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JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI 1 - 1 Paul Pogba (45') Luca Rossettini (85') Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus 1-1 Cagliari: Resilient Rossoblu Snatch Draw From Champions May 9, 2015 Juventus drew 1-1 in a thrilling end to end game against Cagliari at the Juventus Stadium in Serie A on Saturday evening. The Bianconeri looked set to tuck another home win under their belts as a late first half long range drive from Paul Pogba put Juventus in the lead, but Luca Rossettini grabbed an equalising goal at the death for his relegation threatened team. Both sides began to trade blows as early as the the first minute, with Paul Pogba winning a free kick from 30-yards out after being brought down by Lorenzo Crisetig. Pogba struck the ball hard but Cagliari goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic happily watched the ball zip wide. Diego Farias was the next to try, as he smartly manouvered past Romulo only for his shot to be blocked, though the Brazilian came closer just minutes later with a brilliant dribble into the Juventus box, only for his shot this time to lack any great power, leaving Marco Storari to gather with ease. Shots began to form a pattern with each team forcing their way to the opposite goal, with Matri over-complicating a back-heel before Cagliari stole the ball with Duje Cop serving an onrushing Farias who found the ball in-front of him yet astonishingly managed to put it wide from 12 yards. Cop and Farias were persistent in their efforts at goal though it was the home side who gradually began to take a tighter grip on the game, asserting this control in the late stages of the first half as they increased pressure on the club from Sardinia. The hunger for the opening goal became evident as chances stacked up, first with Pogba managing to shrug his marker and hit a volley yet the ball didn’t sit down for the Frenchman and then minutes later compatriot Kingsley Coman headed a whisker wide of the post. The breakthrough finally came on the cusp of half time as the ever active Pogba decided to take aim at goal from 20 yards out. His shot whistled through the air and looked to be a reasonable save for Brkic until the ball caught a deflection off the thigh of Luca Ceppittelli sending the Rossoblu keeper in the wrong direction with the ball free to bounce into the net. The goal was the midfielder’s first since matchday 26 against Sassuolo. Cagliari flew out of the locker room in the second half in desperate need of a goal to help their attempts to stave off relegation, forcing Angelo Ogbonna to make a marvelous intervention as Farias looked ready to slot the ball past Storari. Marco Sau was then introduced by Gianluca Festa, and the Italian almost immediately punished a sleepy Juventus defence with a smart volley. The visitors continued their onslaught of attacks and the game looked in danger to end the same way the first half did as Cagliari were too wasteful in their attacks until Rossettini threw his side a life line with a goal in the final few minutes. The defender leapt the highest from a free kick and hammered the ball against the post yet was fortunate enough to tap the ball in on the rebound as Storari stood glued to the ground. The well deserved goal reflected a tough game for his side, and substitute Sau could have won the game in stoppage time only to lean back too far and blast high. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI 1 - 1 Paul Pogba (45') Luca Rossettini (85') Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Pogba back with a bang! Paul Pogba made his comeback after almost two months and scored, but Cagliari held Juventus to a 1-1 draw. May 9, 2015 Max Allegri rested almost all his stars ahead of the Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid, but Pogba made his comeback 52 days after suffering a torn thigh muscle. It was also Romulo’s return after almost six months. Juve had already won the Scudetto, but the Sardinians were scrapping to stay in Serie A with Paul-Jose M’Poku and Daniele Dessena suspended. Pogba proved within three minutes that he was truly back, turning an opponent to earn a free kick and then drilling it inches past the near post. The Frenchman seemed to be testing himself out with a series of increasingly powerful shots from distance, plus a through ball for Alessandro Matri. Claudio Marchisio did just enough to put off Diego Farias, who turned wide from 10 yards, while Andrea Barzagli was decisive with a sliding challenge to stop Duje Cop going clear. Simone Padoin and Romulo volleys were too central to truly test Zeljko Brkic, then Kingsley Coman’s shot flashed over the bar. Pogba’s chest and turn was also off target, put off by Danilo Avelar on the floor with his legs in the air. Coman soared to nod a Romulo cross just past the back post. The deadlock was eventually broken with a stroke of luck, but proved Pogba is well and truly back, as his strike from the edge of the box took a deflection off Luca Ceppitelli to surprise Brkic at the near post. After the restart Padoin charged down a dangerous Duje Cop effort in the penalty area and Angelo Ogbonna closed down Farias. Luca Rossettini nodded a Joao Pedro free kick over from a very promising position. Romulo was rusty at the start, but increasingly found his feet and an angled drive scraped a coat of paint off the far post. Cagliari struggled to raise the tempo, though Marco Sau’s turn and half-volley tested Marco Storari. With five minutes to go, the Sardinians finally made an impact. Joao Pedro’s free kick found a Rossettini header that bounced off the inside of the far post, so the defender was alert to tap in the rebound too. Cagliari have drawn three of their last four trips to Turin, all of those with 1-1 scorelines. The visitors could’ve won it 2-1 in stoppages when Albin Ekdal set up Sau, but he was leaning back and ballooned over from 12 yards. It was an absolutely golden opportunity. Juventus: Storari; Romulo, Barzagli, Ogbonna, Padoin; Pereyra (Vitale 75), Marchisio (Sturaro 59), Pogba (De Ceglie 63); Pepe, Matri, Coman Cagliari: Brkic; Balzano, Rossettini, Ceppitelli (Diakite 73), Avelar; Donsah (Sau 68), Crisetig, Joao Pedro; Ekdal; Cop (Longo 77), Farias Ref: Peruzzo http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Marotta: 'Pogba fundamental' May 9, 2015 Juventus director Beppe Marotta insists Paul Pogba “is fundamental for our future” as he makes his comeback against Cagliari. The midfielder starts this evening, his first game for 52 days after a thigh injury. “We were waiting for his return and the work of the physiotherapists has been exceptional, but also the tenacity of this young lad,” Marotta told Sky Sport Italia. “Clearly he is back after two months out, so we cannot expect a world-beating performance today, but the important thing is he’s back on the field.” Newspapers continue to speculate on offers from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City. “I answer these questions every day,” sighed Marotta. “We know Pogba is one of the best young players in circulation, but we have repeated many times that he is fundamental for our future.”

