Socrates

Bravissimo Coman!

Ma ci sono due Vidal in campo? Lo vedo ovunque.

Vidal formidabile.

Giallo per Vidal?

Schelotto scarsotto.

Marotta on Coman and Falcao Aug 30, 2014 Juventus dg Beppe Marotta praised 18-year-old Kingsley Coman, but warned Radamel Falcao “will join a different top European club.” The transfer guru spoke to Sky Sport Italia ahead of the Serie A opener against Chievo. “Coman is a very mature lad who settled into the group very well,” said Marotta of the free agent. “We are the reigning champions of Serie A, it will be difficult to confirm our status, especially with a change of management, but we’ll support the new Coach. “It’s premature to say whether the gap between us and Roma has closed up. I’d put them on the front row alongside us.” Juventus have been linked with a bid to take Falcao on loan from Monaco, but he seems closer to Manchester City. “Will Falcao come to Juve? I don’t think so. He was linked with Juventus because he appreciates us and that makes us proud, but if he does leave Monaco it’ll be for tens of millions and he’ll join a different top European club.”

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, August 30, 2014 6:00 PM Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona Referee:‬ Carmine Russo Line-ups: Chievo-Juventus Aug 30, 2014 Juventus begin the defence of their Serie A title away to Chievo with Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba and Kingsley Coman. The 2014-15 campaign kicks off at the Stadio Bentegodi in Verona at 18.00 (CET). It’s a new era for the Bianconeri, who won the last three Scudetti with Antonio Conte at the helm and are now in the hands of Massimiliano Allegri. The ex-Milan Coach is forced to do without several top stars in this debut match, as Andrea Pirlo, Alvaro Morata and Andrea Barzagli are all out injured. Giorgio Chiellini also continues his three-match ban for elbowing Miralem Pjanic in last season’s Roma game. Allegri therefore gives the midfield nod to Coman, the 18-year-old who signed this summer on a free transfer from PSG. He is supporting Carlos Tevez, backed by Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and Vidal, who is rediscovering his fitness after the World Cup. Angelo Ogbonna and Martin Caceres step into the back three. Fernando Llorente is one of those suffering from a flu epidemic in the Juve camp. Chievo had a disastrous pre-season, crashing out of the Coppa Italia at the first hurdle and disappointing in their performances. Hitman Sergio Pellissier is suspended, but Alberto Paloschi is surprisingly only on the bench, so Valter Birsa and Ezequiel Schelotto support ex-Sampdoria striker Maxi Lopez. Coach Eugenio Corini can count on new signings Mariano Izco and goalkeeper Francesco Bardi, who is on loan from Inter, but give a surprise start in midfield to ex-Monaco and Nancy midfielder Thomas Mangani. Chievo: Bardi; Frey, Dainelli, Cesar, Biraghi; Izco, Mangani, Hetemaj; Schelotto, Birsa; Maxi Lopez Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Ogbonna; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba, Asamoah; Coman; Tevez http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Serie A - 1^ Giornata Andata - 30-8-2014 (ore 18:00) CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - Sabato, 30 Agosto, 2014 - ore 18:00 Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona Arbitro:‬ Carmine Russo Confronti ufficiali 24 - 22 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Juventus 16 - 15 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 7 - 6 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Chievo 1 - 1 (Serie A) Goals Juventus 45 - 42 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) Goals Chievo 21 - 20 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Chievo-Juventus a Verona Serie A Confronti ufficiali 11 Vittorie Juventus 7 (l'ultima il 25.09.2013, 1-2) Pareggi 3 (l'ultimo il 16.10.2011, 0-0) Vittorie Chievo 1 (il 17.01.2010, 1-0) Goals Juventus 18 Goals Chievo 8 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Chievo a Verona 9 presenze Buffon Gianluigi 8 Del Piero Alessandro 5 Chiellini Giorgio 5 Thuram Lilian 5 Trezeguet David Sergio 5 Zambrotta Gianluca 4 Camoranesi Mauro German 3 Barzagli Andrea 3 Cannavaro Fabio 3 Davids Edgar 4 goals Trezeguet David Sergio 3 Del Piero Alessandro 2 Quagliarella Fabio 1 Ferrara Ciro 1 Iaquinta Vincenzo 1 Legrottaglie Nicola 1 Lichtsteiner Stephan 1 Matri Alessandro 1 Olivera Ruben Ariel Da Rosa 1 Vieira Patrick Ultimi confronti diretti 23.08.2009 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 1-0 17.01.2010 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 1-0 19.12.2010 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 1-1 09.05.2011 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 2-2 16.10.2011 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 0-0 03.03.2012 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 1-1 22.09.2012 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 2-0 03.02.2013 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 1-2 25.09.2013 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 1-2 16.02.2014 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 3-1 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 5 - Pareggi 4 - Vittorie Chievo 1 - Goals Juventus 14 - Goals Chievo 8 http://www.goal.com/it/results-standings/69/serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_101

