Socrates

Boca: ‘Tevez a year early’ Feb 19, 2015 Boca Juniors President Daniel Angelici hints that Juventus striker Carlos Tevez could join the club next season. The striker has already hinted that he won’t renew his Juventus deal, which expires in 2016, in order to return to his homeland and his boyhood club. However, in an interview with Fox Sports, the Argentinian club’s President says Tevez could arrive earlier. “We talked to Carlitos on February 5, his birthday,” Angelici revealed. “We hope for his return to Boca. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tevez resolved his contract with Juventus a year early to come and play for us.”

Chelsea and Manchester City lead race for Pogba The Premier League duo are set to go head-to-head to sign the Juventus midfielder in the summer, while Real Madrid, PSG and Manchester United are also monitoring the situation. Feb 19, 2015 By Duncan Castles Chelsea and Manchester City are leading the race to land Paul Pogba in the summer, with the Juventus midfielder keen on a return to the Premier League. Goal understands that the title-chasing duo have made the 21-year-old France international a transfer priority, with Pogba's preferred choice being a return to England should he be allowed to leave Juve when the transfer window reopens. Pogba has carved out a reputation as one of the top midfield players in world football since leaving Manchester United in somewhat acrimonious circumstances back in 2012, with every leading European club keeping a close eye on his transfer situation. The Frenchman only agreed an improved deal with Serie A champions Juventus in October although Goal understands the Italian club are preparing themselves for his departure and are looking at recuperating a fee of at least £44 million. Both Chelsea and City will have to consider FFP regulations when putting together any bid for Pogba although the £5.13bn Premier League television rights deal, which kicks into gear for the 2016-17 season, has strengthened their arm. Pogba is being seen as a potential replacement for Yaya Toure at the Etihad Stadium, with the Ivory Coast captain looking increasingly likely to leave the club in the summer and with Roberto Mancini's Inter having been strongly linked. Chelsea, meanwhile, are prepared to go toe-to-toe with City and are a club that the 21-year-old admires, with Pogba's combination of physical and technical prowess well-suited to Jose Mourinho's attack-minded Blues side. Louis van Gaal's Manchester United would also be willing to spend big to take the midfielder back to Old Trafford although they remain outsiders given Pogba's exit from the club three years ago. The Juve star was hugely unimpressed by United's behaviour towards him after he sought first-team football and an improved contact back in 2011, with Pogba restricted to just 71 minutes of Premier League football and, at one point, ordered to train alone prior to his move to Juve. Pogba's representative Mino Raiola will be heavily involved in any potential negotiations over the midfielder's future, with the Italian super agent having previously suggested that he could be sold for a record fee in the summer. As for competition from Europe for Pogba's signature, Goal understands that PSG and Real Madrid have both made enquiries over the 21-year-old's availability. A bid from the Champions League holders could well turn the player's head although Goal understands that certain members of the Madrid hierarchy would prefer Dortmund winger Marco Reus as the club's next Galactico signing.

JUVENTUS - ATALANTA .- Friday, February 20th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Massimiliano Irrati Juventus-Atalanta Preview: Marchisio prioritising Serie A over Champions League The midfielder stressed the importance of getting the three points over Atalanta ahead of the Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund. Feb 19, 2015 Juventus will not allow the distraction of the Champions League affect their focus on matters at hand in Serie A when they face Atalanta on Friday, says Claudio Marchisio. Massimiliano Allegri’s side have yet to taste defeat in 2015 and go into the clash unbeaten in their last 14 league games – giving them a seven-point lead at the top of the table. Victory on Friday would increase that to 10 points and apply further pressure on Roma and Napoli, who lead the chase to catch them with 15 games remaining. The return of European competition for Juve next week means they must now exert themselves on three fronts – including the Coppa Italia – but Marchisio is adamant maintaining their league form is the top priority. "We are fully focused on Serie A," Marchisio told Sky Sport Italia, with Juve facing Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday. "We play Dortmund next week but we are not going to take our eye off the ball in terms of Serie A. "We have a big game against Atalanta at the weekend and that is what we are focusing on." Matches between the two sides have been fairly one-sided with Juve, as many would expect, dominating the head-to-head record. The last nine meetings have all ended in victory for the champions, while Atalanta have not recorded a league win over Juve since February 2001. Ending that 14-year wait will be tough for the strugglers given they are having a tough campaign in 2014-15. After finishing in mid-table last season it was always going to be difficult for Stefano Colantuono's side to improve this term, and so it has proved with Atalanta firmly ensconced in the relegation battle. They sit three points outside the danger zone, but, should they lose at Juve and Cagliari beat Inter on Monday, Atalanta would drop into the bottom three. Back-to-back defeats is not the ideal way to prepare for a clash with the defending champions, though, and with three losses in their last four matches Atalanta will do well to get anything out of the game. Goals have been hard to come by for the visitors this season, with only Parma and Chievo scoring fewer, and injuries to key players have provided further hindrance. Top scorer Maxi Moralez suffered a calf problem against Inter last week and is a major doubt, while Nicolo Cherubin (calf) and the suspended Yohan Benalouane will definitely miss out Carlos Carmona and Mauricio Pinilla are also banned, but Juve loanee Richmond Boakye is set to feature against his parent club. OPTA FACTS Juventus have won 59 of the 105 clashes against Atalanta in Serie A, with 35 draws and just 11 wins for Atalanta. Atalanta’s last win over Juventus dates back to February 2001; since then, 18 successes for the Bianconeri and two draws. Moreover, the Old Lady have won each of the last nine Serie A meetings against Atalanta. Atalanta have only netted two goals against Juventus in their last seven Serie A encounters. The Bianconeri are now unbeaten in 14 games (W9, D5), the current longest unbeaten run among the 20 Serie A teams. Juventus have not lost any of their last 39 games at home, winning 35 of them – they have also kept a clean sheet 24 times in the process. Atalanta have managed only a win in the last 11 league games on the road (D4, L6), at the San Siro against AC Milan. Álvaro Morata’s first goal in Serie A came right against Atalanta in the reverse fixture. LAST FIVE MATCHES Juventus D W D W W 2/15/15 - Cesena 2 - 2 Juventus 2/7/15 - Juventus 3 - 1 Milan 2/1/15 - Udinese 0 - 0 Juventus 1/28/15 - Parma 0 - 1 Juventus 1/25/15 - Juventus 2 - 0 Chievo Verona Atalanta L L W L L 2/15/15 - Atalanta 1 - 4 Internazionale 2/8/15 - Fiorentina 3 - 2 Atalanta 2/1/15 - Atalanta 2 - 1 Cagliari 1/25/15 - Hellas Verona 1 - 0 Atalanta 1/21/15 - Fiorentina 3 - 1 Atalanta HEAD TO HEAD 9/27/14 - Atalanta 0 - 3 Juventus 5/5/14 - Juventus 1 - 0 Atalanta 12/22/13 - Atalanta 1 - 4 Juventus 5/8/13 - Atalanta 0 - 1 Juventus 12/16/12 - Juventus 3 - 0 Atalanta http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Massimiliano Allegri in the spotlight as Juventus approach critical juncture Feb 19, 2015 With the Champions League set to restart for Juventus, the number of games the team will play are bound to lead to fatigue and mental exhaustion. It is precisely for this reason, Massimiliano Allegri and co. feel they missed a trick when they failed to defeat Cesena to open a bigger gap at the top of the table. It wasn't simply a case of luck or poor energy, the Seahorses perfectly exposed certain weaknesses within the Bianconeri team that has provoked anxiety. Two goals conceded from open play demonstrate a weak defence and one that falters when pitted against strength and height. Without Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus struggle to win aerial duels in defence. Cesena are not only the best team when it comes to triumphing in aerial challenges but they boast the striker who has won more in the air than any other player in Serie A, Milan Djuric. It's for this reason that it was surprising that Allegri thought it best to rest Chiellini for this particular match -- the one game where his skills were the most important to seal victory. Were Cesena and their strengths truly studied? How well prepared were the Bianconeri for the challenge? Such matters may appear trivial for a team that is so clearly in the lead on a domestic level, but against Borussia Dortmund Allegri must pay attention to every detail and field the perfect XI to keep a clean sheet. However, before the Old Lady can even think of their next European challenge, there is still Atalanta to overcome. Stefano Colantuono's side may not possess the quality required to truly punish a side like Juventus but this is a side to be respected for their intelligent game plans and good execution. Not ones to play with fear, the Bergamo-based side know their strengths and are very aware of their weaknesses, finding ways to accumulate points despite their limitations. Defence is the priority and Atalanta, sitting 16th in Serie A, is a side renowned for its organisation and the lack of space they offer the opponent. Lined up neatly in two banks of four, they defend deep and with determination, closing down the spaces quickly to frustrate forwards. While they are impressive tactically, there's little one can do to hinder technique. As such, when it comes to defending against quick thinking players who can dribble past them to dispatch a delicious through ball, Colantuono's outfit fail -- rather spectacularly at times. Therefore, this is a game made for the likes of Carlos Tevez -- players with great imagination who understand how to keep possession and include others in their attacking play. Quick tempo attacking thrusts and the ability to create numerical superiority in the final third will surely pierce the Nerazzurri's back-line and in this Allegri has done well to evolve the side. However, if Juventus are even slightly sloppy with their play, as they have been in the past, they will be punished. Colantuono often instructs his forwards to stay back and look for the ball with a view of initiating a quick counter-attack. Boasting two external midfielders with pace and trickery, this is a side that move up the field quickly and the Bianconeri must remain alert to the threat, even if Atalanta aren't the greatest at converting their opportunities. They will cross, they will play aggressively and they will try their luck and Juventus truly cannot afford anymore slip ups, especially as they need a confidence boosting win before they take on the mighty BVB next week. While one always wants Pogba to start the matches especially considering how well the opponent defends, it will be a good idea for him to rest on Friday evening. For one thing, if he gets another yellow card then he will miss the Roma game but more importantly, he's showing signs of fatigue and requires a little down time in order to recover for the upcoming European duel. It's thought Allegri will also opt to rest Andrea Pirlo looking to play a midfield featuring Roberto Pereyra and perhaps even Stefano Sturaro -- a player who will benefit from some game time. An important part of the season has arrived, where the fixture has become a little more difficult and it's time to see who can survive and who will thrive. Rotation is a delicate balancing act that Antonio Conte managed to perfection last season and now is the time to see how well Juve's new coach will manage. It's imperative Allegri understands how to rotate, which men his team can live without, depending on the characteristics of the opposition, and which men will be looking for the chance to make an impact. This is where one can discover the true strength of a coach. Can he change the squad and still maintain the winning mentality or will this be a side that can no longer handle the pressure and physical demands required of champions?

