Socrates
-
Numero contenuti
130868 -
Iscritto
-
Ultima visita
-
Days Won
22
Risposte inseriti da Socrates
-
-
Juventus vs. Fiorentina match preview
An intense rivalry arrives in Turin once again, with two teams looking to get back on track in the worst possible way.
Here is something we haven’t been able to say in a while: Juventus are actually coming off a win. I know, I know — I can’t believe it either with the way the last two months have gone. But the rumors are true, dear readers, a Juventus win happened four days ago and we actually got to write about something other than what has been happening ever since the high-scoring ways that filled January.
But the thing about getting one win during a brutal stretch doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods just yet. Maybe not even two wins or a few good results rather than the continued doom that you’ve gone through for the last few months. ............
That next chance comes Sunday night on the same field in which the midweek win occurred. And it just so happens to be against a Fiorentina that, like Juventus, picked up a Coppa Italia win midweek that they are hoping will do the same thing as Allegri’s squad — be the start of a turn for the better during a truly awful spell of form. That’s because, before their respective midweek victories, this is how many points Juve and Fiorentina have recorded over the past six games:
- Juventus: 6
- Fiorentina: 6
OK, so as you can clearly see, Juve and Fiorentina are two of the most out of form teams currently going in Serie A. That’s because as much as the last six games have not been good for either side, these streaks of bad form go much further back than just wha the form guide on WhoScored says. That’s because this is what things look like for both clubs since the start of the new year — which, as we know for Juve, was actually pretty good:
- Juventus: 12 games played, 16 points earned
- Fiorentina: 11 games played, 10 points earned ............
Of course, the memories of what it took for Juventus to beat Fiorentina the first time these two teams met this season at the Franchi in Florence. It was corto muso as corto muso gets, with Juve defending for their lives after Fabio Miretti scored his first senior goal in the 10th minute. Fiorentina sent in crosses after cross to no avail. It had the likes of Bremer and Juve’s other defenders and midfielders racking up clearances and defensive actions like they were going out of style. It was strong defending, sure, but also the kind of highwire act that has proven to work only so many times with this team.
Could Sunday be like that yet again? ............
TEAM NEWS
- The biggest piece of news over the last couple of days is that Federico Chiesa has recovered from dealing with flu-like symptoms earlier in the week. Chiesa, who scored Juve’s opening goal in the 2-0 Coppa Italia win over Lazio, missed training on Thursday but returned to the group 24 hours later.
- Arek Milik is the only player currently out injured for Juventus. Allegri said that he expects the Polish striker back in 15 to 20 days.
- The same two suspended players, Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli, are still suspended. Just for a reminder, Fagioli’s suspension is set to expire on May 20, which isn’t so far away now.
- With just about everybody healthy, the only reported decision starting lineup-wise that Allegri is still mulling over is at the left wingback spot between Filip Kostic and Samuel Iling-Junior.
- Allegri said Sunday’s game “will be a good test of character.”
JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH
We can save a discussion about Dusan Vlahovic’s latest hairstyle later — I don’t even know what you would call this one? — and that’s because will talk about this guy’s importance going forward here these last eight league games. ............
I bring this up because the numbers with Vlahovic in and with him out are pretty staggering:
- Average goals per game with Vlahovic in the lineup: 1.6
- Average goals per game without Vlahovic in the lineup. 0.8
- Average points per game with Vlahovic in the lineup: 2.16
- Average points per game without Vlahovic in the lineup: 1.0 ............
MATCH INFO
When: Sunday, April 7, 2024.
Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy.
Official kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. in Italy and the Central European time zone, 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 2:45 p.m. Eastern time, 11:45 a.m. Pacific time. ............
-
Preview: Juventus vs Fiorentina – Team News, Lineups & Prediction
Allianz Stadium sets the stage for Sunday’s handsomely-looking Serie A showdown between out-of-sorts Juventus and European hopefuls Fiorentina. Both teams are desperate for points, albeit for different reasons.
