Socrates

JUVENTUS - LAZIO - FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Lazio unveil away kit http://www.football-italia.net/70502/lazio-unveil-away-kit? Aug 3, 2015 Lazio have unveiled a new away kit ahead of Saturday’s Supercoppa Italiana clash against Juventus in Shanghai. The shirt, made my Macron, is based on the same ‘Aquila stilizzata’ design the club released as a home shirt in January to celebrate their 115 year anniversary. Lazio President Claudio Lotito spoke to Lazio Style Radio at the launch of the shirt in Shanghai today. “We’ve organised many initiatives to bring the fans closer to the team of their heart and so we decided to present the away shirt here,” he said. “This is with the hope that the team can develop on the level of merchandising as well as with results. “We expect everyone at the stadium on August 8 for the final against Juventus. Forza Lazio.”

Milan a threat to Juventus dominance - Marchisio The midfielder believes the Rossoneri will be a different force to the side that finished 10th last season. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2557/news/2015/08/03/14115692/-? Aug 3, 2015 Claudio Marchisio has predicted that AC Milan will provide Juventus with their toughest competition for the Scudetto this season. The Bianconeri have won four Serie A titles in a row since the Rossoneri triumphed under Massimiliano Allegri (who now coaches Juve) in 2011. After finishing 10th last season under Filippo Inzaghi, Milan sacked the coach and hired Sinisa Mihajlovic as his replacement. A string of high-profile signings including Carlos Bacca, Luiz Adriano and Andrea Bertolacci have since arrived, with Marchisio noting the potential threat they could pose. "If I had to guess who would be our main opposition this season, I'd go Milan because of their history and who they are," the midfielder told La Stampa. "It is also because for many years they have not won now. "It's normal that we've been tagged as favourites because we've won four years on the trot. But such talk is not in our nature to take seriously. We know it will be difficult, as it was last season." Juve, meanwhile, head into next season having sold three of their best players, with Carlos Tevez joining Boca Juniors, Arturo Vidal leaving for Bayern Munich and Andrea Pirlo moving to New York City FC "Pirlo, Vidal and Tevez were key players but it is normal that after years with us there are changes," Marchisio added. "It's a case of bringing in new blood, really. "It will increase the responsibility for players such as myself. The core of this team has stayed, I think, and other top players are being brought in from elsewhere."

Juventus will never sign Isco or Oscar - Marotta The Bianconeri chief says there is no chance either player will end up at the club, but remains keen on signing another midfielder. http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4682/transfer-zone/2015/08/03/14113532/-? Aug 3, 2015 Juventus managing director Giuseppe Marotta has warned that signing Isco or Oscar this summer will be impossible. Bianconeri coach Massimiliano Allegri recently admitted he was a big admirer of both players, but Marotta says there is no chance either player will end up at the club. "We are looking for a midfielder to add to our squad, though not necessarily a particular type of midfielder," he told Quotidiano Sportivo. "They will join an eclectic group of midfielders that include Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira and Roberto Pereyra. Paulo Dybala can play in attacking midfield, too. "Isco and Oscar are both stellar players, but in the case of Juventus – unfortunately, for now – we will never be able to sign them." Marotta also stressed that the future of Pogba depends entirely on the player, with the club having rejected a recent €80 million bid from Barcelona. "In modern football, the decision of the player is paramount," he added. "Look at Tevez, for instance [who Juve let return to his boyhood club Boca Juniors this summer]. "It's obvious we would like to keep Pogba, but we cannot afford to give him a crazy salary whereas some clubs can pay him almost twice as much."

JUVENTUS - LAZIO - FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Barzagli in Super Cup squad http://www.football-italia.net/70476/barzagli-super-cup-squad? Aug 2, 2015 Juventus set off for Shanghai where they’ll play the Italian Super Cup against Lazio on Saturday, including Andrea Barzagli. The Bianconeri only returned last night from a 2-0 friendly defeat to Olympique Marseille and were given most of the day off to rest. They flew out this evening, stopping via Paris to reach Shanghai, where Lazio have already been for a couple of days. Giorgio Chiellini and Sami Khedira miss out due to muscular injuries, but Fernando Llorente has recovered from an ankle knock. Barzagli had been ruled out for three weeks by a thigh problem, but is included in the travelling party in the hopes of making a lightning quick recovery. There is still no news on how bad Khedira’s hamstring strain is, as a statement only said his condition will be evaluated over the next few days. Juventus squad for Italian Super Cup: Buffon, Isla, Caceres, Pogba, Zaza, Marchisio, Morata, Coman, Llorente, Barzagli, Mandzukic, Bonucci, Padoin, Dybala, Rugani, Neto, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra, Audero, Vitale, Parodi, Tello, Vadala

