Socrates

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - Sunday, January 11th, 2015 - 20:45 PM San Paolo Stadium, Naples Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Bonucci: 'Rivals make Juve stronger' Jan 10, 2014 Leonardo Bonucci admits Juventus must win at Napoli to prove themselves, but Roma controversy “makes us stronger.” “This is a game we have to win in order to cancel out all the doubts that emerged after Doha and Inter,” the defender told Tuttosport. Juve have won just one of the last six competitive games and were beaten on penalties by Napoli in the Italian Super Cup in Dubai on December 22. “We are the strongest team and must continue to prove that. Does Doha still hurt? It always hurts when there’s a trophy involved and now it’s time we won at the San Paolo.” The Bianconeri haven’t conquered Napoli on their own turf since September 2000, so the odds are against them. Roma have closed to within a point of the Serie A leaders, but Bonucci has a message for Rudi Garcia’s men. “My goal is the difference between us and them. It’s pointless stirring up controversy, as at the end of the season mistakes even themselves out. “Roma and everyone around them should concentrate on how good their team is, without wasting time thinking about what happened. Football goes on and doesn’t give points back to anyone, not even us. “We are the best at this moment because we are one point in front. If we are at the end of the season too, then it’ll prove we are the best yet again. “I think Roma are clinging to controversy because Juventus dominated the last few campaigns. It’s tough to fight against us, so they try to stir things up. It’s an attempt to destabilise our confidence, but instead they are making us stronger.” Bonucci tried to explain the recent setbacks and denied suggestions Juventus are sated by three consecutive Scudetti. “The problem if anything is that we are fully aware of our strength, which can at times make us arrogant. When we play with humility and hunger, nobody can beat us.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - Sunday, January 11th, 2015 - 20:45 PM San Paolo Stadium, Naples Referee: Paolo Tagliavento MATCH PREVIEW Jan 10, 2014 Napoli and Juventus meet for the second time in three weeks, as the League leaders travel to the San Paolo looking for Supercoppa revenge. With a number of significant games scheduled, Juventus have not emerged from their winter respite with any improvement in form. After falling to Napoli on penalties last month, they then failed to capitalise on early dominance against Inter, and will need to recapture their consistency if they are to avoid squandering top spot. They have managed only one win in all competitions since the start of December, and with Carlos Tevez contributing a third of all their goals, there is mounting speculation Wesley Sneijder will be brought back to Serie A as an additional creative force to ease the burden. Meanwhile, Lorenzo Insigne, who is currently sidelined until spring, has spoken of Napoli having awoken after the recent triumph over Juve. Napoli’s 2015 did indeed begin well, with an emphatic victory over Cesena and, though ten points currently separate the sides, they have an unbeaten home record against Juventus that dates back to September 2000. Also, an interesting subplot featuring Manolo Gabbiadini has developed in the last week. The 23-year-old forward has completed a move from Juventus to Napoli in the January transfer window without ever having played for the Turin side, as the co-ownership deal they held with Sampdoria was bought out by the Azzurri for €13m. Given his impressive first half of the campaign, it is possible he will be trusted to start this fixture, in what would be his first appearance for the club. Keep an eye on: Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli) – The duration of his presence in this game may be in doubt given his recent arrival, but Gabbiadini will be hoping to make Juventus regret their decision to sell him. Form guide: Napoli (D D L W W), Juventus (W D D W D) Last season: Napoli 2-0 Juventus Stat fact: Prior to last March’s victory, Napoli hadn’t beaten Juventus in the League in six attempts. Napoli (probable): Rafael; Maggio, Koulibaly, Albiol, Britos; Gargano, Lopez; Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens; Higuain Suspended: None Juventus (probable): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Llorente Suspended: None http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - Sunday, January 11th, 2015 - 20:45 PM San Paolo Stadium, Naples Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Juve use 3-5-2 at Napoli? Jan 10, 2014 There are suggestions Max Allegri could return Juventus to a 3-5-2 system against Napoli tomorrow night. It kicks off at 20.45 CET on Sunday. The Bianconeri have hit a brick wall in recent weeks, losing the Italian Super Cup to Napoli on penalties and allowing Roma to close within one point at the top of the Serie A table. Tomorrow they travel to the Stadio San Paolo, an arena they have not conquered since September 2000, managing four draws and five defeats in all competition. According to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, Allegri could react to the recent problems by switching back to a 3-5-2 system. The Coach had earned plaudits for scrapping Antonio Conte’s tactic and adopting a 4-3-1-2, but is tempted to hark back to the past. Curiously, it was in Naples that Conte first unveiled his 3-5-2 in November 2011, a game that ended 3-3. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - Sunday, January 11th, 2015 - 20:45 PM San Paolo Stadium, Naples Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Can Juventus end Napoli hoodoo? Juventus haven’t conquered the Stadio San Paolo in over 14 years. Luca Cetta looks ahead to a traditionally tricky fixture. Jan 10, 2014 As the first half of the season draws to a close its penultimate weekend throws up two cracking fixtures. The Rome derby takes centre stage on Sunday afternoon as Roma aim to overtake Juventus at the top of the table. The Bianconeri have a chance to react in the evening away at fourth placed Napoli, for what Aurelio De Laurentiis has suggested is the true Derby d’Italia. There’s still a long way to go in the Scudetto race, but this could be one of its more interesting weekends. It’s the second meeting in a month between the rivals, Napoli triumphing in a remarkable Super Cup contest in Qatar before Christmas. Juventus stared victory in the face on three occasions, only for the Partenopei to fly home with additional carry-on luggage. They opened 2015 in similar fashion. Massimiliano Allegri’s team started well on Tuesday, but failed to capitalise and were punished. These results have come amid a mixed phase. Juve have recorded one solitary win since the start of December in all competitions, drawing four and losing the Super Cup. It’s not exactly ideal preparation heading into what has proven their toughest away journey this millennium. An Alessandro Del Piero special gave the Old Lady a 2-1 win in September 2000, but there has been little joy since. Napoli have emerged victorious in six of nine encounters spread across Serie A, Serie B and the Coppa Italia since the pair renewed hostilities in 2006. Juventus have failed to win. Still, Claudio Marchisio is not overly concerned with recent form. “We’re still there, ahead of everyone,” he told Sky. “We’re having a great season, and now there’s talk of Juve being in trouble because of two or three games where, sure, for the experience the team has we could have done better, but there’s no crisis, nor are we having difficulties.” While Allegri called the opening 45 minutes against Inter “one of our best performances of the season”, the Turin giants were made to suffer after the interval and succumbed to a Mauro Icardi equaliser. The Coach admitted they lost intensity and organisation as errors crept into their game.“That is something we need to work on,” he warned. Gianluigi Buffon notes he and his teammates “must remember that if it’s 1-0 then we need to keep our eyes open,” citing a swing from confidence to fear at the first sign of danger. With Argentines prominent atop the scorers chart – occupying four of the top five positions – one striker is on either side here, both netting braces in Doha. Carlos Tevez grabbed his 11th of the League campaign against the Nerazzurri, hours after Gonzalo Higuain, nine goals, bagged a double at Cesena. “He’s a great striker who gives us something extra,” lauded injured Azzurri teammate Lorenzo Insigne. The sharpshooters are sure to come to the fore in a fixture which produces goals – the last scoreless encounter was in 1997. Aside from Higuain there are others the Bianconeri must be wary of. New signing Manolo Gabbiadini is in line to make his debut, now back from suspension. He has already faced and scored against the champions this term, earning Sampdoria a 1-1 draw last month and behind Antonio Di Natale is the highest scoring Italian this term with seven goals. Gabbiadini says he is ready to net again. When Juventus suffered their second defeat of a record-breaking season under Antonio Conte last March, Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens were on target. Both are expected to start on Sunday and will be hoping to either exploit the space behind Juve’s fullbacks or pin them back to reduce the visitors’ attacking width. Marek Hamsik will look to shackle Andrea Pirlo as he’s done in the past, but with Marchisio playing well and Arturo Vidal showing signs of improvement, Juve will want to take control of the midfield and stifle a team which will be backed by a boisterous Stadio San Paolo crowd. It won’t be Scudetto defining, but Sunday will be important. Juventus know recent form and history in Naples is against them, but they have an opportunity to prove the slip-ups were blips on the radar and not an ongoing concern. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Serie A - 18^ Giornata Andata - 11-1-2015 (ore 20:45) NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - Domenica, 11 Gennaio 2015 - ore 20:45 Stadio San Paolo, Napoli Arbitro: Paolo Tagliavento Confronti ufficiali 158 - 136 (Serie A) - 9 (Coppa Italia) - 6 (Campionato a gironi) - 3 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 2 (Coppa UEFA) - 2 (Serie B) Vittorie Juventus 72 - 61 (Serie A) - 4 (Coppa Italia) - 4 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 1 (Coppa UEFA) - 1 (Serie B) Pareggi 51 - 46 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 1 (Serie B) Vittorie Napoli 35 - 29 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 1 (Coppa UEFA) Goals Juventus 243 - 198 (Serie A) - 12 (Coppa Italia) - 21 (Campionato a gironi) - 7 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 2 (Coppa UEFA) - 3 (Serie B) Goals Napoli 177 - 148 (Serie A) - 13 (Coppa Italia) - 3 (Campionato a gironi) - 9 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 3 (Coppa UEFA) - 1 (Serie B) Napoli - Juventus Serie A a Napoli Confronti ufficiali 68 Vittorie Juventus 20 (L'ultima il 30.09.2000, 1-2) Pareggi 26 (L'ultimo il 01.03.2013, 1-1) Vittorie Napoli 22 (L'ultima il 30.03.2014, 2-0) Goals Juventus 78 Goals Napoli 84 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Napoli a Napoli 13 presenze Scirea Gaetano 12 Furino Giuseppe 11 Boniperti Giampiero 11 Zoff Dino 10 Bettega Roberto 10 Cuccureddu Antonello 10 Gentile Claudio 10 Salvadore Sandro 10 Varglien I Mario 9 Cabrini Antonio 3 goals Boniperti Giampiero 3 Del Piero Alessandro 3 Sivori Omar Enrique 2 Bettega Roberto 2 Buso Renato 2 Candiani Enrico 2 Capello Fabio 2 Chiellini Giorgio 2 Damiani Giuseppe 2 De Agostini Luigi 2 Hansen John Ultimi confronti diretti 22.05.2011 Serie A Juventus-Napoli 2-2 29.11.2011 Serie A Napoli-Juventus 3-3 01.04.2012 Serie A Juventus-Napoli 3-0 20.05.2012 Coppa Italia Juventus-Napoli 0-2 11.08.2012 Supercoppa Italiana Juventus-Napoli 4-2 20.10.2012 Serie A Juventus-Napoli 2-0 01.03.2013 Serie A Napoli-Juventus 1-1 10.11.2013 Serie A Juventus-Napoli 3-0 30.03.2014 Serie A Napoli-Juventus 2-0 22.12.2014 Supercoppa Italiana Juventus-Napoli 2-2 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 4 - Pareggi 4 - Vittorie Napoli 2 - Goals Juventus 20 - Goals Napoli 14 http://www.goal.com/it/results-standings/69/serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_101

