Socrates

VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, May 30th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium, Verona Referee: Marco Di Bello Verona - Juventus Preview: Ogbonna seeks strong Champions League warm-up In their penultimate game of the season, the Bianconeri will hope to put in a good performance ahead of their Champions League final next week. May 29, 2015 Angelo Ogbonna has urged Juventus to finish their Serie A season in style as they play their final game before facing Barcelona in the Champions League final. Juve have already clinched the league title and Coppa Italia and victory over Barca next week will see them lift a historic treble. Before then, though, the Bianconeri have to complete their domestic campaign and centre-back Ogbonna is keen to put on a show. "We are already preparing for June 6," Ogbonna told Juve's official website. "We want to have a good match against Verona to end our season in the best possible way before looking towards the Champions League final." Ogbonna pin-pointed two moments that have defined as Massimiliano Allegri's men's season, adding: "There's the Coppa Italia, which we finally won after 20 years with a great final and a great semi-final against Fiorentina in Florence. "Perhaps that was the real turning point of the season, along with the 3-1 away win in the league against Napoli in January." Few would back against Juve finishing off their season strongly, considering they have lost just three times in the league this season. However, the Bentegodi has proved a difficult ground for Juve, with the club's last two visits both finishing 2-2. OPTA FACTS Verona have picked up just two points in their last seven league meetings against Juventus. Verona have won only once over their last 16 Serie A matches agasint the Old Lady, losing 12 times. The last two league clashes between Verona and Juventus at the Bentegodi have both ended with a 2-2 draw. Verona have never repeated the same result twice in a row in their last six Serie A fixtures - their last game ended in a draw against Parma. Juventus are unbeaten in their last five league games (W4 D1), after they had lost two of the previous three. Verona have recouped 18 points from trailing situations, a league-high this season. Juventus have netted the most goals from outside the box across the top five European leagues this season (21). Carlos Tévez has scored five goals in his three league appearances against Verona, his favourite opponent in the Italian top-flight. LAST FIVE MATCHES Hellas Verona D W D L D 2015/05/24 - Parma 2 - 2 Hellas Verona 2015/05/17 - Hellas Verona 2 - 1 Empoli 2015/05/10 - Chievo Verona 2 - 2 Hellas Verona 2015/05/03 - Hellas Verona 0 - 1 Udinese 2015/04/29 - Sampdoria 1 - 1 Hellas Verona Juventus W W W D D 2015/05/23 - Juventus 3 - 1 Napoli 2015/05/20 - Juventus 2 - 1 Lazio 2015/05/16 - Internazionale 1 - 2 Juventus 2015/05/13 - Real Madrid 1 - 1 Juventus 2015/05/09 - Juventus 1 - 1 Cagliari HEAD TO HEAD 2015/01/18 - Juventus 4 - 0 Hellas Verona 2015/01/15 - Juventus 6 - 1 Hellas Verona 2014/02/09 - Hellas Verona 2 - 2 Juventus 2013/09/22 - Juventus 2 - 1 Hellas Verona 2007/04/27 - Hellas Verona 0 - 1 Juventus http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, May 30th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium, Verona Referee: Marco Di Bello Hellas Verona V Juventus – Preview: Old Lady Looking To Finish With A Flourish May 29, 2015 Hellas Verona host Serie A champions Juventus at the Stadio Bentegodi on Saturday evening in the Bianconeri’s final test before the Champions League final. Juventus will face Barcelona in European football’s showcase event in Berlin next Saturday, but must first overcome the challenge of a Verona side hoping to finish above rivals Chievo. The hosts are currently two points ahead of the Flying Donkeys and could yet finish the season as high as 11th place if other results go their way. Although Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve wrapped up the league title weeks ago, they should be firing on all cylinders in order to carry some momentum into their big night in Berlin. Evergreen Hellas striker Luca Toni will be hoping to score against his former club and has been on sensational form, scoring six goals in his last six matches. The 38-year-old will hope that his side have learned their lesson after two heavy defeats against the Old Lady already this season. Juve knocked Verona out of the Coppa Italia in January with a whopping 6-1 win, before recording an emphatic 4-0 victory over the Gialloblu in the league only three days later. Despite that record, Hellas coach Andrea Mandorlini will be encouraged by his side’s recent form, as they have now lost only once in seven matches. The visitors’ form has hardly fallen since they secured the title either and they arrive at the Bentegodi on the back of knocking Real Madrid out of the Champions League, beating Lazio in the Coppa Italia final and recording league wins over Inter and Napoli. Artur Ionita and Juanito Gomez could be absent for the home side due to injury problems. Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli has also been struggling with a niggle and could join Martin Caceres and Romulo on the absentees list. Form Guide: Verona (W-D-L-D-W-D) Juventus (L-W-W-D-W-W) Expected Starting XIs Verona: Rafael; Sala, Marquez, Moras, Agostini; Obbadi, Tachtsidis, Hallfredsson; Jankovic, Toni, Fernandinho Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Chiellini, Bonucci, Evra; Pogba, Marchisio, Sturaro; Vidal; Morata, Tevez http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Messi warns Barca of Tevez threat in Champions League final The 27-year-old singled out his international team-mate for praise as he prepares to face him in next weekend's European showdown. May 28, 2015 Lionel Messi has warned his Barcelona team-mates that Juventus pose a very serious threat in the Champions League final, particularly with Carlos Tevez in their ranks. The two sides will meet in Berlin on June 6 with Juve on the brink of their first-ever treble having completed the double in Italy. Meanwhile Barca can take another step towards repeating their 2009 heroics if they defeat Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on Saturday. The Catalans are favourites going into the game but Messi says he and his team-mates can't afford to be complacent, while singling out Argentina team-mate Tevez as their key man. "We will face a very tough opponent," he told Sport Premium. "Juventus are physically strong and have great players like Tevez. "It's a final and anything can happen, but we are preparing for the game as we would normally do." Should Barcelona win the trophy, it will be the fourth time 27-year-old Messi has lifted the Champions League. He is already in pole position to claim his fifth Ballon d'Or - having been pipped to the Fifa award for the past two years by Cristiano Ronaldo - due to his stellar performances since the halfway point of 2014-15.

