Socrates

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

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