Ranieri is not a manager who is good at improvising on the spot. In the face of Tony Towne's sudden change of formation, he was as slow to react as his team.

When Juventus were unresponsive, Nottingham Forest easily took control of the midfield.

There is a saying in modern football that the midfielder wins the world.

Slightly exaggerated, but the importance of the midfield is self-evident.

If Nottingham Forest want to beat Juventus away and break the opponent's solid counter-attack, they must first take the midfield into their own hands. Only then will there be the capital to advance layer by layer.

Juventus' ball can't be passed at all in midfield, and all four of Nottingham Forest's players are responsible for both attacking and defending at the same time. George Wood, in particular, ran tirelessly in midfield to intercept and harass Juventus' every attack. Under the fast-paced pressing of Forest's midfield, Juventus' pass errors began to rise.

Another weakness in the Juventus squad is also gradually becoming apparent - they lack a midfielder who can control the football at his feet and control the rhythm of the whole team. Camoranesi is a wide player and is very old. Giovinco was a little too tender, he had good ball control, but he didn't know what the rhythm was. As for Malouda...... He's more of an assaulter than a playmaker in midfield. Not to mention Sissoko, a muscular man, he is just a sapper, and he has a lot of promise in grabbing the ball, but letting him pass the ball is just passing the football to the opponent.

Del Piero has the ability to do that, but he is on the bench. Suffering a minor injury, Ranieri did not dare to risk his captain.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Nottingham Forest controlled the midfield and pressed hard, completely ignoring that it was Juventus' home stadium. When the team pressed as a whole, goalkeeper Akinfeev's range of movement also changed from in front of goal to the entire penalty area. Even to extend outside the restricted area and act as a scavenger. The distance between the three lines is moderate, ensuring that even if the first wave of attack is blocked, there will be follow-up attacks, so that the opponent will not counterattack without a single attack. The double-layered interception in midfield also ensured that Juventus' attack could not pass through quickly, buying time for the Forest defence.

Claudio Ranieri's goal of scoring in the opening five minutes was not met, and it was Nottingham Forest's turn to put on a show.

With a central midfield, the Forest team has many ways to get football around the Juventus penalty area, and it is no longer a monotonous way to play down the flanks.

George Wood keeps the ball at his feet. Sissoko was far away, and he wanted to come up and grab it. But he just thought that if he did this, he would not be far from being substituted if he did so, and the empty door behind him opened wide and let Nottingham Forest go straight to the Yellow Dragons.

When it became clear that Nottingham Forest's main attack was not on the wings, but in the middle, Sissoko's role became even more important.

Wood couldn't remember ever fighting Sissoko like that. In his eyes, all opponents are the same, and few will impress him. He ignored Sissoko's defiant look and passed the ball to Thiago.

Nottingham Forest attack from the middle, but that doesn't mean they have to go straight to the opponent's penalty area from the middle. In fact, Fernandez and Shaheen can spread out on both flanks when attacking.

Like this time. Fernandez saw Thiago receive the ball and slid diagonally forward.

Sissoko looked at him, let him go, and did not keep an eye on him. His task is in the middle.

After Thiago passed the football to Fernandez. Also run forward.

Juventus' defence shrank quickly. Fernandez soon encountered resistance and had to stop and turn to protect the football.

Italy's defense is not so easy to break.

Wood looked at the situation ahead, thought it inwardly, and decided to go up to support himself.

After handing the ball to Wood, Fernandez continued to pull to the wing.

Fernandez went to the wing, and Juventus couldn't afford to be unguarded. Right-back Griga stepped forward to mark the ball. Instead, Wood passed the football to Eastwood, who had withdrawn later.

Eastwood didn't stop the ball and gave it to Thiago.

Thiago was already facing the goal when he received the ball and he didn't hesitate. Kick up and shoot from distance.

Buffon struggled to make a save, but did not touch the football. The ball grazed the post and flew off the line.

Juventus fans who were shocked at the Alpi Stadium broke out in a cold sweat.

In the minutes that followed, Nottingham Forest had three shots on goal, but all from distance.

This put Ranieri at ease. Although the sudden change of tactics of the Forest team caught him by surprise. But Juventus' traditional football is still very effective – we don't care what happens to our opponents, we just stick to our football and play with them. Juventus football must be the first to make itself invincible!

Don't look at them attacking fiercely, but they can only threaten our goal with long-range shots, as long as they can't get into the box. Then there is no threat.

He walked to the sidelines. Whistle and make gestures asking the team to push Forest outward. Don't give them a chance to go into the box. Don't be afraid to shoot from distance, that's the lowest way to shoot on goal.

Even the commentators found out: "Juventus defended solidly, they kept their defensive formation quite well. Nottingham Forest couldn't find a suitable attacking point and could only shoot a few long-range shots from the outside. It seems that in the face of Juventus's tactics, Tony Downe still can't find a better solution. ”

After withstanding several waves of Forest attack, Juventus began their counter-attack.

The normal routine of the game should be that Nottingham Forest attack, while Juventus defend and counter-attack.

