Socrates

Fabrizio Romano: Juventus midfielder has no intention to leave in January Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano insists Douglas Luiz intends to stay firm at Juventus, at least until the end of the season. The Serie A giants splashed around 50 million euros to secure the services of the Brazil international last summer from Aston Villa. ............ But while the 26-year-old was one of the most vibrant midfielders in the Premier League this season, he has yet to showcase his capabilities on Italian soil. He started his campaign on a slow note, only making a couple of starts, and failing to leave a positive mark on the pitch. ............ “Douglas Luiz is currently not planning to leave Juventus in the January transfer window,” posted Romano. “He’s focused on returning from the injury and make an impact at the club after joining from Villa in the summer.” It remains to be seen when the former Aston Villa man will be able to return to the squad. Thiago Motta will be hoping to recover his services, along with others for next Saturday’s contest against Bologna. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/fabrizio-romano-juventus-midfielder-has-no-intention-to-leave-in-january/

Juventus probable lineup vs Lecce: Two changes from Aston Villa clash Juventus will be looking to return to winning ways when they take on Lecce at the Via del Mare. The Bianconeri are coming off two back-to-back stalemates against Milan in Serie A and Aston Villa in the Champions League, where they have been impeded by the lack of strikers at Thiago Motta’s disposal. And with Dusan Vlahovic still out of action, Juve will have to negotiate yet another contest without a proper centre-forward. The Serbian is one of nine unavailable players. The injury list also includes the likes of Arek Milik, Weston McKennie, Douglas Luiz, Nico Gonzalez, in addition to long-term absentees Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal. ............ The team sheet will be similar to the one that took the field at Villa Park on Wednesday, as Motta hardly has any room to maneuver. At this stage, the lineup is almost picking itself. ............ With Nicolo Savona becoming the latest absentee, club captain Danilo will force his way into the lineup at right-back, joining Federico Gatti, Pierre Kalulu and Andrea Cambiaso. The only voluntary change Motta will make is to drop Michele Di Gregorio in favor of Mattia Perin who will get another chance to shine in goal. On the other hand, the rest of the lineup will remain intact, with Manuel Locatelli linking up with Khephren Thuram in the double pivot, thus keeping Nicolo Fagioli on the bench. Teun Koopmeiners will be hoping to impress after two listless displays when he operates as an attacking midfielder. The young Francisco Conceicao and Kenan Yildiz will take the wings, while Timothy will be once again tasked with interpreting the striker role. Juventus Probable XI (4-2-3-1): Perin; Danilo, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Weah. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-probable-lineup-vs-lecce-two-changes-from-aston-villa-clash/

Who are the five Juventus youngsters called up for Lecce trip Amidst the devastating injury crisis, Juventus coach Thiago Motta decided to add five new youngsters to the traveling party to Lecce. ............ We begin with Augusto Owusu, a midfielder who has been rising through the club’s ranks since the age of seven. He currently features for the Next Gen squad. ............ His Next Gen teammate Christos Papadopoulos is only a year older. He’s currently in Turin on loan from Genoa, so it remains to be seen what the future will hold for the 20-year-old Greek midfielder. ............ In addition to the Next Gen duo, Motta bolstered his squad with a trio of promising Primavera starlets. Filippo Pagnucco is an 18-year-old left-back who currently serves as the captain of the U20 side. Despite his tender age, 17-year-old Alfonso Montero also got the nod. Like his father, the legendary Paolo Montero, the teenager is a centre-back by trade. The Uruguayan is already burning the stages of his development, as he’s one of the youngest players in Francesco Magnanelli’s squad. He has also been called up for the Uruguay U20 side. Finally, Diego Pugno joins the ranks amidst the lack of strikers at Motta’s disposal, with Vlahovic and Milik both out. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/who-are-the-five-juventus-youngsters-called-up-for-lecce-trip/

