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JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Marchisio: 'Juve at home in Europe' http://www.football-italia.net/76200/marchisio-juve-home-europe? Nov 24, 2015 Claudio Marchisio said Juventus are “at home in the Champions League” as they host Manchester City. It kicks off on Wednesday at 20.45 CET - 19.45 GMT in Turin and the Bianconeri already beat City 2-1 in England. Marchisio is in the running for the Champions League team of the season, so how does he judge himself? “I am very happy, it’s recognition for the great work everyone did last year,” said the midfielder in a Press conference. “We have been very consistent, above all in Europe, reaching the Champions League Final last term and even during a difficult time in Serie A we started out with two wins against City and Sevilla. “Now we meet City on home turf, their team is full of champions, but in their history have never really progressed very far in the tournament. “We know how much they want to finish top of the group and so do we. We’ll fight it out to the end for first place. “Every year the giants of Europe improve, we know how difficult it is to win this tournament. During my months out, I saw a team capable of playing very well both home and away, confirming we are very much at home in Europe now. “We meet a City side that is fresh from a heavy defeat in the Premier League and that can give further motivation to a side going into the Champions League, so we must be wary of their desire to fight back. “The fact they have players missing changes nothing, as they have so much strength in depth and on top of that the players who don’t get to feature often will be particularly eager to prove themselves for their future. Besides, we are missing important champions too.” Juventus have improved over the last few weeks and for the first time have three consecutive Serie A victories. “I bring my experience and presence, but I think the real reason for the improvements in recent weeks were the months of work we did. We started with many injuries and new players, so it was always going to take time and now we’re doing what we have to – win consistently. “We’ve always said that it takes consistency to reach the top and even if the performances aren’t brilliant, we must remain united and solid to bring home results. It’s a long season and we have started climbing up the table, but remain aware it’s an uphill struggle for us in Serie A this season with important clubs ahead of us.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Betting: Juventus v Manchester City After City's 4-1 thrashing against Liverpool, Al Hain-Cole expects Vincent Kompany's continued absence and the return from injury of Sergio Aguero to ensure more goals in Turin. http://www.goal.com/en/news/2994/betting/2015/11/24/17637112/-? Nov 24, 2015 Manchester City will be looking to bounce back from a 4-1 home thrashing by Liverpool when they travel to Turin to take on Juventus in Wednesday’s Champions League clash. With qualification for the knockout stages already secure, Manuel Pellegrini’s men are available at 23/10 (3.30) with Paddy Power to seal top spot in Group D by coming out on top here. Having recorded a 2-1 away victory in the reverse fixture, the hosts are 5/4 (2.25) favourites to do the double over their opponents with another win in front of their own fans – leapfrogging them into first place in the process. The sides shared a 1-1 Europa League draw when they last met on Italian soil back in 2010, and you can get odds of 23/10 (3.30) on them cancelling each other out once again this time out. As impressive as Liverpool were in Saturday’s clash at the Etihad Stadium, it is fair to say that the Citizens contributed heavily to their own undoing with a mistake-ridden defensive performance. Many have attributed this uncertainty at the back to the continued absence of Vincent Kompany, and the captain will once again be watching on from the sidelines at the Juventus Stadium. With the likes of Mario Mandzukic, Alvaro Morata and the in-form Paulo Dybala to contend with, it is likely to be another long night for the City backline as they look to record just a second Champions League clean sheet in 20 fixtures. However, a goal from Sergio Aguero on his return from injury at least provided one bright spot for Pellegrini at the weekend, who will feel confident that his side can cause the Bianconeri some problems of their own. All things considered, odds of 11/10 (2.10) look good on over 2.5 goals being scored for the 13th time in 15 City matches – including their previous meeting with Juventus. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Evra trains with Juventus http://www.football-italia.net/76196/evra-trains-juventus? Nov 24, 2015 Patrice Evra trained with Juventus this afternoon, and is in contention to face Manchester City. The French international was substituted in the win over Milan on Saturday, having twisted his ankle in the course of the match. However, TuttoJuve reports that both Evra and Martin Caceres trained with the squad at Vinovo today, though only the former is likely to start in tomorrow’s Champions League tie. Sami Khedira is expected to miss the match, with Coach Massimiliano Allegri trying to decide whether to go with a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3. Stefano Sturaro is expected to replace Khedira, with Alvaro Morata returning in attack. If the Bianconeri line-up with a 3-5-2, Paulo Dybala is expected to partner the Spaniard, but a 4-3-3 would see Morata play wide, with Juan Cuadrado on the other flank supporting Mario Mandzukic. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) JUVENTUS V MANCHESTER CITY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-v-manchester-city-champions-league-preview/? Nov 24, 2015 Juventus Juventus are heading into their penultimate group stage game against Man City knowing that a result will guarantee them a place in the last-16 of the Champions League. It’s been a truly un-Juve-like start to the 2015/16 campaign but the results are finally starting to come together. A dismal start to the campaign has made way for a solid run of form with just one defeat in the last 10 games, including 6 wins and 3 draws and 3 back-to-back wins in Serie A. Despite the latest batch of injuries, Juve have looked more determined in recent weeks, grinding out hard fought victories against Torino, Empoli and a solid enough display against Milan last weekend with Paulo Dybala making the difference. The young Argentine has been one of the highlights of an otherwise slow and sluggish season to date. Analysing things from a rudimentary level, the formation issue still seems a point of contention – There’s natural width with the inclusion of Juan Cuadrado in the lineup but Alvaro Morata still looks out of place playing so far out on the left in our 4-3-3. Results with a 4-3-1-2 still seem limited given the dismal form of Hernanes and the lack of a natural alternative to play in that trequartista role. Which leads nicely to the tried and tested 3-5-2 which seems to be the order of the day against City. giornalaccio rosa dello Sport and other Italian dailies have all suggested this is the way Juve will line-up but there may be some more pointers about tactics when Allegri gives his press conference later today (We’ll update the line-up accordingly). Gigi Buffon is fit and ready to start in goal with the customary ‘BBC’ back line of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini. On the flanks, Stephan Lichtsteiner is almost certain to start with Alex Sandro filling in on the left for the injured Patrice Evra. Sami Khedira is out yet again through injury, leaving Stefano Sturaro the likliest candidate to take his place with Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba alongside him. Up front, Paulo Dybala will be partnered by Alvaro Morata. Probable lineup 3-5-2: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichsteiner, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Sandro; Morata, Dybala. Injuries: Khedira (Thigh), Asamoah (Knee), Hernanes (Muscle), Caceres (Thigh), Evra (Ankle), Pereyra (Thigh) Suspended: Hernanes Manchester City City seem to have taken their foot off the gas in recent weeks and are coming into this game on the back of a 4-1 home defeat to Liverpool, and a poor 0-0 draw against Aston Villa the week before. Injuries haven’t helped their season but their squad boasts quality all over the pitch, especially in their midfield, who put 5 goals past Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, who are both sponsored by the Mansion Group who own casino.com. Sergio Aguero discussed his hopes for the upcoming Champions League clash against Juve with Manchester Evening News following last weekends disappointing loss to Liverpool. “You cannot truly measure the intensity with which you play,” said Aguero, now gearing up for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Juventus. “And on top of that, I always try to kick into top gear. I can’t imagine playing in any other way. “Sometimes these unfortunate things happen but the ultimate reward only comes if you give it your all.” Blues manager Manuel Pellegrini also confirmed his intention to qualify first from the so-called ‘group of death.’ “It was very important to qualify for the next stage and to do it with two games to spare is a good achievement after we started with a home defeat,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean the job is done. We are trying to qualify in first position in the group which may give us help in the Round of 16. “Maybe we deserve that help as in the last two seasons we have qualified and been beaten by Barcelona – they are not a small team!” He added after the Liverpool game: “The important thing is to try to recover our performance, it’s important to try to win, we always try to win. “If you can’t win then, of course, it’s always good to get a point, but we are not going to go to Juventus just to try to draw.” Rob from Man City blog Typical City was kind enough to give us a quick run down on who he believes will start the game and how they’ve performed so far this season: 4-3-3 Formation Hart – Superb all season. One mistake vs Norwich cancelled out by a fine save moments later. Performance against Gladbach was outstanding 8/10 Zabaleta – Given Sagna has played a lot and was involved in the game in paris vs Germany, perhaps Zabaleta will come back in for this one. Injuries have affected him badly this season, but this is a chance to get back into some form. 7.5/10 Otamendi – Was starting to form a very good partnership with Kompany but the Belgian is injured again and Otamendi was rested against Liverpool after travelling to south America in the international break. City will be glad to have him back. 7.5/10 Mangala – Needs to improve on Saturday’s performance. Has shown he is capable this season, but needs to find some consistency. 