JUVENTUS - LAZIO - FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Tare: 'Lazio squad now complete' http://www.football-italia.net/70450/tare-lazio-squad-now-complete? Aug 2, 2015 Igli Tare said Lazio “are now complete” with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and ready to face Juventus in the Italian Super Cup. The Biancocelesti are already in Shanghai to prepare for next Saturday’s trophy showdown. “Now the team is complete,” director of sport Tare told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport after securing midfielder Milinkovic-Savic from Genk. “The market doesn’t close until August 31, so something else is possible, but we have done what we needed to do and this could well be it. “Milinkovic was the missing figure we needed to make the squad complete and competitive. After signing Wesley Hoedt, Ravel Morrison and Patric, we lacked a wide attacker and a midfielder. “Ricardo Kishna and Milinkovic were the elements we needed to fill those gaps. What we wanted was also to lower the average age of the squad, as we already have experienced figures. “Lazio did not sell any of their best players. We’ve got two first choices for every position and the right mix to continue the growth we started last season under Stefano Pioli.” The Aquile surprised everyone by snatching third place in Serie A and reaching the Coppa Italia Final, where they lost to Juventus. On August 8 they will face Juve again in Shanghai for the Italian Super Cup, then prepare for the Champions League play-off. It has not been a reassuring build-up, as Lazio lost four consecutive friendly matches this summer. “I am not remotely worried,” assured Tare. “Defeats are never pleasing, but in a way we had expected them. Pioli wanted to challenge big teams straight away, ones who were at a more advanced stage of fitness training, knowing we could be embarrassed. “This was the best way to speed up our preparation ahead of the Super Cup and Champions League preliminary round. We will be ready for those dates.”

Why 15 Goals Is a Realistic Aim for Juventus' Paulo Dybala in 2015/16 Season http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2532056-why-15-goals-is-a-realistic-aim-for-juventus-paulo-dybala-in-201516-season? Aug 2, 2015 As the 2015/16 campaign draws ever closer and clubs begin to finalise their squads, it is only natural to wonder what the forthcoming season might bring for various players and teams. When it comes to Juventus, there are arguably more questions than answers—such is the degree of change that has swept through the reigning Italian champions this summer. Indeed, there are a number of intriguing new faces to blend into an already excellent side, and while the likes of Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic arrive with a proven international pedigree, it is somewhat more difficult to predict what to expect from Paulo Dybala. The 21-year-old was comfortably Juve’s most expensive acquisition, with the club’s official website revealing they had spent €32 million—plus a further €8 million in potential bonuses—to bring the striker from Sicilian side Palermo. OptaPaolo ✔@OptaPaolo 43% - Paulo Dybala was directly involved in 23 of Palermo's 53 goals in the 2014/15 Serie A (13 scored, 10 assisted). Bianconero. Dybala weighed in with 13 goals and 10 assists last term, helping the Rosanero to retain their top flight status after they won the Serie B title 12 months earlier. Given the loss of his compatriot Carlos Tevez—who bagged 50 goals in 96 appearances for the Bianconeri—he will need to deliver a similar return in the season ahead. After the transfer of the Cordoba-born star was finalised, Palermo coach Beppe Iachini told Tele Radio Stereo (h/t Football Italia) that he “could see that Dybala had great qualities,” when he took control of the team. While explaining the reason for his breakout 2014/15 campaign, the tactician urged caution for the future as he went on to say: It was important to move him to being the main striker, which allowed him to see the goal better and make the most of attacking situations. It was an idea that the lad fully embraced, he’s learned better how to protect the ball, and has become what everyone can see; a very unselfish player, as well as a good lad. He has to find a way to wait for his chance at Juventus, to show he deserves a chance and to play when he gets that chance. The Bianconeri will not want to rush the 21-year-old, but it is clear they will expect him to produce quickly given the size of their investment. He showed last season that he can score all manner of goals, finding the net with a variety of chips, volleys and intelligently placed shots from his wonderful left foot. He did so from all over the box, proving he can be lethal in front of goal when given the opportunity. Thanks to the manner in which Juventus have dominated games under Massimiliano Allegri, it is perhaps reasonable to expect at least 15 goals from Dybala in the forthcoming campaign. That figure would represent his biggest tally since moving to Europe, yet with the talent surrounding him in Turin it is a reasonable aim, and the player himself is clearly seeking to improve as he begins life with last year’s Champions League finalists. “Playing for a great club like Juventus represents an important step for me,” Dybala said at his inaugural press conference, per the club’s official website. “I hope to develop both as a player and as a person and to become a key member of the team. This is the perfect club to start winning things in my career.” In time, both he and everyone connected with Italian football’s grand Old Lady would like the Capocannoniere trophy—given to Serie A’s leading scorer—to be among his trophy collection, but for now somewhere between 15 and 20 goals would be perfect.

Sevilla, Stoke and Palace for Llorente http://www.football-italia.net/70447/sevilla-stoke-and-palace-llorente? Aug 2, 2015 Sevilla, Crystal Palace and Stoke City joined the race for Juventus striker Fernando Llorente. The Spanish forward is on the market for €12m after the arrival of Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza. According to Sky Sport Italia, Sevilla are the latest club to show an interest in Llorente for this season. A return to La Liga would help him to feel at home, two years after he left Athletic Bilbao as a free agent. Europa League winners Sevilla have already reinforced their front line with Ciro Immobile on loan from Borussia Dortmund, having sold Carlos Bacca to Milan. Today the Sunday Express claims Crystal Palace and Stoke City have also joined the race for Llorente, the latter having failed to snatch Xherdan Shaqiri from Inter. There’s a growing list of pretenders, adding to existing interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Real Madrid and Monaco. Llorente is currently nursing an ankle problem and could well be left out of Juve’s Italian Super Cup squad against Lazio in Shanghai.