Vialli: Too many foreigners in Serie A The former Juventus and Chelsea man believes the increased number of non-homegrown players is limiting the chances of Italians breaking through. Aug 30, 2014 Former Italy striker Gianluca Vialli believes there are too many foreigners currently playing in Serie A. The 50-year-old - who previously turned out for Juventus and Chelsea - believes that the increased number of footballers being signed from abroad by Italian clubs is limiting the chances of homegrown players at top sides. When Vialli was involved in the Scudetto race, only three foreign players were allowed per team and the ex-attacker wants to revert to the format where Italians are prioritised. Vialli told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport: "Within the rules anyone can work as they want, with the utmost respect for Udinese who have created a healthy and sustainable model by getting players from all over the world. "But I'd definitely return to the football of the 1980s. You can do it by choice, even if regulations don't demand it. It's better to have three foreigners because you can find space for Italians. "There are also the Champions League rules, where you need a number of ‘natives’ and some who come through the academy." Vialli also admitted that he believes Antonio Conte’s departure from Juventus, who have dominated the Italian league recently with three consecutive Serie A wins, has weakened their chance of successfully defending the Scudetto this term. "Conte's Juve was a single block composed of the coach, the team and fans," Vialli said. "Now that a piece is gone, we'll see if Massimiliano Allegri will be able to recreate that symbiosis. "In any case, the other teams believe they can now compete, and this is important." When then asked about Roma’s chances of breaking Juve’s recent hold over the Scudetto, he added: "The way Rudi Garcia makes Roma play, I like very much. "Then Fiorentina, which I think have reinforced, and Inter, whose transfer dealings have convinced me. "With AC Milan, I see a new beginning. Filippo Inzaghi will exploit the team by giving his enthusiasm."

Ancelotti: Juventus still Scudetto top dogs The Real Madrid coach believes the champions are stronger than their rivals, but suggests that Rudi Garcia's men will make it difficult for the Turin-based outfit. Aug 30, 2014 Carlo Ancelotti believes that Juventus remain Serie A's top dogs this season, with Roma currently running in second place. Juve have dominated the Italian league in recent years after winning three consecutive Scudetti under the guidance of former coach Antonio Conte, who resigned in the summer with Massimiliano Allegri replacing him. The reigning champions have signed 21-year-old striker Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid and Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in a bid to strengthen their squad, while holding on to star midfielders Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba. Ancelotti thinks that it will be difficult for any club to realistically trump Juve in Serie A this season, despite praising the quality of 2013-14's runners up under the stewardship of Rudi Garcia. “Juventus continue to be in front of everyone else: they are the favourites for the Scudetto,” the Italian, who currently coaches Real Madrid, told Tuttosport. “Evra is a player of the highest level. Morata will surely do well in Italy. And in general, they bought players to increase their quality. “Roma are also strong, despite the sale of Mehdi Benatia. Then I see so many unknowns: AC Milan have changed almost everything" When asked about Roma’s summer signings, Ancelotti added: “[Juan Manuel] Iturbe is good, but also [Kostas] Manolas, who took the central place of Benatia, is strong. And then they also signed Ashley Cole, who remains excellent.” Ancelotti’s former side, Milan, will have to make do without the goals of Mario Balotelli this season after selling the Italy striker to Liverpool last week. Despite the transfer, and the arrival of coach Filippo Inzaghi at the San Siro outfit, Ancelotti is adamant that Milan may be able to push for the title this season alongside his surprise package, Fiorentina. “Fiorentina have kept their frame and have improved. Last year, they experienced a great season despite major injuries,” Ancelotti said. “But, I hope that Milan will also surprise this season.”

