Socrates

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Fiorentina 'as strong as Juve' http://www.football-italia.net/77043/fiorentina-strong-juve? Dec 13, 2015 Fiorentina President Mario Cognini insists “we are just as strong as Juventus” ahead of tonight’s clash in Turin. It kicks off at 20.45 CET - 19.45 GMT. “We are very fired up, the team motivated and winning here would mean staying very, very high up the table,” Cognini told Firenzeviola.it. “The side is very attack-minded anyway and we will not stray from that approach at the Juventus Stadium. “Are Juve a frightening prospect? Of course, the Bianconeri are a very strong side, but we are just as strong as Juventus.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus V Fiorentina – Team News, Tactics, Lineups And Predictions http://www.thehardtackle.com/2015/juventus-v-fiorentina-team-news-tactics-lineups-and-predictions-1/? Dec 13, 2015 Juventus have won five games on the trot but face a test of character when they host high-flying Fiorentina this weekend. La Viola will be hoping their in-form strikers can make the decisive difference against the rejuvenated Old Lady. Fiorentina have already scored 30 goals this season with Nikola Kalinic and Josip Ilicic sharing the bulk of them. Juventus, meanwhile, have not been so prolific with Paulo Dybala leading from the front but Mario Mandzukic, Alvaro Morata and Simone Zaza have been struggling to get the goals. Both sides are unbeaten in the last five games but Juventus have won all their games in this period. After a stuttering start to the campaign, Allegri’s men have reacted like champions. However, they need to get a positive result in this genuine six pointer against their old rivals. Both sides made it through to the knockout stages in Europe midweek although Juventus’ loss to Sevilla away means they will face a tougher opponent in the round of 16. Fiorentina needed a positive result against Portuguese side Belenenses and they got the three points thanks to a Khouma Babacar goal. Max Allegri refused to dwell on the loss and quickly shifted the focus on the Fiorentina game as he understands the importance of the clash as they continue their surge up the table. Fiorentina will be looking to set a goalscoring record this Sunday along with keeping pace at the top of table. Team news and tactical brief Juventus Max Allegri has the majority of his squad available so predicting a formation or lineup can be a challenge here as Juventus have switched back and forth between 4-3-3 and 3-5-2, sometimes during an ongoing match. Paul Pogba will be paid close attention by either Vecino or Badlej so the Frenchman will expect to have a busy game as usual. Even if Juventus started the season poorly, no one can write them off at this stage. Neither team will define their season in this game but no one will want to lose, especially in this grudge match. The home side will miss Hernanes, Martin Caceres, Sami Khedira and Roberto Peyreyra through injury. Fiorentina have struggled when they have been pressed high up the pitch as noticed in the game against Empoli. Allegri will no doubt ask his strikers to choke the supply lines to midfield and put pressure on Tatarusanu who has looked shaky while using his feet. Probable Starting Line-up (3-5-2) Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichsteiner, Asamoah, Marchisio, Pogba, Sandro; Dybala, Mandzukic Fiorentina Fiorentina have been in sensational form this season and there is no reason why they cant keep on playing like this till the end of the season though it will be vital to avoid injuries to key players in the team. The Scudetto is a realistic target although Sousa will be keen to cut down on the defensive mistakes.Federico Bernardeschi has earned rave reviews for his displays this season while the midfield duo of Matias Vecino-Milan Badelj has been the spine of this free flowing side. Paulo Sousa has a full squad to select from with the exception of the injured Jakub Błaszczykowski, and will most likely pair Borja Valero and Josip Ilicic behind Nikola Kalinic up front. Davide Astori is having a fine season so far but will face a lively Dybala who has been in scintillating form. Giuseppe Rossi is unlikely to have any impact in this game as he struggles to return from his knee injury. Mario Suarez has struggled with the tempo Fiorentina play with and is likely to be on the bench. Sousa’s 3-4-2-1 formation allows Fiorentina players to play a fluid passing game and Kalinic will be ready to pounce on any mistake from the Juve defenders. Fiorentina fans will be hoping that the frustrating yet brilliant Josip Ilicic might be the man to decide this tight contest in Turin. Probable Starting Line-up (3-4-2-1) Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori; Alonso, Vecino, Badelj, Bernardeschi; Valero, Ilicic; Kalinic Key Facts Juventus and Fiorentina are undefeated in their last 5 matches in Serie A. Juventus are undefeated in 29 of their last 31 matches against Fiorentina in all competitions. If Fiorentina can score on Sunday night, they will have scored in every match since the home tie with Cagliari in April last year, a total of 23. Players to Watch Out For Paulo Dybala (Juventus) The young Argentine is finding his feet in Turin justifying his big price-tag and netted a superb goal against Lazio last Friday. Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina) Bernardeschi has all the attributes to become a decisive player if he maintains the attitude and form he has shown so far. He is a versatile player and has done justice to various roles in Sousa’s system. Prediction Juventus 2–1 Fiorentina The crisis is seemingly over for Juventus. The home side will be looking to up the intensity in this fixture from the first whistle. They can stretch the away side’s defence on the wings, which could prove to be fatal for Facundo Roncaglia, who is expected to come up against the Argentine striker Dybala. Juventus have more experience of these big games but expect Fiorentina to try to take control of the game. Blast From the Past Juventus moved to within a point of a fourth consecutive Serie A title as Carlos Tevez’s double helped them come from behind to beat Fiorentina. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Mandzukic back for Juve-Fiorentina http://www.football-italia.net/77020/mandzukic-back-juve-fiorentina? Dec 12, 2015 Mario Mandzukic, Sami Khedira, Patrice Evra, Simone Zaza and Martin Caceres are back for Juventus against Fiorentina. Max Allegri has almost a full squad to choose from in Turin tomorrow evening. Roberto Pereyra and Hernanes are still unavailable. Mandzukic has recovered from flu, which ruled him out of Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Sevilla. Zaza also pulled out of that game with a muscular problem, but tests showed it was nothing serious. Khedira had a check-up this week and was given the all-clear to return. Juventus squad for Fiorentina: Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres, Khedira, Zaza, Marchisio, Morata, Pogba, Alex Sandro, Barzagli, Cuadrado, Mandzukic, Bonucci, Padoin, Dybala, Rugani, Neto, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Evra, Rubinho, Vitale http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Kalinic: 'Mandzukic friendly rival' http://www.football-italia.net/77013/kalinic-mandzukic-friendly-rival? Dec 12, 2015 Nikola Kalinic assured Fiorentina “believe in the Scudetto” and can get past friend and rival Mario Mandzukic’s Juventus. It kicks off on Sunday at 20.45 CET - 19.45 GMT. “I’ve known Mandzukic for a lifetime, from when my Hajduk Split used to take on his Dinamo Zagreb,” the Croatian told Sport Mediaset. “We have always been in competition, including for a place in the national team. We are friends though and have been talking even more regularly since we both started playing in Italy.” Fiorentina have had a better Serie A campaign so far, but visit a Juventus side on the way back up the table. “We have been in the top places since the start of the season. Many expect us to collapse sooner or later, but I don’t believe the Scudetto is impossible. “We proved that we can play at the same level as the big clubs. There are many games to go, but we’ll give everything we’ve got to win the title.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus form worries Fiorentina manager Paulo Sousa http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/news/juventus-form-worries-paulo-sous a_261736.html Dec 12, 2015 Fiorentina manager Paulo Sousa has lamented the fact that his side must face a resurgent Juventus in their Serie A clash on Sunday. The 45-year-old is worried by the current form of Massimiliano Allegri's team, who have emerged victorious in their last five league outings after winning just three of their opening 10 fixtures. "Juventus are chasing the pack, but the confidence of four years of success allowed them to stay calm. Unfortunately for us, Juventus are on fine form now. We hoped to face them earlier," Sousa told reporters ahead of the clash. "It will be a very difficult game, because this Juventus is in great shape and found their best system. They defend very well and everyone is involved in protecting the back three, then counter-attacking.They have quality individuals, so we have to play at a very high level to contain them and, at times, dominate so we can win. "Unfortunately we had two fewer days to prepare for this game and tactically that can mean a lot, but on the bright side we have a five-point advantage over Juventus, so that makes me happy." Fiorentina currently occupy second position in the league table, while the Old Lady sit in fifth. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato JUVENTUS V FIORENTINA MATCH PREVIEW http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-v-fiorentina-match-preview-and-scouting/? Dec 12, 2015 Juventus What a bummer the Sevilla game was. That costly match proved once again that the squad can not give half-hearted efforts or they can be beaten on any given night. What happened was very similar to the beginning of the season, when in some matches the team looked complacent and not as intense as the opponents and dropped many points. Hopefully, that stumble will not single-handedly ruin our European campaign. In this weekend, Juventus have the opportunity to make his official return into the title picture as they take on Fiorentina. Viola have been briefly been at the top of the table briefly few weeks ago and now stand in second position, one point behind Inter. Juventus have failed to beat Roma, Napoli and Inter, so it is time to see what their true colours are. Alvaro Morata has been a topic of conversation in the past two weeks as he has dropped behind Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala in the pecking order. When he was given the chance on Tuesday, he did not deliver, missing two easy chances. However, this little slump did not spook the management, which handed him an extension, prolonging his contract through June 2020. We all know how much talented Alvaro is, so his pale performances are likely a consequence of the fact of being benched getting into his head, so there is little doubt that he will resume scoring big goals very soon. It is pretty funny to see how the wheel turns at Juventus: at the start of the season, it looked like Juan Cuadrado was the best player on the roster and that we could not do anything without him on the field. Then there was a moment where Morata carried the biggest load, I remember the headline “Morata looking for a partner.” Finally, now it is Dybala’s time to shine, with Mandzukic as his much precious sidekick, and Cuadrado and Morata have faded into the background. I do not know if we will ever be able to find a way to exploit the skills of these four outstanding players at the same time, but it is nice to have so many weapons at disposal