Socrates

Falcao wanted to join Juventus - Marotta The Italian giants' managing director has indicated that the Colombian forward had prioritised joining his team until events transpired to move him to Manchester United. Oct 27, 2014 Radamel Falcao wanted to join Juventus this summer before being coerced into his €10 million loan move to Manchester United, according to the Turin club's managing director Giuseppe Marotta. Falcao joined Monaco last summer but the Ligue 1 club decided to cash in on many of their biggest players - including his Colombian compatriot James Rodriguez to Real Madrid - during the last transfer window and Louis van Gaal's side won the race for his signature on deadline day. The Scudetto holders were one of the many clubs reported to be interested and Marotta confirmed those suspicions, claiming the Colombian striker was keen to ditch Monaco for Turin before the Ligue 1 club struck a deal with the Red Devils. "We followed Falcao, but there has been no contact since he moved to Manchester United," the Juve chief told Domenica Sportiva. "We were very close to signing him and the striker wanted to give priority to move to Italy to wear Bianconeri colours. "Then, however, a deal was done to send the forward to Manchester United, who now have a preferential right of purchase, though that deal is a little blurred." Falcao has scored once in five appearances for the Red Devils so far this season, compared to the two goals he netted for Monaco in three games before leaving the Stade Louis II.

Evra to miss a month? Oct 27, 2014 Patrice Evra will reportedly spend a month on the sidelines as a result of a hamstring injury that kept him out of Juventus’ win over Palermo on Sunday. The Frenchman skipped the weekend win having suffered with discomfort in the back of his left thigh and has undergone tests this morning. Tuttosport reports that those examinations carried out have revealed that the former Manchester United man has sustained a strained hamstring and will be out of action until late November. The news will come as a blow for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, who are short of options on the left flank, with Kwadwo Asamoah the only other recognised starter in the role. The Turin-based newspaper speculates that Roberto Pereyra or Simone Padoin could be asked to fill in on the left-hand side on occasion until Evra recovers, with Juventus juggling both Serie A and Champions League commitments.

Pogba: I play like Yaya Toure The midfielder has been studying the Manchester City midfielder amongst a number of other players in his position in a bid to improve his game. Oct 27, 2014 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has likened his playing style to that of Manchester City star Yaya Toure. The France international signed a new contract with the Serie A champions until 2019 on Friday, having become a key figure for club and country since arriving in Turin after leaving Manchester United on a free transfer two years ago. Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri said over the weekend that Pogba still has lots of work to do to become one of the best players in the world and he has responded by revealing how he studies many of the game's finest players in his position. "I think there are lots of players still better than me, but it's not up to me to worry about this sort of comparison," he told Fifa.com. "I try to do my job and be the best I possibly can. "There are lots of midfielders I admire and watching them helps me improve. I could mention, for example, Yaya Toure, who has a similar size and physique to me but more experience. We have more or less the same playing style, even if he's a bit more attacking than me." Pogba featured at his first World Cup in Brazil earlier this year, playing a key role as France made the quarter-finals before bowing out to eventual winners Germany. Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps is one of two midfield greats to have worked with Pogba - ex-Juve boss Antonio Conte the other - and the former Manchester United prodigy feels both both have aided his development. "I've progressed with both of them. Didier Deschamps, for example, knows me very well and knows how to manage me," he added. "He helps me improve every day, whether it's in training or in a match. "He gives me the desire to give my best. He always gives me good advice and he's very honest with me. As a player, you really appreciate getting trust and encouragement from your coach. "What he tells me most is to, 'stay focused and keep things simple', the way he used to do so well."

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Llorente delighted to end goal drought The Spaniard has endured a poor start to the campaign and was understandably elated to score his first goal in nine games on Sunday. Oct 27, 2014 Juventus striker Fernando Llorente has voiced his delight with his goal in the reigning Serie A champions' 2-0 win over Palermo on Sunday. The Spanish attacker had gone nine official games without finding the net in 2014-15, but scored his side's second goal as they bagged the full three points against the Sicilians at the weekend. "It’s a very important victory and I’m very happy with my contribution to the result," Llorente told reporters. "It’s a special day for me because it’s my first goal of the season and I couldn’t wait to bag it. It’ll definitely help me going forward to keep aiding the team. "It’s not easy scoring from corners because the defenders are jostling you. I was waiting for a delivery like that to come my way and get off the mark for the campaign." The former Athletic Bilbao man then went on to praise Juventus' overall performance against Palermo. "We went out there knowing what we had to do: be aggressive from the off. We did it very well and had many opportunities to score in the first-half. "It was a good performance from everyone involved and we need to continue in the same vein." Juventus remain atop of the Serie A table following this weekend's results, holding a three-point lead over second-placed Roma. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Arsenal Preparing January Bid For Lichtsteiner Oct 27, 2014 Arsenal are apparently preparing a bid for Juventus’ Swiss right back Stephan Lichtsteiner. The Gunners are looking to bolster their defence in January and is attracted by the Swiss international’s Champions League experience. According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal would be prepared to submit a bid as early as January for the 30 year old who is out of contract at the end of the season, and could leave for a reduced fee. Talks are expected between the Bianconeri and Lichtsteiner over a new deal, but there have been rumours of Udinese’s Silvan Widmer joining the club as a replacement for his international teammate. If Lichtsteiner did join Arsenal in January, he would be cup-tied for the Champions League, as he has already played in the competition this season for Juventus.

