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Cuadrado: 'Juve at the top' http://www.football-italia.net/75996/cuadrado-juve-top? Nov 19, 2015 Juan Cuadrado admits he was desperate for a return to Italy after Chelsea and Juventus will be “at the top.” The Colombian spent just six months in London following a January transfer from Fiorentina, but returned to Serie A on loan and is expected to make it permanent. “The idea of coming back to Italy attracted me a lot,” he told UEFA.com. “I know the football here, I know the language and the people, and the truth is it feels like my second home. So when I had to decide about whether to take this chance or not, I talked to my agent every day about my return. And now I am very happy to be here at Juventus. “When you already know the language and the people then it makes it a lot easier for you. And there being a lot of players from South America in the team – that also helps. “Coming to the team was no problem, it's a great team with great players and great personalities, and they really embraced me in the best way possible.” Cuadrado had first come to Italy for Udinese in 2009, so has spent most of his career in the Peninsula. “It was difficult to leave my family, my friends and actually almost everything behind. But it was always something I'd had in mind. “You have to make sacrifices in life and this is what I had dreamt of since I was a boy, to play in Europe. It was a nice opportunity for me and I had to take advantage of it. “When I came here it wasn't easy and at Udinese there was a lot of competition for places. I didn't play much. But everywhere I have been, I have always thought that having made it to Europe, I could not return. I want to be a great footballer in Europe. “Fiorentina really helped my development. Playing in Europe means a lot of tactics and that took me a while to get used to, but you have to improve day in, day out.” Juventus reached the Champions League Final last season, so with Cuadrado in the side can they repeat that? “We all know that Juventus are a big club. We are a strong team, we can be competitive and we are right up there. But we must take it match by match and make sure we make the next round. “It has always been important for Juventus to be at the top and I am convinced that this great team can achieve that.”

Juventus Legend Heaps Praise On Spanish Goalkeeper http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/juventus-legend-heaps-praise-on-spanish-goalkeeper/? Nov 19, 2015 Juventus stalwart Gianluigi Buffon has heaped praise on former Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas by labelling him as the strongest Spanish goalkeeper in the world. The 37-year-old revealed that Casillas was the best Spanish goalkeeper he had laid eyes on during his career. In addition, he mentioned the likes of Peter Schmeichel and Walter Zenga as some of the goalkeepers he considered idols during his youth. “The best Spanish goalkeeper? In the years of my career, I say without a doubt that it is Casillas,” Buffon told Marca. “From my youth, I say [Peter] Schmeichel, [Walter] Zenga, [Gianluca] Pagliuca and [Andoni] Zubizareta.” The former Parma player also commended the current crop of goalkeepers such as Arsenal’s Petr Cech, Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer and current Napoli number one Pepe Reina. “During this era, I think Neuer and Cech are doing really well,” he added. “The best goalkeeper with his feet though is Pepe Reina.”

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Galderisi: Juventus And Milan Lack Consistency http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/galderisi-juventus-and-milan-lack-consistency/? Nov 19, 2015 Former Juventus and AC Milan striker Giuseppe Galderisi has described Saturday’s clash between his two former clubs as a major challenge for both teams. Following the international break, the 52-year-old spoke of both clubs need for consistency ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated clash at the Juventus Stadium in Turin. “Both teams are trying to build after a faltering start to the season,” Galderisi told Tuttomercatoweb.com. “Juve and Milan seem to have brushed up but we need continuity.” The former Italian international further commented on the potential for 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma to replace Gianluigi Buffon in the Azzurri goal. “We’ve known for twenty years what Gigi can give to the group both technically and on a human level,’ he said. “There is a need for someone to one day take up the legacy of Buffon and Donnarumma is on the right track. “I have great memories of both worlds and will follow the game closely. The two clubs, in particular Juve, have given me so much. “I’ll be cheering for a beautiful game.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni JUVENTUS V MILAN – Q & A http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-v-milan-q-a/? Nov 19, 2015 We put your questions to blogger Peter Acquaviva for a special Q&A ahead of this weekend’s Juve v Milan clash at J Stadium. What are your thoughts on Miha’s Milan ? It’s really tough to break bad habits down. Mentally this Milan team is still miles away from where they need to be. The summer’s acquisitions provide a bit more talent for Mihajlovic to work with, but considering you’re always building on the work of your predecessors, it’s really a total culture shift that Mihajlovic is trying to oversee. This squad needs an exorcism, and unlike in the movies, the only way to do it is to win. This team isn’t capable of winning beautifully, or with class, or any of the things that great Milan sides would. You have to start somewhere, and it’s not enough, but a result for them against Juventus would be a step in the right direction. What are your hopes/objectives for the season ? I hope they don’t fire Mihajlovic before the end of the season. I hope they give up on players that should probably be given up on (Montolivo, Poli, Mexes etc) and give opportunities to those that haven’t gotten time but we need to know more about (Jose Mauri, Niang, Rodrigo Ely) so the club can actually forecast a coherent plan to build a squad. That’s been missing for so long, I think more than where do they finish (they’ll say third, a champions league spot) more importantly I think my objective for Milan this season is to just get it together and emerge with a plan with how you’re going to move forward. Are there any players you would you take from this Juventus squad and place into your current squad ? Bonnucci for the defense, Marchisio or Asamoah for the midfield (Mino shopped Pogba to Milan and Juve at the same time a few years ago, and the ship sailed), and Dybala in attack. Before a few weeks ago I would have said Buffon, but Donnarumma is very intriguing, and I want to see what the kid is capable of. If Trapattoni’s Juve faced off against Sacchi’s Milan, who would win? What are the rules of offside? Are we allowing passive offside? That is always the key factor to me in any comparison with Sacchi’s Milan because that rule is the basis of the entire strategy. The coordinated offside trap, the narrowing of the playing space, it all comes from the basis of that rule that catching one catches them all. I don’t think any team could beat them at their own game, but if the passive offside is allowed, I think the game would be much more competitive. Do you think sacking Allegri was a wrong decision ? Sacking Max – It was the right decision. It wasn’t done in the right manner – Barbara Berlusconi virtually fired him on the air, or at least he was informed on the air. In retrospect, it’s clear how much more the sky was falling than Milan themselves thought, although if they were