Socrates

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Line-ups: Roma-Juventus Mar 2, 2015 Roma and Juventus go head-to-head in the Scudetto showdown, as Francesco Totti aims to re-open the title race. There are nine points separating first and second, while Torino did Roma a huge favour last night by beating third-placed Napoli, ensuring whatever happens this weekend they will retain their spot. The last time these sides met it was a fiery 3-2 Juve victory in Turin, although Rudi Garcia had complaints about the refereeing on all three goals. Roma slipped back after a series of stalemates and have drawn their last four home fixtures, but were given a huge confidence boost by Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League victory over Feyenoord. Totti starts in the trident attack with Adem Ljajic and Gervinho, who both found the net in Rotterdam. Seydou Doumbia, Victor Ibarbo, Douglas Maicon, Kevin Strootman and Leandro Castan are sidelined with Juan Manuel Iturbe able to play only up to an hour. Surprisingly, Radja Nainggolan is benched in favour of Miralem Pjanic and Seydou Keita. Juventus have injury problems too, as Andrea Pirlo is out for three weeks, while Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal both had issues over the last few days. Pogba has been rested due to that inflammation of the thigh muscle, but Vidal does start despite a bruised back. Stefano Sturaro was a late addition to the injury list along with Kwadwo Asamoah, Romulo and Luca Marrone. With the midfielders dropping out in numbers, Max Allegri returns to a 3-5-2 system with Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra as wing-backs, moving Roberto Pereyra into the middle. Capocannoniere Carlos Tevez is partnered by impressive Alvaro Morata, preferred to Fernando Llorente. In Serie A, Roma’s last victory over Juventus was 1-0 here in February 2013, followed by three consecutive defeats home and away. In fact, the Giallorossi have lost five of their last six Serie A encounters with Juve. Last season the Bianconeri emerged 1-0 winners from the Olimpico thanks to Daniel Osvaldo’s goal deep into stoppages. Roma: De Sanctis; Torosidis, Manolas, Yanga-Mbiwa, Holebas; Pjanic, De Rossi, Keita; Gervinho, Totti, Ljajic Roma bench: Skorupski, Curci, Astori, Spolli, Cole, Nainggolan, Florenzi, Ucan, Paredes, Verde, Sanabria, Iturbe Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marchisio, Pereyra, Evra; Morata, Tevez Juventus bench: Storari, Rubinho, Barzagli, Ogbonna, De Ceglie, Padoin, Pogba, Pepe, Coman, Llorente, Matri http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Tevez: 'Right Juve attitude' Mar 2, 2015 Carlos Tevez said Juventus “must have the right attitude” against Roma in tonight’s clash. “It is an important game and we know it will be difficult. It’s a game where we cannot give away anything,” Tevez told Mediaset Premium. “We must have the right attitude. Do we risk being too comfortable? I think there’s risks for both sides. We need to get on that pitch and do what we know we can.” Andrea Pirlo is out injured, while Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal are carrying knocks. “We have a determined midfield and must play deeper to keep the ball and control the game.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Chiellini: Juventus’ Scudetti Were Ours, Not Just Conte’s Mar 2, 2015 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini spoke ahead of Monday evening’s Serie A clash against Roma, stating that they are out to prove their worth as players. Juventus, despite the coaching change from Antonio Conte to Massimiliano Allegri, have maintained their grip on Serie A and remained top throughout the season. In a long interview on Monday morning, Chiellini spoke about their determination to beat Roma and move closer to a fourth successive Scudetto, in order to prove that Juventus’ past successes were also the players’ and not just former coach Conte’s. “Despite the shock of Conte’s departure, with Allegri, we have managed to remain top of the league,” Chiellini said to Corriere della Sera. “The change in coach has given us the edge and anger to want to prove ourselves. “We are grateful to Conte and his staff, but we want to clarify [this year] that our titles were not just about the coach. “In the second and third years with Conte we needed a slap; at the start of this season we got that slap [with Allegri].”

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Pogba rested for Roma? Mar 2, 2015 Paul Pogba is unlikely to be risked for Juventus’ trip to Roma tonight, with the Bianconeri set to revert to 3-5-2. The midfielder has been struggling with a thigh injury, but was included in Massimiliano Allegri’s squad for the Scudetto showdown. However, the Corriere dello Sport, believes that the Frenchman will not be risked for tonight’s match, with Roberto Pereyra taking his place in midfield. In this morning’s training session, the Old Lady lined up with a 3-5-2 system, suggesting that Allegri will revert to that shape with Pogba and Andrea Pirlo absent. Martin Caceres is likely to come into the side at centre-back alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, while Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra taking up the wing-back roles. Alvaro Morata is again expected to partner Carlos Tevez in attack. Roma are also expected to make a tactical change, moving away from their customary 4-3-3 to start in a 4-2-3-1 shape. The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport reports that Adem Ljajic, Miralem Pjanic and Gervinho will sit behind Francesco Totti up front, with Daniele De Rossi and Radja Nainggolan anchoring the midfield. Jose Holebas is likely to be preferred to Ashley Cole at left-back, with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Kostas Manolas in the centre. Probable Juventus lineup: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Vidal, Marchsio, Evra; Tevez, Morata Probable Roma lineup: De Sanctis; Torosidis, Yanga-Mbiwa, Manolas, Holebas; De Rossi, Nainggolan; Gervinho, Pjanic, Ljajic; Totti http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Roma ruined this season by sky-high expectations - Tacchinardi The former Juventus midfielder thinks Rudi Garcia should have played down Scudetto hype ahead of the tussle between Serie A's top two on Monday. Mar 2, 2015 Former Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi thinks Roma have been ruined by over-expectation this season after last year's stellar efforts. Rudi Garcia has openly admitted his decision to pronounce his team as being able to topple the Italian champions has come back to bite the Giallorossi, who have struggled to win games in 2015. Tacchinardi, 39, hoped this season’s Scudetto race would be tight but believes the French coach scuppered their chances by putting too much pressure on Roma to claim only their fourth Serie A championship. “I still don’t understand the sense of those quotes,” Tacchinardi told Goal. “He probably said that to keep spirits high but in the end things went very differently. “In my opinion, the atmosphere around Roma should be quiet and calm. Their biggest danger is to be overcharged by expectations and hype. “To be honest, I