Juventus found a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel in midweek Coppa Italia action, claiming a 2-0 home win against Lazio in the first leg of their semi-final tie. After keeping their hopes of avoiding another trophyless campaign alive, Massimiliano Allegri’s men are looking to transfer their cup form to Serie A, where they’ve stuttered in 2024.
Last weekend, Lazio got the better of Juventus on Igor Tudor’s touchline debut, as Adam Marusic’s last-minute header settled an evenly-contested affair at the Stadio Olimpico. A 1-0 defeat in Rome marked Bianconeri’s second straight scoring blank in Serie A following a dismal 0-0 home draw against promoted Genoa on the stroke of March’s international break.
Demoted to third in the league standings, Juventus can no longer afford slip-ups, with fifth-placed Roma closing the gap to seven points. However, visiting Fiorentina might be in a more precarious situation than their hosts after a three-game winless Serie A streak (D2, L1) plunged them into mid-table. ............
Match Preview
Juventus
Juventus head into this round frantically looking over the shoulders for the first time in a while after having won just one of their last nine league outings (D4, L4). The record-time Italian champions’ abysmal form in Serie A has caused division between the club supporters, with one portion of the stadium voicing their discontent at manager Allegri during the Coppa Italia game against Lazio.
Fiorentina’s visit to Turin is well-timed for the under-pressure coach, considering Juventus have emerged victorious from nine of their last ten home encounters against La Viola (L1). Since a disastrous 3-0 defeat in December 2020, they’ve won three consecutive such fixtures without conceding, with two of those triumphs yielding an identical 1-0 scoreline, highlighting the potential for a low-scoring contest.
Fiorentina
Like Juventus, Fiorentina will hope their Coppa Italia success could be a turning point as they bid to defy a woeful run of just one win from their last six Serie A matches (D3, L2). Nothing less would do for the Tuscan outfit, especially with direct European rivals Lazio stringing wins in the post-Maurizio Sarri era. ............
Team News
Except for the suspended duo Nicolo Fagioli and Paul Pogba, Juventus will be without the injured striker Arkadiusz Milik. On the bright side, Dusan Vlahovic, who got on the scoreboard against Lazio on Tuesday, is back after serving a one-game ban against Biancocelesti last weekend.
On the other hand, all but Oliver Christensen are fit and ready for this trip in the Fiorentina squad. It means Andrea Belotti will probably lead the line, with Lucas Beltran, Christian Kouame, and Nicolas Gonzalez likely to line up behind him in Italiano’s 4-2-3-1.
Juventus vs Fiorentina Potential Lineups
Juventus (4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny; Danilo, Gleison Bremer, Daniele Rugani, Mattia De Sciglio; Fabio Miretti, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot; Andrea Cambiaso, Dusan Vlahovic, Federico Chiesa.
Fiorentina (4-2-3-1): Pietro Terracciano; Michael Kayode, Nikola Milenkovic, Luca Ranieri, Parisi; Giacomo Bonaventura, Rolando Mandragora; Nicolas Gonzalez, Lucas Beltran, Christian Kouame; Andrea Belotti.
Juventus vs Fiorentina Prediction
Juventus fans will no longer tolerate sub-par home performances, as recently witnessed by their reactions against Genoa and Lazio. With Vlahovic back and Fiorentina not at their best, we expect Allegri’s team to get back in the win column.
Prediction: Juventus Win
Read more -> https://cultofcalcio.com/preview-juventus-vs-fiorentina-team-news-lineups-prediction/
-
Juventus vs Fiorentina: Preview and Prediction
It is almost a tragedy to think of the plight of Juventus over the last couple of months, for where they were and where they currently are ahead of the game against Fiorentina. The Bianconeri were in the thick of a title challenge with Inter Milan in February but find themselves 20 points behind the leaders and now in the thick of a top-four race.
