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PARMA - JUVENTUS .- Saturday, April 11th, 2015 - 6:00 PM Ennio Tardini Stadium, Parma Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Parma v Juventus: Preview Apr 10, 2015 Juventus have one of their toughest games of the season coming up against Monaco in the Champions League but coach Massimiliano Allegri wants his players to focus on Parma. Tuesday's 3-0 win at Fiorentina gave Juve a place in the Coppa Italia final, ensuring they continue fighting for silverware on three fronts. But even though his side have a 14-point lead over Roma at the top of Serie A, with the title looking like a formality, Allegri is determined to stop his players focussing on the cup competitions. ``We must maintain our balance and concentration, '' Allegri said to the Italian press. ``Otherwise, we risk falling. ``We have an opportunity to turn a great season into an exceptional one. ``We are on course for the club's fourth straight scudetto, we are in the Coppa Italia final and we are alive in a very difficult competition as the Champions League is. ``Our focus right now is on taking three points at Parma and after that we will prepare for Tuesday's (home) quarter-final match against Monaco.'' The Turin giants TRAVEL to the Ennio Tardini stadium riding a four-game winning streak in Serie A. Juve, who have the best attack and defence in the competition, have kept a clean sheet in their last four league games. But Parma midfielder Francesco Lodi has warned Juve to expect a battle this weekend. The Ducale club clinched their just fourth win of the season and first since January 6 in Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Udinese. The bankrupt club went into administration last month and has an uncertain future. ``We are taking on the strongest team in Serie A,'' Lodi said. ``They have almost won the scudetto but they should know that they will face a Parma side that is determined to prove its worth. ``We have two important months ahead of us for our future and for that of Parma's in view of possible future buyers. ``We will give our all against Juve because nothing is impossible.'' Parma, coached by Roberto Donadoni, lie at the foot of the standings, 13 points from safety with 30 points still up for grabs. The hosts are without captain Alessandro Lucarelli, who is suspended. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

PARMA - JUVENTUS .- Saturday, April 11th, 2015 - 6:00 PM Ennio Tardini Stadium, Parma Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Tevez back for Juve but Pirlo will have to wait - Allegri The Juventus boss has confirmed that the Argentine is available once more after injury but the midfielder will not return until the clash with Monaco. Apr 10, 2015 Carlos Tevez is fit to return for Juventus on Saturday, but Andrea Pirlo will have to wait until the Champions League quarter-final showdown with Monaco to make his long-awaited comeback. While Tevez is back after a thigh injury, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that Pirlo will miss the Serie A trip to Parma with his troublesome calf strain. But he has confirmed that the midfielder will be available for Tuesday’s first leg against the Ligue 1 outfit at Juventus Stadium. "Tevez is fine, and while Pirlo will not be available on Saturday, he will be on Tuesday," Allegri told a press conference on Friday. Parma are well adrift at the bottom of the league and are destined for relegation at the end of the campaign, while they have also been declared bankrupt after countless FINANCIAL difficulties in recent times. Yet Allegri insists that he will not be taking it easy at the Ennio Tardini, even with Juve holding a commanding 14-point lead in Serie A. "On Saturday the best possible team will be out on the pitch, since so many players are already rested. It is a decisive game in the championship," he insisted. "We must give Parma and [head coach Roberto] Donadoni great compliments for their professionalism in Serie A this season. From next Saturday we will begin a run of matches against sides going well in the league. The boys know the importance of the Parma game. "Taking home the three points on Saturday would mean us taking home another little piece of the Scudetto." The clash at Parma kicks off at 18:00 CET, with attention then turning to Tuesday's home fixture against Monaco as Juve go in search of their first Champions League quarter-final win since 2003. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

PARMA - JUVENTUS .- Saturday, April 11th, 2015 - 6:00 PM Ennio Tardini Stadium, Parma Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Allegri: ‘Parma decisive for Scudetto’ Apr 10, 2015 Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri believes tomorrow’s trip to Parma will be ‘decisive’ in the Scudetto race. The Bianconeri are 14 points clear of the chasing pack, and the former Milan Coach said last week that two wins would take his side two-thirds of the way to a fourth consecutive title. “Tomorrow we’ll put the best team we can out on the park,” Allegri told journalists in his pre-match Press conference. “I think this is, as I said earlier, a decisive match for the League. “Of course that’s if we win tomorrow in Parma which, by the way, won’t be easy, as we must compliment [Coach Roberto] Donadoni and his players for moving forward with such professionalism, and for showing such dignity in a very difficult season. “Parma also have good players and staff and they’re also a team which competes well physically. “We need to play a good game, because bringing home the three points tomorrow would be another step toward the Scudetto. “There’d then be seven games to go and we’d be even closer to our goal, but to do that we have to play a good game tomorrow. “So tomorrow, we’ll put out the best team we can, because whatever team you select should always be the best for that particular game.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Serie A - 11^ Giornata Ritorno - 11-4-2015 (ore 18:00) PARMA - JUVENTUS .- Sabato 11 aprile 2015 - ore 18:00 Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma Arbitro: Andrea Gervasoni Confronti ufficiali 62 - 45 (Serie A) - 11 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) - 2 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 2 (Coppa Uefa) Vittorie Juventus 33 - 21 (Serie A) - 8 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) - 2 (Supercoppa Italiana) Pareggi 17 - 15 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Coppa Uefa) Vittorie Parma 12 - 9 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Coppa Uefa) Goals Juventus 108 - 80 (Serie A) - 15 (Coppa Italia) - 9 (Campionato a gironi) - 3 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 1 (Coppa Uefa) Goals Parma 56 - 45 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 2 (Coppa Uefa) Parma - Juventus Serie A a Parma Confronti ufficiali 22 Vittorie Juventus 6 (L'ultima il 02.11.2013, 0-1) Pareggi 10 (L'ultimo il 13.01.2013, 1-1) Vittorie Parma 6 (L'ultima il 15.05.2011, 1-0) Goals Juventus 23 Goals Parma 23 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Parma a Parma 10 presenze Del Piero Alessandro 9 Buffon Gianluigi 9 Tacchinardi Alessio 8 Pessotto Gianluca 7 Ferrara Ciro 7 Montero Ronald Paolo 7 Peruzzi Angelo 7 Trezeguet David Sergio 6 Davids Edgar 6 Marocchi Giancarlo 2 goals Baggio Roberto 2 Di Vaio Marco 2 Ravanelli Fabrizio 2 Tacchinardi Alessio 1 Camoranesi Mauro German 1 Del Piero Alessandro 1 Ferrara Ciro 1 Iaquinta Vincenzo 1 Ibrahimovic Zlatan 1 Inzaghi Filippo Ultimi confronti diretti 06.01.2011 Serie A Juventus-Parma 1-4 15.05.2011 Serie A Parma-Juventus 1-0 11.09.2011 Serie A Juventus-Parma 4-1 15.02.2012 Serie A Parma-Juventus 0-0 25.08.2012 Serie A Juventus-Parma 2-0 13.01.2013 Serie A Parma-Juventus 1-1 02.11.2013 Serie A Parma-Juventus 0-1 26.03.2014 Serie A Juventus-Parma 2-1 09.11.2014 Serie A Juventus-Parma 7-0 28.01.2015 Coppa Italia Parma-Juventus 0-1 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 6 - Pareggi 2 - Vittorie Parma 2 - Goals Juventus 19 - Goals Parma 8 http://www.goal.com/it/results-standings/69/serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_101

