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ATALANTA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, September 27th, 2014 8:45 PM Atleti Azzurri d'Italia Stadium - Bergamo Referee: Daniele Orsato Atalanta vs. Juventus: Key Issues That Will Shape Serie A Game Sep 26, 2014 Having handily dispatched Cesena on Wednesday evening, Juventus travel to Bergamo on Saturday for their next Serie A fixture. Their comfortable 3-0 win over Pierpaolo Bisoli’s men—reviewed here—marked their fourth straight victory to start the season, and they will look to add three more points against Atalanta. Their opponents have endured a difficult start to 2014-15, losing to Inter and Fiorentina in their last two outings. Currently sitting in 11th place in the table, they will be glad to see the easier run of fixtures following this encounter with the reigning Italian champions. Massimiliano Allegri insists there is more to come from his side, despite the fact they have won five games in all competitions without conceding a single goal. “I inherited a side with great organisation, but this team still needs to improve a great deal,” he told Sky Italia on Wednesday (h/t Football Italia). Over the following pages is a look at the issues which will shape this match as they seek to do just that, identifying the matchups and factors which could ultimately decide the result against the Orobici. Juve’s Injury Hit Defence One major area for concern in the Juventus side is in defence, Martin Caceres joining Andrea Barzagli on the sidelines with an injury. Angelo Ogbonna filled the void left by the absent duo on Wednesday, turning in an impressive display despite being fielded in an unfamiliar position. With German Denis yet to score for Atalanta, how the reshuffled Bianconeri backline copes with the Argentinean striker could well decide the result of this match. Gigi Buffon already has four clean sheets to his name, and the team will certainly be looking to add to that tally. The Midfield Battle As with seemingly every Juventus fixture, how their opponents cope with the Bianconeri midfield is likely to have a major impact upon the outcome. While Vidal and Andrea Pirlo have struggled with knocks, Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio have ensured their team-mates are not overly missed. Both have been excellent thus far, with the latter turning in a superb display against Cesena as his passing dominated the game. Atalanta boast a talented group of midfield players themselves, with Luca Cigarini and Maxi Morales two names to monitor closely. The Form of Marco Sportiello Goalkeeper Marco Sportiello has been in excellent form so far this term, often the difference in ensuring Atalanta haven’t suffered even heavier defeats. According to Fox Soccer, only Genoa’s Mattia Perin (21) has made more saves than the 22-year-old after four matches and he has also managed one clean sheet. Juventus clearly boast the quality to find their way past even the best of stoppers, but Sportiello’s ability to frustrate them could weigh heavily here. Tuesday’s Big Champions League Fixture Following this match, Juve are next in action on Tuesday, travelling to Spain to face last year’s Champions League runners-up. Atletico Madrid will provide a stern test for the Bianconeri, and the prospect of that on the horizon could affect the game with Atalanta. Allegri has already proven unafraid of rotating his side, using no less than 20 players in the first four league fixtures. That, allied to Arturo Vidal’s ongoing injury worries, seems to suggest the coach could once again field a much-changed line-up on Saturday. Atalanta will seek to exploit any lack of focus from the Turin giants, while La Madama must hope she can once again muster a performance to see off a determined opponent. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

ATALANTA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, September 27th, 2014 8:45 PM Atleti Azzurri d'Italia Stadium - Bergamo Referee: Daniele Orsato Atalanta V Juventus: Oribici Up Against The Unstoppable Bianconeri Machine Sep 26, 2014 Atalanta host Juventus at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on Saturday evening, hoping to halt the Bianconeri’s current run of victories. Massimiliano Allegri’s men have won their opening four Serie A matches in a most convincing fashion and it will take something special from the Oribici to get a point or more from this match. Last season, the game ended in a spectacular 4-1 victory for the visitors, as Carlos Tevez, Paul Pogba, Fernando Llorente and Arturo Vidal downed the side from Bergamo, with Maxi Moralez getting the solitary goal for Atalanta. The current campaign has not started so well for coach Stefano Colantuono, as his side have only earned one win in their four games and have struggled to score. Last time out, they were convincingly beaten 2-0 away to Inter and have only picked up maximum points away to bottom team Cagliari. Having only scored twice so far, Colantuono dropped German Denis from the starting line-up against the Nerazzurri but Rolando Bianchi and Moralez faired little better, as they both failed to find the net. Denis is expected to start against Juventus alongside Richmond Boakye who also missed the Inter tie. The Ghanaian is owned by the Bianconeri, and it will be interesting to see how he plays against his parent club. However, there is some good news for the coach as young keeper Marco Sportiello and Italy U21 full back Davide Zappacosta continue to impress despite their club’s indifferent form. Both should feature on Saturday evening against the current Serie A champions. Allegri’s Juventus look in terrific form and with Champions League football on the horizon, the ex-AC Milan coach may look to rest a few of his regulars. Romulo may get a rare chance at right wing-back in place of Stephan Lichsteiner and new Spanish signing Alvaro Morata could start his first game for the club, allowing compatriot Llorente to take a well earned break. Italian international midfielder Andrea Pirlo has begun to train with his team mates after a lengthy lay off due to injury, but he is very doubtful to even make it onto the bench this weekend. Angelo Ogbonna will continue at centre back as both Martin Caceres and Andrea Barzagli recover from various knocks. Expected Starting XIs ATALANTA - Sportiello; Zappacosta, Biava, Cherubin, Drame; Gomez, Carmona, Baselli, Estigarribia; Boakye, Denis JUVENTUS - Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Romulo, Vidal, Pogba, Marchisio, Asamoah; Morata, Tevez http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Llorente Brands Allegri As The ‘Perfect Coach’ Sep 26, 2014 Juventus striker Fernando Llorente is delighted to have coach Massimiliano Allegri in Turin and feels he is the right person to lead the team. The former AC Milan boss replaced fan favourite Antonio Conte in the summer and has had a wonderful start to the Serie A campaign as his side have won all four games played so far. This run of results has led to praise from Llorente, who himself has featured vastly for the Old Lady. “Allegri is a good coach and a good person,” the Spaniard stated while speaking with Calcio2000. “It was always difficult to replace a coach like Conte and I think Allegri is the right choice. Compared to Conte, he speaks perhaps more with the players. I feel he is the perfect coach.” The 29-year-old is yet to open his goal scoring account for the season but feels that the team will only grow stronger as they look to hold off challengers Roma for the Scudetto this season. “I think Rome maybe our most dangerous opponent. They have a consolidated group, with some really good new players and it is going to be difficult to beat them. “We are not afraid of anyone and, above all, we still want to win the Scudetto.”

