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Buffon: ‘Juve in fight for top’ http://www.football-italia.net/74564/buffon-%E2%80%98juve-fight-top%E2%80%99? Oct 20, 2015 Juventus captain Gigi Buffon says his team ‘will be in the fight for the top’ but admits that talking about the Scudetto right now is ‘delusional’. The Bianconeri played out a goalless draw with Inter in the Derby d’Italia on Sunday and have struggled to find league form, currently occupying 14th place in the table after eight rounds. However, Buffon believes that they are not yet out of the running and targets a five-point gap from the summit by the festive period. “Anyone with ambitions to win the title was hoping for us to lose at San Siro,” he told Tuttosport. “They wanted a funeral for us because many are more relaxed when Juve is out of the game. “But it’s not like that – we will be in the fight for the top. “If we gave a mediocre performance on Sunday I would’ve agreed with those who took us for dead, but instead it was powerful and the team has gone back to being solid. “We have already played against Roma, Napoli and Inter, all away from home, while the others have encountered few of these challenges. “To talk about the Scudetto now would be delusional but if we can rediscover consistency, we will confirm that we are protagonists. “At Christmas I hope to be five or six points off the pace. At the moment we are nine points away, which is not so much. “At San Siro, I suffered a severe bruise, but I think I’ll recover. “In any case it would not be a problem, since we are lucky to have a high quality reserve goalkeeper. “Having Neto on the pitch in my place would not change anything.”

Juventus- Chelsea agree Cuadrado fee? http://www.football-italia.net/74562/juventus-chelsea-agree-cuadrado-fee? Oct 20, 2015 Juventus have reportedly agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Juan Cuadrado permanently for a reduced price of €22m. The Colombia international arrived on loan from the Blues in the summer after only six months in the Premier League, and has impressed for the Old Lady despite the team’s poor form. The Bianconeri paid €1.5m in the summer for the loan, with the obligation to buy set at €25m. However, giornalaccio rosa dello Sport has reported today that the two clubs have agreed a €3m discount for the Turin giants, with the transfer due to be completed when the January transfer window opens. The 27-year-old has rediscovered some of his best form in a Juve shirt, and has proven to be important for Coach Massimiliano Allegri thanks to his ability to adapt to both 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 formations. Cuadrado has made nine appearances in all competitions for the Old Lady this season, contributing two assists.

Allegri, Ancelotti up for award http://www.football-italia.net/74560/allegri-ancelotti-award? Oct 20, 2015 Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri and former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti have been nominated for the FIFA World Coach of the Year award. The ten-man shortlist was announced earlier today, with the winner due to be announced at a gala in Zurich on 11 January 2016. Allegri has been shortlisted after a stunning debut season with the Bianconeri in which he won a league and cup double in Italy and took his side to the final of the Champions League. Ancelotti left his post as Real Madrid Coach over the summer, having led them to their tenth Champions League title in 2014. Fifa World Coach of the Year for Men's Football shortlist Massimiliano Allegri (Italy/Juventus), Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Real Madrid), Laurent Blanc (France/Paris Saint-Germain), Unai Emery (Spain/Sevilla FC), Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Bayern Munich), Luis Enrique (Spain/FC Barcelona), Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Chelsea), Jorge Sampaoli (Argentina/Chilean national team), Diego Simeone (Argentina/Atletico Madrid), Arsene Wenger (France/Arsenal).

Pogba on Ballon D’Or shortlist http://www.football-italia.net/74559/pogba-ballon-d%E2%80%99or-shortlist? Oct 20, 2015 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is the only Serie A player to make the 23-man Ballon D’Or shortlist, which features no Italians. France international Pogba has come off a sensational season with the Old Lady in which he won the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and reached the Champions League final. His former midfield partner Arturo Vidal, who joined Bayern Munich in the summer, is also on the shortlist. Spain’s La Liga dominates the list, with 10 players nominated including runaway favourites Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Germany’s Bundesliga has six players shortlisted, there are five from the English Premier League, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic is French Ligue 1’s sole representative. The list is put together by French outlet France Football and the winner will be announced on January 11 2016 at a gala in Zurich. FIFA Ballon D’Or Shortlist Sergio Aguero (Argentina/Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/VfL Wolfsburg/Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain), Andres Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona), Paul Pogba (France/Juventus), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia/FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich), James Rodriguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), Alexis Sanchez (Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suarez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona), Yaya Toure (Côte d'Ivoire/Manchester City), Arturo Vidal (Chile/Juventus/FC Bayern Munich).