PARMA - JUVENTUS .- Saturday, April 11th, 2015 - 6:00 PM Ennio Tardini Stadium, Parma Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Parma - Juventus Preview: Lodi warns leaders to expect a battle The treble-chasing Bianconeri are in sensational form but their hosts are buzzing after picking up four points from their last two games. Apr 10, 2015 Francesco Lodi has vowed that crisis club Parma will give another display of strength in the face of adversity against runaway Serie A leaders Juventus at Stadio Ennio Tardini on Saturday. The Gialloblul face an uncertain future after they were declared bankrupt last month and entered administration, having run up huge debts. The two-time Uefa Cup winners must hope that new investors step forward to save them from going out of business this summer but, despite not being paid for months, Roberto Donadoni's men have certainly not thrown the towel in. Parma remain bottom of the table and look destined to remain there, but they secured a first Serie A victory since January by beating Udinese 1-0 on Wednesday. That long-awaited win came on the back of a 1-1 draw at Inter last Saturday and Donadoni expressed his pride over the manner in which his players have gone about their business. Lodi made his first start since January at San Siro and the midfielder is determined to show Juve that Parma are no soft touch despite their current plight. He said: "We will try to play as we have done so far, with all our determination. "Juve is the strongest team in Italy, has already practically won another league title, but in Parma will find a team ready to fight and sacrifice but that will not leave anything to chance because these months are important for the future of all of us and society. "On Saturday we would like to give joy because we know that even with a win like yesterday [against Udinese] we can make many people happy, beginning with those who work every day here at Parma. "There is so much pride, we are showing that we play head on to the end." While Parma ponder what the future may hold, these are exciting times for Juve as they attempt to win a famous treble. The Turin giants have all-but wrapped up a fourth successive Serie A title as they sit 14 points clear at the top of the table and can look forward to a Champions League quarter-final first leg tie at home to Monaco next Tuesday. Juve will also face Lazio in the Coppa Italia final in June after beating Fiorentina 3-0 in their semi-final second leg to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory in midweek. Massimiliano Allegri's men have won their last six games without conceding a goal, so Parma will be up against it this weekend and in a game captain Alessandro Lucarelli will miss due to suspension. Juve still have injury concerns over Paul Pogba (hamstring), Carlos Tevez (thigh), Andrea Pirlo (calf), and Stephan Lichtsteiner (knock). Striker Alvaro Morata scored a late winner as Juve triumphed at the Ennio Tardini 1-0 in January to keep their Coppa Italia hopes alive. OPTA FACTS This will be the 46th Serie A clash between these two sides: Juventus have won 21 times, Parma nine. The Emiliani and Juventus have SHARED the points 15 times so far: the Bianconeri are the side Parma have drawn the most against in Serie A. Parma have earned only two points over their last seven Serie A clashes with the Bianconeri, conceding 2.4 goals per match in these games. In the reverse fixture, Juventus won by 7-0: that remains the largest Parma defeat in Serie A. Both teams have not scored more than one goal in each of their last four Serie A meetings at the Tardini. Parma are unbeaten in two Serie A games (1W, 1D) – they have taken four points from two consecutive league match-days for the first time this season. Juventus have won their last four Serie A games, without conceding in these games. The Bianconeri have not conceded goals in five out of their last nine away matches in the league. LAST FIVE MATCHES Parma W D L L D 4/8/15 Parma 1 - 0 Udinese 4/4/15 Internazionale 1 - 1 Parma 3/22/15 Parma 0 - 2 Torino 3/15/15 Sassuolo 4 - 1 Parma 3/8/15 Parma 0 - 0 Atalanta Juventus W W W W W 4/7/15 Fiorentina 0 - 3 Juventus 4/4/15 Juventus 2 - 0 Empoli 3/22/15 Juventus 1 - 0 Genoa 3/18/15 Borussia Dortmund 0 - 3 Juventus 3/14/15 Palermo 0 - 1 Juventus HEAD TO HEAD 1/28/15 Parma 0 - 1 Juventus 11/9/14 Juventus 7 - 0 Parma 3/26/14 Juventus 2 - 1 Parma 11/2/13 Parma 0 - 1 Juventus 1/13/13 Parma 1 - 1 Juventus http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/Calcio/Coppa%20Italia/2015/04/07-93995_0/FOTO+Fiorentina-Juve+0-3%3A+festa+bianconera+al+Franchi%21

PARMA - JUVENTUS .- Saturday, April 11th, 2015 - 6:00 PM Ennio Tardini Stadium, Parma Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Preview: Parma vs. Juventus Apr 9, 2015 Top meets bottom in Serie A this weekend, as runaway leaders Juventus make the trip to crisis-hit Parma. A fourth successive Scudetto is almost in the hands of the Bianconeri and a victory would see them open up a commanding 17-point lead over Roma in the table. Parma Parma fans must be wondering what has happened to their club in the past year, as their very existence beyond this season is in doubt. The Gialloblu had enjoyed a great season and finished sixth in Serie A, but due to an unpaid tax bill they were banned from competing in the Europa League. Following a summer of upheaval their form deteriorated and they lost eight of their opening nine league games, although the huge scale of their problems had yet to emerge. There had already been reports that a number of players had not been paid, which led to high-profile stars like Antonio Cassano leaving, before they were eventfully declared bankrupt by a court in Italy three weeks ago. They have been allocated €5m (£3.6m) by the Italian league to complete the season and it appears that it will be their last in the top flight for the foreseeable future. Despite their problems, they have managed to hold Roma and Inter Milan to draws away from home, while they picked up their first win in 11 games by beating Udinese on Wednesday. Recent form: D D L L D W Juventus There just seems to be no stopping Juventus at the moment and they are absolutely flying as the season enters its final stretch. They are 14 points clear at the top of Serie A and only an unthinkable collapse would prevent them from winning the title for a fourth consecutive season. It is not just in the league where they are enjoying success this campaign, as they booked their place in the Coppa Italia final on Tuesday evening, by coming back from a first-leg defeat to earn a thumping 3-0 victory over Fiorentina. They could very well be on for a treble, as Monaco await them in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with the first leg of that clash set to take place in Turin week. As you would expect, their recent form has been nothing short of sensational, with six wins from their last six matches. They haven't even conceded in any of those games and against Parma that run seems likely to continue due to the lack of goals scored this season by their opponents. Recent form in Serie A: W D W W W W Recent form (all competitions): W W W W W W Team News Juventus are expected to rest a number of key players ahead of their European clash with Monaco, so the likes of Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo will probably not be risked. Stephan Lichtsteiner may also sit the game out after missing their Coppa Italia victory with a bruise to his right thigh, while Paul Pogba remains on the sidelines. Due to Tevez's absence, Alessandro Matri could keep his place up front, while Fernando Llorente will also be battling for a starting spot. Meanwhile, Parma will be without the suspended Alessandro Lucarelli, while Ishak Belfodil could replace Massimo Coda in the attack. Parma possible starting lineup: Mirante, Cassani, Santacroce, Costa, Feddal, Jankovic, Lodi, Nocerino, Ghezzal, Varela, Belfodil Juventus possible starting lineup: Buffon, Padoin, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra, Vidal, Marchisio, Pereyra, Sturaro, Matri, Lorente Head To Head In the reverse fixture, Juventus eased their way to the biggest win in Serie A this season by recording a crushing 7-0 victory over Parma. It was much tighter when they met in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia in January, as a late goal from Alvaro Morata ensured a 1-0 win for the Bianconeri. Juve are actually unbeaten in their last eight games against Parma, with six of those ending in wins, and rather unsurprisingly this is a fixture that they have tended to dominate over the years. We say: Parma 0-2 Juventus It's hard to see anything other than a Juventus victory, as Massimo Allegri's side are in irresistible form. Even without some of their key players, they should have far too much quality for Parma, which is why we are tipping the Bianconeri to comfortably seal the points. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Carlos Tevez in line to return for Monaco clash Apr 9, 2015 Juventus forward Carlos Tevez should be fit in time for the Champions League quarterfinal tie with Monaco on Tuesday, according to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. Tevez was left out of Juve's 3-0 win at Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday night due to an injury he picked up that morning in their final training session. He was sent back to Turin immediately for tests and, although he has not trained since, the Bianconeri are hopeful he will be fit for next Tuesday. "As a precautionary measure, Tevez underwent tests which did not reveal any tears," the Serie A leaders said in a statement on their official website. "He will follow an individual training plan in order to aid his recovery from muscle tiredness." La giornalaccio rosa reports Tevez will miss Saturday's match against Parma in Serie A to focus on making a full recovery for Tuesday. Andrea Pirlo could also miss the Parma game to concentrate on being 100 percent fit to face Monaco, while Stephan Lichtsteiner has undergone tests on a thigh strain that saw him also miss the game in Florence. There are currently no concerns that he will not be fit for Tuesday, with only Andrea Barzagli rated doubtful. "Barzagli has been diagnosed with a slight overburdening of the soleus muscle, but there are no tears," Juve's statement added. "His condition will be monitored constantly, but he is a doubt for Parma."

