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JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus-Torino MATCH PREVIEW Nov 29, 2014 The European Capital of Sport for 2015 sees its two football representatives face up in contrasting form, as League leaders Juventus welcome struggling Torino. La Vecchia Signora have looked anything but, and will look to extend a series of impressive streaks. Victory here would mark their 25th consecutive win at home in Serie A. Avoiding defeat would also stretch their unbeaten run against their city rivals to 17 games, and should they prevent Torino from scoring, it would also mark an impressive 11 consecutive clean sheets in the Derby della Mole. Juventus President Andrea Agnelli was quick to remind his Torino counterpart of this fact and despite now going three games without a win, Il Toro will surely be fired up for this historic encounter. Torino will remain in the shadow of their more illustrious cousin for the foreseeable future but are in danger of soon not even being in the same League - quite literally. Four defeats out of five on the road have sunk Torino to within three points of the relegation zone, although they ran both Napoli and Lazio close in slender defeats. Keep an eye on: Fabio Quagliarella (Torino) - Despite Juve's sturdy home defence, one man who will look to prove a point against the Old Lady is the former Bianconero forward. He has scored seven goals in 18 appearances in all competitions for Toro, including four in 12 in Serie A. Form guide: Juventus (W L W W W) Torino (L W D L L) Last season: Juventus 1-0 Torino Stat fact: Juve have kept a clean sheet in eight of their last nine matches in Serie A, and in 10 consecutive meetings with Torino. Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini; Evra, Pereyra, Marchisio, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Morata Suspended: Padoin Torino: Gillet; Maksimovic, Glik, Moretti; Peres, Gazzi, Vives, El Kaddouri, Darmian; Amauri, Quagliarella Suspended: None http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Allegri: 'Juventus-Torino a battle' Nov 29, 2014 Max Allegri is fired up for his first Derby della Mole. “Juventus are not automatically favourites and Torino will give us a battle.” It kicks off on Sunday at 18.00 CET. “Giampiero Ventura has always had excellent results and last season was remarkable,” said the Juve Coach in his Press conference. “Torino are very organised on the field with some talented players. The derby is always an important game. When the referee blows the whistle it starts from 0-0 and we are not automatically favourites. “We’re encountering a team that played very well against Club Brugge on Thursday and will give us a battle. It will not be easy for us. Derbies are famously one-off games separated from the rest of the season. “I am not afraid of Torino, but we do respect them. The derby is an important occasion for the city and the fans. It must be a good game of football, as I want to see a real sporting battle.” There was some bad news, as Kwadwo Asamoah will bring forward knee surgery to correct a long-standing issue. “I think Asamoah will be out for three months, but we need to evaluate his progress. Right now we are not thinking about the transfer market, but if necessary the club will work in January.” Since switching to four at the back, Juventus have been unstoppable with four consecutive victories, scoring 15 goals and conceding only two between Serie A and the Champions League. “I think the team had good results beforehand too,” insisted Allegri. “Now we are playing with a new system and maybe there’s a little more concentration precisely because the team doesn’t know it as well. “When you have players of such quality, it is easier to change things around. We are in good form at the moment, but need balance. I want to see even more focus tomorrow. We are just at the start, Roma are only three points behind us and everything is still up for grabs. “Torino haven’t scored in the derby since 2000? That should prompt us to be even more concentrated to keep that going.” Patrice Evra returns after injury, but Allegri defended Arturo Vidal from criticism. “People seem to think Vidal fails if he doesn’t score, even when playing in a wider role. Even when he doesn’t score, he is still working for the team. He needs more playing time at the moment to regain fitness.” The Coach also made an appeal to the fans ahead of this hotly-contested local derby. “There needs to be a healthy sporting rivalry, not just in this game, but in every football match. I hope every fan comes to the stadium knowing they need to be fair.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Asamoah will miss Afcon The Ghana international has opted to undergo knee surgery and is expected to spend up to three months on the sidelines, ruling him out of January's competition. Nov 29, 2014 Juventus have confirmed that Kwadwo Asamoah will undergo an operation on his injured knee, potentially ruling him out of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The Ghana international missed training with his club on Friday and will fly to Barcelona on Tuesday in order to have surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee after complaining of persistent pain in the region, according to a statement on the Bianconeri's official website. It is a move that will sideline Asamoah, who has not featured since the 3-2 win over Olympiakos on November 4, for two to three months, meaning he is not expected in a condition to feature in Afcon when it commences in January. With Simone Padoin suspended when Juve take on local rivals Torino in the Derby della Mole on Sunday, Massimiliano Allegri will call upon recently recovered Patrice Evra, and the coach did not rule out strengthening the squad when the transfer window opens. "I think Asamoah will be out for three months, but we need to evaluate his progress," he said in a press conference. "Right now we are not thinking about the transfer market, but if necessary the club will work in January."

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus v Torino: Preview Nov 29, 2014 Torino have had a wretched time against city rivals Juventus for more than a decade, but Toro midfielder Omar El Kaddouri believes they can cause some problems for the Serie A leaders in Sunday's derby della Mole. The Granata have failed to beat Juve in the league since April 1995 and have lost 14 out of 16 encounters against them since. Moreover, 12 years have passed since they last scored against them. ``The derby is always a special game and we don't need any extra motivation,'' El Kaddouri told the Italian media. ``You never know what can happen in a derby. ``We know that they are favourites because they play at home but if we play at our best level, we know we can hurt Juve.'' Toro, 15th in the standings with just three wins so far, will have to show a drastic improvement in attack. The Granata, who drew 0-0 at home to Club Brugge in Thursday's Europa League game, have not found the back of the net in four of their last five games in all competitions. The departure of strikers Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci to Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, respectively, has left a void the team have yet to fill. Giampiero Ventura's side have found the back of the net just seven times this season, with former Juve forward Fabio Quagliarella providing four of those goals. Quagliarella will start on Sunday and face Juve for the first time since leaving them this summer to join Toro. Massimiliano Allegri's Juve have had no problem finding goals. Juventus boast the best attack and defence in the competition, with 28 goals scored and just four conceded. The Bianconeri, who won 2-0 at Malmo in their midweek Champions League match, go into the clash with a three-point advantage over Roma in Serie A with 15 points collected out of a possible 15 at home. ``There is only one possible result in the derby for us and that is a win,'' Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci said. Patrice Evra will replace suspended Simone Padoin at left-back. Juve are also without wing-back Kwadwo Asamoah, who is sidelined with a knee injury. Ventura will have all of his players available with the exception of defender Salvatore Massiello and striker Marcelo Larrondo, both out injured. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus V Torino: The Lost Derby Nov 29, 2014 Everyone loves a David and Goliath story; but in Torino going up against Juventus in Sunday’s derby, it is like David taking up his staff and sling to a Goliath in an Iron Man power-suit. Does a derby stop being one once the rivalry becomes so one-sided that the underdog only has slim-to-no chances of winning? The Turin derby — also know as Derby della Mole — between Juventus and Torino faces such a philosophical dilemma, with the Bianconeri being galaxies ahead of their city rivals. Juventus have been the dominant force of the two, with Torino’s last win dating back to the double they managed over the Bianconeri in the 1994-95 season. Moreover, Torino’s last goal dates back to the 2001-02 season. Finally, in the 20 years since Torino’s last win, the Granata have only managed four draws (out of 16 matches). So indeed, in such a lop-sided clash, can the Turin derby still be called a derby? It would be difficult to deny the fixture that name of course. After all, this is the oldest Serie A derby. Juventus first played Torino on January 13 1907, the Granata’s first competitive match following their founding a year prior. There also exists a socio-economic dimension born of history — like it often is the case with many of football’s other derbies around the world — as the clash represents the proletariat (Torino) against the bourgeoisie (Juventus). Juventus vs TorinoIn fairness, only the element of competitiveness lacks in this game. But if we accept that the notion of “derby” entails more than geographical proximity and socio-economic or socio-political cleavages, then the fixture no longer fulfills all the requirements of being a genuine derby. The issue is that the element of competitiveness is rather paramount. It is indeed rare to see such a pronounced disparity between two city rivals, and even more so over such a protracted period of time. Today Juventus are three-time Scudetto champions with a squad far beyond Torino’s, especially after the summer sales of Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci. The Granata are 15th and only three points above the relegation zone. For a derby to be called as such, a rivalry must exist. Rivalry implies competition; none exists between Juventus and Torino today. The fact that Sunday’s Juventus v. Torino game will feature at 18:00, and not in the primetime 20:45 slot, says a lot about how much the perception of the fixture has suffered from the lack of competitiveness. Instead, it is Roma’s game against a struggling ninth-place Inter team that was chosen as the standout fixture of Serie A match day 13. Of course it is neither Juventus or Torino’s faults that the Turin derby has lost a lot of its meaning. Overall Juventus have recorded 95 wins while Torino have 75, with 62 draws between them. Juventus scored 348 goals and Torino scored 309. The statistics do hint that the rivalry was far more competitive in past times. Before the tragedy of Superga, Torino enjoyed a period of superiority until Juventus reversed the tendency through the 1950s. The most successful Torino period came in the 1970s, when Juventus remained winless for six years, including four consecutive losses the Bianconeri suffered in the 1975-76 season. Juventus vs TorinoIt just happens that between those decades, Juventus’ relegation after Calciopoli, and Torino teetering between Serie A and Serie B, both clubs have taken dramatically opposite trajectories. As such, Juventus’ recent dominance over their city-rivals has erased much of the meaning behind this derby. In effect recent derbies are nothing more than footnotes, with the more memorable clashes being those that were — ironically enough just as the Bianconeri kit — still in black and white. Today, the Turin derby has become little more than Juventus taking on another bottom-table Serie A club. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Llorente: ‘Juve in great form’ Nov 28, 2014 Fernando Llorente has looked ahead to the Turin derby and commented on Juventus’ form and formation. The Bianconeri head into the weekend fixture at home to Torino in improved form, having won their last five matches in all competitions, after a patchy run before that. “We are in good form and we want to continue this way,” Llorente considered to JTV. “We are motivated for the derby, more motivation than tension in the dressing room. The derby is special, it is deeply felt amongst the supporters. “This rivalry is very nice, it is an important game because we have to continue in first place. “I feel very well, I am working well, plus, I was not called up to the national team so I was able to train very hard and this is beginning to show, because I feel good, and obviously the work pays off.” Midweek saw Champions League hopes maintained with a 2-0 victory in Malmo, started off with Llorente’s goal. “It was not an easy game against Malmo because they too were capable of progressing. We have many chances and we could have scored a lot more. “Running towards the goal I was aware of the importance of scoring, it came in an important game. We knew we had to win.” Juve’s turn in form has coincided with a change in formation. “We are all getting along fine. Even with the other formation we played some great games. At this time of the season I would say that we are fine. “With Conte I was happy and the same with Allegri, who is doing a great job. He is very intelligent and knows how to find the best in all of us.” Llorente has been joined this season in Turin by compatriot Alvaro Morata. “We hang out a lot away from the pitch because we are both Spaniards. I have tried to help him because he is young. “He is good and has become accustomed to Turin now. He is a smart and intelligent guy.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Preview: Juventus vs. Torino Nov 28, 2014 Juventus and Torino meet for this season's Derby della Mole on Sunday evening at separate ends of the table. Massimiliano Allegri's side have moved to the summit of the Serie A standings with a three-point lead over second-placed Roma. Juve were unbeaten until late October when they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Genoa, but they recovered instantly to win their next three league fixtures. All three points against this weekend's rivals will further establish their lead in the top flight of Italian football. It's been a different story for Torino as Giampiero Ventura's men sit just three points above the relegation zone having grabbed three victories in 12 matches. Torino haven't won a game since October and will head into this match on the back of two consecutive defeats, the latest a 1-0 loss to Sassuolo. The stats are against Torino heading into this Sunday's contest as they have not scored in this fixture in Serie A in 12 years. The home side will be unable to call on defenders Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres, while the visitors have midfielders Ruben Perez and Migjen Basha on the sidelines. Juventus Form in Serie A: D W L W W W Form in all competitions: L W W W W Possible starting lineup: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Pereyra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba, Vidal; Tevez, Llorente Torino Form in Serie A: W L W D L L Form in all competitions: W D L L L D Possible starting lineup: Gillet; Maksimovic, Glik, Moretti; Peres, Vives, Gazzi, Darmian; El Kaddouri, Farnerud, Quagliarella Sports Mole says: 2-0 http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Chiellini respects Toro players Nov 28, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini insists that there's mutual affection and respect between Juventus and their Torino counterparts - just not this weekend. Sunday sees the 230th Derby della Mole, when Toro will cross the city to take on the Bianconeri at Juventus Stadium. Despite the disparity in the two clubs’ fortunes over recent decades, the all-time record is surprisingly close - the Granata taking 72 victories to the Old Lady’s 95, and Chiellini is expecting a tough game. “On the field it will be a hard-fought game,” Chiellini predicted in an interview with Sky. “Off it, there’s respect and empathy between the two sets of players we’re two groups of good guys who are only enemies on the pitch twice a year. “Then for the rest of the season we bump into each other, we meet in the centre of Turin. “Obviously we want to win, but I hope the game is only a spectacle on the pitch.” The big defender also evaluated his side’s European campaign, insisting Massimiliano Allegri’s side are still aiming for top spot in their Champions League group. “We’ve had two important results in the Champions League, they weren’t handed to us on a plate,” Chiellini said of wins over Olympiacos and Malmo. “We dream of first place, and it’s a realistic goal even if we know it’ll be difficult. “We want to get to the Last 16 again, we deserve it. At that point a whole set of new possibilities open up, with head-to-head clashes. “It basically becomes a new tournament, but we know it won’t be easy.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus vs. Torino: Full Derby della Mole Preview Nov 28, 2014 The rivalry between Juventus and Torino doesn't get as much press as Inter vs. Milan, but Turin's local derby is older—the oldest in Italy, in fact—and just as intense. Sunday will mark the 165th league meeting between the two city rivals. The Bianconeri will be flying high after big wins against Lazio and Malmo; Torino will be picking up the pieces after returning from the international break with a 1-0 loss to Sassuolo and a goalless draw against Club Brugge. Who will have the upper hand in Sunday's clash? Here we'll take a deeper look at the matchup to find out. Juventus Overview The Bianconeri have been on a roll since Massimiliano Allegri switched the team from a three-man to a four-man defensive system. The change came against Olympiacos in the Champions League on November 4. Juve scratched out a 3-2 victory over the Greek champions, then unleashed their new tactics on Parma, who were no match for the champions and were annihilated 7-0. That form continued after the international break with a 3-0 thrashing of Lazio in Rome. A 2-0 victory in Wednesday's must-win Champions League tie against Malmo capped off a run of excellent form that has seen the team win every game they have played since their last-second loss to Genoa on October 29. With Roma still only three points behind them, any slip-up can drastically change the title race. A derby match is always a potential place for a slip-up. There is also the potential for a drop in focus following an important victory in Europe. The challenge here will be for the players to keep their focus and avoid the sort of let down that would let their pursuers catch up. Torino Overview It's been a rough season for Torino. Il Toro had a wonderful year in 2013-14. They were an Alessio Cerci penalty away from sixth place and were allowed to enter European competition when Parma were denied a UEFA license after they failed to pay bills on time. The summer transfer window hurt them, though. Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile—the most prolific strike duo the team had seen since the 1970s—were sold to Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund respectively, and the club wasn't able to adequately replace them. The result has left the team with a dismal attack. They've scored just seven goals in Serie A this season—second to last in the league—and have only managed four more in the Europa League. They haven't scored in a league game since their 1-0 victory over Parma on October 29 and have only scored more than one goal once in their 12 league games. The team should get through to the round of 32 in the Europa League, but their scoring struggles have left them 15th in Serie A and in desperate need of a shot in the arm in order to make a run at the top half of the table. Key Players: Juventus Carlos Tevez Carlos Tevez is on fire. A look at his numbers on WhoScored.com will likely leave a reader breathless. Between Serie A and the Champions League, Tevez has scored 12 goals in 16 appearances, notched five assists and is averaging 2.6 key passes per game. That run includes four goals and an assist in his last three contests. It was clear last year that Tevez is the top-level striker Juve have been hungering for since they started their current run of success in 2011, but his form is turning otherworldly. In seasons past, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal have been considered the linchpins of the club. But with both having dealt with injuries this season, Tevez has grabbed that mantle by the scruff of the neck. Torino will be hoping they can keep the Argentine at bay. Stephan Lichtsteiner Switzerland international Stephan Lichtsteiner was easily the best player on the field for Juve against Malmo on Wednesday. Lichtsteiner has looked lively since the transition to a back four. Allowed to play his natural position once again after two-and-a-half years of playing as a wing-back in a 3-5-2, the right-back is getting forward and overlapping well on the wing while providing solid flank defense. He may have produced the moment of the game against Malmo. A lazy pass by Pirlo had allowed Emil Forsberg to break with only Lichtsteiner between him and Gianluigi Buffon. The Swiss gave ground, containing the midfielder but never committing to a challenge that could have easily led to a disastrous equalizer. He covered nearly two thirds of the field like this before Forsberg finally put his shot well wide. Lictsteiner is an old-school player who is deeply committed to the team. Put him in front of a brick wall and say "run," and he will charge the thing until he's on the other side. He will likely be matched against talented Torino wing-back Matteo Darmian—a tantalizing matchup that could go a long way to deciding who takes points from the match. Paul Pogba Paul Pogba's stock keeps going up and up. The 21-year-old Frenchman is now routinely drawing comparisons to the likes of Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane. That both French legends played in the black-and-white shirt is an interesting coincidence. Pogba is edging his way onto the list of best players in the world. His long, awkward-looking frame belies the easy grace he uses to dribble around unfortunate opponents. That grace is complimented by power; he can be a bone-crunching tackler and his long shot is truly a sight to behold. A contract extension in hand, Pogba is the player Juve hope to build around for the future. For the present, though, all should fear his impact on the midfield. Key Players: Torino Kamil Glik Kamil Glik exemplifies the intensity of this rivalry—and not always in a good way. The Polish international has been sent off in two of the last four Derbies, including a straight red for this horror tackle on Emanuele Giaccherini two years ago. Given how Juve's attack has been clicking over the past few weeks, Torino can't afford a repeat of that trend. Glik is a key contributor to a defense that is tied for sixth-best in the league this season—and is likely the only player keeping the Granata out of the drop zone. His partnership with Cesare Bovo and Emiliano Moretti will be key to Torino taking any points out of this game. He has to stay disciplined. As little as an early yellow could dramatically change the way the defense plays. Fabio Quagliarella It's easy to imagine a world in which Fabio Quagliarella hadn't injured his knee in the first game back from the 2010-11 winter break. The Italy international had scored nine times for Juve going into the match against Parma, and his injury sent a team that had been in second place two rounds before into a tailspin. Had he not been hurt, he could easily still be leading Juve's line. Instead, he was relegated to a rotational role as he recovered, never receiving as much playing time as he may have deserved under Antonio Conte. His move to the other side of Turin has once again given him the chance to spearhead a team. Without him, who knows where Torino would be. He's the only person on the team to have scored more than once in all competitions. He will be the biggest threat to Juve's defense—and may know a trick or two about getting around them, having trained against them for the last four years. He is a player with drive, skill and the class to go with it. If he does manage a goal, expect him to continue his long-standing policy of declining to celebrate against his former teams. He will be Torino's best chance to score. Against a Juventus back line in transition, he will likely get at least one chance. He can't be wasteful. Jean-Francois Gillet Finally back from a 13-month suspension stemming from former club Bari's involvement in the Calcioscommesse scandal, Gillet has resumed his role as Torino's primary goalkeeper. His inclusion on this list is obvious. Any team that hopes to beat Juve is going to need a great day from their goalkeeper. The model this season has been Genoa's Mattia Perin, who made a string of impressive saves to keep the game scoreless until the Grifone managed a last-second winner. If Torino are to earn any points, Gillet must be at the top of his game. Manager: Juventus Massimiliano Allegri started the season carrying over Antonio Conte's 3-5-2. It was a logical decision; the team had used the system en route to three straight titles, and he had had little time to integrate his own ideas into the team. But it wasn't a system he was familiar with, and it was obvious he didn't know how to get the best out of it. The team's attack stagnated, especially in Europe. Something had to be done. In a must-win Champions League fixture against Olympiacos, he finally took action, installing a 4-3-1-2. The difference was palpable. Since the change, Juve have played two league games and two Champions League games and outscored their opponents 15-2. Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba have caught fire. Juve once again look like the titans of the Italian game that they are, not the team that was struggling to put away teams that they should have been crushing. Allergi's move has likely turned Juve's season around. With Roma still in hot pursuit, a fourth straight title is no given, but Juve look far more likely to defend their crown than they did a month ago. Manager: Torino Giampiero Ventura is one of the most underrated managers in Serie A. His tactical machinations got the best out of a middling team last year and took Il Toro to their first European place in many years. He has a knack for making slight adjustments that can suddenly bring players to life. The most visible example of this was with Alessio Cerci, whom he moved inside as a seconda punta after years of being a winger. The move allowed Cerci, who had never realized his potential up to that point, to thrive. According to WhoScored.com, he scored 21 times and notched 11 assists in his two years at the Stadio Olimpico. Torino's struggles this season have more to do with his forward line being gutted—Cerci and last year's capocannoniere, Ciro Immobile, now play abroad—than a deficiency on Ventura's part. The defense is solid and has only conceded 13 goals in 12 games. Still, it will be on him to figure out a way to generate more goals and rotate the squad well enough to compensate for a potential run in the Europa League knockout rounds in the new year. Recent Matchups Intense as it is, the Derby della Mole has been intensely lopsided for almost 20 years. The last time Torino won a match against Juventus was on April 9, 1995—a 2-1 victory. Relegations for both sides have seen the derby interrupted since, but in 16 meetings, the Bianconeri have won 12 and drawn four. Torino haven't even scored in this fixture since earning a 2-2 draw in February 2002. Since Torino's return to Serie A in 2012, Juve have outscored their city rival 7-0 over four games, which were all wins. Last season's contests were close—a pair of lively 1-0 games that also saw a total of 10 bookings. Key Matchup 1 Carlos Tevez vs. Kamil Glik Carlos Tevez has been close unstoppable this season. Every touch he gets produces danger. Even without the ball, his movement has carried defenders with him, opening space for his teammates to produce goals. Torino's back three will be charged with nullifying the threat of Tevez, and Kamil Glik will be their leader. Glik is a physical presence in Torino's defense, but that physicality doesn't always have the desired effect. He isn't a volume tackler—WhoScored.com clocks him at an average of only one per match—and his efforts often end with a whistle. He's already been sent off once this season—a straight red against Napoli—and as mentioned earlier in the slideshow, he has received marching orders in two of the four Derbies in which he's played. Where he does excel is off-ball defending. He's averaging 3.4 interceptions per game in the league and 2.7 in all competitions. If