Socrates

JUVENTUS - ROMA - MATCHDAY 21 Sunday, January 24th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Banti to ref Juve-Roma http://www.football-italia.net/78702/banti-ref-juve-roma? Jan 21, 2016 Luca Banti will referee Sunday’s clash between Juventus and Roma as the Week 21 officials are announced. The Giallorossi travel to Juventus Stadium to face a Bianconeri side on a 10-match winning streak in the league on Sunday evening. Luciano Spalletti recently replaced Rudi Garcia on the Lupi bench, but got off to a disappointing start with a 1-1 home draw against rock bottom Verona. The experienced Banti, who has refereed in Serie A since 2010 and also at European and international level, has been handed the reins for the encounter. Week 21 referrees Empoli-Milan: Russo Fiorentina-Torino: Mazzoleni Frosinone-Atalanta: Valeri Verona-Genoa: Rocchi Inter-Carpi: Gervasoni Juventus-Roma: Banti Lazio-Chievo: Calvarese Palermo-Udinese: Tagliavento Sampdoria-Napoli: Orsato Sassuolo-Bologna: Cervellera http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F778DazX72Q http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/coppa-italia/2016/01/20-7728497/coppa_italia_lazio-juventus_le_emozioni_del_match/#1

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Juventus Club Focus: Who Saw That Coming? After securing a hard-fought victory over Lazio in the Coppa Italia, Oscar La-Gambina analyses the Bianconeri’s chances of securing a consecutive domestic cup double. http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/juventus-club-focus-who-saw-that-coming/? Jan 21, 2016 A couple of months ago, we were discussing whether Massimiliano Allegri should be relieved of his duties at Juventus. Now, with 10 straight Serie A wins, the Bianconeri are being named as title favourites once again. A 4-0 thrashing of Udinese was their most recent domestic triumph and it subsequently put them in second place in the league table. They are now two points off top spot and looking once again like one of the most dangerous teams on the peninsula, while a 1-0 win away at Lazio in the Coppa Italia keeps their hopes alive of a consecutive domestic double. Along with Juve, Napoli are pushing hard to obtain a reputation as one of the most lethal teams in Serie A, purely down to their impressive goalscoring ability. Nonetheless, scoring four without reply against the Zebrette in a refreshed Stadio Friuli is no mean feat, and there is no reason to suggest why this form cannot continue until May and consequently bring the Turin club their historic fifth-straight Scudetto. Furthermore, young ball of talent Paulo Dybala is continuing to impress and current transfer speculation hints that the squad will remain united until the end of the campaign, with no departures looking likely. The question is, however, will this be enough for them to actually win the title? One thing that the Old Lady can be positive about is their current European situation, with both Juventus and Napoli featuring in alternative competitions. Juventus will encounter Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16, although the Germans are possibly too powerful for the Italians, something which has already been mentioned in this Club Focus previously. The Partenopei, meanwhile, are tied with Villarreal in their next stage of Europe, who have the worst goal difference in the top six in La Liga and are themselves involved in a European battle at the top of the table. Therefore, Juventus may well depart from Europe, while Napoli go through. This will undoubtedly give the Bianconeri an increased advantage over their Neapolitan counterparts, who may face European induced injuries and will experience much less preparation time. This potentially free schedule would be especially important after the Champions League tie in March, when Allegri’s men have a derby clash with Torino, while also coming face-to-face with Sassuolo, who were the last side to take points off them earlier in the season. These are key fixtures in their title race and ones they should win if they want to retain the Scudetto this year. In the future, Juventus could may well exploit Napoli’s distracted focus on the Europa League, subsequently grasping first place as a position of their own.

