Where was the motivation?
One of the biggest questions after the opening exchanges of Juventus and Milan’s meeting in Turin was where the motivation lay. On paper, second vs. third in the league should have been a thriller for the neutral, but with Inter having wrapped up the Serie A title for 2023-24, and with at least five Italian teams allowed to compete in next year’s Champions League, both Juve and Milan had effectively already concluded their business in the league before Saturday’s game had even begun. Though both sides still have four league matches left to play this season, as well as a Coppa Italia final for Juventus, it is hard to envisage either team finishing the campaign lower than sixth. That is as long as they keep their heads and levels of motivation up for the next few weeks, as Atalanta and Roma’s current battle for fifth place could still make life slightly uncomfortable for Milan and Juve should they go on to lose over the next few matchdays.