Serie A - 5^ Giornata Andata - 27-9-2014 (ore 20:45) ATALANTA - JUVENTUS - Sabato, 27 settembre 2014 - ore 20:45 Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia - Bergamo Arbitro: Daniele Orsato Confronti ufficiali 118 - 104 (Serie A) - 12 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) Vittorie Juventus 62 - 58 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) Pareggi 42 - 35 (Serie A) - 6 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) Vittorie Atalanta 14 - 11 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) Goals Juventus 216 - 190 (Serie A) - 23 (Coppa Italia) - 3 (Campionato a gironi) Goals Atalanta 101 - 83 (Serie A) - 17 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) Atalanta - Juventus Serie A a Bergamo Confronti ufficiali 52 Vittorie Juventus 24 (L'ultima il 22.12.2013, 1-4) Pareggi 21 (L'ultimo il 02.02.2003, 1-1) Vittorie Atalanta 7 (L'ultima il 03.02.2001, 2-1) Goals Juventus 86 Goals Atalanta 49 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro l'Atalanta a Bergamo 12 presenze Boniperti Giampiero 9 Leoncini Gianfranco 8 Del Piero Alessandro 8 Salvadore Sandro 8 Viola Giovanni 7 Buffon Gianluigi 7 Castano Ernesto 7 Del Sol Luis Cascajares 7 Muccinelli Ermes 7 Parola Carlo 9 goals Boniperti Giampiero 6 Del Piero Alessandro 6 Sivori Omar Enrique 3 Hansen John Angelo Valdemar 2 Anastasi Pietro 2 Astorri Mario 2 Baggio Roberto 2 Banfi Raul 2 Camoranesi Mauro German 2 Carapellese Riccardo Ultimi confronti diretti 21.12.2008 Serie A Atalanta-Juventus 1-3 17.05.2009 Serie A Juventus-Atalanta 2-2 07.11.2009 Serie A Atalanta-Juventus 2-5 28.03.2010 Serie A Juventus-Atalanta 2-1 21.01.2012 Serie A Atalanta-Juventus 0-2 13.05.2012 Serie A Juventus-Atalanta 3-1 16.12.2012 Serie A Juventus-Atalanta 3-0 08.05.2013 Serie A Atalanta-Juventus 0-1 22.12.2013 Serie A Atalanta-Juventus 1-4 05.05.2014 Serie A Juventus-Atalanta 1-0 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 9 - Pareggi 1 - Vittorie Atalanta 0 - Goals Juventus 26 - Goals Atalanta 8 http://www.goal.com/it/results-standings/69/serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_101

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/V6DIaWxgSjO/Juventus+FC+v+AC+Cesena+Serie http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/serie_a/2014/09/24-81321_0/FOTO+Juve+show%2C+Cesena+travolto+3-0

ATALANTA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, September 27th, 2014 8:45 PM Atleti Azzurri d'Italia Stadium - Bergamo Referee: Daniele Orsato Preview: Atalanta vs. Juventus Sep 25, 2014 Juventus will be hoping to maintain their early lead in Serie A when they face Atalanta in the Italian top flight this weekend. The defending champions have won all four of their matches so far this season, including a 3-0 win over Cesena earlier this week. The Turin side welcomed back Arturo Vidal from a knee injury in their last match, and will be hoping that the Chilean playmaker will be involved again in this match. Meanwhile, Atalanta will be hoping to bounce back for defeats in their last two league outings. A 2-0 defeat to Inter Milan earlier this week has left the club 11th in the table, just a point above the relegation places. The visitors have a number of players carrying knocks, but have reported no fresh concerns following their midweek match. Recent form Atalanta: DWLL Juventus: WWWW Possible starting lineups Atalanta: Sportiello, Zappacosta, Benalouane, Cherubin, Drame, D'Alessandro, Carmona, Estigarribia, Cigarini, Bianchi, Moralez. Juventus: Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Romulo, Vidal, Marchisio, Pereyra, Asamoah; Giovinco, Llorente. Sports Mole says: 0-3 http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Lichtsteiner: Defence Has Always Been A Key Strength For Juventus Sep 25, 2014 Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner has admitted that one of the Old Lady’s main strengths is their strong defence, which is what helped them defeat Cesena on Wednesday. The 30-year-old scored a goal for the Bianconeri in their 3-0 home win over the Seahorses and he has attributed the positive result to his team’s ability to have everyone on the pitch alternate between attacking and defending in order to help keep control of the ball. Lichtsteiner spoke to the press after the victory against Cesena about the difficulties Juventus had faced in the beginning of the match and the qualities that aided the home side in securing the three points. “The defence has always been one of our key strengths, because we defend ourselves with all eleven players and then attack with al eleven players,” said the Swiss international. “We have forwards and midfielders who already know that they’ll have to make certain sacrifices and this is what gives us security. “We had done good against Cesena because in the beginning it was not easy, we had some chances to score but we weren’t particularly sharp in front of the goal. “However, we had always kept hold of the game and, once we unlocked the result, we had continued to play our game, deserving the win.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

The seven early wrinkles of Massimiliano Allegri The older you get, the more wrinkles you have. It's just life and you cannot avoid it. Wrinkles are good, though. Sep 25, 2014 As in life, wrinkles in football also means "change." And there are some new wrinkles I found on the Old Lady under our new coach, Max Allegri. It's early, yes, as we are only four giornate and one UEFA Champions League game into the 2014/15 season. But they're there, so let's see what those are. Wrinkle No. 1: Leonardo Bonucci's less long balls, more thrusts In 2013/14, Leonardo Bonucci averaged nine long balls per game. But this season, it's an average of only five per game. He did, however, quite often thrust into the opposition's half, something we didn't see his three seasons under Antonio Conte. They haven't given any clear results yet, but these thrusts are something different. And while Bonucci hasn't gotten the hang of it, they offer a new dimension in Juve's scheme. The opposition has to commit a man on him and it will open more space for other players. Will it work? I don't know, but it does have a great potential and at least, less long balls means more possession. Wrinkle No. 2: Claudio Marchisio is keeping it simple Last season, Andrea