Former Italy coach believes in Juventus’ turnaround against Galatasaray.

Former Italian national team coach Cesare Prandelli has made a bold and optimistic appeal regarding Juventus’ ability to overturn a 5-2 deficit against Galatasaray in the second leg of the Champions League playoff, scheduled for Wednesday night. Prandelli believes Luciano Spalletti could play a crucial role, comparing him to a modern-day version of Cristiano Ronaldo for the current Juventus squad.

The Turin team is preparing for a match that will require nothing less than a miracle to keep their hopes of advancing in the European competition alive. To progress, Juventus needs to win by three goals, or four if they want to avoid the lottery of penalties. This is a decisive moment in the season for the Bianconeri, who are also gearing up for a crucial clash against Roma next Sunday in a tight battle for Champions League spots in Serie A. Currently, Juventus sits in fifth place, four points off the desired fourth position.

In his interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Prandelli expressed cautious optimism about Juventus’ chances. “Scoring three or four goals against Osimhen and his team without conceding is a tough task, but after what we saw in the first game in Istanbul, who would have imagined that Galatasaray would score three goals in 45 minutes against the bianconeri? Spalletti’s team can do it, why not?” said Prandelli, highlighting the importance of the initial game. “If they score first in the first 20 minutes, the psychological dynamic will change completely.”

The last time Juventus achieved a similar feat in the Champions League was in the 2018-19 season, when Cristiano Ronaldo, with a hat-trick, led the team to an epic turnaround of 3-2 on aggregate against Atlético Madrid. When asked who could be Juventus’ “Ronaldo” on this occasion, Prandelli pointed to Spalletti. “He doesn’t step onto the pitch, but he has the most experience and charisma. I don’t expect him to bring new ideas, but to focus on his most reliable players.”

Prandelli also commented on the significance of the two upcoming matches for Juventus. “Galatasaray and Roma are two games that will determine Juventus’ season, and for many players, their future as well.”

When asked if Spalletti might choose to rest some key players against Galatasaray to focus on the following match against Roma, Prandelli was clear: “No. The game against Galatasaray must be seen as the most important of all, there is no doubt about that. A return in the Champions League would give the team a huge boost before heading to the Stadio Olimpico.”

Furthermore, there is a significant financial dimension at stake. Qualification for the knockout stage of the Champions League represents approximately 15 million euros for Juventus, while a fourth place in Serie A could mean around 60 million euros. Prandelli clarified: “The coach makes technical assessments, not economic ones. If the directors imposed that additional pressure, they would be administrators and not people from football. The conversation about money should be left out.”

Tension and expectation are rising as Juventus prepares for one of the most critical challenges of their season, and the eyes of the football world will be on Allianz Stadium on Wednesday night.