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, August 30, 2014 6:00 PM Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona Referee:‬ Carmine Russo Chievo V Juventus – Team News, Tactics, Line-Ups And Prediction Aug 29, 2014 The new season in Italy kicks off on Saturday as champions Juventus travel to Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi to take on Chievo in the first game of the season. It also marks the beginning of a new era under Massimiliano Allegri who replaced head coach Antonio Conte this summer. Allegri is traditionally a slow starter but he knows any slipup here will increase the pressure on him as some sections of Juventus fans have not accepted him whole-heartedly. Chievo meanwhile face a pretty tough season as the squad lacks any significant quality plus they have already started their campaign in the worst possible fashion by getting knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Pescara. The moral of the side is down and Eugenio Corini knows the magnitude of the task ahead of him as he prepares his beleaguered side for the visit of the champions. Team news and tactical brief Chievo Chievo had a busy summer as 15 new faces joined Eugenio Corini’s side although they lost three of their first team players from last season as Cyril Thereau, Boukary Drame and Luca Rigoni all left. The main arrivals include Francesco Bardi (on loan from Inter) who will start this game as their new goalkeeper. The center back pair of Dario Dainelli and Alessandro Gamberini are reunited after their five year spell together at Fiorentina. They should not take much time to forge an understanding but will be in for a tough evening .Cristiano Biraghi and Nicolas Frey will find themselves in the fullback positions. Ex-Captain Luga Rigoni might have left the club but his position as the holding midfielder will be taken up by Mariano Izco who joined from Catania.The bulk of the work in midfield is expected to be done by Perparim Hetemaj and Dejan Lazarevic. The duty to create scoring chances for the strikers will be the primary job of new signing Valter Birsa who joined on loan from Milan. The Slovenian showed promise in the early stages of his career but has stagnated. He will be hoping his new club can provide the atmosphere in which he can reignite his career. Chievo are one of the favorites to go down this season but much depends on how strike pair of Maxi Lopez and Alberto Paloschi performs together. On paper, this duo guarantees goals but they must deliver on the pitch to make this count. New signings Ruben Botta and Ezequiel Schelotto might come on as subs in the second half. Probable Starting Line-up (4-3-1-2): Bardi; Biraghi, Gamberini, Dainelli, Frey; Izco, Hetemaj, Lazarevic; Birsa; Lopez, Paloschi Juventus Massimiliano Allegri generally favors a 4-3 system with a four man backline and a flat three midfield. He is still not sure as to how he will lineup the front three but early indications suggest that he will start with a 4-3-2-1 module at the beginning of the season. Gianluigi Buffon will start in goal with Leonardo Bonucci and Angelo Ogbonna taking up the center back positions. The pair have looked shaky in pre-season games and it will be a major weak point this Saturday evening for Chievo to exploit. Giorgio Chiellini is suspended while Andrea Barzagli is recovering from a surgery. New signing Patrice Evra will be on the left while Stephan Lichtsteiner will be the man patrolling the other flank. Andrea Pirlo took a heavy knock on his knees and is likely to be out for 10 days so he will miss the season opener. Claudio Marchisio is expected to deputize for him in the regista position like last season where he performed admirably when he was asked to do so. Paul Pogba and Kwado Asamoah will be the other two midfielders and they will look to dominate an average looking Chievo midfield. Arturo Vidal is expected to feature a bit higher up the pitch this season and the experiment will begin this Saturday with the Chilean taking up a position in the hole behind the frontman. Fernando Llorente and Sebastian Giovinco are both recovering from flu and chances are Max Allegri will give debut to new signing Kingsley Coman alongside Vidal. Carlos Tevez will lead the line for Juventus and will be looking to hit the ground running against an ageing Chievo defence. Probable Starting Line-up (4-3-2-1): Buffon(GK); Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Evra; Marchisio, Pogba, Asamoah; Vidal, Coman; Tevez Players to Watch Out For Carlos Tevez (Juventus) It was tough for the Argentine fans to watch Gonzalo Higuan and Rodrigo Palacio squandering gilt-edged chances in the World Cup final. Imagine the frustration of Carlos Tevez during those moments. The man who was comfortably ahead of both the above mentioned players in performance terms last season spent a frustrating summer watching his country agonizingly lose the World Cup final against Germany. He should be hungry and raring to go this season and has already shown sharpness in the pre-season friendlies. Plus he is expected to cover every inch of grass on the field, hassle and harry the opposition to create chances for his teammates. He is expected to get on the score-sheet tomorrow. Maxi Lopez (Chievo) Having endured probably the worst year in his life both on and off the pitch, Maxi Lopez will be hoping to start afresh in his new club this season. The turmoil in his personal life affected his performances on the pitch last season but he is looking to get back to his scoring best with the Flying Donkeys. His records suggest that he is a safe option upfront but the significant lack of quality in the roster means Lopez will have to work hard to create his own chances. He should be a threat tomorrow having scored a brace for Milan in a Coppa Italia game last time he faced Juventus. Prediction Chievo 1–1 Juventus Max Allegri is a notoriously slow starter and that is expected to continue with his new club as well. Chievo will sit back to invite pressure from Juventus and it remains to be seen whether the Bianconeri have what it takes to break their organization. A draw is expected here. Blast From the Past Juventus secured a 2-1 win last season at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, a game which was marred with controversy as Alberto Paloschi’s legitimate goal was incorrectly disallowed. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, August 30, 2014 6:00 PM Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona Referee:‬ Carmine Russo Juventus vs. Chievo Preview: Round 1 — Let the games begin Aug 29, 2014 Step aside, transfer window. Your job is done — for now, at least. Okay, maybe not totally done in some cases. There's still a few days for rumors and all the insane stuff that comes with the final days of the summer transfer window being open. But in less than 24 hours, Juventus will begin their season — the third straight year with the objective of "Let's defend our gosh darn Scudetto" pounded into their head by their manager. Of course, that manager is different from the guy we all thought would be losing his damn mind on the Juventus sideline this time six weeks ago when the club started preseason training. No more Antonio Conte for us as he's off on his new adventure with the Italian national team. That means we have to say hello to Max Allegri and all the expected mockery from folks that comes along with it. While the preseason gave us a glimpse at what Allegri is trying to do, Saturday night's season opener against Chievo in Verona will be his first official match in charge of Juventus. It equals more pressure, more eyeballs on what his team succeeds or fails at, the latest chance for him to ditch the reputation that his teams start the season incredibly slow. Even with the injuries and everything going on personnel-wise right now, this is still the same squad that has won three straight Serie A titles. The core is still there. Arturo Vidal hasn't flown off to Manchester like so many people thought would happen this summer. There's still Paul Pogba, Gigi Buffon and the rest of the players we scream at for good reasons and bad yet can't help but watch every week from August to May. Juventus are the champions for a reason. And just because there's a new man writing the lineup and screaming his head off on the sidelines, the objectives haven't suddenly changed. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen Allegri: “We’re ready to go and will play with great concentration and attention. It's not an easy one because Chievo have many new faces." It all starts Saturday night in Verona. Round 1 of 38 is just about upon us, folks. GOOD NEWS Don't know if you've noticed, but the long summer of waiting is over. There's less than 24 hours before Juventus start their season. I'll just repeat: Juventus, season opener, pretty good times. BAD NEWS Andrea Barzagli injured. Álvaro Morata injured. Andrea Pirlo injured. Giorgio Chiellini suspended. A few others battling the flu. Not exactly how you want to go into your season opener, now is it? But that's just the obstacles Allegri will be looking to overcome Saturday night in Verona. And luckily for him, Juve have some pretty solid options for him to turn to. WHAT TO WATCH FOR 1. What formation Max Allegri goes with. Juventus' new manager has shown no fear in shaking up the tactics this preseason. But at the same time, he may have been giving us a hint in regard to what formation he's going with for Juve's season opener. Here's the thing: Look at how often Allegri used a 3-5-2 at the beginning of the preseason compared to when Juve took the field in the Trofeo TIM last weekend against Milan and Sassuolo. If the 3-5-2 was in the mind of Allegri when he first took over for Conte, it might not be there as much a month later. That means some kind of formation with a four-man defense is a realistic possibility. What the attack looks like is a totally different matter. 2. The health of Juventus' strikers. I'm not a doctor, but it seems as though it's flu season around Vinovo these days. Allegri has dealt with the flu over the course of the last week. So have Fernando Llorente and Sebastian Giovinco. While both Llorente and Giovinco have been called up by Allegri for tomorrow's season opener, many folks in Italy are thinking they won't start at the very least. We know Carlos Tévez will start because he's healthy and raring to go. Who will be starting with him in attack is still a mystery to us all. Allegri playing Tévez at the top of a Christmas Tree formation seems like a distinct possibility because of the health — or lack there of — when it comes to Juve's other strikers. THat might mean Roberto Pereyra and Kingsley Coman get a start alongside or behind Carlitos, which is a rather unexpected development from what the usual starting attack will probably look like when every is healthy. 3. How many minutes Arturo Vidal plays. Max Allegri wasn't keeping any secrets at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen Allegri: “Vidal’s trained well this week, his knee’s in good condition and he will start tomorrow night." Mystery over. Who needs to enter Saturday's game wondering about Vidal's status when Allegri cleared everything up for us a little over 24 hours before kickoff. The result of Allegri's words is that Vidal and his surgically-repaired knee are all good to go. However, how match fit Vidal may actually be remains to be seen. His lone appearance this preseason, last Saturday against Milan in the Trofeo TIM, was only 45 minutes. That's it for match time for Vidal since coming back from his post-World Cup vacation. Do I expect him to play 90 minutes? Nah, not really. Do I expect him to be Arturo Vidal, Juventus' resident badass? Oh, absolutely. 4. How does the defense looks without Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli? If you were produce a list of things that haven't looked all that great during Juventus' preseason friendlies, the way their defense has looked for a good chunk of the time hasn't been anything close to convincing. There have been mistakes, and a lot of them. You could chalk it up to being the middle of August and just a month into preseason training. Or, you could stress out about it because it's not exactly setting a good trend for the upcoming season. Three-man or four-man defense it doesn't really matter, Juve will miss Chiellini because he's damn good at his job. 5. Claudio Marchisio the regista. With Andrea Pirlo being ruled out for the next month with a bruised hip, Marchisio is the man who will be filling the bearded maestro's shoes. In a small yet not too small sample size last season, Marchisio playing as a deep-lying midfielder went rather well. He obviously brings better defensive characteristics to the table than Pirlo, and the reigsta position allows him to do his thing while Vidal and Paul Pogba give opposing teams absolute nightmares. That's how I like to envision it, at least. Marchisio the regista is not a bad thing because he's such a talented player. He's shown he can handle it in the past, so I have no doubts about him this time around. The M-V-P midfield is back. Just with a slight tweak to the original version, that's all. My starting XI (4-3-2-1): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Asamoah; Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra, Coman; Tévez OFFICIAL KICKOFF TIME: 6 P.M. IN ITALY; HIGH NOON ON THE EAST COAST; 9 A.M. ON THE WEST COAST http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, August 30, 2014 6:00 PM Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona Referee:‬ Carmine Russo Chievo V Juventus – Preview: Allegri At The Ready Aug 29, 2014 On Saturday, Juventus travel to Verona to meet Chievo at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegod for the start of the 2014/15 Serie A season. All eyes will be on this match, not only as the first game of the Italian league, but also as the first in Serie A for Juventus under new coach, Massimiliano Allegri. Allergri and his position at Juventus have been under heavy scrutiny since his taking charge of i bianconeri from Antonio Conte, who was recently appointed to the Italian National Team. With the current title defenders now under Allegri’s helm, many will judge his team’s first performance against Chievo as the standard to be expected for the rest of the season. In other words, there is no rest for the wicked; the defending Scudetto winners will have to start this season in top form. There is already massive pressure placed on Allegri to re-create Juventus’ previous season under Conte – which ended in 33 wins, three draws, and only two losses for a total of 102 points – and the first match has not yet been played. However, do not let the Juventus storyline overshadow the match; Chievo will also be out there looking for the win, as well as a chance to prove themselves. The Flying Donkeys ended last season in serious risk of relegation to Serie B – finishing just four points and two places shy of the drop zone – with a record of 10 win, six draws, 22 losses, amassing to just 36 total points. They will no doubt take advantage of Juventus’ current transitional structure to secure three points at home. However, the task will not be a frolic in the field for Chievo. Juventus beat Chievo both meetings last season: a 3-1 thrashing in Torino and a heartbreaking 2-1 in Verona, where the winning Bianconeri goal came late in match from Chievo’s Alessandro Bernardini. In fact, Chievo has only beaten Juventus once in Serie A, by a single goal during the 2009/10 season. But that could all change this weekend. Along with the added extra pressure that will accompany Allegri, Juventus is also ridden by absentees in their roster; most notable is the sidelining of Andrea Pirlo, who is expected to be out for a month while recovering from a pulled tendon in his rectus femori. Also out for the match are Andrea Barzagli (ankle injury) and Giorgio Chiellin (suspension). Additionally, there have been reports of the flu affecting Sebastian Giovinco, Fernando Llorente, Roberto Pereyra, as well as Allegri himself. Expected Starting XIs Chievo - Bardi, Dainelli, Gamberini, Cesar, Frey, Hetemaj, Radovanovic, Birsa, Lazarevic, Lopez, Pellissier