Fagioli’s list of suitors is growing as Juventus eye Genoa midfielder as potential replacement The reports linking Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli with the exit door are gaining more steam, and the club is already considering a replacement. Over the past few weeks, the Italy international has been unable to earn himself a starting spot in Thiago Motta’s lineup, even with the squad being pared down to the bone amidst a ravaging injury crisis. The Italian Brazilian manager currently prefers Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram in the double pivot, leaving Fagioli starving for minutes. The player’s lack of minutes have coincided with growing exit talks. ............ Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique Marseille and Napoli are all keeping tabs on the situation. The report adds that Juventus are seeking a figure above 20 million euros for the midfielder whose contract will expire in June 2028. This figure would be registered as pure capital gains, as the Italian is a youth product of the club. ............ Juve has interest in Morten Frendrup. The source claims that the management could turn to the Genoa man if they end up parting ways with Fagioli. The report expects Juventus to try to sign the Dane on loan with an obligation to buy until the end of the season for a figure between 15 and 16 million euros. This is slightly lower than the 20 million requested by the Grifone. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/fagiolis-list-of-suitors-is-growing-as-juventus-eye-genoa-midfielder-as-potential-replacement/

Giuntoli non ti ascolterá, stanne certo ed é un bene.

Io invece credo che la partita verrá giocata regolarmente. Ma vista la situazione della Juve che dovrá far scendere in campo gli stessi che hanno giocato in Champions contro un Lecce che ha preparato la partita per tutta la settimana, sarebbe meglio per noi che non si giocasse.

Ma la frase é stata detta da Pietrangeli o da Cassano? Lo stile é del barese.

US Lecce vs Juventus: Preview and Prediction Lecce would love to make it consecutive wins in the league when they host giants Juventus on Sunday at the Stadio Via del Mare. Both teams have had contrasting fortunes so far and it could prove to be an exciting clash between two teams from different halves of the table. The home team are 15th with just 12 points in their 13 matches. They have only won three league games so far and are just two points above the drop zone. ............ Juventus might be unbeaten in the Serie A so far, but they have not been at their best. They have played out seven draws in their 13 outings. Despite being sixth on the points table they are very much in the title race as they are just four points behind league leaders Napoli. The Old Lady will look to stay in the mix with another win here. Their last league outing was a 0-0 draw against AC Milan and they failed to win (0-0) against Aston Villa in the Champions League. While it will be a challenge for Motta’s team, they are favourites for this one. ............ Team News & Tactics US Lecce The home team won’t be able to call up Lameck Banda, Medon Berisha, Kevin Bonifazi, and Balthazar Pierret for this fixture. ............ Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani; Dorgu, Rafia, Pierotti; Krstovic Juventus Juventus have been rocked by injuries this season, they will be without the services of quite a few first-team stars. Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal, Bremer, Nico Gonzalez and Douglas Luiz are all out injured. Meanwhile, the availability of Weston McKennie and Nicolo Savona are major doubts. While Dusan Vlahovic pushing to be fit in time for this fixture, we might see Timothy Weah continue to lead the line for them. The visitors will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Michele Di Gregorio will be in goal. Danilo and Andrea Cambiaso will feature as the full-backs, while Federico Gatti will pair up with Pierre Kalulu in central defence. Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram will form the double pivot in the centre of the park. They will be looking to dictate the pace of the game. Teun Koopmeiners will take up the number ten role, with Francisco Conceicao and Kenan Yildiz on the flanks and Timothy Weah leading the line. Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Danilo, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Weah Key Stats Juventus have set a new club record for most Serie A draws in a calendar year. They currently have 17 to their name in 2024 with a few fixtures to go. Lecce have lost each of their last two home games against Juventus, and they failed to score in both those fixtures. Thiago Motta’s team have played out nine draws in the new campaign. The home team have only scored six goals in their 13 outings, which is a major cause of concern. The Old Lady are the only unbeaten team in the Italian top flight, and they have the best defensive record having conceded just seven goals. They have a total of nine clean sheets. Player to Watch Francisco Conceicao On loan from FC Porto, Francisco Conceicao has had quite an impact at Juventus in his first season in Italy. He has scored two goals and bagged five assists in his 12 outings across competitions. The Portuguese international is expected to be in the starting XI, and he will be eager to help his team claim all three points in this away fixture. Prediction Lecce 1-3 Juventus Lecce did secure a win last time out, and they will be confident about putting up a strong performance against Juventus, but they are unlikely to cause them any problems. Despite all the injury concerns. Thiago Motta still has enough quality in his squad to guide them past the home team. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the away team. . Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2024/11/30/us-lecce-vs-juventus-preview-and-prediction/

