Andrea Barzagli gets out of line on Inter, Napoli and Lazio
Andrea Barzagli gets out of line on Inter, Napoli and Lazio
A few hours before the start of the first leg matches of the Champions League round of 16, former Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli, at the microphones of the "Gazzetta dello Sport", spoke bluntly about the challenges awaiting the remaining Italian sides in Europe’s top competition. In addition, the former Azzurri player also dwelt on the ambitions of Inter, Lazio and Napoli.
"Beyond the announced farewell of Xavi, Barca has had many problems this year: it has inserted many youngsters and lost the extraordinary defensive solidity of last season. Youth, however, can also produce sudden strikes, and the club’s history in the Champions League will matter. It remains a difficult obstacle for Napoli, which is still not doing so well, because ité has not found certainty and alternates good games with less good ones. Cup matches have a story to sè, so maybe Mazzarri’s boys will be able to play a good game giving a turn to the season" began the former Juventus center back about the Azzurri.
"Inter are going through a great moment of form, they do great numbers in Italy and have great confidence from last year. They will find a different Atletico from what we knew, now they concede more, but they have quality and try to impose their game. Morata and Griezmann are a great pair and Alvaro's absence will be felt. The Wanda Metropolitano è a hot environment, but so will San Siro. For me, the Nerazzurri are favorites" continued the former Wolfsburg player regarding the meneghini.
" Bayern dominated the round, but two months ago. Lazio can take advantage of Sunday’s defeat to Leverkusen that brought nervousness: the Germans are used to winning, being behind is not for them. But be careful becauseé teams like thaté reignite right away. Bayern remains moreù strong than Lazio, which forò canò play it" added the 1981 class.
"I think there are two main candidates for the final victory. One è Real Madrid, which if only because of its palmares and history knows how to win. The other è Manchester City, fresh from their victory last year. Although in the Champions League it is never easy to repeat, only Real managed to do so in recent years: the games pile up, you have to be fine between the first leg and the return leg, and sometimes this competition can be episodic, the strongest do not always go ahead. In addition, every year there'è a revelation team, a less-favored one that goes ahead" commented Andrea Barzagli.