Juventus - Buffon, Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Evra, Pogba, Asamoah, Marchisio, Vidal, Tevez, Llorente http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, August 30, 2014 6:00 PM Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona Referee:‬ Carmine Russo Corini: Juve are extraordinary Aug 29, 2014 Chievo boss Eugenio Corini has admitted that his side are up against ‘an extraordinary opponent’ when they host Juventus tomorrow. The Flying Donkeys get their campaign off to the toughest possible start on Saturday afternoon when they play the current champions. And despite the obvious differences in class, the Coach has insisted that his men will play to win. “We face an extraordinary opponent,” he told a Press conference. “Who last year ran away with the League despite having to fend off a team as strong as Roma. “They have a new Coach, but the structure of their team is the same – and they’ve got even stronger with the likes of Evra, Morata and Romulo coming in. “My feeling is that Juventus will play with a back four, but we’ll be ready for whatever formation they put out. “We won’t change the way we approach the match. The club have done a great job recruiting players over the summer, but now we have to prove what a good team we are. “If we have the full support of the fans, then I think we could cause an upset.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, August 30, 2014 6:00 PM Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona Referee:‬ Carmine Russo Allegri: Chievo won't be easy Aug 29, 2014 Massimiliano Allegri is looking for the best possible start to his Juventus reign, as they take on Chievo on Saturday evening. The new Coach takes charge of the Bianconeri for the first time in the League tomorrow as his side goes to Verona to take on the Flying Donkeys. And the tactician, who admits that it won’t be easy, is hoping to start their title defence with three points. “We’re ready to go and will play with great concentration and attention,” he told a Press conference today. “It's not an easy one because Chievo have many new faces. “Chievo will look to bounce back from their Coppa Italia elimination and cause us problems tomorrow night, I’m sure of that. “It's a tricky encounter at a ground where getting a result is never easy. We need to be on our game for 95 minutes. “But I’ve come into an environment with rules, discipline and a strong work ethic. I’m very happy about that.” Allegri’s men are favourites for the title along with Roma, but the Coach has insisted that there will be a big chasing pack this term. “Juve and Roma aren't the only contenders. Inter, Napoli, Fiorentina, Milan and Lazio will also be in the mix.” The former Milan man will be without Andrea Pirlo because of injury, but will be able to call upon Arturo Vidal. “We trained well today and we’ll look to get off to a good start tomorrow night. “Marchiso will take Pirlo’s place in front of the defence. “Vidal’s trained well this week, his knee’s in good condition and he will start tomorrow night. “We still need to work out how we're going to line up in defence because Chievo have various different options in attack, but that’s something I’ve already thought about. “We'll take a 22-man squad to Verona. Giovinco, Llorente and Padoin will all travel.” Finally, the Coach commented on their Champions League group, which includes Atletico Madrid, Olimpiakos and Malmo. “Group A features four reigning champions. It’s not an easy draw and more finely poised than it may look.” Allegri has also named his squad that will travel to Verona: Juventus squad: Buffon, Romulo, Caceres, Ogbonna, Pogba, Pepe, Marchisio, Tevez, Coman, Giovinco, Llorente, Bonucci, Padoin, Asamoah, Vidal, Lichtsteiner, Storari, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra, Mattiello, Marrone. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Conte: Juve definitely improved Aug 29, 2014 Antonio Conte sees an ‘improved’ Juventus this summer, as he reflects on how they and the likes of Roma, Napoli, Inter and Milan look for the new season. Since leaving the Bianconeri and taking over as Italy Coach, the 45-year-old has been busy visiting clubs across the country to build relationships and to see first-hand what his options look like for the Azzurri. On from visiting the likes of Milan and Inter this week, the former Juventus tactician has spoken at length about the upcoming Serie A season, and about who he sees as Italy's top clubs. “Juventus have definitely improved from last year and are still the favourites,” mused Conte to the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Unless there are some big upheavals in the 11th hour, the squad has been improved. All of the senior starting players are still there, and they've added talent with Roberto Pereyra, Romulo and Alvaro Morata, not to mention the great experience brought by Patrice Evra.” Conte sees Roma as close contenders, however, and praised the capital club for their efforts in the transfer market. “Roma is coming off the back of an important season and has done very well in the market. I think that Rudi Garcia has been given several options. “Then there is also Napoli, who will have to quickly get over the disappointment of their Champions League elimination. “And keep an eye on Inter. The Nerazzurri have reinforced a lot of positions with good players, well-known and potentially decisive. Inter could really bother everyone in the title race.” He also warned people not to write off Vincenzo Montella’s team. “Pay attention to Fiorentina. The Viola play well, they have a great Coach and it looks like they'll be able to keep Juan Cuadrado. I think that they could be an important outsider this season.” Lazio will also be among the teams challenging for European qualification, according to the Azzurri boss. “I was at Formello, and I found a good atmosphere. Their squad looks good to me. Up front, Antonio Candreva, Miroslav Klose and Keita promise sparks, but there are also players of value in the middle, like Marco Parolo and Lucas Biglia among others. I think these will be seven teams playing for the positions that count.” The seventh team discussed is Milan and, having met with new Coach Filippo Inzaghi at Milanello, Conte is holding off passing judgement until the transfer window had closed. “I think Milan will still do something in the transfer market, so at the moment I'm suspending judgment. “Obviously, if Fernando Torres comes then many perspectives would change. The Spaniard is devastating in open play and I think that he would be perfect for the kind of football that Inzaghi wants to implement.” There were some words of encouragement for individuals, too. Conte went on record saying that he expected ‘explosive’ seasons from Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy and Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne, and offered support for Fiorentina's injured Giuseppe Rossi, who if fit will almost certainly form part of the coach's plans for the national team. “I told him not to hurry his recovery,” revealed Conte about his conversations with Rossi. “Because often when a player is less than perfect they end up doing damage elsewhere as well. If Pepito is in good shape, he'll be trouble for any opposing defence.” Gigi Buffon was also singled out for mention. The Juventus and Italy captain isn't getting any younger, but the 36-year-old remains key to both sides, according to Conte. “Gigi is still the strongest goalkeeper in the League. He and Handanovic are a cut above everyone. “And Buffon still has the enthusiasm of a kid, and waits with the same eagerness for every call-up to the Azzurri, despite having won everything. “It is people like that that I want with me in the national team.” Conte still sees Serie A as one of Europe's top leagues, even if it can no longer compete with the financial clout of the continent's biggest clubs. “Tactically we still lead. The organisation here is at the highest level. Maybe there is less intensity, but winning in Italy is always very difficult. And this season will be very balanced, and hard, as always.”

