Socrates

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie_a/juventus/2015/03/09-92157_0/FOTO+Juventus-Sassuolo%3A+la+partita+allo+Stadium? http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/ASkpL-M0DAB/Juventus+FC+v+Sassuolo+Calcio

Pogba: My €200 million price tag is head-spinning The midfielder is concentrating on his performances after reports suggested interested clubs would have to cough up the colossal figure for his fee and salary. Mar 11, 2015 Paul Pogba has branded his €200 million price tag as “head-spinning” as the transfer saga around him at Juventus rumbles on. The French midfielder's agent, Mino Raiola, is alleged to have told Barcelona that they would need to pay €200m for the combined fee and salary of the 21-year-old in January 2016. Although Pogba signed a new contract with the Scudetto holders late last year, the rumour mill has only increased with ferocity since January with Real Madrid and Chelsea linked with a summer move. But the former Manchester United youngster is trying to think only about his efforts for Juventus, whom he fired to an 11-point lead in Serie A with his late winner against Sassuolo on Monday. "I think I have to be more focused on the field because these things can make your head spin," he told Corriere dello Sport. "I'm concentrating only on my performances, as I always say. If you want to know about transfer things you'd have to ask Mino Raiola. "I am focused to win the Scudetto and not thinking about anything else. If I want to become a great player then I have to work harder, and do more and more in training. "I try to thrive in every game and I have the confidence of my coach and team-mates - I have to grow up and do better."

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus Fans Empty Curva In Protest Mar 10, 2015 Juventus fans emptied part of the Curva during their 1-0 win over Sassuolo in protest against action of the police. Paul Pogba got a late winner in the match, and during the second half the Bianconeri fans sitting behind the goal emptied half the Curva Sud. It is thought the protest by one of the ultra groups was due to the grievances against the treatment of fellow fans by the police. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus 1-0 Sassuolo: Paul Pogba at the rescue as Juve extend Serie A lead Paul Pogba scored with another beautiful long strike to help Juventus overcome a stubborn Sassuolo defence and extend their lead at the top of Serie A table to 11 (ELEVEN!!!) points. Mar 10, 2015 "Siamo noi, siamo noi! I campioni dell'Italia siamo noi..." No, this time it wasn’t just in my head. Juventus’ tifosi at the stadium chanted this even from the first half with, presuming, Roma’s latest draw against Chievo — yes, Chievo! — still fresh in their minds. And they are right, aren’t they? Eleven points between the two clubs at the top of the table with 12 fixtures left and Roma playing another queen of draws at home next time out, namely Sampdoria. Sounds good. Jump on the bandwagon then! Siamo noi, siamo noi! I campioni dell'Italia siamo noi! It was more difficult than expected to get the three points against Eusebio Di Francesco’s side, though, even bearing in mind the result from the first leg when the two teams drew 1-1. Paul Pogba was the man who scored the goal in that match and he was at the post again to save the day for Juventus on Monday. All hail the new king, Paul! If it wasn’t for that ridiculous haircut of his ... seriously, somebody should tell him. Addressing the new king matter, it is certainly distressing seeing Arturo Vidal playing football nowadays. Great work to start the action that lead to the goal, yes, but he has been far away from the normal self for too long and with Andrea Pirlo still out, things are not working brilliantly in midfield for Juventus. Claudio Marchisio has his moments of foolishness; Roberto Pereyra is still doing all the little tricks and flicks with very little effect, while Pogba, despite his goal, has also been off form recently. Pretty much like the whole team — not registering any negative results, but still just off the ideal, steady course. And although it wasn’t actually heart-warming hearing Antonio Conte preaching how his Juventus would be 20 points clear now, there might be a tiny little bit of truth in there somewhere. No doubt many juventini would just kindly ask him to mind his own business, if it would not be too much to ask of him. Marco Storari made his second Serie A appearance of the season as captain Gianluigi Buffon missed the game because of the flu, while Martin Caceres underwent a surgery to his ankle that probably, and most unfortunately, rules him out for the season. Buffon should be fit to face Dortmund next week — as the Palermo game is now really the last thing any juventino cares about — but Pirlo’s situation is still in doubt. Regardless, Max Allegri has a few choices to make for Palermo, keeping in mind Pogba is suspended for the game. Give as many players as possible a good weekend’s rest or keep them on duty roster? Having just mentioned the former Juventus manager, he used to unnecessarily field the best XI when more important games were around the corner. It might be a good chance for Allegri to interrupt the trend. MATCH SUMMARY Right in the very first minute, there was an almost terrible blunt from Storari who had a moment of incertitude with the ball at his feet and Simone Zaza took full advantage of it. It was a first half of little action, however, as too many poor touches and misplaced passes undermined Juventus’ chances of creating something dangerous for Andrea Consigli’s goal, while Sassuolo were more than pleased to defend the 0-0 and try to hit on the counter. Pereyra and Carlos Tévez played a short corner-kick in the 11th minute and then found Marchisio unmarked in the box but the Italian midfielder skyed his volley. Tévez had the first decent opportunity for Juventus in the 21st minute when he received a ball from Alvaro Morata right at the edge of the box and after beating his man with the first touch, sent a powerful left-footed shot at the near post but the ball went over the goal. It was the same Argentine striker had the first shot on target from distance in the 33rd minute but it was aimed straight at Consigli who parried the ball away easily. A few moments later, Leonardo Bonucci played a horrendous pass inside his own half and it was intercepted by Simone Missiroli who found Zaza with his first touch. The attacker was in a great position and Tévez was forced to bring him down in order to deal with the danger, receiving a yellow card in the process. Nicola Sansone took the resulting free-kick from 25 yards out but it was an easy save for Storari — it turned out later it was also the only save the veteran goalkeeper had to make all game. There was a last half decent chance for the hosts just before the half time as Tévez cut inside from the left and found Vidal in a central position but the Chilean’s shot was blocked and went behind for a corner-kick. Nothing resulted from the set piece and referee Sebastiano Peruzzo blew the half time whistle. Second half started pretty much in the same fashion the first one ended, with Juventus applying pressure close to the opposite box with few results. Pogba missed the first good opportunity in the 52nd minute when his low shot from just outside the area was tipped wide by Consigli. The pressure was mounting as Juventus appeared to have increased the pace a bit and