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI 1 - 1 Paul Pogba (45') Luca Rossettini (85') Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus 1-1 Cagliari: Rossettini scores to dampen Pogba return The midfielder scored in his first appearance since mid-March but a late goal from the visitors ensured the champions left with no more than a point. May 9, 2015 Cagliari kept their hopes of Serie A survival alive with a late Luca Rossettini equaliser that clinched a 1-1 draw at Juventus. The champions looked on course to claim their 25th league win of the season after Paul Pogba fired them ahead with a deflected effort, but Rossettini levelled five minutes from time to ensure the visitors a share of the points. Juve showed their strength in depth as coach Massimiliano Allegri rested 10 players and still saw his side dominate proceedings at Juventus Stadium on Saturday. But a spirited performance from Cagliari was rewarded and Gianluca Festa's side, who are third bottom, live to fight another day. With the Scudetto already won, Allegri's focus was firmly on next week's Champions League semi-final second leg at Real Madrid, and only midfielder Claudio Marchisio was retained from the side that won the first leg 2-1 in midweek. Pogba had been sidelined since March, when he injured a hamstring during the 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, but he showed no signs of rustiness with a commanding performance and a goal that might put him in contention for Juve's trip to the Santiago Bernabeu. The Frenchman was influential from the outset, flashing a long-range free-kick just past the post in the opening exchanges. Simone Pepe was at the heart of much of Juve's early play, and he combined with Pogba to tee up Alessandro Matri after 13 minutes, but the striker lost his footing and could not convert from close range. Duje Cop looked Cagliari's most potent threat, with his fast, breaking runs towards the Juventus box, but goalkeeper Marco Storari was alive to the danger and denied the Croatian a good chance after he was put through by Albin Ekdal. Pogba missed a great chance to open the scoring, controlling a cross with his chest and blazing his shot over the bar when he had time to pick his spot. But, in the final seconds of the first half, Pogba announced his return to first-team action in style, making space for himself in the box and rattling a fierce shot that took a cruel deflection off Rossettini on its way past Zeljko Brkic and into the net. But Cagliari continued to press after the break and did not allow Juventus an easy ride at any stage in the game. Cop went close with a low shot just after half-time, and Ekdal had a penalty claim turned down as he clashed with Angelo Ogbonna when racing through on goal. Cagliari pushed bodies forward to try and salvage something late on, and their efforts paid off when a defensive lapse allowed Rossettini to power a header that beat Storari, hit the far post, and then bounced back out for the defender to gratefully poke it back into the net. Festa's men almost claimed all three points when Marco Sau found himself unmarked on the edge of the box, but he blazed his shot high and wide and the points were shared. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Watch out, Real Madrid - Pogba is back and already scoring The midfielder played a full hour against Cagliari and got on the scoresheet with a deflected strike to give Carlo Ancelotti plenty to think about before next week. May 9, 2015 If Real Madrid's midfield concerns were not already bad enough, Paul Pogba's return to action may just give Carlo Ancelotti a few more sleepless nights. The France international, sidelined with a hamstring injury since the Champions League last-16 win over Borussia Dortmund in March, made his comeback from the start in the 1-1 draw against Cagliari on Saturday and showed little sign of rustiness. As Massimiliano Allegri rested almost all of his first-team stars, Pogba - playing alongside Claudio Marchisio and Roberto Pererya at the heart of midfield - was granted the licence to roam without any undue pressure and came close early on with some range-finders from distance. The former Manchester United man almost carved out the opening goal for Alessandro Matri with a cleverly-disguised through-ball but the striker got the ball stuck under his feet. Pogba himself then wasted a good chance with a half-volley after some fine chest control in the area. But the 22-year-old did not have to wait too long. With just minutes remaining of the first half, Pogba cut inside from the left and fizzed a shot towards the far post, with the ball taking a wicked deflection in the crowded penalty area before hitting the back of the net. He was eventually taken off just past the hour mark to a standing ovation from the reduced crowd inside Juventus Stadium. Pogba was unquestionably playing in second gear during his return to action and he twice failed to stop Diego Farias running off him through the centre in Cagliari's rare forays forward, but Allegri will doubtless have been thrilled with his attacking display as he prepares for the trip to Madrid. For the Champions League holders, Pogba's goalscoring return adds another complication to their bid to overturn a 2-1 deficit. With Sergio Ramos likely to remain in the heart of midfield despite his abject display in Turin, Allegri will know the value of having Pogba's arsenal ready to unleash, even if it is from the bench. "I'm not yet 100 per cent after 52 days out but I'm fine, I'm happy," he told Sky at half-time. Given his efforts on Saturday, Madrid will hope it takes a little longer for the towering Frenchman to get back into full stride.

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo HT 1-0: Paul Pogba fires Juventus ahead against Cagliari May 9, 2015 Juventus lead against Calgiari after Paul Pogba scored in first-half stoppage time on his return from injury. The Bianconieri started brightly with Pogba almost getting on the scoresheet immediately after latching onto Roberto Pereyra's pass, but the French midfielder dragged his shot wide. However, the Sicilians almost struck the first blow as they try to avoid the drop to Serie B when Diego Farias brought an early stop of stand-in keeper Marco Storari. Juve continued to show guile in attack and almost forged an opening when the recalled Simone Padoin linked up with Kingsley Coman before the forward fired wide. On 16 minutes, Pogba came close to breaking the deadlock when his low shot was saved by Zeljko Brkic before the Cagliari keeper stopped an effort from Romulo midway through the half. Padoin then brought another stop out of the Serbian before Coman fired over late in the half as Juve looked to be going in at the interval on level terms. However, Pogba gave the Champions League semi-finalists the lead in injury time after his shot from the edge of the box proved too much for Brkic. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Line-ups: Juventus-Cagliari May 9, 2015 Juventus give Paul Pogba his first game in six weeks, as they prepare for Real Madrid by hosting desperate Cagliari. It kicks off at 18.00 CET. The Bianconeri have already secured the Scudetto and are fresh from beating Real Madrid 2-1 in the Champions League semi-final. The second leg is at the Bernabeu on Wednesday and it’s Pogba’s chance to prove his fitness after six weeks on the sidelines. Max Allegri also takes the opportunity to rest several top stars, including Carlos Tevez, Alvaro Morata, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Arturo Vidal. Kwadwo Asamoah and Martin Caceres are the only injury absentees, as Romulo makes his comeback from a lengthy lay-off, last featuring in November's 7-0 demolition of Parma. Cagliari are on the brink, but showed in recent weeks they are ready to fight to the end for Serie A safety under new Coach Gianluca Festa. Paul-Jose M’Poku and Daniele Dessena sit out bans, but Andrea Cossu and Nicola Murru return. The Sardinians hammered Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi and on Monday crushed Parma 4-0. Juventus: Storari; Romulo, Barzagli, Ogbonna, Padoin, Pereyra, Marchisio, Pogba, Pepe, Matri, Coman Juventus bench: Buffon, Rubinho, Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Ceglie, Evra, Marrone, Sturaro, Vitale, Llorente, Morata Cagliari: Brkic; Balzano, Rossettini, Ceppitelli, Avelar; Donsah, Crisetig, Joao Pedro; Ekdal; Cop, Farias Cagliari bench: Colombi, Barella, Murru, Cossu, Sau, Capuano, Pisano, Conti, Diakite, Longo, Cragno http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Tevez on speeding offence May 9, 2015 Carlos Tevez joked about having his driving licence suspended for speeding. “I was still thinking about the game.” The Juventus striker was stopped by police after the Champions League semi-final victory over Real Madrid. He was going at 120km/h through the Mont Blanc tunnel that separates Italy from France – where the speed limit is 70km/h. “It was 3am, I was on the motorway and suddenly the limit was reduced to 70km/h,” Tevez told comedy show Striscia La Notizia. “I was still thinking about the game with Real Madrid and didn’t see the signs. I wasn’t going that fast, about 120km/h.” He was presented with the traditional Tapiro d’Oro, a small golden tapir statue given to people in the news for embarrassing situations that week. Tevez was asked about rumours he will quit Juventus for Boca Juniors this summer. “No, I am staying – so I can win another Tapiro d’Oro!” Famously the Argentine had his licence revoked while at Manchester City in 2013 and then received 120 hours of community service when it was discovered he was still driving without a licence or insurance. “In England I kept driving anyway, but here I’ll get a friend to drive me.”

