Copenhagen and Galatasaray were still battles Juventus could have feasibly won by some margin.

Instead, the most recent soulless performance served up a mere gesture when what circumstances really demanded was a statement of intent to alleviate the growing sighs and tangible frustration. Rather than reaping the rewards of their world-class signings like Carlos Tevez by continuously upping the tempo, they’ve been dogged by inherent schoolboy issues that have no place within a worthy Champions League contender.

Qualification to the knockout stages might not be out of Conte’s hands yet – a repeat of last season’s group stage miracle when Juventus followed three opening draws to subsequently top the group comes to mind – but the odds are decidedly stacked this time, with a double header facing Madrid looming.

Juventus aimed to galvanise their renewed ambitions by exploiting the serious weaknesses of their opponents; Copenhagen as struggling minnows and a Galatasaray in disarray that led to Fatih Terim’s sacking. But it is the Old Lady of Italian football to have emerged the worst for wear and suffering the greatest weakness of them all – not seizing the golden opportunities that have fallen in her lap to go neck-to-neck on six points with principal rivals Real before their decisive encounters commence.

With the underdog status discarded and the invaluable element of surprise they enjoyed in their favour last time round lost, the honeymoon phase of returning to the Champions League has ceased. By far Serie A’s most equipped representative, greater feats are expected of Italy’s present venerable challengers.

Conte must be wary that Europe’s premier club competition does not suffer fools gladly. With their backs to the wall and ensuing progress to the final 16 at stake, the 44-year-old must now harness the collective strength of his men as the battle of the group stages approaches its zenith, for only when Juventus go for broke will they come out with riches.

Follow Jeremy Lim on Twitter: @JLCalcio

 

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