Socrates

JUVENTUS - LAZIO .- Coppa Italia TIM Final Wednesday, May 20th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Lazio can shock Juventus - Klose The veteran striker acknowledges the strength of the Bianconeri but says his side can cause an upset and lift the Italian Cup. May 18, 2014 Lazio's Miroslav Klose has warned Juventus to expect a hard-fought encounter when the two sides meet in the Coppa Italia final. The Bianconeri have already wrapped up a fourth consecutive Serie A title and will face Barcelona in the final of the Champions League, but Klose says his side can cause an upset. "In a final anything is possible," he said ahead of Wednesday's encounter. "Juve are a strong team and it won't be easy but we will play at home and try to take advantage." Lazio go into the game buoyed by a 1-0 win away to Sampdoria, which leaves them third in Serie A and two points behind second-placed Roma with two games remaining. "Only Juventus had won at the Marassi, so that success means a lot. Against Inter we were beaten [2-0] and it hurt a lot, but we created many chances to score. "But on Saturday we were aggressive in our duels and that's what makes us a good team because we don't have a lot of money."

JUVENTUS - LAZIO .- Coppa Italia TIM Final Wednesday, May 20th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato No Goal-Line Technology For Coppa Italia Final May 18, 2014 There will be no goal-line technology for the Coppa Italia final between Lazio and Juventus, due to the lack of time to implement the system in the Stadio Olimpico. Calls for the Hawkeye system have grown ever louder following another major incident in Serie A, this time involving Sassuolo benefiting from a lack of clarity over whether Domenico Berardi’s shot crossed the line after being spilled by AC Milan’s Diego Lopez. Nevertheless, with the Coppa Italia final being moved forward to May 20 after clashing with Juventus being in the Champions League final, there will not be enough time to implement the technology, which would have been installed had the final taken place on the expected June 7 date. Thus, five referees, led by Daniele Orsato, will take to the field to officiate the match; although, Serie A officials are expected to meet on Friday to give the green-light for introducing the technology to the league for next season.

Why Selling Fernando Llorente Would Be Good and Bad for Juventus May 18, 2015 With a fourth consecutive Serie A title already sealed and a place in the finals of both the Coppa Italia and the Champions League secured, 2014-15 has undoubtedly been a remarkable campaign for Juventus. Whatever the result of those two showpiece events, the Bianconeri can reflect upon a season in which they overcame early concerns to achieve results beyond even the most optimistic of dreams. Yet as summer approaches, the Old Lady and her supporters are already seeking ways to improve upon the achievements of Massimiliano Allegri and his players. Chief among them, of course, is talk of prospective transfers, with discussions of who should be bought or sold never too far from the headlines. A number of transfer rumours concerning Juventus were analysed in depth by this previous column, but one name not brought up there was that of Fernando Llorente. His future with the club is seemingly in doubt, with John Ashdown of the Guardian believing Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Valencia are all interested in signing him. Thanks to the Spanish striker’s contributions over his two-year stay in Turin, there are reasons both for and against cutting ties with the 30-year-old, which are looked at in detail below before a conclusion over the best course of action is drawn. The argument for keeping Llorente Since arriving from Bilbao on a free transfer in the summer of 2013, Llorente has proved to be an excellent acquisition by director general Beppe Marotta and his team. Brought in to play alongside Carlos Tevez, the Pamplona native forged an excellent partnership with the former Manchester United star in his first season at the club. Weighing in with 18 goals and five assists in all competitions last term, Llorente registered significant strikes against Real Madrid and showed that he was so much more than a lumbering battering ram up front. He possesses an excellent first touch and is fully capable of holding up play to await support, making him a smart alternative to Alvaro Morata in games when the Bianconeri are expected to have the majority of possession. While his compatriot is pacey and direct—making him a wonderful option in transition play—Llorente is at his best when Juve dominate, making him vital in Serie A matches against tightly packed defences. The understanding he shares with Stephan Lichtsteiner is second to none, providing the Bianconeri with a reliable weapon in attack that they often exploit thanks to the smart crossing of the Swiss international. OptaPaolo ✔@OptaPaolo 7 - Stephan Lichtsteiner has delivered 7 assists in Serie A this season; 6 of these were for Fernando Llorente’s goals. Duo. Llorente has often proved to be a major bonus in the dressing room, ensuring numerous players feel welcome at the club. From guiding youth-team defender Filippo Romagna in training to helping Morata settle in, his influence cannot be understated. Morata told Marca recently (h/t Football Italia): I’ve been lucky enough to meet someone like Fernando and apart from admiring him as a player, he has helped me in everything and taken care of me. He brings me to training and drives me, tells me where to eat or shop. We share a room when we’re away. He’s a great guy. He also gives me Italian lessons! I can’t ask for any more. The argument in favour of a sale Llorente’s on-field contribution has undoubtedly faded this term, having scored just eight goals in 38 appearances thus far. While he and Morata began the season alternating in the role alongside Tevez, the latter almost always starts the biggest games, which is a decision made on both playing style and form. Simply put, Llorente has regressed this term, with statistics from Squawka.com showing his shooting accuracy has declined severely, falling from 64 percent in 2013-14 to just 49 percent this term. Similarly, numbers courtesy of WhoScored.com show he is winning less aerial duels (2.1 compared to 2.8), while the accuracy of his passing has dropped to just 70.5 percent. With various reports—including this one from Gianluca Di Marzio—certain that Paulo Dybala will arrive this summer, Llorente will only fall further down the pecking order. Given that he is one of the club’s top earners, paying a reported salary of €4.5 million a year, as noted by Football Italia, to a fourth-choice striker seems excessive. Conclusion It is unlikely Juventus could convince Llorente to take a pay cut in exchange for a longer contract, which would perhaps be the ideal solution. Keeping him around as a veteran presence to guide the likes of Morata, Dybala and Kingsley Coman would be superb, but it appears more and more likely that his future does indeed now lie away from Turin. According to various sources—including TuttoSport (h/t Football Espana)—the Bianconeri are looking for a fee of around €15 million for the Spanish star, which would be excellent business and allow them to add other reinforcements to an already strong squad. Yet as the win over Real Madrid has shown, important victories take more than just a random collection of talented and expensive stars. Football is more than just what happens during 90 minutes, and the choice to move away from Llorente is far from simple. Any decision should be taken with caution, as losing him would not only see a talented player leave, but also see Juventus lose an invaluable source of experience and leadership. Contrary to popular consensus, those qualities are also present in Tevez, meaning ultimately this choice comes down to the future of the Argentinian. If Tevez stays in Turin, selling Llorente at that reported fee would be the right option, but should he move on, "The Lion King" should remain at Juventus.