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - Sunday, January 11th, 2015 - 20:45 PM San Paolo Stadium, Naples Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Napoli V Juventus – Team News, Tactics, Lineups And Predictions Jan 10, 2014 A stern Napoli test, away from home, awaits Juventus in Gameweek 18 of the Italian Serie A. While Juventus were held 1-1 by Inter Milan, last time around, Napoli defeated a hapless Cesna side 4-1. Juventus, are currently leading the Serie A pack with 40 points, but with AS Roma hot on their heels, and only a point adrift, the Bianconneri will be hoping for a win against their opponents. Meanwhile, the race for UEFA Champions League qualifying spot i.e third spot, is open for grabs. Both, Lazio and Napoli are currently tied at 30 points, with the former residing in the third spot due to alphabetical order. However, with possible contenders Genoa and Sampdoria, just a win adrift, Napoli would be hoping to grab all three points and solidify there chances for Europe’s elite competition. With a lot at stake, a cracker of a match is expected to commence at Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo. Team News and Tactical Brief: Napoli The Neopolitans, boast an impressive form coming into this fixture. Napoli, have only lost one match in their previous six games, in all competitions and moreover defeated opponents Juventus, on penalties, in the Italian Super Cup. Four goals against Cesna, last time around, were clear evidence of Napoli’s bright form. Rafa Benitez is expected to make a couple of changes and new recruit Manolo Gabbiadini, is expected to start. Napoli are expected to lineup in a 4-2-3-1, with Gonzalo Higuain leading the line. The Neopolitans are expected to field a more defensive option in midfield, in the form of Inler. The attacking trio of Hamsik, Callejon and Gabbiadini, are expected to give Juventus’s defense, a run for their money. Their tacky passing, has been the highlight of Napoli’s season thus far and could cause Juventus trouble. The pace and agility of Jose Maria Callejon, makes him a suitable candidate for counter-attacks. Something, which Napoli could use against Juventus. The heart of Napoli’s defense is expected to be made by Raul Albiol and Koulibaly. Although, Albiol has been in decent form this season, Carlos Tevez of Juventus could prove to be a hefty candidate for both defenders. The wingbacks are expected to be Maggio and Britos made. Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Rafael, Britos, Koulibaly, Albiol, Maggio, Inler, Lopez, Hamsik, Callejon,Gabbiadini,Higuain. Juventus For some, Juventus might be favorites going into this fixtures. The Bianconneri are suffering through a purple patch and have bagged only one win in their last six games. The Turin based club, dished out a horrendous second half performance against Inter Milan, in the recently concluded Derby della Italia, which ultimately led both sides to share the spoils of battle. Now, with AS Roma hot on Juventus’s heels and just a point adrift of the top spot, the Bianconneri have to deliver against Napoli. If Juventus drop points against Napoli and AS Roma win against their opponents, then the Roman club would exchange league positions with the Turin based club. Juventus, are expected to lineup in a 4-3-1-2, with Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, leading the line. A suspension to Leonardo Bonucci, means the inclusion of Angelo Ogbonna, in the starting XI against Napoli. Bonucci, has been a solid performer for Juventus this season and it could prove to be mammoth task for Ogbonna, who is expected to fill his boots. Ogbonna will partner an above average Chiellini, in the heart of defense. Stephan Lichsteiner and Patrice Evra are once again expected to ply their trade as wingbacks. The midfield trio of Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio is expected to start with fellow companion Arturo Vidal, plying his trade as a creative midfielder and powering the two man strike force. Probable Starting XI (4-3-1-2): Buffon,Lichsteiner,Ogbonna,Chiellini,Evra,Pogba,Pirlo,Marchisio,Vidal,Tevez,Llorente Key Facts: Juventus have won only one match in their last six games. Napoli are undefeated in their last six games. Juventus have not won at Napoli in Serie A since the 2000-01 campaign Napoli have lost just once at home this season Players To Watch Out For: Arturo Vidal ( Juventus ) Arturo Vidal, could perhaps be Juventus’s knight in shining armor, for this fixture. The Chilean has impressed with this performances thus far and was instrumental in Juventus’s first goal against Inter Milan. His chemistry with Carlos Tevez is impressive and Juventus could bank on the aforementioned to edge out a result in Naples. Jose Maria Callejon ( Napoli ) The pacey Jose Maria Callejon, is expected to be deployed behind Gonzalo Higuain, and dish out through balls for the latter. Callejon’s ability to play behind the striker and on the wings, makes him unpredictable and dangerous. The former Real Madrid player is also expected to be Napoli’s tip of the spear in counter attacks. Prediction: Napoli 1 – Juventus 1 Both, Napoli and Juventus, are expected to go for a win and admist this the sides are expected to nullify each other out. The match, is expected to be played on a frantic pace and end to end stuff could be easily witnessed. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - Sunday, January 11th, 2015 - 20:45 PM San Paolo Stadium, Naples Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Vidal: Juventus Must Prove That They Are Stronger Than Napoli Jan 9, 2014 Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal has stated that his side must prove that they are stronger than Sunday’s opponents Napoli. The Bianconeri were defeated by the Neapolitans in the Supercoppa Italiana towards the end of December on penalties, and Vidal has said that Juve must show their strength on Sunday, whilst also saying that the side must not repeat the same mistakes in their 1-1 draw with Inter on Tuesday. “The game against Napoli in the Supercoppa Italiana was difficult,” he said. “The loss was really painful, but we must move forward and prove that we are stronger than them. “We have to be at 100% against Napoli, in the previous game against Inter we had a really good first half but a really bad second half.” Vidal then went on to speak about his goals for the season, whilst also giving his opinion on the best goals he has ever scored for Juventus. “My dream this season is to win a fourth Serie A title and the UEFA Champions League,” he said. “We want to prove that we can perform in the Champions League. “There is also the Copa America in the summer, which is important for all the Chilean people; I’m training really hard because I want to win all of these trophies. “The best goal I’ve ever scored for Juventus would be the one against Cagliari this season and the goal I scored against Napoli two seasons ago.” The Chilean then gave his thoughts about the Bianconeri’s upcoming Round of 16 UEFA Champions League tie against 2013 runners-up Borussia Dortmund. “I played for four years in Germany, it won’t be an easy game at all,” he said. “Their form in the Bundesliga hasn’t been great, but everything changes in the Champions League. “They are just behind Bayern Munich in terms of quality, but they have players with lots of pace and know how to do well in Europe. “Difference between Bundesliga and Serie A? In Germany you do a lot of ball work, but here in Italy the focus is more on tactics.” Finally, Vidal went on to say that he believes that Juventus are stronger than Roma, despite the Giallorossi sitting in second only one point behind the Turin giants. “I think we’re stronger than Roma, if they are in second then obviously we have something more than them,” he concluded. “Roma are a good side, but I think we’re ahead of them.” Vidal has made 20 appearances for Juventus this season, scoring five goals and assisting one. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Sneijder is not good enough for Juventus, says Moggi The Serie A champions are keen to lure the Dutchman to Turin in January but the club's former director feels that it would be a poor decision on the part of Massimiliano Allegri. Jan 9, 2015 Former Juventus sporting director Luciano Moggi has urged the reigning Italian champions not to sign Galatasaray star Wesley Sneijder. The Netherlands international's agent revealed earlier in January that both clubs are locked in talks over a January transfer but Moggi feels that the midfielder has not done enough in recent years to merit a starting berth at Juventus. "Sneijder? I would not sign him if I were in charge," Moggi told Radio Crc. "The player has not shown much in recent years and would not strengthen the team. "It would be all right if Juventus signed him to add something from the bench, but he is not at the level required to start there." The 30-year-old has a contract with Galatasaray until June 2016 but the Turkish giants are believed to be ready to cash in on the Dutchman if a good offer comes in due to their dire financial situation. Galatasaray have set a €20 million (£15.6m) asking price for Sneijder but Juventus have so far been adamant that they will only sign the attacking midfielder on their own conditions and have no intention of meeting the Istanbul side's pricetag.

