First blood goes to the Germans

You live and learn…

Okay so the game yesterday didn’t go exactly to plan, with Bayern Munich getting the opener in the first 25 seconds! What does make me worry a bit is that Juventus seemed to be frighten and that is not what we’ve come to expect from the Italian champions, I've always expected them to put up a decent fight and the fact that they didn't shocked me.

The wonderful people at Sky were the only broadcasters that were showing it and because I can’t afford Sky Sports, well I had to make do with the reports online. And what I could gleam from these reports is that Juve were nervous and let that get the better of them, and the fact that many of the players played against Inter on the weekend, certainly didn’t help!

Antonio Conte seemed to have gotten his game plan wrong; he went for a 4-5-1-1 formation, a formation that the players were unfamiliar with and uncomfortable with. I have always viewed Conte as a smart man and a person who know when to stick or change, but after hearing his press conference I feel a little befuddled. He claims that he had the right approach to the game and that Bayern are just a very good side, yes they are a very good side but you are The Grand Old Lady and should have had more than  8 shots with only 2 on goal to Bayern’s 22 shots and 9 on goal. 

Conceding a goal so early in the game was a sign that all the build up to the game and nerves had gotten the best of them and to be fair to Juve, they did react, just not as clinically and ruthlessly as we would have hoped.

Throughout the entire game Bayern had over 50% possession to Juve’s 43%. Stats that many Bianconeri faithful are not used to seeing.  What was good for the Turin Giant is that they only conceded 2, when it could have been a lot more. The second leg is going to be difficult as Juve couldn’t seem to find an away goal and that two of their regulars; Arturo Vidal and Stephen Litchsteiner will miss the second leg in Turin due to suspension.

Yet all hope is not lost and even if they are knocked out, it is all part of the learning process and these lads are young and relatively new to the Champions League. There is no shame of losing to the German Giants, all I want to see is that fight and never say die attitude that has become synonymous with Juventus.