Socrates

What is Juventus target for their Champions League campaign? Juventus, as Italy’s most successful football club, has ambitious goals for the season across multiple competitions. While winning the Serie A title is always a primary objective, the club also aims to excel in other tournaments, including the Champions League, Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa Italiana. Although they may not be the outright favourites to win the Champions League, Juventus’s history and reputation make them a team that commands respect in Europe. This season, they have shown potential in the competition, beginning with two victories in their first two matches, though their recent lack of wins in the last two games, including a home loss to Stuttgart, has tempered initial optimism. Juventus’s recent financial updates reveal that progressing in the Champions League is also critical from an economic perspective. Juventus has set reaching the knockout phase as their minimum goal for the European campaign. Success in the Champions League brings significant financial rewards, including broadcasting revenue and prize money, which are particularly important to the club’s finances. ............ The Champions League’s new format adds a level of unpredictability, and while Juventus may not have the depth or financial muscle of some of Europe’s biggest spenders, they possess the talent and experience needed to make a competitive run. Reaching the knockout stages is an achievable objective and would allow them to continue competing at the highest level while building confidence for future seasons. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/what-is-juventus-target-for-their-champions-league-campaign/

Juventus CEO gives updates on shirt sponsorship talks Juventus remains without a primary shirt sponsor after ending its partnership with Jeep last season, a sponsorship that had long been a part of the club’s identity. Now, Juventus is looking for a new, high-profile brand to secure a long-term partnership, but the club has yet to find a suitable deal. Despite holding talks with several potential sponsors before the start of the current season, the club has maintained its stance of waiting for the right opportunity. This cautious approach is strategic; as one of the most prestigious clubs in Italian and European football, Juventus doesn’t feel pressure to rush into an agreement. ............ Maurizio Scanavino, CEO of Juventus, recently updated fans and stakeholders on the progress of these negotiations. “We are in negotiations with several brands and companies with international interest and visibility,” he said. He added, “We are considering concluding [a sponsorship deal] by the end of this season.” For now, Juventus has temporarily continued its partnership with Save the Children, featuring the charity’s logo on the team’s kits, and recently reached an agreement with Azimut, a financial services company, to sponsor the shirts. However, these arrangements are interim measures, as Juventus remains focused on securing a primary sponsor that meets their criteria for a long-term contract. ............ As Scanavino’s statements suggest, Juventus intends to take the necessary time to find a partnership that benefits both parties fully. Fans are understandably anxious to see Juventus with a new sponsor, but patience will likely yield a sponsorship deal that aligns with the club’s goals and stature. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-ceo-gives-updates-on-shirt-sponsorship-talks/

Francisco Conceicao: ‘I don’t see myself just passing through at Juventus….’ Young Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao recently shared his thoughts on the art of dribbling and his football philosophy in an interview. Coming from a family deeply rooted in football, with his father Sergio Conceicao as a coach and four brothers who also play the sport, Francisco has quickly made a name for himself. Francisco, you are the most talented and famous… “Dad tells me and my brothers to always be ourselves: if you’re happy, you can pull off the perfect dribble in a match.” ............ “Francisco has football in his blood,” says Thiago Motta. True? “For me, football is everything… my mood is closely linked to what happens in the match: I try to keep work and family separate, but often I can’t, and so at home, I carry a bit of nervousness if things don’t go as they should.” Dribbling as your mission. “I draw inspiration from street football, a way of thinking that engages fans’ interest: people come to the stadium to find creativity, to get excited watching a play that can bring joy. I will never lose sight of this perspective.” ............ Can one-on-one be coached? “It can be improved, but you have to feel it within you.” Do you like to feel the pressure on you, or is it better to shake it off? “I strongly believe that winning should be a necessity: I lived a bit in Amsterdam, at Ajax, quite a bit at Porto, and now at Juve. Historic clubs and clubs where it matters to finish ahead of others.” ............ . How does Papa Sergio try to stay close to you? “We talk before and after every match, but he never intervenes on tactical themes or strategic situations that belong to the technical aspects, he keeps his distance from that. In our phone calls, we talk about me, how I feel, how I should face the challenge from a mental point of view.” ............ . Will Turin intrigue you also in the near future? “I don’t see myself as just passing through with this jersey, I can’t make other statements because it’s not up to me to make them. But I like the Juve project…” ............ . Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/francisco-conceicao-i-dont-see-myself-just-passing-through-at-juventus/