Lecce v Juventus: Match prediction, Prewiew, Team news and Lineups Juventus will look to continue their unbeaten start to the Serie A season when they travel to face Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare on Sunday evening. The Bianconeri remain the only undefeated side in Italy’s top flight after 13 matches, but their tendency to draw games has prevented them from topping the table. ............ Manager Thiago Motta has built his team’s success on a rock-solid defense, conceding just seven goals and keeping nine clean sheets so far. However, Juventus’ attacking output has left much to be desired. Their struggles in front of goal were evident midweek in a 0-0 Champions League draw at Aston Villa, where they created few clear-cut chances. Improving their offensive production will be crucial if they hope to sustain a title challenge. ............ An intriguing subplot to this match is the presence of two of Serie A’s most promising young talents. Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz and Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu are the two youngest players to score three or more goals in the league this season. Their performances could be crucial in determining the outcome of Sunday’s clash. Team News Juventus are dealing with a slew of injuries that have severely limited Motta’s options. Star striker Dusan Vlahovic is hoping to recover from a thigh issue, while Arkadiusz Milik is out until next year. Winger Timothy Weah may be forced to lead the line if Vlahovic is unavailable. The Bianconeri are also without Juan Cabal, Bremer, Nico Gonzalez, and Douglas Luiz due to various injuries. Weston McKennie and Nicolo Savona are doubtful, further depleting Juventus’ squad depth. ............ Expected Starting XIs Lecce: Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani; Dorgu, Rafia, Pierotti; Krstovic Juventus: Di Gregorio; Danilo, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Weah Match Prediction Given Juventus’ defensive solidity and Lecce’s scoring woes, a low-scoring affair seems likely. The Bianconeri have won their last two away matches against Lecce without conceding, and they’ll be confident of extending that run. While Lecce will be buoyed by their midweek victory, Juventus should have enough quality to grind out a narrow win and keep pace in the title race. Prediction: Lecce 0-1 Juventus . Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/serie-a-lecce-v-juventus-match-preview/

Juventus injury crisis continues as 9 players miss Lecce clash Juventus coach Thiago Motta confirms nine Bianconeri are unavailable for tomorrow’s game against Lecce, including Dusan Vlahovic, so he will promote five players from the youth sector. ............ The Old Lady’s boss Thiago Motta provided the latest team news at a pre-match press conference on Saturday, starting with unavailable players: “Gleison [Bremer], Nico [Gonzalez], Arek [Milik], Douglas [Luiz], Vasilije [Adžić], Juan [Cabal], Dusan [Vlahovic], Savo [Nicolò Savona] and Weston [McKennie].” ............ “Dusan is not available. He and other players have all the desire in the world to be on the pitch and help the team,” said Motta. ............ “All teams are having these injuries. Some teams more and others less, but as I already said, things won’t change, and I am entirely focused on who is available.” The Juventus injury crisis will force Motta to call Next Gen and U19 players to the first squad for tomorrow’s game at Lecce. The youth players called up are: “Alfonso [Montero], Filippo [Pagnucco], Augusto [Owusu], Diego [Pugno] and Christos [Papadopoulos],” said Motta. “I want to see many things and be consistent in what we are doing. We need great performance in all aspects. We need more chances to achieve a result,” continued the Bianconeri boss. ............ “I have complete trust in my players. Those available will perform well, so each of us must give something more to help the team. This is what we do every day.” ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-injury-crisis-continues-9-out-lecce/