Champions League final is Juventus's target - Marchisio The Italy international midfielder believes that the Serie A champions have the quality to battle favourites like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Chelsea to the title. Feb 19, 2015 Claudio Marchisio is confident that Juventus can overcome Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League's last 16 and believes that they have what it takes to go all the way in the competition. Dortmund have struggled domestically this season, though Jurgen Klopp's side have enjoyed a good campaign among Europe's elite, topping Group D ahead of Arsenal, Anderlecht and Galatasaray. Marchisio believes that Juve can overcome the 2013 finalists, though, and then push on to this season's final in Berlin. "We always aim to win. Our goal is to reach the final," he told Sky Italia. "The matches against Dortmund will tell us a lot about where we stand. We almost didn't make the second round. Now we have to demonstrate that we can aim for the maximum. "We are at the same level with Dortmund, definitely, and Real Madrid, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain too with a little luck. "We'll play on a par with Dortmund and see how it turns out. The important thing is to get through this tie. That's the only thing that concerns myself and the team. "We have the first leg at home so it will be important to play with maximum focus and make the most of the boost our fans can give us."

Allegri: Juventus Can Beat Borussia Dortmund Feb 19, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is in confident mood ahead of their upcoming UEFA Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund, insisting that his side has what it takes to defeat the 2012-13 runners-up. However, the 47-year-old warned Bianconeri fans that even if the first leg in Turin on February 23 were to end goalless, not conceding an away goal to Jurgen Klopp’s team is the most important thing to remember. “We have what it takes to beat Borussia Dortmund in these matches ahead but also need a dose of good luck,” Allegri told Bild. “On their day Borussia Dortmund can beat anyone and you have to be able to do well in the first leg, but then qualification will remain in the balance. “It could even finish 0–0, but the important thing is not to concede a goal at the Juventus Stadium. “In recent years Borussia Dortmund have enjoyed success and accumulated experience, from this point of view they are a step ahead of us. “Klopp is a great coach, he is very successful.”

Massimiliano Allegri to leave Serie A after Juventus Feb 19, 2015 Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has said he would only consider managing the Italian national team or a foreign club once his reign in Turin is over. Allegri, who was sacked by AC Milan in January 2014, replaced Antonio Conte as Juve boss in the summer and his side are currently seven points clear of Roma at the top of Serie A. He said he hopes to remain in charge of Juve for as long as possible but the 47-year-old, who has previously expressed an interest in working in the Premier League, does not plan to coach another Serie A club. "Juventus are the best run club in Italy by far," Allegri said in an interview with German publication Sport Bild. "It was the right decision for me because you always want to take the next step. "After that you can only take over the national team, or move abroad, but for now I want to work in Turin as long as possible." Juventus host Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash next week, and Allegri believes his side have a good chance to progress against Jurgen Klopp's men, who have endured a difficult season in the Bundesliga. "There are four favourites in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern. The rest are at a different level, and the head and most of all luck will decide those fixtures," he said. "It's important that we don't concede against Dortmund at home. I'd prefer to draw 0-0." He added: "We have all it takes to beat Dortmund. At least that's what I believe." Juve's chances are likely to be boosted by the presence of France midfielder Paul Pogba. "At the age of 21, he does things on the pitch that others never achieve in their entire career," he said. "When you can coach players who are on this level, it is a huge privilege for a coach."

