MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “It’s a European Clasico.” That’s how Xabi Alonso describes Real Madrid vs. Juventus, the match valid for the third round of the Champions League. And indeed, it’s a clash that has written pages of European football history, delivering goals, emotions, but also tension and controversy.
“We’re talking about a match between two clubs that have faced each other many times – I’ve played in some of those matches myself,” recalled the Spanish coach during the press conference. “We’re coming into this very well prepared. We want to get our third win out of three in the Champions League, and to do that, we need to start on the right foot. The support of the Bernabeu will also be essential, and I know it’ll be there, because people are eager to witness big matches, and it’s up to us to give them the emotions they’re looking for.”
Xabi Alonso is fully aware that Juventus are coming off a defeat to Como, coached by his former national teammate, Cesc Fabregas. “Como played a great match, very well prepared by Fabregas. But we’re expecting a different Juve – a team we know well,” said Xabi Alonso, who also praised Nico Paz: “He made a very smart decision last year; now is not the time to think about the future.”
He then turned his focus back to tomorrow’s match. “We have to be very careful with this match against Juventus. We know that any team can be dangerous, and history tells us that as well. Juve is a great team — they are today and they have been in the past. They have many excellent players, and Yildiz is one of them. I know him, and I’ve seen how impressively he has grown. He was at Bayern Munich when I was there, and seeing his progress makes me happy,” Xabi Alonso explained.
“Beyond individual players, Juventus is a very strong team tactically. They are capable of breaking the balance of opposing sides. We will need to manage possession well and play the type of match we want to play.”
Xabi Alonso, who will be without Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Carvajal, also responded to a question about a historical encounter — the 2017 Champions League final in Cardiff, where Zidane’s Real beat Juventus 4–1.
“Zizou surely remembers it more clearly than I do, but I remember that Real dominated from start to finish and played an extraordinary match. I have great respect for Zidane,” said Xabi Alonso.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