NAPOLI - JUVENTUS - Sunday, January 11th, 2015 - 20:45 PM San Paolo Stadium, Naples Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Napoli V Juventus – Preview: Bianconeri Look To Exact Early Revenge Jan 9, 2014 Napoli welcome Juventus to the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday evening hoping to maintain the bragging rights over their Turin rivals following recent Supercoppa Italiana success in Doha. Juventus enter the contest one point ahead of Roma at the top of the Serie A standings after a hard-fought draw with Inter in the Derby d’Italia, while fourth-placed Napoli swept bottom club Cesena aside resoundingly 4-1 in their last fixture. The last Serie A meeting in Naples between the two sides resulted in a 2-0 win for the home side. The southern city has been far from a happy hunting ground for Juventus, as they’ve failed to overcome Napoli in their last seven league visits to San Paolo. They also faced each other at a neutral venue just before Christmas in the Supercoppa Italiana showpiece when the Partenopei were again triumphant, this time on penalties following a 2-2 draw. Both teams have produced strong recent form, with the Bianconeri unbeaten in eight league fixtures and hosts Napoli suffering just one loss in 14. Napoli would extend their latest winning run to three in a row should they claim victory against the league leaders, which appears a realistic prospect given that Juventus posted three draws in their last four outings. New Napoli signings Ivan Strinic and Manolo Gabbiadini come into contention for a place in the side, with at least one expected to debut from the start. Meanwhile, head coach Rafa Benitez will miss left-back Faouzi Ghoulam for a minimum of three weeks due to African Cup of Nations duty and still awaits the return from injury of Juan Zuniga, Michu and Lorenzo Insigne. Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri may have the luxury of naming an unchanged team, which will largely depend upon an assessment of his players’ physical reaction to a gruelling midweek contest with Inter. Andrea Barzagli, Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo are definitely out through injury, but there are no new concerns to report. Expected Starting XIs Napoli: Rafael; Maggio, Koulibaly, Albiol, Britos; Gargano, David Lopez; Callejon, Hamsik, Gabbiadini; Higuain Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Llorente http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Marchisio: ‘No Juve crisis’ Jan 8, 2015 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has played down talk of a crisis at the Turin club, following a poor run of results. The Bianconeri are on a run of one win in five games in all competitions, and were held by Inter on Tuesday night having lost the Supercoppa Italiana to Napoli in Doha. “We’re still there, ahead of everyone,” Marchisio pointed out in an interview with Sky. “We’re having a great season, and now there’s talk of Juve being in trouble because of two or three games where, sure, for the experience the team has we could have done better, but there’s no crisis, nor are we having difficulties. “The team always approaches games with the right attitude, and we always give a lot physically, there are only small things we have to improve. “As the Coach [Max Allegri] has said, to get to the top we have to make some small improvements. “The way we play now, with a formation which is different from the 3-5-2, and various movements change a little bit, but we’ve seen in all these games that we midfielders have gotten involved in an attacking sense, we’ve had some chances. “Sometimes there’s been a bit of bad luck, and we’ve faced some good goalkeepers. This year we’ve scored less, but that’s not down to the change, but also luck. “We have some big games in January, and then we also have the Champions League to think about, so we have to be very focused and not make any mistakes.”

Podolski: It’s Always A Pleasure To Play Against The Great Buffon! Jan 7, 2015 Inter’s new loan signing Lukas Podolski has revealed he enjoyed playing against ‘old friend’ Gianluigi Buffon during his Serie A debut against Juventus on Tuesday. The Nerazzurri fought back from a goal down to secure a point against the Old Lady as Mauro Icardi levelled after Carlos Tevez had given the hosts an early lead. Podolski posted on his official Instagram page on Wednesday afternoon following the Nerazzurri’s 1-1 draw with Juventus in Turin, referring to his admiration for Buffon since the pair met at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. “As a player you always want to test yourself against the best, it’s always a pleasure to play against the great Buffon! A great guy & friend since ’06. The 29-year-old Germany international completed his loan deal from Arsenal on Monday and will remain with the Biscione until the end of the season.