Who is Juventus' Player of the Season? With the Serie A title in the bag and two finals ahead, Goal takes a look at the Bianconeri's best performers in a thrilling campaign so you can choose your standout in our poll. May 18, 2015 However Juventus' season ends, there is no doubting the fact that 2014-15 has been a huge success. Massimiliano Allegri's first season in charge has seen the Turin outfit collect a fourth straight Scudetto and qualify for the finals of both the Coppa Italia and the Champions League. If there has been one outstanding quality in the Old Lady's line-up this season it has been the way that every player has contributed superbly to their success across the three competitions. Whatever the challenge, whoever the adversary and whatever the tournament, the Bianconeri's attitude and workrate has been magnificent. Who was Juventus' star performer in their spectacular campaign, though? Remember to vote in the poll below as Goal looks at the three candidates to scoop up the Player of the Season award. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/05/18/11854062/-? LEONARDO BONUCCI Antonio Conte's decision to employ a 3-5-2 formation was widely accepted as a move to suit Leonardo Bonucci. While the former Bari defender struggled to play as a natural man-to-man marker, he proved to be one of the best sweepers in the modern game. As the spare man in the back three, Bonucci was commanding to say the least. When Massimiliano Allegri switched his side back to a flat back four in the autumn, it was understandable that many worried about Bonucci's form. Yet the 28-year-old has responded superbly, with many excellent performances alongside Giorgio Chiellini both at home and on the continent. Andrea Barzagli's absence for much of the campaign has barely been noticed. While there have been moments of worry, they have been far more fleeting than feared. Juventus have benefited massively from the change of formation, and that would not have been possible without Bonucci showing such marvellous flexibility. PAUL POGBA There is no wonder the world can't stop linking Paul Pogba with a massive transfer this summer given the way he continues to thrill for Juventus. The 22-year-old had already gained a big reputation since his move from Manchester United in 2011, but in 2014-15 he took it up to a whole new level. He soon stepped up from a cast-off at Old Trafford to a lively extra option at Juventus Stadium, and now he is quite possibly the Bianconeri's standout star. His countless domineering midfield displays, married to a host of crucial goals from midfield, have seen his importance to the Bianconeri soar beyond perhaps even Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal. Many of his strikes this season came at key times, including the winner against Olympiakos amidst a largely unconvincing Juve display. His arrow of a finish against Napoli in January also started a run of four goals in four games which would have a huge say in the Bianconeri pulling away from Roma in the title race. CARLOS TEVEZ Nobody since David Trezeguet has had the kind of touch in front of goal that Carlos Tevez has shown for Juventus in 2014-15. The Argentine is peaking at the age of 31, and the Bianconeri board are abundantly clear how irreplaceable he is to the Old Lady. But it is not only his goals which have had a massive effect during the past nine months. His ability to play his own way into games which could otherwise have passed him by has allowed Juve to find an out-ball so often in difficult circumstances. Such qualities have helped to build his confidence in the final third, and goals of all descriptions have followed as a result. Not only has he scored 20 league goals, but he has also obliterated any memories of his Champions League drought of years gone by on his way to seven strikes on the continent.