Marchisio: ‘Juventus still hungry’ Apr 9, 2015 Claudio Marchisio says Juventus have proved they’re ‘still hungry’ as they battle on three fronts. The Bianconeri reached the Coppa Italia final on Tuesday night, and have a commanding lead in Serie A, as well as preparing to face Monaco in the Champions League Quarter Finals. “The Coppa? It’s the first goal we’ve achieved this season,” Marchisio told Juve TV. “We’re talking about a really crucial point of the season, and to have achieved this important goal in the Coppa Italia means the team is doing well. “We’re doing what we have to do, and that’s to win and try and get to the end in all competitions. “We’ve also done well because of what’s expected of us. We’ve had three years where we’ve won the League every year and the question is always whether or not Juventus will still be hungry. “The players are still willing to sacrifice and to give everything out on the pitch and we’re showing that this year. “Our three years of victories cannot be taken for granted, even if some claim that the Italian League is not as good as other European Leagues. “But look at the other Leagues, the points [for the team at the top] are around 70 [Juventus’s total], like Chelsea in England, so maybe the problem is that other teams haven’t been as consistent as we have. “So it tells you even more about the value of this team which, despite the passage of time, is always able to be out in front demonstrating the capabilities that we have. “It’s normal that if you look at other subjects in Italy, like the country’s economy there’s a bit more of a crisis, and it’s the same in football.”

Midweek Coppa final? Apr 9, 2014 It’s reported that the Coppa Italia final would be moved to a midweek should Juventus make the Champions League final. The Bianconeri face Monaco in the Quarter Finals of the competition, and have also reached the final of the cup, where they will face Lazio. The final of the Coppa is scheduled for June 7 in Rome, but the Champions League final will be held the night before in Berlin. According to Corriere dello Sport, should the Old Lady reach the showpiece in Germany, the cup final will take place on May 20, a Wednesday. The game cannot be played later than intended, because the Copa America gets underway on June 11. Juventus would expect to send the likes of Chilean Arturo Vidal and Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez to the tournement, while Lazio could lose Brazil’s Felipe Anderson and Lucas Biglia of Argentina.

Juve fear Barzagli calf strain Apr 8, 2015 Andrea Barzagli suffered a suspected calf strain in training and Juventus could lose him for a month. The defender reportedly pulled out during a warm-up ahead of their 3-0 Coppa Italia semi-final victory over Fiorentina. According to Sky Sport Italia and Sport Mediaset, medics fear a calf strain. Barzagli had been playing regularly after eight months out of action due to an on-going Achilles tendon problem. If a calf strain is confirmed, it would mean Barzagli missing the Champions League quarter-final against Monaco.

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Matri: I want to give the coach a headache The experienced attacker was over the moon with his goal against Fiorentina and is determined to prove his worth whenever he gets a chance to play. Apr 8, 2014 Juventus attacker Alessandro Matri has stressed that he will do everything within his powers to win over head coach Massimiliano Allegri in the wake of his goal in the Bianconeri's 3-0 Coppa Italia semi-final win over Fiorentina on Tuesday. The 30-year-old has been struggling to secure regular first-team action since his winter move from Genoa, but was handed his first start at the Artemio Franchi, rewarding Allegri for the faith shown in him by scoring the opening that eventually set Juventus on their way to the final with a 4-2 aggregate win. "I knew I’d be involved in the afternoon and when I get the opportunity to play I look to give the coach a selection headache," Matri was quoted as saying on the official Juventus website. "It was the perfect night. I’m happy with my goal and for the fact that we’ll be playing an important final." The attacker then went on to dismiss suggestions that his celebration against his former team was a lack of respect. "I spent a long time not celebrating last year. I don’t think it was a lack of respect. "A goal is a goal and only a striker understands the importance of finding the back of the net."