Luis Enrique vies with Allegri for Coach of the Year The Spaniard is the favourite to win the award in 2015 after leading Barcelona to the treble, although he faces strong competition from his Juventus counterpart. http://www.goal.com/en/news/755/europe/2015/10/20/16490932/-? Oct 20, 2015 Last season's Champions League final opponents Luis Enrique and Massimiliano Allegri have been named on the 10-man shortlist for the 2015 Fifa World Coach of the Year award. Barcelona coach Luis Enrique guided Barcelona to Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey glory in his first season in charge at Camp Nou, and appears to be the favourite to claim the individual award following his side's remarkable treble. Allegri could be the Spaniard's closest rival after winning the Serie A and Coppa Italia double with Juventus, while also making the Champions League final in what was his first campaign at the helm of the Bianconeri . The duo face competition from Paris Saint-Germain's Laurent Blanc after he guided the Parc des Princes side to four domestic trophies, while Chile trainer Jorge Sampaoli is a candidate courtesy of his team's Copa America win - the first in the nation's history. Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola and Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho have made the list after winning the Bundesliga and the Premier League respectively. Sevilla's Unai Emery has been rewarded with a place on the short list as well following his side's victorious Europa League campaign, in which the Andalucians successfully defended their crown. Former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger complete the shortlist.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. - Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Borussia Monchengladbach 'don't have much to lose' against Juventus http://www.espnfc.co.uk/borussia-monchengladbach/story/2671281/borussia-monchengladbach-has-not-much-to-lose-vs-juventus? Oct 19, 2015 Borussia Monchengladbach defender Alvaro Dominguez sees no reason why his side cannot carry their Bundesliga form over into the Champions League when they travel to Juventus this week. The Foals have turned things around domestically after losing their first five matches, with four straight wins under caretaker coach Andre Schubert. They have yet to get their European campaign up and running, though, having lost their opening two group games against Sevilla and Manchester City. They now face last season's beaten finalists twice -- first in Turin on Wednesday and then back in Monchengladbach -- and Dominguez is hoping they can start a similar recovery to the one they have launched in the league. "We know that we're not exactly favourites, but we don't have much to lose either," he said on Sport1.de. "We want to win there. Of course we've not got any points yet, but that should be motivation for us." The 26-year-old praised Schubert for his part in transforming the Foals over the past month, saying he "has breathed fresh life, stability and a lot of motivation into us. "He's got some good ideas and the players have faith in these ideas," he added, suggesting that Schubert should be given the job on a full-time basis. "He's doing a great job, so why should we change when things are running so well?" http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. - Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Thomson for Juventus-Gladbach http://www.football-italia.net/74553/thomson-juventus-gladbach? Oct 19, 2015 Scottish referee Craig Thomson will be in charge for Juventus’ clash with Borussia Monchengladbach. The Bianconeri welcome the German side to Turin on Wednesday night, looking to extend their perfect record in the competition so far. The refereeing team will be made up of officials from Scotland, with Craig Thomson the man in the middle. The assistant referees are David McGeachie and Stuart Stevenson, with Steven McLean and Kevin Clancy the additional assistants. The fourth official will be Graeme Stewart, who was most recently involved in Celtic’s win over Hamilton Academical. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. - Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Juventus V Borussia Mönchengladbach – Preview: Leaders Bianconeri Host Winless Die Fohlen http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/juventus-v-borussia-monchengladbach-preview-leaders-bianconeri-host-winless-die-fohlen/? Oct 19, 2015 Juventus host Borussia Mönchengladbach on Wednesday night at the Juventus Stadium in their third Group D fixture in the Champions League. Both teams have had contrasting form in Europe’s premier competition going into this clash. The Bianconeri are on top of their group after defeating Manchester City 2-1 and winning 2-0 against Sevilla whereas the Fohlen are on the bottom after losing 3-0 to the Rojiblancos and 2-1 to Citizens. In their national leagues, the form of the two sides vary. Juve drew 0-0 against Inter on Sunday night and have only won two Serie A matches all season. Moenchengladbach lost their first five Bundesliga matches under Lucien Favre but they have won their last four since Andre Schubert has taken over, which includes the 5-1 away win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. These two sides have faced each other before back in the 1975/76 edition of the old European Cup. Borussia Monchengladbach won 4-2 on aggregate in the second round against Juventus, winning 2-0 in Dusseldorf and drawing 2-2 in Turin. Juve triumphed over German opposition last season in the Champions League when they eliminated Borussia Dortmund 5-1 on aggregate in the Round of 16. Mönchengladbach were not successful when they last faced Italian opposition, losing 5-3 on aggregate to Lazio in Round of 32 in the Europa League in 2012-13. It was back in the 1979-80 edition of the UEFA Cup in which Borussia Monchengladbach achieved a victory against an Italian team, eliminating Inter 4-3 on aggregate in the second round. Both legs ended 1-1 but the second leg in Milan went into extra time and Die Fohlen won 3-2. The Bianconeri will be missing Stephan Lichtsteiner, who had heart surgery recently, and Martin Caceres, who has an ankle injury. The Fohlen will be without Nico Schulz and Patrick Herrmann with knee injuries and Granit Xhaka is likely to miss out with an ankle injury despite playing on the weekend. Form Guide: Juventus (W-D-L-W-W-D) Borussia Moenchengladbach (L-W-W-L-W-W) Expected Starting XIs Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Dybala, Morata Borussia Moenchengladbach: Sommer; Korb, Christensen, Dominguez, Wendt; Traore, Nordtveit, Dahoud, Johnson; Raffael, Stindl http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

Massimiliano Allegri calls for Paul Pogba improvement http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/news/allegri-calls-for-pogba-improvement_253146.html Oct 19, 2015 Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has admitted that Paul Pogba is currently struggling to produce his best form for the Old Lady. The 22-year-old has registered zero assists and just one goal in eight Serie A appearances this season, which has led to suggestions that he is struggling to cope with the number 10 shirt. Juve director Pavel Nedved recently claimed that he wants to see 'more substance' from the French midfielder, who again failed to impress in Sunday's goalless draw with Inter Milan. "Paul has some very specific characteristics, he's a box to box midfielder. At the moment his timing is a little wrong and it's a lot busier with a traffic jam in midfield," Allegri told Sky Sport Italia. "He is only 22 years old, but in order to bring quality, he needs to maintain intensity throughout the full 90 minutes." Pogba was believed to be the subject of big-money bids from Chelsea and Manchester City in the summer transfer window.

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie-a/juventus/2015/10/18-5077101/inter-juve_le_emozioni_del_match/ http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie-a/juventus/2015/10/19-5085355/le_pagelle_della_juve_barzagli_perfetto/#1 http://www.lastampa.it/2015/10/19/sport/calcio/qui-juve/interjuve-le-pagelle-bianconere-barzagli-cassaforte-morata-non-si-vede-5B7ZTHasQun1ebEqwD5KxH/pagina.html http://gazzettaworld.giornalaccio rosa.it/gallery/pictures-inter-juventus/?

Buffon fit for Champions League? http://www.football-italia.net/74541/buffon-fit-champions-league? Oct 19, 2015 Gianluigi Buffon will reportedly be fit for Juventus’ Champions League match with Borussia Monchengladbach. The goalkeeper suffered a calf injury during last night’s draw with Inter at San Siro, and admitted after the match he may not be fit for Wednesday’s game. However, Sportmediaset is reporting today that tests have shown that the ‘keeper has not suffered a serious injury, and will be ready for the match. The Bianconeri have won both of their opening matches in the competition, and can take a big step toward qualification by beating the German side.