Pirlo averaged 69 passes per game as Juventus' regista. With him out, Claudio Marchisio took his place and averaged around 40 percent more, 101 passes per game. He didn't open the opposition's defense with his passes but he kept it simple and made the game flow quicker. Defensively, he is also more sound and contributed to the clean sheet in all of our five competitive games so far. Will it continue when Pirlo is back? I don't know, but I like what I've seen so far. Both players compliment each other and it doesn't hurt to have two types of regista in our squad. Wrinkle No. 3: Paul Pogba's power game Last season, we were mesmerized by Paul Pogba's silky skill and booming shots from outside the box. This season, I'm in awe at how he's used his power to keep the ball. He's still in the process to assimilate skill, speed and power and hence why he doesn't seem to play as well as Marchisio. But once he can mix them all together, oh boy... Will he still have weaknesses after this? Yes. His defensive phase and ability to read the game still need improvement, but those hopefully come later as he keeps working and gets more mature. One thing I predict, though. Pogba is going to be an absolute beast sometime soon. Wrinkle No. 4: Deep is good, Calos Tévez Last season, Tévez had two goals after four competitive games. Now, he's got four. The difference is he's now playing deeper and maximizing his strength at running at defenders. Does it work? I think so, but he's already 30 years old so Allegri needs to control his minutes carefully. Wrinkle No. 5: Rotation, rotation, rotation Through four Serie A and one UEFA Champions League games in, Juventus has scored nine goals and, probably more importantly, conceded zero goals. This is even more satisfying considering Andrea Barzagli didn't play in any of those games and Giorgio Chiellini also missed the first two games. Allegri didn't have any choice, but to play them but Martín Cáceres and Angelo Ogbonna have responded very well and performed admirably with oozing confidence. They made plenty of errors last season, but now, they can keep it at a minimum. If they can keep it up, we don't need to worry about the center back position for the next few years. Not only at the back. Last season, with the scudetto virtually secured, Antonio Conte played his best eleven against Sassuolo when three days later, we had a very important game against Benfica in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinal. Now, Allegri rested Tévez, Pogba and Kwadwo Asamoah in the midweek game against Cesena on Wednesday for a more trickier game against Atalanta three days later. Immediately follows is another midweek game, this time in the UEFA Champions League at Atlético Madrid. Does rotation always work? No, and while I'm not saying Allegri is better than Conte, it seems he's willing to take more risk for a greater return. With five wins from five games, those changes form the old guards have made us less predictable and so far it's working. Furthermore, Allegri has also mixed the new guards into the squad and they look encouraging. Wrinkle No. 6: Roberto Pereyra The Hub With Arturo Vidal out, Roberto Pereyra has proven that he belongs here. Many media members see Pereyra as the vice-Vidal, but I disagree. Both are excellent at their movement and versatility, but while Vidal is superior at tackling, stamina, shooting and breaking plays, Pereyra is quicker, a bit better at passing and making himself available for a pass. To me, he seems like a hub between midfield and attack. He's a type of a player Juve didn't have last season and personally, I like what I saw last night against Cesena when they played together. Before the season began, many Juventini doubted his worthiness. But little by little, Pereyra keeps proving himself and with only starts with Juventus, he's already been called up by the Argentina national team this past Monday. Wrinkle No. 7: Two-way striker in Álvaro Morata In the three games where he played around 30 minutes in total, he's already shown us how good he can be. Skillful, strong, quick and fast, Alvaro Morata will at least be our super-sub from the bench but personally, I think he's going to be a wonderful No. 9 for Juventus. Already a two-way striker, Morata complements his offensive skills with hard work and willingness to defend deep into his team's area. I won't be surprised if he takes the starting spot from Fernando Llorente sometime this season or next. And this is just the beginning. Who knows, maybe soon we are going to witness the eighth wrinkle, (Kingsley) Coman The Destroyer. We haven't seen much from Coman, but he could be the joker of our wrinkles. He's fast, technical and good at keeping the ball, so the potential is in abundance. If realized even a bit, Coman will also offer an option we didn't have last season: He can play as a second striker, wing forward and attacking midfielder and once he's learnt how to deal with Serie A's defenders, we can possibly have another diamond on our hands. The troubles Juve had in breaking down Milan's defense when they put 11 men behind the ball may be solved with Coman if he's given the chance and blossoms. These seven wrinkles are just from the first five games and who knows how many more we'll see from Allegri. The only constant is change and we're doing it. They have definitely enriched our plays and make us better but will they be enough? I don't know, but I'm confident that whether we'll achieve our target or not, these wrinkles are laying a solid foundation for our future success.

Tacchinardi: Buffon Keen To Play For A Long Time Sep 25, 2014 Ex-Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi says that former teammate and Bianconeri star Gianluigi Buffon wants to continue playing for a long time. The legendary Azzurri shotstopper turns 37 in January, but Tacchinardi told Mediaset Premium that he is not even thinking about retirement. “Buffon wants to be a player for a long time with Juventus and with the national team,” Tacchinardi said. “Nicola Leali the heir to Buffon? It’s hard to say now. Leali has quality, but this year he has to show he has the character to succeed in the Serie A. “He is a keeper for the future, he will do well in his career.” Leali is currently on loan to Cesena from Juventus for this season, and has started all four games so far.

