Socrates

‘Italy will cause headaches’ May 20, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon admits that Italy may not be outright favourites to win the World Cup, but sees them capable of causing a few headaches. The Azzurri today begin training in preparation for the summer tournament, which their captain and 139-cap veteran believes they can carry optimism into, even if tempered with a bit of reality. “This is an Italy that certainly will not start on the front row, but perhaps in the second row, yes,” Buffon has explained this week to Sky Sport Italia. “In the second to third group we are there, because we have deserved it, because at the last two international competitions we have been at we have two medals - a silver at the European Championships and a bronze at the Confederation Cup. “It signifies something good and that we are on a rising path. And we hope that we can reach the climax of this journey at the World Cup. “We know that to win another World Cup, you have to eliminate other national sides like Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and for this it is very complicated. “With this I say that, if we were to progress and then one day we have to meet one of them, I am convinced that they too will have their headaches and will not be happy to meet us. “In short, we shall see…” Buffon, who also considered Antonio Conte’s influence at Juventus, reflected on his season at club level and from a personal viewpoint. “I think that from October, so after Florence, it has been a great season, full of satisfaction for the team, but also personally, because I think I have been at a consistent performance level. “In all this I think I have some of the credit, because in the end I am 36 and after a start in which I could have been criticised, I wanted to sweep away all doubt in the best way, the most suitable way. “That is, once again demonstrating, if there was any need, my worth and what I can do.”

VIDEO: Party animal Pirlo! May 20, 2014 Andrea Pirlo, the Juventus and Italy man who never loses his cool, calm, collected demeanour. Unless he’s partying on an open-top bus!

Pogba: I’ve had to make sacrifices May 20, 2014 Paul Pogba has explained the ‘sacrifices’ and difficult moments he has faced this season in adapting to increased playing time for Juventus. The 21-year-old became a regular under Antonio Conte this term and in all competitions for club and country this term managed 63 appearances. “This year will remain in my memory because it was harder, longer and I had to make many sacrifices,” Pogba has reflected to L’Equipe today. “I had to make many sacrifices because playing every three days implies responsibilities. You cannot relax and do whatever you want. “My season can be summarised as training-match-rest, training-match-rest. It was only that. You go out less, you see your friends less. “You try to eat well, rest well, take more care in order to recover a bit faster. But professionally, you learn and you grow.” Pogba admitted that during the season he did experience a period of doubt. “It was a difficult time because I was getting tired, I was not at the top, not as efficient as at the beginning. But I also know that the biggest names in football have been there. “These are things that are a part of your career - there are times when you are happy and times when you are sad, because I had never played so much in a season up to then. “It’s hard, you mean well, but you cannot do it. I was not good and it was a really difficult time. I doubted myself. “But it was weird because around me, everyone was convinced that I was going to bounce back. “I now feel better, I want to give the best of myself and I really hope to perform for the national team. “Playing in a World Cup, I had dreamt of this since childhood. For me, it is a dream come true.” The midfielder has been the subject of continued speculation linking him with a move away from Juventus, until he and his agent both recently alluded to future contract talks with the club. “‘Pogba is going here, Pogba is going there’, whereas I said nothing. I have not even talked to my club about anything and there is nothing. “Did Zinedine Zidane call me? I received no call and I have not changed my number recently.”

‘Juve without Conte unthinkable’ May 20, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon has offered insight into Antonio Conte’s management style and described a Juventus without him as ‘unthinkable’. The club have confirmed that the Coach is in place to stay with them for the 2014-15 campaign, despite recent hints from the 44-year-old that he was considering the team as having reached the end of a cycle. For his club captain, his influence on the team’s current run of success, including three consecutive League titles, cannot be quantified. “He is a maniacal professional and obsessed with victory, because I believe he does not take into account that one day he may not win,” Buffon has considered to Sky Sport Italia this week. “He has this strong will to excel, he has certainly made us great and he was a blessing for Juve, for us players and for the whole environment. “But it is also true that for his part, the effort, the mental and nervous energy that this all requires, it’s huge. “Juve without Conte is something unthinkable, because of how we have been and how we have enjoyed great growth - I believe there is still room to improve the whole. “But it is also true that we must always be convinced of what we do. I believe that at a corporate level, Juve is really back on top, so we have this fortune, and we also have the certainty that any decision made will be for the good of Juve. “There is no measurement to understand his merits, he has been very good in getting the most out of every player. And I put myself in there too, with his own way of doing things, which, if you will, can be cantankerous. “Just before the match with Cagliari [Week 38], the day before, we were starting the meeting, I started to say: ‘Mister, I’m sorry, but we should talk about something’. “And he in a manner so brisk: ‘No, no, no, no, no, I do not have to take a break, now watch the video’. I mean, I was speechless for a second. You say, okay, you are 36, you are the captain. “But later, in retrospect, you know why he does it, maybe because he was afraid that talking about other things would see us not focus on the commitment the next day, and perhaps with that the chance of 102 points would have gone. “And so, in some respects, after a day or two, we laugh really, because you can say that in his life, he can do nothing but win.”