Beyond finances, Juventus cannot sign Jonathan David in January Juventus has identified Jonathan David as a top transfer target, recognising the Canadian striker’s prolific form for Lille in recent weeks. David, who has been a mainstay in Lille’s attack since joining the club in 2020, is reportedly set to become a free agent next summer, as he appears unlikely to renew his contract with the French side. This has sparked a high level of interest from European clubs, as acquiring such an in-form, young talent without a transfer fee represents a rare opportunity. Juventus is eager to sign David as early as the January transfer window to avoid fierce competition from other clubs in the summer. ............ However, the Bianconeri are facing a unique obstacle in their pursuit: the club has exhausted its allocation of non-EU player slots, which complicates David’s potential integration into their squad due to his Canadian citizenship. One solution Juventus is considering is signing David in January and immediately loaning him back to Lille for the remainder of the season. This strategy would ensure that Juventus wins the race for his signature while providing time to address the non-EU player slot issue. ............ . This approach is not uncommon in football transfers, particularly when logistical or regulatory issues prevent an immediate integration of a new signing. In recent years, Juventus has used similar strategies to secure top talent while managing squad restrictions. Given David’s versatility, technical skill, and goal-scoring ability, he is widely regarded as a player with the potential to make a significant impact at a top European club. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/beyond-finances-juventus-cannot-sign-jonathan-david-in-january/

PSG makes a U-turn on their decision to sell Juventus target Randal Kolo Muani’s situation at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has sparked recent rumours about a potential January move, with Juventus reportedly among the clubs interested in his services. Since joining PSG, Muani has struggled to find form and has seen limited playing time. This has led to speculation that he could seek an exit to secure more opportunities on the field, potentially opening the door for a switch to the Serie A club. However, recent reports indicate that PSG now prefers to retain Kolo Muani and is instead open to selling Gonçalo Ramos, another forward on their roster. Juventus has been facing a pressing need for a reliable backup to Dusan Vlahovic, and Kolo Muani’s availability initially seemed to present an enticing solution. ............ Muani, known for his speed, pressing ability, and versatility across the frontline, appeared to offer qualities that could complement Juventus’s tactical setup, especially given the dynamic approach favoured by manager Thiago Motta. ............ From a financial perspective, Juventus could consider exploring a loan arrangement without a purchase obligation, which would provide the flexibility to assess Kolo Muani’s performance before committing to a permanent transfer. Such a deal could offer Juventus the chance to add depth to their forward line without bearing significant financial risk, especially as the club remains cautious with its transfer spending. If PSG is willing to negotiate favourable loan terms, Kolo Muani could be a worthwhile addition to test his potential impact. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/psg-makes-a-u-turn-on-their-decision-to-sell-juventus-target/

The most expensive under-21 players in the world: Yildiz makes the top 10 Lamine Yamal has been named the most valuable Under-21 player in the world, but he is not the only young talent making headlines. Kenan Yildiz of Juventus has also secured his place among the top ten most expensive young players globally. ............ Yamal, a rising star at Barcelona, leads the rankings, with three other players surpassing the €100 million valuation mark. Kenan Yildiz stands out as the sole representative from Serie A in this prestigious top ten list. ............ . Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/the-most-expensive-under-21-players-in-the-world-yildiz-makes-the-top-10/