5 Things Paul Pogba Must Do to Take His Game Forward in 2014/15 Sep 25, 2014 Speaking to Corriere dello Sport recently, former Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi said it was “absurd,” (h/t Goal.com) that Paul Pogba had been allowed to leave Manchester United. Looking at the performances of the Frenchman since arriving in Turin, it is hard to disagree with that sentiment, such has been his dramatic elevation to stardom. From being a player seemingly unable to break into Sir Alex Ferguson’s first-team plans at Old Trafford, the 21-year-old has become a mainstay for both the Bianconeri and his national side. He has established a reputation as one of the finest young talents on the continent and the envy of top clubs everywhere. However, despite L’Equipe reporting the interest of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid (h/t Forza Italian Football), there is still room for improvement in the player’s performances. Massimiliano Allegri touched upon that last week, telling Sky Italia (per Gianluca Di Marzio): I get mad with him a lot, because he has a lot of potential but he hasn’t fully expressed it yet. But we know that he’s 21 and so he has the time to do it. He’s an amazing player, both physically and technically: his skills make the team leap in quality. Over the following pages is a look at five areas in which Pogba can do just that, improvements which could make him an even more well-rounded player. 1. Stay Humble Perhaps the biggest hurdle to any player wishing to become truly great is their own humility, being able to remain calm as the world sings their praises. Thus far, Pogba has managed this, thanks to a combination of his high-profile team-mates' guidance and an eagerness to continue learning and improving. Antonio Conte told reporters last year that Pogba was “humble” and noted how important that had been in the player’s “incredible” progress, per Goal.com. By continuing with that approach, the Frenchman truly can become one of the world’s finest players. 2. Work on His Passing One area where Pogba can certainly improve is his passing, both in terms of consistency and his overall decision-making. According to stats site WhoScored.com, his pass completion rate was 83.8 percent last term, way below that of his colleagues in the Juventus midfield. After developing a reputation for superb goals outside the box, he has developed something of a shoot-first mentality, often overlooking better-placed team-mates. By making that extra pass, Pogba could improve his contribution to his side’s play further still. 3) Improve His Shot Selection That penchant for taking long-range efforts at goal has been rewarded with some stunning strikes, but there is clearly room to improve the accuracy of those shots. As the above image—courtesy of Squawka.com—highlights, Pogba found the target with just 29 of 73 attempts last term, leading to just seven goals. By making better decisions over when and where to take those chances, he will certainly improve those figures, making him an even greater threat to opponents. 4. Shine in Europe In order to bring even greater accolades and attention upon himself, Pogba needs to ensure both he and Juventus shine on the biggest stages. After stumbling in the Champions League last term, a deep run in the competition is essential this season. 5. Develop Better Understanding with Team-Mates After two full seasons with Juventus, Pogba has become a central figure in the starting XI for the Bianconeri. However, he has yet to foster the kind of intrinsic understanding that the greatest players seem to share between themselves. By further developing his relationships with players such as Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez, the 21-year-old can elevate his play to an even higher level.

Chiellini: 'Bring on Atletico!' Sep 25, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini pleased with Juventus’ start to the season “after an eventful summer” and is targeting Atletico Madrid. The defender sat down with Juventus TV for an interview after the 3-0 victory over Cesena, which maintained their 100 per cent record between Serie A and Champions League. “We are happy with this start to the season. It’s an important sign after an eventful summer,” he said of Max Allegri replacing Antonio Conte in the first week of training. “We had a great approach against Cesena, we deservedly took the lead and kept our concentration levels high. “Last night a few important players rested, while Vidal returned to the pitch, so there were many good signs. “At this start of the campaign we are more or less all getting playing time, so we saw once again how important the whole squad is.” Juve travel to Atalanta this weekend, but Chiellini is already looking forward to the Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid. “The Champions League has a different physicality compared to in Italy. We started well by beating Malmo, but now we need a great performance in Madrid.”

Inter plan Lichtsteiner steal Sep 25, 2014 Inter’s Erick Thohir and Piero Ausilio are reportedly considering making a move for Juventus full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner. The ex-Lazio player has been negotiating the extension of his contract in Turin, but for a number of months is believed to have seen reputed wage demands not met favourably by Bianconero officials. It is a position that has, according to Europacalcio, invited Inter into the equation, with President Thohir and sporting director Ausilio eyeing a potential deal similar to that handed to Nemanja Vidic. With Lichtsteiner’s current deal due to expire in June 2015, it is understood that the Nerazzurri are planning an offer of a €2.8m-salaried, three-year contract to try to tempt the 30-year-old with. The same rate seen as paid to Vidic, this would fall below Lichtsteiner’s reported €3m wage demands at Juve, but still net him a pay-rise on current earnings by €800,000.

Llorente: Allegri perfect for us Sep 25, 2014 Fernando Llorente has described Max Allegri as ‘the perfect Coach’ to follow Antonio Conte at Juventus. Allegri came in to replace Conte just two days into pre-season amid a mixed response from supporters, but, with four consecutive wins and clean sheets to begin Serie A, he has the backing of his players, as one of them explains. “With him we also work hard,” Llorente has commented in an excerpt released by Calcio2000. “He is a good Coach, a good person. Compared to Conte, he speaks more with us players. I think he's the perfect Coach for us. “It was hard to replace someone like Conte who did and won everything possible in Turin. It wasn't easy but I think that Allegri was the right choice. “Of course it will take some time, but I think that little by little we will become even stronger than last season.” Asked about potential competitors for the title, Llorente pointed out Roma as the clear candidates. “I believe that Roma are the most dangerous adversaries. They have a consolidated group with important new players. “Beating them is going to be difficult, but we aren't afraid of anyone and, most importantly, we are still hungry for victories.”

