Football
9y

Juventus' Andrea Pirlo, Maxi Allegri turn attention to Dortmund after win

Andrea Pirlo delivered the long strike gave Juventus a win over Atalanta on Friday and said the victory will give his team much-needed momentum entering their Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund next week.

Juventus initially trailed after 25 minutes, but fought back to equalise through Fernando Llorente. 

Just when it looked like the sides would go into the break level, Pirlo took matters into his own hands and, with nothing apparently on from 35 yards, he unleashed one of his speciality shots which dipped and moved away from goalkeeper Marco Sportiello and into the right-hand corner of the goal.

"The message was above all for Serie A, as that is what we were interested in today," Pirlo told Sky Sports when asked about his strike. "It was not an easy game, we also went behind, but with hard work and suffering under pressure we got the victory."

The Serie A leaders were able to hang on to their lead to expand their advantage atop the table to 10 points ahead of the weekend's action.

"It was a tough match and we knew it wasn't going to be easy," Pirlo said. "We learned from the mistakes made against Cesena and fought back to pick up all three points. Our only objective tonight was the win, even without necessarily playing very well."

"Now we'll prepare for Tuesday's game and we really needed this victory."

"Borussia Dortmund are a side to be feared, as we see what they've done in the Champions League. The first leg will be fundamental and we must try to win without conceding a goal."

Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri said he is "absolutely not worried" about facing Dortmund, who won their third match running on Friday night and have improved since a weak start to the season that saw them mired in the Bundesliga relegation zone.

"We are in very good shape," Allegri said. "Borussia are back on track and on Tuesday it's the first of two games, so we have to play with balance and I am absolutely not worried by this match.

"I think they are going to be two great games and I expect qualification to be decided only in the final minutes of the second leg."

Allegri said he wasn't concerned after Juve fell behind on Giulio Migliaccio's opener and worked patiently for an opener.

"It was a difficult start, as Atalanta defended well and we tried to play between the lines, but were too hasty and conceded a few counter-attacks. It requires patience and we'd eventually create the scoring opportunities," Allegri said. "We conceded on a corner, the same way as against Milan. We equalised from another corner and Andrea Pirlo's great strike paved the way to victory.

"He has two magical feet, especially the right, and when he shoots the ball takes strange trajectories. It was an extraordinary goal.

The manager also wasn't concerned by the tight finish against a squad one place above the relegation zone.

"We cannot expect to win every match 3-0, as there are opponents and they aren't just going to lie down and let us dominate," he said. "I saw a team that was very concentrated today, albeit a little too hasty and therefore gave the ball away.

"We should've finished off the game after the break, but we were determined and focused to bring this victory home, all things we were lacking against Cesena.

"Through these games we reach our final objective. We were a little tired and worked hard in training this month, as we didn't have the chance during the winter break. We had to put some fuel in the old legs going into the final stage of the season.

"Towards the end we didn't control the ball well, which we usually do. This is the toughest part of the campaign. These games are good for us, as they get our feet back on the ground and remind us that nothing will be handed to us."

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