Socrates

Carlos Tevez to Boca Juniors 'not true' Apr 20, 2015 Juventus forward Carlos Tevez insists he will be respecting his contract with the Bianconeri amid speculation he could be joining Boca Juniors as early as this summer. Having already announced that he will not be extending his contract beyond 2016, it had been claimed more recently that he may seek a move back to Argentina a year earlier. "That's not true," he told reporters in Turin after Juve beat Lazio 2-0 at the weekend. "I'm relaxed and I carry that with me on the field, without thinking about the future. "I think I will continue to the end, as agreed with the director." When asked if that meant until 2016, Tevez replied "Yes, like I've said." Earlier, Tevez's agent confirmed that the 31-year-old, who has scored 17 goals in 25 Serie A games this season, was not wasting any thoughts on returning to Argentina so soon. "The only guarantee is that Tevez wants to respect his contract with Juventus," Adrian Ruocco said, before adding that it is no secret that Tevez will end his career at Boca. Juve are still hoping to convince Tevez to extend his contract with them and remain for at least another year beyond 2016. He has scored 47 goals for the club since arriving from Manchester City in 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McIvWvw0AkY http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie_a/juventus/2015/04/18-94723_0/FOTO+Juve-Lazio+2-0%3A+che+spettacolo+con+Tevez+e+Bonucci%21 http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/TXWZ-nfIyle/Juventus+FC+v+SS+Lazio+Serie+A/Nplm1gwfCHa

Agent: Pogba will leave Juventus for the right offer Mino Raiola says he has received over 2000 phone calls regarding the midfielder since the start of the season, but is still holding out for the right deal for his client. Apr 20, 2015 Paul Pogba's agent has admitted the midfielder will leave Juventus if he receives the right offer. The France international has established himself as one of the best players in world football since joining the Bianconeri on a free transfer from Manchester United in 2012. His emergence has reportedly caught the attention of Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City, who are all expected to make summer bids. Juve managed to persuade Pogba to sign a contract extension in October that binds him to the club until 2019, but the 22-year-old's representative, Mino Raiola, has suggested that it is only a matter of time before his client leaves Turin. "Since the beginning of the season, I received over 2000 phone calls about Pogba, about 20 a day," the agent told La Stampa. "I received many engagement proposals, but none of them were worthy of marriage. "We signed with Juventus for five more years, but we're all gentlemen: if the right offer arrives, we'll take it." Raiola admitted that Pogba's likely exit will have a devastating effect on a Juve side that still relies heavily on veterans such as Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo. "Juventus will face a big challenge: they have to rebuild the team, they have to do that when they're on top, not when you'e obliged to do that," he added. "Next year they'd need four or five new players. Do you remember when they sold [Zinedine] Zidane?" Pogba is currently out of action with a hamstring injury but Raiola is hopeful that his client will be back before the end of the season. "He's working hard to come back as soon as possible, but at the moment it's too early to make some predictions," he added. "But let's say earlier than the Champions League final [on June 6]." Juve are on the verge of reaching the last four of Europe's premier cup competition, having defeated Monaco 1-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final clash in Turin last week.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Juventus 2-0 Lazio: Juve get back on track with comprehensive win over Lazio Carlos Tevez and a fine solo effort from Leonardo Bonucci saw Juve triumph over an in-form Lazio team, opening up a whopping fifteen point lead over the Biancocelesti and Roma in second. Apr 19, 2015 Coming into Saturday night's game on the back of eight straight league victories, Lazio was supposed to pose a stiff challenge. In reality, the game turned out similar to the win over Lazio at the Olimpico this season. Granted, it was not as easy, but it still felt fairly standard. Lazio, who has more scorers with seven or more goals than any other team in the top five European leagues, enjoyed more possession and had more attempts on goal, but were only sporadically dangerous. Felipe Anderson didn't have his best, most influential game — also a result of our stifling midfield. Their other in-form player at the moment, Antonio Candreva, strangely started on the bench in this key game. This latter move, I believe, took something away from Lazio, as despite having more possession they struggled to be consistently incisive — which Candreva's presence would have helped, with his crossing and his ability to take on and beat defenders. As was the case last week, one can't help but look past this game towards the big European game midweek. Although Max Allegri and the players will (rightfully) talk about the importance of this game, losing this game would not have stopped Juve's march to the title. Juve would have had to lose three more times in the remaining seven games for either Lazio and Roma to get close (and Roma can't win games, so...). Regardless, Juventus won and now have a fifteen point lead; surely insurmountable. Now it's officially time to think about Monaco on Wednesday. But first, a recap of the game on Saturday. MATCH SUMMARY Juventus took a while to get going in this one. The first chance for the Bianconeri came from Claudio Marchisio's long range shot, which was comfortably wrapped up by Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, on twelve minutes. Chances came sparingly in the early stages of the game, but Tevez broke the deadlock on sixteen minutes; a defensive clearance was headed on in midfield by Arturo Vidal, which released Tevez to beat the offside trap and slot home one on one with Marchetti. It was possibly his first touch of the game. One-nil to Juventus. Lazio had their first clear chance on twenty-four minutes, after a poor clearance by Giorgio Chiellini went straight to Miroslav Klose, whose finish took a deflection off of Bonucci to balloon over for a corner. This proved an important intervention by Bonucci, who would go on to be important a couple plays later. The ball was won in midfield and Bonucci made an unexpected run forward, who was then found by Andrea Pirlo. Bonucci continued forward, and with the forwards (Tevez and Alessandro Matri) making brilliant runs off the ball and drawing defenders away and creating space, Bonucci fired a drive low and hard under Marchetti in goal. The keeper could arguably have done better, but it was still a great run and finish by the defender. The first chance did not see many clear cut chances, with Lazio being restricted mainly to midfield play. In-form talisman Felipe Anderson was kept in check, only showing a few flashes of brilliance which in the end led to nothing. Danilo Cataldi had a shot from long range, which went wide, and was the last real chance for Lazio in the first half. Juve's last chance came via a Pirlo free kick, which disappointingly went straight into Marchetti's arms. Two-nil to Juve at the half. Much like the first, clear cut chances were few and far between. Juventus' first came on sixty-two minutes, with Vidal curling an effort wide of the far