didn’t expect such big a gap between the two teams at this point of the season. Roma had a very good summer transfer window but they believed in Juan Iturbe, who has been disappointing so far. “I believed they could have got closer to Juventus but instead nothing changed.” Roma host Juve on Monday but are nine points behind the leaders and, though Giallorossi captain Francesco Totti insisted their challenge is not over, Tacchinardi feels the table-toppers have the upper hand. “Juventus are very close to peak form at the moment,” Tacchinardi added. “They gained a lot of strength and enthusiasm after beating Borussia Dortmund. They’re in great shape and, as we saw in the Champions League, they maintain their intensity until the final whistle. “Roma will feel much more pressure as it’s their last chance to keep their hopes alive, although the Feyenoord game boosted them. “Both teams have their own styles which they don’t change from game-to-game. Massimiliano Allegri takes some risks, while Rudi Garcia is more conservative and seldom changes the team’s structure. “Carlos Tevez and Francesco Totti will be the key players. I foresee a very interesting game - very intense, with great pace. I hope it will be a good advertisement for Italian football abroad.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Zoff: ‘Draw will do for Juventus’ Mar 2, 2015 Juventus legend Dino Zoff says the pressure is all on Roma tonight, as even a draw will do for his old side. The Bianconeri take on their closest title challengers in the Italian capital tonight, and will go 12 points clear at the top if they emerge with a win. “Is this the decisive match for the League?” Zoff considered as he spoke to Gianluca Di Marzio’s website. “Yes, if Juventus win. If Roma win though, everything would open up again. “A draw? It would certainly be a point gained for [Juventus Coach Massimiliano] Allegri’s team. So we can say that Juve would be happy with two of the three results available. “Home advantage could be a factor for Roma, but often that hasn’t proved to be the case.” The former goalkeeper also discussed the fortunes of Italian sides in Europe, and believes that Serie A is on the up. “I think that Juventus can get through against Borussia [Dortmund]. “Then Roma, like the other Italian clubs in the Europa League, have done very well and shown that our league is not as bad as they say. “Maybe there are two or three nations that have more top teams, but we’re not far behind. It’s also important for the UEFA rankings.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Legendary Roma Keeper Says Juventus Match Is Decisive Mar 2, 2015 Former Roma keeper Franco Tancredi has weighed in with his own opinion regarding tonight’s match with league leaders Juventus, suggesting that his old team cannot afford to slip if they have any ambition of winning the Serie A title. Monday evening sees the Giallorossi host Massimilliano Allegri’s table-topping side, with a nine point advantage separating the rivals in the race for the Scudetto. “I believe this game could decide the league,” Tancredi told Radio Rai. “For Roma it’s their last chance at hauling in Juventus. Nine points is a huge lead but if they can win I think the battle will go down to the very final weekend.” Between 1979 and 1990, the keeper played over 280 games at the Stadio Olimpico and was part of the Roma side that lost to Liverpool during the 1984 European Cup final. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Roma - Juventus Betting: Allegri's leaders to settle for a point at the Stadio Olimpico With some key players missing and a nine-point cushion, Al Hain-Cole expects the Bianconeri to consign Rudi Garcia's team to yet another stalemate. Mar 2, 2015 Roma will be hoping to close the gap on runaway leaders Juventus when the pair come face-to-face at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday. Rudi Garcia’s men have dropped off the pace by winning just one of their last seven Serie A matches, but they are available at with Unibet to reignite the title race with a victory here. Ominously for the hosts, the Bianconeri have won five of the last six league meetings between the sides and are favourites to extend their lead at the top of the table by coming out on top in the capital. The main reason for Roma dropping off the blistering pace set by Juventus has been that they've drawn six of their last seven Serie A fixtures, and you can get odds of on them being forced to settle for a point yet again this time out. While Garcia remained adamant in the run-up to the match that his side will be going all out for the win in order to gain some ground on the champions, his opposite number insisted that the fixture was ‘not crucial.’ With a nine-point cushion in his favour, Massimiliano Allegri can well afford to play down the importance of such a high profile clash, particularly given his side go into it without a number of important players. Having seen Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal hobble off injured during last week’s hard-fought Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund, Allegri also has a decision to make regarding Paul Pogba, who is struggling with a thigh strain. Insistent that he will not take any chances over the fitness of his players, the former AC Milan boss will surely content himself with keeping the Giallorossi at arm’s length in Rome, knowing that merely avoiding defeat will represent a victory of sorts. It is a tactic that should prove successful given the guests’ record of just one defeat in 24 league games so far, particularly against a Roma team that have struggled to secure all three points recently. After drawing three of their last five away games in the league, those odds look good on Juventus holding their hosts to an eighth draw in 10 here. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Roma V Juventus: Five Battles To Win The War All eyes will be on the Giallorossi and the Bianconeri come Monday evening, with that result set to decide where the Scudetto will be at the end of the season. Mar 2, 2015 Roma take on Juventus on Monday evening Serie A action. The Giallorossi stand nine points short of leaders Juventus, and will be hoping to cut into that lead by the 90 minutes’ end. When it comes to this top-of-the-table clash, there will be some key battles on the pitch to look out for, as Serie A’s two best teams lock horns. Each team’s respective coaches will have an impact on the battle as well, with Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri predicted to revert back to the 3-5-2 in going up against Roma coach Rudi Garcia’s 4-3-3. Forza Italian Football brings you the on-the-pitch battles to look out for on Monday evening’s clash between Roma and Juventus. 