he wins this battle, it will be by denying Tevez the ball altogether. If he manages to do that, he has a chance to keep Tevez from scoring. If he has to resort to playing him with the ball, however, Juve could win several advantageous free kicks—and might end up with a man advantage. Key Matchup 2 Stephan Lichtsteiner vs. Matteo Darmian Matteo Darmian has become one of Torino's most important players. Able to play on either flank, he was one of the few bright spots for the national team during an otherwise disappointing World Cup. He has been spending the majority of his time on Torino's left this season, which will pit him against Stephan Lichstiener on Juve's right. As mentioned before, the move to a four-man defensive line has been a boon to Lichtsteiner, who has finally been able to play his natural position as a true full-back. Will Darmian's advanced position as a wing-back pin the Swiss back in defense or will Lichtsteiner be able to move freely in attack? If Darmian is successful in bottling Lichsteiner up, Juve's wide play will have to come from the left—a position that is up in the air. Kwadwo Asamoah is still unavailable due to injury and Simone Padoin, who has done a good job filling in at left-back, is suspended after receiving a soft red card against Lazio. Patrice Evra has just about recovered from a muscle injury, but it remains to be seen how fit he is. With options on the left thin, Lichtsteiner is crucial to ensuring that Juve's attack isn't bottled up in the center of the field. Key Matchup 3 Giorgio Chiellini vs. Fabio Quagliarella Chiellini and Quagliarella have been teammates for the last four years, but they've seen each other on opposite ends of the field during Quags' time at Napoli and Udinese. Quagliarella has been Torino's only viable offensive threat this season. If he's been neutralized, the rest of the team has been practically impotent. His former teammate is more than capable of doing just that. A blend of great defensive technique with the hard-nosed physicality of Italian defenders past, the oft-underrated Chiellini is one of the five best center-backs in football. He has transitioned well from the three-man back line. The anchor of Juve's defense, Chiellini will provide an effective screen in front of Gigi Buffon's goal. He can make life miserable for Torino if he manages to contain his former teammate. Prediction This game has the makings of a lopsided contest. Juventus have only conceded four goals in Serie A this year. Torino have only scored seven. The Granata are also solid defensively, but their scoring woes are a massive burden. The long and short of it is that Torino are almost incapable of scoring at the same rate as Juve, especially the way the attack has clicked since Allegri changed formation. Their defense may be able to keep the scoreline respectable, but Juve will be able to overwhelm them in the end. My prediction for this derby matchup is a 3-0 Juve victory. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Knee surgery for Asamoah Nov 28, 2014 Kwadwo Asamoah will go under the knife in an effort to fix a recurring knee problem, Juventus have confirmed. The Ghanaian international has been sidelined since Juve’s 3-2 win over Olympiacos on November 4, playing through the pain barrier after sustaining an injury against Empoli. It was thought that the wing-back would return within two weeks, but the problem hasn’t gone away, and the Bianconeri today confirmed that Asamoah will require surgery. “Kwadwo Asamoah… will fly to Barcelona next Tuesday for arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee after reporting continued pain in the region,” read a statement on the club’s official website. “The operation will be performed by Dr. Ramon Cugat in Barcelona.” The surgery is likely to see Asamoah unavailable for between six and eight weeks, meaning that he will be unavailable for the Bianconeri until early in 2015, The player will miss the upcoming crucial Champions League match with Atletico Madrid as well as several League matches, starting with Sunday’s Turin derby.

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus-Torino Preview: Champions target 25 wins in a row in derby Massimiliano Allegri's men are on the brink of an impressive landmark and can clinch the figure with a home win over their local rivals this weekend. Nov 28, 2014 Juventus can make it 25 home Serie A wins in a row when they host city rivals Torino on Sunday. The run, which has seen Juve score 64 goals and concede just 11, stretches back to the beginning of last season and is two matches away from spanning the calendar year of 2014. The first of those fixtures comes in the Derby della Mole this weekend, and coach Massimiliano Allegri will be keen to see the defending champions maintain their three-point advantage at the summit of the Italian top flight. Juve come into this clash on the back of a 2-0 Champions League win at Malmo on Wednesday, which sent Allegri's men a step closer to qualifying for the knockout stages. And defender Leonardo Bonucci believes the result puts Juve on a surer footing in the competition, leaving them to focus on the weekend clash with Torino. "It was an important win, mainly because we wanted it right from the off," he told the club's website. "Getting the victory meant putting one foot in the next round. "We'll go all out at home to secure qualification or perhaps even pip first spot in the group." The win signalled a fourth on the bounce since Allegri tinkered with his formation to play four, rather than three, at the back. And Bonucci feels the new tactics, which helped Juve come from behind to beat Olympiakos when they were introduced earlier this month, will serve the team well both domestically and in Europe. "Since then we've persisted with this tactical mindset and it's allowed us to become stronger and even more positive, especially in Europe," he continued. But Bonucci knows that Europe must now take a back seat, adding: "As always, winning [in the derby] is all that matters." And Juve have an excellent track record when it comes to getting one over their near neighbours - unbeaten in the last 16 league fixtures between the sides. The last time Torino got the better of Juve was back in 1995, and a poor start to the current campaign sees them languishing down in 15th in the Serie A table - their most recent setback was a 1-0 home defeat to Sassuolo. Juve, who are on a five-match winning run in all competitions, will be without midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah for Sunday's fixture, with the Ghanaian scheduled to undergo and arthroscopic procedure on a knee injury next week. OPTA FACTS “Derby della Mole” number 139 in Serie A – Juventus lead by 63 wins to 34. Juventus are unbeaten in the last 16 games against Torino in Serie A (W12,D4). The Bianconeri have won their last six derbies against Torino. LAST FIVE MATCHES Juventus W W W W W 11/26/14 - Malmö 0 - 2 Juventus 11/22/14 - Lazio 0 - 3 Juventus 11/9/14 - Juventus 7 - 0 Parma 11/4/14 - Juventus 3 - 2 - Olympiakos 11/1/14 - Empoli 0 - 2 Juventus Torino D L L L D 11/27/14 - Torino 0 - 0 Club Brugge 11/23/14 - Torino 0 - 1 Sassuolo 11/9/14 - Roma 3 - 0 Torino 11/6/14 - Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi 2 - 1 Torino 11/2/14 - Torino 0 - 0 Atalanta HEAD TO HEAD 2/23/14 - Juventus 1 - 0 Torino 9/29/13 - Torino 0 - 1 Juventus 4/28/13 - Torino 0 - 2 Juventus 12/1/12 - Juventus 3 - 0 Torino 3/7/09 - Torino 0 - 1 Juventus http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus vs. Torino: Key Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Serie A Game Nov 28, 2014 Over the past few weeks, Juventus have rounded into what is comfortably their best form of the year. After overwhelming a poor Parma side before the international break, the Bianconeri continued with another emphatic win last weekend. That 3-0 defeat of an impressive Lazio side—reviewed here—was arguably their best performance of 2014-15, and they followed that with victory in the Champions League. Dispatching Malmo 2-0, Massimiliano Allegri’s side are now just one point away from qualifying for the knockout stage of the competition. Atletico Madrid will visit Juventus Stadium in two weeks' time for that key fixture, but for now, attention must revert to domestic matters. If the Bianconeri needed any additional reason to concentrate fully on taking care of business in Serie A, the identity of this weekend’s opponents should provide it. Sunday sees the 230th edition of the Turin derby as Torino make the short trip across town to face their local rivals. The game may not possess the animosity seen when Roma and Lazio go head-to-head or the glamour of the Milan derby, but it has always been a hotly contested matchup. Thanks to their dominant form of recent decades, Juventus have enjoy clear ascendancy over the Granata, winning 95 of those clashes and losing just 72. Yet their opponents will see the latest meeting as a chance to boost their own poor form, having won just three times thus far in the current campaign. Over the following pages is a look at the key issues and decisions that will shape the game, closely analysing factors that could determine the result. Juventus Midfield Must Exert Dominance One notable point from Wednesday’s win over Malmo was the continued poor performances of the Juventus midfield. While Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio acquitted themselves well, both Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal were once again poor for the Bianconeri. Their Champions League performances were analysed here, and although Pirlo has been much better in Serie A, the form of Vidal remains a concern. Allegri would perhaps be advised to rest the Chilean, making space in the starting line-up for the impressive