Juve to discuss Pogba deal Aug 29, 2014 France Football suggests that Juventus officials will today meet with Paul Pogba’s representatives to discuss a possible renewal. A new contract has been on the cards for the 21-year-old for most of the summer, since speculation over a possible move away was ended. Whilst Beppe Marotta hinted recently that an agreement on an extension was close, members of the player’s entourage were quoted in French media as denying this. However, now France Football are running the line that officials from the Bianconeri will meet with those representing Pogba to assess the possibility of negotiating a new contract. The midfielder’s current deal expires in June 2016 and previous suggestions have been that Juve are prepared to up his annual salary from its current €1m mark to around the €4m level.

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, August 30, 2014 6:00 PM Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona Referee: Carmine Russo Chievo-Juventus Preview: Bianconeri begin new era under Allegri The Turin outfit are bidding for a fourth successive Scudetto - but they must do so without Antonio Conte, who surprisingly stepped down during the summer. Aug 29, 2014 Juventus kick off the defence of their Serie A title when they travel to Verona on Saturday to take on Chievo. The Bianconeri won three consecutive Scudetti under the stewardship of Antonio Conte, including last season's success, which saw the Turin side amass 102 points and finish 17 points clear of second-placed Roma. However, Juve were forced into a change of head coach when the former Italy international surprisingly announced his resignation last month - and he has since been named as Italy boss. In his place comes a man who was out of work following the end of his four-year tenure at Milan in January, during which time he led the team to the Scudetto crown in 2011. One of Allegri's main concerns will be helping his new charges match their domestic form in the Champions League this season and midfielder Paul Pogba is confident the club can do just that. "I'm not saying we're favourites for the league," he told Sky Sport Italia. "But if we play with the same concentration and ruthlessness displayed over the last three years we can maintain our winning run. "The Champions League is both a dream and target of ours. It's a competition that every player wants to win." One of the biggest talking points since Allegri's appointment has centred on his relationship with Andrea Pirlo, after he allowed the veteran midfielder to leave San Siro and join Juve on a free transfer in 2011. Any questions about Pirlo's selection are immaterial for Saturday's opening-day clash at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, however, as the 35-year-old has been ruled out for the next month with a hip injury. Allegri has been busy adding to his squad throughout the transfer window, with full-back Patrice Evra, midfielder Roberto Pereyra and forward Alvaro Morata among those to have move to the Juventus Stadium - although the latter, who joined from Real Madrid, will have to wait to make his bow due to a knee injury. There are also reports in Italy that a flu virus has affected Juve's camp, while the absence of Andrea Barzagli with an ankle issue and Giorgio Chiellini, who is suspended, has left Allegri short in defence. While Juve have gone through somewhat of a transition, Chievo appear to have an element of stability with head coach Eugenio Corini having penned a new two-year deal in May. After avoiding relegation by just four points last term, Chievo have looked to strengthen their squad. Ruben Botta and Ezequiel Schelotto arrived on loan from Inter in the past week, while the likes of Edimar Fraga, Alessandro Gamberini and Valter Birsa have also joined. Head to Head Serie A ‎- Feb 16, 2014 - Juventus 3 - Chievo 1 Serie A ‎- Sep 25, 2013 - Chievo 1 - Juventus 2 Serie A ‎-‎ Feb 3, 2013 - Chievo 1 - 2 Juventus Serie A ‎- Sep 22, 2012 - Juventus 2 - 0 Chievo Serie A ‎- Mar 3, 2012 - Juventus 1 - 1 Chievo Last Five Matches CHIEVO Aug 22, 2014 - Pescara 1 - 0 Chievo 0 - Coppa Italia Aug 1, 2014 - Borussia Dortmund 1 - 0 Chievo - Friendly May 18, 2014 - Chievo 2 - 1 FC Internazionale - Serie A May 11, 2014 - Cagliari 0 - 1 Chievo - Serie A May 4, 2014 - Chievo 0 - 1 Torino - Serie A JUVENTUS Aug 10, 2014 - A-League All Stars 2 - 3 Juventus - Friendly Aug 6, 2014 - ISL All Stars 1 - 8 Juventus - Friendly May 18, 2014 - Juventus 3 - 0 Cagliari - Serie A May 11, 2014 - Roma 0 - 1 Juventus - Serie A May 5, 2014 - Juventus 1 - 0 Atalanta - Serie A http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CHIEVO VERONA - JUVENTUS - Saturday, August 30, 2014 6:00 PM Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi — Verona Referee: Carmine Russo Allegri: Juventus ready to defend Scudetto The coach has been handed a championship-winning side following Antonio Conte's resignation and he hopes to begin with a victory against Chievo this weekend. Aug 29, 2014 New Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says he and his team are ready and raring to go ahead of the start of their Scudetto defence on Saturday. Juve get their season under way at Chievo, who crashed out of the Coppa Italia at the hands of Serie B side Pescara last week, but Allegri has warned his players to expect a tough encounter. “We're ready to go and will play with great concentration and attention," he told reporters. "It's not an easy one because Chievo have many new faces. "They will look to bounce back from their Coppa Italia elimination and cause us problems. "It's a tricky encounter at a ground where getting a result is never easy. We need to be on our game for 95 minutes." Allegri succeeded Antonio Conte, who has since assumed the reins of the Italian national team, and says he found Juventus in good order upon his arrival and insists Serie A is not a two-horse race between his team and Roma. "I've come into an environment with rules, discipline and a strong work ethic," he continued. "I'm very happy about that. "Juve and Roma aren't the only contenders - Inter, Napoli, Fiorentina, AC Milan and Lazio will also be in the chasing pack." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Juventus are Scudetto favourites, says Conte Azzurri-coach feels his former team are sitting in pole position to win the title again, but has stressed that they will face stiff competition. Aug 29, 2014 Italy coach Antonio Conte believes that Juventus are the team to beat in the race for the Serie A title this term, but stresses that Roma, Napoli and Inter are all genuine contenders. Conte guided Juventus to three consecutive Scudetti before stepping down this summer and a lot of pundits feel they are significantly weaker heading into the new campaign under new boss Massimiliano Allegri. Conte, though, has little doubt that the titleholders can be progress even further under the new coach. "Juventus are definitely stronger than last season and have moved forward again. If they don't lose any players in the closing stages of the window, they have strengthened their team well," Conte told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "Their key players have stayed put and some good players have come in like Roberto Pereyra, Romulo and Alvaro Morata, and not to forget the experience of Patrice Evra. "Roma have done a great job at the transfer market as well and they come off the back of an important season. I think Rudi Garcia has a number of solutions and options now. "And then there's Napoli of course, who will have to overcome the disappointment of missing out on the Champions League. "Inter should not be ruled out either. They have strengthened in all areas and have decisive players all over the pitch. They could spring a surprise in the race for the title." Juventus kick off the new Serie A season on Saturday with an away game versus Chievo.

