Socrates

JUVENTUS - INTER 1 - 1 Carlos Tévez (5') Mauro Icardi (64') Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Icardi stalls Juve in Derby d'Italia Jan 6, 2014 Mauro Icardi wiped out a Carlos Tevez goal in the high-intensity Derby d’Italia as 10-man Inter held Juventus 1-1. That means Roma are now only one point adrift of the Serie A leaders. Lukas Podolski was only on the bench after completing his move from Arsenal 24 hours earlier, while Yuto Nagatomo was on international duty and Rodrigo Palacio ruled out by flu. Juve needed a win to maintain their three-point lead over Roma and a morale-booster following defeat on penalties to Napoli in the Italian Super Cup on December 22. The hosts had a blistering start, as first Fernando Llorente blasted across the face of goal, then Carlos Tevez broke the deadlock five minutes in. Arturo Vidal deserves much of the credit, as he set himself up with a fantastic first touch off the inside of his heel and got into space to roll across for Tevez. It confirmed Apache’s remarkable form, having scored twice in the Italian Super Cup. Danilo D’Ambrosio got in a decisive block on Vidal from a corner, then tried to set up Mauro Icardi only to see his cross intercepted by Leonardo Bonucci. Vidal unleashed a strike from distance that bounced right in front of Samir Handanovic, so he beat it away with his wrist. The goalkeeper also had to be alert on Andrea Pirlo’s free kick, which threatened to curl directly in. It was a very intense and high-tempo first half with Handanovic smothering a Llorente curler, then Paul Pogba skipped between three players with delightful ‘elastico’ footwork and the goalkeeper again came tearing off his line to parry with his chest. Giorgio Chiellini was furious after an elbow from Juan Jesus, which if seen could’ve been a penalty, and Handanovic intercepted another dangerous Tevez move. Podolski made his debut in the second half, but it was Mauro Icardi who equalised by running on to a Fredy Guarin through ball and placing a snooker shot across the on-rushing Gigi Buffon. It was Inter’s first attempt on target and Icardi’s fifth goal in four games against Juventus. Pirlo’s free kick almost caught Handanovic out, but he changed direction mid-air for a spectacular save. Alvaro Morata was booked for simulation, though replays show Hugo Campagnaro did clip him on the trailing ankle just outside the box. It was now wide open and Patrice Evra’s acrobatic interception stopped Icardi going clear on goal. Pogba’s header whistled wide of the upright from a corner and he forced several bookings, so Juan Jesus and Andrea Ranocchia will be suspended against Genoa. Inter had a glorious opportunity to take the lead when Leonardo Bonucci lost possession, but Podolski rolled across to Icardi who came sliding in and turned wide from six yards. The Bianconeri seemed shaken and lost the ball several times in a few minutes, so Buffon flew to palm an Icardi snapshot out of the near top corner. The tension got to both teams. Icardi failed to make the most of a Chiellini error and fired off target rather than set up the unmarked Daniel Osvaldo, who had just come off the bench. Osvaldo – an ex-Juventus player – was so furious that he tried to physically attack his teammate and was prevented from doing so by Guarin. Osvaldo then turned on Roberto Mancini and clearly insulted his Coach. Moments later Kovacic received a red card for sliding studs-up on Lichtsteiner’s shin. Juventus laid siege, but in a disorganised fashion, and Buffon needed a Manuel Neuer-style sprint into midfield to clear from Podolski. With the last kick of the game Pogba and Evra tried to squeeze in a shot, but Handanovic flapped the ball away at a tricky angle. Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal (Pereyra 77); Tevez, Llorente (Morata 63) Inter: Handanovic; Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, D’Ambrosio; Guarin, Medel, Kuzmanovic (Podolski 54); Kovacic, Hernanes (Osvaldo 85); Icardi (M’Vila 89) Ref: Banti Sent off: Kovacic 86 (I) http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81s_wLEEZVU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7x4GOwKDuc

https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/0AD43B870B1164340837426122752_3239a6a7faa.1.5.14458042857493875837.mp4?versionId=2EuO6S6d2qoP1RaCCao90.vB.MYh2.jc