Bonucci: ‘Less anxiety in Europe’ http://www.football-italia.net/74539/bonucci-%E2%80%98less-anxiety-europe%E2%80%99? Oct 19, 2015 Leonardo Bonucci admits Juventus have more “anxiety” in Serie A compared to the Champions League. The Bianconeri are 14th in the League following last night’s draw with Inter, but have won both of their games in Europe so far. “What we have to do is remind everyone that when you wear this shirt, you have to fight until the end,” Bonucci told Sky. “Are we thinking of the Scudetto? Now is not the time, we’re 14th, and we just have to concentrate on winning. “We can’t do anything about the points we’ve dropped on the way, but we have to look forward with the confidence to improve. “The goal is to close the gap to the top of the table, and progress in the Champions League. There’s still something missing, but we have no more excuses, they’re for losers. “There’s still a long way to go in the League, there’s still time to come back, as long as we go onto the pitch knowing that victory is the only possible outcome for Juventus. “I signed a renewal because I believe in this project, aware that I’m in a great team that wants to win. Now we have to play with pride and do as well as possible. “In the League we possibly have more anxiety in our performances after this slow start. In Europe we play teams who face us head-on, and that allows us to show our quality as we did against Manchester [City] and Sevilla. “Winning on Wednesday would be an important step, but anything can happen in the Champions League. Borussia have started to put results together after a difficult start, and it’ll be an intense game. “They’ll try to punish us on the break, and we’ll have to be well-organised in defence, because we’ll have chances to score.”

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Derby d’Italia draws a blank The Derby d’Italia ended in stalemate, while Roma and Napoli look like they will be difficult to stop, writes Richard Hall. http://www.football-italia.net/74538/derby-d%E2%80%99italia-draws-blank? Oct 19, 2015 Inter and Juventus played out an entertaining 0-0 draw in the Derby d’Italia on Sunday night. The giornalaccio rosa Dello Sport described the result as one that ‘would make nobody happy’ and perhaps they were right. Both teams had chances to win the game, and enjoyed long spells where they looked in control. The point however, will do little to take the pressure off the under-performing Juventus nor will it deflect criticism away from Inter, who despite starting the season well have had questions asked of them. The Nerazzurri had the chance to go top of Serie A but found themselves up against a resolute Juventus. The ‘Old Lady’ had been mocked by the Curva Nord who unveiled a spectacularly well-choreographed display, that referred to them missing out on the treble last year and had the message ‘Keep Dreaming’ front and central. The game was heated and Felipe Melo was perhaps fortunate to stay of the field. The best two chances fell to Marcelo Brozovic and Sami Khedira who each hit the woodwork. Roma were one team that had no problem finding the net as they brushed Empoli aside in the 3-1 victory on Saturday night in the Stadio Olimpico. Despite the lack of atmosphere in the ground (due to the Ultras boycotting of the Curva Sud over the issue of barriers,) the Giallorossi put on an electrifying display. The highlight was Daniele De Rossi netting on his 500th appearance for the club. The team from the Eternal city have moved up into second and have scored the most goals in Serie A in doing so. Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli are another team that are finding goals easy to come by and they continued with their charge up the table by beating first placed Fiorentina. Lorenzo Insigne and Gonzalo Higuain were the goal scorers in this 2-1 win with Insigne matching his season’s best ever tally of six goals. Fiorentina can take heart, that despite the defeat, there approach the game left them with a lot of positives, not least the fact that Nikola Kalinic was once again on the scoresheet. The game of the weekend came in Genoa as they welcomed Chievo to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Alberto Paloschi kick started the game after only two minutes when he put the visitors ahead but before 20 minutes had passed the home side were in front thanks to goals from Leonardo Pavoletti and Serge Gakpe. The ‘Flying Donkeys’ brought on veteran striker Sergio Pellissier who also took to the sky himself and equalised with a flying back heel. As if this wasn’t enough the game was yet to have more drama when on the 93rd minute Panagiotis Tachtstidis won the game for the home side and the Ferraris erupted. Atalanta are creeping up the table and are looking somewhat like their old selves. Last season was a disappointing campaign with a disappointing record at home. This season the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia looks once again like the fortress it used to be and the 3-0 destruction of Carpi was testament to that. Unbeaten at home in league and cup this season they are certainly enjoying themselves, confidence his high and this was typified by Alejandro Gomez who had the pick of the goals as he curled one in from a corner. Elsewhere Verona remain winless after Udinese fought back late on to earn a 1-1 draw. The result leaves Hellas in the relegation zone although there injury list certainly can be cited in dispatches. Another 1-1 draw was played out in Turin as Milan’s poor form continues under Sinisa Mihajlovic. Two defeats and a draw in the last three will do nothing to alleviate the pressure on the Serbian Coach. Franco Vazquez’s winner for Palermo released the pressure as they lost four in a row before Sunday’s early kick off. Bologna however, are already in crisis as they remain stuck at the bottom of the table with six defeats in seven games. Frosinone managed to move away from the bottom as they managed to beat Walter Zenga’s Sampdoria. The 2-0 win was one of the shocks of the day with Federico Dionisi chipped effort certainly winning goal of the game. Finally Sassuolo upset Lazio as they won 2-1 at the Mapei Stadium. Paolo Cannavaro’s dive for the penalty was perhaps farcical but the home team’s performances this season certainly warrant their lofty fifth place status. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Buffon a doubt for Gladbach clash The goalkeeper is struggling and have will tests on an injury picked up against Inter which could rule him out of the clash with the german side. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/champions-league/2015/10/19/16470392/-? Oct 19, 2015 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed he is a doubt for the game against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday after picking up an injury against Inter. The Juventus veteran appeared to hurt his calf during a 0-0 Serie A draw at San Siro on Sunday and was limping throughout much of the second half of the match. Buffon will now wait for medical checks before the fixture in Turin but is confident that understudy Neto is a more than adequate replacement. "I managed it [the problem] for about 65 minutes, which is a good sign, but we'll see what the tests say," he said to Rai Sport. "I don't know if I can recover but we have Neto, a very strong goalkeeper, who it's not fair to call a back-up." Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said after the Inter draw that he hopes to see Paulo Dybala - who was left out of the starting XI - continue to work hard to improve his game after an inconsistent start to the season following his move from Palermo. Buffon, however, has backed Juve's younger attacking players to establish themselves as world-class talents in the future. "We have players with the potential to be attacking stars. They're very young, and like all young people, they're positive and have things to improve," he added. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Bonucci: ‘Juventus obliged to win’ http://www.football-italia.net/74535/bonucci-%E2%80%98juventus-obliged-win%E2%80%99? Oct 19, 2015 Leonardo Bonucci issues a rallying cry - “we’re Juventus, and we’re obliged to win.” The Bianconeri are currently in 14th-place in Serie A, following last night’s 0-0 draw with Inter in the Derby d’Italia. “We have to look ahead,” Bonucci told Premium Sport, reflecting on the match. “We’re Juventus, and we’re obliged to win. That has to be in everyone’s head, from the staff to the players. We’re Juventus, and we can’t go a season without winning, Supercoppa aside. “Last night was a stimulus, we must be there until the end. We know that Juventus are hated, and it’s not by accident, it’s because we’ve won. “It’s always good when you win though.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Paul Pogba's House Reportedly Robbed During Inter Milan vs. Juventus Match http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2580556-paul-pogbas-house-reportedly-robbed-during-inter-milan-vs-juventus-match? Oct 19, 2015 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba was reportedly the victim of a burglary on Sunday as he took to the field for the Bianconeri's clash with Inter Milan. According to Italian outlet giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, the Frenchman was targeted by some opportunists who knew he would not be home due to his team's visit to Milan. More details of the reported break-in are outlined in the piece: Thieves entered his apartment in the Santa Rita area in the south-west of Turin by breaking a window and left with a number of valuables. Among the items that were confirmed as being stolen were precious gold jewellery and a host of expensive designer clothes. Pogba discovered the break-in upon his return home on Monday morning after the team arrived back in Piedmont, where he was horrified to find his apartment had been turned upside down by the burglars. According to the article, local authorities have carried out an assessment of the damage done at Pogba's abode and are set to open an investigation into determining who is responsible soon. The Bianconeri's stuttering beginning to the season continued in Milan, as they notched a 0-0 draw with the Nerazzurri. As we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com, although he's been in disappointing form so far this season, the former Manchester United man looked as though he was getting back to his best during this tussle at the San Siro: WhoScored.com ✔ @WhoScored .@paulpogba: MotM vs Inter, Rating 7.94, Shots 3, Dribbles 6, Tackles 2, Pass Accuracy 90.9% Pogba has been handed added responsibility in Turin after the departures of Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo last summer. At the moment, the club's iconic No. 10 jersey seems to be a heavy burden on his shoulders, but the vibrant midfielder has the talent and the temperament to become a talisman for this team. Despite regularly being linked with a move away from the club, per Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t ESPN FC), Pogba has cemented his status as one of Juve's best recent players. The youngster helped the Bianconeri to the Serie A title, Juve's fourth in a row, and Coppa Italia victory last term, as well a spot in the Champions League final.

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Trapattoni: Derby D’Italia Draw Favours Inter http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/trapattoni-derby-ditalia-draw-favours-inter/? Oct 19, 2015 Giovanni Trapattoni believes that both Inter and Juventus were afraid to risk losing as the two teams played out a goalless draw on Sunday night at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. The 56-year-old however, feels that the result was unsurprising given the significance of what was at stake if either party were to lose while adding that the result favoured the Nerazzurri. “It was understandable that the football was not pretty due to the importance of the Scudetto race tonight. None of them wanted to risk losing,” Trapattoni told Rai Sport. “The point is certainly better to Inter.” “I believe Juventus are favourites for the Scudetto, as it is in the club’s DNA. “The championship is still long.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Juventus rejected Liverpool offer for Marchisio, claims Marotta The Old Lady midfielder had been reported to be on the new Reds manager's wish-list but insisted he has no desire to leave Turin. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2015/10/19/16464712/-? Oct 19, 2015 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has dismissed reports linking him with a move to Liverpool amid claims the Anfield side had a bid for his services rejected. It has been a testing start to the season for Juve, with the Turin side down in 14th place in the Serie A table following a 0-0 draw away to Roberto Mancini's Inter side on Sunday. Marchisio has been linked with a move away from the club yet Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta feels he will never leave after claiming they received an offer from Liverpool. "Marchisio is a very important player for us and we renewed his contract this summer," Marotta told Premium Sports ahead of Sunday's game. "All I can say is that we're receiving offers all the time for our players, but we are used to buying, not selling players. Not only Liverpool, we have received several offers. "He's the only player in our squad to have come through the youth ranks at Juventus and I think he wants to end his career in this glorious shirt." Those sentiments were echoed by Marchisio with the Italy midfielder insisting he is not looking to leave having only signed a new five-year contract in July. "It doesn't interest me," Marchisio told Mediaset when asked about a move away from Juventus. "I've just signed a new contract with Juve."