Preview: Juventus vs. Torino - prediction, team news, lineups Aiming to continue their long dominance of the Turin derby, Serie A giants Juventus will host city rivals Torino on Saturday evening. After a midweek draw in Europe, Juve now seek a 19th straight game without defeat to their neighbours, which would extend a record run in the Derby della Mole. Match preview Juventus fought back to earn a Champions League draw in Lille on Tuesday night, as Dusan Vlahovic scored his 50th goal for the club by converting a penalty after Francisco Conceicao tumbled to the turf. Despite coming away with just one point, Juve are within two of the top eight midway through the competition's new league phase, which keeps them in the mix for automatic entry to the last 16. However, the Bianconeri only occupy sixth place in the Serie A standings, having lost a little momentum of late. Thiago Motta's men trailed by two in a frantic Derby d'Italia before drawing 4-4 with Inter Milan late last month; then, they twice came from behind to salvage a point against promoted Parma. Last week, they steadied the ship by beating Udinese 2-0 to remain the only undefeated team in Italy's top flight - albeit having drawn more than half of their 11 league games so far. Since the start of April, Juventus have not lost once in 19 Serie A fixtures - of which a dozen have ended all-square - so they are currently on the longest unbeaten streak across Europe's top five leagues. They have also kept a clean sheet on 12 occasions during that run, including a 0-0 draw with Torino - that was their first failure to beat the old enemy since 2022. ............ Team News Thiago Motta is sure to make changes to his starting lineup for the Turin derby, following a busy run of fixtures on two fronts - Tim Weah, Weston McKennie and young full-back Nicolo Savona are all pushing for promotion from the bench. Juventus will be missing one defender, Bremer - who was recently ruled out for the rest of the season - but Danilo is back in the fold after serving a UEFA suspension. Another Brazil international, Douglas Luiz, returned from injury earlier this week; that still leaves Nico Gonzalez (thigh) and Arkadiusz Milik (knee) on the treatment table. ............ Juventus possible starting lineup: Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli; Conceicao, McKennie, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic Torino possible starting lineup: Milinkovic-Savic; Coco, Maripan, Masina; Pedersen, Ilic, Ricci, Vlasic, Lazaro; Njie, Sanabria We say: Juventus 2-0 Torino Juventus have conceded the fewest shots in total (93) and on target (27) in Serie A thus far, while Torino have conceded the most overall (188). That points to a comfortable home win for derby dominators Juve, who must surely keep another clean sheet against Toro's ailing attack. . Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/turin-derby/preview/preview-juventus-vs-torino-prediction-team-news-lineups_557535.html

Torino suffers early injury problem ahead of their game against Juventus Torino faces a challenging test against Juventus this weekend, compounded by the potential absence of Che Adams. The Scotland international, who joined Torino in the summer, has quickly become a vital asset for the team, contributing significantly to their promising start this season. His skill, work rate, and experience have strengthened Torino’s forward line, making him a near-guaranteed starter whenever available. Consequently, his injury is a considerable setback for Il Toro, especially ahead of a crucial clash with one of Serie A’s top teams. ............ Adams is “far from ready” to play, though Torino’s medical team is doing everything possible to expedite his recovery. Without Adams, Torino may need to adjust their approach, possibly emphasising a more defensive setup to counter Juventus’s offensive strengths. ............ Historically, Juventus has enjoyed a favourable record in this fixture, but they cannot afford complacency. Missing one key player does not define a match, and Torino, likely eager to compensate for Adams’ absence, may raise their level of play. Juventus’s commitment to a disciplined approach will be essential to ensure they capitalise on any weaknesses Torino might exhibit without Adams. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/torino-suffers-early-injury-problem-ahead-of-their-game-against-juventus/

Juventus have a card to play to get a discount on Conceicao Juventus are keen to sign Francisco Conceicao on a permanent basis next summer, as his loan stint got off to a spectacular start. The Bianconeri secured the services of the young Portuguese winger until the end of the season for a loan fee worth 7 million euros. However, Juve do not have an obligation or an option to buy the player at the end of the campaign, but a mere gentlemen’s agreement with Porto which gives them the option for a first refusal. Moreover, the 21-year-old’s contract with the Dragao includes a release clause worth 30 million euros that will become valid next summer. ............ The Bianconeri will offer the services of Tiago Djalo as part of the package to sign Conceicao permanently. ............ Djalo failed to impress Thiago Motta in pre-season, so the club sent him on loan to Porto where he’s beginning to find his feet again. Therefore, the Portuguese giants could be interested in keeping the centre-back beyond the current campaign. If so, this would open the door for a direct swap that allows Juventus to get a comprehensive discount on Conceicao’s 30-million price tag. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-have-a-card-to-play-to-get-a-discount-on-conceicao/