1. Holebas vs. Lichtsteiner Although Stephan Lichtsteiner has not enjoyed as great a season as he had in the past, he remains an important offensive weapon for Juventus. Regardless of the Swiss’ dip in form though, Jose Holebas’ is nothing to really be impressed by. The Roma left-back will likely have a torrid time against Lichtsteiner; and with Allegri switching the formation to push Lichtsteiner higher up the pitch, Holebas will have to be wary of the space he is often guilty of leaving behind him. 2. De Rossi vs. Vidal This will be a heavyweight battle in midfield and one to keep an eye on throughout the game. Both Roma and Juventus’ respective styles is borne out of their ability to control midfield. Whoever comes out on top between Daniele De Rossi and Arturo Vidal will bring his team closer to winning the game. De Rossi will have to keep an eye on Juventus’ midfield dynamo, and control his foraging runs. On the other hand, Vidal will have to keep the pressure on De Rossi and prevent the Italian from dictating the pace of the game. Both midfielders’ clash will be likely be the highlight of the game. 3. Gervinho vs. Chiellini Gervinho against Giorgio Chiellini will be an intriguing battle, especially given the Juventus centre-back’s dodgy form this season. Against the Roma speedster, Chiellini will want to double-check his studs and avoid a similar slip to the one he suffered in midweek UEFA Champions League action against Borussia Dortmund. Gervinho is Roma’s most potent threat — especially on the counter-attack – and Chiellini will have to keep him quiet in order to blunt the Roma attack. They say speed kills; well Chiellini will have to prove that brawn can be just as effective a weapon on the day. 4. Manolas vs. Tevez As important a mission Chiellini will have in stopping Gervinho, Kostas Monolas will have an even greater challenge in stopping Serie A top-scorer Carlos Tevez. It will be a real David versus Goliath clash between the 5’8” Argentine striker and the 6’2” Greek centre-back. Tevez’s 14 league goals have proven that size isn’t everything however, and he will be favourite to get the best of Manolas on the pitch. Manolas will have to cope with the scrappy striker and his mobility, and focus more on out-thinking Tevez rather than out-fighting him. 5. Totti vs. Bonucci Leonardo Bonucci will have the toughest task of the Juventus defenders, taking on the King of Rome himself: Francesco Totti. Tracking Totti will be Bonucci’s trickiest task, with the Roma captain having the freedom to roam as a false No.9 and employing it to draw defenders out of position. Here again, Allegri’s three-man defence may play in Bonucci’s advantage, allowing him more freedom to step out and man-mark Totti. Physically-speaking, this isn’t much of a match; but the 38-year-old is a wily old fox boasting of plenty tricks up his sleeve to get the better of Bonucci. Bonucci could benefit from an extra saving grace though, with Garcia having played Totti three times in a week (twice in the UEFA Europa League against Feyenoord and in Serie A against Hellas Verona). Bonucci could thus take advantage of the Roma veteran’s weekly exertions and impose himself during their duel. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus vs. Roma Preview: Round 25 — (Italian) Capital gains, anyone? Mar 2, 2015 How would you feel about looking at the Serie A standings after 25 games and seeing Juventus with a 12-point lead over its closest competition? Pretty good, I would assume, right? There may be 13 fixtures left to play after tomorrow night's trip to the Stadio Olimpico, but a 12-point lead is a 12-point lead no matter how you look at it. Sure, a nine-point lead atop the table is good in its own right. But you know what's better? A 12-point lead over Roma. Those are never not a good thing. That's exactly what kind of chance Juventus has when they renew acquaintances with Roma on Monday night. The same Roma side that can only seem to pick up one single point after another in Serie A in recent weeks. Their domestic form since the calendar flipped to 2015 is further proof of that: W-D-D-D-D-W-D-D. Yuck. Not really what you expect out of a team that has serious Scudetto aspirations, is it? But you know exactly what will be on Roma's mind when Juventus step onto the Olimpico pitch Monday night — revenge for what happened when the two teams played back on Oct. 5, as well as trying to re-open a Scudetto race that many will consider over and done with if Juventus claim all three points. Understandable, really. A 12-point gap between first and second place is a serious mountain to overcome, especially with how Roma has struggled to put any kind of consistent form outside of racking up draws one after another. As much as this is Juve's chance to put major room between themselves and the second-best team in Italy, Roma wants to make things a little more interesting as we get closer to officially hitting the home stretch of the season. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "After tomorrow there are still 13 games & 39 points up for grabs. Still a long way to go and Napoli are getting closer." I swear Max is such a buzzkill on purpose sometimes. It's like he doesn't want us to have fun? Stop being the party pooper, Mr. Allegri! (He is actually taking a realist's view on things, which isn't so bad at all.) GOOD NEWS Plus-9. Sounds good to me. BAD NEWS EMERGENZA A CENTROCAMPO! No Andrea Pirlo, who was ruled out for three weeks earlier in the week. No Stefano Sturaro, who has picked up a 'light strain to his right knee,' according to the Juventus website. Paul Pogba has been a question mark all week. Same goes for Arturo Vidal. Both of the latter two have been called up and are part of the 22-man traveling squad, but it's a major doubt if either of the two central midfield stars will play against Roma. So basically everything is fine and dandy, right? Noooooot really. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "At this stage of the campaign I can't afford to take risks and perhaps lose a player for over a month." WHAT TO WATCH FOR 1. Will the injuries in the midfield force Max Allegri to go 3-5-2? The short answer: Probably. I say that because we're seen it before, and we're likely to see it again. As much as Allegri has shown that the 4-3-1-2 is his base formation, he's also shown plenty of willingness to go back to a three-man defense if the situation calls for it. And with two of his most important midfielders' health statuses in doubt, the option of a 3-5-2 is now in serious consideration. So if we see Martin Cáceres playing on the right side of a three-man defense instead of at right back in the starting lineup, I won't be surprised. If there's a 3-5-2 formation announced an hour before kickoff, there shouldn't be any kind of squabbling because of what is currently available to Allegri. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "An attacking midfielder behind the front two is a possibility, but I still haven't decided how we'll line up tomorrow." Always keeping us guessing, Max. What a trickster. 2. Claudio Marchisio the regista. No matter what tactical setup will be against Roma, we know that Il Principino will be the man in the heart of Juventus' midfield with Pirlo on the shelf. Marchisio's been playing great for weeks now and has easily been one of Juve's most consistent players throughout the 2014-15 season. He is contributing offensively, he is contributing defensively and he's just been the midfielder that balances things out so much. However, tomorrow night Pirlo won't be there with Marchisio flanking him. It will be Marchisio in the regista role, something he's proven to be plenty capable of doing. This is the beauty — and no, not his stunning good looks, folks — of what Claudio Marchisio brings to the table. 