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Juventus vs. Palermo: Winners and Losers from Serie A Game Oct 26, 2014 After a run of poor performances, Juventus hosted Palermo on Sunday afternoon knowing their recent form left much room for improvement. Losses to Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos in the Champions League sandwiched Serie A encounters with Roma and Sassuolo that were little better. Despite taking four points from those matches, the Bianconeri had struggled to impress in almost a month but knew the struggling Sicilians would provide a much less arduous test. The Rosanero had won just once in the opening seven rounds of the campaign, with Beppe Iachini’s newly promoted side struggling to adjust to life in the top flight. Massimiliano Allegri was still without injured defenders Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres, forcing him to rely on some lesser-used members of his squad. They did not disappoint, helping Juve to a 2-0 victory that extends their lead atop the standings to three points and should strengthen the belief within the camp. Over the following pages, we'll take a look at the winners and the losers from the win, looking closely at those whose impact upon the game was most keenly felt. Winner: Fernando Llorente (Juventus) After a barren start to 2014-15, Fernando Llorente finally netted for the first time this season, scoring the second Bianconeri strike of the day. Heading home an Andrea Pirlo corner, the Spanish striker ended a run of poor showings in front of goal, with his finishing touch returning after a prolonged absence. The Basque star had come in for much criticism recently, with his troubles discussed last week in this column. Allegri restored him to the starting line-up and discussed Llorente’s performance with Sky Italia shortly after the final whistle, telling the outlet (h/t Football Italia): Llorente wasn’t depressed at not scoring yet this season, but it’s normal that a goal is important for a striker, even if he likes to play for the team. This was the right game for him, both for his physical characteristics and to let Morata rest. I am happy he scored, as he repaid the faith we have in him and above all his own self-confidence. Winner: Roberto Pereyra (Juventus) This summer, the signing of Roberto Pereyra was seen as underwhelming, with this column openly questioning if he was good enough to play for Juventus. Since arriving in Turin, however, the Argentinian has excelled, turning in yet another excellent display against Palermo. Playing at wing-back in order to allow Stephan Lichtsteiner to take a well-earned break, the 23-year-old was vital in helping the Bianconeri secure victory. He stole the ball from Zouhair Feddal to spark the move which led to the home side’s opening goal, and he deserves much credit for his value to the squad. Loser: Beppe Iachini (Palermo) While there is no denying the positive impact Iachini has had since arriving at Palermo in September last year, winning the Serie B title and guiding the Rosanero back to the top flight, the 50-year-old is finding retaining that status a much more difficult task. They currently sit outside the relegation zone with just six points, and only Parma have conceded more goals so far this term. With 17 goals against them already, Palermo need to improve quickly if they are to arrest their poor run of form. “We made a few too many mistakes,” the coach told RAI Sport after the match (h/t Football Italia), and he must hope he can eradicate those errors quickly. With club President Maurizio Zamparini notoriously short on patience, Iachini could soon find his job under threat. The fixture list has been kind, however, with their matches in November and December looking much easier than those they have already played. Chievo, Udinese, Parma and Sassuolo visit Sicily in that time, and Palermo should see their form improve as a result. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Marotta: 'Inter row deplorable' Oct 26, 2014 Juventus director Beppe Marotta said Inter’s response to an Andrea Agnelli joke about Calciopoli was “deplorable.” Marotta was on RAI programme La Domenica Sportiva tonight and was asked about the ugly incident that occurred on Friday. “That statement annoyed us a lot. Agnelli replied to a question from a reporter and expressed a positive opinion on Moratti and Thohir. “He joked affectionately that Moratti did something crazy by accepting a Scudetto he didn’t win. “From that to releasing such a hard and inappropriate statement is beyond the limits. What was written on the Inter site was deplorable.” It has been reported that Massimo Moratti was also surprised by the ferocity of Inter’s statement, as he had exchanged similar jokes with Agnelli via text message. “FC Internazionale is saddened to hear that Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has once again attempted to distort the facts and change history,” read the statement. “Unfortunately for him, and for Italian football as a whole, 2006 was a disastrous year in which the Scudetto was legitimately awarded to Inter by the FIGC and Juventus were relegated to Serie B along with their reputation. “Those are the facts. We will not allow anyone to change them or act as if they did not happen.”

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie_a/2014/10/26-83309_0/Foto+Juve-Palermo+2-0%2C+le+istantanee+più+belle http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/h2A-2zxu1Mb/Juventus+FC+v+Citta+di+Palermo+Serie

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Allegri: I was right to choose Llorente The striker netted his first goal of the season to justify his coach picking him over Alvaro Morata, who impressed in midweek. Oct 26, 2014 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri felt Fernando Llorente's first goal of the season justified his faith in the striker for Sunday’s 2-0 win over Palermo. Allegri opted to start Llorente in attack despite the availability of Alvaro Morata, who had impressed in the Champions League against Olympiacos in midweek. And that decision was vindicated as Llorente, who scored 16 times in Serie A for the club last season, added to Arturo Vidal's first-half strike with a well-taken header. That maintained Juve's unbeaten league start and restored their three-point lead over Roma at the Serie A summit. "Llorente wasn't depressed at not scoring yet this season, but it's normal that a goal is important for a striker, even if he likes to play for the team," Allegri told Sky Sport Italia afterwards. "This was the right game for him, both for his physical characteristics and to let Morata rest. I am happy he scored, as he repaid the faith we have in him and above all his own self-confidence." Allegri added: "It was a poor first half and Palermo made it difficult for us, but we increased the tempo after the break and did better." After a cagey opening, the hosts were settled by Vidal's 32nd-minute opener and went on to complete a 23rd consecutive home league win. Claudio Marchisio was another player recalled for Sunday's game, having missed the Champions League defeat to the Greeks that puts Juve's qualification for the last 16 in doubt. He told the club's official website: "It was important to win today and it's great that Nando's [Llorente] got off the mark for the season. "It was a good win against a decent Palermo side, they caused us a few problems on the counter at times." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese TEAM RATINGS Oct 26, 2014 Juventus 1 Buffon - The keeper had a very quiet afternoon in the Juve net as Palermo failed to test him with a meaningful shot on target. 5 Ogbonna - The centre-back put in a strong performance to limit the effect of any runs in behind by Dybala. He was confident on the ball, too. 19 Bonucci - Made some important last-ditch challenges at the back but was never stretched too much. He looked to have picked up a knock late on but continued to play. 3 Chiellini - Regularly stepped up from the back and played penetrating vertical passes in towards the forwards which caused Palermo problems. 37 Pereyra - Showed great persistence on the right side of to win the ball back and launch the counter which led to Vidal's goal. It was his only real contribution, though. 23 ARTURO VIDAL - A very dynamic performance in midfield as he regularly made runs from deep to outnumber the Palermo defence. He netted with a composed finish in the first half. 21 Pirlo - Saw plenty of the ball but his distribution was not up to his usual standards as he played a few stray passes. He got an assist for Llorente's goal moments before being subbed. 8 Marchisio - Performed brightly in midfield and played some clever passes. He had a couple of ambitious efforts on goal that went nowhere near the target. 22 Asamoah - Was mostly used when attacking in the second half and consistently made sure of getting back into position to stop Pisano from getting forward. 10 Tévez - The Argentine held onto the ball well and attempted to draw others into the action. His powerful, quick run saw him set up Vidal for the opener. 14 Llorente - Showed some good movement in the box to make himself a target from crosses and finally got his goal with a header in the second half. Substitutes: 26 Lichtsteiner - Replaced Pereyra in the 53rd minute and offered more width on the right but not enough quality deliveries. 6 Pogba - Came on for Pirlo in the 65th minute but struggled to add an extra spark to the midfield. 12 Giovinco - Brought on for Tevez in the 80th minute and forced a couple of saves from Sorrentino as well as hitting the post! Palermo 70 S. Sorrentino - The keeper did not have many saves to make and could do little to stop Vidal finding the net before half time. 6 E. Muñoz - The Argentine was needlessly sucked across by Tevez's run in the first half and Vidal exploited the space to score the opening goal. 12 G. González - Showed a great ability to read the game, thus getting into important places to sweep up at the back with important clearances and challenges. 4 S. Anđelković - Found it difficult to cope with Tevez's movement and Llorente's height when Juve came forward and his positional awareness was not great. 3 E. Pisano - Tried his hardest to push forward down the right and get some crosses into the box but lacked the quality to beat his opponent regularly. 15 F. Bolzoni - Struggled to really make a mark on the game in midfield. He played a simple passing game but was not heavily involved in the action. 27 L. Rigoni - Worked hard in the centre of the park and tried to make himself available for the ball, however, his influence on proceedings was minimal. 8 É. Barreto - Did plenty of running in midfield to ensure his defence were screened and he was also composed when in possession. 23 Z. Feddal - The Moroccan worked hard out on the left but was unable to offer much of a contribution in attacking terms. He was not tight enough to Llorente as he netted the second. 20 F. Vázquez - The Argentine was lively in the first half, when he narrowly missed the target with a header, and linked well with Dybala at points. 9 P. Dybala - The Argentine showed some impressive technique when dribbling but was largely limited to shots from range which failed to test Buffon. Substitutes: 25 E. Maresca - Replaced Rigoni in the 74th minute and did not have time to influence things. 99 A. Belotti - Came on for Barreto in the 60th minute but failed to have a positive impact. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Llorente's confidence boost but Palermo win was too easy for Juve Oct 26, 2014 It would be good to say that Juventus faced stiff competition in their 2-0 win over Palermo on Sunday but the truth is the Sicilians came to Turin to avoid embarrassment rather than having a go at the champions. Showing no ambition or interest in taking hold of the ball to create their own chances, it was a one sided affair and this brings with it wider issues about the state of Serie A football and the Champions League. Italian teams are struggling in Europe's premier competition because of the type of games they are forced to play domestically, such as the one between Juventus and Palermo on Sunday. When sides like Juventus have it so easy, they are not allowed to grow into a better team as they are simply not being challenged. There is no need to push that extra bit both on a sporting and psychological level. Allowed to be slow and to expend as little energy as possible, Juventus were never troubled and were worthy winners. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri opted to start Roberto Pereyra on the right in place of Stephan Lichtsteiner and while the Argentine could not perform the role as well as the Swiss, who bombs forward superbly to offer another dimension to the attack, he did impress. It was his determination to win the ball in the wide area that led to Juventus' first goal, passing it to Carlos Tevez who slid it to Arturo Vidal to finish. Yet the player who made the difference in the match was Claudio Marchisio, offering Juventus that bit more going forward. Against Olympiakos in midweek, Juventus demonstrated how well they create. With Andrea Pirlo in his usual place and Marchisio allowed to deliver delicious passes forward as well as forward runs to penetrate the area, it made Juve more dangerous. "Il Principino" was only allowed to play because Paul Pogba needed a rest yet his performance proved why he must always be a permanent fixture in the starting line-up alongside the rest of his midfield teammates. In the second half the Old Lady played with a little more intensity, showing a tad more determination to finish off the game. The match might have bored the rest of us but at least it allowed Fernando Llorente score his first goal of the season, repaying the faith his coach has had in him. Having continuously sacrificed his own game to play an unselfish role in the team, he deserved his goal and that may be restore some confidence. Juve's second was the eighth time Palermo have conceded from a set piece this season -- Beppe Iachini has to organise his team better and if they cannot defend effectively, they will continue to pick up unwanted defeats. Needless to say, this was an easy win for Juventus and they have given themselves a bit of room at the top (three points, to be precise) after Roma drew to Sampdoria on Saturday night. This may not have been the game they needed to help push their development along but it was one that allowed Vidal to silence his critics and Llorente to finally score. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Llorente Happy After Breaking His Season Duck Oct 26, 2014 Fernando Llorente was clearly delighted after Juventus’ 2-0 win over Palermo on Sunday and more specifically his role in the performance. The Spanish International was beaming after scoring his first goal of the season against the Rosanero at the Juventus Stadium. “I always had the confidence of all the coaches, I have also been suffering with back pain,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “I was not worried, because I have always helped the team while we were winning and I was happy. Of course, it is important to score and the fact that I did today has given me great joy. “It’s definitely good for the coach that Alvaro Morata is here, he can choose from many players. I think so far I’m doing a great job for the team but I did not score in the last games because my back pain was not good. Physically I’m fine now. “Roma are very strong, stronger than last year, we have to give our best in every match.” “We did not start well in the Champions League but there are two big games against Olympiacos and Malmo. If we win both games we can qualify for the next round.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Juventus 2-0 Palermo: Vidal and Llorente score in comfortable win After a midweek setback, a home win against relegation-threatened Palermo was a must. With goals from Arturo Vidal and Fernando Llorente Juventus did just that. Oct 26, 2014 It seems a long time since the international break, with Juventus only taking a single point from two straightforward games. The draw with Sassuolo came with caveats: it was Pirlo's first game back, the first game after an international break where Juve players were crisscrossing the globe and Sassuolo's squad holed up in training. But then came Olympiacos. The Greek champions have a good side, especially at home, but Juventus is, man for man, simply better and should be winning these games. Anyway, on to Palermo. Last year's Serie B champion, the pink-and-black side began their top-division return shipping goals by the bucketful. Talented young Argentines Paulo Dybala and Franco Vázquez have continued the growth that began in the second tier, with "El Mudo" Vázquez even leading the Capocannoniere standings at one point. For all their good work however, Palermo began the season rooted to the foot of the table, with Beppe Iachini feeling the heat as the defense was torn through time and again. A 2-1 win at Cesena, sealed with an injury-time header by Costa Rican CB Giancarlo González, finally brought the club their first win last week. Much of the blame for recent setbacks has gone to Juventus' attack, with Carlos Tévez cooling down and his strike-partner Fernando Llorente yet to get off his mark and even seeing his place in the team under threat. Palermo's weak defending proved the perfect remedy, as sloppy passing and poor set-piece defense gifted Juventus a 2-0 lead which they were never likely to relinquish. MATCH SUMMARY Juve took the kickoff in their blue second kit, but weren't able to control the game initially. Sloppy passing and an energetic Palermo prevented much of the patient passing that Allegri's Juve has been built on, and with Andrea Pirlo struggling to impose himself Palermo began the match fairly comfortably. The two sides' different interpretations of the 3-5-2 formation were very clear, with Palermo stuck in a bank of 5 with an overworked midfield barely covering the gaps, while Juventus wing-backs pushed high, took players on, and put balls into the strikers. Roberto Pereyra and Kwadwo Asamoah were very effective in this role, with the formation often resembling a 4-4-2 as the near side wing-back came upfield and the defensive line shifted across. After Bonucci and Ogbonna switched roles around the 18th minute, Andrea Pirlo began to grow into the game. Ogbonna had often found himself taking up some of Pirlo's favored positions, and with Bonucci's superior understanding of Pirlo's movements the veteran became more influential. Palermo almost immediately abandoned any kind of attacking buildup in favor of hopeful balls into an outnumbered Dybala and Vázquez. Perhaps this was a deliberate tactic, as one of the few times the Sicilians tried to pass the ball around was their undoing. Pereyra hassled Rigoni and Feddal and won the ball with Palermo's defensive line out of position, feeding Tévez who took on the back 3 and waited for support. Arturo Vidal arrived on cue, having been switched over to the left early on, to neatly sidefoot home. Following the goal Palermo were still unable to break out of their shell, with Juventus continuing to dominate and create half-chances, often through Pereyra, Asamoah, and Tévez. The second half started with Palermo finally trying to press high, and continuing to try and feed Dybala. But the visitors' high press was ineffective as their defensive line stayed deep, leaving the midfielders overworked and easily bypassed. Palermo began to get frustrated and Barreto became the first man booked on 51'. From a counter following the free kick Palermo finally found Dybala behind the defense, but his cross only found Bonucci for a good clearing header. After the 55th minute, as substitutes came on and the game slowed down, Palermo lost their will to press and Juventus' midfield runners began to lose their markers. Vidal and Marchisio had chances to grab Juventus' second. In the 63rd minute a nice bit of combination play between Llorente and Tévez was barely dealt with, but from the resulting corner Juventus found the goal. Palermo have a dreadful record defending set pieces, and so it proved again with Pirlo's near-post cross finding Llorente for an excellent header into the bottom corner. The big Basque has had a rough start to the season, but with this goal his luck might be changing. As the clock ticked down and Giovinco was brought on for Tévez, Juventus continued to create the best chances. Marchisio and Giovinco could have added to the scoreline, with the Atomic Ant repeatedly troubling the Palermo defense. There was a worrying moment late in the game as Leonardo Bonucci injured himself clearing the ball, but after treatment the defender was able to return and finish the game. The game finished 2-0, a fair description of the difference between the sides. Juventus were never troubled by the Sicilians, who backed off early and lacked ability in possession and set-piece defense. For Juventus' part the defense continued to look solid, although the passive gameplan from Palermo let the Old Lady comfortably into her stride. Andrea Pirlo began to look himself again after Ogbonna was told to get out of his way, while Marchisio and Vidal repeatedly threatened the opposition's penalty box. There will be bigger games to come for both teams, but the result was a reassuring return to form for Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus. LE PAGELLE Buffon: 6. Another day in the office for Gigi Buffon, rarely called into action but always attentive. A Dybala snapshot from range could have caught out many keepers, but not San Gigi. Ogbonna: 6. The Nigerian-Italian stopper has continued his strong start to the season and played a big role in keeping Dybala in check, although in the early part of the game he often found himself in Andrea Pirlo's way, which is never good. Bonucci: 6.5. Asked to play as the right-sided center back for most of the game, Bonucci read the game well. An excellent defensive header in the 50th minute helped maintain the clean sheet. Injured