and, hopefully, Massimiliano Allegri will find a way to keep them happy even when they are not contributing as much as they could. There are not many doubts about the lineup: once again, everything hinges on Sami Khedira’s health. If the German world champion is fine, and there is some optimism about his recover, he will start. Otherwise, Stefano Sturaro and Kwadwo Asamoah will battle out for the final spot on the midfield, alongside Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba, who returns from a one-game suspension. It is remarkable how the return of Marchisio made his partners so much better: Sturaro and to some extent even Pogba looked shaky early in the season when the Italian international went down with a couple of injury. The growth of Sturaro, who went from JAG to solid starter in less than a year, is impressive too. Mandzukic was under the weather and missed the Sevilla game but he recovered and I reckon he is the favourite to start, but Allegri sometimes has given his players a quick chance to redeem themselves after a poor performance, so Morata definitely has a chance. Patrice Evra was out because he banged knees with an opponent but he is available, sparking the usual doubt on the flanks. Fiorentina have one of their best players, Federico Bernardeschi, playing on the right, so it will be interesting to see what approach the coach takes: a defensive one with the French veteran or a ballsy one, putting Alex Sandro, taking into consideration that the Italian starlet does not spend much time defending. Cuadrado should be the choice over Stephan Lichtsteiner on the other flank: maybe after January and the probable departure of Zaza, Juventus will not replace the former Sassuolo, using Cuadrado primarily as a striker (and maybe adding a versatile forward). Simone Zaza had a muscular problem but it is not a serious one and he should be available. Mario Lemina has a nagging injury that he can solve only by resting, we will see if he will be on the bench, anyway he is unlikely to play anyway. Martin Caceres and Roberto Pereyra remain out with hamstring ailments. Probable lineup 3-5-2: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Mandzukic, Dybala. Injuries: Pereyra (hamstring), Hernanes (hamstring). Suspended: None. Fiorentina Fiorentina have been one of the main stories of this season. The hiring of Paulo Sousa after the messy ousting of Vincello Montella did not make much noise, but it proved to be a brilliant choice by the Della Valle family. The former Juventus midfielder came off a successful campaign with Basel: even though the Swiss league is inferior to Serie A, I think that winning is never a fortuity and that the coach always plays a big part. The same happened with Rudi Garcia who had triumphed in France with Lille and had a magnificent impact with Serie A. Fiorentina were the penultimate team struck by the “first-place curse”: every side that managed be on top on their own has immediately dropped points and been leapfrogged by the other competitors. At various points of the season, Roma, Inter, Fiorentina and most recently Napoli have had their lead derailed by the ill-omened spell. Sousa has changed the tactics, opting for a very interesting 3-4-2-1 with Borja Valero behind the striker, but has not changed much the principles adopted by the previous coach. Fiorentina is still a ball possession-oriented team that likes to be proactive and rarely sits back and is passive. It is fair to say that the players have made the difference compared to last season. First of all, the club has made some excellent additions: Nikola Kalinic has been an incredible find and the offensive kingpin they hoped they had in Mario Gomez. Matias Vecino, who returned from a loan spell in Empoli, has been solid. Secondly, some seems revitalized: Facundo Roncaglia has returned to the form of his first year, Borja Valero is playing at peak levels and Josip Ilicic is performing like in his Palermo days. Davide Astori has not been a liability in the defence. The only let down from the summer is Mario Suarez, who has been outplayed by both Milan Badelj and Vecino, but anyway they got him in the Stefan Savic deal. Jakub Blaszczykowski is the only absent: the Polish winger has been steady, but his injury has been a blessing in disguise because it has given Bernardeschi more playing time. Bernardeschi is a pure winger, a position that is not contemplated in this formation, but he is very versatile and can play both a trequartista and as a striker, in the rare times Sousa deploys two-man attacks. However, he seems to have found his niche as a very offensive right wingback. They will be able to field their best lineup, the only small doubt is between Marcos Alonso and Manuel Pasqual, but Alonso is favoured by a wide margin. Probable lineup 3-4-2-1: Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori; Bernardeschi, Badelj, Vecino, Alonso; Ilicic, Valero; Kalinic. Injuries: Blaszczykowski (hamstring). Suspended: None Formation Poll Who will win between Juve and Fiorentina ? Juventus 86% Fiorentina 0% Draw 14% Votes 14 http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Vecino: It Would Mean A Lot For Fiorentina To Beat Juventus http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/12/vecino-it-would-mean-a-lot-for-fiorentina-to-beat-juventus/? Dec 12, 2015 Uruguayan midfielder Matias Vecino hopes for a great game when his Fiorentina side take on Juventus on Sunday evening as a victory would be a big step forward for the Viola. The 24-year-old already has fond memories of beating the Bianconeri after a 4-2 win in 2013 which he was on the bench for. “That game [the 4-2] was very strange and I’ve never experienced emotions like that before, now we’re hoping to play a great game on Sunday,” said Vecino according to calcionews24.com. “We’re not afraid of Juventus, we come into this game second but that doesn’t matter, we are ready to compete in an important match. “There are a lot of teams close to one another in terms of points and it is easy to lose ground quickly if you don’t win game after game.” The former Empoli was also asked about his future with Napoli reportedly interested in his services. “I’m happy at Fiorentina,” added Vecino. The midfielder has made 10 starts and recorded one assist for the Gigliati during the 2015-16 season. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Sousa: 'Heart and mind against Juve' http://www.football-italia.net/77004/sousa-heart-and-mind-against-juve? Dec 12, 2015 Paulo Sousa warns Fiorentina need “the mind and the heart” to push them to victory against arch rivals Juventus. It kicks off on Sunday at 20.45 - 19.45 GMT. “I am very happy and grateful, because life is giving me the opportunity to face teams that make me grow. I am very happy to be in Florence, I give everything I have to work with this club and these wonderful fans,” said the Coach in a Press conference. “One of Juve’s great strengths is in their history and culture, the way they anticipate problems and have this great calm even during difficult times that allowed them to rediscover their natural level. “As for Fiorentina, we are well aware of our capabilities and potential. The idea that we can compete with the best and not set limits is becoming stronger and stronger within the club. “We can play as protagonists with our style of football and aim to win, whether home or away against any team. “The heart pushes you on, but you need the mind too, because concentration to make the best positional decisions and be sharp is essential. “Juve are chasing the pack, but with the confidence of four years of success, so that allowed them to stay calm. On the other hand, when there are clubs without a history of titles and feel the pressure of needing to win, the heart can overcome the mind. “Unfortunately for us, Juventus are on fine form now, so we hoped to face them earlier! It will be a wonderful game for everything that awaits us in the future too.” There is a tight title race at the top of the table with Inter, Fiorentina, Roma, Napoli and Juventus. “Roma, in my view, are the most balanced team. Since Juve found their balance again in terms of results and fitness, they are the strongest defensively, the most mature and know how to read the various moments of the game. “Fiorentina will be increasingly courageous and ambitious. All my decisions so far in Florence have been aimed at replacing fear and concern with courage and ambition, to play for the victory from start to finish. “Our only objective is to be protagonists. The way to results is to be a protagonist, to get consistent results and that way approaching success. I have never disguised that the aim is for this team to have an identity, to enjoy its football and approach every game to win. Doing that week by week is keeping us close to a very important position. “We don’t have dips in concentration so much as make bad decisions provoked by the pressure of our opponents. At this stage of the season and when two teams of similar level face off, the details make the difference.” Is this his most difficult match on the Fiorentina bench? “It is a very difficult game, because this Juve is in great shape and found their best system. They defend very well and everyone is involved in protecting the back three then going on a rapid counter-attack. “They have quality individuals for passing and crosses, so we have to play at a very high level to hold out in a balanced match and at times dominate so we can win. “Unfortunately we had two fewer days to prepare for this game and tactically that can mean a lot, but on the bright side we have an extra five points from Juventus, so that makes me happy.” Sousa spent some of his playing career in a Juventus jersey, so how does he expect to be greeted in Turin? “I have always been shown a lot of respect from my former clubs. I worked as a professional, respecting my clubs and fans, so I believe they respect me too. It’s wonderful to see people and places where I had good times. “I have to thank my father, as he said the best way to respect yourself is to respect others and pretend the same in return. “It is much better to experience this game as a player than a Coach. I always tell the lads, as long as they have the joy of playing and the fitness to continue, they should make the most of this time. As Coaches, we can only try to help the players be in the best condition. “Fiorentina fans are very proud of us and we want to intensify that pride, with a club that cares so much about the side and we have this alchemy. I see the fans closer and closer to us because this is why we are playing.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Allegri: 'Juve-Fiorentina crossroads' http://www.football-italia.net/77003/allegri-juve-fiorentina-crossroads? Dec 12, 2015 Max Allegri won’t call Juventus-Fiorentina a Scudetto showdown, but “it is an important crossroads for the campaign.” It kicks off on Sunday at 20.45 CET - 19.45 GMT. “Tomorrow’s game represents an important crossroads for the campaign,” said the Coach in his Press conference. “Let’s say a positive result would make it quicker for us to climb up the table than we expected. Having said that, the objective is to be in the final strait for all three tournaments in May. “With Roma it was the second game, at Napoli we widened the gap between us. It is a positive period for us, tomorrow is a head-to-head with a Fiorentina side that plays good football and is our chance to close the gap. “Even then, as I said, there is more time afterwards to make up lost ground and the important thing is to be up there for the final six rounds so we can challenge for the Scudetto or top three. “We know that we are behind Fiorentina and first of all the aim is to play well and put in a strong performance. At the final whistle we’ll see if we were able to get three points or one. “Fiorentina are not up there by