Pogba is not yet a star, he must score more! - Platini The former Juventus midfielder feels his compatriot needs to have more end product if he is to be considered a truly great player. May 18, 2015 Michel Platini does not believe that Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is on the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo because he does not score as many goals as the superstar duo. The 22-year-old Pogba is widely regarded as one of the most exciting players in the game today and has played a key role in the Serie A champions' successful 2014-15 campaign so far. Nevertheless, Platini feels it is too early to compare his compatriot with Messi and Ronaldo and is not convinced he will ever be as prolific as the pair. "Pogba a superstar? No, a superstar in football is someone who scores a lot of goals," Platini told RTL. "I don't know whether Pogba is a player who can achieve the same things as Messi and Ronaldo. They score 50 goals a season. "It is interesting to note that whenever he loses possession and the team gets into trouble, they all have a go at him." Pogba has netted 10 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions for Juventus so far this campaign. He can still add to his tally in Wednesday's Coppa Italia final against Lazio, the remaining Serie A clashes with Napoli and Verona, and the Champions League final against Barcelona.

TIM CUP FINALE - 20-05-2015 (ore 20:45) JUVENTUS - LAZIO - Mercoledí, 20 maggio 2015 - ore 20:45 Stadio Olimpico, Roma Arbitro: Daniele Orsato Confronti ufficiali 167 - 21 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Juventus 82 - 6 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 43 - 7 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Lazio 42 - 8 (Coppa Italia) Goals Juventus 288 - 27 (Coppa Italia) Goals Lazio 190 - 26 (Coppa Italia) Juventus - Lazio - Coppa Italia - Campo neutro Confronti ufficiali 0 Vittorie Juventus 0 Pareggi 0 Vittorie Lazio 0 Goals Juventus 0 Goals Lazio 0 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro la Lazio in Coppa Italia - Campo neutro - - Ultimi confronti diretti 11.04.2012 - Serie A - Juventus-Lazio 2-1 17.11.2012 - Serie A - Juventus-Lazio 0-0 22.01.2013 - Coppa Italia - Juventus-Lazio 1-1 29.01.2013 - Coppa Italia - Lazio-Juventus 2-1 15.04.2013 - Serie A - Lazio-Juventus 0-2 18.08.2013 - Supercoppa Italiana - Lazio-Juventus 0-4 31.08.2013 - Serie A - Juventus-Lazio 4-1 25.01.2014 - Serie A - Lazio-Juventus 1-1 22.11.2014 - Serie A - Lazio-Juventus 0-3 18.04.2015 - Serie A - Juventus-Lazio 2-0 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 6 - Pareggi 3 - Vittorie Lazio 1 - Goals Juventus 20 - Goals Lazio 6

Platini: I Don’t Know If Pogba Can Reach The Level Of Messi And Ronaldo May 17, 2015 Michel Platini has questioned whether or not Juventus star Paul Pogba has the ability to reach the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Pogba has been linked with a multi-million euro move to the likes of Real Madrid, PSG and Barcelona following a brilliant season with Juve in which they have won Serie A, and reached the final of both the Champions League and Coppa Italia. “A star is a player capable of scoring a lot of goals,” the UEFA president said in an interview with RTL. “I don’t know if Pogba will reach the level of Messi or Ronaldo in getting 50 goals a season. “It should also be noted that when he loses the ball, his Juventus teammates immediately shouts at him.”

Liverpool Eye Move For Juventus Striker May 17, 2015 Liverpool are reportedly considering a move for Juventus striker Carlos Tevez at the end of the season. Tevez has been in excellent form during the current campaign, bagging 29 goals in all competitions, as Juventus wrapped up the Serie A title, as well as reaching the Champions League and Coppa Italia finals. According to the Metro, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to add Tevez to the Reds’ squad as he searches for a replacement for Luis Suarez. Mario Balotelli, who was brought in last summer from AC Milan, could be making his way out of Anfield after failing to impress this season. It is also thought that Tevez would leave Juve in the summer, though he is apparently keen on a return to Boca Juniors. Tevez had a previous spell in England with West Ham United, Manchester United and Manchester City before his move to Turin.

Arsenal In Pursuit Of Juventus Striker May 17, 2015 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is said to be interested in signing Juventus striker Fernando Llorente this summer. The Gunners manager has identified the Spaniard as ideal competition for Olivier Giroud up front and with the immanent arrival of Paulo Dybala at Juve, Llorente may find playing time even more hard to come by, making just 24 starts this season. According to TuttoMercatoweb.com, the 30-year-old is set to leave Turin with the Bianconeri also pushing for a move for PSG forward Edinson Cavani. Llorente has had decent season notching up nine goals to add to the 18 his scored in his debut season for the Old Lady.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bseWozakwP8 http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/Calcio/Serie%20A/2015/05/16-96723_0/FOTO+Inter-Juve+1-2%3A+trionfo+con+Marchisio+e+Morata