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Lazio vs. Juventus: Winners and Losers from Coppa Italia http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2609568-lazio-vs-juventus-winners-and-losers-from-coppa-italia? Jan 21, 2016 Juventus and Lazio locked horns in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday for the third time in four years. Last season the two came together for a thrilling final at the Stadio Olimpico, and two years before that the Biancocelesti prevented Juve from claiming a second consecutive berth in the final when a stoppage-time goal gave them a 3-2 aggregate win in the semi-final before going on to beat Roma for their sixth title. Juve came in on the back of 10 consecutive victories in Serie A and a 4-0 obliteration of Torino in the last round. But not all of those wins were pretty. Sometimes the beautiful game can be downright dreary, and Wednesday's game certainly fell into that category. Juve has needed some ugly goals to put together their winning streak, and Stephan Lichtsteiner's decider in this one was one of them. He casually came to tap a rebound into the net, only to see Lazio goalkeeper Etrit Berisha streak in at the last moment. Berisha clawed the ball away, but not before referee Antonio Damato received the signal from the Olimpico's goal-line technology that the ball had crossed the line. It was the difference in a 1-0 game that set up a semi-final clash against Inter, ensuring extra iterations of the Derby d'Italia this year. Who were the winners and losers in this drab midweek clash? Let's take a closer look to find out. Winner: Juventus' Defense Juve is a team built on its defense. Since the Antonio Conte era began in 2011, they have been arguably the best defensive side in Europe. That reputation had been under challenge early this term when the back line became uncharacteristically leaky, but since Massimiliano Allegri returned to the 3-5-2 formation they have returned to form. They showed that at the Olimpico, completely stifling Miroslav Klose, Antonio Candreva and the rest of Lazio's attack. The trio of Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Martin Caceres prevented the capital club from even recording a shot on target. They covered excellently in the box, getting in front of any cross before it could cause trouble and hardly ever letting Lazio break. There was but one hiccup. That came in the 13th minute, when Keita Balde Diao slipped past Caceres and raced into the box only to scuff a golden chance to take the lead. From that point on Juve had Lazio in a choke hold. Once Stephan Lichtsteiner opened the scoring, Juve did what they do best—protecting a one-goal lead, something they've turned into an art form. The return to form of Juve's defense means bad news for the rest of Italy. If their back line turns into the immovable object that kept the likes Real Madrid at bay last year, it will be hard for anyone to score. Loser: Alvaro Morata The long scoring drought for Alvaro Morata continues. He hasn't scored since back-to-back matches against Sevilla and Bologna at the end of September and beginning of October, and every game he plays without a goal intensifies the pressure on the young Spaniard. As in the rest of his most recent appearances, Morata has found himself in good positions but was unable to find the last touch. He did draw several fouls and bookings and was denied the opener in the 51st minute by a good piece of goalkeeping from Etrit Berisha, but he also showed some of his biggest flaws. He went down far too easily in the box in the 34th minute, a problem that has bugged him his entire Juve career. Worse, though, is his lack of awareness on the ball. When he gets the ball at his feet he tends to put his head down and charge. That draws fouls and cards, yes, but in the 54th minute he could have released either Paul Pogba or Simone Zaza on either side of him with a well-placed pass. Instead he dribbled into a crowd, drawing the free kick but giving up the potential for more. The goals will come for Morata. One moment can give him confidence, and then form will return in a wave. But right now he has the look of a man wondering what more he has to do. Winner: Simone Zaza Zaza didn't manage to score on Wednesday, but his play was still exemplary. With neither team doing much in attack, Zaza had his nose in almost all the big plays. He sent at least two teammates clear on goal. The first of those passes turned into the shot that Morata couldn't get past Berisha. The second came three minutes after Lichtsteiner's opener and saw Stefano Sturaro scuff his one-on-one with the Albanian well wide to the far post. He was also the impetus of the game's lone goal. It was his shot—a screamer on the turn that nearly broke the goalpost in half—that rebounded to Lichtsteiner for what turned into a not-so-simple tap-in. He also missed a few chances of his own, particularly in the 77th minute when he could have put the game to bed. But his movement and his distribution were excellent when it counted, and he tracked deep into his own half several times to supplement the team's defensive efforts. Juve are doggedly hanging on to Zaza despite transfer rumors—rumors that Allegri put to bed in his prematch press conference (h/t Football Italia) by saying "Zaza won't leave, he'll stay at Juventus." If he continues to play well and Morata continues to struggle, we could see him jump the Spaniard in the pecking order before long. Loser: Stefano Pioli Elimination from the Coppa was bad enough for embattled Lazio manager Stefano Pioli, but now he may have to face Sunday's game against Chievo with a depleted squad. Pioli had two players carted off on Wednesday. The first was center back Mauricio, who came off just after the hour after appearing to injure his leg when stretching for a ball. Right before the end Lucas Biglia went down after a battle for possession and had to leave the field, leaving Lazio with 10 men and seeing the cart out again where he was being treated on the sideline. Both players are important for this team. Both have played in 14 games in Serie A and Biglia has recorded three goals and two assists. Replacing them will be difficult for a team that's already in the depths this season. Lauded as the Next Big Thing after taking Lazio to third place and the Coppa final a year ago, Pioli is now holding on to his job by a thread. If he can't right things soon, he'll be looking for new employment come the summer. Winner: Massimiliano Allegri If there was one thing Max Allegri couldn't afford with a big match coming against Roma on Sunday, it was a game that went to extra time. Right behind that on the list was an injury. He escaped Wednesday with neither. Allegri will now have almost his entire squad at his disposal to face the Giallorossi, with only Mario Lemina, Roberto Pereyra and Andrea Barzagli missing in the trainer's room. With a title dogfight on his hands and a game against a team that, two weeks into the reign of a new coach, is going to be far less predictable than it once was on tap, Allegri got just enough to win and avoided any negative side effects. Loser: Miroslav Klose In years past, a duel between Chiellini and Miroslav Klose would have been mouthwatering. Now it's just sad. The 37-year-old striker finally won his World Cup two summers ago, but with that the last spark may have left him. It was almost like the failure of his trademark back flip celebration in Germany's World Cup game against Ghana was a sign. Since that tournament Klose has been a shell of himself. Rather than the dangerous penalty area presence we've always seen, the big German simply can't compete with defenders the like of Chiellini and Bonucci. On Wednesday he was completely marked out of the game, and while that's not unusual for an opponent of Juve, it is for him. When the season ends, it may be time for Klose to call time as well.

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Juventus' Fighting Spirit on Show in Coppa Italia Victory over Lazio http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2609637-juventus-fighting-spirit-on-show-in-coppa-italia-victory-over-lazio? Jan 21, 2016 Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri was a man on a mission this week. As he prepared his squad for a trip to Rome, the coach could not have been clearer in his analysis of the looming quarter-final match against Lazio. "Our aim is to get through to the next round because the Coppa Italia is one of the trophies we want to lift this season,” he told reporters at the traditional pre-match press conference. As the game got under way at the Stadio Olimpico, it was evident the players echoed that sentiment. The clash—a rematch of May’s final in the same competition—quickly descended into a war of attrition: 90 tough minutes littered with emotional outbursts from both sides. Despite having lost that aforementioned showpiece event, as well as both the Supercoppa Italiana and a Serie A encounter with the Bianconeri since, Lazio were in no mood to be swept aside here. Indeed, having been outscored six goals to one over those last three meetings, Stefano Pioli’s men were far more resolute this time around and stood toe-to-toe with the Turin giants in a game constantly interrupted by niggly fouls and complaints to the official. Lazio’s Keita Balde Diao had the first real chance after 12 minutes, bursting past Martin Caceres on the left only to fire over from a narrow angle. Paul Pogba and Simone Zaza wasted good chances for the visitors, the latter missing arguably the best opportunity as he somehow hit the side netting with an open goal waiting. The striker would make amends shortly after, however, his powerful effort in the 66th minute rebounding to Stephan Lichtsteiner after crashing into the post. The defender—himself a former Lazio player—would make no mistake, goal-line technology proving his shot had indeed beaten ‘keeper Etrit Berisha. Stefano Sturaro, Zaza and Mario Mandzukic all subsequently had chances to seal the tie with a second goal, but Juventus were forced to endure a nervous last few minutes before they could secure the victory. While the Biancocelesti may perhaps consider themselves unlucky, the game arguably proved two important things about their opponents. Firstly, the depth of talent available to Mister Allegri is superb; the coach was able to make six changes from the side that beat Udinese last weekend but insistent he was not resting anyone. “I compliment the lads, as this was in no way an easy match,” he told RAI Sport (h/t Football Italia) shortly after the final whistle. “I don’t like the term ‘squad rotation,’ as I have a very competitive team and it is always difficult to leave players out.” Whether that is true or not, beating such opposition despite leaving out the likes of Gigi Buffon, Sami Khedira and Paulo Dybala bodes well for the future, as does the fact they were able to grind out a result in such a hostile environment. “It was a tough, physical game,” Leonardo Bonucci told reporters as he left the field—per the club’s official website—before going on to praise the spirit displayed by his team-mates. “Juventus play to win every game. We fight for each other and for every ball on the field and we owe to it ourselves to chase every title this season.” Sealing a victory without playing at their best is a major bonus, especially for a team looking to defend the domestic double they won last term, and their current winning run is beginning to make a repeat look increasingly possible. Aside from this cup win, the Bianconeri have taken all three points in their last 10 league games and will hope to continue that streak when they welcome AS Roma to Juventus Stadium on Sunday.