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: Icardi snatches draw and boosts Roma title bid The striker struck just past the hour mark to cancel out Carlos Tevez's fifth minute opener and inadvertently help out their Serie A rivals at the top of the division. Jan 6, 2014 Mauro Icardi's 64th minute strike saw Inter draw 1-1 with Juventus in Turin on Tuesday night and boost Roma's title bid in the process. Carlos Tevez opened the scoring after just five minutes but Icardi struck shortly after the hour mark to seal a point, with the away side holding on following Mateo Kovacic's late red card. The result means second-placed Roma are now just a single point behind leaders Juventus, with both sides having played 17 games. Juve showed no signs of their recent blip in the early stages, putting Inter under pressure right from the start and they almost went ahead in the second minute, with Fernando Llorente slicing just wide from 14 yards. Inter failed to heed that warning, though, and Juve duly broke the deadlock just three minutes later. Vidal flicked the ball past his Chile team-mate Gary Medel with an exquisite first touch inside the area, before sliding an inviting pass into the goalmouth for Tevez to steer home. The goal appeared to spark Inter into life as the visitors started to dictate proceedings, though the champions never looked particularly worried at the back and remained a serious threat on the break. And, unsurprisingly, Juve's next opportunity came at the end of a swift counterattack, as Samir Handanovic was forced to push a Vidal drive around the post. Handanovic was at the centre of things again nine minutes before the break, blocking a Pogba effort from close range after the Frenchman delightfully slalomed between Juan Jesus and Andrea Ranocchia. Mancini looked to give Inter extra attacking impetus by introducing Podolski for his debut eight minutes into the second half, though the German struggled to make an impact from the left. Juve continued to look threatening on the break and they were unlucky not to get a penalty in the 58th minute as Juan clumsily tripped Llorente. Inter capitalised on that let-off, though, with Icardi beating Gianluigi Buffon from a tight angle after beating Giorgio Chiellini to Fredy Guarin's through ball. The Argentina striker then agonisingly missed the target from point-blank range following Podolski's cross with nine minutes to go. However, Kovacic's late red card for a crude challenge on Stephan Lichtsteiner effectively ended their chances of victory, with Patrice Evra seeing a deflected shot saved by Handanovic as the game ended 1-1. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Calmati Osvaldo. Kovacic espulso.

Entra l'ex Osvaldo.

Paratona di Gigi.

Giuda Icardi ci grazia.

Pogba bravissimo.

Incredibile Handanovic su Pirlo.

Pirlo e Lichtsteiner non si capiscono.

Icardi pareggia su errore nostro.

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti HT 1-0: Juve lead intense Derby d'Italia Jan 6, 2014 Carlos Tevez has given Juventus the half-time lead over Inter in a pulsating Derby d’Italia, but Samir Handanovic kept the scoreline down. Lukas Podolski was only on the bench after completing his move from Arsenal 24 hours earlier, while Yuto Nagatomo was on international duty and Rodrigo Palacio ruled out by flu. Juve needed a win to maintain their three-point lead over Roma and a morale-booster following defeat on penalties to Napoli in the Italian Super Cup on December 22. The hosts had a blistering start, as first Fernando Llorente blasted across the face of goal, then Carlos Tevez broke the deadlock five minutes in. Arturo Vidal deserves much of the credit, as he set himself up with a fantastic first touch off the inside of his heel and got into space to roll across for Tevez. It confirmed Apache’s remarkable form, having scored twice in the Italian Super Cup. Danilo D’Ambrosio got in a decisive block on Vidal from a corner, then tried to set up Mauro Icardi only to see his cross intercepted by Leonardo Bonucci. Vidal unleashed a strike from distance that bounced right in front of Samir Handanovic, so he beat it away with his wrist. The goalkeeper also had to be alert on Andrea Pirlo’s free kick, which threatened to curl directly in. It was a very intense and high-tempo first half with Handanovic smothering a Llorente curler, then Paul Pogba skipped between three players with delightful 'elastico' footwork and the goalkeeper again came tearing off his line to parry with his chest. Giorgio Chiellini was furious after an elbow from Juan Jesus, which if seen could’ve been a penalty, and Handanovic intercepted another dangerous Tevez move. Juventus 1-0 Inter (Half-Time) Scorers: Tevez 5 (J) Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Llorente Inter: Handanovic; Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, D'Ambrosio; Guarin, Medel, Kuzmanovic; Kovacic, Hernanes; Icardi Ref: Banti http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Marotta: 'Sneijder on our terms' Jan 6, 2015 Beppe Marotta revealed Wesley Sneijder wants to join Juventus, but they’ll only buy him from Galatasaray “on our terms.” The director general spoke to Sky Sport Italia ahead of tonight’s Derby d’Italia with Inter. “I must say Sneijder is a talented player and one whose characteristics are congenial with our tactical system,” said Marotta. “There isn’t a genuine negotiation in place yet, as we only got information on the player’s intentions. If we have the opportunity to get him on our terms, then that’s fine. “Galatasaray want big money that we absolutely do not intend on spending. In the January market you seek opportunities. We already have a satisfying squad, so if impressive opportunities arise, then we will grab them, but at the moment there are none. “We are not in an emergency situation, so are in no rush to buy.” Sneijder’s agent claimed that Galatasaray would only release the Dutch international for his buy-out clause, which is €20m.

