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Juventus not as fierce under Allegri, says Lippi The iconic Italian coach is impressed with how well Antonio Conte's replacement has done in keeping a successful side from crumbling without their previous leader. Oct 21, 2014 Juventus are "less fierce" under Massimiliano Allegri, according to World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, who is nonetheless impressed with the transition from Antonio Conte's reign. Many Bianconeri supporters were unhappy with the chosen replacement for Conte, who parted ways with the Turin job after three successive Scudetti. However, Allegri has exceeded many of the poor expectations he had been lumped with - his side top Serie A having dropped only two points in seven matches - and Lippi is impressed with how the ex-AC Milan boss has handled his new position. "This Juventus team is less fierce,” Lippi told La Politica nel Pallone. "They play a slightly different brand of football. "They prefer to have more possession and slower build-up play, and that's the difference. "But Allegri has done well not to alter the attitude and approach of a side which has dominated Serie A for the last three years." Conte, meanwhile, has enjoyed a perfect start to life in charge of the Italy national squad, which Lippi memorably guided to World Cup glory eight years ago, and the coaching legend has high hopes for the Azzurri under him. "I hope Conte can do the same thing that I did with the national team after all of the good stuff he did with Juve," he added. "You can see his personality in the team already. "Conte is one of the few coaches whose personality comes across after just three months. He's imprinted a great determination and desire that people love to see with their national team. "Italy are going in the right direction. When we went to Germany for World Cup 2006, we did not expect we were going to win but then we realised we could."

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS Mercoledi, 22 Ottobre 2014 - ore 20:45 Stadio Georgios Karaiskákis, Pireo Arbitro:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Confronti ufficiali 8 - 6 (Champions League) - 2 (Coppa UEFA) Vittorie Juventus 5 - 4 (Champions League) - 1 (Coppa UEFA) Pareggi 2 - 2 (Champions League) Vittorie Olympiakos 1 - 1 (Coppa UEFA) Goals Juventus 18 - 14 (Champions League) - 4 (Coppa UEFA) Goals Olympiakos 6 - 3 (Champions League)- 3 (Coppa UEFA) Olympiakos - Juventus - Champions League al Pireo Confronti ufficiali 3 Vittorie Juventus 1 (Il 30.09.2003, 1-2) Pareggi 2 (L'ultimo il 17.03.1999, 1-1) Vittorie Olympiakos 0 Goals Juventus 3 Goals Olympiakos 2 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro l'Olympiakos 6 presenze Birindelli Alessandro 6 Montero Paolo 5 Tacchinardi Alessio 4 Davids Edgar 4 Mirkovic Zoran 3 Conte Antonio 3 Del Piero Alessandro 3 Inzaghi Filippo 3 Iuliano Mark 3 Pessotto Gianluca 2 goal Conte Antonio 2 Inzaghi Filippo 2 Kovacevic Darko 2 Nedved Pavel 2 Trezeguet David 1 Del Piero Alessandro 1 Di Vaio Marco 1 Maresca Vincenzo 1 Menichelli Giampaolo 1 Miccoli Fabrizio Ultimi confronti diretti 20.09.1967 - Coppa dei Campioni - Olympiacos Pireo-Juventus 0-0 11.10.1967 - Coppa dei Campioni - Juventus-Olympiacos Pireo 2-0 03.03.1999 - Champions League - Juventus-Olympiacos Pireo 2-1 17.03.1999 - Champions League - Olympiacos Pireo-Juventus 1-1 25.11.1999 - Coppa UEFA - Olympiacos Pireo-Juventus 1-3 07.12.1999 - Coppa UEFA - Juventus-Olympiacos Pireo 1-2 30.09.2003 - Champions League - Olympiacos Pireo-Juventus 1-2 10.12.2003 - Champions League - Juventus-Olympiacos Pireo 7-0 Giocate 8 - Vittorie Juventus 5 - Pareggi 2 - Vittorie Olympiakos 1 - Goals Juventus 18 - Goals Olympiakos 6

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Olympiakos vs. Juventus: Key Issues That Will Shape Champions League Game Oct 21, 2014 No other Champions League pool is as finely-poised after two rounds as the one in which Juventus find themselves. Group A sees all four sides level with three points each, no team able to establish themselves and take command as yet. Matchday Three seems set to provide a key stage in the quest for qualification to the knockout rounds, with Atletico Madrid hosting Malmo and the Bianconeri traveling to Greece to face Olympiakos. They do so in relatively poor form, their recent results beginning to cause concern among fans of the Turin giants. Their controversial win over Roma was immediately after their loss to the Spanish champions, while this past weekend saw Sassuolo hold Juve to a 1-1 draw. Having dropped points in the league for the first time this term, Massimiliano Allegri knows a win on Wednesday evening is now even more essential. Over the following pages is a look at the key issues which may decide this encounter, with Juventus determined to leave Athens with all three points. The Confidence of Juventus The effects of those recent results may be the most influential factor in this match, as the constant pressure to win games begins to build upon the Juventus squad. If those poor performances continue at the Karaiskakis Stadium, Olympiakos will be ready to capitalise upon the weaknesses displayed by the Bianconeri. Having already overseen a victory of Atletico Madrid, their coach Michel has proven he is unafraid of the biggest sides, showing he is an excellent tactician. Allegri will need to match the Spaniard’s awareness, selecting a team and tactics capable of overcoming the reigning Greek champions. The Fitness of Arturo Vidal While there is no doubting the quality which runs through this Juventus side, the importance of Arturo Vidal simply cannot be understated. The Chilean midfielder remains the central figure in this Bianconeri team, the driving force which pushes the club to excel in the biggest matches. Having recovered from knee surgery before the World Cup, the early part of his 2014-15 campaign has been interrupted by a string of related ailments. The player insists he is in good health, taking to Twitter to declare his knee “is very good,” per Football Italia. Juventus will need a strong performance from the 27-year-old in order to deliver victory, and they will hope he can shine once again. Struggling Strikers to Start Scoring? If Vidal is now recovered and ready to play for Juventus, it seems the same cannot be said of Fernando Llorente, with the striker reportedly suffering with a back complaint. Media reports on the peninsula (h/t Football Italia) appear to indicate that injury will see him sidelined on Wednesday, with Alvaro Morata set to start in his place. Llorente’s form and his failure to score this season has already proven to be a concern for the Bianconeri, and was discussed here last week. However, the other strikers available to Allegri have done little better, with Morata’s goal against Atalanta seeing him as the only forward other than Carlos Tevez to net this term. Sebastian Giovinco and Kingsley Coman have shone in their brief appearances, but Juventus need the trio to make a more significant contribution if they are to progress in the Champions League. Defensive Issues to Address The season began in incredible fashion for the Juventus defence, registering consecutive clean sheets in their opening six games of the campaign. Since then, however, the Bianconeri have allowed four goals in their last three fixtures, with Allegri struggling to find a consistent lineup due to a combination of injuries. Andrea Barzagli remains sidelined with the calf complaint that has seen him fail to make a single appearance this term, and he has since been joined by Martin Caceres. The Uruguayan has been sorely missed in recent weeks. With Angelo Ogbonna expected to start alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini once again, Juventus will hope that the three men can hold Olympiakos at bay. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Olympiakos - Juventus Preview: Allegri's men face tough test in Greece Massimiliano Allegri's Bianconeri will be desperate to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid but the hosts boast a formidable record in their own backyard. Oct 21, 2014 Olympiakos will bid to make Juventus their latest scalp at the Karaiskakis Stadium when they meet in the Champions League. The Greek side welcome Massimiliano Allegri's men to Piraeus having suffered a surprise 2-0 reverse at Malmo in their last European outing. But the hosts can have considerable hope of victory given their recent record at home in the competition, with a plethora of the continent's leading teams coming away from the Karaiskakis with nothing. Atletico Madrid became the latest side to lose at the venue as they succumbed to a thrilling 3-2 defeat in the Group A opener in September, with Olympiakos suffering just two losses in their last 10 home Champions League games. And, with Manchester United, Benfica and Arsenal all having been beaten in Piraeus in recent times, Allegri and his players will need no reminder of the task facing them on Wednesday. History is on the side of Juve, who have yet to lose to Olympiacos on Greek soil and won 7-0 in the last encounter between the two in Turin in 2003, a result that still stands as the hosts' heaviest defeat in European football. Things have changed drastically since that meeting, though, and a Juve outfit that has fallen way behind the leading sides in top European competition head into the match having lost four of their last five Champions League away games. Allegri's side were disappointing going forward as they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Atletico in the second round of group fixtures and were equally unimpressive in a 1-1 Serie A draw with Sassuolo before this game. However, the visitors are expected to be boosted by the return of Chile playmaker Arturo Vidal. The midfielder missed the Sassuolo game due to apparent fatigue following the recent international break but the 27-year-old is reportedly set to be restored to the starting XI. Andrea Pirlo is the man expected to drop out for Vidal, while striker Fernando Llorente will likely miss out because of a back problem. Defenders Andrea Barzagli (heel) and Martin Caceres (thigh) are also sidelined, along with midfielder Romulo, who has a groin injury. Attacking midfielder David Fuster is in contention for Olympiakos after returning to action in Saturday's 3-2 league success over Ergotelis but defender Dimitris Siovas and forward Jorge Benitez both have thigh complaints and are set to miss out. Michel could be forced into a change at the back with Giannis Maniatis – who has played in both group games so far – one booking away from a suspension. LAST FIVE MATCHES Olympiakos Piraeus W L L W W 18/10/2014 - Ergotelis 2 - 3 Olympiakos 01/10/2014 - Malmö 2 - 0 Olympiakos 27/09/2014 - Atromitos Athens 1 - 0 Olympiakos 23/09/2014 - Panachaiki 0 - 1 Olympiakos 20/09/2014 - Olympiakos 3 - 0 Veria Juventus D W L W W 18/10/2014 - Sassuolo 1 - 1 Juventus 05/10/2014 - Juventus 3 - 2 Roma 01/10/2014 - Atlético de Madrid 1 - 0 Juventus 27/09/2014 - Atalanta 0 - 3 Juventus 24/09/2014 - Juventus 3 - 0 Cesena HEAD TO HEAD 10/12/2003 - Juventus 7 - 0 Olympiakos Piraeus 30/09/2003 - Olympiakos Piraeus 1 - 2 Juventus http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Olympiakos v Juventus: Preview Oct 21, 2014 Olympiacos goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez Gago has stressed the importance of his team returning to winning ways in the Champions League when it hosts Juventus on Wednesday. The Greek outfit lost 2-0 at Malmo last time out having previously won its Group A opener 3-2 against Atletico Madrid. Olympiacos lie fourth in the standings, level on three points with all three group rivals after two games played. With last season's runners-up Atletico favourites to win the pool, Jimenez Gago is aware his team needs to see off the Italian champions to enhance its chances of a top-two finish. ``We are going to give everything to beat Juventus,'' the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper said to giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. ``This game is very important and we cannot fail. ``We came close to reaching the quarter-finals last season and we want to reach that stage this time around. ``Juve is a top club just as Atletico is but in our stadium, we can beat anyone.'' Olympiacos have lost just two of their previous 10 Champions League home games and have beaten the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal in Piraeus in recent seasons. ``The Karaiskakis stadium is a little bit like Atletico's Calderon stadium,'' Jimenez Gago said. ``The fans really help the team and we really feel they can give us a hand. ``We know we are not the strongest team in the competition and that is why we need the support of our fans and they deliver.'' The hosts head into the encounter in buoyant mood after Saturday's 3-2 win at Ergotelis lifted them to third place in the Greek Super League, three points adrift of leaders PAOK FC. Juve, meanwhile, have never lost to Olympiacos in Greece but the Bianconeri have fallen in four of their last five away games in Europe's elite club competition. Massimiliano Allegri's side travels to Greece having seen its perfect run in Serie A come to an end in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sassuolo. The outcome saw Juve's lead at the top of the league table cut to one point after seven games played. ``We've taken a step back but we are ready to get back on track,'' Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci said on his official website. ``Now we face a Champions League final and I think this game arrives at the right time for us. ``We will go to Athens hungrier than ever. ``Atletico have lost there but we only have one thing on our mind and that is to win.'' With Fernando Llorente struggling with a back problem, Allegri is set to hand Spanish striker Alvaro Morata his first start. Morata will play alongside Carlos Tevez in Juve's attack. The Italians will be bolstered by the return of Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, who missed the clash at Sassuolo with fatigue. The visitors are without injured defenders Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres while Olympiacos will be at full strength. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

FOURFOURTWO OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) UEFA Champions League: Olympiacos v Juventus Olympiacos will bid to make Juventus their latest scalp at the Karaiskakis Stadium when they meet in the UEFA Champions League. Oct 21, 2014 The Greek side welcome Massimiliano Allegri's men to Piraeus having suffered a surprise 2-0 reverse at Malmo in their last European outing. But the hosts can have considerable hope of victory given their recent record at home in Europe's premier club competition, with a plethora of the continent's leading teams coming away from the Karaiskakis with nothing. Atletico Madrid became the latest side to lose at the venue as they succumbed to a thrilling 3-2 defeat in the Group A opener last month, with Olympiacos suffering just two losses in their last 10 home Champions League games. And, with Manchester United, Benfica and Arsenal all having been beaten by Olympiacos in Greece in recent times, Allegri and his players will need no reminder of the task facing them on Wednesday. History is on the side of Juve, who have yet to lose to Olympiacos on Greek soil and won 7-0 in the last encounter between the two in Turin in 2003, a result that still stands as the hosts' heaviest defeat in European football. Things have changed drastically since that meeting, though, and a Juve outfit that has fallen way behind the leading sides in top European competition head into the match having lost four of their last five Champions League away games. Allegri's side were disappointing going forward as they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Atletico in the second round of group fixtures and were equally unimpressive in a 1-1 Serie A draw with Sassuolo last weekend. However, the visitors are expected to be boosted by the return of Chile playmaker Arturo Vidal. Vidal missed the Sassuolo game due to apparent fatigue following the recent international break, but the 27-year-old is reportedly set to be restored to the starting XI. Andrea Pirlo is the man expected to drop out for Vidal, while striker Fernando Llorente will likely miss out because of back problem. Defenders Andrea Barzagli (heel) and Martin Caceres (thigh) are also sidelined, along with midfielder Romulo, who has a groin injury. Attacking midfielder David Fuster is in contention for Olympiacos after returning to action in Saturday's 3-2 league success over Ergotelis, but defender Dimitris Siovas and forward Jorge Benitez both have thigh complaints and are set to miss out. Michel could be forced into a change at the back with Giannis Maniatis – who has played in both group games so far – one booking away from a suspension. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) An energetic Juventus needed to combat Olympiakos pressure Oct 20, 2014 With Roma being thought of as the best Italy has, at least according to Bayern director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge whose comments are also somewhat self-serving, it truly is time for Juventus to show Europe why they are better. Qualifying out of the group and reaching the latter stages of the Champions League is more important that winning another Scudetto, at least it is so for many of the fans. The draw against Sassuolo will be forgiven and indeed forgotten if the Bianconeri manage a comprehensive win against Olympiakos on Wednesday night. Six points against the Greeks in the next two games should stand the Italian champions in good stead but it certainly won't be easy. Michel, the coach of the Greek Giants, was never renowned as a coach that could cope with consistently winning during a long season in his home country of Spain, but when it comes to knockout games such as the ones we find in Europe, he prepares his team impressively. Each player is aware of the task and his insatiable appetite for studying the opponent ensures that his side always know how to expose the weaknesses of his opponents. Against Atletico Madrid, he mirrored Diego Simeone's tactics, demanding his side play with the same intensity and forcing Los Rojiblancos to take the initiative. This is not how the Spanish side like to play and they were made to suffer, eventually losing the match. Essentially, Michel's side is rather similar in that they, too, prefer the opponent to possess the ball. Against Malmo, especially towards the end of the match, we saw how ineffective they are when they had the ball, passing it round endlessly without creating any worthwhile opportunities. A team that likes to attack via the wings, they may have lost quality at the back but they have interesting players to look out for, especially in midfield. Luka Milivojevic loves to takes shots from distance while Ibrahim Afellay is highly mobile on the right, often moving into the middle making life difficult for those tasked with keeping him quiet. While Kostas Mitroglou failed to impress at Fulham, he's back to his goal-scoring ways with the Greek champions, playing like the efficient centre forward to those who regularly watch him. Olympiakos' greatest strength is in disrupting their opponent's game. They do not like to be dominated and they thrive on frustrating those they take on. In truth, if we are to analyse all the teams in this group, only Juventus enjoy playing a possession-based game, the others prefer to play a reactive one. As such, it is vital Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri plays a humble style of football, considering this is an away match. The Karaiskakis Stadium is a thrilling ground with a hostile environment; the fans play their part in hopes of intimidating the opponent. While it's important to never lose one's identity, it's also vital Allegri realises the strength of the opponent to play a clever game, one that is passionately intense but also somewhat different than what he is used to in Italy. The Greeks will press and they know how to work hard. Their defence is worthy of admiration and they would like nothing more than for Juventus to rotate the ball endlessly, creating space for them to attack at the back. This means the Italians must be disciplined and energetic but also incredibly fast. This is not the time to ask Andrea Pirlo to pull the strings and the players to play small passes; but a time to surprise the opponent, forcing them to attack before than exploiting the space made available. Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich before them have demonstrated how a lot of pressure affects the Italians. This is why it's important they understand how to draw in their markers to create space for others, using their intelligence and pace. It is perhaps for this reason that it appears the coach wishes to start Alvaro Morata up front, banking on his acceleration and determination to make the difference. The young Spaniard has experience playing in Europe. Having made his debut against Schalke in the round of 16 in March 2014, he scored to ensure his team won 3-1 in the Bernabeu and was chosen to play for 40 minutes in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid. Thought to provide a little more mobility going forward than the struggling Fernando Llorente, the onus will be on him to cover more space but still provide the tactical benefits his national teammate manages -- that of pushing the centre backs back in order to offer his teammates more room to play between the lines. Carlos Tevez has especially benefitted from the extra room he's been given to drop back and act as a number 10. Not only can he influence the game more, creating and leading, but his timely arrivals into the box as well as his intelligence has led to more goals than we imagined. Arturo Vidal should also be making his return and one hopes he will put in a memorable performance to demonstrate the superiority of his team. Can Allegri win this tactical battle? http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Mazic to ref Olympiacos-Juve Oct 20, 2014 Milorad Mazic will be in charge of Juventus’ Group A match against Olympiacos in Athens on Wednesday night. Last month, the 41-year-old Serbian referee was in charge for Italy’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Oslo, a match won 2-0 against Norway. During the summer, the official was on the pitch for two World Cup games in Brazil – Germany-Portugal and Argentina-Iran. Juventus travel out to Greece in the third matchday of the Champions League group stage this midweek with all four teams in Group A level on points. For the game, Mazic will be assisted by Milovani Ristic and Dalibor Djurdjevic. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Preview: Olympiacos vs. Juventus Oct 20, 2014 Juventus travel to Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday with Group A shaping up to be a tightly-contested affair. Juve, Olympiacos, Atletico Madrid and Malmo all have three points after two matches, but it is the Italian champions who top the table on goal difference. Massimiliano Allegri's side head into the game having surrendered their winning start to the new Serie A season on Saturday with a 1-1 draw away to Sassuolo. Olympiacos, who currently sit in fourth place in their domestic table, are in good form at the moment thanks to five victories from their last seven matches in all competitions. Andrea Barzagli, Romulo and Martin Caceres are all sidelined for the visitors, while Arturo Vidal is also unlikely to feature. Olympiacos defender Ioannis Maniatis is one booking away from a suspension. Recent form Olympiacos: WWWLLW Juventus: WWWLWD Possible starting lineups Olympiacos: Jiminez; Salino, Botia, Avlonitis, Masuaku; Maniatis, Milivojevic; Fuster, Dominguez, Durmaz; Mitroglou Juventus: Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Pogba, Evra; Pirlo; Tevez, Llorente Sports Mole says: 0-2 http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Allegri Yet To Decide On Juventus’ Starting Lineup For Match Against Olympiacos Oct 20, 2014 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has yet to decide on whether to risk Fernando Llorente in their Champions League game with Olympiakos on Wednesday. The 47-year-old takes the Bianconeri to Greece, pondering if Llorente’s back problem will prevent him from joining Carlos Tevez in attack. According to Sky Sport Italia, the selection will be made as late as possible with Alvaro Morata the alternative option. Also on the Juventus coach’s mind will be how to deploy Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo, with the latter picked for Saturday’s draw at Sassuolo. Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal are both expected to start and take up more advanced central midfield roles. Juventus go into the clash with Olympiakos top of Group A on goal difference, with each side having a win and a loss from their opening two games. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