being honest about the way things were, it was pretty obvious (but this is Milan, and this is Silvio – so obviously they weren’t being honest). Max was never going to make the situation better, and it was time for both parties to move on. The contract extension Allegri got probably was a poor idea in retrospect, but then again so was throwing Seedorf in mid-stream and not even giving him a year to work with because he asked for structural reform and clashed with a clique of under-performing players. How far off do you think you are from becoming regulars in the Champions League again? Phew – a ways. Two seasons, I’d say. Of course, mentality really means a lot in sport, and let’s say they get it together, could it be next season? Possibly – although they’re still two or three key pieces away from any meaningful challenge to a Scudetto / sustained top 3. Which midfielders have had an impact, and what to expect going forward ? Kucka has had an impact for Milan, but not really in a positive way. He can’t pass. Milan can’t pass. I think they’ve actually gotten worse in that department from before, and 2/3 of the midfield in best case scenarios are under-performing. De Jong / Montolivo in the center are both not good enough. Sure Montolivo has a great ball recovery statistic, but his passing is inconsistent at medium range, and his initial instinct is either home run ball or short pass. De Jong is far from a risk taker, but lacks even the moderate creative output that Montolivo has this season. Poli has heart but really lacks skill, guile and any semblance of creativity. The combination play is terrible. Bertolacci and Bonaventura are the bright spots in the midfield when they play there, but both are diminutive enough to lack the physical edge the Milan midfield needs, and at the moment none of the options in there cover enough of the holes to create a cohesive midfield. Going forward, we’ll find out if Mihajlovic really does play the best man for the job (so far the results are mixed) or if the guys upstairs are still calling the shots. How do you see Juve v Milan going ? This will probably be an ugly game, first of all. It’s about the result, and I think the football will be scrappy to match. If Milan do indeed go with a very offensive lineup as rumored, they’ll have to play deep on the counter, with Juve possessing the ball and controlling the middle of the park due to their extra man. Whoever scores first won’t hold the lead the whole game, as I don’t think either side can handle the pressure right now. Predictions ? Predictions – 1-1 I actually got the last prediction right almost to the minute the game would be over… this one is more contentious. Juve could make a statement of intent under Allegri, but I feel like if that was coming this season we would have had more hints about it. I don’t see either team really “turning the corner” on anything, but a win would be huge for morale of either team. I’m thinking both know that, and it ends locked up. Possible starting Milan XI for the game ? Donnarumma; Abate, Alex, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Kucka, Montolivo, Bonaventura; Niang, Bacca, Cerci JuveMilan XI – 5-3-2/3-5-2 Buffon Lichtsteiner, Bonnucci, Barzagli, Romagnoli, Antonelli Pogba, Marchisio, Bonaventura Dybala, Bacca http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Julio Cesar: ‘Buffon is historic’ http://www.football-italia.net/75979/julio-cesar-%E2%80%98buffon-historic%E2%80%99? Nov 19, 2015 Julio Cesar praises Juventus' Gigi Buffon for showing that goalkeepers can be “the best of the best”. The Italian played his first Serie A game 20 years ago today for Parma, and has since gone on to play over 750 clubs games, as well as being capped 154 times by the Azzurri. “To say I appreciate him as a goalkeeper is trivial,” former Inter ‘keeper Cesar told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “His name is in history, for showing that you can be the best of the best playing in our role. One thing I always liked was going to talk to the opponent after a match. “We did it several times, and in particular I remember the first time when I told him ‘come on, we’ll do that once Inter beat Juventus’. “He said ‘ok, and we’ll do it another time if Italy beat Brazil…’”

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni From brilliant Buffon to Marotta's mediocre market - Juventus' best and worst of the season so far The Bianconeri endured a shockingly poor start to their bid for a fifth successive Scudetto but their have been some positives for Massimiliano Allegri's resurgent side. http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/11/19/17487272/-? Nov 19, 2015 After a summer of so many comings and goings in Turin, a period of re-adjustment was always anticipated at Juventus. However, few expected the transition would prove so difficult and take quite so long, particularly as the Bianconeri cruised past Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana in August. However, the reigning Italian champions then lost their opening two Serie A fixtures for the first time ever. A further two defeats followed by the sixth round of the season as Juve appeared to lose all hope of a fifth successive Scudetto. However, Massimiliano Allegri's men are on the comeback trail. They're within one victory of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League, while back-to-back wins for the first time this season have hauled them up to seventh place in the Serie A standings, nine points off co-leaders Fiorentina and Inter ahead of the resumption of play following the international break. There is still much work to do but Juve seem to have recovered from what was a traumatic transfer window. Here, we take a look at the Old Lady's campaign and her most influential performers so far... KEY PLAYER SO FAR Long-time transfer target Juan Cuadrado has proven well worth the wait, with the Chelsea-owned winger quickly becoming an integral member of Massimiliano Allegri's attacking arsenal and Juve now determined to turn the Colombian's loan deal into a permanent transfer in January. Sam Khedira, meanwhile, has been an incredibly influential character, an on-field leader, since belatedly making his injury-delayed debut after his summer arrival on a free transfer from Real Madrid. However, Juve's key man during what has been a difficult start to the season has undoubtedly been their captain, Gianluigi Buffon. The 37-year-old has been the Bianconeri's consistent performer, underlining his enduring class with a number of brilliant performances, with his stunning, game-changing double-save in the Champions League win at Manchester City one of the highlights of Juve's campaign so far. More importantly, though, Buffon has once again underlined his status as a real leader of men, providing his team-mates the kick up the backside they needed after the dismal defeat at Sassuolo. "It's very simple, if you don't win any of your 50-50s or aerial battles and you can't string together three passes, then that's no recipe for success." That very public put-down promptly sparked a gradual improvement in Juve's performances and it is largely thanks to Buffon that the Old Lady is still in with a shout of retaining the Scudetto. THE PLAYER WHO HAS SURPRISED US ALL When Juventus paid €26 million to prise Alex Sandro away from Porto, Patrice Evra's days as a first-team regular in Turin appeared numbered. However, the former Manchester United captain has responded magnificently to the Brazilian's eagerly awaited arrival at Corso Galileo Ferraris. Alex Sandro has actually performed reasonably well when he has been called upon but the left-back has been restricted to just five starts in Serie A due to the sensational form of a man 10 years his senior. Evra has been a fantastically reliable presence in a defence that has been plagued by individiual errors so far this term and even popped up with the crucial second goal in the vital 3-1 victory at Empoli just before the international break. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT It is quite difficult to single anyone out for specific scorn, given how poorly so many players have performed. As Giorgio Chiellini recently outlined, Juve have had problems all over the park. "We concede too many goals, but also don’t score enough," the Italy international admitted. Paul Pogba's form has dipped dramatically since taking on Carlos Tevez's No.10 jersey, Mario Mandzukic, Alvaro Morata and Simone Zaza have contributed just four Serie A goals between them and Juve's central defenders have proven unusually prone to unforced errors, making Allegri's distrust of Daniele Rugani all the more surprising and disappointing. However, the biggest disappointment has undoubtedly been Juve's summer recruitment plan. Selling Arturo Vidal, Alessandro Pirlo and Carlos Tevez all at once always looked ill-advised - and so it has proven. Of course, if Juve had bought well, the blow of losing three key men could have been softened. Juve, though, have squandered millions. A combined €37m was spent on Simone Zaza and Mario Mandzukic - and yet they have provided just three Serie A goals between them after 12 rounds of action. Alex Sandro still has time on his side to prove himself but the 30-year-old Hernanes never looked anything but a colossal waste of €11m. Several signings have underperformed; there is no doubt about that. However, general director Beppe Marotta and sporting director Fabio Paratici must take a huge amount of blame for making a mess of their bid to sate Allegri's desire for a world-class trequartista and leaving the coach with a squad that now needs serious strengthening in January. KEY RESULT There have already been a couple of vital victories for Juventus, who have struggled to build up any momentum to date. The 2-0 defeat of Sevilla was hugely significant, as it came on the back of a dismal defeat at Napoli, while Cuadrado's last-minute winner in the Turin derby could yet prove the turning point of Juve's season. However, the most important game so far from the Old Lady's perspective was arguably the stunning 2-1 triumph at the Etihad. Juventus had arrived in Manchester having picked up one point from their opening three Serie A games. Worse still, their hosts were sweeping all before them, with City having kicked off their Premier League campaign with five successive wins. Many Juve fans feared a rout. Certainly, a defeat looked inevitable when Chiellini put through his own net just before the hour mark to give City the lead. However, Buffon then kept the visitors in the game with his wonderful reaction saves from Raheem Sterling and David Silva before the Bianconeri pulled off a hugely important morale-boosting win thanks to goals from Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata in the final 20 minutes. ONE TO WATCH Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini remains convinced that Juventus are not getting the best out of Paulo Dybala. "He’s the new Messi. He can do it all. He’s world class." Whether Dybala is really the heir to the Barcelona No.10's throne is very much open to debate, but the 21-year-old striker is undeniably a player of enormous potential; one that is wasted on the bench. Allegri has been criticised for refusing to entrust the Argentine with too much responsibility. "He has excellent qualities and will have a great future and last season he was a leader at Palermo, but he cannot have that same role at Juve yet." However, Dybala has proving Juve's most reliable source of goals - he has notched five times in Serie A already. Whether Allegri likes it or not, this is a player who looks eminently capable of establishing himself as a major player in Turin before the season is out. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni 5 Key Questions Ahead of Juventus' Serie A Clash with AC Milan http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2590679-5-key-questions-ahead-of-juventus-serie-a-clash-with-ac-milan? Nov 19, 2015 On Saturday night, AC Milan travel to face Juventus in a clash of Italy’s most prestigious football clubs. However, while both have gleaming trophy cabinets, both find themselves in below-average league positions at present. Milan occupy sixth place in Serie A on 20 points, while Juventus sit one spot and two points beneath them. Both teams are a fair distance away from where they expected to be at the start of this season. As reigning champions having won four successive Scudetti, Juventus’ current state is out of the ordinary. Milan have languished in mid-table for two years, so their current position is less shocking, but after heavy summer investment, they remain well off their initial target of the top three. With both giants looking to galvanise their seasons, their meeting this weekend offers the perfect opportunity for salvation. Here, we consider five key questions ahead of the crucial match. Which Team Will Be More Affected by Injuries? For the past few weeks, Milan have had to make do without several key players. Mario Balotelli has been out since late September with a groin problem and, after having surgery on the injury, per BBC Sport, he is set to miss the next four weeks of action. Brazilian centre-back Alex and creative midfielder Andrea Bertolacci missed Milan’s 0-0 draw with Atalanta prior to the international break, and it is unknown if they will be back in time for this weekend. Balotelli’s absence is something Milan have adapted to in recent weeks, but both Alex and Bertolacci’s presences will be missed in the centre of defence and midfield, respectively. Juventus could also be missing important first-team members on Saturday night. The Bianconeri’s biggest concern regards Gianluigi Buffon, who was taken off during Italy’s 2-2 draw with Romania. According to the club’s official website (h/t Football Italia), “his availability against Milan will be evaluated.” Other notable potential absentees for Juventus include Martin Caceres, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Mario Mandzukic. While Milan would benefit from being able to select Alex, Bertolacci and Balotelli when picking their matchday squad, none of those players are anywhere near as influential to the Rossoneri as Buffon is to Juventus. The iconic goalkeeper has been one of his club’s steadying influences in a turbulent season, and Juventus would seriously miss his assured leadership from the back. How Will Juventus Line Up? Should Buffon miss out through injury, his guidance will be missed, but this will not be Juventus’ greatest tactical quandary. Massimiliano Allegri has chopped and changed this season, utilising a multitude of different systems to varying degrees of success. The 4-3-1-2 that worked so well for Juventus last season has been used. So too has a slightly more defensive 4-5-1 formation, which Allegri implemented successfully away to Manchester City in the Champions League in a bid to congest space. A rough version of the 3-5-2 system has been used as well, though Allegri has yet to decide on which of these shapes works best for his team. Milan are almost certainly going to line up in the 4-3-3 system that has brought them mildly improved form of late, which may influence Allegri to go with the 4-3-1-2. Up against only one striker in Bacca, Juventus could afford to sacrifice one defender and go with a back four. However, instead of mirroring Milan, they may opt for four in midfield and two up front to achieve