Carlos Tévez, Roberto Peryera part of Argentina Copa America squad May 28, 2015 Over the next couple of weeks, most of the Juventus squad will be heading to beaches and resorts as the season comes to an end following nearly nine months of blood, sweat and probably a few (happy) tears. Hopefully there will be some kind of Champions League celebration in there, but vacations are on the not-so-distant horizon for many players that Max Allegri has relied on during the 2014-15 season. That's not exactly going to be the case for Carlos Tévez and Roberto Pereyra. At least not right off the bat, anyway. Both Juventus' leading scorer and their utility knife in the midfield have been included in Argentina manager Tata Martino's 23-man squad for this summer's Copa America in Chile. Both Tévez and Pereyra have been included in recent Argentina squads, making their inclusion not a huge shock to anybody who know how good both of them have been during the 2014-15 season. Selección Argentina ✔@Argentina #CopaAmérica Repasá la lista de 23 futbolistas que eligió Martino para el torneo en Chile Here's the list in full in case you don't feel like squinting to see some of the faces on the squad picture: Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Nahuel Guzman, Mariano Andujar Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta, Facundo Roncaglia, Ezequiel Garay, Martin Demichelis, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Milton Casco Midfielders: Lucas Biglia, Roberto Pereyra, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Ever Banega, Javier Pastore, Erik Lamela, Angel Di Maria Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi Tévez enters the final weekend of the Serie A season with 20 goals, one behind Hellas Verona's Luca Toni. It just so happens that Toni and Tévez will be playing on the same field at the Bentegodi this Saturday night. For the season, Tévez has scored 29 goals in 41 games — something that bears repeating every single time you talk to somebody who happens to root for Manchester City. Pereyra, who is a virtual lock to have his contract bought in full from Udinese this summer, has been as versatile a player that Max Allegri could have asked for over the course of the season. He has played out wide as a winger, as a central midfielder and as a trequartista. And, most of the time, he has been a quality contributor. Basically, he's been both a solid player when in the starting lineup and a huge boost of energy off the bench when called upon. So good on the both of you, Carlos and Roberto. Now we have some Juventus-related things to watch this summer while we try and cope with no football until the month of August.

VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, May 30th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium, Verona Referee: Marco Di Bello Preview: Hellas Verona vs. Juventus May 28, 2015 Juventus remain firmly on track to secure an historic treble this season, but before heading to Berlin for the Champions League final, they must round off their successful Serie A campaign. League title already in the bag, the Old Lady take on Hellas Verona this weekend with the hope of prolonging their unbeaten run into next week's showpiece final on the European stage. Hellas Verona Having overachieved on their return to the Italian top flight last season, finishing in the top half of the table on the back of an impressive set of results, the target this time around for Verona was to consolidate their place in Serie A. With just one set of fixtures left to play, Andrea Mandorlini's men have done exactly that. One defeat in their opening six games set the tone, with a current 14-point gap between themselves and the bottom three in the division. An unlikely win against the champions on Saturday will not quite be enough to secure another top-10 spot, but finishing within the same vicinity as fallen Milan giants Inter and AC certainly marks a fine return for the campaign. The three-point hauls have dried up in recent weeks, however, with just the one win - at home to Empoli earlier this month - to their name over the past five matchdays. While at times the Gialloblu's defence has let the side down - only three teams have conceded more than their tally of 63 goals against up the other end - Verona have one man in particular to thank. At the grand old age of 38, Luca Toni continues to rack up the goals. In fact, should the hosts keep out Juventus star Carlos Tevez this weekend, then it is likely that the Italian World Cup winner will finish as the league's top scorer. Toni may be tempted into ending his career on foreign shores, but keeping hold of the 21-goal striker will prove key to the Mastini's hopes next term. Recent form: WDLDWD Juventus So far, so good for Juventus in terms of this season's ambitions. A domestic league title firmly in the bag, combined with their recent Coppa Italia success, ensures that things are looking good for Massimiliano Allegri's men at this moment in time. They are not content with stopping there, either, having booked their place in the Champions League final thanks to a gutsy performance over two legs against current holders Real Madrid. A season that began with seven league wins on the bounce looks likely to end in a similar manner, with victory over Hellas on Saturday enough to take the Bianconeri's record to 89 points out of a possible 114 for the campaign. Allegri deserves huge credit for adapting his side to the challenge of competing on three fronts through this gruelling campaign, which looked to be heading towards a stalled finish at one stage. Two defeats in three games last month, including a shock 2-1 reverse at arch-rivals Torino, allowed others to cut the gap somewhat. But Juve's hopes of retaining their title have never truly looked in doubt right from day one. Now they have the chance to round things off in style domestically speaking, by building on their two previous victories against Mandorlini's charges this season ahead of that crucial meeting against Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium. Recent form in Serie A: LWWDWW Recent form (all competitions): WDDWWW Team News There has been plenty of transfer talk surrounding Juventus in recent days, both in terms of incoming and outgoing targets, but focus right now is very much on their final two games. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Old Lady made nine changes to their starting lineup last time out, bringing in Kingsley Coman to lead a much-changed side. With the European Cup final closing in, Allegri may be tempted to leave Madrid-linked Paul Pogba on the bench, although Tevez may be thrown in to keep the 20-goal forward ticking over. Meanwhile, Pierluigi Gollini is likely to return to the bench for Verona, while Mounir Obbadi, Eros Pisano and Ivan Martic are all major doubts for the final-day clash. Toni scored twice in the 2-2 draw against relegated Parma last time out, and he is expected to start in what could potentially be his final game for the club. Hellas Verona possible starting lineup: Rafael, Sala, Agostini, Marquez, Moras, Tachtsidis, Obbadi, Hallfredson, Toni, Jankovic, Fernandinho Juventus possible starting lineup: Buffon, Ogbonna, Barzagli, Padoin, Asamoah, Marchisio, Morata, Sturaro, Pereyra, Tevez, Coman Head To Head Verona have picked up just two points from their last seven league meetings against Juve, while they have only won one of the last 16 Serie A encounters. However, the last two league encounters at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi have ended in 2-2 draws, which offers more than a glimmer of hope for the home side. The mid-table club can also take consolation from the fact that they have recouped more points (18) from losing positions than any other top-flight side in Italy this campaign, meaning that the champions are likely to be made to fight all the way in their final league game. Juventus also brushed aside their opponents 6-1 en route to winning the Coppa Italia earlier this year, with Sebastian Giovinco - now at Toronto - bagging a brace. We say: Hellas Verona 1-3 Juventus The visitors may have one eye on the small matter of a Champions League final, but they are likely to prove too strong for a Verona side camped firmly in middle ground right now. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Madrid deny Pogba bid May 28, 2015 Real Madrid have released a statement denying that they have made a bid for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. The Merengues were responding to claims from newspaper La Stampa today that they were willing to pay Pogba €10m a year over five seasons, making him one of the club’s biggest earners. However, Madrid have sought to dampen the rumours by releasing an official club statement in response. "Following the reports published in the Italian newspaper “La Stampa” concerning an alleged offer from Real Madrid for the player Paul Pogba, the club wishes to state the following," read the statement. "Real Madrid have had no contact either with Juventus or the player’s agent and, as a consequence, the reports published in this newspaper are completely false".

Chiellini: 'How to stop Barcelona' Apr 27, 2015 Giorgio Chiellini believes he and Juventus have the key to stopping the Barcelona strikers. “You can’t man-mark them.” The Champions League Final in Berlin on June 6 is largely seen as a showdown between Leo Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez on one side, the Bianconeri defence on the other. “There is no such thing as man-marking Messi, Neymar or Suarez. The only way to stop them is working as a team,” Chiellini told Premium Sport. “They might seem unstoppable, but we will study the game very carefully. Those three are not the only players to watch out for, but a great team is what puts forwards in a condition to really hurt opponents. “At the end of the day, with our qualities we can limit their influence on the match. This Juve is a really tough side to beat for anyone. “After Real Madrid there was this race to buy a ticket for Berlin and I am sure there will be thousands of fans outside the stadium, even without a ticket, just wanting to experience the atmosphere of that day and be close to us.” Juve are in the running for a Treble, as they already won the Scudetto and Coppa Italia. “Since the start of the year fans have been asking us to win the Champions League, even snubbing Serie A. In my view that’s a mistake. “It is true though that the Champions League puts you face to face with something special, the best players in the world and a unique atmosphere. “That tournament gives you sensations and emotions that other games simply cannot provide. Since childhood you’ve heard that famous theme tune and the first few times you hear it up close, it gives you an incredible burst of adrenaline. “By now it has become a battle cry.”

