Socrates

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Juventus V Sampdoria – Preview: Old Lady Look To Tame High-Flying Blucerchiati Dec 13, 2014 Two of this season’s best performers go head to head at 12:30 CET on Sunday in Serie A as leaders Juventus take on fourth place Sampdoria at the Juventus Stadium. The Blucerchiati are one of Serie A’s surprise packages this term with just one defeat all season, largely thanks to having the joint second best defensive record in the league. The latest challenge for Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men comes in the shape of last season’s champions; the team with the best defensive and best goal scoring record in Italy this season. Juve are three points clear of Roma at the top and have conceded just five goals all season, including only one in the last five games. They have also been free scoring at the other end, with Carlos Tevez currently leading the scoring charts with nine of the Old Lady’s 30 Serie A goals. The Argentinean should replace Kingsley Coman in attack on Sunday after returning in Tuesday night’s Champions League match with Atletico Madrid. The last two games though have seen Massimiliano Allegri’s side draw blanks, with a 0-0 draw at Fiorentina last Friday being followed by the 0-0 draw against Atletico. Claudio Marchisio is set to replace Roberto Pereyra in midfield on Sunday whilst Angelo Ogbonna should play at centre-back in place of the suspended Giorgio Chiellini after Stephan Lichtsteiner returned in mid-week. Long-term absentees Andrea Barzagli, Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo though will again miss out, and the game comes too early for Martin Caceres who should return from a thigh injury in the next few weeks. Both the Bianconeri and Sampdoria are unbeaten in their last five league games and their head to head record is even with two wins each and two draws in their last six meetings. Sampdoria arrested a run of two straight draws last time out with a 3-1 win over ten-man Hellas Verona at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi with a goal each from the in-form front three of Eder, Stefano Okaka and Manolo Gabbiadini. The trio will again lead the line in Turin on Sunday with Mihajlovic boasting no injury worries ahead of the fixture, but he will have to do without the suspended Lorenzo De Silvestri at right-back. Fabrizio Cacciatore is set to deputise, with Roberto Soriano and Pedro Obiang in line to replace Alfred Duncan and Luca Rizzo in midfield. Expected Starting XIs Juventus: Buffon, Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Evra, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Vidal, Llorente, Tevez Sampdoria: Romero, Cacciatore, Silvestre, Romagnoli, Mesbah, Soriano, Palombo, Obiang, Gabbiadini, Okaka, Eder http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Marotta Praises Old Club Sampdoria Ahead Of Juventus Clash Dec 13, 2014 Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has praised his old club Sampdoria ahead of Sunday’s clash between the two teams in Turin. The 57-year-old also spoke about Juventus being more than just a football club and the prospect of playing in the last 16 of the Champions League. “My home is in Genoa and that’s where I see myself spending old age,” Marotta said in an interview with Il Secolo XIX. “Sampdoria, along with Genoa, are absolutely the revelation of this season. “They play so carefree and such a great freedom that they can obtain results anywhere. They can do well, because their minds are free and there are no expectations around them. “Juventus must win, we always play to win. Today I am super-satisfied at Juventus. “I have the esteem of Andrea Agnelli and I am happy here. At Juventus I see myself in something other than a football club. Juventus secured their place in the Champions League’s last 16 in midweek, but Marotta knows progression will be tough, citing the general problems in Italian football as a factor. “It’s a different tournament compared to the championship, in which all the real values eventually emerge. “It’s a tournament in which there is more space for chance, it’s enough to mention the importance of the draw, or the weather conditions. “Our football is in a crisis for various reasons. One of them is that people only ever talk about broadcasting rights. “But the structural problems are a lot more serious, and they range from the lack of stadiums to the infrastructure necessary to develop our youth. “Only a few clubs have sports centres that are at the appropriate level.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Samp squad for Juventus Dec 13, 2014 Matias Silvestre, Gianluca Sansone and Lorenzo De Silvestri miss out on Sampdoria’s trip to Juventus. It kicks off in Turin on Sunday at 12.30 CET. De Silvestri sits out a ban, while Sansone, Silvestre, Pawel Wszolek and Alessandro De Vitis are on the treatment table. Sampdoria squad for Juventus: Da Costa, Romero, Viviano; Cacciatore, Fornasier, Gastaldello, Mesbah, Regini, Romagnoli; Duncan, Krsticic, Marchionni, Obiang, Palombo, Rizzo, Soriano; Bergessio, Djordjevic, Eder, Fedato, Gabbiadini, Okaka http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Samp 'good, bad and ugly!' Dec 13, 2014 Sinisa Mihajlovic said Sampdoria will be “the good, the bad and the ugly” when facing Juventus in a shoot-out. “Football is wonderful because it throws up surprises and the favourites do not always win,” said the Coach in his Press conference. “At times character and determination can do more than the talent of a champion. I hope tomorrow’s game can confirm what I’m saying, even if we are facing the strongest team in Italy. “Juve deserve to be on top of the table and we deserve our current position too. In fact, we’re missing a few points. Samp have everything it takes to put them under pressure. “If after 14 rounds only Juventus and Sampdoria have lost one game, then that has to mean something. Some fight not to lose, but those who don’t fight have already lost. I want to see 11 warriors out there tomorrow.” Mihajlovic is famed for using quotations in his Press conferences and went to Sergio Leone’s classic spaghetti western this time. “I saw a great film, ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.’ A character there said: ‘I like big fat men like you. When they fall they make more noise!’ “Well, tomorrow at the Juventus Stadium, I’d like to hear a lot of noise. Are we the good, the bad or the ugly? All three! “We’ve grown a lot since last season in terms of mentality and performances. Juve are unbeaten in 25 here, but we too are becoming an important team and this is the right game to measure ourselves up against the best. “I am convinced tomorrow we’ll play a match the way we need to, a Samp-style performance. So far we haven’t won any games down to luck. We know Juve have their weak points, so we’ve got to go there and take the initiative. If that’s not enough, we tip our hats to them.” Mihajlovic was asked about reports he was contacted for the Juventus job when Antonio Conte resigned this summer. “In football there are often meetings and there are some who like to reveal everything, but I prefer to be more reserved. It’s a great privilege for me to be just considered by big clubs. Now Juve have a great Coach like Allegri and with his results proving he’s the right choice for them. “I am already at a big club and want to continue this growth process with my lads.” While Samp are in fourth place, city rivals Genoa are in third, so Marassi is becoming a centre-piece of Italian football once again. “These two teams are having a great season and I think for all we’ve done so far it is only right to talk about the city of Genoa.” Today there was a report in Il Giornale claiming Mihajlovic threatened to resign if Sampdoria signed Antonio Cassano from Parma. “I said that to the President? Did I also tell him Father Christmas doesn’t exist?!” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Allegri: Morata must improve The striker joined from Real Madrid for €20 million during the summer but has been unable to displace either Carlos Tevez or Fernando Llorente in the Bianconeri's starting line-up. Dec 13, 2014 Massimiliano Allegri says that while Alvaro Morata "has got bags of ability", the youngster has much to improve upon if he is to become a Juventus regular. The Bianconeri signed the 22-year-old striker from Real Madrid for €20 million during the summer but even though he missed the start of the season through injury, he has still only been used sporadically since his return to full fitness. Allegri does not doubt that Morata has the talent to flourish in Turin but he hinted that he does not feel that the Spain international, who has hit four goals in nine Serie A appearances, is quite ready to lead the Juve attack. "Alvaro has got bags of ability but you have to remember that he's gone from being a prospect at Real to an important player here at Juve," the Bianconeri boss told reporters on Saturday. "He still has lots of things he can improve on. We also have other players like [Carlos] Tevez, [Fernando] Llorente, [sebastian] Giovinco and [Kingsley] Coman." However, Allegri admitted that Morata is in contention to start Sunday's Serie A clash with Sampdoria. "I haven't made up my mind yet on who will start," the former AC Milan boss added. "[Martin] Caceres isn't fit yet and [Marco] Storari has a back problem. He'll sit this one out to make sure he's available for the next game, against Cagliari. "We also have [Giorgio] Chiellini suspended and [Angelo] Ogbonna will come in for him: he's in good shape and he played well in the last quarter of an hour against Torino. "Coman will return after missing Tuesday's game [against Atletico Madrid] with a strain he picked up against Fiorenina [last Friday week]." Allegri is well aware, though, that whatever side he selects will have to produce an excellent performance to defeat a Sampdoria side that is flying high in fourth place. "Sampdoria have really moved up a gear since last season," he added. "They have some quality individuals and a coach [sinisa Mihajlovic] who's instilled enthusiasm. "They play some decent stuff too. They're useful on set pieces and keep it tight at the back. "They are on a high, play at pace and are full of running. They're well drilled and have nothing to lose. "If we're to beat them, we can't afford the slightest slip-up. We must be careful not to get caught on the counter and we have to be on top of our game."

Padoin: I Would Like To Face Barcelona In Champions League Dec 13, 2014 Juventus defender Simone Padoin wants to meet Barcelona in the Round of 16 of UEFA Champions League. La Vecchia Signora reached the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League after finishing second in Group A behind Atletico Madrid, and Padoin has said that he’d like to face another Spanish opponent in the upcoming round. “I would like to meet Barcelona in the Champions League,” he told Juventus TV. “Not because they would be easy to play against but due to their charm.” Padoin answered a few more questions that Juventus fans had asked through their official twitter account. “Winning the first championship was the best moment for me since I have come here,” he said. “Juventus are a glorious club, who have allowed me to win a lot and play in the Champions League.” In a recent game against Empoli, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri the Bianconeri coach stressed the importance of Padoin and his work ethic and professionalism, thus leading some to dub him as the ‘New Soldier of Juventus’. “I like the reference of ‘New Soldier of Juventus’,” he added. “It’s important in a season to be ready when you are needed.” Having won three successive Serie A titles with Juventus, the former Atalanta player picked out his favourite game and his favourite ground. “The 2-1 victory against Inter at the San Siro, it was an important game for our fans and I played as the holding-midfielder in that match,” he said. “Celtic Park is the stadium I admired the most because of their vocal fans and all the colour.” With Christmas approaching, Padoin said that winning the upcoming Supercoppa Italiana game against Napoli would be a great gift. “The Supercoppa Italiana would be a great Christmas gift,” he concluded. Padoin has made eight appearances in all competitions ths far this season, making two assists in the process.

