章 217: Chapter 217: Choosing Between Two Desires
Chapter 217: Choosing Between Two Desires
After the match ended, the team returned to their hotel, packed up, and headed straight to the airport to catch the last flight from Barcelona back to Udine. This is customary for the team during away matches. The players were still highly excited after the game, and staying in Barcelona would only result in a sleepless night. So, it was better to fly back to Udine, rest, and then have a recovery training session the next morning.
Udinese's schedule was very tight. After the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on Wednesday night, they would play their 35th Serie A match on Saturday night and then host Barcelona again the following Tuesday night. Playing three games in a week is a nightmare for the players!
In such a situation, post-match recovery training is crucial to help the players recover as much as possible and avoid injuries from overexertion. Despite the loss, the team's morale was good. The players sat in their seats, chatting in small groups. Many were looking forward to the home match next week, but some were worried. This was normal, given different personalities, perspectives, and understandings of football.
Bruno, being cautious and rational, believed the team had a chance if they could score first. If Udinese scored first, Barcelona would have to come out and attack, giving Udinese a chance. However, if Barcelona scored first, it would be nearly impossible for Udinese to turn things around.
The next morning, the media and fans around the world were buzzing again.
Barcelona 3:1 Udinese.
Both Messi and Bruno, the top scorers in the Champions League, scored in the match. Bruno's goal brought his season tally in the Champions League to 16 goals, with 14 in the main competition, keeping him well ahead in the scoring charts.
Messi's two goals brought his Champions League tally to double digits for the season and saw him overtake Ronaldo as the all-time top scorer. Messi still had a chance to win this season's Champions League top scorer title. Given his form in the first leg, if he scored again in the second leg and Barcelona reached the final, he could overtake Bruno.
Many believed that Barcelona's two-goal victory was largely due to luck. Tactically, Enrique's team was completely restrained by their opponents. Major media outlets reported that if Udinese could maintain their first-leg form, they had a real chance of overturning the result at home.
Even Mundo Deportivo admitted that Barcelona's performance, especially in the second half, was disappointing. "This was not the Barcelona we know," they wrote.
Many media outlets expressed that the second leg would be full of suspense, especially with Udinese having a top scorer like Bruno. Bruno's brace against Real Madrid in the group stage made him a global sensation. Scoring again at Camp Nou drew worldwide attention.
Everyone realized how crucial Bruno was to Udinese reaching the semi-finals. The statistics didn't lie. So far, Bruno had scored 14 goals and provided 7 assists in 11 Champions League matches, leading both charts. Of Udinese's 27 goals in these matches, Bruno was directly involved in 21 of them.
The day before the Udinese-Barcelona match, Juventus had also secured a 2-1 home win over Real Madrid in the other semi-final, taking the lead in the two-legged tie.
The results of the Champions League semi-final first legs left both ties hanging in the balance, with all to play for in the second legs. However, the most attention was on the clash between Udinese and Barcelona.
Which team would prevail? Would it be an all-Italian or all-Spanish final, or a mix of both?
On Saturday afternoon, Juventus played Cagliari in the 35th round of Serie A at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. With a crucial away match in Madrid coming up in the Champions League, Allegri made significant rotations, fielding only Marchisio from the usual starters.
With only four league matches left, Juventus trailed Udinese by eight points, making the league title unlikely. Having won the first leg against Real Madrid, Juventus had clearly prioritized the Champions League.
Despite the rotations, the depth of Juventus' squad remained formidable, with Pogba starting after six weeks out and Romulo returning after a long injury spell.
Cagliari, under new coach Festa, had revived with two wins in their last three games but were still six points from safety and desperate to avoid relegation.
The extended injury layoff had widened the gap between Pogba and Bruno, but Pogba channeled his frustration into the game against Cagliari. He was the most active player for Juventus, narrowly missing a free-kick early on.
In the dying moments of the first half, Pogba's goal gave Juventus the lead. In the 45th minute, Padoin's cross from the left found Pogba, who turned and shot from 20 meters, with his effort deflecting off Cepitelli into the net, making it 1-0.
It was Pogba's 20th goal in 86 Serie A appearances, with five of those coming from outside the box this season, second only to Bruno.
However, Cagliari demonstrated once again that relegation battlers can be incredibly challenging opponents, even for the Serie A leaders. Despite Juventus' relentless second-half pressure, they couldn't score again. Instead, Cagliari capitalized on a set-piece to equalize.
In the 85th minute, Avelar's free-kick found Rossettini, who headed in off the post to make it 1-1.
Cagliari nearly took all three points in stoppage time when Ekdal's pass found Sau, but he blasted over from close range.
Failing to secure three points at home meant Juventus remained seven points behind Udinese with three games left. If Udinese won their next match against Sampdoria, they would clinch the Serie A title with three games to spare.
Facing the temptation of an early league title, Guidolin chose to field a rotated squad. The 1-3 first-leg loss at Camp Nou hadn't extinguished his hopes of reaching the Champions League final.
Another factor was that Udinese's main players, having fought a tough 90-minute battle against Barcelona three days earlier, hadn't fully recovered. Guidolin opted to rest his key players, giving the substitutes a chance while preparing the starters for the crucial second leg against Barcelona.
However, Bruno still started.
Sampdoria, currently sixth in Serie A and vying for a Europa League spot, played with great determination and dominated the rotated Udinese side at Friuli.
In the 26th minute, Wszolek's cross set up Soriano to score. In the 62nd minute, Soriano added another after Djordjevic's shot was saved.
Aguirre's 79th-minute strike made it 3-0.
Udinese managed a consolation goal in the 84th minute when Bruno converted a penalty. It was his 22nd league goal of the season, tying Di Natale at the top of the Serie A scoring charts.
Sampdoria sealed a 4-1 win with Duncan's late goal.
Despite the heavy home defeat, Udinese wasn't too concerned. Their focus was entirely on the upcoming Champions League semi-final second leg.
They maintained a seven-point lead in the league, needing just one more win from their remaining three matches to secure the Serie A title.
Their remaining opponents were Roma, Sassuolo, and Cagliari. While they might not defeat Roma, a win against Sassuolo or Cagliari seemed achievable.
No one doubted Udinese's ability to clinch the Serie A title.
After the match, Bruno told the media, "Losing and not clinching the league title early is disappointing, but we can't dwell on that. The most important thing is the Champions League semi-final on Tuesday. It will be tough, but we're all ready for it."
Regarding choosing between the league title and reaching the Champions League final, Bruno expressed his desire for both. "I know it's difficult, but I'm willing to work hard for it. Of course, if I had to choose one, I'd prefer to reach the Champions League final."
Bruno's words were echoed by many of his teammates, including Di Natale, who all expressed their readiness for the challenge.
Even Maguire, who had a poor performance in the previous match, told the media he felt refreshed and ready for the midweek Champions League clash after sitting out the league game.
(End of chapter)
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