Socrates

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 22 Sunday, January 31st, 2016 - 12:30 PM Marc'Antonio Bentegodi stadium, Verona Referee: Daniele Doveri Chievo vs. Juventus: Team News, Predicted Lineups http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2611757-chievo-vs-juventus-team-news-predicted-lineups-live-stream-tv-info? Jan 30, 2016 Juventus take on Chievo on Sunday, the Italian champions in very different shape to when these two sides met earlier in the campaign. That previous meeting came in just the third game of 2015/16, with the Bianconeri having already lost to Udinese and AS Roma at that point. They were held to a 1-1 draw in Turin but have turned their season around in recent months, winning their last 11 Serie A fixtures to climb back into title contention. They have also recorded three Coppa Italia wins during that streak, including a 3-0 rout of Inter earlier this week. Yet coach Massimiliano Allegri is certainly not allowing his side to grow complacent, using a recent press conference to remind the players of the previous poor form and urging them to maintain their focus: We must not rest on our laurels and think too much about the first half of the season. While we won nine in a row before Christmas, we earned too few points before that run. It will take real quality to win what is now effectively a 17-game championship. When you are in the midst of a winning streak you need to stay focused, keep yourself grounded, put in the same hard work in training and ensure you don’t lose the solidity that got you in that position in the first place. As they head to Verona this weekend, they will hopefully remember those words as they take on a team that is notoriously difficult to beat. Currently sitting in 10th place, Chievo have conceded just 26 goals this term but have won just one of their last five fixtures, and coach Rolando Maran needs to arrest that slide. He will be buoyed by their recent 3-3 draw with AS Roma, and Juventus will need to remain sharp if they are to record yet another victory against Chievo in Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off. Probable Formations Chievo: (4-3-1-2): Albano Bizzarri; Nicolas Frey, Fabrizio Cacciatore, Dario Dainelli, Massimo Gobbi; Lucas Castro, Ivan Radovanovic, Giampiero Pinzi; Valter Birsa; Paul-Jose M'Poku, Roberto Inglese Unavailable: Bostjan Cesar (suspended), Mariano Izco (injured) Juventus (3-5-2): Gigi Buffon; Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio, Paul Pogba, Alex Sandro; Simone Zaza, Paulo Dybala Unavailable: Mario Mandzukic, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mario Lemina, Rubinho and Roberto Pereyra (all injured) Key Battle Having dropped points at home to Chievo at the start of the season, Juventus will certainly be relieved to know that Alberto Paloschi will not be playing. A product of the Milan youth sector, he arrived in Verona back in 2011, developing into a quality striker over the past two seasons, but seems set for a move to Swansea City. Their head coach Francesco Guidolin told the Premier League club's official website that Paloschi "would be an important player" before they completed a deal, which means that Valter Birsa is likely to be Chievo's biggest threat against the Bianconeri. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 36 - Valter Birsa created 36 chances from set play in 2015, more than any other Serie A player this year. Precision. Deadly from set pieces, the tweet above shows that the Slovenia international created more chances in the past calendar year than another player in the league, already weighing in with three goals and six assists in 2015/16. The task of stopping Birsa will likely fall to Juve midfielder Claudio Marchisio, the Turin native occupying the deep-lying role in midfield and making him ideally suited to slow down the opposition's key player in this clash. Player to Watch While his team-mate may be the biggest threat, perhaps the man to watch most closely here is Simone Pepe. The winger enjoyed an incredible five-year stint at Juventus, winning four league titles and becoming a firm favourite with the club’s fans for his effort and attitude during that time. Also suffering some terrible injuries, he was limited to 95 appearances for the club—scoring 13 goals—and it was with a heavy heart that he moved on this past summer. Discussing his exit with Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) back in June, Pepe explained just what it meant to have played for the Turin giants: Emptying out my locker at Vinovo gave me a huge sense of sadness. Aside from the injury, I had five fantastic years at an incredible club. I gave my heart, soul and a leg for Juventus. The Bianconeri fans realised that and always hailed me, showering me with affection. I will always maintain that incredible rapport with the supporters. Yet the club and player have moved on, and the 32-year-old is clearly enjoying life with Chievo. In his last three appearances, Pepe has weighed in with two goals and an assist, powering his new side’s unbeaten run and helping them earn draws with AS Roma and Empoli plus a win over Bologna. Odds (via Odds Shark) Away win: 100-161 Home win: 19-4 Draw: 11-4 http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 22 Sunday, January 31st, 2016 - 12:30 PM Marc'Antonio Bentegodi stadium, Verona Referee: Daniele Doveri Chievo V Juventus – Preview: Gialloblu Look To Stop Bianconeri Juggernaut http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/chievo-v-juventus-preview-gialloblu-look-to-stop-bianconeri-juggernaut/? Jan 30, 2016 Chievo host Juventus on Sunday afternoon looking to end a run of 11 straight wins that has lifted Massimiliano Allegri’s side up to second spot in Serie A. The Bianconeri’s impressive form was only further demonstrated by a 3-0 drubbing of Inter in the Coppa Italia this week. Winning a 12th game in a row would leave the Vecchia Signora just one behind the club record, though they still have some way to go to reach Inter’s 17 game streak from 2006/07. Meanwhile, the Mussi Volante are struggling for points and have won just once in their last five outings and took a bit of a battering last weekend, losing 4-1 at Lazio. The Turin side hold a vice-like grip on the previous meetings between the two. This will be the 26th clash between the two, and Chievo have achieved just one victory, when Gennaro Sardo gave them a 1-0 win in 2010. On the other side, Juventus have won 17 of the remaining encounters, including eight at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, and though the meeting in September ended 1-1, it was a first point in seven attempts for Chievo. Each side will be missing a key member of their defence as Patrice Evra and Bostjan Cesar are suspended, with Alex Sandro and Nicolas Frey set to deputise respectively. However, Rolando Maran will have to worry about injuries as Perparim Hetemaj and Riccardo Meggiorini are both on the treatment table, meaning starts are likely for Giampiero Pinzi and Roberto Inglese. The Bianconeri are not fully fit themselves, with Mario Mandzukic joining Kwadwo Asamoah as an injury doubt, while Roberto Pereyra and Mario Lemina are both likely to miss out, too. Gianluigi Buffon, who turned 38 during the week, has conceded 449 goals in all competitions whilst at Juventus, so will be looking to ensure he does not pass a landmark on Sunday. On the other side, Sergio Pellissier will be hoping a record of his own comes to an end. The veteran striker will be playing his 20th game against Juventus, but has not come out on top of any of the 19 to date, as he was absent for the aforementioned game in 2010. Meanwhile, Paulo Dybala is currently on 12 goals for the season, just one behind his Serie A best of 13. Form Guide Chievo (L-D-W-D-L), Juventus (W-W-W-W-W) Expected Starting XIs Chievo: Bizzarri; Frey, Cacciatore, Dainelli, Gobbi; Castro, Radovanovic, Pinzi; Birsa; Paloschi, Inglese. Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba, Alex Sandro; Dybala, Morata. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 22 Sunday, January 31st, 2016 - 12:30 PM Marc'Antonio Bentegodi stadium, Verona Referee: Daniele Doveri Chievo - Juventus Preview: Champions eye top spot in early kick-off With Napoli not playing until later on Sunday, the in-form champions can move top of the Italian top flight with victory over the 10th-placed side. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/chievo-vs-juventus/2120591/preview Jan 30, 2016 Juventus will be looking to turn up the heat on Serie A leaders Napoli when they face Chievo in Sunday's early kick-off. The defending champions trail Napoli, who host Empoli later in the day, by two points at the summit, having mounted a sustained charge with a remarkable run of 11 consecutive league victories - just one short of their top-flight record. That sequence forms part of a wider run of 14 wins in their last 15 matches in all competitions, with Wednesday's 3-0 Coppa Italia victory over Inter acting as a further boost to morale as Juve continue to turn around a poor start to the season. Neto kept his third Coppa clean sheet in the semi-final first leg and, while he is likely to be replaced by captain Gianluigi Buffon - who turned 38 on Thursday - for the trip to Verona, the Brazilian goalkeeper has urged his team-mates not to be distracted by an unfamiliar lunchtime kick-off. "We're playing at a time that we're not so used to, but at this level we ought not be concerned by kick-off times or what may seem like difficult journeys," he told Juve's official website. "We need to stay focused on the task at hand, not think about the matches we've already won or those which await us further down the line. "We have to give our undivided attention to winning each game as it comes." Alvaro Morata ended a 20-match goal drought to net twice against Inter, before revealing off-field problems had been taking their toll. However, the Spaniard was in good spirits as he showed his charitable side after the match - inviting a Juve fan to dine with his group of friends after spotting the supporter sitting alone at a restaurant. Morata will hope he has now turned a corner and, with Chievo having conceded four goals in their last outing - a 4-1 defeat at Lazio - Sunday could represent a good opportunity for the former Real Madrid striker to build some momentum. Chievo have won just one of their last 25 Serie A meetings with Juve, and the departure of top scorer Alberto Paloschi to Swansea City on Friday could hinder their chances of improving on that record. Juve's forward options have are also depleted by a muscle injury for Mario Mandzukic, which could keep him out for four weeks, while Kwadwo Asamoah (thigh) is sidelined for two to three weeks. That said, the Turin outfit possess one of the most potent attacking threats in Serie A in the form of Paulo Dybala, who has been directly involved in half of Juve's 38 goals this season (12 goals, seven assists). Key Opta stats - Juventus have won their last three away league