Socrates

3 Christmas Wishes for Juventus Fans http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2601244-3-christmas-wishes-for-juventus-fans? Dec 23, 2015 The Serie A winter break provides an ideal time to reflect on the progress of each club thus far, and for Juventus, there is much to look back on. The reigning champions struggled as 2015/16 began, but they have rallied in the last two months to launch a genuine defence of their title. Having won their last seven matches, the improvements have been in no small part due to the patience and decisions of Massimiliano Allegri. The impact of the coach was discussed previously here, but the man himself is under little doubt his side can improve, particularly after their difficult win over Carpi. Conceding a goal in injury time that almost saw them throw the victory away, Allegri used his post-match interview to stress the importance of maintaining concentration when the season resumes in early January. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 7 - Massimiliano Allegri has won seven consecutive league games for the first time in the Serie A. Confidence. “What happened in the closing stages of the match will serve as a lesson for 2016, when we’ll need to maintain our focus better in the final minutes,” he said, per the club’s official website. “Now we've a well-deserved break, after which we need to keep working hard until 16 May.” What follows is a look at what might help Italian football’s grand Old Lady achieve success in 2016, with three Christmas wishes for Juventus as they look to return to action in the best possible fashion. Early-Season Defeats To Be Avenged The Bianconeri dropped points to Udinese, Chievo, AS Roma, Frosinone, Napoli and Inter in their disappointing start to the season. Juventus will enter the new year knowing they will face each of those sides before the end of February and will hope to notch six victories. Avenging those performances would see the champions make giant strides towards retaining their title, something every fan of the club would love to see. Pep Guardiola’s Future to Distract Bayern Munich While Allegri has ensured his place on the Juventus bench, their next Champions League opponents have already announced a coaching change. Set to face Bayern Munich in the last 16 of European football’s elite competition, the Italian side will do so knowing current boss Pep Guardiola has announced he will leave in the summer. The German club also revealed last week that the former Barcelona coach will be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti next season, per BBC Sport. With their two-legged tie set to begin on February 23, Juventus will hope to take advantage of any distraction or disruption caused by the news of Guardiola’s exit. The Real Alvaro Morata to stand up While events at Bayern Munich may help the Bianconeri, they will also need their own players to be at their best if they are to capitalise on it. As discussed here, Mario Mandzukic has found form of late, and he will be keen to impress when lining up against his former club at the Allianz Arena. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@AlvaroMorata matches Alessandro Del Piero's impressive feat of finding the net in five consecutive matches. However, Allegri will also hope to see Alvaro Morata back among the goals before then, with the Spanish striker struggling so far this term. The former Real Madrid man was crucial to Juve's Champions League run last term, but he has found the net just three times in 2015/16 and supporters will wish to see him shine once again soon. Having struck in both legs of the semi-final and the final itself a year ago, Morata has the pedigree to fire the Old Lady to glory, and seeing him do so once again might be the greatest Christmas gift of all. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Juventus can beat Bayern in Champions League - Capello The former Bianconeri coach feels the in-form Serie A champions have every chance of knocking the Bundesliga side out of the second round of the competition. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/champions-league/2015/12/23/18637912/-? Dec 23, 2015 Juventus have the quality to cause problems for Bayern Munich in the Champions League and are capable of beating them, former boss Fabio Capello has said. The Serie A champions were drawn to face Pep Guardiola's side in the last 16 and Capello does not believe they should feel inferior going into the tie next year. The Champions League winning coach has been impressed by Juve's recovery after a slow start to the season and thinks last season's semi-final victory over Real Madrid proves Massimiliano Allegri's side can compete against the very best. "In the Champions League, Juve have a chance to do well against a really tough team," the 69-year-old told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "If they are playing well, without any injuries, then they can do it. Juve can cause Bayern Munich problems just like they did with Real Madrid last season." Juve are on a stunning run of form domestically, having won seven consecutive matches to move up to fourth in the table, and Capello believes Allegri's men are set for an epic title battle against league leaders Inter as they look to make it five titles in a row. "The battle between Juventus and Inter is a great fight," he said. "The Nerazzurri's results have allowed Roberto Mancini to work in a relaxed environment, but he has done well. He brought order to the team and has everyone working on the same side. That is a strong signal. "Allegri has done well to get things back on track, though the other teams have allowed Juve to get back in the hunt. "The loss of three key players hurt them but Allegri has integrated the new players. He was helped by the experienced players, but he has done well regardless." Allegri has been criticised for not making close-season signing Paulo Dybala, who has started 12 of his team's 17 games, an automatic selection, with critics saying that Juve's poor opening to the campaign would have been avoided if he had done so. But Capello feels the former AC Milan head coach was acting in his team's best interests and that new signings often need time to adapt. He continued: "At the beginning Dybala needed time to settle, but the coach sees his players every day. "He puts out the best team he can to win. I don't know coaches that think otherwise."

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie-a/2015/12/20-6926852/serie_a_carpi-juventus_il_film_della_partita/#1 http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie-a/juventus/2015/12/20-6932131/juventus_allefri_ma_che_rabbia_/#1 http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/U6aqlrKvFvJ/Carpi+FC+v+Juventus+FC+Serie+A/hDItUCyKMzN http://gazzettaworld.giornalaccio rosa.it/gallery/pictures-carpi-juventus/?

Dybala can be a Ballon d'Or contender - Veron The former Man United and Chelsea midfielder says Paulo Dybala can take over the Ballon d'Or mantle from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. http://www.goal.com/en/news/1785/ballon-dor/2015/12/22/18606532/dybala-can-win-ballon-dor?ICID=TP_HN_1 Dec 22, 2015 Paulo Dybala can challenge for the Ballon d'Or in a similar manner to Barcelona star Lionel Messi, according to former Argentina international Juan Sebastian Veron. Dybala endured a tricky opening to his debut season in Turin as Juventus' Serie A title defence got off to a stuttering start - the 22-year-old forward initially struggling for starts under Massimiliano Allegri. However, the former Palermo striker has since become a regular feature for the champions, who have surged to fourth after seven consecutive league wins. Dybala has scored three times in his last five outings - boasting 10 goals in all competitions - leaving Veron to suggest the forward could consistently challenge for the Ballon d'Or like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. When asked if Dybala and Barcelona forward Neymar, a nominee for the 2015 award, were set to become long-term rivals like Messi and Ronaldo, former Inter and Sampdoria midfielder Veron told TuttoSport: "The talent is there, then it depends on continuity, the victories, the trophies. "Messi is Messi, but it would be nice if, after Leo, there was another Argentinean to dominate. He should be left alone, but I have great hope for Dybala. "He should not be loaded with too many expectations or pressures but not everyone can go to Juventus so young at Juventus and immediately bring goals."

