Socrates

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Michel: Roberto Was Fantastic For Olympiacos Oct 23, 2014 Olympiacos coach Michel did not hide his delight after his side’s win over Juventus in their third group stage match of the Champions League. The Greek outfit had successfully powered past La Liga champions Atletico Madrid on matchday one, and rebounded from a loss to Malmo by securing a slim 1-0 win in front of their own fans on Wednesday. A key part to their victory was their solid defense, with goalkeeper Roberto being the star of the show as he produced some good saves to keep the Bianconeri’s attack at bay as Massimiliano Allegri’s men sought to get back into the match. “Naturally, I’m very happy with this result and how my team played today,” he stated in a post-match press conference as reported by Tuttomercatoweb. “We won a difficult game by working together well as a group, but more important, our goalkeeper [Roberto] had a great match. It’s never easy to beat [a team like] Juventus and we will all definitely remember this effort with great satisfaction.” The Spanish shot-stopper’s heroics were not unnoticed by his compatriot, who hopes that the 28-year-old’s stock will continue to rise, especially on the international front with the Spanish national squad. “I am hoping that Vicente Del Bosque will be tracking him closely.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Pogba: Juventus must be more clinical in front of goal The Frenchman does not believe the Bianconeri have a psychological problem in Europe after they lost to Olympiakos and says they must not be so wasteful with their chances. Oct 23, 2014 Paul Pogba has expressed his frustration after Juventus were beaten 1-0 by Olympiakos and says that the Italians must be more clinical in front of goal. A Pajtim Kasami goal on 36 minutes proved to be the difference between the two sides in Athens, but Carlos Tevez, Alvaro Morata and Pogba himself all had late opportunites to salvage a draw. "We need to be more clinical in front of goal. You can't win games without scoring," Pogba told Sky Sport at full time. "We were better in the second half, but their goalkeeper played great." Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto was in inspired form in the final 20 minutes, pulling off one magnificent stop from Morata when he pushed the striker's drive onto the crossbar. Tevez said after the match that his side need "a new mentality" but Pogba rejects the notion that Juventus lack the mental strength to succeed in Europe. "Every team in the Champions League is strong, we need to improve," he added. "There is not the same space to play in Europe that there is in Serie A. I don't think we have a psychological problem in Europe. I think we just lack a certain calmness in front of goal." Juventus' defeat means they now drop down to third place in Group A with just three points from three games. Atletico Madrid thrashed Malmo 5-0 in Spain to join Olympiakos on six points, although the Greeks are top of the group due to a superior head-to-head. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Sacchi: Juventus And Italian Football Haven’t Adapted To Europe Oct 23, 2014 Former AC Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi has said that the Italian style of football is different to the rest of Europe after Juventus lost to Olympiacos in the Champions League. The Bianconeri lost 1-0 to the Greek giants on Wednesday night and Sacchi has cited that the Italian way does not work in European competitions. “The history of Juventus in the last few years is of difficulty in the Champions League,” Sacchi told Sport Mediaset. “In Europe they play a different type of football and Juventus has not made that jump although they were very unfortunate in the second half. “They threw it away one time however, [which was] mediocre. The only beautiful thing was the build-up of the goal. “Our football is based on individuality, on low rhythm [and] there is no continuity. Instead in Europe it is not like this. “Olympiacos tried to score. In Italy, there are squads back there that don’t even try.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Chiellini: 'Juve did it all wrong' Oct 22, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini said Juventus “did everything we said we shouldn’t do” in their 1-0 defeat to Olympiacos. “We certainly didn’t deserve to lose this game, as we created so many chances in the last half-hour and the goal seemed to be cursed,” he told Sport Mediaset. “We need a more thorough analysis and must take responsibility for a poor first half, where we did everything we said we shouldn’t do, including concede counter-attacks. “It’s a shame, as Olympiacos couldn’t really trouble us any other way and we knew that was going to be the situation.” Juventus now have three points along with Malmo, while Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos are top with six points. “Our destiny is still in our hands, but we did not expect to be in this situation after three games, nor should we be,” continued Chiellini. “We lacked some luck so far, but it’s also fair to say we made mistakes and need to take responsibility. They were the same mistakes we made against Sassuolo on Saturday. “Our first month was fantastic apart from the defeat to Atletico Madrid, where I saw a Juventus team that showed character, took control and deserved more than even just a point. “I think we need to step up a gear, as after the break for international duty we lost the momentum we had in that opening month.