the next chance felt five minutes later to Tévez who sliced a volley just inches away from the far post, following a deflected cross from Stephan Lichtsteiner. Morata found some space inside the box in the 62nd minute but his shot missed the target. That was his latest action of the game as he was replaced a minute later by Fernando Llorente, while Simone Pepe replaced Pereyra. Allegri changed to a 4-3-3 with that double substitution, theoretically moving Tévez wide, but the Argentine kept roaming around asking for the ball whenever he had the chance. Juventus started to flood Sassuolo’s box with crosses after these changes — mainly because of Pepe and probably the general lack of ideas — but 20 more minutes passed before the agony ended. Pogba eventually found the breakthrough for Juventus in the 82nd minute after a very quick build-up involving Vidal and Pepe. The Chilean won the ball inside his half and passed it to Pepe who found space down the middle of the pitch. The winger seemed to be aiming the ball for Tévez on the left side of the pitch but Pogba took it with the outside of his boot at about 20 yards out and with the next touch sent a great volley close to the post that gave Consigli no chance. Juventus managed to keep Sassuolo away from their own box rather comfortably in the final minutes and after Zaza was booked for his third handball of the game, referee Peruzzo put an end to the match. PLAYER RATINGS Storari: 6.5 One steady save from the veteran who was idle for most of the time Lichtsteiner: 5.5 A lot of balls went astray from the Swiss defender who seems to be ineffective out of his usual wing-back role Bonucci: 6 Kept Zaza quiet relatively easy and was involved in quite a few build-up actions for Juventus. Decent attempt with the shot from very far out Chiellini: 6 Started the game a bit shaky but regained his composure as it went on. Couple of decent chances to score following corner kicks but he didn’t direct his headers properly Evra: 6 Good runs down the left flank but his crosses were poor. The same average performance from the Frenchman he displayed all season Vidal: 5.5 Good work to launch the counter for the goal, but had the same alarmingly quiet game Marchisio: 6 More steady than his latest performance against Fiorentina, but despite being a solid presence in midfield, il Principino didn’t do too much to help the attacks Pogba: 7 Saved the match for Juventus doing exactly what a top player does when his game is poor overall — steps up on one occasions and delivers the killer punch Pereyra: 5.5 Dire performance from the Argentine, whose poor passing and positioning were once more weakening the attacking moves Tévez: 6.5 Was the only spark in attack for Juventus for most of the time, always on the move asking for balls but his efforts were not rewarded with a goal. Morata: 5.5 Rather frustrating night for the Spaniard who was constantly drifting left and right in an attempt to find more space as Sassuolo’s defence was crammed in the middle. Subs Pepe: 6 Delivered quite a few crosses after he replaced Pereyra in the 63rd minute and also provided the assist – although probably by mistake Llorente: 5.5 Replaced Morata but was rarely seen on the pitch. Had one half decent chance but his effort was too weak Barzagli: HE’S BACK! Coach Allegri: 5.5 Despite making a double substitution with half an hour left to play, little things changed afterwards and the team still seemed impotent to find a breakthrough. Was saved by Pogba’s late strike but Allegri needs to give the players a bit of jolt ahead of Dortmund http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Moment of Pogba brilliance puts Roma's Serie A hopes on the brink Mar 10, 2015 For a moment, you thought it was never going to happen. The fans were booing. Andrea Agnelli was clutching his head as he sat bent down watching. And Massimiliano Allegri was screaming. What is it with Sassuolo, and why does Allegri struggle to overcome this wonderfully constructed side? After the break, the fans cheered on the team and the tempo was raised and yet Juve couldn't pierce through. Only a moment of magic was going to conclude the game, an individual piece of brilliance. And it finally arrived on the 81st minute. Paul Pogba struck an audacious volley to stretch the lead at the top of Serie A to 11 points after Juventus' eventual 1-0 victory. Dear Roma, it looks to be all but over. Eusebio Di Francesco has created a Sassuolo side that simply won't accept their status as a lowly minnow. A teeny tiny club in a city that has a population of 41,000, more or less the same as the capacity of Juve's stadium, they boast heart and infinite determination. Possessing quality in various areas of the pitch, especially in the front line, it's a squad that rarely tires, playing an aggressive style of football that frustrates the opponent as they nip and press for every ball to launch an attack. Juventus, deployed in their usual 4-3-1-2 formation, were close to abysmal in the first half. Barring Carlos Tevez, the squad appeared static, playing their game at an usually-slow pace. They may never have been the fastest squad in the league but there was simply no energy from a side that faced an opponent hungry to irritate. With Sassuolo offering no space between the lines, it was a game made for Fernando Llorente, a player who understands how to push defenders back and create space for his partners alongside him to work. With Alvaro Morata roaming all over the pitch in hopes of uncovering some space, he made himself somewhat easy to defend against. The Neroverdi were too organised, too quick to shut down space and no Bianconero was doing enough to pull players out of position or create space for others. Moreover the midfielders held back, rarely pushing forward to make timely insertions in advanced positions, thus there were few options in the box for Juventus when the odd pass or cross did come in that required conversion. However, while Allegri may not possess Antonio Conte's grit, he can instead rely on what makes him a worthy Juve coach -- his tactical substitutions. His men were already feeding off the reaction of the fans who were desperately cheering the players on -- after jeering them initially -- but now they realised they had begun to create some interesting chances and they wanted to see more. Something had to change, and Allegri threw on Llorente and Simone Pepe, changing the side's formation to a 4-4-2 to stretch the opponent. Immediately the latter made the difference as he attempted to make the most of Llorente's aerial ability. With accurate crosses now coming in and the tempo raised, there was hope the Bianconeri would find the winner. There was genuine belief among the home squad while Di Francesco's men began to tire as they attempted to adjust themselves. Concentration levels were bound to drop and finally, against an opponent that was well organised and heavily determined, individual quality made the difference. Despite the competition, despite the beauty of certain well-assembled squads such as Napoli and Roma, Juve have that bit more that allows them to resolve these kinds of matches. It takes only one mistake for them to profit and make their superiority count through individual brilliance. Who provided the assist? Why it was Pepe (chapeau Allegri!), while Pogba's goal ought to relieve the block the player has been experiencing in recent games. Placing too much pressure on himself to make the difference, the