4-3 defeat by Benfica- Corriere.it

Madama comes out of the Champions League with a sad (but not mocking) fado: three goals scored in the first half, as had not happened at Juve since 1968, 4-1 at the start of the second half, with a crammed Estadio Da Luz around it, which already seemed a sambodromo. More than an elimination, it was a defeat. Do not deceive the 4-3 of the gong, because it was not Italy-Germany, but only a final of pride, at least, given by the youth of Soul and Iling-Junior, combined with the aim of Milik. For the rest, it was a very long night of many nightmares and few illusions, the 1-1 lasted a few minutes and the final, in fact.

And if the score saves appearances, this is not the case for the European classification which, at the moment, does not guarantee the Bianconeri even access to the Europa League.. A diabolical time machine, if Juve did not come out of the Europe they have counted for nine years, in the snow of Istanbul. Here in Lisbon, there are twenty degrees and an autumn breeze, but on the pitch, it hails. The start of Benfica the continuation of the pandemonium that exists in the stands, but by other means. Midfield and attacking midfielders, above all, impregnable, right from the start. To say, the incipit is a cross from Joao Mario, with a great closure by Cuadrado, who takes the ball off Ramos’ head. It will be the Colombian’s only positive play.

To say instead of trust, and enemy strength, Benfica allows themselves the academy after less than ten minutes, with an elegant heel in movement by Rafa Silva, a devil. Always him, in action after: fly-by and wide diagonal. For environmental osmosis already time to score, with Antonio Silva burning, with his head, Gatti. To the classic set-up of the Eagles (4-2-3-1), Allegri had opposed the latest model to come out of the Continassa bodywork, a 3-5-2 soon at a dangerously lowered center of gravity. Rabiot and McKennie never manage to take three quarters of their opponents, and between the lines Benfica makes shares. Yet, the Lady had managed to equalize after less than 4 minutes, with a Vlahovic pinball machine, a few steps from Vlachodimos, and countered by Kean, with the flying ball on the line, just on the night when the goal line tech was out of order. In fact, it takes three minutes of slow motion from the Var.

It lasts very little: Cuadrado’s galeotta (and chicken) hand, for the penalty, thrown in by Joao Mario, as in the first leg. Difficult to pass it off as a raffle of episodes, but rather it is these that will follow the rhythm, and the meaning, of the game. So much so that, at 3-1, from the TV theme, the Da Luz, all red, more than an arena looks like a volcano: yet another low cross by Joao Mario and heel by Rafa Silva, like Amantino Mancini. The fans seem to be at the funfair. Everyone starts singing Seven Nation Army, the song that has accompanied the Azzurri since the 2006 World Cup.

The second half begins as the first ended: patatrac on the Bonucci-McKennie line and second show by Rafa Silva. And when Allegri, on 25 ‘of the second half, throws in Soul and Iling-Junior for Vlahovic and Kostic, it seems the surrender: it will be a small awakening, at least of pride, with goals from Milik and McKennie, of nose and speed, what since it had been missing. Too late, so much so that Rafa Silva’s pole is closed. Juve from four knockouts in five games, the great Jos Saramago to be denied: The journey never ends. Only travelers end up. Here, it seems the terminus for many.