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Juventus' Serie A Draw with Inter Showed Overreliance on Juan Cuadrado http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2580389-juventus-serie-a-draw-with-inter-showed-overreliance-on-juan-cuadrado? Oct 19, 2015 Juventus travelled east to Milan on Sunday evening to take on an Internazionale side that had enjoyed a surprisingly good start to 2015/16. Opening the campaign with five straight wins, Roberto Mancini’s men followed that run with a loss to Fiorentina and a draw with Sampdoria just before the recent international break. In contrast, the visitors struggled in the early part of the season but impressed in their last two outings to emerge with victories over Sevilla and Bologna. Unfortunately for the Bianconeri, they could not add to that streak, held to a 0-0 draw that saw them end the game in 14th place and nine points away from top spot. It was not for a lack of effort, however, with statistics, courtesy of WhoScored.com, reinforcing the idea that Juve dominated proceedings at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Figures showed the reigning champions enjoyed 52.3 per cent of possession and outshot their opponents by 15 attempts to eight. The same source provided further evidence of their superiority, La Madama winning more corners (9-4) and headers (14-9) while making a higher number of passes (482-418) and dribbles (13-8) over the course of the game. Yet for large portions of the match, Massimiliano Allegri’s side struggled to find a way through the Inter defence, repeatedly sending the ball out to the right flank in the hope that Juan Cuadrado could create something. WhoScored.com shows that—aside from Andrea Barzagli (84)—the live-wire Colombian enjoyed more touches (78) than any player from either side. The same source shows he also led both teams by creating five goalscoring opportunities, which were then sadly squandered by his misfiring colleagues. Adam Digby @Adz77 Juan Cuadrado vs. Inter: 78 touches, 5 chances created, 4 shots, 3/4 take-ons, 5 fouls suffered (via @StatsZone) That overreliance stemmed from an overall lack of dynamism in midfield despite the Bianconeri finally being able to field what looked like their first-choice trio. Claudio Marchisio made only his second Serie A appearance of the campaign, taking his place alongside Paul Pogba and Sami Khedira . The three men meshed well yet appeared to lack some sharpness, with Pogba notably struggling in the opening 45 minutes. While he improved dramatically after the break, Allegri noted to Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) that the French youngster “needs to maintain intensity throughout the full 90 minutes." In that same interview, the Juve boss discussed how the international break affected his preparations for the game and lamented his team’s lack of incision in attack: We needed the same determination in attack that Andrea Barzagli had when defending. We lack goals; a team like ours cannot score so few goals after eight rounds. We have to improve on the timing of runs and passes, but let’s also not forget that I’ve only had the full squad for two days. It was a decent performance in the circumstances. That is undoubtedly true, with the Turin giants having scored just nine times this term, a tally lower than all but eight other teams' in Serie A. Fortunately for them, Inter are among that group with just eight goals to their name. It is no surprise the pair boast the best defences in the division, each conceding on just six occasions. They will need to improve quickly in attack while retaining that defensive resolve, particularly as there are some important fixtures looming, starting with Wednesday’s clash with Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League. “We just need to get everyone in decent shape again,” Allegri said at Saturday’s pre-match press conference. “We have a big month ahead with Champions League and Serie A fixtures on the horizon.” Reducing their dependence on Cuadrado will be key to that. As will improving the cohesion behind him in midfield. With lots of ground to make up in the league and their hopes of an extended run in Europe, their season depends upon it. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Inter Milan 0-0 Juventus: Derby d'Italia ends in a scoreless stalemate http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/19/9564855/inter-milan-juventus-2015-serie-a-round-8-derby-d-italia-final-score-recap-result Oct 19, 2015 Mediocre? Unlucky? Roberto Mancini said it right – it was tough. A tough game, but at the same time, a game with two different Juventus teams on either side of the break. Almost lamentable during the first 45 minutes when only the supremacy of Andrea Barzagli keeping the Old Lady out of trouble; and then more spirited, driven forward by an inexhaustible Juan Cuadrado, whose unfailing efforts down the right flank only lacked a touch of accuracy. Unfortunately, though, his continuous presence to the forefront of the game was the effect of a flaw within the team. The trio Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba didn’t work. The long-awaited midfield everybody expected to move mountains after its conception in the summer was little more than a heavy anchor in certain parts of the game, lacking cohesion and switching off altogether at times. Hard to tell if it was down to the lack of time spent together on the field or just a matter of circumstance, having to put up with the aggressive style of Felipe Melo and Gary Medel. No point going over Paolo Valeri’s mistakes. It is all part of football and so are the mistakes in front of goal. Khedira is not the kind of player who fails to put the ball into the net from that position. And part of football are tactics and strategies as well. As the game kicked off thoughts were still battling in the head trying to decide whether or not Max Allegri was actually playing 4-3-3. Logic was really insisting with the 3-5-2 formation; but eyes were telling something else. 3-5-2? 4-3-3? Perhaps both. Regardless, Barzagli and Cuadrado functioned as if they have been playing together for a lifetime. A shame it couldn’t leave a mark on the scoreline. Speaking of which, it was only the second 0-0 in 80 Serie A games this season, after Carpi and Napoli played out the first one. Not really what was expected from Derby d’Italia in terms of spectacle and entertainment but giving the contrasting displays of Juventus, it was probably the right result. Second half of the table and nine points away from leaders Fiorentina, but bossing the stage in Champions League. Life as a juventino is gorgeous. MATCH SUMMARY The first chance of the game felt to Cuadrado inside four minutes as the Colombian was found with a good pass by Alvaro Morata but his shot at the near post was saved by Samir Handanovic who conceded a corner kick for the home side. Three yellow cards in five minutes from referee Valeri managed to calm down the spirits a bit. Marchisio was the first to see yellow after stopping a dangerous counter attack through foul, before former Juventus midfielder Melo received his first warning. Just moments later, Khedira brought Stevan Jovetic to the ground and forced Valeri to show a third card. Jovetic stepped up to take the resulting free-kick but his shot was never going to trouble Gianluigi Buffon. Only a few minutes passed before Simone Zaza challenged Melo for a ball with a kung-fu style kick and, most