Socrates

INTER - JUVENTUS - Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Inter without Guarin, Hernanes May 15, 2015 Fredy Guarin and Hernanes are Inter’s only high-profile absentees from their squad to face Juventus in Saturday’s Derby d’Italia. Brazil international Hernanes is suspended while Guarin misses out through injury, which could hand Xherdan Shaqiri an opportunity to start the match. Champions League finalists Juventus have already wrapped up the Scudetto, but Inter are still targeting Europa League qualification. Kick-off from San Siro will be at 18:00 CET on Saturday. In January, the two sides fought out a 1-1 draw at the Juventus Stadium after goals from Carlos Tevez and Mauro Icardi. Inter squad for Juventus: Handanovic, Carrizo, Berni, Juan Jesus, Andreolli, Vidic, Santon, Ranocchia, Felipe, D'Ambrosio, Nagatomo, Dimarco, Kovacic, Kuzmanovic, Medel, Obi, Gnoukouri, Brozovic, Palacio, Icardi, Podolski, Puscas, Shaqiri, Bonazzoli http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

INTER - JUVENTUS - Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Internazionale v Juventus: Preview May 15, 2015 Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini expects a very difficult game against Juventus in Saturday's derby d'Italia despite the Serie A champions resting their top players at the San Siro. Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri has left captain Gianluigi Buffon, defender Patrice Evra, midfielders Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo as well as Serie A's top scorer Carlos Tevez in Turin. All five players started in Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Real Madrid, a result that allowed Juve to progress 3-2 on aggregate to their first Champions League final in 12 years. The Turin giants, who clinched the Scudetto last month, will take on Barcelona in a title decider in Berlin on June 6. ``The game against Juventus will not be easy because they are riding a wave of enthusiasm,'' Mancini said to the Italian press on Friday. ``Even the bench players will give their all to prove their value. ``Juve has deserved the Scudetto and I congratulate them for reaching the Champions League final. ``Whoever play for Juve tomorrow will be rested and I expect a tough game.'' Inter, who won the European final in 2010, have endured a difficult 2014-15 campaign but are hoping to finish in the top six to qualify for the Europa League. The Nerrazzurri have won three of their last four league games, including a 2-1 triumph at Lazio in the last round, and have conceded just three goals in their last six matches. Inter are eighth in the standings, two points adrift of sixth-place Sampdoria. ``We will try to give our all in our final three games in order to achieve that aim,'' Mancini said. Juve are keen to warm up for next week's Coppa Italia final against Lazio with a victory at Inter. ``We are Juve and we need to maintain our motivation high,'' Allegri said. ``This game is always fascinating. ``Inter need to win to maintain their push for Europa League football and we want to keep up our good condition for the Coppa Italia and the Champions League finals.'' Marco Storari will replace Buffon in goal. Inter will have to overcome the absence of midfielder Hernanes, who is suspended. Hernanes' two goals earned Inter victory over Lazio last weekend. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

INTER - JUVENTUS - Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Allegri: World-class Buffon has stayed young at heart The Juventus coach says the 37-year-old's unrivalled enthusiasm has been the key to the World Cup winner's longevity. May 15, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says Gianluigi Buffon proved he is still a world class goalkeeper with his performance against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Buffon made a number of fine stops, including a spectacular saves to deny Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, as the Italian champions earned a 1-1 draw that saw them through to the Champions League final. Allegri says the 37-year-old’s enthusiasm has been key to his continued success. "Buffon has an extraordinary game in Madrid from a technical standpoint,” the Bianconeri boss told a press conference on Friday. “Buffon is world class. He's been in the business for a while now and still has the enthusiasm of a youngster.” Juve, who have already secured their fourth consecutive Serie A title, return to league action on Saturday against Inter, when Allegri says he will rest a number of first-team regulars. "Caceres is the only player on the treatment table at present. I will have the chance to rest a few players,” he said. "I will have the opportunity to hand game time to those who have played less, like Kwadwo Asamoah for example. "I didn't call up Vidal, Tevez, Pirlo, Buffon or Evra. They will all stay at home." The Old Lady are heading for a Coppa Italia final meeting with Lazio on Wednesday, and Allegri says pacing themselves will be critical to their chances of securing a famous treble. “The Coppa Italia final is our second target of the season, so we'll need to prepare as best we can,” he said. “Rest is just as important as work at this stage. We need to be clear headed when going into the Champions League final. "We've reached this position on merit, thanks to gradual and consistent improvement as the season's gone on." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

INTER - JUVENTUS - Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Allegri: ‘Focus on Inter & Coppa’ May 15, 2015 Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri warns his players not to be distracted by the upcoming Champions League final. The Bianconeri have reached the showpiece event in Berlin, and will play Barcelona on June 6, but the tactician warns there are still domestic commitments, such as the Coppa Italia. “It’s true that we have great enthusiasm now,” Allegri admitted in his Press conference ahead of the Inter game. “Making the Champions League final is a great achievement, but we mustn’t lose sight of a very important goal, the Coppa Italia, which Juventus haven’t won for 20 years. “Tomorrow we’ll go to San Siro with almost a full squad, because only [Martin] Caceres is on the treatment table, all the others are available. “We’ll go tonight by bus after training, and maybe I’ll give those who have played more the chance to catch their breath. [Carlos] Tevez, [Andrea] Pirlo, [Gigi] Buffon, [Patrice] Evra and [Arturo] Vidal will not be making the journey to San Siro. "I think Vidal is still at doping control in Spain, I don't think he made it home yet... “Let’s not forget we have the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday, which is the second important objective this season. “That said, it will be an important match tomorrow, because it always is, it’s Juventus-Inter. “They’re playing for the Europa League, and we must go to San Siro to play a good game, from a technical point of view, and also in our intensity. “You always have to play well at San Siro.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Suarez bite in the past, says Chiellini The Juventus defender has downplayed suggestions the two are set to renew a personal rivalry in the Champions League final next month. May 15, 2015 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has downplayed suggestions the rivalry between him and Luiz Suarez will be reignited in the Champions League final. It will be the first time to two pair off since last year's World Cup, when Suarez bit Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 group-stage victory over Italy in Natal. But Chiellini says both players have moved on from the incident that left Suarez with a four-month ban from the game. "I'll face Suarez as a great striker and nothing more, just as I did with all the others: [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Gareth] Bale, [Karim] Benzema, Chicharito," Chiellini told Tuttosport . "Episodes like that in the summer help you mature, for both sides. Even on his part I think there is nothing other than the desire to win the Champions League." Italian champions Juventus booked a showdown with Barcelona at the showpiece in Berlin on June 6 thanks to a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid on Wednesday that saw them progress 3-2 aggregate. The clash will also see former Liverpool striker Suarez go up against Patrice Evra, a player Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing by the English Football Association during a 2011 Premier League game. Former Juventus defender and Uruguay international Paulo Montero says Suarez should relish the chance to impress against both players. "For Suarez there will be a motivation to face Evra and Chiellini again," he told AS . "It's his chance, I would suggest, to be cheeky – to lift the cup right in their faces. "With the way that Suarez is playing, Evra and Chiellini should be very worried." Suarez has hit 24 goals in 41 appearances, including 6 in 9 Champions League games, since joining Barcelona last summer.