Real Madrid Join Race For Pogba Oct 20, 2014 Spanish giants Real Madrid have apparently reaffirmed their interest in Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and could make a move for the Frenchman during the next summer window. Pogba’s contract with the Italian champions expire in 2016, though a new deal is set to be agreed, further pushing up his transfer value. According to the Spanish outlet, El Chiringuito de Jugones, Real Madrid could join the race with French champions, Paris Saint-Germain in the next summer window to make a move to acquire Paul Pogba. Pogba joined Juventus from Manchester United on a free transfer in 2012, and scored 13 Serie A goals in 69 appearances for the Bianconeri.

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Vidal to return for Olympiacos Oct 20, 2014 Arturo Vidal could replace Andrea Pirlo for Juventus’ trip to Olympiacos, while Alvaro Morata is in line for a first start, according to reports. The Bianconeri are in Greece for the third matchday of the Champions League in a Group A with all four teams level on three points. The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, La Stampa and Tuttosport all report that Pirlo’s performance in Saturday’s draw at Sassuolo could open the door for the Chilean’s return to the side in his place. Vidal was not included in the squad for the Bianconeri’s trip to Sassuolo, with Coach Massimiliano Allegri believing the 27-year-old was tired after international duty, and would be better served recuperating in Turin. However, a six-goal showing in a practice game in training may have impressed the Coach enough to restore Vidal to the starting line-up. While La Stampa reports that Vidal’s return will be facilitated by Pirlo dropping out, Tuttosport believes Claudio Marchisio will be the player who makes way. In addition, Fernando Llorente has been struggling with a back injury, and La Stampa, giornalaccio rosa dello Sport and Tuttosport have all speculated that compatriot Alvaro Morata will make his first Juventus start in Piraeus after his summer transfer from Real Madrid. Angelo Ogbonna, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are expected to retain their places in defence while Martin Caceres and Andrea Barzagli remain sidelined, and Kwadwo Asamoah is likely to replace Patrice Evra at left-wing-back. Probable Juventus XI to face Olympiacos: Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Morata http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Bonucci: Juventus Have No Excuses For Sassuolo Draw, Now We Focus On Champions League Oct 19, 2014 Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has revealed that the Old Lady have no excuses for their away draw with Sassuolo and are now fully concentrated on their Champions League meeting with Olympiacos on Wednesday. The Bianconeri had to settle for a point as the Neroverdi ended the reigning Serie A champions’ winning streak with a 1-1 draw on Saturday but the 27-year-old insists that the Italian side will stage a comeback beginning with a European victory over Thrylos in Greece. Bonucci spoke through his official website on Sunday about the result against Sassuolo and was adamant that Juventus will now give their all in order to bounce back against Olympiacos, with the objective of eventually making it to the Champions League final. “There are no excuses,” said the Italian international. “The game between Juventus and Sassuolo was a game where we should have won more than a point. “However, last season we also had to win against Fiorentina and ended up losing, but that was the turning point of our season. “So we will do the best we can after this draw and give 110 per cent. We’ve taken a step back but now we’re ready to jump forward more than ever! “We expect to make it to the final of the Champions League and I think that this is just the right time to show we can do it. “We will go to Athens more hungry to win than ever. Atletico Madrid have lost to them. We have only one goal: to win. “So as always, may the best man win. Fino alla fine, Forza Juventus.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Sassuolo vs. Juventus: Winners and Losers from Serie A Game Oct 19, 2014 With a two-week international break behind them, Juventus returned to domestic action with a trip to the league’s bottom side, Sassuolo. Despite having failed to win a single game in 2014-15, the Emilia-Romagna minnows are a widely respected club, boasting some of the peninsula’s finest young talents. The Bianconeri knew they also faced a tricky midweek trip to Greece just four days after the encounter, Olympiacos awaiting the Italian champions on Wednesday. Combined with the short preparation time, due to the national-team commitments of many players, Massimiliano Allegri knew his team selection would play a major role. Finding a balance between Serie A and the Champions League has proven to be beyond the club in recent seasons, and Juventus will be hoping to make a much better impression in Europe this term. For Turin’s grand Old Lady, however, the demand is to record victories consistently in every competition, and as such, Saturday's draw will seem like a failure. Over the following pages is a look at the winners and losers from this 1-1 stalemate, highlighting the best and worst performances at the Mapei Stadium on Saturday. Winner: Paul Pogba (Juventus) The Juventus goalscorer was Paul Pogba, the French midfielder finding an equaliser with yet another outside-of-the-box strike. As well as salvaging a point in difficult circumstances for the Bianconeri, the goal was also his first of the campaign. According to the club's official Twitter account, the goal was the 21-year-old's 13th league goal for the Turin giants and eighth from long range. Winner: Simone Zaza (Sassuolo) As discussed in the preview for this encounter, there were a number of Sassuolo players who came into the match with a point to prove. One of the major names among them was Italy international Simone Zaza, the 23-year-old for whom Juventus retain a right-to-buy clause. Having made his international debut earlier this season, Zaza's reputation has grown exponentially, and his goal against the Serie A champions will only serve to increase his profile. It was his second goal of the campaign and earned a vital point for his struggling side. Loser: Simone Padoin (Juventus) While it may seem harsh to single out an unused substitute, Simone Padoin did himself no favours at the Mapei Stadium on Saturday. The Juventus midfielder was sent off from the bench, his level of dissent deemed intolerable by the match officials. According to stats site WhoScored.com, the 30-year-old has just 105 minutes to his name so far this term and will now serve a ban. That will see him unable to help the Bianconeri in the coming weeks, a time when Allegri needs every player in order to keep his side fresh as they try to cope with the demands of Serie A and Champions League action. Winner: Eusebio Di Francesco (Sassuolo) Without a win from their opening six fixtures, Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco could be forgiven for feeling under a little bit of pressure going into the game with Juventus. While that winless streak may have continued on Saturday, overseeing the first side to take points from the reigning champions in the league this season will have undoubtedly eased the tension. The 45-year-old should be hugely proud of the performance from his players, who were reshuffled into an unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation to which they adapted well. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Chiellini Snubbed Premier League For Juventus Stay Oct 19, 2014 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini spoke in an interview about an important turning point in his career that saw him stay in Serie A and snub an English Premier League switch. Chiellini joined Juventus from Fiorentina in 2005, making 261 appearances for the club since, but did snub a move to England after joining the Bianconeri. “It could have gone and played in England,” the 30-year-old told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “It could have happened in 2007. “But I had a destiny with Juventus, otherwise I would have gone to Roma instead as the deal was all done there.” Chiellini has been a valuable servant of Juventus during his nine-year spell in Turin, rising up the ranks to become a fan-favorite and even securing vice-captaincy.

SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Draw with Sassuolo proves Juventus need more tactical work under Allegri Oct 19, 2014 Spitting in the face of every cliche used to describe Serie A, the 1-1 match between Sassuolo and Juventus at the Mapei Stadium was played at a thrilling tempo and demonstrated that not even Serie A's bottom placed team is willing to sit back and absorb. On the contrary, rarely have we seen a side as courageous both tactically and physically as Eusebio Di Francesco's team. Opting to deploy a 3-4-3 formation, their first priority was to ensure they disturbed Juve's usual style of play. That meant blocking off their favoured routes to goal. Suffocating their opponents, especially at the start of the match, Juventus had such little space to operate and no time to think, rushing their movements in order to escape their markers. The Old Lady was suffering. The Neroverdi were working incredibly hard to press their opponent, leaving Andrea Pirlo little room to make his mark. When this occurs, it's up to the alternatives: the likes of Giorgio Chiellini to push forward, running through the middle or Leonardo Bonucci to dispatch the passes, but even these passages to goal were effectively closed down. On the wings, Stephan Lichtsteiner was offered little opportunity to provide his usual performance while Patrice Evra not only provided little going forward but was perhaps culpable for Simone Zaza's goal. Inattentive, he allowed Sime Vrsaljko to deliver a ball into the box that eventually resulted in the goal. This is not a man at the peak of his career and should always play second fiddle to Kwadwo Asamoah. Zaza scored the opener to relieve the pressure that had been building. Regaining his confidence, his exceptional work in both phases of the game was a delight to watch. His side were now in the lead. It took a marvellous combination of tenacity and pure technique to get the Bianconeri their equaliser. Carlos Tevez, ever the hard worker, fought off the opponent to keep possession and deliver for Paul Pogba to dispatch a beautiful strike. An equaliser that perfectly defines Juventus - a tenacious squad with superior quality. By the 38th minute Juve had now settled into the game and gained the upper hand and began to demonstrate exactly how to escape the stifling pressure of their opponent. With Pirlo desperate to keep the ball, his teammates surrounded him ensuring he kept possession, drawing in their markers to create a cluster of players in the middle. It was then that he managed a quick pass into space for the onrushing Lichtsteiner that allowed Juve to come close to their second. This led to a wonderful set of attempts in which Massimiliano Allegri's men pushed Sassuolo to their limits, using the quality of their individuals to make the difference. That lovely piece of play was quickly followed up by Tevez again finding some space on the right before cutting in and evading his markers to deliver a delicious pass to Roberto Pereyra who mis-kicked. Less than a minute later Pogba dispossessed a player to run straight through to goal, shielding the ball with his strength and allowing his technique to shine. A player of tremendous ability, it was a shame he couldn't finish off his chance as Andrea Consigli managed to save with his feet. Bouncing off and landing by Tevez, the Argentine shot at goal only for the brave goalkeeper to pull off another excellent save. Sadly, the Old Lady couldn't manage a second. With Fernando Llorente struggling and Pereyra managing to perfectly squander all that lay before him, the result remained 1-1. On the 60th minute, you heard Allegri call to Angelo Ogbonna, telling him 'to make four'. Claudio Marchisio came on in place of Evra and the ex-Torino defender moved to the left. The change in formation was designed to allow for more attacking impetus, and with Kingsley Coman on, it was evident Allegri wanted pace up front, swift movements to provoke the disciplined opponent into a mistake. In truth little changed. Due to the fact that this change in formation appears to be Allegri's go-to move when his side are suffering, it's essential his men are aware of their duties when playing this particular shape. Instead, there was a clear lack of fluency, of cohesion. The sheer reason Allegri was chosen to take over from Conte was so that he could create a more tactically complete side. It is indeed wise not to change too much, but he must also show courage and introduce his own ideas while maintaining the squad's intensity. One can deduce from recent games that the coach is perhaps fearful to change tactics in case it results in a loss of identity. It will be up to him to transmit his own ideals, his own strategy but ensure his men still have a strong sense of identity -- something they lost the moment they changed to a back four against Sassuolo. The reason Juventus have been the team to beat is due to the players' understanding of their role, their duties, enabling them to work well together, boasting chemistry. One can only guarantee future success if this remains the case but the squad must also evolve tactically. Allegri has to show he's up to the task, starting with a win against Olympiakos on Wednesday. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Moggi: 'Roma intimidate refs' Oct 19, 2014 Luciano Moggi claims Roma are returning to a “pre-Calciopoli tactic: tell referees it’s best to go against Juventus to avoid criticism.” The former director general was the main figure in the 2006 Calciopoli scandal, which saw Juve demoted to Serie B and stripped of two Scudetti. He is now a pundit and wrote for newspaper Libero after the latest controversy over Juve’s 3-2 win against Roma. “Morgan De Sanctis added to Francesco Totti’s remarks on Juve-Roma, so not even President Pallotta’s appeal for calm was heeded. “That makes me think the tactic used in the pre-Calciopoli years is still the right one for them: tell referees in case of doubt it’s best to go against Juventus to avoid criticism. Basically, intimidate them. “The statistics are at the disposal of anyone who wants to consult them. From 1998 to 2006 the team with the most penalties in favour was Milan with 70, second Roma on 57, Lazio 55, Napoli 54 and together with 53 spot-kicks were Inter and Juventus. “The penalties against: again Milan on top with 25, followed by Juventus 26, Lazio 30, Inter, Roma and Napoli 39.” Moggi was caught in intercepted telephone conversations urging the authorities to choose certain referees for specific games and complaining about decisions that had gone against Juventus. Contrary to popular belief, Juventus were never charged with match-fixing, but only with attempting to influence the refereeing designator and therefore the officials as a whole.

SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Sassuolo 1-1 Juventus: Bianconeri held in frustrating trip to Mapei Stadium Juventus will rue their missed chances from the first half as they dropped points for the first time this season in Serie A at bottom-placed Sassuolo. Oct 19, 2014 Wasn’t it great to see Juventus playing again after a two-week break from proper football? Well, at least in the first half it was. I kind of expected the Old Lady to come home with the three points from the red lantern Sassuolo, even if quite a few players have been on international duty. It wasn’t to be, though, and after failing to go ahead in the first half, Juventus created next-to-nothing during a lackluster second half performance, as Eusebio Di Francesco got his tactics right. Considering Carlos Tévez scored four goals in his two games against Sassuolo last year, you would have expected him to bag in a few more. Also, with Alvaro Morata suspended, out-of-form Fernando Llorente got another chance to finally get off the mark this season, as he was picked ahead of Sebastian Giovinco — who made two appearances for Italy during the international break — and Kingsley Coman. But still, the Spaniard failed to deliver, again. Wasting good chances has become a bit of a habit nowadays for the Bianconeri and this problem needs to be solved. Morata, anyone? Much have been said before the game about the striking partnership of Simoze Zaza and Domenico Berardi — two potential Juventus players — and rightly so. Zaza found the net again, as he did in the same fixture last year, while Berardi was inches away to score from a direct firee-kick. The young, promising duo didn’t fail to impress us again, unfortunately. Their performances should only increase this season, with Juventus keeping a close eye on both of them. Despite the draw, it was great to see Roberto Pereyra successfully covering Arturo Vidal's role again and Paul Pogba back to his best. The Frenchman didn't show too much so far this season, but he would have almost single-handedly beat Sassuolo, if goalkeeper Andrea Consigli wouldn't have found himself in such a good form. More of the same from Pogba, together with an inexhaustible Tévez and an in-form Vidal should bring Juventus more glory this season, without doubt. The Old Lady must put behind this negative result — two points have been lost and that is it. There is no need to overreact or talk about a slump. Allegri has to mount his players for the tricky upcoming away fixture in the Champions’ League against Olympiakos. He has done it previously ahead of that Roma game, after the Atletico set-back. Winning in Greece would give Juventus a huge advantage — let’s see it happening. MATCH SUMMARY The first half started at a pedestrian pace and it took 10 minutes until Juventus created the first chance of the game. Pogba’s cross from the left flank found Llorente in the box but his deflected ball was saved by Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli. From the resulting corner, Leonardo Bonucci tapped the ball in from close range only to be correctly flagged offside by the assistant referee. Seconds later, Sassuolo opened the scoring. Zaza found himself unmarked near the 6-yard-box but his initial shot was blocked by Bonucci. Juventus’ defence couldn’t properly clear the ball and Zaza coolly deflected Alessandro Longhi’s volley past his international teammate Gianluigi Buffon, into the side netting. After just five minutes, the Bianconeri pulled level by virtue of some Pogba brilliance and Tévez industry. The Argentine chased what appeared to be a lost ball, recovered it on the by-line and laid it at the edge of the box for the young Frenchman who, after a short touch, placed a fantastic shot at the far post, giving an idle Consigli no chance. After another 20 minutes of play in which Juventus controlled the game, with both Angelo Ogbonna and Stephan Lichtsteiner missing decent chances and referee Luca Banti not pointing to the spot when Pogba was brought down in the penalty area, the French youngster stepped up again to deliver another moment of magic. Receiving the ball just inside his own half, he embarked on a great run straight down the middle of the pitch, muscling his way through in style. Having beaten several defenders on his way, Pogba’s low shot from 11 yards was saved by Consigli, who made another good save seconds later to deny Tévez’s volley. The last action of the first half saw Pereyera linking up with Bonucci and Pogba at the edge of the box, but the Argentine placed his shot wide and the teams went to the locker rooms at the break with nothing to separate them. The second half started in a similar slow tempo as the first, with Sassuolo having the first good chance. Pogba conceded a free-kick at the edge of the box and received a yellow card for the foul. Berardi stepped-up to take it and curled his effort just wide of Buffon’s left-hand post. Juventus failed to create anything dangerous and Allegri changed replaced Patrick Evra with Claudio Marchisio on the hour mark, changing the system to a 4-3-1-2. Kingsley Coman came in for Llorente and wasted a decent chance to put Juventus ahead with 20 minutes left to play, as he shot over the bar from just outside the 6-yard-box, after a good cross from Pereyra. With Buffon only making a couple of routine saves, the last part of the game was played mainly in Sassuolo’s half, but with no positive results for the Old Lady. Pogba received a ball inside the box from Tévez, 15 minutes from time, but couldn’t get enough power behind his shot and Conisgli pushed it away for a corner kick. Juventus couldn’t break Sassuolo’s defence eventually, with Pereyra wasting a final chance in injury time when his shot from 16 yards was blocked by onrushing defenders. The Bianconeri’s frustration was there to be seen, as Bonucci received a late yellow card for arguing with the referee, while Simone Padoin, who was an unused substitute, saw a straight red from Banti — God knows why. LE PAGELLE Buffon: 6 Was called into action a few times, making routine saves. Had nothing to do to prevent Zaza from scoring. Ogbonna: 7 Playing better with each passing game. Solid in the centre of defence and also did a decent job when moved to the left flank. Bonucci: 6.5 Won all his aerial duels and gave Zaza a hard time throughout the match. Chiellini: 6 Poor marking when Juventus conceded, but put in a couple of good tackles when needed. Lichtsteiner: 6 Very poor clearance at Zaza’s goal, as he headed the ball straight to Longhi. Wasn’t involved in attack too much either. Pereyra: 7 Another spirited display from the Argentine who contributed in both attack and defence pretty good. Lacked the finishing touch, as he missed two decent chances. Pirlo: 6 An uncharacteristic sloppy performance. Showed signs of tiredness, losing the ball in midfield on a few occasions. Pogba: 8 Definitely his best game of the season so far. Dominated the midfield, scoring a great goal. Should have scored following his individual run, though. Evra: 5 Terrible display from the wing-back. Lost his man who crossed at Sassuolo’s goal and failed to backtrack in time. Brought