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Lazio vs. Juventus 0-1, Bianconeri grind out win, advance to Coppa Italia semis Stephan Litchsteiner scored against his former team to give Juventus their pass to the semifinals. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/21/10804454/lazio-juventus-2016-coppa-italia-quarterfinals-final-score-recap-result Jan 21, 2016 Once again, the Bianconeri conquered Rome. Juventus needed to win against Lazio to reach the semifinals of the Coppa Italia and they completed their task. It wasn't a beautiful or easy match at Stadio Olimpico. Both teams fought hard on the pitch and I firmly believe that the difference was the quality of Juventus defense, Massimiliano Allegri's interpretation of the game and Simone Zaza's force of will on the game. Allegri made six changes to the lineup that he presented in Udine this past weekend. Neto, Martín Cáceres, Paul Pogba, Stefano Sturaro, Álvaro Morata and Simone Zaza started for Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele Rugani, Sami Khedira, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala. Again, the Livornian coach opted for a 3-5-2 foundation. Lazio manager Stefano Pioli deployed an aggressive 4-3-3 formation with the dangerous trident on attack of Antonio Candreva, Miroslav Klose and Balde Keita. The game started with more intensity than quality, both sides tried to impose their tempo and fought hard for the possession of the ball. Then, on 12 minutes, the hosts wasted a terrific opportunity to change the course of the bout; the speed demon Ketia lost Cáceres with a furious run and found himself in front of Neto. Luckily for Juventus, the ex-Barcelona player fired his close-range shot over the bar. Pogba responded with a pair of efforts. First, the Frenchman raised inside Lazio's penalty box and executed a header that went just over the crossbar at the 17th minute. Thirteen minutes later he tested Etrit Berisha with a long-range shot, but the Albanian keeper responded with aplomb. The rhythm of the match decrease steadily after those opportunities and the game went to halftime without a score. Juventus began the second half like a hurricane. Just six minutes after the break Zaza flicked a brilliant pass to Morata. The Spaniard tried to beat Berisha with a low shot, but the goalkeeper showed great reflexes and performed a nice save with his left leg. Zaza got the rebound, but failed to score sending his shot to the side of the net. At 66th minute, Juventus finally scored. Zaza controlled the ball just outside the penalty box and performed an impressive curling shot that beat Berisha, but ricocheted on the post. Stephan Litchsteiner recovered the rebound and scored coolly; Berisha scrambled, but the ball crossed the line by inches. Lazio never threatened Juventus. In fact the Bianconeri should have had another couple of goals. Sturaro just missed a shot from the corner of the box and in the final minutes Allegri used Mandzukic and Dybala to close the game, both strikers had great opportunities, but Berisha was superb. Juventus advances to the semifinals of the Italian Cup once again where they'll face Inter Milan in a two-legged tie. LE PAGELLE Neto 6 The Brazilian had a really peaceful night. It must be hard for him because he wants to show his worth. Cáceres 6 El Pelado have some troubles with Keita on the first half. Fortunately for Juventus, he played better as the match went on. Bonucci 7 A textbook like match for the central defender. Leo played with poise and commanded a Buffonless defense smartly. Chellini 6.5 A very physical performance by King Kong. Lazio's strikers couldn't pass his watch; nevertheless, he must control the intensity on some of his challenges. Lichtsteiner 6.5 The Swiss Express delivered a sweet score to the Vianconeri. He defended with composure. Sturaro 6.5 He was a ninja on the pitch. Cleared a great amount of attacks and won a lot of balls for his side. Marchisio 6 Il Principino won the midfield duel against Biglia, but was quiet on offense as Juventus gave the ball possession to Lazio. Pogba 6 An uneven cameo by the Frenchman. He was very dangerous on the first half. However, he looked too anxious during some episodes of the match. Sandro 6 A discreet night offensively for the Brazilian powerhouse. However, it's relevant to say, that he erased Candreva from the game. Morata 5.5 Invisible during the first portion of the game. The Spaniard is a wonderful striker but his self-confidence is very low. He could have scored on the second half. Zaza 7.5 This guy is a machine; he never stops trying. A constant nightmare for the defenders. He was unlucky when his shot crashed on the post. Subs. Mandzukic 6 Enter for Morata at 76th minute. Worked tirelessly as always and had an opportunity to score. Cuadrado 6 Enter for Litchsteiner at 80th minute. Defended belligerently and had some glances on attack. Dybala 6.5 Enter for Zaza at 90th minute. He had no impact. La Joya manufactured a couple of really dangerous plays. He only played 5 minutes! Coach Allegri 7.5 Lazio had 57 percent of possession in this match, yet Juventus shot six times on target and Lazio didn't even trouble Neto. Allegri was the master and commander in this battle. He taught Pioli another tactical lesson. Things I think I think Who's ready for il Derby d' Italia? Paulo Dybala, you're ridiculous! Simone Zaza is really proving his worth. Right now, Mandzukic and Dybala are the clear-cut starters, but tell that to this guy. Finally, I want to quote a twit of our own Aaron West (aka O_Fenomeno86): "Form is temporary, class is permanent. Alvaro Morata, we believe in you"