Massimo Pavan is worried about one thing ahead of the Juventus-Lecce match Massimo Pavan has raised significant concerns about Juventus’ preparations ahead of their crucial Serie A clash against Lecce this weekend. His worries stem from the stark contrast in the schedules of both teams. While Lecce has had the luxury of a week’s rest and focus solely on this fixture, Juventus has been dealing with a congested calendar, including matches in the Champions League and Serie A. The strain is further compounded by the club’s ongoing injury crisis, leaving the squad stretched thin. Juventus finds themselves in a precarious position. Currently sixth in Serie A, they cannot afford to drop more points as they chase a top-four finish to secure Champions League qualification for next season. Lecce, meanwhile, has little to lose and will likely approach this game with nothing but determination to upset the Old Lady. ............ “For Lecce, I am terrified by one thing, the fact that Juventus has almost no changes and the Lecce players are rested. It is difficult to understand what game to play, it is difficult to attack without strikers, in management perhaps Lecce would be favoured. It will take a lot of heart and spirit of sacrifice; it will be a very difficult match but Juve can only win since they are sixth, so as not to lose sight of fourth place.” ............ To prevail, Juventus must leverage its experience and tactical flexibility while ensuring concentration throughout the 90 minutes. A win in this fixture is not just essential for their league aspirations but also critical for maintaining morale amid what has been a challenging season so far. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/massimo-pavan-is-worried-about-one-thing-ahead-of-the-juventus-lecce-match/

Trotta warns Juventus about drawing too many matches Juventus remains unbeaten in Serie A this season, and while that’s a commendable feat, the Bianconeri’s inability to convert draws into wins is holding them back from achieving their desired position at the top of the table. While the team’s unbeaten run is a positive, their frequent draws are preventing them from accumulating the points needed to challenge for the Serie A title. ............ Juventus has a new manager in Thiago Motta and several new players, which means there has been an adjustment period. However, this cannot be used as an excuse for failing to convert matches into victories. While the Bianconeri are showing solid defensive displays, their attack has often lacked the finishing touch, resulting in far too many stalemates. ............ Football pundit Ivano Trotta discussed the issue of Juventus’ drawn matches and the importance of turning those into wins: ............ “Years ago, in the 2004/2005 championship, Inter won 18 games and lost only 2 but drew 18. Mancini was called ‘Mr. X’ by the press, and Inter, despite having lost so few, finished third. Then we saw that things have changed but the gist of the matter is that Juventus must draw fewer games.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/pundit-warns-juventus-about-drawing-too-many-matches/

Padovano defends Teun Koopmeiners and is confident Dutchman will improve Teun Koopmeiners finds himself navigating a challenging start to life at Juventus following his summer move from Atalanta. The Dutch midfielder, once celebrated as one of the most consistent performers in Serie A, has struggled to replicate the same level of dominance in the Bianconeri colours. As a result, both the player and the club find themselves under pressure to adapt quickly and deliver the expected results. ............ Reports suggest that the club remains confident in his potential. Koopmeiners is believed to be improving gradually, but his progress has not been as rapid as fans or the club would like. Juventus manager Thiago Motta and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli are reportedly supporting the player, emphasising the importance of patience as he settles into the team’s tactical framework. His late arrival in the summer transfer window, coupled with an incomplete preseason, has also been cited as a factor behind his slow start. ............ Former Juventus player Michele Padovano has defended Koopmeiners, emphasising that his struggles are temporary. Padovano noted: “His role is not very easy, but in any case, I think he will arrive too. Let’s not forget that he arrived late and has not done a complete athletic preparation. Losing even 20 days of training affects your performance on the pitch.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/pundit-defends-teun-koopmeiners-and-is-confident-dutchman-will-improve/