Struggling Man United forward could emerge as possible January signing for Juventus Juventus are reportedly willing to offer Joshua Zirkzee asylum from his Manchester United struggles, but a deal could only be plausible on certain conditions. The 23-year-old rose to prominence at Bologna under the guidance of Thiago Motta. He emerged as an unconventional striker who helps his teammates in the buildup while also showcasing a remarkable eye for goal. Nevertheless, none of his impressive attributes have been on display since making the summer switch to Old Trafford. ............ A reunion with Motta could be the best medicine for Zirkzee who is eager to get his career back on track. ............ Nevertheless, this won’t be an easy operation to pull off given how Man United splashed 42 million euros to buy the striker from Bologna only a few months ago. The Bianconeri would only be able to sign the player on an initial loan formula. But as the source explains, everything depends on incoming Man United manager Ruben Amorim who will assert his new role on November 11th. So it remains to be seen if the departing Sporting boss will manage to salvage Zirkzee’s troubled Premier League stint, or push the striker out of the door. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/struggling-man-united-forward-could-emerge-as-possible-january-signing-for-juventus/

Ferrero reveals Juventus filed an appeal against Ronaldo ruling Juventus president Gianluca Ferrero confirmed that the club has appealed the court’s decision in the infamous Cristiano Ronaldo case. The club is holding its yearly shareholders’ assembly on Thursday, and the meeting began with a word from the Bianconeri president. The 60-year-old tackled several topics, including the club’s legal conflict with Ronaldo. ............ In the end, an arbitrary committee ruled that Juventus should pay Ronaldo half of the requested sum, approximately equalling 9.8 million euros. Nevertheless, the Serie A giants remain defiant, so Ferrero revealed that the club’s legal team has filed an appeal against the ruling. “We do not agree with this ruling which established a fair division of responsibility, so we challenged it at the Turin court. We do not agree with the substance of this arbitration,” said the club president. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/ferrero-reveals-juventus-filed-an-appeal-against-ronaldo-ruling/

Thiago Motta explained his tactical ideas to Juventus target after Lille contest Juventus boss Thiago Motta reportedly had a brief tactical chat with Lille striker Jonathan David following Tuesday’s Champions League contest. ............ Cristiano Giuntoli and company have been keeping tabs on David who cemented himself as one of the deadliest bombers in Ligue 1 over the past few years. And if the Bianconeri had any doubts left about the 24-year-old’s credentials, he certainly dispelled them in his impressive outing against Motta’s side. ............ Motta took the opportunity to discuss his tactical ideas with the Lille striker after the contest, in a chat that wasn’t caught by the cameras. The 42-year-old reportedly explained his football philosophy to the Canadian, particularly the offensive phase. And while the source believes that David would be happy to join Motta’s revolution, it remains to be seen if Giuntoli would be able to pull off the operation, especially amidst the strong challenge for the player’s services. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/thiago-motta-explained-his-tactical-ideas-to-juventus-target-after-lille-contest/

How Manuel Locatelli became indispensable in Thiago Motta’s Juventus While he had been in and out of the starting lineup in the first weeks of the season, Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli has now cemented himself as a stalwart in Thiago Motta’s plans. The 26-year-old has been a regular starter under Max Allegri, but his displays didn’t convince everyone. While some praised him for his ability to shield the backline, others highlighted his mediocre playmaking skills while he operates in the Regista role. Nevertheless, Locatelli has been showing signs of improvement this season, especially in the possession phase. ............ Moreover, Locatelli has been showing great grit and determination since the start of the season, which earned him the captain’s armband recently. ............ The source also highlighted the stats that showcase the player’s importance to the black-and-white cause. Games played: 10 Minutes played: 778 Goals: 0 Assists: 0 Touches per game (average): 78.3 Passing accuracy: 92% (average 63.4 per game) Tackles per game (average): 2.2 Balls recovered per game (average): 3.6. Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/how-manuel-locatelli-became-indispensable-in-thiago-mottas-juventus/