JUVENTUS - ATALANTA .- Friday, February 20th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Massimiliano Irrati Preview: Juventus vs. Atalanta Feb 19, 2015 Juventus go into Friday night's home game against Atalanta BC still with a healthy seven-point lead at the top of Serie A, despite just one win in their last three league games. With Roma also stuttering of late, Juve remain secure at the summit and now look to improve their league-best home record. Massimiliano Allegri's side are unbeaten at Juventus Stadium in the league this season and also haven't suffered a Serie A defeat at home since January 2013, winning 35 and drawing four of the games since then. Friday night's game will be the first of two at home in four days, and Allegri is likely to have one eye on Tuesday's visit from Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League when picking his team. Allegri will have a near-fully fit team to choose from, with Carlos Tevez available again after suspension and Martin Cacares close to returning from injury. While Juve are a total of 14 games unbeaten in Serie A, Atalanta have lost three of their last four to sit just above the bottom three in 17th. Sunday's home defeat at the hands of Inter Milan was their heaviest of the season as they let in four goals for the first time in 2014-15, making it seven past them in two games. Juve's recent record against The Goddess is excellent, with 18 wins and two draws since Atalanta's last win in 2001. The reverse fixture was a 3-0 Juve win back in September. Juventus Form in Serie A: W W W D W D Form in all competitions: W W W D W D Possible starting lineup: Buffon; Lichsteiner, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Evra; Pirlo, Marchisio, Pogba, Vidal; Morata, Llorente Atalanta Form in Serie A: D W L W L L Form in all competitions: W L L W L L Possible starting lineup: Sportiello, Masiello, Stendardo, Benalouane, Bellini, Zappacosta, Cigarini, Carmona, Gomez, Moralez, Pinilla Sports Mole says: 3-0 http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Chelsea Transfer News: Paul Pogba Urged to Join Feb 18, 2015 Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has urged Paul Pogba to dismiss the reported interest of Manchester United and join the Blues from Juventus. Anelka, who won four trophies with Chelsea between 2008-12, believes Pogba can play in any division, but has told the starlet to join one of his two former clubs, per France Football (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Express): Paul technically knows everything and he has the qualities to play anywhere. My preference is for him to join Chelsea, who have very strong players and the financial power of [Roman] Abramovich. Also Real Madrid, who are one of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the greatest. He would grow a lot under Carlo Ancelotti. Pogba is currently the subject of fierce speculation. As noted by Chapman, the likes of Chelsea and United are suggested to be front-runners for his signature, while Ben Jefferson of the same publication suggests Paris Saint-Germain could also be in the mix. Mino Raiola, Pogba's agent, previously suggested any suitors will need to stump up in excess of £85 million to convince Juve to sell. "If the right time comes this summer, then it will happen," said Raiola, reported by Telefoot (h/t Kieran Gill of the MailOnline). "If it is not the right time, he could stay for another year or two. He will beat the transfer record. If there is one Mona Lisa in the world, and she is for sale, it will be a record price." B/R UK's Ryan Bailey and Jonathan Johnson recently discussed whether Pogba could become football's first £100 million player. Jose Mourinho has proven himself conscious of UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules in recent times. Juan Cuadrado's arrival was met with Andre Schurrle's departure, while Juan Mata and Kevin De Bruyne were pushed through the door in January 2014 to make way for Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah. Let's not forget the £50 million exit of David Luiz, which helped fund Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas' arrivals in the summer. As such, it could be difficult to raise in excess of £85 million without significantly impacting the squad. Pogba is a terrific young player—a current superstar and future legend if he continues to improve—but a world-record transfer could be problematic for the west London club.

Juventus Must Do Everything to Keep Paul Pogba This Summer Feb 18, 2015 Paul Pogba has quickly become one of the biggest names in world football, dazzling onlookers with a string of incredible displays. Since landing at Juventus back in 2012, he has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe and comfortably the most talented star of his generation. Still just 21 years old, his performances this term have seen the narrative around him shift drastically. Over the past two years, every time Pogba made a positive contribution to the Bianconeri, it was used to highlight the mistake made by Manchester United in allowing him to leave Old Trafford. This season however, those match-winning outings have begun to fuel a constant stream of transfer talk, with every goal he scores seeming to inflate the fee it will take to prise him away from Serie A. Mino Raiola, Pogba's agent, recently told Telefoot (h/t Daily Mail) that “if he goes he will break [Cristiano] Ronaldo's transfer record.” Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images Adding that Pogba “could join any club,” Raiola then gave Juventus reason to believe they may hold onto the player a little longer than many expect, as he went on to say, “If it is not the right time, he could stay for another year or two.” While Italian football’s struggles are well-documented—as is Juve’s failure to advance beyond the group stage of the Champions League last year—the Bianconeri must surely want to keep their prized asset for another 12 months if not longer. Unlike many of the potential destinations, Turin is familiar to Pogba, and he has already discussed the benefits of playing for La Madama. Asked about the speculation surrounding him last month, Pogba told Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia): Personally I am happy, I want to continue like this and give everything for this team, I need to do more. I want to be a champion like Andrea [Pirlo], Gigi [buffon] and [Giorgio] Chiellini. I want to be one of the best in the world and must do everything to reach that level. I hope for the Ballon d’Or in future, but I have a lot of work for that. I am worth €0. I am worth nothing unless I work on the field in every single game. He reaffirmed his commitment to the club in November, signing a new contract that does not expire until 2019, per the official Juventus website. While that clearly does not prevent him from moving on, the Bianconeri should do all they can to keep him in their colours for as long as possible. Their midfield may boast the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, but Pogba regularly makes the decisive impact on the field. Only Carlos Tevez (14) has scored more than his tally of six goals in 2014-15, just one strike fewer than he managed in the whole of last season and he has also added two assists. Statistics from WhoScored.com also show that his averages of 2.6 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per game are career bests, and he is showing improvement in almost every facet of his game. The same source shows that while his pass-completion rate has fallen from 83.8 to 82.7, he is making 46.6 passes per game this year compared to 42.4 in 2013-14. Perhaps the aspect of Pogba's game that has seen the most dramatic improvement is his dribbling, as he now completes an average of 3.1 take-ons per game. Watching him play, it is clear that he has developed a better understanding of how and when to beat an opponent, with Squawka.com showing he has improved to win 74 percent of those duels compared to just 54 percent last term. More than that, it is enough to witness Pogba's contributions on the pitch, lifting his side to victory regularly and looking like a leader despite his young age. Juventus could buy a number of players with the fee they would receive, but it is hard to imagine the Bianconeri capturing anyone who can match his ability, temperament or impact. Pogba is constantly improving, and Juventus would be wise to hold onto their star midfielder for as long as possible.

Marchisio: Juventus Are Fully Focused On Serie A Feb 18, 2015 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio claims that Juventus are not going to let up in their pursuit for yet another Serie A crown. The Bianconeri are seven points clear of second place Roma and face Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of the Champions League but Marchisio is adamant that Juve will continue to give their all in Serie A. “We are fully focused on Serie A,” Marchisio told Sky Sport Italia. “We play Dortmund next week but we are not going to take our eye off the ball in terms of Serie A. “We have a big game against Atalanta at the weekend and that is what we are focusing on.” Marchisio went onto answer questions about the Champions League and Juventus in Europe. “We have been unlucky in Europe in recent years. “The game against Borussia Dortmund will tell us a lot about where we stand in Europe. “We always try to win and so we are aiming to get to the final of the Champions League. “When we had tough periods at Juve I could have gone, there was interest from Roma but I wanted to stay at this club.”