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Juventus 3-0 Fiorentina: Alessandro Matri and Co. seal spot in Coppa Italia final Alessandro Matri took his chance at leading the Juventus forward line, with Roberto Pereyra and Leonardo Bonucci also grabbing goals as Juventus advanced to the final of the Coppa Italia. Apr 8, 2014 First, a confession: I have never seen a Juventus captain lift the Coppa Italia. I've always told myself it's a second class trophy, the leftovers if you weren't fighting for the Scudetto or Champions League. But it's still 20 years for Juventus, the club that, along with Roma, has won the most (9), and whose supporters desperately want to end the "curse of the silver star." Thanks to a 3-0 win at the Artemio Franchi on Tuesday night, Juventus will have a chance to finally get her 10th. The Juventus starting lineup seemed to change by the hour as the game approached, with Carlos Tévez ruled out after feeling a twinge in the morning while Stephan Lichtsteiner pulled up in the pregame warmup. Alessandro Matri came into the lineup for Tévez, lining up alongside Álvaro Morata, with Simone Padoin deputizing at right back. Andrea Barzagli sat this one out as Massimiliano Allegri chose a back four, while Marco Storari came in for Gianluigi Buffon. Claudio Marchisio returned, with Arturo Vidal, Stefano Sturaro, and Roberto Pereyra completing the midfield diamond. Fiorentina came into this game confident, having won 2-1 at the Juventus Stadium and unbeaten in nearly a month, but knowing that they were in for a thorough examination. While the first leg came on the heels of massive games against Borussia Dortmund and Roma, this time the focus was squarely on the Viola. For his part, Vincenzo Montella lined Fiorentina up in a 3-5-2 with the explosive Mohamed Salah partnering Mario Gómez on top. The game had periods of end-to-end play, but Juventus were better able to control possession and create chances for their frontmen. Once Matri got the first goal, Juventus seemed on her way to the final, and when the final whistle blew the only complaints were for Marchisio and (especially) Morata, who picked up suspensions that will rule them out of the showpiece, set for June 7th in the Stadio Olimpico di Roma. MATCH RECAP Juve knew they had to score twice, and started firmly on the front foot. With Marchisio and Pereyra providing some of the directness and creativity that was missing against Empoli. The Argentine's cross nearly found Vidal for a great chance, but Marcos Alonso defended well. Marchisio seemed to have a brief to play the ball forward, and it nearly cost Juventus just four minutes in. Joaquín read the pass and eventually the ball came to Salah. The Egyptian attacker weaved his way through five Juventus defenders and knocked the ball in, but the whistle had gone for a foul on Sturaro. A long ball found Salah again, and after his two goals in the first leg, a long night looked in store for the Juventus center backs. Marcos Alonso blasted a shot over but soon the ball was at the other end, as the Old Lady wrestled back control. Pereyra then Padoin nearly found space in the box, but José Basanta just about got the ball before the man. Marcos Alonso fired a shot-cross in from near the corner flag, but Storari had no problem. Leonardo Bonucci's long ball nearly found Vidal, but the midfielder's touch was poor. Marchisio and then Giorgio Chiellini tried to find Matri through on goal, but Fiorentina's defense again did enough. The through ball nearly came off for Morata when Marchisio's pass split the defense, but he was flagged offside. Marchisio's knee looked fine as he created the first goal, winning the ball back and running the wing before a good cross found Matri. Pereyra's shot was blocked but it fell back to Mitra Matri, who calmly knocked in with the outside of his foot. 1-0 after 21 minutes, a vital first step to overturning the deficit. Patrice Evra's clearance eventually fell to Pereyra and eventually Padoin's cross nearly created the second but Sturaro couldn't get good contact. It was end-to-end stuff, with Salah finding Matías Fernández in the box, but he was crowded out by Sturaro and company. Borja Valero played a cross in for Gómez, but Bonucci did well. Pereyra played a nice pass in for Morata whose shot was blocked, before his back-post cross evaded Matri and Vidal. Joaquín beat Evra to get into the box, but could not put a ball across. Sturaro saw a yellow card for putting up a roadblock on Salah, but Juventus generally looked more comfortable against his pace and trickery than earlier in the game or most of the first leg. The Viola looked for Mario Gómez in the box, but Juve's defense did well against him in the air and on the ground. A midfield free kick gave Mati Fernández a chance to whip in a fierce free kick that Gonzalo Rodriguez flicked past Storari, but the flag was up. Marchisio's long ball found Morata who tried to score from range but missed his kick. The Spanish striker had another go from range on 40', when Matri's control eventually fell to him, and this time struck it much better but it curled wide, with Juventus players claiming a deflection. Morata did well to allow Juventus to counter but the cross was cut out with Sturaro down in the box, and then in the 44th Pereyra made it 2-0 after a very nice move. Bonucci played the long pass to Matri to set up Morata, whose strike was saved, but Neto could only parry as far as Pereyra, who netted his third Coppa Italia goal since coming to Turin. The 2-0 on the scoreboard would send Juventus through, but with 45 minutes to play against a dangerous Fiorentina nothing was settled. The second half began with Fiorentina needing to score, and Salah tried an ambitious shot from range, but couldn't find the target. Morata nearly created a chance for Vidal after nutmegging his defender, but the cross was just too far ahead of the Chilean. Mario Gómez fired wide after Mati Fernández dribbled his way into the box. Morata tried his third curler of the night, after sending Savić the wrong way, but again could not quite pick out the far corner. A loose ball fell to Salah at the edge of the box, briefly putting hearts in mouths, but he shot high and wide. 58 minutes in Matri nearly created another chance, as Bonucci found him well-positioned on the defensive line. The Italian played in Pereyra, but Neto made a fairly comfortable save. The corner came in, and it was 3-0! Marchisio's out-swinger was perfectly placed at the edge of the six-yard box, where Bonucci easily volleyed home. Chiellini played an important role as well, preventing two Viola defenders from attacking the near post. Fiorentina needed three, and it was difficult to see where they would come from. A desperate clearance-turned-backpass from Chiellini nearly put Storari in trouble but the keeper reacted well. Marchisio was booked after protesting Rodríguez leading with his arm, forcing him to miss the final, with the defender also receiving a caution. Ex-Juve man Alberto Aquilani had a chance after Evra's half-clearance, but his volley went wide with Storari rooted to the spot. Another long ball found Matri offside, and the Viola made their first substitution, bringing on Alessandro Diamanti for Joaquín. Fiorentina had a shout for a Chiellini handball, but he knew very little about it. Matri nearly grabbed another in the 70th minute, with Marchisio setting up Vidal and Pereyra on the right flank. Pereyra put a good ball in to Matri, but Neto saved at his near post. Fernández went into the book after a hard foul on Vidal, but the Chilean international teammates shook hands and played on. Pereyra was a constant nuisance down Fiorentina's left, providing an outlet on the counter and with the technical skills and workrate to keep the ball and bring the team up the field. Matri came off for Kingsley Coman on 75 minutes, pushing Morata up top. Diamanti tried his luck from the top of the box but couldn't get it through, and then put a tempting cross in, but Fiorentina had only one man in the box and couldn't find him. Vidal saw yellow for a foul in the 78th minute, giving the Viola a dangerous free kick, but Fernández' effort was poor. Substitute Khouma Babacar fired over from outside the box as Fiorentina began to look more desperate. On 83 minutes, Angelo Ogbonna was brought on to shore up the defense, with Rodríguez off for Nenad Tomović on the other side. Diamanti continued to threaten since his introduction, drawing a free kick in a very good shooting position from Evra. The ex-Guangzhou Evergrande player took it on himself, but Storari made the save look simple. There was still room for a bit of controversy, as Morata saw a straight red for kicking out at Diamanti from behind. It was a silly, petulant foul; but of a kind that sees yellow more often than red. Coman was hooked off for Fernando Llorente, as one young striker's actions took minutes away from another. Diamanti's free kick was again well-shaped, but Llorente headed clear. Marcos Alonso made his way into the box, but was muscled out of it by Ogbonna. Mati Fernández forced a flying save from Storari in the 92nd minute, curling a sweet effort towards the far corner, and Fiorentina continued to press for at least a consolation goal. Fernández had another effort blocked away, the Diamanti sent in a dangerous free kick, but nobody could get a killer touch and the whistle blew, sending Juventus to her 15th Coppa Italia final. LE PAGELLE Storari: 7 Had long periods without making a save, but was very quick to react when needed and managed to keep a clean sheet. Padoin: 6 A much better game than the last time he faced Salah, but nothing special. Bonucci: 7.5 An excellent performance from the center back, who kept Gómez under wraps and played lots of accurate balls into the attack, including a pre-assist to Pereyra's goal. Took his chance very well on the volley. Chiellini: 6.5 Started off slow but grew into the game, despite having a tricky assignment against Salah. Evra: 6.5 Resilient in defense, he controlled Joaquín well but struggled to contribute much on the front foot. Vidal: 7 Was a constant nuisance to Viola ballcarriers, chasing after anyone who dared bring the ball across midfield. Got in the box at times, but did not threaten the goalkeeper as he would have liked. Marchisio: 7.5 His knee looked all right to me as he covered his defense and played a lot of aggressive forward passes, contributing to the buildup in Matri's first and delivering the corner assist for the second. Sturaro: 6 Filling in on the left of midfield Sturaro's energy is fantastic, but he faded as the game wore on and could have done better in and around the Fiorentina area. Pereyra: 7.5 One of the difference makers in the Juventus side, Pereyra took on a big creative role with Carlos Tévez out of the team, getting a goal for his efforts. Morata: 5.5 A decent game linking up with Matri and the midfielders, and could easily have scored, but ruined it all by getting a stupid, if perhaps slightly harsh, red card. Matri: 7 Did all that he could leading the line, holding up the ball pretty well and taking his chances when they came. Substitutes Coman: N/A The young Frenchman had a brief introduction and showed his speed and directness, but was soon taken off after Morata was sent off. Ogbonna: 6 Put under some pressure late on, Ogbonna slotted into the right center back position and held his own. Llorente: N/A Was on for a couple minutes at the end and won an important defensive header. Coach Allegri: 7 Chose the right team to put Fiorentina under pressure, and seemed to direct Marchisio and Bonucci into making more attacking passes, repeatedly splitting the Fiorentina defense. Could perhaps have taken Morata off earlier, but his moment of madness was hard to foresee.