chance, they have been consistent at home and away. They are very attacking, very technical and have some great players, so it will be a high level of quality in this game. “We must attack them, knowing that a victory would allow us a big leap forward in the table.” Paulo Sousa has been a revelation on the Viola bench in his debut Serie A season, bringing a Barcelona-style passing play to the Stadio Franchi. “He got results at Basel and Fiorentina. He is a Coach who will certainly have an important future and in his first year in Italy, even if he played in Serie A for many years, showed he has all the quality to become an excellent Coach. Playing and coaching are two very different jobs. “There are few things to invent in football. The psychological aspect is essential, as in the end the players are the ones who step on to the field and must be put in the condition to give their best. “Nowadays there are a million TV cameras, so you can’t disguise anything tactically,” added Allegri. “They have Borja Valero, Josip Ilicic, a very good forward in Nikola Kalinic who has the characteristics of a real hitman. In midfield they have Milan Badelj and Matias Vecino who are improving game by game. We won’t man-mark anyone, though. “They don’t have the pressure of needing to win the Scudetto, but are in an excellent situation. Few expected them to be up there, but they deserve their position. It’s still Juventus-Fiorentina, so that will always be an important game. “I believe we’ll only really work out who will challenge for the Scudetto in March.” Sami Khedira is back in training and should be called up, while Mario Mandzukic has recovered from flu. “Khedira is fairly well, as are Mandzukic, Patrice Evra, Simone Padoin and Simone Zaza, so they should all be available. “Before the Christmas break Daniele Rugani will have his chance to play. Whether it’s 3-5-2 or four at the back changes little for a centre-back.” Alvaro Morata missed some sitters in the Champions League defeat to Sevilla this week, but also extended his Juventus contract to 2020. “He has a contract with Juventus, then things will be decided in future for his future,” explained Allegri. “There has been excessive criticism. He has always scored or created chances in the Champions League and that is not to be sniffed at. “He had some good opportunities against Manchester City and Sevilla, they didn’t go into the net, but his performance was strong. These periods happen for strikers when they can either score with every touch or it just won’t go in. “There were moments on Tuesday when we didn’t control the situation well and we conceded a goal. It’s different in the Champions League to Serie A. There are more spaces with two teams fighting to win, but you have to be wary of the quality and that means you cannot lower your guard. “Unfortunately, around the goal we didn’t move the ball around well in three or four situations and were made to pay for that.” All six Italian teams progressed from the group stage in Champions League and Europa League, closing the co-efficient gap on England. “Last season the Italians did very well in Europe, so that shows Serie A isn’t in as bad a shape as people like to think. It would be nice to get a fourth Champions League spot, if not this year then the next. That has to be the objective and shows Italian teams are growing on a European level.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus vs. Fiorentina: Team News, Predicted Lineups http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2597995-juventus-vs-fiorentina-team-news-predicted-lineups-live-stream-tv-info? Dec 12, 2015 Juventus will host Fiorentina on Sunday night, looking to bounce back from a disappointing outing in Europe by continuing their fine domestic form. Indeed, after some positive recent results in both competitions, the Bianconeri return to Serie A action fresh from a poor display against Sevilla in midweek. That Champions League defeat cost coach Massimiliano Allegri’s men the opportunity to top Group D, but the side know that victory over La Viola can certainly help close the gap to the early leaders in Italy. Their opponents have enjoyed a fine start to 2015/16, currently sitting in second place and just a single point behind Roberto Mancini’s Inter, a team they demolished 4-1 at the San Siro back in September. Yet the fact they have drawn two of their last three league matches—held by Empoli and Sassuolo—in addition to having played in the Europa League on Thursday, gives Juventus hope of emerging with a result. However, speaking to reporters at a charity event earlier this week—per the club’s official website—Turin-born midfielder Claudio Marchisio was in no mood to underestimate coach Paulo Sousa’s impressive team: The match on Sunday is very important. It’s an opportunity to change things up at the top of the table, as there are a few big clubs playing one another and we need to be able to take advantage of the situation. Fiorentina are an excellent side and they deserve to be where they are at this moment in time. We’ll need to be on our toes, even if we’re playing at home. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 126 & 134 - Fiorentina (126) and Juventus (134) have faced the fewest shots in Serie A 2015/16. Attentive. Marchisio is certainly right to urge caution, with no side in Serie A able to better the Tuscan team’s tally of 30 goals scored, while their defence ranks as the third best in the division having conceded on just 12 occasions. With their own attack finally beginning to perform, Juve will need to be at their very best if they are to take all three points here, but they will be fully aware of the importance of doing so. Probable Formations Juventus (3-5-2): Gigi Buffon; Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini; Juan Cuadrado, Stefano Sturaro, Claudio Marchisio, Paul Pogba, Patrice Evra; Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala Unavailable: Hernanes, Sami Khedira, Martin Caceres, Roberto Pereyra (all injured) Fiorentina: (3-4-2-1): Ciprian Tatarusanu; Facundo Roncaglia, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Davide Astori; Federico Bernardeschi, Milan Badelj, Matias Vecino, Marcos Alonso; Borja Valero, Josip Ilicic; Nikola Kalinic Unavailable: Jakub Blaszczykowski (injured) Player to Watch Juventus have no shortage of attacking options, but perhaps Juan Cuadrado will be key to their hopes of victory against the Tuscan side. The Colombia international only left Fiorentina in January, spending a brief unhappy spell with Chelsea before moving to the Bianconeri in the summer. He has dropped in and out of the side over recent weeks, but he has made some telling contributions, including a late match-winning goal against cross-town rivals Torino in late October, while building a good understanding with Claudio Marchisio and Paulo Dybala. Expected to start on the right against his former club, his pace and direct style could cause problems for the Viola defence, while Cuadrado’s ability should see him create opportunities that other Juve players can take advantage of. Key Battle One of those looking to directly benefit from Cuadrado’s impact will be Mario Mandzukic, who is expected to once again lead the line for the Bianconeri. Indeed, despite the club revealing via their official website that Alvaro Morata has signed a new contract, the Croatian has emerged as the No. 1 option recently. After Mandzukic struggled in the early part of the campaign, he has shone in recent weeks, netting winning goals against Milan and Manchester City before recording an assist in the victory over Lazio last week. As the tweet below indicates, the 29-year-old will be honoured as Juve’s Player of the Month for November before this clash, and the task of stopping him will likely fall to Fiorentina defender Gonzalo Rodriguez. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@MarioMandzukic9 is voted the best Bianconeri player during November His role in the centre of the three-man back line used by La Viola means they will not be in direct competition, but the Argentinian is certainly the leader of that unit. His ability to keep the Bianconeri attack at bay will be essential, and Rodriguez has proven throughout 2015/16 that he is more than capable of doing so. According to statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, he has averaged 1.4 tackles, 3.1 interceptions and 3.7 clearances per game this term, while also weighing in with two goals. Odds (via Odds Shark) Away win: 7-2 Home win: 4-5 Draw: 5-2 http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Claudio Marchisio urges Juventus to stay on their toes against Fiorentina http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/match/432112/juventus-fiorentina/preview? Dec 12, 2015 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has urged his team-mates to continue their surge up the table by beating bitter rivals Fiorentina in Sunday's crunch match in Serie A. Fiorentina are currently second, five points ahead of Juventus in fifth, but the Old Lady have found their stride in recent weeks after a slow start to the season. Juventus have won five games in a row in the league and could make up further ground given third-placed Napoli are up against fourth-placed Roma this weekend. "The match on Sunday is very important," midfielder Marchisio told juventus.com. "It's an opportunity to change things up at the top of the table, as there are a few big clubs playing one another and we need to be able to take advantage of the situation. "Fiorentina are an excellent side and they deserve to be where they are at this moment in time. We'll need to be on our toes, even if we're playing at home. "We've shown considerable consistency of late with the five league wins in a row, but we know that there remains plenty of work to be done." Juve's momentum was halted somewhat by a Champions League defeat to Sevilla on Tuesday, although the Italians still qualified as runners-up from Group D. The form of Alvaro Morata, who has scored only three goals in 19 appearances this season, and Paul Pogba has been questioned but Marchisio gave his full backing to his team-mates. "There are times when the goals come more easily. For players like Pogba and Morata, it's normal that the expectations are high as they both have enormous talent," Marchisio said. "They're training hard every day and are always there for the group. They'll be finding the net again sooner rather than later. "What's important is that the team continues to grow both domestically and in Europe, where we've already achieved the objective of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16." Fiorentina have enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign and this is the first time since 1998 that they have been ahead of Juventus at this stage of the season. Juve, however, boast a strong record in this fixture. No team have recorded more wins (70) or score more goals (247) against Fiorentina than the Bianconeri. "We live for these sorts of emotions, so the game with Juve will definitely be exciting," Fiorentina boss Paulo Sousa told the official club website. Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado is set to play his first competitive match against his former club. Cuadrado left Fiorentina for Chelsea in February but failed to make an impact with the Blues and is currently on loan in Turin. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus - Fiorentina MATCH PREVIEW http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/preview/69973 Dec 12, 2015 Fiorentina will be hoping that their in-form strike force can make the difference in their mouthwatering Sunday evening clash against a revived Juventus. The free-scoring Viola have already racked up 30 goals this year, with the attacking Nikola Kalinić-Josip Iličić duo to thank for just under half of the total. Juventus, meanwhile have not been quite so prolific up front. New signing Paulo Dybala is pulling his weight with seven, however fellow newcomer Mario Mandzukic has only scored three and Alvaro Morata is struggling for form with a solitary League goal to his name. Both sides are unbeaten in the last five games, however it is the Bianconeri who have been the more dominant with five straight wins. After a disappointing start to the campaign, they have propelled themselves right back into Scudetto contention. Max Allegri has patiently guided his team to within five points of Fiorentina, which has turned the game in Turin into a genuine ‘six pointer.’ The Viola will not only be looking to keep pace at the top of Serie A, but have the chance to break their goalscoring record set during the 1997-98 season, back when Batistuta was at the forefront of a team that scored in 22 consecutive matches. If Fiorentina can score on Sunday night, they will have scored in every match since the home tie with Cagliari in April last year, a total of 23. Paulo Sousa has a full squad to select from with the exception of the injured Jakub Błaszczykowski, and will most likely pair Borja Valero and Josip Ilicic behind Nikola Kalinic up front. The home side will miss Hernanes, Martin Caceres, Sami Khedira and Roberto Peyreyra all through injury. Both sides progressed in Europe in midweek, though Juventus’ defeat at Sevilla saw them lost top spot in their Champion’s League group to Manchester City, whilst Fiorentina progressed in the Europa League with a 1-0 home win against Belenenses. After their defeat to in Spain, Allegri dismissed any talk of disappointment, stating "We've got a game coming up in Serie A against Fiorentina that is more important than tonight's match." The Italian coach clearly understands that Sunday will be a key moment if Juventus are to continue their surge for the Scudetto. Keep an eye on: Paulo Dybala (Juventus) — The young Argentine is finding form in his new team and netted a superb goal against Lazio last Friday. Form Guide: Juventus (W W W W W) Fiorentina (W D D W W) Last season: Juventus 3-2 Fiorentina Stat fact: Fiorentina and Juventus have faced the fewest shots in Serie A during 2015/16 with 126 and 134 respectively. Juventus (probable): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichsteiner, Asamoah, Marchisio, Pogba, Sandro; Dybala, Mandzukic Suspended: None Fiorentina (probable): Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori; Alonso, Vecino, Badelj, Bernardeschi; Valero, Ilicic; Kalinic Suspended: None http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Know your enemy: A Q&A session with SB Nation's Fiorentina blog, Viola Nation We had questions for Viola Nation, so we asked them. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/12/12/9913908/rival-question-and-answer-juventus-fiorentina-serie-a-round-16 Dec 12, 2015 The hype machine is already spinning, with Juventus and Fiorentina's showdown in Turin less than two days away from going down this weekend. But what do we truly know about Juve's opponent on Sunday? That's where the help comes into effect. We've exchanged questions with a man simply known as 'The Tito' around the Viola Nation corner of the internet. If you want to read what they asked me, click on this link right here and see what stupid things I had to say about Juventus. (Answers might not be as stupid as advertised.) Enjoy his answers, because we've spent hours upon hours researching things to make sure we get them right. BWRAO: Greetings, Tito. Let's jump right into things! It was obviously a summer of change on the Fiorentina sideline. Because of that, how much of a surprise is it that they've gotten off to such a good start in Serie A this season? VN: I can safely say that pretty much nobody saw this coming in the summer. Losing an iconic and (for Italy) long-tenured manager was bound to sting, but turning over a bunch of key players--Savic, Neto, Joaquin, Pizarro, Aquilani, Gomez, Gilardino--had everyone pretty nervous, especially since the replacements were all pretty unheralded. I think that after the Inter game, everyone realized that hey, this is a pretty darn good team, and Paulo Sousa is a really good tactician. I think he's the biggest surprise, and the biggest reason for the unexpected success. He's built on Montella's lovely, albeit sterile, possession game, adding a certain ruthlessness that was entirely lacking before. BWRAO: If there is a weakness in this Fiorentina team that Juventus could take advantage of, what might it be? (And can you let Max Allegri know?) VN: Hahaha no weaknesses anywhere none whatsoever everything is great and perfect. Now that we've hopefully scared Max away, I'd say the biggest weakness is in the wide areas, where attacking fullbacks can overrun the Fiorentina wingbacks in conjunction with wingers who hug the touchlines. That's the major problem with the 3-4-2-1, so it's sort of a structural issue, but quick attacks with width have continued to be a problem; see the Napoli and Roma games. Fiorentina has also been susceptible to good, disciplined pressing from the forwards and tight marking in the midfield, forcing the centerbacks to lump the ball downfield. BWRAO: Fiorentina leads Serie A in goals scored. Juventus once again has one of the best defenses in Serie A. What do you think Fiorentina needs to do to crack Juve's improving defense? VN: I think unpredictability is the key to Fiorentina's success. Josip Ilicic is a dribbler, a direct runner who likes to shoot from distance with his left and who occasionally produces brilliant moment. Borja Valero is a tireless and clever passer. Nikola Kalinic is the key, though. He's got enough pace to spin in behind and enough strength to hold up play. He's excellent at winning free kicks with excellent body positioning (he's actually not a complete diver, which is astonishing considering how often he's fouled), and has that striker's knack of being in the right