Juventus eyeing Antonio Silva: Jorge Mendes a key ally in transfer strategy Juventus are set to make moves in the transfer market following season-ending injuries to defenders Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal. The Italian giants have turned their attention to Antonio Silva, a promising 20-year-old Portuguese center-back currently playing for Benfica. Cristiano Giuntoli, Juventus’ sporting director, is particularly impressed with Silva’s potential. Silva, known for his aerial prowess and marking ability, is considered one of the most exciting prospects in Portuguese football. He is under contract with Benfica until 2027. ............ Jorge Mendes, Silva’s agent, has previously worked successfully with Juventus on the Conceicao deal and is now looking to facilitate Silva’s move. The proposed transfer structure involves an initial loan with an option to buy, which could become an obligation if certain conditions are met, for approximately €30 million. ............ Thiago Motta, Juventus’ coach, has also expressed interest in Jhon Lucumi, a 25-year-old defender from Bologna with whom he has previously worked. Giuntoli is exploring multiple options, aware that Atletico Madrid is also interested in the Colombian defender. ............ . Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/juventus-eyeing-antonio-silva-jorge-mendes-a-key-ally-in-transfer-strategy/

Motta wants Ferguson at Juventus as Zirkzee seeks Man Utd exit Juventus coach Thiago Motta ‘dreams’ of reuniting with Bologna’s Lewis Ferguson at Juventus, while a former Rossoblu star, Joshua Zirkzee, wants to leave Manchester United in January. Juventus are expected to be pretty busy during the January transfer window as the Bianconeri must sign a few reinforcements. ............ Juventus are waiting for offers for Douglas Luiz and Nicolò Fagioli, and the sale of one of them would allow Giuntoli to sign a new midfielder. Motta’s dream is to reunite with Scotland international Ferguson, who scored 13 goals in 65 appearances under the Bianconeri’s boss in Bologna. ............ Zirkzee’s name is naturally high on their agenda, and the Dutch forward is already seeking an exit from Old Trafford. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/motta-ferguson-juventus-zirkzee-man-utd-exit/

Capello says Juventus will make the Champions League playoffs Fabio Capello is confident that Juventus will qualify for the Champions League playoffs, despite their fluctuating form in the group stage. After an impressive start to the competition, Juventus has now gone three games without a win, making it more difficult for them to finish in the top eight. However, Capello believes that the Bianconeri can still secure a spot in the playoff round, which would give them a chance to progress to the round of 16. ............ While Capello is hopeful about Juventus’ prospects, he also pointed out areas for improvement. He highlighted that certain players need to step up their performances if the team is to succeed. Capello stated, “Juventus on the other hand does not have a good calendar, but I see them in the play-offs. In the Champions League, however, they will have to do more in the goal area. Conceição and Yildiz are good at dribbling, but I would try to put a few more balls in the area to increase the danger.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/capello-says-juventus-will-make-the-champions-league-playoffs/

Juventus opens the door to sell player who joined them this season After just six months at Juventus, Douglas Luiz could be sold as he has failed to settle at the club. The Brazilian midfielder arrived in Turin after playing a pivotal role in helping Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League last season, making him one of the most sought-after players in Europe at the time. However, his performances in Italy have been underwhelming, leaving many Juventus fans surprised by how out of place he has looked on the pitch. Despite his high expectations upon arrival, Luiz struggled to adapt to Juventus’ playing style. His performances have been inconsistent, and he has often appeared lost in midfield, failing to make the impact the club had hoped for. ............ As the January transfer window approaches, Juventus is looking to strengthen its squad, but the club could also be open to moving on players who have not lived up to expectations. Luiz is one of the underperforming players Juventus would be willing to sell. The Brazilian was expected to become a key player in Juventus’ midfield, yet his performances since joining have fallen short of the standard required. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-opens-the-door-to-sell-player-who-joined-them-this-season/