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Buffon: Roma war will last all season The veteran goalkeeper cannot foresee the Giallorossi dropping out of the title chase, with Juventus and last season's runners up neck-and-neck at the top of Serie A. Sep 25, 2014 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes that the club's battle with Roma for the Scudetto will be a season-long war. Roma were Juve's only real contenders for the league title last season but the Turin giants managed to ease ahead and win it for a third successive time. Massimiliano Allegri's men have won all four of their opening Serie A games of this season, but so have Roma, and the veteran Bianconeri shot-stopper thinks the two Italian sides will be jostling for the top position for the rest of 2014-15. "It will be tough to repeat ourselves again in our battle with Roma," Buffon told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "It will be a battle which will go on for another year as the Giallorossi are top with us again. "Roma will fight for the Scudetto until the very end, they have the strength and talent to bag wins with good performances. They reinforced in the summer, but we have not lost our grip either. "If Roma finish top of Serie A next year they will have done so on merit. I think this rivalry makes the league more compelling." Buffon refused to compare Allegri's way of running Juve with Antonio Conte's three years with the Turin club, in which they won three successive Scudetti. "There is no comparison to be done," the Italy international added. "I have too much experience to answer which team is stronger - whether it's Conte's or Allegri's. "Juve were fantastic under Conte. I hope that Allegri can repeat Conte's successes, then we'll be on track. "Allegri has experience at big clubs, he's always managed his teams well despite pressure from the media and club chiefs." Juve travel to Atalanta on Saturday hoping to stay ahead of Roma, whom they are currently ahead of on goal difference, in Serie A. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Vidal returns with a bang as Allegri shows Conte the secret to rotation The reigning champions made it four wins out of four in Serie A in 2014-15 with a comfortable victory over Cesena. There were plenty of positives for the Bianconeri. Sep 25, 2014 COMMENT By Carlo Garganese One of the biggest criticisms of Antonio Conte during the second and third years of his Juventus reign was that he didn’t rotate his squad well enough. This proved to be particularly harmful on the continent where the current Italy boss regularly fielded almost identical XIs just days after Serie A matches. The Europa League semi-final second leg stalemate against Benfica, which ended Juve’s hopes of contesting the final in their home stadium, was Conte’s darkest hour in this regard. Ten of the starting XI that night played just three days earlier in an away match at relegation-threatened Sassuolo despite the Scudetto being virtually unlosable. Conte often responded to his detractors by stressing that the “Scudetto is our priority”. But he failed to recognise that such is the gulf in quality between Juve’s squad and most of Serie A that there are plenty of opportunities to rest players and still win comfortably. Juve’s home clash with newly-promoted Cesena on Wednesday is a perfect example of such a game. If Conte was in charge, he would have likely fielded a full-strength XI – and used Roma’s 100 per cent start to the season as justification. Conte’s successor Massimiliano Allegri wisely chose to rotate his line-up for a match Juve were always going to bag three points from. Carlos Tevez, who was in unstoppable form after scoring four goals in his last three games, was benched along with Paul Pogba and Kwadwo Asamoah. In came Sebastian Giovinco, Patrice Evra and the returning Arturo Vidal – as Roberto Pereyra retained his place. Due to other injuries, Juve actually began the game with just six first team players. During a congested period of fixtures, some of Juve’s star players were able to catch a breather ahead of a crucial week of football. The Bianconeri travel to Spanish champions Atletico Madrid in the Champions League next Wednesday before welcoming Roma to Turin on the Sunday in a Scudetto showdown. This kind of rotation policy is an absolute must if Juventus are to have any hope of closing the gap on Champions League giants like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Wednesday’s victory was as comfortable as they come. They boasted more than 70 per cent of possession, dominated territory, while Cesena had just one attempt all game. The biggest positive was, of course, the return from injury of Vidal. The Chilean was nowhere near his best and even admitted during his half-time interview with Sky that he was "a bit tired and wasn't at 100 per cent". But such is Vidal's quality that even half-fit, as he was during the World Cup, he is still a man possessed. He slotted home a first-half penalty before striking home a brilliant second from the edge of the area on 63 minutes. He was substituted to a standing ovation with 10 minutes remaining, shortly before Stephan Lichtsteiner completed a 3-0 victory. Giovinco was lively during a rare outing and went close on a number of occasions (hitting the post), while Claudio Marchisio showed increased maturity in the ‘Pirlo role’. The biggest negative was a very lethargic Fernando Llorente, who again disappointed and was substituted with 20 minutes remaining for Alvaro Morata - who himself missed a sitter. Juventus continued their flawless start to the new season, and you would not bet against them getting close to their record 102-point tally from the previous campaign. The Bianconeri have won all five of their games in all competitions without conceding. And by rotating smartly, as Allegri did tonight, they may even make their mark on Europe too. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Bisoli: Juventus Were Too Much For Cesena Sep 25, 2014 Pierpaolo Bisoli has admitted his Cesena side found the going tough against Juventus in their Serie A meeting on Wednesday evening. The Bianconeri triumphed 3-0, with Arturo Vidal opening the scoring on a penalty which Bisoni saw as pivotal to limiting his side’s chances. “We knew we had to do everything well this evening,” the Cavallucci Marini tactician admitted in his post-match press conference. “I understand that an incident like [the penalty] brought everything to collapse in on us.” The spot-kick was awarded after Emanuele Cascione was judged to have handled the ball inside his own penalty area. “Compared to Roma there was a step forward. “At home we are different, but I have seen a clear improvement tonight. I would always like to win, but when a team is stronger you have to admit it. “In Serie A single incident can change a game, and that rule is doubly important to us.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Arturo Vidal scores twice as Juventus defeat Cesena Sep 25, 2014 Juventus defended their place at the top of Serie A with Arturo Vidal on target twice in a 3-0 win over Cesena. The Chilean scored first from the penalty spot and then from open play as Massimiliano Allegri's men made it four wins out of four at the start of the season. Stephan Lichtsteiner added the third in a dominant performance from the Bianconeri. Allegri made a few changes to his usual starting XI, most notably giving Vidal his first start of the season and resting Carlos Tevez with Sebastian Giovinco taking his place. The pint-sized forward was a livewire as usual and he want close to giving Juventus the lead with a free-kick in the 10th minute which hit the wall before his rebound was pushed over the crossbar by Nicola Leali. Juve continued to press and they had two penalty appeals waved away before Emanuele Cascione was adjudged to have blocked Roberto Pereyra's shot intentionally with his arm. Vidal stepped up and although Leali went the right way, and got a hand to the ball, he could not keep the Chilean's spot-kick out. Fernando Llorente and Giovinco both went close to adding a second in what was becoming a monologue for the hosts, who still had to wait until the 64th minute before Vidal settled any nerves. Giovinco was the provider for the midfielder to drill in his shot from just outside the penalty area. That broke Cesena's resistance and their belief that they might snatch a point, and Juve had chances to run away with it. In the end, they had to settle for a third goal from Licthsteiner, who lifted his shot over the onrushing Leali to make it three in the 85th minute. Giovinco was denied the goal which would have capped his evening in the 88th minute when he hit the post, but enough damage had already been inflicted on Cesena. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Buffon: Tough year against Roma Sep 25, 2014 Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon says Roma will fight for the Scudetto until the end, but that his team wants to go on amazing their supporters. The 36-year-old, speaking at an event on the theme of sexual education, discussed Juve’s Capitoline rivals, who at the start of this term are level with the Bianconeri on four wins from four. “It's going to be tough to repeat our feats against this Roma team,” Buffon has told reporters gathered. “The duel has been going on for a year now, and the Giallorossi earned their spot at the top of the table next to us. “Roma will be fighting for the title to the end,” stated Buffon. “They have the kind of strength and confidence that you acquire with victories and performances. “They are stronger now but we're not loosening our grip. I think this situation has made the League a lot more compelling.” The goalkeeper was quick to brush aside the question of whether Juventus are stronger this year compared to last. “These aren't comparisons to be made. I have too much experience to answer questions that, however legitimate they may be, are also a bit slanted and specious. “I'll just say that Conte's Juve was fantastic and that I hope we can repeat, with Allegri, what we did with Conte. We're certainly on the right path. “As for Allegri, he already had experience in great teams, he was always good at handling pressure from the media and the clubs. He's a Coach that always gives you certainties. “We're serious players, we care about our jobs and we feel the responsibilities that come with the shirt.” When asked whether his team felt more serene now, he responded: “It's not about being serene, we want to go on amazing if this is possible. After all, victory is always an important stimulant.”