7/10 Kolarov – Better going forward than defending. Probably in need of a rest but Clichy is yet to play all season, although he is now back fit. 6.5/10 Fernando – Has had a much improved campaign. Was key to city’s win in Seville in the last game. Offers lots of protection to the back four and allows others to express themselves. 7/10 Fernandinho – City’s player of the season. Rested on Saturday and Pellegrini paid the price. Full of energy, passing quality and drive. 9/10 Toure – Calls for Delph to be included from the start are growing louder, but Toure is a big game player. Still possesses amazing quality, even at 32. 9/10 De Bruyne – Perhaps the only starter vs. Liverpool who escaped without criticism. He’s been quieter these past few weeks after a blistering start, but he’s still one of the Blues’ most creative. 8.5/10 Sterling – Blows hot and cold. Ineffective again on Sturday, but has had moments where he’s excelled. Brings pace and a willingness to run with the ball. 7.5/10 Aguero – Returned on Saturday after a seven-game absence and scored a belter. The best in the PL. 9.5/10 UPDATE – Mangala, Zabaleta, Kompany and Silva do not make the trip to Turin Probable lineup 4-3-3: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Demichelis, Kolarov ; Fernando, Fernandinho, Toure; De Bruyne, Sterling, Aguero* (Updated) Injuries: Nasri, Silva, Kompany, Bony, Delph, Suspended: None Formation Who will win between Juventus and Man City? Juventus 76% Man City 14% Draw 10% Votes 58 http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Chiellini: ‘Crucial to go through early’ http://www.football-italia.net/76191/chiellini-%E2%80%98crucial-go-through-early%E2%80%99? Nov 24, 2015 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini admits “it’s important to go through early” in the Champions League. The Bianconeri can secure qualification and go top of the group with a win over Manchester City tomorrow, and the Italian international is keen to secure progress as soon as possible. “We have match point at home,” Chiellini explained, speaking to Mediaset. “We could go through on Wednesday, and it’s important to get there early to avoid the top teams in the Last 16. “That said, last year we came second and got to the final, the time we came first, we knocked out Chelsea [in the group] and then went out [to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals]. “So anything can happen, but it’s always best to go through early. “Juve are not quite in the best four teams, but if you remember last year we we were almost ruled-out of the Last 16 in November against Olympiacos. “Then we went through along with Atletico Madrid and no-one expected that team to reach the final.” Chiellini also discussed perceived similarities between Paulo Dybala and Carlos Tevez. “I think they’re very different players. They came one after the other, and they’re both Argentinian, but their characteristics are different. “Dybala reminds me a bit of Vincenzo Montella, but just let him be Dybala.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Manchester City Need To Show Their Champions League Credentials Against Juventus http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2592523-manchester-city-need-to-show-their-champions-league-credentials-against-juventus? Nov 24, 2015 We’re over a third of the way through the Premier League season and two-thirds of the Champions League group stages are done going into this week’s matches. Yet it still doesn’t feel as if we know Manchester City at all. All that we can say with certainty is that conceding four goals at home in a league match for the first time in over a decade is not the ideal warm up for visiting the Italian champions. If you were of the opinion that this week’s Champions League visit to Juventus was merely of cosmetic importance (and this column was certainly not a subscriber to that point of view), then you should be ready to admit that it means much more now. It’s hard to know what’s more difficult to believe about the Premier League campaign to date; that Leicester City are top, or that Manchester City aren’t. Whether you’re measuring in terms of the breathtaking quality of Manuel Pellegrini’s squad on paper or on the heights that they’ve touched when they have got it right this season, City should be top of the table and cruising towards a third title in five years already. Saturday’s defeat at home to Liverpool was as perplexing as it gets. If the result looked bad on paper, then the performance was even worse. Pellegrini, as much as his players, has to carry the can for that. Even allowing for the principles of rotation (and why, frankly, would a Champions League tie when you’ve already qualified be more important than a significant Premier League home match?), the decision to leave out Nicolas Otamendi was a baffling one. La Liga’s best defender last season, Otamendi has been excellent in sky blue thus far, and he would have added authority to a harried back line that lacked any whatsoever. Aleksandar Kolarov and Bacary Sagna also looked all at sea against the pressing of Jurgen Klopp’s team. The contrast with Liverpool, who played a very similar XI to the one which recently won at Chelsea (give or take the injured Mamadou Sakho), was marked. Despite being in charge for only a matter of weeks, Klopp seems already to have an idea of his best side. Pellegrini should be advanced of that, but he didn’t seem to be on Saturday. It is easy—and to a large extent, justifiable—to point to Vincent Kompany’s continuing struggles with a calf injury as an issue. He, after all, has played a huge part in Otamendi’s smooth adaptation to Premier League life. Yet choice does come into it. Fernandinho was greatly missed in the decisive first half against Liverpool, when City looked ponderous and devoid of character in midfield. In his stead, his compatriot Fernando singularly failed to provide the bite and poise required. This is especially relevant to the confrontation with Juve is for two reasons. Firstly, just how good Fernandinho is was abundantly clear in the match that assured safe passage to the Champions League’s last 16, the resounding win at Sevilla. Secondly, City’s performance in that game showed just how far Pellegrini has developed the team in a European competition context, the previous lack of which is exactly what has led to continued speculation over his long-term future at the club. That win at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan really is one of the underrated performances of the season so far in the Champions League. In an atmosphere that often makes mice of the very best teams—it did so to Real Madrid in La Liga this season—City were scintillating. With significantly less possession, they were as incisive as could be imagined, having twice as many shots as their hosts and getting a whopping 11 efforts on target, per WhoScored.com. That they did this without the injured Sergio Aguero or Kevin De Bruyne (the Belgian came on as a second-half substitute with the game all but sewn up) made it even more impressive. Yaya Toure excelled in the advanced role, Jesus Navas and Raheem Sterling were outstanding on the flanks and behind them—with Fernando sweeping up well—Fernandinho looked every inch the box-to-fox force of nature that he can be, making important tackles and storming into the Sevilla penalty box to make his presence felt. Wilfried Bony played a strong part too. Much of the season has been spent with the English wringing their hands at Premier League sides’ difficulties in the Champions League. Here was a side whose performance screamed out that they could be a genuine contender but credit was relatively thin on the ground—perhaps because of Arsenal’s and, to a lesser extent, Chelsea’s and Manchester United’s stutters. City’s task in Turin is to show that Sevilla was no accident. Normally, this is the stage of the Champions League where they are scrambling to make up lost ground, but that isn’t the case this time around—so they can make a statement instead. Nobody is yet saying (and nor should they be) that Pellegrini’s side are approaching the level of Bayern Munich or Barcelona, but Juventus themselves proved just last season exactly what could be done with talent and canny management. Pellegrini’s work in the Champions League—and that’s what’s relevant to this week—has suggested he might be able to do the same. This week, City can also prove how much they learned in the opening-night defeat to Juve at the Etihad, when they dominated large portions of the game yet were picked off by smarter opponents. This match matters—not just in terms of pride and prestige, but in terms of City’s future. If they’re not going to walk their way to their Premier League title (and if they do ultimately fail to capture it, it will be a heinous waste), then they need to make reparation for that fact elsewhere. The only place that can be is in the Champions League. Manchester City have had the pieces for a while, and now they have the plan. It’s time to prove that they can be this season’s Juventus. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

Pogba needs to be more of a boss - Petit The retired midfielder tells Goal that his fellow Frenchman has to be allowed to play without any restrictions if he is to rediscover his very best form. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3310/goal-50/2015/11/24/17653602/-? Nov 24, 2015 Emmanuel Petit says that Goal 50 contender Paul Pogba must "be a boss" and demand more freedom on the pitch from Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri. Pogba is regarded as one of the finest midfielders in world football and was the subject of an €80 million bid from Barcelona during the summer. The France international decided to remain in Turin, though, and was given Juve's prestigious No.10 jersey for the 2015-16 campaign. However, Pogba has struggled to replicate his very best form so far this season and Petit feels that the onus is on his compatriot to ensure that he be deployed in his best position. "Pogba needs to be a boss, a leader," the former Arsenal and Barcelona ace told Goal. "He is already, but only in a soft manner. "I think that he needs his team-mates to play well. He needs a team that is tactically balanced because when you are Paul Pogba, you have your way. "He is one of those players who need freedom on the pitch. He needs to smell the game and use his flair. "He needs to be able to move constantly without restrictions."