games against Chievo. - Chievo have scored a league-high share 26 per cent of their goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season (7/27), while Juventus have conceded a league-high 27 per cent of their goals in this period (4/15). - Chievo have lost 13 points from leading positions this season, more than any other team. Meanwhile, Juventus have gained a league-high 13 points from losing positions. - Chievo's Valter Birsa has provided the most assists from set-pieces in Serie A this season (4). - All 12 of Dybala's Serie A goals this season have been with his left foot, the most in the top five European leagues. OPTA FACTS Chievo have won only once in their last 25 Serie A matches against Juventus (D7, L17). Juventus have won their last three away league games against Chievo. The Bianconeri have won 11 league games in a row, one short of their record in a single Serie A season (12 in 2013/14). Juventus have conceded only one goal in their last four league matches. Chievo have scored a league-high share 26% of their goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season (7/27), while Juventus have conceded a league-high 27% of their goals in this period (4/15). Juventus have scored the joint-most headed goals (8) in Serie A this term (Chievo have netted seven). Chievo have lost 13 points from leading positions this season, more than any other team. Meanwhile, Juventus have gained a league-high 13 points from losing positions. Valter Birsa has provided the most assists from set-pieces in Serie A this season (4). LAST FIVE MATCHES CHIEVO L D W D L 24/01/2016 - Lazio 4 - 1 Chievo Verona 17/01/2016 - Chievo Verona 1 - 1 Empoli 10/01/2016 - Bologna 0 - 1 Chievo Verona 06/01/2016 - Chievo Verona 3 - 3 Roma 20/12/2015 - Fiorentina 2 - 0 Chievo Verona JUVENTUS W W W W W 27/01/2016 - Juventus 3 - 0 Internazionale 24/01/2016 - Juventus 1 - 0 Roma 20/01/2016 - Lazio 0 - 1 Juventus 17/01/2016 - Udinese 0 - 4 Juventus 10/01/2016 - Sampdoria 1 - 2 Juventus HEAD TO HEAD 12/09/2015 - Juventus 1 - 1 Chievo Verona 25/01/2015 - Juventus 2 - 0 Chievo Verona 30/08/2014 - Chievo Verona 0 - 1 Juventus 16/02/2014 - Juventus 3 - 1 Chievo Verona 25/09/2013 - Chievo Verona 1 - 2 Juventus http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 22 Sunday, January 31st, 2016 - 12:30 PM Marc'Antonio Bentegodi stadium, Verona Referee: Daniele Doveri CHIEVO VERONA VS JUVENTUS MATCH PREVIEW http://www.juvefc.com/chievo-verona-vs-juventus-match-preview-and-scouting/? Jan 30, 2016 Juventus On Wednesday, Juventus basically secured the qualification to the Coppa Italia final with a commanding 3-0 victory over Inter at the Stadium. The team was a bit sloppy in the first half, but still created some good chances and scored; it was instead masterful in the second half, where it took advantage of an undermanned Inter to seal the deal and secure itself a friendly in March in the second leg. It was Juventus’ 14 win in a row in all competitions. The best news coming out of the Inter bout was obviously Alvaro Morata breaking his drought. I think that the Spaniard was still effective on the pitch, he was not playing too selfishly or seeking the goal too insistently. However, you could see that it was getting into his head as he missed some easy chances, probably because he was overeager in the box. Hopefully, goals will now come in bunches for him, because Juventus will need them. As a matter of fact, after the game there were some bad news too: Mario Mandzukic will miss a month because of a calf injury and Kwadwo Asamoah will be sidelined for two-three weeks with an hamstring ailment. At this point, Mandzukis is set to miss the first leg against Bayern Munich, but I would not rule out a quicker recovery than the initial timetable, considering his grit and tenacity. It is the second time that the Croatian striker gets injured in a match where he showed no signs of physical problems, which says a lot about his pain tolerance. The Asamoah injury is frustrating because these hiccups continue to set him back when he is given a little of playing time, luckily Juventus is deep in the midfield and should not miss him. I do not think that the management will make a move to replace Mandzukic, even though Fabio Quagliarella, Giampaolo Pazzini and maybe Alessandro Matri are very available, nor they should. Giuseppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici are after several talented several Serie B strikers, Gianluca Lapadula, Ante Budimir, Filip Raicevic and Simone Ganz, likely to stash them and see if one blossoms, but I do not foresee a scenario where they bring one in to groom him. For one reason or another, their respective teams sorely need them now. Against Chievo Verona, Juventus will seek the 12th consecutive win in Serie A to pressure Napoli that plays later that day. I personally hope for a good performance because I will make my annual trip to Verona to see the team in person. Here is a stat: we have always won in the matches I witnessed to (4-0, three against Chievo Verona and one against Shamrock Rovers). Patrice Evra is disqualified for this game, so it is Alex Sandro time, which also means that Stephen Lichsteiner will play on the other flank, especially since Juan Cuadrado played in the midweek match. The Colombian was terrific and I really hope Massimiliano Allegri finds a way to give him more playing time, he could be our it factor. The lineup should be the standard one, with Morata replacing Mandzukic upfront. Considering that Sami Khedira and Paul Pogba are primed to start and that we will face Genoa on Wednesday, it could be a good chance to give Claudio Marchisio some rest: Hernanes would take his spot. Giorgio Chiellini coul get a day off too, with Martin Caceres replacing him. Probable lineup 3-5-2: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba, Sandro; Dybala, Morata. Injuries: Mandzukic (calf), Asamoah (hamstring), Lemina (knee). Suspended: Evra. Chievo Verona Chievo Verona are unnecessarily secretive at a Belichickian level with the squad list and injuries, but they should be very depleted in this match. Alberto Paloschi has flown to Wales to join Swansea. They should be without Riccardo Meggiorini too, who is nursing an hamstring injury. This means that Roberto Inglese, a very nice young player, and Paul-Josè Mpoku, an interesting offseason addition that quickly fell out of grace, are likely to be the striker’s duo in Rolando Maran’s 4-3-1-2, unless he changes the scheme. Sergio Pellissier probably can not go for 90 minutes. Absences galore in the defence too: Bostjan Cesar is suspended and Alessandro Gamberini suffered a serious hamstring injury in the last game. In that occasion, the coach trotted out Gennaro Sardo, who is famous for scoring the winning goal in Chievo’s lone win against Juventus; however, the recently acquired Nicolas Spolli is the favourite to pair up with Dario Dainelli in the middle of the defence in this one. Nicolas Frey, a natural right-back but very versatile, could be an option both at centre-back should Spolli not be ready to play or at left-back to have a more defensive player there than Massimo Gobbi, who is famous for scoring a in a Fiorentina’s 3-2 win against Juventus in Turin. On the right, there should be Fabrizio Cacciatore, who is famous for scoring goal against Juventus and dancing awkwardly afterwards during his time with Hellas Verona. So many bad memories. Perparim Hetemaj has missed the last two games because of bruised leg. Maran has used Giampiero Pinzi and Nicola Pinzi as box-to-box midfielder in the past: as usual, against Juventus, the most defensive option is the most likely one. The starters Ivan Radovanovic, Lucas Castro and Valter Birsa will form the rest of the diamond. Simone Pepe, who could be an option both in the midfield and in the attack, should be out as well. In this season, they got off to a brilliant start where they were scoring a ton, but then lost some steam and regressed to the same old Chievo of yesteryears. Still, they have a nice record and have built a nice cushion over the most dangerous areas of the table. Probable lineup 4-3-1-2: Bizzarri; Cacciatore, Dainelli, Spolli, Gobbi; Castro, Radovanovic, Pinzi; Birsa; Meggiorini, Mpoku. Injuries: Gamberini (hamstring), Meggiorini (hamstring), Hetemaj (leg), Izco (knee), Pepe. Suspended: Cesar. Formation http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah, striker Mario Mandzukic ruled out due to injury http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/29/10872812/juventus-kwadwo-asamoah-mario-mandzukic-injury-2016-serie-a-champions-league Jan 29, 2016 The nice thing about Juventus' 11-game Serie A winning streak and rise up the table is that we've seen the squad get progressively healthier as the time has gone by. All of those injuries that seemed to pop up after every single game weren't the case. Other than the long-term injuries, the consistency of players missing time wasn't like it was come August and September. That's not really the case anymore. Yep, it's another injury post, boys and girls. And this time, it is not one that the author was in the mood to write come the time news came about. (Not that writing injury posts are ever a pleasant kind of thing to do, but you probably figured that out months — or even years — ago by now.) From Juventus' official website: Kwadwo Asamoah and Mario Mandzukic both underwent medical checks today after reporting injuries during Wednesday's Coppa Italia triumph over Inter at Juventus Stadium. The Ghanaian midfielder has suffered a torn biceps femoris in his right thigh and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. Tests on Mandzukic meanwhile revealed a torn gemellus muscle, with the Croatian forward's rehabilitation process estimated to last a month. DAMMIT. DAMMIT ALL TO HELL. Okay, let's just to this thing out now. While he hasn't appeared in many games this season, Asamoah has been pretty dang good when he's been on the field — especially in his last couple of starts. And with Juve competing on three fronts until at least the early stages of March at the very least, the chances for Asamoah to get on the field would have certainly been there even though he's not a full-time starter in the midfield these days. The list of games that Mandzukic will miss is a pretty lengthy one considering how packed the schedule is these days: Chievo, Genoa, Frosinone, Napoli, Bologna and the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich in Turin. We might also have throw the first of the back-to-back games against Inter at the end of February as well, but the timetable currently set out basically has that as a 50-50 shot at this point. We'll see. I guess this means we'll get to see a lot more of Álvaro Morata and how breaking out of his 20-game scoreless streak will impact his playing going forward. If the partnership with Paulo Dybala does click, though, then that's going to more than make up for the loss of Mandzukic. And give us a glimpse of what the future may hold. That would be pretty cool.