INTER - JUVENTUS 1 - 2 Mauro Icardi (9') Claudio Marchisio (42'-Penalty) Álvaro Morata (83') Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Handanovic Howler Decides Derby D’Italia May 17, 2015 Juventus rested top players and had nothing to play for, but still conquered Inter 2-1 at the San Siro thanks to a Samir Handanovic howler. The Derby d’Italia had an unusual feel to it, as Juve had already won the Scudetto and rested numerous players ahead of the Coppa Italia Final. They were fresh from earning their first Champions League Final spot in 12 years against Barcelona, so confidence was sky high. Hernanes was suspended for the hosts, plus Fredy Guarin, Jonathan, Dodo and Hugo Campagnaro injured, so Xherdan Shaqiri got a rare start. A seven-game unbeaten streak had taken Inter to within touching distance of a place in the Europa League next season and that positive trend looked set to continue when Icardi got the deftest of touches with his chest to Brozovic’s shot to divert the ball into the far corner of Marco Storari’s goal. Rodrigo Palacio had a shot saved by Storari and Xherdan Shaqiri hit the crossbar with Brozovic’s goal on the rebound ruled out for a marginal offside decision as the hosts asserted themselves on the game. Juve, fresh from booking their place in the final of the Champions League and with a changed starting XI, were not at the races until Alessandro Matri was put through on goal and he went down under the challenge of Nemanja Vidic just before half-time. Marchisio stepped up to send Samir Handanovic the wrong way and bring the Bianconeri level. After the break, Morata had two chances to give Juve the lead. First, he raced past Andrea Ranocchia but for the third time in the match his shot rippled the side netting, before heading a Stephan Lichtsteiner cross over from close range. Mateo Kovacic then played a delightful ball over the defence for Danilo D’Ambrosio whose first time volley sailed past the far post. Brozovic had another shot blocked, before Icardi headed wide as Inter looked to get themselves back in front. It was, however, Juventus who took the lead. Good strength in the penalty area from Paul Pogba saw the ball ricochet to Morata on the edge of the area. His effort seemed to bobble in the six-yard box which wrong footed Handanovic allowing the ball to bounce over the goalkeeper and into the goal. Inter looked to get straight back onto level terms but a stupendous double save from Storari kept the away side ahead. First denying Palacio then stopping Icardi from close range. Despite there being five minutes of stoppage time, Inter were unable to find an equalising goal. The defeat leaves Inter in eighth place in Serie A, one point behind both Sampdoria and Genoa, and two back from Fiorentina in the race for Europa League football next season. Inter are eighth in the table on 52 points, two adrift of Sampdoria and the last Europa League preliminary round spot. Juventus, who clinched their fourth successive title two weeks ago, have 83 points from 36 games. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bseWozakwP8 http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