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato COPPA ITALIA: STEPHAN LICHSTEINER SINKS FORMER CLUB LAZIO TO SET UP JUVENTUS’ SEMI-FINAL DATE WITH INTER Defending champions Juventus will take on Inter Milan for a place in the Italian Cup final after edging Lazio 1-0 in the quarter-finals Wednesday with goalline technology summoned to clarify the winning goal. http://www.thehardtackle.com/news/2016/01/21/coppa-italia-stephan-lichsteiner-sinks-former-club-lazio-to-set-up-juventus-semi-final-date-with-inter-milan/? Jan 21, 2016 On the back of 10 wins in a row in Serie A, Juventus grabbed the only goal of the night in the 66th minute at the Stadio Olimpico. Swiss international Stephan Lichtsteiner, a former Lazio star, was in the right place at the right time to nudge the ball over the line after a fierce drive from Simone Zaza had come off the crossbar. Lazio’s Albanian goalkeeper Etrit Berisha thought he had done enough to thwart Lichtsteiner’s close-range rebound but goalline technology showed the ball had just crossed the line. “It will be a wonderful semi-final, you have to face the biggest clubs to reach the end, but right now we are focused on this weekend’s meeting with Roma in the league,” said Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri. On Tuesday, Inter had defeated Napoli 2-0 in a match overshadowed by an ugly row between rival coaches Roberto Mancini and Maurizio Sarri. Mancini blasted Napoli counterpart Sarri a “racist” and claimed his rival called him a “poof”. Mancini and Sarri clashed on the touchline after Adem Ljajic killed off the quarter-final tie at the San Paolo stadium in Naples in injury time to add to Stevan Jovetic’s opener. “Maurizio Sarri is a racist and men like him have no place in football,” fumed Mancini to RAI TV after the game. “He used racist words. He started insulting me and then shouted at me, calling me a poof.” Mancini said Sarri had used the words “F****O” and “finocchio”, both pejorative terms meaning homosexual. Sarri brushed off the exchange as part and parcel of the game. “I’ve seen and heard worse on a pitch,” he said. “I hope that in the cold light of day, Mancini will also change his point of view. “In my words, there was no form of discrimination, I have nothing against homosexuals. I’ve apologised to Mancini, for me everything’s ok.” The other semi-final will be between third-division Alessandria and AC Milan.

Juventus manager Max Allegri: We must be aware we’ve achieved nothing yet Manager's post-match quotes after Juventus won 1-0 at Lazio to go into the semis of the Coppa. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/21/10801984/allegri-not-achieved-nothing-yet-juventus-lazio-coppa Jan 21, 2016 Juventus ground out a narrow 1-0 win at Lazio today in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia. Swiss Express Stefan Lichtsteiner got the only goal of the game to put the Bianconeri through to the semis where they will take on Inter Milan. The other match of the final four will feature Lega Pro club Alessandria and AC Milan. The fist leg of the round will be played on January 27th at Juventus Stadium, with the return fixture on March 2nd at the San Siro. After the game, manager Massimiliano Allegri commended opponents Lazio - "I have to compliment Lazio, as the first half was very balanced and they kept a high tempo. "Juventus lifted the tempo after the break, played a solid game and allowed not a single genuine shot on target, then we had several chances to finish it off. "I compliment the lads, as this was in no way an easy match. I don't like the term ‘squad rotation,' as I have a very competitive team and it is always difficult to leave players out. "Simone Zaza did well, Alvaro Morata improved in the second half and Martin Caceres worked very hard, which is important because we need him. To go forward in three competitions we need the entire squad to be in good physical and psychological shape. "We must keep our feet on the ground and be aware we've achieved nothing yet." When asked about the upcoming semi-final against Inter Milan - "It will be a wonderful semi-final, you have to face the biggest clubs to reach the end, but right now we are focused on this weekend's meeting with Roma." On whether the Scudetto is a battle of three teams - "Absolutely not. There are 18 games left, the top five are all still in it. We are currently in good form but we must maintain it." Would beating Roma put them out of the title race for good - "It'll be a good game. It's going to be difficult but we'll play to win." Allegri was also questioned by the media regarding the touchline incident between Inter manager Roberto Mancini and Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri yesterday - "I daren't judge what others do, especially as I say you need to find yourself in certain situations. I will say we managers ought to set an example with our behaviour, as we are the leaders of this team and even under moments of pressure and tension we should try to maintain our calm. It's not easy, but we should calm the situation and not stir up further tension." What would he say to Sarri - "I'm not involved, it's not right to make judgements on my colleagues. We're talking about football, there was a good game today. The prosecutor will decide."

Bonucci: Serie A must be main objective for Juventus Stephan Lichtsteiner's strike sent the Bianconeri into the cup's penultimate stage, but Bonucci insisted they must not become distracted from the Scudetto. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2016/01/20/19543462/-? Jan 20, 2016 Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has called on his side to remain focused on their Serie A defence despite beating Lazio 1-0 on Wednesday to advance to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia. Former Lazio star Stephan Lichtsteiner scored the only goal of the match to set up a two-legged tie against Inter, while Juve also have a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich coming up. But despite Juve extending their winning run to 11 domestic matches, Bonucci said the team must focus on catching Serie A leaders Napoli. "It'll be a wonderful challenge to take on Inter in the semi-finals, but right now we have to focus on Serie A," he told Rai Sport. "Napoli are two points away and will cause us real problems, but we are there and want to fight to the end." Juventus players must "spit blood" every time they step on to the pitch, Bonucci added. He said: "Juventus have to win always, we must spit blood every time we step on to the pitch. "In order to push to the end in all three tournaments, we need everyone to contribute. We faced a good Lazio, but we showed our character on the pitch and played our game. "It could've ended with a bigger scoreline, but the important thing was to win."