The Serie A season in numbers The winter break is time for Vincent Van Genechten to dive into the statistics, looking for the best, worst and most striking numbers of the season so far. http://www.football-italia.net/77486/serie-season-numbers? Dec 22, 2015 TEAMS Let’s start with some interesting attendance numbers. Inter have played in front of the most fans, having sold almost 370,000 tickets. On average, 41,030 attended the Nerazzurri’s home matches this season. Napoli are second with 38,451, ahead of Milan (34,428), Juventus (32,830) and Roma (31,674). Frosinone are bottom with an average attendance of 5,779. But Juve lead Serie A with an average attendance ratio of 80 per cent. The Old Lady has sold out two matches, the same amount as Inter, who have an average attendance ratio of 51 per cent. Udinese are second here with 73 per cent, than come Napoli (64 per cent), Atalanta (61 per cent) and Sassuolo/Genoa (58 per cent). Roma are at 43 per cent, Milan at 42 per cent and Lazio are dead last with just 26 per cent average filled seats at the Stadio Olimpico. Three teams have scored more than 30 goals so far: Fiorentina (33), Napoli (32) and Roma (31). Only Juve are close with 28 goals. Verona are bottom with just 12. There’s a big difference between the first three. The Viola (11) and Giallorossi (13) have scored a combined 23 goals from set pieces, while Napoli total just three. Fiorentina have scored seven penalties, with no one else topping three so far. Fiorentina and Napoli own the best goal difference with +18. Carpi have one of -18. Inter have topped Serie A for a league-leading seven weeks. Fiorentina are second with five, ahead of Roma with two. Napoli, Chievo and Sampdoria were on top once. The Nerazzurri have kept a clean sheet 11 times, Fiorentina 10 times and Napoli nine times. Verona sit at just one clean sheet and haven’t won a single match all season. Juventus have gained the most points (13) coming from behind. Torino have gained 10 points, while no other team tops seven. Four teams have gained just one point here: Palermo, Napoli, Inter and Fiorentina. Meanwhile, Inter are one of eight teams that haven’t lost a match when going ahead. The others are Juve, Roma, Milan, Sassuolo, Atalanta, Torino, Sampdoria and Palermo. When it comes to aggression, Atalanta lead the league with 10 red cards. Only Genoa come close with eight dismissals, Inter sit at six. Palermo have received the most yellow cards (48). It’s intriguing to see midfielders have been booked more often than defenders: 346 vs. 332 total bookings, with 28 vs. 24 red cards. PLAYERS Only 10 players haven’t missed a single minute this season and seven of them are goalkeepers. The other three are Raul Albiol, Mario Rui and Diego Laxalt. Rui has been booked four times this season, which is half the yellow cards league leader Manuel Iturra has received so far. Four players have seen seven yellows, while only two players have seen a red card more than once - Felipe Melo and Gabriel Paletta. Gonzalo Higuain is leading all players in the race for Capocannoniere. The Argentinian has scored 16 goals so far, having a six-goal lead over Nikola Kalinic and Eder. Higuain has scored 52 per cent of all Napoli goals. Eder is the only other player above 35 per cent. Kalinic has proven to be the best transfer, also with four assists. Paulo Dybala comes in second with eight goals and four assists. Other impressive figures are Riccardo Saponara (five goals, six assists), Luis Muriel (four goals, four assists) and Carlos Bacca (eight goals, one assist). Saponara is one of three players with six assists, joined by Giacomo Bonaventura and Riccardo Meggiorini. Miralem Pjanic, Lorenzo Insigne and Marek Hamsik have registered five assists so far, with five players at four. Franco Vazquez is one of them. The Palermo striker has also won a league leading 201 duels, with Simone Missiroli coming in second at…139, ahead of Paul Pogba with 121. Vazquez has also been fouled most, drawing 4.7 fouls per game. Only Perparim Hetemaj is close with 4.5 fouls per game. Claudio Marchisio leads Serie A with an average passing success of 91.5 per cent (players with at least 10 appearances). Considering the Juventus midfielder plays a league leading 9.3 long balls per match, that’s pretty striking. Other players with an average passing success above 90 per cent are Kamil Glik, Jorginho and Facundo Roncaglia. Meanwhile, Meggiorini has one of only 62.1 per cent, Mattia Destro and Edin Dzeko one of 64 per cent. To conclude, let’s look at some tables. There have been 415 goals scored so far in Serie A. Italians have scored most: 176. Followed by Argentinians (54), Croatians (24), French (21) and Colombians (20). If only Italians goals counted, Sassuolo and Empoli would lead the league with 34 points, with Torino coming in at 32 points, followed by Chievo, Sampdoria and Bologna. Juventus would drop to 17th, Inter to 18th and Fiorentina to last place. Juventus end the year 2015 with the most points (81) and the best goal difference (+35). Fiorentina gained 75 points, Napoli 71, Inter 70 and Roma 66. Excluding the relegated and promoted teams, Verona rank last with 37 points this year. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Massimiliano Allegri emerges as Chelsea target http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/chelsea/news/allegri-emerges-as-chelsea-target_262684.html Dec 22, 2015 Chelsea have reportedly earmarked Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri as a contender to become the club's new manager at the end of the season. The Blues have been heavily linked with the likes of Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone as the permanent successor to Jose Mourinho, who parted company with the club last week following nine defeats in his opening 16 Premier League games of the campaign. Guardiola has already confirmed that he will be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the 2015-16 season, although a number of clubs, including Manchester City, are understood to be interested in the Spaniard. Simeone, meanwhile, has insisted that he is happy at Atletico Madrid, forcing Roman Abramovich to consider other targets should his two preferred choices turn him down. According to the Evening Standard, Allegri is next in line having impressed the Stamford Bridge hierarchy by guiding Juventus to the domestic double and the Champions League final last season. Allegri has also previously won the Serie A title with AC Milan, and has twice been named the Italian top flight's manager of the year. Italy boss Antonio Conte, who Allegri replaced at Juve, has also been linked with the job once Guus Hiddink's interim reign ends this summer.

Juventus Climb Table Thanks to Decisions and Patience of Massimiliano Allegri http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2601056-juventus-climb-table-thanks-to-decisions-and-patience-of-massimiliano-allegri? Dec 22, 2015 Having registered seven consecutive league wins, Juventus enter Serie A’s traditional winter break in a strong position, as that run has seen them climb up to fourth in the table. Making up 10 places in little over two months, the Bianconeri can reflect on a dramatic improvement over that same period. Indeed, the first half of 2015/16 has seen the Turin-based club endure some difficult times, with Massimiliano Allegri’s coaching position seemingly under threat after overseeing just three victories in their opening 10 matches. He never seemed overly concerned however, radiating confidence during an interview with the Independent, during which he admitted that Juve’s summer overhaul was vital if the Old Lady was to remain successful. “In order to take the team forward we knew it was time to change,” Allegri said as he reflected on a transfer window that saw no fewer than nine new players added to the squad while the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez moved on. The Bianconeri understandably needed time to regroup, but the coach was criticised for his handling of a number of those summer acquisitions, with perhaps his management of Paulo Dybala at the forefront of that. “The Dybala case is causing Allegri problems,” proclaimed the front page of Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) back in October, while the president of the striker’s former club Palermo was even more outspoken on the matter. “Allegri is on track to ruin Dybala," Maurizio Zamparini in an interview with Radio Sportiva (h/t FourFourTwo), only for the Argentinian to eventually become the side’s most influential player in the weeks since. Having now weighed in with 10 goals and three assists in all competitions, there is little room left for criticism, and Stephan El Shaarawy—who broke into the Milan side during Allegri’s time there—believes the coach handled it perfectly. “Allegri did a good job with me and I think he's doing it with Dybala,” he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (h/t Football Italia). “With young people it takes patience, then if they are good they have another 16 years to play.” The same can also be said of Alex Sandro, with the Brazilian initially sitting on the bench as Patrice Evra continued to hold down his slot at left-back. Slowly, however, he too would force his way into the starting XI and deliver crucial assists in crucial fixtures against Torino, Milan and Manchester City. Daniele Rugani has also featured prominently in the last two games, starting in Juve’s Coppa Italia last-16 outing before coming on as a substitute in the win over Carpi. With Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli both the wrong side of 30, the youngster is perfectly positioned to step up and replace them. Allegri called Rugani “the future of Juventus” at a press conference, and just as with his aforementioned team-mates, it seems the coach has timed his introduction perfectly, with the player himself fully aware of the situation. “I’ve only just started at Juventus and I knew that it wouldn’t be easy,” Rugani said in an interview with La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, and it has clearly been equally difficult for his new boss over the past few months. For his part, Allegri is clear as to the reasons for their resurgence, telling a recent press conference that his team is “playing with more confidence now and we're approaching and managing games better too.” “There's no secret, just hard work and maintaining a sense of perspective,“ he continued, Massimiliano Allegri perhaps highlighting the qualities he brings to the team that have helped steer him through that difficult period.