Allegri: 'Juve more than tactics' Sep 24, 2014 Massimiliano Allegri said he is changing Juventus because “players don’t need to be caged by tactics.” Arturo Vidal bagged a brace before a late Stephan Lichtsteiner strike to defeat Cesena 3-0. “It was a positive night because we won, which was the most important thing,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Giovinco played 90 minutes very well, Vidal was not in great shape and still decisive, while Ogbonna and Pereyra continue to do well. It’s important to have 15-20 players in good shape during a long season, especially when our intensity level drops. “Unfortunately we have some players with injuries and must try to get them back in shape by playing, but winning at the same time. “We had started with Vidal on the left and Pereyra on the right, then we switched them. It wasn’t easy, we controlled the ball well and didn’t allow Cesena many good opportunities and I was pleased to see the concentration levels stayed high.” Allegri was asked how he is both continuing Antonio Conte’s work in Turin and changing their approach. “Every Coach trains the way he thinks is best and has different ways of expressing his concepts. Conte’s Juventus had three years of excellent results. “I am fortunate to be the Coach of Juventus and to be at this solid club, then I think each game lasts over 90 minutes and you have to read it. “At times you need to raise the tempo, at others lower it, and some players don’t need to be completely caged by tactics. I think games are won with organisation and excellent players, otherwise it becomes like playing on a computer and that’s not possible. “I inherited a side with great organisation, but this team still needs to improve a great deal.” Juve are top of the table alongside Roma, but are now the only team yet to concede a goal this season. “Rudi Garcia did very well last season to understand football is different in Italy from in France and he has a great side at his disposal.”

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Vidal is not even in good shape yet, warns Allegri The Chile star scored twice in the champions' 3-0 win over Cesena and his coach was delighted with his impact. Sep 24, 2014 Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri has warned that Arturo Vidal is not even fully fit yet after his star performance in his side's 3-0 win over Cesena. The Chile international burst back on to the Serie A scene, scoring a penalty and a well-taken low drive to put his side firmly in the driving seat before Stephan Lichtsteiner sealed the win in the closing stages. Allegri was delighted with the performances of the players who slotted into his rotated starting XI and warned that Vidal is not yet even at his very best. "It was a positive night because we won, which was the most important thing," he told Sky Sport Italia. "Giovinco played very well for 90 minutes, Vidal was not in great shape and was still decisive, Ogbonna and Pereyra continue to do well. It’s important to have 15-20 players in good shape during a long season, especially when our intensity level drops. "Unfortunately we have some players with injuries and we must try to get them back into shape by playing, but winning at the same time. "We controlled the ball well and didn’t allow Cesena many good opportunities and I was pleased to see the concentration levels stayed high." Allegri also believes Juventus need to improve despite their 100 per cent record in Serie A so far, as he looks adapt the side from the system of Antonio Conte. "Every coach trains the way he thinks is best and has different ways of expressing his ideas. Conte's Juventus had three years of excellent results," he said. "I am fortunate to be Juventus coach. I think each game lasts 90 minutes and you have to read it. "At times you need to raise the tempo, at others lower it, and some players don’t need to be completely caged by tactics. I think games are won with organisation and excellent players, otherwise it becomes like playing on a computer and that’s not possible. "I inherited a side with great organisation, but this team still needs to improve a great deal." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Player ratings Sep 24, 2014 Juventus 1 G. Buffon - A very straightforward night for the Juve legend, with his one real save from Marilungo being a relatively easy one. 5 A. Ogbonna - Tidy in possession, commanding in the tackle and a physical presence in attack. A good display. 19 L. Bonucci - Juve's last line of defence as his centre-back colleagues often scurried up field. However, he rarely needed assistance as he marshaled Marilungo well. 3 G. Chiellini - Appeared to enjoy himself against pragmatic Cesena. Roamed forward constantly and saw a lot of the ball. 26 S. Lichtsteiner - Not quite as involved as perhaps he would have liked, but he was a thorn in the side of Cesena nonetheless and he netted the third late on with a delightful finish at the end of a good run. 23 ARTURO VIDAL - An unstoppable force when at his best and Cesena had no answer to him. His forward runs were purposeful, his passing incisive and he netted Juve's first goals. 8 C. Marchisio - Busy as ever in the middle of the park and his forward passing caused a few problems amongst the Cesena defence. An enterprising performance. 37 R. Pereyra - Very dangerous in the first half as he generally drifted out towards the left, and won the penalty. However, he did seem to fade out in the second period. 33 P. Evra - Never stopped bombing forward down the left, giving Cesena and Perico in particular an uncomfortable day, while he also hardly had a thing to think about from a defensive perspective. 12 S. Giovinco - A constant terror for the Cesena defence, who simply could not contend with his evasive movement, set-pieces or ability on the ball. He went close several times and hit the post late on, but he just could not find a deserved goal. 14 Llorente - Saw enough of the ball while he was on, but the service in to him was not particularly great and his finishing was not much better. Eventually replaced by Morata. Substitutes 20 S. Padoin - Claimed a fine assist for Lichtsteiner after coming on in the latter stages and he almost scored the fourth with a decent effort from distance. 9 Álvaro Morata - Looked confident with the ball at his feet after replacing Llorente for the final 20 minutes, but he will be devastated to not score after producing an air kick eight yards from the target. 7 - S. Pepe - Cesena 1 N. Leali - A competent display for the most part, producing a couple of eye-catching saves, none more so than to deny a Giovinco half-volley in the first half. 15 L. Krajnc - The 20-year-old Slovenian defender seemed more attentive to Juve's runners from deep than his team-mates and he made a vital interception to deny Lichtsteiner just before half-time. 6 S. Lucchini - The captain put in a few silly challenges and, although Llorente was nowhere near his best, Lucchini struggled to get the better of him. 25 D. Capelli - A fairly ineffectual display against Juventus' dominant attack, with his most notable contribution coming in the shape of a flailing elbow planted right on Marchisio's nose. 24 G. Perico - Occasionally offered an outlet on the right, but most of his time was spent trying -- and failing -- to counter the attacking threat of Evra. 5 L. Giorgi - One of the two deeper midfielders for Cesena, Giorgi endured an uncomfortable night trying to keep an eye on both Giovinco and Pereyra, who moved around a lot and caused many problems. 