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Juventus 1 - Lazio 0: Initial reaction and random observations http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/21/10801996/juventus-lazio-2016-coppa-italia-quarterfinals-final-score-result-initial-reaction Jan 20, 2016 At this point, I would like to think that Lazio are getting quite sick of Juventus coming to the Stadio Olimpico and winning games. But as we saw Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia, what Lazio is tired doesn't always equal results for the Biancocelesti. Thanks to a familiar face in the form of Stephan Lichtsteiner, a familiar kind of scoreline went down at the Olimpico — again. First the Supercoppa, then the regularly scheduled visit in Serie A last month and now the Coppa Italia. It involved Juventus winning, Lazio losing and in this case, the extra bonus of Juve advancing to the semifinals of the Coppa Italia. I wasn't the only one thinking "DON'T BLAST IT OVER THE BAR! DON'T BLAST IT OVER THE BAR!" after SImone Zaza's shot clanged off the post and went rolling right up to Lichtsteiner. Instead, the former Lazio right back pretty much did the exact opposite. That was as much of a finesse as Lichtsteiner will probably ever have in his career. And while we were almost close to a 'Gol di Lichtsteiner' moment like another memorable goal that wasn't back in the day, goal line technology confirmed what we all knew. And now Juventus get to continue to compete on three fronts just as they did a season ago. We get to extra Derby d'Italia matchups in the semifinals, with the first leg coming in seven days. That's a quick turnaround considering how crowded the schedule already is. The good thing is, though, this team has proven it can handle three games within the span of seven or eight days because of the depth it has. Max Allegri might not want to call it rotating his squad, but he's handle things quite well over the last couple of months. That was proven again Wednesday night. Sure, it wasn't the prettiest game — see some of Zaza's finishing in front of goal — but Juventus did exactly what they needed to do. And that's win it. Not exactly a newfound phenomena at the Olimpico, but something that won't ever — EVER! — get to be a tiresome occurrence. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen #Lichtsteiner: "I was very happy to score tonight's decisive goal. We should however have gone on to put the game to bed..." Random thoughts and observations Neto has played three games this season. He has had to make zero saves. And we used to talk about Gigi Buffon stealing game checks because of how little he had to do... It just brings me so much joy that it was Lichtsteiner scoring the goal that knocked Lazio out of the Coppa Italia. Based on the "reception" he got as he was subbed off for Juan Cuadrado, I'm pretty sure that the Olimpico crowd wanted anybody but Lichtsteiner to score the goal that would see Juve advance. We like to talk about work rate a lot around here because it's a big part of the famed Juve "grinta" we love so much. At one point in the game, Allegri had a battering ram-like team out there with the likes of Lichtsteiner, Zaza, Stefano Sturaro, Mario Mandzukic, Giorgio Chiellini and so on. Those aren't just players that want to win the ball back against you. They want to run right through you in the process. Zaza, especially, is starting to really find his niche as a part-time starter/impact kind of sub. Sure, being a striker is more than just effort. You gotta score goals, too, obviously. But how hard he works and how he is creating scoring chances whenever he plays is the important part here. Usually it's against a somewhat tired defense, but Wednesday night's effort was pretty good. He just keeps running and running and running. No wonder Allegri wants to keep him around. Paulo Dybala almost scored on his first touch of the game. He almost scored on his third touch of the game. Within about three minutes, Dybala almost gave Juventus a 3-0 lead. What a beautiful, beautiful person he is. And a pretty good player, too. Álvaro Morata hasn't scored a goal in nearly 1,000 minutes of game time. But he's got something to build on with how he played in the second half. I know, i know, he needs a goal. That thing is incredibly obvious even if his total of minutes played without one was half of what it is right now. He just needs something to go right for him these days, that's all. Now that Lazio are out of the Coppa Italia, can Juve acquire Alessandro Matri for future use? Just curious. Roma on Sunday, Inter in the first leg of the Coppa semifinals next Wednesday. The big games just keep on coming. I don't know about you, but it's good to see this team continuing to prove that the way they started the season was just a little blip on the radar and not something that would carry on for the majority of the season. POLL Who was your Juventus Man of the Match against Lazio? 67% Simone Zaza (172 votes) 19% Stefan Lichtsteiner (48 votes) 7% Stefano Sturaro (17 votes) 5% Leonardo Bonucci (12 votes) 3% Alex Sandro (9 votes) 258 votes total

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Juventus Coach Heaps Praise On Forward Following Lazio Win http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/juventus-coach-heaps-praise-on-forward-following-lazio-win/? Jan 20, 2016 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri praised Simone Zaza after his side beat Lazio 1-0 in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals. Stephan Lichtsteiner bagged the only goal of the game despite the Bianconeri having a host of chances to kill off the match late on. “In the first half it was very balanced and they played at a better tempo,” Allegri told Rai Sport. “But then we improved and did not allow Lazio any of the ball. “We had several chances to close out the game but it wasn’t an easy game. “Now we think of the clash at the weekend against Roma.” Simone Zaza and Alvaro Morata both started upfront giving Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic a rest. “Zaza played well and did good things tonight,” Allegri added “To move forward in this competition we need a full squad in a good condition. “The semi-final against Inter will be great, hopefully as good as today. “But now we think about Roma, then only turn our attention to Inter.” The other Coppa Italia quarter-final between Napoli and Inter that took place yesterday saw Maurizio Sarri and Roberto Mancini have a touch-line spat that has hit all the headlines today. “I do not, first off, judge others,” Allegri asserted. “I can not do this as we coaches have to behave appropriately. “The high profile games are full of tension but us coaches should stay calm. “I will not pass comment or judgement on colleagues. “Let us talk about football as there was a good game tonight instead.”