INTER - JUVENTUS - Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Mancini: ‘Forget Calciopoli’ May 15, 2015 Roberto Mancini says Inter and Juventus’ rivalry can’t be about Calciopoli anymore - ‘it’s ridiculous to talk about things that are in the past’. The Calciopoli scandal saw the Bianconeri demoted to Serie B, while the 2005/06 title was awarded to Mancini’s Inter. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Patrick Vieira also left Turin in favour of the Nerazzurri, and to this day Juve and their fans count 33 Scudetti, refusing to acknowledge the two revoked [the 2004/05 title was unassigned]. “I like games like this, because there’s so much more rivalry, and the stadium is full,” Mancini told Tuttosport ahead of the Derby d’Italia on Saturday. “By the way, I think the rivalry between Juventus and Inter has to go back to just being on a sporting level. “You have to concentrate on the 90 minutes, you can win or lose, but it’s time to give up all the other stupid stuff. “I think everyone should do something to get out of this situation. It’s ridiculous to talk about things which are in the past. “It can’t be done anymore.” The Beneamata have struggled this season, while the Old Lady are going from strength-to-strength, even reaching the Champions League final on Wednesday. “When there’s a need to rebuild, we must be patient, something which is unfortunately lacking in Italy. “We need patience to understand that winning cycles begin and then end, and when they end it takes time to rebuild. “It happened to Juve, who worked with great difficulties, and went through times which were not easy, and look what they’ve done in recent years, thanks to building a stadium of their own.” With Massimiliano Allegri’s team having exerted themselves in Europe on Wednesday, and with the Coppa Italia final to come in midweek, is this a good time to face them? “I don’t think so,” Mancini insisted. “Juve are used to playing every three days, they know how to play these games. “Even if they make some changes, those who go onto the pitch, as well as being fresher, will be motivated by the idea of proving that they can play in the team which has just reached the Champions League final.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Serie A - 17^ Giornata Ritorno - 16-5-2015 (ore 18:00) INTER - JUVENTUS - Sabato, 16 maggio 2015 - ore 18:00 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro), Milano Arbitro: Daniele Doveri Confronti ufficiali 223 - 163 (Serie A) - 29 (Coppa Italia) - 27 (Campionato a gironi) - 2 (Campionato di guerra) - 1 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 1 (Spareggio Coppa Europa Centrale) Vittorie Juventus 100 - 77 (Serie A) - 13 (Coppa Italia) - 8 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Campionato di guerra) - 1 (Spareggio Coppa Europa Centrale) Pareggi 55 - 41 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 7 (Campionato a gironi) Vittorie Inter 68 - 45 (Serie A) - 9 (Coppa Italia) - 12 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Campionato di guerra) - 1 (Supercoppa Italiana) Goals Juventus 320 - 236 (Serie A) - 45 (Coppa Italia) - 36 (Campionato a gironi) - 2 (Campionato di guerra) - 1 (Spareggio Coppa Europa Centrale) Goals Inter 278 - 194 (Serie A) - 35 (Coppa Italia) - 46 (Campionato a gironi) - 2 (Campionato di guerra) - 1 (Supercoppa Italiana) Inter - Juventus a Milano Serie A Confronti ufficiali 81 Vittorie Juventus 21 (L'ultima il 30.03.2013, 1-2) Pareggi 26 (L'ultimo il 14.09.2013, 1-1) Vittorie Inter 34 (L'ultima il 16.04.2010, 2-0) Goals Juventus 89 Goals Inter 128 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro l'Inter a Milano 14 presenze Boniperti Giampiero 13 Furino Giuseppe 13 Scirea Gaetano 12 Del Piero Alessandro 12 Varglien I Mario 11 Bettega Roberto 11 Causio Franco 11 Conte Antonio 11 Gentile Claudio 11 Zoff Dino 5 goals Sivori Omar Enrique 3 Anastasi Pietro 3 Baggio Roberto 3 Boniperti Giampiero 3 Ferrari Giovanni 3 Hansen John 3 Trezeguet David Sergio 2 Bettega Roberto 2 Charles John William 2 Colombo Umberto Ultimi confronti diretti 16.04.2010 Serie A Inter-Juventus 2-0 03.10.2010 Serie A Inter-Juventus 0-0 13.02.2011 Serie A Juventus-Inter 1-0 29.10.2011 Serie A Inter-Juventus 1-2 25.03.2012 Serie A Juventus-Inter 2-0 03.11.2012 Serie A Juventus-Inter 1-3 30.03.2013 Serie A Inter-Juventus 1-2 14.09.2013 Serie A Inter-Juventus 1-1 02.02.2014 Serie A Juventus-Inter 3-1 06.01.2015 Serie A Juventus-Inter 1-1 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 5 - Pareggi 3 - Vittorie Inter 2 - Goals Juventus 13 - Goals Inter 10 http://www.goal.com/it/results-standings/69/serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_101