3. Álvaro Morata's continued awesomeness. I know I've talked about Morata a lot lately, but it's hard not to at this point. Nor is it really all that much of a chore with the way he's playing. Morata has been great since becoming a regular starter, and only continues to get better with the more he plays and develops chemistry with strike partner Carlos Tévez. Morata scored three goals and added two assists in five February games. That's almost as good as you can get when it comes to a player that has still just started nine games in all competitions this season. The way he's playing these days, you can see the confidence growing as the games go by. He's starting to truly show the potential we all heard about when he signed from Real Madrid. And as the goals continue to come, that confidence, always so important for young players at his age, will only go higher and higher. 4. Adem Ljajic and Gervinho vs. Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra. With all the attacking options Roma had at its disposal at the beginning of the season, would you have put your money on Ljajic leading them in goals come the first game in March? I probably would have gone in a direction, but that by no means is diminishing Ljajic's breakout 2014-15 season in his second year with Roma. Ljajic and Gervinho — and all the pace that comes with the Ivorian winger — are expected to flank captain Francesco Totti tomorrow night. (Just don't ask him about any of the refereeing decisions in the last Juve-Roma game, okay?) This will be the latest challenge for a Juventus defense that has been a little wobbly in recent weeks. I guess it's pretty easy to say that it's time for Juve to show why they have the top-ranked defense in all of Serie A. My starting XI: (3-5-2): Buffon; Cáceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Tévez, Morata OFFICIAL KICKOFF TIME: 8:45 P.M. IN ITALY; 2:45 P.M. ON THE EAST COAST; 11:45 A.M. ON THE WEST COAST http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Doumbia out of Roma-Juve Mar 1, 2015 Douglas Maicon and Seydou Doumbia are among the Roma players who miss tomorrow’s clash with Juventus. Rudi Garcia confirmed Maicon has still not fully recovered, while Doumbia is suffering from lumbago. Victor Ibarbo, Kevin Strootman and Leandro Castan are also on the treatment table. Roma squad for Juventus: Astori, Cole, Curci, De Rossi, De Sanctis, Florenzi, Gervinho, Holebas, Iturbe, Keita, Ljajic, Manolas, Nainggolan, Paredes, Pjanic, Sanabria, Skorupski, Spolli, Torosidis, Totti, Ucan, Verde, Yanga-Mbiwa http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Pogba, Vidal make Roma trip Mar 1, 2015 Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal are in the Juventus squad travelling to Roma, but Stefano Sturaro misses out. Coach Max Allegri said he would only choose his line-up and system after evaluating the two midfielders in today’s training session. Pogba has an inflammation of the thigh muscle, while Vidal has a bruised back. Allegri also warned that, with Andrea Pirlo out for three weeks, he did not want to run unnecessary risks with his star players. Both of them are included in the squad travelling to the Stadio Olimpico, but it remains to be seen whether they will actually take to the field. To make matter worse, ex-Genoa midfielder Sturaro was an option to step in, but he too has been ruled out by a sprained ankle. Juventus squad for Roma: Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres, Ogbonna, Pogba, Pepe, Marchisio, Morata, Tevez, Coman, Llorente, Barzagli, De Ceglie, Bonucci, Padoin, Vidal, Lichtsteiner, Storari, Matri, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Roma - Juventus Preview: Top two go head-to-head in title battle Victory for Massimiliano Allegri's side would all but end the hosts' title challenge at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday. Mar 1, 2015 Serie A champions and leaders Juventus travel to second-placed Roma in search of what could be a decisive win on Monday. Juve boast a nine-point lead at the summit and victory in the capital on Monday would all but seal a fourth successive title. Alessandro Matri, who joined on loan from Milan in early February, won two Scudetto crowns in his previous spell at the club and recognises the importance of this encounter. "We're having a good season," Matri told Juventus TV. "The league is very balanced, especially after all five Italian teams progressed to the Europa League last 16. "We've currently got a good lead over Roma and on Monday we want to extend our advantage even further seeing as it's an important match." Both sides are fresh from midweek wins in Europe, with Roma having triumphed 2-1 at Feyenoord to secure a 3-2 aggregate win and a place in the last 16 of the Europa League. Massimiliano Allegri's side ran out 2-1 winners over Borussia Dortmund to seize the first-leg initiative in their Champions League tie, with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs. Roma, like their visitors, are unbeaten on home soil in the league, but the last five sides to visit the Stadio Olimpico have come away with a share of the spoils and that has left a major dent in their title hopes. Indeed, it has been a scramble for the Giallorossi to even to get those five points on the board, having trailed in three of those matches, while the other two ended goalless. Their last top-flight defeat at home came back in May when former fans' favourite Pablo Osvaldo struck a last-minute winner for Juve. October's meeting between the pair provided more late drama as Leonardo Bonucci's 86th-minute goal proved decisive in a 3-2 win for Juve, with both sides subsequently reduced to 10 men. The hosts look set to be without Seydou Doumbia as he is reportedly suffering from lower back pain, with Radja Nainggolan - rested at Feyenoord - likely to deputise. Juve saw Andrea Pirlo limp off against Dortmund and Allegri will probably turn to Roberto Pereyra in the playmaker's absence. OPTA FACTS Juventus have won 77 of their 161 previous meetings against Roma in Serie A – this is a negative record for the Giallorossi in the top-flight. Only Inter (264) have scored more goals against Roma than Juventus (255). Roma have lost five of their last six Serie A games against the Old Lady, winning the other. Juventus have failed to score in just one of their last 19 league games against Roma. Roma have shared six draws over their last seven home games in Serie A (four of which by 1-1). Rudi Garcia’s side have drawn their last five games at the Olimpico – Roma have never drawn six home games in a row in Serie A. Juve are unbeaten in their last 15 league games (W10 D5), keeping seven clean sheets in the process. Five of the nine goals scored by Francesco Totti against Juventus have come from the penalty spot. LAST FIVE MATCHES Roma W D D D W 2/26/15 Feyenoord 1 - 2 Roma 2/22/15 Hellas Verona 1 - 1 Roma 2/19/15 Roma 1 - 1 Feyenoord 2/15/15 Roma 0 - 0 Parma 2/8/15 Cagliari 1 - 2 Roma Juventus W W D W D 2/24/15 Juventus 2 - 1 Borussia Dortmund 2/20/15 Juventus 2 - 1 Atalanta 2/15/15 Cesena 2 - 2 Juventus 