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Player Ratings: Lazio 0-1 Juventus http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/player-ratings-lazio-0-1-juventus-2/? Jan 20, 2016 Lazio were condemned to a 1-0 defeat to Juventus in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. A single goal from former Lazio full-back Stefan Lichtsteiner was enough for the reigning champions to progress to the semi-finals where they will play Inter. Lazio Etrit Berisha – 6 – Shaky - Tested early on by Stefan Lichsteiner, but altogether comfortable for the Albanian. Did exceptionally well to prevent Alvaro Morata in the second half, but breathed a huge sigh of relief when Simone Zaza missed the follow up. Caught by surprise when Zaza’s shot cannoned off the post and into the path of Lichsteiner who made no mistake in the box. Abdoulay Konko – 6 – Decent - Wasn’t able to get forward as regularly as he would have liked, booked in the second half for a foul on Alvaro Morata. Made way for Anderson shortly after. Milan Bisevac – 6 – Rough - Looked suspect early on with some strong challenges, including one on Alvaro Morata in the penalty box. Mauricio – 6.5- Unfortunate - Strong and uncompromising with his challenges and looked confident in his defensive duties, suffered an injury in the second half and was replaced by Hoedt. Stefan Radu – 6.5 – Resolute - Looked a threat when he was able to cross the ball into the box or simply up the field. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – 7 – Dogged - Kept the midfield ticking over, moving the ball around and breaking up play when required. Covered a lot of ground and suffered a lot, overcoming a potential concussion when Stefano Sturaro blasted the ball into his face. Lucas Biglia – 7 – Playmaker - Frequently found avenues to unlock the Juventus defence, but needed more from his attackers. Survived a late injury scare much to the relief of the fans. Senad Lulic – 6 – Engine - Booked in the first half for bringing down Giorgio Chiellini unfairly, let down at times by his passing but put in a shift. Antonio Candreva – 5.5 – Frustrated - Buoyed by his recent form, looked to have Alex Sandro on the ropes for periods of the game. Couldn’t fashion anything from the little possession he had. Miroslav Klose – 5 – Isolated - Struggled to get any real service, cut a frustrated figured at times. Replaced by Matri in the dying minutes. Balde Keita – 6 – Enigmatic - Missed a golden opportunity early in the game when he had space in front of goal, but sent his shot over the bar when he could have passed to Klose. Substitutes Wesley Hoedt – 6 (63 mins) – Good - Replaced the stricken Mauricio, slotting into the defence and looked as comfortable as the man he’d replaced. Felipe Anderson – 6 (72 mins) – Ineffective - Brought on to find an equaliser for the hosts. Alessandro Matri – N/A (82 mins) Juventus Neto – 7 – Faultless - Made no mistakes in the first half, nor indeed in the second. Had one or two aerial duels with Klose but came away the better of the two. Martin Caceres – 6 – Fresh - The Uruguayan looked to make the most of his rare opportunity on the pitch, rarely looking troubled and appreciated the support of his fellow defenders. Leonardo Bonucci – 7 – Positive - Tough and assured in his duties at the back, combined well with Chiellini as ever. Always looked to play the ball out the back. Giorgio Chiellini – 6 – Clumsy - Yellow carded for bringing down Balde Keita when it looked like the winger had got past him. Had a great chance to give his side the lead but sent his header wide from a corner. Stephan Lichtsteiner – 8 – Hero - Had the first attempt for the Bianconeri, but his effort from range could only sting the gloves of Etrit Berisha. Gave his side a surprise lead when he pounced on the rebound from Zaza. Made way for Cuadrado shortly after. Stefano Sturaro – 6 – Average - All rough and tumble in the midfield, breaking up play and generally causing the Lazio players a problem. Missed a chance to put Juventus two ahead, miscuing his shot and sending it wide of the target. Claudio Marchisio – 7 – Puppeteer - Pulled the strings for the visiting side, moving the ball around efficiently and finding the right pass through to the attackers. Paul Pogba – 6 – Quiet - Rose highest to meet a free kick with his head, but couldn’t direct his effort on target. Handed another opportunity shortly after, but this time Ertit Berisha parried his curling short back into play. Not one of his best games in the black and white jersey. Alex Sandro – 7 – Workhorse - Seemed to struggle with the speed and trickery of Antonio Candreva in the early passages of play. Covered a lot of ground and always looked a danger on the ball with his crossing ability. Simone Zaza – 6 – Wayward - Got goal-side when the Lazio defenders switched off, but couldn’t get enough contact on the ball to trouble Etrit Berisha. Missed the chance of the game when he picked up the loose ball, but inexplicably sent his strike into the side netting with the goal gaping. Grateful to see Lichtsteiner put the visitors in front when his shot rebounded off the post. Yellow carded for taking too long to replace Dybala. Alvaro Morata – 5 – Passenger - Bundled over in the penalty area rather easily in the first half by Milan Bisevac, the referee uninterested in his penalty appeals. Had a better chance in the second half, but could only hit Etrit Berisha with his shot. Replaced by Mandzukic late on. Substitutes Mario Mandzukic – 6 (76 mins) – Rusty - Came on with fifteen minutes to go for Morata. Had his shot saved in added on time by Berisha. Juan Cuadrado (80 mins) – N/A Paulo Dybala (90 mins) – N/A

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Allegri: 'Juve don't rotate squad' http://www.football-italia.net/78682/allegri-juve-dont-rotate-squad? Jan 20, 2016 Max Allegri complimented Lazio for their Coppa Italia performance and insisted Juventus “did not rotate the squad.” Stephan Lichtsteiner scored the only goal in the quarter-final at the Stadio Olimpico and set up a semi-final encounter with Inter. “I have to compliment Lazio, as the first half was very balanced and they kept a high tempo,” the Coach told Rai Sport. “Juventus lifted the tempo after the break, played a solid game and allowed not a single genuine shot on target, then we had several chances to finish it off. “I compliment the lads, as this was in no way an easy match. I don’t like the term ‘squad rotation,’ as I have a very competitive team and it is always difficult to leave players out. “Simone Zaza did well, Alvaro Morata improved in the second half and Martin Caceres worked very hard, which is important because we need him. To go forward in three competitions we need the entire squad to be in good physical and psychological shape. “We must keep our feet on the ground and be aware we’ve achieved nothing yet.” The semi-final is the only stage of the tournament to be played over two legs, though the dates of these fixtures are still to be decided. “It will be a wonderful semi-final, you have to face the biggest clubs to reach the end, but right now we are focused on this weekend’s meeting with Roma.” Allegri was asked about the incident from last night’s Coppa Italia match, which saw Inter boss Roberto Mancini accuse Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri of using homophobic slurs in a touchline row. “I daren’t judge what others do, especially as I say you need to find yourself in certain situations. I will say we managers ought to set an example with our behaviour, as we are the leaders of this team and even under moments of pressure and tension we should try to maintain our calm. It’s not easy, but we should calm the situation and not stir up further tension.”

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Bonucci: 'Juve spit blood' http://www.football-italia.net/78681/bonucci-juve-spit-blood? Jan 20, 2016 Leonardo Bonucci said Juventus “must spit blood every time” after their 1-0 Coppa Italia win over Lazio, as they’ll face Inter in the semi-finals. Stephan Lichtsteiner scored the decisive goal at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome this evening. “We faced a good Lazio, but we put our character on to the pitch and played our game. It could’ve ended with a bigger scoreline, but the important thing was to win,” Bonucci told Rai Sport. “Juventus have to win always, we must spit blood every time we step on to the pitch. In order to push to the end in all three tournaments, we need everyone to contribute. “It’ll be a wonderful challenge to take on Inter in the semi-finals, but right now we have to focus on Serie A. Napoli are two points away and will cause us real problems, but we are there and want to fight to the end.”