Marotta: 'Roma forget errors' Jan 6, 2015 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta blasted Rudi Garcia for “forgetting” the incidents that went Roma’s way. Over the winter break Garcia continually referred to the contentious 3-2 defeat in Turin, but today secured a 1-0 victory away to Udinese thanks to a ‘phantom’ goal. “Clearly we have always been in favour of goal-line technology, as it would remove the kind of doubts we saw today in Udinese-Roma,” a visibly irritated Marotta told Sky Sport Italia. “In recent weeks Garcia repeatedly went back over the game against us, forgetting that many other incidents occurred in Roma’s games since then. “He ought to take into account that referees are human beings. I won’t comment on today’s incident, as the League will be won by the best team and the one that will be most balanced when dealing with refereeing decisions. “We must weaken the conjecture that can lead to favouritism.” This was a reference to a comment by Udinese patron Giampaolo Pozzo, who said Garcia and Roma were now “reaping the rewards” of their complaints about referees.

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Line-ups: Juventus-Inter Jan 6, 2014 Lukas Podolski is on the Inter bench, as Hernanes, Mateo Kovacic and Mauro Icardi face Juventus in the Derby d’Italia. It kicks off at 21.00 CET. Juve need at least a point to stay clear of Roma following a controversial 1-0 victory away to Udinese earlier today. They also require a confidence booster, having ended 2014 with an Italian Super Cup defeat to Napoli on penalties in Doha. Martin Caceres is back from a long-term injury to sit on the bench, but Andrea Barzagli, Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo remain sidelined. Fernando Llorente is picked alongside Capocannoniere Carlos Tevez, while Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba share the midfield. Inter finally completed Podolski’s transfer from Arsenal on Monday afternoon, but he is only on the bench despite Rodrigo Palacio coming down with flu symptoms this morning. Mauro Icardi has a history of scoring goals against Juventus, so will be one to watch along with Croatia international Mateo Kovacic and Hernanes in supporting roles. Yuto Nagatomo is away on Asian Cup duties with Japan. Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Llorente Juventus bench: Storari, Rubinho, Caceres, Ogbonna, Pepe, Morata, Coman, Giovinco, Padoin, Pereyra, Mattiello, Marrone Inter: Handanovic; Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, D'Ambrosio; Guarin, Medel, Kuzmanovic; Kovacic, Hernanes; Icardi Inter bench: Carrizo, Andreolli, Osvaldo, Podolski, Vidic, Obi, Dodò, Puscas, Krhin, Donkor, M'Vila, Bonazzoli http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Tevez: 'Not a battle with Mancini' Jan 6, 2014 Carlos Tevez said tonight’s Derby d’Italia is “a classic between Juventus and Inter, not me and Roberto Mancini.” This is an intriguing opportunity for the ex-Manchester City duo to face off again after their love-hate relationship in England. “This is a game we want to win, a classic between Juventus and Inter, not me and Mancini,” Tevez told Sport Mediaset. “It’s difficult to get back on track after the winter break, so it will be tough tonight purely in terms of fitness levels. “Juve must play the football we know and not think about Roma’s results.” It was pointed out to Tevez that he has never scored against Inter. “Ask me again after the game...” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Pobolski avrá capito chi é la squadra piú forte d'Italia?