post. Soon after the referee blew for a handball by Chiellini on the edge of the box, which also saw the defender pick up a yellow card. The resulting free kick was blasted on goal by Antonio Candreva and pushed over by Gigi Buffon. Lazio were playing well, despite not getting the breakthrough. Lucas Biglia fired a shot on goal which Buffon required an uncomfortable looking save from Buffon between the sticks. The second half petered out, with Juventus seemingly comfortable with the 2-0 win and Lazio accepting of their fate. There were still a few incidents of note though. Cataldi — who otherwise had a solid game for Lazio - saw red for a late foul on Tevez. A few minutes later, another error by Chiellini teed up Felipe Anderson for a chance just inside the box, but Buffon was equal to the Brazilians shot and the danger was cleared. PLAYER RATINGS Buffon: 6.5 Looked uncomfortable making some of the few saves that he had to make, but was solid and didn't look like conceding. Barzagli: 6.5 Good game by Andrea as he continues to make his way back from his lengthy injury. Inadvertently help set up the first goal. Bonucci: 7.5 Great performance by Leo. A top-notch defensive performance was capped off by a splendid solo goal. Man of the match. Chiellini: 5.5 Another shaky performance by a player that used to be our most dependable defender. Two big mistakes that led to clear chances for Lazio — bailed out both times by Bonucci and Buffon respectively - and also had a handball, giving up a free kick for Lazio which forced a save from the keeper. If we are to have any chance at an unprecedented treble, we need the old Giorgio back. Padoin: 6 Solid game from Simone, typically unspectacular. Nothing more to say, really. Marchisio: 6 Not his best, most involved game, but did not do much wrong other than picking up a silly yellow card which will see him sit out the derby next week through suspension. Pirlo: 6 Decent performance by Pirlo, also working his way back from a lengthy layoff. Hopefully he does better midweek against Monaco. Vidal: 6 With every game recently, he's playing more like his old self (sans the goal scoring). Here's hoping it continues, as we'll need him at his best for this final run-in. Evra: 6 Picked up a yellow for a poor tackle on a Lazio player; other than that, another solid game by the French veteran. Matri: 5.5 Not a great performance, but not a terrible one either. Didn't have any chances of his own in dangerous positions. His run drew defenders on Bonucci's goal. Tevez: 6 Got the first goal and his run off the ball created space for Bonucci on the second. Not an overall great performance, but still did enough to help bring home the three points. Subs Morata: 5 Came on for Matri, but did not add much more than the man he replaced. Pereyra: 5 Came on to give Pirlo a rest; today was not much more than making sure he stays sharp for the big midweek game. Sturaro: N/A. Coach Allegri: 6.5 In what was supposed to be a difficult match - and there were some tricky moments — Juve came away with a standard 2-0 victory. Reverting to 3-5-2 from the start, Juve controlled the game from start to finish without always having more possession. The credit for this goes to Allegri, who ensured that Juve played a calm, measured game and running few risks - outside of the odd mistake from Chiellini. Sure to win the Scudetto, his good work has Juventus on course for a possible domestic double and as an outside bet for the Champions League. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Juve ease past Lazio to warm up for Champions League decider vs. Monaco Apr 19, 2015 Juventus' 2-0 win at home to Lazio on Saturday night was just the result and performance required to maintain confidence ahead of their Champions League showdown with Monaco. High-flying Lazio had won eight games on the bounce ahead of the trip to Turin but were comprehensively beaten by an impeccable Juve. Stefano Pioli may be a great coach in charge of a well-balanced team but when presented with a real challenge, Lazio's limitations were exposed. Juventus have been a strong side for well over three years. Tthe difference between this side and the one that drew 1-1 Nordsjaelland in the Champions League back in November 2012 is stark -- and it's in attack. In Carlos Tevez, who opened the scoring against Lazio, the Serie A champions have a man with the experience and skill to finish off the chances this side creates. Having overcome a minor injury, he was back to displaying his world class style and devotion to the side, controlling proceedings and providing a constant threat. The night will be remembered for Leonardo Bonucci's goal, however, which was magnificent on so many levels. Andrea Pirlo's reading of the game allowed him to take possession and Bonucci immediately made the run forward to give the playmaker an option for the pass. Dribbling his way forward with courage, Bonucci's task was facilitated by the superb running of the two forwards, Tevez and Alessandro Matri, who widened the pitch and diverted the two Lazio defenders' attention away to make it a clean finish for the centre-back. Hard and low with the skill of a forward, the centre-back's goal was astonishing to watch and fully merited. Despite their courageous style of play, Lazio were naive. They are a beautifully organised and attack-minded side but they've yet to truly understand the notion of balance and how to execute their ideals without exposing their limitations. They boast skill, stamina and spirit but they lack intelligence and experience. Playing against the strongest side in Italy, it was always going to be tough for them. Juventus defended tightly, in a clear organised fashion. Lazio needed to overload their attacks to overwhelm their opponent but they were just too predictable. They improved in the second half, but with every passing match you learn more about why Juventus rule Serie A. They may not be the fittest, but their intelligence makes the difference. Knowing how to operate on and off the ball, they react to most situations well. The challenge is to translate this into Europe. It helps they boast star-quality players and after a difficult season, Arturo Vidal deserves praise for his recent performances, capped by a fine display against Lazio that earned him a standing ovation. It is difficult to be sure whether the Chilean will recover his beautiful touch going forward but his ability to neutralise his opponents and intelligent, attacking runs made the difference on Saturday night. This was the real Vidal. It may have been first against second but it was clear that for yet another year, Juventus do not have clear challengers for the title. They play above and beyond what any other Italian team can muster and another title is a mere formality. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Vidal: Juventus closer to title after 'perfect' performance against Lazio The Bianconeri moved 15 points clear of Stefano Pioli's side at the top of the Serie A table thanks to a 2-0 victory over their second-placed opponents in Turin Apr 19, 2015 Arturo Vidal admitted that Juventus are now on the verge of clinching their fourth successive Scudetto thanks to a "perfect" performance in Saturday's 2-0 win over title rivals Lazio. The Biancocelesti had arrived in Turin on an eight-game winning streak that had propelled them into second place in Serie A, 12 points behind their hosts. However, Juve effectively put the game to bed by the half-hour mark thanks to early goals from Carlos Tevez and Leonardo Bonucci. Massimiliano Allegri's men still have seven matches to play but Vidal confessed that the Scudetto is now within touching distance. “It was a perfect display by us tonight," Vidal is quoted as saying by his club's official website. "We played an incredible game against an extremely strong side. "It’s an important victory and our fourth successive title is edging ever closer. "We must win our next three games before we can definitely say it’s ours." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Comparing Carlos Tevez's 2014/15 Stats to His 2013/14 Numbers Apr 19, 2015 The 2014-15 campaign has been good for everyone connected to Juventus, with Massimiliano Allegri’s side surpassing pre-season expectations by not only looking certain to clinch a fourth consecutive Serie A title but also reaching the quarter-final of the Champions League and the Coppa Italia final. Holding a narrow 1-0 lead over AS Monaco ahead of next week’s second leg, they could yet reach the last four of Europe’s elite competition for the first time since 2003. Throughout the team there have been some incredible contributions, with Claudio Marchisio and Leonardo Bonucci—whose impact was discussed at length here—proving especially vital as many around them suffered with injuries. When looking for the standout player of the season, however, it is impossible to overlook what Carlos Tevez has accomplished. Arriving from Manchester City in the summer of 2013, he enjoyed a phenomenal debut campaign and yet he seems to have raised the bar even higher just 12 months later. In the simplest of terms, his first year saw the 31-year-old net 20 goals in all competitions, adding eight assists, while Saturday’s strike against Lazio in the 2-0 win was his 26th of the season and he has already matched last year’s assist tally. Looking a little deeper, the improvements become even more apparent, with the Argentinian registering better statistics in almost every facet of his game. Strangely, one area in which he has slipped slightly is in the accuracy of his shooting as, according to figures from Squawka.com, Tevez hit the target with 59 percent of his 92 shots in 2013-14 and just 56 percent of 75 strikes this term. That is certainly not the case with his other attributes, with the pace and technique displayed in a November goal against Parma sparking a viral trend with “things Tevez could dribble” quickly spreading across the world. Again, statistics from the Squawka website prove there is substance to the craze, Tevez completing 51 of his 90 take-ons in 2014-15 (57 percent) compared to 44 percent (51 of 116 attempts) last season. Seeing defences panic as he runs at them has not increased the number of fouls he has suffered, however, with WhoScored.com showing his average of 1.7 last term has dipped slightly to 1.6 per game this time around. The player himself believes that improvement in his ability to beat players is largely down to the tactical alterations made by his coach, telling El Pais (h/t Football Italia) that he has “more freedom of movement than under Conte.” Those changes have certainly benefited both the team and its leading striker in Europe, with Tevez arguably making his greatest impact in the Champions League. In the continental competition he has delivered a string of superb performances, erasing the painful memory of last season’s woeful showing which saw Juventus eliminated at the group stage. From the outset he seemed on a one-man crusade this term, ending a staggering goal drought in the very first game against Malmo FF. His opening goal of that game was his first in the competition since April 7, 2009 when he scored for Manchester United against FC Porto. Tevez added a second against the Swedish side and has registered a total of six goals in eight Champions League appearances this term. OptaPaolo @OptaPaolo 4 - Carlos Tevez has scored 4 goals in his 7 CL apps this season, after he had not scored any goal in the previous 14. Inspired. His play has led to an Argentina recall, but it has also seen him continually linked with a return to former club Boca Juniors, although the man himself says such talk is premature, downplaying the chances of a summer exit immediately after the win over Lazio. “All my thoughts are focused on Juventus, there’s too much talk around,” he told reporters, per Juventus.com. “I want to enjoy this extraordinary moment here. People saying I’m going isn’t right: when I decide to leave, the supporters will be the first to know.” Allegri perhaps summed up the contribution of the man tasked with continuing the traditions of the Bianconeri No. 10 shirt at a recent press conference. “Tevez is having an extraordinary season, and he must continue that, because we haven’t reached any goals and still have two months to go,” the coach said per Football Italia, adding that the striker is “indispensable.” With the striker playing the way he has all year it is impossible to argue with that assessment, and those targets draw ever closer as Carlos Tevez repeatedly fires Juventus to glory.

Tevez: I've not decided if I'll stay at Juventus The Argentina international still has a year to run on his contract with the Bianconeri but fully intends to finish his career at Boca Juniors. Apr 19, 2015 Carlos Tevez has called for an end to the constant speculation surrounding his future at Juventus yet admitted that he has yet to decide if he will stay in Turin beyond the summer. The Argentina international has made it clear that he intends to return to Boca Juniors, his first professional club, when his current contract with the Italian champions expires next year. However, Boca president Daniel Angelici made headlines when he claimed that the Buenos Aires club were "close to bringing Carlos home". The striker's agent dismissed the claim, insisting that his client fully intends to honour his contract with Juve, but the rumour mill went into overdrive again on Saturday when Tevez celebrated his strike in a 2-0 win over Lazio with a chicken dance, which was interpreted as a reference to a crucial goal for Boca in a Copa Libertadores semi-final clash with great rivals River Plate in 2004. The 31-year-old promptly rubbished the link and admitted that he has grown weary of all of the speculation over his next move. "That game [against River] does not come into it. I celebrated like that because I promised my people that I would and I will do the same if I score against Monaco [on Wednesday]," Tevez told Sky Sport Italia. "As for my future, enough! It's not right to speak about me. Juve are what count. "Both Juve and I are going through an extraordinary moment and I'm thinking only of Juve right now. "I don't know if I will leave. I've not yet decided what to do. "But it's not right to speak about it now and, as I said, the Bianconeri fans will be the first to know what I decide." Tevez, who joined Juve from Manchester City in 2013, is the top scorer in Serie A this season, with his strike against Lazio taking his goals tally to 18 in 28 games.