nothing in attacking moves. Tévez: 7.5 Was the main danger in attack again — never stopped running into spaces to create chances. Great effort to produce the assist for Pogba. Llorente: 5.5 Another frustrating day for the Spaniard. His hold-up play was somehow decent in the first half, but couldn’t create anything. Subs Marchisio: 6 Played the last 30 minutes but couldn’t make an impact as the struggled to find a key pass. Coman: 6.5 The young forward tried too much on his own, although he gave some extra speed to attack. Giovinco: 6.5 Clearly frustrated to be introduced so late in the game, but had time to send in two decent crosses. Coach Allegri: 6 Not having a fully fit, rested squad at his disposal might be an excuse for him, but dropping points at the bottom-placed team is a bad result nonetheless. Insisting with Llorente in the starting XI was an odd decision, with both Giovinco and Coman eager to demonstrate. Although he made the first two changes quite early, the players couldn’t break the opposite defence, as there never seemed to be a clear idea of what to do with the ball in the final third. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Player Ratings Oct 18, 2014 Sassuolo 47 A. Consigli - Made several top saves to keep the likes of Pogba and Tevez at bay in the second half. 26 E. Terranova - Dug in when the hosts had their backs to the wall, putting up a good enough resistance to keep Juve out. 28 P. Cannavaro - Pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury after chasing Fernando Llorente. Had no option but to leave the field after only nine minutes. 15 F. Acerbi - Part of the ruck of green and black shirts which populated the edge of the Sassuolo area in the second half, picking up a cynical yellow card when required. 11 Š. Vrsaljko - Tireless down the right-hand side, tracking back effectively as well as contributing in advanced areas. 4 F. Magnanelli - Sat in front of the back three to ensure that the likes of Pereyra and Pogba had limited space to race into. 7 S. Missiroli - Worked hard in midfield to close down passing lanes and ensure that Juve had a frustrating afternoon. 3 A. Longhi - Sat back to ensure that Lichtsteiner was limited to only a couple of half chances. 25 D. Berardi - Quiet in the first half and offered little other than curling a free kick narrowly wide of the upright, but offered impressive work rate. 10 S. Zaza - Turned home a well-weighted finish by clipping a finish into the top left corner and used his physical presence to unsettle the Juve defence. 17 N. Sansone - Full of running and acted as an outlet to aim for throughout the game, though he had no real end product. Substitutes 5 L. Antei - Stayed tight to his men at set pieces and was good enough aerially to battle in a besieged defence. 19 S. Taïder - Introduced late on and helped to tighten up a determined midfield. 8 D. Biondini - Offered fresh legs and battling spirit in a tiring midfield. Juventus 1 G. Buffon - Commanded his area quite well and put in a couple of impressive blocks. 5 A. Ogbonna - Made a couple of good interceptions in dangerous areas and challenged well in the opposition penalty area. 19 L. Bonucci - Didn't have the most solid of outing, as Zaza proved to be more than a physical match for the Italy international. 3 G. Chiellini - Strong in the air and personified Juve's fighting spirit and determination while battling late on. 26 S. Lichtsteiner - Broke down the right readily, testing Consigli on a couple of occasions, as well as tracking back throughout. 6 PAUL POGBA - Netted a fantastic goal and went incredibly close to finding a second. Juventus' main offensive catalyst. 21 A. Pirlo - Made a few uncharacteristic errors and wasn't afforded the space to have a real effect on proceedings. 37 R. Pereyra - Confident on the ball and drove forward with regularity to ensure that Juve threatened until the very end. 33 P. Evra - Struggled physically against a pacey Sassuolo counter attack, and didn't offer anything offensively. 14 Llorente - Quiet throughout, as the Spaniard wasn't given the time nor space to bring his strike partner into play. 10 C. Tévez - Slightly selfish at times, but went close on a couple of occasions as Juve searched for an elusive winner. Substitutes 11 K. Coman - Had a few chances from deep in the penalty area, but only managed to strike the side netting. 8 C. Marchisio - Went close within moments of coming on and offered additional energy. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Ogbonna: Juventus Needed To Take The Field With Another Mentality Oct 18, 2014 Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna believes his side did not have the mentality needed to claim all three points after their 1-1 draw with Sassuolo on Saturday. The Bianconeri were held to single point away from home but Ogbonna was adamant the champions should have done more in order to try and claim all three points. “There is a lot of regret over not having won,” the defender told Mediaset Premium after the draw. “We had to take the field with another mentality and in that case maybe we would have gone home with something more. “We have a lot of matches ahead of us and we will try to do our best. “Physical decline? I don’t believe so, we gave our all. We had our chances and we needed to be more concrete. “We will go forward on our own path and we don’t care about other controversy. Our strength is to only care about what is going on in our house. “Simone Zaza? I expected a match from him like that. He is a great player who can grow,” he continued to JTV. “It wasn’t just him as his offensive partners could have given us trouble.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

FOURFOURTWO SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Sassuolo draw changes nothing, says Allegri Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri insists his side remain confident in their Serie A title bid, despite a frustrating 1-1 draw at Sassuolo. Oct 18, 2014 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri insists his side remain confident in their Serie A title bid, despite a frustrating 1-1 draw at Sassuolo. The Italian champions had Paul Pogba to thank midway through the first half, with the Frenchman producing a stunning curling effort to cancel out Simone Zaza's opener. But a disappointing performance saw Juve fail to make a decisive breakthrough against a resolute Sassuolo defence. Despite that Allegri insists he is not worried by the lack of cutting edge shown by his side on Saturday evening. Allegri told Sky Sport Italia: "I knew there were difficulties in this game, especially as we had so many internationals out all week. Sassuolo were coming off some bad results but with good performances. "They created problems for us tonight, we didn't have many shots on goal and this allowed them to get several counter-attacks. They pushed us back and made us run risks, even though Consigli saved them a few times. We should've done better. "The draw must be accepted considering the performance and what didn't go right this evening." However, despite his own side's shortcomings, Allegri insisted Sassuolo deserved credit for their performance, which saw the lift themselves off the bottom of the table. He added: "Sassuolo deserve credit for forcing us to play differently and making life difficult for us. We struggled at the start, then got the game in hand but overall didn't have enough shots on goal, even from distance." Despite losing their 100 per cent record, Allegri claims his side are still confident of successfully defending their Serie A title. "We are still top of the table and a draw against Sassuolo doesn't change anything. In Serie A you need consistency, so if in each seven games we win six and draw one, we'll get the title!" Allegri will hope his side can return to winning ways when they host Palermo next weekend, a side they've beaten in four of their previous meetings, without conceding a goal. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Pereyra: Juventus Can Not Afford To Lose Out On Three Points Oct 18, 2014 Juventus midfielder Roberto Pereyra believes the Bianconeri can not afford slip ups if they want to reclaim the Scudetto after drawing 1-1 with Sassuolo on Saturday night. The Bianconeri came from behind to claim a point against the minnows but the Argentine admits the reigning champions should have done more in order to try and claim victory. “We tried to play and we had chances,” Pereyra told JTV at the end of the match. “The three points are important and we can’t lose out on them. I want to do well but now we are thinking about the match on Wednesday as we have little time to prepare. “We created enough chances and we can’t make mistakes as the two points we missed out on today are important. “Regrets? In the first half a defender blocked a shot while the next one I mishit. “Just like all the matches, the one in Athens [against Olympiacos] will be difficult as three points are needed.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Zaza: I Know Juventus Are Looking At Me Oct 18, 2014 Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza was satisfied after his side earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home to Juventus on Saturday after he opened the scoring at Mapei Stadium The 23-year-old also spoke about his relationship with the Bianconeri as he was co-owned by the club up until June 2014. “Did I get any compliments from Juventus tonight? I don’t know,” said Zaza to Sky Sport Italia. “Honestly, after the game I went to celebrate with the fans and then my teammates.” “I know that Juventus follow me and I hope that continues.” The Italian international also spoke about Sassuolo’s attacking strengths. “We know that our strength comes from when we are attacking, like our coach [Eusebio di Francesco] has always maintained. “When it’s our day, we know that we can get under the skin of great teams. “However, it is not always easy to find the right balance.” Zaza also offered his thoughts about the Neroverdi’s chances of survival after changes made over the summer. “Compared to last season, we have a stronger squad, a more united group and I really hope that Sassuolo can find the right form to survive comfortably.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Allegri: Juventus weren't good enough The Bianconeri boss had no complaints after the reigning Italian champions dropped points for the first time this season in a 1-1 draw at Sassuolo. Oct 18, 2014 Massimiliano Allegri admitted that Juventus had been nowhere near their best in Saturday night's surprise 1-1 draw at Sassuolo. The reigning Italian champions had gone into the game having won their opening six Serie A fixtures and were expected to have little trouble in extending their perfect record against a side without a single victory to their name so far this season. However, while Paul Pogba quickly cancelled out Simone Zaza's 13th-minute opener, Juve were unable to avoid dropping points for the first time and Allegri had no complaints about the final result. "I knew it would be a difficult game, particularly because our internationals only returned on Thursday, after having played two games," the Bianconeri boss told Sky Sport Italia. "Also, Sassuolo were coming off a period in which they were playing well despite collecting few points. "Tonight, they put us in difficulty. We didn't play well technically and we had finished little in relation to what we created. "We allowed them to counterattack a lot and risked a lot going forward. "The game remained open right until the end of the game. Their goalkeeper, Andrea Consigli, made decisive saves but we could, and should, have done more." With Roma having defeated Chievo 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico earlier in the evening, Juve's lead at the summit of Serie A has now been cut to a single point. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

SASSUOLO 1 - 1 JUVENTUS - Simone Zaza (13') Paul Pogba (19') Saturday, October 18th, 2014 - 8:45 PM Città del Tricolore Stadium - Reggio Emilia Referee: Luca Banti Di Francesco: 'How we held Juve' Oct 18, 2014 Eusebio Di Francesco revealed his tactical approach to neutralising Juventus, which didn’t involve man-marking Andrea Pirlo. Bottom of the table Sassuolo are still without a win this season, but held leaders Juve to a surprise 1-1 draw. “It wasn’t unexpected for me,” Coach Di Francesco told Sky Sport Italia. “Even if there were different qualities, our tactical changes, use of strikers to attack them and our approach shows we were not afraid of taking the game to Juventus. “We had a great attitude and hunger, while we could’ve scored more goals. I am truly happy for the players, as they work so hard and deserved this night.” Di Francesco is a pupil of Zdenek Zeman and the 4-3-3 system, but for this game moved to 3-4-3. “I thought if we had played with wide wingers against Juve, we’d be in real trouble. Chiellini, who usually runs with the ball to go through the middle, found his path blocked off constantly. “I made my three forwards work with the centre-backs and Pirlo. I chose not to man-mark Pirlo, as it would mean us losing a man. If Pirlo doesn’t have the ball, Chiellini or Bonucci will take it forward, albeit without the same quality. “We had got ahead of ourselves this season, but I always told my lads that to compete in Serie A we could not let go of certain characteristics. After all, even Juventus have the same grit and work rate as a so-called provincial side, so why shouldn’t Sassuolo? “We have to continue on this path and add more quality, as I saw a team that kicked the ball away too often and should’ve been sharper.” Zaza had lost his way despite scoring on international duty, but tonight scored his first Serie A goal since the opening round. “He had a great performance before going to the Italy camp, then used up a lot of emotional and physical energy. I had hoped to build on that enthusiasm, but instead the pressure weighed on him. “Simone was relaxed tonight and it showed. I do want him to avoid things like the yellow card and always having his hands raised to complain to the referee, as that’s an irritating attitude. He needs to stop doing that if he wants to step up to a top club.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111