INTER - JUVENTUS - Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Inter - Juventus Preview: Top-six chasers face Champions League finalists Juventus will be full of confidence at Inter on Saturday, but may have one eye on next week's re-scheduled Coppa Italia final. May 15, 2015 Champions Juventus visit Inter on Saturday in high spirits after qualifying for a first Champions League final since 2003 in midweek. Juve - who wrapped up a fourth consecutive Serie A title earlier this month - reached the decider of Europe's elite club competition after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at Real Madrid on Wednesday. That saw them record a 3-2 aggregate victory and keep hopes of a historic treble alive for Massimiliano Allegri's men. Progression to the Champions League showpiece against Barcelona has already impacted the Italian football calendar, with the Coppa Italia final - which Juve will play Lazio in - shifted forward to next Wednesday. The match was originally slated for June 7, one day after the Champions League finale. Saturday's trip to Inter - just four days before the Coppa Italia final - means Juventus are likely to rotate players. And midfield maestro Claudio Marchisio acknowledged the Inter clash was not high on their priority list when he told the club's official website: "Our number one target at the moment is the Coppa Italia. "After that we can start thinking about the Champions League." Marchisio added that Allegri's squad was full of belief and self-confidence after an excellent result in the Spanish capital. "We pulled off a great win against a top team," he added. "The belief we have in ourselves now is something we've acquired gradually, starting from the group stage [of the Champions League]. "We've improved a lot and have seen the results this season." Juventus have stuttered slightly in the league of late, winning just three of their six matches as focus turned to winning more trophies. That will fill Inter with confidence - particularly given Allegri's men were held to a 1-1 home draw by relegation-threatened Cagliari last time out. Inter have finally hit form, unbeaten in seven in a run that has included four wins. That streak has been highlighted by successes against second-placed Roma and Lazio, who sit third, with Inter climbing to eighth. As a result, European football for next season is not beyond them. Roberto Mancini's men are just three points below fifth-placed Fiorentina. And with Juventus possibly distracted by talk of a treble, Inter's late push for a Europa League berth could receive another boost at San Siro. Inter last beat Juventus in November 2012, when Diego Milito's double helped them to a 3-1 away success. The champions have won two of the four matches since, but were held to a 1-1 home draw in January's league meeting. It was no surprise that the scorers on that occasion were Carlos Tevez for Juve and Mauro Icardi for the visitors. Tevez leads the Serie A scoring charts with 20, with Icardi third having netted 18 league goals. OPTA FACTS This will be the 164th meeting between Inter and Juventus in Serie A: the Old Lady leads by 77 wins to 45. The Nerazzurri have won only one of their last nine games against Juve in Serie A, losing five. Inter have scored exactly one goal in each of their last four meetings with Juve in the league. The Bianconeri are unbeaten at Inter’s ground since April 2010 (2W 2D). Inter are now unbeaten in seven league games (4W 3D) – their longest streak since December 2013. However, Roberto Mancini’s side have been held to a draw in four of their last five home games (1W). Juve have lost two of their last three away games, winning the other against Sampdoria. Inter have recorded the highest average possession figure in Serie A this season (60.4%). LAST FIVE MATCHES Internazionale W D W W D 5/10/15 - Lazio 1 - 2 Internazionale 5/3/15 - Internazionale 0 - 0 Chievo Verona 4/28/15 - Udinese Calcio 1 - 2 Internazionale 4/25/15 - Internazionale 2 - 1 Roma 4/19/15 - Internazionale 0 - 0 Milan Juventus D D W W W 5/13/15 - Real Madrid 1 - 1 Juventus 5/9/15 - Juventus 1 - 1 Cagliari 5/5/15 - Juventus 2 - 1 Real Madrid 5/2/15 - Sampdoria 0 - 1 Juventus 4/29/15 - Juventus 3 - 2 Fiorentina HEAD TO HEAD 1/6/15 - Juventus 1 - 1 Internazionale 2/2/14 - Juventus 3 - 1 Internazionale 9/14/13 - Internazionale 1 - 1 Juventus 8/6/13 - Juventus 1 - 1 Internazionale 3/30/13 - Internazionale 1 - 2 Juventus http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/Calcio/Serie%20A/Juventus/2015/05/13-96479_0/FOTO+Real+Madrid-Juventus+1-1%3A+i+bianconeri+a+Berlino%21

Carlos Tévez will not be leaving Juventus this summer May 11, 2015 If Juventus striker Carlos Tévez was unclear that he would still be in Bianconeri colors next season, surely going through to the UEFA Champions League Final would have dissipated any lingering doubts. Tévez has long stated his aim to end his career at hometown club Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires. Though his contract runs through to the end of the 2015-16 season, there were rumors that the Argentine would like to return home sooner than later to end his career there. However, recently his agent Adrian Ruocco stated that Carlitos would honor his agreement with Juve before moving on. "The only guarantee is that Tévez wants to respect his contract with Juventus. We want to avoid further pressure on Tévez in a decisive moment of the season for him and Juventus. "As everyone knows, Tévez will end his career at Boca, there are no doubts about that. "However, he will return later on and we still need to see when, because he has a contract to respect. As of today, that contract is to 2016." Juventus will play Boca Juniors in a friendly game on June 18th at Juventus Stadium, with the clash being billed as the UNESCO Cup and all the proceeds from the fixture going towards charity. During the announcement for the game, Boca director Enzo Pagani stated that his club would respect Juventus and Tévez' wishes, while the door to Boca would always remain open for El jugador del pueblo (The player of the people). "It was reaffirmed to us in Buenos Aires again yesterday that Carlos has a contract until 2016 and Boca respect other clubs. We cannot do anything to interrupt this contract in advance. "If, once that agreement has expired, Carlos is available then we will all be delighted to welcome him to the Bombonera, which is his home. But it won't be before." But the ultimate confirmation came yesterday after Juve's heroic showing against Real Madrid, who they beat 3-2 on aggregate to confirm a date with another Spanish club Barcelona in the final of the Champions League. Speaking in the post-match interview where he lauded coach Max Allegri's spot-on tactics, Tévez laid to rest any questions about his immediate future. "I'm staying in Turin," he said. "Definitely." Rest easy this summer, Juventini, Tevez should still be with us next season.

INTER - JUVENTUS - Saturday, May 16th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan Referee: Daniele Doveri Preview: Inter vs. Juventus May 14, 2015 Juventus will head to rivals Inter Milan on Saturday evening in high spirits after reaching the Champions League final for the first time in 12 years this week. Juve, who wrapped up a fourth consecutive Serie A title earlier this month, reached the decider of Europe's elite club competition after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at Real Madrid on Wednesday. That saw them record a 3-2 aggregate victory and keep hopes of a historic treble alive, with the Coppa Italia final to come next weekend. Inter It has been a largely frustrating campaign for Inter this term, although it could end on a high note if Roberto Mancini's side continue their recent upturn in form in Serie A. The Nerazzurri had looked set for mid-table mediocrity, but a run of seven games without defeat has moved them to within three points of Fiorentina in fifth and a Europa League spot. Inter began a run of their next four matches coming against top-half teams by beating Lazio 2-1 last weekend, but Juventus could be a different proposition. Some supporters were questioning the decision to bring Roberto Mancini back to San Siro for a second spell as manager back in November, but Inter's recent form suggests that the former Manchester City boss is beginning to make his mark. Mancini has stated that he is hoping to challenge for the Scudetto next season and if they can pick up positive results in their final three games of the campaign, especially against Juve, it will provide a huge boost ahead of the next campaign. Recent form: W D W W D W Juventus It has been a memorable week for Juventus supporters, with the club enjoying success in Europe and keeping their hopes of landing a historic treble alive. Juve overcame Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday evening to set up a clash against Barcelona in the final. Alvaro Morata scored the decisive goal to secure a 1-1 draw at Santiago Bernabeu and send the Italian champions through to their first final since 2003. With the title wrapped up, Allegri will turn his attention to the Coppa Italia final against Lazio on Wednesday along with their Champions League showdown with Barcelona, so he could look to give fringe players the opportunity to impress during the final league games of the season. Recent form: W W W D W D Recent form (all competitions): L W W W D D Team News Inter will be without midfielder Fredy Guarin, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after succumbing to a hamstring injury. Mancini might be tempted to shuffle his midfield around as a result, with Yuto Nagatomo in line to start. Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri both had to settle for a place on the bench against Lazio for the second week in a row, so they will be hoping to earn a recall to the starting XI. Following their heroics against Real in midweek, Allegri will more than likely rest a few of his key players. This could mean that Roberto Pereyra, Alessandro Matri and Fernando Llorente are given starts. Paul Pogba, who had been out since March 18 with a thigh problem, started against Real in midweek. The Frenchman played 89 minutes in Spain and thus may be named among the substitutes for this one. Inter possible starting lineup: Handanovic; D'Ambrosio, Vidic, Ranocchia, Juan; Medel, Kovacic, Shaqiri, Nagatomo; Icardi, Palacio Juventus possible starting lineup: Buffon; Padoin, Bonucci, Chiellini; De Ceglie, Vidal, Marchisio, Sturaro, Pereyra; Matri, Llorente Head To Head Juve have enjoyed the better record when the sides have met in recent seasons. Inter last beat them in November 2012, when Diego Milito's double helped them to a 3-1 success away from home. The champions have won two of the four matches since. They earned a 1-1 draw on their last visit to San Siro and were held by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture earlier this campaign at the Juventus Stadium. We say: Inter Milan 1-1 Juventus Inter Milan still have something to play for, domestically at least, and they need three points to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League next season. Juventus's focus is now on the two cup competitions that they remain in, so Allegri will not be too concerned if his side fail to win here. Given Inter's fine form of late, they should be at least capable enough of taking a point off the champions. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Iuliano: Juventus Proved They Are A Great Side Against Real Madrid May 14, 2015 Former Juventus defender Mark Iuliano feels that his old side proved that they are a great side by beating Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate to book a place in the Champions League against Barcelona. The current Latina coach was happy to see the Bianconeri make the final in Berlin and praised the club for their winning spirit and coach Massimiliano Allegri for his work. “This Juve side proved that they are a great side, they’ve been coached well by a great coach [Allegri],” said Iuliano to TuttoMercatoWeb.com. “I’m very happy that they were able to return to the Champions League final.” Iuliano was also asked if there are any similarities between the current Juventus side and the teams he played for between 1996 and 2004. “The desire and will to win is always part of the Bianconeri’s spirit,” said Iuliano. “That’s what I remember best about the teams I played for. “That spirit’s always been the club’s main weapon.” Iuliano also offered his thoughts about the final against Barcelona. “Nothing can be taken for granted,” said Iuliano. “If Juventus can prepare for the game. at their highest possible levels then they will have great potential and they’ll be close to Barcelona’s level. “In a close game anything can happen. “We shouldn’t forget that if a team reaches the final, then there must be a reason for that.”