Vincenzo Iaquinta Reportedly Ordered to Stand Trial over Alleged Mafia Links http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2601532-vincenzo-iaquinta-reportedly-ordered-to-stand-trial-over-alleged-mafia-links? Dec 22, 2015 Former Juventus and Italy forward Vincenzo Iaquinta is set to stand trial over alleged links to the Calabrian mafia. According to Reuters (h/t the MailOnline), Iaquinta will be one of more than 140 figures to be tried in relation to the ‘Ndrangheta, said to be the most powerful organised crime network in Italy. The charges against those to stand trial range from helping the organisation to being an active member of it. The indictments against Iaquinta, who was part of the Italy team that won the 2006 World Cup in Germany, include illegal possession of firearms and intention to assist the ‘Ndrangheta. As reported by Football Italia, the 36-year-old’s legal representative, Carlo Taormina, confirmed Iaquinta’s father will also be tried, but over more serious charges of association with the organisation. It’s also noted in the aforementioned piece that judge Francesca Zavaglia has stated the trial will begin on March 23, 2016. Iaquinta, who retired in 2013, last featured in Serie A for Cesena in 2012 but enjoyed the best days of his career at Udinese and Juventus. At his peak, the rangy striker was a handful for defenders, excelling with his back to goal, in the air and when it came to bringing other players into the game. The highlight of his playing days came in 2006, when he was part of the Azzurri’s glorious World Cup campaign. Iaquinta played in five of Italy’s seven matches in the tournament, including the final, in which he came off the bench after 61 minutes to replace Simone Perrotta; the Azzurri and France drew 1-1 after extra time, with the former winning 5-3 on penalties.

Veron: ‘Dybala has class’ http://www.football-italia.net/77459/veron-%E2%80%98dybala-has-class%E2%80%99? Dec 22, 2015 Juan Sebastian Veron praises the “class” of Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, but warns against “too much expectation and pressure”. The 22-year-old joined the Bianconeri in a €40m deal from Palermo this summer, with Rosanero patron Maurizio Zamparini comparing him with Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi. “Dybala shouldn’t have too much expectation and pressure put on him,” former Inter and Lazio midfielder Veron told Tuttosport. “Not everyone can get to Juventus so young and immediately be a leader and score so many goals though. If Leo [Messi] has said Dybala is the future, I’m from Argentina so I hope he can be. “The talent is there, it depends on winning, consistency and trophies. Messi is Messi, but it would be nice if another Argentine could dominate after him. “He should be left alone, but I have hope for Dybala. “Is he like Tevez? Carlitos is more powerful, but Paulo has more class. “Tevez at Boca? We met recently, and we talked a lot. Juve will always be in his heart, but I could see that he’s so happy to be back at Boca. “He took the club back to winning, and he now has a role that goes beyond that of a mere player, he’s a role-model and will advise the younger players.” Finally, the former Manchester United man was asked about his favourite current Serie A midfielders, and named Juventus’ Paul Pogba. “He’s a rare midfielder, the kind who can do everything,” Veron explained. “He’s physical, he provides hard work and quality. He scores and wins the ball back. If he continues to work with intelligence, he’ll really become the best. “He’s my favourite in Serie A. The midfield is the heart of the team, and he’s the strongest in that role, but also one of the best in general. “His free-kick against Torino? He had a super teacher like Pirlo. It was the same for me, on free-kicks I trained with the best: Maradona, Mihajlovic, Messi…”

Sarri: ‘Juventus Scudetto favourites’ http://www.football-italia.net/77457/sarri-%E2%80%98juventus-scudetto-favourites%E2%80%99? Dec 22, 2015 Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri sees Juventus as Scudetto favourites, but praises his own side. The Bianconeri have won seven Serie A games in a row, putting themselves back into the title picture after a difficult start. “I never thought they were out of it,” Sarri told Corriere dello Sport. “If there was one thing I was certain about, it was that. They’ve revamped their play, they’re here again and they’re the favourites for the Scudetto. “They’re used to experiencing this, and they know how to face certain challenges. “Inter’s defeat? It’s proof that this is a very balanced League.” Sarri did also take the time to praise his own side, who are two points clear of the Old Lady, and one point behind leaders Inter. “The numbers tell you that we’ve gone through these four months in an exciting way. “We’re just behind the leaders, we’ve scored a lot, for some time now we’ve given almost nothing away and we’ve made six real statements in the Europa League. “The stats are on our side. We’ve always played good football, even in Bergamo [the 3-1 win over Atalanta], when it wasn’t easy, we were able to do the maximum against an opponent who made us work hard. “The Scudetto? We read about that six or seven games ago, when for example Juventus hadn’t yet put together all those wins. “I’m solid, realistic and remain certain of my own thinking. I never feel unbalanced, because we’re not in a position to feel that way. “There’s still an entire half of the season to go, plus the two games which will be played when we return to the pitch.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli THE BOSS HAS WEATHERED THE STORM SUPERBLY… http://www.juvefc.com/7999-2/? Dec 21, 2015 I had planned on conjuring my analysis of the chaotic Carpi match from many pages of notes I made during the game. Yet all I find is the rabid rantings of a lunatic. Passages of writing which have no place on your screen which must be cast aside as some form of accident. I was drinking. Of Course. Still, the action remains fresh enough in my synapses to offer an outline for those who missed the game and points of discussion for those who witnessed the haphazard performance. The match settled instantly into the hosts bedded into their own half, offering very little going forward, soaking up wave after wave of Juve possession. As is always the case when Cuadrado plays, we looked more 4-4-1-1 than 3-5-2 for he offers nothing defensively, and rarely tracks back to produce anything substantial in our back line. Carpi appeared awful. Bereft of creativity, technique and belief. Still…they were playing catenaccio, waiting to pounce. Despite the early ascendency, it was the home side who took the lead. Cuadrado played a brilliant pass to the opponents when we had committed men forward in great numbers, which left us wide open for a swift counter-attack. In an split second, Carpi showed they could play. Bonucci was left with what seemed a simple blocking job against Borriello, who turned him and scored with a solid strike past Buffon. The goal caused Juve to instantly move up the gears and within 3 minutes we were level. A rare piece of forward pressure from the largely absent Khedira releasing Cuadrado, whose ball in found the German, then Dybala and finally Mandzukic who turned brilliantly in the box before despatching the equaliser. As we approached the half time whistle, Chellini found Evra on the left wing, who waited for support to appear centrally then chipped in a beautiful cross which Mandzukic attacked and powered an unstoppable header into the net for a deserved 1-2 lead. Five minutes into the second half Marchisio spotted the run of Pogba and found the Frenchman in the box with a marvellous long ball from inside his own half which was slotted past the onrushing keeper for 1-3. And it looked like we had found our fourth on 62’ when Rugani stuck out a boot to poke a Cuadrado cross past over the line, yet it was rightly ruled out for offside. Substitutions were made, the game was under our complete control with Carpi rarely trespassing into our rear-guard. And then…on 92’ Bonucci, under no real pressure, redirected a cross past Buffon for 2-3. Which led to a worrying final few minutes and Allegri rightly going berserk on the touchline. Reasons to be bothered Big Sami Khedira was virtually invisible throughout, other than his efforts for the equaliser. He is nowhere near match fitness, laboured with his running, barely showing in the final third, made few tackles and was carried by the team. This is not good enough for a central midfielder. He has to impose himself on the game, and if not fit, then don’t play. I was screaming for Sturaro to replace him, or Asamoah, anyone with some bite and tenacity, who loves to get involved. There is so much more to come from Big Sami, but this was his worst performance thus far in our colours. Cuadrado is a right winger who can cross but do little else. He showed little flair, his dribbling was lame and as is always the case, he offered nothing defensively. Whilst he appeared a bright light in the dark days of earlier this season, I suspect that was more a case of others failing than wonderful play from the Colombian. He is a decent option as a right winger, yet has not at all done anywhere near enough to justify the reported 20m+ required to make his presence at the club permanent. It has been a poor season for Leo Bonucci. His mind does not seem as focused, the passion in his belly less fearsome. As I have noted in recent times, the responsibility to bring the ball out of defence has moved to Chiellini, who is doing a fine job of that duty. Whereas Bonucci was an decent libero in recent seasons, so far this term, he has lost that ball playing focus, in fact his focus in general seems wayward. No surprise to see him score the own goal, which was poor and could of cost us more dearly than it proved. As was our problem until the tide turned in November, we gave away cheap goals due solely to individual errors. These need to be addressed for we will be punished by stronger sides who will also offer more resistance to our attacking verve. As to how? The obvious suggestion is to drop from the side any players guilty of such errors. Give another player a chance to prosper and offer a rest, an opportunity to refocus for the error prone. This isn’t punishment, its simply a meritocracy. Those who perform well play more, those who don’t…play less. Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to rotate the CBs in this manner, for other than Rugani we have no seniors capable of stepping into the breach. I am assuming Caceres is to be moved on in January, and hope that in his place we bring in a CB. Or we could promote Romagna from the primavera… Reasons to be cheerful Mandzukic is improving game by game, showing now consistently why he was purchased. Not only his physicality and hard running but his touch and positioning in this game were both excellent. The Croatian is much more than merely a battering ram, although his brute strength is a major asset for the side. Pulling several defenders out of position whenever he strode forward and indomitable in the air. At this rate its going to be very tricky indeed for Morata to replace him in the starting line-up. Pogba is slowly but surely returning to the heights he reached last year. His responsibilities are once again less cumbersome, which is in no small part due to the upsurge in form of Marchisio. His forward movement, link up play and goal all dripped with class. As for Il Principino…he was imperious, from start to finish, the fulcrum of the team. Close to the fabulous consistency of top drawer performances which made him by far, my player of the season for the last campaign. We missed him more than we could miss any other player during his injury bothers and its no surprise to see our fortunes dramatically improve soon after his return to the side. Worth mentioning Rugani, who appeared in place of Barzagli, suffered a few nervy moments, but otherwise seemed solid. His second game in a week is surely great for his development and eagerness to find sharpness. I must add that Barzagli – especially when Cuadrado plays – is an odd CB/RB hybrid, covering both positions, which made Rugani’s job more tricky in this match. I’d like to see the youngster in the middle with Chellini and Barzagli either side. Where I feel he will be at his most comfortable. This was our 7th league victory on the trot. A magnificent feat at any level for which Allegri and the players deserve praise. We are playing now like a side who expects to win, pounding opponents, applying constant pressure and finishing our chances. Many players are hitting full stride with more to catch up in the New Year. Whilst Dybala was tired and ineffective in this game, we must expect this at times given his age and his efforts during this most encouraging of runs have been phenomenal. We look a team to be feared, respected and ear-marked for glory. Only the home game against Roma of our next 7 suggests any semblance of a worthy rival, which leads up perfectly to the Valentines Day massacre against Napoli… Given the horrid start we had to the season, I believe that Allegri should be celebrated and applauded. Many others could have capitulated under the pressure. Yet the boss weathered the storm superbly, showed no signs of anything but belief that we would climb the table, encouraged and calmed the players and the results have come alongside improving performances. He is a very under-rated coach, even by our own fans, some of whom were calling for his head as recently as October! When you look around Europe at the top clubs, the top managers, Allegri is never mentioned. Yet he should be. We are fortunate to have him. And I have full faith in him to continue to drive this blossoming new Juve side onto bigger and better things. The New year will bring more than a chance to recover energies and find nourishment in the festive cheer. It will also deliver a gift wrapped Pereyra, who could still prove a huge player for us this season. His ability in the final third to connect the midfield and attack is a mouth watering prospect to find at our disposal in January. Before closing the 2015 book, I must add that our primavera, still marshalled by Fabio Grosso, confirmed themselves as Winter champions in the league yesterday, with a dominant 2-0 victory over Genoa. Its onwards and upwards, on all counts… Buon Natale and forza juve. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Yes, Obi-Wan, Alex Sandro IS the left back you've been looking for at Juventus Paulo Dybala may be stealing all the headlines this season as Juventus' marquee signing, but Alex Sandro has proven himself to be an absolute coup for the Bianconeri. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/12/21/10623616/yes-obi-wan-alex-sandro-is-the-left-back-youve-been-looking-for-at-juventus Dec 21, 2015 O Fenômeno @ayyy_west I'd love to see Porto's Alex Sandro come to Juve. Would be the PERFECT solution to our LWB problem O Fenômeno @ayyy_west I've only seen him play a few times for Porto, but I think Alex Sandro can be a world-class left back too. Yes it's true. I'm clairvoyant. Please, save your applause till the end, there will be plenty of time for autographs and pictures. As you can read for yourself, I've long been a fan of Alex Sandro. Having watched him dominate the left flank for years at FC Porto, I was absolutely overjoyed when he put pen to paper with Juventus. €26 million fee? Peanuts. You pay for quality, and quality is exactly what Sandro is. Don't get me wrong, I've been mightily impressed by Uncle Pat Evra, despite my initial qualms with his personality and general dislike of him as a person. While I always rated him as a player, he always struck me as, frankly, a little shit. Since his arrival at Juve last season, however, he won me over with his tough tackling, consistency, on-field leadership, off-field shepherding of the younger players and glowing words about Serie A and Juventus. However, as wonderful of a defender as Evra is, he comes up a bit short on other side of the ball. Never particularly renowned for his attacking prowess, Alex Sandro's (slow) introduction to the team has been an absolute revelation for Juventus. Blessed with pace, strength, dribbling skill and (THANK GOD FINALLY) wonderful crossing ability, it's only a matter of time before he supplants Evra as the first choice left back/wingback. Since the days of Cristian Molinaro, Paulo De Ceglie and frequent tears from Juventus supporters, we've been crying out for an all-action left-sided defender/wingback who can get up and down the flank, defend competently, and put in a quality cross. Another Stephan Lichtsteiner, if you will. Just as Lichtsteiner's introduction to the team was an incredibly important piece of the puzzle for Antonio Conte's Juve, Alex Sandro is slowly proving himself to be the same for Massimiliano Allegri's side. This season Allegri has taken his time introducing Sandro to the team, as he has done with nearly all of our young(er) signings while they adjust to Serie A, Juventus' tactics and the team in general. Here we are in December, and Alex Sandro looks as if he's been in a Juventus shirt his entire life. Watching he and Paul Pogba link down the left has been nothing short of breathtaking as they've already built a wonderful understanding that will surely only grow as the season progresses. With some strong performances already under his belt, Sandro seems to grow every single game. He defends like a mother grizzly bear, attacks like a drunk Viking, and finally, finally, finally Juve have a left back who can cross a decent ball. You know what that smells like? It smells like Juventus' left side is secure for at least the next 3-4 years.

Camoranesi in at Tigre http://www.football-italia.net/77431/camoranesi-tigre? Dec 21, 2015 Former Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi is the new Coach of Argentinian side Tigre. Born in Argentina, the right-winger represented Italy at international level, winning the World Cup in 2006. Camoranesi spent eight seasons with the Bianconeri, ensuring club legend status when he remained with the Old Lady in Serie B following the Calciopoli scandal. Following a spell at Stuttgart, he returned to his homeland for spells with Lanus and Racing Club, and has now been appointed on the bench at Tigre. “Mauro Camoranesi is the new Coach of Tigre,” the club confirmed in a statement. “In the coming hours he will sign a contract which will bind him to the club for eighteen months.”