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Allegri shows his genius in leading Juventus past Fiorentina in Coppa Italia Apr 8, 2014 Having only lost one match in their last 19, it was Fiorentina with the advantage with the two away goals after the 2-1 win in their Coppa Italia semifinal first leg encounter in Turin. And if they needed any more icing on the cake, they had one in that Juventus had never managed to overturn a first leg defeat at home in the competition. Yet despite the absences of key personnel and the first leg defeat at home, Juventus put in a tremendous performance to win 3-0 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate, owing their excellence and progression to team spirit and intelligent coaching. When Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri announced his starting line-up, this particular column was disappointed. Was Alessandro Matri the right man to field? Would a 4-3-3 with Pepe not have given the squad something extra? Yet if there is one thing the critics have learned is that Allegri always knows best, systematically proving just how well he understands both his squad and the opponents they face. His side may not always put in dazzling displays, but when it comes to tactics, one really has very little to critique. Without Carlos Tevez leading the squad and the Viola starting with determination, pressing with intensity and desperate to attack, things weren't looking good for the Bianconeri. However, the scrappy goal managed by Matri settled the nerves and knocked the wind out of Fiorentina's sails. Juventus may not have had their best men on the pitch, but the execution of their tactical philosophy still made the difference. The intricacy of their play and their understanding of each other's movement are the reasons why they can cope with a heavily rotated squad. For this, one cannot help but indulge in cliched hyperbole again, as Allegri deserves a million compliments -- as do his fitness staff. There are many who believed in his tactical ideas but few who believed in his man management and ability to keep a squad moving and improving, especially when the pressure mounted and the injuries took place. In a match where old-fashioned physical strength and squad spirit would make the difference, Juventus brought that onto the pitch, yet maintained their elegant style of play to show that whoever dons the Bianconeri jersey is worthy and capable of carrying out the necessary instructions. By drawing with Atletico Madrid to qualify out of their Champions League group and then beating Borussia Dortmund, Juventus have broken down previous psychological barriers. There is genuine confidence and belief in the squad, encouraging players to step up and produce the level of performance they once seemed too scared to provide. At times, certain players are still guilty of playing within themselves, and that was especially evident in the earlier part of the season, but in every game there is a slight improvement in a certain aspect of their game. Even Matri, who scored the critical opening goal, understood what and how to operate to ensure the squad managed a second. Matri quickly played the ball to Morata, who controlled but had his shot parried by Fiorentina goalkeeper Neto. Matri then held back his run as Roberto Pereyra was in a better position to score, and did so firing a rocket past Neto. Aware of his surroundings throughout the move, he impressed with his understanding and willingness to play for the team. Another player that this particular blog has never been fond of has grown leaps and bounds. Pereyra always had something special but poor at executing his strengths, yet slowly but surely he has developed well, is making better decisions and displays confidence and intelligence. His shots are now more accurate and he gives all he has on the pitch, forever running and thinking of ways he can make the difference. Yet regardless of how well anyone else performed, few can live up to Claudio Marchisio and the impact this midfielder makes on the squad. How delighted Allegri must be to have him fit and available. The Old Lady can live without Paul Pogba; they can allow Andrea Pirlo to retire and let go of whomever else they worship, but Marchisio is Juventus in every sense of the word. A man of supreme intellect, physically and technically remarkable, he is the player the club produced, nurtured and whom they now enjoy. He is the only unsellable asset the Turin giants have simply because he's a product of their youth system and a man who can interpret any role perfectly well. Facing men like Marchisio and a team of lions who were ready to cut off Mohamed Salah every time he had the ball at his feet and ready to break with pace, Fiorentina never truly threatened. Outmuscled and inaccurate, they could barely threaten on set pieces - usually one of their strength. Defensively they also lacked their usual organisation, visible in the first leg. Evidently, the match against Sampdoria over the weekend robbed them of their usual spark and they lost concentration in dangerous moments of the match, allowing Leonardo Bonucci a perfect opportunity to score the third of the night. Every time Fiorentina attempted to move forward to create, Arturo Vidal or Stefano Sturaro would stop them in their tracks -- the latter eager to improve, the former a warrior. The Chilean has steadily improved as the season has progressed, yet it's clear his instincts are not what they were. He once read the game better, moved better but now can be looked upon as a liability at times, fouling when a little composure would better serve his team, even if his determination still impresses. It's a shame that Juventus will be without Morata and Marchisio in the final. One can still not quite understand what the referee saw to punish the Spaniard so harshly with a red card, but if the Bianconeri could manage a 3-0 in Florence without their best players, they can survive a final without the suspended duo. Allegri really has what it takes to maximise the potential of those he has available and whether he brings home the trophy or not, he can be proud of his achievements.

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Chiellini: Juventus face two months of fire The defender is trying not to think too much winning the treble, but says the Bianconeri have proven that they have sufficient strength in depth to pull it off. Apr 8, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini believes that Juventus have "two months of fire" coming up after they reached the Coppa Italia final at Fiorentina's expense on Tuesday. The defender played his part as Massimiliano Allegri's men defeated Vincenzo Montella's side 3-0 in the semi-final second leg, turning around their 2-1 loss in the opener, which kept their treble hopes alive. With a Champions League quarter-final against Monaco coming up this month and now a domestic cup final to look forward to, Chiellini believes the Serie A table-toppers are well-placed to repeat Inter's treble success five years ago under Jose Mourinho. "Juve wanted to take control of the semi-final from the start," the centre-back told Rai Sport. "We managed to ease into the rhythm well then tried to hit the weak points of Fiorentina. "I did not expect such a great result, to be honest, with so many key players absent, but this just proves what a great group we have and how everybody deserves to wear the Bianconeri jersey. "We have to continue to be flexible with our tactics and our personnel, as we have two months of fire coming up. "Winning games helps one's winning attitude, and these last few weeks in Serie A have given us the strength to thrive in the cup and in Europe. "Treble talk is more a newspaper's job than mine, but it is right that fans dream of such success. We must not take our eye off the ball, though. "You have to think about the present and the upcoming matches, not the prize at the end of the road." On Saturday, Juventus continue their assault on Serie A with a trip to rock-bottom Parma, who surprisingly held Inter to a draw at the weekend, before hosting Arsenal's conquerors Monaco in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Tevez barely missed as Juventus machine clicks into gear The Bianconeri made light work of a first-leg deficit to reach the Coppa Italia final and keep their hopes of a historic treble alive. Apr 7, 2014 By Kris Voakes | International Football Correspondent Even when they are beaten, Juventus are seemingly unbeatable. The Bianconeri’s only loss in their last 30 fixtures since an injury-time reverse at Genoa in October came in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final clash with Fiorentina. But Tuesday’s systematic dismantling of the Viola in the return at the Artemio Franchi excised the 2-1 loss at Juventus Stadium from the record books and reinvigorated treble talk in Turin. Massimiliano Allegri’s side were shorn of Gianluigi Buffon, Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba even before losing Stephan Lichtsteiner to injury in the warm-up, yet they took apart one of the country’s most dangerous sides with a superbly opportunistic display. By the end, the home side were thanking goalkeeper Neto for keeping the score down to 3-0. It was just a shame that Juve’s copybook was blotted late on when Alvaro Morata was ridiculously sent off for a non-event of a foul on Alessandro Diamanti. Just as they’re winning everything else right now, Juventus are odds-on to triumph in their inevitable appeal. “To turn the tables, we need to win by a two-goal margin. We need a good performance and calm heads,” Allegri warned before the match. “We need to be extremely patient and make the most of the chances that fall our way.” They did all that and more. This was a clear reminder of what Juve are capable of, and a timely one at that, with Monaco in town next Tuesday for the Champions League quarter-finals. The Bianconeri should have the measure of Leonardo Jardim’s side and, on this form, they could be a challenge for bigger and better outfits to follow. It is true that Fiorentina are prone to the odd blowout, with their recent 4-0 loss at Lazio bringing a shuddering halt to their slim hopes of qualification for the Champions League, but this was a Juve side missing half of their first XI. They should have been there for the taking but instead they were inspirational. Most impressively, they were dangerous in the final third despite the loss of Tevez. Their Argentine hitman has been in immaculate form for much of this season, and his absence with a thigh injury was expected to be one setback too many in the quest to overcome their first-leg loss. But Alessandro Matri was patient, Morata lively and Roberto Pereyra irresistible as Vincenzo Montella watched his back line throw up their hands and admit defeat in their bid to supress what Allegri has largely perceived to be his second-string strike force. With players of the calibre of Morata and Pereyra backing up Fernando Llorente and Tevez in the Bianconeri’s Champions League squad, there is plenty of depth to call upon. Perhaps crucially, Allegri switched back to a 4-3-1-2 for this fixture after sending a back three out for the victories over Genoa and Empoli in Serie A. Since originally realigning from Antonio Conte’s favoured formation, Juve have won four of five Champions League fixtures, drawing the other against Atletico Madrid to secure passage from the group stage. They’ve also stepped up to another level domestically. Juventus are now Coppa Italia finalists, Serie A champions-elect and Champions League quarter-finalists, but the good news doesn’t end there. They are finally playing in the right shape, have the correct attitude, excellent depth, have game-changing players to come back and are playing with confidence. Treble talk may well still be a little premature but the Bianconeri have reason to believe - and that’s bad news for everyone else.

