Juventus on the Verge of Champions League CollapseJuventus on the Verge of Champions League Collapse Juventus, the Italian Serie A giants, are teetering on the brink of Champions League elimination after a disastrous start to the group stage. In their opening match, Juve suffered a humiliating 2-0 home defeat to Benfica. Hopes of a quick recovery were dashed when they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Maccabi Haifa. On Wednesday, the Bianconeri faced a must-win clash against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Despite taking the lead through Weston McKennie, Juve’s defense crumbled as they conceded three goals in a 15-minute spell. The defeat leaves Juventus bottom of the group with just two games remaining. They must now face PSG away and Benfica at home, with both opponents needing only a draw to qualify for the knockout stages. Defensive Woes Juventus’ struggles have been primarily due to their abysmal defensive performances. The backline has been error-prone, conceding cheap goals and failing to protect goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Giorgio Chiellini, the club’s long-time captain, has been a shadow of his former self, while Leonardo Bonucci has also struggled for form. New signing Gleison Bremer, brought in to bolster the defense, has failed to live up to expectations. Lack of Creativity Another major issue for Juventus has been the lack of creativity in midfield. Paul Pogba, signed on a free transfer from Manchester United, has been injury-ridden and has not yet made his debut. Manuel Locatelli and Adrien Rabiot have failed to provide the necessary vision and playmaking ability to unlock opposing defenses. As a result, Juventus have struggled to create clear-cut chances. Pressure on Allegri The Champions League debacle has put immense pressure on manager Massimiliano Allegri. The Italian coach has been praised for his domestic success, but his record in Europe has been poor. Allegri has guided Juventus to the Champions League final twice, but they lost both times. He is now under threat of being sacked if he fails to turn things around. Fate in the Balance Juventus’ Champions League fate now hangs in the balance. They must produce two exceptional performances in the remaining group games to have any chance of qualification. However, given their current form, it would be a major shock if they were to overcome the odds. A premature exit from the competition would be a crushing blow for the club and could have serious consequences for Allegri’s future.