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli Mario Mandzukic Underlines Importance to Juventus with Two Goals vs. Carpi http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2600930-mario-mandzukic-underlines-importance-to-juventus-with-two-goals-vs-carpi? Dec 21, 2015 While it might not have looked that way early in the campaign, Juventus can head into Serie A’s winter break feeling good about their prospects for the second half of the season, thanks in part to Mario Mandzukic’s goals that helped to see off a spirited Carpi side this weekend. Indeed, after winning just three of their opening 10 league games, the reigning champions have reeled off seven straight victories. That streak has seen them quickly climb the table, and they are currently sitting in fourth place after being as low as 14th before that run began. The team has begun to gel over that period, with new signings like Alex Sandro, Sami Khedira and Juan Cuadrado each making telling contributions. Fellow summer arrival Paulo Dybala has been widely lauded too, with the former Palermo man weighing in with 10 goals and three assists in all competitions thus far. Simone Zaza ended a spell on the sidelines with two goals in Juve’s midweek Coppa Italia triumph over Torino, but on Sunday, Mandzukic showed why he has quickly established himself as the ideal partner for Dybala in attack. After the Bianconeri fell behind just 14 minutes into the game with Carpi, it was an instinctive finish from the Croatian that drew the sides level as he hooked the ball into the net following a goalmouth scramble. He was not done there, however, and would continue to harass the opposition defence, working tirelessly to close them down whenever Juve lost possession. A second chance came his way before half-time, and Mandzukic made no mistake as he planted a firm header beyond goalkeeper Vid Belec. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 2 - Mario Mandzukic has scored two goals with his only two touches in the opposite box in the first half. Lethal. As the tweet above highlights, the brace came from Mandzukic’s only two touches in Carpi penalty area, showing just how deadly he can be when on form. It also saw him take his tally of goals to nine in all competitions, starting with a strike on his debut as he helped the Bianconeri lift the Supercoppa Italiana. That shot against Lazio back in August began a sequence of vital contributions from the 29-year-old, who has since gone on to net match-winning goals in difficult encounters against Manchester City and Fiorentina. Coach Massimiliano Allegri publicly recognised the striker’s contribution last month, speaking to reporters from TV stations Sky Italia and Mediaset Premium after Mandzukic opened the scoring in a 3-0 win over Palermo. “He might not be the classiest player with the best technique, but he has characteristics that are useful for this team,” the Juve boss said (h/t Football Italia). “He gave his contribution, the numbers speak for him. As the graphic in the tweet below shows, it was a similar story as he put Carpi to the sword at the Stadio Alberto Braglia. Netting with his only two shots on goal, Mandzukic’s other stats were relatively poor, completing just 29 of his 40 pass attempts but recovering the ball on three occasions. Adam Digby @Adz77 Mario Mandžukić #CarpiJuve 2 shots, 2 goals, 29/40 pass attempts, 3 ball recoveries (via @StatsZone) That last figure fits with his reputation as a hard-working player, with WhoScored.com showing he has averaged 1.2 tackles and 0.2 interceptions per game in 2015/16. It is that defensive effort—as well as his accuracy in front of goal—which has seen him move ahead of Alvaro Morata in the pecking order for the Turin giants, with the latter now forced to settle for a place on the bench. Perhaps the ultimate test for Mandzukic will come in the new year, as the Champions League draw sees him set to go against his former club just as his Spanish team-mate did last term. Juventus now will hope “Super Mario” can replicate Morata’s impact against Real Madrid and help them eliminate Bayern Munich. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli Marotta: ‘Inter team to beat’ http://www.football-italia.net/77421/marotta-%E2%80%98inter-team-beat%E2%80%99? Dec 21, 2015 Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta says Inter are ‘the team to beat’ despite ‘paying no attention to aesthetics’. The Nerazzurri were crowned winter champions despite last night’s 2-1 home defeat to Lazio, and Juve are now only three points behind them. The Bianconeri director general believes they are setting the pace for the others to follow and praises their defensive ability. "The most dangerous team? Inter have great quality, they’re an experienced team with a very good Coach, who has assembled players perhaps not of great quality but of great competitive spirit,” Marotta told Radio Rai. “They are a cynical team that is deservedly top, a team that pays no attention to aesthetics but to the substance. “With few goals they’ve managed to be at the top, because they have the best defence. Ultimately Inter are the team to beat. " http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Marotta: 'Patience, awareness Juve key' http://www.football-italia.net/77414/marotta-patience-awareness-juve-key? Dec 21, 2015 Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta says that 'patience and awareness' have helped the club rise back up the table. The Bianconeri started the season in terrible form, but yesterday's win over Carpi saw them move within three points of leaders Inter. It was their seventh league win in a row and ensured that Juve go into the winter break in fourth place and still in the hunt for the Scudetto. "What has changed? Patience and awareness," Marotta explained to Radio Rai. "Allegri's group has responded to our project. The Coach has great professionalism, practicality and in the previous year has shown great quality by bringing home great results – and let's remember the moment he arrived at Juventus. "Football is something that burns everything with incredible ease and the criticisms are harsh, without properly evaluating the work of the club, thus risking negative judgments. "The ability of the President was to understand the situation, the strength of the team and the Coach. "There were some difficult objectives that were eliminated. Results also fell because of injuries, from the conditioning preparation for the Supercoppa in China. "We assembled a squad with 10-12 players arriving from different leagues or teams with less pressure. "All these factors have led to these difficulties, but the directors haven't acted on instinct and mood. Rather by objective assessments beyond the pitch."

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli Carpi vs. Juventus 2015: Final score 2-3, Bianconeri survive a cardiac finale Mandzukic scored twice against the Biancorossi and Juventus completed their seventh consecutive triumph in Serie A. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/12/21/10630870/carpi-vs-juventus-2015-final-score-2-3-the-bianconeri-survived-a Dec 21, 2015 Juventus didn't have pleasant memories from their last trip to Emilia-Romanga, as they were beaten by Sassuolo 1-0 at Mapei Stadium. On Sunday morning, the Bianconeri visited Carpi, who have won only one of their last nine Serie A matches; nevertheless, the Biancorossi just achieved a shocking away victory versus Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia. Juventus repeated the same 3-5-2 starting lineup that triumphed against Fiorentina in their last Serie A game; Max Allegri, utilized once again the partnership of Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala on attack, leaving Simone Zaza and Álvaro Morata in the bench. On the other side, Fabrizio Castori deployed a 4-4-1-1 formation with the former Juventus player Marco Borriello as his only striker. The match started as expected. Juventus had the possession of the ball while Carpi patiently waited to counterattack. Surprisingly, it was Carpi who took the lead after the first quarter-hour; Marco Borriello recovered a lost ball at midfield and run towards Juventus penalty box, after that he shattered Leonardo Bonucci and beat Buffon with a shot to the near post. However, Mario Mandzukic exorcised the Sassuolo ghost quickly. Just three minutes after Borriello's goal, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado sent a low cross that found Sami Khedira, Carpi goalkeeper Vid Belec superbly saved the German's shot, but Mandzukic took advantage of the rebound and performed a fast volley that sent the ball to the back of the net. After the equalizer Juventus came to life. Vid Belec had to showcase his skills to save a pair of long-range efforts by Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio. Four minutes before halftime Patrice Evra sprinted near the touchline and crafted a beautiful cross; Mario Mandzukic raised, bullied Gabriel Silva and executed a devastating header that put Juventus in advantage. When the complementary half begun, it looked like Juventus was in full control of the game. Just five minutes after the match restarted, Claudio Marchisio made a long Pirlo-like pass that situated Paul Pogba one-on-one with Belec, the Frenchman poked the ball to fulfill a clever score. Few minutes latter, Carpi