2/7/15 Juventus 3 - 1 Milan 2/1/15 Udinese 0 - 0 Juventus HEAD TO HEAD 10/5/14 Juventus 3 - 2 Roma 5/11/14 Roma 0 - 1 Juventus 1/21/14 Roma 1 - 0 Juventus 1/5/14 Juventus 3 - 0 Roma 2/16/13 Roma 1 - 0 Juventus http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato AS Roma v Juventus: Preview Mar 1, 2015 Roma go into Monday's showdown with Juventus knowing it is make-or-break time for their scudetto ambitions. The Giallorossi are nine points adrift of Juve in the Serie A title race and must win at the Stadio Olimpico to have a realistic chance of overhauling their opponents. Roma are unbeaten at home in the league this season, but the last five of those matches have ended in draws. ``The only thing that matters is this game,'' Roma coach Rudi Garcia told the Italian media. ``We want to return to winning ways at the Stadio Olimpico. ``I am certain that my players will give their all to take a win.'' Roma are also under pressure to win, with third-placed Napoli looking to move above them in the standings. Napoli are three points adrift of Roma and visit Torino on Sunday evening. ``We must defend our second position and also remain as close as possible to Juve,'' Garcia said. ``We have to take advantage of the confidence that we got from our performance in Rotterdam.'' Thursday's 2-1 triumph at Feyenoord allowed Roma to progress to the Europa League last 16, where they will face Fiorentina. Juve also tasted victory in Europe as they beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in Turin on Tuesday in their Champions League last-16 first leg. The outcome followed their 2-1 league triumph over Atalanta. ``We are doing well,'' Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri said. ``But we still have a lot of work to do. ``The game in Rome is very important, but it's not crucial for the scudetto. There are still 13 games remaining after this one.'' Despite Roma having drawn six of their last seven league games, Juve will not take them lightly. ``Roma have very few weaknesses,'' Allegri said. ``They will go all out for victory in order to reduce the gap with us and we expect a difficult game.'' Juve have lost just once this season, a 1-0 defeat at Genoa in October. The Bianconeri are without playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who sustained a calf injury in midweek, but Allegri is hoping to recover midfielders Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal, who are doubts with muscle problems. Serie A's top-scorer Carlos Tevez will lead Juve's attack alongside Alvaro Morata. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus don't scare me - Keita The 35-year-old has laughed off suggestions he could be intimidated at the prospect of facing the Bianconeri on Monday. Mar 1, 2015 Roma's Seydou Keita says there is no chance he will harbour any feelings of fear ahead of facing Juventus after pointing to his big game experience during his time with Barcelona. Rudi Garcia's men have won just once in their last seven league outings, leaving them nine points adrift of the Serie A champions, and know they must win on Monday to keep their slim title hopes alive. "I have the utmost respect for them, but those who have played for Barcelona aren't afraid of anyone," the Malian told La Stampa. "I prepare as you do when waiting for a title-deciding game. I do not say this just for the sake of it; if we beat Juventus, the championship will be back up for grabs. "If the Olimpico cheers us on, we can keep our legs in motion and we will have a good chance of winning. "I am very passionate, sometimes to the point of fanaticism. I am already imagining what could happen if we win something." Roma ensured progression to the last 16 of the Europa League by defeating Feyenoord 2-1 on Thursday, ending a run of three consecutive draws in all competitions. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Serie A - 6^ Giornata Ritorno - 2-3-2015 (ore 20:45) ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Lunedí, 2 marzo 2015 - ore 20:45 Stadio Olimpico, Roma Arbitro: Daniele Orsato Confronti ufficiali 181 - 161 (Serie A) - 16 (Coppa Italia) - 4 (Campionato a gironi) Vittorie Juventus 86 - 77 (Serie A) - 8 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) Pareggi 51 - 47 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) Vittorie Roma 44 - 37 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) Goals Juventus 284 - 255 (Serie A) - 24 (Coppa Italia) - 5 (Campionato a gironi) Goals Roma 192 - 173 (Serie A) - 18 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) Roma - Juventus Serie A a Roma Confronti ufficiali 80 Vittorie Juventus 25 (L'ultima l'11.05.2014, 0-1) Pareggi 26 (L'ultimo il 12.12.2011, 1-1) Vittorie Roma 29 (L'ultima il 16.02.2013, 1-0) Goals Juventus 95 Goals Roma 114 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro la Roma a Roma 13 presenze Boniperti Giampiero 12 Furino Giuseppe 12 Scirea Gaetano 12 Varglien II Giovanni 11 Bettega Roberto 11 Depetrini Teobaldo 11 Zoff Dino 10 Cabrini Antonio 10 Causio Franco 10 Morini Francesco 7 goals Borel II Felice Placido 4 Bettega Roberto 3 Anastasi Pietro 3 Boniperti Giampiero 3 Iaquinta Vincenzo 3 Nedved Pavel 3 Trezeguet David Sergio 2 Baggio Roberto 2 Bercellino I Giancarlo 2 Cevenini III Luigi Ultimi confronti diretti 03.04.2011 Serie A Roma-Juventus 0-2 12.12.2011 Serie A Roma-Juventus 1-1 24.01.2012 Coppa Italia Juventus-Roma 3-0 22.04.2012 Serie A Juventus-Roma 4-0 29.09.2012 Serie A Juventus-Roma 4-1 16.02.2013 Serie A Roma-Juventus 1-0 05.01.2014 Serie A Juventus-Roma 3-0 21.01.2014 Coppa Italia Roma-Juventus 1-0 11.05.2014 Serie A Roma-Juventus 0-1 05.10.2014 Serie A Juventus-Roma 3-2 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 7 - Pareggi 1 - Vittorie Roma 2 - Goals Juventus 21 - Goals Roma 6 http://www.goal.com/it/results-standings/69/serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_101

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato De Rossi: Roma Must Beat Juventus Mar 1, 2015 Ahead of their top of the table clash, Daniele De Rossi has admitted Roma must beat Juventus on Monday The two in the Serie A table go head-to-head at the Stadio Olimpico, and despite the Scudetto looking out of reach for Roma, De Rossi insists the Giallorossi still have to win. “We had imagined a different situation in the table, and we were hoping that this would be a chance to overtake Juventus in the league,” the 31-year-old told Sky Sport Italia. “Unfortunately we fell asleep during the season, but we have to win on Monday night.” The Italian also said that part of the reason that Roma haven’t had such a strong season is down to absentees from the squad. “Injuries played a part,” he said. “There were too many and inevitably we were damaged.