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Juventus vs. Manchester City: Complete Player-by-Player Comparison http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2592513-juventus-vs-manchester-city-complete-player-by-player-comparison? Nov 24, 2015 Juventus and Manchester City meet on Wednesday in the penultimate matchday of this season’s Champions League Group D. City’s qualification is already assured, but a win would guarantee them top spot. Three points for Juventus would see them join City in the knockout phase and put themselves into pole position to finish first going into Matchday 6. Juventus won the first game between the two sides at the Etihad. City controlled the match, but two ruthless finishes on the counter saw them severely punished. Massimo Allegri, the Juventus manager, and Manuel Pellegrini, the City boss, have some big decisions to make in terms of team selection, but here, we suggest possible XIs and grade each player. Both teams line up in 4-3-3 formations here, but there could be changes. Juventus may opt for 3-5-2, and City have often gone for 4-2-3-1. Goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon versus Joe Hart Joe Hart’s form this season has been magnificent, and again on Saturday he made a series of excellent stops that kept the score against Liverpool somewhat respectable. His opposite number, Gianluigi Buffon, is one of the game’s all-time greats—a goalkeeper who has consistently displayed remarkable quality over a long period of time. He’s barely put a foot wrong this season and has saved Juve on numerous occasions, including this weekend against AC Milan, when his save from Alessio Cerci deep into stoppage time helped secure the points. Buffon: 9.5 Hart: 8 Defenders Stephan Lichtsteiner versus Pablo Zabaleta It’s been a strange season for Stephan Lichtsteiner. Like many in the Juventus squad, his start to the season was slow, but since returning from an operation, he’s been much better. He scored a key equaliser against Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 4 and has shown improvements ever since. Pablo Zabaleta may return for this game. Bacary Sagna has been involved in a lot of games this season, including France’s recent double-header, which saw him playing while the Paris attacks ensued. He understandably looked distracted against Liverpool, so this may be the perfect opportunity to bring Zabaleta back in. It’s been an injury-affected season so far for the Argentinian, but we all know his quality. Lichtsteiner: 6.5 Zabaleta: 7.5 Leonardo Bonucci versus Nicolas Otamendi Leonardo Bonucci was dropped for the weekend game with Milan but did manage a late cameo. He’s likely to come back in for this game, having been fairly consistent so far this term. Juventus’ defence is under far more strain this season given the departures of some star names in midfield, most notably Arturo Vidal. Nicolas Otamendi is almost certain to start after being rested for the weekend’s shambolic performance against Liverpool. He was beginning to settle into his role at City, but after travelling to South America and playing two games for Argentina during the recent international break, Pellegrini decided to rest him. It backfired. City looked all over the place defensively, and Martin Demichelis will drop out for this game, surely. Bonucci: 7 Otamendi: 7 Giorgio Chiellini versus Eliaquim Mangala It’s been a difficult start to the season for Giorgio Chiellini, but he was superb against Milan this weekend and remains a tough defender to get the better of. His lack of pace is becoming more of a problem, particularly against counter-attacking sides, and City have the capability to counter-attack effectively. The less said about Eliaquim Mangala’s game against Liverpool on Saturday the better. The Frenchman was awful. He had been showing signs of improving this season, particularly alongside Vincent Kompany, but those familiar concentration and footwork issues reared their head again this weekend. He needs a big performance. Chiellini: 7 Mangala: 6.5 Alex Sandro versus Aleksandar Kolarov With Patrice Evra set to miss the game through injury, Alex Sandro, one of the fastest-rising stars in Serie A, is likely to deputise. Evra’s injury could signal a run in the side for Sandro, with many expecting him to take his chance. He assisted winners against Torino and Milan this season and has shown already he’s a real threat going forward. Aleksandar Kolarov is likely to remain in the starting lineup. The Serbian has limitations, particularly defensively, but given Gael Clichy’s injury problems this season, it would seem odd to put the Frenchman back in for this one. Sandro: 6.5 Kolarov: 6.5 Midfielders Stefano Sturaro versus Fernando With Vidal gone, there is a significant hole in the Juventus midfield, one that Stefano Sturaro has attempted to fill when injuries have taken hold. He plays an unfussy style, winning the ball back and recycling possession quickly. He hasn't impressed on a consistent basis and will need to improve for the visit of City. Fernando has had a far better season than he managed in 2014/15. He was key in City’s victory away at Seville on Matchday 4, with the protection he offers the back four vital in allowing City’s attacking players express themselves more freely. Sturaro: 6 Fernando: 7 Claudio Marchisio versus Fernandinho With Vidal and Andrea Pirlo exiting in the summer, Juventus’ midfield has suffered, but Claudio Marchisio is hellbent on filling the gaps. He’s been superb—Juventus’ best player this season. He dictates the pace of the game and looks to control things for The Old Lady. The Brazilian midfielder has been City’s player of the season thus far. His energy, drive, passing and stamina make him the most important player in the team at the moment. Quite why he was dropped on Saturday remains a mystery. He travelled to south America but hardly played in Brazil’s double-header. City missed him badly. Marchisio: 8.5 Fernandinho: 9 Paul Pogba versus Yaya Toure Paul Pogba is set for greatness. The France midfielder possesses everything he needs to be a top-quality player for years to come: power, pace, vision and technical quality. His assist for Juventus’ equaliser against City in the game at the Etihad earlier this season was a great example of his brilliance, producing a remarkable ball to the back post in a split second. The ball was so good that the City defence barely moved. In truth, though, he’s had a mixed season. There have been some stirring displays and some average ones. Still, there’s no doubting his quality and his ability to produce in big games. It’s been a familiar story for Yaya Toure. He remains one of the most gifted players in world football, yet, at 32, there are times when it seems age is catching up with him. Pogba: 9 Toure: 9 Forwards Juan Cuadrado versus Kevin De Bruyne Juan Cuadrado may have underwhelmed at Chelsea, but his move to Juventus has seen him show far better consistency. He brings pace and directness to the right-hand side of the pitch and gave City all sorts of problems on Matchday 1. He is one of the few Juve players prepared to take a man on and create some space. After a blistering start to the season, Kevin De Bruyne has slowed up in recent weeks, but he remains one of the team’s most creative players. At 24, the way he has confidently come into the side and produced so many excellent displays has been remarkable, and he was perhaps the only starter against Liverpool to leave the field with his reputation unharmed. Cuadrado: 7.5 De Bruyne: 8.5 Alvaro Morata versus Raheem Sterling Alvaro Morata is gradually finding his best form again. He’s played an unfamiliar role on the left of a front three for much of the season, with his Champions League performances eclipsing his Serie A displays. For Raheem Sterling, it’s also been a mixed campaign. He’s shown flashes of brilliance, but they’ve been interspersed with ineffective games. His pace is always a threat, though, and he brings balance to the City attack. He will look to recreate the form he showed against Sevilla in the last Champions League game—his best performance for the club thus far. Morata: 7 Sterling: 7.5 Paulo Dybala versus Sergio Aguero Paulo Dybala has been Juventus’ star man so far this term. He’s scored six goals and registered two assists and has assumed the mantle of Carlos Tevez, the forward who left in the summer having made a habit of dragging Juventus to victory. Sergio Aguero is the finest striker in Europe, though. He’s not yet fully match fit, but his goal against Liverpool was a reminder of his brilliance. Dybala: 8 Aguero: 9.5 http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Yaya Toure: Manchester City need to win group The Ivory Coast international believes victory in Turin will help restore confidence after Saturday's thrashing by Liverpool. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/champions-league/2015/11/24/17651662/-? Nov 24, 2015 Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure says it is important his side beat Juventus on Wednesday and finish top of Champions League Group D. Manuel Pellegrini's men have been unable to make an impact in Europe in recent years, but the Ivory Coast international is confident they can go all the way in the Champions League this time around. Manchester City were beaten 4-1 by Liverpool at the weekend but Toure is determined to return to winning ways when they take on Juventus with top spot on the line in Turin. "It’s important for the confidence of our supporters and it’s important for us to put in a strong performance," he told the club's official website. "A couple of years ago, we were in this competition and we didn’t finish in the top two. I think the key is to finish first for the first time and if we could do it with one game to spare, so much the better. "I don't know what will happen in Turin. For us, the target is to finish first and get a kind draw in the Round of 16 and then continue onwards because it's a target to get as far as we can in this competition." City's defeat to Liverpool saw them knocked off the top of the Premier League table but Toure says his side are still gunning for glory on all fronts. "The target of this club this year is try to achieve any trophy possible and we are still going strong in all of them this season," he added. "We know it will be difficult to win everything, but we'll be trying as hard as we can because we have the squad, we have the players and I think if everything is right at the right time, we can perform and beat anybody." http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Vincent Kompany and David Silva miss Manchester City training ahead of Juventus trip Manchester City duo Vincent Kompany and David Silva did not train ahead of their Champions League Group D clash with Juventus. http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/10077105/vincent-kompany-and-david-silva-miss-manchester-city-training-ahead-of-juventus-trip? Nov 24, 2015 Kompany missed the 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool on Saturday with a recurrence of a calf problem, while Silva has been absent in the last seven games with an ankle injury. Sergio Aguero did train on Tuesday after returning, and scoring, against Liverpool following a seven-game absence with a hamstring problem. City fly out to Turin on Tuesday afternoon before manager Manuel Pellegrini addresses the media in a pre-match news conference from the Italian city in the evening, which you can watch on Sky Sports News HQ from 7pm. Juventus could also be without three key players for the game, with City top of the champions League and Juvenuts second. Sami Khedira and Hernanes are definitely sidelined while Patrice Evra is a doubt after hobbling off during the Serie A win over AC Milan at the weekend. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Manchester City's Sergio Aguero won't hold back against Juventus http://www.espnfc.co.uk/manchester-city/story/2724846/man-city-sergio-aguero-will-not-hold-back-against-juventus? Nov 23, 2015 Sergio Aguero has promised not to hold back in Manchester City's Champions League clash with Juventus on Wednesday, despite having just recovered from his latest injury setback. Aguero spent a month on the sidelines with a hamstring before returning in City's 4-1 loss against Liverpool on Saturday. The match before the injury, however, he'd set a Premier League record by netting the league's's quickest ever five-goal haul in City's 6-1 win over Newcastle on Oct. 3. Speaking on Monday, Aguero promised to give his all on the pitch. "You cannot truly measure the intensity with which you play," Aguero said ahead of Wednesday's match. "And on top of that, I always try to kick into top gear. I can't imagine playing in any other way. "Sometimes these unfortunate things happen but the ultimate reward only comes if you give it your all." The former Atletico Madrid striker had missed City's last seven matches after suffering his setback while playing for Argentina against Ecuador last month. He said he felt well before that game in Buenos Aires, but injuries are unpredictable. "I did feel well," Aguero said. "I had taken a special training programme to specifically avoid overexertion and I felt in good condition. "But you never know when an injury is going to come. I went to play as I usually do -- giving it my all. Then at one moment, when I went to kick the ball, I felt the strain. "It was a shame because I hadn't had a muscular injury in over a year but what happened happened and I can't turn back the clock. "The important thing now is to take the time needed for it to be a full recovery -- and that's what I'm doing." Manchester City currently sit atop their Champions League group, one point ahead of 2014-15 finalists Juventus. Their domestic form has been equally impressive as they trail leaders Leicester by a similar point in the Premier League. Despite their financial might, the Etihad club have so far disappointed in Europe's top club competition. According to Aguero, their struggles haven't been due to a lack of respect for the competition. "The Champions League is the most important competition in the world, isn't it," said Aguero. "The good thing is that the Champions League is every year, so every year you can do your best to win it, and every football player wants to do that. "We have a great team at City. We are on the right path, and it's only the beginning -- there are five games left to try to go through, and then to move through the knockout stages, which is what we are all looking for." City have failed to advance past the Champions League's Round of 16 during Aguero's time at the club. He believes those experiences have placed he and his teammates on the right path. "Since I arrived here, the draw in the Champions League has been very tough on City, and we have always drawn great teams in the group stages, teams which got to the semis or the final," Aguero said. "In the last few Champions Leagues we have, maybe, not had the experience. Maybe some players did not know what it was to play in the Champions League. "The first times were difficult, the nerves, the expectations. "But now most of us have enough experience. We have very good players who are going to do a lot for us, and I think we are on the right path. There is still a lot of time to achieve things." He added that the tournament's profile has grown greatly in his native Argentina. "We always used to watch the Champions League because it is the best competition in the world. And obviously whenever there was a match we would always check the results. "But every year it got bigger, because at the start it wasn't watched somuch in Argentina, and in the last few years it has become much more popular." http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Preview: Juventus vs. Manchester City http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/champions-league/preview/preview-juventus-vs-manchester-city_258911.html? Nov 23, 2015 Manchester City travel to Turin to face Juventus, knowing that victory will see the Blues secure top spot in Group D with a game to spare. However, the Bianconieri, who beat City earlier in the campaign, can qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League with a win over the Premier League side. Juventus While Massimiliano Allegri's side are second in the group and yet to secure their place in the knockout, last season's runners-up are one of only five clubs to remain unbeaten at this stage in the competition. Some might find that statistic hard to believe given Juve's start to the Serie A season, which saw them win just one of their first six matches. However, the Old Lady began to regain its confidence and have only lost one of their last seven domestic matches, although they remain nine points behind