numerical overloads. A strike pairing of Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza or Alvaro Morata would be a test for Milan’s two chosen centre-backs, while a midfield diamond would allow Juventus to match up with Milan’s three and give their own deep-lying midfielder—probably Claudio Marchisio—space to dictate. Have Milan Found Their Ideal System? Following a humiliating 4-0 home loss to Napoli, Sinisa Mihajlovic brought further tactical change to Milan. The 4-3-1-2 system he initially favoured wasn’t working; it left the team defensively vulnerable, so he brought in a 4-3-3. In the new system, Milan have been undefeated, winning three and drawing two of their five games since the tactical switch. In the process, they have conceded three goals in five matches, whereas previously they had conceded 13 in seven. Alongside the defensive improvements, Milan look slightly more cohesive going forward. Within the 4-3-3, Giacomo Bonaventura and Alessio Cerci play on the left and right wing respectively, while Carlos Bacca operates as the lone striker. As inverted wingers, Bonaventura and Cerci tend to cut in onto their favoured foot to supply Bacca, whose intelligent movement off the last line of defence can create clear opportunities for through balls from his team-mates in wider positions. Undoubtedly, Milan’s individual compartments of defence and attack have worked better since the change in formation. Ultimately, this is due to the greater width and structural balance achieved in the 4-3-3 system. Mihajlovic has spoken previously of his wish to install a 4-4-2 system at some stage in the future, meaning the 4-3-3 may merely be a placeholder. However, it has worked well for Milan so far, and this is almost certainly how they will line up against Juventus. Which Team Benefited More from the International Break? Unsurprisingly for a club whose players have the highest overall market value in Serie A, per Transfermarkt, a lot of Juventus’ talent featured for their countries during the international break. While this speaks positively of the quality within the champions’ squad, it is not necessarily a positive thing ahead of a crucial league match. As aforementioned, key players such as Buffon and Lichtsteiner sustained injuries that make them doubts for this weekend’s match, while others such as Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Paul Pogba, Patrice Evra, Sami Khedira and Dybala featured in action for their respective national teams. Milan also saw several first-team players called up for international duty though nowhere near as many of them played such influential roles. Luca Antonelli didn’t start either of Italy’s friendlies against Belgium or Romania, while Milan captain Riccardo Montolivo played around half an hour of the latter match. Energetic midfielder Juraj Kucka featured for Slovakia and Bacca started one of Colombia’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers and came off the bench in the other. Simply put, almost the entirety of Juventus’ usual starting line-up played multiple times in the past two weeks, meaning the international "break" wasn’t much of a break at all. Milan, on the other hand, had far less direct involvement. Key players such as Alessio Romagnoli and Giacomo Bonaventura didn't play any part in Italy’s friendlies—though the latter was called up. Essentially, the international period had much less impact upon Milan’s first team in terms of fitness and injury concerns. As such, they may be the fresher—if not better—side come Saturday night. Who Is Under More Pressure? Juventus coach Allegri enjoyed a remarkable first season at the helm. Taking over from Antonio Conte, he had big shoes to fill but did an exceptional job, guiding the Bianconeri to a domestic double and a Champions League final. However, the start to his second year in charge has been unexpectedly poor. After failing to win any of their first three league games, Juventus have since improved, but the upturn has been punctuated by inconsistency. There is uncertainty as to what formation is Juventus’ best, while more specific questions have been fired at Allegri regarding his team selections, particularly his occasional omission of Dybala from the starting lineup. Sinisa Mihajlovic has had problems of his own at the beginning of his maiden year as Milan coach. He has had to integrate many new signings and tweak tactics but, on the whole, his Milan team looks better than last season’s version. Considering this, as well as the fact that Milan are above Juventus in the league table and are the away side, Allegri’s Juventus will be more under pressure to deliver a positive result on Saturday night. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Mission Impossible gives way to Operation Comeback - Juventus' season so far The Bianconeri have recovered from a shockingly poor start and are now targeting five successive Serie A wins before Christmas to propel themselves back into title contention. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/11/19/17486352/-? Nov 19, 2015 Six weeks ago, Gianluigi Buffon forbid all talk of winning a fifth successive Serie A title within the Juventus dressing room. "The distance between us and the top of the league is so great that we can't allow ourselves to get carried away by flights of fancy," the skipper stated. Buffon's stance was understandable: by that point the Bianconeri had lost three of their opening six league fixtures and were 10 points behind co-leaders Fiorentina and Inter. Six games on and the gap has only been reduced by a solitary point - and yet the atmosphere at Corso Galileo Ferraris has changed dramatically. "The fifth title is within our reach," Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini said last week. "True, we started in the wrong gear but we can make up the gap. If we correct certain mistakes and we can be more clear-headed, we can do it." Juve certainily seem to be thinking clearly again, after a muddled summer recruitment plan and shocking start to the 2015-16 season. There is never any point in retaining the services of players who want out but allowing Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez to all depart at the same time now looks careless. While €37million was arguably too high a fee to turn down for Vidal, an ill-disciplined character on and off the field, and Tevez was clearly on intent on returning to his native Buenos Aires, there was always the sense that Pirlo could have been persuaded to see out the final year of his contract with the club. Certainly, the Italy international's absence has been most keenly felt. Without their playmaker, Massimiliano Allegri's men have been utterly rudderless, devoid of direction in the middle of the pitch. Hence, Paul Pogba often playing like the proverbial headless chicken. Of course, Claudio Marchisio was meant to fill the void left by Pirlo and the 29-year-old's injury problems could be considered unfortunate. However, there is a feeling that Juve are partly responsible for their own injury crisis, having rushed their players through their pre-season programme in order to be ready for the Supercoppa Italiana - a trophy to which the champions attached an unnecessary level of importance. Still, the good news now is that Juve are finally in a position to field their first-choice midfield, with Sam Khedira having recovered from his own injury problems and quickly establishing himself as one of the team's leaders. It's just as well, really, as Pogba, whether he wants to admit it or not, seems to have been burdened by the pressure of taking on the iconic No.10 jersey. Hopefully, Khedira and Marchisio will now lighten the load and free Pogba up to produce the kind of performances that made him the most coveted midfielder in Europe. Recent outings have certainly been encouraging. While Khedira was a wonderfully shrewd signing, acquired on a free transfer from Real Madrid, the decision to sign Hernanes from Inter remains as baffling now as it was on deadline day. 