INTER - JUVENTUS 1 - 2 Mauro Icardi (9') Claudio Marchisio (42'-Penalty) Álvaro Morata (83') Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Juventus 2-1 Inter Milan: Marco Storari, Álvaro Morata get the three points Juve's reserves strong enough to beat Inter at San Siro. May 17, 2015 Urged on by the raucous home crowd, Inter Milan burst out of the starting blocks in the Derby D'Italia, scurrying around like they were the side that had just clinched the Serie A title, and spots in the finals of the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League. The Nerazzuri even went on to jump out to an early lead and despite controlling the bulk of the game, reality set in by the final whistle. The heady days of Jose Mourinho manning Inter to a historic treble are long gone, and the current roster looks like one that is more suited to challenge mid-table Torino, not four-in-a-row champions Juventus. Bianconeri manager Massimiliano Allegri rested most of his first-team squad with Wednesday's Coppa Italia final against Lazio in mind. Gianluigi Buffon, Patrice Evra, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carloz Tevez didn't even make the flight to Milan this weekend. Allegri's Inter counterpart, Roberto Mancini, on the other hand, is chasing UEFA Europa League qualification and fielded just about the best side he could muster. Inter play Genoa next and some points in Saturday's derby would have gone a long way towards securing sixth place. Juve ceded ball control to Inter to an extent the Turin side have not have faced this year. The home side created twenty chances with seven on goal from their 66% possession, while the visitors had four on goal from fourteen attempts. Inter have been competitive lately, beating both second-placed contenders AS Roma and Lazio. The naive midfield of Kovacic and Brozovic is surprisingly plucky and creating plenty for the front trio of Shaqiri, Palacio and Icardi. In the offseason, Mancini will go ahead and mortgage half his side to pay for Yaya Toure's extensive wages in an attempt to recreate his Manchester City side, but it will take more than that to be competitive. The two best Juve players on the day were Marco Storari and Alvaro Morata. One is one of the least-used members of the squad, while the other is in stunning form and the flavor of the month. Storari, the reserve goalie, has reason to feel left out of all the fun the side has been indulging in but continues to produce stellar performances whenever called upon. Time after time he repelled the Inter strikers, doing his best Gigi impersonation to secure the win, while Morata's winner is just one of numerous critical goals he has scored lately for the Bianconeri. In the end though, an opportunistic Juventus prevailed to win 2-1 in a physical, midfield-bypassing tussle, going into the midweek game against Lazio in the best possible frame of mind. MATCH SUMMARY The Juve starting XI took their time settling down and developing some sort of chemistry. Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli marshaled the defence, with Stephan Lichtsteiner and world-beater Simone Padoin on the wings. The midfield three comprised Stefano Sturaro, Claudio Marchisio with the captain's armband and Romulo out on the right. Roberto Pereyra played the pivot behind the front duo of Alessandro Matri and Morata. Inter started the stronger side and threatened the Juventus goal early, though Morata had a couple of chances too before Icardi deflected in a shot from Brozovic following a corner in the ninth minute. The home side seemed to gain courage from the early lead and had more opportunities to score. First Lichtsteiner's error left Palacio free but Storari saved brilliantly, then Shaqiri hit the upright and Brozovic fired home the rebound only to see it ruled out for offside. Replays would show that it was a close decision and he was onside marginally. To add insult to injury, and to the howls of derision from the San Siro crowd, the glacial Vidic hauled down Matri on a breakaway for a penalty just minutes before halftime. Referee Daniele Doveri only produced a yellow card, more probably for his personal safety than from an interpretation of the laws of the game. Marchisio stepped up and dispatched the penalty coolly, sending goalie Handanovic the wrong way. Morata had two bites at the the goal immediately after halftime, but the second half signaled more of the same attacking intent from the home side. The game had gotten decidedly chippy before halftime with three Inter players seeing yellow cards, and Morata and Lichtsteiner joined them there soon after. The Swiss defender had a pretty awful game all around and had been getting increasingly frustrated before his booking, and it was no surprise that Allegri pulled him off for Angelo Ogbonna. With that, Juve switched to their 3-5-2, Romulo moving to the right wingback position. Fernando Llorente replaced Matri at the midway point of the half, but Mancini then inexplicably replaced Shaqiri with Nagatomo. Paul Pogba also came on for Pereyra to get some game time under his belt. With just minutes to the end of the game, Morata got up from just getting kicked in the shins to hit a dipping, wobbling shot from outside the box that Handanovic surprisingly let through. The home crowd had seen enough at that point and headed for the exits in silence, let down by their mercurial goalie who let in a howler for the ages. Within seconds of the goal, Storari in the other goal made a pair of stunning saves that heightened Handanovic's folly - first Storari got a palm to Palacio's shot headed to the far corner, before bouncing up to beat away Icardi's attempt to tuck the ball away. Overall, it was a shaky performance for Juve, understandable under the circumstances after the week the squad has had, and are lucky to leave with three points. Allegri has the upcoming Cup final to think about, and a derby win for an appetizer never hurts. PLAYER RATINGS Storari - 8 Little he could have to done to prevent the goal, and stellar otherwise. Definitely a game for his Greatest Saves DVD. Lichtsteiner - 5 Multiple mistakes, misplaced passes, miscommunication abounded in his game today. Is the Swiss Express finally slowing down? Barzagli - 6.5 It's like he was never injured. The Wall remains solid, day after day. Bonucci - 6.5 Another positive game for him, active in both boxes. Padoin - 5.5 His greatness lies in the simplicity of his game. Romulo - 5 Disappointing game. Maybe RB/RWB is his true calling, though he didn't show much after switching to 3-5-2 either. Marchisio - 6.5 Reveled in his role as conductor of the troops. Did everything expected of him today. Sturaro - 6 Decent enough game from him. Not his usual high-energy self in midfield today. Pereyra - 5.5 He fills in well when he comes in latter stages of the game, but struggles when starting. Matri - 6 Showed some good decision-making and hold up play. Morata - 7.5 Of all the chances he had today, he scored from the one least likely to go in. We'll hand him that 'Deal With It' celebration though - that'll be great to needle Interisti with for years to come. Subs Ogbonna - 6.5 Solid, dependable, consistent. That is all. Pogba - 6 Some fancy footwork didn't pay off in the end there, unfortunately. Llorente - N/A Coach Allegri - 6 We'll give him a free pass today. Might be a game of no consequence to the standings for Juve, but pride still comes first in the Derby D'Italia and we would have liked to see some more tactics in play. We've seen Juve drop points out of complacency earlier in the season, but tonight Lady Luck favored The Old Lady. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

INTER - JUVENTUS 1 - 2 Mauro Icardi (9') Claudio Marchisio (42'-Penalty) Álvaro Morata (83') Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Allegri: Morata has become truly important for Juventus The former Real Madrid starlet only arrived in Turin last summer but the Bianconeri boss says the 22-year-old is one of his star players. May 16, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri heaped praise on matchwinner Alvaro Morata after Saturday's Serie A victory at Inter, admitting that the striker has developed into a "truly important player" for the Bianconeri. Morata only joined the Old Lady from Real Madrid last summer and initially took time to settle, primarily because the €20 million man suffered an injury just days after his arrival in Turin. However, he soon displaced Fernando Llorente alongside Carlos Tevez in the Juve attack and has since gone from strength to strength, with the 22-year-old earning the Italian titleholders a place in the Champions League final with his equaliser in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with former club Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. Morata struck again at San Siro, earning the Bianconeri a 2-1 win with his 83rd-minute strike, and Allegri admitted afterwards that the Spain international has quickly become one of his key men. "Morata is a player that has acquired awareness," the former AC Milan boss told Sky Sport Italia. "He's grown physically and he's also learned about Italian football. "He's a truly important player. "But goalkeeper Marco Storari was also very determined today, with two great saves. "But I must compliment all my guys for their performances today. We played a great game, against an Inter side that played good football. "In the second half, we came out very strong and I'm very happy with the will to win that we showed. "It was important to have a good game, given that we have the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday." Juve had fallen behind at the Giuseppe Meazza to a ninth-minute strike from Mauro Icardi but Claudio Marchisio levelled matters from the penalty spot and a dreadful mistake from Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic allowed Morata to bag the winner in the closing stages. The Bianconeri now meet Lazio in the Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday as they look to complete a historic treble, with Barcelona to come in the Champions League decider in Berlin on June 6. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