Juventus poised to reap rewards of Paulo Dybala-Alvaro Morata duo http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2796379/juventus-benefiting-from-paulo-dybala-and-alvaro-morata-duo Jan 29, 2016 A team worthy of a symphony of compliments, there are not enough superlatives that can be used to describe the winning mentality Juventus, for rarely have fans seen such a motivated and dedicated group of players. In destroying Inter 3-0 on Wednesday evening in the Coppa Italia semifinal first leg, Juventus have forgotten the irritating smell of defeat. This is a side that despite the overwhelming number of wins, still pride themselves on their humility. So many were quick to criticise the purchases made by the club over the summer, and while management dropped the ball on a PR level, they did indeed make the right investments to ensure a long future for a side filled with varied talent. So many greats have donned the Bianconeri jersey and so many of them were very young when they delighted on the pitch, yet watching Paulo Dybala on the ball makes one wonder whether he will be the greatest of them all. It may be too early to put so much pressure on the shoulders of such a young player, but his intelligence on the ball, speed of thought and understanding of his body mesmerise onlookers. Italian media might have surrendered to exaggerations when they asked questions such as "Carlos Tevez who?", and while the former Manchester City striker took Juve by the scruff of the net and scored the goals necessary to propel them to the upper echelons of European football during his time there, Dybala is managing just as much, if not more, with far less experience and so much more promise. This blog was admittedly cynical. The former Palermo star achieved rather exciting statistics last season and was largely the reason the Sicilians managed such excellent performances. But there were moments Dybala seemed invisible and his slender stature worried a few. Would he cope with the pressure of playing for such a big club? Juventus may not be bigger than some of their rivals in Europe, but playing in Italy brings with it so many added pressures. Take Kingsley Coman as an example. He's now playing for Bayern Munich, a European giant expected to win the Treble every season, yet he maintained that he felt more pressure in Italy when he played for Juve. "At Juventus the pressure was greater before games, in Munich it's more relaxed which suits me well." Former Manchester United and current Juventus defender Patrice Evra has previously uttered similar words, while former Juve and current West Ham player Angelo Ogbonna also admitted he has found England to be relaxing in comparison to the tough world of Italian football. For Dybala to succeed in a country where criticisms are the norm and praise is reserved only for saints, he truly must be a sensation; indeed he is that. He not only scores the goals with such intelligence and efficiency but he creates them, too, sacrificing himself for the benefit of the team and the perfection of the attacking line. Yet while he scored another glorious goal against Inter, showing a young Mauro Icardi what it means to be dedicated to one's trade, the Coppa Italia was memorable because of another striker, Alvaro Morata. The Spaniard has suffered off the pitch in recent times which has undoubtedly affected his performances on the pitch. While everyone hopes players have the thick skin required to ensure consistency, fans must remember the difficulties of youth and hope that things will improve for the young Spaniard. As for now, Morata is certainly enjoying his moment. Dining out after the match, Morata noticed a young Juve fan by the name of Gianmarco Fraglica sitting in the restaurant wearing his jersey. Gianmarco is a diehard Juventino, one who attends all their games, and he's almost always wearing Morata's jersey. Noting his happiness on Facebook at the wonderful scoreline in the Coppa Italia, his idol, Morata, walked into the restaurant, noted the jersey and walked up to Gianmarco to ask him if he wanted to join him for dinner. Not only did the duo take what seems to be a thousand pictures for the sake of social media, but they shared in the happiness of an exciting day for both Juve's players and their delighted fans. One only hopes this excitement will last. With Bayern Munich around the corner, the dreaded feeling of a potential defeat is rattling. While the Germans have lost a huge player in Jerome Boateng, no amount of on-pitch brilliance will matter if the Old Lady makes an early exit in Europe and fails to out-do Napoli in the league. This is exactly why Morata's return to goalscoring comes at such a great time. Morata, more than any other Juve striker, has the potential to disturb the Bavarian back-line with his speed and athleticism. With Xabi Alonso most likely the man who will be tasked with playing the ball out from the back, Bayern's game will be that more predictable and that much easier to neutralise, but Juventus will need a fit and confident Morata. In the words of Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri and midfielder Paul Pogba, Juve have achieved nothing yet this season and could well find themselves with no trophy to hold at the end of the season. They have indeed performed miracles in making up for their disastrous start to the season, but they will need to do even better if they hope to be called champions and attempt to earn the funds necessary to ensure they can compete with Europe's finest.