Siamo furenti ora.

Ciuffo Gay ma non avevi la ricetta per battere la Juve?

Grande Paul!

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Juventus - Inter Betting: Attacking Nerazzurri to find the net on Podolski's debut Having added the Germany international to an already well-stocked attack, Al Hain-Cole expects Roberto Mancini's side to cause some problems in Turin. Jan 6, 2014 Juventus and Inter return to action after Serie A's winter break on Tuesday, when they come face-to-face in Turin in the Derby d'Italia. Having dropped just two points in their opening seven matches in front of their own fans, the league leaders are 21/50 (1.42) favourites with 888Sport to come out on top in Turin. With just one win to their name in the previous seven league fixtures, the Nerazzurri are 15/2 (8.50) outsiders to become the first away side to pick up maximum points at Juventus Stadium in exactly two years. The hosts have drawn four of their last five matches in all competitions, and you can get odds of 17/5 (4.40) on them being held to another stalemate this time out. After sealing a six-month loan move from Arsenal on Monday, Lukas Podolski is expected to start Tuesday's game on the bench. Despite leaving the Emirates due to a lack of playing time, the Germany international faces something of a battle to work his way into team that already boasts the talents of Mauro Icardi, Rodrigo Palacio and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo. Roberto Mancini will need to exploit this wealth of attacking options if his side are to find a way past the meanest defence in the division, although the champions' failure to keep a clean sheet in their previous three fixtures does offer some encouragement. In fact, the real problems for Mancini lie at the other end of the pitch, where his defence have conceded nine goals in the five league matches since he returned to the club. Nevertheless, considering they have also hit the back of the net nine times in that period, odds of 26/25 (2.04) appear generous on both Inter and Juventus getting on the scoresheet for the sixth consecutive encounter between the sides. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti 3 Things Juventus Should Do To Win Against Inter Milan Jan 6, 2014 The captivating Derby della Italia, is one of the most awaited fixtures of the Italian Serie A. Although Inter Milan’s slump in recent times has somewhat reduced the magnitude of this once title deciding derby, there can be no doubt that the best of both will be showcased, when Juventus ram heads against the Nerazzuri. Form seldom does matter in derbies and both Juventus and Inter Milan, are currently victims of it. Juventus lost the Super Coppa Italia against Napoli and although the team resides at the top of the Serie A, morale could play a pivotal role. While Inter Milan’s campaign has been plagued with inconsistency. The Nerazzuri currently reel at 11th in Serie A and have appointed a new manager in Roberto Mancini, to drastically change the view of things. With AS Roma hot on their trails, Juventus would hope to shrug off their defeat against Napoli, deliver a solid performances and grab all three points. We take a look at three things that Juventus should do against Inter Milan to win. Nullify The Threat Of Hernanes Although Inter Milan, have a mediocre midfield when juxtaposed to Juventus’, Brazilian Hernanes has the capability to change things on his own. The Brazilian, has often been a standout performer in a mediocre midfield and has acted as creative outlet for the Nerazzuri. Hernanes, thus far has created 23 chances, more than any Inter Milan player. His ability to pierce the heart of defense with an accurate through ball, could be a major threat for Juventus. Combine that with his ability to take on players and unleash a venomous long shot and you get the prefect recipe for a midfield general. However with the trio of Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo present, Hernanes’ talents could be easily subdued. Although, Juventus are expected to dominate the midfield region, the threat of Hernanes should not be take lightly and could be nullified by either Vidal or Pereyra, who is expected to power the two man strike force, marking him. Allow Andrea Pirlo Time On The Ball Few players have the capacity, the capability to unlock defenses and change matches by a single swipe of their foot. Juventus’s Andrea Pirlo, is perhaps the epitome of the trait aforementioned. Operating as a regista, Pirlo makes the most out of anything, if he is provided time in his area of operation. With Inter Milan likely to commit men behind the ball, Pirlo’s ability to unlock defenses could come in handy. The regista, if Juventus are to win this fixture, should be allowed