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Allegri: 'Samp nothing to lose' Dec 13, 2014 Max Allegri warned Juventus that fourth-placed Sampdoria can cause a huge upset. “They have nothing to lose.” It kicks off on Sunday at 12.30 CET in Turin. “Sampdoria are having a great campaign compared to last season,” said the Coach in a Press conference. “They have excellent players and are put together by a Coach who has brought renewed enthusiasm. The early Sunday kick-offs are always a little strange, especially as Samp have nothing to lose and can their all against us. “Samp are organised and run hard, so we cannot afford any slip-ups tomorrow.” The Bianconeri have drawn their last two games 0-0 in all competition, held by Fiorentina and Atletico Madrid. “I don’t think what happened in the Champions League will affect the Scudetto race. We reached a good level, the lads deserved it by playing a good group, but the difficult part comes now. We have three important games in the next 10 days before the Christmas break: two to maintain Serie A leadership and one in the Italian Super Cup.” Roma went out of the Champions League this week and declared they would pour all their focus on to the Scudetto. Does Allegri consider that a realistic objective? “I think Roma are always concentrated and the Europa League doesn’t feel that different to the Champions League. “I have no reason to talk about our game with Roma, as we played it two months ago. In Serie A the team that finishes with the most points is the winner. It’s that simple.” Giorgio Chiellini is suspended against Sampdoria, so Allegri confirmed Angelo Ogbonna will take his place. “I have doubts in attack and midfield, though. When you train a great team, you need great players in every area. We have a lot of competition for places and it’s indispensable that everyone believes they can play.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Juve squad for Sampdoria Dec 13, 2014 Juventus named their squad to face Sampdoria on Sunday, missing the suspended Giorgio Chiellini. It kicks off at 12.30 CET. Chiellini sits out a ban, adding to the lengthy injury list that includes Andrea Barzagli, Kwadwo Asamoah, Martin Caceres and Romulo. Claudio Marchisio returns, as he was ruled out of Tuesday’s Champions League draw with Atletico Madrid due to a fever. Juventus squad for Sampdoria: Buffon, Ogbonna, Pogba, Pepe, Marchisio, Morata, Tevez, Coman, Giovinco, Llorente, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Vidal, Lichtsteiner, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra, Mattiello, Audero http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Juventus-Sampdoria Preview: Champions face tough test against top-three chasers The Bianconeri have drawn their last two games 0-0 and will hope to avoid a hat-trick of goalless stalemates on Sunday. Dec 13, 2014 Juventus face a tough ask in returning to winning ways in Serie A when the fourth-placed Sampdoria visit Turin on Sunday. Successive 0-0 draws have slowed the momentum of Juve, who previously won six matches in a row - scoring 19 times in the process. But their goalless stalemate against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday was crucial as it booked their place in the last 16. Juve are the only Serie A side remaining in Europe's premier club competition and showed good character to qualify after losing two of their first three Group A matches. They dominated an Atleti side who were happy to sit back and concede possession but lacked cutting edge - something coach Massimiliano Allegri will be keen to address. Juve caused few problems for Atletico but can take heart from their scoring rate in Serie A home matches. The three-time defending Serie A champions were last held goalless in a league match at home in October 2012, with the run now stretching 37 matches. Versatile midfielder Roberto Pereyra knows the in-form Sampdoria will pose a tough challenge on Sunday, though. "It will be tough up against Sampdoria," he told JTV. "Then we'll see who we get in the [Champions League] draw, but we've got time on our side to prepare for whoever we're pitted against." Juve's players are sure to be excited for Monday's Champions League draw but Allegri will insist their focus is on stopping Sinisa Mihajlovic's side. Allegri's men have won 11 of their 14 Serie A matches this season and conceded just five goals - giving them the league's best defence. Only Juve have shipped fewer than Sampdoria's 11, though, and they have also been beaten just once - winning six and drawing seven. While they have been far from prolific - only two players, Manolo Gabbiadini and Eder have scored more than three goals - Sampdoria have been notoriously tough to break down. Draws against Roma and Milan, and a 3-1 victory against Fiorentina, in recent weeks have been impressive. Sampdoria did the double over Juventus as recently as the 2012-13 season, coming from behind on both occasions. But Juve won both clashes last term - including a 4-2 triumph in the corresponding clash in January. OPTA FACTS Juventus and Sampdoria have met 128 times in Serie A – the Old Lady lead the head to head record by 64 wins to 27. Juventus won both games last season, after the Blucerchiati had remained unbeaten for five meetings against the Bianconeri. Samp were the last team to beat Juventus in Turin in Serie A, back in January 2013. LAST FOUR MATCHES Juventus D D W W 09/12/2014 - Juventus 0 - 0 Atlético Madrid 05/12/2014 - Fiorentina 0 - 0 Juventus 30/11/2014 - Juventus 2 - 1 Torino 26/11/2014 - Malmö 0 - 2 Juventus Sampdoria W W D D 08/12/2014 - Hellas Verona 1 - 3 Sampdoria 04/12/2014 - Sampdoria 2 - 0 Brescia 01/12/2014 - Sampdoria 1 - 1 Napoli 23/11/2014 - Cesena 1 - 1 Sampdoria HEAD TO HEAD 18/01/2014 - Juventus 4 - 2 Sampdoria 24/08/2013 - Sampdoria 0 - 1 Juventus 18/05/2013 - Sampdoria 3 - 2 Juventus 06/01/2013 - Juventus 1 - 2 Sampdoria http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri MATCH PREVIEW Juventus - Sampdoria Dec 13, 2014 Sunday morning sees the Serie A leaders Juventus host Champions League hopefuls Sampdoria. There has always been a suspicion in Italy that lady luck follows Juventus at every turn and, with the Old Lady dropping points in a goalless draw with Fiorentina last weekend to end a run of six consecutive victories, fortune seemed to once more favour Massimiliano Allegri’s men with their nearest two competitors also dropping points. The return from suspension of Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right-hand side will give more balance to Allegri’s side, although the suspension of Giorgio Chiellini means the Coach may well revert to a back four. There are fears over the goalscoring prowess of the Bianconeri in recent weeks, however. Two goalless draws followed the get-out-of-jail win in the Derby della Mole, in which Juve had just four shots on target, a far cry from the seven they put past Parma a week before. Despite Carlos Tevez’s Capocannoniere-leading