himself late, but hopefully nothing serious. Chiellini: 6. Always leading by example, the Juventus hardman put in a typical hard-as-nails performance on the left of the back three. Pereyra: 6.5. A vital contribution to the first goal, Pereyra showed he can play on the wing as well. Not troubled defensively by Feddal. Vidal: 6.5. The Chilean is back on the scoresheet, finding the net with an excellent left-footed finish. A good performance, but not quite his all-action best. Pirlo: 6. A slow start to the game brought up memories of Sassuolo and Juventus, but the playmaker seems to be finding his feet in Alleri's team. With several pinpoint passes and the cross for Llorente's goal he made a telling impact. Marchisio: 6. The versatile midfielder showed some of his best aspects today, repeatedly getting into scoring positions and perhaps unlucky to not grab a goal himself. Another hard-working performance from the Italian international. Asamoah: 6. Up and down his flank, comfortable crossing or cutting inside, and always attentive in defense, the Ghanaian showed why he should start ahead of Patrice Evra. Tévez: 7. The workhorse striker was all over the pitch today, providing a dangerous outlet whether running at or behind the Palermo defense. Assisted Vidal's goal and was constantly threatening. Llorente: 6.5. A goal! Finally the Basque striker is off his duck for the season, heading a Pirlo corner into the net. His holdup play was as reliable as ever, and the goal could be the first of many. Substitutes: Lichtsteiner: 6. Filled in comfortably on the right-side, offered running and strength but not the same creative presence as Pereyra. Pogba: 6. Brought on for Pirlo, the French midfielder played within himself and kept the game under control. Giovinco: 6.5. Only on for 10 minutes, the Italian striker ran toyed with the Sicilian backline and repeatedly threatened Sorrentino, seeing one shot denied by the post. Coach: Allegri: 6.5. Under some pressure following the Olympiacos loss, Allegri responded by moving parts to get a resilient Juventus performance and a better Pirlo. Using two very attacking wing-backs and changing roles in midfield and defense kept Palermo out of the game and played a role in the comfortable win. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Allegri: Juventus Played A Poor First Half Against Palermo Oct 26, 2014 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was critical of his side’s showing against Palermo, despite the match finishing in their favor. Arturo Vidal and Fernando Llorente helped the Bianconeri to earn all three points after what has been a difficult week for the reigning Scudetto champions, but he was not impressed with their performance during the first half. However, the former AC Milan coach did single out the Spanish striker, who finally opened his account for some praise. “For a striker, scoring goals is everything. I’m glad for him, he worked hard for himself and for the team,” he stated to Sky Sport Italia after the game. “[However], as a team, we had a poor first half. We were too slow and inaccurate with our passing.” Allegri also went on to discuss the situation regarding veteran midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who is still recovering after a long injury lay-off. “Andrea came back from the World Cup and then was injured, causing him to miss 40 days. As a result, he needs to play more to improve his condition. [but] he [definitely] had a solid 65 minutes out there today.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Juventus 2 - Palermo 0: Initial reaction and random observations Oct 26, 2014 If you were to try and pinpoint two of the Juventus players who have struggled for the better part of the 2014-15 season to date, Arturo Vidal and Fernando Llorente would almost certainly be atop the list. They've been nowhere close to as good as they were a season ago, and their most recent appearances only support that point even further. But when the final whistle blew against Palermo on Sunday and Juventus had secured three points yet again at Juventus Stadium, guess who found themselves on the scoresheet? Well, you can probably figure out where I'm going with this. Those goal scorers were Arturo Vidal and Fernando Llorente, one in each half to put away the newly-promoted side from Sicily with a 2-0 win. Yep, just a couple of guys who need some positive performances got exactly that. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen Reaction from @ClaMarchisio8: "It was important to win today and it's great that Nando's got off the mark for the season." Was it pretty at times? Well, no, not really. For as nice as Vidal's opener from Carlos Tévez was in the 31st minute, most of the first half was pretty quiet in terms of Juventus putting a legitimate threat on the Palermo goal. And once Juventus took control in the second half, it was pretty much Palermo trying to weather the storm and not let the flood gates open. The biggest difference between the first time Juventus wore their new blue kits and the second was the end result. And coming off two disappointing results in a matter of days, it was a positive sign to see Juve come out and do exactly what we were all expecting them to do against Palermo — take care of business and get the three points. Something to build on. Not a huge step forward, but unlike the last few games, it wasn't a huge step back. Random thoughts and observations For the record, this first bullet point was written 20 minutes before kickoff, and asks one question: After the way he played midweek in the Champions League, why didn't Álvaro Morata start against Palermo? I love Fernando Llorente as much as the next person, but you have to play the hot hand ... right? I mean ... right? For the record, this second bullet point is being written about 60 seconds after Fernando Llorente scored his first goal of the season: #vamooooossss!! In all seriousness, though, getting his first goal of the season out of the way was exactly what Llorente needed — especially so with Morata nipping at his heels for playing time right now. One goal doesn't mean he's totally back, but it has to do wonders for his confidence. You think that goal meant a little something extra with the way he's struggled to begin the season? Yeah, I think so. Sunday had to easily be the most amount of consistent service from the wings Llorente has gotten this season. Kwadwo Asamoah was really good on the left wing, Roberto Pereyra was solid in his first start as a wingback. Llorente had a good number of crosses to try and get his head onto. And for a striker like him, it's only a matter of time before he starts putting them on frame on a consistent basis. With his assist on Vidal's goal, Tévez has been involved in nine (six goals, three assists) of Juventus' first 15 goals in Serie A this season. That's pretty good, right? Claudio Marchisio's game is just so simple yet so fantastic at the same time. He was Juve's best player in the first half in my book. He was everywhere both in attack and when Palermo did venture forward into Juve's defense third. The way he's played so far this season, it's going to be tough to keep him out of the lineup more often than not. The question to ponder is: Who you gonna sit? Interesting tactical choices by Max Allegri just after the opening kickoff, switching both Vidal and Marchisio in the center of the midfield, and putting Angelo Ogbonna in the middle of the back three with Leonardo Bonucci out on the right. I don't know how much I like Bonucci being out wide in the three-man defense going forward, but obviously Allegri saw something in the way Palermo lined up that warranted a switch. You think Beppe Marotta had a thought or two pop into his head about seeing what it would take to try and sign one of Palermo's talented youngsters? I wouldn't be surprised if he was doing a little scouting in the stands while watching his team wrap up three points. Palermo definitely has talent on its roster. Make that 23 straight wins at Juventus Stadium. That's a record, folks. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Marchisio Calls For More Cutthroat Juventus Oct 26, 2014 Following Juventus’s 2-0 victory over Palermo on Sunday afternoon, Bianconeri midfielder Claudio Marchisio has insisted that his side must continue to take three points against the Serie A’s minnows. In comparison to Scudetto rival’s Roma, Juventus have a much easier fixture list over the month of November and Marchisio is eager to see his club use this advantage to further assert themselves as title favorites. “We play our next few games against the so-called small teams and so we want to take advantage of this time to get more points than our direct rivals,” said Marchisio to Mediaset. “Today was a good test and it was important that we continued playing the way we did before the [international] break. “I’m glad for [Fernando] Llorente. He really gives everything for the team, and despite some early whistles [from the fans] he got the goal he wanted. ‘There was more willingness to sacrifice than in the game against Olympiacos. We won the ball back well and had lots of shots which is how Juve should play in every match.” The victory puts Juventus three points clear of Roma at the top of the Serie A table. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Allegri: 'Llorente and Pirlo worth wait' Oct 26, 2014 Max Allegri said the Fernando Llorente goal against Palermo proved Juventus were right to have faith and the same goes for Andrea Pirlo. The Bianconeri secured a 2-0 victory this afternoon, putting them three points clear of Roma at the top of the Serie A table. “Llorente wasn’t depressed at not scoring yet this season, but it’s normal that a goal is important for a striker, even if he likes to play for the team,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia. “This was the right game for him, both for his physical characteristics and to let Morata rest. I am happy he scored, as he repaid the faith we have in him and above all his own self-confidence. “It was a poor first half and Palermo made it difficult for us, but we increased the tempo after the break and did better. “Today I moved Marchisio to centre-right midfield because he provided more coverage for the attack-minded Pereyra. I wanted to rest Lichtsteiner for the whole game, but Pereyra had a hip problem. “The decision to switch Bonucci and Ogbonna comes from the fact Angelo can struggle with the ball on his right foot. “I think a team needs balance. Pirlo did very well in building play today and is getting back into shape, playing 60-65 minutes at a good level.” Pirlo still looks to be a shadow of his usual self, as the six weeks out with injury at the start of the season took their toll. “There’s no point hiding the fact that Andrea started training late and missed 40 days of training, so of course he’s going to need time,” insisted Allegri. “When I was at Milan someone needed to be blamed and I was labelled the bad guy.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Iachini: Palermo Made Too Many Mistakes Against Juventus Oct 26, 2014 Palermo coach Giuseppe Iachini believes that his side put up a decent fight against Juventus, despite being unable to earn anything from the game. The Rosanero, who have won just one game so far, succumbed to yet another loss as goals from Arturo Vidal and Fernando Llorente were enough to give the Bianconeri all three points and preserve their unbeaten record at home. “We played a good game, especially on defense,” he stated to Radio Rai after the game. “However, it was a shame we conceded the second goal after the half-time break. All in all, we had a solid showing although we misplaced a few passes here and there. “We definitely could have done better in the second half, but couldn’t finish off any of our chances.” Despite the disappointing loss that still sees them near the bottom of the table, Iachini was still proud of his team’s performance against their opponents. “It’s never easy to play Juventus, especially at home and they’re a difficult side to cause problems for.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Juventus 2-0 Palermo Oct 26, 2014 Arturo Vidal and Fernando Llorente scored as Serie A leaders Juventus brushed off Palermo with predictable comfort. Chasing a fourth successive Scudetto, Juventus remain unbeaten through eight games, of which they have won seven. Yet this 2-0 victory was a key result, with Carlos Tevez teeing up Vidal for the 32nd-minute opener and Llorente heading the second in the second half. A 1-0 defeat at Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday has left Juventus third in Group A, behind Atletico Madrid and the Greek outfit. Juventus also dropped their first points of the Serie A season in a 1-1 draw at Sassuolo last weekend. Had lowly Palermo taken anything from their trip to Turin, it would have still been a major surprise, but a hint of vulnerability in the Juventus ranks would have given them hope. Juventus rested Paul Pogba, fresh from handing the midfielder a long-term contract, and threatened an early lead when Llorente saw a header deflected away for a corner. The home side's supremacy was rewarded by the opening goal. Tevez took up possession 45 yards from goal, towards the right, and took a direct route to the heart of the Palermo defence. With a challenge about to come in on the edge of the penalty area, the Argentinian wisely laid a pass off to Vidal, charging in off the far flank, and he sent a low left-footed strike into the bottom right corner. Stefano Sorrentino had kept Juventus at bay until then but Vidal's finish was too good. The Palermo goalkeeper was beaten for a second time after 64 minutes when Andrea Pirlo's corner from the right found Llorente eight yards out and shy of the near post, and his downward header across goal took one bounce before nestling in the far corner. Tevez, Pogba - on for Pirlo - and Llorente each threatened to add a third Juventus goal, before Sebastian Giovinco rattled the Palermo goal frame in the closing stages. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Player Ratings Juventus 2-0 Palermo Oct 26, 2014 Juventus easily saw off Palermo 2-0 at Juventus Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Serie A. Arturo Vidal fired the Bianconeri into a first half lead before Fernando Llorente’s first goal of the season wrapped up the points for the league leaders. Juventus Gianluigi Buffon – 6 - Bystander - Rarely troubled for long periods of the game, had one moment of panic when he fumbled a cross but the visitors could not take advantage of the situation. Angelo Ogbonna – 6 - Observer - Had a very quiet game, had next to no involvement other than passing the ball about to his fellow defenders. Did not have to make a single tackle. Leonardo Bonucci – 6.5 - Solid - Did well to block Dybala’s effort in the first half and repeated the feat shortly after the interval. Another solid performance at the heart of the Bianconeri defence. Giorgio Chiellini – 7 - Exemplary - The best defender on the pitch. Completed more tackles than any of his fellow players and was a calm presence throughout. Also had more touches of the ball than anyone else. Roberto Pereyra – 6 - Endeavouring - Won the ball in the build up to the opening goal and his pace caused the Palermo back line several worries but lacked any real finesse. Substituted after just 53 minutes. Arturo Vidal – 7.5 – Star - Kept his cool to score the opener with a calm finish and often at the heart of what was good for the home side. Linked up well with Asamoah out on the left. Was a driving force at both ends of the pitch. Andrea Pirlo – 7 - Reliable - Always involved at the heart of the midfield, showed his importance to the side with yet another goal assist as his corner allowed Llorente to head home with his last kick of the game. Replaced by Pogba after 65 minutes. Claudio Marchisio – 6.5 - Sturdy - Another reliable performance from the Italy international. Only downside was the lack of quality in his finishing, had five efforts on goal and failed to test Sorrentino. Kwadwo Asamoah – 6.5 - Enterprising - Regularly posed a threat down the left flank, but struggled to find the right ball. Worked well throughout and had the better of Pisano more often than not. Fernando Llorente – 6.5 - Relieved - Opened his goal tally for the season, heading past Sorrentino from Pirlo’s corner. Aside from the goal had little real effect on the outcome. He will be relieved to have finally scored. Carlos Tevez – 6 - Workman - Played his part in assisting Vidal’s goal and was unselfish throughout. Had just one effort at goal but always created space for his team mates. Substitutes Stephen Lichtsteiner – 5 - Pedestrian - Replaced Pereyra early in the second half and hardly had any impact in the game whatsoever. Paul Pogba – 5.5 - Ineffectual - On for Pirlo, he was unable to exert any real influence on the game as the game was already won before he appeared. Sebastian Giovinco – 6 – Exciting - Came on as a late substitute for Tevez and managed to test Sorrentino with an effort from an acute angle before smashing a long range drive against the post. Palermo Stefano Sorrentino – 5 - Unsure - Not at any real fault for either goal but looked shaky at times. In the end he made three saves, however the game was already lost by then. Ezequiel Munoz – 6 - Strong - The pick of the visitor’s defence, winning all of his aerial duels. Giancarlo Gonzalez – 5.5 - Unconvincing - Less assured than Munoz in the air and distributed the ball poorly at times. Sinisa Andelkovic – 5.5 - Weak - The weakest link of the back three, passed the ball more accurately than his defensive partners but really struggled against the physical presence of Llorente. Eros Pisano – 5 - Struggled - Constantly struggled in dealing with Asamoah and Vidal linking up on his flank. His passing was atrocious and yet still somehow played the full 90 minutes. Francesco Bolzoni – 6 - Solid - At the heart of the Palermo midfield, did relatively well when compared to his team mates, it was always going to be an uphill task against Juventus. Luca Rigoni - 6 - Bright - Brightest Palermo player on the pitch. Distributed the ball well and was relatively solid in the tackle. Substituted for Maresca after 74 minutes. Edgar Barreto – 5 - Wayward - Booked for a heavy tackle on Pereyra and was fairly wayward in his passing before he was replaced on the hour mark by Belotti. Zouhair Feddal – 5 - Invisible - Completely anonymous throughout, at times it was easy to forget he was even on the pitch for the full 90 minutes. Struggled to cope with the pace of Pereyra. Franco Vazquez – 6 - Unconvincing - Had a couple of efforts at goal, came closest for the visitors as his header hit the roof of the net. Looked to be his side’s biggest threat. Paulo Dybala – 5.5 - Starved - Starved of opportunities, managed to screw a tame long range effort wide of the Juventus goal. Had to resort to ambitious efforts that hardly tested Buffon. Substitutes Andrea Belotti – 5 - Anonymous - Had half an hour to impress and made next to no impact on the game. Enzo Maresca – 5 - Popular - The former Juve man was well received but barely influenced the game on his arrival. Robin Quaison - N/A - Only had ten minutes and played no part of note. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Juventus ease past Palermo Juventus have extended their lead at the top of Serie A to three points by claiming a 2-0 victory over Palermo this afternoon. Oct 26, 2014 The hosts dominated the early exchanges and Claudio Marchisio lashed a fierce volley over the bar, before missing the target again moments later with an effort from just inside the box. Fernando Llorente was the next to threaten for the Old Lady, but he was unable to get enough power on his header to beat Stefano Sorrentino. On the half-hour mark, the visitors almost took a surprise lead when Franco Vazquez met a corner and directed his header just over the bar. Juventus made them pay for that missed chance by taking the lead two minutes later as Carlos Tevez slipped Arturo Vidal into the box and the Chilean midfielder kept his cool to slot a low effort into the far corner. The hosts continued to control the match and scored their second in the 64th minute when Llorente rose to meet Andrea Pirlo's corner and head into the bottom corner. Sebastian Giovinco was close to grabbing a third for Juventus, but saw his low effort blocked by the keeper. Giovinco had another chance to score in the last minute when his strike from range crashed against the post, but Juventus still eased to their seventh league win of the season. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Juventus 2 - 0 Palermo MATCH REPORT Fernando Llorente broke his goal drought as Juventus got back on track by beating Palermo 2-0. Oct 26, 2014 The Bianconeri were in dire need of a boost after two consecutive Champions League defeats and a 1-1 draw at bottom of the table Sassuolo. Romulo returned to the squad, though Andrea Barzagli, Martin Caceres, Patrice Evra and the suspended Simone Padoin missed out. The Sicilians won three consecutive visits to Turin between 2009 and 2011, but lost their last two and hadn’t played a draw here for almost a decade. Claudio Marchisio volleyed over and Fernando Llorente’s header was plucked out of the air, while Franco Vazquez saw his strike deflected just over the bar for Palermo. From that corner, Vazquez’s diving header again skimmed the woodwork. Juve had 72 per cent possession in the opening half-hour, but without making any real impact. They broke through with a counter-attack, as Carlos Tevez sprinted forward and drew defenders to him, spreading the play down the left for Arturo Vidal’s angled drive. It was Pereyra who sparked that move by robbing Feddal. Paulo Dybala and Edgar Barreto had attempts after the restart, but Vidal and Marchisio finishing left something to be desired. Fernando Llorente finally celebrated his first goal of the season, getting his head to an Andrea Pirlo corner. It could’ve been 3-0, but Marchisio had one shot parried and turned the follow-up