Allegri: ‘Historic year for Juventus’ May 14, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri describes Juventus’ season as ‘historic’, and predicts people will tell their children about it. The Bianconeri have already secured the Scudetto, and are in the final of both the Champions League and the Coppa Italia. “This is a historic year for Juventus, one to tell our children about when we’re old,” Allegri told JTV. “I came here thinking we could have a fantastic season, [but] I didn’t think we’d be in the final of all competitions in May. “We can’t ask for more than this after the League, and now we want to bring home the other two trophies. “Now we must work to end our season in an extraordinary way. “At this point of the season we have to maintain our condition to try to get to June 6 [the Champions League final] in top condition. “We’re having a great season, and now we’re in two very important finals. “First of all we’ll try to win the Coppa Italia. The players, staff and coaches of the past few years will go down in history. “We’ll play the Coppa Italia against a very good team, and it’s clearly difficult, because it’s a final. “As for the Champions League, it’s possible to beat Barcelona in a one-off game. Over two legs it would be very difficult. “In a one-off game anything can happen, so we’ll see who’s in the best shape in a month’s time.” The Old Lady’s European campaign has given Serie A’s coefficient a significant boost, and Allegri hopes Fiorentina and Napoli can continue that in the Europa League. “We hope the other two teams can make it to the Europa League final. Italian football is not something to be dismissed, quite the opposite.” Finally, the former Milan Coach reflected on his side’s Scudetto win, with the title having been wrapped up two weeks ago. “We had a great League campaign, where Juve were always in the lead,” Allegri recalled. “In the second half of the season we had two bad performances, against Cesena and Parma. “Against Parma we could say that it’s because we were playing a Champions League quarter-final [against Monaco], the lads did well to react. “We had a great season, maintaining our balance.”