Argentina make U-Turn on Nico Gonzalez call-up The Argentine national team have reportedly decided to change their stance on calling up Juventus winger Nico Gonzalez for international duty. ............ The World Champions decided to add Gonzalez to the squad despite being out of action since sustaining a muscle injury during the Champions League against RB Leipzig on October 2nd. This call-up naturally caused a stir in Turin. While the 26-year-old has been tipped to make a swift return to action, he hasn’t fully recovered just yet, and the last thing Juventus want is a relapse while on international duty. Moreover, the long flight to South America isn’t advisable in his case. But thankfully for Juventus, Scaloni and his staff have now reconsidered their decision, reveals TyC Sports journalist Gastón Edul. Therefore, the former Fiorentina star won’t be traveling to South America during the international break, but will remain in Turin to work on regaining his optimal physical condition. It remains to be seen if he’ll be part of Thiago Motta’s squad for Saturday’s Derby della Mole clash against Torino. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/report-argentina-make-u-turn-on-nico-gonzalez-call-up/

Vlahovic sets an away record with his goal against Lille Dusan Vlahovic’s performance against Lille highlights his importance to Juventus and his growing stature in Serie A. His penalty conversion not only secured a crucial point for Juventus in their Champions League campaign, but it also underscored his reliability on the road. With this goal, Vlahovic has now tallied eight away goals this season in all competitions—a record that no other Serie A player has matched at this stage, according to Opta. This achievement speaks to Vlahovic’s consistency and ability to perform under pressure, particularly in challenging away fixtures where Juventus needs his finishing skills most. ............ Vlahovic’s penalty was well-executed and demonstrated his composure in high-stakes moments. When Juventus earned the penalty through Francisco Conceicao, it was no surprise that Vlahovic stepped up; the team knows he is their best option for turning such opportunities into goals. This trust in Vlahovic to deliver on the road aligns with Juventus’ broader strategy to maximise his involvement in critical plays, a tactical emphasis they have embraced under manager Thiago Motta. ............ For Juventus to reach their season goals, they will need Vlahovic to remain in top form and to carry this momentum forward. An “unstoppable scoring run” from him would not only boost Juve’s chances in Serie A but would also bolster their position in the Champions League and other competitions. In a season where Juve aspires to secure one of five trophies, Vlahovic’s goal-scoring prowess will be a key factor in their success. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/vlahovic-sets-an-away-record-with-his-goal-against-lille/

“They are two points lost.” Santarelli reacts to Juventus draw against Lille Alessandro Santarelli offered a mixed assessment of Juventus’ performance in their 1-1 Champions League draw with Lille, recognising the team’s positive moments but also highlighting missed opportunities. ............ While the draw is not a poor result given Lille’s strong form, it doesn’t guarantee Juventus the comfort they need to advance smoothly in the league stage. Santarelli noted that Juve performed well overall, pressing in the opponent’s half and creating chances. ............ Santarelli’s comment captures his ambivalence: “I struggle to comment on this match, because I can’t see if the glass is half full or half empty. Half full because the team played the match, played in the opponent’s half, created and did well. Half empty because we conceded a goal due to a lack of concentration… And then the standings… we are in a sort of limbo.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/they-are-two-points-lost-pundit-reacts-to-juventus-draw-against-lille/