Bayern Munich Interested In Juventus Midfielder http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/bayern-munich-interested-in-juventus-midfielder/? Jan 29, 2016 Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich are reportedly eyeing a move for Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira. The 28-year-old, who joined the Turin based club on a free transfer during the summer, has made a total of 13 appearances for the Bianconeri this season. Under the stewardship of Massimiliano Allegri, Khedira has scored three goals and continues to impress despite an injury-stricken start to his time in Serie A. According to CalcioNews24, the Bavarian giants are interested in acquiring the services of the former VFB Stuttgart man and incoming coach Carlo Ancelotti is keen on signing the player with the club already submitting a €15 million bid. Juventus chief Guiseppe Marotta has refused to open negotiations and is keen to hold on to the Germany international. Khedira has already worked under Italian tactician Ancelotti during his time with Real Madrid, who he joined from former Bundesliga champions VFB Stuttgart.

West Ham United Defender Reveals The Best Player He Has Played With http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/west-ham-united-defender-reveals-the-best-player-he-has-played-with/? Jan 29, 2016 Angelo Ogbonna of West Ham United believes Juventus star Paul Pogba is the best player he has played with during his career so far. The two played together at the Bianconeri since 2013, when Ogbonna made the cross-city switch from Torino, with Pogba having joined from Manchester United the previous year. “The best is Paul Pogba,” Ogbonna said in an interview with giornalaccio rosa World. “It’s not just Pogba, though.” “I was really lucky to have played with a lot of great players like Buffon, Pirlo, Vidal and Tevez, too.”