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Olympiacos vs. Juventus: Lessons Learned from Champions League Game Oct 22, 2014 Having struggled in their last three matches, Juventus travelled to Athens on Wednesday evening, taking on Olympiacos at the vociferous Karaiskakis Stadium. The Greek champions had already registered a win over Atletico Madrid, an impressive display that made many observers pay them greater attention. Former Real Madrid midfielder Michel has turned them into a formidable opponent, and the Bianconeri knew they would need to be at their best to leave with a positive result. The Turin giants had already lost to Atleti in Group A, following that defeat with a controversial win over Roma and Saturday’s laboured draw with Sassuolo. Needing a good performance, Massimiliano Allegri’s side failed to deliver, losing 1-0 on a disappointing evening. Over the following pages is a look at the lessons La Madama will have learned from the encounter, information that could be hugely important when Olympiacos visit the Juventus Stadium next month. Even the Best Have Bad Nights Andrea Pirlo is without doubt one of the finest midfielders in the world today, yet his personal performance in Athens was woeful. His display should serve to remind Juventus that even the best can have a bad game, and that bouncing back from such a disappointment is vital. The World Cup winner was uncharacteristically sloppy in possession, stats site WhoScored.com showing he completed just 76.7 per cent of his pass attempts. In addition, he was dispossessed on a number of occasions, most notably when a swift counter-attack led to Patjim Kasami’s goal. Pirlo will undoubtedly shrug off the match and return to his best, with supporters hoping he can once again inspire the Bianconeri to do the same. Chances Cannot Be Wasted While it may be cliched to say that teams are punished for not taking their chances in the Champions League, Wednesday’s loss proved just that. Juventus registered twice as many attempts on goal as their opponent, WhoScored.com showing they had 18 shots to the nine mustered by Olympiacos. Many of those should have been converted, and the eventual 1-0 scoreline only served to highlight how their lack of sharpness came back to haunt them. The Bianconeri need to start finding the back of the net, having now gone two matches without a goal in this competition. But Sometimes the Opposing Goalkeeper Deserves Credit While Juventus undoubtedly need to improve their attacking prowess, the performance of Roberto deserves special praise. The Olympiacos goalkeeper turned in an incredible display, making a string of saves to preserve his side’s clean sheet. The 28-year-old pulled of some superb stops, with his efforts to deny Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata particularly noteworthy. A Change in Formation May Bring a Change of Fortune Massimiliano Allegri has been extremely careful not to make too many changes in his first few months in charge, seeking to bring some continuity to his new side. Yet perhaps now is the time to make a break with the past and usher in a new formation in order to maximise the potential of this Juventus. Having overseen a tepid first half, the coach made a raft of changes after the break, and was rewarded with a vastly improved performance. Gigi Buffon certainly took note, as he discussed the match with Sport Mediaset shortly after full time, telling them (h/t Football Italia): We deserved a point considering the number of chances, but there are also regrets at a ‘normal’ first half. If we had played the whole game at this tempo, it would’ve been a different result. At half-time the Coach adjusted two or three things, modifying some positions and it went much better. The most notable switch was a move to a 4-2-3-1 framework, the added attacking impetus leading to excellent chances for Paul Pogba and Alvaro Morata. Perhaps that is something Allegri will consider on a more permanent basis after seeing its impact here. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Olympiacos 1 - Juventus 0: Initial reaction and random observations Oct 22, 2014 There comes a point where Juventus' struggles in the Champions League — group stage or elsewhere — can't be simply categorized as bad luck. And it's safe to say after their 1-0 loss in Greece to Olympiacos, we've reached that point. Was Roberto simply fantastic between the sticks? Yes. Was Olympiacos very good in the first half? Yes. DId Juventus play better in the second half? Yes, of course they did. But when push comes to shove, there's just one overlying problem in a game that had plenty of issues for Max Allegri's squad: Juventus didn't win away from home in the Champions League once again, making it five out of the six games away from Juventus Stadium that they've failed to come home with at least one point. We can play the "What if..." game all we want right now. But what we truly know is what we saw take place Wednesday night. That's Juventus coming out slow in a Champions League game — again. And Juventus paying for it — again. The first 45 minutes were as drab as drab can be. Juve looked just completely out of their element. Their attack was bland, their defense was almost chasing Olympiacos players around as they burst forward on the counter. Paolo Bandini @Paolo_Bandini Juventus authors of their own demise in CL - persist in starting games far too slowly. But they have run into some ridiculous GK displays Shot after shot after shot and absolutely nothing. Roberto was insanely good — continuing the notion that there is an unwritten rule saying goalkeepers must have the game of their life when they play Juventus. It indeed was a Buffon-esque kind of game for the Spanish shotstopper. But Juventus should have done better. Why? Because they had plenty of chances to. Something has to change. Be it mentality, tactics, personnel in the starting lineup, whatever. The group stage is only at the halfway point, so there's still time to turn this thing around. But with two of the final group stage games at Juventus Stadium, this team has to take advantage of the schedule being in their favor and get max points. And they have to do it now. No excuses. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen #Buffon: "If we played like we did in the second half the whole way through, the final outcome would have been different." #OlympiacosJuve I'm not yelling at you, Gigi, but PLEASE PLAY LIKE THAT TO BEGIN THE GAME, PEOPLE. Random thoughts and observations When was the last time Gianluigi Buffon had to make four saves in the first 13 minutes of a match? Outside of not scoring a goal, I think it's safe to say Álvaro Morata's first Juventus start was a widely successful one. He was easily Juventus' most dangerous player. He helped create chances for himself, he set up chances for his teammates. He was really good. If he were to start over the weekend against Palermo, I would be totally okay with it. Is it really that difficult to start a game with the same urgency as the way Juventus finished it? Seriously, you start a game so slow, you're bound to get punished. Guess what? Juventus did. We can argue all day and night about 3-5-2 vs. 4-3-3/4-3-1-2/4-whatever-whatever, but this game really showed how ineffective Juventus' offense is when there's absolutely nothing — in this case Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah — coming from the wings. Something has to change. Eighteen shots, no goals. I'll just leave it at that. I was in favor of starting Claudio Marchisio over Andrea Pirlo, but obviously Max Allegri had different ideas. Before the former replaced the latter in the 56th minute, it was an absolute fall-flat-on-your-face kind of game for Pirlo. Passes were off, he looked a step or two behind the Olympiacos counterattack, and his dispossession led to the game's only goal in the first half. Just another bad night for a player who hasn't even been close to his best since returning from injury a few weeks ago. Speaking of players who didn't have a good night, you can include Arturo Vidal in that group. He's there, he's running around like he usually does, but he's just lacking that typical Vidal bite on both ends of the field. A lot like Fernando Llorente, he's just not playing well at all right now. How vulnerable did Juventus' defense look when Olympiacos broke on the counterattack? We bemoan the formation and lack of creativity in the attack, and that's understandable at this point. But Juventus' defense has looked more and more shaky in Europe as time goes on. Luckily for them, they only gave up one goal, not two or three like could have happened if not for Buffon. Thanks for not winning on my birthday, Juventus. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Player Ratings: Olympiacos 1-0 Juventus Oct 22, 2014 Olympiacos have narrowly defeated Juventus 1-0 at the Giorgios Karaiskakis Stadium in the third round of the Champions League group stages. Both sides struggled to settle into the match early, but it was the home side with the sporadic bursts forward on the counter. Indeed it was a single goal from Pajtim Kasami that sealed the victory for the Greeks, despite the Bianconeri onslaught in the second half. OLYMPIAKOS Roberto – 7 – Colossal - Consistently made excellent saves that kept his side in the match, was alert for the entirety of the game. Omar Elabdellaoui – 6.5 – Good - The young-gun not only defended well but made a few runs forward on the right flank on the counter. Alberto Botia – 6 – Strong - Had a great game as his forceful defending limited the influence of Alvaro Morata. Eric Abidal – 6 – Solid - The French veteran was an important figure in the Greek defence and was forced to make several important passes to stop the likes of Morata from scoring. Arthur Masuaku – 7 – Stellar - The French international advanced on every possible occasion and was made continual threatening runs via the left flank. Giannis Maniatis – 6.5 – Usual - The captain was a consistent figure in his side’s victory yet was the strains of the previous few matches had taken a noticeable toll on his body, which impaired his performance. Pajtim Kasami – 7 - Goal - The goalscorer was dangerous in attack and managed to continually get in behind the Bianconeri defence. He had several attempts on goal and was replaced by Kostas Giannoulis with only injury time remaining. Luka Milivojevic – 6 – Important - The Serbian International dominated the midfield in the first half and made several decisive passes that allowed his team to move forward quickly on the counter attack. Alejandro Dominguez – 6 – Solid - Was a dangerous presence in and around the box in the first half, however had his influence wane over the course of the game, until he was taken off. Delvin Ndinga – 6 – Important - Made some threatening plays forward on the counter and managed to contain Asamoah. Kostas Mitroglou – 6.5 – Average - Had a few chances in the box and his lay off was responsible for the goal yet remained quiet for the match. Was subbed off in the second half. Substitutes Ibrahim Afellay – 5 - Same - Replaced Mitroglou in the 69th minute, made a few passes but was mostly required to track back and defend. David Fuster – 5 - Same - Replaced Alejandro Dominguez. His first Champions League match since his injury yet played no instrumental role in the final 20 minutes. Kostas Giannoulis – N/A - Came on for Kasami just before the start of injury time. No real influence. JUVENTUS Gianluigi Buffon – 5 – Consistent - It was an average night for the Italian champion, who was kept on his toes by the opposition, especially