'The Prophet' was never going to be the answer to Allegri's prayers for a trequartista. Consequently, Allegri has had to reluctantly abandon his intention of playing 4-3-1-2 as the Bianconeri remain devoid of a world-class No.10. Speculation is now rife that Juve will sound Chelsea out about allowing Oscar to leave London for Turin during an upcoming meeting with the Blues about making Juan Cuadrado's loan stay permanent, while the Italian champions will attempt to land Ezequiel Lavezzi during the winter break. The Argentine international will be out of contract at the end of the season and is intent on a return to Italy sooner rather than later, with Inter and AC Milan also interested. Lavezzi would enable Allegri to select what would be, on paper at least, a formidable 4-3-3, with the ex-Napoli winger and Cuadrado supporting Alvaro Morata in attack. Of course, summer signing Mario Mandzukic might have something to say about that. The Croatia international has endured a difficult start to his Juve career but his goal against Empoli just before the international break - only his second of the Serie A season - could spark an upturn in his fortunes. Then there's Paulo Dybala, who has been rather strangely treated by Allegri - despite scoring five times in 11 appearances, only seven of which were as a starter. Juve committed to a €40 million deal for the 21-year-old yet his coach seems inexplicably reluctant to start the Argentine on a weekly basis. The feeling is, though, that Dybala and Morata could yet develop a lethal attacking partnership - at least once the latter's future is finally resolved. As things stand, Real Madrid retain the right to re-sign their academy product, who has looked uncomfortable playing on the left-hand side of the Juve attack this term, at the end of the season. However, Juve are working on a contract extension and the sooner the issue is resolved the better, as the Bianconeri can ill afford any further distractions at what is a critical stage of the season for them. With Juve on the cusp of qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, the primary focus now is on the next five Serie A games, which will see the titleholders take on AC Milan, Palermo, Lazio, Fiorentina and Carpi. Director General Beppe Marotta has made it clear that third place is the very least expected of Allegri, who is, rightly or wrongly, under pressure just five months after coming within one game of a historic treble. Indeed, the Bianconeri's top brass are demanding five successive Serie A wins before the winter break to propel the team back into title contention. Still, Allegri will approach the challenge with confidence restored. Six weeks ago, a fifth successive Scudetto looked like 'Mission Impossible' - but 'Operation Comeback', as the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport called it last week, is about to get under way. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Buffon fit to face Milan? http://www.football-italia.net/75974/buffon-fit-face-milan? Nov 19, 2015 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will reportedly be fit to face Milan on Saturday. The ‘keeper went off injured during Italy’s 2-2 draw with Romania, suffering from a thigh problem, leaving him in doubt for the visit of the Rossoneri. However, Sky is now reporting that Buffon has been passed fit, and will be available for the match at Juventus Stadium. Today marks 20 years since the shot-stopper made his Serie A debut, for Parma against Milan in 1995. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Mazzoleni officiates Juve-Milan http://www.football-italia.net/75968/mazzoleni-officiates-juve-milan? Nov 19, 2015 Paolo Mazzoleni is given the delicate task of officiating Juventus-Milan, the big clash of Week 13. The Federation of Italian Football released the names of the referees for Week 13 of Serie A. The rest of the week is comparatively lacking in terms of big teams clashing, with the second biggest game being Lazio-Palermo, left to Domenico Celi. This is the list of the referees designated for this weekend's games. Atalanta – Torino: Angelo Cervellera Bologna - Roma: Gianluca Rocchi Carpi – Chievo: Fabio Maresca Fiorentina - Empoli: Luca Banti Genoa - Sassuolo: Nicola Rizzoli H. Verona - Napoli: Antonio Damato Inter - Frosinone: Marco Guida Juventus – Milan: Paolo Mazzoleni Lazio - Palermo: Domenico Celi Udinese – Sampdoria: Marco Di Bello http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Gianluigi Donnarumma excited to face Buffon as AC Milan head to Juventus http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/story/2718056/gianluigi-donnarumma-excited-to-face-gianluigi-buffon? Nov 19, 2015 Young AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma said facing Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon will give him "even more motivation" this weekend. Donnarumma, 16, is set to continue as Milan's first-choice keeper against the reigning Serie A champions on Saturday, having been handed his senior debut just a month ago in a 2-1 win over Sassuolo. He was told he was going to start just 24 hours prior to that fixture, which became the realisation of his lifetime ambition. "It was an incredibly strong emotion," Donnarumma told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "I didn't quite realise before that I was actually going to play. I usually keep all of my emotions inside, but it was difficult that day. "After training, I called my parents immediately and they left Castellammare [di Stabia, near Naples] immediately to come and watch me. It is what I've always wanted to do, become a goalkeeper. Nothing else. "As a child, I would always ask if I could go in goal. Of course I also hope to win some major trophies, but I've already realised my dream." Milan have yet to lose a game with Donnarumma between their posts and they will be hoping that record will continue this weekend when they visit Juventus. The match will pit the goalkeeper with the least experience in Serie A against the one with the most, Buffon. "First of all, I want to pay my compliments to him for his splendid career," Donnarumma said on the day Buffon marks two full decades as a professional. "I hope I can swap shirts with him on Saturday night. "Playing against Gigi gives me even more motivation, but above all I want to win the match. Maybe even without conceding." That wish is shared by Milan teammate Philippe Mexes, who told Il Corriere dello Sport that he is in "the best form" of his career right now. Milan, meanwhile, are currently in their best form of the season and the French defender says for this reason, Saturday's trip to the Juventus Stadium is crucial. "It has to be the game that marks the turning point for us, for good," the 33-year-old said. "It's an important stage of the season and certainly it's an important game, particularly for us." Milan go into the game with a two-point advantage over their hosts after 12 games of the season. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

