“He was really unstoppable” - Giorgio Chiellini names Real Madrid player that ‘broke’ Juventus’ plan in famous 2017-18 UEFA Champions League defeat
Juventus legend Giorgio Chiellini recently stated that Isco helped Real Madrid secure a 3-0 win in the first leg of the 2017-18 Champions League quarterfinal. Los Blancos went on to lift the top prize that season.
The Bianconeri locked horns with their LaLiga counterparts in April that year, with the first leg played at Turin. Real Madrid took a 3-0 lead in the tie, thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo brace and a third from Marcelo.
However, speaking on The Overlap, Chiellini insisted that it was Isco who ruined Juventus' plans that evening.
“Isco was the one who broke our plan. He was really unstoppable. He creates on the right, middle, left, it wasn’t easy for us to stop them,” said Chiellini.
He continued:
“We’ve beaten Real Madrid with James Rodríguez as the midfielder and with 3 forwards, it was an offensive team, it was ‘okay, we defend really well and we score’."
He concluded:
"But when they played with Casemiro and Isco… We could manage Gareth Bale, we’ll concede a couple of chances but we know what he’s doing… but Isco that season… Most difficult thing for a defender is unpredictable players.”
Chiellini was in the starting XI in the return leg as well, which Juventus won 3-1. However, the damage was already done by then. The LaLiga giants got the better of Bayern Munich in the semifinals, before defeating Liverpool in the final.
How have Real Madrid performed in the Champions League this season?
Real Madrid have endured an underwhelming run in the Champions League this season. Los Blancos are the reigning champions and have won two of the last three titles.
The LaLiga giants bolstered their attack by roping in Kylian Mbappe and Endrick over the summer. The French superstar was expected to help the team hit a higher gear, but he has struggled to get going so far at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid have lost three of their five games in the Champions League this season. They have scored nine goals and also conceded nine.
Los Blancos' only wins have come against VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund. They have lost to Lille, AC Milan, and Liverpool, and are 24th in the Champions League table at the moment.
Carlo Ancelotti's team have fared better in the league, and are second in the table after 14 games. They are four points behind leaders Barcelona, who have played two games more.