Roberto Pereyra. Since arriving from Udinese, the versatile 23-year-old has steadily improved, enjoying his best performance in the win over Lazio. That display—singled out for praise here—saw him notch an assist on Pogba’s second goal and stats site WhoScored.com shows he added two tackles and one interception. Fabio Quagliarella to Haunt Old Lady Fabio Quagliarella moved from Juventus to Torino this past summer, ending a four-year stint with the Bianconeri which saw him win three league titles. Having scored some vital goals, his switch to the club’s cross-town rivals came as something of a surprise, but was a return of sorts for the 31-year-old striker. Quagliarella began his career with Torino, and is currently their leading scorer this term with four league goals. However, he has not netted in Serie A for over a month, and he would surely love to find the back of the net against the club who released him so readily. “I do not think that I regret leaving Juve,” he told Sky Italia in October (h/t Forza Italian Football). “The more time passes, the more you know.” The Bianconeri defence will be well aware of the danger he poses, and neutralising their former team-mate will be vital if they are to claim all three points. Carlos Tevez to Continue His Impressive Form Netting his third Champions League strike of the campaign on Wednesday, Carlos Tevez took his season tally to 12 goals in all competitions. Also weighing in with five assists, the Argentinean striker has been in unstoppable form, scoring four times in his last three appearances. Having scored the only goal in this fixture last term, Juventus will once again look to the 30-year-old to lead them to victory. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus V Torino – Preview: Are 19 Years Of Derby Della Mole Hurt Set To End? Nov 27, 2014 Juventus play host to fierce rivals Torino in the highly anticipated Derby della Mole on Sunday evening, knowing a win for the Bianconeri will maintain their lead in the Serie A standings. Both teams will be desperate for the three points, but for obviously different reasons as they are situated at opposite ends of the table. The home side are the undisputed favourites as they sit comfortably at the summit of the table on 31 points, three points ahead of second placed Roma. Juventus have been in flying form since their 1-0 shock loss away to Genoa back in October, triumphant in their previous three domestic outings, which included impressive victories against Parma and Lazio, beating them 7-0 and 3-0 respectively. Stark contrast to Torino’s underwhelming campaign as they have inevitably struggled, due to the departures of Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile over the summer. The visitors have accumulated just 12 points and lie precariously in 15th spot. However, the lacklustre performances could be attributed to the midweek travel the side has endured competing in the Europa League after a 20 year absence. Something which has certainly been difficult to manage for coach Giampiero Ventura, given the obvious lack of depth when compared to a wealthier club. Last weekend’s disappointing 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Sassuolo only rubbed salt further into the wounds of the traveling side. The corresponding fixture last season, saw the Bianconeri edge pass the Toro defeating them 1-0 courtesy of a first half goal from Carlos Tevez. And incredibly, Torino haven’t scored in this fixture – in Serie A – for 12 years, and haven’t won it since a 3-2 win in 1995. Juve will be without defenders Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres, as well as Kwadwo Asamoah, while Simone Padoin will miss the game due picking up a suspension after being sent off against Lazio last week. Former Torino man Angelo Ogbonna also remains doubtful for the match, but could feature after straining his hamstring. For Torino, the Granata will have to do without youngster Marco Benassi, and midfielders Ruben Perez and Migjen Basha. Expected Starting XIs Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Pereyra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba, Vidal; Tevez, Llorente Torino: Gillet; Maksimovic, Glik, Moretti; Peres, Vives, Gazzi, Darmian; El Kaddouri, Farnerud, Quagliarella http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - TORINO - Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Agnelli: ‘Juve play to win’ Nov 27, 2014 ​Andrea Agnelli says Juventus always look to win every game, as he and Torino counterpart Urbano Cairo preview the Turin derby. The Bianconeri host Il Toro on Sunday evening looking to stretch an unbeaten run against their city rivals to 17 League games. Ahead of that, the club’s two Presidents came together at the presentation for Turin’s award as European Capital of Sport for 2015. “Juventus always go out on to the pitch to win, and then, Torino have not won and have not even scored in a derby for 15 years,” Agnelli reflected to reporters present, before touching on a more serious topic. “We must eliminate violence and racism from the stadiums, but not the teasing, which is the salt of this sport.” In response to Agnelli’s preview, Cairo considered: “We are currently focused on the game with Club Brugge, then we will focus on the derby. “We all want to put in a great performance against Juventus. “It is true, since I have been here this game has not given me much joy, but I hope that this year, having seen us return to Europe, things can change.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

MALMÖ FF - JUVENTUS 0 - 2 Fernando Llorente (49') Carlos Tévez (88') Wednesday, November 26th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Swedbank Stadion, Malmö Referee:‬ Pedro Proença (Portugal) Padoin: Malmo Were Just Long Balls And Physicality Nov 28, 2014 Juventus full-back Simone Padoin has claimed that Champions League opponents Malmo offered little more than long balls and physicality, but once the Bianconeri relaxed and found some fluidity could have won by more than a two-goal margin. It was the 30-year-olds third consecutive match under new coach Massimiliano Allegri and he praised the former AC Milan coach for having faith in his ability and aims to continue giving his all to remain in the side. “We knew it would not be an easy match,” Padoin told Juventus.com. “We suffered from the continuous long balls in the first half and their pressure was constant, but in the second half settled down and we relaxed. “You saw another Juventus, and we could do even more goals. “I played pretty simple. “I’m happy the coach has decided to focus on me as a left-back, and I do so with the utmost enthusiasm as possible. “When the team achieves these results thanks to my efforts I am twice as happy.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

Bonucci: 'Juve more positive now' Nov 27, 2014 Leonardo Bonucci believes Juventus “are more positive in Europe” with their new tactical system. Since Max Allegri changed to four at the back with Carlos Tevez dropping deeper to get the ball, the Bianconeri have won every match, including last night’s 2-0 Champions League victory at Malmo. “It was an important win, above all because we wanted it from the start,” the centre-back told JTV. “Winning means putting a good marker down for qualification. The decider will be on our own turf against Atletico Madrid and, maybe even to dream of first place in the group. “The turning point was against Olympiacos and again the only thing that mattered was victory. We conceded two avoidable goals on set plays, but did well to turn it around. “From that moment a tactical process began that made us stronger and more positive, especially in Europe. “What changes for the defenders? We often end up facing opponents in one-on-one situations, but at Juve you have to accept that because it gives the chance for those in attack to be more effective.”

Llorente: I won't cry over Spain exile The 29-year-old striker has not featured for La Roja since November 2013 but he claims that he does not mind if he no longer retains the confidence of Vicente del Bosque. Nov 27, 2014 Fernando Llorente says he is not going to cry over his continued exclusion from the Spain squad, insisting his sole concern is on helping Juventus win their Champions League group decider with Atletico Madrid next month. The towering striker has not been summoned by Roja coach Vicente del Bosque for a year - despite a fine debut campaign in Serie A last season. Llorente has found goals more difficult to come by this term but he netted the opener in Wednesday night's 2-0 win at Malmo, which has left Juve needing only a point at home to Atletico on December 9 to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League. However, the Bianconeri would claim top spot if they were to beat Atletico by two clear goals, given they were defeated 1-0 by the Spanish champions at the Vicente Calderon on matchday two. The game in Turin clearly represents an excellent opportunity for Llorente to impress before a Spanish television audience, which will most likely include Del Bosque, but the former Athletic Bilbao forward says his primary focus is on victory. “I’m not going to cry if I don’t get into the national team," Llorente told Sky Sport Italia. "I don’t know if I have the confidence of the coach. I only know that I have to continue working well with my club. "We have to win against Atletico and we will try to clinch first place in our group.” However, Llorente admitted that he is happy with his recent form, having netted three times in his last three outings in all competitions. "I am working well and I think it shows on the pitch," the 29-year-old stated. Llorente, who joined Juve on a free transfer from Athletic last year, has netted seven times in 24 previous appearances for Spain.