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Player Ratings: Lazio 0-1 Juventus Goal took in the action at the Olimpico, where a rematch of the 2015 final ended in the same outcome, as the Bianconeri overcame the capital club by a one-goal margin. http://www.goal.com/en/match/lazio-vs-juventus/2176654/ratings Jan 20, 2016 Lazio 99 E. Berisha - Were it not for a collection of athletic saves from their goalkeeper, the scoreline would have been worse for Lazio. 29 A. Konko - Once or twice Juve freed runners down his side but he made up for it with some solid defending. 13 M. Biševac - Made a few important challenges and covered for his more lackadaisical teammates. 33 Mauricio - Was having a solid game until he overextended himself and succumbed to an injury. 26 Ş. Radu - Did a decent job defensively but offered little in the other half of the field. 21 S. Milinković-Savić - The youngster won his fair share of crucial headers and broke up sequences of Juventus possession. 20 L. Biglia - One or two telling passes but otherwise unable to stamp his influence on proceedings. 19 S. Lulić - Rather hit or miss in possession, failing to orchestrate many openings or prevent Juventus from doing the same. 87 A. Candreva - Hardly registered as an attacking threat, with his wing play curtailed by a lack of possession. 11 M. Klose - The striker was marked out of the game by Bonucci and the rest of the Juve backline. 14 B. Keita - Missed a great chance to open the scoring from close range but at least tried to make things happen. Substitutes 2 W. Hoedt - Uninspiring in defence in his short spell on the field. 10 Felipe Anderson - Didn't offer the attacking threat off the bench that his coach might have hoped for. 17 A. Matri - A late cameo. Juventus 25 Neto - Barely had a thing to do all game. 4 M. Cáceres - Barely let a single thing past him in what was a strong showing. 19 L. Bonucci - Did his job in a typically accomplished manner, snuffing out the threat of Klose. 3 G. Chiellini - A little late with a few of his challenges, one of which led to a yellow card. 26 Stephan Lichtsteiner - Came up with the winning goal by racing forward to lash in a rebound that just about crossed the line. 27 Stefano Sturaro - Cleaned up loose ends very effectively in the middle of the park and was efficient when distributing the ball. 8 C. Marchisio - A disciplined showing from the midfielder, who helped to protect the defence when needed but wasn't quite as effective in attack. 10 P. Pogba - Got on the end of a few chances but crashed a pair of headers over the bar and saw a long-range shot saved by Berisha. 12 Alex Sandro - Overlapped effectively once or twice and did not abandon his defensive responsibilities. 7 Simone Zaza - His play in attack was the most enterprising thing about Juventus's approach. It was his excellent shot that set the events of Lichtsteiner's goal in motion. 9 Álvaro Morata - His movement was effective but he went down rather bizarrely when put through on goal for one chance. Substitutes 17 M. Mandžukić - Saw one great chance thwarted by Berisha. 16 J. Cuadrado - Effective in keeping the ball penned high up the right flank in the closing stages. 21 Paulo Dybala - Creative and elusive as ever off the bench.

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Juventus beat Lazio with Lichtsteiner goal, advance to Coppa Italia semis http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-coppa-italia/match/439459/lazio-juventus/report Jan 20, 2016 Stephan Lichtsteiner set up a Coppa Italia semifinal clash with Inter Milan as defending champions Juventus edged out Lazio 1-0 in Rome. Defender Lichtsteiner came back to haunt his former club, striking the winner just past the hour as Juventus triumphed in a repeat of last year's final. Simone Zaza fired against the post before Lichtsteiner turned in the rebound, with the solitary goal proving enough for victory. Paul Pogba headed over early on, before Zaza failed to connect properly when well-positioned. Alvaro Morata fluffed a one-on-one for Juventus after the break, only for Zaza to hit the side-netting from the rebound with the goal at his mercy. Pogba wasted a second header as Juventus turned the screw, but just when the visitors were starting to sweat on the missed chances Lichtsteiner delivered. The former Lazio defender's strike then allowed Juventus to ease home, with Inter lying in wait in the last four.

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Juventus through to Coppa Italia semi-finals http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/lazio/coppa-italia/result/result-juventus-through-to-coppa-italia-semi-finals_264676.html Jan 20, 2016 Juventus are through to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia after Stephan Lichtsteiner found the only goal in a one-sided encounter with Lazio in Rome. The home side had the first meaningful chance of the contest on 13 minutes when Sergej Milinkovic-Savic played a through-ball to Balde Keita, who made a good run to get inside Juve keeper Neto, only to fluff his lines at the crucial moment and send the ball over the crossbar. Just minutes later Paul Pogba had the chance to break the deadlock for the hosts when he collected from Claudio Marchisio's free kick, but his header went over. There was controversy on 23 minutes when Miroslav Klose played through to Antonio Candreva as he approached the box down the right, although he was wrongly flagged down for offside. Pogba again came close when he collected from Simone Zaza and shot first time, but Etrit Berisha between the Lazio sticks was equal to his effort. The visitors were left to rue an opportunity lost early in the second half when Zaza played through on the left to Alvaro Morata, who showed good pace before sending an effort into the hands of Berisha. Zaza was well-placed for the follow-up but could only send it into the side-netting. Goal-line technology was required as the ball finally went into the net on 66 minutes amid a goalmouth scramble. Zaza's initial effort cannoned off the left post and fell to Lichtsteiner, who sent his follow-up an inch over the line before being palmed out. Juve were in the ascendancy and had multiple chances to put the game to bed in the dying moments, with Zaza and Dybala combining to good effect, but could not find their way past an alert Berisha. Massimiliano Allegri's men will now go on to face Inter Milan in the semi-finals next week.