Frenchman can surrender to frustration at times and confidence is an issue. That wonderful goal is bound to stand him in good stead, especially considering the Borussia Dortmund game is coming up and his contribution ought to prove valuable if he's feeling confident. Monday's essential victory has now stretched the lead at the top and yet Allegri refuses to celebrate at this stage of the campaign, fearful his side will drop their intensity. One cannot help but be pleased for him considering Conte's tongue-in-cheek comments. The former Juve coach coyly suggested that had Allegri's Juve possessed the same grit as his, they would be ahead of Roma by 20 points. Allegri will always have his critics, but this is a team that is still fighting on all fronts and is 11 points clear at the top. One cannot be too critical of him. Conte is and will always be a legend that fans will always be grateful to for having revived their sunken Old Lady. However, there are times his ego has hurt the side he proclaims to love more than anything. That included the time he chose to refer to Fabio Capello's titles as revoked, belittling his achievements and making a mockery of Juve's attempts to insist they won their 32 titles 'on the pitch.' And now, at a time when the club is enjoying success, despite the hardships, he needs to stand firm and applaud them. With Conte, there's no smoke without fire and while his remarks were meant to be humorous, it's clear he truly believes what he said. Regardless of the swipes, Conte will always be Conte, but tonight Juve celebrate, not only because they achieved a victory, but because they now sit comfortably -- regardless of what Allegri may say -- in front of the Serie A pack. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus 1 - Sassuolo 0: Initial reaction and random observations Mar 10, 2015 And here is Part 23,452 why Paul Pogba is the eye of every single club that can afford him in the world. In a game that needed something to happen or else Juventus would be sent to their eighth draw of the season in 26 games, there was Pogba, Juventus' 21-year-old superstar French midfielder, to answer the call. His latest leave-your-draw-hanging kind of goal gave Juventus the 1-0 win over Sassuolo in a game that almost seemed destined for a scoreless draw as more and more minutes ticked off the clock. Pogba. Eleven-point lead atop Serie A. Sounds like a lovely night to put one hand on the Scudetto to me. It's just the latest piece of evidence as to why so many of us just smile at the possibility of Pogba staying around for as long as possible.Even when his game isn't at his best in recent weeks, he is able to do what he did in the 82nd minute against a Sassuolo side that was primed to steal a point at Juventus Stadium. It went from "another frustrating result for Juventus" to an ugly win with one moment of absolute brilliance. It wasn't a surprise from who it came from. This is Pogba's world and we're just living in it. You don't have to look far to see who Juventus' most prized asset is. Or why, for that matter. This goal is exactly why. It came at the perfect time when his team desperately needed it. That's just beautiful. And to think Juventus still have a couple months remaining in the season. Those numbers are bound to rise outside of anything terrible going down. Those goals are bound to be in double digits, and knowing how many crazy things he can pull off to setup teammates, the same can be said for the assist numbers. One more thing: Remember this quote from Max Allegri's pre-match press conference? JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "I'd also be happy to win the Sassuolo game by a 1-0 scoreline. In life you need to be practical." Yeah, I think he'll be pretty happy with it. Although, that Pogba goal was anything but practical for an ordinary human being. Thank goodness Paul Pogba is far from ordinary. Random thoughts and observations God bless Paul Labile Pogba. Seriously. Bless him for being him. Some quality man hugs going on in tribuna. Plus-11 in the table feels pretty good. BARZA BACK. It's been a long road for Andrea Barzagli since undergoing surgery last summer. His only game time in a Juventus jersey Winning ugly seems to be the route Juventus has taken a good amount of the time lately. Sometimes that will make you want to pull your damn hair out, but that's clearly the fashion that Monday's game was going to have to be won as it went on. I mean, it could be worse. They could be losing and look like crap. Sassuolo were oh so close to getting a point at Juventus Stadium. So very close. Too bad for them that Paul Pogba happened. Luckily for us who wear black and white jerseys with his name on the back, Paul Pogba happened and saved us — and potentially some household belongings — from destruction. There are just some mid- or bottom-table teams that give Juventus problems every season. Let's consider Sassuolo one of those this season. A 1-1 draw to Sassuolo, a hard-fought 1-0 win at Juventus Stadium on Monday. This is Juventus vs. Sassuolo in the 2014-15 season. Sixteen total shots, only four put on frame. That's the Juventus I know and love. Gotta be honest, being 11 points up feels pretty good, man. Also good to see Juventus take advantage of a slip up from Roma, too. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Player Ratings: Juventus 1-0 Sassuolo Mar 9, 2015 Juventus 30 M. Storari - Making only his second Serie A start of the season in place of the ill Buffon, Storari had a few shaky moments, including in the first minute, but he generally did little wrong. 26 S. Lichtsteiner - Did not spend much time in his own half as Sassuolo rarely attacked down his flank and, while he was regularly involved in the final third, his deliveries were not particularly impressive. 19 L. Bonucci - Always looked to pass the ball out of defence and he will be admired for that, though on several occasions his distribution lacked accuracy and invited pressure on to Juve. 3 G. Chiellini - A threat in the air from set-pieces, but the Juve captain appeared nervous a few times and often looked uncomfortable with Zaza's intense pressing. 33 P. Evra - A solid display from the Frenchman. He generally defended well and also offered an attacking threat going forward, linking well with Pogba more than once. 23 A. Vidal - Not one of the Chilean's better displays. He used the ball well and engaged in some good interchanging in the final third, but he was often caught napping in possession. 8 C. Marchisio - The Italy international worked hard in the middle and even got forward to offer an extra number in the final third, though he often looked a little uncomfortable defensively. 6 Paul Pogba - Disappointing for much of the match, with his touch deserting him on a few occasions. However, like the great player he is, he popped up when it really mattered, netting a brilliant winner towards the end. 37 R. Pereyra - A somewhat unspectacular display from the Argentinian. He picked out Tevez for a good chance in the first half, but on the whole he failed to make much of an impact or have much influence. 10 C. Tévez - A typical Tevez display, as the Argentina star proved a pest to the Sassuolo defence without the ball and ran at them with it, often getting the better of Acerbi. 