Santoriello case, Juve rage and tonight he plays against Salernitana

TURIN. Shocked by the Santoriello case, with those sentences from the Turin prosecutor bouncing on social media and infuriating Juventus fans, Juventus tries to consolidate even more. Not only in view of the upcoming criminal and sporting trials, but also and above all on the field.

Tonight the bianconeri are playing in Salerno and they want to get back to winning ways after all that has happened. Living hand to mouth has become a necessity rather than a virtue for this Juventus that moves in the limbo of a ranking (and a future) yet to be deciphered.

“We don’t know how this matter of the penalty will end – explains Massimiliano Allegri – and therefore we have to do well on the pitch: there are no alibis and now let’s throw our heads into the championship”. The goal of climbing Serie A, day after day, animates a team that continues to fall apart (in addition to Pogba, Bonucci and Milik, Paredes has been added to the injured list) and is forced to return to victory after making a only point in the last three games. «We have 23 points – the Juventus coach reiterates – and now we have to reach 40 for safety: I know it’s funny, but that’s how it is. We need to set ourselves goals and now ours is to take 12th place and then climb forward».

One eye on the comeback and another to watch their backs, where Salernitana – just two lengths behind – tonight dreams of the big shot to overtake the black and whites in the standings. “Due to the virtual situation that Juventus has – underlines Davide Nicola – it can be considered a direct confrontation, but we all know their value”. In his career, the Turin coach and Turin supporter has never beaten Juve (7 defeats in 9 previous matches) nor Allegri (5 knockouts and 2 draws), but is looking for an historic first time also thanks to the push of Arechi’s 27,000 fans. A sold out capable of complicating the plans of the black and whites, even more so after that -15 still to be metabolized on a mental level and returned to resonate in the black and white world after Santoriello’s sentences, even if usually these “alone against all” matches exalt the men of Allegri.

It will be a battle in Salerno and so the super trident will only be used if necessary, given that yesterday a 3-5-1-1 was tried with Angel Di Maria behind Dusan Vlahovic, while De Sciglio will be on the wings ( “He’s fine physically and emotionally: social media shouldn’t really be considered,” says the coach) and Kostic and the defense will be all-Brazilian with captain Danilo, Bremer and Alex Sandro. The midfield, on the other hand, revolves around Locatelli with Miretti (who made his Serie A debut against Salernitana last spring) ahead of Fagioli. “The more technical players we have the better – Allegri explains, also quoting Chiesa -, but everyone must make themselves available otherwise we won’t hold up”. Balance first of all, then goals from the attack and in particular from Vlahovic are needed. His last goal for black and white is 115 days old and away from Turin he hasn’t scored since April 2022: an eternity for someone like him, but now there’s one more Angel protector.