surprisingly, received a yellow card. // writer’s note: it was a 4-3-3, though, nobody seemed to be playing wide left, with both Morata and Zaza constantly in the middle of the attack // In the 26th minute, Giorgio Chiellini slid in brilliantly to block Jovetic’s shot inside the 6-yard-box, after Leonardo Bonucci was caught advanced outside his position. As pressure started to mount up at Juventus’ goal, Marcelo Brozovic curled a shot out of nowhere that flew past a full-stretched Buffon and bounced off the crossbar, drawing a long simultaneous sigh from the home supporters. Inter came close again 35 minutes in as Jovetic sent a dangerous low cross from a set-piece but no player connected with the ball. Appeals for a red card were heard from Juventus supporters as Melo’s tackle on Khedira was nowhere near the ball, but Valeri didn’t even award a free kick. // second writer note: I might have decided on a 3-5-2 in the end // Three minutes before the break, Barzagli made up ground in astonishing manner to stop Mauro Icardi who was poised to face Buffon from an on-to-one situation. A penalty appeal from the Argentine striker was waved off without second thoughts by the referee. Juventus shyly approached Handanovic’s goal as Zaza was blocked inside the box and won a corner kick, but nothing came out of it and the whistle signalling the end of a bleak first half was sweet music to the ears. A lot of intensity, but very little goal action. // Down to the 4-3-3 formation, perhaps? Juventus came strongly into the second half but squandered another chance. Zaza did some good work to win a ball back in midfield before Morata played Cuadrado inside the box, only for the winger to see his shot deflected behind for a corner kick by Handanovic. Jovetic forced Buffon into making a save in the 59th minute and despite his attempt being centred, the ball bounced off the ground just before the veteran goalkeeper got a palm on it and it took one more touch for Juventus’ captain to safely hold the ball. Ten minutes later, Khedira missed the biggest chance of the game. Morata did brilliantly to protect a ball with his back at the goal and then to set up the German who was unmarked inside the area but he only managed to hit the post, drawing no reaction from Handanovic. Juventus were more present in attack in the last part of the game but their long possession spells rarely troubled the home side defence. Inter had a couple of good chances from set-pieces just outside the box, but first Jovetic and then Perisic failed to hit the target. Three minutes from time, Cuadrado delivered a good cross for Mario Mandzukic who was lurking at the far post but the Croatian misjudged the ball’s trajectory and his poor attempt was cleared. Chiellini put a smile on everyone’s face a few moments later, as he tried to redirect Bonucci’s cross with an over-head kick which failed, unsurprisingly. The final whistle came after three minutes of extra time announcing what everyone knew by the time Khedira hit the post: a biscotto. // third writer note: not using the M word was harder than I thought it would be when it came to naming Internazionale Milano // LE PAGELLE Buffon: 6 - A couple of routine saves, but a quiet day at the office otherwise Barzagli: 8 - Imperious defending throughout the game. Man of the match. Bonucci: 6 - Miss-positioned himself at times but great in the air and an improved performance in the second half, in correspondence with the team’s Chiellini: 6 - Better than before the international break. Four minutes away from a Derby d’Italia without a booking Evra: 6 - Not very involved in the action but kept sharp whenever needed. Attacking contribution limited due to the presence of Mauro Icardi Cuadrado: 7.5 - Devastating again on his right-flank, leading every single attack. A pity he was ineffective with his last pass or finishing Khedira: 6.5 - Classy display – in the second half – but a terrible miss that had cost Juventus the three points Marchisio: 6 - Thwarted by having to cover a lot at the back and struggled a bit in the centre of the park – expected, considering the long period spent away from the pitch Pogba: 5.5 - Inexistent in the first half. A bit livelier in the second, but helped his team with little end product Zaza: 5.5 - Aggressive as always. Either hesitant or too impatient at times. Wasted a good opportunity in the first half Morata: 6.5 - Created a couple of good chances for Cuadrado and Khedira, but couldn’t get anywhere close to scoring himself Subs Mandzukic: 6 - Replaced Morata in the 71st minute. Missed a decent opportunity Dybala: s/v - Came in for Zaza with just over 10 minutes left to play. Coach Allegri: 6 - Raised a few eyebrows with his decision of playing Zaza from the start. Was finally able to field his best midfield of three men, although it was hardly to be seen on the pitch. Managed to wake the team up during half time http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Juventus earn hard point in Derby d'Italia, something to build on http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2670629/juventus-emerge-from-physical-derby-ditalia-with-a-point? Oct 19, 2015 With two fierce rivals, two different ideologies and a trigger-happy referee keen on highlighting the aggression on the pitch, Serie A fans were treated to a special evening on Sunday. Inter were held to a goalless draw by an ever-improving Juventus side in the Derby d'Italia. In an atmosphere filled with passionate hate, the Bianconeri arrived on the pitch knowing a defeat could well ruin the dream of a fifth consecutive Scudetto. With Massimiliano Allegri's first-choice midfield trio taking their place in the side, he hoped his men would take control of the game and recover the confidence that led to so much success in recent years. On paper, Juve looked well equipped to cause trouble but Roberto Mancini had clearly taken note of the pain Fiorentina inflicted with their passing fluidity and quick feet and opted to prioritise defensive coverage. Playing a 4-4-2 shape, Inter were keen to shut down the danger Juventus can create in the wide areas to provoke frustration and force mistakes. While the Bianconeri started strongly -- Inter looked taken aback by the occasion -- it didn't take long for the Nerazzurri to realise Juve's weaknesses and their own strengths, slowly making use of their physicality to hinder Allegri's men from establishing a playing rhythm. With Claudio Marchisio having just returned from injury and Sami Khedira still adapting, albeit in remarkable fashion, the midfield did not perform as brilliantly as the coach and the fans would have hoped. Startled by the strength of their opponents, several of the Juve stars surrendered to panic and demonstrated recklessness when tranquillity was required. The desire to grasp control of the game left the midfield with little opportunity to truly affect the team's attacking game. Inter's heavy pressing suffocated the trio leaving them incapable of inspiring the forward line or even adopting a rhythm. Having learned from their mistakes in the match against Fiorentina, the Nerazzurri were desperate to intercept and block everything in sight to ensure safety and with Felipe Melo putting in a dangerously aggressive performance in the middle, Juventus were often hacked down before they could even attempt an offensive move. However, Allegri's men still managed to create goal scoring opportunities. Sadly, those chances fell to Simone Zaza, a man well versed