Juventus lose Mandzukic & Asamoah to injury The Croatian striker is likely to miss the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against his former club Bayern Munich as a result of a muscle problem. http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/01/29/19803122/-? Jan 29, 2016 Juventus duo Mario Mandzukic and Kwadwo Asamoah have suffered muscle tears, with the striker likely to miss the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich. Both players complained of discomfort following the 3-0 Coppa Italia win over Inter on Wednesday and underwent medical tests to determine the extent of the damage. Mandzukic is set for four weeks on the sidelines and could miss the home clash against his former club, while Asamoah has been ruled out for up to three weeks. A club statement confirmed that the Ghana international "has suffered a torn biceps femoris in his right thigh and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. "Tests on Mandzukic, meanwhile, revealed a torn gemellus muscle, with the Croatian forward's rehabilitation process estimated to last a month." Both players will miss forthcoming league meetings with Chievo, Genoa and Frosinone, with Asamoah fighting to be fit in time for the top-of-the-table clash against Napoli on February 13.

OFFICIAL: MANDZUKIC OUT FOR AT LEAST 4 WEEKS http://www.juvefc.com/official-mandzukic-out-for-at-least-4-weeks/? Jan 29, 2016 Juventus have confirmed that Mario Mandzukic and Kwadwo Asamoah will both be out through injury. An official statement on the clubs website confirmed that both players had picked up injuries during Juve’s 3-0 rout of Inter Milan in Wednesdays Coppa Italia match. The full statement reads: Kwadwo Asamoah and Mario Mandzukic both underwent medical checks today after reporting injuries during Wednesday’s Coppa Italia triumph over Inter at Juventus Stadium. The Ghanaian midfielder has suffered a torn biceps femoris in his right thigh and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. Tests on Mandzukic meanwhile revealed a torn gemellus muscle, with the Croatian forward’s rehabilitation process estimated to last a month. Both players will miss games against Chievo, Genoa, Frosinone, Napoli, Bologna while Mandzukic will likely miss the first leg of Juve’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich and possibly the league game against Inter Milan.

Mandzukic doubt for Bayern http://www.football-italia.net/79101/mandzukic-doubt-bayern? Jan 29, 2016 Juventus could be without Mario Mandzukic against Bayern Munich, as he's out for four weeks. The striker and Kwadwo Asamoah missed training yesterday after both complained of muscular discomfort following the Coppa Italia win over Inter. “Kwadwo Asamoah and Mario Mandzukic both underwent medical checks today after reporting injuries during Wednesday’s Coppa Italia triumph over Inter at Juventus Stadium,” a statement on the Bianconeri’s website read. “The Ghanaian midfielder has suffered a torn biceps femoris in his right thigh and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. “Tests on Mandzukic meanwhile revealed a torn gemellus muscle, with the Croatian forward’s rehabilitation process estimated to last four weeks.” The first leg of the Champions League Last 16 tie with Bayern Munich is on February 23, meaning Mandzukic faces a battle to be fit in time.

Chievo - Juventus 0-1 - 13-03-2005 Chievo - Juventus 1-2 - 14-09-2003 Chievo - Juventus 1-4 - 19-01-2003 Chievo - Juventus 1-3 - 27-01-2002 Chievo - Juventus 1-3 - 21-09-1994 - Coppa Italia

Chievo - Juventus 0-0 - 16-10-2011 Chievo - Juventus 1-1 - 19-12-2010 Chievo - Juventus 1-0 - 17-01-2010 Chievo - Juventus 0-2 - 09-11-2008

Serie A - 3^ Giornata Ritorno - 31-1-2016 (ore 12:30) CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - 3^ giornata di ritorno Domenica, 31 gennaio, 2016 - ore 12:30 Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Verona Arbitro: Daniele Doveri Confronti ufficiali 27 - 25 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Juventus 18 - 17 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 8 - 7 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Chievo 1 - 1 (Serie A) Goals Juventus 49 - 46 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) Goals Chievo 22 - 21 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Chievo-Juventus a Verona Serie A Confronti ufficiali 12 Vittorie Juventus 8 (l'ultima il 30.08.2014, 0-1) Pareggi 3 (l'ultimo il 16.10.2011, 0-0) Vittorie Chievo 1 (il 17.01.2010, 1-0) Goals Juventus 19 Goals Chievo 8 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Chievo a Verona 10 presenze Buffon Gianluigi 8 Del Piero Alessandro 5 Chiellini Giorgio 5 Thuram Lilian 5 Trezeguet David Sergio 5 Zambrotta Gianluca 4 Camoranesi Mauro German 4 Lichtsteiner Stephan 4 Marchisio Claudio 4 Vidal Arturo 3 Barzagli Andrea 3 Cannavaro Fabio 3 Davids Edgar 4 goals Trezeguet David 3 Del Piero Alessandro 2 Quagliarella Fabio 1 Ferrara Ciro 1 Iaquinta Vincenzo 1 Legrottaglie Nicola 1 Lichtsteiner Stephan 1 Matri Alessandro 1 Olivera Ruben Ariel Da Rosa 1 Vieira Patrick Ultimi confronti diretti 09.05.2011 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 2-2 16.10.2011 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 0-0 03.03.2012 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 1-1 22.09.2012 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 2-0 03.02.2013 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 1-2 25.09.2013 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 1-2 16.02.2014 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 3-1 30.08.2014 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 0-1 25.01.2015 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 2-0 12.09.2015 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 1-1 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 6 - Pareggi 4 - Vittorie Chievo 0 - Goals Juventus 16 - Goals Chievo 7 da juworld.net https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=UXYsawOdPnA http://www.goal.com/it/tables/serie-a/13

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/coppa-italia/2016/01/27-7948126/coppa_italia_juventus-inter_le_emozioni_del_match/ http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/kjtDQqhAlQJ/Juventus+FC+v+FC+Internazionale+Milano+TIM/hcVMP1oZJP9