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Tevez And Bonucci Take Juventus 15 Points Clear Atop Serie A Apr 19, 2015 Juventus took a big step towards their fourth straight Serie A title with a 2-0 win over second-placed Lazio which stretched their lead at the top to 15 points. It also gave them a boost for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Monaco, where the Italian side lead 1-0 from the first game. The Aquile had won eight on the bounce and leapt into second place, so another victory would take them within nine points of the leaders. It was also a precursor to the Coppa Italia Final on June 7. Stefan de Vrij, Marco Parolo, Stefan Radu, Filip Djordjevic, Santiago Gentiletti and the suspended Pedro Luis Cavanda and Diego Novaretti missed out, while Federico Marchetti started despite fracturing his nose. Juve missed Paul Pogba, Kwadwo Asamoah, Romulo, Martin Caceres and banned Angelo Ogbonna. Having overtaken neighbours AS Roma by moving into second place last weekend, Lazio travelled to Turin on Saturday evening hoping to continue their surge up the Serie A table. But faced with the only team to have scored more goals than theBianconeri this term, Massimiliano Allegri told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Friday that the side from Italy’s capital would represent a tough challenge to them. Lazio’s impact made it impossible for Allegri to rest too many players despite facing a Champions League quarter-final second leg against AS Monaco on Wednesday. The coach named a very strong lineup, opting to bench only Alvaro Morata, Roberto Pereyra and Stephan Lichtsteiner from the XI that beat the Ligue 1 side 1-0 last week. Andrea Barzagli, Simone Padoin and Alessandro Matri came in to replace that trio, the Bianconeri switching to a 3-5-2 formation in order to curtail the attacking threat of Lazio. Lazio were the side who took the initiative first as they started the match confidently, with captain Stefano Mauri bursting into the area only to be stopped by Giorgio Chiellini after only two minutes. The visitors applied further pressure, forcing Gianluigi Buffon to fluff his lines but ultimately managing to defend his goal. Juventus then looked to get off the mark, as midfielder Claudio Marchisio tried a stinging shot from far out; though it skimmed across the grass resulting in an easy save for Federicho Marchetti. The Biancocelesti continued to force Juventus within their own half as they maintained their high pressing, winning a free-kick from a dangerous range after French defender Patrice Evra unintentionally handled the ball; though the set piece was eventually hit too high by Mauri. Thereon the home side took control of the game, as they began to regain ground and almost immediately after Arturo Vidal managed to flick the ball onto Carlos Tevez who latched onto the pass and steamed past Lazio’s defence, slotting a tidy finish into the far corner. Miroslav Klose promptly looked to reply to the goal with a chance of his own, but the German veteran managed to horribly scuff his shot from close range. Deficiency in front of goal for Lazio consequently cost them as they were once again hit on the counter to concede the second goal of the game. Centre-back Bonucci picked up the ball from within his own half before surging forward untouched by the Aquile midfield, Tevez made a deceptive run clearing space for the 27-year-old Italian to hit a sublime shot, which he buried beneath Marchetti from the top of the box. The Bianconeri then had a chance to finish off the game on the stroke of half-time as Padoin sent in a gorgeous cross only to be headed a whisker wide of the post by Evra. Antonio Candreva came on after the restart, sending Senad Lulic to left-back. It seemed to work, as they notched up a series of corners with Candreva shots and crosses charged down, pinning the hosts back into their own half. Claudio Marchisio was booked for a dreadful tackle on Lulic and will be suspended for next week’s Turin Derby. Chiellini’s handling offence blocked a Candreva through ball right on the edge of the box, from which the midfielder unleashed a rocket of a free kick that Buffon fingertipped against the bar. It was raining heavily and Lucas Biglia tried to take advantage, his piledriver from 25 meters punched bizarrely by Buffon to bounce off the ground. Alvaro Morata brilliantly turned Basta only for his pull-back to be intercepted for a corner and Buffon stopped Candreva’s swerving cross from reaching Klose. It got even worse for Lazio, as in the final minute 20-year-old Danilo Cataldi received a straight red card for a tackle from behind as Tevez was breaking away on the counter. Felipe Anderson almost got a consolation goal, his volley desperately parried by Buffon’s feet in a one-on-one situation. The run of eight consecutive victories came crashing to a halt, as another statistic was confirmed instead. Lazio have not won any of their last 21 Serie A meetings with Juve, home and away, managing just six draws. Juventus and Lazio are also set to face each other in the Italian Cup final in June. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Tevez: All My Thoughts Are Focused On Juventus Apr 19, 2015 Juventus striker Carlos Tevez insists that he is only focused on playing for the Bianconeri and has dismissed transfer speculation linking him with a move back to first club Boca Juniors for now. The Argentina international sought to set the record straight after scoring his 18th Serie A strike of the season in a 2-0 win against Lazio at the Juventus Stadium on Saturday evening. “I’m happy, it was a great performance by a strong team,” Tevez said to Sky Sport Italia after the match. “We’ll need an equally top display against Monaco. I said after the Champions League draw that it won’t be an easy one for us. “All my thoughts are focused on Juventus, there’s too much talk around. I want to enjoy this extraordinary moment here. “People saying I’m going isn’t right: when I decide to leave, the supporters will be the first to know.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Cana: Lazio Made Too Many Mistakes Against Juventus Apr 19, 2015 Lazio defender Lorik Cana reflected on his team’s 2-0 loss away to Juventus on Saturday night, pointing out the decisive mistakes which forced defeat upon them. The Aquile’s defensive errors allowed Carlos Tevez and Leonardo Bonucci to pounce and stop Lazio in their tracks, coming off an eight-game winning streak. Cana conceded that they had no one but themselves to blame after the loss, and aims to return to previous ways after such a lacking performance . “We came here to play with the same mentality, but playing against Juventus isn’t easy,” he said to Sky Sport Italia. “They scored from their only two chances in the game, and it was too difficult to get back into the game. “Our errors cost us dearly, and it was down to our inability to communicate.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Juventus have been extraordinary - Allegri The coach is elated to see his side edge closer towards a fourth consecutive league title, while they continue to impress in the Champions League. Apr 19, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri says his Juventus team have been "extraordinary" this season and is elated with the performances they are putting in during Serie A and Champions League matches. A 2-0 win over Lazio on Saturday saw the Bianconeri edge closer to a fourth consecutive league title as they opened up a 15 point lead over the second-placed side. However, that lead could be cut to 13 points if Roma beat Atalanta on Sunday. With Juve already in the Coppa Italia final and taking a 1-0 lead into Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second-leg with Monaco, Allegri is pleased with how their treble pursuit is going. "I'm happy not only for tonight but for the whole year," he told reporters. "On Wednesday, with a great performance, we will be through to the semi-finals of the Champions League, we are having a great league campaign and we are in the Coppa Italia final. "We can only praise the boys, they have shown great maturity. Lazio play great football, are physically strong and has played less games, but we're having an extraordinary championship. "We took our chances, I am very happy. By winning, we have lowered their chance in the league and we get a bit closer to the title. Now we have to win two or three games to become champions of Italy." Carlos Tevez opened the scoring on Saturday to further enhance his reputation as the team's key man, but the Argentine is rumoured to be looking to return to Argentina to end his career with Boca Juniors. However, Allegri says he understands the 31-year-old's desire to return to his homeland. "Homesickness is normal," he added. "I feel it sometimes when I am away from Livorno, let alone being on the other side of the world like he is. "But now we are only thinking about Serie A, Champions League and Coppa Italia, and Tevez is doing it in the best way. "I preferred to take Andrea Pirlo off with 20 minutes to go to keep him in better condition for the next games. "We must improve because on Wednesday we must play better on the technical side." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Player Ratings: Juventus 2-0 Lazio The Bianconeri took a huge step towards a fourth-straight Scudetto with goals from Carlos Tevez and Leonardo Bonucci sending them 15 points clear at the Serie A summit. Apr 18, 2015 Juventus 1 G. Buffon - The Italy international tipped a deflected Candreva free kick onto the crossbar and dealt with everything that came his way. 15 A. Barzagli - Returned to the centre of defence and had an efficient game to help keep Klose quiet. 19 L. Bonucci - Passed out from the back well and went on a marauding run to net his side's second of the night. 3 G. Chiellini - Put in a strong performance in the centre of defence, getting in amongst it and putting his body on the line. 20 S. Padoin - Operated on the right flank and put a few good crosses into the box in a positive display. 23 A. Vidal - Assisted the opening goal with a flick-on for Tevez and worked extremely hard in the middle. 21 A. Pirlo - Pulled the strings in midfield with his quality distribution helping to create openings. 8 C. Marchisio - Forced Marchetti into an early save and closed the opposition quickly to force them into errors. 33 P. Evra - Worked extremely hard on the left, tracking back and tackling well while narrowly missing out on a goal in the first half. 10 C. Tévez - Scored with his first opportunity of the night and his run opened up space for Bonucci to move into for the second. 32 A. Matri - Was afforded a rare start in attack but failed to make an impact before being withdrawn. Substitutes 9 Álvaro Morata - Came on for Matri in the 58th minute and was very direct in his dribbling. 37 R. Pereyra - Brought on for Pirlo in the 72nd minute and slotted in well. 27 S. Sturaro - Replaced Vidal in the 84th minute. Lazio 22 F. Marchetti - Did not get down to either of Tevez or Bonucci's efforts quick enough. 8 D. Basta - The right-back was unable to stop Tevez racing in for the opener but was a positive outlet. 27 L. Cana - The Albanian struggled up against Tevez's pace and escaped with one yellow card despite numerous sloppy tackles. 33 Mauricio - Played Tevez onside for the opening goal and was indecisive when choosing whether to approach or retreat. 5 E. Braafheid - Drafted in at left-back and looked slightly sluggish before being replaced at half time. 32 D. Cataldi - Peppered the goal with shots and put in some strong tackles in midfield, but undid his good work with a late red card. 20 L. Biglia - Took an early knock but played on and helped his team control possession for prolonged periods. 19 S. Lulić - Worked hard in the middle in the first half and performed astutely at left-back after the interval. 7 Felipe Anderson - The Brazilian was marked extremely closely but kept going and tried to spark things off for his team. 11 M. Klose - Blazed a good chance over the top in the first half but did not receive much service. 6 S. Mauri - Failed to influence the game in behind Klose as he had a lacklustre evening. Substitutes 87 A. Candreva - Brought on for Braafheid for the second half and instantly made his side more threatening, hitting the bar from a free kick. 14 B. Keita - Came on for Mauri in the 66th minute but only got a couple of chances to stretch his legs. 24 C. Ledesma - Replaced Klose in the 92nd minute. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Leonardo Bonucci Edges Juventus to Verge of Serie a Title in Win over Lazio Apr 18, 2015 Having overtaken neighbours AS Roma by moving into second place last weekend, Lazio travelled to Turin on Saturday evening hoping to continue their surge up the Serie A table. Juventus Stadium has not been particularly welcoming to visiting teams this term, the hosts registering 13 wins and just two draws in their 15 previous home games this term. But faced with the only team to have scored more goals than the Bianconeri this term, Massimiliano Allegri told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Friday that the side from Italy’s capital would represent a tough challenge to La Madama. “Tomorrow is a match that could decide the Scudetto,” the coach said, per Juve’s official website. “Lazio are having an extraordinary season. They come into the game on the back off eight straight victories and have conceded the same as we have in the second half of the season.” The turnaround was due in no small part to Biancoceleste boss Stefano Pioli, his arrival last summer completely transforming a side who had finished ninth in 2013-14. His impact made it impossible for Allegri to rest too many players despite facing a Champions League quarter-final second leg against AS Monaco on Wednesday. The coach named a very strong lineup, opting to bench only Alvaro Morata, Roberto Pereyra and Stephan Lichtsteiner from the XI that beat the Ligue 1 side 1-0 last week. Andrea Barzagli, Simone Padoin and Alessandro Matri came in to replace that trio, the Bianconeri switching to a 3-5-2 formation in order to curtail the attacking threat of Lazio. Daniella Matar @DaniellaMatar Lazio had only conceded 2 in its run of 8 successive wins, now conceded 2 in 29 mins at Juventus After an opening 15 minutes in which very little action took place, Carlos Tevez opened the scoring as he broke free to net his 26th goal of the campaign. The visitors immediately went in search of an equaliser but found the Juventus defence—and Leonardo Bonucci in particular—almost impossible to overcome. The Italian international came to the rescue to make a superb block on Miroslav Klose, deflecting the ball for a corner when it seemed certain the striker would pull his side level. Bonucci was not done there, however, breaking forward to net an impressive strike amid some terrible defending from the Rome-based side, cementing the 2-0 final scoreline. It was his fourth goal of the current campaign, with each strike coming in very important games for the Bianconeri—previously finding the back of the net in wins against Roma, Milan and Fiorentina. It represents his highest tally since joining the club back in 2010, when the Old Lady paid €15.5 million to bring him to the club from Genoa. Bonucci has arguably been Juve’s finest defender this term, the one regular in what has been a constantly rotating cast at the back as Allegri has been forced to contend with a raft of injuries to the likes of Kwadwo Asamoah, Martin Caceres, Romulo and Barzagli. According to statistics from WhoScored.com, Bonucci has recorded averages of 1.2 tackles, two interceptions and 4.6 clearances per league game, showing just how important he has been to the Bianconeri. He also continues to impress on the ball, making an average of 61.8 passes per game and completing 86.1 percent of those attempts. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@bonucci_leo19: "A great Juventus performance. We kept it tight and put our bodies on the line, then pounced when in space." Given the extra responsibility of leading the defence in the absence of so many others, he has blossomed into one of the best and deserves to be recognised as being among the finest in Europe at his position, with very few playing better in 2014-15. Winning major trophies with Juventus can only enhance his standing on the continent, and the 27-year-old believes nothing is beyond the current side. “It doesn’t cost anything to dream,” the defender told Sky (h/t Football Italia) when asked about the possibility of the club winning a treble. With Leonardo Bonucci in this kind of form, they can do just that. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Allegri: Juventus Can Be Champions In Two To Three Games Apr 18, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is thrilled with his team’s current string of form but believes that despite a 2-0 victory over rivals Lazio, the Scudetto is far from won. Goals from Carlos Tevez and Leonardo Bonucci saw Juventus dispose of Lazio 2-0 in Serie A on Saturday night, with the win moving them 15 points clear at the top of the table and closer to a fourth consecutive title; though Allegri doesn’t want to celebrate yet. “It was important to beat Lazio, we played with maturity against as side that plays the best football in Italy, and it means that it’s easier for us to finish first,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia “But until we are mathematically champions of Italy we have to give our best in every game. “I think if we can win the next two or three games then we will be the champions.” The 47-year-old Italian still believes his team has time to grow, and congratulated the players who have stepped up in order to replace injured team-mates as well as moving forward to focus on the Champions League. “Players like Arturo Vidal and Roberto Pereyra are playing every game now. Vidal has improved a lot as he has started to defend well instead of just chasing players. “I am happy with the result. Today we played a little hasty and I think we need to do improve for when we play Monaco.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Bonucci: Juventus Have Not Won Serie A Yet Apr 18, 2015 Following their 2-0 win over Lazio on Saturday night, Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci stated that his side have not won Serie A just yet despite sitting 15 points clear at the top. The Italian international scored his side’s second goal in the encounter when he finished off his run with a strike from just outside the box, and Bonucci went on to explain how he was able to score the goal. “When I received the ball from Andrea [Pirlo] I saw the movements of the two strikers and I just thought to go through the middle,” he told Sky. “Then I saw the space open up and finished the ball in the bottom corner. “As long as we haven’t mathematically won it yet, then we have to keep on going. Tonight we saw a great Juventus side, especially from a mentality point of view. “My usual goal celebration is for my friends, one of them is actually a Laziale.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Pioli: 'When you play Juve...' Apr 18, 2015 Stefano Pioli felt Lazio didn’t make any more mistakes than usual, “but those weren’t against Juventus!” The Aquile saw their eight-round running streak crash to a halt in Turin, where they conceded two goals during that period and fell 2-0 to Juve. “We were in good shape and tried to take the initiative, which we did in parts. Mistakes can happen. It’s not as if in the other eight games we didn’t make mistakes – they just weren’t against Juventus! “They were absolutely clinical, scoring on our only two errors. We were caught on the counter, which shows how we were trying to attack Juventus,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia. “Miroslav Klose had a great chance, we hit the bar and forced Gigi Buffon into some fine saves, while we had more possession. “We moved the ball well until the final third, had many shots on goal and I think few teams have done that at the Juventus Stadium. “We weren’t lucky, we made mistakes on the goals and they took advantage, like the great team they are. “It wasn’t easy to keep playing after going 2-0 down, but we continued and kept our heads held high. “We were missing key players like Stefan de Vrij and Stefan Radu, so some of our choices were forced upon us. Those two or three errors ultimately proved decisive during an otherwise very good performance. “We wanted to spread the play and find spaces between the lines. We did create dangerous opportunities and in the one-against-one we didn’t have as many advantages as in other recent games.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Allegri: 'Juve showed maturity' Apr 18, 2015 Max Allegri said Juventus showed “maturity” to beat Lazio and are close to a Scudetto party, but he’s unsure of Monaco tactics. The Bianconeri extended their lead at the top to 15 points by sweeping second-placed Lazio aside 2-0. “I am happy with what the lads did, but not just tonight, throughout the campaign,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia. “It was an important game and we showed maturity against a Lazio side that had been playing the best football in Italy until now. “They were also more physically fit, as they have played far fewer games than us. This is when a team needs its maturity to control the tempo and make the most of its scoring opportunities. “Tonight it wasn’t just important to beat Lazio because they were second. Lazio are having an extraordinary campaign, as they conceded only two goals during their eight consecutive victories and had let in just 12 since they faced us last time. “Obviously every time Lazio or Roma draw, the Scudetto finish line is reduced. I think we need two or three wins to seal it now.” Carlos Tevez was on target again, though this week his likely move to Boca Juniors in 2016 was again in the news. “It’s natural to feel nostalgic for home, friends and family. We all do, let alone him being on the other side of the world. Tevez is proving in the best way how focused he is on Juventus.” Allegri moved back to a 3-5-2 for this game, but will he use this or the 4-3-1-2 against Monaco? “I haven’t decided which system to use yet. We’ll start thinking about it tomorrow. I think when the team defends the right way – whether with three at the back or four – it becomes easier to defend and also to attack. “We were a little hasty at times today and I think we need to do better in technical terms against Monaco. I don’t see it being much different to the first leg. “We have players like Arturo Vidal and Roberto Pereyra who can play with certain characteristics between the lines. Paul Pogba is out, the midfielders are playing almost every game and I choose based on the match at hand. “I used this system because I had players on the bench who’d allow me to transform the tactics if needs be. “The more they play, the more they find that match tempo. I tried to rest Andrea Pirlo for the last 20 minutes, as he’s a key player above all on corners and free kicks. “Vidal has improved a great deal, as he defends while running and not chasing now. I think that’s the biggest change.