INTER - JUVENTUS 1 - 2 Mauro Icardi (9') Claudio Marchisio (42'-Penalty) Álvaro Morata (83') Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Player Ratings: Inter 1-2 Juventus May 16, 2015 Internazionale 1 S. Handanovič - The Slovenia international cost his side the game, making a terrible hash of Morata's goal, allowing the ball to bobble over him and into the back of the net. 33 D. D'Ambrosio - The former Torino defender went close with a couple of speculative efforts and was always keen to overlap. 23 A. Ranocchia - The Italy international hooked away a couple of good clearances, but struggled to deal with the footwork of both Matri and Morata. 15 N. Vidić - Struggled with Morata's pace and was forced to give away a first-half penalty for a poor sliding tackle on Matri. 5 Juan Jesus - Struggled initially but was solid enough when he reverted to centre-back. 77 M. Brozović - His first-half shot was deflected into the back of the net by Icardi, with the Croatian midfielder creating chances from deep areas. 18 G. Medel - Struggled to impose himself on the game physically and wasn't able to spread the play effectively. 10 M. Kovačić - His set-piece deliveries were fairly poor throughout, but the Croatia international saw a couple of close-range efforts well saved. 91 X. Shaqiri - His dribbling and pace allowed for some dangerous runs from the former Bayern man and the Swiss forward was unlucky to hit the bar. 8 R. Palacio - Made some good runs in behind to stretch the visiting back four, but didn't have any luck in front of goal. 9 M. Icardi - Deflected the game's opening goal into the back of the net, but was unable to get across his man for the rest of the 90 minutes in order to find a second. Substitutes 55 Y. Nagatomo - Provided plenty of pace and determination down the left-hand side late on. 27 A. Gnoukouri 11 L. Podolski Juventus 30 M. Storari - Made a few excellent reflex saves to ensure that Inter were unable to get back into the game. 26 S. Lichtsteiner - His crossing from the right-hand side was fairly inconsistent and lacklustre when getting forward. 15 A. Barzagli - The Italy international was solid at the heart of the back four and stood his man up well throughout. 19 L. Bonucci - Made some timely interceptions and clearances at his near post, and was an aerial threat in the opposition box. 20 S. Padoin - Filled in solidly at left-back, with the utility man doing a decent job keeping D'Ambrosio reasonably quiet. 2 Rômulo - Not the most convincing outing from the midfielder, who didn't provide much in the way of creativity from deep. 8 C. Marchisio - The Juventus midfielder held his nerve to slot home a first-half penalty and caused problems with his free-kick deliveries. 27 S. Sturaro - Provided plenty of energy in midfield and wasn't afraid to try his luck from distance. 37 R. Pereyra - Showed good feet at times, but wasn't able to create much, despite linking up with Matri occasionally. 32 A. Matri - Held the ball up fairly well and ran in behind well in order to win a first-half penalty for the Bianconeri. 9 Álvaro Morata - Lashed home a fortuitous winner for the visitors, but showed a good change of pace to create plenty of chances for himself. A constant threat, he could have had a hat-trick. Substitutes 5 A. Ogbonna - Came into the fray and was solid from the outset. 6 P. Pogba - Showed brilliant footwork in and around the box to cause a few late problems. 14 F. Llorente - Wasn't involved too much in the late stages. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

INTER - JUVENTUS 1 - 2 Mauro Icardi (9') Claudio Marchisio (42'-Penalty) Álvaro Morata (83') Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Morata: 'Juve always want to win' May 16, 2015 Alvaro Morata explained his goal celebration against Inter, noting Juventus “want to win whoever is playing.” The second string side still emerged 2-1 winners at San Siro, as his scuffed finish bounced off Samir Handanovic to go in. “I hit it badly, but this is football. I was lucky the way Inter were on the opening goal,” Morata told Sky Sport Italia. “The Coach told us we had to win, because this proves the whole squad wants to win whoever is playing.” The Spanish striker celebrated by putting on a pair of sunglasses, but reveals it was a surprise to him too. “It wasn’t planned. Someone threw them at me and I put them on! “It’s a shame I won’t be able to play the Coppa Italia Final, but I have full faith in the squad. They’ll give everything to win the trophy. Juve always want to win.” Morata was visibly upset when jeered by his former fans at the Bernabeu, having scored the goal that put Real Madrid out of the Champions League. “In truth I was happy because I could hear our fans singing for me. I was happy for the game and for the fans.” The striker followed Palermo’s Paulo Dybala on Twitter this weekend, so is that a sign of a future partnership? “I follow many players who I like. Dybala is one of the best in Italy and it’d be wonderful to have him as a teammate.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