In recent weeks, AC Milan have crawled in from behind and taken over the second spot, opening up a six-point advantage over Juventus. Moreover, fourth-placed Bologna are only two points behind the Bianconeri, meaning in the final games, Massimiliano Allegri might have to fend off rivals like Thiago Motta and even AS Roma’s Daniele De Rossi to secure third or fourth spot on the table.
In midweek, Juventus ended their winless run with a win over Lazio in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg. Goals from Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic put the Bianconeri in a commanding position. However, the top-four race is not won yet, as plenty of ups and downs are expected, especially given how badly Allegri’s men have been playing since the turn of the year.
Fiorentina and Juventus have a long history, as La Viola always look to exact revenge on their Turin counterparts. In the reverse fixture at home, the Turin giants were triumphant after a solitary Fabio Miretti goal proved enough to secure three points.
Fiorentina’s recent record when travelling to play Juventus away from home is wretched. They have lost 11 of their last 12 games. La Viola have not scored in four of their last six coming there, meaning Vincenzo Italiano must bring some magic to Turin to turn things around. ............
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Barring maybe the returning Wojciech Szczesny for backup keeper Mattia Perin, Massimiliano Allegri is not expected to make any changes to his lineup that beat Lazio in midweek. The Juventus boss is close to having an entire squad at his disposal, with Arkadiusz Milik the only one missing from action, apart from banned duo Nicolo Fagioili and Paul Pogba.
Federico Gatti will assume his place in the back three alongside regular partners Gleison Bremer and Danilo. Andrea Cambiaso and Filip Kostic are the preferred choices for the wing-back roles on either flank, with a midfield three of Manuel Locatelli, Weston McKennie and Adrien Rabiot taking shape between them.
Allegri will unlikely change his front two players, with Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic the preferred strikers to lead the line. The latter will also want to prove a point against his old club and help Juventus keep hold of third place in the table.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Szczesny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiaso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Vlahovic, Chiesa
Fiorentina
Giacomo Bonaventura will return for Fiorentina in the Serie A after serving a suspension last weekend. He did play in the midweek cup clash and is in line to start on Sunday night. Vincenzo Italiano will have a full complement of players to choose from ahead of this trip to Turin. ............
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Terraciano; Dodo, Martinez, Ranieri, Biraghi; Arthur, Duncan; Gonzalez, Beltran, Sottil; Belotti
Key Stats
- Juventus have won nine of their last ten home matches against Fiorentina in all competitions.
- Juventus have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven home matches against Fiorentina in all competitions.
- Juventus have picked up only seven points from their last nine games in Serie A.
- Fiorentina have lost 11 of their last 12 away matches against Juventus.
- Fiorentina have failed to score in four of their last six games against Juventus away from home.
Player to Watch
Dusan Vlahovic
Vlahovic has been an essential player for Juventus this season despite constant links with a move away from the club. Statistically, the Bianconeri’s win percentage drops from 64% to 20% without the Serbian striker and their goals-per-game ratio is halved.
Moreover, it is a big game from Vlahovic’s perspective as there is always the added pressure of facing former sides, which in this case is Fiorentina. Hence, for Juventus to keep hold of their third spot or even regain second, they will need their mains striker firing on all cylinders, starting with his former side, the Viola.
Prediction
Juventus 1-0 Fiorentina
Fiorentina are in decent form and come into this clash in Turin, where they have not been performing well against Juventus in recent years. Vincenzo Italiano does have some ambitions before leaving the club in the summer, and that would also involve beating the Bianconeri at their ground.
However, Massimiliano Allegri’s men have the quality to get the better of Fiorentina, although there’s an expectation this game will be a cagey affair. Juventus might slightly nick the Viola to a narrow victory and keep hold of their third spot in the standings for the time being.
Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2024/04/06/juventus-vs-fiorentina-preview-and-prediction/
-
McKennie inspires stronger measures against racism in Serie A
Weston McKennie endured racial abuse from a small number of Lazio fans during the Coppa Italia match against Juventus this week.
The American midfielder was targeted during the semi-final first leg in Turin, prompting Lazio to face potential punishment for the behaviour of their fans.