Gianluigi Buffon to end ownership of hometown club Carrarese May 27, 2015 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will end his investment in Italian third-division club Carrarese, saying he feels he has been fighting a losing battle at his hometown club. Buffon, 37, has been the owner of Carrarese since 2012, but after three years of pumping his own money into the side, he says it is time to call it a day. At the end of the current season, he will be leaving the club to resolve their future alone -- a situation he feels he has been in ever since taking control. "I'm disappointed," Buffon said in quotes reported by La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "June 30 will be my final day as owner." Carrarese finished the season in 12th and Buffon no longer sees a future for them any higher than at their current level, saying: "I wanted to wait until the end of the season before summarising this experience, and I've decided I'm leaving Carrarese. "What I did here was a gesture of love which was never repaid. This decision has matured over the course of this year. "It's very difficult to carry on playing football on a professional level in this situation, which has been going on for three years. Both the city and the mayor have been aware of my thoughts for a while. "I'm disappointed and upset. At this moment in time, I do not think there are the conditions for this city to support a football club in an important league such as the third division." Buffon claims he has done all he could possibly have done to guarantee the club's future, but that the time has now come for him to end his involvement. "Twice in the past five years I have chosen to be part of two groups who were keen on lifting Carrarese's fortunes," Buffon continued. "The first group fell apart after two years, leaving me on my own. The second, despite the promises, never even materialised. "On both occasions, I found myself left on my own and with the responsibility in deciding whether to declare the club bankrupt or guarantee them a future through the involvement of my family. "I always opted to invest, aware that it was only going to be a decision based on affection and not on business. "Maybe we all now should take a period of reflection -- the city, local businessmen and the fans -- to understand whether there really is enough interest to have a club who represents us in the third division." In the meantime, Buffon has more pressing thoughts. He will play in his second Champions League final on June 6, hoping for a better outcome than his first back in 2003, when he was on the losing Juventus side to AC Milan.

Athletic Club Keen On Bringing Back Llorente May 27, 2015 Juventus striker Fernando Llorente may be heading back to Spain with former side Athletic Club in the summer. The 30-year-old Spanish international has endured a difficult campaign on a personal level with the Bianconeri this season, with the towering striker even being replaced by Alvaro Morata in the first eleven in recent months. El Correo report that Llorente may be heading back to La Liga in the off-season following the arrival of Paulo Dybala, with Sevilla leading the chase. Athletic however have also entered the race for their former talisman, with coach Ernesto Valverde on the lookout for reinforcements up top, given their first-choice striker Aritz Aduriz is 34 years old. It remains to be seen how the Athletic fans will react to the news, given the acrimonious circumstances in which Llorente left the club two years ago. Llorente has netted eight goals in 42 appearances this term for Juventus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irDUJt0uBiY

Serie A - 19^ Giornata Ritorno - 30-5-2015 (ore 18:00) VERONA - JUVENTUS - Sabato, 30 maggio 2015 - ore 18:00 Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, Verona Arbitro: Marco Di Bello Confronti ufficiali 74 - 51 (Serie A) - 9 (Coppa Italia) - 6 (Campionato divisione nazionale) - 2 (1^ categoria) - 2 (1^ divisione) - 2 (Coppa Campioni) - 2 (Serie B) Vittorie Juventus 45 - 29 (Serie A) - 4 (Coppa Italia) - 5 (Campionato divisione nazionale) - 2 (1^ categoria) - 2 (1^ divisione) - 1 (Coppa Campioni) - 2 (Serie B) Pareggi 17 - 13 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Coppa Campioni) Vittorie Verona 12 - 9 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato divisione nazionale) Goals Juventus 139 - 87 (Serie A) - 18 (Coppa Italia) - 18 (Campionato divisione nazionale) - 8 (1^ categoria) - 4 (1^ divisione) - 2 (Coppa Campioni) - 2 (Serie B) Goals Verona 60 - 45 (Serie A) - 9 (Coppa Italia) - 3 (Campionato divisione nazionale) - 2 (1^ categoria) - 1 (1^ divisione) Verona - Juventus Serie A a Verona Confronti ufficiali 25 Vittorie Juventus 7 (L'ultima l' 08.04.2001, 0-1) Pareggi 9 (L'ultimo il 09.02.2014, 2-2) Vittorie Verona 9 (L'ultima il 30.04.2000, 2-0) Goals Juventus 28 Goals Verona 28 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Verona a Verona 9 presenze Bettega Roberto 9 Furino Giuseppe 9 Morini Francesco 9 Scirea Gaetano 7 Anastasi Pietro 7 Cabrini Antonio 7 Cuccureddu Antonello 7 Tacconi Stefano 7 Zoff Dino 6 Causio Franco 2 goals Bettega Roberto 2 Schillaci Salvatore 2 Tevez Carlos 1 Alessio Angelo 1 Anastasi Pietro 1 Baggio Roberto 1 Brio Sergio 1 Charles John William 1 Corradi Giuseppe 1 Del Piero Alessandro Ultimi confronti diretti 26.11.2000 - Serie A - Juventus-Verona 2-1 08.04.2001 - Serie A - Verona-Juventus 0-1 04.11.2001 - Serie A - Verona-Juventus 2-2 17.03.2002 - Serie A - Juventus-Verona 1-0 09.12.2006 - Serie B - Juventus-Verona 1-0 27.04.2007 - Serie B - Verona-Juventus 0-1 22.09.2013 - Serie A - Juventus-Verona 2-1 09.02.2014 - Serie A - Verona-Juventus 2-2 15.01.2015 - Coppa Italia - Juventus-Verona 6-1 18.01.2015 - Serie A - Juventus-Verona 4-0 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 8 - Pareggi 2 - Vittorie Verona 0 - Goals Juventus 22 - Goals Verona 7 http://www.goal.com/it/results-standings/69/serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_101