leaders Inter Milan. Juventus prepared for the visit of City to Turin with a 1-0 victory over Sinisa Mihajlovic's AC Milan, thanks to Paulo Dybala's 65th-minute winner. Allegri described the result as a "step in the right direction" for his team. However, that triumph came at a cost, with Hernanes forced off with a thigh injury and facing three weeks on the sidelines. His absence could place a greater burden on Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio to run Juve's midfield against the Premier League giants. Wins against City and Sevilla in their first two group games looked to have put Juventus well on their way to the knockout stages, but consecutive draws against Borussia Monchengladbach means that Allegri's men still need a result to qualify. Recent form: WWDD Recent form (all competitions): DWLWWW Manchester City Blues manager Manuel Pellegrini cut a dismayed figure when speaking to the media after his side's thumping home defeat at the hands of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. The Chilean described the 4-1 reverse as a "fake game" and claimed that he could not understand how his team could produce a poor performance after preparing so well in the build-up to the match. However, part of the explanation for their brittle defensive display may lie in Bacary Sagna's suggestion that neither he or France international teammate Eliaquim Mangala were not in the right frame of mind to play after the events of the previous weekend in Paris, where gunmen and suicide bombers launched co-ordinated attacks across the City. Nevertheless, the Citizens will look to rediscover the form which took them to the top of the Premier League, including a run of nine games without defeat, including seven wins. City did at least welcome back Sergio Aguero against Liverpool and the international forward showed little sign of losing his goalscoring touch when he pulled one back before half time on Saturday. Their place in the last 16 has already been secured after first-half goals from Raheem Sterling, Fernandinho and Wilfried Bony helped to a 3-1 away win at Sevilla on matchday four. Recent form: LWWW Recent form (all competitions): WWDWDL Team News As mentioned, the Italian champions will be without Hernanes for at least three weeks, although the Brazilian was suspended in any case after picking up a red card against Borussia. Sami Khedira's thigh problem means the German World Cup winner will be missing from the Bianconieri's midfield, while Argentine Roberto Pereyra is also unavailable. Patrice Evra (ankle) and Martin Caceres (thigh) are doubtful for the game in Turin. Meanwhile, the Citizens are facing their own injury headaches in midfield, with Samir Nasri out until February at the earliest after undergoing an operation on his hamstring. Bony (hamstring) has been out of action since the goalless draw at Aston Villa and David Silva is still continuing his return to full fitness. The Spanish international is unlikely to feature with City already through. Similarly, the Manchester outfit are not expected to field Vincent Kompany after he sat out the defeat to Liverpool. Juventus possible starting lineup: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Chiellini, Sandro; Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba, Cuadrado; Morata, Dybala Manchester City possible starting lineup: Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Otamendi, Kolarov; Toure, Fernando; Navas, De Bruyne, Sterling; Aguero Head To Head Of the five previous encounters, City have beaten Juve only once, with a familiar face in Brian Kidd scoring the only goal during the first-leg of their UEFA Cup First Round tie at Maine Road in 1976. The Bianconieri duly won the return fixture to progress, a year before they would go on to lift the trophy. Both teams played out 1-1 draws in the group phase of the 2010-11 Europa League before the most recent meeting, which saw the Old Lady win 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, courtesy of late goals from Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata. We say: Juventus 1-1 Manchester City Despite the manner of their defeat at the weekend, City might still fancy themselves to win and with Aguero available, Pellegrini's side stand a better chance of victory. However, a draw would not hurt the Blues, who have already qualified and with Juve only needing a point, it would not be a surprise if the game finishes level. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Juventus plagued by a spate of new injuries ahead of key Champions League clash versus Manchester City Hernanes and Patrice Evra are ruled out after knocks picked up against Milan, joining Sami Khedira and Martin Caceres as recent injury casualties. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/11/23/9782894/juventus-hernanes-patrice-evra-sami-khedira-2015-champions-league Nov 23, 2015 Just when it seemed that the Old Lady were going to receive a respite from the injury bug that has hit the team since the start of the season, they've been hit another wave of them. Joining the already missing Roberto Pereyra and Kwadwo Asamoah — who are both, thankfully, back in training and on their way back — Sami Khedira (who missed the game over the weekend with Milan due to a muscle problem) and Martin Caceres (who picked up a thigh strain on international duty) are fullback Patrice Evra and midfielder Hernanes. The French veteran picked up a sprained ankle against Milan, while the Brazilian came off on Saturday after feeling discomfort in his right thigh. Subsequent tests have confirmed a first-grade tear in the adductor longus muscle in the trequartista's right thigh. He is expected to miss the next three weeks. There is unlikely to be many tears shed over Hernanes' pending absence. The player nicknamed Il Profeta (The Prophet), has been nothing short of...uh...underwhelming, and that's being polite. He's been slow and meandering when on the ball, and has not provided any kind of guile or creative spark to the Bianconeri's attacking play. Hernanes has not provided any goals or assists in his eleven Juve appearances to date. Now with the absences of Hernanes and the aforementioned Pereyra, Max Allegri will likely be choosing between the 4-3-3 (with Juan Cuadrado most likely to replace Hernanes) and 3-5-2 (which he switched to at half time against Milan) formations. As for the other absentees, Evra, Khedira and Caceres are being monitored closely on a day-to-day basis, as a timeline for their returns have not yet been determined. Evra and Khedira will surely be missed in the key matchup against Manchester City, both for their ability and the experience they bring to what could be a tense game. Juventus have not yet sealed their passage to the last sixteen, and while Citeh has, they will be targeting revenge for the loss that was inflicted on them by Juventus at the Etihad, and simultaneously wrapping up first place. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

Chiellini: ‘Juventus can’t talk about Scudetto’ http://www.football-italia.net/76154/chiellini-%E2%80%98juventus-can%E2%80%99t-talk-scudetto%E2%80%99? Nov 23, 2015 Giorgio Chiellini admits that Juventus “can’t talk about the Scudetto”, targeting a Champions League place instead. The Bianconeri have won three Serie A games in a row, but remain nine points adrift of leaders Inter, after a poor start to the season. “I think in our position we can’t talk about the Scudetto,” Chiellini told Sky. “We have to take it game-by-game. We’ve recovered some places in the last few games. The important thing is to be consistent between now and Christmas. “We’d like to chip away some points from the teams who are ahead of us. The lead group, however, are going pretty well and they’ve shown that in these games. “We have to be there, and be like a hammer, and try to slowly climb up the table. “We mustn’t forget that the main target, as reiterated by the club during the international break, is to get into the top three.” Chiellini was also asked about comparisons between Paulo Dybala and Carlos Tevez, with the former having scored the winner against Milan on Saturday. “I think they’re very different players. In terms of their shots, their physical characteristics and also technically. “The things they have in common is that they came to Juventus in succession and they’re Argentinian, but I see them as having very different characteristics.”