Racism has unfortunately resurfaced in Serie A in recent weeks, highlighted by Juan Jesus’ allegations that Francesco Acerbi racially abused him during a match between Inter Milan and Napoli.
Despite the allegations, the Inter Milan defender was found not guilty and faced no punishment, a decision not universally accepted. ...........
Authorities are reportedly strengthening punishments for racism and enhancing vigilance to identify perpetrators during upcoming Serie A matches.
The objective is to identify and penalise as many perpetrators of racism as possible, potentially leading to bans from attending games, with the hope of deterring others from engaging in similar behaviour. ...........
Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/mckennie-inspires-stronger-measures-against-racism-in-serie-a/
-
Premesso che "Da che pulpito ......"
L'ex tecnico della Juventus, Gigi Maifredi, ha rilasciato un intervista e si é espresso cosí su Allegri:
"L'impressione è che non ci sia più la sicurezza della grande squadra, c'è l'insicurezza di chi sa di non essere competitivo per un verso o per l'altro. Questo rende difficile il gioco e l'applicazione in campo diventa quasi assente. Bisognerebbe fare una bella chiacchierata per far capire ad Allegri che deve modernizzarsi. L'impressione è che sia rimasto ancorato a Buffon, Barzagli, Chiellini e Pirlo, ma quei tempi sono ormai passati. Il tecnico della Juventus ha dimostrato di essere un magnifico gestore di ottimi giocatori, ma non è riuscito a dimostrare di essere un grande allenatore".
Che ne pensate?
-
1
-
-
Former Juventus coach doubts Allegri’s credentials as a manager
Max Allegri, once hailed as one of the premier managers in the world during his initial tenure at Juventus, is currently facing a significant downturn in his managerial career. .............
Amidst a crisis of confidence within the team, Allegri appears to be struggling to find solutions to their problems. As doubts about his managerial abilities intensify, there is a growing sentiment among observers that Allegri may not be the right person for the job.
With Juventus enduring a period of turmoil, calls for Allegri’s replacement are becoming increasingly vocal, with many advocating for swift action from the club’s management.
Speaking about the former AC Milan coach, ex-Juve manager Luigi Maifredi said:
“The impression is that there is no longer the security of the great team, there is the insecurity of those who know they are not competitive for one way or another. This makes it difficult to play the game and application on the pitch then becomes almost absent. A good chat should be had in which he understands that he should modernize. The impression is that he has remained stuck with Buffon, Barzagli, Chiellini and Pirlo, but those times are now gone. The Juventus coach has proven to be a magnificent manager of excellent players, but he has not managed to demonstrate that he is a great coach.” .............
Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/former-juventus-coach-doubts-allegris-credentials-as-a-manager/
-
2 minuti fa, Dark Wizard ha scritto:Allegri l'ha fatto rinnovare l'anno scorso per fargli raggiungere il numero di presenze giuste per superare il suo nemico pavel...
grazie a maxe ora avremo come recordman straniero un giocatore insulso come il brasiliano
allegri porta rancore, pensa solo al suo tornaconto.
Hai centrato il bersaglio in pieno. Bravo.
-
2
-
-
Is Manna’s move to Napoli a good thing for Juventus?
Recent reports suggest that Giovanni Manna is poised to depart Juventus for Napoli, where he is expected to assume the role of sporting director for the Partenopei.
Manna previously served in a similar capacity towards the end of last season at Juventus, filling in while the club awaited the arrival of Cristiano Giuntoli from Napoli. ...............
The implications of Manna’s departure from Juventus can be viewed in both positive and negative lights.
On one hand, Manna’s exit from Juventus provides Giuntoli with an opportunity to assemble his trusted team. On the other hand, it raises concerns that Juventus’ internal workings may become more accessible to Napoli through Manna’s insider knowledge. ...............
Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/is-mannas-move-to-napoli-a-good-thing-for-juventus/
-
Preview: Juventus vs. Fiorentina - prediction, team news, lineups
After ending their winless run with victory in midweek, Juventus host fellow cup semi-finalists Fiorentina on Sunday, when both teams will try to transfer momentum from the Coppa Italia to Serie A.
While Juve have taken just two points from the last 12 available but beat Lazio on Tuesday, the Viola also won their first leg amid faltering form in the top flight.
Match preview
Second-half strikes from Federico Chiesa and top scorer Dusan Vlahovic put Juventus in charge of their semi-final tie in the Coppa Italia, as they will take a two-goal advantage to Rome for the second leg later this month.
Just days after suffering a last-gasp league defeat to Lazio in the capital, Juve managed to turn things around on home soil, so silverware remains a possibility despite their dismal form since mid-winter. ............
In fact, Juventus are 20 points from the top at this late stage of a season for only the second time in their long and illustrious history, causing speculation regarding Allegri's future to swell.
The Bianconeri's winless streak stands at four Serie A matches, so after posting an increasingly rare clean sheet in the cup, they will aim to continue their relatively solid home record.
Having lost only one of 15 league fixtures at the Allianz Stadium this term, Juve now host one of the clubs that loathe them most: a series of Fiorentina players - most notably Roberto Baggio - have trodden the path from Florence to Turin, creating a bitter enmity.
Most recently, Vlahovic (98 league games and 44 goals for the Viola) and Chiesa (137 and 26) have opted to leave Stadio Franchi for the lure of Juventus - but neither has been directly involved in any goals against their old side since.
Fiorentina have lost 11 of their last 12 away matches against Juventus, failing to even score in four of the last six, and they were also beaten 1-0 by the Bianconeri in November's reverse fixture. ............
Team News
While back-up goalkeeper Mattia Perin returns to the bench and first-choice Wojciech Szczesny replaces him, Juventus boss Max Allegri is not expected to make many other changes to his lineup this weekend.
With Arkadiusz Milik still ruled out by injury, Dusan Vlahovic starts up front: Juve's win percentage drops from 64% to 20% without the Serbian striker and their goals-per-game ratio is halved.
Vlahovic has racked up 15 league strikes to sit second in the Capocannoniere rankings this season, but he has yet to score in five games against Fiorentina since leaving. ............
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiaso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Chiesa, VlahovicFiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Bonaventura, Arthur; Gonzalez, Beltran, Sottil; BelottiWe say: Juventus 1-0 Fiorentina
Both teams are desperate to stop the rot in Serie A, so a gritty contest is set to take place in Turin. As Juventus boast the better attacking options - mostly former Fiorentina players - they can snatch all three points with a single goal.
-
Journalist previews what to expect from Juventus against Fiorentina
Juventus’ upcoming fixture pits them against Fiorentina, following their recent 2-0 victory over Lazio. ............
In the first leg of the Italian Cup semi-final, Juventus displayed their trademark defensive solidity by securing a clean sheet against Lazio. Buoyed by this result, fans now anticipate a similar outcome against Fiorentina.
The match holds particular significance for Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic, both of whom will be facing their former club. Alongside their teammates, Chiesa and Vlahovic are determined to showcase their abilities and secure a positive result against Fiorentina.
Journalist Paolo De Paola has now previewed the game and said:
“What do I expect with Fiorentina? Not a turning point from the point of view of the game. Juve previously managed to impose itself with character and determination, not with the quality of the game. linked to the moments of the individuals, but not to a collective game. If they find themselves and unite, Juve can certainly give a lot. But the game has never been there and I don’t think it will be there now.” ............
Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/journalist-previews-what-to-expect-from-juventus-against-fiorentina/
-
Former Juventus star names three players needed to revamp the team
Juventus has encountered challenges in reclaiming the Serie A title since their last triumph in 2020, and the club is eager to reverse this trend. ............
Securing the signatures of high-quality players will be crucial for Juventus in their quest to regain their status as the leading force in Italian football. Former Juventus player Angelo Di Livio was recently asked for his insights on what the club needs to do to achieve this goal.