Marotta: Juventus Are Interested In Neto And Khedira May 26, 2015 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has revealed that the Old Lady are interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira and Fiorentina goalkeeper Neto this summer. Both players will be out of contracts with their current clubs in June and will be available on free transfers, which the Bianconeri executive admits will present very appealing opportunities for the reigning Serie A champions as they look to further strengthen the team for the 2015-16 campaign. Marotta recently spoke to the press in Milan about Juve’s pursuit of the two talented players and also commented on the club’s wishes to keep star striker Carlos Tevez for as long as possible. “Khedira is very interesting, but not only to us,” said the 58-year-old. “This is a good market opportunity for us and we can sign him immediately. “We are currently taking in all the factors as we build an accurate strategy to secure him. “Neto? Just like Khedira, he will be out of a contract. It is easier to try and get him here. “I’ve made it no secret that I think he’s done well. This is another good opportunity for us that we will also consider later on. “Tevez? He has a contract with us until 2016. He is a great professional and this club has a lot of respect for him. “He controls his own fate, but we will try to keep him. After the Champions League final we will hold a meeting to address his future and have great respect for whatever decision Tevez makes. “Our hope is that he will continue his stay with us until the end.”

Buffon: ’35 per cent chance with Barça’ May 26, 2015 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon admits they have ’less than a 35 per cent chance’ of beating Barcelona in the Champions League final. The Bianconeri will face the Catalan giants in on June 6 in Berlin, the scene of perhaps the most famous moment of the ‘keeper’s career, when he lifted the World Cup with Italy. “I’m going back to Berlin after nine years,” Buffon told Mediaset. “Let’s see if the feelings are the same, I don’t think there’s a big difference to the sensations I felt nine years ago. “Against Barcelona we have less than a 35 per cent chance, but we have some weapons and we have to focus on that. “Before we played Real Madrid they were a meter in front of us, and we have two games where we had to make up a metre plus one centimetre, and that’s what we did. “After 10 years, to have struggled to reach this goal with my teammates, the club and the fans is something great and rewarding. “We can only say, very clearly and calmly, that we know the difficulties we’re going to face, and we’ll need psychological strength, because if you look like you’re in crisis the opponent can kill you with a single blow.”

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI 3 - 1 Roberto Pereyra (13') David López (50') Stefano Sturaro (77') Simone Pepe (92' Penalty) Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Britos banned for three games May 26, 2015 Napoli’s Miguel Britos has been handed a three-game ban for headbutting Juventus striker Alvaro Morata. The match at Juventus Stadium was in stoppage time when the defender butted his opponent, which resulted in a penalty for the Bianconeri. The Lega Serie A has taken a strong line on the incident, banning the Uruguayan for three matches. Juventus have also been fined €15,000, after their fans were heard singing chants “expressive of discrimination on the grounds of territorial origin”. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Andrea Barzagli injury: Juventus defender listed as 'day-to-day' after right thigh injury May 25, 2015 We played the waiting game for Andrea Barzagli's medical test results to come in. Now we play the waiting when it comes to Barzagli being available for the Champions League final in less than two weeks' time. Fun, fun, fun. Juventus have announced their stalwart defender is listed as 'day-to-day' after suffering a first-grade tear in his right quadricep. Because of the injury, Barzagli — who made his return from a long injury layoff back in early back — had to be replaced at the beginning of the second half by Leonardo Bonucci in Juventus' win over Napoli this past weekend. Here's the official word, courtesy of Juventus' website: After leaving the pitch due to muscle discomfort at half-time of Saturday's 3-1 triumph over Napoli, Andrea Barzagli this morning underwent an MRI scan. The medical examination showed that the defender has suffered a first grade tear of the rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh. Barzagli will now begin treatment and both his condition and availability for June's Champions League final are to be monitored on a day-to-day basis. Now, as we've come to realize with the Juventus medical team's evaluations on things this season, being day-to-day could actually mean that, or he could be out for a couple of weeks. Barzagli's status for the Serie A finale this weekend against Hellas Verona doesn't matter at all, so go ahead and throw one last domestic appearance this season right All that matters, like the last sentence of the Juventus website post says, is whether or not Barzagli will be available for the Champions League final against Barcelona on June 6. That's it. Nothing more, just the Champions League final. If Barzagli misses out, it will be a huge blow even if Max Allegri doesn't plan on starting the game with a 3-5-2 formation. We've come to see that Barzagli can be a valuable part of the equation off the bench — especially when Juventus are winning and Allegri wants to lockdown the lead in the second half. And we know Barcelona are going to be coming at Juve with the best trident the world of football has to offer, so having one of your best defenders available will be huge. All of this is dependent on Barzagli being healthy. We're counting down the days until the Champions League final. The waiting game isn't fun, but it's the only thing we can do now. Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...