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Who said Serie A is dead? Allegri and Juventus silence the critics The coach’s appointment last summer was expected to signal the downfall of the Bianconeri but the ex-AC Milan boss has made his and Italy’s critics eat their words. May 14, 2015 By Carlo Garganese Anyone fancy some humble pie? There is plenty to go around after Juventus sensationally booked their place in the Champions League final on Wednesday by eliminating holders Real Madrid. No one in their wildest fantasies could have predicted such an outcome last summer when the Bianconeri were left in disarray after coach Antonio Conte suddenly resigned in the middle of July due to a disagreement over transfer policy. In a shock move, Juventus president Andrea Agnelli and CEO Giuseppe Marotta hurriedly named Massimiliano Allegri as Conte’s successor. Only six months earlier, Allegri had been sacked as coach of AC Milan and needless to say the appointment did not go down well with fans. Hundreds of Juventus supporters immediately staged a protest outside the club’s Vinovo training base, while Ultras demanded a meeting with Marotta as part of a campaign to overturn the decision. “The first day with Allegri and the president in the car, we were greeted at the training ground by spitting, eggs and kicks,” Marotta revealed earlier this month. Most Italian journalists predicted that Allegri’s arrival would signal the downfall of Juventus – that Paul Pogba and Manchester United-target Arturo Vidal were certain to leave the club and the rapidly rising Roma would overtake the Bianconeri domestically. Some 10 months down the line, the experts and fans could not have been more wrong. Vidal and Pogba are still at the club and Juve are on course to win a historic treble. A fourth straight Scudetto was clinched with four rounds to spare – with the Old Lady a whopping 16 points clear of crisis-hit Roma. Next week, Juventus have the chance to win their first Coppa Italia since 1995 as they take on Lazio in the final, while against all odds the Bianconeri are in the Champions League final. The work done by Allegri, Marotta and Agnelli has been remarkable. The coach has proven that the problems he encountered at Milan were largely down to an inadequate playing staff and an owner who should have sold the club years ago. At Juventus, he has shown himself to be intelligent, tactically astute and superior to Conte. While his predecessor performed miracles in rebuilding the club and dominating Serie A, he consistently fell short on the continent. His side always played the same way with the same 3-5-2 formation – making them very predictable when faced by Europe’s elite. He also rotated poorly – regularly fielding his full-strength side against weak Serie A opponents days before a Champions League clash – and never believed his team could challenge superpowers like Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. “You cannot go to eat at a €100 restaurant with just €10 in your pocket,” he famously said, while he also sniped in 2013 that “an Italian team won’t win the Champions League for years.” Allegri has learned from all of Conte’s mistakes. He has made Juventus unpredictable by using a number of different formations – his favoured 4-3-1-2, the 3-5-2, 4-3-2-1, 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 – often “changing the menu” during games as Patrice Evra put it. He has also offered more freedom to key players, particularly Carlos Tevez who was sometimes restricted by Conte’s rigid system. The coach has rested first teamers before big European matches – nine sat out Juve’s Serie A match with Cagliari last Saturday – while most importantly of all he has given Juventus belief that they can compete against anyone. Conte’s defeatist attitude is gone - Allegri has behaved like the coach of one of the world’s biggest clubs. “We go to Berlin convinced we can bring home the trophy,” he remarked on Wednesday night. Allegri also added that Juventus’ win over Madrid was a “big night for Italian football” and there is no doubt that the success will serve as a big inspiration for the rest of the peninsula. It has become a pastime for many fans and members of the football community to kick Serie A when it was down on its knees. But the league has shown this season that, despite its obvious problems with stadiums, Ultras and finance (Madrid’s revenue from 2013-14 was €270m more than Juventus’, according to Deloitte), from a footballing sense it is far from dead. Juventus are in the Champions League final, while both Napoli and Fiorentina are in the Europa League semis. After Thursday’s matches, Serie A could overtake La Liga as the best performing championship in Europe this season. Italy has earned 19 coefficient points for the Uefa Ranking this term to Spain’s 19.2. The German Bundesliga and English Premier League are way back with 15.8 and 13.5 points, respectively. After next season, it is very possible that Italy will regain four places in the Champions League at the expense of England. That is a damning indictment on the Premier League considering the astronomical wealth gap between the EPL and Serie A. The quality of the Italian championship is regularly ridiculed, particularly in the British media, but it is now time for a reality check. The EPL had no teams progress past the last 16 in Europe, Ligue 1 only had two and the Bundesliga just two also – with Germany’s second best team Wolfsburg humiliated by a struggling Napoli outfit. Juventus and Serie A have restored Italian pride and silenced so many critics in the process.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Genius Moment: Morata comes back to haunt Real Madrid The Spain striker, who left the Bernabeu in a €20 million deal last summer, has bagged four goals in six Champions League knockout games to lead Juventus to the final. May 14, 2015 On paper, Alvaro Morata does not stand out as having been a roaring success for Juventus given his €20 million price tag; his seven Serie A goals this season put him behind Middlesbrough flop Massimo Maccarone, among others, and less than halfway to 37-year-old Luca Toni’s total. But it is in European competition that Morata is making his presence felt, and with one goal at the home of the club he joined as a teenager he has repaid his transfer fee by sending Juventus to their first Champions League final since 2003. Morata now has four goals in his last six Champions League games. No Spanish player has scored more in the competition this season. He netted one at home and one away against Borussia Dortmund, and repeated the trick to even greater importance against Real Madrid, scoring two of Juventus’ three goals over 180 minutes. Given Karim Benzema’s recent injury, Carlo Ancelotti may regret letting Morata leave. “I barely had any kind of relationship with Ancelotti,” he said in March. “Max Allegri, for better or worse, is always looking after me.” His contribution cannot only be measured in terms of his own performances but also in what he has brought out of Carlos Tevez, who is playing the best football of his career. At 6ft 2in, Morata is capable of holding the ball up and bringing others into play but does so with greater precision and thought than Fernando Llorente. Tevez buzzed around him and was Juventus’ most creative player again, but Morata’s extra physical presence allowed him to pounce on Paul Pogba’s knockdown and punch a hole in the Madrid defence. Barcelona await in Berlin. They have beaten the reigning champions of England, France and Germany on their way to the final but Italy’s top club can justifiably claim to boast the best defence in the world. If they can avoid the mistakes of the clubs Barcelona have faced so far, their young star in attack could be a difference-maker once again.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Lippi: ‘Juve like my Italy’ May 14, 2015 Marcello Lippi sees similarities between Juventus and his World Cup winning Italy side - ‘I hope the outcome is the same’. The Bianconeri advanced to their first Champions League final since 2003 [when Lippi was on the bench] with a draw in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid last night. The showpiece event will be held at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, the scene of the Azzurri’s 2006 triumph, and Lippi acknowledges the parallels. “Berlin is a place which is very dear to me, as it is for many of the champions at Juventus [Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Barzagli and Gigi Buffon were in the 2006 squad],” the former Juve Coach told Tuttomercatoweb. “I see so many similarities between my Italy and this Juventus, now I just hope the final outcome is the same. “Juventus proved last night that they are strong, very strong. They went onto the pitch in a tough manner, with the attitude of a team which wants to go through. “They’ve proven they are stronger than Real Madrid, but some achievements are part of the Juventus DNA. “Juventus have mainly grown in self-belief, and they’ve done this with great performances on the European stage. “I’m thinking about the matches with Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and the two against Real Madrid.” Lippi, who lifted the trophy with the Old Lady in 1996, also had words of praise for Coach Massimiliano Allegri. “Congratulations to Allegri. With the Champions League final he has completed the work which Antonio Conte began in these past few years.”