9 Álvaro Morata - The young Spaniard is enjoying a good debut campaign in Serie A and he had his moments on Monday, proving a willing runner and hard-working attacker, even if his finishing was not great. Substitutes 15 A. Barzagli - A late substitute as Juve looked to shore things up, the centre-back was making his first appearance of the season following a long injury lay-off. 7 S. Pepe - Added an extra dimension to Juve after his 63rd-minute entrance for Pereyra and he ultimately claimed an assist for Pogba's winner. 14 Llorente - Replaced Morata with just under half-an-hour to go and, while he did not offer as much running as his compatriot, he was more effective as the focal point of the Juve attack. Sassuolo 47 A. Consigli - By far the busier of the two goalkeepers and while he looked nervous at some crosses, he produced several fine saves to keep Sassuolo in the contest. He could do nothing about the winner, however. 11 Š. Vrsaljko - The Croatian was given plenty to think about by both Evra and Morata, but he did his job well for the most part, halting several Juve attacks. 15 F. Acerbi - Given a bit of a run-around by Tevez at times, rarely getting close to the Argentinian, but he did make several crucial blocks and interceptions in the Sassuolo area. 31 F. Peluso - Playing against his former team, the centre-back did more or less did his job well sweeping up around Acerbi and keeping a close eye on Pereyra, whom he halted more than once. 3 A. Longhi - Generally appeared to be the weak point in the Sassuolo defence, as the left-back routinely failed to deny Lichtsteiner crossing and he generally struggled. 33 M. Brighi - One of three exceptionally hard-working midfielders in the Sassuolo midfield, the former Roma man helped to nullify the threat of Pogba for long periods, proving something of a nuisance. 4 F. Magnanelli - A battling performance in the middle, the Sassuolo captain proved effective at closing down on the edge of the area in the first half, though after the break he found Juve's increased tempo a little more awkward. 7 S. Missiroli - Although deployed towards the left, he often found himself pressing from the centre and generally to good effect. Rather ineffective in possession, however. 25 D. Berardi - Although he rarely ran at Evra, the young Italian caused a few problems when he cut inside and he worked exceptionally hard without the ball before fading in the second half. 10 S. Zaza - Despite ultimately being rendered helpless by poor service, he constantly put the Juve defence under pressure and worked tirelessly. 17 N. Sansone - Impressed in flashes with his direct running and he certainly cannot be faulted for his efforts out on the left, though he will perhaps be disappointed by his final ball. Substitutes 19 S. Taïder - Introduced for Sansone with 18 minutes to go and produced a couple of clever runs down the left flank. 6 R. Chibsah - Replaced Brighi for the final 10 minutes and did not make much of an impact. 30 D. Lazarević - A late entry in place of Missiroli, he did not have enough time to cause Juve any issues. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Pogba: I don't feel like I've sealed the Serie A title The Frenchman's fine half-volley against Sassuolo has moved Juventus 11 points clear but the midfielder says nothing has been decided yet. Mar 9, 2015 Paul Pogba has played down claims that he sealed Juventus' fourth successive Serie A title with his spectacular strike in Monday's 1-0 over Sassuolo. The France international scored a sublime half-volley with just eight minutes to go in Turin to send the Bianconeri 11 points clear at the summit of the standings with 12 rounds of the season remaining. "I don't feel like I'm the 'Scudetto man'," Pogba told Sky Sport Italia. "But we have won a difficult game. It was very important in terms of the league." Pogba has played an integral role in Juve's march towards a fourth consecutive Scudetto, netting seven times in 22 Serie A appearances, but he insists that he should not yet be considered a key member of Massimiliano Allegri's squad. "I don't feel like a leader, only one of many players within an extraordinary group," he added. "I can improve. If I want to be a great player, I must do more, both on the field and in training." Pogba celebrated his crucial matchwinner by cupping his hands around his ears, an apparent reference to the fact that not only has his recent form been criticised, but also the boos and whistles that came from certain sections of Juventus Stadium during a frustrating encounter with Sassuolo. The midfielder admitted afterwards that he was trying to make the point that Juve need unwavering support from their fans. "I thank all of my team-mates and the fans, because without them we will not go far," he added. "We need them also when we're playing badly. There are always difficult moments but we need them and their support. "Even when we're playing badly, we want to make them happy. We need them behind us. It's very important." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus Star Paul Pogba Delivers Victory over Sassuolo for Drab Bianconeri Mar 9, 2015 The reigning Serie A champions welcomed Sassuolo to Juventus Stadium on Monday evening, the Bianconeri fully aware that their closest rivals had slipped up once again at the weekend. Chievo held AS Roma to a draw, a result that meant a win for the home side would extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points. Their recent results had seen their own form fluctuate wildly, however, beating Borussia Dortmund and then playing the Giallorossi to a stalemate a week ago, then capitulating to Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia. That final game was perhaps understandable, the high level of intensity over their previous two outings leading to a somewhat inevitable slump. Yet, still, questions were asked, and Massimiliano Allegri told a pre-match press conference that he and the players “calmly sat down” to review the game against the Viola, per the club’s official website. Noting that reports had labelled the performance “a disaster,” the Juve boss spoke of the need to quickly rediscover their best form. “We must improve, stop conceding and work on our focus, because we’re at the final straight of the season,” he continued. “We’re in good physical shape though, and we’ll need to put in a great performance on Monday night.” As the game began, it seemed the side he sent out on the field had failed to heed that warning. Passes went astray, and the match slowly slipped into the kind of dull affair that appears destined to fade into a drab goalless draw. Fans made their displeasure known at half-time, and after the break the effort level appeared to rise accordingly as both sides went in search of a goal. Sassuolo’s exciting trio of young attacking players caused constant problems for the Juve defence, with Domenico Berardi, Nicola Sansone and Simone Zaza each posing a threat as the game wore on. Then, after 83 minutes of monotony, Paul Pogba rose to the occasion. As with the world’s finest players, the midfielder delivered when his side needed him to, smashing home Simone Pepe’s pass on the half-volley. Goalkeeper Andrea Consigli stood little hope. The player clearly recognised the significance of his goal, however, and also told Sky Italia shortly after the game that the team needs support from those in the stands (h/t Football Italia): It was a very, very difficult match and the victory is very important for this Scudetto. The pass was for someone else, but I felt it and I went for the ball. It went well. I thank the whole team and the fans. It’s tough for them too, but we need them throughout