Agnelli: ‘Win in Italy and Europe’ May 25, 2015 Juventus President Andrea Agnelli says the club’s aim is to ‘win in Italy and Europe’ and praises Antonio Conte. The Bianconeri have clinched their fourth consecutive Scudetto, and will contest the Champions League final with Barcelona on June 6. “Our horizon has to be Europe,” Agnelli told 400 selected Juventus Members, as reported by La Stampa. “We can’t always be in the final, but our dimension is Europe and our first goal is Italy. There’s a lot of pride after the fourth Scudetto, and a first Coppa Italia in 20 years. “Now we’re all aware that we have a dream, and dreams can grow. “We must confirm year-on-year in Serie A before being competitive in the Champions League: Juventus are going to win in Italy and in Europe.” The patron also had words of praise for Coach Max Allegri, but did not forget the man he replaced, Antonio Conte. “Allegri arrived here on July 16 and moulded a team which had won three Scudetti. He brought results, and made real the dream of being number one in Europe, so great credit must go to him. “It’s also right to recognise the merits Conte brought when he arrived here in 2011. Antonio helped to bring the Juventus mentality up from the bottom, he was instrumental in our reconstruction.”

Allegri: ‘Juve, repeat 2006’ May 25, 2015 Max Allegri hopes his Juventus side can emulate Italy’s 2006 World Cup winners, by winning the Champions League final in Berlin. Current Bianconeri stars Andrea Pirlo, Gigi Buffon and Andrea Barzagli were part of the Azzurri side which emerged victorious from Olympiastadion, and the Coach wants a repeat. “It’s a final, we’re better off playing a one-off match,” Allegri mused as he collected the Enzo Bearzot award. “We hope to repeat the achievement of the Azzurri in 2006. The game on June 6 is easy to prepare for, less so was the Coppa Italia final. “This season has been extraordinary for Italian football, but the film is not over. Juventus are in the final in Berlin, but not just that, two teams [Fiorentina and Napoli] went close in the Europa League. “The national team is doing well too, we don’t have to discard everything we’re doing in Italy, but work on positive things like infrastructure or the future of the kids. “Serie A is not worse than other Leagues, it’s just different.” Allegri also reflected on his arrival in Turin, which was not greeted with universal acclaim. “I always thought I could coach at a certain level. I’m different to when I was Coach at Milan, I’m happy to Coach Juventus and I’m enjoying the moment. “We’ll try to win the fifth Scudetto in a row next year, that’s our main goal. “My reception? It was understandable, but I found a club here which protected me, and an extraordinary group of lads, real men, many of them internationals.” Finally, the Livorno native addressed comparisons between himself and his predecessor, Antonio Conte. “In football, all that counts is who wins,” Allegri considered. “One Coach isn’t better than the other, we’re just different. We both won at Juventus.”

Buffon: Juventus Will Need 100 Percent Of Even A Little Luck Against Barcelona May 24, 2015 Gianluigi Buffon spoke ahead of Juventus’ Champions League clash against Barcelona, optimistic but respectful before the Spanish giants. Juventus will meet Barcelona in the Champions League final on June 6. Juventus defeated another Spanish team, Real Madrid, in order to make it to Berlin and will need to repeat the feat to complete a treble of trophies. “Before an event like this [Champions League final], the more the days pass and more the tension rises,” Buffon told Tuttosport. “We are aware that we are not favourites; I would say we have about a 30 percent chance of winning. We know we are a good team but they [barcelona] are very strong. “We created momentum after the win against Real Madrid, and winning two trophies after it [scudetto and Coppa Italia] is proof that we can be optimistic. “We will need 100 percent of even a little luck; but in football, it is not always the strongest who wins.” The Juventus captain also touched on being a potential candidate for the Ballon d’Or. “It would be an honour for me and a great prize after this fantastic season,” Buffon said to Tuttosport.

Pirlo Mulling Juventus Exit And New York City FC Move May 24, 2015 Andrea Pirlo is reportedly thinking about leaving Juventus this summer regardless of whether or not they win the Champions League. The 36-year-old had said that if the Bianconeri emerge victorious against Barcelona on June 6, he will move on from the Juventus Stadium. A statement which he later said was a joke. Now, according to Sky Sport Italia, Pirlo is mulling over a summer move to MLS with New York City FC heading the queue for his signature. The former AC Milan midfielder joined Juventus in 2011 and has gone on to win four Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana. Pirlo’s contract with Juve ends in June 2017.

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI 3 - 1 Roberto Pereyra (13') David López (50') Stefano Sturaro (77') Simone Pepe (92' Penalty) Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Napoli’s Britos Apologises For Head Butt On Morata May 24, 2015 Napoli centre back Miguel Britos has issued an apology for his assault on Juventus forward Alvaro Morata during their 3-1 loss in Turin on Saturday evening. Reacting to a perceived trip on him as he jogged away late in the game, the Uruguayan responded by planting a firm head butt on to Morata. Speaking through the club’s official Twitter account @SSCNapoli, he stated: “I apologise to everyone for my action. “I know that it was wrong and I am sorry.” Britos was issued with a straight red card for the incident and further disciplinary action seems set to follow.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Barzagli doubt for Barcelona May 24, 2015 Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli is in doubt for the Champions League Final against Barcelona with a muscular injury. The centre-back hobbled off during last night’s 3-1 victory over Napoli in Turin. Coach Max Allegri has given the squad three days off to rest and recuperate, so Barzagli will only undergo tests on Wednesday afternoon. Barzagli has a muscular problem at the back of his right thigh. Juve will face Barcelona in the Champions League Final in Berlin on June 6.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnJ6fhfpZ9E http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie-a/juventus/2015/05/23-1084567/juventus-napoli_il_film_della_partita/ http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/05/in-pictures-juventus-celebrate-lifting-the-201415-serie-a-title/?