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Juventus way better than every other team in Italy - Montella After watching his Fiorentina side beaten 3-0 on home soil in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg, the coach feels no Serie A side can compete with the Bianconeri. Apr 7, 2014 Vincenzo Montella says that the rest of Italy is way behind Juventus after watching his Fiorentina team dumped out of the Coppa Italia by the Old Lady on Tuesday. The Bianconeri won three consecutive Scudetti under Antonio Conte and have shown no signs of slumping under Massimiliano Allegri, who took over last summer, as they are 14 points clear at the top of Serie A with nine games to go. Despite being without key players such as Paul Pogba, Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon, Juve still smashed Fiorentina 3-0 in their semi-final second leg thanks to goals from Alessandro Matri, Roberto Pereyra and Leonardo Bonucci. Montella was frustrated that Mohamed Salah's early effort - which would have put them 3-1 up on aggregate in a tie they ultimately lost 4-2 - was ruled out by officials, but conceded that there had been a clear gulf in class between the two sides. "Evidently, the gap between Juventus and the rest of Italy is large," he told Rai Sport. "This is proven by the gap in Serie A. "There is bitterness in this defeat but we have no regrets. Congratulations to Juventus, we did our best but it wasn't good enough. "Cup games don't have favourites, maybe the game would have been different, though. Juventus deserved to reach the final in the end, even if they got lucky at times. "I am not just referring to Salah's ruled-out goal four minutes in - which puzzles me still - but with rebounds too. The goal before half-time paralysed us. "We played with pride, it's a real shame we went out with a 3-0 defeat but now we will focus on the Europa League and Serie A." Juventus will play either Napoli or Lazio in the Coppa Italia final, with the second leg of their semi-final to take place at the San Paolo on Wednesday.

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Juventus 3 - Fiorentina 0: Initial reaction and random observations Apr 7, 2014 Juventus, on the road, in Florence, down 2-1 on aggregate after the first leg. Not exactly the kind of situation that makes you full of optimism or positive feelings. Luckily, Juventus made us think otherwise even before the first half at the Franchi came to an end. That 2-1 aggregate scoreline got flipped — fast. First Alessandro Matri, then Roberto Pereyra right before halftime. Goodbye, aggregate deficit. Hello, brand new 3-2 lead. Once Leonardo Bonucci's right foot hammered home goal No. 3, Juventus were well on their way to the Coppa italia final thanks to a brilliant performance. On the road. At the Franchi. Just like we all thought would happen, right? Ehhhhh, I dunno about that one. Oh yeah, they also got Marco Storari a clean sheet. So, when looking at the end result in the two legs against Fiorentina, it's pretty remarkable how Juve were able to overcome what happened in the first leg — at their home stadium, no less — and advance with so many important pieces sitting back in Turin watching the game. That's not only the mark of a good team, but one that will be lifting at least one fancy trophy come the end of the season at the very minimum. Let's just do a quick season recap in the span of one paragraph, shall we? You're telling me Juventus is currently in the Champions League quarterfinals with a very good chance of advancing even further, the Coppa Italia final against a team TBD tomorrow and a 14-point lead in Serie A with nine games to go? That's pretty good, I'd say. Yeah, it's been a pretty good season for you, Max. You've got every reason to smile in pictures. (Although, I still really like the funny ones, so just remember that.) That praise you received after Juve beat Borussia Dortmund, well it's about to return with the absolutely wonderful performance against Fiorentina. You go on the road to a hostile atmosphere like the Franchi is and throttle La Viola 3-0 deserves that kind of praise. A job well done to everybody. Especially to you, Mister Allegri. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "Winning in Florence is a real feat. Credit to the lads." Random thoughts and observations Better second leg team performance, Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund or Juventus vs. Fiorentina? Just go right ahead and discuss. Another question: Why, up 3-0 in the final few minutes, is Álvaro Morata even risking some kind of serious punishment from the referee when going in for a tackle? That red card will cost him a spot in the Coppa Italia final, which is a shame considering how well he played against Fiorentina and this season as a whole. Prepare your Carlos Tévez and Fernando Llorente complaints now. Claudio Marchisio will also miss the Coppa Italia final, and that is probably going to be a bigger loss than that of Morata. It's amazing how less than two weeks ago we were thinking Marchisio's season was done, then he's out there just flat out dominating the midfield against Fiorentina. He was everywhere — making tackles, tracking back on defense, pretty much everything else you can think of. His tackle was what kickstarted what ended up being Matri's opener in the 20th minute, and then his corner was the assist on Bonucci's game-clincher. That's just the perfect bookends to another great game from Marchisio. Yeah, that guy who had a torn ACL for about eight hours a week and a half ago. This was the kind of game that reminds me why Roberto Pereyra is valuable piece to the puzzle. He's been a little inconsistent and frustrating sometimes this season, but when he puts it all together like that, it's pretty fun to watch. Is he full-time starter material on a team that goes deep into Europe? I don't know. But he's definitely a good player to have around — both because of his versatility and ability to make an impact wherever he plays on the field. So, what were you thinking when you heard Tévez wasn't going to be playing? Probably a little sad, right? Well, Alessandro Matri definitely helped fill the void. It was more than just the goal, too. His first start since coming back to Juve was a vintage kind of Matri performance. It's exactly what Juve needed with Tévez missing out. Not a bad guy to have around on the bench, I gotta admit. Stefano Sturaro is a bulldog. He is a relentless bulldog who is showing he can hang on this level of Italian football. He has gotten two starts in a row and hasn't really shown us any reason why he doesn't deserve any more playing time. Remember how I was worried about Mo Salah running wild on the Juventus defense like he did in the first leg last month? Yeah, well, Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini did a pretty good job of keeping Fiorentina's hottest striker off the scoresheet. The goals and the advancement into the Coppa Italia final are the headliners — and rightfully so — but keeping somebody like Salah, who was playing so well, quiet is a pretty big accomplishment as well. What's Kingsley Coman gotta do to get more than five minutes of playing time? Just throwing it out there. Three goals at the Franchi. It's still sinking in. No Tévez. No Pogba. No Pirlo. No Asamoah. No Buffon. But there was Padoin. Take that!