Capello: Juventus need Pogba to beat Real Madrid The Russia coach says the possible return of the France international from a hamstring injury will be vital to the Old Lady's chances at the Bernabeu. May 9, 2015 Fabio Capello believes Paul Pogba must play for Juventus if the Italians are to see off Real Madrid and secure a place in the Champions League final. The semi-final clash remains delicately balanced after the Bianconeri won the first leg 2-1 in Turin – a match which Pogba was forced to miss through injury. Capello says Juventus’ hopes of ending a 12-year wait for a Champions League final could well depend on the fitness of the former Manchester United midfielder, who has been out with a hamstring injury since March but is set to make his comeback in Saturday's Serie A clash with Cagliari. “The most important thing, for me, is that Pogba has to be there,” the Russia coach told AS. “He’s a great player. He is strong, physical, has quality, a nice touch and a good finish... He has everything.” The Italian champions sat deep to see out a deserved victory in the first leg, with a switch to three at the back in the closing stages of the first leg frustrating Madrid's much-vaunted attack. Capello, who has coached both clubs, suspects that Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri could well repeat the trick in the Spanish capital. “Juventus know very well how to play in different ways," he said. "I don’t know [if they will play three central defenders]. It depends on whether they fear the match of if they want to score a goal." Capello then went on to say that he hopes Madrid can make up the two points that separate them from current Liga leaders Barcelona, and that the Catalans' own Champions League concerns distract them from their domestic duties. “Everybody knows I’m a Real Madrid fan,” he said. “But Barcelona are at a high level, look what they did to Bayern Munich [a 3-0 win at Camp Nou on Wednesday]. It was incredible. "There is a hope that they will relax a little, like what happened in [the recent 2-2 Liga draw at Sevilla].”

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo MATCH PREVIEW May 9, 2015 Cagliari travel to face champions Juventus on Saturday in much greater need of three vital Serie A points. The Old Lady confirmed a fourth consecutive Scudetto last weekend with a narrow triumph at Sampdoria and await a huge Champions League semi-final, second leg next week, in which they’ll attempt to defend a 2-1 lead at the home of giants Real Madrid. Massimiliano Allegri’s men lost twice in domestic action against bottom club Parma and local rivals Torino within their last five League outings, as they briefly stuttered during the final stretch towards clinching the title, and it should offer additional belief to the struggling Isolani that a similar thing could happen again. It’s highly probable Juve will field a much-changed line-up from that which defeated Real, with talisman Andrea Pirlo among those expected to be rested. Sought-after Paul Pogba is close to a return following almost two months on the sidelines, but may not be risked. Meanwhile, injured Martin Caceres will miss the remainder of this season. Visitors Cagliari had failed to keep a clean sheet for 18 Serie A games in a row before their 4-0 victory over relegated Parma on Monday, which suggests rookie Coach Gianluca Festa is beginning to have a positive effect on his team’s organisational issues. Indeed, the former Inter defender has won two of his three fixtures after taking over the reins from Zdenek Zeman and will hope to find the Bianconeri focusing all of their energies on European matters when they clash. The Rossoblu are unable to call upon midfielder Daniele Dessena and forward Paul-Jose M'poku, who found the net in the thrashing of Parma, through one-match suspensions. A surprise win in Turin could drag the Sardinians to within three points of 17th-placed Atalanta amid the desperate battle for top-flight survival. Keep an eye on: Kingsley Coman (Juventus) – The young Frenchman could be handed a start here, with regulars Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata likely to be rested. Signed from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, the 18-year-old has impressed in several cameo appearances, including a goal against Parma in November. Can he do it from the start on Saturday? Form Guide: Juventus (L W L W W) Cagliari (L L W L W) Last season: Juventus 3-0 Cagliari Stat fact: Cagliari have failed to overcome Juventus in any of their last 10 League meetings, losing eight of them. Juventus (probable): Buffon; Padoin, Bonucci, Ogbonna, De Ceglie; Pereyra, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pepe, Matri, Coman Suspended: None Cagliari (probable): Brkic; Pisano, Ceppitelli, Diakite, Avelar; Ekdal, Crisetig, Donsah; Cossu; Cop, Farias Suspended: Dessena, M'poku http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo JUVENTUS V CAGLIARI MATCH PREVIEW May 8, 2015 Juventus How to keep interesting a game with nothing on the line, few days the most important match in years? It’s virtually impossible, but a solution is benchwarmers galore! In the pre-game presser, Massimiliano Allegri has ruled out Gianluigi Buffon and Carlos Tevez, who will be rested ahead of the return of the Champions League semifinal. Probably we won’t see Stephen Lichtsteiner, Giorgio Chiellini, Patrice Evra and Andrea Pirlo either, with Angelo Ogbonna, Simone Padoin and Paolo De Ceglie slated to start. Despite the depleted lineup, there’s still some items to keep an eye on. It will be interesting to see whom the coach will field in the defense and in the midfield, as it could be a lead to what he intends to do at Santiago Bernabeu. Fielding Andrea Barzagli, and not the younger Leonardo Bonucci, would probably indicate that he’s planning to use 3-5-2 against Real Madrid. As he can’t put together a midfield full of reserves, unless he turns to Luca Marrone, Luca Vitale or other youngsters (but that’s unlikely), two or three between Claudio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal, Stefano Sturaro and Roberto Pereyra will have to start and then there’ll probably be a handover. Paul Pogba is set to return on the pitch for a tune-up before the big game. As Allegri admitted, he could even start. In such an evenly matched tie like the Galacticos one, which could be decided by a single goal, having a world-class weapon like the French international, who can score out of the blue, is an important advantage. Let’s hope that there are no hiccups in his recovery. Romulo, who has already been called up recently after recovery from sports hernia surgery, could make an appearance too. The final part of the season is crucial for the future of the versatile midfielder: Juventus have a €8M option to buy, which is not extremely high, and we know that the potential is there, but considering his injury history and his age (27), is redeeming him worth the risk? It seems that the backup trident will start: Simone Pepe, Alessandro Matri and Kingsley Coman. After a convincing debut, the French teenager hasn’t found consistent playing time and this has slowed down his growth: he needs to show his skills and prove that he can be a useful member of next year’s squad, because the road back after a loan to another team, an option that has been heavily rumoured, can be often tortuous. The contract of Pepe is up in June and it’s absolutely not a given that Juventus will extend it. Matri’s loan will expire at the end of the season and he’ll return at Milan. They are all highly motivated. Juventus are undefeated