Motta proud of Juventus’ performance vs. Lille, but ‘wanted a different result’ The Juve manager shares his thoughts after the Bianconeri’s draw with Lille in France. As Thiago Motta walked off the field Tuesday night at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Northern France, he was very much defiant that his Juventus squad played quite well against Lille as they hit the midway point of the Champions League’s new-look “league phase.” There was just one catch: his team didn’t win. They didn’t lose, but they didn’t win, either. The 1-1 draw with Lille — one of the biggest surprise teams in the Champions League so far this season — saw a much-improved performance from Motta’s squad the last time they played in Europe, but ultimately Juventus’ attack could only muster a second-half penalty kick from Dusan Vlahovic to pull even. “We wanted a different result and created the opportunities to get that, but I am happy with the performance. We can improve certain things, but overall I am satisfied with the way the team played,” Motta said. “We certainly could’ve done better in the final third, though the quality of our football improved in the second half. It was clear from the start that Juve would defend and try to counter-attack, so we had to stop them doing that. Lille know what they are doing, are full of confidence at the moment, but it was a great performance from my lads. Now we have to recover our energy and prepare for the derby.” ............ As Motta noted, he expected Lille to play exactly how they did — to defend well and hit Juventus on the counter. And it was one of those counters — aided by some questionable Juventus defending — that put Lille ahead thanks to Jonathan David’s 27th-minute goal. “Goals come from mistakes and we can cut those down by being more aggressive when we lose the ball,” Motta said. I saw greater balance today, it was tough for us to push through the middle today because Lille were closing up all the spaces, so we had to attack wide with the wingers and also the fullbacks overlapping. “I am pleased with the performance and our next match is a derby, so we want to play it at our best. I saw good progress.” ............ “I think we had the game under control on a difficult pitch against a team that plays very well,” Motta said. “We were aggressive, we could have won it especially after we equalized. It’s a pity we weren’t able to. ............ . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2024/11/6/24289229/thiago-motta-juventus-lille-2024-champions-league-final-score-result-manager-comments-analysis