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Allegri's tactics vs. Real Madrid 'perfection' - Carlos Tevez May 14, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri deserves credit for the Bianconeri's march to the final of the Champions League, striker Ca Tevez, 31, believes Wednesday night's 1-1 draw in Real Madrid, which completed a 3-2 aggregate win, was planned down to the finest of details by Allegri who is still on course for an historic Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League Treble this term -- his first season in charge of the Turin club. "The coach prepared these two games to perfection," Tevez told Sky Sport Italia. "He always gives all the credit to us, but a lot of it is also his." Allegri only took charge of Juve a month before the campaign after Antonio Conte surprisingly stepped down. He was greeted with eggs and spitting from Bianconeri fans on his first day at work, but has managed to convince them all in the space of nine months. His Juve side have taken the step Conte's was unable to do in his three years in charge. "The strength of this Juve side is in the team," added Tevez. "We've shown that we're ready for great things." Barcelona await in the final in Berlin and so does their star player Lionel Messi, Tevez's Argentine compatriot. "He's the best in the world right now," Tevez said. "He does some crazy things -- he's from another planet. But we will be in the best of shape when we face them. We deserve this final." As for his own future, reaching the final appears to have convinced the Argentine forward to resist the temptation of returning to his home country and joining Boca Juniors this summer. "I'm staying in Turin," he said. "Definitely." Tevez's contract expires in 2016 and he has already informed the club that he will not be signing an extension.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Morata leads unwavering Juve to Berlin Juventus have reached the Champions League Final thanks to Alvaro Morata’s goal and their unshakable spirit, Luca Cetta writes. May 14, 2015 “I chose Juventus because this is one of the most important clubs in Europe,” Alvaro Morata said upon his Turin arrival last July. “I will try to help them win more titles.” A former Real Madrid striker who celebrated winning Europe’s top prize last May in Lisbon, he found himself cast aside by the club he had represented since his teenage years. There were multiple suitors for his signature. But Morata was steadfast in his desire to join Juventus. The Bianconeri shelled out €20m in a complicated deal. And as they celebrated reaching the Champions League Final 10 months later, it was Morata who had his fingerprints all over the Semi-final success. He opened the scoring last week in Turin. And yesterday, with Juve needing a goal to stay in the hunt, the 22-year-old delivered. Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier converted from the spot after Giorgio Chiellini’s clumsy foul on James Rodriguez. It put the Spaniards ahead on away goals. Massimiliano Allegri’s men had to hit back. And when Andrea Pirlo’s partially cleared free-kick was hooked back into the penalty area in the 57th minute, Real’s dream of becoming the first side in the Champions League era to retain the trophy went to dust. Paul Pogba centred for Morata to beat Iker Casillas. After Juventus won its first post-Calciopoli Scudetto in 2012, President Andrea Agnelli remarked the club had been “from paradise to hell and back to paradise.” Perhaps captain Gianluigi Buffon best epitomises the journey. From winning the 2006 World Cup in Berlin to then playing in Serie B, nine years later he will return to the German capital. Gigi said afterwards it was destiny. It has been 12 years since Juventus reached Europe’s showpiece match. To get there they had to show a mixture of courage and spirit, with some luck thrown in. Allegri promised his side would not simply sit back. Facing a side which last failed to score at the Bernabeu three years ago, he said it was unlikely to end scoreless. The Coach made just one change from last week’s team, Pogba returning to European action to replace Stefano Sturaro in the stifling mid-May heat. The hosts had their chances. After a bright Juventus opening, Real took command. Gareth Bale tested Buffon from distance. After Ronaldo netted they may well have got another. The Portuguese dynamo and Karim Benzema, twice, going close. Allegri’s side looked a shell of the team which produced such a vibrant display in Turin. But that unshakable team spirit shone through. “We were never afraid,” Patrice Evra stated. “At half-time, when 1-0 down, I told the lads it’d end like this. I knew we had to suffer, but that we’d do it.” Juventus grew in stature. Claudio Marchisio drilled just wide. Then Morata took centre stage. Like the first leg he showed restraint in his celebration. “The situation was difficult for me. I didn’t celebrate, I just did my job, I am a Juve player and didn’t deserve that [booing from the Real fans].” That forced Real to break down the blue wall one more time. It opened the door to a frantic final half hour. Barzagli’s introduction signified Allegri’s intentions. Try as Real might – and Bale was a constant danger inside the penalty area – Juventus did not yield. It was a victory for togetherness, for a team which plays for one another. “We have a very united squad, we are all brothers here because we’ve known each other for a few years now,” Arturo Vidal remarked. “What Juventus have is a great team.” Carlo Ancelotti, who last week admitted to never being enamoured by La Vecchia Signora, is now on the brink of being sacked thanks to that lady. Juve’s treble dream remains alive. There are four games to play before heading to the Olympiastadion. That includes next week’s Coppa Italia Final versus Lazio where they will aim to seal a first domestic double since 1995. Then preparations will turn to Barcelona. Like this contest they’ll go in underdogs against Barca’s fearsome attack. But after the display in Madrid, it would take a brave man to write this Juventus side off.

Juninho tells Pogba to join Barcelona The Brazilian believes the in-demand Juventus midfielder should not consider a move back to his native France. May 14, 2015 Former Lyon midfielder Juninho has warned Juventus star Paul Pogba against signing for Paris Saint-Germain and believes a move to Barcelona would be his best option. Pogba is expected to be a target for the majority of Europe's top clubs this summer, with PSG leading the chase having agreed an €80m fee with Juve for the 22-year-old. The France international, who again impressed as Juve reached the Champions League final on Wednesday night with a 3-2 aggregate win over Real Madrid, is believed to have reservations about playing in Ligue 1 and Juninho says he should explore the other options available to him. The Brazilian told RMC: "Barca, if they are able to buy him, would be good. Andres Iniesta's level has started to drop a bit and Barca could continue to win for years with Pogba in the team. "With their style of play, a 4-3-3, it would be ideal. At Real Madrid he would need more time to adjust. I would choose Barca and I would never return to France." Pogba signed a new five-year deal at Juve in October 2014 but that has not stopped the speculation regarding his future. Talk of a move intensified last week when his agent Mino Raiola was spotted at Real Madrid's training base in Turin ahead of the first leg of their semi-final tie with the Bianconeri. The player's representative was later quizzed over the former Manchester United man's future and refused to rule out a move to Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Birindelli: ‘Allegri fantastic’ May 14, 2015 Former Juventus defender Alessandro Birindelli praises ‘fantastic’ Max Allegri, and believes the club’s success is good for Italian football. The Bianconeri reached the final of the Champions League last night, following up their 2-1 win over Real Madrid in Turin with a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu. “As a Juventus fan and former player, I’m very happy,” Birindelli told Tuttomercatoweb. “I’m also happy for Italian football, which has returned to the level which matters. Considering the state of football and the country in general, it’s great to see things like yesterday. “As with every line of work, if you have a good plan, and if you work with love, determination and passion then you can achieve important things. “It takes luck, of course, but fortune favours the brave.” Birindelli also had high praise for Coach Max Allegri, who was not a universally popular figure when he replaced Antonio Conte this summer. “I think that the three years under Conte created a solid foundation, giving this squad its core. Those years were used to grow, and to be able to manage these kind of games. “Allegri was fantastic in handling everything, without changing anything. When he arrived in Turin, everyone was against him, but he swallowed those bitter pills. “He gave belief, encouragement and motivation to a team which was missing that one step to get to where it is now - in the final of the Champions League.”

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) United Juve Stand, Divided Real Fall May 14, 2015 The initial emotion, perhaps the instinctive reaction, was one of frustration. What might have been, but what ultimately wasn't. After all, we were so close to what many would consider the absolute pinnacle of club football: a Clasico final to decide the Champions League. It is hard to believe such a match has never happened before, a cosmic quirk that would seem certain to be rectified at some point. It would be like if Federer and Nadal never contested a final at Wimbledon or Mayweather and Pacquiao never actually met in the ring. To miss out on such a seminal match, after it appearing to be so close, is a difficult pill to swallow. On further reflection, however, perhaps we are wrong to be too disappointed. To rue what we missed out on is to do a disservice to Juventus, who surely warranted their place in the final—and in the process put up two fingers to the pundits (and there were a fair few of them) who said they had no chance of beating Real Madrid.

