More Champions League Disappointment Could See Juventus Lose Best Players

Juventus face Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening in the knowledge that defeat to the group leaders could send them tumbling out of the competition at the group stage for the second successive season.

The odds are certainly in Juve's favour, as even just a point will take them through to the knockout stages, but with Atletico having made the final last season, even that much is not certain.

One thing is, though: If Juve fail yet again to make an impact on the Champions League, their most talented players will be far more inclined to seek European glory elsewhere, with Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal at the head of the group.

Continental Collapses

Despite winning Serie A last season by a mammoth 17 points with just two defeats all season, Juve managed just a solitary victory from their six Champions League group-stage games—a 3-1 win over bottom club Copenhagen, from Denmark.

Defeats to Galatasaray and Real Madrid early on proved costly, as Juve went to Turkey on the final matchday needing to win to go through—and suffered a dismal late defeat in a rearranged, snow-blown game.

Uncredited/Associated Press

With nine points this time around they are more handily placed to qualify, but a loss to Atletico is well within the bounds of realism. The Spanish side are tough to break down, a real threat from set pieces and full of confidence, determination and self-belief under Diego Simeone. If Juve lose and Olympiakos, playing at home, beat Malmo, who are at the bottom of the group, then the Italian giants will be out.

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Here's how Group A looks ahead of tonight's final fixtures: Atletico 12, Juventus 9, Olympiacos 6, Malmo 3. #JuveAtletico #UCL

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 9, 2014"

Head-to-head rules dictate that the Greeks will finish above Juventus thanks to more goals scored away from home in games between the two, which finished 1-0 in Piraeus and 3-2 in Turin.

Top Talents

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Juventus have some terrific, experienced players. Giorgio Chiellini and Gianluigi Buffon rule the defensive third, and neither are likely to depart, perhaps until the days they retire. Likewise Andrea Pirlo: Bearded, brilliant and 35, his legend and importance has grown with time at Juve.

Elsewhere though, players approaching or already at the peak of their careers are the ones most prone to looking elsewhere.

Paul Pogba is in demand every transfer window by the big-money clubs looking for the next big player to bolster their side. The French midfielder has the talent and physical attributes to become a match-winner at the very top of his game, and Manchester City are just one of the clubs interested in signing him, according to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News.

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What an AMAZING curve goal by Paul Pogba! #riseabove @rmiller_usmc https://t.co/93OGMEuWUm

— NEYMARQUEZ JR (@Mcgrue16) December 6, 2014"

Arturo Vidal, 27, has long been linked with Real Madrid or Manchester United, according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, but his drive and goalscoring ability would appeal to most with aspirations of winning major titles.

In truth, none of Juventus' other players are of that top level. Carlos Tevez, Claudio Marchisio and Stephan Lichtsteiner are talents, but not of the highest order. They are not players other clubs couldn't find similar examples of elsewhere, with more attractive wage slips, ages or price tags. They are players who will keep helping Juventus challenge to win Serie A, but little more besides.

Lure of La Liga

And perhaps that is part of the problem. Serie A is not the mighty force it used to be in the '90s and even for a time after, neither financially nor with its reputation, nor with massive, title-challenging sides.

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

It has dipped easily below the Bundesliga, La Liga and Premier League in terms of most fans' perception of play, with less Champions League teams in the competition each season too due to the league coefficient. While Italy may still be a glamorous place to live and Juventus successful enough in its own right to bring players in, the might of Spain holds power over all.

Spain can offer similarly attractive climate and culture, relaxed foreign-player quotas, restricted-but-apparently competitive domestic action and, crucially, a recent track record for challenging for the big trophies. That above all else could be what lures Pogba and Co. away to Real Madrid or elsewhere.

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Marseille striker Andre Pierre Gignac: "Paul Pogba has everything to become one of the best players in the world." TMW

— Khaled Al Nouss (@KhaledAlNouss) December 2, 2014"

But that can all be averted, at least in the shorter term, if Juve can make an impact this season.

It all starts with Atletico on Tuesday night: If Juventus prove they can cope with a big, successful Spanish side, the reasons to stay in Turin become easily presented. The penalties for failing are too big to consider for Juventus right now.

Follow @karlmatchett