Masuaku. Made one amazing save from a freekick in the first half. Angelo Ogbonna – 4.5 - Errors - Played an important role in the defensive line-up yet made a few key errors and was arguable one of those at fault for the goal. Leonardo Bonucci – 5 – Consistent - The Italian international made several decisive passes and was key in stopping the Olympiacos’ onslaught. Giorgio Chiellini – 5 – Solid - As always, the Italian international was a consistent figure in the Old Lady’s defence, but found himself dragged out of position on too many occasions. Stephan Lichtsteiner – 4 – Poor - Ever the selfless and tireless player, Lichtsteiner was frustrated on the left flank and hardly came forward. He received a yellow card for his foul on Masuaku. Paul Pogba – 5.5 – Usual - The French international played his usual game and was key for the Bianconeri not only in the midfield but also when tracking back to defend. But didn’t have the support around him as he usually does. Andrea Pirlo – 4 - Unusual - The midfield magician played an uncharacteristic match and continually surrendered possession in the centre of midfield, resulting in numerous counter attacks and the eventual goal. However his partnership with Vidal, began to slowly control the midfield. Additionally had several woeful free-kick attempts. Arturo Vidal – 5.5 - Best - It seemed the Chilean was everywhere on the pitch and made several key passes. Was important in creating plays forward for the bianconeri. Kwadwo Asamoah – 4 - Invisible - Had a disappointing first half and made few plays forward, as his influence was limited by Ndinga. Carlos Tevez – 4.5 – Disappointing - The Argentinian looked frustrated for the entire match and played deep in an attempt to contribute for his side. Had one goal disallowed due to offside. Alvaro Morata – 6 – Impressive - Did inject an extra element of pace into the bianconeri attack, however was not sufficiently fed balls into the area in the first half. Managed to get in between the Olympiakos defenders and had the most attempts on goal for the bianconeri. Substitutes Claudio Marchisio – 6 – Instrumental - Replaced Pirlo in the 57th minute, had immediate effect as his pin-point passes allowed his side to gain momentum going forward. The Italian was key in providing balls into the box. Roberto Pereya – 5 – Average - Entered the match in the 77th minute for Angelo Ogbonna. No real influence in the match. Sebastian Giovinco - N/A - Replaced Paul Pogba in the 87th minute. Had little to no time to do any real damage but did made some key passes into the area. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Morata: 'Roberto among the best' Oct 22, 2014 Alvaro Morata said Olympiacos goalkeeper Roberto’s remarkable performance was “not an excuse” for Juventus. The ex-Real Madrid striker had comfortably the best chances to score in Athens, but was denied on several occasions by Roberto and the woodwork. “We could’ve won this game, even if we played in a difficult arena against one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Morata told Sky Sport Italia. “I have to work harder to score goals, because the fact Roberto had a great performance was not an excuse.” The Bianconeri were beaten 1-0 by Olympiacos, who now lead the Champions League group on a par with Atletico Madrid. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Pogba: 'Juve lack something' Oct 22, 2014 Paul Pogba admits Juventus “lack something in the Champions League” after a 1-0 defeat to Olympiacos. “I think we do lack something in the Champions League, whereas in Serie A we are more relaxed,” the Frenchman told Sport Mediaset. “In Europe we play against teams who are all very strong and we must take that extra step to go forward.” Pogba had one of the best scoring opportunities in the second half with a cross-shot that Roberto flapped out from under the bar. Was it an intentional hit? “It was meant to be a cross. I wanted to hit it hard across, but it went up and the goalkeeper anticipated it. The ball could’ve gone in, the goalkeeper did a great job tonight.” Juve were caught out on the counter this evening when Andrea Pirlo was dispossessed and Pogba revealed this is a tactical issue. “Allegri tells me to run off the ball, but the problem is that I should be closer to Andrea, as otherwise I leave him on his own.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) TEAM RATINGS Oct 22, 2014 OLYMPIAKOS PIRAEUS 16 Roberto Jiménez - Had little to do in the first half though came off his line well to collect balls into the box. Was called upon much more after the break, making countless unbelievable saves to deny the visitors. 14 O. Elabdellaoui - Never gave Asamoah or Pogba an inch on the Juventus left. Struggled to get forward to support the hosts' attacks. 3 Botía - Made a number of clearances inside his own area as he stayed tight to Tevez. Blocked superbly to deny Morata in the second half. 22 E. Abidal - Showed all his experience up against Morata as he forced the former Real Madrid man away from goal with his runs. Won a number of key headers. 26 A. Masuaku - Forward runs forced Lichtsteiner back, though his final ball was sometimes lacking. Strong in defence as he put in a fine performance. 2 G. Maniatis - Won the ball a number of times in midfield as he got close to Pirlo and put the Italy international under plenty of pressure. Never stopped running. 11 P. Kasami - Cleared off the line to deny Tevez before showing great composure to break the deadlock from the edge of the area. Should have made it 2-0 as he slid a shot wide after the break. 5 L. Milivojević - Saw a deflected effort tipped over the bar by Buffon in the first half and won a number of challenges in midfield, especially on Lichtsteiner. 