Juventus play better than Lille, but don’t get the luck in Champions League draw Juve were in control for much of the match, but a succession of bad breaks saw them only take home a point from France. There are some days when the breaks simply don’t go your way. That’s exactly how Juventus must have been feeling as they went into the locker room at halftime of their Champions League match at Lille. They were down 1-0, but with a few small breaks they could’ve easily been three goals to the good. Teun Koopmeiners in particular must’ve been pulling his hair out — he’d made two clinical finishes from the middle of the penalty area, only to see the goals chalked off because the teammate who pulled the ball back to him was offside. In between an excellent finish by Dusan Vlahovic was repelled by a remarkable save from Lucas Chevalier. The Bianconeri didn’t let the bad luck phase them and dominated in the second half. They finally equalized from the spot through Vlahovic at the hour mark, and continued to push for a winner. They were the better side for much of the night, but the last bounce never went their way, and they had to head home from the north of France with only one point. ............ The game seemed relatively even, with Juve having more possession but Lille still posing a threat, mainly through Zhegrova, who routinely cooked Cabal on the left flank. But in the 24th minute, it looked like Juve had broken through. After forcing a turnover in Lille’s half, Yildiz sent Vlahovic to the byline, and the striker pulled back for Koopmeiners, who had made a great run to stay in free space and easily stroked it home — only to see the flag going up, the assistant having correctly caught Vlahovic a step offside. They would rue that missed opportunity. Three minutes later, after Conceição was stopped trying to cut inside, Zhegrova was sent on the counter and once again blew past Cabal, then found David, who had broken into open space down the right side. Kalulu had completely lost him, and added insult to ineptitude when he fell on his face trying to readjust in a desperate attempt to stop Zhegrova’s pass. He didn’t, and the sought-after Canadian striker was 1-on-1 with Di Gregorio, zipping the ball over his shoulder and into the net to give Lille a lead that was, in the end, against the run of play. ............ They started the second half clearly believing it. They dominated possession and sealed the home side in their half. ............ So dominant was Juve’s start that Génésio saw fit to make some changes within 10 minutes to try to stabilize things. Lille managed to relieve the pressure slightly, but in the 58th minute Conceição tried to slither between two defenders in the box and was rather blatantly taken down by André, leaving Bosnian referee Irfan Peljto with little to ponder as he pointed to the spot. Vlahovic set the ball down, and got Chevalier to bite just enough on his stutter-step run-up to roll it into the left side of the goal without any trouble. ............ LE PAGELLE MICHELE DI GREGORIO - 6. ............ ANDREA CAMBIASO - 6. Played well defensively — although he too was burned by Zhegrova a few times after he moved to the left side later on in the match — and got very involved in the attack, although he couldn’t create much on his own. FEDERICO GATTI - 6. ............ PIERRE KALULU - 5. Kalulu has played great this season, but that kind of defensive failure cannot happen at this level. He completely lost David behind him on the goal, then compounded his failure by falling on his face trying to recover. The goal is on his shoulders more than anyone else’s. JUAN CABAL - 5. Probably headed to the locker room extra crispy, because he got roasted repeatedly by Zhegrova. He wasn’t the only one that had problems containing him, but it was a constant issue — including allowing him to make his turn before he assisted David — to the point where he booked and had to be removed lest one more torching lead to a second yellow. MANUEL LOCATELLI - 7. ............ KHEPHREN THURAM - 6. ............ FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO - 6. Wasn’t as dangerous in the first half as he was in the second. His willingness to dribble at a defender (or multiple defenders) is useful, but he does need to have a little more awareness of when he might need to pass the ball instead. That dribbling did get the penalty though, although his overall pass completion (82.9 percent) left a little to be desired, and he was 0-7 on crosses. TEUN KOOPMEINERS - 6.5. At some point one of these balls will end up in the net for real. The fact that the movement he had on both of those goals finally came is a good sign, though. He’s been missing a little something playing around the box until today. He also led the team with four tackles, and had a key pass. KENAN YILDIZ - 6. Co-led the team with three dribbles and made a pair of key passes, but only completed 72.4 percent of his passes overall. Dropped back to help against Zhergova when he needed it, making three tackles on defense. DUSAN VLAHOVIC - 6.5. Cool as you like on the penalty, and overall had a really good day. He moved well and looked confident in taking shots early, one of which was denied by a top-drawer save in the first half. Surprising he was subbed out, but the dude must be absolutely gassed right now having played as the only center-forward the team’s had all season. SUBS NICOLO SAVONA - 5.5. ............ WESTON McKENNIE - 5.5. ............ TIMOTHY WEAH - 5.5. ............ SAMUEL MBANGULA - NR. ............ MANAGER ANALYSIS Motta got a lot of things right against Lille, he just didn’t have the luck. It’s encouraging that through balls and other attacks through the middle have started coming over the last few games, becuase the team was starting to get predictable in its over-reliance on wing play. Especially good was the way Koopmeiners was brought into play on those cutbacks. He has a great ability to float in space and keep himself open during plays like that, and incorporating those movements into the attack will make the team more multiple and make Koopmeiners just that more dangerous. Defensively, things are starting to tighten up. The pairing of Gatti and Kalulu is clearly the way forward in the middle of defense. It’s a little worrying how badly Cabal was abused by Zhergova, though, especially considering the quality of some of the wide players that Juve are going to have to go against in this competition. But overall the defense worked very well, Kalulu’s egregious error on the goal aside. But perhaps the biggest part of this for Motta is the way the team has responded mentality-wise. Juve’s last game in this competition was not acceptable, and much like the game over the weekend against Udinese, they had the look of players who understood that and were determined to make up for it. Unlike in Udine, their luck was piss-poor, and there is the feeling that the team left something on the table given the way the game went, but the fact that Motta has been able to take a team that had turned in such a weak performance their last time out in the competition and refocus them is a huge mark in his favor and a real sign that he’s getting buy-in from these players. LOOKING AHEAD Just one more game before the international break, as Juve welcome Torino to the Allianz for the season’s first Derby della Mole. . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2024/11/6/24289150/juventus-losc-lille-2024-champions-league-league-phase-final-score-result-match-recap-analysis