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Player Ratings: Juventus 2-0 Lazio Apr 18, 2015 Juventus eased to a 2-0 win against Lazio in their top-of-the-table clash at the Juventus Stadium, on Saturday night in Serie A. Early strikes from Carlos Tevez and Leonadro Bonucci put the Bianconeri in a commanding position that they never looked like ceding, as Danilo Cataldi saw red late on for a lunge on Tevez. Juventus Gianluigi Buffon – 6.5 – Spectator - A virtual spectator for nearly an hour, did well to tip Candreva’s powerful free-kick over. Spared Chiellini’s blushes at the end by denying , after the defender’s mistake. Andrea Barzagli – 6.5 – Efficient - Another efficient performance from the centre-back and played his part in the back-three with aplomb. Leonardo Bonucci – 7.5 – Rampant - Scored with a glorious solo effort, firing home from the edge of the area after his rampaging run from the halfway line. Strong in defence, he never looked like being beaten. Giorgio Chiellini – 6.5 – Combative - Was fortunate Klose failed to capitalise on his poor first-half clearance. Used his physical presence in a combative manner to stifle the visitors. Simone Padoin – 6.5 – Dependable - Fulfilled his duties in denying Lazio any width and was a key part in containing the dangerous Anderson. Arturo Vidal – 6.5 – Belligerent - Played in Tevez with his header from midfield and was typically belligerent in his own style of play at the heart of midfield. Andrea Pirlo – 6.5 – Recovering - The veteran pass master started his first Serie A game in two months, not at his best but still managed to assist Bonucci’s goal. Claudio Marchisio – 6.5 – Standard - Another standard performance from the Italy international acting as the perfect foil to Pirlo and Vidal despite a lack of possession. Patrice Evra – 6.5 – Comfortable - Had a good chance to add a third for the Bianconeri, was comfortable at both ends of the pitch. Carlos Tevez – 7 – Clinical - Scored following his first few touches after latching onto Vidal’s header in midfield, his left-footed finish was unerring. Alessandro Matri – 6 – Ineffective - His first league start since returning to the club on loan, generally failed to make an impact and was ineffective. Substitutes Alvaro Morata – 6 – Came on for the ineffective Matri, asked questions of Cana but never looked like scoring. Roberto Pereyra – 5.5 - Failed to make a telling contribution in his twenty minute foray. Stefano Sturaro – N/A Lazio Federico Marchetti – 6 – Helpless - Had no help from his defence in either of the goals, and was not tested for the rest of the game aside from the two strikes. Dusan Basta – 6 – Improved - Couldn’t catch Tevez in the build-up to his goal. Improved with the arrival of Candreva, linking well with the substitute going forward. Lorik Cana – 5.5 – Culpable - Equally at fault with Mauricio in allowing Bonucci to score, booked for a cynical foul on Morata and struggled to handle the pace and trickery of the Bianconeri forwards. Mauricio – 5.5 – Liable - Caught out for Bonucci’s strike, leaving him open while tracking the run of Tevez. Redeemed himself slightly with a perfect last ditch tackle on Matri. Edson Braafheid – 6 – Quiet - Had little to do, did manage to push forward but couldn’t provide enough of a cutting edge. Danilo Cataldi – 6 – Blunt - The 20-year-old readily struck wild long range efforts early on, controlled possession well before his late lunge on Tevez earned him a harsh sending off. Lucas Biglia – 6 – Bruised - The Argentine endured a bruising encounter and came off second best following an early collision with Chiellini. Completed more passes than anyone else on the pitch with 80 successful passes. Senad Lulic – 6 – Frustrating - Endured a frustrating game, booked for hauling down Tevez on the edge of the area. Felipe Anderson – 6.5 – Hounded - Massimilliano Allegri clearly identified the Brazilian as the danger man and as a result he was often hounded by several Bianconeri players. Denied by Buffon at the death, after capitalising on Chiellini’s error. Miroslav Klose – 6 – Stifled - Spurned his side’s best chance following Chiellini’s poor clearance and was not afforded another opportunity by the stringent Juventus defence. Stefano Mauri – 5.5 – Disappointing - Wasted a free-kick from a promising position and was poor in general and disappointed as captain. Substitutes Antonio Candreva – 6.5 – Impetus - Replaced Braafheid at the interval to provide fresh impetus, offered much needed width Keita Balde Diao – x - The youngster had 25 minutes to impress and failed to do so. Cristian Ledesma – N/A http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli JUVENTUS 2-0 LAZIO MATCH REPORT Apr 18, 2015 Statistics Man of the Match: Leonardo Bonucci Flop of the Match: N/A Fouls: 12 Corners: 2 Pass Accuracy: 78% Shots on Target: 4 Total Shots: 8 Ball Possession: 41% Formation: 3-5-2 Lineups Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Padoin, Vidal (Sturaro 84), Pirlo (Pereyra 72), Marchisio, Evra; Tevez, Matri (Morata 58) Lazio: Marchetti; Basta, Cana, Mauricio, Braafheid (Candreva 46); Cataldi, Biglia, Lulic; Felipe Anderson, Klose (Ledesma 92), Mauri (Keita 65) Ref: Rizzoli Sent off: Cataldi 89 (L) http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Bonucci: 'I saw a gap' Apr 18, 2015 Leonardo Bonucci explained his extraordinary goal as Juventus swept Lazio aside 2-0. “I saw the gap.” The centre-back surged forward from his own half, picked up Andrea Pirlo’s pass in midfield and ran forward to score. “When I got the ball off Andrea and saw the movements of the strikers, I thought of going through the middle,” the defender told Sky Sport Italia. “I saw the gap was opening up and so I tried to angle my finish right into the corner.” The Bianconeri are now 15 points clear of second placed Lazio, so is the title wrapped up? “As long as we’re not mathematically champions of Italy, we have to keep pushing. It was fundamental to win this game and I think we saw an excellent performance on a psychological level, as we fought for every ball. “My celebration is always the same for my friends – one of them is Laziale too!” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Juventus defeat second-placed Lazio to move 15 points clear atop Serie A Apr 18, 2015 Juventus moved ever closer to clinching a fourth straight Serie A title by beating nearest challengers Lazio 2-0 in Turin. First-half goals from Carlos Tevez -- his 26th of the season in all competitions -- and centre-back Leonardo Bonucci pushed Juve 15 points clear of second place with only seven games remaining. Lazio did mount a late rally at the Juventus Stadium but the dismissal of midfielder Danilo Cataldi for a heavy tackle on Tevez ended their challenge. The result brought Lazio's run of six consecutive victories to an end and the Biancocelesti could be dragged back into third place should their city rivals Roma beat Atalanta in the capital on Sunday. After some mutual excursions into enemy territory, Juve began to get a grip on proceedings and went close with a Claudio Marchisio drive in the 13th minute. Only four minutes later Tevez caught Lazio cold with a stunning opening goal. Freed up in a dangerous area by Arturo Vidal, the Argentinian took one touch to break into the area before beating Federico Marchetti with a left-footed finish. Gianluigi Buffon had to drop low to deny Felipe Anderson a quick equaliser, with Lazio taking heart from the missed opportunity and going even closer in the 25th minute. Giorgio Chiellini did just enough to put Miroslav Klose off as the German looked to scoop the ball past Buffon from close range. Juve would capitalise on the