Second leak of Juventus 2016-17 home kit from Adidas emerges Is this what the Old Lady will be wearing next year? http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/29/10864342/juventus-home-away-kit-leak-adidas-2016--17-images Jan 29, 2016 It’s that time of year again where supposed leaks of next season’s kits start to emerge. Thanks to those at footyheadlines.com, we have some images of what appears to be Juventus’ home kit for the upcoming season. If you remember, we had reported leaked designs a month ago, and these latest images are the same shirts that we had previously seen. Now. although we cannot confirm or deny whether this image is true or not, Footy Headlines have been very accurate in the past on kit releases and leaks. La Maglia Bianconera @La_Bianconera #Maglie #Juve 16/17 - Un leak Home di @Footy_Headlines conferma ns anticipazioni! Novità l'ipotesi maniche monocolor Here's the description of the new home kit by the aforementioned FootyHeadlines: "After the very first Adidas Juventus home kit was predominantly white, the new Juventus home kit will see black take over the dominant part, with most of the sleeves and back colored in black. The traditional striping on the front of the Juventus 16-17 home kit is re-imagined in a modern way as thin black pinstripes are placed inside the larger white stripes. Three stars commemorating the club's Serie A titles are placed above the iconic Juve badge in gold, while the Adidas logo is white with a black outline. Also on the front of the new Juventus kit is the Jeep logo, colored white inside a black box, while the Adidas stripes run down on the sides in white. Continuing the scheme of the new Juventus 16-17 shirt, the shorts and socks will be black with white accents, a big change from the almost entirely white Juventus 15-16 home kit." We also have images of what appears to be the away and third kit for next season brought to us by @la_bianconera, a twitter account that specializes in all things pertaining to Juve merchandise. La Maglia Bianconera @La_Bianconera Sull'edizione odierna di @tuttosport pubblicate le nostre indiscrezioni sulle divise della #Juve 2016/17 I personally love that Adidas has taken an adventurous approach to next season's Juve kits. We are so used to seeing exact duplicates of kits throughout Europe with different colour schemes, it's a nice change of pace. Fan reception on these kits is definitely going to be interesting and only time will tell if these images and tweets are factual. Having said that, all kits look a little better if some green, white and red patches somehow find their way onto them. Only time will tell.

JUVENTUS - INTER 3 - 0 Álvaro Morata (36'-penalty) Álvaro Morata (63') Paulo Dybala (83') Coppa Italia TIM - Semi-final Wednesday, January 27th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Juventus vs. Inter Milan 3-0, Bianconeri put one foot into Coppa italia final http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/29/10858012/juventus-inter-milan-2016-coppa-italia-semifinal-leg-1-final-score-recap-result Jan 29, 2016 Before gong into this game we knew three things: Juventus have the better team, Juve-Inter is a special game, this could be a risky game where the underdog comes out on top. After 90 minutes of play, only the first point was made abundantly clear. The game was not really special in terms of competition -- I mean, beating Inter is always special but I digress -- and at no point were Juventus at risk of being surprised. With a three-goal advantage going into the return leg at the beginning of March, the Old Lady has one foot on the final. Juventus lined up with their classic 3-5-2 with Alvaro Morata and Mario Mandzukic leading the attack, Juan Cuadrado and Kwadwo Asamoah giving Stephan Lichtstiner and Sami Khedira some rest in the middle of the field, and Martin Caceres taking the spot of Andrea Barzagli at the right of the defense. One tactical surprise was the shift of Paul Pogba to the right side of Claudio Marchisio to play Asamoah in his natural position. Juventus controlled the game from its onset while Inter sat back hoping to contain the Old Lady. After 13 minutes, Juventus should have received a penalty from a Gary Medel's handball in the box that Tagliavento didn't see or was too scared to call. Then began the Morata show. Thirty-five minutes into the match Cuadrado was fouled by Murillo in the box, showing that you can grow balls in 22 minutes referee Paolo Tagliavento pointed at the spot. Now, I don't know about you, but when Morata was setting up the penalty kick, I was terrified he would miss. My fear was not because Juventus would squander a good chance, it seemed clear we were not losing this one, my concern was for Morata's self esteem if he failed to score. Morata proved me wrong taking one of the most confident penalty kicks you can imagine. It was great seeing him celebrate. Things will only get worse for Inter after the break. Juventus continued to control the game, Cuadrado was terrorizing Inter's left wing but the second goal came from the other side. Morata scored his first goal from open play in who knows how long to bring Juventus up 2-0. To make things better the assist will come from ex-Juventino Felipe Melo. The evening will be sealed with a red card for Inter and a spectacular goal from Paulo Dybala (rumors are Samir Handanovic is still looking for the ball). LE PAGELLE Neto 6.5 He had one save to make the whole game and he made it look great. Buffon clapping was the icing on the cake. Caceres 6.5 Did what was asked of him, we didn't really miss Barzagli last night. Bonucci 7.0 Great game creating a number of opportunities from the back. His composure on the ball is second-to-none. Chiellini 7.0 I know I may get some flak for this, as Chiellini kept falling over and drawing unnecessary fouls. To some it may be unnecessary time wasting, to me this was furbizia at its best. Every time Inter will build any momentum Chiellini will slow down proceedings. Cuadrado 7.5 His best game in bianconero. Got us the penalty and made sure Murillo will be missing next match. He is cutting in a lot more and passing the ball more than ever in the past. Pogba 7.0 He showed Kondogbia who is boss. Controlled the game well and had some nice flicks and touches to go with it. Marchisio 7.5 His positioning and calm are invaluable in the team at the moment. Moreover, I noticed that he has add some flair to some of the moves he makes. He is really enjoying his football and the Old Lady couldn't be happier. Asamoah 7.0 Had a great game showing to be a viable alternative for our midfield roation. Evra 7.0 Involved in the buildup of the second goal, made sure nothing came from Inter on his wing. Mandzukic 6.5 Had a good game and worked for the squad. Morata 7.5 He needed this so bad and came back with two huge goals. He could have had a hat-trick showing he still needs to sharpen his shooting a little more. THINGS I THINK I THINK - I don't know about you, but I loved watching Juventus up 2-0 and 3-0 and still defending with as much -- if not more -- commitment than when the game was scoreless. - I liked how the team can switch from offensive to defensive based on who plays on the wings. I don't know that Cuadrado and Alex Sandro have started together recently but I think that Max is cautious to move his team too far forward. However, it is nice to see we have the option if we need to. - How good was Asamoah? - A few months ago, Kwadwo came out to say that Juventus has been supportive during his time on the sidelines. Morata had similar comments after tthis game, thanking the club and his teammates for all the support during his dry spell. Nice to see the family sense is still there.

