Juventus vs Monaco: Five ways Monaco can pull off an unlikely comeback

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  • Last Wednesday, the slick Monaco attack came unstuck against Juventus’ impeccable defence, leaving the French side a mountain to climb in order to qualify for the Champions League final.

    As they head into Tuesday’s decisive second leg at Juventus Stadium, here’s a look at five things they can do to overturn the 2-0 deficit.

    Force the issue early on

    Leonardo Jardim’s side started the first leg very much on the front foot with Kylian Mbappe lively and stretching the Juventus defence in the opening 10 minutes. They maybe caught Juve a little cold but after that the Bianconeri backline readjusted and succeeded at limiting any space Mbappe and Radamel Falcao had to operate behind the defence.

    Jardim has something of a conundrum on Tuesday as he needs to attack and force the issue but can’t leave his own fragile defence too exposed as one Juventus goal will almost certainly kill the tie for good.

    The counter-argument to that, of course, is that by trying to rattle the Italians early on, Monaco can try and dictate the pace. But for this to succeed, they simply have to score inside the first 10-20 minutes.

    Jardim has stayed largely true to his 4-4-2 with Falcao and Mbappe his favoured pairing for much of the last few months, and he continued that in the 3-0 win at Nancy on Saturday. Valere Germain is an option as a third forward but with a focus on fast play in transition, playing him and Falcao together could prove counter-productive.

    Leonardo Jardim.

    Leonardo Jardim.

    Stop the influence of Alves

    The Brazilian was simply sensational at the Stade Louis II. Pushed further forward as an auxiliary winger, he tore Monaco full-back Djibril Sidibe apart.

    With doubts over regular left-back Benjamin Mendy’s fitness, there’s every reason to suggest Sidibe will start again and Juve coach Max Allegri will target him with Alves. Responsibility then falls on left-midfielder/winger Thomas Lemar to give his team-mate some additional protection by tracking Alves’ runs and double-teaming him in possession.

    That, of course, opens up space for others in black and white to exploit – Juan Cuadrado stands out – but Monaco simply cannot afford to give Alves the sort of space they afforded him in the first leg.

    Draw a big game from each of their talented trio

    As simple as it sounds, Mbappe, Lemar and Bernardo Silva need to click when in possession. Mbappe and Silva showed flashes in the first leg they can damage the Italian champions but the threat needs to be more consistent.

    Lemar, on the other hand, had a bit of a stinker a week ago and will be keen to make amends. Mbappe is cementing his status as a generational talent and, based on his performances against Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, will relish playing in Turin and with the need to score goals against such a legendary figure as Gianluigi Buffon.

    He has the legs on Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli – as he does most defenders. The key will be if he can isolate them and receive the service required. That then falls on Lemar and Silva who knit everything together in terms of turning possession into purposeful attacking play.

    Juve did a bit of a number on Lemar in the first leg, forcing him to stay wide and cross rather than drift inside and pick passes through to Mbappe or Falcao. It’s a test for the 21-year-old to avoid that trap and try and exert greater influence on the tie.

    Mbappe.

    Mbappe.

    Sensible transition defence

    As clinical as both Juve’s goals were last week, both were largely avoidable had Monaco’s defence kept their heads. Higuain’s first arrived as too many Monaco defenders got sucked towards the ball, allowing their men to take a touch, spin and dart into the open space. Tiemoue Bakayoko also totally lost Gonzalo Higuain, looking at the ball as the Argentine moved past his left shoulder.

    This is all based on instinct and human nature but Monaco have to expect Juve to attack them when they lose the ball, they just fundamentally have to ensure they are able to switch their men defensively and not leave so many wide open spaces.

    Unless they do concede, it’s unlikely Juve will want to commit too many men forward themselves – they don’t need to – but there is considerable responsibility on central midfielders Bakayoko and Fabinho to help their defenders if they get drawn away from position.

    Hope for the best

    Juve have conceded just four goals at home from open play in Serie A and none in the Champions League; they are as formidable a defensive side as we have seen since the glory days of Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello’s AC Milan. Even if Monaco play to their absolute maximum and Juve misfire at the other end, there’s everything to suggest that this tie still finished 0-0.

    With their inexperience, insecurity and doubt may slip in if things don’t go according to plan initially but they absolutely have to keep believing because something could always turn their way: an injury, a booking, a penalty decision, a refereeing error… maybe, just maybe, even an individual mistake.

    As long as they stay in the contest any of that could feasibly happen, even against a team like Juventus.

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