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI 3 - 1 Roberto Pereyra (13') David López (50') Stefano Sturaro (77') Simone Pepe (92' Penalty) Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Juventus defeat Napoli to underline their winning mentality in Serie A May 24, 2015 Critics often like to tell us that Italian football isn't competitive enough. Teams apparently adopt negative approaches to games and once they sense their inferiority, they stop fighting. While the likes of Bayern Munich and Chelsea have nothing left to play for, Juventus continue in their quest for success and managed yet another victory as they won 3-1 against Napoli on Saturday afternoon. A second-string squad playing only for pride, Massimiliano Allegri's men proved they simply like to win. This was by no means an easy match, and fights took place all over the pitch. It was a feisty affair considering Napoli desperately needed a win to still be in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season. Rafael Benitez's men turned up having failed to score a single league goal at Juventus' new stadium. But with the champions heavily rotating the squad, this was Napoli's chance to score and perhaps even grab the win -- yet it was Juve who started the game with confidence and composure, needing only 13 minutes before they made their superiority count with Kingsley Coman delivering a beautiful chip for Roberto Pereyra to score. The Bianconeri were in total control in a stadium that was in celebration mode, singing and cheering on their men. When it came to the 39th minute, a giant banner was held with the number 39 emblazoned on it to commemorate the 39 lives lost in the Heysel Stadium disaster 30 years ago. Their names held aloft for the world to acknowledge. Juventus remembered and will never forget. The second half saw a more determined Partenopei side that began to create an abundance of chances but overcoming a well-organised Juventus defence proved difficult. Gonzalo Higuain simply couldn't outwit Andrea Barzagli and was replaced while Gianluigi Buffon, regardless of the occasion, remains imperious. With a soft penalty awarded to the visitors, the chance to score in this stadium finally arrived only for Buffon to make a save but he couldn't rescue his team from the rebound and David Lopez equalised. Kwadwo Asamoah gave away the penalty with his clumsiness, and while his eagerness will always be appreciated, he is far from the refined product Juve came to love. It will take time to recover his old form and he was often caught making silly mistakes on the pitch. Thankfully for him, the Bianconeri refused to be beaten and each player fought with great intensity. Stefano Sturaro in particular played a beautiful game. A newcomer with the attitude of a veteran, he simply refused to surrender and played an immensely well-balanced game. The warrior then produced a goal that will remain in the minds of many for weeks to come. Exploiting space in superb fashion, he skilfully turned and struck an outrageous goal that put Juve in the lead. Carlos Tevez immediately leapt up and applauded the most unexpected piece of magic witnessed on the pitch. Sturaro truly has been a revelation. Coman also impressed. The player had previously struggled in recent matches, especially when paired with Fernando Llorente, but he played a powerful game against Napoli. His mobility and ability to overcome defenders make him an interesting addition to the side. He likes to leave his mark even if his decision-making desperately needs to be improved. With a little more time awarded, he can certainly develop into an instrumental player. The more Juventus fought, the more frustrated Napoli grew until their stars began to surrender to their frustrations with Miguel Angel Britos head-butting Alvaro Morata to concede a penalty and receive a red card. Simone Pepe duly converted to record his first goal for the Old Lady since 2012. Juventus, along with Parma and Cesena, have proved that regardless of relegation, trophies or the occasion, a win must always be chased. No side regardless of their size or objectives should ever roll over and accept defeat. With the Coppa Italia and league title in their hands, Juventus defeated Napoli as they did Inter Milan last week, proving they are a team that will always strive for success. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI 3 - 1 Roberto Pereyra (13') David López (50') Stefano Sturaro (77') Simone Pepe (92' Penalty) Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Juventus 3-1 Napoli: Juve continue to win at home thanks to Pereyra, Sturaro, Pepe and Buffon May 24, 2015 Wait a second ... You mean to tell me that the black and white team had nothing to play for and the blue team was playing for a chance to compete in Europe next season? Admit it, if you just found out that Juve were more than 15 points ahead of Napoli, you would have asked that question too. When I watched the match, it looked like Juventus were the more incisive, more determined, and more convincing side of the two. Maybe they didn't want to lose their streak at home; or maybe the substitutes wanted to show their coach that they too deserve minutes against Barcelona; or maybe all of the players have bought into the idea that at Juve winning is not important, it is the only thing that matters. If you ask me, it was all of the above. MATCH SUMMARY Before the game started, the 10th Coppa Italia was paraded in its new home. Good thing the Juventus Museum is big enough to hold all of these trophies. Now let's talk about the match. I thought Juventus were going to have a poor display with their minds firmly set on the game against Barca. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. The defense was decided to not let anything past them, the midfield convinced to fight for every ball, and the attack was ready to make Napoli pay. Juventus started with a somewhat rotated side with two very notable inclusions: Kwadwo Asamoah and Kingsley Coman. These two had less than 600 Serie A minutes before today and were eager to make an impression. Coman started things off after 13 minutes with an exquisite pass to put Pereyra in front of goal with plenty of time. The Argentinian coolly finished to make it 1 - 0. The game continued and Juventus were having almost too much fun. Paul Pogba was running circles around Napoli players and Claudio Marchisio was showing his immense talent. There really wasn't too much of note in the first half, except that Juventus showed to be at a markedly different level than Napoli. In the second half, Rafa Benitez brought in Manolo Gabbiadini and the ex-Juve owned player changed things quite a bit. He carried the team on his back and brought more pace and creativity to Napoli's attack. From one of these attacks, the ball hit Asamoah's hand in the area and the ref awarded a penalty. Did the bal hit Asamoah's hand? Sure. Was it intentional? Hardly. Insigne's penalty was saved by Gigi, but unfortunately Buffon couldn't do anything on the rebound shot from David Lopez. Napoli tried hard to score a goal but they met a resolute Juventus defense and a monstrous Gigi Buffon who stopped everything that came his way. There was one nervy moment when Gigi came out but failed to punch the ball which barely missed the net. Juventus weathered the storm and in the 77th minute took the lead. Stefano Sturaro received a pass from Álvaro Morata and turned his man to score a beauty in the top left corner. If you had a poor stream, no one will fault you if you thought Carlos Tevez scored the goal. Sturaro's movement was that of a top forward and a welcome surprise. Napoli continued to try but at that point Juventus came closer to the third than Napoli to tying things. After a few missed chances, Britos had himself sent off after a ridiculous headbutt on Morata in the 18 yard box. Despite the ball being far away from the play, the referee awarded a penalty as is his right to do so. Pepe took the penalty to seal an impressive show of force with a team missing some of its stars. After that came the celebrations and the fourth scudetto of the Andrea Agnelli era was lifted by Gigi. So I guess this game finished the same way it started, with a brand new trophy being paraded around the tifosi. Not a bad day to be a Juventino. LE PAGELLE Buffon 7.0 Had one terrible play when he was caught in no man's land. With that being said, he saved Juve at least two goals when the match was tied. Padoin 6.5 Regular Padoin game, he didn't light the world on fire but he also didn't look like Zebina on the flank. Barzagli 7.0 A rock at the back. Allegri has some tough decisions ahead of the upcoming Champions League final. Bonucci 6.5 Came on for Barzagli at the half. Solid defensive display. Ogbonna 6.5 Didn't do anything to convince me he is not surplus to requirements. Asamoah 7.0 Under regular circumstances he would get a 6.5 or even a 6, but after coming from a lengthy injury he gets some points for effort. He run himself to the ground and has much match sharpness to recover. He will be a welcome "addition" to the team next season. Pogba 7.5 Playing with no pressure allowed him to show all his skill and just have fun. He is growing every game and making a case to start in Berlin in a couple of weeks. Marchisio 8.0 His game was really flawless today. I wouldn't be surprised if next year Marchisio pushes Pirlo to the bench as the team seeks to rejuvenate itself. Sturaro 7.5 The kid is having the time of his life. Six months ago he was almost and unknown player. Now he has won one scudetto, a Coppa Italia, played an important role in a Champions League semifinal, and scored his first goal for Juventus. By the way, he was WhoScored man of the match. Pereyra 7.5 He is slowly improving in the worst feature of his game: his scoring ability. Coolly finished off a good chance like a veteran. He will also be important in the rejuvenation of Juve. Coman 8.0 His assist was a thing of beauty, no news there. But, did you know he also had a game high three tackles? He has much room to grow but the potential is there. Morata 7.5 He was always involved in the attack and assisted Sturaro's goal. He provoked Britos on the penalty incident. Although he is not a hot head like Berardi, he can still get into trouble like most players his age and today he could have received a red for instigating Britos (red against Roma, red against Fiorentina). Allegri 7.5 Keeping a team motivated after three scudetti is a feat. Keeping a team motivated after winning a historic double is incredible. Aside: A few months ago I said that I didn't know if Allegri was a good coach or just a coach riding in this machine that Conte created. Although I still believe that Conte was responsible for lighting the fire in this group of players, Allegri has been able to play with this fire in ways in which Conte never could. Allegri has demonstrated that he can win long tournaments (Serie A) and elimination tournaments (Coppa Italia). Although I don't think we will be ever breaking 95 points in Serie A with Allegri, we are becoming a more unpredictable team at the hands of our coach. And I couldn't be happier, so thanks Mister, sorry for doubting you. Summary Juventus played with more urgency and incisiveness than a Napoli team in need. Sidelined players got time on the ball, well-established players got some minutes on their legs, and youngsters got to show that they can contribute in the future. Two different trophies were paraded around a Juventus stadium that has seen much silverware in the past few years. So long Juventus stadium, see you in a few months when we fight for every ball all over again. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111