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Roma match not crucial for Juve - Allegri The 47-year-old coach understands Monday's clash is important but he does not think that the Bianconeri would be fatally wounded if they fail to beat the Giallorossi. Mar 1, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri played down the importance of Juventus' forthcoming meeting with Roma by opining that it will not play a crucial role in their Serie A defence. The Bianconeri currently lead the charge for the Scudetto and hold a nine-point advantage over their closest rivals, the Giallorossi, who they travel to face at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday. While admitting that Roma will pose a substantial threat in the top-of-the-table clash if they are at their best, Allegri suggested that it is not a must-win match for the Turin outfit. "On Monday we will see a good game between two technical sides. Roma have very few weaknesses. This game is very important but not crucial," Allegri said in a press conference. "Roma will need to give everything they've got to win. It has been three months since our last encounter with them and after this there are still 13 games and 39 points up for grabs, so there is still a long way to go and Napoli are getting closer. "From now on they are all head-to-head battles for position and it will be important not to leave anything behind on a psychological level too. "First and foremost we'll consider the Roma game, then we'll prepare for our other matches." Juve will be unable to call upon Andrea Pirlo for the match, who misses out with a calf strain, and the 47-year-old coach admitted that he does not know how his team will shape up with Paul Pogba Arturo Vidal also struggling for fitness. "We'll check on the fitness of Pogba and Vidal first. We have plenty of alternatives if need be," Allegri revealed. "There are Claudio Marchisio, Stefano Sturaro, Simone Padoin and Roberto Pereyra. "I could even play with two central midfielders, it depends on how this afternoon's training session pans out. An attacking midfielder behind the front two is a possibility, but I still haven't decided how we will line up. "All of the most important games come around this time and it's important to be in good physical shape. At this stage of the campaign, I can't afford to take risks and perhaps lose a player for over a month by risking them unnecessarily." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato ROMA V JUVENTUS MATCH PREVIEW Mar 1, 2015 Juventus While the season still has some way to go, the destination of the Serie A title could be decided if Juventus are able to overcome AS Roma in Monday night’s top of the table clash between first and second. Juventus have looked stagnant of late, struggling to beat Atalanta at home along with 2 less than encouraging draws against mid-table Udinese and relegation-fighting Cesena. On the plus side, the Bianconeri have raised their game against seemingly better opposition with a morale-boosting 3-0 rout of AC Milan in week 22 and a hard-fought win over Champions League opponents Borussia Dortmund. Roma are yet to win a Serie A match in 2015, their last victory being a 4-2 win over Inter Milan at the end of November 2014, but they’ll be more than ready for the visit of the current champions. Given the controversy that marred the 3-2 Juve victory at the Juve Stadium, Franceso Totti and his teammates have made it quite clear this game means everything. “On Monday we face Juve, a game we’ve been waiting for a long time,” wrote the Roma captain in the Corriere dello Sport. “Until a few days ago it seemed as if there was no hope for us in this match. Instead we’re convinced that we can challenge and give meaning to this title race, to re-open a matter that had seemed closed.” Juve will be boosted by Tuesday night’s win over Dortmund, but coach Max Allegri will have to shuffle his deck following a series of injuries to the midfield. Andrea Pirlo is set to miss at least 3 weeks due to calf-muscle damage, while Paul Pogba is recovering a thigh problem and will undergo late fitness tests ahead of the game. The problems don’t stop there as there are more concerns for Arturo Vidal who suffered a knock to the back during training yesterday. Allegri addressed the injury problems in his press conference but didn’t seem overly concerned: JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "We'll check on the fitness of @paulpogba and @kingarturo23 this afternoon. We have plenty of alternatives if need be." JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "An attacking midfielder behind the front two is a possibility, but I still haven't decided how we'll line up tomorrow." At the back, Gigi Buffon will start in goal with Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra as full-backs and Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci playing as the customary centre-back pairing. Alvaro Morata has really impressed in recent matches and will probably play in place of Fernando Llorente with Carlos Tevez alongside. Predicted Lineup 4-3-1-2: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Tevez, Morata Injured Asamoah and Romulo (Recovering from surgery), Andrea Pirlo (ankle) Suspended None Form (W-W-D-W-D-W) Roma The title race isn’t dead yet, because Juventus failed to annihilate it in the games against Udinese and Cesena, but it is in a deep coma and this is Roma’s final chance to resuscitate it. Cutting the lead from nine points to six would be meaningful, while a loss or even a draw would signify game over. However, Roma don’t approach this big game in the ideal conditions. They haven’t won at home since November 30, which is baffling, and they dropped points against several inferior opponents. They have drawn six times in the last six matches (the lone win came against Cagliari) and for five times in a row at home (against Sassuolo, Milan, Lazio, Empoli and even Parma). They still have the second best defense in the League, but they have conceded at least a goal in ten of the last eleven matches, including the Coppa Italia and the Europa League ones. Their “pareggite,” as it is called in Italy when a team draws too much, is caused by a number of reasons. Their go-to-guy Gervinho and Seydou Keita, who had become such a strong quiet leader on the pitch, took part to AFCON and when they returned they were logically fatigued. They suffered many injuries to key players like Daniele De Rossi, Kevin Strootman, Maicon and Juan Manuel Iturbe. The January reinforcement campaign wasn’t very good: Seydou Doumbia isn’t in good shape because of AFCON and Victor Ibarbo immediately suffered an injury. Finally, the quality of the performances of some important elements of the squad, like Kostas Manolas, Maicon and especially Miralem Pjanic, has plummeted. Their confidence was shattered by Bayern Munich and they never quite fully recovered from that blow. Their stats are still pretty good: they have best average possession (61.7%), the best pass success (86.3%), the second most take-ons per game (11.3), they allow only ten shots per game (3rd in the League) and they shot 14 time (2nd). They have all the tools to turn things around, but they seem to lack that zing, that assertiveness and that serenity that they had before this recent tough stretch and they are just not in a good place mentally. When they face a weaker opponents, they no longer look intimidating. It’ll be interesting to see whether passing the round of 32 in Europa League will be enough to bring their confidence back. There are many lingering questions about the lineup. Are Alessandro Florenzi and Maicon healthy enough to play? The Italian international has more