Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has warned against the “deadly” passing of Barcelona as the Italian champions turned their focus to the Uefa Champions League final following their final home game of the season on Saturday.
The Turin giants welcomed Napoli to Juventus Stadium and, after overwhelming Rafa Benitez’s visitors 3-1, offered fans a tickertape celebration three days after securing their first double since 1995 with a 2-1 Coppa Italia final victory over Lazio.
Juventus now turn their attention to preparing as best they can for the formidable challenge of beating Barcelona in the final of Europe’s premier club competition in Berlin on June 6.
Barca start as favourites, and although Allegri has been cautious about Juve’s chances, the 48 year old said the Italian club are mentally prepared for the challenge.
“We’ve won the league and cup, so we’ll be going to the (Champions League) final in the right frame of mind, although you only win games out on the pitch, never before,” Allegri said.
Allegri also led AC Milan to their last league title, in 2011, in his first season in charge but saw Milan exit the Champions League in the last 16 at the hands of Barcelona, 4-2 on aggregate, in 2013.
Facing Luis Enrique’s men in the final in two weeks’ time will be a challenge made more difficult by the the “unpredictable” Lionel Messi and the team’s “deadly” passing.
“When Messi takes the ball he’s always unpredicatable,” Allegri said. “Playing Barcelona is always difficult. We have to be really good because their passing is deadly.
“Defensively, we need to play flawlessly.”
Juventus’s Serie A triumph several weeks ago, however, has allowed the champions the perfect run-in to Berlin.
Napoli travelled to Turin looking for a win that would maintain their hopes of a top-three finish and a possible place in next season’s Champions League.
But the carrot of beating what was effectively a second-string Juventus side failed to inspire Napoli, who after a bright start quickly looked out of their depth.
In the end, the visitors finished with 10 men after Miguel Britos saw red for butting striker Alvaro Morata, who partnered Kingsley Coman up front as Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez were both rested alongside Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and three of Juve’s usual four-man defence.
Allegri said his players’ performance had given him reassurances ahead of meeting Barcelona.
“The lads are in good condition and played well, especially after the interval,” he said. “They could have been a bit less fanciful, but I’m not going to blame them for that.”
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