Juventus Club Focus: Star’s The Limit Ahead Of Crucial February Tests The number 11. It is the number of people in a football team, the smallest positive integer that requires three syllables, and also the number of the first manned Apollo to land on the surface of the moon. http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/juventus-club-focus-stars-the-limit-ahead-of-crucial-february-tests/? Jan 28, 2016 Juventus can now add the ‘number of games won in a row’ category to that list of significant things to do with 11 after their 1-0 win over Roma on the weekend. Juve v Roma was the headline fixture of the whole season for the past few years after both sides’ continuous domination at the top of Serie A and this weekend was no different. Indeed, the Giallorossi look to be out of the Scudetto chase this term, but it doesn’t take away from their quality. On October 28 last year, Sassuolo claimed a surprise 1-0 win over the Bianconeri thus putting the reigning champions in 12th place in the table. What followed was eleven games of determination and quality from Massimiliano Allegri and his men, allowing them to enter the top 10 for the first time this season before continuing to rise, now sitting in second place just two points off top spot. They travel to Chievo this Sunday in their next fixture where they would expect to pick up all three points, before facing off with Genoa and Frosinone. With their current form showing no sign of dipping and some relatively simple tasks to complete over the next few weeks, the question is: how long will this last? Not only are Juventus being considered as title favourites once more, you wouldn’t be a complete fool for thinking that they have a chance of advancing past Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Speaking of which, the few weeks from mid-February to mid-March will prove to be a testing time for the Old Lady, but they could be seen as a basis of where Juve will end up in May. February 13 sees them host top-of-the-table Napoli in a match which is crucial by itself; three points there could see Juventus leapfrog the Partenopei in the table. Just over a week later, it is the first leg of the clash with Bayern Munich and the Bundesliga giants will help us see where Juve are compared to the rest of the continent; the Italians got further than the Germans last year in the competition. Another tough game with Inter follows, before a match with the same opponents in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. Two average domestic tasks follow against Atalanta and Sassuolo, before the return leg of their Champions League tie, and a derby with Torino to round it all off. Over the course of a month, Juventus could throw away all their chances of achieving the European treble while also losing a battle with their bitter cross-city rivals. Equally, however, they could close the gap or potentially create a gap between them and the top of the Serie A table, book their place in the Coppa Italia final and become huge favourites to go far in Europe this year. February/March will test Juventus’ stamina and consistency, but winning 11 domestic games in a row is not easy for anyone. Should they replicate their recent form over the next two months, they will be in a strong position to challenge for any title they please come the end of the season. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Juventus approaching great opportunity to seize first place in upcoming weeks http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/28/10835358/juventus-napoli-2016-serie-a-standings-scudetto Jan 28, 2016 It's been a bizarre season in Serie A so far. The four-time reigning champs managed just 12 points over 10 games. While Juventus' underlying statistics showed that they weren't nearly as bad as their performance in the league table suggested, it wasn't unreasonable to wonder if they had legitimate title hopes. Sure, Juve had a few key players missing and they were more than capable of a hot streak, but could they catch the league leaders after such a dismal start? Well, thanks to the improved health of Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira, the emergence of Paulo Dybala as a legitimate star, burgeoning chemistry among the new arrivals, and a massive 11-game win streak, it certainly looks like they can. Twenty-one games in, Juventus sits just two points behind Napoli at the top of the table, and virtually all statistical analysis has concluded that these are the best two teams in the league right now. Looking ahead at the two clubs' schedules over the next few weeks, the Bianconeri have a great opportunity to claim sole ownership of first place. The next three matches on Juve's league schedule are away at Chievo Verona, at home against Genoa, and away at Frosinone. While Juve recorded a draw against Frosinone previously, I think it's safe to say that it was a bit of a fluke. A quick look at the stat sheet from that match shows a result that is very unlikely to be repeated. Juve also drew against Chievo (the only of their next three opponents to sit at 10th or better in the table) earlier in the year, but once again, they outshot their opponent by a massive margin, only to get an unfavorable result. Furthermore, the lineup from that match hardly resembles the squad we should expect to take the pitch in the rematch. Mario Lemina, Stefano Sturaro, and Hernanes were all in the starting lineup, as Paul Pogba and Giorgio Chiellini began the match on the bench. Lastly, Genoa shouldn't present much of an issue for an in-form Juventus. Napoli's upcoming stretch is a bit tougher, with Empoli (at home), Lazio (away), and Carpi (home) coming up. Empoli can be tough to take three points from, although Napoli will have the advantage of playing at home. Laizo's had a rough year, but Napoli will face them on the road and Lazio still has plenty of talent. Carpi, though, should be an easy win. Still, Napoli has two games in a row against teams in the upper half of the table. The fourth match for both teams is where it gets interesting. Napoli will travel to Juventus Stadium on Feb. 13 for a match with huge title implications. Either team could slip up between now and then, but the margin should still be close and the result will be a massive one for both sides, as the league's highest-scoring attack takes on the most talented defensive unit in Italy. Juventus will have an opportunity to get revenge for the 2-1 loss in Napoli earlier in the year and stake their claim as the best team in the country. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Juventus Line Up Potential Allegri Replacement http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/juventus-line-up-potential-allegri-replacement/? Jan 28, 2016 Should Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri decide to take charge of Chelsea in the summer, the Old Lady are weighing up former Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli as a potential replacement. In four years coaching the South Americans, Argentinian-born Sampaoli transformed the also-rans into 2015 Copa America winners through a dynamic and attacking 3-4-3 tactical system. With Allegri being heavily linked as the successor to interim coach Guus Hiddink at Stamford Bridge, Spanish newspaper Sport believe that the Bianconeri are already setting up a plan B with the 55-year-old resigning as Chile coach earlier in the month. These rumours will likely alert several top clubs across Europe, not only that Allegri is intimated as the leading candidate for the Blues job but also that Juve are on the search for a new coach having reportedly made contact with Sampaoli in the last few days.

JUVENTUS - INTER 3 - 0 Álvaro Morata (36'-penalty) Álvaro Morata (63') Paulo Dybala (83') Coppa Italia TIM - Semi-final Wednesday, January 27th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Cuadrado: Juventus Haven’t Won Anything Yet http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/cuadrado-juventus-havent-won-anything-yet/? Jan 28, 2016 Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado has played down suggestions that the Bianconeri have secured their place in the Coppa Italia final, following their 3-0 win over Inter in their semi-final first leg. A brace from Alvaro Morata, capped off by Paulo Dybala, saw the Old Lady run riot at the Juventus Stadium on Wednesday evening, though Cuadrado feels the tie is far from over. “I’m happy for the result, we produced a great performance,” Cuadrado said to Rai Sport after the match. “However, we must be calm, we’re taking the season game by game. “We haven’t won anything yet, although we want to win every competition. “I’m playing for the strongest team in Italy, we have always been the best. It’s a pleasure. The Colombian scored the winner in a 2-1 win over Torino in October and the Bianconeri remain unbeaten ever since. “That goal gave us a lot of confidence, I remember every moment about it,” he concluded. “It was an important game and now we hope to continue winning.”