Former Juventus Striker Rejects Comparisons To Current Side http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/former-juventus-striker-rejects-comparisons-to-current-side/? Aug 2, 2015 Fabrizio Ravanelli has rejected comparisons between the current Juventus side and the one he played in. The former Juventus forward played for the club between 1992-1996 but he insists it is impossible to compare different eras. “I dont think it is wise or helpful to compare my Juve to the current team.” Ravanelli told Tuttojuve.com. “For example there is no real comparison between the front three of 1996 to [Mario] Mandzukic, [Alvaro] Morata and [Paulo] Dybala. “With all respect they are three players who have completely different characteristics to me and my teammates. “I dont think Juve has been weakened this summer. “The players they have signed are all great and will bring something new to the team. “I am sure Paul Pogba will grow at Juventus now Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal have left the side.”

Sami Khedira's injury adds to Juventus' growing crisis in preseason http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2545062/sami-khedira-injury-adds-to-juventus-concerning-crisis? Aug 2, 2015 Another friendly, another loss for Juventus. While the result means little for the Bianconeri as they were much further behind in their preparations than Marseille, a team about to start their season, the Italians must be concerned with how many players they are losing to injury. It started with injuries to two defenders with Andrea Barzagli's thigh strain suffered in the Dortmund friendly on July 25 and then Giorgio Chiellini torn his thigh muscle in the exhibition against Lechia Gdansk on Wednesday. Today against the Ligue 1 opponents, Sami Khedira was stretchered off and looked to be in agony. Juventus will have to operate without three important players when they face Lazio in the Supercoppa next Saturday and it won't be easy. Massimiliano Allegri's men started the match well. More energised and capable of holding on to the ball for longer stretches of time, it was the attack that excited. Lined up in a 4-3-1-2 formation, Roberto Pereyra was deployed as the playmaker in the hole and despite little training time, he impressed in the role. However, it was Paul Pogba who seemed the most determined in the match, fighting for the ball and launching forward with ambition. He not only helped control the midfield but contributed exceedingly well in attack and was Juve's best player on the pitch, earning a round of applause from the spectators. Mario Mandzukic also demonstrated his growing understanding of Allegri's tactics, working hard to ensure he's always available to receive and shoot. He understands the spirit of sacrifice and gives his all in each match he has played. Sadly, despite the good start, the game was decided by random occurrences, the first of which was Khedira's injury. The German made his debut against Lechia Gdansk a few days ago and was roundly criticised for how slowly he operated, looking out of rhythm and unable to keep up. A player clearly getting to grips with a new team and new tactics, he was rusty due to spending so much time on the sidelines. His improvement was going to take some time. Yet against Marseille, there were some positive signs before his injury. A tactical player, Khedira is athletic and energetic, renowned for his stamina. In that respect, he is similar to the player he was brought in to replace in Arturo Vidal. However, unlike Vidal, he is not a player who has a defined style of play that he imposes but one who watches and studies the patterns of play before understanding how to make his contributions. He is a particularly intelligent player that needs time to understand his team but less time to understand the opponent. A midfielder who knows when to push and aid the offence, he is also brilliant at getting back to press, tackle and act as the warrior Juventus need in light of Vidal's departure. Marcelo Bielsa's Marseille were perfectly lined up in a 3-3-3-1 formation, tightly packed and offering little space yet Khedira quickly understood how they played and it didn't take him long before he found himself close to scoring with Pereyra assisting him. This was the game he needed to aid his recovery and help him get back into the swing of things yet it wasn't long before he went down with a muscle injury which was bound to occur considering the length of time he has spent not playing. It was all downhill from there. Stefano Sturaro was brought on to provide the muscle but Bielsa's men began to stretch play and utilise the space on the wings, attacking with force. A seemingly innocuous cross from Romain Alessandrini, perhaps not even intended, stunned goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and found the back of the net. Marseille were 1-0 up and in control. Once again it was the same problems for Juve, who looked narrow on occasion and easily overwhelmed by a quick counter-attack. The defence requires better security from those ahead of the backline, especially without Chiellini and Barzagli as it lacks some control despite Leonardo Bonucci's wonderful presence. The final nail in the coffin was when Stephan Lichtsteiner was sent off for dissent, leaving Juventus to play the second half with only 10 men. Considering the circumstances, fans couldn't have expected much more from Allegri's men but at least it was a chance to test out certain players. Centre-back Daniele Rugani once again played well but on the other Mauricio Isla is simply not good enough to play for the Old Lady, putting in another poor performance. Alvaro Morata played with a better attitude than previous friendlies but his performance was simply mediocre, unable to make the impact he so desires to make. It was a shame Paulo Dybala wasn't on for long and he didn't have enough time to make a real impact but he clearly understands Juve's ways and is integrating well. He should be a vital member of the squad. Allegri only hopes that Khedira's injury is not too serious and that his men keep improving so that they can win their match against Lazio in Shanghai next Saturday. Until then, defensive maneuvers must be worked upon while the team needs to win back possession with more ruthlessness if they are to maintain their successful ways.

Sturaro: Juventus Will Play Differently Against Lazio http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/sturaro-juventus-will-play-differently-against-lazio/? Aug 2, 2015 Juventus midfielder Stefano Sturaro is adamant that his side will improve ahead of their Supercoppa clash against Lazio, after suffering yet another another pre-season loss. The 22-year-old midfielder was brought on in the first half after an unfortunate injury to new signing Sami Khedira, though he failed to change the eventual outcome of the match as Juve lost the game 2-0, a result that the Italian promises will not happen again in their upcoming fixture. “We did well the first 20 minutes, but after we went down to 10 men, we really struggled,” Sturaro told JTV. “However, we have only had two weeks of hard work unlike the teams that we have played so far, hence the results. If you look at Lazio, they too lost some of their friendly matches. “There’s just one week left now until our first ‘real’ game and I’m sure the result will be different. “This is because we will become stronger and more focused during this final week of training.”