How Juventus will line up in 2014-15 Massimiliano Allegri has taken over in Turin, while Pippo Inzaghi is the new man in charge at San Siro, resulting in great tactical intrigue in Italy ahead of the 2014-15 campaign. Aug 29, 2014 By Mark Doyle It has been a turbulent summer for calcio. The national team suffered an embarrassing first-round elimination at Brazil 2014, while the election of Carlo Tavecchio as the new president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) made headlines for all the wrong reasons and felt more like a step backward than forward. The hope now is that Serie A can give the country's disillusioned football fans something to cheer about and the good news, at least, is that this season's title race looks set to be one of the more intriguing in recent seasons. As defending champions, Juventus will obviously start as favourites but the shock resignation of Antonio Conte as coach has cast some doubt on their chances of a fourth successive Scudetto, particularly as Roma have once again strengthened impressively during the summer. Despite Aurelio De Laurentiis tightening the purse strings at the San Paolo, Coppa Italia holders Napoli could sustain a Scudetto challenge this time around, particularly as they no longer have the Champions League to contend with, while Vincenzo Montella's wonderfully free-flowing Fiorentina side have been in encouragingly fine form in pre-season. Inter, meanwhile, should be stronger in Walter Mazzarri's second season at the helm and city rivals AC Milan are hoping that former San Siro favourite, Pippo Inzaghi, can restore some long-lost pride to the Rossoneri shirt. Here, Goal takes a look at Juve will line up as the 2014-15 Serie season prepares to kick off this weekend. JUVENTUS There was always a chance of a high-profile departure at Juventus this summer - but nobody thought that Conte would be the one to leave. The former Bianconeri midfielder's sudden resignation as coach in July left the club's supporters in a state of shock. Their disbelief then turned to outrage when Juve opted to replace the man that had led them to three successive Serie A titles with Massimiliano Allegri, who had been sacked by rivals Milan midway through last season. However, their rage has been tempered by the club's success in holding onto Arturo Vidal, who looked set to depart for Manchester United. There's also the fact that the change of coach could most likely result in an arguably overdue change of formation, with Allegri poised to ditch Conte's tried-and-trusted 3-5-2, which, while successful in Serie A, has shown itself to be too easy to play against in Europe. Juve now look set to switch to a flat back four, with Patrice Evra slotting in on the left-hand side following his free transfer from Manchester United. Roberto Pereyra, who has arrived from Udinese, will challenge Claudio Marchisio for the attacking midfield role in front of the regular trio of Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba, with Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez set to renew their prolific partnership up front. However, the €20 million signing of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, coupled with Simone Pepe's return to full fitness, gives Juve the option of playing three up top this season, underlining that while there is much uncertainty surrounding the Old Lady this season, there's also no end of unpredictability, which may not be a bad thing.