He said:
“We need at least 3 market hits to become a Scudetto winner.”
Adding: “I would bet on Ferguson, Koopmeiners and Felipe Anderson to make the leap in quality. Especially in midfield we need a couple of additions.” ............
Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/former-juventus-star-names-three-players-needed-to-revamp-the-team/
-
4 minuti fa, Barney Stinson ha scritto:Non ho capito
Contano solo le visualizzazioni?
Bah
Non hai capito cosa?
Se ti sta antipatico Avsim leggiti l'esposto da un'altra parte.
Non c'é bisogno di fare una crociata.
-
1 ora fa, Barney Stinson ha scritto:Non aprite, non date visibilità a questo... ex juventino, ora, come adani, si è autoeletto unico oracolo di calcio... con il suo codazzo di *****e nerazzurra sarà in prima fila a festeggiare la stella x 19 scudetti
Non sono d'accordo con te ma il video l'ho postato per l'esposto e non per il soggetto in questione.
D'altronde nessuno vi obbliga a vedere tutto il video.
Noto con delusione che per voi contano solo le visualizzazioni dei video di youtube. Non é il mio caso.
-
-
1 ora fa, Tiger Jack ha scritto:I violacei stasera spenderanno anche loro parecchie energie contro i Gasperotti boys, abbiamo quindi il piccolo vantaggio di avere un giorno in più di riposo...per quello che può valere
Potrebbe aiutarci il giorno di riposo in piú.
Ieri abbiamo piegato la Lazio quando i romani hanno avuto una flessione fisica.
Poi non dimentichiamoci che abbiamo fatto due gol in contropiede.
La Fiorentina ci lascerá giocare come noi preferiamo, cioé di rimessa?
-
-
Juventus 2 - Lazio 0: Initial reaction and random observations
As it turns out, sometimes good things can still be done by this team.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73251475/2133690992.0.jpg)
At long last, a reason to smile.
For the players, for the coaches and for those of us like you and me who have been watching Juventus fall further and further into the depth of the nine-game collapse they had coming into Tuesday night’s first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals against Lazio.
And while the first 45 minutes of said opening leg against Lazio looked, unfortunately, a lot like what we saw just four days earlier at the Stadio Olimpico, thankfully the Juventus we saw in the second half was a much, much different kind of team. ............
Within a 15-minute span in the second half, Juventus flipped the script from looking like a team that could be slogging their way to another bad result to a comfortable two-goal lead against a Lazio side that limited them to next to nothing just a few days earlier. Goals from Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic not only gave Juventus the 2-0 win and the upperhand heading into the second leg in Rome come three weeks from now, but gave us all — players, coaches and fans alike — something to finally smile about during the club’s worst run of form in a long, long time.
You didn’t even need to wait to see those smiles appear, either.
There was Chiesa, who is always going to be one of the most emotive Juve players there is, with about as big of a smile as we’ve seen in weeks (if not longer) as he celebrated Vlahovic’s goal to put his team up by a pair of goals.
It was, finally, a chance to be happy again about something Juventus did.
Sure, it’s only one step and a good 45 minutes does not suddenly correct what this team has done ever since Arek Milik got sent off against Empoli and the poor run of form got underway. But, for now, Juve have a solid lead in a two-legged cup semifinal and now have the chance to close out Lazio and make the Coppa Italia final barring any sort of big-time disaster in Rome.
We won’t know if this second-half performance will be any sort of start for the better until Juve face Fiorentina at the weekend and then roll into the meat of this final stretch of games to close out the season. But I just wanna point out a few things that we hadn’t been seeing lately that actually played out Tuesday night:
- For one, Juve actually scored a goal. That’s a big deal because when Federico Chiesa jumped on Andrea Cambiaso’s brilliant long-range through that went right down the heart of the Lazio defense, Juve were closing in on going 250 minutes without scoring. That’s a lot of minutes — and thankfully Chiesa was there to put that run of scoreless ways to an end.