10 A. Domínguez - Stung Buffon's palms with an early free kick before volleying narrowly wide. Direct running caused problems, no more so than when helping create the opening goal. 8 D. Ndinga - Worked hard on the right-hand side as he regularly tracked back with Asamoah. Rarely figured going forward. 7 K. Mitroglou - Was the focal point of the hosts' attack, and though his own efforts on goal were disappointing he provided some excellent link-up play. Substitutes 6 I. Afellay - Had little impact after replacing Mitroglou for the final quarter of the match. JUVENTUS 1 G. Buffon - Saved well early on from Dominguez's free kick but had no chance with Kasami's opener. Had little to do thereafter as the visitors dominated. 5 A. Ogbonna - Won a number of aerial battles at both ends of the pitch though his passing was not always at the required level. Replaced late on. 19 L. Bonucci - Was the spare man much of the time and kept possession well, though his long balls were largely poor. Defensive positioning was solid throughout. 3 G. Chiellini - Struggled up against the physical presence of Mitroglou while Dominguez's direct runs also showed him up for a lack of pace. 26 S. Lichtsteiner - Struggled to get forward and impact the game as Masuaku's forward runs inhibited him. Balls into the box were poor when he got the opportunity to deliver. 6 P. Pogba - Was not involved as his manager would have liked, though he almost equalised with a speculative effort from 30 yards that Roberto palmed away. 21 A. Pirlo - Gave the ball away a number of times, including in the build-up to Kasami's opener. Set-piece delivery caused some problems though his shooting was largely off-target. Replaced inside an hour. 23 A. Vidal - Won a number of tackles in midfield and carried the ball well. Was sometimes sloppy in possession which allowed the visitors to launch counterattacks. 22 K. Asamoah - Was barely seen as the visitors failed to utilise their wing-backs enough. Was given no space to run into by the excellent Elabdellaoui. 9 Álvaro Morata - Pace and direct running added a different dimension to Juve's attacking. Was denied on three occasions by some fine goalkeeping by Roberto. 10 C. Tévez - Saw an early effort cleared off the line before seeing a header ruled out for offside. Could not find as much space as he would have wanted to, though almost equalised late on, only for Roberto to save well low to his right. Substitutes 37 R. Pereyra - Made little impact after replacing Ogbonna for the final 10 minutes. 8 C. Marchisio - Kept the ball much better than Pirlo though was bypassed late on as the visitors chased an equaliser. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Allegri: 'Juve good chance of qualifying' Oct 22, 2014 Max Allegri defended Andrea Pirlo and assured Juventus “have a very good chance of qualifying” despite defeat to Olympiacos. “I imagined this game differently above all in terms of the first half,” the Coach told Sport Mediaset after a 1-0 Champions League loss in Athens. “We were bad technically, didn’t move enough and allowed three or four counter-attacks, which were what Olympiacos wanted. “In the second half we wasted too many scoring opportunities. We leave here with a bitter result and regrets over the first half, but I maintain we still have a very good chance of qualifying.” It’s a complicated situation, as Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos now have six points, while Juve and Malmo have three apiece. “I think we made a lot of unforced errors in the first half and couldn’t control the game. Olympiacos pressed us a lot and in fact lost a lot of intensity as time wore on. “We were too deep and stretched out between the sections in the first half, so we can only take the blame for having played like that.” Pirlo was particularly disappointing, giving away possession several times, including on the incident that led to the goal. “I am not worried, as Andrea was out for a long time and just needs match fitness. I played him tonight because I needed someone in front of the defence who could slow the game down and keep the ball while Olympiacos pressed us. “I’m certain that with time and more fitness work Andrea will return to being the player we all knew. “Morata proved he had great quality tonight, both in the first and second half.” Allegri moved to the 4-2-3-1 system in the final 15 minutes, but should Juventus adopt that shape from the start in Europe? “The idea tonight was to get the ball high up the field, but you need to stay tight and we left some gaps in midfield, staying too stretched out.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

Tevez: Juventus Can Progress Despite Olympiacos Defeat Oct 22, 2014 Juventus striker Carlos Tevez firmly believes his side can progress in the Champions League despite defeat to Olympiacos. Massimiliano Allegri’s team were dealt a stinging 1-0 defeat in Greece, which now leaves Juventus third in Group A three points behind Olimpiacos and Atletico Madrid. “We need to grow as a team when we play in Europe,” the Argentinian said to Sky Sport Italia post match. “Qualifying for the next phase is going to be difficult but now we look ahead to the next fixture,” he added. The Bianconeri conceded through Pajtim Kasami but the heroics of goalkeeper Roberto ensured the win. “The Olympiacos goalkeeper was incredible and he earned them the three points,” Tevez then told Mediaset. “We’re looking to turn the page. We are Juventus and we will search for a way of recovering from here. “Juventus has a history of playing well in the league but not so well in Europe. We have to change this. “It will be difficult, but we can do it with the players we have,” the 30 year-old concluded.