time on the ball, to assess and conduct things on his own. Constrict Evra’s movement Perhaps the most important factor that could actually be a deciding factor for this game is Evra’s movement. The former Manchester United player has clearly lost pace and the ability to cover ground. A bombarding Evra vacates space in his wake, which is ideally covered up by Chiellini. Now, Inter are expected to operate with a two man strike force in the form of Palacio and Icardi – both are pacey candidates. With Chiellini covering up Evra’s ground and a certain Leonardo Bonucci, who lacks speed, left exposed, Juventus could land up in trouble. The gap between Bonucci and Chiellini, might be too big to cover and that space could easily be capitalized by the pacey strike force. A quick fix to this problem is to constrict Evra’s movement and let him be more contained when it comes to the defensive aspect of things. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Juventus vs. Inter Milan Preview: Round 17 — Let the games begin ... again Jan 5, 2014 There was a time where Juventus vs. Inter was a top-of-the-table kind of clash, one that played a huge role in who would end up winning the Scudetto at the end of the current season. We aren't exactly very far removed from those days, with many of you folks still pretty keen to the fact of what Inter's new yet also old manager did the last time he was at the helm. But let's check on how each team has done so far this season, shall we? Juventus, despite changing managers on the second day of preseason training, has remained atop the Serie A table, three points in front of second-place Roma. Max Allegri has steadied a ship that really could have ventured into rocky waters with everything that went on off the field in the middle of July. Instead, Juve have remained the top dog in Italy and qualified for the next round of the Champions League while going through a rather large yet completely needed change in tactics two months ago. So basically, things are going pretty well right now. For those who see things in black and white, that is... Inter has also changed managers, but just a few short weeks ago rather than before the season started, with our old buddy Roberto Mancini stepping in for Walter Mazzarri last month. Why'd they do that? Well let's look at the table and see why. They aren't in the top three. They're not in any of the European football spots, either. Shoot, you've gotta scroll down a little bit before you find Inter. They enter 2015 sitting in 11th place, behind clubs like Sampdoria, Genoa, Lazio, Udinese and the recently-promoted Palermo. So basically, Inter are a mid-table team these days. Not exactly resembling the "top club" like some of their players are saying about Inter in the press this week. Is Tuesday night's meeting a classic top-of-the-table clash? Not unless it's being played in your own personal save FIFA15, boys and girls. And even then that might not be the case. This is definitely a different kind of Inter — or maybe a return to the old kind of Inter? — compared to Mancini's first tour of duty on the San Siro's sideline. But as we know, that Inter team had a little help in winning a couple of titles without much competition at all. But the season's first edition of the Derby d'Italia brings us the reboot of Serie A football in the new year. We've had to wait through all the other teams to play their first games of 2015, but that's just what happens when you're the league's main event on a Tuesday night. And just for an added bonus, Juventus gets to kick off the new year with Mancini's return to Juventus Stadium, which he last stepped foot into as Galatasaray's manager last season. (We won't talk about those games against Galatasaray anymore. I promise.) Just another Derby d'Italia where there's absolutely nothing to talk about, right? (Yeah, who am I kidding?) JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "There's no room for us to put a foot wrong in the second half of the season." GOOD NEWS Look at where Inter currently resides in the Serie A table. Look at who their manager currently is. Have a laugh. Now don't you feel better? MORE GOOD NEWS Since there's not much to grumble about these days outside of the constant stream of Wesley Sneijder-to-Juventus transfer rumors, we're changing it up a bit entering Tuesday night's derby. Don't worry, regular service will be resumed over the weekend in all likelihood. The injury list is getting shorter and shorter. Max Allegri announced at his pre-match press conference that both long-term absentees Martín Cáceres and Luca Marrone will be back in the squad for tomorrow night's match against Inter. Only three long-term injuries remain to inform the masses about — Andrea Barzagli, Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo. It's a whole lot better than what I was putting in this second a month or two ago, I gotta admit. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "Getting our injured players back and returning from our holidays raring to go is what matters at present." WHAT TO WATCH FOR 1. Starting the new year on the right foot. By all accounts, Juventus ended their 2014 calendar year with a dud against Napoli in the Supercoppa. They've been thinking about that result and subsequently hearing Napoli players brag about winning a glorified exhibition game for two weeks now. It was clearly a disappointing result, one that never should have gone to penalties according to some. But the past is the past, and Max Allegri's squad has the chance to pick up right where they left off in Serie A. And that's winning, keeping the lead over Roma — which has a tricky trip to Udinese that kicks off Tuesday's action — stable at three points at the very minimum. 2. Can Arturo Vidal find some (positive consistency? If we were to assemble a list of Juventus' most important players in the new year, Vidal is easily in the top three, and maybe the single-most in the grand scheme of things. The first half of the 2014-15 season hasn't been kind to King Arturo, with his physical problems from the spring and summer clearly carrying over into the fall and winter months. But the holiday break has given Vidal something he hasn't had much of the last four or five months — rest. Not just a few days off, but just a full two weeks without having to play any games. We'll see if all the rest truly pays off. But there's no doubting that if Juventus wants to win a fourth straight Scudetto and do some kind of damage in the Champions League knockout stage, Vidal will have to be more like the Vidal of old. 3. Will Juventus' makeshift trequartista play like an actual trequartista? Juventus don't have a natural trequartista to plug in behind the strikers. This is probably why Juventus are in the market for a trequartista this month. Simple is as simple does. But until somebody is actually brought in by Beppe Marotta and Co., we're left to see Allegri roll with the non-trequartistas in the hole. We've seen Vidal played there more often than not. Roberto Pereyra has gotten a few starts there, too. But for a team that has so many good midfielders, none of them really do fit what Allegri is looking for. Thus the reason why Marotta is trying to sign somebody like Wesley Sneijder — who, all things considered, is at least more of a trequartista compared to any of Juve's current midfielders. 4. Can Fernando Llorente start 2015 like he did 2014? Here's what Llorente did in January last season: Four Serie A starts, four goals scored. You can't ask for much more than that from a striker during a four-game period. Especially coming right out of such a good amount of time away from the field during the holiday break. I bring that up because of this: A lot like the first half of the 2014-15 season for Vidal, Llorente was far from the player we saw that scored 16 goals in his debut campaign with Juventus. He struggled for any kind of consistency, and the four goals in close to 1,000 Serie A minutes thus far. Sure, his role is different compared to last season with Antonio Conte, but Llorente is still on the field to score goals — something he hasn't done on a consistent basis since last spring. Much like what is potentially the case with Vidal, maybe the break was just a time to clear the mind as well as recharge the batteries for Llorente. That's what I hope, at least. Because I sure do like watching Llorente when he's the striker he has shown to be in the past. 5. Can Juventus keep Mateo Kovacic? If you head over to Google News and type in 'Mateo Kovacic,' there's a good number of stories about how big-money clubs should reach deep into their pockets to sign the 20-year-old Croatian midfielder. And for good reason. The kid can play — and it's not like he's proving otherwise this season. In an otherwise bad season for Inter, Kovacic has been quite good. It doesn't really matter where Mancini fields him — in the middle of the '3' in a 4-2-3-1 or as a trequartista in a 4-3-1-2 formation — he will be a focal point and expected to not only setup goals, but try and score as well. Basically do what he's been doing every game this season to date. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "Inter are an excellent side with players capable of settling the game by themselves." My starting XI (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tévez, Morata OFFICIAL KICKOFF TIME: 9 P.M. IN ITALY; 3 P.M. ON THE EAST COAST; HIGH NOON ON THE WEST COAST http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111