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Brych for Juventus-City http://www.football-italia.net/76149/brych-juventus-city? Nov 23, 2015 German referee Felix Brych has been appointed for Wednesday’s Champions League clash between Juventus and Manchester City. The Bianconeri can go top of the group and secure a place in the Last 16 with a win over the English side, and are undefeated in Group D so far. Brych took charge of the Old Lady’s trip to Atletico Madrid last season, a 1-0 defeat, and dished out two red cards in Zenit St Petersburg’s 2-0 win over Lyon earlier this season. The 40-year-old was also in charge of Italy’s final Euro 2016 qualifier, a 2-1 win over Norway at Stadio Olimpico. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Juventus Forward Dybala Praises Compatriot Aguero http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/juventus-forward-dybala-praises-compatriot-aguero/? Nov 23, 2015 After sealing Juventus victory over AC Milan in Serie A on Saturday, Paulo Dybala is now focusing on the forthcoming Champions League clash against Manchester City. The 22-year-old forward will face his compatriot Sergio Aguero as the Bianconeri will entertain the Premier League side in a struggle for the lead of Group D. “Aguero is certainly an excellent player,” Dybala told Rai Sport. “Luckily I have the chance to play alongside him in the national team.” The former Palermo player scored seven goals in all competitions so far and is the Bianconeri’s top scorer this season. Manchester City currently sit at the top Group D with 9 points, with the Turin side sitting just a point behind ahead of their meeting at the Juventus Stadium. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Giornata 5 Mercoledí, 25 novembre 2015 - ore 20:45 Juventus Stadium, Torino Arbitro:‬ Felix Brych (Germania) Confronti ufficiali 5 - 1 (Champions League) - 2 (Coppa UEFA) - 2 (Europa League) Vittorie Juventus 2 - 1 (Champions League) - 1 (Coppa UEFA) Pareggi 2 - 2 (Europa League) Vittorie Manchester City 1 - 1 (Coppa UEFA) Goals Juventus 6 - 2 (Champions League) - 2 (Coppa UEFA) - 2 (Europa League) Goals Manchester City 4 - 1 (Champions League) - 1 (Coppa UEFA) - 2 (Europa League) Juventus - Manchester City - Champions League a Torino Confronti ufficiali 0 Vittorie Juventus 0 Pareggi 0 Vittorie Manchester City 0 Goals Juventus 0 Goals Manchester City 0 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Manchester City 3 presenze Chiellini Giorgio 2 Benetti Romeo 2 Bettega Roberto 2 Bonucci Leonardo 2 Causio Franco 2 Cuccureddu Antonello 2 Del Piero Alessandro 2 Felipe Melo 2 Furino Giuseppe 2 Gentile Claudio 2 Grygera Zdenek 1 goal Boninsegna Roberto 1 Giannetti Niccolò 1 Iaquinta Vincenzo 1 Mandzukic Mario 1 Morata Alvaro 1 Scirea Gaetano Ultimi confronti diretti 15.09.1976 - Coppa UEFA - Manchester City-Juventus 1-0 29.09.1976 - Coppa UEFA - Juventus-Manchester City 2-0 30.09.2010 - Europa League - Manchester City-Juventus 1-1 16.12.2010 - Europa League - Juventus-Manchester City 1-1 15.09.2015 - Champions League - Manchester City-Juventus 1-2 Giocate 5 - Vittorie Juventus 2 - Pareggi 2 - Vittorie Manchester City 1 - Goals Juventus 6 - Goals Manchester City 4 da juworld.net http://www.goal.com/it/tables/champions-league/10

Messi wants Dybala at Barca? http://www.football-italia.net/76129/messi-wants-dybala-barca? Nov 23, 2015 Lionel Messi has reportedly advised Barcelona to try and sign Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, with Paris Saint-Germain also linked. Dybala was decisive in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Milan and some statistics have emerged today that underline the impact he has had in Turin. giornalaccio rosa dello Sport have written that the forward has beefed up by four kilograms to 73kg since arriving, while La Repubblica write that he runs 12km per match on average and has scored six times in his first 13 matches – a better record than Carlos Tevez. Tuttosport believe that Messi has advised Barca to look into signing the 22-year-old, who arrived from Palermo in the summer. His value is believed to have risen from €40m to €60m since the start of the season and PSG are also reported to be interested, but Juve consider the striker unsellable.

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Juve stars to miss Man City http://www.football-italia.net/76112/juve-stars-miss-man-city? Nov 22, 2015 Patrice Evra, Sami Khedira, Hernanes and Martin Caceres are all expected to miss Juventus v Manchester City. The Champions League showdown in Turin is on Wednesday evening. The Bianconeri beat Milan 1-0 last night, but paid a heavy price for that Serie A victory, picking up more injury problems. Roberto Pereyra and Kwadwo Asamoah are already out of action and Khedira missed that match due to a muscular problem. Juve released a statement confirming Khedira “will train separately next week,” so won’t be fit to face Manchester City. Evra sprained his ankle against Milan and limped off after just 28 minutes. “His condition will be monitored over the course of the coming days. “Also on the sidelines was Hernanes, who reported discomfort in his adductor muscle and will undergo tests tomorrow. “Finally, Martin Caceres’ condition will continue to be assessed on a daily basis as he bids to shake off a thigh strain.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Juventus duo Evra & Hernanes could miss Manchester City clash The pair picked up injuries during the 1-0 win over AC Milan on Saturday and will be monitored ahead of Wednesday's game in Turin. http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2015/11/22/17591572/-? Nov 22, 2015 Juventus face an anxious wait over the fitness of Patrice Evra and Hernanes ahead of their clash with Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday. Evra was forced off in the first half of Juve's 1-0 win over AC Milan on Saturday. Playmaker Hernanes picked up a groin problem and was replaced at half-time. "Patrice Evra suffered a light twisted ankle during last night's game with Milan and his condition will be monitored over the course of the coming days," Juventus confirmed via their official website following a training session on Sunday. "Also on the sidelines was Hernanes, who reported discomfort in his adductor muscle and will undergo tests tomorrow. "Meanwhile, Sami Khedira is still feeling the effects of a muscle injury sustained before the international break, meaning he will train separately next week. Martin Caceres' condition will continue to be assessed on a daily basis as he bids to shake off a thigh strain." Juve face a key Champions League clash at home to City on Wednesday knowing a victory will take them top of the group and into the knockout stages. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - MANCHESTER CITY - Matchday 5 Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Felix Brych (Germany) Man City fearing Juventus clash without Vincent Kompany, David Silva http://www.espnfc.co.uk/manchester-city/story/2719500/manchester-city-fear-juventus-clash-sans-kompany-and-silva? Nov 22, 2015 Manchester City are bracing themselves for the prospect of facing Juventus in the Champions League without either the injured Vincent Kompany or David Silva. Captain Kompany was ruled out of Saturday's Premier League clash against Liverpool with a calf problem while midfielder Silva, who has an ankle injury, is a major doubt. And while manager Manuel Pellegrini is optimistic both could return for next Saturday's home game against Southampton, each could miss Wednesday's meeting with the Serie A winners and Champions League finalists. Kompany had recovered from gastroenteritis before being injured in training and Pellegrini revealed in a news conference: "It's his calf. I am hoping that next week he will be fit but the calf is such a difficult muscle you never know how much [time] he needs." Silva has already sat out seven City games after being hurt playing for Spain and Pellegrini explained: "It's a long injury because it's not a muscle injury. It's an ankle and for different reasons he can't be 100 percent fit. "If a player is not comfortable I think that he can't play but he's a player that we need, especially now that we don't have Samir Nasri for four or five months. "I hope it's the same as with Vincent, that next week he can be okay." Nasri had said he was out for three months, but Pellegrini suggested his injury is more serious than that, adding: "Samir Nasri has a tendon injury in his right leg so now he must have surgery because it's an important injury." Pellegrini has confirmed that Sergio Aguero, who has missed City's last seven matches with a hamstring strain, would begin the game against Liverpool, as his deputy Wilfried Bony was absent, but did not expect the Argentinian to finish it. "It was difficult because he has gone so many days without playing," he said. "I don't think he is ready to play 90 minutes or to play two or three games in a week. It is important for Sergio to evaluate during the game how many minutes he feels he can play. "But he must start in this game because we don't have Bony and it is important for the team to have Sergio." http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkp97dtDRBw http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie-a/juventus/2015/11/21-6071299/juventus-milan_i_momenti_pi_emozionanti_della_gara/#1