Tevez: Juventus must improve The Argentina international has demanded more from his team-mates as their qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League goes to the last day. Nov 27, 2014 Carlos Tevez has stressed that Juventus must up their game if they are to achieve anything in the Champions League this term. The Serie A champions recorded a 2-0 win over Malmo on Wednesday following Fernando Llorente's first-half strike before Tevez's goal late in the second period secured the win, but the Argentine was by no means satisfied with his side's performance. Massimiliano Allegri's men are now three points ahead of Olympiakos heading into the last round of fixtures knowing that only a draw against group leaders Atletico Madrid will secure a place in the last-16 and Tevez feels a vast improvement is needed from the Bianconeri. "We didn't play well in the first period but after Fernando's goal Malmo came out into the open more and that's when we saw Juventus at their best," Tevez told the club's official website. "I did expect a bit more from us, though. We're Juventus and we have to improve constantly. We can't be giving away 45 minutes like that. But at the end of the day the main thing was getting the win. "Even in games like that, with all the pressure there is on anyone who pulls on the Juve jersey, we need to show that we're capable of enjoying ourselves out there. "If you're having fun, you're more likely to play well than badly. We need to take away some of the pressure that comes with playing in the Champions League and concentrate on enjoying our football in Europe too."

Allegri leads Juventus to victory Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez gave Juventus a first away Champions League victory in nearly two years. Luca Cetta praises the Bianconeri. Nov 27, 2014 Not since February 2013’s visit to Celtic Park had Juventus conquered enemy territory in the Champions League. In six matches since the best they could muster was a draw against Copenhagen, but 21 months on the Bianconeri can fly home with a smile. It was at times a path as bumpy as the Swedbank Stadion pitch, a lacklustre first half threatening to continue the meagre record. Yet whatever Massimiliano Allegri said at the interval worked wonders, spurring the Serie A favourites towards three important points. When Juventus needed a lift, the boss was there to provide the spark of inspiration. In a way it mirrors his July arrival. Met with scepticism and resentment upon replacing Antonio Conte – “When we first drove into the Vinovo training ground, the car containing President Agnelli, Allegri and I [Giuseppe Marotta] was kicked and spat at” – he has efficiently gone about his work and stamped his mark on this team. Malmo may be the group outsiders, but the Old Lady has failed in similar matches in recent seasons, so to grab a victory in challenging circumstances represents growth. From Claudio Marchisio’s immediate second half opportunity it was a different Bianconeri to that of the first 45 minutes. Movement on and off the ball was quicker, putting Malmo’s defenders under greater pressure. Where they previously had time to organise shape, Fernando Llorente’s opener showed it was lacking after the interval. Juventus weren’t as one-dimensional and only poor finishing aided the Swedish champions. Once again this was a concern for Allegri, who sensed the possibility of Juventus conceding another soft goal before the late sealer. Carlos Tevez said afterwards Llorente’s goal – the first Juve had scored on their Champions League travels since the Spaniard himself against Real Madrid over a year ago – ‘opened the game up’. Tevez then made sure of the result with a scrappy goal to continue his fine form. Marchisio spoke of ‘adapting’ to the pitch which meant: “in the second half [we] played our usual fluid football.” As Olympiacos showed three weeks ago, Juventus can be susceptible to defending crosses and set pieces, but Gianluigi Buffon was rarely troubled. Those ahead of the captain ensured Malmo’s strikers had little to feed on. A first clean sheet since the September victory over the Swedes will be pleasing. Allegri reserved praise for his midfielders, calling Marchisio ‘a player of European level’, while Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba continued where they left off against Lazio. It was the Turin native’s through-ball which sent Llorente clear for the opener. A worry would be the continued malaise of Arturo Vidal, who is yet to find his best form after knee surgery. Allegri commended his work-rate in the more advanced midfield role, but it is clear there’s presently little verve about his performances. Juventus can now look ahead to the final group match with a clear picture on what’s required. Qualification will be on the line against Atletico Madrid and there are permutations aplenty, but the Bianconeri have only one goal in mind. “You approach it trying to win with two clear goals,” Allegri stated, “as topping the group would give us a better draw for the next round.” A single-goal win or draw will see Juventus finish second, while a loss could mean qualification or dropping to the Europa League – depending on Olympiacos. It sets up a fascinating end to an intriguing Group A. Juventus will approach December’s encounter in a buoyant mood as they currently enjoy a rich vein of form. Given a new lease of life under Allegri, they will be confident of righting the wrongs of last term. As Wednesday showed, Juventus continue to improve.

MALMÖ FF - JUVENTUS 0 - 2 Fernando Llorente (49') Carlos Tévez (88') Wednesday, November 26th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Swedbank Stadion, Malmö Referee:‬ Pedro Proença (Portugal) Marchisio: Atletico clash like a final for Juventus The Italy international has stressed that the Bianconeri are not there just yet and has urged his team-mates to again give everything against the Spanish outfit. Nov 27, 2014 Claudio Marchisio has stressed that Juventus' last Champions League group game against Atletico Madrid will be like a final after they moved into second place in their group following Wednesday's 2-0 win over Malmo. Goals from Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez helped the Serie A champions to a vital win over the Swedish champions and saw them leapfrog Olympiakos in the table, lying three points ahead of the Greek side. Juve now need a draw at home against Atleti to clinch a spot in the last 16, while a win by a two-goal margin means they will finish as group winners. "Against Atletico it will be like a final. We played well against them in Madrid, even though we ended up losing," Marchisio told Uefa's official website. "Qualification is the most important thing. We will try to win the last game and if things go well, we will also try to score more and finish first. "Now we must focus on Atletico. It's the last game and we've suffered a lot in this group but we approach this game in the best condition. We will try to play well against Atlético knowing that if results go our way, we'll qualify." The midfielder then went on to voice his satisfaction with his side's performance against Malmo. "It was not an easy game but we finally managed to win. Malmo created problems, especially in the first half, but in the second half we played much better and scored the goal which broke the deadlock. These three points are crucial for us. "We knew they were going to play long balls and our coach had told us that we had to be ready on second balls in order to win possession. Both Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente used the spaces their defence left well and we were able to exploit that." Juventus resume domestic action at home against Torino on Sunday. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

MALMÖ FF - JUVENTUS 0 - 2 Fernando Llorente (49') Carlos Tévez (88') Wednesday, November 26th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Swedbank Stadion, Malmö Referee:‬ Pedro Proença (Portugal) Malmo 0-2 Juventus: Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tévez score in vital away win Nov 27, 2014 It was the kind of night that Juventus fans have learned to dread in recent years, a Champions League away trip to a Scandinavian team where only a win would suffice. A goalless first half kept Juventus fans on edge until Fernando Llorente broke the deadlock, with Carlos Tévez adding a late second to record a 2-0 win that has been a long time coming. Juventus traveled to Sweden in fantastic form, with Massimiliano Allegri's switch to a four-man defense seeing four straight wins recorded by the resounding combined margin of 15-2. Those two goals did however come in Champions League play, where the Juventus defense has been much leakier. Juventus did record a clean sheet against Malmö in the Juventus Stadium, and another 2-0 result in Sweden is exactly what Juventus needed. The pitch in Sweden was cutting up even before the game began, and with Juventus coming out in their green jerseys, the early omens felt a tad worrying. The bad feeling continued into the first half as Juve created few chances and gave Malmö hope of their own, with the Swedish side able to pass around comfortably and create the occasional chance by putting long balls into the Juventus box. None of the early chances were very good, but Malmö generally competed well. As Juventus came to