in the art of annoying the opponent but not in ball control. So many opportunities wasted, Zaza works hard and boasts strength but is simply lacking the technique and intelligence required to make the difference in such big matches against such determined opposition. Once again Allegri's choices stirred debate. Why was Paulo Dybala, a forward Lionel Messi labelled as a great player with a bright future, benched in favour of a youngster who simply isn't as talented? In the first half Juventus desperately needed a little more inspiration, a player with quick feet and creative thinking, not a player like Zaza who failed to demonstrate elegance and understanding of the game. However, to be fair to the former Sassuolo forward, he was not the only player who was guilty of poor decision making in the final third. Far too often, the likes of Juan Cuadrado opted to strike when a teammate was in a better position to score. In the second half, Inter fell away as Juve started to show the real potential of this newly formed side. Cuadrado caused havoc on the right, Sami Khedira grew into the game by taking up clever positions and Paul Pogba finally begun to show off his elegant technique. The squad showed promise and is slowly improving, lacking only the efficiency required to make their technical superiority count. Frustratingly this was a match that neither side wanted to lose meaning both teams failed to really push for a goal in the final stages of the game. While both sides excelled on certain occasions, this wasn't a match befitting of two giants of football. Sloppy passing, horrifying fouls and several instances of wasted possession, both coaches should be demanding more of their players, especially considering the sheer amount of quality on either side. At least on a defensive level, Allegri can be proud of his men for keeping a clean sheet, especially against a strong Nerazzurri front line. With Andrea Barzagli demonstrating his immense quality to ensure solidity, he gives the team the opportunity to dedicate itself to improving the offensive side of the game. In time the results will arrive but until then, Juventus have a Champions League match against Borussia Monchengladbach to win. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Max Allegri: “Juventus will definitely challenge for the Scudetto” The Juventus manager's post-match comments following Sunday's 0-0 draw with Inter. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/19/9565231/inter-milan-juventus-max-allegri-post-match-comments-2015-serie-a Oct 19, 2015 Juventus drew 0-0 at Inter Milan in the latest installment of the Derby D'Italia, and minutes after the game, manager Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the press. He started off talking about his aspirations for the season: "I don't know if we'll win the Scudetto, but we will definitely get back into the race. That's for certain. "I don't want us to get caught up in the anxiety of the situation now, as there's a long way to go. "The plan is to be challenging by the start of March and then we'll see about a final push. Getting one point here doesn't move the table much, but it stops Inter breaking away, we kept a clean sheet and put in a strong performance." Allegri called out the effort by defender Andrea Barzagli on the day, while deploring some of the standards of finishing by Juve: "We needed the same determination in attack that Andrea Barzagli had when defending. "We lack goals, a team like ours cannot score so few goals [nine] after eight rounds. "We have to improve on the timing of runs and passes, but let's also not forget that I've only had the full squad for two days. It was a decent performance in the circumstances." On his surprise choice to start the game with Simone Zaza rather than Paulo Dybala: "Of those who returned from South America, only Juan Cuadrado started because his characteristics are unique. "I thought Zaza did very well and proved he belongs at Juventus. He caused problems for the Inter defenders and worked hard for the team. "Alvaro Morata has the qualities to play with anyone. I think Dybala will have to transform, and is already doing so, into a trequartista or support striker when against teams that are locked down. He's getting there, but with harder work than he's used to is less sharp when reaching the goal. "Mario Mandzukic is strong when there are players on his sides providing service, while Zaza is better at attacking the space." On yet another lackluster performance from Paul Pogba: "Paul has some very specific characteristics, he's a box to box midfielder. At the moment his timing is a little wrong and it's a lot busier with a traffic jam in midfield. "He is only 22 years old, but in order to bring quality, he needs to maintain intensity throughout the full 90 minutes." http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Juventus 0 - Inter Milan 0: Initial reaction and random observations http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/19/9564191/juventus-inter-milan-2015-serie-a-round-8-derby-d-italia-final-score-result-initial-reaction Oct 18, 2015 Like all good managers do, Max Allegri sought answers at halftime to try fix what went wrong in the first half and get his team a positive result. And the product of those changes saw Allegri's team flying out of the break, with the second half clearly belonging to the team in black and white stripes, not black and blue ones. They created chances, they defended well, and for good portion of the 45 or so minutes in the second half on Sunday night, they dictated the pace of the game. It was what you want your team to do in a game they truly have the chance to win. Except that goal they were clearly seeking in the second half never arrived. There were chances — some went well wide while others, like Sami Khedira's second-half chance just outside the six-yard box, went clanging off the upright. It was a game Juventus could have and maybe should have won, yet the end result was a scoreless draw against Inter at the San Siro. Not exactly the worst result in the world, but not the best way to quickly erase the terrible start to the Serie A season. That means Juventus head into this latest post-international break flurry of games in 14th place, one point behind Milan. Allegri is still saying Juventus will be in the Scudetto mix, and with more than two-thirds of the season still remaining, there's plenty of time to turn this thing around. Throw in the fact that three of Juventus' eight league games have been at Inter (third place), at Napoli (fifth place) and at Roma (second place), and it's not exactly like the schedule has helped them out at all. HOWEVER... As much as this can be considered a a decent result, Juve could have won it. And that's the frustrating part. If Khedira shoots the ball 12 inches to the right, we're not talking about another draw. Nope, we'd all be hyped because Juve just beat Inter and silenced the San Siro for another season. Instead, we're sitting here with the "What if..." thoughts surging through our heads once again. I hate those kind of thoughts, man. Especially when Juve play well enough against a good team to get the win. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "We needed to be a bit more ruthless up front, in the way that @andreabarzagli2 was at the back tonight." I mean, watching Andrea Barzagli play the way he did against Inter, then it's a perfect statement. If Juventus had been as good up front as Barzagli was in defense, we're talking about three points going back to Turin, not this team still being stuck ranked in the teens in the Serie A standings. That's a pretty easy one to figure out. Random thoughts and observations In baseball they have a saying about players who get hurt and stay in or come into the game in the late innings: "The ball is going to find you right away." The same could be applied to Gigi Buffon after he tweaked his calf in the first half. And just a few moments after the initial injury, Buffon was called into action and made the best save of the day as he went flying to his left to keep Inter off the scoreboard. Injuries can't even keep Buffon from making world-class saves. He's just a joy to watch. Paul Pogba didn't have a great game, but this run was absolutely incredible. This was not a foul on a player who already had a first-half yellow. Cool refereeing, man. I would like to assume Allegri didn't start Paulo Dybala because of all the traveling he did while getting his first call-up with the Argentina national team. And if that's the case, then I can see why Max did what he did. With that being said, Simone Zaza sure did have some decent looks on goal against Inter. He worked his tail off as you expect him to, but he probably should have finished at least one or two of those chances at the very least. Forget the miss on the golden chance for a second. I am truly enjoying watching Sami Khedira play in a Juventus jersey. He again showed why he can be a key member to this team's success this season. And now that Marchisio is back in the fold, you would think things would start to run smoothly in the center of the park. Oh, and as a reminder, Khedira didn't cost a dime to bring to Turin. Watch Juventus play like this on Wednesday in the Champions League and win. That's just because this season makes absolutely no sense to me at all. I'm sure I'm not the only one still confused by it, too. POLL Who is your Juventus Man of the Match against Inter? 68% Andrea Barzagli (221 votes) 17% Juan Cuadrado (55 votes) 8% Sami Khedira (26 votes) 6% Gianluigi Buffon (18 votes) 1% Giorgio Chiellini (3 votes) 1% Leonardo Bonucci (2 votes) 325 votes total http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Allegri explains Juve choices http://www.football-italia.net/74517/allegri-explains-juve-choices? Oct 18, 2015 Max Allegri explained his tactical choices against Inter and assured “Juventus will definitely challenge for the Scudetto.” The Bianconeri picked up a 0-0 draw at San Siro in the Derby d’Italia. “We needed the same determination in attack that Andrea Barzagli had when defending. We lack goals, a team like ours cannot score so few goals after eight rounds,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia. “We have to improve on the timing of runs and passes, but let’s also not forget that I’ve only had the full squad for two days. It was a decent performance in the circumstances.” Allegri was asked about his surprise decision to start Simone Zaza rather than Paulo Dybala. “Of those who returned from South America, only Juan Cuadrado started because his characteristics are unique. “I thought Zaza did very well and proved he belongs at Juventus. He caused problems for the Inter defenders and worked hard for the team. “Alvaro Morata has the qualities to play with anyone. I think Dybala will have to transform, and is already doing so, into a trequartista or support striker when against teams that are locked down. He’s getting there, but with harder work than he’s used to is less sharp when reaching the goal. “Mario Mandzukic is strong when there are players on his sides providing service, while Zaza is better at attacking the space.” Paul Pogba was again far from his old self in midfield, so is the Number 10 jersey weighing on him? “Paul has some very specific characteristics, he’s a box to box midfielder. At the moment his timing is a little wrong and it’s a lot busier with a traffic jam in midfield. “He is only 22 years old, but in order to bring quality, he needs to maintain intensity throughout the full 90 minutes.” Juventus sit in 14th place with nine points from eight rounds, below Milan, Genoa and Palermo. “I don’t know if we’ll win the Scudetto, but we will definitely get back into the race. That’s for certain. I don’t want us to get caught up in the anxiety of the situation now, as there’s a long way to go. “The plan is to be challenging by the start of March and then we’ll see about a final push. Getting one point here doesn’t move the table much, but it stops Inter breaking away, we kept a clean sheet and put in a strong performance. “Once again, we have to realise a team that scores nine goals in eight games cannot win the Scudetto, so we’ve got to improve our finishing.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

INTER - JUVENTUS 0 - 0 MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri RATINGS: Jovetic solid for Inter http://www.goal.com/en/match/internazionale-vs-juventus/2120451/ratings Oct 18, 2015 Internazionale 1 S. Handanovič - Saved twice from Cuadrado and didn't look shaken at all in goal. 21 D. Santon - Put in two great crosses and married that to a solid defensive shift. 25 Miranda - Won most things in the air but was late on one or two challenges. 24 J. Murillo - Made a series of vital challenges to deny the Juventus attack. 5 Juan Jesus - Had a few problems with Cuadrado's movement and dribbling throughout. 17 G. Medel - Covered the back four diligently, stepping in to break up play at the top of the box more than once. 83 Felipe Melo - The midfielder picked up an early yellow card and was a risk for a dismissal, which was a factor in his withdrawal. 77 M. Brozović - Combative in the centre of the park, hitting the post with an almighty effort. 44 I. Perišić - Attempted to link with his teammates more than once but he struggled to make his mark on the ball. 10 S. Jovetić - His desire to get involved and play in possession was troublesome for the defence. 9 M. Icardi - Not his day as he was just off making a connection on a few chances. Substitutes 13 F. Guarín - Added a little drive to the midfield. 7 G. Kondogbia - No time to make an impact. 8 R. Palacio - Very late cameo. Juventus 1 G. Buffon - A wonderful stop on Brozovic, and an accomplished showing otherwise. 15 A. Barzagli - Clumsy on one challenge, but generally sound. 19 L. Bonucci - Made it hard for Icardi to find space in the area with an attentive display. 3 G. Chiellini - Covered excellently for his teammates and was unlucky to pick up a booking for a non-existent foul. 33 P. Evra - He was beaten for pace more than once, picking up a yellow for a foul on Jovetic. 16 J. Cuadrado - His dribbling and movement was always a threat, and he was typically the first option out wide. 6 S. Khedira - Helped out in defence when he needed to, and nearly scored with a close-range shot that hit the post. 8 C. Marchisio - Booked early on and wasn't quite at the level of some of his other midfield comrades. 10 P. Pogba - Really came to the fore in the second half as he started to glide past players and drive the attack in the final third. 7 S. Zaza - Indecision cost him more than once in a fairly ineffective showing. 9 Álvaro Morata - Held the ball up well for one or two chances, but otherwise, it wasn't his night. Substitutes 17 M. Mandžukić - Did not register as a goal threat. 21 P. Dybala - Failed to accomplish much. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127