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Lazio 0-1 Juventus: Lichtsteiner Sends Bianconeri Through To Coppa Italia Semi-Finals http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/lazio-0-1-juventus-lichtsteiner-sends-bianconeri-through-to-coppa-italia-semi-finals/? Jan 20, 2016 Juventus defeated Lazio 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday evening in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, setting up a final four clash with Inter. Stephan Lichtsteiner scored the game’s only goal with the aid of goal-line technology. The first attempt came after just four minutes when Lichtsteiner found space for a shot, curling into the arms of a grateful Etrit Berisha. Just prior to the quarter-hour mark the home side finally conjured up a good chance. Keita Balde Diao was played in via a lobbed through-ball but elected to hammer a shot into the side netting instead of squaring to an open Antonio Candreva at the far post. In the 25th minute Juventus finally found themselves back behind the Lazio defence only for Simone Zaza to fail to force Berisha into action. The final moment of note came when Alvaro Morata burst into the box and appeared to have been pulled down but the referee rightly waved away the protests from the Spaniard. It looked as though Zaza would bag the game’s opening goal, Morata forcing Berisha into a low save leaving the striker with the goal at his mercy, however he took the striker while off balance, resulting in a poor miss. Zaza would play his part in the opener though after the hour, striking a shot against the post that fell to the former Lazio man in the shape of Lichtsteiner. The Swiss full-back managed to steer attempt on goal that Berisha clawed away but the goal was correctly awarded. The Bianconeri should have doubled their lead moments later via Stefano Sturaro yet he rushed his chance and dragged the shot wide. Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic both had late chances to add a second, but Berisha stood strong to concede just one despite his side’s exit from the Italian cup.

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Coppa: Lichtsteiner conquers Lazio Stephan Lichtsteiner got the winner against his former club, as Juventus conquered Lazio and will face Inter in the Coppa Italia semi-final. http://www.football-italia.net/78679/coppa-lichtsteiner-conquers-lazio? Jan 20, 2016 This was a replay of last year’s Final and the Italian Super Cup, both won by Juve. The Aquile were missing Federico Marchetti, Ricardo Kishna, Santiago Gentiletti, Stefan de Vrij, Dusan Basta and Ravel Morrison, but gave Milan Bisevac his debut in defence. The Bianconeri had Andrea Barzagli, Sami Khedira, Roberto Pereyra, Patrice Evra and Mario Lemina unavailable, but kept squad rotation to a minimum. Keita Balde Diao had the first real chance after 12 minutes, bursting down the left only to fire just over from a tight angle. Paul Pogba nodded over and Simone Zaza aimed a weak effort, but Etrit Berisha flew to beat away a Pogba strike. Alvaro Morata went down far too easily under a Bisevac challenge and the referee waved away timid penalty appeals. Juve missed a sitter after the restart, as first Berisha parried from Morata one-on-one using his legs, then on the rebound Zaza hit the side-netting of an open goal. Pogba also nodded over the bar after Berisha mistimed his run on a free kick. Mauricio was stretchered off with a back injury. Juventus found the breakthrough with an ex-Lazio player, as Zaza’s attempt thumped the upright and Stephan Lichtsteiner turned in the rebound. At first Berisha thought he had been able to save it, but the ball had already just about crossed the line. Stefano Sturaro pulled wide on the counter and Zaza went round Berisha, but narrowed the angle too much and turned off target. The game ended on an even more sour note for the hosts, as Lucas Biglia was stretchered off in the final minute with an ankle injury and left them down to 10 men. Juve tried to add to their tally, as Paulo Dybala tested Berisha with his first touch and Mario Mandzukic also forced a save when clear on goal. Lazio went down to nine in stoppages, as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic accidentally blocked a clearance from point-blank range with his nose, and Dybala drilled inches wide. Lazio 0-1 Juventus Scorers: Lichtsteiner 66 (J) Lazio: Berisha; Konko (Felipe Anderson 73), Biśevac, Mauricio (Hoedt 62), Radu; Milinkovic-Savic, Biglia, Lulic; Candreva, Klose (Matri 82), Keita Juventus: Neto; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner (Cuadrado 79), Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Alex Sandro; Zaza (Dybala 90), Morata (Mandzukic 75) Ref: Damato

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 0 - 1 Stephan Lichtsteiner (66') Coppa Italia TIM - Quarter-final Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Antonio Damato Lazio 0-1 Juventus: Lichtsteiner keeps Coppa defence on track Max Allegri's side will return to the semi-finals of the competition they won last season after recording their seventh win in a row thanks to the full-back's goal. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/lazio-vs-juventus/2176654/report Jan 20, 2016 Stephan Lichtsteiner's second-half goal put Juventus through to the Coppa Italia semi-finals at the expense of Lazio. Lichtsteiner's strike against his former club sealed an 11th-straight win in domestic competitions for the holders, who overcame Lazio in last season's Coppa final to seal a domestic double. Balde Keita missed a terrific early chance for Lazio, shooting over the crossbar from close range, and Simone Zaza should have put Juventus in front shortly after the break but found the side netting after Alvaro Morata had forced a save from Etrit Berisha. Juventus took the lead on 65 minutes when Zaza's shot came back off the post and Lichtsteiner pounced despite Berisha's best efforts to prevent the ball from crossing the line. Inter await Juve in a blockbuster semi-final after they defeated Napoli on Tuesday. Massimiliano Allegri rested Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Gianluigi Buffon, while Stefano Pioli handed a debut in defence to new signing Milan Bisevac. Juve wing-back Lichtsteiner had the game's first effort on six minutes, but his long range strike was straight at Berisha. The hosts should have been ahead after 12 minutes. Senad Lulic's pass freed Keita down the left but after advancing on goal he shot over from just eight yards. Paul Pogba then crashed a header over the bar before Berisha denied Zaza at his near post. Juve, flawless since their Champions League defeat to Sevilla, were pressing hard for the breakthrough and Berisha dived low to his left to keep out a fierce drive from Pogba on the half-hour mark. Allegri's men then wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring on 51 minutes. Zaza and Morata combined beautifully and when Berisha saved from the Spaniard, Zaza should have converted the rebound but somehow hit the side netting from four yards. But Juve eventually did take the lead on 65 minutes. Zaza's curling effort beat Berisha but rebounded off the post to Lichtsteiner, whose low shot crept over the line despite the goalkeeper's last-ditch attempt to deny him. Juve should have sealed their last-four place when Stefano Sturaro raced clear, but the midfielder dragged his shot wide. Lazio struggled to create clear openings against a resilient Juve defence and the Serie A champions closed out a comfortable victory.

Zaza si deve dare una calmata. A volte esagera.

Dybala fuori di pochissimo

Marotta in versione ebraica.

Ammonito la Joya

I laziali sono isterici