We're all wondering what kind of gameplan Bayern will have for Juventus tonight. Will there be more balanced, trust in their possession and pick their moments when it arises? Or will it be more of a positive stance, with a bit more focus on attack with the intent of getting an away goal or two?
If Bayern go for door number two, then the one player who will be vital to them causing serious damage would be Douglas Costa. He's the purchase of the season when you look at his productivity and how much cheddar was paid for him. His speed, dribbling, technical ability and know-how of playing the wing position is how players like Muller and Lewandowski can get brought into the game through his crossing.
In the center of the pitch, things will get pretty tight. Juventus being a team who know how to defend and keep their shape will be very mindful of Lewandowski and Muller, and will ensure they have very little space to get themselves going. But when we go out wide, that is where Juventus now have to do a little more thinking and decide when to double-up. In the case of Costa, they will need some twin defending because this Brazilian is that good.
What makes Costa such a threat is he can receive the ball in any way. If Thiago hits a through ball down the wing, he's got the speed to catch up with it and the only player that can keep up with him would be Cuadrado. Getting the ball to his feet is not a problem, because he can work in tight spaces with his technique. So Juventus have to figure out a way of taking Costa out of the game, because if he starts to influence things and there are instances where he keeps beating defenders and getting down the line, eventually one of those crosses will be good enough to get turned into a goal.
This is all dependent though on what kind of instructions that Pep is going to give his team. Most would assume based on past experience that he will be more patient, with the intent of just trying to get that away goal rather than taking the game to Juventus. If that is the case, then Costa may not be given the license to attack the defenders and get high up the pitch. But if Pep was to get some sort of a counter-attacking game, being that Juventus will be looking for the goals and the win, Costa would be perfect for that and would punish Juve severely if they got thin at the back with Lewandowski making a desperate run.
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