JUVENTUS - LAZIO - FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Pirlo: 'Juve can win Super Cup' http://www.football-italia.net/70439/pirlo-juve-can-win-super-cup? Aug 1, 2015 Andrea Pirlo had his first MLS start for New York City FC, but wished Juventus good luck against Lazio in the Italian Super Cup. Next Saturday his former teammates play in Shanghai for their first trophy of the season, but Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Sami Khedira are out injured. Our US correspondent Marco Messina was at the Press conference at Yankee Stadium. “I hope I can see some of the match. It’s an important match, they’ll be playing in China so it’s going to be really hot over there. I hope that Juventus can win it!" The Italy midfielder was on from the beginning as his team lost 3-2 to Montreal Impact this evening. “It wasn’t a great game, but like I said last time, it takes time to build a team, so these things can happen. Unfortunately we conceded in the beginning but we did our best and we’ll keep improving. “I’m someone that likes touching the ball, we are looking to get to the best play, we’ve only been together for a short amount of time so it’ll take time to find ourselves as a team all together. “We need to work on our defence because it’s very important to not concede. We conceded six goals in the past couple of games so it’s definitely something we need to work on. “MLS is what I expected, a tough league especially when you play in this kind of heat. I hope I’ll be able to continue to improve physically, I feel fine even though it was hot, we’ve been training for 10 days so it’s not really a matter of how many minutes I’ve played, the thing is about playing well. “I’m here to help teach some of my experience professionally and tactically. The important thing is we all work together to make soccer successful in America.”

Juventus Striker On Sevilla Radar http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/juventus-striker-on-sevilla-radar/? Aug 1, 2015 Spanish club Sevilla are reportedly interested in Juventus striker Fernando Llorente, as an impending exit for the 30-year-old gathers pace. The Spaniard has spent two seasons with the Bianconeri, winning two Serie A titles, but looks let to leave Italy in search of a new club. Reports coming from Sky Sport Italia suggest a La Liga side in the shape of Sevilla could be his next destination. The current Europa League holders are looking for a new man to partner forward Kevin Gamiero following the exit of Carlos Bacca to AC Milan and the injury that had occurred to Ciro Immobile during a pre-season friendly with Watford. No current negotiations between the clubs have been made public, so current potential suitors such as Manchester United and Arsenal, are both leading the way to acquire his signature. Llorente has featured in 65 league games for Juventus, scoring a total of 23 goals since arriving in 2013.