Juventus 1 - Lille 1: Initial reaction and random observations ............ In the next few hours and probably days, Juventus players and coaches alike are going to be thinking that Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Lille should have been more than just a European fixture in which they picked up a single point. Not with the chances they had. Not with the way they played. And certainly not with how they prevented Lille from doing much of anything for large stretches of this Matchday 4 matchup. These nights happen, though. Juventus could have easily had three goals before the first half, but Teun Koopmeiners was twice robbed of his first goal in bianconero (or bright yellow?) thanks to another one of his teammates being offside just seconds before the Dutchman put the ball into the back of the net, while Dusan Vlahovic saw LIlle keeper Lucas Chevalier make a great reflex save at the near post 10 minutes before halftime. ............ But because of this game sometimes providing Juventus with absolutely terrible luck, they were down 1-0 at the half thanks to a picture-perfect counterattack rather than being up by two or three goals and reflecting how well they were playing for much of the opening 45 minutes. ............ The team that played better Tuesday was very easy to see, and it wasn’t the squad that already has wins in the Champions League over Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. And so much of the second half, Juventus had Lille pinned back and it just felt like it was only a matter of time before they actually scored. The problem was, with all of the terrible luck in the first half, Dusan Vlahovic’s penalty at the hour mark tied the game rather than extend Juve’s lead. there were plenty of chances after that, too, but one of Juventus’ biggest problems this season — finishing chances in the final third — popped up once again. That’s why I feel like with how they played, so much of the Juventus camp will think they should have won with the way they played on the whole. ............ RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS OK, you can keep wearing the yellow jersey if you keep getting results and playing well. I’ll allow it in that case. One of Lille’s starting center backs is named Alexsandro and it made me laugh every single time I heard it. ............ Kenan Yildiz won’t be turning 20 years old until early May and is usually the youngest player on the field. That wasn’t the case Tuesday night — and by a couple of years. Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi turned 17 all of a month ago and that is just crazy to think about. Chevalier is one of the best young keepers in Europe, but he has the last name that makes it sound like he’s the heir to a massive family business in the perfume or champagne industry. Jokes aside, that save from Chevalier on Vlahovic was really pretty damn good. ............ Something tells me Juan Cabal is going to be happy to be done with trying to defend Edon Zhegrova because whoa boy that sure was a one-sided individual duel that did not favor the guy wearing bright yellow. That through ball from Zhegrova to David on the Lille goal was so perfectly placed and timed even better. At the exact moment that Pierre Kalulu is just out of reach of the ball — even with his momentum going in the complete opposite direction — is when it gets through and David is clear on goal. Frustrating to concede that way? Yes, but that was really well executed. ............ The second half, though, that was the Conceição we’ve gotten used to during his short Juve career. I’ve said it more than once and I’ll say it again: Chico’s gotta be such a pest to play against. He’s a damn mosquito that keeps buzzing your ear no matter what you do. That was a cold blooded PK from Vlahovic, too. (His PKs have been pretty good this season!) Not a bad PK to sink for your 50th goal at Juventus. Eventually one of those pullbacks to Koopmeiners is going to hit (and actually count because there’s nobody actually offsides) and there is going to be a collective “FINALLY!!!!” screamed in so many different languages. So, are we ready to call it that the Plan B to Vlahovic playing up top is Yildiz playing up top as a false-ish 9? I know it wasn’t for very long against Lille, but it feels like it’s going that way. ............ Juventus attempted 25 crosses against Lille. They completed two of them. Not great. Lille attempted one cross. They completed it. Perfection, my friends, that’s what it looks like. Juventus passes completed: 559 Lille passes completed: 261 ............ Juventus finished with 1.39 xG against Lille. Wonder what it would have looked like if either (or both) of Koopmeiners’ goals that was chalked off for offsides actually counted. ............ Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2024/11/6/24289021/juventus-lille-2024-champions-league-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

Juventus tame giant-killing Lille with draw in France Juventus secured a 1-1 draw against Lille in the Champions League this evening, ensuring the Ligue 1 side couldn’t add them to their list of big-name victims. Lille set the tone early, with Jonathan David firing a warning shot that signalled their intent. Having already defeated Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Lille’s threat was well known, and Juventus came prepared. The Bianconeri quickly showed they hadn’t travelled to France to lose, with Dusan Vlahovic finding the net—only for it to be ruled offside. Lille responded immediately as David scored with a sharp finish, giving them the lead. ............ After the break, Juve continued pressing for an equaliser, while Lille remained composed, solid in and out of possession. A brilliant moment from Francisco Conceicao earned Juve a penalty, which Vlahovic confidently converted to level the score. ............ In the end, both teams fought hard but couldn’t find a decisive goal, sharing the points in a well-contested draw. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-tame-giant-killing-lille-with-draw-in-france/

DUSAN VLAHOVIC 1-1

Altro gol annullato

Zhegrova é il loro Conceicao

Si

Il cavaliere é bravo