- Vlahovic playing in that kind of way and with the kind of brute force and confidence that he showed on his goal is something Juve need a whole lot of going forward. ............
This is a team that exhibited a lot of the same old problems in the first half. Their passing was off. Their defenders couldn’t consistently complete passes out of the back. The attacking game plan looked to be along the lines of “try and get it to Fede or Dusan and then hope for the best.” Vlahovic was surrounded by what felt like half of Lazio’s team every time somebody was trying to get a cross off to him.
It was rough. It was a rough watch. It just looked like more of the same.
Thankfully, this team actually had an answer to their struggles to open a game. That’s something we weren’t able to say against this same Lazio team four days ago. It’s something we haven’t been able to say for much of the nine-game run that only had one win. It showed that maybe, just maybe, they’re not totally dead yet and there’s finally something to build off of as compared to the awfulness of the last nine games. ............
RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS
............
- Even with all of that possession Lazio had, Mattia Perin had to make the same amount of saves that I did on Tuesday. These are the things that made Juve good in the first half of the season. These are the type of things that either Perin or Wojciech Szczesny will always love to see again going forward the rest of the season.
- We cannot forget that the thing that allowed Cambiaso to make that assist and for Chiesa to score his first goal since Juve’s loss to Napoli is that absolutely fantastic play to keep the ball in play by Manuel Locatelli right in front of Igor Tudor. I don’t know how Loca did that, but he did it. That was some magic right there to keep the ball in and get it to a teammate.
- Guess who got the assist on Vlahovic’s goal? Surprise! It was Weston McKennie. Those two fellas just can’t stop this who Weston assists, Dusan scores thing. More, please.
- That’s 10 assists in all competitions for McKennie, by the way. I think it’s safe to say that’s pretty damn good for a player who wasn’t even in the original squad over the summer. Now we just need to get him a goal because he deserves it.
- One last note on McKennie: Dude was an absolute terror in the second half. His play after the break really is representative of the Juve team as a whole. Well done, Wes. ............
- It really does fit the script with how things are going for Juventus lately to win a penalty, have Vlahovic just about to take it and then VAR comes right in and cancels things out. VAR gonna VAR, it’s just the rule of law.
- It was the wrong call, by the way. We can all agree on that, right?
- Juventus didn’t do much going forward in the first half. And yet ... they were the only team to record a shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes. This stupid game.
- Kenan Yildiz only played about 10 minutes against Lazio, but my goodness was he out there looking to destroy the souls of anybody who got in his way. That long run he made from the Juve box to essentially the edge of the Lazio box was just pure skill and strength combining. I woulda loved to see him keep the run going after he passed to Vlahovic, but I guess you can’t have everything in the world. ............
- I’m still fawning over that assist from Cambiaso. It was just so beautiful. ............
-
Juventus Player Ratings vs Lazio: Chiesa and Vlahovic Roar in Coppa Italia Win
Juventus (3-5-2)
Mattia Perin – 6
............
Federico Gatti – 6.5
The former Frosinone man began his outing by inadvertently injuring Mattia Zaccagni. Despite being rash at times, it was a solid and composed display at the back.
Gleison Bremer – 7
The resolute Brazilian defender never gave Ciro Immobile or his substitute Taty Castellanos a yard of space. Another defensive masterclass.
Danilo – 6.5
The Juventus captain was always there to pull off timely interceptions and clear the ball out of danger.
Andrea Cambiaso – 7.5
A brilliant display from the former Genoa man who created Chiesa’s opener almost out of nothing by eclipsing his markers and putting Chiesa through on goal with a fabulous long ball. This was only the highlight of a grand outing.
Weston McKennie – 7.5
The USMNT star ran his socks off and covered every yard of the pitch with his non-stop running. Won the ball on countless occasions and provided the assist for Vlahovic.
Manuel Locatelli – 6
............