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Allegri: 'Treble would be nice!' Apr 7, 2014 Max Allegri replied to Juventus doubters and joked about a Treble push after flattening Fiorentina 3-0 to reach the Coppa Italia Final. This is the first time ever that Juve have gone through in the Coppa Italia after losing the first leg at home. They were beaten 2-1 in Turin, but emerged with a 3-0 triumph at the Stadio Franchi to book a spot in the Final against Napoli or Lazio. This evening’s result was achieved even without Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Stephan Lichtsteiner. “Some players were missing, others played with different characteristics,” Allegri told Rai Sport. “We’ve done that throughout the season, as don’t forget we were without Andrea Barzagli for eight months, while Martin Caceres and Kwadwo Asamoah have barely been available. “This is the proof that the players are all strong and put themselves at the disposal of the team with their own characteristics when needed. “This is the decisive part of the season and the group is in good shape, for which my fitness staff deserves credit. “I thought the team interpreted this game very well, as it’s by no means easy to win away to a Fiorentina side that has been playing great football. We did well on and off the ball, above all when defending.” Claudio Marchisio and Alvaro Morata will be suspended for the Final, the Spaniard getting a straight red in the final minutes for tripping Alessandro Diamanti. “If Morata really had to foul him, he should’ve tugged his shirt. Unfortunately he’s young and still needs to learn these tips and tricks. It seemed excessive to give a red card for that, but we’ll make do. “We’ll have Pogba back, Alessandro Matri played very well and scored a goal tonight, so I am very happy for him. We’ve got Kingsley Coman, who unfortunately I had to take off because I needed someone tall like Fernando Llorente to get the ball in the air. Allegri was subjected to insults and even threats after he replaced Antonio Conte, but has won over the doubters. “I hear people say you need this, that and the other to win in football. I believe there are many ways to win and to play, but so much depends on the character and approach of a team. “This is a squad of great individuals and the more they improve, the better the team will play. I don’t know how they worked in the past. I brought my concepts and my views of football, which might be right or wrong. “In my view, the fewer reference points you give to opponents, the more likely you are to win.” They are potentially on track for the Treble, though the Coppa Italia Final is set for June 7 and the Champions League Final on June 6. “I am the Juventus Coach. As I always said, the Coach and players go through, the club remains. “It’s normal the fans were upset at the changes, but we are in a crucial stage of the season, have reached the Final of the Coppa Italia, need another four wins and a draw to mathematically secure the Scudetto and will try to reach the Champions League semi-final. “Monaco are a tougher team than they might look on paper, so we’ll see what happens. It’d be nice to have to move the Coppa Italia Final!”

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Player Ratings: Fiorentina 0-3 Juventus (Agg 2-4) Apr 7, 2014 Juventus trounced Fiorentina 3-0 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on Tuesday evening. First-half goals from Alessandro Matri and Roberto Pereyra set the Bianconeri on their way to the final, before Leonardo Bonucci put the tie beyond doubt with a fine second-half strike to make the aggregate score 4-2. Fiorentina Norberto Neto – 6.5 – Exposed - Made a couple of impressive stops, somehow getting his fingertips to a curling Morata effort five minutes before half-time. Could do little to stop Juve’s goals due to some awful marking from the back four. Stefan Savic – 5 – Uncomfortable - Allowed Alvaro Morata to cut inside with ease on several occasions. Looked like a fish out of water at right-back and almost notched an own goal early in the second period. Gonzalo Rodriguez – 5.5 – Beleaguered - Proved a real danger in the opposition box from set-pieces throughout the first half, but played a part in several defensive errors at the back. Jose Maria Basanta – 5 – Sleepy - Lost his man Roberto Pereyra for Juventus’ second goal during an off-colour performance. Seemed off the pace. Joaquin – 5.5 – Fleeting - Drifted in and out of the game as is his wont. Skinned Evra on occasion, but couldn’t make it count with the final ball and was replaced midway through the second half. Alberto Aquilani – 5.5 – Unremarkable - Sent a beautiful effort just wide when the Viola were chasing the game, but didn’t see enough of the ball overall and duly failed to put his stamp on proceedings. Matias Fernandez – 5.5 – Timid - Got bullied out of the game and could only point to one decent free-kick delivery as his only meaningful contribution. Borja Valero – 6.5 – Schemer - Tried his best to set chances up for his teammates in the opening period, but got stifled by the powerful opposition midfield as the match went on. Marcos Alonso – 7 – Relentless - Got forward well along the left flank, providing an outlet for his teammates at all times. Put in a threatening cross-shot that troubled Storari and also stuck to his task well in defensive areas. It’s a shame his back-line colleagues couldn’t live up to his high standards. Mohamed Salah – 6 – Ineffective - Lively in the opening moments, but became marginalised as the match progressed. Not as influential as in a number of previous outings. Mario Gomez – 4 – Disinterested - Received little service and didn’t put in the requisite effort in order to get himself more involved in the action. Went off after 72 minutes having had one wayward shot. Substitutes Alessandro Diamanti (66 mins) – 6.5 Khouma Babacar (72 mins) – 6 Nenad Tomovic (83 mins) – N/A Juventus Marco Storari – 6.5 – Dependable - Dealt with a selection of dangerous crosses and a small amount of half-chances competently. Relatively comfortable night for the veteran. Simone Padoin – 7 – Able - Late replacement for Stephan Lichtsteiner and applied himself well at both ends of the field. Strong defensively and got forward consistently without getting caught out of position. Leonardo Bonucci – 7.5 – Exemplary - Rock solid at the back and volleyed home Juve’s third of the evening in emphatic fashion. Giorgio Chiellini – 7 – Untroubled - Captain for the evening Chiellini wasn’t put under any real pressure. He and Bonucci bossed it at the back. Patrice Evra – 6 – Lacklustre - Didn’t bomb forward as much as we’re used to seeing him do it and often found wanting defensively. Disappointing showing from a man who is usually so reliable. Stefano Sturaro – 5.5 – Quiet - Didn’t stake a claim on a regular spot during only his fourth appearance of the season for Juventus. Claudio Marchisio – 7.5 – Composed - Looked back to full fitness after his injury scare on international duty. Was integral to everything good about Juventus’ attacking play with probing passes and a positive approach. Earned a silly booking which puts him out of the final. Arturo Vidal – 6.5 – Valiant - Chilean destroyer Vidal battled bravely for every contested ball and gave his team a platform to build upon. Not at his very best, but played a vital role for the side. Roberto Pereyra – 8 – Sparkling - Played the number ten role brilliantly with some fantastic touches and bursting runs into the box. Grabbed a deserved goal and could have had more. Superb display. Alessandro Matri – 7 – Presence - Held the ball up well and poked home the opener for his first goal in 23 months for the Bianconeri. Denied further strikes by good work from Fiorentina stopper Neto. Alvaro Morata – 7.5 – Sharp - The young Spaniard was quick to pounce on any loose balls and always ready to shoot on sight. Though a tad ball-greedy at times, he was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. However, he received a straight red card two minutes from the end for an innocuous challenge on Fiorentina sub Alessandro Diamanti. Faces missing the final along with Marchisio. Substitutes Kingsley Coman (75 mins) – N/A Angelo Ogbonna (83 mins) – N/A Fernando Llorente (89 mins) – N/A