nine goals, finding a burden-easer alongside him has thus far proven difficult. Fernando Llorente has just four goals in 18 appearances this term, Alvaro Morata four in 15, whilst Kingsley Coman has yet to register in his six appearances. With the gap to second-placed Roma remaining three points, however, the issue isn’t an immediate one and a regular source of goals to assist the Argentine is seemingly the only one to be resolved. Getting their forwards on target is not a problem for Sampdoria, though, Sinisa Mihajlovic’s three-pronged attack all yielding a goal in Monday night’s 3-1 victory at Hellas Verona. Mihajlovic will be hoping the constant speculation over the future of star striker Manolo Gabbiadini doesn’t undermine the form of the Blucerchiati, although with two goals in his previous two appearances it certainly hasn’t affected the former Juve man. Victory at the Juventus Stadium would move Mihajlovic’s men to within seven points of top spot and extend their unbeaten run to seven, although the win in Verona was just the second away from the Luigi Ferraris this campaign. This is a test of both sides’ mettle and could answer whether Mihajlovic’s men are real contenders for the third and final Champions League place. Keep an eye on: Paul Pogba (Juventus) - The one attacking bright spark in a relatively limp performance against Fiorentina, the Frenchman is quickly taking over Pirlo’s go-to-man mantle. Form Guide: Juventus (W W W W D) Sampdoria (W D D D W) Last season: Juventus 4-2 Sampdoria Stat fact: Juve’s midweek Champions League stalemate with Atletico Madrid meant back-to-back droughts for the first time since January 2011 when Sampdoria and Roma successively kept Antonio Conte’s side quiet. Juventus (probable): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Evra; Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Vidal; Llorente, Tevez Suspended: Chiellini Sampdoria (probable): Romero; Cacciatore, Gastaldello, Romagnoli, Mesbah; Soriano, Palombo, Obiang; Gabbiadini, Okaka, Eder Suspended: De Silvestri http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Challenge awaits Juventus against physical Sampdoria Dec 12, 2014 The only representative of Italian football in the Champions League, Juventus can rest easy, at least until Monday when they discover the name of their next opponent in Europe. In the meantime, they have Sampdoria to think of and considering how far the Genoa team have come under the tutelage of coach Sinisa Mihajlovic, the match will be anything but easy. The Blucerchiati is a special club with an impressive history. Having suffered in recent years, coach Mihajlovic arrived and set about creating a winning unit that understand the notion of sacrificing for one another. However, one cannot deny they are a club that are overachieving. The poor state of the league, combined with the collapse of the two Milanese giants has created a hole for a team who play with some consistency to exploit. Playing with abandon and virtually no pressure, Sampdoria are revelling in their underdog tag, gaining more and more confidence as the positive results continue. While Sampdoria may have done well last season, their heinous defensive record caused huge problems for a side with ambitions. This is a particular problem the Serbian coach has been desperate to address and this term, the Blucerchiati have impressed at the back, conceding only 11 goals all season -- the second best record in Serie A behind Juventus. Boasting a star in the making in Alessio Romagnoli, the youngster on loan from Roma is destined for success, while stalwart Daniele Gastaldello has helped provide the side with the consistency they have needed this season. Playing with intelligence and cohesion, they are not reckless with their performances, nor have they been forced to tackle and intercept incessantly despite not being a side that focus on possession. This perhaps has to do with playing an extra midfielder in their preferred 4-3-3 set-up Further up the field, they of course have the technical Manolo Gabbiadini who will potentially join Napoli soon and the much lauded Stefano Okaka. The latter may boast potential and has indeed produced important performances for the club thus far, but there's no denying he's far from the final product. He commits far too many fouls than needed, his decision making process must be improved while question marks remain over his mentality, even if he appears keen to prove himself this season. The scarcity of talent in the league is perhaps the reason why players such as Okaka have been so overly hyped by the media while Italy head coach Antonio Conte's struggle to find a suitable striker for his formation with the Nazionale has led him to try all avenues. Italy loves a player who combines physical strength with technique and because of that, Okaka is seen as ideal. While both forwards have provided goals, the Blucerchiati are particularly threatening from set-pieces, having managed seven alone this season; only Empoli have proved more efficient. While Mihajlovic was renowned for his ability from free kicks, the plaudits belong to tactical wizard Emilio De Leo, the man behind the coach who works on the team's tactics and devises the strategies and methods of play. De Leo should be an inspiration for many as this was an ordinary man with a deep love of football and tactics who fought to earn the right to make his dream a reality. Studying teams, their patterns and the movements within their chosen formations, he wrote reports, produced YouTube videos and sent all his work to the coaches within the game in hopes someone would notice them and him and understand how useful he could be. Fausto Salsano, who worked with current Inter manager Roberto Mancini, took notice and eventually asked to collaborate with the tactician. Mentioning his name to Mihajlovic, the Serbian quickly understood how much De Leo could potentially bring to a club and hired him. In charge of studying and analysing his players and the opponent, he has allowed Mihajlovic to become more of a manager who delegates rather than waste his time with trivial matters. Aggressive, compact and well-organised, Sampdoria are the kind of side Juventus will hate to play against as they terribly hard to overcome, while their determined and aggressive nature exhausts the opponent both physically and mentally. A side that always looks to move forward, they are masters of simple and pragmatic football, spreading play beautifully to take full advantage of the width of the pitch. With lots of time to practice their movements, they will provide stiff competition for a Juve side that will have had little time to recover after their European exploits. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Preview: Juventus vs. Sampdoria Dec 12, 2014 Juventus will head into their Serie A fixture with Sampdoria looking to find the back of the net for the first time in three games. The league leaders have gone five matches without defeat on the domestic scene, but coach Massimiliano Allegri may have concerns after seeing his team fail to score against either Fiorentina or Atletico Madrid. Allegri will be looking to Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Morata to improve their strike-rate in front of goal, with the Spanish duo having netted just four goals each all season. Juventus go into the contest just three points clear of Roma, but Allegri's outfit have only played six games at home compared to eight by their nearest challengers. Sampdoria travel to Turin having only lost once in 16 matches all season, but seven draws in 14 league fixtures have hindered their attempt to challenge the top two in the standings. Sinisa Mihajlovic's team prepared for their trip to the leaders with a 3-1 victory over Hellas Verona last weekend. An alteration in defence could see Daniele Gastaldello included in place of Matias Silvestre. Juventus Form in Serie A: L W W W W D Form in all competitions: W W W W D D Possible starting lineup: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra, Pereyra; Pirlo, Pogba, Vidal; Tevez, Morata Sampdoria Form in Serie A: LW D D D W Form in all competitions: W D D D W W Possible starting lineup: Romero, De Silvestri, Mesbah, Gastaldello, Romagnoli, Palombo, Rizzo, Duncan, Okaka, Eder, Gabbiadini Sports Mole says: 2-1 http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Serie A - 15^ Giornata Andata - 14-12-2014 (ore 12:30) JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Domenica, 14 Dicembre 2014 - ore 12:30 Juventus Stadium, Torino Arbitro: Daniele Doveri Confronti ufficiali 121 - 112 (Serie A) - 9 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Juventus 60 - 52 (Serie A) - 8 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 36 - 36 (Serie A) Vittorie Sampdoria 25 - 24 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Goals Juventus 200 - 172 (Serie A) - 28 (Coppa Italia) Goals Sampdoria 124 - 111 (Serie A) - 13 (Coppa Italia) Juventus - Sampdoria Serie A a Torino Confronti ufficiali 56 Vittorie Juventus 33 (L'ultima il 18.01.2014, 4-2) Pareggi 18 (L'ultimo il 12.09.2010, 3-3) Vittorie Sampdoria 5 (L'ultima il 06.01.2013, 1-2) Goals Juventus 105 Goals Sampdoria 45 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro la Sampdoria a Torino 12 presenze Boniperti Giampiero 10 Del Piero Alessandro 10 Salvadore Sandro 9 Furino Giuseppe 9 Stacchini Gino 8 Bettega Roberto 8 Castano Ernesto 8 Tacconi Stefano 7 Anastasi Pietro 7 Causio Franco 7 goals Bettega Roberto 4 Boniperti Giampiero 4 Charles John William 4 Hansen Karl Aage 4 Vivolo Pasquale 3 Amauri Carvalho de Oliveira 3 Anastasi Pietro 3 Inzaghi Filippo 3 Muccinelli Ermes 3 Zigoni Gianfranco Ultimi confronti diretti 27.09.2008 - Serie A - Sampdoria-Juventus 0-0 15.02.2009 - Serie A - Juventus-Sampdoria 1-1 28.10.2009 - Serie A - Juventus-Sampdoria 5-1 21.03.2010 - Serie A - Sampdoria-Juventus 1-0 12.09.2010 - Serie A - Juventus-Sampdoria 3-3 23.01.2011 - Serie A - Sampdoria-Juventus 0-0 06.01.2013 - Serie A - Juventus-Sampdoria 1-2 18.05.2013 - Serie A - Sampdoria-Juventus 3-2 24.08.2013 - Serie A - Sampdoria-Juventus 0-1 18.01.2014 - Serie A - Juventus-Sampdoria 4-2 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 3 - Pareggi 4 - Vittorie Sampdoria 3 - Goals Juventus 17 - Goals Sampdoria 13 http://www.goal.com/it/results-standings/69/serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_101

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Juventus vs. Sampdoria: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Serie A Game Dec 12, 2014 It has been a hugely significant week for Juventus, the Turin giants qualifying for the knockout rounds of the Champions League thanks to Tuesday’s draw with Atletico Madrid. The result sees the Bianconeri improve upon last year’s dismal showing in the competition, where Antonio Conte failed to guide them beyond the Group Stage. Massimiliano Allegri and his players should take a huge amount of confidence from that achievement, although they clearly realise they have much sterner tasks ahead. The coach immediately demanded more from his squad, noting that “of course we need to improve,” when discussing the performance with Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia). La Madama will have no time to rest on her laurels, with Sampdoria visiting Juventus Stadium on Sunday. The game sees Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side take on the reigning Italian champions with an impressive run of results behind them. The Genovese club sit in fourth place in Serie A having lost just once this term, and have already taken points from games against Napoli and Roma. They also won the local derby with third-placed Genoa, a huge result and one which is indicative of their fine form throughout the first 14 games of 2014-15. Over the following pages is a look at the key decisions and issues that will shape this encounter, with Juventus hoping to maintain their advantage at the summit of the table. Manolo Gabbiadini to Leave on a High? Manolo Gabbiadini has been in superb form this season, his attacking prowess a major reason for Sampdoria’s surprising climb up the table. With five goals and two assists in 11 games, the young striker has caught the interest of Serie A’s biggest clubs. Co-owned by Juventus, who clearly have no room for him, the Bianconeri seem set to cash in on his impressive performances as Napoli appear close to signing the 23-year-old. According to this report from Gianluca Di Marzio, only a minor image rights issue has prevented the deal from already being complete. With a move imminent, Gabbiadini will perhaps look to leave on a high, looking for a big performance against the club preparing to sell him. Midfield Battle to Decide Result Perhaps the major factor in this matchup will be in midfield, where Juve’s headline-grabbing trio will face off against a less-heralded but highly-impressive Sampdoria unit. While the likes of Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal need little introduction, Sunday’s opponents deserve recognition for their current form. Pedro Obiang, Roberto Soriano and Angelo Palombo do an excellent job shielding the defence and are all comfortable in possession. They will need to be at their best against that star-studded Bianconeri group, who can also call upon Claudio Marchisio and Roberto Pereyra, giving them a variety of options. Juve to Once Again Face Defensive Issues After a raft of injuries and suspensions prompted Allegri to revert to a three-man defence last week, the coach faces some more difficult decisions on Sunday. Giorgio Chiellini will miss the game after picking up his fourth yellow card of the campaign against Fiorentina, meaning yet another reshuffle in the back line. With Martin Caceres, Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo all absent through injury, it is likely Leonardo Bonucci will be partnered by Angelo Ogbonna in central defence. Patrice Evra and Simone Padoin will be in contention for the left-back slot, with Stephan Lichtsteiner almost certain to start on the opposite flank. Can Juve’s Important Players Step Up? While qualification for the next stage of the Champions League is vital to Juventus, it is notable that a number of the squad’s major players are not yet at their best. Indeed, this analysis of their European performances shows that the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal are among the least effective members of the team. Sampdoria’s quality should not be underestimated, and as such, Allegri will need his stars to improve upon those displays on Sunday. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri JUVENTUS V SAMPDORIA MATCH PREVIEW Dec 12, 2014 Juventus One could think these are easy going times for Juventus. After all, the club just qualified for the elimination rounds of the Champions League. One would be wrong for thinking so, though. In fact Juventus have a tough run coming up. They face three games in about eight days: this game versus Sampdoria, another Serie A match against Cagliari, and then finally, the SuperCoppa versus Napoli in Qatar. There is also an added layer of difficulty for this match: Giorgio Chiellini is suspended for this match due to yellow card accumulation. Per usual this is where Juve’s depth comes in quite handy. With Chiellini out, look to see Angelo Ogbonna taking his place. Leonardo Bonucci will start as his partner. Gianluigi Buffon will of course be behind the two in goal. Out wide, Stephan Lichtsteiner will start at right back. On the left side, Patrice Evra and Simone Padoin are battling for the start, but Padoin is reportedly the favorite for this match. It’s a bit more complicated in the midfield. Claudio Marchisio is back from the flu which held him out for the match versus Atletico. However, it’s not known if he will definitely start. He’s expected to take the place of one of Paul Pogba or Arturo Vidal, but again we will have to see what Allegri decides. It’s possible that Marchisio doesn’t start, but since Allegri didn’t use any subs versus Atletico, he probably wants to rest someone. Vidal is the obvious choice based on general form, but that’s just my reasoning, Max could be thinking differently. Andrea Pirlo is very likely to start, as is Roberto Pereyra. Finally up top it is the same old story: Carlos Tevez will start, and it’s widely reported that Alvaro Morata will start too. Here a disclaimer is needed: almost every week it seems Morata is reportedly getting the start. Then, Fernando Llorente starts. This happened with Atletico, and it has happened plenty of times before. For now, let’s say Morata gets the start as Llorente played a full 90 minutes versus Atletico, but don’t be surprised if he starts versus Sampdoria as well. Predicted Lineup 4-3-1-2 : Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Padoin; Pirlo, Pogba, Marchisio, Pereyra; Tevez, Morata Injuries Andrea Barzagli (Heel), Luca Marrone (Thigh), Martin Caceres (Thigh), Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo (Both undergone knee surgery) Sampdoria Sampdoria are the second most surprising team of the season, behind only the crosstown rival Genoa, as they are in fourth position, having already collected 25 points. They have lost only once this season (against Inter) and Sinisa Mihajlovic is certainly doing a masterful job and earning credentials to move to a top team in the near future. Even if they have been impressive, Sampdoria haven’t won ‘the big one’ yet: they haven’t been able to defeat the big clubs, even if they performed well. They drew against Napoli, Milan and Roma and they lost against Inter. Moreover, they have been average on the road, with only two wins in seven matches (four draws, one loss), mostly against lesser opponents. In Sunday’s lunch match, they’ll have the chance to make some noise. They’ll be without their usual starting RB Lorenzo De Silvestri and also Matias Silvestre will probably be sidelined with a calf injury: Fabrizio Cacciatore is set to replace the former Lazio fullback, while Daniele Gastaldello and Alessio Romagnoli are likely to start in the hearth of the defense. Djamel Mesbah seems to have recently leapfrogged Vasco Regini in the hierarchy at LB, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sinisa opted for the most defensive option. There’s a little uncertainty on goal: Sergio Romero has featured in the last eight games and he has played great at times, but he also hasn’t eliminated those blunders that too often held him back. Emiliano VIviano, who was acquired in the summer, is now completely healthy. As for the rest of the lineup, Mihajlovic has two options: 4-3-1-2 and 4-3-3. In the first case, the youngster Luca Rizzo, one of the this season’s breakout players, will flank the captain Angelo Palombo and the powerhouse Pedro Obiang in the middle, with the surging Roberto Soriano behind the two strikers. In the second solution, Manolo Gabbiadini, Stefano Okaka and Eder would compose the offensive trident, with Soriano fielded as central midfielder. It appears that Mihajlovic is leaning towards 4-3-1-2 both because Gabbiadini might not be completely focused on the game, for some reasons I imagine you already know, and because it looks that the diamond will be the way going forward, once the Juventus co-owned striker will be ultimately sold to Napoli. Anyway, thanks to the rise of Rizzo and other valuable substitutes like Nenad Krsticic and Alfred Duncan, they don’t really skip a beat with that tactic. They are more dangerous upfront with the trident formed by three players that can naturally play as centre-forward, but 4-3-1-2 gives them a lot of stability in the middle. Stefano Okaka has been their best performer so far, even if others have scored more. He’s a bull that constantly keeps two or three defenders busy, he’s big but mobile and he has some nice moves. Once he’ll start scoring consistently, watch out. Sampdoria approaches the game with a lot of enthusiasm, due the recent good results and the hilarious president Massimo Ferrero. They’ll come in with a purpose as they haven’t beaten a top club yet and they want to reach the next level. In particular, Juventus will have to be extra cautious in committing fouls in dangerous areas, because Sampdoria are very good in both direct and indirect free kicks. In addition, Sampdoria are very aggressive and they have the second best defense in the League (tied with Roma and Sampdoria). Predicted Lineup: 4-3-1-2: Romero; Cacciatore, Gastaldello, Romagnoli, Mesbah; Rizzo, Palombo, Obiang; Soriano; Okaka, Eder Injuries Lorenzo De Silvestri and Matias Silvestre Formation http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Marotta: ‘Sampdoria Serie A’s revelation’ Dec 12, 2014 Beppe Marotta discusses his tenure with Juventus, praises ex-team Sampdoria as the season’s ‘revelation’ and updates on Manolo Gabbiadini. Marotta moved over to Juventus in 2010 after eight years spent as