What does Juventus really lack to challenge for the Champions League? Jan 7, 2015 Rumours of Xherdan Shaqiri joining Juventus? Checked. Rumours of Wesley Sneijder joining Juventus? Checked. Rumours of Xherdan Shaqiri not joining Juventus? Checked again. All Juventini choir-singing "In Marotta we trust"? Yes, I’ve checked that one as well. Rumours, rumours and more rumours — football fans love them. This writer does not, but there is nothing one can do when one is fed with transfer news at breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and supper. In this bleak period of time when we are deprived of the right to watching football — and please, do not throw that "footballers are humans as well, they need to rest" phrase at me, because it is not working — news about players leaving and joining teams, persuaded by greedy agents and wives who can’t have enough of poor footballer’s wages, are too common a business. "It is reported that" seems to be the most used expression of these days. And, in all fairness, it started to inherit a more mystical air than Top Gear’s Stig introduction "some say...". Every single time you see some news opening up with it, you know something good is coming up, isn’t it right? Waking up to the news Paul Pogba is to be sold and replaced with Radamel Falcao, Miranda, Ramires and Mats Hummels was just the treat. The only thing missing was something on Cristiano Ronaldo moving a step closer to Juventus, as the club has an agreement with Irina Shayk for the signature of the Portuguese. So it is January — that time of the year when Juventus are looking to add a top-class striker but they end up with a Nicolas or a Nicklas. In all honesty, deals like these can no longer be part of a club whose ambitions are European glory or getting as close to it as possible. Beppe Marotta has done some great things since taking his role in 2010 but Juventus need a little bit more from him in order to have something to say in Europe. I know, I know. The economic situation of Italy doesn’t allow Juventus to be financially competitive with the best clubs out there and Juventus don’t have the resources to invest in a top player for the club can’t pay such high wages. I get it, alright?! You don’t have to repeat it every time I ask for just a bit more. One thing I don’t get, however, one thing that baffles me, is how could Dortmund and then Atletico Madrid play a Champions League final without a huge budget? It is an interesting subject considering the upcoming fixture between the German side and Juve in the round of 16. What have they done and Juventus haven’t? Both teams relied on a fantastic striker — Robert Lewandowski and Diego Costa — but Carlos Tévez has been playing some great football this season as well. It might have been the force of the group that took Dortmund and Atletico so far but the Old Lady is not gambling on individuals either. What about their coaches and mentality, you may ask? Well, this could have been the key factor. Now and then, both Jurgen Klopp and Diego Simeone give the impression they grew up taming lions, not kicking a ball on the pavement and their teams adopted that attitude as well. More than anything, mentality brought these teams so close to lifting the Champions’ League trophy and Juventus can learn from them. So until Max Allegri spends some time on a safari, getting a grip on the basics of taming wild animals, Marotta has to come up with something good in the transfer market — a starter, if it is possible. Not Sneijder, if it is possible. Do people really think Sneijder can bring anything new to the current side? He will be cup-tied, 31 years old in June and most certainly will lose a gear or two by next year. Shaqiri, on the other hand, is 23, quick, eager to prove his worthiness, has great technique and he is also cup-tied. It’s not easy to find somebody who can bring a plus this month — don’t even mention Alessandro Diamanti. January transfers rarely work out as well as planned and if anything, Marotta has shown so far he’s not ready to risk. And I don’t blame him — I wouldn’t risk in January, either. What Marotta has done brilliantly so far was keeping players like Pogba, Arturo Vidal and Stephan Lichtsteiner in the squad and the same thing should happen in the summer as well. But there was always that something Juventus lacked to move one step further and be a success in Europe, not only in Italy: whether it was mentality, or missing out on a few top targets on the transfer market, or both. In a way or another, this has to change and I don’t care if Allegri or even Marotta must leave. Nobody is bigger than the club. PS I’m realistic. They don’t stand a sodding chance. PPS Football proved us wrong many times before and, having mentioned Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, I wouldn't mind this happening again now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XP5dh1Kybs http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie_a/juventus/2015/01/06-87438_0/FOTO+Juventus-Inter+1-1+guarda+le+immagini http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/JfHbjHnVgBf/Juventus+FC+v+FC+Internazionale+Milano/UPK6UDOAtsN

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Four-match ban for Juan Jesus Jan 7, 2014 Inter defender Juan Jesus has been handed a four-match ban after being caught elbowing Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini. The Brazilian was seen throwing his arm into the face of the Bianconeri defender, but the action was not seen by the referee. However, following a review of video evidence, the League has given the centre-back a three-match ban for violent conduct, on top of a one-game ban for getting a fourth yellow card of the season. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Juve’s good, bad and ugly Juventus’ lead at the top is down to one point after coughing up an early advantage to draw 1-1 with Inter. Luca Cetta saw a confusing 90 minutes. Jan 7, 2014 Juventus dived head-first into 2015, the Derby d’Italia providing a baptism of fire enough to shake away the festive cobwebs. The traditional rivals had differing ambitions heading into the Juventus Stadium clash, Inter aiming to close in on third spot and Massimiliano Allegri’s team needing to react to Roma’s earlier win at Udinese. Carlos Tevez provided early cheer by capping off Arturo Vidal’s good work from close range. But the door was kept ajar for Inter and Mauro Icardi slammed it firmly in Juve’s face with a second half equaliser, before a late flurry saw the visitors come closest to claiming maximum points. Allegri insisted there would be no Doha hangover and Juventus looked to put the game away quickly as Vidal’s flick created a simple finish for Apache, his 11th of the campaign. There may even have been further goals as Paul Pogba and Vidal were denied. The Coach called the first half: “one of our best performances of the season.” Tevez was impressive. The Argentine was dangerous in possession and a constant menace for the Nerazzurri defence without the ball. Questioned before the game about having not scored against Inter, his verbal response was sweet – “Ask me again after the game...” – and on the pitch swift. His Chilean teammate, newly married over the break, started 2015 on the front foot with one of his better showings, while Claudio Marchisio was a consistent force in the midfield. But just as in their final home game of 2014 against Sampdoria and the Super Cup defeat to Napoli, Juventus failed to capitalise on their dominance. They went into the interval without truly confirming their superiority and it allowed another team to leave Turin with a point. Roberto Mancini’s side scored with their first shot on target and afterwards looked the likelier to grab a winner, Icardi twice going close. “After that [the equaliser] we lost our heads for a moment, conceding two chances we should not have allowed our opponents,” Allegri admitted. The introduction of Lukas Podolski for Zdravko Kuzmanovic proved astute as Inter dominated through his arrival and with an extra attacking body increased their scoring threat. The Turin side looked a shadow of the team which steamrolled through the opening 45 minutes. “The first game of the year is always difficult, it's a strange game, like the first of the League,” Allegri warned in his pre-match Press conference. “The winner will be the one with the higher levels of attention and concentration. It’s neither a physical nor a technical matter – it’s all in the head.” And as Juve dropped, Inter grew. The defending for the equaliser was poor – Leonardo Bonucci was left alone to be outpaced by Icardi – and they proceeded to look vulnerable as Inter pressured. Mistakes crept in. Gianluigi Buffon, himself not infallible, was forced into an important save in the closing stages. It leaves Allegri with the question of why his side cannot build on early domination. Buffon chimed in on the problem: “In my view the same thing happened in other games [sampdoria, Torino and Napoli], which is that we go from great confidence of being the best team with excellent potential to seeming fearful at the first sign of difficulty.” These slips have cost Juve four points – and a trophy – and means Roma are breathing down their necks. Since the start of December the Old Lady has recorded a solitary victory in all competitions, drawing four and losing on penalties in Qatar. Yet while Roma is just a point adrift, Allegri is not worried: “Roma have been one point behind us many times already. We’re still top of the table and there are many points still up for grabs.” The start to 2015 doesn’t get any easier with an upcoming trip to Naples. Juventus have not won at the Stadio San Paolo since 2000 and in order to break the drought they must find a way to turn domination into goals and improve their mental focus. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Juventus 1-1 Inter Milan: Second half collapse leaves bianconeri with a point in Derby d'Italia Jan 7, 2014 New Year, same story. Juventus’ players must have some kind of freak competition of who will miss more chances in the space of 45 minutes — the first 45 minutes, if possible — and for some reasons, only Carlos Tévez is not allowed to play this game. Maybe the Apache played this game for too long in Champions League and he got enough of it. Wonder what will make the others remember they are actually paid for scoring goals. The first fixture of the year was a festive one, from a couple of points of view. Firstly, it was the Derby D’Italia against Inter Milan and secondly ... well, it was the first fixture of the year, isn’t that enough? It would have been a nice start of 2015 had Juventus won the three points, especially after Roma joined the Old Lady at the top of the table following their success over Udinese. It wasn’t to be though and now Juventus have won only one of their last six games in all competition — hardly the record to think of when a trip to the root of Mount Vesuvius is next on the cards. There were no surprises again in Max Allegri’s starting XI and one may discuss whether it was a good thing or not. Creating chances against stubborn defences has usually been the biggest problem of the side in the past few months, but any changes to try and improve this were few and far between, with the exception of switching formation from 3-5-2 to 4-3-1-2 some time ago. Inter’s defence in the game could be called many things, but it was far from being called stubborn. The rate at which chances were missed, however, was closer to appalling more than anything else. Playing the squad’s best four midfielders at the same