For Europe’s truly giant clubs, the concept of a “big week” doesn’t really exist. The stature of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and co. means that every game is a “must win” and losses are simply not tolerated. As far as supporters, the media and even the teams themselves are concerned, two matches without a victory would be deemed a crisis and a season without silverware is almost unthinkable.
Yet even in these most intense environments, there are times during a campaign when the pressure is ratcheted higher still, and for Juventus the end of the current international break signals one of those moments.
The Bianconeri return to their Vinovo training complex knowing that the next two weeks will go a long way to defining how their 2017/18 experience is remembered. After weeks of playing before Napoli, their title rivals kick off before them on Saturday in what should be a relatively straightforward clash with relegation-threatened Sassuolo. Should they clinch a win, the Partenopei would move one point ahead at the top of the Serie A table, and they will do so knowing Juve then face a resurgent AC Milan side later than evening.
Gennaro Gattuso has inspired his old club to rediscover the gritty determination that has always been his hallmark, and the Rossoneri have not lost a domestic fixture since mid-December. Dangerous, and eager to show their improvement is no mirage, they will arrive at Juventus Stadium as most opponents do; with a point to prove and playing as if it were a cup final.
That is nothing new for the home side, but even with the Scudetto in the balance, Max Allegri’s men could be forgiven for having one eye on their next outing, Real Madrid set to visit Turin just 72 hours later. That first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal not only has a place in the last four of the competition at stake, but also presents an opportunity to redress the balance after the Spanish outfit tore them to shreds in last year’s final.
An abject display in Cardiff resulted in a 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Los Merengues, but Juve will be aware that they have never lost to Real over two legs. It is a proud record, but one which is ultimately meaningless as Allegri cannot name “Ancient History” as part of his starting XI. What he can do is employ the same tactical acumen that helped him overcome the same opponent in the 2015 semifinal and indeed Barca at this same stage last term. The Juve boss has shown he is capable of judging such ties perfectly, but the club’s philosophy also plays a major factor, as Miralem Pjanić explained in a recent interview with Il Messaggero.
“Here you feel like a winner because you breathe it from the walls. [President] Andrea Agnelli spoke about it the first day I arrived at Vinovo,” said the Bosnian midfielder. “You turn around and you see all the trophies. Success is in the DNA of this club. The quality of the players is fundamental and it certainly helps, but you also need big personalities in the dressing room. [Gigi] Buffon, [Giorgio] Chiellini, [Andrea]Barzagli are used to winning and can transfer that desire to others.”
Clearly having a squad full of such characters – not to mention top quality players like Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa – helps, but it didn’t make much difference when Juve last faced Real Madrid, nor when they were held 0-0 by SPAL in their last league game. If the team play the way they did on those two occasions, these matches against Milan and the Spanish giants will be over quickly.
Both opponents will be desperate to win, both have the quality to punish any mistake, and both would enjoy nothing more than earning a victory over the Old Lady. “Real are the toughest team we could’ve been drawn, given they’re the current European champions,” Blaise Matuidi told Canal+ last week. “They’ll be two big games. The first game will be at home and we must try to win it, although we have the quality to do so.”
They will and they do, but for the Bianconeri the time for talking is over. Milan and Madrid present dangerous obstacles which must be overcome if they are to enjoy tangible success this term, and how Juventus fare will show just how good they truly are.