director general at Sampdoria, with the two clubs set to clash this Sunday lunchtime in Serie A. “Juventus must win,” the delegate said in an interview with Il Secolo XIX. “We always play to win. Today I am super-satisfied of being at Juventus. “I have the esteem of Andrea Agnelli and I am happy here. After Juventus I see myself in something other than a football club. “Though my home is in Genova and that's where I see myself spending old age.” On the subject of that city, Marotta believes its two teams are this year's biggest surprise. “Sampdoria, along with Genoa, is absolutely the revelation of this season. “They play so carefree and such a great freedom that they can obtain results anywhere. “They can do well, because their minds are free and there are no expectations around them.” Marotta also expressed himself on Manolo Gabbiadini, the Sampdoria striker co-owned by Juve, who is increasingly being linked with Napoli. “He is co-owned between ourselves and Sampdoria, and co-ownerships have to be resolved by June 30. “There is an opportunity, and it seems like the player is happy. There are no problems for us, but we'll see how things go.” Samp Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic was linked with a host of clubs over the summer, but were Juventus interested? “Back then it seemed like we could go ahead with Conte. When Conte left we got in touch with Allegri, and we're still very, very satisfied with him.” Juventus have recently qualified for the Champions League's Last 16, but Marotta knows that will be a wholly new level. “It's a different tournament compared to the championship, in which all the real values eventually emerge. “It's a tournament in which there is more space for chance, it's enough to mention the importance of the draw, or the weather conditions. “Our football is in a crisis for various reasons. One of them is that people only ever talk about broadcasting rights. “But the structural problems are a lot more serious, and they range from the lack of property stadiums to the infrastructure necessary to develop our youth. “Only a few clubs have sports centres that are at the appropriate level.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Luca Rizzo: ‘Juventus an open game’ Dec 12, 2014 Sampdoria midfielder Luca Rizzo believes that if his team gives its best against Juventus, ‘the result will follow’. The young Blucerchiato has been putting in some solid performances with what is currently the fourth-ranked power in Serie A, and at only 22, he is considered an Italian prospect. Ahead of the game against Juventus this weekend, the midfielder explained his mindset. “You must never give up, you must always keep believing,” Rizzo has said in an interview with TeleNord. “When you know you've given everything, then you should be proud of yourself.” Rizzo believes that his team should bring the same philosophy into the game against the Bianconeri. “Juventus have a great midfield and a great team, the strongest together with Roma, and I'm not saying anything new here. “We must do our job, play an open game and give our utmost. The result will follow.” Sampdoria's current fourth position has surprised many, but Rizzo believes it is a result of the team's hard work. “It mirrors what we are doing in training. Sometimes we have been unlucky, but the position in the standings is well deserved. “Both the Coach and the President made me feel that I could be important to this team. The position on the pitch? I like to change, there is no problem, last year I played in every role.” In spite of his strong performances, however, the 22-year old gives no mind to the idea of an Azzurri call-up. “I'm not thinking about that for now. I see things step by step, not far into the distance, and for the moment this has worked for me.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Llorente Doubtful Of Messi And Ronaldo Success In Serie A Dec 12, 2014 Juventus forward Fernando Llorente has stated he doubts if La Liga players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would score as many goals as they currently do if they were playing in Serie A. Real Madrid’s Ronaldo recently scored a record 23rd La Liga hat-trick, while Barcelona’s Messi has scored over 400 goals for his club; but Llorente feels Serie A would propose a tougher test. “Ronaldo and Messi are out of this world but I would like to see them play in Italy,” said Llorente in an interview with Cadena Cope. “Here defences are very tight and many players play behind the ball. “It would be difficult for them to score that many goals over here.“ The Spanish striker also confirmed in the interview that his immediate future lies with the Bianconeri. “In the summer there were offers for me, but my priority has always been to stay at Juventus,” said Llorente.

Stephan Lichtsteiner agree to contract extension through 2017 Dec 12, 2014 When Beppe Marotta shelled out around €10 million for then-Lazio right back Stephan Lichtsteiner in the summer of 2011, some folks wondered why the Juventus director general would pay so much for such an unglamorous position. Well, three and a half years later, Lichtsteiner has become one of Juventus' most important players at a position that previous club officials never truly addressed. Don't worry, though. The lovely Lichtsteiner-Juventus marriage isn't over just yet. That's because reports out of the Italian press on Thursday say that Lichtsteiner has agreed to a contract extension through 2017, ending what was a long and thorough negotiation period between the player and the club. According to those same reports, Lichtsteiner — whose current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2014-15 season — is expected to get a yearly salary raise from his €2 million figure this year to €2.6 in his new deal. Romeo Agresti @romeoagresti #Juve-#Lichtsteiner: per il rinnovo fino al 30 giugno 2017 manca solo l'ufficialità. Intesa trovata. mirkograziano @mirkogazzetta Lichtsteiner rinnoverà con la Juve fino al 2017: prima di Natale l'annuncio. You don't need an Italian-to-English dictionary to figure out what is being reported here. First reaction: Good, damn good. As negotiations between the two sides went on and on and on over the last few months, many folks wondered if Juventus and Lichtsteiner were headed toward the end of the road. Other teams were rumored to be swirling just in case the Swiss right back didn't agree to a new deal with Juventus. And it's not like reports of "Juventus and Lichtsteiner not close in negotiations" really helped the matter at all. But all of that chatter is in the past now with Thursday's reports coming to the surface. And with it, we can check Lichtsteiner's name off the list of those players rumored to be line for a contract extension. Let the guessing games begin as to who is next. At least we know now that the Swiss Express will be bombing up and down the right sideline for the next couple of season at the very minimum. I'm a full supporter of that.