at home and certainly would like to keep the record untarnished. The sports judge has decided to suspend the two-game ban of the Curva Sud, so the fans of that sector will be allowed to attend the game. Probable lineup 4-3-3: Storari; Padoin, Barzagli, Ogbonna, De Ceglie; Pereyra, Marchisio, Pogba; Pepe, Matri, Coman. Injured players Asamoah (knee), Caceres (ankle) Suspended Players None Form (D-L-W-W-W) Cagliari On the other hand, Cagliari have a lot to play for. They are six points behind Atalanta with four games to go, they need to win out and it might not be enough to avoid relegation. On the road, they have won three games so far, including a battering of Fiorentina two weeks ago, drawn five times and lost nine times. They have won twice in three matches since appointing the club icon Gianluca Festa, but they also suffered a costly loss against Chievo Verona. Festa uses a simple 4-3-1-2, which has been the Cagliari’s go-to scheme since the Davide Ballardini era, and has put the veteran Daniele Conti aside (the captain was criticized in Sardinia for being too close to the ultras). Because of suspensions, he’ll be without two essential pieces: the stout midfielder Daniele Dessena and the twitchy attacker Paul-Josè Mpoku. Godfred Donsah is primed to bring the muscles in the midfield, while either the sharpshooter Joao Pedro or the veteran Andrea Cossu will play in the hole. Albin Ekdal has recently be fielded as deep-lying midfielder, but with the obliged shakeup of the midfield, Lorenzo Crisetig has a chance to regain that role, with the former Juventus slotted on the left. A 4-3-3 with Marco Sau in the attack can’t be excluded, at that point Joao Pedro would probably play in the midfield with Crisetig on the bench. In every combination, the defense remains Cagliari’s biggest weakness. They have conceded 63 goals, 31 on the road in 17 matches: it’s worse than a Swiss cheese. But it’s also unsurprising considering the little talent they have back there. Players like Antonio Balzano and Luca Ceppitelli would be lucky to find a starting job at Carpi or in any other top Serie B team, Luca Rossettini is lost without a leader on his side and while Danilo Avelar has a fascinating left foot, he’s a defensive liability. Who knows what happened to Nicola Murru, who was once a bright prospect, but has rarely played this season (the hardcore fans have accused him of partying too much in a recent heated confrontation at their training facility). The main trait that could create problems to Juventus is their dynamism: Diego Farias is lightning-quick, Avelar and Balzano (or Francesco Pisano) have high motor and Donsah and Joao Pedro are very explosive. They have hammered Parma in the last game, but that’s not a big feat. In January, they have added a bunch of foreigners: while some of them have turned out to be interesting players (Mpoku and the striker Duje Cop), teams fighting to avoid the drop have no time to let a Serie A stranger acclimate. Add that to bad goalkeeping, a poor defense, a subpar season by Sau, Conti and Andrea Cossu and the Zdenek Zeman gamble and you get why, despite a change of ownership, Cagliari will most likely be facing Salernitana, Teramo and Virtus Lanciano next season. Probable lineup 4-3-1-2: Brkic; Balzano, Rossettini, Ceppitelli, Avelar; Donsah, Crisetig, Ekdal; Joao Pedro; Cop, Farias. Injured players Alejandro Gonzalez (ankle). Suspended players Dessena, Mpoku. Form (L-L-W-L-W) Formation http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus vs. Cagliari Preview: Round 35 — Squad rotation on the bus goes round and round... May 8, 2015 For pretty much the entire existence of this website and long before that, the match preview writer's preferred starting lineup has been one of the last things you've read in each match preview. The template has rarely changed, if at all in the past couple of years. Much like when it comes to your favorite footballers, I think consistency is pretty dang important. Today, however, we will change things up because the situation clearly calls for it. That reason will be pretty easy to figure out after the starting XI is announced. At least my starting lineup, that is. My starting XI (4-3-3): Storari; Padoin, Barzagli, Ogbonna, De Ceglie; Pereyra, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pepe, Matri, Coman It's nice to shake everything up every once in a while, right? Let me count how many of those 11 players above actually started against Real Madrid this past Tuesday ... That would be all of two — Marchisio and Sturaro. Squad rotation, believe in it! Think about this: Juventus clinched the club's 33rd Scudetto last weekend with a 1-0 win over Sampdoria, so there's nothing more to play for in the league other than some pride. On top of that, Juventus has the second leg of their Champions League semifinal to be played in the middle of next week. Juventus doesn't need to win in Madrid Wednesday night, but they sure as hell know the defending European champions will be coming at them full force trying to flip the 2-1 aggregate scoreline. Hmmm, I wonder which one has a higher priority right now... Cagliari's visit to Juventus Stadium will be a party-like atmosphere because of what Juventus did in the Champions League a few days ago. And because of the game against Cagliari being sandwiched in between the two Champions League fixtures, the squad rotation is going to go down at incredibly noticeable levels. That's what happens when you wrap up the league before the big-time European games come your way. JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "I'll change things up tomorrow. It was an energy sapping game on Tuesday, so we'll give others the chance to play." I'll just take "we'll give others the chance to play" as a way to say "squad rotation is coming, fellas!" So while every person in the stands is celebrating the recently-won Scudetto, they can also celebrate Simone Padoin and Simone Pepe being on the field at the same time. See? Win-win situation for everybody involved. GOOD NEWS POGBA BACK. BAD NEWS You see what round of Serie A games it is? There's only three more rounds after this one. Then we're going to be stuck with transfer rumors for two or three months. That ... doesn't sound very exciting. WHAT TO WATCH FOR 1. Does Paul Pogba get some minutes? Max Allegri has called up everybody who is healthy for tomorrow evening's game against Cagliari. As stated above in two wonderful words, Pogba is one of those 26 players who have been called up. He's back training with the squad as of Thursday, and will obviously be a person to keep track of no matter how many minutes he plays on Saturday. The question is, does he actually play? JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "@paulpogba trained well yesterday with the ball. He could play tomorrow, either starting or coming off the bench." Man of Mystery Max is up to his old tricks again. So much for the "Ancelotti will play a back four? Well so will we!" type of line we saw before the first leg against Real Madrid. But if Allegri feels like Pogba is ready for some minutes against Cagliari after just a couple of training sessions, then so be it. I think Allegri is the best judge of how a player feels compared to somebody like me who is thousands of miles away from Turin. Not many folks are thinking Pogba will start, but a cameo appearance in the second half seems like a logical step if Allegri feels Pogba is able to play. And if Pogba goes out there and looks like the Pogba of old, that will definitely send off a bunch of alarms in the general vicinity of Madrid. So they've got that going for them, which is nice. 2. Alessandro Matri or Fernando Llorente? Allegri has already announced that Carlos Tévez will be rested on Saturday, and I think it's safe to assume that the same will go for the other striker who scored against Real Madrid on Tuesday, Álvaro Morata. That means there's the three other strikers on the Juventus roster will be in contention for playing time. Some Italian outlets are suggesting Allegri will go with a 4-3-3 formation against Cagliari, therefore with a true target man will work well with two wingers hopefully sending in some crosses. Who do you pick, Matri or Llorente? The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport says it will be Matri starting against his former club. He seems to play pretty well against Cagliari, I must say. But Allegri could choose to go with Llorente for the simple fact of keeping him fresh just in case he wants the big Spaniard to be an option off the bench against Real Madrid. Either way, I feel pretty safe in saying we won't be seeing Morata and Tévez starting against Cagliari on Saturday night. 