Asamoah and Mandzukic injured http://www.football-italia.net/79054/asamoah-and-mandzukic-injured? Jan 28, 2016 Juventus pair Mario Mandzukic and Kwadwo Asamoah missed training today with muscular injuries. Both players featured in last night’s Coppa Italia win over Inter, but look likely to miss the trip to Chievo on Sunday. “Kwadwo Asamoah and Mario Mandzukic were both absent from this morning’s workout after they reported muscular discomfort during yesterday’s win over the Nerazzurri,” a statement on the Bianconeri’s official website revealed. “The Ghanaian and Croatian will undergo medical checks tomorrow to assess the full extent of their issues.” Asamoah has made just two Serie A starts this season, as he’s battled a number of fitness concerns and Mandzukic missed three weeks earlier in the campaign with a thigh injury.

RUMOURS: Barcelona identify their priority summer signing The Spanish champions have pulled out of the race to sign Nolito and are instead targeting a big-money move for another forward in the summer. http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2016/01/28/19759102/-? Jan 28, 2016 Barcelona have made Juventus forward Paulo Dybala their priority transfer target for the summer. The Spanish champions were targeting Celta Vigo’s Nolito this month but have now pulled out of a deal as the club’s board believe that opening €18 million on the 29-year-old is not a good investment. But Sport now claim that Barcelona have already opened primary talks with Juventus as they continue to monitor Dybala, who has 12 goals and seven assists in 20 Serie A appearances this season. Barcelona’s technical director Robert Fernandez believes the Argentine would be a perfect fit for the club and has been impressed with the forward’s movement and technical ability. The Serie A champions would be looking for a fee in the region of €60m for the 22-year-old.

Juventus want Juan Cuadrado to sign from Chelsea on permanent deal http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2795506/juventus-want-juan-cuadrado-to-sign-from-chelsea-permanently Jan 28, 2016 Juventus would like to hold on to Colombia international Juan Cuadrado beyond the end of the season when his loan from Chelsea expires, according to the club's general director Giuseppe Marotta. Cuadrado, 27, moved to Stamford Bridge from Fiorentina last February, signing a four-and-a-half year contract with a reported fee of €35 million. But the forward failed to settle into Jose Mourinho's team and he wound up being loaned to Juventus during the 2015 summer transfer window. "He is on loan but for the squad and his tactical flexibility we really need him," Marotta told Rai Sport ahead of Juve's 3-0 Coppa Italia first-leg win against Inter Milan. "He plays in a different way compared to all our other midfielders. "Cuadrado could help us a lot and we are happy about his performances. We will try to hold on to him for the next campaign." Cuadrado also appeared to be open to the idea when asked after the match about the Bianconeri's chances of success this season after the match. "We have not won anything yet, we need to continue the way we are going," he told RAI. "Juventus are the best club I have ever played for. Even when things were not going well, I was convinced we would lift ourselves up."

JUVENTUS - INTER 3 - 0 Álvaro Morata (36'-penalty) Álvaro Morata (63') Paulo Dybala (83') Coppa Italia TIM - Semi-final Wednesday, January 27th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Kwadwo Asamoah Injury-Free and Key to Juventus' Coppa Italia Win over Inter http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2611738-kwadwo-asamoah-injury-free-and-key-to-juventus-coppa-italia-win-over-inter? Jan 28, 2016 Having beaten AS Roma 1-0 on Sunday, Juventus returned to Coppa Italia action against Inter Milan on Wednesday evening, and a comfortable 3-0 victory in the first leg saw them firmly take control of this semi-final matchup. The final score served as a good indication of the gulf between the two teams, with the visitors offering little attacking threat and looking woeful in midfield. What made the result even more remarkable was that while the Nerazzurri fielded a largely first-choice side, Juve were able to rest a number of key players. Gigi Buffon, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sami Khedira and Paulo Dybala were all left out of the starting XI, and although coach Massimiliano Allegri was careful to remain balanced, he is certainly happy with the depth of his squad. “The most important thing is to stay level-headed and keep in mind that we haven’t achieved anything yet,” he told reporters at the post-match press conference. “We have a tough run of fixtures ahead, and I know I can swap a few players in and out and still be sure that the quality of our performances won’t drop off.” Alvaro Morata certainly benefited, with the striker netting twice to break a goal drought which stretched back to Oct. 4 and delivering a performance that bodes well for the rest of the campaign. His importance to the side has been discussed at length, but Kwadwo Asamoah was arguably even more impressive. WhoScored.com ✔ @WhoScored Álvaro Morata: Morata's goal vs Inter tonight ends a run of 1,034 minutes without a goal for Juventus Despite making only his third start of the season, the versatile left-footer slotted in seamlessly, helping the Bianconeri dominate the central area of the field as they continually overran their opponents. Defensively solid throughout, Asamoah helped protect the back line impeccably, combining with Patrice Evra to frustrate Adem Ljajic. He was helped by the lack of attacking impetus from Inter’s midfield, where Gary Medel, Felipe Melo and Geoffrey Kondogbia were each better suited to breaking up play rather than venturing forward. The same cannot be said of Juventus, with both Pogba and Asamoah regularly joining the attack, a smart assist from the latter eventually laying on the third goal as Dybala made a late cameo appearance. Statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com highlight just how well Asamoah performed overall, recording one tackle, one interception, one clearance and completing 91.9 percent of his 37 pass attempts. That tally included three scoring chances for his team-mates, with the Ghana international also winning two aerial duels. After making just 10 appearances last term due to a variety of injuries, he finally seems to be back to full fitness and—speaking shortly after the recent win over Udinese—the 27-year-old revealed that he had previously doubted his future. “There were several moments when I asked myself when I would get back playing again, because, whenever things were looking on the up, there would always be a new setback throwing my progress off course,” Asamoah told Sky Italia (h/t the official Juventus website). “Right now, though, I’m in good shape.” Having such a high-quality backup bodes well for the rest of the campaign, giving Juve the option of resting any of their first-choice trio, and Allegri was happy to praise the midfielder for his contribution against Inter. “Asamoah was brilliant tonight in all aspects of his play,” the coach said at the post-match press conference. “When the team are in great form, every team selection can be difficult, and it’s never easy leaving the other guys out of the side. The further we go in the cups, though, the more playing time there will be for everyone.” That will certainly be true, with the likes of Neto, Daniele Rugani and Juan Cuadrado all looking to earn more minutes on the field. Asamoah will now join that trio, as he has proved that he can be relied upon to deliver whenever he is given a chance.