JUVENTUS - SAMPDORIA - Sunday, December 14th, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Doveri Lichtsteiner: ‘Samp very strong’ Dec 11, 2014 Stephan Lichtsteiner warns his Juventus teammates Sampdoria are a ‘strong’ team, and praises Sinisa Mihajlovic. The Bianconeri host Mihajlovic’s side on Sunday, with the Blucerchiati sitting fourth in Serie A, just outside the Champions League places. “Last year they [sampdoria] did very well,” Lichtsteiner told JTV. “They’re a team with many strong players, we can’t underestimate them, because their strikers are very strong and fast. “Also in midfield and at the back they’re a very strong, solid team. Then there’s the Coach [Mihajlovic] who I like very much. “I don’t see all their games, but I like his character, he’s someone who lives and breathes football. “It will be a very difficult game, and we’ll need all the fans behind us.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUm066jl5CY http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/champions_league/2014/12/09-86137_0/FOTO+Champions+League+Juve%2C+pari+con+l'Atletico+Madrid%3A+i+bianconeri+agli+ottavi http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/aw8uHOaD0Ll/Juventus+v+Club+Atletico+de+Madrid

JUVENTUS - ATLETICO MADRID 0 - 0 Tuesday, December 9, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ William Collum (Scotland) Attendance: 39219 When is the draw for the Champions League last 16? Barcelona, Arsenal, Juventus, Chelsea and more of Europe's best will find out their fate on December 15, when the last 32 of the Europa League will also be decided. Dec 11, 2014 Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are among the teams who will discover their Champions League fate in the draw for the last 16 on Monday December 15. Following Wednesday's completion of the group phase, the stage is set for the best clubs in Europe to battle it out in the knockout rounds, with the winner now seven games away from glory. The top seeds for the draw - those who finished top of their groups and will play the last-16 second leg at home - are Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Chelsea and Porto. The teams which finished second after six games in the group stage, and who will play the first leg of their last-16 ties at home, are Juventus, Basel, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk. Teams cannot be drawn against those whom they met in their groups (Barcelona, for example, cannot face PSG) and, at this stage, clubs from the same country will not be allowed to meet (so no Chelsea vs Arsenal or Bayern vs Schalke).

JUVENTUS - ATLETICO MADRID 0 - 0 Tuesday, December 9, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ William Collum (Scotland) Attendance: 39219 Roma talk more, Juventus win more - Nedved The Serie A champions progressed to the second round of the Champions League while their rivals were eliminated, and the director feels it shows the Bianconeri's superiority. Dec 11, 2014 Juventus talk less but work and win more than Roma do, according to Pavel Nedved. The Bianconeri secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League in midweek, while Roma crashed out after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City in the final game of the group stage. And Nedved, who won two Serie A titles with Juve and is now a club director, believes that the reigning Serie A champions have shown their superiority over their nearest rivals. "We have already given many answers to Roma," he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "We talk less than them but we work more and the results are better." The former Czech Republic international also praised coach Massimiliano Allegri, who replaced Antonio Conte at the helm of the club in the summer and has guided them into the knockout round of the European competition as well as the top of the league. "He's smart and has brought a lot of benefits to the team with his innovations. There is more safety and awareness in dealing with big games now," he added.

Buffon: I'd be p***** off if I were Casillas The Italian feels for his opposite number at Real Madrid following the rotation policy over the last two seasons and the criticism he has faced in recent months. Dec 11, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon claims he would be "p***** off" if subjected to the same situation as Real Madrid No.1 Iker Casillas has been over the past two years. The veteran Spain international lost his place as first-choice goalkeeper in La Liga to Diego Lopez but found himself reinstated following the departure of Lopez to AC Milan in the summer. However, there have been calls from Real Madrid fans and much of the media for summer signing Keylor Navas - who was excellent for Levante in 2013-14 and for Costa Rica at the World Cup - to take Casillas' place between the sticks. Barcelona have also rotated their goalkeepers this season, with Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen utilised at different times, but Buffon does not believe such a policy is effective. "Everyone is different, but I think Casillas' situation would have been p***** me off," the Juventus veteran told AS. "I do not know if I agree with the swapping around of Diego Lopez and Casillas. I would have felt penalised, if that was me. "When I'm fit I prefer to play every game, because I still feel strong. Of course, if the results give the coach a reason to change things up then that's normal. However, a team of Real Madrid's calibre can play 60 games a year, it can be a problem if you're resting too often. "I was very surprised with Casillas' situation. A goalkeeper is not infallible - he can make mistakes just like he can pull off amazing saves. When it comes to playing for teams like Madrid or Juventus, the criticism becomes even more fierce. It can destabilise you and cause you to lose your security as No.1." Buffon also admitted that he harboured dreams of playing for the Santiago Bernabeu side as a youngster, along with a host of other European giants. "It's true that when you're a kid you dream of playing for all the big teams," he added. "The best known, the most traditional, where you'd earn the most. "Therefore I dreamed of playing for Juve, AC Milan, Inter, Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool."

JUVENTUS - ATLETICO MADRID 0 - 0 Tuesday, December 9, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ William Collum (Scotland) Attendance: 39219 Juventus can beat anyone in Europe - Nedved The midfield legend, now a director at the Serie A champions, has faith in Massimiliano Allegri's men causing problems for anyone they are drawn against. Dec 11, 2014 Juventus might not be in the top tier of teams left in the Champions League but they can beat anyone on their day, according to club director Pavel Nedved. The Scudetto winners edged into the last 16 with a 0-0 draw at home to last season's runners-up Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, and will face either Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Monaco or Porto in the next round. Despite only impressing in bursts in the group stage, Nedved is convinced that Juve have the quality to cause problems for anyone they are drawn against in the knockout phase on Monday. "I'm very happy with the qualification, the lads were very good," the Czech, who played more than 500 games for both Juve and Lazio, told Tuttosport. "I congratulate with them and all the technical staff, passing the round was our key objective. The lads have convinced me of our strength, I'm sure we can still do even better "In February we'll have to be ready because we will meet very strong teams. Obviously there are three or four teams who are above the rest and a little more appealing on paper, but I am sure that Juventus can beat anyone." Massimiliano Allegri's men continue to dominate on the domestic scene as they are top of Serie A after 14 games, with Roma three points adrift in second. They take on Sampdoria on Sunday. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166