Juventus will not make same mistakes again in Champions League, says Marotta The Bianconeri director is optimistic about his side's chances of reaching the knockout stages in European club football's elite competition. Aug 29, 2014 Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta is confident the Serie A champions have learned from their mistakes in the Champions League and can reach the knockout stages this term. The Turin side failed to survive the group stages in 2013-14 as Real Madrid and Galatasaray proved to be too strong. This time, they have been paired with Atletico Madrid, Olympiakos and Malmo during Thursday's draw. And Marotta has little doubt the Bianconeri will do better this time around, but admits there is a large void between them and the elite clubs in Europe. "We now have a proven group of players that, in recent years, was undone by a lack of experience. I think what happened last year will help us to not repeat the same mistakes again," Marotta told the official Juventus website. "Having said that, we must be aware of our club’s history and remember that qualification is certainly attainable. We're satisfied with the outcome of the draw. "In the Champions League there is a considerable gap between ourselves and the big clubs. "We hope to progress as far as possible in Europe and you can be sure that we’ll give our all in every single match, because we are well aware that this is a competition which can be decided by the smallest details." Juventus kick off their European campaign with a home game against Malmo on Tuesday September 16.

Atletico braced for 'difficult' Champions League clashes with Juventus The champions of Spain finished as runners-up last season but they are taking nothing for granted this time around, having been placed in the same pool as the Bianconeri. Aug 29, 2014 Jose Luis Caminero has conceded that Atletico Madrid face a difficult task in trying to beat Juventus to top spot in Champions League Group A. The Rojiblancos reached the final of last season's competition, only losing out after extra-time to city rivals Real. However, Caminero is taking nothing for granted after Atletico were drawn in the same pool as Juve, Olympiakos and Malmo. "All of them are the reigning champions of their respective leagues," Atletico's sporting director pointed out. "They have great players and I’m sure they will make it difficult for us to get through to the knockout stage. “Juventus have won the Scudetto for the past three seasons and broke the league’s points record last year. They are one of the historic clubs in this competition and they are used to gaining success. "They have top players such as Pirlo, Buffon, Pogba, Vidal, Llorente and Tevez ... Both games are going to be difficult."

Champions League: Juventus fixtures Aug 28, 2014 Juventus play their first Champions League game at home against Malmo and end the group with Atletico Madrid in Turin. The Bianconeri were drawn in Group A along with Atletico Madrid, Olympiacos and Malmo. Matchday 1 Sep 16 Olympiacos-Atletico Madrid Juventus-Malmo Matchday 2 Oct 1 Malmo-Olympiacos Atletico Madrid-Juventus Matchday 3 Oct 22 Atletico Madrid-Malmo Olympiacos-Juventus Matchday 4 Nov 4 Malmo-Atletico Madrid Juventus-Olympiacos Matchday 5 Nov 26 Atletico Madrid-Olympiacos Malmo-Juventus Matchday 6 Dec 9 Olympiacos-Malmo Juventus-Atletico Madrid

Marotta: 'Juve happy with draw' Aug 28, 2014 Beppe Marotta admits Atletico Madrid, Olympiacos and Malmo represent “a Champions League group Juventus are happy with.” The Bianconeri are in Group A with last season’s beaten Finalists, but Olympiacos and Malmo should represent much less frightening prospects. “This is a Champions League group Juventus are happy with, but there are also hidden dangers like Malmo – who have already started their season and that’ll end in November,” director general Marotta told Sky Sport Italia. “We must honour the jersey we wear, as qualification is within our grasp. The group paid for a lack of experience over the last two or three years, but is now solidified. “We learned from what happened last season. We are Juventus, we have to learn from our recent errors.” Juve crashed out in the first round following a shock 1-0 defeat away to Galatasaray, despite a relatively simple draw. Marotta was also asked whether Juventus were making a bid to sign Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco. “There are many rumours that are pumped up, but there was no meeting. We are already competitive for our targets, considering we haven’t sold any of our key players. “I am very realistic and don’t think there will be any shock moves. If they are dreams, then fine, but let’s be realistic and say that operation is not within our grasp.”