'You've achieved something special' - Juventus celebrate 20 years of Buffon The Italian made his debut in Serie A on November 19, 1995, and has since gone on to win the league six times and be named goalkeeper of the season a record-smashing nine times. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/4160/extra-time/2015/11/19/17477662/-? Nov 19, 2015 Juventus have marked goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon's remarkable 20-year anniversary of his Serie A debut on Twitter. On November 19, 1995, Parma manager Nevio Scala handed a 17-year-old Buffon his Serie A debut against Fabio Capello's AC Milan. Buffon has not looked back since. Buffon has now won Serie A six times with Juventus and boasts 154 appearances for Italy, which includes winning the World Cup in 2006. The 37-year-old has been named Serie A keeper of the year nine times, first in 1999 and most recently in 2014 which, unsurprisingly, is a record with the award having only been handed out 18 times in total. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen Today you’ve achieved something special. We’re celebrating your 20 years in SerieA

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Vieri: 'Juve's weak, but younger' http://www.football-italia.net/75967/vieri-juves-weak-younger? Nov 19, 2015 Christian Vieri describes in detail Juventus' apparent decline, while asserting the importance of their game against Milan. The starting striker of two Italy World Cups chimed in with his opinion about the Old Lady, who will be facing the Rossoneri in the big match-up of Week 13. “It won't be definitive of course, but it'll be highly important,” he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport of Juventus-Milan. “The other big teams are keeping a really high pace, and losing more grounds would be dangerous for anyone aiming for a Champions League spot. “Juve's slow start is only partially surprising. After so many trophies and the Champions League final some sense of appeasement is understandable, even if it's just subconscious. “But the squad is being massively renewed and rejuvenated, which was a wise and timely choice. “They picked up important young players but also experienced and reliable ones like [Mario] Mandzukic and [sami] Khedira. There's everything you need to stay at the top, nationally and internationally. “It just requires patience. The new players must be given the appropriate time, as the impact with such an important environment is never easy.” The former striker also discussed the Bianconeri's sales of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez. “They were three stellar players, fundamental for their technique and their personality. “I think what had the greatest effect was Pirlo's farewell. He could recycle even the most abject garbage, turning terrible balls into superb passes that made everyone play better. “In brief, with Andrea the ball went around clean and fast from the moment play began. Now Juventus have a bit more trouble emerging from the back. “They need to metabolise a new philosophy, but it's a matter of time and soon Juventus will be biting the heels of those currently at the top.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Analysing the Importance of Paul Pogba to Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2590730-analysing-the-importance-of-paul-pogba-to-massimiliano-allegris-juventus? Nov 19, 2015 This summer Juventus were hit by a rash of high-profile departures. Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente left for Boca Juniors and Sevilla respectively, prompting a retooling that left only one player—Alvaro Morata—from last year's striker pool. Even more important was the reshuffling of the midfield, which lost Andrea Pirlo to New York City FC and Arturo Vidal to Bayern Munich. The signings of Pirlo (on a free from AC Millan) and Vidal (for €12.5 million from Bayer Leverkusen) in 2011 were the catalysts of Juve's rise from back-to-back seventh-placed finishes to four-time defending champions. Pirlo's pinpoint passing keyed Juve's attack, while Vidal's energy and all-round skill was the team's prime mover. Those departures threw a huge amount of pressure on 22-year-old Paul Pogba. The young Frenchman is one of the most sought-after players in the game. A new rumor seems to come up every few weeks. In October, the Express linked him with Chelsea, Manchester City and former club Manchester United, but named Barcelona as the favorite to land him once their transfer ban ends. For their part, Juventus have valued him at €100 million, and they could hold out for a fee higher than Gareth Bale's record from 2013. Between that humungous price tag, the responsibility that comes with his new status as one of Juve's most important midfielders, and the weight of his new No. 10 shirt, Pogba has become one of the most scrutinized footballers in the world—and possibly Juve's most important player. Why is Pogba so important for coach Massimiliano Allegri? It all starts not with Pogba, but Vidal. Arturo Vidal is a truly exceptional footballer. Two years ago, this column made the case that he was the best in the world. Yes, you read that right. No player combines elite skills as a passer, scorer and defender the way Vidal does. The effect of that combination on Juve's game was indescribable. The Bianconeri were able to rely on his goalscoring prowess from the midfield to compensate for the lack of a top forward—and when Tevez arrived, they both became exponentially more dangerous together thanks to his ability to score and pass. His defensive abilities locked down the midfield, allowing no opponent to get the upper hand. Vidal's absence has been glaring this year, and it's been exacerbated by a series of injuries to the midfield. Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira were both out until October with leg injuries, leaving Pogba the last man standing of the vaunted Antonio Conte-era midfield in the first six weeks of the season. He was forced to try to form on-the-fly chemistry with the likes of Hernanes, Simone Padoin, Stefano Sturaro and Mario Lemina. While the latter two of that group have incredible potential and could be major parts of Juve's midfield in time, none of them are on the level of either Pogba or Vidal (or Marchisio or Khedira, for that matter). For those first six weeks of the season, Pogba obviously felt the pressure. He was trying to do everything, to score three goals with one kick. His form showed that. He gave the ball away, his passing was wayward, and his shooting, often so devastating from range, was badly off target. The return of Khedira and Marchisio has done much to rectify the situation. Pogba is far more grounded out there when he has the two older men around him. With them, he has settled in and started to display the form that has made him so sought-after in the first place. His sublime assist against Borussia Monchengladbach—an inch-perfect diagonal loft to Stephan Lichtsteiner—is a sign that he's finally started to gain traction. There are things that Vidal can do that Pogba can't match. While he is a good defender, Vidal is still far ahead of him. If you do the math based on his statistics at WhoScored.com, he averaged 4.375 tackles per match in the league over his four seasons. Including this season, Pogba's numbers as a Juventus player only average out to 2.15 per match, including the first part of this season. It's almost impossible to match the all-around production of a player like Vidal. Pogba is quality in his own way, but he has to use that way to fill Vidal's shoes. Pogba is the closest Allegri has to what Vidal could bring—and now he has to use his talents to fix the void that Vidal left when he returned to Germany. Khedira and Marchisio are good players, but Pogba is the better player—and he's not even close to his ceiling yet. Without Vidal, Juventus' midfield took a huge hit. That production was incredibly important, and Pogba is key to replacing it. If he does, Juve have a chance to actually climb the table and make a real run at defending their title. If he doesn't, they'll be scrapping for the Champions League.