Adrien Rabiot – 7
A commanding display in the middle of the park from the Frenchman who had the better of his compatriot Mateo Guendouzi. Played an integral role in the second goal.
Filip Kostic – 6
............
Dusan Vlahovic – 8
The former Fiorentina man displayed just how clinical he can be by scoring from his solitary chance. He was also a thorn in the back of Alessio Romagnoli and company throughout the match, and showcased his dedication to the cause by constantly tracking back and covering for his teammates. Max Allegri will be proud.
Federico Chiesa – 7.5
The Italian star took his chance brilliantly, leaving the Lazio goalkeeper with no chance. On his day, he remains the biggest source of creativity for Juventus.
Substitutes
Kenan Yildiz – 6.5
The Turkish teenager kept the pressure on the Lazio backline following his introduction. Pulled off some breathtaking dribbles.
Timothy Weah – 6
............
Moise Kean – N/A
Alex Sandro – N/A
Carlos Alcaraz – N/A
Read more -> https://cultofcalcio.com/juventus-player-ratings-vs-lazio-chiesa-and-vlahovic-roar-in-coppa-italia-win/
-
Chiesa and Vlahovic give Juventus advantage in Coppa Italia semi-final
Juventus started the game looking for a quick goal and had some chances, but they never came close to scoring inside the first ten minutes.
Two minutes later, the Bianconeri thought they had a penalty when Matias Vecino brought down Federico Chiesa; however, after a VAR review, the penalty was overturned. ............
The teams could not be separated at the break, and Max Allegri had a big halftime talk to make.
Whatever he said during the break worked as Juve scored five minutes after the restart when Chiesa drilled the ball into the bottom right corner in trademark fashion.
After Weston McKennie came close to doubling Juventus’ lead, Dusan Vlahovic did and hit it sweetly into the bottom left corner after a deft assist from the American. ............
Both teams could not find another goal in added time, and Juve held on to win and return to winning ways, but this is just the first half in the tie.
Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/chiesa-and-vlahovic-give-juventus-advantage-in-coppa-italia-semi-final/
-
-
Official Juventus team to face Lazio in Coppa Italia
Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/official-juventus-team-to-face-lazio-in-coppa-italia/
-
-
Former Lazio goalkeeper Luca Marchegiani analyses Juventus‘ run of poor results, saying that Bianconeri players, especially their star striker Federico Chiesa, ‘look empty.’
The Serie A giants won just Serie A one game from the last nine, collecting seven points and seeing fourth-placed Bologna move just two below them in the table. ............
Talking about Juventus’ latest league loss on Sky Sport Italia, ex-Lazio keeper Marchegiani said: “That game was a tough one for Juve, and it had the worst possible outcome. They had nearly collected a point.”
“What was even more surprising is that the team looked empty,” continued Marchegiani.
“Juventus used to have a different intensity and it feels strange that the problem is only physical because it is the team that played the least games. Look at Chiesa, he also looks empty,” concluded Marchegiani. ............
Read more -> https://football-italia.net/ex-serie-a-keeper-feels-juventus-and-chiesa-look-empty/
-
Juventus sporting director Giovanni Manna set to join Napoli
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano delivers breaking news on Juventus sporting director Giovanni Manna, linking him with a move to Napoli.
The 35-year-old joined the club as an academy manager back in 2019 before taking over the Juventus Next Gen project the following year.
When Federico Cherubini received a sporting ban last January, Manna earned a sudden promotion, becoming the first team’s sporting director.
Despite the arrival of Cristiano Guintoli in the summer, the 35-year-old maintained his post, acting as the right-hand man of the club’s new Football Director.
But while Giuntoli made the switch from Napoli to Juventus last summer, Manna could be set to move in the opposite direction. .............
Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/fabrizio-romano-juventus-sporting-director-giovanni-manna-set-to-join-napoli/
Pietro Anastasi
in Tutti Gli Uomini Della Signora
Inviato
Ricordiamo Pietro Anastasi che oggi avrebbe compiuto 76 anni