This time, though, they were met with a strong block in midfield.

Giovinko's body is like a kindergarten kid in front of George Wood, unless he dribbles away from Wood, as long as he is entangled by Wood, then the football at his feet will be lost.

The shaved Sebastian Giovinco is a bit like former Italian national team captain centre-back Cannavaro, but much taller. He is only 1.64 meters tall and weighs 61 kilograms. It's not thin. But in front of George Wood, his agility and physical use were not handy.

Wood is as nimble as he is, and stronger than him. That kind of chance is fifty-five points on the earth, and if Wood uses a little force, Giovinco will definitely lose control of football. Perhaps the easiest way to do this is to get rid of this inseparable person with a quick pass.

However, he couldn't find a way to pass the ball forward, so he had to pass the ball back. As a result, the pace of the team's attack was slowed down, and the two full-backs who Nottingham Forest pressed back all came back to defend, and Juventus found themselves facing a "solid" defence in attack......

Juventus have a way to tell Nottingham Forest to threaten them with a long-range shot at the Earth Gate. Isn't there anything Nottingham Forest can do for them to fire from a distance?

For a while, everyone's offense ended with long-range shots, but the quality of the attack was not high, and it was still 0:0 after 30 minutes in the first half.

The commentator really wanted to yawn, such a game was just too boring - the quality of the attack was low, the rhythm was slowed down under the "joint efforts" of both sides, there was no passion, there was no bright spot at all. Both sides are careful not to make mistakes and not let their opponents catch possible mistakes. The mentality of not seeking merit but seeking no fault determines that this game is definitely not likable.

Ranieri is happy with the current situation, and his intention is to defend and counter-attack anyway. There are now ten minutes left before the last five minutes of the first half, and that's when Juventus really have chances. He remembers the first time the two sides met in the Champions Cup, when Tony Towne, desperate to get three points on the road, was bold and was caught by Juventus on the counter-attack. Just five minutes into the first half of the game, they scored a goal each and completely crushed Nottingham Forest.

He believed that with Tony Town's personality, he would never learn a lesson in matters related to his own decisions. Don't look at him as a low-key person in this game, in fact, he is more eager to win the game than anyone else.

Why?

Because his record against Juventus is one loss and one draw. In this world except Juventus. There wasn't a team he hadn't beaten. This breath is Ranieri's words, and it may be just that, but if it is Tony Donne, he will definitely not be able to swallow it!

He's going to attack, and he's going to attack!

That's the time for Juventus!

For ten minutes, the two sides were still deadlocked on the field, and both could only threaten the opponent's goal with long-range shots, and occasionally scored into the penalty area on several occasions, but neither of them posed a real threat to the goalkeepers of both sides.

In addition to fans on both sides. I'm afraid no one will be interested in such a game.

Those neutral fans must have been disappointed by this - the pre-game media hyped that it was Tony Towne's revenge match, that it was a "double hero", but in reality? Any game with Juventus must be dull, and any game with Nottingham Forest will not be very exciting. These two teams have come together, and the dull effect is ×2, how good can it be?

Football matches need passion! Such a match is simply a disgrace to modern football!

Those people complained in their hearts.

Ranieri looked at his watch, and there were six minutes left before the end of the first half. He stood up from the dugout, ready to give his players a signal to go all out.

Meanwhile. Tony Downe, who had been standing on the sidelines for almost forty minutes, seemed to finally feel soreness in his legs. He turned and walked back to the dugout.

Gianluigi Buffon made a brilliant save from Eastwood from distance, and he didn't choose to kick the ball off this time. Instead, he raised his eyes to look at the midfield, and then threw the ball in his hand to attack!

Sissoko's header swung the ball forward, and Camoranesi withdrew to pick it up and pass it to Giovinko, who was sprinting forward with all his might.

Giovinco glanced back at the Earth rolling towards him, and then looked up ahead - there was no one there, but out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of a dark figure emerging from his left side. You don't have to think hard to know who it is.

George Wood followed Giovinco like a silent wolf, and he was already in a state of hunting.

Wood hadn't done anything, though. And there is still some distance from Giovinko, but this Italian genius boy suddenly has a nervous mood out of thin air. He felt that if he continued to dribble the ball, he would be cut off by the silent No. 13 next to him. If Juventus's long-awaited offensive opportunity was buried in their own hands like this, they might be replaced in the second half, and the captain Del Piero had already been called by Ranieri to warm up, and he must not be satisfied with his performance......

Since you can't break through this person's defense with the ball, then the pass must be okay! No matter how good he is, he can't care about the entire second half alone.

Giovinco made up his mind. Suddenly there was a sharp stop, and then I looked up to find a passing target.

He shouldn't have stopped the ball - this one put him in a "dead land". Wood crossed in front of him, in a very good position, blocking almost every route he could have taken out with the ball – unless he turned and took it back.

Wood wasn't in a hurry to get up and down, that would have allowed him to get easily passed. He just blocked in front of Giovinco and didn't let him continue to dribble forward, slowing down Juventus' counter-attack while waiting for his teammates to come back.