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Pajtim Kasami secures victory for Olympiakos over Juventus Oct 22, 2014 Olympiakos edged Juventus 1-0 on Wednesday night in Piraeus after a first-half goal from Pajtim Kasami. The Swiss midfielder struck in the 36th minute to hand his team three valuable points in the Champions League. The outcome has left Michel's side level on six points with Atletico Madrid at the top of Group A after three games played. Atletico thrashed Malmo FF 5-0 in Spain. Juventus failed to test Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto Gago in the opening half but had plenty of opportunities to equalise after the re-start yet failed to convert any. Juve encountered a hostile atmosphere at the Karaiskakis Stadium and lost to Olympiakos for the first time in Greece. The Italians have dropped to third in the pool, three points adrift of the leaders. Arturo Vidal returned to the starting XI for Juve after the Chilean midfielder was rested in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sassuolo. Alvaro Morata earned his first start for the Italians, playing alongside Carlos Tevez up front. The hosts had the first chance of the game in the seventh minute when Alejandro Dominguez's curled effort was kept out by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Juve almost took a 12th-minute lead when Morata headed the ball down and in the direction of Tevez. The Argentinian's goal-bound shot was blocked by defender Omar Elabdellaoui on the goal-line with Gago already beaten. At the other end, Luka Milivojevic's hard drive from 30 yards was tipped over the bar by Buffon. The Italy national team captain was called on again to make a save midway through the first half and had to clear Kasami's powerful strike from long range. Olympiakos' efforts paid off when a play started by Dominguez saw Kostas Mitroglou set up Kasami just outside the area. He then hit the ball towards the near post and out of Buffon's reach. Juve looked more dangerous in the second half and should have pulled level when Paul Pogba set up Stephan Lichtsteiner in the box but his effort went wide. Before the hour mark, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri brought on Claudio Marchisio in place of Andrea Pirlo. Tevez was denied the equaliser in the 75th minute when his right-footed attempt was saved by Gago. Five minutes later and Gago again came to the rescue when he kept out Morata's 12-yard shot from the centre of the box. With four minutes remaining, Morata fed Tevez just outside the area and his powerful attempt was saved by Gago as Olympiakos held on for their second win in Group A. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Tevez: 'Juve need new mentality' Oct 22, 2014 Carlos Tevez said Juventus “have to change” mentality in the Champions League after a defeat to Olympiacos. “Roberto put in an incredible performance and Olympiacos can thank him for the victory,” the striker told Sport Mediaset after a 1-0 result. “We have to turn over a new leaf and find something within ourselves. We must remember that we are Juventus. We certainly didn’t come here to lose.” The Bianconeri are so dominant domestically, yet have won the Champions League only once. “The history of Juventus have always been a bit like this, they do well in Serie A and struggle in Europe. If we want to become a great team then we have to turn that around and I believe we can change it. “I think it is an issue of mentality and it depends only on us to change.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Vialli: Juventus Deserved A Point Against Olimpiacos Oct 22, 2014 Former Juventus striker Gianluca Vialli has said that the Bianconeri deserved a draw on Wednesday night against Olympiakos. La Vecchia Signora lost 1-0 against the Greek giants at the Karaiskis Stadium in the UEFA Champions League group stage, and Vialli was quick to say that Massimiliano Allegri’s men deserved to draw the game. “Juventus had 18 shots on goal, Allegri’s men deserved to draw,” he told Sky. “However, you cannot start the match in such a defeatist manner. “Juve are always playing catch-up.” The former Sampdoria striker then went on to criticise the performance of midfielder Andrea Pirlo, saying that he negatively impacted the past two games against Olympiakos and Sassuolo. “Pirlo is also not in condition,” he said. “He has negatively impacted the previous two matches in which he has played in.” It is also worth mentioning that Juventus’ next game is at home to Palermo in Serie A on Sunday. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Greek Comedy: Juventus reach farcical levels with ancient Pirlo The Bianconeri flopped once more on the continent, but it was the midfielder's horror show which helped to ensure their defeat against Olympiakos. Oct 22, 2014 By Kris Voakes | International Football Correspondent As if Juventus’ difficulties on the road in the Champions League were not enough, the travails of Andrea Pirlo have given Massimiliano Allegri something else to worry about following their 1-0 defeat to Olympiakos. Pajtim Kasami’s goal was the least the home side deserved for their efforts, with Pirlo’s loose pass in midfield quickly pounced upon before the Swiss attacker guided Kostas Mitroglou’s centre into the back of the net. Had Kasami buried a golden opportunity early in the second half, there could have been no complaints from a Juventus side that were simply not at the races. Just as was the case away to Atletico Madrid three weeks ago, Juve were lifeless for far too much of the encounter. But, unlike their trip to the Vicente Calderon, this shouldn’t have been a fixture which held any significant fear for them. They weren’t without their chances in the first half, but those that did fall their way came almost exclusively from set-pieces. Omar Elabdellaoui had to clear off the line after Carlos Tevez’s shot skewed over goalkeeper Roberto from one corner, while the Argentine would later have a goal disallowed from another. A Pirlo free-kick was only partially dealt with, but Angelo Ogbonna couldn’t hook the ball goalwards from the bouncing ball. Alvaro Morata also failed to steer on target after another Pirlo set-piece. From open play, it was a completely different story. There was no fluidity about Juve’s passing, with the kind of clinical and controlled possession