dodge a killer dagger when a score by Daniele Rugani -who entered in the 2nd half for Andrea Barzagli- was denied because he was offside. Carpi tried to comeback with a series of unorganized attacks but Juventus easily handled their threats; however, the injury time brought an exciting finale. At the 92nd minute, Luca Marrone curled a manageable cross from the right flank, Leonardo Bonucci tried to clear the danger, but instead his gawky effort ended in the back of Gianluigi Buffon's goal. One minute later, Carpi almost tie the match; Jerry Uche Mbakogu propelled an aggressive run towards the baseline and assisted Lorenzo Lollo who was alone in the penalty spot, fortunately for the bianconeri the midfielder's shot was abysmal. Juventus played well and achieved their seven Serie A victory in a row; Nonetheless they can't afford to drop points in this kind of games. Let's hope that this scare serves as reminder to them. LE PAGELLE Buffon 6 Maybe he could save Borriello's shot and Bonucci left him without a chance in the second goal. He had another solid performance. Barzagli 6 Good game by Barza, who had to leave early with an injury. Bonucci 3 Terrible and shaky presentation by Leo. He was trashed by Borriello (yes! Marco Borriello) and scored an own goal. Chiellini 6 Looked comfortable for most part of the match. Helped his side offensively. Cuadrado 6.5 Showcased his skills on attack and defended with composure. The Colombian is showing his worth lately. Khedira 6.5 Worked really hard. He was all over the pitch and could easily score in a couple of occasions. Marchisio 6.5 He's mastering his position as the bianconeri regista. His assist to Pogba was beautiful. Pogba 7 A really smart game by the Frenchman. He showed why he's a natural playmaker. He scored with great personality. Evra 6.5 Dybala 6 "La Joya" was quiet on this one. He tried tirelessly to open Carpi's defense. Mandzukic 8.5 Remarkable game by the Croatian Hitman. Both of his finishes were imposing. Subs Rugani 6.5 Enter for Barzagli at the 57th minute. It was a nice cameo by the Tuscan youngster. He enjoyed his first Serie A playing time and delivered an adequate performance. Morata 6 Enter for Dybala at the 69th minute. The Spaniard held the ball properly but failed to make an impact. Lichtsteiner s/v Enter for Cuadrado at the 83rd minute. Coach Allegri 6.5 It appears that he found his starting eleven. Mandzukic is enjoying a sweet winter thanks to him. It's important for Juventus to learn the Frosinone's lesson once and for all. Things I Think I Think You know good things just happened when a Colombian and a Frenchman dance together. We almost remembered this game as "How the Bonucci stole Allegri's Christmas" Juventus need to stop the Ex Effect ASAP! Kingsley Coman and Arturo Vidal are coming. This was the final match of a wonderful 2015, thanks for reading this recap my fellow juventini and I wish you a great 2016! Fino alla Fine! http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli Inter Milan stunned by Lazio; Juve extend winning run, Roma end slump http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/story/2764963/mario-mandzukic-extends-juventus-winning-run-inter-lose Dec 20, 2015 Inter Milan lead Serie A heading into the Christmas break, but a 2-1 defeat to Lazio means their advantage is slight. Antonio Candreva opened the scoring to ensure Inter would fight an uphill battle and Mauro Icardi's second-half leveller was rendered redundant when Candreva stuck away his own saved penalty with three minutes remaining. Felipe Melo conceded that spot-kick and later saw red for a moment of madness, with Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic following him down the tunnel in stoppage time. Troubled Lazio can head into the festive period with cause to be cheerful, having claimed a first league win in eight attempts, while Inter can begin to look at the transfer window and consider how they might strengthen their title bid. Mario Mandzukic scored twice as Juventus survived a late scare in a 3-2 win at Carpi to extend their winning run to seven games. Strugglers Carpi took a surprise lead at the Stadio Alberto Braglia after 15 minutes through Marco Borriello, but Mandzukic quickly levelled for Juve three minutes later. The Croatia striker put Massimiliano Allegri's side ahead 41 minutes in, with Paul Pogba netting five minutes after the restart to put the Bianconeri in firm control of the game. Leonardo Bonucci then put through his own net in injury time to set up a tense finale, but Serie A champions Juve held on for a seventh consecutive league win to climb to second in the table -- at least until Fiorentina (third) and Napoli (fourth) play their games in hand later on Sunday. Roma ended their winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Genoa to relieve some of the pressure on coach Rudi Garcia. Alessandro Florenzi opened the scoring just before half-time and the whole Roma team ran over to hug Garcia. Edin Dzeko was sent off 16 minutes before the end but teenager Sadiq Umar sealed the match late on to end a seven-match winless streak that included Wednesday's Italian Cup exit against Spezia. Fiorentina sit just behind leaders Inter Milan heading into the winter break after beating Chievo 2-0. Paulo Sousa's men were briefly dislodged from second place by resurgent Juventus but they wasted no time forcing their way back into title contention with goals from Nikola Kalinic and Josip Ilicic. The margin of victory might have been greater had Chievo goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri not pulled off a succession of fine stops to ensure his Gialloblu colleagues were not roundly trounced at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Gonzalo Higuain's brace helped Napoli to a 3-1 win over Atalanta and back up to third. The Argentina striker now leads the scoring charts with 16 goals and Marek Hamsik's penalty ensured Maurizio Sarri's side took all three points at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. Jorginho's sending off gave hope to the hosts, whose goal came from Alejandro Gomez, but it could have been worse had Hamsik netted a second spot-kick after Gabriel Paletta was shown red late on. Hellas Verona were again thwarted in their quest for a first win of the season as Sassuolo claimed a 1-1 draw. The Serie A basement boys have only eight points from eight draws and looked like losing for the 10th time when Sergio Floccari fired high-flying Sassuolo ahead in the 34th minute of play at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi. Veteran striker Luca Toni pegged the Neroverde back five minutes later as he turned Pawel Wszolek's through-ball beyond Andrea Consigli, but Luigi Delneri's men could not find a second goal and sit eight points from safety. Moving on to the late games, underachieving AC Milan ended the year on a high by edging out plucky Frosinone 4-2 at the Stadio Matusa. The Rossoneri have spent most of 2015 in the Serie A wilderness, but will enjoy Christmas in sixth place thanks to goals from Ignazio Abate, Carlos Bacca, Alex and Giacomo Bonaventura. Although Daniel Ciofani put Sinisa Mihajlovic's men on the back foot with an early opener, with Federico Dionisi setting some nerves jangling with his late goal, Frosinone could not avoid defeat and remain in the relegation zone. Sampdoria pulled away from the relegation zone with an overdue 2-0 victory over Palermo. Vincenzo Montella had presided over three defeats and a draw since replacing Walter Zenga, but goals from Roberto Soriano and David Ivan snapped the winless run and boosted Samp six points clear of the bottom three. Elsewhere, Stipe Perica's first-half goal was enough to steer 10-man Udinese to a nervy 1-0 victory at Torino. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli Allegri says late Juventus mistakes must never happen again Manager's post-match comments. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/12/20/10629478/allegri-says-late-juventus-mistakes-must-never-happen-again-carpi Dec 20, 2015 The Bianconeri are now three points behind Inter in second place, though the remainder of the top four all play later today. The Christmas break is upon us next, and Juve have rebounded nicely with seven wins in a row after a pretty horrendous start to the season. On the late scare faced by Juventus, and what the result means - "It was important to win today on a difficult field against an in-form side. The ball wasn't moving that quickly and the players did well up until the last five minutes where we made a mess of things. "We used past experiences like the one against Frosinone to see this one through which was a very similar game to the one today where we conceded a late equalizer. "We didn't start the game well as we were a bit all over the place. After Boriello's goal the team did good." On what was planned for the Christmas break - "The team is feeling good at the moment. We have to keep working hard to reach the 16th of May in the best condition possible. "It won't take much to recharge our batteries but Carpi's miss at the end of the game serves as a reminder." On the seven game streak and getting three points again - "It was important to jump into second place. In modern football, games are never closed. We have to grow and start 2016 off on the right foot. "Looking at the numbers, I could say