Giuntoli visited Manchester on a mission to sell two Juventus midfielders Juventus Football Director Cristiano Giuntoli was reportedly in Manchester in an attempt to find buyers for two midfielders. The Bianconeri are now bracing themselves for what should be an eventful January transfer session. Despite the lack of funds, the club must embark on the market to reinforce Thiago Motta’s squad which has been decimated by injuries. The Serie A giants will be looking to buy a defender and a striker, or perhaps two defenders if Arkadiusz Milik makes a successful return from injury by January. ............ The Juventus director is on a mission to sell either Nicolo Fagioli or Douglas Luiz in order to raise transfer funds. The Italy international started the campaign on a promising note but has been recently relegated to the bench, with Thiago Motta finding the right balance with Manuel Locatelli, Khephren Thuram and Teun Koopmeiners. On the other hand, Juventus splashed 50 million euros to sign Luiz from Aston Villa last summer, but the Brazilian has yet to adjust to life in Italian football, and has been nursing an injury for over a month. ............ Moreover, a recent report claimed, the Red Devils might be interested in exchanging Zirkzee with Douglas Luiz. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/giuntoli-visited-manchester-on-a-mission-to-sell-two-juventus-midfielders/

Conceicao rues missed opportunity against Aston Villa, opens up on Juventus future Francisco Conceicao was the most influential Juventus player in the attacking phase against Aston Villa, but he fell just short of scoring a goal. The Bianconeri escaped the Champions League contest with a goalless draw as a last-minute goal from Morgan Rogers was ruled out for a foul on Michele Di Gregorio. Nevertheless, the Italians could have snatched the opener early on through Conceicao. Despite being the shortest player on the pitch, the 21-year-old met a corner kick from Teun Koopmeiners at the back post with a solid header that appeared to have crossed the line at first sight before being parried away by a fantastic save from Emiliano Martinez. All eyes were on the match official who a few seconds later revealed that the ball didn’t entirely cross the line as confirmed by the goal-line technology. Later footage showed that the ball was only a few centimeters away from being counted as a goal. ............ “We played a good match, but we knew it was going to be a difficult one,” noted the Portugal international in his post-match interview. “We deserved the three points.” “I wanted to score, but Dibu [Martinez] produced a great save. Now we move forward to win the next Champions League matches, which is important.” ............ “I’m very happy at Juve, but I don’t know what will happen because the clubs have to talk to one another.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/conceicao-rues-missed-opportunity-against-aston-villa-opens-up-on-juventus-future/

Aston Villa 0 - Juventus 0: Initial reaction and random observations Considering the current state of the Juventus roster when it comes to the current injury situation and the overall quality of play, it was hard to have many expectations for Thiago Motta’s squad entering Wednesday night’s Champions League matchup against Aston Villa. It feels, in a way, this team is very much in survival mode at the moment, with so many players out missing and severely hindering the kind of rotation and fluidity that Motta so desires with so many fixtures compacted into a small window. ............ If not for a last-second refereeing decision at the very end of second-half stoppage time, Juventus were about to be looking a second heartbreaking Champions League loss in the last month. However, because the result of Michele Di Gregorio getting an elbow/forearm right in the ribs turned out to be something that was called a foul and wiped out the goal that every Aston Villa fan thought their club had. ............ And yet, right as I say that, I know that Juventus were also this close to seeing the shortest man on the field, Francisco Conceição, score with his head to put them up 1-0: What’s that ... a couple of millimeters? AT MOST? I mean, that is a save from Emi Martinez that is very much the kind of world-class effort that makes him getting all those accolades totally understandable. A complete madman he may be, but he also does stuff like that — and it was the kind of save that prevented Juventus from being a really good position with 25 minutes to go. ............ RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS Seeing such a short bench is just very sad. So few names! I mean, when your bench is quite literally 33% goalkeepers, then you just have to wonder how the heck we reached this point. ............ But it wouldn’t be a Juventus game these days without somebody picking up an injury, right? I guess it’s time to add Nicolo Savona to the list. Dammit ... dammit all to hell. It’s the 91st minute and Conceição just bursts forward on a run toward the halfway line and all I can think is “How does this guy have this much damn energy left?” Di Gregorio’s first save of the night ... man, that was a good one. ............ If Aston Villa fans are looking for Ollie Watkins, I think a good place to start looking for him would be in Pierre Kalulu’s pocket. That was some man-marking excellence. Manuel Locatelli, take a bow, my friend. That was one hell of a performance when his team needed it. He was good, so damn good against Aston Villa. He was credited with a game-high four tackles, but it felt like so many more than that. He was credited with eight defensive actions, but it felt like so much more than that. ............ Di Gregorio (42) had more touches than Teun Koopmeiners (38). That doesn’t seem like it’s all that great of a development. Yet, for all of his struggles, Koopmeiners still had more key passes than any player on the field Wednesday night. Did not expect that one when I looked up the final stats. ............ I would like Kenan Yildiz to be more involved in games. That’s just one guy’s opinion, though. It pains me to see Motta very much unable to have options off the bench that can truly change the game on a regular basis, so I can only imagine how he’s feeling about it. I get that he’s trying to keep things positive during an absolute mess of a situation, but it’s tough to see him be down to three logical outfield options off the bench and that’s it. ............ Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2024/11/28/24307751/juventus-aston-villa-2024-champions-league-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