grips with the pitch conditions and the physical style of the hosts, creases began to appear in the Malmö defense. Claudio Marchisio was twice able to run behind the Swedish defense onto excellent chipped passes from Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal as the Old Lady bared her teeth. The second half showed a newly determined Juventus, with the full knowledge that this was their last chance. Fail to score and the Champions League dream would again be over too early for the Italian champions. In the end the deadlock only lasted for a few minutes, as Fernando Llorente was able to race clear and make his chance count. Juventus saw out the remainder of the game fairly comfortably, with Carlos Tévez adding a deserved second in stoppage time. In the end it was the kind of victory we expect when Juventus goes away to Europe's lesser lights, and which too often failed to materialize in the past few years. Next the Bianconeri can look ahead to emotional clashes with Torino and Fiorentina before the crunch clash with Atlético Madrid, knowing that a draw with the Spanish champions will see them through to the knockout stages. MATCH SUMMARY As soon as Malmo kicked the ball off from the center circle this looked like another difficult away day in Scandinavia, with the well-drilled and physical home side happy to stick together in defense and look for long balls into their strikers. The best chances of the early minutes went to the home side, as Juventus struggled to play the ball cleanly out from defense and were occasionally caught flat-footed by Malmö's physical strike partnership. Juventus grew into the game as the half went along, and the counterattacking game that was so deadly against Lazio appeared once again with Vidal forcing a save out of Olsen when he perhaps should have scored following excellent work from Stephan Lichtsteiner down the right. Juventus began recovering the ball higher up the pitch, and forcing Malmö into a defensive shell, but the finishing was not quite there. Clipped balls over the top were a constant source of danger for the home side, with Pirlo in particular reveling in the space provided in front of Malmö's defensive lines. Twice Marchisio broke through the Swedish defense, but was unable to beat Olsen in net. A couple of late counterattacks nearly produced chances in on goal as the strikers and advanced midfielders played quick combinations, but Malmö and the linesman did just enough to keep the scoreline at 0-0 into the break. Whatever Allegri said at halftime certainly had the desired effect, as Juventus came out on a mission to get at the Malmö goal. Marchisio had another good chance after Llorente hooked a high ball down for the Italian midfielder, but again his finish was too central. Minutes later Paul Pogba created another good chance for Marchisio, flicking the ball through the last line of defense, but Malmö recovered and when the ball came in again Tévez just missed it at the far post. With all this pressure the goal was surely coming, and in the 49th minute Llorente made it 1-0. Marchisio was again involved, with a perfect pass along the ground that split the Malmö defense wide open and put the Spanish striker in on goal, where he was able to round the keeper and slot home. The goal certainly relieved some of the pressure on Juventus, and with the goal that they needed control and patience became the order of the day. Malmö didn't seem to have a more aggressive gameplan in store for chasing the game, and Juventus was happy to keep the ball and watch the clock wind down, while always searching for a killer second goal. Pirlo took a guiding role as the game became more controlled, directing traffic and always looking for the killer pass to put a man in on goal. Although Malmö were contained fairly well, the home side continued to threaten the Juventus defense with simple high balls into the box. Set-pieces were a constant danger for Juventus with just the one-goal lead, with corners, free kicks, and even long-throws causing a bit of nerves considering the narrow margin for error. On 70 minutes, Llorente had a good chance for his second, when Padoin provided an excellent cross only to see his header saved. Álvaro Morata came on to replace his countryman just after, and Juventus could have sealed the result when countering off a Malmö corner, only for Vidal to miscue his pass. Juventus continued to create chances through the onrushing midfielders, but the home side nearly crashed the party when a late free kick found a Malmö head in the box, only for Chiellini and Buffon to react quickest and deal with the danger. Morata had a fantastic chance to make the scoreline safe on 87 minutes after his fellow substitute Roberto Pereyra dribbled to the byline and Tévez produced a fantastic cross, but somehow hit the crossbar from inside the six-yard box. But finally the second did come, and Morata played a vital role. Chiellini played a long ball out of defense for Morata to contest, and while Malmö complained of a foul the referee saw nothing wrong as the ball rebounded to Paul Pogba. The French midfielder rolled the ball across to Tévez for a confident first-time finish to finally put the game out of reach in the 91st minute. Two Malmö players were booked for their protests, including a second yellow for center back Johansson. Malmö did create one more chance, with Rosenberg firing near post following a run from substitute Cibicky, but it was well-saved by Buffon. So 2-0 it finished, which, combined with Atlético Madrid's 4-0 win over Olympiacos, means that a draw will be enough for Atleti and Juve to go through to the next round, with Juventus needing a two-goal victory to finish 1st. While qualification remains uncertain, today's results were certainly what the Old Lady ordered. LE PAGELLE Buffon: 6 Once again left with little to do, the Italian goalkeeper showed once again that he doesn't need constant action to be at his best with an excellent late stop on Rosenberg. Lichtsteiner: 6.5 The Swiss Express has been in excellent form of late, with the switch to a four-man backline doing nothing to hinder his attacking output. Bonucci: 6 The challenge today was mostly in the air, where Bonucci was able to hold his own. His distribution was a bit erratic at times, but defensively he did the job. Chiellini: 6.5 Like his partner, Chiellini held his own while frequently challenged in the air. A physical game that played right into his hands, the hardman also contributed to the second goal. Padoin: 5.5 Again showed the difficulties of playing out of position, allowing several crosses in and only sporadically contributing in attack. One of these contributions did lead to a good chance for Llorente. Pogba: 6.5 The Frenchman didn't have his best day in recent weeks but his physicality and technique repeatedly kept the ball for Juventus in tight spaces. Did well defensively to cover the back four. Pirlo: 6 The bearded veteran had a mixed performance early on, with one poor giveaway nearly gifting Malmö an opener. However, as the game wore on, his influence became much greater and could easily have led to assists. Marchisio: 7.5 Constantly running behind the opposing defense and always willing to have a shot, Marchisio was the standout performer for Juventus. With a bit more luck in his finishing could have bagged a hat trick. Vidal: 6 Although he can never be faulted for effort and defensive ability, Vidal's attacking has left something to be desired. While last year every shot seemed to fly past the keeper, this year has been a bit more of a struggle for the Chilean. Llorente: 6 A tough first half for the Spaniard in which he hardly touched the ball was more than eclipsed with a vital goal just after the break. Could have added another with two good headed chances. Tévez: 7 All-action and with the technique and decision-making to get the final touch just right, Carlos Tévez is in some of the form of his life. Made himself available as an outlet on the counter and scored a well-taken insurance goal. Substitutes: Morata: 6 Brought on for Llorente in the 71st minute, Morata played a vital role in Tévez's goal by contesting the long ball. Should have really gotten the second himself when he somehow hit the crossbar from Tévez's cross just before. Pereyra: 6 The Argentine came in for Marchisio and took on the role behind the strikers. Always willing to take on his man and dribble into the box, Pereyra showed his defensive side by stopping a Malmö counter and earning yellow for his trouble. Coach: Allegri: 7 A lot could have gone wrong in this match, especially after enduring a goalless first-half, but the coach's halftime talk reinvigorated the side. The four-man defense continues its undefeated run, with Juventus having won all five games since dropping the sweeper. Allegri continues to get things right on the bench and is very much winning over the Juventus faithful. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