Player Ratings: Marseille 2-0 Juventus http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/player-ratings-marseille-2-0-juventus/? Aug 1, 2015 Juventus were defeated 2-0 by Ligue 1 outfit Marseille on Saturday afternoon at the Stade Velodrome. Despite their valiant efforts, the Bianconeri failed to cause a great deal of trouble for keeper Steve Mandanda, and were eventually condemned to defeat after two late goals either side of the half time whistle by Romain Alessandrini and Abdelaziz Barrada. Marseille Steve Mandanda – 6 – Aware - Largely untroubled for the most part of the game, the French goalkeeper made routine saves and showed good instinct to claim the ball in the air. Brice Dja Djedje – 7 – Sprinter - Constantly running all over the field to help out his team, Dja Djedje was a non-stop workhorse. Teamed up well with Alessandrini on the right hand side, providing some nice link play. Karim Rekik – 6 – Ox - The young centre-back made some crucial interventions and displayed good technique and holding skills while on the ball. Nicolas Nkoulou – 6.5 – Rock - Much like Rekik, Nkoulou slid in numerous times to ensure that no threat would ensue, additionally cleared the danger whenever needed. Some smart dribbling and passing topped off a more than comfortable game for him. Benjamin Mendy – 6 – Eager - Deployed in a more advanced role by coach Marcelo Bielsa, Mendy excelled and was able to storm his way up the left flank in order to cross the ball in for his team-mates. His touch did let him down once or twice, though the pitch’s conditions certainly didn’t help. Stephane Sparagna – 6 – Forceful - The 20-year-old is being gradually added into the first team by Bielsa and if this game is anything to go by, then it’s no surprise why. Sparanga made himself known with some crunching tackles and allowed no room for the attackers to pass him. Mario Lemina – 6 – Grit - Lemina got into his fair share of scraps during the game, but proved to be essential in the Marseille midfield. He was able to win the ball back at a moments notice and distribute it to the wings. Florian Thauvin – 6.5 – Stylish - The French winger was almost untouchable whenever he had the ball at his feet as he darted in between the Juve midfielder and defence. His tidy dribbling and accurate passing proved a threat on a lot more than one occasion. Abdelaziz Barrada – 7 – Dazzling - Another player in attack that displayed great flair and good vision, Barrada like Thauvin dribbled his way around the pitch, though wasn’t afraid to get stuck into a few tackles. Eventually rewarded for his efforts with a nice goal towards the end of the game. Romain Alessandrini – 7.5 – Speed demon - Alessandrini certainly turned on the afterburners for this match as he tore past Patrice Evra on the right hand side. But it wasn’t just his pace that proved a nuisance to the Juve defence as he caused trouble with his fancy passing and whipping shot. Scored a beauty from near the half-way line in the first half as he caught Buffon off his line. Michy Batshuayi – 6.5 – Smart - The Belgian provided a constant danger for the Juventus back-line and was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet. Substitutes Bouna Sarr – 6.5 – Impressive - The new Marseille signing gave the Velodrome even more to cheer about, as he picked up where Alessandrini left off with his silky skills and blistering pace. Lucas Ocampos – 6 – Useful - Immediately after his introduction the Argentine showed his enthusiasm by storming through on goal with Batshuayi. His neat touches and surprising defensive contribution were all pleasing to the eye. Juventus Gianluigi Buffon – 6 – Shame - Made some great saves throughout the match, beating the ball away from danger. However all his work was let down after wandering off his line for the first goal. Stephan Lichtsteiner – 4 – Reckless - Committed himself to silly challenges which eventually led to his sending of, albeit rather indirectly. Instead of staying quiet and accepting his reckless actions, Lichtsteiner decided to argue with the referee, before heading for an early shower. Leonardo Bonucci – 6 – Decent - Didn’t leave too much room for error in terms of tackling, though on occasions would push too far up field leaving Buffon somewhat exposed. Martin Caceres – 6 – Steady - Comparable to Bonucci, made sensible tackles though would often be caught upfront. Patrice Evra – 5.5 – Recked - Picked apart by Alessandrini like a vulture on a carcass. He performed well in holding up the ball and passing it around, though when it came to keeping up with his man, his age began to show. Claudio Marchisio – 5.5 – Quiet - Poor by his standards, passed the ball around but had little else to had to the game. Sami Khedira – N/A – Injured - Looked comfortable on the ball and even had a weak shot at goal, but his appearance was brought to an end early on with an unfortunate injury. Paul Pogba – 7 – Steamroller - Juventus’ stand out player this match, Pogba was the architect of all their attacks. His superb skill and passing abilities went unrewarded, though he came agonisingly close to equalising with a free-kick. Roberto Pereyra – 6.5 – Swift - Moved well on the ball and linked up smartly with team-mates. Alvaro Morata – 5.5 – Frustrated - Should have buried a chance in the opening moments of the game, but skied his volley. From then on little went the Spaniard’s way. Mario Mandzukic – 6 – Lacking - Faired slightly better than his fellow forward, though was unable to get into the box a lot. A cracking shot at goal in the second half went just wide. Substitutes Stefano Sturaro – 5.5 – Jelly legs - Preferred to spend most of his time on the floor rather than helping his team. Paulo Dybala – 6.5 – Active - Came on in the second half and added the extra desire that Juve had been lacking. Norberto Neto – 5.5 – Steady - Handled the ball well, couldn’t have done much on Barrada’s goal. Kingsley Coman – 5.5 – Unimpressive - Added little to the game. Mauricio Isla – 5 – Disappointing - Juve were crying out for him to get into the action and help, but his introduction proved fruitless. Simone Zaza – N/A Daniele Rugani – N/A

Allegri: Juventus Must Improve Ahead Of Lazio Clash http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/allegri-juventus-must-improve-ahead-of-lazio-clash/? Aug 1, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri believes his side need to improve in certain areas after yet another pre-season loss. The Serie A 2014/15 champions looked below par during their 2-0 friendly defeat to French side Marseille and despite defending his team’s performance, Allegri believes more work needs to be done ahead of their Supercoppa Italian clash against Lazio. “I’m happy with the reaction of the team during the match,” Allegri said after the game. “We played well in the first 20 minutes and we had a good shape. “However we suffered on the counter attack, which is how we conceded the two goals. “We need to improve the conditions and quality of our game. Though I knew this would be a difficult match as Marseille are much further ahead than us in terms of preparation. “Now we have a whole week in which we need to train, though the workload wont be as heavy as the previous two weeks.” In addition to the loss, Juventus suffered another blow as marquee singing Sami Khedira picked up an unfortunate injury to his leg during the course of the game. “I’m sorry for Khedira, he’s just come back after such a long period of inactivity only to suffer this new injury. “He was doing so well and now we’ve lost an important player for the Supercoppa.”

Marseille 2-0 Juventus: Bianconeri Preparations Take Yet Another Damaging Blow http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/marseille-2-0-juventus-bianconeri-preparations-take-yet-another-damaging-blow/? Aug 1, 2015 Juventus were beaten 2-0 by Ligue 1 side Marseille in a friendly at the Stade Velodrome on Saturday afternoon, as the French outfit lifted the Trophee Robert Louis-Dreyfus Smart play from both sides provided numerous opportunities throughout the game, yet it was the home team who capitalised on their chances with a goal either side of the half-time whistle from wingers Romain Alessandrini and Abdelaziz Barrada. Juventus opened the match in fiery style and almost came close to an opener twice within the first five minutes. A stinging pass from Paul Pogba set new signing Mario Mandzukic through on goal, only for the Croatian international to be cruelly denied by the swift Nicolas Nkoulou. Alvaro Morata was gifted a golden chance from the resulting corner after a poor clearance, however he only managed to fire high and wide from five yards out. The Bianconeri continued to press high and dominate proceedings, with the next chance of the game falling to Sami Khedira, however poor finishing spurned yet another opportunity. The French side began to grow in confidence in a period which saw successive shots from outside the box, one of which hammered against the post as Alessandrini tried his luck. Marseille’s first clear cut chance didn’t arrive until ten minutes later however, when Florian Thauvin forced Gianluigi Buffon into a diving save. The first half looked set to end goalless though a moment of magic from Alessandrini saw his side go into the break ahead, as he spotted Buffon off his line and duly chipped the Italian from over 30 yards out. The action was not to end just there however, as Juve full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner was shown an avoidable red card just minutes before the end of the first 45 minutes for dissent. Marseille came close to doubling their lead early on in the second half through a sweetly struck volley by defender Benjamin Mendy, though Buffon came to Juventus’ rescue beating the ball wide. Pogba was then presented with the perfect chance to equalise for Juve with a free-kick inches outside of Steve Mandanda’s box, however the Frenchman’s strike could only hit the outside of the post. The introductions of youngsters Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza failed to earn the visitors a way back into the game that they so desperately sought after, with Barrada putting the result beyond doubt with a neat volley in the dying minutes. The loss means Juventus have now lost two of their last three friendly matches.