3. Does Kingsley Coman get some serious minutes? And here you have another benefactor of both the expected squad rotation and formation shift to accommodate it. The last time Coman played significant minutes — and I'm talking more than a late-second-half appearance — was just about a month ago in Juventus' 1-0 loss at Parma. Other than that, it's been sporadic appearances off the bench for the 18-year-old Frenchman. We're still awaiting Coman's first Serie A goal. And that one assist he has recorded this season seems like so long ago, too. I would love to see Coman go out and just straight ball simply because he's capable of it. But who knows how much the rust will be there because he just hasn't played many minutes at all over the last couple of months. (Or the entire season, to be honest.) I'm sure I'm not the only one who is looking forward to see Coman play on one of the wings in a 4-3-3 and then accelerating to get past a Cagliari defender. The kid is pretty quick, you know. 4. Which Cagliari actually shows up. With four games left to be played, Cagliari finds itself six points behind 17th-place Atalanta and the final spot that's outside of the relegation zone. They've been through quite a roller coaster this season, debating the age-old dilemma "To Zeman, or not to Zeman, that is the question." After two different trips to Zemanlandia this season, they decided that all-offense, no-defense was the wrong way to go about things. Can they make up those necessary points in such a small number of games? The odds aren't pretty. They'll likely need some help from other teams as well. But Cagliari are likely to come to Turin with some wind in their sails after battering Parma 4-0 last weekend. And considering Juventus is probably going to turn over the vast majority of its starting lineup, they'll probably think there's a chance to crash the Juventus Stadium Scudetto party. My starting XI (4-3-3): Oh, we already did this. Nothing to see here! OFFICIAL KICKOFF TIME: 6 P.M. IN ITALY; HIGH NOON ON THE EAST COAST; 9 A.M. ON THE WEST COAST http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Serie A - 16^ Giornata Ritorno - 9-5-2015 (ore 18:00) JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Sabato, 9 maggio 2015 - ore 18:00 Juventus Stadium, Torino Arbitro: Sebastiano Peruzzo Confronti ufficiali 78 - 69 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Coppa Uefa) Vittorie Juventus 36 - 33 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 28 - 25 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Cagliari 14 - 11 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Coppa Uefa) Goals Juventus 104 - 94 (Serie A) - 9 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Coppa Uefa) Goals Cagliari 66 - 58 (Serie A) - 5 (Coppa Italia) - 3 (Coppa Uefa) Juventus - Cagliari Serie A a Torino Confronti ufficiali 34 Vittorie Juventus 19 (L'ultima il 18.05.2014, 3-0) Pareggi 13 (L'ultimo l'11.05.2013, 1-1) Vittorie Cagliari 2 (L'ultima il 31.01.2009, 2-3) Goals Juventus 56 Goals Cagliari 27 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Cagliari a Torino 11 presenze Del Piero Alessandro 10 Furino Giuseppe 10 Salvadore Sandro 9 Cuccureddu Antonello 8 Bettega Roberto 8 Zoff Dino 7 Anastasi Pietro 7 Causio Franco 6 Anzolin Roberto 6 Capello Fabio 4 goals Anastasi Pietro 4 Causio Franco 4 Trezeguet David Sergio 3 Del Piero Alessandro 3 Krasic Milos 3 Nedved Pavel 2 Inzaghi Filippo 2 Menichelli Giampaolo 2 Ravanelli Fabrizio 2 Vucinic Mirko Ultimi confronti diretti 26.09.2010 - Serie A - Juventus-Cagliari 4-2 05.02.2011 - Serie A - Cagliari-Juventus 1-3 15.01.2012 - Serie A - Juventus-Cagliari 1-1 06.05.2012 - Serie A - Cagliari-Juventus 0-2 12.12.2012 - Coppa Italia - Juventus-Cagliari 1-0 21.12.2012 - Serie A - Cagliari-Juventus 1-3 11.05.2013 - Serie A - Juventus-Cagliari 1-1 12.01.2014 - Serie A - Cagliari-Juventus 1-4 18.05.2014 - Serie A - Juventus-Cagliari 3-0 18.12.2014 - Serie A - Cagliari-Juventus 1-3 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 8 - Pareggi 2 - Vittorie Cagliari 0 - Goals Juventus 25 - Goals Cagliari 8 http://www.goal.com/it/results-standings/69/serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_101

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Festa: ‘Juve won’t be distracted’ May 8, 2015 Cagliari Coach Gianluca Festa warns Juventus will not be distracted by the Champions League when they meet tomorrow. The Isolani travel to Turin to take on the Italian champions, who have a crucial semi-final second leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Some have suggested that this could serve as an opportunity for Cagliari to pick up points in their battle to beat the drop, but Festa dismisses such talk. “Will they be distracted? The Bianconeri go out to win every time,” the Coach said in his pre-match Press conference. “It will be nice to play at a stadium like Juventus’. We’re facing the champions of Italy, that’s an incredible motivation even before you consider what’s at stake. “We’re playing the best team in Italy, and one which is also doing well in Europe. This game will tell us how strong we are. “They’re a very strong, team, but we’re going to Turin to win.” Bianconeri Coach Massimiliano Allegri is a former Cagliari boss, and Festa spoke briefly about his opposite number. “He’s a clever Coach. He was greeted with skepticism when he arrived in Turin, but now he’s showing his skills.” Festa has also named his squad for the match, which gets underway at 5pm GMT tomorrow. Cagliari squad for Juventus: Brkic, Colombi, Cragno, Avelar, Balzano, Capuano, Ceppitelli, Diakité, Murru, Pisano, Rossettini, Barella, Conti, Cossu, Crisetig, Donsah, Ekdal, Joao Pedro, Cop, Farias, Longo, Sau http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Pogba returns for Juventus May 8, 2015 Paul Pogba returns for Juventus, as Massimiliano Allegri names a 26-man squad for the visit of Cagliari. The French midfielder had been out of action with a hamstring injury since the second leg of the Bianconeri’s Champions League Last 16 clash with Borussia Dortmund. However, the 22-year-old returned to training yesterday, and could feature against the Isolani after being named in the squad. Allegri is expected to make sweeping changes for the tie, with the Coach having already declared Gianluigi Buffon and Carlos Tevez will be rested ahead of the Real Madrid game on Wednesday. The Old Lady face Los Merengues at the Bernabeu for a place in the Champions League final, with a 2-1 win from the first leg to protect. Juventus squad to face Cagliari: Buffon, Romulo, Chiellini, Ogbonna, Pogba, Pepe, Marchisio, Morata, Tevez, Coman, Llorente, Barzagli, De Ceglie, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Vidal, Vitale, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Storari, Matri, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra, Marrone. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Allegri: Juventus’ Goal Is To Exceed 80 Points May 8, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has stated that his side’s goal is to exceed 80 points in the current Serie A season. The Bianconeri were crowned champions following their win over Sampdoria on Saturday, and the former AC Milan coach has assured that he will make some changes to the line-up in their upcoming game against Cagliari. “Our goal is to exceed 80 points, tomorrow we’re against Cagliari and then we’re at home against Napoli, then we have two away games, so there are still 12 points. “The team have given a lot in recent games, so I’ll need to change the line-up. Everyone has more or less played, except Romulo who could be given a chance.” Allegri then went on to comment on the fact that they were able to reach the semi-final of the Champions League, win the Scudetto, and reach the final of the Coppa Italia without star midfielder Paul Pogba who has returned from injury after almost 49 days. “Yesterday, he trained really well and worked well with the ball,” he said. “Tomorrow he can start or feature, it’s very important to get him in full shape for the game against. “It shows that the board have done really well, young players were brought in who settled in and adapted to Juventus. For a young man to play and be under pressure to win is never easy. “[Alvaro] Morata and [Kingsley] Coman had some difficult moments at the start, [stefano] Sturaro has proven to be a really good player, and [Roberto] Pereyra is playing like a veteran despite being only 23. “They are on the rise, and they will be ready to replace older players once their time is up.” The former Cagliari coach then went on to speak about his side’s performance in their 2-1 first leg Champions League semi-final win against Real Madrid, stating that Carlos Tevez’s angry reaction after being substituted was normal. “People criticised [Andrea] Pirlo’s performance on Tuesday but he played really well,” he said. “[Carlos] Tevez’s reaction is normal, it is normal for any player who gets replaced to be angry, he had a fantastic season this season and he has the potential to do it again. “We want to reach the final, Real Madrid are a team of the highest quality. Barcelona are also an excellent side, their front three [containing Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar] are mesmerising. “The Champions League is strange, the other day I thought about it and I realised that last season Atletico Madrid lost it by conceding a corner in the final minute. ‘Milan lost it having been 3-0 up in the first half [in the 2005 final against Liverpool], whilst also winning it with a ball that deflected off Inzaghi [in the 2007 final, also against the Reds]. “It’s important to have reached this level, let’s enjoy it.”

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus Curva re-opened May 8, 2015 The closure of Juventus’ Curva Sud has been suspended, so they will have a full complement of fans against Cagliari. The stand was closed after violence in the Derby della Mole, and the club had intended to give free tickets to Torinese schoolchildren to fill the stand. However, pending further investigation, the stand has been re-opened for tomorrow's game. “Juventus Stadium’s Curva Sud will remain open as normal to all supporters for this Saturday’s Serie A clash with Cagliari,” the club announced in a statement. “The FIGC have this afternoon released a statement saying the sporting body’s initial decision which had ordered the stand’s closure has been suspended until 22 May 2015, pending an additional investigation. “In light of this recent development, the ‘Gioca con me… tifa con me’ initiative, which would have welcomed children from Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta’s soccer schools for Saturday’s encounter, has been cancelled.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus vs. Cagliari: Team News May 8, 2015 This weekend could prove a strange one for Juventus, with a number of issues combining to lend a surreal air to their Serie A fixture with Cagliari. Foremost among the issues is, of course, the fact that the Bianconeri clinched the league title last week against Sampdoria, rendering this fixture a dead rubber from their perspective. Secondly—and perhaps even more significantly—it comes sandwiched between the two legs of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. As discussed in this previous column, Italian football’s grand Old Lady holds the slenderest of margins thanks to Tuesday’s 2-1 victory in Turin. The final noteworthy issue will come in the stands, with the Curva Sud closed for two matches following crowd problems at last month’s Turin derby. According to their official website, Juventus will instead allow 9,500 youngsters to fill those seats, taking part in an educational programme provided by the club. Amid these strange circumstances, Massimiliano Allegri is likely to heavily rotate the starting XI, looking to rest his stars ahead of Wednesday’s trip to the Spanish capital. As such, it will be a very different looking Bianconeri side who take to the field against Cagliari, only adding to the odd air surrounding this match. Predicted Lineups Juventus: (4-3-2-1): Storari; Padoin, Barzagli, Ogbonna, De Ceglie; Pereyra, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pepe, Coman; Matri Cagliari: (4-3-1-2): Brkic; Pisano, Ceppitelli, Diakite, Avelar; Ekdal, Crisetig, Donsah; Cossu; Cop, Farias Player to Watch Given Allegri is almost certain to field a largely reserve lineup, it is perhaps one of Juve’s lesser-known talents who will come to the fore on Saturday. Roberto Pereyra could well be that man. Overlooked in favour of Stefano Sturaro against Real Madrid, the Argentinian could well take to the field with a point to prove. On the surface, the coach’s decision to go with the more defensive option was the right one, but Pereyra has proven this season that he can be vital in the biggest matches. His ability on the ball provides an attacking weapon no other player at the club possesses, making him deadly on the counter-attack. That could well be essential at the Estadio Bernabeu, where the reigning European champions need a goal, which in turn means the Bianconeri must score themselves. Look for Pereyra to make his case for a start in that match by shining in this one. Key Battle Given the gulf in quality between these two sides, visiting goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic can expect a torrid evening at Juventus Stadium. Only rock-bottom club Parma (66) have conceded more goals than Cagliari, and this fixture pits them against the league’s best attack with Juventus netting on 64 occasions. The Serbian will no doubt be relieved that Carlos Tevez, Alvaro Morata and Fernando Llorente are unlikely to start, but the players the Bianconeri do field in attack are likely to be hungry for goals. Kingsley Coman and Alessandro Matri are expected to get the nod, with both seeking to show they deserve to feature more regularly. Neither man has scored a Serie A goal for the Turin giants this term, but both have made telling contributions elsewhere. Matri tallied seven goals and five