time might give you a huge boost in quality but at the same time, no chance to throw in a strong backup if things don’t go as planned — as was the case for this game in the second half, which saw the bianconeri literally collapsing at times. And considering the list of fixtures awaiting Juventus in the coming month — seven (7!) games including this one in the space of 30 days — one may want to rest a key player or two now and then, just to make sure everyone is firing on all cylinders when needed. The slow, slow build-up Juventus used to show in the past seemed to have registered a dramatically improvement. One-touch passes in quick succession outside Inter’s box were more than occasionally in the first half. Like any wonder though, it didn’t last much and the attacking moves in the second half were a rarity, the sloppy play slowly taking over the game. If only Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio had taken advantage of their chances... There is no denying Fernando Llorente finally produced some good link-up play, creating spaces for his teammates, while Vidal was back to his old best, even in this unusual position as a trequartista. But it is a bit baffling it only happened in the first half and, with the risk of pointing out the obvious, this is not enough to win you a game. It is said truly good managers are seen at half time and when making substitutions — there was no sign of Allegri at neither of those, unfortunately. And yes, it is easy to point out from here and hard to say what’s on Allegri’s mind but when looking at alternatives on the bench — Alvaro Morata, that little fella who used to play for Juventus Sebastian Giovinco, Kinglsey Coman, or even the much-praised-but-highly-ineffective-so-far Roberto Pereyra — you might wonder why is Allegri sticking with Fernando Llorente upfront, or with Arturo Vidal out of his best position. Whatever he chooses to do next, he better be doing it good – can’t see any Juventini accepting anything but revenge from Sunday’s game against Napoli. MATCH SUMMARY After just one minute of play, Tévez found Marchisio in a great position inside Inter’s box but his left-footed shot flew just wide of Samir Handanovic’s goal. The response came seconds later when Freddy Guarin tried his luck from distance but failed to hit the target. Juventus built on that strong start, keeping up the pace and it paid off for them after just over four minutes of football. Vidal received a ball from Llorente in the box and produced some fantastic piece of skill to beat his compatriot Guy Medel and lay the ball in front of the goal for Tévez to easily pop it in. It was Tévez’s first career goal against Inter, who shut up his critics pointing this out before the game. Twelve minutes on, a corner taken by Pirlo was poorly cleared away by the defence and the ball felt at Vidal’s feet, whose shot was heading to the bottom corner only to be deflected by Danilo D’Ambrosio and then tipped over the bar by Handanovic. Bonucci made a good clearance just before the 20-minute mark as D’Ambrosio found space down the left side and tried to play Icardi inside the box, a pass that would’ve certainly caused troubles to Buffon had it reached its target. The first half an hour of the game had gone at an astonishing pace, with Juventus attacking at an uncharacteristic high speed, while Inter was forced to sit back and try to hit on the counter. Vidal forced Handanovic into his first important save of the evening, as his shot from distanced bounced right in front of the keeper who pushed it away for a corner. Juventus held the lines up, as Pogba, Marchisio and Vidal were always pressing the opposition, allowing Inter no possession at all. Vidal tested Handanovic once again from the edge of the box after 32 minutes, but the goalkeeper dived to his left to claim the ball. Shortly afterwards, Pogba got a ball at the edge of the opposite area and produced some sublime skills to literally crochet through Inter’s defence but then only managed to place his shot straight at the Slovenian keeper on an one-on-one situation. It would’ve been a certain candidate for the goal of the season. The early goal from Tévez was key in the confident, dominant display of the home side who produced an almost flawless defending in the first half, as Inter couldn’t create anything dangerous for Buffon’s goal. Second half started much in the same fashion, with Juventus pushing high up the field, forcing mistakes from Inter’s midfielders. Lukas Podolski replaced Zdravko Kuzmanovic on 54 minutes to make his debut for Inter and was instantly involved in an attacking move alongside D’Ambrosio but Chiellini and Marchisio managed to block the duo and clear away the danger. Five minutes later, Llorente was carelessly brought down in the box by Juan Jesus but referee Luca Banti waved play on despite vociferous protests from Juventus’ supporters. It was the last action of the game for Llorente who was replaced after 63 minutes by his compatriot Morata, in what became already a usual substitution from Allegri. Inter equalised in the 64th minute with their first shot on target after Icardi made a great run to get at the end of a through ball played by Guarin, losing Bonucci on the way, and then producing a neat finish to beat Buffon who stood no chance. It came as a sort of a punishment for Juventus who should have finished off at least one more of their good first half chances. Shortly after the goal, players of both teams lost their tempers for a few moments after Morata was brought down outside Inter’s box by Andrea Ranocchia who was booked by referee Banti. Pirlo stepped-up for the free-kick but Handanovic, who had already taken a step to his near post, managed to recover and produced a fantastic save to clear the ball for a corner. Twenty minutes from time, Morata found space down the left flank and got past Hugo Campagnaro, but then hit the ground rather easily and the referee harshly showed him the yellow card for what he considered to be a dive. Five minutes later, following a Pirlo corner-kick, Pogba’s header from around the penalty spot went just wide of Handanovic’s goal. Just after that, Allegri tried to inject some extra pace in his side, replacing Vidal with Pereyra. Juventus’ defence looked all over the place as the game entered in its final 10 minutes. Bonucci stupidly lost possession in midfield, allowing Podolski to break free on the left flank and the German fed Icardi who was lurking inside the box but the goalscorer somehow didn’t manage to tap the ball in. The same Icardi struck a ball with real venom just moments later but Buffon was up for the save on that occasion, pushing the ball over the post. A mistake from Chiellini offered Icardi and the newly introduced Pablo Osvaldo a great scoring opportunity, but the Argentine chose not to pass the ball to Osvaldo, much for the anger of the naturalised Italian, and instead went for the goal, but his effort was off target. It was a frantic end to the game which saw Kovacic receiving a straight red after launching in a sliding tackle on Lichtsteiner with his foot high. In the injury time, Juventus pushed for a winner but it was Buffon who had to come off his line all the way to the centre of the field to clear away a ball chased by a lonely Podolski. A late scramble in Inter’s box saw Pogba and Evra desperately trying to get a shot in, with Handanovic eventually palming the ball clear, just moments before Luca Banti blew the final whistle to a spectacular game. PLAYER RATINGS Buffon: 6.5 After an idle first half, was forced into pulling some good saves in the second part. Cannot be blamed for the goal Lichtsteiner: 5.5 Lost D’Ambrosio on an early occasion in the game and then had problems keeping Podolski quiet. Not the best of game from him, as pretty much all Inter’s chances came from his side Bonucci: 5 Had a horrible second half performance, allowing Icardi to get first at the ball and eventually score. Also easily gave away possession in a couple of situations Chiellini: 6.5 A decent, steady performance until late in the game, when all the defenders looked very shaky. Cleared pretty much every ball he had to deal with in the first 70 minutes. Evra: 6 Inter seemed to attack more on their left flank, not giving the Frenchman too much to do defensively, but he couldn’t bring his contribution to attack either. Marchisio: 7 Great first half and a more than decent second bit from Il Principino, who was the most industrious of the midfielders, making a handful of interceptions and keeping his cool while on the ball. Missed a good chance in the first minute of the game. Pirlo: 6.5 Played a lot right between the two centre backs, acting more like a sweeper. Was constantly on the move to find open space, but couldn’t really make any of his trademark passes. Pogba: 7 A few mistakes early on but then produced a splendid performance, imposing himself in midfield. Could be at fault for not closing down and allowing Guarin too much time to find the perfect assist for Icardi. Was unlucky not to finish his terrific individual action with a goal in the first half Vidal: 7 Tremendous first half performance, but for some reasons couldn’t replicate it in the second part of the game. Had a couple of good shots from distance and produced some magnificent skills to provide the assist for Tévez Tévez: 7 Proved once again he knows how to be in the right place at the right time, giving Juve the lead early on. Despite some good movement upfield, he couldn’t do enough to get a second for the team Llorente: 6.5 Played an important part in the build-up for the goal and was more comfortably with the ball at his feet, holding off opposition and creating spaces for teammates. Subs Morata: 6 Despite having almost 30 minutes at his disposal, the Spaniard made no impact after he replaced Llorente, being also booked for a presumed dive. Pereyra: 6 Came in with 12 minutes left to play but didn’t bring the expected pace in attacks Coach Allegri: 6 Couldn’t mount his players to react after being equalised and was more than lucky on a couple of occasions to not go behind. Substitutions made improved nothing in the game and the collapse of the team in the second half is still a mystery at this time. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Juventus must mature, says Buffon The experienced goalkeeper was unable to hide his disappointment with the Scudetto holders' draw against Inter on Tuesday. Jan 7, 2015 Gianluigi Buffon has voiced his frustration with Juventus' 1-1 Serie A draw versus Inter on Tuesday and feels the reigning Italian champions must mature if they aim to win silverware this term. The Turin giants were in fine form in the opening 45 minutes of the Derby d'Italia, but failed to extend their lead after Carlos Tevez' opening goal early on. They were made to pay for their profligacy in the second half, with Mauro Icardi restoring parity in the 64th minute, and Buffon was unable to hide his disappointment with the result. "It was the same story against Sampdoria, Torino and Napoli. We need to mature if we're going to be where it counts, particularly in the Champions League," Buffon told reporters. "There are moments in games when we dominate proceedings and create a high number of chances. But until we get that all-important second goal, it's vital to remain on guard, especially against a side like Inter. "We all knew that this was another golden opportunity to extend our lead at the top. But we didn't take it and we're disappointed." Juventus remain top of the Serie A table with 40 points from 17 games, holding a one-point lead over second-placed Roma.