INTER - JUVENTUS 1 - 2 Mauro Icardi (9') Claudio Marchisio (42'-Penalty) Álvaro Morata (83') Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri INTER MILAN 1 – 2 JUVENTUS MATCH REPORT May 16, 2015 Juventus had nothing to play for but a Marchisio penalty and a howler from Handanovic gave the Bianconeri all 3 points in the Derby D’Italia With Juve already league winners, this year’s Derby had a slightly unusual feel to it, especially given the lack of first team players featured. Max Allegri opted to rest Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon and Arturo Vidal while Alvaro Morata and Claudio Marchisio both started due to their suspensions in the Coppa Italia final. Inter dominated the early period of the game and Mauro Icardi tested Marco Storari after just 2 minutes with a swerving shot wide of the far post. Alvaro Morata tried to get something going for Juve, going on a run through midfield but eventually blasting his effort into the side netting. The Nerazzurri did eventually take the lead but there was some difference of opinion on the goal scorer. Marcelo Brozovic fired his shot from outside the box but it was Icardi with the final touch who redirected the ball into the net with his chest. Morata seemed to be carrying the Juve attack by himself but his effort hit the side nettign again before Storari was on hand to deny Rodrigo Palacio at close range. Marco Sturaro finally tested Samir Handanovic for the Bianconeri while Shaqiri’s great effort hit the frame of the goal before Brozovic turned in the rebound but it was ruled as offside. Juve levelled the scores just before half-time when Nemanja Vidic bought down Alessandro Matri in the box. Claudio Marchisio converted from the spot to score his 35th goal in Juventus colours. Alvaro Morata could easily have scored twice after the restart but he was denied by Danilo D’Ambrosio. Shaqiri put his shot wide before Brozovic was denied by Andrea Barzagli. Juventus seemed content with the draw but were gifted all three points. Morata scuffed his effort at Handanovic but the ball bounced over the keeper and into the empty net. Moments later, Storari performed a superb double save to deny both Palacio and Icardi and seal the win for Juventus. Statistics Man of the Match: Alvaro Morata Flop of the Match: N/A Fouls: 7 Corners: 3 Pass Accuracy: 81% Shots on Target: 4 Total Shots: 7 Ball Possession: 34% Formation: 4-3-1-2 Formation http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

INTER - JUVENTUS 1 - 2 Mauro Icardi (9') Claudio Marchisio (42'-Penalty) Álvaro Morata (83') Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Juventus 2 - Inter Milan 1: Initial reaction and random observations May 16, 2015 Within a three-minute span on Saturday evening, we were shown the amazing and the not-so-amazing side of being a goalkeeper. And in a way, we were also shown two very distinct microcosms of the respective seasons for both Juventus and Inter Milan at the same time. On one end you had Juventus, the four-time league champions playing without half of their normal starting lineup simply because of the game they're playing after the trip to the San Siro. At the other end, you have a team with a manager on his second tour of duty and players brought in during the winter transfer window that were supposed to improve the squad — but haven't really done a thing in terms of vastly improving Inter's fortunes. In short: Álvaro Morata's goal — with a big-time assist to Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic — gave Juventus the lead, but it was Marco Storari's insanely good double save that helped the scoreline stay that way and have Juventus get three more points. JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@ClaMarchisio8: "It wasn’t one of our best displays, but we’ve come away with the three points." No, it wasn't, Claudio. In fact, to be completely honest with everybody, it was far from it. Juve were basically going through the motions in the first half. You could say it was fatigue, or maybe it was something else. But no matter what angle you look at it from, Juventus' game was far from the one we saw a few days ago in Madrid. They fell behind early and didn't look all too interested in doing much. Yet, there they were, celebrating another win thanks to Morata's eighth goal of the season. It's hard to really say that Juventus played well because they didn't. They didn't look sharp as a collective whole, got dominated in possession by Inter by almost a 2-to-1 margin, and just looked kinda meh for the most part. They got the goal from Morata. The double-save from Storari. Just like that, Juventus claimed another Derby d'Italia win. Not routine by any means, but it worked, so who am I to object to Juventus beating Inter? And when you make a game-changing pair of saves like that, I think you're allowed to enjoy it. JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "We were a little sluggish at the start but did very well after the break and took our chances." Random thoughts and observations LOL INTER. (But isn't that just a given at this point?) Go back and watch Morata's goal and the couple seconds after it crosses the goal line. Not even Álvaro could believe what had just taken place. He surely thought — like pretty much everybody else —that the shot on goal would be an easy save and that would be that. I guess Handanovic had other ideas. Morata could have easily had a hat trick against Inter of any of his scoring chances prior to his goal were actually put on target. He was one of the Juventus players who truly looked up for the game despite playing just a few days before against Real Madrid. He's now tied with Paul Pogba for second on the team with eight Serie A goals and now only trails Carlos Tévez with 14 goals in all competitions. I'd say he's been a pretty good investment. On top of everything he's done as of late both in Serie A and in the Champions League, he also had easily one of the best goal celebrations of the season. Yeah, deal with it. hash @hashim0307 Morata's "deal with it" celebration http://pic.twitter.com/hD7K9Sx06l With so many regulars out because Max Allegri started to rest them, Claudio Marchisio got to wear the captain's armband once again. He also got to take a penalty. He aced that test, scoring his third goal in 11 career appearances against Inter. It had to be Mauro Icardi scoring Inter's goal, didn't it? Of course it did. Because that's what seems to be written into the bylaws. Or something like that. Is it just me, or did Inter look completely gassed in the final 15-20 minutes? That's something I might have expected from Juventus considering some players were coming off the Real Madrid game, and others didn't have a ton of minutes under the legs as of late. I guess that's totally wrong. I'll just go back to watching that gif of Morata and his newfound sunglasses now. Considering how well he has played in recent games, it was a pretty quiet night for Stefano Sturaro. I think he's allowed one or two of those after the play he made against James Rodriguez a few weeks ago. It's an incredibly small sample size, but Romulo has been a better right back than midfielder. It's going to be interesting to see what Juventus do with his contract this summer when you factor in how little he has played. Coppa Italia final up next. Let some of the regulars returns. And Juventus make it a domestic double. It'd be awfully nice to keep all of this momentum going. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