French Media: Pogba Deserves More Than Juventus Feb 17, 2015 Media outlets in France believe that the future of midfielder Paul Pogba should lie away from Juventus and Serie A this summer. The in-demand French international is wanted by a number of clubs including Real Madrid and Manchester United, and was recently valued at more than €94 million by his agent Mino Raiola. L’Equipe believes that the talented 21-year-old “should be playing at one of the biggest clubs in the world, since today he only plays at a big Italian club.” The French newspaper also considers that a move could be motivated by earning potential after an investigation into why Pogba currently does not have a personal sponsorship or a boot deal. It claims that this is a result of playing in Serie A, compared to the global brands of the English Premier League and Primera Division in Spain.

Future Of Pogba Could Be Decided By Sponsorship Feb 17, 2015 The future of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba this summer could be decided by personal sponsorship money. The French international is thought to be one of the most recognisable footballers in Europe, but currently does not have a personal sponsor or a boot deal. L’Equipe claims that the 21-year-old’s lack of personal sponsorships comes from playing in Serie A, compared to the global brands of the English Premier League and Primera Division in Spain. “Today Pogba is in the top three in terms of image, along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” Nourredine Elhaoussine of UThink Sport, a company which belong to Universal Music & Brand told the French newspaper. Franck Hoquemiller from VIP Consulting, a company that already works with Raphael Varane of Real Madrid, believes Pogba could choose his future club on the strength of its brand as much as its footballing ambition. Should Pogba move in the summer, he would attract millions of euros a year through various deals with leading brands such as Nike, Adidas and Puma competing to influence any decision.

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie_a/juventus/2015/02/15-90415_0/Foto+Cesena-Juve+2-2%2C+Brienza+gela+Allegri http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/36zkUWxD-Fg/AC+Cesena+v+Juventus+FC+Serie/1NvgBBMPLHa

Pirlo: ‘Istanbul? I almost quit’ Feb 16, 2015 Andrea Pirlo reveals that after the Champions League Final lost to Liverpool in 2005 he 'felt like quitting', whilst he talks of Juventus in Europe today. The Metronomo Bresciano holds two Champions League titles to his name, but famously lost the 2005 edition in Istanbul, when the Reds managed to wipe out a 3-0 lead by the Rossoneri and take the game into penalties. “That night I learnt that destiny in football can be very whimsical,” he said, in a long interview with ABC. “Not only did they draw level from a 3-0 deficit in seven minutes, but [goalkeeper Jerzy] Dudek blocked a killer shot by [Andriy] Shevchenko in the box with his eyes closed. “There are things you just can't fight against. After that game I felt like quitting football. “Fortunately, two years later this blessed sport returned to us in Athens what was taken from us in Istanbul. Winning my second Champions League was special. “That being said, Kaká's Ballon d'Or in 2007 was not mine to pass. He achieved it by his own merits. “That prize will always go to a player who scores, one who makes the difference. Kaká did that in his day, the way that Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Lionel] Messi are doing it now. “If Xavi or [Andres] Iniesta never won it, I don't think I deserve it either. “But Paul Pogba could be the future of Juventus. He has it all: physique, technique and an eye for the goal. He is perfect. He can mark an era.” In spite of having the Frenchman and himself in the midfield, however, Pirlo's Bianconeri have struggled in the Champions League. The Italian international was not sure how to explain this. “It isn't a simple question. In the Champions League there are many factors that come into play: chance, the right physical condition at the right time, the match-ups... “That's why winning a Champions League is so hard. The knock-out round against Borussia [Dortmund on February 24] will tell us what we're truly made of. “But if we make it to the next game, I'd rather not cross paths with [Real] Madrid. I only want to encounter them in the final.” The 35-year-old also looked back on his much-discussed transfer from Milan to Juventus in 2011. “After a decade with Milan I needed a change of scenes. My career called for new incentives. Something inside me wasn't working. I had bad feelings. “Milan were going through a very rough patch and my body was asking me to return to victory, to be in a team that had aspirations in every field. “That's when Juventus came along. It was the best thing that could have happened. We won the Scudetto three times in a row and we're on the path to winning the fourth.” But Pirlo denied all rumours that his current Coach Max Allegri had anything to do with his departure from il Diavolo. “That's a lie. Neither Allegri nor anyone else in Milan was responsible for my decision to leave. “It was my own choice. I needed to get out of there to prove to myself, as well as to my fans, that I was still capable of playing football.”

Government should intervene after Claudio Lotito claims - Beppe Marotta Feb 16, 2015 Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta has called on the Italian government to shake up the power structure of Italian football. His comments came after Lazio president Claudio Lotito claimed the presidents of the Lega Serie A and Serie B do not do any work and called Serie B chief Andrea Abodi "a cretin." Pino Iodice, the sporting director of third-tier side Ischia, recorded a telephone conversation with Lotito in which the Lazio president made his remarks. Lotito also said that if clubs such as Carpi, Frosinone or Latina were promoted to Serie A, TV companies would refuse to pay for the rights because they would no longer be attractive enough. The Lazio president, who is Italian FA (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio's right-hand man and an advisor to the Lega Serie A, has been widely condemned for his words but is unlikely to face any consequences. And that has sparked an angry response from Marotta, who told Sky Sport Italia: "Juve only get one vote in the [italian football] assembly, and we have got to accept democracy. "But it seems like we've fallen back into medieval times, or more precisely into times of feudalism. We do not share these values, and I think that says it all. "I think a change from within is impossible, which is why maybe something has to be done externally by the government." He said he believed "the scenario in which respect for people no longer exists" concerned him. "We are worried, and we said it already in September, about too much power being placed in the hands of one single person -- I'm referring to Lotito," he added. "It's dangerous. "To say [Lega Serie A president Maurizio] Beretta doesn't count for anything and that Abodi is a cretin is something very damaging to come from an FA advisor. We do not agree with this way of doing things."

CESENA - JUVENTUS 2 - 2 Milan Đurić (17') Álvaro Morata (27') Claudio Marchisio (33') Franco Brienza (70') Sunday, February 15th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Dino Manuzzi Stadium, Cesena Referee: Carmine Russo Morata: I prefer winning games to scoring goals The striker scored his sixth of the season on Sunday but chose not to celebrate as his side slumped to a disappointing draw. Feb 16, 2015 Juventus striker Alvaro Morata says he prefers winning games to scoring goals in the wake of the Serie A champions' 2-2 draw with Cesena. The 22-year-old scored his sixth league goal of the season on Sunday but felt the disappointing nature of the result diluted the importance of his strike. "It was great to get on the scoresheet," Morata told reporters. "But when we don’t get all three points, the goal takes on a lesser significance. I always want to win." The former Real Madrid man then offered Cesena praise for their efforts and noted the difficulty of playing on an alternative surface. "It was a tough game that we could have triumphed in but ultimately we drew and earned ourselves an important point. "Cesena are a good outfit, a tough nut to crack on their own patch and it’s difficult to come away from here with a win. They know that playing on an artificial surface makes it challenging for any opponent that comes here. They played their football and it paid dividends for them. "We can’t dwell too much on tonight’s result and need to shift our focus to the next game." Juventus remain top of the Serie A table and hold a commanding seven-point lead over second-placed Roma. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Tottenham option for Llorente? Feb 16, 2015 Juventus striker Fernando Llorente is reportedly a target for English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. The Spanish international has struggled for form this season, managing just four goals in his 20 Serie A appearances so far. According to RAI, Spurs are interested in the forward, with Emmanuel Adebayor likely to leave the club and Roberto Soldado less prolific than expected. However, it is not clear whether the Bianconeri would be willing to sell Llorente, with Real Madrid retaining a buyback option on Alvaro Morata. The big striker managed 18 goals in all competitions last season, and has been capped 23 times by Spain.