football which has decimated Serie A for the past three years notable by its absence. Normally their midfield strangles the life out of its opposition, but tonight they appeared more intent on killing off their own air supply. The ageing Pirlo was a long, long way short of form and fitness, regularly losing the ball in very unfamiliar fashion and floating one horrendous free-kick strike high and wide of goal. It summed up his night, and was followed seconds later by his removal in favour of Claudio Marchisio. Rarely can his substitution in the 57th minute have been so widely celebrated. It was little coincidence that Juve stepped up their game after he had departed. Suddenly they found greater space in the attacking half, with Morata forcing two fine saves from Roberto and Tevez also being kept out by the brilliant Spaniard. The late onslaught, though, was more a reminder of all the things Juve hadn’t been trying for the first hour. Since dispatching Celtic with ease in the Round of 16 in 2012-13, Juventus have gone from hopefuls to also-rans in the Champions League. In six trips across the continent they have lost to Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Galatasaray, Atletico and now Olympiakos. Their only point on their travels came against the minnows of Copenhagen. Juventus need to get their act sorted, and fast, if they are to avoid a second straight group exit, but they must also decide what to do about Pirlo. Having forced him out onto the pitch as he continues his comeback from injury, they need to give him time to come to terms with the pace of first-team football again. As for his sudden inability to find a team-mate from 10 yards away, they had simply better hope that the metronomic midfielder can find his range again soon. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Buffon: 'Juve regrets in Greece' Oct 22, 2014 Gigi Buffon had “regrets” at the poor Juventus first half in their 1-0 Champions League defeat to Olympiacos. “We had a very good second half, creating many scoring opportunities, but were unable to get the game back on track,” the goalkeeper told Sport Mediaset. “We deserved a point considering the number of chances, but there are also regrets at a ‘normal’ first half. “If we had played the whole game at this tempo, it would’ve been a different result. At half-time the Coach adjusted two or three things, modifying some positions and it went much better.” This is Juve’s second consecutive Champions League defeat, so now Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos lead the group on six points, while Juventus and Malmo have three. “Every defeat makes an objective more complicated. Despite it being a good performance, this was the kind of match Juve should not lose.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Olympiakos 1-0 Juventus: Roberto’s Heroics Deny The Bianconeri Oct 22, 2014 Juventus were defeated 1-0 by Olympiakos at the Karaiskakis Stadium in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night. The lone goal of the game came courtesy of a first-half strike by Pajtim Kasami; with Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto producing many saves to deny the Bianconeri. The home side started the game off brightly when Alejandro Dominguez unleashed a powerful free-kick which was turned away by Gianluigi Buffon. La Vecchia Signora came close to making it 1-0 minutes later when Carlos Tevez notched onto Alvaro Morata’s header, only to see his attempt get cleared off the line by Omar Elabdellaoui. Tevez had the ball in the back of the net minutes later, but it was ruled out for offside. The Kokkinoi soon had their opening goal with a very a swift counter attack which was finished off by former Palermo man Pajtim Kasami, placing his strike in the bottom right corner. Juventus had the chance to equalise early on in the second half, but Stephan Lichsteiner saw his left-footed go inches wide of the post. The hosts should’ve doubled their lead moments later, Alejandro Domiguez darted down the left-hand side before pulling the ball back to Kasami, but the Swiss international’s finish went centimetres wide of the post. It was Alvaro Morata who had the next chance to score; the Spaniard managed to turn away from his marker only to see his powerful finish saved by Roberto. The former Real Madrid man could’ve equalised with twenty minutes remaining when he latched onto Arturo Vidal’s cross from the right-hand side, but the Spaniard’s header went over the bar. Morata was once again at the centre of trouble; Tevez managed to slot the ball through to the striker but Alberto Botia managed to interfere in the nick of time. Paul Pogba then attempted a swerving shot from outside the area, but the advanced Roberto managed to recover and punch it away from danger. The Frenchman then spotted Arturo Vidal on the far post, and the Chilean managed to pull the ball back for Tevez, but Roberto was once again the hero. The Spanish goalkeeper once again imposed his presence, this time he managed to keep out Pogba’s intended cross, before keeping out Morata’s volley seconds later. Five minutes from time, Roberto once again managed to produce a stunning save to deny a powerful attempt from Tevez. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) CL: Juventus crash in Athens Oct 22, 2014 Juventus suffered a second consecutive Champions League defeat, falling 1-0 to Olympiacos with a stunning Roberto performance in goal. Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid crushed Malmo 5-0, including a goal from Alessio Cerci, so the Spanish and Greek sides top the group with a three-point advantage over Juve and Malmo. This was a head-to-head in Athens, as all four teams in the group had one win and one defeat going in. The Bianconeri missed Andrea Barzagli, Martin Caceres, Romulo and Luca Marrone, but Alvaro Morata and Arturo Vidal were picked rather than Fernando Llorente and Claudio Marchisio. The Greek side had to do without Jorge Benitez and Siovas, but dropped Ibrahim Afellay. Juve adopted their all-blue away strip, scrapping the green version that had brought criticism in their 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid. The hosts had an aggressive start and after six minutes Gigi Buffon flew to fingertip the Alejandro Dominguez free kick out of the top corner. Juve had a great chance to take the lead on 11 minutes, as Morata’s header from an Andrea Pirlo corner was redirected by Carlos Tevez, but Omar Elabdellaoui performed a decisive goalline clearance. Tevez had the ball in the net, but was offside when Stephan Lichtsteiner flicked on the corner. Dominguez threatened again with a smart half-volley flashed across the face of goal. Pirlo gave the ball away repeatedly in midfield and was penalised for it when sparking an Olympiacos counter-attack, as it was pulled back for Patjim Kasami to side-foot into the near bottom corner. Kasami is no stranger to Juve, as he used to play for Palermo. Pirlo’s free kick found Giorgio Chiellini, who on his weaker foot was unable to steer it towards goal from close range. The veteran went for goal on another set play, only to turn over the bar. Sport Mediaset claimed that Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta went into the locker room at half-time to give the players a stern talking-to after that ineffectual performance. After the restart, Lichtsteiner scuffed a volley not far wide, as did Luka Milivojevic, while Pirlo was substituted after hoofing a free kick off target. Dominguez pulled back for Kasami, whose angled drive shaved a coat of paint off the base of the far post. Tevez curled over, though Morata had a great chance when he combined with Tevez, spun round and forced Roberto into a reaction save from point-blank range. Morata also nodded a Vidal cross over the bar and saw Botia charge down his shot in the six-yard box. Juve started to increase the pressure, as within 30 seconds first Roberto flapped a Paul Pogba cross-shot out from under the bar, then Vidal pulled back for Tevez and forced the goalkeeper to parry with his leg. The Bianconeri moved to a 4-2-3-1 system for the final 13 minutes and Roberto again was alert on a Pogba cross-shot when Eric Abidal ducked out of the way. The Olympiacos goalkeeper was decisive on the resulting corner, brilliantly palming a powerful Morata strike on to the bar with one hand. Roberto again got down quickly for another one-handed save on the Tevez daisy-cutter. Olympiacos held on for their fifth consecutive Champions League home win. Olympiacos 1-0 Juventus Scorers: Kasami 36 (O) Olympiacos: Roberto; Elabdellaoui, Botia, Abidal, Masuaku; Maniatis, Kasami (Giannoulis 90); Milivojevic, Dominguez (Fuster 85), N’Dinga; Mitroglou (Afellay 69) Juventus: Buffon; Ogbonna (Pereyra 77), Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pogba (Giovinco 87), Pirlo (Marchisio 57), Vidal, Asamoah; Morata, Tevez Ref: Mazic (SRB) http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS 1 - 0 P. Kasami 35' Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M. Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia) Olympiakos 1-0 Juventus: Kasami strikes as Old Lady stumble in Athens Kostas Mitroglou's cut-back was expertly swept home by the Swiss midfielder to give the Greek champions another shock victory in the group. Oct 22, 2014 An outstanding second-half performance from Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto helped earn his side a 1-0 win over Juventus on Wednesday. With the Greek side leading thanks to Pajtim Kasami's first-half goal at the Karaiskakis Stadium in this Champions League Group A encounter, Spaniard Roberto produced a string of superb saves after the interval to ensure they claimed all three points. In the space of 15 minutes midway through the second period, he made remarkable stops to deny Alvaro Morata, Paul Pogba and Carlos Tevez on what was a frustrating night for Massimiliano Allegri's men. Former Fulham man Kasami had earlier struck a low finish into the bottom left-hand corner as Olympiakos continued their strong recent run of results at home on Europe's biggest club stage. Over the past 12 months, Olympiakos have beaten Benfica, Anderlecht, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid on their own soil, and this result against the Italian champions represented their fifth consecutive home victory in the Champions League. Juve, who dropped points in Serie A for the first time this season on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at Sassuolo, had Chile international Arturo Vidal back in the side after he was rested at the weekend, but the midfielder failed to have a telling impact as Olympiakos held on to move onto six points at the halfway stage in the group - three more than Juventus. The hosts made a bright start, Kostas Mitroglou flicking a half-chance wide before Alejandro Dominguez brought a flying save out of Gianluigi Buffon with a free-kick in the opening seven minutes. Juve went close themselves five minutes later as Tevez's stabbed effort was headed off the line by Omar Elabdellaoui as Olympiakos failed to deal with Andrea Pirlo's corner. Tevez did have the ball in the net in the 20th minute, but his header was rightly disallowed for offside as the hosts showed further hesitancy from a Pirlo set-piece. The game continued to ebb and flow, and a superb touch and volley from Dominguez flashed across the face of goal in the 27th minute. Ten minutes before the break, Olympiakos opened the scoring with a well-worked goal. Dominguez led the break and played the ball to Mitroglou, who laid a pass back into Kasami for the midfielder to fire left-footed beyond Buffon from the edge of the penalty area. Morata went close with a left-footed volley six minutes after the interval. Kasami should have doubled his and Olympiakos' tally on the hour mark, but he rolled the ball wide from six yards after being teed up by the influential Dominguez. Juve almost took advantage of that miss five minutes later, but Roberto brilliantly parried Morata's thumping effort from eight yards. Roberto performed heroics once more as the game entered the final quarter of an hour, clawing away Pogba's cross before keeping out Tevez's close-range effort with his legs. With nine minutes remaining, he pulled off another outstanding save, reacting sharply to tip Morata's fierce drive onto the crossbar as Juve continued to press hard for an equaliser. But a leveller did not arrive as the Greek side held on for a battling victory that puts them in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

Io mi sentirei offeso se fossi Giovinco.

Ne ha preso un altro.

6 minuti alla fine .... Giovinco time!

Si sapeva, ma non riusciamo a segnare ugualmente.