the season. I want to tell the supporters we need you, especially if we are playing badly, because we all win together. Another who perhaps deserves credit is Pogba’s compatriot Patrice Evra, who coped well with the threat of Berardi here. The youngster had little joy against the former Manchester United full-back as he made four tackles, four interceptions and won one aerial duel, according to statistics from WhoScored.com. In the dying minutes, Allegri also took the opportunity to give Andrea Barzagli a chance to get onto the pitch. The Italian international has been out with a heel injury since the World Cup but came on as an 87th-minute substitute for Carlos Tevez, much to the delight of everyone watching. It was a difficult match, but it was the kind of win that helps to deliver titles, as championship-winning teams so often find a way. Yet Allegri was in no mood to celebrate after the final whistle, telling Sky Italia that the race for the Scudetto is far from over. “There’s a long way to go, we need to be calm and balanced, there’s no rush,” he told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia). “We have a series of games coming up in Serie A, the Champions League and Coppa Italia.” The difference between a win and a draw here could eventually prove vital for the Old Lady as she pursues a fourth consecutive Serie A crown, however, and she has Paul Pogba to thank for collecting all three points. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo JUVENTUS 1-0 SASSUOLO PLAYER RATINGS Mar 9, 2015 Juventus ground out a vital 3 points against a resilient Sassuolo side, thanks to Paul Pogba’s wondergoal. The first 45 mins failed to create any moments of note but the Bianconeri stepped things up in the second half. Allegri introduced Llorente and Simone Pepe and it was the winger who supplied the cross for Pogba’s late goal. Marco Storari 6.0 - Did nothing wrong and was untroubled for the entire night with barely a save to make. Stephan Lichtsteiner 6.0 - Better when he was on his feet rather than rolling around on the floor. Barely had any defending do but also lacked the final ball in the opponents half. Leonardo Bonucci 6.5 - Played the ball brilliantly out of defence and forced a save from Consigli when he fired a superb shot from range. Giorgio Chiellini 6.5 - Much improved on his recent shaky performances. One shaky moment aside, he was solid at the back and had a few chances to score from set-pieces. Patrice Evra 7.0 - A superb performance – Got forward every chance he got and linked up with Pogba to good effect. Hard-working and great defensively. Paul Pogba 7.0 - Quiet for large parts of the game with only some fine foot work to show for the night, before scoring a sublime late winner to possibly seal the scudetto. Claudio Marchisio 6.5 - Markedly better from the midweek game against Fiorentina. Sound defensively, an energetic performance Arturo Vidal 6.5 - Gradually improving. A hard-tackling display, had a few half-chances to put Juve ahead. Needs to be back to his best before Dortmund. Roberto Pereyra 5.5 - A disappointing night after some promising performances in previous games. Slow in attack and made no real impact on the game. Carlos Tevez 6.5 - A hard-working display where he troubled the Sassuolo defence again and again. Fired wide of the post on one occasion and deserved a goal for his display. Alvaro Morata 6.0 - His finishing lacked but he gave a typically industriouus display, pulling wide to stretch the Sassuolo defence. Improving, despite not scoring. Substitutes Simone Pepe 6.5 - Ran and ran…and ran. Delivered some great crosses into the box after Juve switched to 4-4-2 and provided the assist for Juve’s winner. Fernando Llorente 6.0 - The focal point of Juve’s attack after replacing Morata with 30 mins left. Andrea Barzagli N/A - Returned to action and was met with huge applause. Great to see him back. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus 1-0 Sassuolo: Player Ratings Mar 9, 2015 League leaders Juventus extended their lead at the top of the table to 11 points after a hard-fought 1–0 victory over 14th place Sassuolo. For 80 minutes of the match the Bianconeri were unable to break down the Neroverdi defence however Paul Pogba managed to obtain the three points for his side when he scored an exquisite half volley in the 81st minute. Juventus Marco Storari – 6 – Untroubled - A comfortable evening for the veteran goalkeeper as he was only forced into making one save. Will have been expected to keep his clean-sheet. Stephan Lichtsteiner – 6.5 – Offensive - The Swiss defender was tireless in his attempts to help contribute towards the Juventus attack was ever-present along the right-hand side. Always there to support the players in front of him and worked hard until the final minute of the match. Leonardo Bonucci – 6.5 – Enforcer - Along with his defensive partner, Bonucci’s strength was key in their attempts to subdue the Sassuolo attack. Never shirked a challenge and also used his offensive positional sense to help push his side forwards on every occasion. Giorgio Chiellini – 6.5- Rock - The Italian international was his usual self at the heart of the Juventus defence and frustrated Zaza for the majority of the match. The youthful striker was always a presence but the veteran was simply too strong for him. Patrice Evra – 6 – Faultless - Unlike Lichtsteiner the Frenchman was a lot more subdued in his attempts to bomb forwards. However despite his lack of genuine offensive ambition, he still worked hard and did not put a foot wrong defensively. Arturo Vidal – 6 – Dominant - The Chilean midfielder’s strong tackles and intricate link up play were evident once again as his ability to play intelligent passes allowed for the home side to dominate the majority of possession. Claudio Marchisio – 6.5 — Metronome - The 29-year-old may possess less of the star qualities that some of his team-mates have but he was just as important as his patience and intelligence helped keep the Bianconeri ticking over for the entire 90 minutes. PAUL POGBA – 7 – Jewel - Once again the French starlet’s range of passing was mightily impressive and he dominated the midfield with considerable ease, however it will be for his impressive half-volley winner that he will be remembered. The 21-year-old came to the Vecchia Signora’s rescue in the 82nd minute with he struck a superb strike to salvage a victory for the league leaders. Roberto Pereyra – 5.5 – Faded - Looked eager to impress in the opening stages of the first half as he surged forwards with pace, however as the game grew on the 24-year-old began to fade and he was substituted in the 63rd minute. Alvaro Morata – 5.5 – Lacking - The Spaniard worked hard for the time he was on the field and was perhaps unfortunate to be taken off in the 63rd minute. He was tireless down the left hand side but ultimately lacked the cutting edge to break-through the Sassuolo defence. Carlos Tevez – 6.5 – Threat - The Argentine began the match in relatively sloppy fashion as his touch was lacking its usual class, however as the game progressed he began to display more and more quality that we expect and was a threat for the Sassuolo defence throughout. Substitutes Fernando Llorente – 5 – Worse - Did not offer the same work-rate that Morata provided in the first half and also missed a good chance from close range in the 75th minute to help put his side ahead. Simone Pepe – 5.5 – Assist - It was the substitute who was a key factor