MALMÖ FF - JUVENTUS 0 - 2 Fernando Llorente (49') Carlos Tévez (88') Wednesday, November 26th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Swedbank Stadion, Malmö Referee:‬ Pedro Proença (Portugal) Malmö 0 - 2 Juventus: Initial reaction and random observations Nov 27, 2014 As much as Juventus tried to 'Euro Juventus' the whole thing up Wednesday night's trip to Scandinavia, the adjustments Max Allegri made at halftime were just too much for the Old Lady's European wackiness. Juventus looked a lot like they had in the previous Champions League encounters over the first half. Their attack was rather drab, their build-up play not exactly the best or most imaginative. But you could tell the switch went off at halftime, and they showed it right away. Juventus used second-half goals from the Beauty and the Beast Combination of Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tévez to beat Malmö 2-0. And, thanks to Atlético Madrid's dismantling of Olympiacos, enter the final group stage game of 2014 all alone in second place. Not exactly what we envisioned when Juve were struggling to do much of anything all those weeks back in Madrid, now is it? But Juventus have rebounded, and are actually playing good football for a change compared to the first half of this year's group stage. Instead of lagging for 90 minutes, Allegri was able to adapt, noticing that something needed to be fixed and executing it exactly how they should have. They not only dominated possession in the second half, but dominated the scoring chances as well. And because of it, Juventus are where they are now. Some in-game adaptation — no matter who it comes from — is quite nice to see, if you ask me. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@ClaMarchisio8: "We managed to raise the intensity and find greater space in which to play after the interval." JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "We created a lot after the break but should have put the game to bed earlier - that's where we need to improve." JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "I didn't think Malmo could maintain their first-half tempo and so it proved." All they need against Atlético Madrid is one measly point. Although three points would be pretty cool. Random thoughts and observations Seriously, how pretty was Claudio Marchisio's assist on Llorente's goal? Seriously, how did Fernando Llorente outrun all of Malmö's defenders on his goal? I've been known to say a nice thing or two about Marchisio when he plays really well, and that's not going to change today, people. The assist on the go-ahead goal is the headliner on a very good performance, but this was as active and attack-minded I can remember Marchisio being in a good amount of time. Other than his not-so-great finishing in front of goal, it was one of the best I've seen Marchisio play this season. And even then, it took a couple of absolutely fantastic saves to keep Marchisio off the scoresheet Wednesday night. He has clearly been one of Juventus' most consistent players the last month or so. And if this new tactical approach by Allegri means a better Marchisio, that's nothing but a good development. At times on Wednesday night, Arturo Vidal looked like the Arturo Vidal of old. But in the big picture, he's still struggling to regain any kind of good form this season. Speaking of players who looked more like their old selves, Giorgio Chiellini was an absolute rock in defense — especially in the first half when Malmö actually gave the Juventus defense some problems. Fifteen starts in all competitions for Carlos Tévez this season, 12 goals scored in those games. He's in such good goal-scoring form that he can absolutely scuff a shot and it will still find the back of the net. Must be nice, Carlitos. Although, that goal from Tévez probably should have never happened because of a foul on Álvaro Morata. But based on the kind of night the referee had, I'm not surprised he missed a clearly foul that happened right in front of him. Gigi Buffon with shutouts in four of Juventus' last five games. It's not just the offense that is greatly benefiting from Allegri's formation change. Just for the record: That pitch was Galatasaray bad, but it was pretty terrible. When you can see the ball bouncing a couple inches off the ground on simple passes, then you know it's not even close to being a good thing. Juventus is still undefeated when Simone Padoin starts at left back. Just throwing it out there. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

MALMÖ FF - JUVENTUS 0 - 2 Fernando Llorente (49') Carlos Tévez (88') Wednesday, November 26th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Swedbank Stadion, Malmö Referee:‬ Pedro Proença (Portugal) Allegri: Juventus want to beat Atletico to top spot The Bianconeri only need a point from their final fixture to progress to the last-16 but their coach says the Italian champions will be targeting a victory by two clear goals. Nov 26, 2014 Massimiliano Allegri says Juventus will go all out to beat Atletico Madrid to top spot in Champions League Group A when the pair collide in Turin next month. The Bianconeri defeated Malmo 2-0 in Sweden on Wednesday night to move second in the standings, three points behind the already-qualified Rojiblancos, but three ahead of third-placed Olympiakos. As things stand, Juve need only a draw to book their place in the last-16 but Allegri insists the Italian champions will do everything they can to overturn their head-to-head deficit against Atletico, having been beaten 1-0 by Diego Simeone's men at the Vicente Calderon on matchday two. "We must try to win - and do so by two clear goals because we have the chance to finish first," he told Sky Sport Italia. "It will be a beautiful evening but we will have to get a good result in order to seal our qualification and claim first place." As for the win over Malmo, which came courtesy of second-half strikes from Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez, Allegri was pleased with the way in which his players coped with the cold conditions and a difficult playing surface. However, the former AC Milan boss was frustrated by Juve's failure to break Malmo's game resistance before Tevez struck with two minutes of normal time remaining. "We should have closed the game out earlier but, in the circumstances, the boys have played a good game. "Malmo ran a lot. The pitch didn't help us. We gave the ball away too many times and also wasted too many goalscoring chances. "The second half was easier but we still should have finished them off sooner." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

MALMÖ FF - JUVENTUS 0 - 2 Fernando Llorente (49') Carlos Tévez (88') Wednesday, November 26th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Swedbank Stadion, Malmö Referee:‬ Pedro Proença (Portugal) Tevez: Juventus Can Do Better Nov 26, 2014 Juventus striker Carlos Tevez believes his side can continue to improve after putting themselves on the verge of Champions League qualification with a 2-0 success away to Malmo. The Argentinean struck late in the game after Fernando Llorente had opened the scoring as the Bianconeri put one foot in the knockout stages of the competition. He told Sky Sport Italia afterwards: “The pitch was not a good one for the game but for my goal it favoured me so I can’t complain! “In the first half, we did not play well but after the goal from Llorente it opened the game up for us. We are Juventus and we must grow. We know that we can improve and that we can do better even if this time it was important to win.” Tevez also said that one of the secrets to their success is down to the players simply having fun and enjoying themselves on the field but refused to be drawn on choosing between Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri. “There are so many pressures on you as a player [for Juventus] and we players have to prove that we can have fun on the field which we do,” he added. “That is a great help because having fun makes you play better. It is important to have fun because it also eases the pressure. “Conte or Allegri? Both are phenomenal.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

MALMÖ FF - JUVENTUS 0 - 2 Fernando Llorente (49') Carlos Tévez (88') Wednesday, November 26th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Swedbank Stadion, Malmö Referee:‬ Pedro Proença (Portugal) Marchisio: 'Ignore permutations' Nov 26, 2014 Claudio Marchisio discussed his versatility after Juventus earned a 2-0 victory at Malmo and looks forward to Atletico Madrid. “I made mistakes on my chances and aimed too close to the goalkeeper. We are happy with the performance, especially in the second half, as we brought home the three points,” he told Sport Mediaset. “Let’s just say we now have experience of bad pitches in Europe after Istanbul last year! We knew the pitch would be difficult, but we adapted and in the second half played our usual fluid football.” A point against Atletico Madrid in Turin will be enough to qualify them, but a win by two clear goals would even make Juventus the group leaders. In fact, Juve could even lose to Atleti and qualify if Olympiacos fail to beat Malmo. “Now we will think of Atletico. We mustn’t look at the permutations and instead go only for the victory. We took the game to Atletico in Madrid and were unlucky not to score there. “The team has been playing very well for the last month. I don’t have a specific position that I prefer. I’ve played many roles with criticism and praise. Over the years I must say I just try to give my contribution in any role. “Since I’ve been playing a little deeper and closer to the defence I get more touches and that’s certainly enjoyable, even if I am further away from the goal.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166