chances and he’d be fielded at right-back if he’s good to go, but Vassilis Torosidis is viable. Can Francesco Totti play twice in five days? He’ll probably have to, because he’s too important to be benched in such a big match and Seydou Doumbia hasn’t exactly made a case for being in the staring XI. Davide Astori or Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa? The former Newcastle defender has been more consistent. Juan Manuel Iturbe has returned from his knee and ankle injury, but it’d be surprising to see him start. Radja Nainggolan rested in Rotterdam, so he’s likely to replace Seydou Keita in the midfield. UPDATE: Garcia has ruled out Doumbia and Maicon in the pre-game presser, so the only doubts are who will play on the right in the defense and how the three-man midfield will be composed. In the first match of the season, Roma delivered a gutsy performance at the Juventus Stadium: they came back from a 1-0 disadvantage, but they lost 3-2 due to two penalties by Carlos Tevez and a late Leonardo Bonucci stunner. Injured players Balzaretti (groin), Castan (head), Strootman (knee), Ibarbo (calf), Maicon (knee), Doumbia (back). Probable lineup 4-3-3: De Sanctis; Torosidis, Manolas, Yanga-Mbiwa, Holebas; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Pjanic; Gervinho, Totti, Ljajic. Suspended None Form (D-D-D-W-D-D) Formation http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Juve consider Roma options Mar 1, 2015 Juventus have three different tactical options against Roma, depending on Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal injuries. Max Allegri confirmed Pogba and Vidal will be evaluated in today’s training session, as the Frenchman is suffering from an inflammation in the thigh muscle and the Chilean has a bruised back. The Coach said he would only decide on his tactical system based on the players available and did not want to risk losing them, especially as Andrea Pirlo is already sidelined for three weeks. Juventus could keep their current 4-3-1-2 system with both players able to start and Roberto Pereyra moving into the trequartista role. They could return to the 3-5-2 shape with either one or neither of the two injury doubts featuring. Stefano Sturaro is ready to step in after his January arrival from Genoa, while Claudio Marchisio is a versatile figure who can play in any midfield role. Juventus (probable 1): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Tevez, Morata Juventus (probable 2): Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marchisio, Pereyra, Evra; Llorente, Tevez Juventus (probable 3): Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Marchisio, Pereyra, Evra; Llorente, Tevez http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Allegri: 'A positive Roma-Juve' Mar 1, 2015 Max Allegri hopes “Italian football will emerge positively” from tomorrow’s Roma-Juventus Scudetto battle. The first order of the day was a question on the fitness levels of Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal, seeing as Andrea Pirlo is already ruled out. “They are doing fairly well and I’ll evaluate them in today’s training session,” said Allegri in his Press conference. Pogba has an inflammation in his thigh muscle, while Vidal has a bruise to the back. “If they are in good shape, then they will play, otherwise we have those who can replace them. There are Claudio Marchisio, Stefano Sturaro, Simone Padoin and Roberto Pereyra. “We could even decide to play with only two midfielders. This is only one game and I don’t want to risk losing someone for a month. We’ve already lost Pirlo, it would be stupid to risk another. “My tactical decisions will also be based on who is at my disposal. Until I know that, I can’t pick an approach.” Juventus have a nine-point lead at the top of the Serie A table, but Roma are fired up after their Europa League victory at Feyenoord on Thursday. “It was great to see all five Italians reach the next round and this is a great result for Italian football. Roma have few weak points, a lot of quality and in a one-off game all previous results are wiped out. “It has been three months since our last encounter with Roma and after this there will be another 13 games and 39 points available. “I expect a great game with excellent technique, much like the one we saw in Turin. The entertainment value ended up in the background at the end, but it was a wonderful match.” The main headlines around the 3-2 Juventus victory were around refereeing decisions, though Allegri won’t call them ‘errors.’ “There were incidents that were borderline, but even those who watched the replays over and over still can’t agree with each other. Technology should be introduced for the goal-line. “Tomorrow Italian football has to emerge positively, both on and off the pitch. These are the two strongest sides in the League. “From now on they are all head-to-head battles for position and it will be important not to leave anything behind on a psychological level too. “We have a nine-point advantage, but there are many games to go.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Francesco Totti vs. Andrea Pirlo: Breaking Down the Roma-Juventus Legends Battle Mar 1, 2015 Francesco Totti is confident that Roma can close the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus and salvage their wavering title challenge. The Giallorossi, who last won the Scudetto in 2001, have been victorious in just one of their last seven league matches which has seen them fall nine points adrift of the table-topping Bianconeri. On Monday, at 20:45CET, Roma and Juve will go head-to-head at the Stadio Olimpico and the veteran striker is adamant that his team can rediscover their finest form and put the pressure back on Massimiliano Allegri's league leaders. "We are convinced that we can get back on track in the league, reopening the title race which people are already claiming is over," Totti wrote told Corriere dello Sport. "We are preparing well for this match, as we did for the one against Feyenoord. We have not had a great victory at the Olimpico in a long time, so it would be nice to see the fans in celebration, rejoicing with us. "With the recovery of our best form and the return of Juan Manuel Iturbe, and the contribution that Seydou Doumbia and Victor Ibarbo will soon provide, we can go back to being the team that the entertained the fans. "These last few weeks have not been easy, we are so sorry to have disappointed the supporters, but I’m confident and I think the worst is over. We have a good, united group. There is still time left this season and many matches to play. Roma's ready to do our part." The 38-year-old also shared his ambitions for the Giallorossi in the Europa League and expressed his pleasure at seeing four other Serie A teams reach the last 16 too. "We had prepared every detail before playing Feyenoord, because we knew how important it was for us, and our fans, to go through. We did not want to go out of Europe, because in this competition we can go all the way," Totti added. "In the knockout stages of the Europa League we will meet Fiorentina in an all-Italian derby. I am happy that five Italian teams have made it to the knockout stages. It’s a good sign for our football and is important in the Uefa coefficients." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Totti: Roma are ready for late title assault The Giallorossi captain believes that the club can regain the lost ground on defending champions Juventus and blow the title race open once more. Mar 1, 2015 Francesco Totti is confident that Roma can close the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus and salvage their wavering title challenge. The Giallorossi, who last won the Scudetto in 2001, have been victorious in just one of their last seven league matches which has seen them fall nine points adrift of the table-topping Bianconeri. On Monday, at 20:45CET, Roma and Juve will go head-to-head at the Stadio Olimpico and the veteran striker is adamant that his team can rediscover their finest form and put the pressure back on Massimiliano Allegri's league leaders. "We are convinced that we can get back on track in the league, reopening the title race which people are already claiming is over," Totti wrote told Corriere dello Sport. "We are preparing well for this match, as we did for the one against Feyenoord. We have not had a great victory at the Olimpico in a long time, so it would be nice to see the fans in celebration, rejoicing with us. "With the recovery of our best form and the return of Juan Manuel Iturbe, and the contribution that Seydou Doumbia and Victor Ibarbo will soon provide, we can go back to being the team that the entertained the fans. "These last few weeks have not been easy, we are so sorry to have disappointed the supporters, but I’m confident and I think the worst is over. We have a good, united group. There is still time left this season and many matches to play. Roma's ready to do our part." The 38-year-old also shared his ambitions for the Giallorossi in the Europa League and expressed his pleasure at seeing four other Serie A teams reach the last 16 too. "We had prepared every detail before playing Feyenoord, because we knew how important it was for us, and our fans, to go through. We did not want to go out of Europe, because in this competition we can go all the way," Totti added. "In the knockout stages of the Europa League we will meet Fiorentina in an all-Italian derby. I am happy that five Italian teams have made it to the knockout stages. It’s a good sign for our football and is important in the Uefa coefficients." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ROMA - JUVENTUS .- Monday, March 2nd, 2015 - 8:45 PM Olimpico Stadium, Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Roma’s Hare To Juventus’ Tortoise: The Story Of Two Coaches Ahead of their Serie A clash on Monday, the spotlight will also be on the two coaches and their diametrically opposed trajectories throughout the season. Mar 1, 2015 At the start of the season, Massimilano Allegri and Rudi Garcia had seemed on the opposite sides of the spectrum. The former was brought in to replace Antonio Conte who had guided Juventus to three successive Serie A titles, and despite having been sacked as AC Milan boss only six months prior. On the other hand, Rudi Garcia was in seventh heaven. The former Lille boss guided the Giallorossi to second place in Serie A in the 2013-14 season, thus securing Champions League qualification once again after two consecutive seasons without out of Europe. Fast forward seven months and both coaches remain on opposites sides of the spectrum, but they’ve switched places. Garcia has failed to live up to expectations thus far, knocked out of the UEFA Champions League and the Coppa Italia, as well as adrift nine points off of leaders Juventus. Conversely, Allegri looks on course for a second career Scudetto while remaining in the Coppa Italia and the Champions League. The truth lies in the critical difference between the two coaches: that is to say difference between a coach allergic to change and a dynamic coach who adapts to the given situation. Allegri is definitely the latter. At the start of the season the Juventus coach kept with the 3-5-2 formation in place, which was the same formation the side had found so much success with when under Conte. However, he gradually started changing it to his preferred 4-3-1-2 setup. The intriguing thing isn’t that Allegri changed the formation, many coaches have done similarly in order to stamp their authority, but he began the transition process when there was a relative slump in results, with elimination from the Champions League at stake following two successive defeats against Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos. Not only that, but Allegri has been able to tweak the line-up for the good of the side as well. Who would’ve thought that following his 18 goals last season, Fernando Llorente would sit as a substitute to the less experienced Alvaro Morata? The 2010 World Cup winner has been a shadow of his former self this season, and Allegri was not afraid to install Morata in the line-up. The issue here is that Juventus possess depth whether it is squad or formation-wise. Allegri instilled a new game plan but can still revert to the old one whenever he wishes to. He has been playing Morata up front alongside Tevez, but at the same time if the former is injured, Llorente can step up to take his place. On the other hand though Garcia’s season has been abysmal. Clubs have broken Roma down on many occasions whether it has been in Serie A, the Champions League, or even Feyenoord in the Europa League. Despite that, the Giallorossi boss has stubbornly stuck with the 4-3-3. The 7–1 defeat to Bayern at the Stadio Olimpico was the perfect example of Garcia’s static thinking. When Roma found themselves 3-0 down in the opening minutes, a change in the game plan would have helped a lot, but that didn’t happen because Garcia has rarely attempted another formation. This has therefore increased the predictability of Roma’s play, as they only know how to play on way. However, the Frenchman is yet to think about changing the way the side lines up, something Allegri carried out earlier this season. In short, make fun of him all you want, but Allegri is doing what Garcia hasn’t been able to comprehend. The hare may have had the better start, but in the end the tortoise always wins. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Zidane Urges Real Madrid To Sign Pogba Mar 1, 2015 Real Madrid legend and current youth team coach Zinedine Zidane is determined for the club to secure the signing of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. Los Blancos have been persistently linked with making a move for the Frenchman in recent seasons, and this will only add further fuel to those reports. According to AS, Zidane is urging the club to bring Pogba to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, in order to fight off competition from rivals Barcelona, as well as competition in England and France. Pogba has been linked with a move away from Serie A for a while now, despite the player insisting he is happy at the Bianconeri. Being a client of agent Mino Raiola, it is hard to rule out the possibility of a big money move for the 21-year-old. Pogba has featured 20 times in Serie A for Juve this season, scoring six goals and assisting a further two.