in Pogba’s goal as he broke forwards with pace and for once caught the away side out of position. A good decision by Massimiliano Allegri [head coach of Juventus] to bring on the winger whose pace was essential in their quest for obtain the winning goal. Andrea Barzagli – N/A Sassuolo Andrea Consigli – 6.5 – Unlucky - The 28-year-old dealt very well with the constant Juventus attacks that came his way. When faced with dangerous long-shots he did well to palm them out of danger and was especially good at commanding his penalty area when the Bianconeri swung in threatening set-pieces. Was unlucky to lost his clean-sheet. Sime Vrsaljko -5.5 – Decent - Had less to deal with in terms of Evra’s lack of attacking ambition but when called into action he did a good job of closing down the space and preventing the home side whipping in several dangerous crosses. Francesco Acerbi – 5.5 – Good - The 27-year-old will be bitterly disappointed that his side were unable of to keep hold of their clean sheet as they eventually undone by a Pogba wonder-strike. He and his defensive counterparts were camped in their own penalty area for the majority of the match and overall he did a decent job in keeping out the Juventus attack. Federico Peluso – 5.5 – Capable - Along with Acerbi, Peluso was a solid presence at the back and he also will be disappointed that they were not able to cling onto their clean-sheet. Alessandro Longhi – 5 – Struggled - Struggled to cope with the surging runs of Lichtsteiner throughout the match and rarely managed to push forwards to help his side when they were on the counter-attack. Matteo Brighi – 5 – Static - The 34-year-old struggled with the dynamic Juventus midfield and could not prevent his opposing midfielders from obtaining a firm grip on the match. Looked jaded towards the end of the second half and was substituted in the 80th minute. Francesco Magnanelli – 5 – Laboured - Was simply not good enough to prevent Marchisio from pulling the strings in what was a laboured display by the 30-year-old. Simone Missiroli -4.5 – Poor - Could not deal with the quality of Juventus midfield and made far too many errors to make a positive impact on the Sasssuolo midfield. Domenico Berardi – 4.5 – Anonymous - Often wasteful in possession and was anonymous for the entire 90 minutes. Simone Zaza – 6 – Learning curve - The Italian starlet had a frustrating evening at the Juventus stadium as he was marked well by the veterans at the other end of the pitch. He was given many opportunities to display his ability but he cannot be faulted as he still worked hard up until the dying minutes. Nicola Sansone – 6.5 – Threatening - Did well to infiltrate the open gaps behind Lichtsteiner throughout the match and his pace was extremely useful for Sassuolo when they had the rare opportunities to counter-attack. A strange decision to take him off in the 72nd minute as he was perhaps the Neroverdi’s best player for the time he was on the pitch. Substitutes Saphir Taider – N/A Raman Chisbah – N/A Dejan Lazarevic- N/A http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Marchisio: Juventus Didn’t Allow Sassuolo Any Chances Mar 9, 2015 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has insisted that his side did not allow Sassuolo any chances in the Bianconeri’s 1-0 win over the Neroverdi on Monday. Paul Pogba’s goal late into the second half decided matters for La Vecchia Signora, thus putting them 11 points clear of Roma at the top of Serie A. “They played really well,” he told Sky Sport. “However, we didn’t allow them any chances despite their strong offensive unit. “Such games are never easy, it was difficult to find any space because they played with five defenders. Eventually we got the goal and now we have an 11 point lead at the top of the table. “As the gameweeks progress, points become more and more valuable. We mustn’t give opponents any breathing space. Marchisio then went on to state that Juve are not thinking about the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg tie against Borussia Dortmund just yet. “We take it game by game,” he started. “We’ve just suffered a loss in the Coppa Italia [against Fiorentina], tonight was an important game, and we’ll think about Dortmund when the time comes.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Allegri: 'Scudetto is not won' Mar 9, 2015 Max Allegri said Juventus have “absolutely not” won the Scudetto after beating Sassuolo and replied to Antonio Conte. The Bianconeri moved 11 points clear of Roma, but only squeezed past Sassuolo with a late Paul Pogba goal. “Sassuolo worked hard and pressed us in the first half, but we were also too determined to go through the middle,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia. “As time went on, we moved the ball around quicker and played with greater intensity. I like 1-0 wins, as they keep you on your toes and tactically I thought the lads did well.” At a certain stage Allegri introduced Simone Pepe and moved to a 4-4-2 system. “I was trying to open up the play, especially with Pepe who is excellent on crosses for Fernando Llorente. On the other side, Pogba could give more width with Carlos Tevez and then move into the box. “The lads did pretty well, though in some circumstances we were too hasty and the midfielders wandered around, leaving few reference points for our defenders. “Alvaro Morata is good at being a centre-forward, but today went a bit too wide and was hardly ever in the box tonight. He did good things, but outside the penalty area.” Has the Coach ever thought about placing Pogba behind the strikers rather that Arturo Vidal or Roberto Pereyra? “I think he’d struggle there, but I could be wrong. He has these long legs and needs a bit of space to get running, so there’s a lot of traffic in that area. “For example, with no space between the lines, Pereyra struggled in that position this evening.” Allegri denied suggestions Juventus are struggling for fitness levels and sharpness at this stage of the season. “From the statistics, the team always ends the game improving in the last 15 minutes. Many players have been used a lot, unfortunately injuries forced me to use the same defenders early in the season and now the same midfielders. “Pepe has been fully recovered, so he is another important alternative we’ve got, especially when we need to spread the play. “We’ve lost Martin Caceres, but Andrea Barzagli returned tonight. We’ll get there, a bit at a time.” Italy Coach Antonio Conte joked with reporters today that if Juve had his ‘grit’ then “they’d be 20 points clear” at the top rather than 11. Some took this to be egotistical from the former Bianconeri boss, others pointed out his jokey tone. Allegri seemed unimpressed. “I want to talk about the Juventus of this year and I don’t like comparisons. For all the players and fans, the important thing is to achieve our objectives. “Even if we got the bad result against Fiorentina, which was a decent performance despite everyone leaping on us to criticise, we did have the chances to equalise.” With an 11-point lead over Roma, is the Scudetto now under lock and key? “Absolutely not. There’s a long way to go, we need to be calm and balanced, there’s no rush. We have a series of games coming up in Serie A, the Champions League and Coppa Italia. “The Scudetto is the primary objective, the Champions League is a dream and in the Coppa Italia we’ll see if we can be good enough to turn it around.