Romans' disappointment by doubling their lead before the half-hour mark. Bonucci found himself on the end of a swift counter-attack and the centre-back smashed home his fourth goal of the season in the form of a daisy-cutter that Marchetti could do nothing about. He was back in the heart of Juve's defence to close down Anderson before watching Lucas Biglia make a mess of an easy pass to Dusan Basta in a shooting position. Then, two minutes into stoppage time, Patrice Evra rose to meet Vidal's cross into the Lazio box only to miss the target by a matter of inches. Lazio looked lively when play resumed with Antonio Candreva winning a corner thanks to a heavy deflection off Chiellini. The Juve defender soon gave a free-kick away in a dangerous area and Buffon had to fling his gloves up to push Candreva's attempt over the bar. Lazio were buoyed by their near misses and Biglia troubled Buffon with a low attempt before Chiellini was forced to put Basta's strike out for a corner. The jig was finally up for the southerners when, one minute from full-time, Cataldi launched himself into Tevez's legs from behind to earn a straight red card. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Vidal: 'Perfect Juve with Lazio' Apr 18, 2015 Arturo Vidal said Juventus were “perfect” to beat Lazio 2-0 and fired up for the Champions League in Monaco. “Juve were perfect against a very strong side. Now we are closer to the Scudetto. I think with three wins in a row we’ll be champions this season,” the Chilean told Sky Sport Italia. This result put the Bianconeri 15 points clear of second-placed Lazio, who had won eight on the bounce going in. Juve visit Monaco on Wednesday and have a 1-0 first leg lead to protect. “I feel good, I’m 100 per cent fit and hope to end the season in the right way. Now we’ve got the Champions League quarter-final and are 100 per cent up for it. “After that we can focus on the Serie A games and the Coppa Italia Final with Lazio in June.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli JUVENTUS 2-0 LAZIO WEEK 31 PLAYER RATINGS Apr 18, 2015 Juventus dominated Lazio to run out 2-0 winners in the battle between first and second in Serie A. The Bianconeri began the game the brighter and it was Tevez who gave Juve the lead on 17 mins as he sprung the offside trap to latch on to Vidal’s flicked on ball and slot past Marchetti. Juve went 2-0 up through an unlikely scorer when Leonardo Bonucci galloped the length of the pitch as the Lazio defence stood off and cooly fired past the Lazio keeper. Gianluigi Buffon 7.0 - Barely had a save to make before being called into action to deny Candreva’s dipping free-kick. Another confident and composed performance. Andrea Barzagli 6.5 - Solid performance yet again, kept Felipe Anderson relatively quiet the entire match. Great positioning and tackling as always Leonardo Bonucci 7.0 - Brilliant at the back, especially with his tackling, but better still was his goal where he sprinted the length of the pitch to fire past Marchetti. Magnificent. Giorgio Chiellini 7.0 - A towering performance at the back, heading out every cross and marking Klose out of the game although a needless handball could have cost Juventus on the night. Simone Padoin 7.0 - Exceptional display tonight, especially with his range of crosses from the right. Strong in defence and managed to limit Keita and Anderson to a hand full of shots. Arturo Vidal 7.5 - A hard-working display, more akin to his performances of last season. He covered every inch of the pitch, broke up numerous Lazio attacks and even managed to set up the opening goal with a deft assist. Andrea Pirlo 6.5 - Much improved from his midweek return to action against Monaco. Provided the assist to set Bonucci on his way for Juve’s second. Claudio Marchisio 6.5 - Not his best performance, especially the dangerous tackle that earned him a booking. Seems to play all the better when deputising for Pirlo at the base of the 3. Patrice Evra 6.5 - Another quiet but efficient display, especially with his tackles – Perfectly timed, each and every one. Carlos Tevez 7.0 - An industrious performance capped off by his 17th league goal of the season. Could easily have scored another – indispensable. Alessandro Matri 6.0 - Started brightly but quickly faded as the game wore on as he struggled to make any kind of meaningful impression on the game Substitutes Alvaro Morata N/A Stefano Sturaro N/A Roberto Pereyra N/A http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Carlos Tévez (17') Leonardo Bonucci (28') Saturday, April 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Juventus 2-0 Lazio: Bonucci Halts Aquile Ascencion Apr 18, 2015 League leaders Juventus routinely dispatched Lazio 2-0 in Serie A at the Juventus Stadium, on Saturday night, breaking the Aquile’s eight-game winning streak. Juventus comfortably defeated second-placed Lazio at home, after first half goals from Carlos Tevez and Leonardo Bonucci, which were enough to see off the competition as they dominated a heated game with a late sending off for youngster Danilo Cataldi. Lazio were the side who took the initiative first as they started the match confidently, with captain Stefano Mauri bursting into the area only to be stopped by Giorgio Chiellini after only two minutes. The visitors applied further pressure, forcing Gianluigi Buffon to fluff his lines but ultimately managing to defend his goal. Juventus then looked to get off the mark, as midfielder Claudio Marchisio tried a stinging shot from far out; though it skimmed across the grass resulting in an easy save for Federicho Marchetti. The Biancocelesti continued to force Juventus within their own half as they maintained their high pressing, winning a free-kick from a dangerous range after French defender Patrice Evra unintentionally handled the ball; though the set piece was eventually hit too high by Mauri. Thereon the home side took control of the game, as they began to regain ground and almost immediately after Arturo Vidal managed to flick the ball onto Carlos Tevez who latched onto the pass and steamed past Lazio’s defence, slotting a tidy finish into the far corner. Miroslav Klose promptly looked to reply to the goal with a chance of his own, but the German veteran managed to horribly scuff his shot from close range. Deficiency in front of goal for Lazio consequently cost them as they were once again hit on the counter to concede the second goal of the game. Centre-back Bonucci picked up the ball from within his own half before surging forward untouched by the Aquile midfield, the previous goalscorer Tevez made a deceptive run clearing space for the 27-year-old Italian to hit a sublime shot, which he buried beneath Marchetti from the top of the box. The Bianconeri then had a chance to finish off the game on the stroke of half-time as Padoin sent in a gorgeous cross only to be headed a whisker wide of the post by Evra. Stefano Pioli sent his side out in the second half with the aim to start as vibrantly as they did within the first 10 minutes, adding star Antonio Candreva to the mix, which almost paid off when the Italian international came agonizingly close in hitting the bar from a close range free-kick. The home side were happy to see off the game and as chances dried up for both sides, frustrations began to escalate, ensuing a frantic finish to the game with Cataldi receiving his marching orders for a cynical challenge on Tevez. The 2-0 win moved the current league leaders 15 points ahead of Lazio, who temporally remain in second above Roma. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111