Marseille 2-0 Juventus: Alessandrini and Abdel sink Scudetto holders Stephan Lichtsteiner saw red in the first half as Massimiliano Allegri's 10 men slumped to defeat against Marcelo Bielsa's charges, who looked the better side. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/olympique-marseille-vs-juventus/2040250/report Aug 1, 2015 Juventus endured a night to forget in the south of France as the Serie A champions slumped to a 2-0 friendly defeat at the hands of Marseille. A mis-hit cross from Romain Alessandrini and a late volley from Abdel Barrada ultimately proved the difference between the two sides, but Juve also lost Sami Khedira to a hamstring injury and Stephan Lichtsteiner to a senseless red card. Khedira, a close-season signing from Real Madrid, was carried off on a stretcher clutching his hamstring after just 25 minutes and the Germany international looks likely to miss next week's Supercoppa Italiana clash with Lazio in China. The 28-year-old could also be a doubt for the start of the Serie A season at the end of the month, which would be a huge blow for the Turin club as they aim to retain their league title. Moments after Khedira's premature departure, Alessandrini's ball in from the right eluded Gianluigi Buffon to give the hosts the lead and shortly before the break, Lichtsteiner managed to earn himself a straight red for dissent. With the start of the Ligue 1 season just a week away, Marseille looked understandably sharper and fitter than the Italian champions and almost doubled their advantage early in the second half, Benjamin Mendy forcing a fine close-range save from the overworked Buffon. Juventus, in contrast, created precious little in terms of clear-cut chances, although French star Paul Pogba did strike the frame of the goal with a stunning free kick on 68 minutes and received a standing ovation from the home fans when he was substituted moments later. Abdel then sealed the win for the home side shortly before the end with a spectacular volley, much to the delight of the majority of the 60,000-plus crowd in the Stade Velodrome. But if it was a grim night for Juve then it was an ideal final pre-season hit-out for Marcelo Bielsa's men, who will head into next week's Ligue 1 opener against Caen with a real spring in their step.

Juve fall apart in Marseille http://www.football-italia.net/70429/juve-fall-apart-marseille? Aug 1, 2015 Juventus lost 2-0 to Olympique Marseille, but even worse Stephan Lichtsteiner saw red and Sami Khedira was stretchered off. This was the Bianconeri’s final friendly before the Italian Super Cup against Lazio in Shanghai next Saturday. Over 64,000 were in the Stade Velodrome for the fifth edition of the Robert Louis Dreyfus trophy, but Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Fernando Llorente were out injured. Roberto Pereyra made his summer debut after Copa America duty and replaced Paulo Dybala in the trequartista role. It was a strong start, as Paul Pogba’s through ball saw Mario Mandzukic roll across for Alvaro Morata, his pass cut out by a desperate sliding tackle. From the resulting corner, Pogba’s header was cleared off the line by Romain Alessandrini and Morata blasted over. Khedira should’ve scored after 10 minutes when clear on goal, but prodded a weak effort straight at Steve Mandanda. Florian Thauvin nodded on to the upright, but was offside at the time, and Gigi Buffon was at full stretch to palm away an Alessandrini curler. Bad news for the Bianconeri, as after 25 minutes Khedira suddenly pulled up clutching his hamstring and was stretchered off. It’s his second muscular injury of the summer and he’s highly unlikely to face Lazio next week. Marseille took the lead almost by accident, as Alessandrini misplaced his cross from the right, but the ball looped over a surprised Buffon into the far top corner. Before the break Buffon was alert to palm away a Thauvin deflected chip after sending Lichtsteiner to ground. The tension got to Lichtsteiner, who said something he clearly shouldn’t have to the referee and was shown a straight red card. It’s remarkable to get sent off for dissent in a friendly, but the Swiss international achieved it. After the restart, Buffon was again ready on a smart Benjamin Mendy volley, but being down to 10 men Juve were more focused on defending than going forward. Nicolas Nkoulou nodded over, but Pogba was so unlucky not to equalise on 67 minutes when his free kick bounced off the upright with Mandanda rooted to the spot. Michy Batshuayi surged forward from midfield to drill just wide and Sarr fired over, while Simone Zaza single-handedly almost harassed the Marseille defence into giving away a goal. In the final stages, the French side did double their lead with Abdelaziz Barrada. A poor Mauricio Isla clearance was volleyed into the ground and past Neto into the far bottom corner. Marseille 2-0 Juventus Scorers: Alessandrini 35 (M), Barrada 84 (M) Olympique Marseille: Mandanda; Djadjédjé (Aloe 87), Rekik, Nkoulou, Mendy; Sparagna (Romao 66); Barrada, Lemina; Thauvin (Ocampos 66), Batshuayi (Nkoudou 87), Alessandrini (Sarr 54) Juventus: Buffon (Neto 55); Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Caceres (Zaza 77), Evra (Isla 64); Marchisio, Khedira (Sturaro 26), Pogba (Rugani 69); Pereyra (Padoin 46); Mandzukic (Coman 69), Morata (Dybala 55) Sent off: Lichtsteiner 45 (J)