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Di Francesco: 'Experience was key' Mar 9, 2015 Eusebio Di Francesco felt Sassuolo had a great game against Juventus, but “experience” proved the difference. The Neroverdi fell to a fourth consecutive defeat, but were only beaten 1-0 by a late Paul Pogba half-volley. “I thought we did very well in the first half, especially on a tactical level, as we pressed them high and didn’t make the most of some promising counter-attacks,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “I am very happy with the team’s attitude, especially in the first hour, but I knew we could start to feel fatigue in the last half-hour. “Federico Peluso was in a new position, we had worked on it this week and he gave me an important response. “We won back possession several times and didn’t pick the right pass, but that’s an issue of maturity for my team, who are still young. We certainly could’ve done better on the goal, as we lost the ball in naive fashion.” Simone Zaza was shouted at from the touchline and had to be hauled away from the referee after the final whistle. “I get angry with Zaza when he wastes time stopping to argue or talk. I want him to focus on his football and not get distracted by these things.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Paul Pogba sends Juventus 11 points clear with Sassuolo win Mar 9, 2015 Juventus opened up an 11-point lead at the top of Serie A with 12 games to go thanks to a 1-0 win over Sassuolo on Monday night. Paul Pogba scored the only goal of the game eight minutes from time to break Sassuolo's resistance and move Juve closer to their fourth successive Serie A title. It was a one-sided game, although Sassuolo's defence was rarely really tested by a Bianconeri side, who seemed to be stuck only in first gear, even though they still had enough to record their 18th win of the season. With one eye already turning towards next week's Champions League last-16 second leg at Borussia Dortmund, thanks to the fact that Roma were held to another draw on Sunday, Juve just appeared to be going through the motions at the Juventus Stadium. Sassuolo did not want to take any risks, though, aware of how dangerous Juve can be if they are given an inch. The first half was therefore a tactical affair with few chances at either end. The hosts raised their rhythm slightly at the start of the second half, albeit remaining below their usual standards. Pogba had a shot in the 52nd minute with Andrea Consigli at full stretch touching it wide at the base of his left-hand post. A similar effort from Carlos Tevez was always curling away from Consigli's far post five minutes later as the home team started to do a little bit more with their possession in the final third. Coach Massimiliano Allegri changed the team's approach by sending Fernando Llorente on for Alvaro Morata, and the Basque forward nearly justified his entrance with his first attempt on goal. It seemed like it was going to take something special to decide it and Pogba provided it with his seventh goal of the season, smashed past Consigli on the volley after juggling the ball into the penalty area. There was a greater cheer from the Juve fans when Andrea Barzagli made his first appearance of the season after injury, and then the third cheer came at the final whistle with Juve that little bit closer to another Scudetto. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Paul Pogba fires Juventus past Sassuolo Mar 9, 2015 Paul Pogba struck a late winner as Juventus claimed a 1-0 victory over Sassuolo to move 11 points clear at the top of the Serie A table. The Bianconeri took control of the match from the start, but their only attempt on goal in the early stages was a wayward strike from Claudio Marchisio. Carlos Tevez was next to threaten for the hosts with a powerful shot from just inside the box that flew narrowly over the bar. Sassuolo barely posed a threat, but Nicola Sansone forced Marco Storari into a save from his dangerous free kick. In the final minute of the half Arturo Vidal saw an effort from the edge of the box deflect wide, as the visitors held on to go into the break level with the champions. Juventus kept up the pressure in the second half and Pogba drilled in a low shot from the edge of the box that was touched behind by Andrea Consigli. Tevez flashed a half-volley wide of the far post and Alvaro Morata lashed over the bar, as the hosts became increasingly frustrated. It seemed as if Juventus would be forced to settle for a point, but with eight minutes remaining Pogba collected Simone Pepe's pass and took a touch before crashing a strike into the bottom corner. Sassuolo pushed for a response in the closing stages, but they were unable to break through their opponents' defence, as Juventus saw out the game to further enhance their title-winning prospects. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Pogba: 'Juve need the fans' Mar 9, 2015 Paul Pogba told off Juventus fans for jeering their 1-0 win over Sassuolo, which was “very important for the Scudetto.” The Frenchman found the net at the 83rd minute in a hard-fought match that put Juve 11 points clear at the top of the table. “Am I the Scudetto winner? No, the team won the game. It was a very, very difficult match and the victory is very important for this Scudetto,” Pogba told Sky Sport Italia. “The pass was for someone else, but I felt it and I went for the ball. It went well.” There were loud jeers from the stands at half-time, as supporters were frustrated after Thursday’s 2-1 Coppa Italia defeat to Fiorentina. “I thank the whole team and the fans. It’s tough for them too, but we need them throughout the season. I want to tell the supporters we need you, especially if we are playing badly, because we all win together.” The 21-year-old was asked whether he was becoming a leader in the Juventus locker room. “I can always do more and if I want to become a great player it means always giving more on the field and in training. “Am I a leader? No, I am a player in the team. Even if I am young, I will say something to my teammate if it’s needed.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Pogba puts Juve 11 points clear Juventus left it late, but Paul Pogba’s strike beat Sassuolo 1-0 and put them 11 points clear at the top of the table. Mar 9, 2015 The Bianconeri had the chance to increase the gap from Roma to 11 points, but were fresh from a shock 2-1 Coppa Italia semi-final defeat to Fiorentina, their first home competitive loss since Bayern Munich in April 2013. Gigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, Martin Caceres, Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo missed out, while the Neroverdi had Alessandro Gazzola suspended, Luca Antei, Paolo Cannavaro, Gianluca Pegolo and Emanuele Terranova sidelined. Sime Vrsaljko returned after a month out. This fixture had only been played once, ending 4-0, but Sassuolo did hold Juve to a draw earlier this season. Claudio Marchisio and Carlos Tevez turned over the bar, as did Giorgio Chiellini from a corner. Tevez forced Andrea Consigli to beat away a sudden snapshot from distance. A poor Leonardo Bonucci back-pass was intercepted, so Tevez took one for the team with a bookable offence to stop Simone Zaza going on goal. Nicola Sansone curled the resulting free kick into Marco Storari’s arms. Alvaro Morata drilled across the face of goal at the end of a solo run down the left, while Arturo Vidal’s effort was deflected for a corner, but Juventus fans jeered