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Donnarumma: 'No Juve-Milan pressure' http://www.football-italia.net/75963/donnarumma-no-juve-milan-pressure? Nov 19, 2015 Gianluigi Donnarumma feels 'no pressure' ahead of Juventus-Milan: 'I just want to win and keep a blank sheet'. The 16-year-old already made history as the youngest goalkeeper in Serie A, and on the day that celebrates the 20th anniversary of Gianluigi Buffon's debut in the championship, he reflects on the upcoming clash. “I don't feel any pressure,” he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Of course, San Siro is majestic and you may feel it there a little bit. “At the Stadium there will be a great atmosphere, but I'm not worried. “I'm very pleased by the comparisons with Buffon, but I don't think about the future. I just want to train and improve one day at a time. “My congratulations to Buffon for his splendid career. I hope to swap shirts with him on Saturday evening. Playing against Gigi gives me an extra incentive, but mainly I just want to win the match, possibly without taking goals. “My objective? Now I just want to keep my spot as a starter, one Sunday at a time. I have two great champions ahead of me here, Diego Lopez and Christian Abbiati.” Donnarumma found himself in a controversy recently over some posts he wrote on Facebook three years ago which contained offensive comments about Inter and current Azzurri Coach Antonio Conte. “It's stuff you do when you're 13, I didn't even remember them. I apologise, I didn't want to offend anyone. “My model? Manuel Neuer, everybody looks to him. It's impossible not to admire him. “My best save? The one against Grossi with Atalanta: I saved it with my foot while I was jumping the other way. The best of all saves, I saw that last year: Diego Lopez on a shot by Marchisio. It was incredible. “As for my contract, I don't think about it. I'm not even old enough to buy a car. Berlusconi paid me compliments for what I'm doing.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni 'Juventus-Milan a derby' http://www.football-italia.net/75962/juventus-milan-derby? Nov 19, 2015 Riccardo Montolivo believes Juventus-Milan is going to be 'like a derby', but the Rossoneri 'have no intention of playing defensively'. The two teams clash this Saturday evening at 19:45 UK time in what is indisputably the biggest game of Week 13. “Games like these are like the derby, they're special events that drive you,” said the midfielder, as reported by Tuttosport. “But don't tell me that it's going to be decisive because the championship is still long. “We are far more serene and convinced than we were a few months ago. We've finally hit on a sequence of results, even though the last game against Atalanta wasn't of our best and we only managed a draw. “We wanted to do better, but now we have a chance to kick off again and the whole group is convinced they can do that. “The aim is to play a game like that against Lazio, which came right after our heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Napoli. “We know we've got everything we need to make it and we're going to go to Turin with no intention of closing up shop.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Vieri: 'Serie B forges strikers' http://www.football-italia.net/75958/vieri-serie-b-forges-strikers? Nov 19, 2015 Former Azzurri striker Bobo Vieri remembers his past: 'In Serie B you really hardened your bones, or else you broke them. Juventus? I left for money.' The former Juventus, Inter and Milan poacher was arguably the most prominent Italian attacker of his generation, in particular in the years of 1998-2004, but he did not start out as a forward. “My Coach needed some help,” he explained to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “I gave him that help when I was fourteen. “I was playing as a left-back and I scored more than the strikers. I said, Coach, it's not that I don't like playing in defence, but it may be best if you position me forwards. “That was in Sydney, in the youth training grounds of the Marconi Football Club. That's how my story as a striker starts. “I remember that I took such beatings in Serie B! Back then even [Filippo] Inzaghi was among the cadets. We were already friends and I had fun calling him ahead of the critical games, telling him, 'Hey Pippo, they'll break you tomorrow, the madman marking you told me he can't stand you!' “In Serie B you really forged yourself. Man versus man, every game was a war. It was the championship that created me. “Those were nasty pitches, especially in the south, where you arrived, smiled and said sincerely: 'Good morning!' and people replied, 'Good morning my left foot!' “These things built character. You really stiffened your bones there, when you didn't break them.” Vieri then discussed his farewell from Juventus. “One day [former Juventus director Luciano] Moggi called me in, and I met my agent and Roberto Bettega. With his tranquil manners and his half-closed eyes, the director told me he was willing to increase my salary. “But he wasn't prepared to beyond two million lire per season, while Atletico Madrid offered three and a half. So I told myself, 'let's go to Spain'. “And that was the end of the meeting. I'll admit it, I made my decision looking only at my wallet. If I could go back, I'd have stayed.”

Gianluigi Buffon's anniversary marked by the rise of Gianluigi Donnarumma http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/12/blog/post/2715341/gianluigi-buffon-passing-baton-to-gianluigi-donnarumma? Nov 19, 2015 This Friday marks 20 years since Gianluigi Buffon made his debut in Serie A. The time has flown by since that bright winter's day at the Ennio Tardini when Superman fell to Earth and pulled on one of those garish tie-dye goalkeeper's jerseys that are so evocative of the game as it was in the 1990s. Buffon was 17 years, 9 months and 21 days old. He had Velcroed a pair of gloves to his hands for the first time only five summers earlier and the man responsible for it changed his life forever. Nothing in sport had quite excited him like watching the derring-do of Cameroon goalkeeper Thomas N'Kono in the opening game of Italia '90, and the manner in which he frustrated the holders, Argentina. Out of recognition for N'Kono, Buffon would even name his first son after him. After Italia '90, Buffon abandoned playing in midfield, where he had styled himself on Marco Tardelli and Nicola Berti, and went between the posts. The son of athletes, both of whom represented Italy (one in the shot put, the other in discus), he had the genes and the upbringing to be an outstanding one himself. Upon finding his calling, he was what they call in Italy a "predestinato" -- destined for greatness. The poignancy of his 20th anniversary this weekend couldn't be more special. The day after it, Buffon will captain Juventus against Milan at the J Stadium. In Milan's goal will be another Gianluigi, surname: Donnarumma. At 16 years and 8 months, he was younger than Buffon when he made his debut; he also became the youngest goalkeeper of all time to play in Serie A after Gianluca Pacchiarotti in 1980. Comparisons between the two have been inevitable. Donnarumma started training with Milan's first team back in the spring. Diego Lopez was suspended. Michael Agazzi got injured. There was no one else to act as backup for veteran Christian Abbiati against Cesena, and so a 15-year-old went on the bench. Again, there are echoes of Buffon here. Invited to train with Parma's first team a year before he made his first senior appearance, Buffon had gone on tour to North America with them. While abroad he drew disapproving glances from coach Nevio Scala, a little like Donnarumma now after his Facebook profile was trawled and anti-Juve and Inter posts were discovered. Advised not to give into the temptation with so much junk food around them, Buffon was caught with an ice cream the size of the torch held by the Statue of Liberty. Told not to mess around in the golf buggies at the team hotel, he took one out for a joy ride and got fined. Buffon was precocious. He felt ready for the highest level even in his midteens. Upon hearing that his mentor, Ermes Fulgoni, the legendary goalkeeping coach of Parma's academy, had been going around telling anyone who would listen that "this kid will be starting in Serie A by the age of 20," Buffon turned to him and said: "What will I do until then?" He followed his team Carrarese as an ultra. He rode his Vespa along the streets of Parma without a helmet. His timekeeping left a lot to be desired. He was often late for his lift into training. On the one hand, Buffon's laid-back attitude could be explained by the exuberance of youth. On the other, it