CESENA - JUVENTUS 2 - 2 Milan Đurić (17') Álvaro Morata (27') Claudio Marchisio (33') Franco Brienza (70') Sunday, February 15th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Dino Manuzzi Stadium, Cesena Referee: Carmine Russo Cesena Shock Juventus, Hold Champions To 2-2 Draw Feb 16, 2015 Cesena held leaders Juventus to a shock 2-2 draw after Arturo Vidal missed a late penalty in an exciting encounter at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi last night. The Bianconeri had the chance to go nine points clear at the top of the table after Roma’s shock 0-0 draw with bottom of the table Parma. Carlos Tevez was suspended and Giorgio Chiellini rested, while Cesena missed Luca Vanzania, Andrea Tabanelli, Nico Pulzetti, Emmanuel Cascione and Riccardo Cazzola. The artificial playing surface added a new dimension to the game. Cesena defeated Lazio 2-1 two weeks ago and were positive right from the first whistle in this game as well. Milan Đjurić and Grégoire Defrel caused so many problems for the Juventus defense with the former displaying his strength as a target-man while the Frenchman used his explosive pace and directness to good effect. The hosts made an aggressive start, earning a series of early corners and Gigi Buffon was on hand early on for the visitors to prevent the Seahorses from taking the lead. The Juventus keeper stopped Grégoire Defrel from scoring at his near post. Defrel had another chance for the hosts, a much more straightforward one than the first. Leonardo Bonucci’s first touch let him down and Defrel was allowed to go clear on goal, but Buffon came to the rescue one-on-one. Again Buffon was called into action this time saving Ze Eduardo’s tame effort , as the goalkeeper faced three saves in the opening 11 minutes. Cesena finally took the lead however through Milan Đjurić after 17 minutes. Andrea Pirlo misplaced a pass leading Defrel to break, the 23 year old found Đjurić in the box who coolly slotted his effort past the impressive Buffon, who was finally beaten. This was only the fifth goal Juventus have conceded away from home this season. Prior to the goal however Fernando Llorente fluffed a great opportunity as he missed a free header which was looking costly. However Juventus regrouped quickly and equalized soon after the shaky start. Paul Pogba’s brilliant cross found Álvaro Morata free in the box who headed in from six yards out to make it all square at the Dino Manuzzi. The Bianconeri completed the turnaround soon after when Morata’s flick-on found the on-rushing Claudio Marchisio who made it 2-1 to the Old Lady. It was only his second goal of the season but marked a joyous occasion striking on his 200th appearance for Juventus in Serie A. Just before the break Pirlo tried to make it 3-1 but his effort just went wide. Cesena began the second half like they started the first. Defrel, who was a menace throughout the evening, tormenting the Juventus back-line saw his effort go sailing over. He was again causing problems when he flashed the ball across the face of goal with Đjurić just unable to get the decisive touch. Franco Brienza attempted to equalize for the hosts in dramatic fashion with his splendid half-volley flying over the bar and that was only a warning, as he got the equalizer few minutes later. Djuric knocked down a cross on the edge of the area for Brienza to smack it first time with the outside of his left boot, right into the bottom corner past Buffon.. Đjurić was attempting to make it three goals and three points for the hosts. He controlled a lump up field, out-muscling Leonardo Bonucci as a result before scuffing his shot straight at Buffon. With eight minutes remaining Juventus had a chance to claim all three points when they were awarded a penalty. Marchisio’s cross found Llorente who controlled magnificently and was brought down by Stefano Lucchini, he also handled Llorente’s overhead kick in the same move. Mimmo Di Carlo was furious and was sent off for dissent, but Cesena stayed in the game anyway because Arturo Vidal stepped up and promptly dragged his spot-kick wide. Cesena remain in the relegation zone in Serie A, while Juventus miss out on the chance to extend their lead over Roma at the top by nine points. Talking Points Juventus could have easily dropped all three points against Cesena if it wasn’t for the three huge saves Buffon made in the first half. All of them came in the first 15 minutes, too, which is a pretty good indication of just how fast Cesena jumped on Juventus. Another goal and assist from Álvaro Morata. He has got six goals and four assists in just 782 Serie A minutes this season which has been pretty productive. Claudio Marchisio could have scored the game-winning goal on his 200th Serie A appearance but unfortunately it was not to be. The Italian international was once again a livewire in the middle of the park and was one of the very few positives for Max Allegri last night. Juventus are still ahead of Roma by 7 points. After a game like that, it definitely could have been worse. Although, it also could have been better. Cesena’s 2-2 draw with the champions, only hours after Parma had taken a point off Roma, showed that Italian football boasts a healthier competitiveness than the Serie A table would suggest. Domenico Di Carlo’s side were only the second team to score twice against the Bianconeri this term and would have been more than worthy winners had they gone on to become the first side in 77 games to net three past Gianluigi Buffon. They may sit in 19th spot, but Cesena showed the rest of Serie A how to get at Juve. Their pace and energy in the channels regularly found holes and will have given Massimiliano Allegri plenty to think about. Sunday’s two headline-grabbing results will make the rest of Serie A sit up and ponder what can happen if they put their minds to it. Cesena achieved a result that many Italian clubs would dream of picking up and they did so by backing themselves. This should be the blueprint for all top-flight sides gearing up for a clash with the Old Lady. The Seahorses hit them in the channels, they got balls into the box, they had Djuric roughing it regularly with the two centre-backs – and they caused countless problems as a result. Cesena have set the standard; more challenges like this, and it may take Juventus much longer than anticipated to wrap up a fourth straight title. Meanwhile, further displays like this will help Di Carlo’s side in their battle to beat the drop. Serie A has the potential for more days like this. It just needs more of its teams to have confidence to get the right result. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CESENA - JUVENTUS 2 - 2 Milan Đurić (17') Álvaro Morata (27') Claudio Marchisio (33') Franco Brienza (70') Sunday, February 15th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Dino Manuzzi Stadium, Cesena Referee: Carmine Russo Cesena 2-2 Juventus: Bianconeri miss the chance to extend Serie A lead — again Arturo Vidal missed a late penalty and the chance to send Juve nine points clear, as the Seahorses deservedly grab a point amid erratic display by the Old Lady. Feb 16, 2015 Every so often, Juventus plays a provincial team and get a tougher game than against some of the big boys. Sunday was another one of those days. Given an opportunity, once again, to extend our lead at the top over Roma to nine points, Juve (once again) flubbed their lines with an erratic display. Juve were good at times, and woeful at other times. Yet, Juventus had the chance to take all three points against a very good Cesena side. Cesena did not look like the team that's spent pretty much all of the season so far in the bottom three. Quite the contrary. They looked like a team at least in mid-table, pushing for a Europa League spot come end of the season. Their front three of Djuric, Defrel and the veteran Brienza caused no shortage of distress for Juve's back four all game. In particular, Leonardo Bonucci was constantly put through the ringer by both Defrel and Djuric. He especially had a tough time with the big Bosnian in the second half. The Seahorses also enjoyed some penetration from midfield by Ze Eduardo. Their left back, Renzetti, had a solid game generally keeping Lichtsteiner in check and put in the cross that led to their equalizer. If they keep playing like this, they may very well escape the drop. A few positives to take from this match for Juve. On his 200th appearance in a Juve