Patrice Evra: Barcelona not as strong as Pep Guardiola's sides May 14, 2015 Juventus defender Patrice Evra has told RMC that Luis Enrique's Barcelona are "not as strong" as the sides led by Pep Guardiola. Evra, who was part of the Manchester United teams beaten by Guardiola's Barca in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals, is set to face the Spanish giants once more after Juve overcame Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate in the semifinals. The 33-year-old said Juve would be underdogs in Berlin on June 6 and praised a Barca attack consisting of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, but he said the overall level of the team had dropped over the last four years. Evra, who was also part of the Monaco side that lost the 2004 final as well as the United team that won the competition in 2008, said: "We have to stay in the role of outsider. "This final, it's David versus Goliath. That's how we're going to approach it. It's like that that Juve are at their most dangerous. When no one makes us favourites, we can pull out something big. I have confidence in all these players who play in my team. It's not impossible. "I have played against Barcelona. I lost finals against Barcelona where the team was the star. It wasn't just about a single player, even if there was Messi. "Now, today, they're a great team, but it's about three individuals up front: Neymar, Messi and Suarez. They can make the difference at any time but, as a team, they're not as strong as the one I faced with Manchester United." Evra is now playing alongside former United players Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba in Turin, and the trio have enjoyed a hugely successful season, with Juve already crowned Serie A champions and still in contention for a Treble. He said that his decision to leave United last summer had nothing to do with on-field matters, though, explaining: "It's worked out well, but it wasn't a natural choice. It was for personal reasons. "I will always miss Manchester United but, today, I'm at Juve. I'm happy to be in the final. I had nothing to prove or anything of that kind. Juve called me and said to me that they wanted to do better in the Champions League and that they needed my experience. I am paying them back on the pitch, contributing what I can to go as far as possible."

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Dreams become Real-ity: Juventus advance to Champions League final with 1-1 draw in Madrid May 14, 2015 A few weeks ago, I volunteered to write the match recap for the return leg of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid. So I knew I was going to be ecstatic or devastated while writing the game review. What I didn't know is that it will take about two hours to be calm enough to sit down and type. And now that I can write, there is so little to say. Juventus are going to Berlin, ladies and gents. Juve are playing in a final by playing the tournament to our strengths — a rock-solid defense, a tireless midfield, and a clinical attack. Juventus were not going to score three goals in Madrid, but trusted their strengths and made it through. What a good day to be a Juventino. MATCH RECAP Juventus started the game strong. Sure, there was that Karim Benzema chance, but the defense did well to close him down and leave him with an impossible shot. After the first five minutes Juventus appeared to be the home side. They were attacking, passing the ball around and looking to beat a disorganized and tired Madrid side. Obviously, things did not turn out as easy. By the 10th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo took a chance from a free-kick that Gianluigi Buffon did well to push over the bar. This was just a preamble of things to come. Real Madrid continued to attack and Juventus looked to be confused and startled in defense. Then, 22 minutes into the match, Giorgio Chiellini unnecessarily fouled James in the 18-yard box. The ref pointed to the spot and, a minute later, Ronaldo was making it 1-0. Juventus seemed genuinely shocked, but Madrid didn't seem too interested in scoring a second one. For the remainder of the first half, Juventus managed to hold off Los Merengues with more heart than skill and organization. It also looked like Madrid were starting to get tired from their intense thirty minutes. The halftime whistle was welcomed by both teams, and provided the perfect opportunity for Max Allegri to reorganize the troops. Everyone expected Madrid to score one goal, so at least the team had to have a plan in mind to try to score that precious away goal. The second half appeared to start with much of the same, with Juventus sitting back and Madrid dominating possession, but this time Juventus seemed more organized. And slowly they started to make their presence felt. Until, in the 57th minute, Andrea Pirlo took a free-kick from the flank that Iker Casillas manages to parry away. The ball is sent back into the area towards Paul Pogba who was played onside by Sergio Ramos. Pogba is able to head the ball towards Álvaro Morata, who after controlling with his chest,puts it in the back of the net. The game was now in favor of the Bianconeri, but with 30 minutes to play, anything could happen. In the 67th minute, a tired Benzema was replaced by Javier Hernandez to the relief of most Juventini. Benzema had been problematic all match (less so towards the end) and his understanding with Ronaldo certainly deflated Madrid's attack. Madrid continued to attack with a shot from James Rodriguez that left Buffon standing, a header for Bale, and a supposed foul on Hernandez. On the other side, Claudio Marchisio missed a golden chance to make it 1-2 and kill all hopes of Madrid qualifying but it wasn't to be. For the last 10 minutes, Juventus moved to a 3-5-2 with Andrea Barzagli at the back and stopped everything that came their way. LE PAGELLE Buffon 7.5 He had a couple good saves, but his leadership at the back was truly needed. A rock at the back. Lichtsteiner 6.5 Covered Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo well enough. I am sure he was told not to venture too far forward. Bonucci 7.0 Did well to cover Benzema, Bale, and Ronaldo throughout the match. He has very good at closing the angle in one of Madrid's counterattacks. His positioning was very good throughout. Chiellini 6.0 He made a stupid and unnecessary mistake that could have cost us the match. His aggressiveness is welcome, but there is a time and a place, and this wasn't it. He needs to learn from this experience for the final. Evra 7.5 Another one of Juve's experienced players. He covered for Pogba's lack of defensive commitment. He won headers against players that were taller than him and moved the ball confidently from the back. I don't know when he became such a central piece of our back four, but there it is. Marchisio 7.0 Good all-around game. Had the chance to make it 2-1 and kill the match. I am guessing he is saving it for the final against Barcelona, right? Pirlo 6.0 Insufficient. He lost too many balls and his passing was not that dangerous. Probably because the team was playing so far back that there was no one to really pass to. Morata's goal started from Pirlo's free kick so he gets 0.5 points for that. Moving forward the team must decide if Pirlo being a central piece of the team is the best way forward. Pogba 6.0 Seemed more focused on scoring a goal or making a fancy move than on helping out the team. He missed some easy passes, and his defending was lackluster. Overall, he appeared to be shaken by playing such a big match. With that being said, he gets the assist for Morata's goal. Vidal 6.5 He had some good times, but also faded during others. His game was not as good as last week but enough to stop Madrid from playing comfortably at the back and in the middle of the field. Tevez 6.0 When Tevez doesn't show up this team suffers, and today he was nowhere to be found for the first 60 minutes of the match. Morata 8.5 To score the goal that qualifies your team to the final is an immense task. To score it at the Bernabeu against the team that formed you is an even bigger deal. To do all of this at 22 years old is a sign of big things to come. His composure up front is second to none. And every dangerous play that Juventus had came from him. He gets and extra 0.5 for being a classy guy and not celebrating the biggest goal of his career. I truly hope he makes Turin his home. Allegri 8.0 Allegri setup a team to play to its strengths (defense and midfield). It was nerve-racking for any black and white fans but it worked. CONCLUSION How did Juventus go from not being able to dine in a $100 restaurant with $10 to eating at the fanciest restaurant in town? The short answer to that is that Juventus is not a $10 team and that Allegri pitched in the rest of the cash. The team played with self-belief, conviction, and a never give-up attitude. Now we have a final to play. Juventus are by far the underdogs, but that is a tag a like. We also have a coach that has played against Barca in the past. More importantly, no matter what happens, we now know what we can do. We may not make the finals every year, we may no even make the semis every year. But if we can consistently make it to the top 8, that would be a huge step in the right direction.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Back To Berlin: Buffon Now Seeks Champions League Glory With Juventus May 14, 2015 With Juve reaching their first Champions League final since 2003, Gianluigi Buffon, the sole survivor of that side, could finally be set for a first winner’s medal at the scene of the greatest triumph of his career. “I think it’s finely balanced and I can see Real Madrid scoring but then I think Juventus have a goal in them too,” Paolo Rossi told Tuttosport ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg. “So I am predicting a 1-1.” The legendary Juventus and Italy forward, now turned media pundit, scored in the 57th minute of the 1982 World Cup final with a diving header at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, when the Azzurri defeated West Germany to claim the trophy for a third time. And now nearly 33 years later, another outstanding opportunist wearing blue repeated the feat, as Alvaro Morata cancelled out a first-half penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in the exact same minute to fulfill Rossi’s prediction. The goal ultimately sealed qualification, as Juventus walked into their eighth European Cup final. The 22-year-old forward returned to haunt his former side, reminiscent of Fernando Morientes in 2004, by striking first in the 2-1 first leg in Turin last Tuesday, and then scoring the crucial goal in the 1-1 draw in Madrid. But before and after that 57th minute half-volley, it was some determined defending and smart saves by Gianluigi Buffon that ensured Juventus’ presence at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on June 6. Aware of the fact Real Madrid had scored in 51 consecutive matches at the Bernabeu, Buffon — like Rossi — had warned in the pre-match press conference that his side would be unable to keep a clean sheet. He may have been unable to repeat his penalty saving heroics against Luis Figo, from the 2003 semi-final second leg win against Real Madrid, but he pulled off a succession of vital saves as Juventus were put under pressure in the first-half. Key with his shot-stopping when Juventus last reached the final 12 years ago, the sole survivor of that side also has continued to be a commanding presence, controlling a defence that has seamlessly shifted between a back-three and four this season. In a combination of being caught up in the emotion of the occasion and hoarse from barking orders to his side, the club captain barely had any voice left when he was interviewed pitchside after the match. “It seemed like destiny, but it really did go the way we hoped,” Buffon told Sport Mediaset. “I am so proud of my teammates, of all the work we’ve done and the journey we’ve made. “You don’t get the chance to play a Champions League final often, so we can’t do it by halves. We’ve got to give our all.” Destiny has been a key word for the Old Lady in this Champions League campaign, with the road to the final taking a route familiar to the 2006 World Cup winners Buffon, Andrea Barzagli and Andrea Pirlo. From the Signal Iduna Park and now to the Olympiastadion, the 37-year-old will look to finally win a Champions League winner’s medal at the same stadium where he triumphed for the Azzurri against France. Buffon can also take another omen from the fact that Juve beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate when they last met in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, in 2002-03.