assists for Genoa before returning to Juve in January and struck as the Bianconeri overcame Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia semi-final. Coman has also netted in the same competition but would love to open his league account as the club celebrate their title win in front of a home crowd. Odds (via Odds Shark) Away win: 151/20 Home win: 50/143 Draw: 199/50 http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus v Cagliari: Preview May 8, 2015 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba will return to play in Saturday's home game against Cagliari after missing almost two months of action with a hamstring injury. Pogba has not featured since getting hurt on March 18 but Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri is hoping to have the Frenchman in top condition for next week's Champions League semi-final showdown with Real Madrid. ``Pogba trained well on Thursday and the results are good,'' Allegri said to the Italian media. ``He could start in Saturday's game. ``It's important to give him minutes in order to have him ready for Wednesday's match in Madrid.'' Juve beat holders Real 2-1 in Tuesday's first leg in Turin, just four days after beating Sampdoria 1-0 to clinch their fourth straight Serie A title and their first under Allegri. ``We've had two beautiful nights in front of our home fans,'' Allegri said. ``The win at Real allowed us to celebrate the Scudetto but now we want to reach the final and we are 90 minutes away from doing so. ``We know we will have to play an even better game in Madrid.'' Allegri, whose side have not reached a European final since the 2002-03 campaign, will rest his top players aside from Pogba in view of next week's crunch game at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. ``I will make changes to the line-up because we've had two very challenging weeks,'' Allegri said. ``But I have a good roster and we will go out for victory on Saturday.'' Juve are unbeaten at home this season in Serie A while Cagliari are battling to stay in Italy's top flight. The Sardinian outfit are 18th in the standings, six points adrift of Atalanta, who hold the last position of safety with four games remaining. Sunday's 4-0 triumph over bottom side Parma was Cagliari's third win in their last four games. ``We are just taking it one game at a time and trying to give our all in every match,'' coach Gianluca Festa said. ``Our current position forces us to take maximum points from our remaining games regardless of the value of our rivals. We will try against Juve.'' The visitors will be without midfielder Daniele Dessena and striker Paul-Jose M'Poku, who are both suspended. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus V Cagliari – Preview: Rossoblu Continue Battle For Survival Against Serie A Champions May 8, 2015 Cagliari will be ready to continue their fight for salvation against 2014/15 Serie A champions Juventus at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on Saturday. The Bianconeri have already clinched the Scudetto for the current campaign following their 1-0 win over Sampdoria on May 2 and have now turned their main focus towards their Champions League run, having secured a 2-1 victory against Real Madrid in their first leg semi-final clash in Turin on Tuesday, which will certainly provide a boost ahead of their meeting with the Rossoblu. Juve’s last Serie A loss at home came against Sampdoria in January 2013, proving that Cagliari will indeed have their work cut out for them. The Isolani will also be entering Saturday’s match in high spirits following their impressive 4-0 triumph over Parma on Monday, which has put them on 27 points, and leaves them six points away from possibly catching up with 17th place Atalanta and attaining safety. Cagliari haven’t been at their best on the road this season, winning only three away games since the start of the campaign and losing four out of their last five, though their most recent road victory came in an impressive 3-1 result over Fiorentina on April 26. Juve have the clear advantage over Cagliari when it comes securing a win in recent seasons as they have won nine out of their last 11 meetings with the Rossoblu, including the previous clash between the two teams back in December which ended in a 3-1 win for the Old Lady. The Sardi have gone a long while without earning all three points against Juventus, with their last win coming in a 2-0 result at home back in November 2009. Massimiliano Allegri will have most of the Bianconeri players available to him but will still be missing Martin Caceres and Kwadwo Asamoah due to injury, with Romulo and Paul Pogba set to undergo evaluations for their own respective injuries. There are currently no Juventus players serving a suspension though Paolo De Ceglie, Arturo Vidal, Roberto Pereyra, Giorgio Chiellini, Stefano Sturaro and Stephan Lichtsteiner all sit on the verge of picking up a one-match ban due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Cagliari boss Gianluca Festa will also have almost his entire squad at his disposal with no serious injuries currently troubling his roster, though Paul-Jose M’Poku and Daniele Dessena will be out serving suspensions. Marco Sau, Luca Ceppitelli, Alejandro Gonzalez and Diego Farias all just sit one yellow card offence away from landing suspensions of their own and will have to be cautious with their actions against the Turin giants. Form Guide: Juventus (W-W-W-L-D-W) Cagliari (W-L-W-L-L-L) Expected Starting XIs Juventus Storari; Padoin, Barzagli, Ogbonna, De Ceglie; Sturaro, Marrone, Pogba; Pepe, Matri, Coman. Cagliari Brkic; Avelar, Diakite, Ceppitelli, F. Pisano; Donsah, Crisetig, Ekdal; Cossu; Farias, Cop. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Pogba to return to action against Cagliari The Frenchman is ready to make his comeback after six weeks on the sidelines and will likely play a part against Real Madrid next week. May 8, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has revealed that Paul Pogba is likely to get playing time in Saturday's Serie A encounter with Cagliari in order to get him ready for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final tie with Real Madrid. The France international has been out of action ever since picking up a hamstring injury in the round-of-16 win over Borussia Dortmund back in March, but recently resumed regular training. He was not included in the squad to face Madrid for Tuesday's encounter, which Juventus won 2-1, but is now ready to make his comeback this weekend. "Pogba trained well with the ball on Thursday. He could play on Saturday, either starting or coming off the bench," Allegri said at a press conference. "I'll change things up against Cagliari. It was an energy sapping game versus Madrid, so we'll give others the chance to play." "Marco Storari will start instead of Gianluigi Buffon, while Carlos Tevez will be rested, too." Allegri went on to stress that Juventus have every chance of reaching the Champions League final should luck be on their side, although he feels their European campaign can already be considered a success. "We'll need to put in a great performance in Madrid, an even better one than we showed on Tuesday. If we do well and have an element of luck on our side, we can make the final. But Madrid are an extraordinary team. "Nobody would have imagined we'd be 95 minutes away from Berlin. Or at least we hope it's 95... "It's important for us to reach the semi-final in a season where the aim was to get through the group stages." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - CAGLIARI - Saturday, May 9th, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus - Cagliari Preview: Festa hopes for a shock amidst Champions League distractions The hosts wrapped up the Serie A title last weekend and are expected to rest players with next week's clash with Real Madrid in mind. May 8, 2015 Relegation-threatened Cagliari could benefit from Juventus' attention lying elsewhere when the two sides meet in Turin on Saturday. The 18th-placed visitors gave their unlikely hopes of Serie A survival a boost with a thumping 4-0 win over rock-bottom Parma on Monday that saw them close within six points of safety. Just four matches remain in the season but Cagliari have Atalanta, who sit 17th, in their sights, and will hope Juve - crowned Serie A champions for a fourth season in a row last week - rest and rotate their squad. Juve's focus will be firmly on the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Massimiliano Allegri's men secured a well-earned 2-1 home win over Real Madrid in the opener earlier this week. And new Cagliari coach Gianluca Festa hopes their win over Parma has given his squad the belief they need to avoid the drop. "The boys have become aware of their capabilities," Festa told the club's official website. "Parma was a good performance, a new step…to feed hope. Surely we will continue to play with that desire and commitment until the end." After a winless run of 11 matches, which included nine defeats, Cagliari have won two of their last three, with a tremendous 3-1 success at Fiorentina last month raising spirits. A party-like atmosphere is expected at Juventus as they play their first league match at home since retaining their Scudetto, secured through a 1-0 win at Sampdoria. Juve's home end will be made up of 9,500 school children, though, after the stand was shut as punishment for clashes with Torino fans in April. The stand has been re-opened Italian Football Federation accepted Juve's proposal to put school kids in the 'Curva' instead. If he starts, Serie A top-scorer Carlos Tevez could continue his superb run of form. Tevez, who won and scored a second-half penalty against Real Madrid, has scored five times in his last six league games. More likely is Alvaro Morata - who opened the scoring against ex-club Real - partnering Spanish compatriot Fernando Llorente, though. Llorente was scratchy off the bench on Tuesday and missed two good chances in the latter stages. Allegri will want him sharp if he is needed in Madrid next week. OPTA FACTS This will be the 70th meeting between these two sides in Serie A: Juventus lead by 33 wins to 11 (25 draws). Cagliari have won none of their last 10 Serie A matches against Juventus (D2 L8), conceding 2-5 goals per game in the process. Juventus have scored in 10 of their last 21 league clashes against Cagliari. Juventus have lost just twice in 34 home meetings in Serie A against Cagliari: 19 wins for the Bianconeri, 13 draws. Prior to their 4-0 win over Parma, Cagliari had conceded goals in each of their previous 18 Serie A fixtures. Cagliari have won two of their three league games under Gianluca Festa: seven goals scored, two conceded. Juventus boast the second-best defence across the top five European leagues this season with 19 goals conceded, while Cagliari have the third-worst (63 goals shipped). Juventus have scored 10 goals goals in the opening 15 minutes of play (only Palermo, 12, have done better so far). In contrast, Cagliari have conceded the most goals in the same period, 13. LAST FIVE MATCHES Juventus W W W L D 2015/05/05 - Juventus 2 - 1 Real Madrid 2015/05/02 - Sampdoria 0 - 1 Juventus 2015/04/29 - Juventus 3 - 2 Fiorentina 2015/04/26 - Torino 2 - 1 Juventus 2015/04/22 - Monaco 0 - 0 Juventus Cagliari W L W L L 2015/05/04 - Cagliari 4 - 0 Parma 2015/04/29 - Chievo Verona 1 - 0 Cagliari 2015/04/26 - Fiorentina 1 - 3 Cagliari 2015/04/19 - Cagliari 0 - 3 Napoli 2015/04/11 - Genoa 2 - 0 Cagliari HEAD TO HEAD 2014/12/18 - Cagliari 1 - 3 Juventus 2014/05/18 - Juventus 3 - 0 Cagliari 2014/01/12 - Cagliari 1 - 4 Juventus 2013/05/11 - Juventus 1 - 1 Cagliari 2012/12/21 - Cagliari 1 - 3 Juventus http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Boca Juniors: Carlos Tevez won't be able to join us until next summer May 8, 2015 Boca Juniors will have to wait one more year before welcoming Carlos Tevez back home from Juventus, according to director Enzo Pagani. Tevez, 31, has already announced that he will not be extending his Juve contract beyond 2016, when he intends to return to Boca to end his career where it started. There had been speculation that the Argentina international could make that return as early as this summer, but Pagani has been informed by the Bianconeri during a visit to Turin that they will not allow that to happen. "It was reaffirmed to us in Buenos Aires again yesterday that Carlos has a contract until 2016 and Boca respect other clubs," Pagani is quoted as saying by Tuttosport. "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." Juve and Boca announced on Thursday that a friendly between the two clubs -- billed as the UNESCO Cup -- will take place on June 18 at the Juventus Stadium with all proceeds going to charity. "On June 18, the day of the UNESCO Cup, Tevez will be a Juve player and we will be supporting him," Pagani added. "I've not even met him on this trip to Italy because his mind is purely on the Champions League clash with Real Madrid, and that is how it should be."

Carlos Tevez caught speeding in Mont Blanc May 8, 2015 Juventus forward Carlos Tevez has had his driving licence taken away from him after being caught speeding through the Mont Blanc Tunnel on Tuesday night, according to ANSA news agency. The incident reportedly happened after Tevez was granted a day off by Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri following his goal-scoring performance in the Bianconeri's 2-1 Champions League semifinal first-leg win over Real Madrid. However, the Argentina international was stopped by traffic police on the French side of the tunnel after he exceeded its 70 kph speed limit by 50 kph. Given the severity of the offence, with strict controls in place since a fatal fire in 1999 saw the Mont Blanc Tunnel closed for many years, Tevez is reported to have had his licence revoked immediately. It is not clear whether he was travelling alone or had somebody with him to complete his journey. It is not the first time Tevez has been hit with a motoring ban. In 2013, the 31-year-old was arrested and subsequently released on bail after being caught behind the wheel during a six-month driving ban, having also been ordered to hand over his licence due to a series of speeding offences.

Juve ‘reject €80m for Pogba’ May 8, 2015 Transfer links continue to follow Paul Pogba, with the latest suggesting that Barcelona have bid €80m for him, only for Juventus to turn that down. The Blaugrana are one of a number of Europe’s top sides said to be in pursuit of the highly-rated Frenchman, and are seen by Tuttosport to have taken action. The Turin publication asserts that the Catalans, currently banned from acting in the transfer market by FIFA until January 2016, have tabled an €80m bid for Pogba. Whilst having the intention of starting payments on that during this summer and allowing the midfielder to remain with Juve until the summer of 2016, it is understood that the Bianconeri have rejected the offer. Tuttosport suggest that this is motivated by Juve valuing Pogba at no less than €100m. The newspaper also reiterates that Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Chelsea remain in the frame.