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa FIORENTINA 0-3 JUVENTUS COPPA ITALIA PLAYER RATINGS Apr 7, 2014 Juventus are through to the final of the Coppa Italia following a dominant away performance against Fiorentina. The Bianconeri started the brighter of the two sides and took a narrow lead through Alessandro Matri as he fired home from Alvaro Morata’s rebounded effort. Morata was on hand again to force a save from Norberto Neto, but the Fiorentina keeper could only palm the ball into the path of Roberto Pereyra who put Juventus ahead on the night. It was more of the same in the second half before Leonardo Bonucci finally put the tie out of reach with a brilliantly taken volley, giving Juve a 4-2 lead over the two legs. Marco Storari 7.0 - Had a few tricky saves to make in the first half. Always on his toes and looked utterly comfortable, largely thanks to his defence. Simone Padoin 6.5 - Stepped in for the injured Stephan Lichtsteiner and gave a solid performance, giving Juve some much needed width. Leonardo Bonucci 7.5 - Despite one shaky moment early on, he was superb. Brilliant positioning, marked Gomez out of the game and restricted Fiorentina attacks. Scored a sublime volley to secure the result. Giorgio Chiellini 7.0 - A defensive masterclass. Kept Salah in his pocket all night, worked perfectly in tandem with Bonucci to marshall the defence. Patrice Evra 6.5 - Defended brilliantly tonight. Made some great tackles to keep Joaquin quiet but didn’t get forward as often as he could have. Arturo Vidal 7.5 - Exceptional workrate, linked up with Pereyra to create openings for his teammates. Tackled, harried and won the ball back in midfield. Marred only by his temperament at times. Claudio Marchisio 8.0 - A midfield masterclass. Played a range of intricate passes and crosses that Pirlo would have been proud of. Booked unfairly and will miss out on the final. Stefano Sturaro 6.5 - A good rugged display from the youngster. Fought hard in midfield and played well with Evra to the side of him. Improving with each performance. Roberto Pereyra 8.0 - Another performance highlighting just why he was bought in the summer. Scored his second goal in a week and he was at the heart of many Juve attacks, playeing some great passes to set up his teammates. Exceptional. Alessandro Matri 7.0 - Took his goal brilliantly, held up the play and seemed to benefit for having Alvaro Morata alongside him. A poacher’s performance. Alvaro Morata 6.5 - Played his part in the first 2 Juve goals. Showed a great range of crossing and generally worked his hardest before getting sent off for a stupid challenge. Substitutes Angelo Ogbonna N/A Kingsley Coman N/A Fernando Llorente N/A

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Montella: 'Juve were stronger' Apr 7, 2014 Vincenzo Montella said Fiorentina must admit “Juventus were stronger” after a 3-0 Coppa Italia semi-final defeat. The Viola had been in pole position after a 2-1 first leg victory in Turin, becoming the first side to win there since Bayern Munich in April 2013. “We knew that we were facing a strong side. The first leg was only one part of it, we didn’t put in the performance we wanted,” the Coach told Rai Sport. “Juventus deserved to win, even if the incidents went their way. Even the lucky ricochets went their way and that makes a big difference on a psychological level. “I was frankly baffled by the early disallowed Mohamed Salah goal, as the push didn’t seem worthy of that fall. Never mind, Juve deserved it overall. “Fiorentina weren’t too bad during the game itself, but Juventus were clinical and took all their chances, whereas we did not. “We need certain figures in midfield against a side like Juve and suffered physically as well as being outnumbered there. “The goal on the stroke of half-time really took the wind out of our sails. Obviously against a side with such physical strength it becomes complicated, but my team wanted to score to the end and continued to fight hard until the final whistle. “At times you just have to acknowledge the other team was stronger. The Serie A table shows how far ahead Juventus are from the rest, so evidently that’s still the case.”

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Juventus cruise past Fiorentina in second leg to reach Coppa Italia final Apr 7, 2014 Juventus stormed into the Coppa Italia final after overturning a semifinal first-leg deficit to thrash Fiorentina in the return clash at the Artemio Franchi. The Bianconeri trailed 2-1 coming into the second leg, but a 3-0 victory on Tuesday night lifted them into the final against either Lazio or Napoli on June 7 at the Stadio Olimpico. After in-form Fiorentina winger Mohamed Salah had a goal disallowed, the visitors opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Alessandro Matri stabbed home after the ball had fallen to him from Alvaro Morata's blocked shot. Juve doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Roberto Pereyra scored from the rebound after Morata's strike had been parried by Fiorentina goalkeeper Neto. And there would be no way back for the Viola when an unmarked Leonardo Bonucci volleyed home from a corner in the 59th minute. Juve's night was soured slightly when Morata was harshly sent off near full-time after a challenge on Alessandro Diamanti. However, they comfortably held on and will go in search of their first Coppa Italia crown since 1995.

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Pereyra: 'Juve showed strength' Apr 7, 2014 Roberto Pereyra said Juventus showed their strength in a 3-0 hammering of Fiorentina to reach the Coppa Italia Final. The Bianconeri had lost the first leg 2-1 in Turin, but turned it all around for a 4-2 aggregate triumph at the Stadio Franchi. “There are many players in this squad and today we showed that we are strong in a difficult arena. We prepared the game well over the week and got the result we wanted,” Pereyra told Rai Sport. He was one of the goalscorers on the night along with Alessandro Matri and Leonardo Bonucci. Juve are now in the running for the Treble, as they face Monaco in the Champions League quarter-final and have one hand on the Scudetto. Did the victory away to Borussia Dortmund signal a change in mentality? “Before the Borussia Dortmund match we were also solid and working well. Now we are working to continue along this path. “We are taking it one game at a time and we’re happy with tonight, as we really wanted to reach the Final and felt we deserved it.” Max Allegri might not be quite as vocal as Antonio Conte, but he too shouts regularly at his players. “Allegri is a little fiery on the touchline, but he’s happy as we are all working well together.”

FIORENTINA - JUVENTUS 0 - 3 Alessandro Matri (21') Roberto Pereyra (44') Leonardo Bonucci (59') Juventus win Aggregate 4 - 2 Coppa Italia semi-final Tuesday, April 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence Referee: Davide Massa Fiorentina 0-3 Juventus (2-4 Agg): Allegri’s Men March Into The Coppa Italia Final Apr 7, 2014 After an impressive 2-1 first leg victory in Turin gave them the advantage in this contest, Fiorentina’s Coppa Italia hopes fell apart at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Tuesday evening as Juventus turned in an impressive performance to come away from Tuscany with a commanding 3-0 victory. Strikes from Alessandro Matri, Roberto Pereyra and Leonardo Bonucci could not be matched by the Viola who huffed and puffed but simply had no reply as Juventus steamrollered their way through to the final. After terrorizing the Bianconeri defence in the first leg, Mohamed Salah started this game with exactly the same energy and verve and he was unlucky not to open the scoring in the fourth minute when he managed to wriggle through the visitors defence and poke the ball under Marco Storari. However, the referee disallowed the goal after ruling that Salah had fouled Stefano Sturaro during the penalty box scramble. Undeterred by that disappointment, the tricky Egyptian continued to look lively throughout the opening stages, causing Juventus problems with his speed and movement as the Viola played a high tempo game and pressed the visitors extremely high up the pitch, allowing them very little time on the ball. Despite struggling with Fiorentina’s intensity, it was Juventus who opened the scoring against the run of play in the 21th minute. Claudio Marchisio broke away down the right and whipped in a cross which ricocheted into the path of Matri who tucked the ball past Neto to draw the Bianconeri level on aggregate. Following the goal the game settled down somewhat and Massimiliano Allegri’s men began to stamp their authority on proceedings although the home side did have a effort from a free kick ruled for offside in the 37th minute. However, it was Juventus who added another goal just before half time to give the Binaconeri a 3-2 lead over both legs. A fluid passing move cumulated with Álvaro Morata striking the ball from just inside the Viola box and although Neto got down to make the save, Pereyra was sharpest to react and he slotted away the rebound from close range. Unsurprisingly, given the scoreline, it was Fiorentina who emerged from the break with more intent and Mario Gomez came close from a tight angle early in the first half while Salah put a good chance over the bar a few moments later. For all the hosts aggresive resolve, Juventus always looked exceptionally dangerous when counter attacking and Pereyra and Matri combined brilliantly on the break to win a corner in the 58th minute. From the resulting set piece, Leonardo Bonucci arrived in the box with perfect timing to smash home Juve’s third and effectively end this game as a contest. The match did contain one more moment of drama as Morata was given a straight red card for a foolish and completely unnecessary foul from behind on Alessandro Diamanti in the dying minutes, thus depriving his coach of his attacking talents for the final. Ultimately Vincenzo Montella’s men were punished for their openness and naively while Allegri’s game management demonstrated exactly why his side are now one match away from a domestic double and beginning to dream about a treble.