Ranieri was on the sidelines when he saw Giovinco stop suddenly. He waved his fist in a hurry.

"Giovinco is blocked near the sideline by Wood! The Nottingham Forest players have returned to defence and Juventus' quick counter-attack has not worked! ”

Giovinco understood his situation when he looked up and saw Wood after stopping the ball. He knew he couldn't continue to carry the ball forward, and the look at Wood's face that seemed to be as calm as a deep pool made him panic even more. Feeling like you might get the ball off.

At this time, the only way to do this is to pass the ball out quickly!

He thought to himself. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a man - it was him!

"Giovinco passed the ball straight to the feet of Thiago back to the defensive ground! Did he still think Thiago was his teammate? Juventus were out of luck this time - they were just about to complete a pressing attack, but the ball inexplicably reached the feet of the opposing player. ”

Nottingham Forest, of course, smiled at the gift from Giovinco.

Thiago still hasn't forgotten to thank his former team-mate in Italian: "Thank you. ”

This sentence suddenly irritated Giovinko, and his eyes turned red and he threw himself at Thiago.

Wood called Thiago's name from behind, alerting him that Giovinco had pounced.

Thiago had apparently anticipated Giovinco's reaction. He knocked the ball straight to Wood with his heel.

Giovinco pounced, then turned to pounce on Wood. This time Wood passed the ball directly to Saheen, who was further forward.

Nottingham Forest counter-attacked Juventus after a counter-attack on the spot!

When Shaheen took the ball forward and burst to the ground, he was fiercely intercepted by Sissoko, and rolled out with the ball, but the referee did not whistle for a foul, and it seemed that Sissoko was clean although he tackled fiercely.

Malouda, who was next to him, was going to rush up to get the ball and then continue to play Nottingham Forest's counter-attack. Just as his foot was about to touch the football, the ball in front of him suddenly disappeared!

As soon as Sissoko got up, he saw a man wearing a yellow captain's armband. Wearing the red Nottingham Forest jersey, the man passed by Malouda like the wind. Football is at his feet!

He didn't even think about it, and pressed over at the figure.

We're finally face to face, boy!

Instead of making the first tackle, Sissoko slammed sideways into George Wood, intending to knock Wood off.

He succeeded, and George Wood was knocked off the sideline by him, but the ball at his feet was not lost, and he hooked it. So he obediently went with him.

Sissoko didn't cut the ball. He sped up and tried to push Wood to the sideline. Just like what Wood did to Giovinco just now.

This time he didn't succeed. Just as he was rushing towards Wood at full speed. Wood suddenly made a sharp stop, stopped the football at his feet, and Sissoko pounced!

Sissoko swiped past Wood with a stunned expression, and he couldn't stop when he tried to brake.

If Wood had enough of a sense of humor, he could even wave goodbye to Sissoko who rushed in front of him.

"Get rid of it beautifully!" The narrators couldn't help but applaud Wood's sudden stop. "That's so clever! Sissoko was completely deceived! ”

Georgewood, who got rid of Sissokodi, had plenty of time to adjust the ball as he picked up his right foot, which was a long-range shot......

Chiellini rushed up to defend...... Pass? ”

Wood didn't shoot, and while his movements looked like shots, the ball arced and flew towards the right side of the box.

Ibisevic stood there, but he was offside – it was clear that he was dragging behind the entire Juventus back line in the flash of Wood's pass. Another centre-back, Lerotalia, raised his arms and signaled to the referee and linesman.

Ibisevic had no intention of catching the ball and was running back, completely oblivious to the fact that the ball was flying towards him.

"Offside!" The commentator couldn't wait to announce the end of Nottingham Forest's attack.

Unfortunately, neither the referee nor the linesman heard his shout, the referee did not blow the whistle, and the linesman did not raise the flag.

Their eyes were clearly not on De Koibišević, who was running back with his head down, but on another red figure that was thrust in at high speed from behind.

Raphinha!

From the moment Thiago passed the ball to Wood, Raphinha was running forward. When he saw Shahin's ball cut off by Sissoko, he hesitated a little and stopped, wondering whether to turn around and run back to prepare for defense. However, after seeing George Wood snatch the football back, he no longer had any worries and resolutely moved forward.

Wood had planned to shoot straight at goal after the stop, but he happened to see Raphinha cutting in from the flank, so he changed his mind on the fly. A ball over the top was passed to the right, just in time for Raphinha to arrive!

Ball to man to.

Raphinha fell to the ground and tackled without stopping the ball!

Buffon apparently didn't expect Nottingham Forest to have such a hand. All his attention was on George Wood, who would have thought that an opposing right wing-back would appear in front of his goal?

The ball drilled through the gap between Buffon and the goalpost!

The ball is in!

The ball went in?

Juventus' players don't seem to be able to accept this reality – they were hoping to break the deadlock in the last five minutes of the first half, only to be conspired by Nottingham Forest......

Who is fighting whom?