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (23') Álvaro Morata (57') Juventus win Aggregate 3-2 Semi-final - 2nd leg Wednesday, May 13th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Real Madrid Crash Out As Morata Fires Juventus Into The Champions League Final May 14, 2015 Juventus will face Barcelona in the Champions League Final after eliminating Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate. Alvaro Morata, who grew up in the Merengues youth academy, scored in both legs and the 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu sealed their qualification, the first since 2003. The first leg saw a 2-1 victory for the Bianconeri, but the away goal left it in the balance. Paul Pogba and Karim Benzema returned from injury, though at least the Frenchman managed an hour and scored a goal on Saturday against Cagliari. Sergio Ramos returned to defence and Raphael Varane was picked ahead of Pepe. Juve stuck with a four-man defence and Alvaro Morata faced his former teammates. The history was on Juve’s side, as Madrid hadn’t gone through after losing the first leg in 13 years, getting eliminated seven times in a row. The tone was set for a night of Madrid attacks just 35 seconds in when Marcelo’s deep cross picked out Bale, who headed over the bar. Benzema used a brilliant skill to turn away from Leonardo Bonucci, only to blaze over from close range, before Ronaldo’s free-kick was deflected on to the roof of the net by Arturo Vidal. Madrid were eventually rewarded in the 22nd minute when Chiellini’s clumsy challenge on James Rodriguez gave them a penalty which Ronaldo converted with ease, and there was no let up as they pushed forward again immediately after taking the lead. A swift counter resulted in Ronaldo cutting back in the penalty area and appeared to give himself an easy shot to score, but chose to cross for Benzema and saw the ball cleared by the backtracking Vidal. When Bale launched a swift counter-attack Ronaldo fired a powerful shot into the side-netting, and Benzema then brought a fine save out of Buffon with a close-range effort before the first half ended with a booking for Rodriguez as he took an exaggerated tumble in the area. The start of the second half was similar to the first, with Claudio Marchisio’s shot from distance going inches wide of the post. Juve had their equaliser near the hour mark when Pogba headed the ball to Morata whose clever finish found the net. Bale could’ve regained Los Blancos’ lead soon after, but his volley went wide of the post. James Rodriguez was next to threaten Juve’s goal, but his shot from distance went inches over the bar. The Bianconeri should’ve put the game to bed with 20 minutes remaining, but Casillas pulled off an excellent save to deny Marchisio’s one-on-one. The Spanish giants missed another great chance to regain their lead, and tie the game on aggregate, but Bale’s header somehow went over the bar. Juve moved to 3-5-2 for the final 11 minutes, replacing an exhausted Andrea Pirlo. Pogba had a glorious chance to win the tie with only three minutes remaining, but his finish was saved really well by the ever-present Casillas But his efforts were in vain as Real’s final realistic hopes of winning a major trophy this season disappeared. At 10.38pm on a hot night in Madrid the referee blew his whistle and Juventus’s players leapt into the sky and sprinted across the pitch, en route to Berlin. Juventus finally progressed to their eighth European Cup final. Juventus defended for their lives, despite Real’s best efforts to try and barge down their sturdy door. There will be no Clásico final, as many had hoped. Max Allegri’s Juventus have defied all the odds and are heading to Berlin to face Barcelona. It means Barcelona forward Luis Suarez is likely to face Chiellini in the final, their first meeting since the Uruguay international was banned for biting the Italy defender at the World Cup in Brazil last summer. Italy’s Old Lady is heading for Berlin to face Barcelona, the first time Juventus have reached the Champions League final since 2003. A 1-1 draw was enough to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory that Allegri described as “extraordinary”. Not many expected Juventus to make it this far; still fewer expected them to go further. As for Madrid, the question now will be whether Carlo Ancelotti continues; a trophyless season tends to end with a jobless manager usually. This was a superb victory for Juventus, for a club that were relegated in disgrace only nine years ago. What was so good about it was the intelligence and the nerve. We take skill and application for granted as well as the tempo and stamina that Antonio Conte brought to them. But Allegri has injected something extra, a confidence in their ability and their methods. Whether they can live with MSN is for another day but with Buffon, Evra, Chiellini and Bonucci there is always hope. Let’s not forget either that nine years ago a certain Andrea Pirlo was man of the match in the World Cup final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.