that Juve won seven games in a row gaining points on Napoli, Roma and Fiorentina but not Inter, who are still going strong. "We have to look at ourselves considering we're coming from behind and that why it was important to win today. It was important to win today considering the amount of points we have dropped against smaller sides. We had to go into 2016 with a win to continue our streak. "I'll be watching Lazio-Inter later also because we have Lazio in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia." On his antics at the end of the game, where he threw his coat away and kicked a water bottle - "Thankfully I kicked it with my left foot, so that never does much damage." http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli CARPI 2-3 JUVENTUS SERIE A MATCH REPORT Juventus end the year on a high, making it seven league wins a row following a nervy 3-2 victory over Carpi. http://www.juvefc.com/carpi-2-3-juventus-serie-player-ratings/? Dec 20, 2015 Positives Mandzukic – Goals, goals goals. He’s now contributed a goal or an assist in 7 out of his last 8 games. The partnership with Dybala is really paying dividends as the two of them are responsible for something like 70% of Juve’s goals this season. Worrying, if one of them were to get injured, impressive when you consider that many questioned the purchase of Mandzukic as early as September. Marchisio – Another game where he’s been the dominant Juve player in midfielder but you wouldn’t think of it when you look at his stats. He provided his first assist of the season today and it was something quite special at that, but his real contribution has been to take a more ‘withdrawn’ less glamorous role, and do it with a certain understated genius. Another game for Daniele Rugani – Two games and two appearances in a row for the young defender. It’s all too easy to get carried away about a 21-year-old centre back but when you consider what he achieved last season at Empoli, you can understand the enthusiam and desire for him to play. A shame his goal didn’t stand today as that would have made a week to remember. Seven wins in a row – A first for Allegri and the last time Juve managed it was May 2014. The closing 5 minutes aside, that’s certainly cause for optimism as Juve have made huge strides up the table to rest in 4th. Statistics Man of the Match: Mario Mandzukic Flop of the Match: Leonardo Bonucci Corners: 3 Pass Accuracy: 85% Shots on Target: 6 Total Shots: 10 Ball Possession: 66% Formation: 3-5-2 Lineups Carpi: Belec; Zaccardo, Gagliolo, Romagnoli, Letizia; Gaston Silva, Cofie (Bianco 70), Lollo, Marrone; Di Gaudio (Lasagna 54); Borriello (Mbakogu 65) Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli (Rugani 57), Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado (Lichtsteiner 82), Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Mandzukic, Dybala (Morata 68) Ref: Giacomelli Poll Who was your man of the match in Carpi v Juventus ? Mandzukic 69% Marchisio 12% Pogba 12% Dybala 5% Cuadrado 2% Buffon 0% Barzagli 0% Bonucci 0% Chiellini 0% Evra 0% Khedira 0% Votes 42 http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli Allegri: Juventus must learn their lesson The Serie A champions won 3-2 at Carpi on Sunday but the coach was still left feeling frustrated by his side's complacency towards the end of the match. http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/12/20/18558772/-? Dec 20, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri has urged Juventus to be wary of complacency after watching his side almost blow a two-goal lead in stoppage time during their 3-2 victory at Carpi. Marco Borriello's early opener had earned a surprise lead for the struggling hosts, but Allegri's team rallied and appeared to be cruising to an easy win when Mario Mandzukic's double and Paul Pogba's second-half effort put them in control. However, Leonardo Bonucci put the ball in his own net in the first minute of added time to give Carpi a vague sense of hope before Lorenzo Lollo spurned a golden chance to level the match with 90 seconds remaining. Allergi was visibly furious on the touchline towards the end of the clash and afterwards he said: "We did well up until five minutes from the end. We need to let this be a lesson for us. "It was important to win. The result strengthens our league position. "Inter are having a fine campaign. We need to keep ticking along and making up ground," he said of the leaders, who are three points ahead of Juve prior to a match at home to Lazio later on Sunday. Pogba, who scored his second goal in as many matches following a strike in the mid-week Coppa Italia victory over local rivals Torino, said: "My goal was important for the two-goal cushion. We won and that's what we came here to do. "We're not looking at the others. We'll focus solely on ourselves." http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli Juventus arrogance makes win over Carpi closer than it needed to be http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2765269/juventus-arrogance-makes-win-over-carpi-closer-than-need-be Dec 20, 2015 Another win and another three points for Juventus as they defeated Carpi 3-2 in the first ever match between these two sides in Serie A. A game that further demonstrated the gulf of talent between the Bianconeri and their inferior rivals, we also bore witness to the positive and negative aspects of the Juve psychology. Carpi are a determined little team, and what they lack in talent they more than make up for with physicality and determination. Not a team that actively applies pressure to win back possession, they allowed Juve to control the game. Yet for all the Bianconeri's beauty on the ball, they were once again punished by an ex-player as Marco Borriello opened the scoring. It is remarkable how well the Old Lady reacts when an opponent hurts her pride. Unhappy to be a goal down, the Bianconeri switched gears and played a monstrously more determined game to manage the equaliser. With Claudio Marchisio pulling the strings, Paul Pogba producing the elegance and Mario Mandzukic fighting up top, it didn't take long for Juve to get their second, the Croatian exploiting his strengths to score a powerful header. With Juventus scoring their third early in the second half, dominating the match in every which way possible, concentration was dropped. It was then we witnessed the negative aspect of the Juve mentality, the arrogance displayed after their superiority had been imposed. Losing focus and disrespecting their opponents, Leonardo Bonucci scored an own goal to make it two for Carpi and Juve were lucky not to concede a third. Proud but not yet mature, is it any wonder Massimiliano Allegri was screaming and wailing on the sidelines, demonstrating his unhappiness with his players' nonchalance? A better team may well have punished them but for the moment, Juve's winning streak continues. Player ratings Gianluigi Buffon, 6 -- He perhaps could have done more on the first goal but, on occasion, he was not well shielded by his defence. Andrea Barzagli, 7 -- Confident and intelligent, his passing game is a delight to watch. Leonardo Bonucci, 5 -- Not the best of days for the centre-back. He not only lost out to Borriello to concede Juve's first goal, but surrendered to panic and scored an own goal to make it two for Carpi. Giorgio Chiellini, 7 -- Strong and sturdy, he closed down his opponents powerfully, offering is teammates a certain level of security. Juan Cuadrado, 7 -- A better performance from the Colombian, who is still guilty of poor decisions but a hard worker, displaying great intensity and desire to create goal-scoring chances. Sami Khedira, 6 -- Not yet at the level we expect from the German, but once again a player who understands how to occupy space and how to intelligently facilitate movements -- even grabbing an assist. Great ideas, his execution is poorer than usual but he still managed to offer balance. Claudio Marchisio, 7 -- It must be said, he was hardly halted, offered all the time and space in the world to operate and he knew how to take advantage, delivering delicious passes and controlling the match. Wonderful vision, he grabbed an assist too. Paul Pogba, 8 -- Elegant and confident, he brought beauty to the attacking phase to the game even if he surrendered to frustration on certain occasions. Creating opportunities and scoring goals, he even recovered more balls than any other Juve player. The gem of the Juve midfield. Patrice Evra, 7 -- Wonderful at overlapping and combining well with the likes of Pogba, he provided the assist and brought his experience to the game. Mario Mandzukic, 9 -- One of the best matches he has played in a Juve shirt, the forward is relentless. Whether he is holding up the ball, exploiting his predatory nature or tracking back to defend, no one shows greater determination than the Croatian, who is the very definition of a team player. A magnificent performance, he scored the brace to ensure another Bianconeri win. Paulo Dybala, 7 -- Not his best match, Dybala may always be the man to watch but Carpi weren't the ideal opponent for him to play. Substitutes Daniele Rugani, 7 -- A great replacement to have on the bench, Rugani is the elegant centre-back Juve need, but he still has much to learn. Made the one mistake and suffered under pressure but his potential is enormous. Alvaro Morata, 6 -- Struggling to recapture his form, he fell foul to Carpi's physicality and made little impact. Stephan Lichtsteiner, NR -- Only offered a few minutes on the pitch. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli CARPI 2-3 JUVENTUS SERIE A PLAYER RATINGS Mario Mandzukic scored a superb brace but Carpi could easily have snatched a draw in the closing minutes. http://www.juvefc.com/carpi-2-3-juventus-serie-player-ratings/? Dec 20, 2015 Juve conceded an early goal courtesy of an error from Juan Cuadrado and some poor defensive work from Leonardo Bonucci. A Mandzukic brace was followed by a Pogba belter before late drama saw Carpi grab a second and then almost draw level in the dying moments. Gigi Buffon 6.0 - Not the best game for the Juve defence as a whole. Left stranded for Boriello’s goal, Buffon might have narrowed the angle but thats easy to say in hindsight. Stood no chance on Bonucci’s own goal but he was solid for the bulk of the game. Andrea Barzagli 6.0 - A strong enough display, not troubled too often but it’s worrying that he wa subbed off with a slight injury. Leonardo Bonucci 5.0 - Where to begin ? Beaten all too easily by Borriello for the opening goal and calamitously putting the ball into his own net. Looked off the pace at times and perhaps the break will do him good. Giorgio Chiellini 6.5 - Juve’s best defender today but that’s not saying much when you consider the scoreline. Strong and never beaten, made some telling runs out from the defence and glanced a header over the bar. Juan Cuadrado 6.0 - Played his part in Juve’s goal and in Carpi’s where his error led to the opener. So often he seems to provide a moment of brilliance but no end product. A promising start to the season has made way for a serie of lacklustre, one-dimensional displays, despite all his obvious attacking prowess. Sami Khedira 6.0 - Looked a little troubled and his play was laborious at times where he struggled to keep up with the pace of the game. Provided an assist and improved as the game went on but he still doesn’t look 100% fit. Another player who might be better served with a 2-week break. Claudio Marchisio 6.5 - A superb performance from I Principino. Crowded out early in the game by Carpi’s midfield, he still found room to operate in, completing 96 out of 103 passed today in a congested game. A perfect assist for Pogba’s goal and a constant link to Juve’s forward line with his range of passes. Brilliant Paul Pogba 7.0 - Turned things up a notch after Juve went behind, provided a peach of a through ball for Evra, a thorn in the side of the Carpi midfield, regularly pushing forward into the final third. A deserved goal and some great touches throughout the 90 minutes. Pogba at his best. Patrice Evra 6.5 - Gave Letezia no respite, pushed into the Carpi third of the pitch and camped out there for most of the game. Supplied a gorgeous chipped cross for Mandzukic to net his second. A great display. Mario Mandzukic 8.0 - Here is a striker that is finding a rhythm and pace all of his own. A totally different figure from the striker that frustrated in the early part of the season. At his absolute lethal best, bullying defenders, pushing, pulling and scrapping for every ball. His first goal was a moment of beauty, the second, a deft header that gave Juve breathing room. He’s provided a goal or an assist in 7 out of 8 of the last games and his understanding with Dybala is improving with each week. Man of the match. Paulo Dybala 6.0 - A below par performance but thats only to be expected. Had a few half chances and forced a save from Belec on more than one occasion but he faded out of the game and was replaced by Morata. Substitutes Daniel Rugani 6.0 - A great moment to see the young defender make his Serie A debut for Juve. He already looks more confident for having played midweek and he could have scored his first Juve goal but for being marginally offside. A solid display from the youngster. Stephan Lichtsteiner N/A Alvaro Morata N/A http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli Carpi vs. Juventus: Winners and Losers from Serie A http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2600910-carpi-vs-juventus-winners-and-losers-from-serie-a? Dec 20, 2015 Given the Sunday lunchtime kickoff, Juventus knew their final outing of 2015 offered a chance to put pressure on the sides above them in the Serie A table. The early start allowed the Bianconeri to add to their points tally before the other matches began, and they would do just that, notching a 3-2 win. The result marked the club’s seventh consecutive league victory, a streak that has seen them return to contention and shrug off a dire start to the campaign. Massimiliano Allegri stressed the importance of the clash at his pre-match press conference: It’s a must-win game for us. We approach it on the back of a run of important successes, but let’s not forget that we’ve dropped plenty of points against so-called "smaller" sides. We mustn’t put a foot wrong tomorrow. The game before the Christmas break is a potential banana skin, along with the opening fixture of the season and the first match back in January. We do however possess a team full of responsible players and I’m certain we’ll approach the encounter in the correct fashion. Indeed, there was reason for that caution after already seeing the side fail to beat the likes of Udinese, Chievo, Frosinone and Sassuolo this term. After a nervy opening that saw them fall behind, Allegri’s players would rally to ensure they left the Stadio Alberto Braglia with all three points and a testing win. What follows is a look at some individual performances from this encounter focusing on the best and worst displays from this last game of the calendar year for both sides. Winner: Marco Borriello (Carpi) Knowing his side would see very few chances in this encounter, Marco Borriello made the most of his 15th-minute opening. Some sloppy passing in midfield allowed the striker to burst forward, and he made no mistake in slotting past visiting goalkeeper Gigi Buffon to find the bottom corner. Loser: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus) Leonardo Bonucci has been in excellent form this year, but he allowed Borriello far too much time and space for that opening goal, standing off the former Juve striker rather than simply pressuring him out wide. It was an uncharacteristic mistake, and Bonucci is fortunate that his team-mates quickly rallied to overcome that setback, particularly after he netted an inexplicable own goal right at the end of the game. Winner: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus) With Carpi in the lead, Juventus stepped up the pace. After both Juan Cuadrado then Paulo Dybala failed to hit the target, Mario Mandzukic followed up their efforts to get the Bianconeri back level. Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio and Giorgio Chiellini all had chances to put Juve in front, but it would again be Mandzukic who delivered. The Croatian rose to meet Patrice Evra’s cross, and his powerful header left Carpi goalkeeper Vid Belec with no chance of preventing his side from falling behind. Loser: The Serie A Top 3 The last thing the likes of Inter, Napoli and Fiorentina would have wanted to see was a return to form for Juventus, and watching them take care of Carpi before their matches began this weekend only put additional pressure on them. Indeed, despite his Inter side sitting atop the standings, coach Roberto Mancini still included the Bianconeri among the favourites for the title (h/t Football Italia). Seeing them record yet another win will only add to that belief. Winner: Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus) With his counterpart at Inter beginning to feel the stress of a title battle, Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri can enjoy the winter break knowing many of his decisions have begun to pay off. His slow introduction of the likes of Daniele Rugani, Alex Sandro and Paulo Dybala is now bearing fruit, with all three now in good form. In addition, Allegri’s choices in attack have proven smart, with Simone Zaza netting twice in midweek and Mandzukic doing the same on Sunday. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

CARPI - JUVENTUS 2 - 3 Marco Borriello (15') Mario Mandžukić (18') Mario Mandžukić (41') Paul Pogba (50') Leonardo Bonucci (90'-own goal) MATCHDAY 17 Sunday, December 20th, 2015 - 12:30 PM Alberto Braglia Stadium, Modena Referee: Piero Giacomelli Pogba: 'Juve made mistakes' http://www.football-italia.net/77388/pogba-juve-made-mistakes? Dec 20, 2015 Paul Pogba concedes Juventus “made life difficult for ourselves” in the tense 3-2 victory over Carpi. They went behind to an early Marco Borriello goal, went 3-1 up, but gave away an own goal in stoppages and were very nearly pegged back for 3-3. “We are all very happy for the fundamental and deserved victory, even if we made life difficult for ourselves at the end,” Pogba told Sky Sport Italia. “That must absolutely not happen again. Now we have a break for Christmas, but when we get back on the field we must do it with humility and the awareness we’ve done nothing yet. It is still a very long journey. “Who do I dedicate the goal to? Myself, as I am aware that I can give more to help the team win another Scudetto.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127