off target. Dybala tried to surprise Gigi Buffon from midfield, but the goalkeeper was alert. Leonardo Bonucci tested the goalkeeper and went down awkwardly on his ankle, but was able to play on after several minutes of treatment. Sebastian Giovinco came off the bench and his strike thumped the upright, not for the first time this season. Juventus: Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Pereyra (Lichtsteiner 52), Vidal, Pirlo (Pogba 65), Marchisio, Asamoah; Llorente, Tevez (Giovinco 79) Palermo: Sorrentino; Munoz, Gonzalez, Andelkovic; Pisano, Bolzoni, Rigoni (Maresca 74), Barreto (Belotti 59), Feddal; Vazquez (Quaison 80), Dybala Ref: Calvarese http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Juventus 2-0 Palermo: Llorente Finally Off The Mark As Bianconeri Get Back On Track Oct 26, 2014 Juventus powered past Palermo 2-0 at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday in Serie A. Arturo Vidal and Fernando Llorente’s goals were enough to get the reigning Scudetto champions back on track and extend their lead over Roma to three points. Prior to the game, it had been a difficult past week for the Bianconeri. First they were held to a surprise draw with Sassuolo that saw them drop their first points this season, and then stumbled to a second straight loss in the Champions League as they took on Greek outfit Olympiacos. Meanwhile, the Rosanero continued to struggle in their first season back in Serie A, with just one win from their first seven games seeing them already floundering near the bottom of the table. As a result, the hosts were pipped as the clear favorites to pull off a positive result, given the fact that they had won their last four meetings with the visitors–all without conceding a single goal. Although the game started off relatively slowly, it was not surprising to see Juventus enjoying the lion’s share of possession as Palermo were content to sit back and absorb as much pressure as possible. Two goal-scoring opportunities fell their way through Claudio Marchisio but the midfielder sliced his first effort horribly wide and the second was blasted over the bar. Nonetheless, Stefano Sorrentino had to be on his toes as Massimiliano Allegri’s men continued to threaten, notably making a smart stop to deny Llorente’s headed attempt. Yet, despite being pegged back for lengthy spells, the Rosanero still tried to make a couple of attempts, with Franco Vasquez making two efforts in rapid succession but nothing came to fruition nor troubled Gianluigi Buffon. And then, just minutes later, Juventus finally made their dominance count as on a breakaway run, Carlos Tevez set up Vidal who coolly finished off the move to put Allegri’s troops ahead shortly after the half-hour mark. Shortly after the half-time break, Allegri opted to make his first change of the game, bringing off Roberto Pereyra in lieu of Stephan Lichtsteiner. The Swiss international then immediately got involved, feeding Kwadwo Asamoah but the Ghanaian’s attempt was thwarted by a Palermo defender. Juventus seemed really keen on pushing for a second and after Marchisio sliced yet another effort, Andrea Pirlo’s corner kick was met by Llorente, who finally got the goal he was seeking through a well-placed header. Prior to the goal, Giuseppe Iachini had made his own modification, swapping Edgar Barreto for Andrea Belotti. Pirlo, who is still recovering after his long injury lay-off made way for Paul Pogba immediately after his assist as his coach decided to give the veteran midfielder a rest. Iachini reacted 10 minutes later by exchanging Luca Rigoni for Vincenzo Maresca, followed by both coaches making their third and final changes as Tevez departed for Sebastian Giovinco and Franco Vazquez for Robin Quaison. The remaining period saw the hosts continue to threaten while the visitors appeared resigned to their fate as they went into damage control mode, and the match concluded with the Bianconeri recording yet another clean sheet. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - PALERMO 2 - 0 Arturo Vidal (32') Fernando Llorente (64') Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese Juventus 2-0 Palermo: Vidal & Llorente fire hosts back to winning ways A goal in each half helped the Serie A champions get over their draw to Sassuolo last weekend and the midweek defeat to Olympiakos in the Champions League. Oct 26, 2014 Juventus responded to their European disappointment by beating Palermo 2-0 to restore their lead at the top of Serie A. Massimiliano Allegri's side suffered a second successive Champions League defeat against Olympiakos in midweek, and Roma drew level with them at the summit of the Italian top flight with a draw at Sampdoria on Saturday. But goals in each half from Arturo Vidal and Fernando Llorente gave Juve a comfortable home win on Sunday - a victory that puts them three points clear of Rudi Garcia's men. The champions appeared cagey early on, but were settled by Vidal's deserved 32nd-minute opener, before Llorente sealed a 23rd straight Serie A home win with his first goal of the season shortly after the hour. Palermo, by contrast, remian in the bottom three with just one win from their eight matches since returning to the top flight. Allegri made three changes to the Juve side beaten in Athens on Wednesday and, after a cautious opening to the game, it was one of those introduced - Claudio Marchisio - who registered the first meaningful attempt. The midfielder went close with two volleys at goal in as many minutes, the second dipping just too late after the ball fell nicely for him 15 yards out. Juve looked more comfortable thereafter, and with the home crowd behind them, started asking questions of the visitors. Vidal floated in between the lines and almost created the opener in the 17th minute as he picked out Llorente from the left, but the Spaniard headed straight at Stefano Sorrentino. Juve were dominating possession, but they were reminded of Palermo's threat on the counter when Paulo Dybala and Franco Vazquez combined for the latter to force Gianluigi Buffon into action just before the half-hour mark. That scare sparked increased focus from Juve and they took the lead on 32 minutes after a break of their own. Carlos Tevez led the charge, travelling forward with the ball at pace before timing his pass perfectly for the overlapping Vidal to slot coolly beyond Sorrentino with his left foot. The tension that had inhibited the hosts' play disappeared after the opener. Vidal should have doubled the lead 11 minutes after half-time when Zouhair Feddal mindlessly teed him up six yards from goal, but the Chilean blazed over the bar. Tevez continued to cause Palermo problems and Sinisa Andelkovic almost turned the striker's dangerous cross into his own net on 64 minutes. There was no doubt from the resulting corner, however. Llorente rose highest in the box to meet Andrea Pirlo's out-swinging cross and direct low out of Sorrentino's reach. Juve substitute Sebastian Giovinco almost got in on the act late on, as first his powerful shot from a tight angle was well saved by Sorrentino's feet before the 27-year-old hit the post from 18 yards. But the hosts' easy victory had long been secured, as they went some way to getting over their continental heartache. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Il numero 12 del Palermo é altissimo, il 12 della Juve é Giovinco.