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Old Lady's psychology in question as Juve once again surrender a lead Jan 6, 2014 Juventus and Inter Milan shared the spoils in the Derby d'Italia with both walking away with a goal and a point in the bag. While the Bianconeri excelled in the first half, showing ambition, determination and superior skill, the manner in which they collapsed thereafter is concerning to say the least. This is Juve's fifth draw in six games and it's clear that after experiencing a wonderful November, things have stagnated for Massimiliano Allegri's side. Far too often this is a team that has produced excellence in the early part of the game, showing ambition and beautiful technique only to then lower the intensity and allow the opponent a way back into the game. As such, it comes as no surprise to learn that Juventus have scored a goal on six occasions in the first 15 minutes of the game. Carlos Tevez made it seven against Inter when he rounded off Arturo Vidal's hard work to condemn Inter early on. The problem is maintaining that determination and not collapsing at the first sign of difficulty as Gigi Buffon accurately pointed out. In the first half of the game, Inter were playing with far too many central midfielders who may have allowed them to keep possession but were unable to contribute much in terms of width. With Roberto Mancini's men falling deep every time they were attacked, Juventus enjoyed the first half of the game, pushing forward and demonstrating the superior skill of their men. Yet even at their most comfortable and when facing a side that was clearly struggling, Juventus failed to show their efficiency and were often sloppy in possession. If a team is only capable of playing one good half, then they should ensure it's a half of perfection. Despite the Nerazzurri's problems earlier on, they played an aggressive game, nipping at their opponents' feet, attempting to win back possession as quickly as possible and that forced Juve to surrender to imprecision. This was a problem under Antonio Conte and continues to be one today -- the squad simply suffer under pressure and are yet to understand how to turn the situation around. Inefficiency in front of goal is the other recurring problem. Managing only one goal, the Bianconeri squandered several chances that proved costly in the end. Sebastian Giovinco, Roberto Pereyra and even Paul Pogba are all wonderful to watch for their ability to construct goal-scoring opportunities whether it be through quick feet, intelligence or delightful technique, yet when the time comes to shoot, they are rarely capable of scoring. It hardly helps that Fernando Llorente played a terrible game on the night. Not only was he unable to make an impact up top but he gave up possession cheaply and proved too clumsy when the time came to attack with strength. This blog often defends the Lion King considering he's been asked to sacrifice himself to offer space and time for Tevez but more is required of the player in a game such as this. Sadly his competition has hardly fared better. Alvaro Morata is so far only excelling at overcomplicating matters. Unable to keep it clean and simple, the Spaniard will only improve if he plays with abandon, demonstrating his pace and technique. His attempts to be clever have only resulted in exposing his poor decision making rendering him nothing more than a substitute. Efficiency is less of a problem when a squad has a defence they can depend on but even Juventus' solid back-line is capable of lapses in concentration, at times committing tragic errors that can only be forgotten if the front line is scoring. Needless to say, that lapse in concentration occurred in the second half when Juventus were busy watching Inter's substitutions. Pogba gave possession away before Inter charged and Mauro Icardi scored as he usually does against the Bianconeri. As stated in the previous blog, when it comes to scoring, Inter always manage. It's their defence that lets them down and had it not been for Samir Handanovic's brilliance, Juve may have emerged from the tie victorious. However, Mancini has always known how to trouble the Old Lady and Tuesday night was no exception. He pushed his men forward, forcing them to play higher up the pitch and nullified Juve's weapons on the wings, pinning back the full-backs that proved so effective in the first half. Patrice Evra who has often courted criticism for his defensive negligence in a Juve shirt has begun to improve. Not only is he better disciplined but his strong attacks in the wide areas have allowed for balance in the side. Sadly, he along with the rest of the squad surrendered to the Nerazzurri in the second half, allowing the equaliser and subsequent attempts at Buffon's goal. Juventus with all their quality and experience must learn how to better manage games such as this and the fact they surrender to panic so easily is indicative of a weak mind -- precisely the reason for their poor showings in Europe. Many people are quick to point out the deficiencies within the squad and how better players would solve certain problems but Allegri is in charge of a wonderfully assembled side and certainly one that possesses more quality than Olympiakos, Inter and Genoa. It's a question of psychology and this is where Allegri has often faltered in the past. A tactician he certainly is but is he capable of instilling the side with enough confidence to always believe they can overcome difficulty yet keep them humble enough to ensure they are always striving for more? It remains to be seen. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Juventus vs. Inter: Draw Highlights Lack of Pace in Bianconeri Back Line Jan 6, 2014 Juventus hosted Inter on Tuesday night, their first competitive fixture since the Super Cup loss to Napoli. With the encounter always a hotly contested affair, that only added to its significance, and it was a game the Bianconeri certainly needed to win. Discussing his side’s approach at the pre-match press conference, Massimiliano Allegri noted the difficulty in preparing for the return to action following Serie A’s winter break. “The first game of the year is always difficult,” the coach told reporters, per Football Italia, adding that the winner “will be the one with the higher levels of attention and concentration.” Despite the meeting eventually ending in a draw, those words would prove somewhat prophetic by the time the final whistle blew. The home side took the lead after just five minutes, Carlos Tevez turning home a cross from Arturo Vidal after some wonderful skill from the Chilean midfielder. The goal marked the striker’s 16th of the season, adding five assists in 23 appearances, an excellent return from a player who sets a superb example for his team-mates. For large portions of the first half, the Bianconeri followed Tevez’s lead, pressing and harassing Inter into a string of mistakes and exerting almost total control on the game. Yet they failed to capitalise on that dominance, Vidal and Paul Pogba seeing good efforts denied, and La Madama could find no way press home her advantage. Samir Handanovic also did well to deny Andrea Pirlo, the Italian legend almost curling home a superb free-kick that required a strong save from the goal keeper. As is so often the case, she would be made to pay for such profligacy as the Nerazzurri capitalised on a lack of concentration in the Juventus defence. On 64 minutes, Allegri opted to freshen up his side by replacing Fernando Llorente with Alvaro Morata, a change made in order to create a different challenge for Roberto Mancini’s men. Just moments later, however, the Bianconeri defence would be inexplicably devoid of any shape or cohesion as Fredy Guarin picked up the ball. Patrice Evra and Giorgio Chiellini were caught too far up field for seemingly no reason, leaving Leonardo Bonucci alone to deal with Mauro Icardi. Guarin played the ball forward as the striker ran from left to right, the Juventus defender left trailing behind as Icardi beat Gigi Buffon with a cool finish. With the scores level, Inter pressed for a winner, Lukas Podolski making his debut and Pablo Osvaldo also coming off the bench in search of a second goal. A red card for a rash Mateo Kovacic challenge ended their hopes and the game petered out, but Mancini’s side had done enough to highlight a serious problem that blights the Bianconeri. With Martin Caceres absent, the back line simply lacks the pace to cope with a pacey attack, and Allegri must quickly address this if Juve are to enjoy any meaningful success. All too often, Bonucci, Chiellini and Angelo Ogbonna are shown to be comparatively slow, a deficiency they often manage to neutralise with other attributes. As well as being protected by an excellent midfield, the trio are superb readers of the game, judging when and where they will be needed to neutralise attacks. Yet when play becomes broken and opponents can attack at speed, their problems are laid bare, with even the excellent Andrea Barzagli lacking the speed to keep up with fleet-footed strikers. Caceres returned to the squad on Tuesday, and Allegri will perhaps need to call him back into action sooner than expected. Their next fixture sees them travel to Napoli on Sunday, with Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon in blistering form for Rafael Benitez’s side. The pair have each scored nine goals, and the Partenopei added Manolo Gabbiadini this week to further bolster their attacking options. All three possess the pace that can cause further embarrassment to Juventus by exploiting this weakness. While the club continue to be linked with the likes of Wesley Sneijder (h/t Football Italia), their most pressing problem lies further back and continues to be their Achilles heel. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Player Ratings: Juventus 1-1 Inter Jan 6, 2014 Tuesday evening’s breathless Derby d’Italia between Juventus and Inter deservedly ended in a 1-1 draw with goals from Carlos Tevez and Mauro Icardi. Juventus began rampantly and unsurprisingly took the lead very early on as Tevez scored from close range. However, as a hectic first half progressed Inter crept back into the match and controlled significant portions of the play. The high tempo continued after the break and Inter drew level thanks to the razor sharp instincts of Icardi. The drama continued right up until the final whistle and there was a late red card for Mateo Kovacic. Juventus Gianluigi Buffon – 7 – Reliable - He had absolutely nothing to do in the first half, but he was called upon several times late in the game to ensure that his team took home a point. Perhaps could have been quicker off his line for Icardi’s goal but a reliable performance as ever from the home captain. Stephan Lichtsteiner – 6.5 – Powered - Performed like a steam locomotive powering down the right flank and always provided his teammates with an option on the overlap. He was not so energetic when defending and on several occasions D’Ambrosio managed to slip past him and get to the byline. Leonardo Bonucci – 6 – Complacent - The Italian international looked to be having a fairly breezy evening as Inter’s attack was kept under control. However, a flash of speed by Icardi left him trailing in the Argentine’s wake as Inter drew level. Giorgio Chiellini – 7 – Assured - Was his usual all action self and ensured that the Inter forward line had very few opportunities on the Juventus goal. Patrice Evra – 5 – Anonymous - A fairly anonymous display by the former Manchester United full back. Went about his work diligently enough but the veteran Frenchman never provided the same attacking outlet down the left as his colleague Lichtsteiner did down the right. Paul Pogba – 7.5 – Dynamic - A dynamic and powerful performance from the Frenchmen who caused Inter problems with his constant pressing. He appeared all over the pitch and always looked dangerous with his exquisite footwork. Probably should have capped off his performance with a goal, but it is easy to see why the young midfielder is so highly rated. Andrea Pirlo – 6.5 – Diligent - He quietly went about his business in the centre of the park and performed his usual distributive duties. This was hardly a vintage display from the old master, but was it nonetheless an effective performance. Arturo Vidal – 8 – Dangerous - Did all the hard work for Juve’s first goal by beating Ranocchia with a silky heeled touch before hitting the touchline and squaring the ball for Tevez to tap in. The Chilean looked to cause Inter problems when ever he got on the ball and had several efforts from long range. Claudio Marchisio – 6.5 – Effective - Could have opened the scoring even earlier than Tevez had he taken his time with an opening shot. Worked hard in the midfield for his team and got up and down the pitch well. Fernando Llorente – 5.5 – Absent - A quiet evening for the big Spaniard who struggled to make much of an impact in the match. Threw his frame around in the first half but at times he never really looked too interested in the match. This continued in the second period and was substituted on 63 minutes. Carlos Tevez – 6.5 – Faded - Opened the scoring early on with an easy tap in from close range and he looked lively during the opening stages of the match. However, he faded as the game progressed. Substitutes Alvaro Morata – 6 – Foolish - Brought on for his compatriot Llorente and was immediately booked for a flamboyant dive in the Inter penalty box. Was lucky not to be red carded for another dive moments later. Roberto Pereyra – N/A Inter Samir Handanovic – 7.5 – Sturdy - The Slovenian had little chance with Juve’s goal and went on to make some important stops for his side throughout the match to keep his team in the contest. Produced a brilliant save from a Pirlo freekick in the second half. Danilo D’Ambrosio – 6.5 – Cross - The left back got forward well enough and caused the Juventus back line a few headaches but his crossing was poor. Juan Jesus – 6.5 – Solid - It was a pretty decent performance from the Brazilian who soaked up everything that Juventus could through at him, although he will probably be banned post match for a thuggish attack on Chiellini which was not spotted by the referee. Andrea Ranocchia – 5.5 – Shaky - The Italian was left embarrassed by Vidal’s skill in the build up to Juve’s first goal and he never really recovered afterwards. He was constantly caught of of position and did nothing during this match to silence his critic’s who do not view him as worthy of the club captaincy. Hugo Campagnaro – 6 – Flawed - The veteran made several poor mistakes throughout the game which could have cost his side much more than just possession. Zdravko Kuzmanovic – 5 – Poor - His heavy touch continually let him down throughout the first half, and he did not last long in the second as he made way for Podolski early in the second half. Gary Medel – 6.5 – Combatative - The Chilean sat deep in midfield and did a decent job of breaking up the Juventus attacks, but he provided his side with little else. Fredy Guarín – 7 – Powerful - Put in a solid shift for his team in the midfield engine room with his constant running. He set up Inter’s equaliser out of no-where with a perfectly weighted long range pass to find Icardi’s run. Mateo Kovacic – 6 – Unsettled - Looked nervous in the early stages, the young Croatian never really settled into this match. This was typifed when he was given a straight red card five minutes from full time for a lunging tackle on Lichtsteinier in which his studs were clearly showing. Hernanes – 6.5 – Ineffective - Worked hard for his team chasing down opponents and shutting down defenders but did very little creatively when he had possession and often gave the ball away. Mauro Icardi – 7 – Sharp - The Argentine was isolated for most of the game as Chiellini never let him out of his sight. However, he came from no-where to coolly slot away the equalizer mid-way through the second half to continue his goal scoring record against the champions. Should have doubled Inter’s goal tally when he missed an excellent chance 10 minutes from the end. Substitutes Lukas Podolski – 6.5 – Fleeting - The big name signing replaced Kuzmanovic 10 minutes into the second half as Inter were chasing the match. The German almost became an instant hero when he broke down the left a play a perfect ball through to Icardi, only for the Argentine to slide his effort the wrong side of the post. Pablo Osvaldo – N/A Yann M’Vila – N/A http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Juventus 1 - Inter Milan 1: Initial reaction and random observations Unfortunately for Juventus, this wasn't written after the first half of play. You don't play a full 90 minutes — or anything close to it — and you will be put on blast. Jan 6, 2014 You see Juventus simply dominate in the first half and figure they'll only continue to do so going forward. Why? Because it's logic, and that's the way a lot of us use to put our thoughts together. Then, the second half arrives. And with it, Juve not only looks like a shell of their first-half selves, but sees a lead absolutely disappear and risk throwing away a victory. That happened exactly the way we feared it would go for Juventus against arch-rivals Inter Milan on Tuesday night. What started so brightly for Juventus ended with a thoroughly frustrating 1-1 draw in the Derby d'Italia. That's just what happens when your second-half play resembles a dumpster fire. James Horncastle @JamesHorncastle 3 games in a row, Juventus have been in control, dominated long stages, not put the game beyond doubt and been pegged back History is starting to repeat itself, boys and girls. Over and over again. And not in a good way, either. It's not just the past three games where Juve have either drawn or lost like in the Supercoppa. This is a common thread for this entire season and beyond. You can't just pinpoint one event where things went wrong. It's starting to become a long list. Is it the manager's mentality once his team gets the lead? Is it the players' mentality and approach to the game once they get the lead? Is it the opposition adjusting at halftime and Juventus unable to counter the initial changes? Is it all of the above in some kind of sick and twisted mixture that results in absolute frustration? Let's ask noted goalkeeper and Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon we he thinks. "In my view the same thing happened in other games, which is that we go from great confidence/arrogance of being the best team with excellent potential to seeming fearful at the first sign of difficulty. "It happened against Sampdoria, Torino and Napoli. We need to mature definitively if we want to take an important place in the Champions League as well as Serie A. "It isn't a worry as such, but it is something we need to analyse and pick apart. There are moments during the game when Juventus are absolutely dominant and create a huge number of scoring opportunities, but must remember that if it's 1-0 then we need to keep our eyes open." (Source: Football Italia) That's brutal honesty, folks. And for good reason. Juventus were so good in the first half it looked like they were going to cruise to an easy win and remain three points ahead of Roma. There was just one huge problem in the opening 45 minutes — they couldn't add a second goal to extend their lead further. There were chances. Oh, man, there were plenty of them. But the totally ineffective-in-front-of-goal Juventus we've seen so many times the last few years reared its ugly head again. Because of it, no second goal, no manageable lead, no three points at the final whistle. I'll just continue to shake my head at this team until they fix this. Let's just hope they actually do. Random thoughts and observations Seriously, how the hell did Juventus score one goal against Inter in the first half? That defense was just a total mess in the first half. Outside of Samir Handanovic, they were just all over the damn place with no kind of organization whatsoever. What I totally spaced on putting in the match preview: If there is one person on this current Inter roster to score a goal against Juventus that will devastate us all, who other than Mauro Icardi to do it? Post-game rumors of Inter potentially signing Xherdan Shaqiri by the end of the weekend has really improved my mood greatly. Thanks a lot, guys. I feel safe in saying that Tuesday night's first half was some of the best of Arturo Vidal we've seen all season. The assist to Carlos Tévez was beautiful, his contributions were plentiful, and he was just all over the field like the Vidal of old. It was great to see once again, let's just hope it continues rather being something we only see every couple of weeks. Lenoardo Bonucci's second-half game film should be burned and destroyed. Or maybe it should be kept around to show people how not to play as a defender. He got absolutely toasted by Mauro Icardi on Inter's goal and then had a couple of huge mistakes that could have cost Juventus the lead. Like the entire team in general, Bonucci's first half was great. The second half was just so forgettable. Paul Pogba putting Inter defenders on skates. Oh boy. Eleven goals in 16 Serie A games for Carlos Tévez. What a wonderful player. Cherish him. Buffon had one save, in the 83rd minute, and it was absolutely brilliant. Rinse and repeat. Class is class. It doesn't matter how Borussia Dortmund is playing in the Bundesliga these days. If that Juventus from the second half shows up in the Champions League next month, then it's going to be a pretty salty reaction. Even more than the one to this game is. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Buffon: 'Juve arrogant and fearful' Jan 6, 2014 Gigi Buffon said Juventus suffer from a combination of “arrogance and fear at the first sign of difficulty.” The goalkeeper spoke to Sky Sport Italia after a 1-1 draw with Inter, their fourth stalemate in the last five games in all competition. “In my view the same thing happened in other games, which is that we go from great confidence/arrogance of being the best team with excellent potential to seeming fearful at the first sign of difficulty. “It happened against Sampdoria, Torino and Napoli. We need to mature definitively if we want to take an important place in the Champions League as well as Serie A. “It isn’t a worry as such, but it is something we need to analyse and pick apart. There are moments during the game when Juventus are absolutely dominant and create a huge number of scoring opportunities, but must remember that if it’s 1-0 then we need to keep our eyes open. “Every team that we face have some very talented individuals who can cause us problems at any moment.” Nonetheless, the captain defended Coach Max Allegri against those who would want Antonio Conte’s style back. “At this moment the results aren’t good, but before these five games we had another 15 or 16 in which Juve showed very entertaining and effective football. We are still top of the table and in the Champions League Round of 16. “We might seem less solid on the one hand, but we also propose other more consistent attacking moves.” Buffon tried to rush off his line to close down Mauro Icardi on the equaliser, but the striker flicked a snooker shot past him. “I saw this long ball and thought I could get there in time to block. If I had stayed in the goal he would’ve gone for power rather than accuracy and it would’ve been tougher for him.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Allegri: 'Juve lost heads' Jan 6, 2014 Max Allegri admits Juventus “lost our heads” in the second half and risked defeat to Inter, but is not worried by Roma. Carlos Tevez had opened the scoring within five minutes, but Mauro Icardi got the equaliser in a 1-1 Derby d’Italia. “We knew the game would be difficult, but for 45 minutes it was one of our best performances of the season. We couldn’t keep that intensity up for the full 90,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia. “Even before the goal we had lost a bit of organisation and were making too many technical mistakes, so that is something we need to work on. “After that we lost our heads for a moment, conceding two chances we should not have allowed our opponents, and even ran a risk 10 seconds from the end. It was mad to allow a counter like that with 10 against 11. “In the first half it was one-way traffic. Inter deserve credit for fighting back and it’s a shame we didn’t start the year with a victory, but the performance was excellent in the first half and sufficient in the second. “In my view we were too static in the second half, whereas in the first the midfielders were always moving and not allowing Inter any reference points, so they could never catch us.” This draw means that Juve’s lead at the top of the Serie A table has been cut to just one point. Juventus have now drawn five of their last six games in all competition, as the Italian Super Cup defeat to Napoli was on penalties. “Roma have been one point behind us many times already. We’re still top of the table and there are many points still up for grabs. “This was the kind of game you risk losing too, so we are pleased to be in our position and fully aware Roma will be an antagonist to the end.” Juventus confirmed that Wesley Sneijder is a transfer target, though not at Galatasaray’s current demands. “In order to improve this squad we need great players and Sneijder is one of them. He is a Galatasaray player and perhaps we have a chance for someone else, but the important thing is to have a midfielder with certain characteristics. “At the moment we only have five for four roles, so it’s not ideal for them to play all the time. I have great midfielders and wouldn’t change them for any other team in the world, so to improve the squad there are very few who could really make a difference. “When we start playing a game every three days and the Champions League returns, we will need more options.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Icardi strikes to hand Inter point against Juventus Jan 6, 2014 Mauro Icardi earned Inter Milan a point from Tuesday night's Derby d'Italia but the 1-1 draw leaves Juventus vulnerable to predators in the Serie A title race. The Bianconeri had earlier watched Roma draw level with them at the top of the table following a victory at Udinese and set about making amends through Carlos Tevez and his early goal in Turin. But Inter grew into the game after the break and might even have built on Icardi's equaliser had Mateo Kovacic's dismissal not upset their rhythm in what were frantic final exchanges. The point gave the Bianconeri control of first place for the time being but rivals Roma show no signs of easing off in their quest to win a first Scudetto since 2001. Juve dominated the first half from the off and went close to opening the scoring after only two minutes, Tevez feeding Claudio Marchisio only for the midfielder to blast just wide. The Argentinian took matters into his own hands three minutes later by sweeping up Arturo Vidal's clever backheel before tapping home with ease from a few yards out. Still Juve pushed forward and Vidal was only denied from close range by the quick thinking of Danilo D'Ambrosio. The Chilean was at the heart of every Bianconeri attack and, just before the half-hour mark, tested Samir Handanovic with a fierce drive from fully 25 metres out. Inter could do nothing but retreat as their opponents poured forward but Juve could not add a second goal before the break, Paul Pogba coming closest to notching at the end of a fine jinking run. There was little to talk about in the second half until Roberto Mancini introduced his new loan signing from Arsenal, the German striker Lukas Podolski, as a substitute for Zdravko Kuzmanovic. His attempted one-two with D'Ambrosio drew a few cheers from the visiting fans but it was Icardi who had them on their feet in the 64th minute. The former Sampdoria striker continued his torment of the Bianconeri as he latched on to Fredy Guarin's through-ball before firing his fifth goal past Juve in four games. Only moments later Handanovic preserved the newly-forged parity with a stunning diving save on Andrea Pirlo's dipping free-kick. Pogba headed wide from a corner but it was Inter who missed a much better chance as Icardi's fizzing shot was clawed away by Gianluigi Buffon. Despite their enthusiasm, however, Inter's hopes of completing the comeback were dealt a heavy blow when Kovacic earned a red card for his heavy challenge on Stephan Lichtsteiner. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Juventus 1-1 Inter: Nerazzurri Claim Point In Turin Jan 6, 2014 Juventus drew 1-1 with rivals Inter in an exciting Serie A clash at the Juventus Stadium. A goal from Carlos Tevez put the home side into the lead, but Mauro Icardi pulled matters level in the second half to ensure a share of the spoils in the Derby d’Italia. A frenetic first half began with an early shot by the hosts’ Claudio Marchisio, which flew just wide of the left-hand post. Three minutes later, another Juventus attack led to an early opening goal when Chilean Arturo Vidal put the ball under his spell with a cheeky flick beyond his man, before crossing to fellow South American Carlos Tevez for an easy tap-in. Juventus continued piling on relentless pressure, resulting in a blocked effort from the dangerous Vidal. Inter finally got hold of possession for a solid ten-minute period at that point, but failed to trouble Gianluigi Buffon. Several crosses were comfortably cleared by the Bianconeri back-line, while Mateo Kovacic should have done much better with a through-ball towards Mauro Icardi which was cut out to the Argentine’s exasperation. The home side began hitting Inter on the counter at every opportunity, with Vidal denied twice by Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, who was let down by sloppy defending on both occasions. Serie A leaders Juventus were back in full control of proceedings by that stage and could have doubled their lead through a wonderful piece of skill by Paul Pogba bamboozling two defenders, but not the visiting ‘keeper. Roberto Mancini introduced Lukas Podolski for his Inter debut in place of Zdravko Kuzmanovic on 54 minutes after a scrappy opening to the second period. Out of nowhere, Inter striker Mauro Icardi was on hand to shock reigning champions Juventus with an equaliser just after the hour when beating Leonardo Bonucci for pace to slot home under Buffon from the right angle of the six-yard box. Handanovic was forced into a full-length save to his right from a Andrea Pirlo free-kick, as Juve attempted to regain their grip on the match with 20 minutes remaining. The Nerazzurri were looking increasingly confident, with Juventus becoming jittery at the back. However, Pogba might have done better when putting a header just wide of the upright on 77 minutes. Visitors Inter kept on coming and were so close to grabbing a crucial advantage in the last ten minutes when Podolski burst down the left to send in a low cross for Icardi at the back post, who slid in but poked the ball agonisingly wide. Young star Icardi then stung Buffon’s hands seconds later with a rasping drive which the vastly experienced stopper parried over. With five minutes left on the clock, Icardi ballooned a shot over the crossbar much to fiery sub Dani Osvaldo’s dismay. In the next move, Inter’s challenge for victory fell apart when Mateo Kovacic was sent off for a studs-up tackle. They will, however, be happy to take away a hard-earned point from Turin. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111