place in the right time to score tap-ins. With Federico Bernardeschi's chaotic dribbling on the right and Marcos Alonso's dangerous crossing from the left, Fiorentina can beat a defense in a lot of different ways. They don't have any world-class attackers, but do have lots of useful pieces that work well as a diverse collective. BWRAO: Who on the Juventus roster scares you the most? VN: Juan Cuadrado scares me most, because Fiorentina's exes always seem to score against them. Other than that, man, take your pick. I guess Paulo Dybala is genuinely terrifying given his form, and Paul Pogba always seems like a good bet to produce a magic moment, especially pressing in the middle. BWRAO: Juventus played in Europe on Tuesday night. Fiorentina played in Europe on Thursday night. Is there any kind of concern or worry about the incredibly quick turnaround for Fiorentina entering such a big game? VN: Not too concerned about the turnaround, because Sousa rotated the squad pretty heavily on Thursday, so the first XI should be good to go from minute one. What happens after that is anyone's guess. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Serie A - 16^ Giornata Andata - 13-12-2015 (ore 20:45) JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Domenica, 13 dicembre, 2015 - ore 20:45 Juventus Stadium, Torino Arbitro: Daniele Orsato Confronti ufficiali 172 - 152 (Serie A) - 14 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato divisione nazionale) - 2 (Coppa UEFA) - 2 (Europa League) Vittorie Juventus 78 - 70 (Serie A) - 4 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato divisione nazionale) - 1 (Coppa UEFA) - 1 (Europa League) Pareggi 56 - 50 (Serie A) - 4 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Coppa UEFA) - 1 (Europa League) Vittorie Fiorentina 38 - 32 (Serie A) - 6 (Coppa Italia) Goals Juventus 290 - 247 (Serie A) - 23 (Coppa Italia) - 15 (Campionato divisione nazionale) - 3 (Coppa UEFA) - 2 (Europa League) Goals Fiorentina 191 - 164 (Serie A) - 25 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Coppa UEFA) - 1 (Europa League) Juventus - Fiorentina Serie A a Torino Confronti ufficiali 76 Vittorie Juventus 50 (L'ultima il 29.04.2015, 3-2) Pareggi 20 (L'ultimo il 27.11.2010, 1-1) Vittorie Fiorentina 6 (L'ultima il 02.03.2008, 2-3) Goals Juventus 161 Goals Fiorentina 64 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro la Fiorentina a Torino 14 presenze Boniperti Giampiero 14 Scirea Gaetano 11 Bettega Roberto 11 Cabrini Antonio 11 Castano Ernesto 11 Del Piero Alessandro 11 Furino Giuseppe 11 Varglien II Giovanni 11 Zoff Dino 10 Causio Franco 7 goals Boniperti Giampiero 7 Hansen John 6 Borel II Felice Placido 6 Del Piero Alessandro 5 Anastasi Pietro 5 Sivori Omar Enrique 4 Bettega Roberto 4 Inzaghi Filippo 4 Lushta Riza 3 Alessio Angelo Ultimi confronti diretti 25.09.2012 - Serie A - Fiorentina-Juventus 0-0 09.02.2013 - Serie A - Juventus-Fiorentina 2-0 20.10.2013 - Serie A - Fiorentina-Juventus 4-2 09.03.2014 - Serie A - Juventus-Fiorentina 1-0 13.03.2014 - Europa League - Juventus-Fiorentina 1-1 20.03.2014 - Europa League - Fiorentina-Juventus 0-1 05.12.2014 - Serie A - Fiorentina-Juventus 0-0 05.03.2015 - Coppa Italia - Juventus-Fiorentina 1-2 07.04.2015 - Coppa Italia - Fiorentina-Juventus 0-3 29.04.2015 - Serie A - Juventus-Fiorentina 3-2 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 5 - Pareggi 3 - Vittorie Fiorentina 2 - Goals Juventus 14 - Goals Fiorentina 9 da juworld.net http://www.goal.com/it/tables/serie-a/13

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA - MATCHDAY 16 Sunday, December 13th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus V Fiorentina – Preview: Bianconeri Look To Continue Resurgence Against High-Scoring Viola http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/12/juventus-v-fiorentina-preview-bianconeri-look-to-continue-resurgence-against-high-scoring-viola/? Dec 11, 2015 Juventus will be hoping that their good Serie A form continues when they host Fiorentina at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday evening. The home side endured a difficult start to the season, but have refound their form in recent weeks, winning five games in a row and currently sit just six points off the top of the table. The Viola are one of four teams that stand between the Bianconeri and the summit having enjoyed a positive start to the season under new coach Paulo Sousa. Juventus have had a mixed week. Despite defeat at Sevilla in the Champions League the Bianconeri progressed to the last 16, and will discover their next opponents the day after this game. Fiorentina’s Europa League win on Thursday evening also took them through to the knockout stages as their season assumes a familiar look. These two big beasts of Serie A history have met 152 times before with Juventus holding the advantage over their Florentine visitors, winning 70 of those encounters. That figure is even more pronounced in Turin, with the Viola having won just six times at the home of the Bianconeri, who have emerged victorious on 51 occasions. Neither side carries any suspensions into Sunday evening’s clash, though Massimiliano Allegri’s midfield will be shaped by injuries to Sami Khedira, Hernanes and Roberto Pereyra, none of whom will be fit in time to play. Paulo Sousa’s only concern is over Jakub Blaszczykowski with the Pole set to miss his seventh game since joining the Viola. Giuseppe Rossi played all 90 minutes of the Viola’s victory against Belenenses on Thursday, but is likely to drop to the bench, with nine-goal Ivan Kalinic set to keep his place in Fiorentina’s attack. Form Guide: Juventus (W-W-W-W-W) Fiorentina (W-W-D-D-W) Expected Starting XIs: Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Mandzukic, Dybala. Fiorentina: Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori; Bernardeschi, Badelj, Vecino, Alonso; Borja Valero, Ilicic; Kalinic. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127