Sami Khedira leaves Juventus' friendly against Olympique Marseille with hamstring injury http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/8/1/9084543/sami-khedira-injury-juventus-olympique-marseille-serie-a Aug 1, 2015 It looks as though we have another injury to worry about, boys and girls. Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira had to leave Saturday's friendly against Olympique Marseille after just 25 minutes thanks to a hamstring injury he picked up while sprinting back on defense. Khedira, who was signed on a free transfer from Real Madrid this summer, grabbed at his right hamstring moments after stretching out his leg trying to stop a pass from a Marseille player and subsequently falling to the ground in a heap of pain. Khedira was visibly upset as he was loaded onto a stretched and carried off the field. I'd be frustrated, too, if I were him. Or maybe it's more than that. Khedira will certainly undergo tests in the next day or two to evaluate the severity of the injury. Speculating about injuries can drive you absolutely bonkers at times, but by the first impression of how Khedira reacted to it in the minutes after his hamstring went twang, his status for next weekend's Italian Super Cup against Lazio in Beijing is definitely up in the air. And if that's the case, he will join Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini — both of which have picked up thigh injuries in the past week — on the injury list heading into the Supercoppa and the beginning of the 2015-16 Serie A season. Of course, with Arturo Vidal now wearing the all-red Bayern Munich kit, Khedira's importance in the starting lineup is an obvious one. Could this injury open the door for somebody like Stefano Sturaro? That's who came on for him in the first half against Marseille, so it's possible. And if Max Allegri prefers to use Roberto Pereyra as a No. 10 right now, then Sturaro will certainly step into Khedira's place alongside Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba in the center of the midfield. But I guess this is all speculation at this point. Once the actual medical tests happen and there's something posted on Juventus' website about it, we just have to sit around and wait. Hopefully Khedira's absence isn't all that much longer than the time it takes to hear about what happened to his hamstring.

Sami Khedira Injury: Updates on Juventus Star's Leg and Return http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2496327-sami-khedira-injury-updates-on-juventus-stars-leg-and-return? Aug 1, 2015 Not long after his summer move from Real Madrid to Juventus, Sami Khedira picked up a leg injury against Olympique Marseille in a pre-season friendly just after halfway through the first half. He was stretchered off holding his hamstring, and Stefano Sturaro was subbed in following the injury, Juventus revealed. "It’s a pity about Khedira's injury." Massimiliano Allegri said, via Juventus. "He was doing well and we’ve lost an important player for the Super Cup." Italian media reports state Khedira will be out a month, ruling him out of the aforementioned Italian Supercup against Lazio and also the beginning of the Serie A season, via FIFA.com. Unfortunately, the player's absence has become a regular occurrence over the years. Khedira is yet to complete an entire season without missing matches through injury, having picked up 20 injuries prior to his latest, as reported by Transfermarkt.com. It's a huge shame, too, because his combination of combativeness, grace on the ball and clever distribution could be huge for Juve's chances of success. Khedira made just three starts and eight substitute appearances in La Liga last season, per WhoScored.com. One year before, he managed 12 starts and one performance from the bench. The 2009-10 season with Stuttgart was the last time Khedira made over 20 starts throughout a domestic campaign. Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri will have known the risks involved when signing the player. Khedira will no doubt be anxious to establish himself in the side. As ever, Khedira will now focus on regaining his fitness and form. It doesn't seem as if he will ever be completely injury free, as when he's gained momentum in the past, further problems have arrived. This stop-start battle with sharpness is what eventually led to him leaving Los Blancos without the fanfare a top-class player deserves.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO - FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Lazio train in Shanghai http://www.football-italia.net/70422/lazio-train-shanghai? Aug 1, 2015 Lazio are already training in Shanghai ahead of next Saturday’s Italian Super Cup against Juventus. That showdown is on August 8 and the first trophy of the 2015-16 campaign in Italy. The Aquile already flew in last night and were greeted by 100 local fans at the airport. They had their first training session for two hours in Shanghai today. Filip Djordjevic was left to train separately due to a bruised ankle, but Ravel Morrison, Stefan de Vrij and Stefan Radu all worked with the rest of the squad. This suggests they are fully recovered and can start next week against Juve.

Bonucci: 'Juve stronger than setbacks' http://www.football-italia.net/70421/bonucci-juve-stronger-setbacks? Aug 1, 2015 Leonardo Bonucci said Juventus “must be stronger than these setbacks” against Lazio in the Italian Super Cup. The Bianconeri go to Shanghai without first choice defenders Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini due to muscular injuries. “They are certainly a big loss, both on and off the field, but we must be stronger than these unexpected setbacks because we are Juventus and we have to win,” Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia. “We are working hard, putting fuel in the tank to be in the best condition to play Lazio for the Italian Super Cup on August 8. “The new players are settling in very well, we’ve got an experienced figure like Mario Mandzukic who will be useful in major competitions, while the youngsters are embracing the Juventus mentality.” Bonucci was speaking at the Stade Velodrome ahead of today’s friendly against Olympique Marseille.