could be put down to the self-awareness that his was an immense talent. His chance arrived when Luca Bucci got hurt playing in the Cup Winners' Cup. His backup, Giovanni Galli, had left in frustration at not being given the game time he had been promised in the cup competitions and Alessandro Nista (now Inter's goalkeeping coach) was only just returning from serious injury. "I knew I would be playing against Milan," Buffon revealed in his autobiography. "Or at least I hoped so. A part of me still couldn't quite believe it. But that week I did some extraordinary things in training ... So that Sunday morning Scala called me and told me I'd be playing." And how did Buffon react upon hanging up the phone? He was completely relaxed. "My teammates were a little worried. It didn't reassure them at all when I dropped off to sleep on the bus. But that's just how I was." Cool, calm, collected. It's what you want from a goalkeeper, right? His debut was so spectacular, the whole world soon knew him as Superman. In a top-of-the-table clash Buffon kept a clean sheet. But not just any clean sheet. He denied Stefano Eranio and Roberto Baggio in the first half, Marco Simone and George Weah in the second. He wore No. 12 that day, but as his teammate Fabio Cannavaro once said: "Gigi has No. 1 stamped on his skin." He has a legitimate claim to be considered the greatest of all time. "He played like a veteran," the commentator on La Domenica Sportiva said in his report that afternoon. The same has been said of Donnarumma. Last month, Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic took a gamble. Diego Lopez had dropped a few clangers. Christian Abbiati has had his day. So he promoted Donnarumma. The risk for Mihajlovic here was twofold: On the one hand he might unsettle Lopez; on the other he might burn Donnarumma. Make no mistake, this was a baptism of fire. Milan were 14th and without a win in three games. They were playing their bogey team Sassuolo and facing their bogey man Domenico Berardi. He had scored seven goals in four games against them. A Berardi poker had got Max Allegri the sack. A hat trick had left the writing on the wall for Pippo Inzaghi. Now here was an opportunity to give Silvio Berlusconi a decision to make about Sinisa Mihajlovic. Banners of dissent were strewn across the Curva Sud at San Siro, expressing disappointment with the coach and criticism of chief executive Adriano Galliani. Still a schoolboy, Donnarumma's legs could be forgiven for trembling, but "everything just slides off me," he revealed at a training camp for Italy's under-21s last week. "Staying calm is my strength even in the most difficult moments of a game. A goalkeeper has to transmit a sense of security to the team. You can't allow yourself to be uncertain. Mentally I'm older than my years. I realised that on my debut. I should have been agitated. But no." Berardi got the better of him with a free kick, but Milan returned to winning ways and so it didn't really matter. Still, the papers were fairly unforgiving. Donnarumma got 5s in some player ratings and 5.5s in others. "What were you doing when you were 16?" Mihajlovic hit back. For him, Donnarumma was exempt from blame. Juraj Kucka shouldn't have given away the free kick in the first place and there were too many men in the wall. Mihajlovic continued to put faith in his young goalkeeper and was rewarded three days later, as Donnarumma helped Milan keep their first clean sheet of the season against Chievo. He didn't have much to do and was a little fortunate when a Chievo goal was disallowed in stoppage time for a soft foul on him, but flashes of talent were there. A Neuer-like turn to evade Miroslav Klose then caught the eye against Lazio at the Olimpico. He could have done better to stop Ricardo Kishna's consolation goal, but a Man of the Match performance against Atalanta when he made four big saves and was the difference between drawing and losing left Mihajlovic vindicated. It also left the papers in little doubt about his potential. At 6-foot-5, he is a man-child. It's frightening to think Donnarumma hasn't stopped growing yet either. The hype around him hasn't slowed either, which is to be expected when you see his entourage. Donnarumma's agent is Mino Raiola, who knows talent when he sees it (he also represents Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Mario Balotelli), but Donnarumma has let his talent, not Raiola, speak for him. After he impressed in preseason when he was the hero of a shootout against Real Madrid, thwarting Toni Kroos from the spot, it was thought that the competition for Lopez's place was heating up. Milan's No. 99 (the year of Donnarumma's birth) is now their No. 1, but don't get carried away. Not so long ago Udinese's Simone Scuffet was hailed as the next Buffon. He too made his Serie A debut at a younger age than Buffon. Atleti even wanted him to replace Thibaut Courtois. But he is now on loan at Como. It's a cautionary tale. In retrospect, Saturday night's game might come to be seen as the passing of the torch. Then again, it might not. Donnarumma says, "My dream is to take Buffon's place and wear the No. 1 shirt for Italy." Patience is needed. But Berlusconi can't help himself. "My successors won't have to spend any money on that position. Donnarumma will be our goalkeeper for the next 20 years." Nor can Galliani. "I was there when Buffon made his debut all those years ago," he said, "and Donnarumma reminds me of him."

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Four Juventus players come back from international duty with injuries What else did you expect? It's been that kind of season.... http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/11/18/9757720/juventus-injuries-gianluigi-buffon-stephan-lichtsteiner-mario-mandzukic-martin-caceres Nov 18, 2015 You see, whenever there's a crucial stretch of games coming up, you want to be preparing for the return to the field, not dealing with the fact that some of your most important players will potentially be on the sidelines. Yet, in a season full of injuries upon injuries and then some more injuries thrown into the mix, this is where we're at. Instead of laundry listing it, I'll just go ahead and pass along what Juventus' official website posted after Wednesday afternoon's training session that saw most of the team's bevy of international call-ups return to Turin. Three days before the visit of Milan at Juventus Stadium, Massimiliano Allegri welcomed back the majority of his players to Vinovo from over a week of international duty. The only absentees this afternoon were Sami Khedira, who was granted a day of leave, and South American duo Paulo Dybala and Martin Caceres. The defender was substituted during Uruguay's 3-0 win against Chile last night after feeling pain in the flexor muscle of his right thigh and will undergo an MRI scan before returning to Italy. Gigi Buffon and Stephan Lichtsteiner also complained of flexor muscle fatigue in their right thighs following matches with their respective countries. The goalkeeper will undergo medical tests to determine his availability for Saturday's contest against the Rossoneri. Meanwhile, the Swiss right-back's condition will be monitored again tomorrow after receiving therapy today. Tests await Mario Mandzukic too after the forward sprained his left ankle during Croatia's win over Russia. New day, another couple of Juventus injuries to worry about. It's the same old song and dance. This 'Injury Watch 2015' stuff is getting tiresome. Oh so very tiresome. No, not this New Day. (Although I like that New Day.) Just another day in the life of Juventus this season We knew about Lichtsteiner needing injury evaluation after having to be subbed off early in Switzerland's game against Austria on Tuesday night. And you can say what you want about Cáceres getting injured because it seems like the guy can't go a couple of months these days without something happening that sends him back to the training room for more tests. But Buffon and Mandzukic, that's not something we expected to hear about when nearly all of those 17 internationals reconvened upon the Vinovo training fields. As is the case with Lichtsteiner, the next couple of days will be huge for Mandzukic and Buffon. (Although Neto starting against Milan would probably squash some of those stupid rumors about him wanting to leave because he isn't playing. Like he didn't know what he was getting into, right?) You better believe the "Buffon and Manzukic doubts for Milan!" headlines are already beginning. I won't link them, but they're there, so feel free to cruise around the internet if you so please to catch a glimpse of them. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127