shirt, Claudio Marchisio put in a solid — if unspectacular — shift, also getting the go-ahead goal momentarily. Álvaro Morata was once again good, scoring and inadvertently assisting on Marchisio's goal. Despite not extending the lead over Roma, Juventus did not lose. And given the way Roma's results have been going lately — five draws in their last seven league games, yikes! — it's not looking likely that Juve's lead will be significantly chipped away soon. Fernando Llorente did not look as awful as he has for the most part this season. He did win the penalty; his initial attempt would have probably scored if it wasn't for the handball. With Atalanta and then the big showdown against Dortmund in the next 10 days, Juve need to pick themselves up from this set back and get back on track. We cannot afford to slip up, especially in the second of those games. At least we'll have Carlitos back against Atalanta... MATCH SUMMARY There was a quick start to this game, with Marchisio getting a shot off right from kickoff, after some good work from Morata and Vidal. Moments later, a Pogba slip and giveaway to Cesena's undoubtedly best player Gregoire Defrel, resulted in a Cesena counter attack down Juve's right — something that would be a feature of the first half — with Defrel's shot forcing a good save from Gianluigi Buffon at his near post. One minute later, nice one-touch passes between Arturo Vidal, Marchisio and Morata before a cross field pass out left by Vidal for Paul Pogba to control, cut inside and get a shot off, which was well smothered by Nicola Leali. Another minute later, poor control and a slip at the back by Bonucci — who had a poor first half — resulted in another chance for Defrel, but the Frenchman took too long on the ball and Buffon spread himself well to block his shot. A couple minutes after that chance, Cesena broke down Juve's right again — with Bonucci caught out of position — with Ze Eduardo getting to the box unchallenged before shooting straight at Buffon. All these chances by the home side were a sign of things to come, as shortly after that Ze Eduardo chance, Cesena deservedly took the lead. Another giveaway in midfield, this time by Andrea Pirlo, led to a 2-on-1 counterattack with Defrel leading the way before sliding a pass across for his strike partner Djuric to coolly finish under Buffon. Cesena had their tails up and continued to attack. On twenty-two minutes, a Vidal giveaway in midfield led to a Cesena counter attack led by Brienza, however his cross for Djuric couldn't be controlled by the Bosnian Ibra lookalike. Juve finally got a great chance, and it resulted in a goal. Pogba, who was a spectator up to this point, put in a brilliant cross from the left into the box and Morata ghosted in between two Cesena defenders to nod home past Leali at the near post. Not long after, Juve took the lead — this time it was Cesena with the costly error. A throw in was nodded on by Morata, and with two defenders going towards the ball and getting in each other's way, Marchisio made the late run and got to the ball first, just prodding home past Leali. What a way for Il Principino to celebrate his 200th appearance in a Juve shirt. There weren't many other chances in the first half. The last one of meaning came in the forty-forth minute; a counter attack for Juve started and ended by Pirlo resulted in a shot just wide of Leali's upright. 2-1 to Juve at the half. The second half didn't kick off with the same frenetic pace as the first but Cesena again started on the front foot. Defrel blew past Ogbonna but his dangerous cross missed everyone. Another sweeping move by Cesena resulted in a chance for Brienza, but his shot went high and wide of the near post. Cesena were enjoying more possession in this half and were growing in stature. They eventually made this pay off in the seventieth minute. A cross from the left was nodded on by Djuric for the wide-open and increasingly dangerous Brienza, who volleyed home from the edge of the area. It was no less than Cesena deserved, as they had pegged Juve back for most of the second half so far. On 76 minutes, Djuric turned Bonucci — who continued his poor form from the first half - but his finish was poor, sending a bouncing shot straight into Buffon's arms. With 10 minutes to go, it seemed like Juve were going to take all three points back to Turin. Llorente controlled a cross in the box with his back to goal, but his overhead kick was blocked by the outstretched arm of Lucchini — penalty to Juve! Cesena were incensed with this, and their coach Mimmo Di Carlo was sent to the stands for his protests. It seemed a pretty clear penalty to me, but what do I know? Vidal stepped up to the penalty and sent Leali the wrong way. .. but dragged his penalty well wide, much to the delight of Cesena — and Roma fans — everywhere! PLAYER RATINGS Buffon: 6 Was busier than he usually is against teams like Cesena, but barring the two goals conceded, he put in typically solid shift. Could not be faulted for either of the goals. Lichtsteiner: 5 Caught out of position a few times in the first half, he picked up a typically silly yellow near the end of the first forty-five. Never really threaten offensively. Bonucci: 4 A poor performance by Bonucci, who had been pretty solid for most of the season. Usually the better of the defensive partnership, Leo was regularly caught out of position in the first half and was at fault for a number of the chances created by Cesena. Had a very hard time containing Djuric in the second half. Ogbonna: 5 His lack of pace was exposed on a few occasions by Cesena's flying Frenchman Gregoire Defrel. His performance was not as error-laden as Bonucci's, but he was not significantly better. Definitely did not make a strong case for permanently replacing Chiellini in the starting lineup. Evra: 5.5 Possibly the best of Juve's defenders on the night — which, frankly, isn't saying much. He was more effective than Lichtsteiner going forward, putting in a few dangerous crosses. Was involved in both goals, supplying the throw in which led to the second. Was unfortunately mismatched and manhandled by Djuric on Cesena's second goal. Marchisio: 6.5 A solid shift by Claudio on his 200th appearance. Ghosted in late to get his second goal of the season for 2-1. Unfortunate that it did not lead to all three points. Pirlo: 5 One of Pirlo's poorer performances this season. His giveaway led to Cesena's first goal. Only slightly improved after that disaster. Pogba: 5 Put in a sublime cross for Morata's goal, but did not do much else. Should have been hooked sooner if we're being honest. Vidal: 5.5 Not a bad performance by King Arturo, but showing once again that playing behind the strikers probably isn't his best role. And, of course, blew the chance to give us the three points with his penalty miss. Morata: 7 A goal and an assist, couldn't have asked for much more from young Alvaro. Still tries to do too much at times, but showing more and more why Juve spent €20M for Real's benchwarmer. Llorente: 5.5 Not a bad performance by the big man, and won the penalty with an inventive overhead kick (that may have scored if not for the handball). Still, much improvement is needed in his game. He may get another start against Atalanta if Allegri's rests players for the Dortmund game, but unless he gives a MOTM performance in that game, it will be back to the bench for Fernando. Subs Pereyra: N/A Was on the field for 15 minutes, but really did not do anything worth rating. Coman: N/A Replaced Vidal with only two minutes to go. Pepe: N/A Replaced Llorente with only two minutes to go. Coach Allegri: 5.5 Allegri may not be to blame for Juve's poor start to the first half, but when Cesena took a foothold in the game in the second half, he took too long to make changes that could have got Juve back into the driver's seat. I can't help but think that Pogba should have come off earlier; while I understand he has been in great form lately and you would be reluctant to drop a player when he's hot, it just did not seem like his day today. Vidal playing behind the strikers is also not working, and it's time to change it up. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CESENA - JUVENTUS 2 - 2 Milan Đurić (17') Álvaro Morata (27') Claudio Marchisio (33') Franco Brienza (70') Sunday, February 15th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Dino Manuzzi Stadium, Cesena Referee: Carmine Russo Arturo Vidal a shadow of his former self as Juve only manage a draw Feb 16, 2015 Another wasted opportunity. With Roma managing only a scoreless draw against last-place Parma, it was believed Juventus would thrash Serie A's second-worst team, Cesena, to open a nine-point gap at the top of the league table. No such luck. Arrogance and nonchalance robbed Massimiliano Allegri and his men of taking another step forward towards another league title and the chance to build momentum prior to their important clash against Borussia Dortmund next week. One thing that was said before this match was that Cesena possessed athletic ability that could be sustained for short bursts throughout, which made them dangerous. The only problem was whether or not they had the ability to make the most of the opportunities they created. Playing in front of their own fans, Gregoire Defrel not only provided the quality his side required but the confidence to put Juventus on the back foot. Running rapidly and making the most of the synthetic turf on which they play, Domenico Di Carlo's side played a courageous game full of heart. Working tirelessly to win back possession, they forced their opponent into countless errors and immediately placed Juventus under pressure. As the match settled, the Bianconeri began to understand how to react to the opponent and how to control the match. However, rather than make the most of their advantage to score several after conceding an early shock, they instead chose to sit back, allowing the Seahorses to profit from another energy expending burst in the second half to equalise. This arrogance and lack of interest in closing off the match quickly and cynically is what continues to harm Juve and what could well punish them severely in the future. Roma may not be a side too desperate to provide a title challenge but unless the Old Lady shows ambition and determination for the entirety of their matches, surprises will continue to occur and states of panic will continue to ensue. Sadly for Allegri's team, the midfield leaders proved disappointing for the second consecutive match with only Claudio Marchisio playing to expectation. Juventus may survive without a warrior in Serie A matches, but they can't be without the real Arturo Vidal in Europe. Perhaps one of the top-three midfielders in the world last season, the Chilean is a shadow of his former self and disappointed against Cesena. Mentally, he has gone missing, at times almost playing in a state of fear. A few months ago it seemed he was gradually recovering his former brilliance, but recent performances have suggested otherwise. Vidal may still be tracking back in hopes of winning a tackle but his runs are not the same, the effort and energy expended are wholly different to what we have seen in previous years while his mental strength has clearly taken a hit. The Chilean plays with less courage, less drive and less intelligence. Allegri continues to insist that Vidal is slowly coming back into his own, even naming him as the best man on the pitch in the first half. It's worth pointing out that Andrea Pirlo, who looked shamefully off pace and incapable of controlling the game, recovered the ball on 12 occasions. Vidal? Only eight times. Both Marchisio and Paul Pogba made more tackles throughout the game. In fact, Vidal performed worse than many of his midfield teammates in several categories: tackling, recovery, interceptions, duels, chances created and attacking third passes. Many point out that the role of trequartista simply doesn't suit the midfielder, who is still on the mend. However, one can understand Allegri's logic. Vidal is usually the first to press the opponent when the Bianconeri lose possession, playing high up the field to win back the ball and launch his side forward. A man who was once the side's top scorer, his understanding of the movement in the final third not to mention his defensive ability to recover possession made him a suitable candidate for the role. However, in his current state, Vidal simply cannot provide the team with what they need to pierce through defences. At least not until he believes he can. While the Bianconeri hope Vidal will slowly show the consistency required, Allegri learned that without Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus are not as secure at the back. The Leonardo Bonucci-Angelo Ogbonna partnership proved abysmal on the night. While the former was outmuscled on most occasions, the latter looked like the frightened player he was under Antonio Conte. Critics were quick to point out that these two do not belong together. However, they started the match against Sampdoria and while they suffered certain hiccups, they were quick to provide their team with the necessary security, safeguarding the central areas to impede the opponent. The difference in this match was that they faced two bigger players of immense strength who were not only capable of winning the duels but of dominating the area to provoke fear and panic. In this particular match, Juve's centre-backs were exposed to devastating effect making them the wrong choice on the night. There is an important lesson to be taken from this particular match against the Seahorses. Not even the most inferior of opponents can be underestimated. In order to win, every single match requires heart, intensity and intelligence. This was a wasted opportunity but the gap at the top of the table remains impressive. It's in Europe where fans really hope Juventus will live up to expectations. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CESENA - JUVENTUS 2 - 2 Milan Đurić (17') Álvaro Morata (27') Claudio Marchisio (33') Franco Brienza (70') Sunday, February 15th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Dino Manuzzi Stadium, Cesena Referee: Carmine Russo Buffon blasts Juventus attitude after Cesena draw The club captain shouldered the blame for his side's display in Sunday's 2-2 draw and has warned his team-mates they cannot afford to become complacent. Feb 16, 2015 Gianluigi Buffon hit out at Juventus' attitude following their 2-2 Serie A draw with Cesena on Sunday. Roma's stalemate against Parma offered the champions the chance to extend their lead at the top to nine points, but a disappointing display against Cesena - culminating in a late missed penalty from Arturo Vidal - sees their advantage back at seven. Buffon moved to shoulder the blame for any complacency within the Juve dressing-room and has called on his team-mates to up their game in the coming weeks. "The distance at the top remains unchanged and that’s what we were hoping for yesterday," he told Sky Sport Italia. "But obviously, after Roma’s result, we had hoped for more. It was a very unsatisfactory performance, especially the opening 20 minutes, where we gave them chances that a team like ours shouldn't allow. "With all due respect to Cesena, who played a great game, it is our fault if we failed to get all three points. "The attitude was wrong and in these situations the blame is above all down to the captain. It is my job to keep the players fired up and focused, both in the locker room and on the pitch. Obviously I failed in that. "Some of our less experienced players need to understand that nobody will give us the Scudetto. We have to earn it each and every weekend. In fact, because we are Juventus, we have to win with a 15-point margin before people will give us credit for our success. "We cannot go around throwing away opportunities like this. The Roma result probably made us think this was going to be easy, but a team like ours can't let itself be influenced by scores from elsewhere." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CESENA - JUVENTUS 2 - 2 Milan Đurić (17') Álvaro Morata (27') Claudio Marchisio (33') Franco Brienza (70') Sunday, February 15th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Dino Manuzzi Stadium, Cesena Referee: Carmine Russo Player Ratings: Cesena 2-2 Juventus Feb 15, 2015 Cesena 1 N. Leali - Was let down by his defence on the first two Juve goals and didn't have many saves to make. 24 G. Perico - Did not close Evra quickly enough in wide areas and was withdrawn after picking up a booking. 6 S. Lucchini - Could have perhaps done more to stop Morata scoring the equaliser and he was let off by Vidal after conceding a penalty. 15 L. Krajnc - Partly culpable for the opener, but he performed well for much of the remainder. 