Line-ups: Marseille-Juventus http://www.football-italia.net/70419/line-ups-marseille-juventus? Aug 1, 2015 Paul Pogba, Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata start as Juventus visit Olympique Marseille in a pre-season friendly. This is the Bianconeri’s last test before facing Lazio in the Italian Super Cup in Shanghai next Saturday. It kicks off at the Stade Velodrome at 19.00 CET. Max Allegri is without Fernando Llorente, Kwadwo Asamoah, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini. The two centre-backs are ruled out for three weeks, so will also miss Lazio. The alternative back four is tested out today with Leonardo Bonucci and Martin Caceres in the middle. It is the first game in the squad for Mauricio Isla and Roberto Pereyra, who were involved in the Copa America and therefore had later vacations. Pereyra is thrown straight into the starting XI as a trequartista behind Mandzukic and Morata. Evidently the Spaniard has been forgiven after Allegri criticised his “bad attitude” when hauling him off 25 minutes into a friendly against Lechia Gdansk. Olympique Marseille: Mandanda; Djadjédjé, Nkoulou, Rekik, Mendy; Sparagna; Barrada, Lemina; Thauvin, Batshuayi, Alessandrini Marseille bench: Pele, Aloe, Romao, Thauvin, Ocampos, Nkoudou Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Caceres, Evra; Marchisio, Khedira, Pogba; Pereyra; Mandzukic, Morata Juventus bench: Neto, Rubinho, Audero, Isla, Zaza, Coman, Padoin, Dybala, Rugani, Sturaro, Vitale, Parodi, Tello, Cerri, Vadala

JUVENTUS - LAZIO - FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Milinkovic: 'Ready for Lazio-Juve' http://www.football-italia.net/70406/milinkovic-ready-lazio-juve? Aug 1, 2015 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic said Lazio “perhaps paid too much” to Genk for his contract, but he hopes to play Juventus in the Super Cup. The midfielder had been ready to sign for Fiorentina when the move suddenly collapsed at the last moment, but will now join Lazio for €9m plus bonuses. “I am very happy with my transfer to Lazio,” the 20-year-old said to Belgian reporters. “The club spent a lot of money on me, perhaps too much. I wasn’t even considered to be worth that much when I won the Under-20 World Cup with Serbia. “Today I went to the Chinese embassy to get a visa, on Monday I will be in Rome for a medical and to sign the contract, then I’ll leave for Shanghai.” Lazio are already in China ahead of the Italian Super Cup clash with Juventus next Saturday. If all goes well, Milinkovic-Savic could make his Aquile debut in that game.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO - FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Bonetti: Juventus Can Beat Lazio In Supercoppa Italiana With Weakened Squad http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/bonetti-juventus-can-beat-lazio-in-supercoppa-italiana-with-weakened-squad/? Aug 1, 2015 The former Juventus and Dundee midfielder Ivano Bonetti is confident that the Bianconeri can beat Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana even without the likes of the injured Giorgio Chiellini or Andrea Barzagli. The fixture will be held in Shanghai on August 8 as the league and cup winners Juve take on the Biancocelesti who qualified as Coppa Italia runners-up. “In a one-off game like the Supercoppa against Lazio, Juventus can win without the likes of Chiellini of Barzagli,” said Bonetti to Tuttomercatoweb.com “Above all else, [coach Massimiliano] Allegri’s side is made up of good young players who are motivated and want to demonstrate that they aren’t worth less than the more experienced players.” The former Tranmere Rovers, Genoa and Sampdoria player also spoke about the injuries faced by the Old Lady. “At times these injuries can arrive at the start of the season and be a warning sign but at times these things can happen and not necessarily mean that much,” said Bonetti. The 50-year-old was also asked if he thinks Juve should try to sign Mehdi Benatia from Bayern Munich. “He’s a great defender, absolutely one of the strongest around,” said Bonetti. “I would do everything possible to bring him in. “I would get him without even considering Chiellini’s and Barzagli’s injuries.”

MARSEILLE V JUVENTUS – FRIENDLY MATCH http://www.juvefc.com/marseille-v-juvenus-friendly-match/? Olympique Marseille v Juventus Friendly Match – Saturday, 1st August – 18:00 GMT – Stade Vélodrome Aug 1, 2015 Preview Juventus play their third friendly of the summer against French side Olympique Marseille at the Stade Velodrome. Probable lineup: 4-3-1-2: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Caceres, Evra; Pogba, Khedira, Marchisio; Pereyra; Morata, Mandzukic 4-2-3-1: Mandanda; Djadjedje, Rekik, Nkoulou, Mendy; Lemina, Romao; Alessandrini, Barrada, Thauvin; Batshuayi Juventus squad to face Marseille: Buffon, Isla, Caceres, Pogba, Zaza, Marchisio, Morata, Coman, Mandzukic, Bonucci, Padoin, Dybala, Rugani, Neto, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Khedira, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra, Audero, Vitale, Parodi, Tello, Cerri, Vadala.