Juventus coach Thiago Motta: “We defended well but created little” Following Juventus’ goalless draw against Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League, head coach Thiago Motta shared his insights during a post-match interview. The match ended 0-0, reflecting a performance where defensive solidity was evident, but offensive creativity was lacking. Motta began by summarizing the match, stating, “We bring home a point. The team was compact; we left little space and created little. We played with great balance.” His remarks highlighted the team’s defensive efforts while acknowledging the need for improvement in their attacking play. ............ “Teun Koopmeiners is playing in a difficult position. Playing between the lines against a team like Aston Villa is not easy. ............ He is a special player who can give a lot to the team. I am very happy to have him. Sometimes I think about substituting him, but it’s hard to take someone like him off.” ............ “We always want to win. We have three matches left for qualification: Manchester City, Bruges, and Benfica. This is an important moment; we must play every match at our best. We will assess our situation at the end if we need to.” . Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/juventus-coach-thiago-motta-we-defended-well-but-created-little/

Juventus Player Ratings vs Aston Villa: Locatelli Thwarts the Villains ............ Juventus (4-2-3-1) Michele Di Gregorio – 6.5 ............ Nicolò Savona – 6 ............ Pierre Kalulu – 6.5 The Frenchman started on a brilliant note, frustrating Ollie Watkins in their personal duel. But as the match wore on, he started to lose some ground and gave away freekicks in dangerous positions. Federico Gatti – 7 A fabulous display at the back from the Italy international who confidently dealt with every ball that came in his direction. Andrea Cambiaso – 6.5 A good display from the former Genoa man who tried his best to drive the ball forward, even though his attacking participation was less than usual. He also kept Leon Bailey at bay. Khephren Thuram – 7 The Juventus summer signing prevailed in the majority of his duels against his Aston Villa counterparts. Won the ball back on countless occasions and helped bring it forward. Manuel Locatelli – 7.5 A superb outing from the Juventus stand-in captain who was a true wall in front of the backline. He dropped deep to support his teammates in defense whenever required and even produced a goal-line clearance. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Francisco Conceicao – 6.5 The Portuguese looked inspired down the left flank, causing havoc almost every time he received the ball. Tested Emi Martinez in the first half with a low shot, and was a few centimeters away from seeing his header cross the line. Teun Koopmeiners – 5 Aside from a few decent set-ball deliveries, the former Atalanta man was hardly noticeable on the pitch. The Bianconeri fans are beginning to become deeply concerned by his underwhelming form. Kenan Yildiz – 6 The Turkish teenager had his moments, including a few nice cuts from the left flank, but they were too few to alter the outcome. Timothy Weah – 5.5 The USMNT star can be excused as he was playing in unfamiliar territory with Dusan Vlahovic ruled out for injury. Couldn’t make his impact felt inside the box, and didn’t help much in the buildup either. Substitutes Danilo – 6 ............ Nicolò Fagioli – N/A . Read more -> https://cultofcalcio.com/juventus-player-ratings-vs-aston-villa-locatelli-thwarts-the-villains/