34 E. Cascione - Conceded the penalty for having his hands needlessly high and his set-piece deliveries were terrible. On the whole, a day to forget. 3 A. Mazzotta - As part of the midfield trio, it can come as no surprise that Mazzotta had little impact as Juve barely allowed Cesena a kick of the ball. Unsurprisingly withdrawn at half-time. 33 F. Renzetti - One of Cesena's few attacking threats, but the left-sided wing-back's final ball was generally very poor. 92 G. Defrel - With Marilungo doing most of the work in attack, Defrel was virtually anonymous for much of the game and his impact was minimal. 89 G. Marilungo - Often appeared to be playing a lone role in the final third, such was his isolation. Despite being forced to do much by himself, with Defrel doing little, he did cause Juve a few issues and tested Buffon. Substitutes 7 C. Carbonero - With Perico faltering and on a yellow card, Carbonero entered. Nevertheless, he did not do much better against the rampaging Evra. 10 M. Coppola - Introduced for the poor Mazzotta at half-time and he was not able to produce much of an improvement. He did, however, seem to put himself about a bit more. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Juventus 3-0 Cesena: Virtuoso Vidal Sees Bianconeri Maintain Perfect Serie A Start Sep 24, 2014 Juventus defeated Cesena 3-0 in Serie A action at the Juventus Stadium on Wednesday night. A first half penalty from Arturo Vidal was followed up by a second strike from the Chilean in the second, before Stephan Lichtsteiner wrapped things up late to see the Bianconeri through and maintain their 100 per cent record in the Serie A. The home side had the first chance after 10 minutes when Sebastian Giovinco saw his free kick blocked by the Atalanta wall, but the forward unleashed a shot from the rebound that was well saved by Nicola Leali. The Bianconeri were rewarded for their aggressive start with a penalty in the 17th minute when Emmanuel Cascione was called for a handball off a Roberto Pereyra shot. While the call may have looked harsh, Vidal stepped up and squeezed it by a diving Leali to give the home side the 1-0 lead. The Cavallucci Marini responded in the 31st minute when Guido Marilungo unleashed a stinging drive from 25 yards out that Gianluigi Buffon had to punch away. Llorente responded two minutes later as he found space in the penalty area with a nice turn only to see his effort go just over the crossbar. Giovinco was the dangerman in the 41st minute when his shot from outside the area left Leali flat-footed before going just wide of goal. The second half started much the same way the first did as Giovinco once again tested Leali, with Vidal sending his follow-up over the frame of the goal. The diminutive forward continued his attack on Leali in the 61st minute but the young shot stopper did well to send the shot out for a corner. The Bianconeri’s pressure would pay off in the 64th minute as Vidal controlled the ball from just outside the penalty area before sending his effort to the far post and past Leali to make it 2-0. Second half substitute Alvaro Morata should have made it 3-0 after 75 minutes but the Spaniard failed to send his effort into the back of the net from six yards out after being set up by Patrice Evra. Juventus put things to rest in the 85th minute when Lichtsteiner burst down the right before sending his shot across goal and past Leali to make it 3-0. Giovinco had one last chance to get his name on the scoresheet in the 88th minute, but it was not to be as the Italian’s effort hit the post to keep his goal tally at zero for the season. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Juventus 3 - Cesena 0: Initial reaction and random observations Cesena tried to park the bus 10 seconds after they arrived at Juventus Stadium. Arturo Vidal and his killer mohawk full of badassery had other ideas. Sep 24, 2014 As I sat there not even 10 minutes into Juventus-Cesena, it was pretty easy to figure out a few things. 1 - Cesena were going to throw everything humanly possible behind the ball as they tried to come away with a point. 2 - Because of that, the next 80 minutes were going to be relatively all Juventus possessing the ball, with an occasional Cesena counterattack thrown in there just to change things up a bit. 3 - Long shots. Lots of long shots. The good thing in all of this, though? Arturo Vidal, a man who supposedly signed with Manchester United about a couple hundred times this summer, was back in the starting lineup for the first time since he returned from international duty with a muscular injured. And, on top of that, Vidal got back to his scoring ways, scoring a brace and leading Juventus to a convincing 3-0 win over newly-promoted Cesena. First, beating Nicola Leali from the penalty spot, and then unleashing an absolute missile off his right football to beat Leali at the back post. Another good thing? Just how commanding Juventus were. They were in complete control from the onset. The match just had a vibe of Juventus would have to completely shoot themselves in the foot to come away with something other than three points. In a game that could be a difficult game for some teams, Juve just took care of business. Was it a little frustrating in front of goal sometimes? Well, yeah. But they got the job done — and that's the most important thing in all of this. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen #Allegri: "It’s important to handle games like these with great care and not allow the tension to ease up after the #UCL." #JuveCesena Random thoughts and observations Sebastian Giovinco attempted 12 shots. Cesena, as a team, attempted one shot. Said Cesena shot was saved by Gianluigi Buffon, who could have calmly knitted a sweater or two between each touch of the ball he had Wednesday night. Don't let the three goals fool you, Nicola Leali played very well in goal for Cesena. WhoScored has him down for 10 saves in the game, and that seems about right based on how Juve were simply dominating the possession from the opening whistle. Other than misreading a Patrice Evra cross in the second half, there weren't a lot of noticeable things the 21-year-old on-loan Leali did wrong. He nearly saved a penalty, made a handful of acrobatic saves, and was one of the few bright spots for a Cesena side that has now lost two out of its last three games. Simone Padoin plays, Simone Padoin gets an assist. Simple math, folks. Add this performance to the list of games where Claudio Marchisio argues that Juventus don't need to sign some huge name on the transfer market to be the club's new regista. The more he plays