INTER - JUVENTUS 1 - 2 Mauro Icardi (9') Claudio Marchisio (42'-Penalty) Álvaro Morata (83') Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Kovacic: Inter Lack Juventus’ Will May 16, 2015 Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic has admitted that the Nerazzurri lack the will of Juventus, following their 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Bianconeri in Saturday’s Derby d’Italia. Roberto Mancini’s men went ahead in the game via Mauro Icardi before a Claudio Marchisio penalty and Alvaro Morata’s late strike sealed the win for Juve, and the Croatian international has stated that his side should’ve finished off the game early on. “The defeat definitely hurts,” Kovacic told Sky. “It’s hard to explain why it’s always the same mistakes, today we failed to finish off the game in the first half. “We lack Juventus’ will. We have to give more in front of our fans. “Mancini? He gives me a lot of advice, both tactically and in my private life.” The Nerazzurri are currently eighth in the table, two points off Sampdoria who occupy sixth place. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Juventus Target Xabi Alonso Should Pirlo Join Liverpool May 16, 2015 Juventus are being linked with a surprise move for Bayern Munich’s Xabi Alonso should Andrea Pirlo leave the club in the summer. The 35-year-old Italian has said that he will walk away from the Bianconeri if they win the Champions League, and with the team in the final, it could become a real possibility. Now, according to the Daily Express, Liverpool are keen to offer Pirlo a contract in he decides to leave the Juventus Stadium, and as a result, the Turin club are said to be considering Alonso as a potential replacement. Alonso has made 24 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern as they took their third title in a row.

INTER - JUVENTUS 1 - 2 Mauro Icardi (9') Claudio Marchisio (42'-Penalty) Álvaro Morata (83') Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri INTER 1-2 JUVENTUS – SERIE A WEEK 36 PLAYER RATINGS May 16, 2015 Claudio Marchisio scored from the penalty spot before Alvaro Morata was helped by a Samir Handanovic howler to secure all 3 points for Juventus. Marco Storari 7.5 - Made a string of fine saves right from the start of the match before making a truly remarkable double save to deny Palacio and Icardi. Incredible. Stephan Lichtsteiner 6.0 - Not a great match for the Swiss Express – Could have gifted Inter a goal before playing Brozovic onside for an incorrectly-ruled offside goal. Andrea Barzagli 6.5 - A solid game, made some vital tackles and interceptions and cleared a Brozovic header on goal. Leonardo Bonucci 6.5 - Showed again why he’s been Juve;s best defender this season. Quiet and consistent. Simone Padoin 6.0 - Defensively sound but offered little going forward. A mediocre performance. Romulo 6.5 - Making only his third start this season, a good display in midfield, made a series of good tackles. Switched to RWB late on. Claudio Marchisio 7.5 - Another superb performance, no longer deputising for Pirlo but making the role his own. Completed 90% of his passes and put Juve ahead from the spot. Stefano Sturaro 6.0 - A muddling midfield performance. Had a half chance to score a goal of his own from distance. Not his normal comabtive self but still early days. Roberto Pereyra 6.0 - Bright and lively on the counter, but still lacking that final ball in opposition half. Alessandro Matri 6.0 - Another fustrating performance from the striker, despite winning the penalty for Juve’s equaliser. ÁLVARO MORATA 8.0 - Exceptional display from the young forward to top off a great week. Made the chances for himself and scored a well-deserved goal late on to win the game for Juventus. Substitutes Fernando Llorente N/A Paul Pogba N/A Angelo Ogbonna N/A http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111