JUVENTUS - MILAN 1 - 0 Paulo Dybala (65') MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Juventus vs. AC Milan 2015: Final score 1-0, Paulo Dybala stunner makes it three in a row for Juve A magnificent volley by Paulo Dybala gives Juve their third win in a row and puts them above the Rossoneri in the table. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/11/22/9775310/juventus-ac-milan-2015-serie-a-final-score-recap-result Nov 22, 2015 While most of the football world's attention was fixed on the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu and El Clásico on Saturday, Italian football fans worldwide were anticipating another one of the "most iconic fixtures in world football," Juventus versus Milan. There's no doubt that this fixture has lost some of its luster in recent seasons — primarily due to the staggering drop in quality of the Rossoneri. However, this season's first meeting of the two most successful Italian clubs in history had garnered some high expectations. After major changes in the summer, and poor sporting starts to the season, both teams had seemed to turn things around and were on an upward trajectory. The home team had finally put back to back league wins together, after victories at home in the Derby della Mole and away to Empoli. The visitors, Milan, were undefeated in four - three of those being wins. They now sat in seventh and sixth respectively, now within touching distance of the leaders and Champions League places. In addition to the feeling that both giants were finally starting to get things together there was another angle to the narrative of this meeting. Gianluigi Buffon was celebrating the 20th anniversary of his spectacular Serie A debut, when he kept a clean sheet against — you guessed it — Milan. On the other side, a newcomer who is being touted as a possible heir to Superman's throne, 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma was guarding the nets for the Milanese. The youngest goalkeeper ever in Serie A, Milan's recent good results have coincided with the inclusion of the other Gigi into the starting eleven by Rossoneri coach Sinisa Mihajlovic. He was responsible for their first clean sheet of the season a few weeks ago against Chievo. Juventus had won their last five meetings against the Rossoneri in Serie A and were aiming to keep that streak alive. MATCH SUMMARY The early stages of the match consisted of both teams feeling each other out, and very few chances, with Milan particularly not being very adventurous. The first real chance in earnest fell to Claudio Marchisio, who picked up a pass from Stephan Lichtsteiner, and unleashed a strong left footed drive on goal, which Donnarumma had to get low to save. A minute later, Milan did create a good opportunity up the other end, when a well-flighted cross by Giacomo Bonaventura was met by Alessio Cerci — who got in behind the Juve defence. Curiously, though, rather than go for goal, Cerci headed the ball across the goal towards no one in a red and black shirt. A glorious chance wasted for the visitors. Brazilian playmaker Hernanes had a couple decent chances late in the half; the first, a left footed shot over the bar after some nice footwork at the top of the box, and the second, a free kick that was deflected and forced Donnarumma into a flying save. A fairly dull first half, with very few moments of real quality. Juventus coach Max Allegri decided to make a change at the half, taking off the ineffective Hernanes and bringing on Leonardo Bonucci, switching the formation to a 3-5-2. There was an early scare in the second half, as Riccardo Montolivo chipped into the box for M'Baye Niang, who rose above Stefano Sturaro to head across the box for the onrushing Bonaventura, then apparently taken out by Bonucci. It seemed a sure fire penalty and red card for the man who had been on the field for around sixty seconds! However, the referee blew the whistle for a foul on Sturaro by Niang; on the replay it did look like the young French forward did forearm Sturaro in the back. Juventus were much better in the second half. Paul Pogba, who had another decent game, tested Donnarumma from long range with a swerving, dipping shot. Juve had their tails up, and Pogba was instrumental in the breakthrough goal. Pogba played a scoop pass along the left channel for Alex Sandro to run onto, and the Brazilian crossed first time into the box for Paulo Dybala. The Argentine controlled on his chest before unleashing a left footed (what else) volley past Donnarumma in the Milan goal! It was a beautiful team move and nothing less than Juve had deserved. Sixty seconds later, Dybala had another left footed shot, this time from outside the box, but this one was saved by Donnarumma. From here, the Bianconeri sought to control the rest of the match to the end, as Milan were offering very little in the way of a threat. Alex Sandro, who had arguably his best game in a Juve shirt, did some good work on the left again. He crossed into the middle for the awaiting Mario Mandzukic, but the Croatian ballooned over from six yards out! Buffon had to make his first save in second half stoppage time, when Cerci shot on goal from outside the box. In the end, a fairly comfortable win for Juve, despite not playing particularly well. LE PAGELLE Buffon 7.5 Celebrated the twentieth anniversary of his Serie A debut with a clean sheet against the same team he debuted against - also with a clean sheet then. I'm sure he would have enjoyed that. Lichtsteiner 7.5 Like much of the team he gave a solid, if unspectacular, performance. Dealt with the threat of Niang well. Barzagli 7.5 Was rendered effectively redundant due to the ineffectiveness of Milan's attackers. Other than his charge forward and shot in the second half, he didn't do much. An easy evening for Barza. No complaints here. Chiellini 7.5 Other than a forced foul when beaten on the turn by Carlos Bacca early in the game, like Barzagli there was little for him to do. Again, no complaints. Evra n/a Picked up an injury early in the first half and was forced off. Hopefully nothing serious; his experience will be useful midweek against Manchester City. Sturaro 7 Great defensive display, breaking up many plays; terrible going forward, with many misplaced passes and bad crosses. Marchisio 8 Along with Alex Sandro, probably the standout performer in this game. He had the most touches, unsurprisingly, and controlled the midfield with ease. Pogba 7.5 He looked more like the Pogba of old with his performance against Milan. There's still a way to go to get back to where he was, but the signs are encouraging. Played a key part in the goal as well. Hernanes 5.5 Created one opportunity for himself in the first half, but none of note for anyone else, which considering he was the trequartista is pretty damning. Deservedly hooked at half time. Dybala 9 Overall, looked very lively and scored a great goal! That's six for the season, he must be the undoubted starter up front now. Still waiting to see the Morata-Dybala partnership given more of a run, but for now I guess we have to put up with Allegri's rotation. Sigh. Mandzukic 6 Disappointing, as has been his Juve career to date. His miss in the ninetieth minute said it all. Subs Alex Sandro 8 Possibly his best performance since joining, the Brazilian owned the left flank. Aided in part by Milan's lack of any kind of consistent attacking threat, Sandro got forward well and often, while still doing his defensive duties when called on. Brilliant assist on the Dybala goal. Bonucci 7.5 Came on at half time for the disappointing Hernanes. Almost gave away a penalty and got sent off within seconds of coming on, but other than that scare, like the rest of the defence had pretty much nothing to do. Morata n/a Came on late to give Dybala a rest. Didn't do too much. He did have this fun bit before the match though. Coach Allegri 8 Made a key change in ditching the trequartista route and switching to a 3-5-2, which turned the game in Juve's favour. Like his team, a solid but not great performance. THINGS I THINK I THINK Milan - Despite all the money the Rossoneri have spent this summer, there is not a lot of quality there. They are still a poor side, with an almost jaw-dropping lack of creativity. Yes, their main creative mind Jérémy Ménez is still out injured, but