at the half-time whistle. Paul Pogba had been very quiet until his snapshot was fingertipped round the base of the near post by Consigli. Tevez hit a half-volley that bent inches past the far stick and Morata blasted over. Consigli scrambled across to palm away a Leonardo Bonucci half-volley from almost 30 metres that threatened to bring the stadium down. Fernando Llorente spun on the spot, but hit a weak finish at the goalkeeper. Pogba was booked for a high foot and will be suspended against Palermo. Just as Juve seemed to be running out of ideas, they broke through with seven minutes to go. Simone Pepe went on the counter and set up Pogba, who saw the bounce and smashed a half-volley from just outside the box. The Pepe pass was probably aiming for Tevez down the left flank, but the Frenchman intercepted it. Max Allegri also gave Andrea Barzagli his season debut after that recurring Achilles heel problem. It's a fourth consecutive defeat for Sassuolo, but far from a vintage performance from the Bianconeri, who were made to work very hard indeed for these points. Juventus: Storari; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra (Pepe 63); Tevez (Barzagli 87), Morata (Llorente 63) Sassuolo: Consigli; Vrsaljko, Acerbi, Peluso, Longhi; Brighi (Chibsah 79), Magnanelli, Missiroli (Lazarevic 84); Berardi, Zaza, Sansone (Taider 72) Ref: Peruzzo http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus 1-0 Sassuolo: Late Show Spares Bianconeri Blushes Mar 9, 2015 Juventus narrowly overcame Sassuolo 1-0 in Serie A at the Juventus Stadium on Monday evening. The only goal arrived late on from the relatively quiet Paul Pogba in order to take the Old Lady one step closer to yet another Scudetto. It proved to be a tale of frustration for league leaders Juventus in the opening period against impressively determined opponents. Bianconeri goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was a late withdrawal due to flu, but it was stand-in Marco Storari who was almost caught cold when attempting to dribble past Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza in his own area. Having got away with that early scare, the hosts found themselves closed down rapidly by the well-drilled visitors at every turn. Both Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal fired well over the bar, while Carlos Tevez displayed a clever touch inside the box before sending his effort just too high, as Juventus struggled to breakdown the Neroverdi’s stubborn resistance. Tevez also saw his corner from the left headed over by Giorgio Chiellini when the big defender really should have done better. The Argentine forward certainly seemed the man most likely to unlock the door for the reigning champions, with a swerving shot calling Andrea Consigli into action. Though the away side rarely threatened, they did force Tevez into a last-ditch challenge when pouncing on a loose ball by the shaky Leonardo Bonucci in Juve’s own half. However, the resultant free-kick by Nicola Sansone went straight into the grateful arms of Storari. There was more of the same in the second half, with Paul Pogba hitting an 18-yarder a whisker past the post and Tevez screwing his half-volley wide from a tight angle. Sassuolo were sticking diligently to their task, but some visiting players appeared to be tiring around the hour mark. Massimiliano Allegri saw that as a prime opportunity to introduce fresh legs in the shape of Fernando Llorente and Simone Pepe, as the Juventus coach looked to further stretch the plucky Emilian outfit. Bonucci strode forward with purpose and looped an effort towards goal, but it was inches off-target. Imposing substitute Llorente then spun on Tevez’s cross, but couldn’t quite get the purchase required on his low strike. Finally, with eight minutes remaining, Juventus broke the deadlock. The relief was palpable when Pogba took a pass from sub Pepe beautifully in his stride before powering home from just outside the area. It was a vital goal from the French midfielder which strengthened the Bianconeri’s grip on top spot in Serie A with an 11-point lead. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO 1 - 0 Paul Pogba (82') Monday, March 9th, 2015 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Sebastiano Peruzzo Juventus 1-0 Sassuolo: Pogba piledriver propels champions 11 points clear The Bianconeri looked set to be held to a draw in Turin but their France international made the breakthrough with just eight minutes to go with a stunning half-volley. Mar 9, 2015 Paul Pogba lashed home a superb 82nd-minute half-volley as Juventus made an instant return to winning ways on home soil with a 1-0 victory over Sassuolo that sent the Serie A champions 11 points clear at the top of the table. A combination of a couple of fine Andrea Consigli saves and some wayward finishing looked set to frustrate Massimiliano Allegri's men on Monday until Pogba made the decisive breakthrough eight minutes from time. Simone Pepe surged forward and passed for Pogba to take the ball in his stride and unleash a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area that gave Consigli no chance as it nestled in the bottom corner. Pogba's seventh league goal of the season – having opened his Serie A account for 2014-15 in the 1-1 draw at Sassuolo back in October – enabled Juve to bounce back from Thursday's Coppa Italia defeat at the hands of Fiorentina, the club's first home loss since April 2013. Sassuolo started without fear and looked particularly dangerous on the break, although they were given a 13th-minute scare when a short-corner routine allowed Claudio Marchisio a sight of goal from just inside the penalty area and his angled drive skewed off target. Neat footwork from Alvaro Morata on the left wing saw him steal a yard on his marker and his deflected centre fell kindly for Roberto Pereyra to find Carlos Tevez, who created space with his first touch and hit a rising effort that sailed over. Domenico Berardi, co-owned by the two clubs, ballooned over at the opposite end before Juve continued to crank up the intensity as the match approached the half-hour mark - Giorgio Chiellini timing his jump to perfection to meet a Tevez corner but failing to keep his thumping header down. Tevez was next to try his luck again, forcing Consigli to punch away a rasping drive, before crudely hacking down Simone Zaza to a concede a free-kick 25 yards out that Nicola Sansone curled straight into the arms of the grateful Marco Storari, deputising for the ill Gianluigi Buffon. Morata cut in from the left and fired across goal two minutes before half-time and the hosts picked up where they left off after the restart. Consigli had to be at full stretch to tip Pogba's powerful low strike around the post after Patrice Evra's cross was only cleared as far as the midfielder just outside the box. Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross just prior to the hour mark was cleverly chested by Morata to Tevez, but the striker's shot was always curling just away from goal. Leonardo Bonucci's dipping volley from fully 35 yards forced Consigli to scramble it behind and Fernando Llorente spun and shot wide from close range as Juve's pressure continued to mount before Pogba strode forward to settle it late on. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Di Francesco encazado!

Bentornato Andrea Barzagli!

PAUL POGBA 1-0

Pogba deve ancora imparare molto, soprattutto a livello caratteriale.

Occasione per Llorente, parato.