33 F. Renzetti - Helped ensure Lichtsteiner had minimal impact when attacking but he lost Marchisio as he scored Juve's second. 77 Zé Eduardo - Had a few efforts at goal, none of which looked convincing, but did plenty of running to offer the forwards support. 8 G. De Feudis - Did plenty of running to screen the defence, battling hard for every ball. 5 L. Giorgi - Did not see much of the ball and regularly took the pace out of their breaks by passing backwards. 11 F. Brienza - Played a number of decent passes to feed the strikers and secured a point for his team with a superb equaliser. 92 G. Defrel - The Frenchman's pace caused Juve problems and he pulled a couple of saves out of Buffon, though he should have scored. 18 M. Đurić - The imposing Bosnian was very busy up top, opening the scoring in the first half and assisting Brienza's goal. Substitutes 2 C. Nica - Replaced Perico in the 60th minute and performed solidly. 7 C. Carbonero - Came on for Giorgi in the 83rd minute. 9 Alejandro Rodriguez - Brought on for Djuric in the 83rd minute. Juventus 1 Gianluigi Buffon - The keeper was busier than he would have expected, making impressive saves from Defrel in the first half. 26 S. Lichtsteiner - The Swiss was very adventurous but regularly left big gaps at the back which Djuric exploited for his goal. 19 L. Bonucci - An early slip-up nearly gifted Cesena a goal, and he struggled with the pace of Defrel and power of Djuric. 5 A. Ogbonna - Struggled up against the Cesena front two but looked comfortable in possession. 33 P. Evra - Was afforded plenty of freedom down the left and got forward consistently but he gave away many cheap free kicks. 6 P. Pogba - The Frenchman provided a great assist for Morata's goal but, on the whole, he was quiet by his standards. 21 A. Pirlo - Caught in possession ahead of the opening goal and struggled to make his mark on the game. 8 Claudio Marchisio - Worked hard in the middle and scored an important second for his side to put them ahead. 23 A. Vidal - Was forced to drop deep to get involved but still struggled before missing the chance to win the game from the penalty spot. 9 Álvaro Morata - Pulled his side level with a header and then provided the assist for Marchisio's goal. 14 Llorente - Struggled to get involved in the game for prolonged periods, but he did win the penalty late on. Substitutes 37 R. Pereyra - Came on for Pogba in the 75th minute. 7 S. Pepe - Brought on for Llorente in the 88th minute. 11 K. Coman - Replaced Vidal in the 88th minute. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CESENA - JUVENTUS 2 - 2 Milan Đurić (17') Álvaro Morata (27') Claudio Marchisio (33') Franco Brienza (70') Sunday, February 15th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Dino Manuzzi Stadium, Cesena Referee: Carmine Russo Arturo Vidal Pays Penalty as Juventus Miss Golden Chance to Extend Serie A Lead Feb 15, 2015 Juventus travelled to Cesena on Sunday, hoping to continue the excellent form that they have shown since the start of the new year. With two comfortable wins seeing them ease into the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, the Bianconeri entered the Dino Manuzzi on an unbeaten run in Serie A which stretched all the way back to October. Playing on Sunday evening meant the game was the last of the round, and as kick-off time approached, Massimiliano Allegri and his players would have been aware that AS Roma had once again dropped points. That meant the capital club have now won just a single game on their last six outings, with Juve given the opportunity to further distance themselves from the chasing pack as the Champions League once again comes into view. Allegri has constantly discussed the importance of going as far as possible in Europe, and the comfortable lead Juventus enjoy atop the Serie A standings will allow him to rest his stars ahead of next week’s last-16 meeting with Borussia Dortmund. At his press conference on Saturday, the coach promised that Juventus “won’t be rotating the starting line-up but will send out the best possible team,” against Cesena—per the club’s official website—and he would be true to his word. Missing leading scorer Carlos Tevez through suspension, the only other notable absentee was central defender Giorgio Chiellini who was rested in favour of Angelo Ogbonna. That meant Gigi Buffon would play in his 375th league game for Juventus—seeing him climb to third in the club’s all-time appearance chart—while Nicola Leali would start opposite him in goal for Cesena. Seen as a future Italy No. 1, the 21-year-old is currently on loan from the Bianconeri, but surprisingly he would not be the first to be called into action. The fiery atmosphere inside stadium inspired Cesena, and the team ran hard at Juve from the outset, Gregoire Defrel drawing two smart saves from Buffon in the opening 10 minutes. Ze Eduardo would also test the Bianconeri skipper, before Milan Djuric gave the home side a surprise lead after Andrea Pirlo gave the ball away. Those early scares appeared to spark the visitors into life, with Paul Pogba once again the driving force behind everything positive from the reigning champions. It would be his cross that found Alvaro Morata at the near post, the Spanish striker making no mistake with a smart header to level the scores. Claudio Marchisio’s gamble led to a second goal shortly after, the midfielder pouncing to knock the ball past Leali, and from there the first half would peter out. The second would begin at a far less frenetic pace, Juventus looking to exert some control over their opponents, but Cesena would find an equaliser through a well-taken Franco Brienza strike. With the Juve defence struggling to contain the effervescent Djuric, but Arturo Vidal would miss the chance to restore Juve’s lead from the penalty spot after a handball from Stefano Lucchini. Just as he did in the Champions League against Olympiakos, the Chilean would fail under pressure and still looks short of his best form. With the Bianconeri struggling to unlock a resilient Cesena side, Allegri would throw on Simone Pepe and Kingsley Coman to help in the desperate search for a winning goal. None would arrive, however, and Mimmo Di Carlo deserves immense credit for the way his side executed his intelligent game plan. The eventual 2-2 scoreline means that the gap to Roma remains seven points, though the Giallorossi will need to improve quickly if they are to mount a credible challenge. Juve’s desire to succeed in Europe could aid the capital club’s cause, as they host Turin giants in between the first and second legs of that vital clash with Borussia Dortmund. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CESENA - JUVENTUS 2 - 2 Milan Đurić (17') Álvaro Morata (27') Claudio Marchisio (33') Franco Brienza (70') Sunday, February 15th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Dino Manuzzi Stadium, Cesena Referee: Carmine Russo Allegri: Juventus won't be arrogant now The Bianconeri boss says his side failed to approach the game properly against Cesena and defended Arturo Vidal after his missed penalty. Feb 15, 2015 Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri says his side will learn not to be arrogant after their 2-2 draw with Cesena on Sunday. Alvaro Morata and Claudio Marchisio put the visitors ahead at the break but Franco Brienza's second-half equaliser and Arturo Vidal's missed penalty ensured the champions failed to extend their lead at the top of the table. It was only the second Serie A game all season in which Juve conceded two goals and the first time they have allowed the opposition more than five efforts on target in 90 minutes, and Allegri hopes to see his side learn from their mistakes going forward. "We did not get into the reality of the game. It was not easy to play against Cesena," he told reporters. "It was a bad performance, it’s a pity because this would’ve been an important step towards the Scudetto, but our advantage is still the same. "On the one hand, these are painful results, but on the other they get our feet back on the ground to stop any sign of arrogance." Allegri also refused to pin blame on Vidal after his failed from the spot in the closing stages. "The penalty has nothing to do with his performance. In the first half he was one of the best, he ran a lot," Allegri added. "From a psychological point of view, it would've been better had he scored from the spot, but unfortunately penalties can be missed." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111