you would have thought given their largesse a creative midfielder would have been on their shopping list, no? Hernanes - Early days, but it seems like the m***a may have finally gotten one over on us in the transfer market. When even the man that signed you reluctantly admits that you weren't the first choice player that they were hoping to sign, you know things are bad. Other than his set piece deliveries, which have been just okay, he has been useless for the most part. He's slow and therefore slows plays down often, his passing is inconsistent and he often makes bad decisions. And let's not forget his bone-headedness which cost us against 'Gladbach, when were on the up and could have possibly come back to win. Other than the game against Manchester City, it's hard to remember a good game for Hernanes. The trequartista position clearly isn't suiting him. Maybe moving him deeper, as a regista or part of the midfield three, may be an answer. Mandzukic - In my opinion, even more disappointing that Hernanes has been the form of Mario Mandzukic. The big Croat came in with a big reputation and is a proven winner, having been a key member of Bayern München's treble winning team in 2013. However, he has looked nothing close to that player. I'll give him his credit, he does work very hard pressing and harrying defenders, as is his usual modus operandi. However, his overall play just needs so much work. His touches are so poor and he can't even seem to strike the ball cleanly. His two league goals are a poor return given the opportunities he's had and his overall reputation. Where is the Super Mario of Wolfsburg, Bayern and Atletico fame? Morata - After being shunted out wide for the last few games, the Spaniard was shunted to the bench for this game. Whether this was just Allegri's rotation in play or Allegri not being happy with Alvaro, there should be no doubt now that Morata and Dybala should be allowed to play themselves into being the undisputed starting pair up front. They are the only two that have looked good and been in form at any point this season. Come on Allegri, stop messing around and do it. Do it. Momentum - It wasn't pretty, but it was fairly comfortable, and now that's three wins from our last three games. Regardless of the sometimes disjointed performances, these wins are priceless right now. We've gone from the second half of the table to sixth place in just three weeks! Forza! http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN 1 - 0 Paulo Dybala (65') MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Juventus still a work in progress but Saturday's win vs. Milan has promise http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2722989/juventus-add-to-winning-momentum-with-1-0-milan-win? Nov 22, 2015 Since the opening of the Juventus stadium, Milan have been unable to inflict Serie A defeat upon their Turin rivals. Some say it's psychological while others say Juve have been unstoppable when playing in their own arena but once again, the Rossoneri went to Turin and returned home with a 1-0 defeat, unable to impose their own game or show the courage required to beat an improving Bianconeri side. Deployed in a 4-3-1-2 formation, questions were immediately asked of Massimiliano Allegri's line-up. Was Hernanes really the right man to start such a match? Was the shape not too narrow to stifle a Milan side boasting width and the ability to counter-attack? Producing little in attack, Juventus struggled to create any worthwhile goalscoring opportunities in the first half. With Hernanes operating in the middle, the tempo was too slow while the men on the wings failed to truly take charge. Once again, Allegri proves that when it comes to starting line-ups, Allegri struggles to get it right on certain occasions. Milan were more than capable of defensive discipline, retreating into a 4-5-1 when not in possession and making the game simply too dull to watch. At least one can credit Allegri for knowing the right substitutions to make even if he was forced into the first one. While his choices were well neutralised by Sinisa Mihajlovic in the first half, Allegri's decision to revert to a 3-5-2 shape for the second half offered his side more opportunities to push forward, releasing both wing-backs and allowing Paul Pogba to penetrate key spaces in the final third. Alex Sandro replaced the injured Patrice Evra and quickly demonstrated his talent, reminding us all why the ex-Porto wing-back cost the club so much money. A man capable of pushing forward with strength and releasing the ball quickly in a team full of slow thinkers, he controlled a wonderful Pogba pass before delivering the assist for Paulo Dybala to score. A beautiful finish from the Argentine made fans forgive the coach for opting to bench the likes of Alvaro Morata and Juan Cuadrado in such an important match against such confident opposition. However, at least on a tactical level, Allegri is still capable of outsmarting his rivals by asking his versatile squad to adopt different shapes and formations that leave the opponent without answers. The performance was far from exemplary and while the Old Lady has now picked up three wins in a row to suggest she's on her way back to the top, few pundits and newspapers agree. Massimo Ambrosini was left far from impressed by the home side while Nicola Amoruso insists he is yet to see an improvement in Juve's game. Marcello Lippi disagreed, commenting that the Bianconeri deservedly won the match. Noting the cautious attitude of Mihajlovic's side, he spoke of the positive qualities in Juve's game even if the match was decided by a moment of genius. Confidence is key to maintaining winning momentum and while Juventus are not performing in a manner that best exhibits their talent, neither are the likes of Inter, who keep winning games by showing mental and physical strength to narrowly overcome opponents. Over the past four years of success, there were plenty of occasions on which the Old Lady disappointed. Under Antonio Conte in 2011-12, their first title-winning season of the current run, Juve just collected consecutive draws but with each performance, they built confidence. Eventually, players trusted their instincts and their teammates, which led to better patterns of play and more exciting wins. Last season, there were several matches in which an individual performance rescued the day for the Bianconeri or an opponent's inability to perform enabled them to hold on for a win so while the situation is not yet ideal for Juventus this season, the fact they are starting to collect points is positive. Meanwhile, player performances have also improved. Not only is Claudio Marchisio slowly recovering his expected form, managing to be everywhere all the time, but Juventus are finally benefitting from the talents of their new arrivals, from Sandro's crosses to Dybala's finishes. The ageless Gianluigi Buffon is still as capable as ever of a wonderful save or two. Saturday's 1-0 win wasn't the best but during difficult times, a return to winning is all the club needs, especially considering there is an important European match to contest on Wednesday evening against Manchester City. A win then will guarantee Champions League progress for Juventus. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN 1 - 0 Paulo Dybala (65') MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Alex Sandro: Juventus not getting carried away after AC Milan win The Brazilian says the Italian champions still need to improve despite making it four wins from their last five games on Saturday. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/11/22/17596442/-? Nov 22, 2015 Alex Sandro has stressed Juventus are not getting carried away following Saturday's 1-0 Serie A win over AC Milan and feels they still have room for improvement. This weekend's win was the reigning champions' fourth victory in their last five league games and saw them climb to sixth place in the table after an underwhelming start to the season. However, Alex Sandro realises their recent form means nothing if they fail to build on it in the weeks to come. "It was a good feeling to get the win, but there’s a long season ahead and we won't be getting carried away just yet," the Brazilian defender told reporters. "There are areas in which we can improve both offensively and defensively to ensure we control games better. "We're taking each game as it comes and we have the trust and belief of our fans. "We now want to make sure we're in a good position in the league before the Christmas break." Juventus host Manchester City on Wednesday in the Champions League and Alex Sandro is determined to bag the full three points and seal qualification for the knockout stages. "Our next goal is to qualify for the Champions League knockouts," he added. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127