in the deep-lying role, the more he just looks the part. A few Marchisio numbers: 123 touches, 93 percent pass accuracy, and a game-high four tackles. I mean, the guy is talented to begin with, but this just seems to be growing into a perfect match. Angelo Ogbonna was really, really good. And it's the second game in a row where he's been really, really good. That's the kind of player Juventus envisioned when they signed him from cross-town rival Torino for a nice chunk of change last summer. Sure, Juventus didn't have to defend much with Cesena laying back so much, but they didn't miss a beat with their most in-form defender, Martín Cáceres, out injured. Seventy-two percent possession. SEVENTY-TWO PERCENT POSSESSION. It looked like a lot, and you just go "Wow!" when you actually see the final total. Thanks for coming, Cesena. Safe travels back home. Max Allegri stuck to his word and didn't fully rotate things Wednesday night, but this win was a display of just how far Juventus' squad depth has been improved compared to the last few years. Roberto Pereyra has been great, Ogbonna has been great, Giovinco was one of Juve's best players. I can go on and on about it, but I'll just leave it at this: It's nice to see the reserves come in, give the likes of Carlos Tévez and Paul Pogba a rest, and just keep the train rolling right along. Next Juventus home game: Roma on Oct. 5. I suspect Juventus Stadium will be a bit more crowded and raucous on the first Sunday in October than it was against Cesena on Wednesday night. Just as we predicted in his first couple days as Juventus manager: Max Allegri has gone 5 for 5 and has seen his defense not allow a goal to open the season. Yep, just how we drew it up. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Arturo Vidal bagged a brace as Juventus made short work of Cesena. Sep 24, 2014 The Champions of Italy had won all four competitive games without conceding a goal going into this seemingly simple home test with newly-promoted Cesena. Martin Caceres joined Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Barzagli and Luca Marrone on the injury list, while Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba were rested. The Sea Horses fumbled a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Empoli at the weekend, but were still without Riccardo Cazzola, Andrea Tabanelli, Giuseppe De Feudis and Nico Pulzetti. Franco Brienza and Massimo Volta missed out at the last minute due to flu symptoms. Sebastian Giovinco’s free kick was charged down, but his volley from the ricochet was palmed out from under the bar by Cesena’s Juve-owned goalkeeper Nicola Leali. Angelo Ogbonna nodded another set play into Leali’s arms, but the referee awarded a penalty for Emmanuel Cascione’s handling offence, though he insisted he was trying to protect his face from Arturo Vidal’s fierce strike. The Chilean converted, even though Leali got a hand to it. Gigi Buffon was given something to do when punching a Guido Marilungo long-range strike out from under the crossbar. Fernando Llorente spun round to drill wide, while Giovinco’s curler and a Claudio Marchisio effort were off target. Straight after the restart, a Giovinco fierce angled drive was beaten away by Leali at the near post, then the Atomic Ant forced him to palm a curler out of the top corner. Vidal doubled Juve’s lead with a powerful strike from outside the box, completing a brace on his comeback from injury. Alvaro Morata came off the bench and hit a fresh air shot with the goal gaping from six yards as he tried to turn. Stephan Lichtsteiner got the third, as he burst down the right and smashed his finish across the goalkeeper. Giovinco tried everything to get on the scoresheet, but only made an impact on the woodwork, while Leali denied Simone Padoin. Juventus: Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner (Pepe 87), Vidal (Padoin 80), Marchisio, Pereyra, Evra; Giovinco, Llorente (Morata 70) Cesena: Leali; Krajnc, Lucchini, Capelli; Perico (Carbonero 56), Giorgi (Nica 77), Cascione, Mazzotta (Coppola 46), Renzetti; Defrel; Marilungo Ref: Giacomelli http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CESENA - Arturo Vidal 18' Arturo Vidal 64' Stephan Lichtsteiner 85' Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Piero Giacomelli Juventus 3-0 Cesena: Vidal double makes it four wins in four The Chile star scored two goals to maintain the champions' 100 per cent record in the new Serie A campaign so far, with Stephan Lichsteiner grabbing the other. Sep 24, 2014 Juventus kept up their 100 per cent start to the Serie A season as Arturo Vidal scored twice to guide them to a 3-0 win over Cesena on Wednesday. The Chilean broke the deadlock from the spot after 17 minutes on Wednesday when Emmanuel Cascione was adjudged to have handled in the area. Vidal's second was an emphatic effort from the edge of the area just after the hour, before Stephan Lichtsteiner wrapped up the win with a smart finish in the 85th minute. In truth, the scoreline barely reflected the chasm between the two sides as the champions dominated throughout to extend new boss Massimiliano Allegri's record to five wins from five competitive fixtures, with zero goals conceded. Cesena's attacking threat was virtually non-existent, with Gianluigi Buffon easily thwarting their only real attempt on goal - a Guido Marilungo long-range effort in the first half - as Juve eased to a staggering 21st consecutive home Serie A victory. Allegri opted to rest Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba, with Roberto Pereyra and Giovinco coming in. And it was Giovinco who made the first significant contribution of the game after nine minutes when his stunning volley was superbly tipped over by Nicola Leali. The early exchanges resembled a training exercise, such was Juve's dominance, and Ogbonna should have done better with a free header after 15 minutes. But the pressure told shortly after as Cascione was penalised for handling Pereyra's shot in the area, leaving Cesena's players furious. And Vidal tucked the penalty into the bottom-left corner, although Leali will be disappointed after getting a hand to it. Cesena finally gave Buffon something to do on the half-hour mark when Marilungo let fly from long range but the Juve captain was well positioned to palm it away. But that chance was an exception to the rule of a first half controlled by the champions, with Fernando Llorente and Giovinco going close before the interval. The pattern continued in the second half as Giovinco's shot from a narrow angle forced a low save from Leali and Vidal couldn't keep the rebound down. Leali frustrated the Italian forward yet again after 60 minutes by tipping away a free kick destined for the top corner. But Juve finally made the game safe after 63 minutes when Vidal controlled well and advanced towards the area before firing a fierce 20-yard drive past the despairing dive of Leali. And Lichtsteiner gave the scoreline a more accurate look by calmly slotting home from Simone Padoin's pass late on. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111