Buffon: You'll have to sweat to beat Italy The Azzurri skipper is adamant that his side's opponents can expect a tough match at this summer's World Cup and is keen to stay at Juventus. May 20, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon has told Italy's World Cup rivals not to expect an easy game when they face his side this summer. Cesare Prandelli's side have been drawn into a daunting group also involving England, Uruguay and Costa Rica but the veteran goalkeeper says his team-mates will be hard to crack. "A solid, well organised team that will never lose games on its own," Buffon replied when asked by giornalaccio rosa dello Sport what to expect from Italy. "It will be tough to beat us, without exception. Against us you sweat, because this group does not give anything to anyone on the field. "We have the technical and moral qualities to aim high at the World Cup." Buffon helped Juventus clinch a third consecutive Serie A title this season and is pleased with the form he has displayed since undergoing back surgery in 2010. "For three years I have been giving very important answers to myself and to those who doubted, appropriately, a full recovery," Buffon added. "At 36 I'm still here, at a high level, and it is a great feeling." The former Parma man's contract at Juve expires in 2015 and he has no desire to leave the Italian champions. "I'm fine in Turin," he explained. "And the relationship with chairman Andrea Agnelli is nice and fair. "He has already shown the willingness to support my every decision. So everything will be very clear."

Reviewing Carlos Tévez's 2013-14 season May 20, 2014 The summer of 2013 was deemed as the transfer window that Juventus gets its long awaited top striker. The names were out there for everybody to read about. The Italian press hammered those names home like they were a nail on a construction site. To miss a name being linked to Juventus was virtually impossible. Gonzalo Higuain. Stevan Jovetic. Who would it be? It was like a vicious cycle. The same names over and over again for weeks on end. But Juventus didn't sign either of those names that vastly populated. Instead, Juventus went a different route. A cheaper route, too. Beppe Marotta went to England for a player who had scored 15 goals combined in the past two EPL seasons with Manchester City and gotten a good amount of attention for what he was doing away from the field rather than on it. Carlos Tévez had no place in the Man City squad. But when the swift, almost out-of-nowhere move for Tévez was completed, he became the center of Juventus' new-look attack along with fellow summer signee Fernando Llorente. They were brought in to take Juventus to the next level and give the club what they had lacked compared to the last couple of seasons — proven, consistent goal scorers at the striker position. Two weeks before the season started, we played a game. Something that involved predictions of just how well Carlitos might do in his first season with Juventus. It wasn't difficult, really. Name the amount of goals and assists that Tévez would record. Simple enough. What I projected for Tévez: Games played: 33 Goals: 16 Assists: 10 What actually happened: Games played: 34 Goals: 19 Assists: 7 Nailed it. Well...almost. Outside of the whole "CARLOS CAN'T SCORE IN EUROPE!!!" narrative that dominated a lot of talking heads throughout Juventus' European roller coaster ride this season, Tévez seemingly could do no wrong. And that's pretty much the truth, too. He was a consistent pest, a consistent threat who spearheaded Juve's attack. Was there some skepticism that Tévez might not do that well? Yeah, I guess you can say that. You never really know how somebody is going to adapt to Serie A until they actually start playing games. But when he found the back of the net against Sampdoria in Juve's opener, it was the first goal in a season full of them. Nineteen goals in Serie A, to be exact, the third most in all of Italy this season. Here's the thing I've come to admire about him: Even when he isn't scoring goals, he's busting his ass trying to do so. He is basically the striker that Antonio Conte lacked in his first two years as manager — the energy, the effort, the grinta each and every game. And then when you pair him with somebody like Llorente who compliments Tévez so well, good things are bound to happen. And good things did happen. So I guess in hindsight it's not a surprise that Tévez was damn good in his first season with Juventus. Even with a couple extra million euros going over to Man City's bank account after the season, Tévez's price looks like a total bargain. Maybe not a Llorente or Andrea Pirlo kind of bargain, but close enough. Money well spent, I say. Juve gave him the No. 10, and he proved that he's worthy of it. Now about those goals in Europe... Okay, I'll just stop right there.

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Teams of the century: 100 points and more Juventus completed the Italian season with an awesome final total of 102 points; UEFA.com meets the only other sides who have made it to three figures in a European top flight. May 19, 2014 Having ended the campaign with a mighty 102 points, Juventus have become only the fourth club to finish a European top-flight season with a three-figure points total. UEFA.com meets the members of football's 100 club. 105: Barry Town AFC (Wales 1996/97) 104: Barry Town AFC (Wales 1997/98) Regarded as the best club side in Welsh league history, player-manager Gary Barnett's side lost only one of their 40 league games in 1996/97, and remained undefeated throughout all 38 fixtures in the following campaign. "We had an incredible squad of players during that era," reflected Barnett, whose side also won two League Cups and a Welsh Cup during that purple patch. "The passion we had, the team spirit we had – it was unbelievable." Barry ended both seasons with an extraordinary +103 goal difference - strikers Tony Bird and – later – Eifion Williams were prolific, but Barry's defence was equally proficient – their late goalkeeper Mark Ovendale set a record by not conceding in over 1,000 minutes of league football, while defender Gary Lloyd became the first – and to date only – player from the league to be called-up to the Welsh national team. 103: Celtic FC (Scotland 2001/02) The Hoops pulled out all the stops as they claimed a second consecutive Scottish Premier League title under Martin O’Neill, losing just one game all season, and conceding only 18 goals. Strike partners Henrik Larsson (29) and John Hartson (19) racked up a mighty 58 league goals between them. "Martin spent good money at a time when the club needed to spend money," said current Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who was a key midfielder in O'Neill's side. "It was a terrific team, exceptional actually – probably the best since the [Lisbon] Lions [who won the European Cup in 1967]." 102: Juventus (Italy 2013/14) Juventus's 3-0 final-day defeat of Cagliari Calcio set a new benchmark in Serie A, outstripping the record of 97 set by FC Internazionale Milano in 2006/07. The Bianconeri won 33 of their 38 games, including all 19 at Juventus Stadium – another Serie A record. "Our target was to win the Scudetto, but once we had it in our pockets, we tried everything to reach this incredible amount of points," said coach Antonio Conte. "I think it will be very hard to beat this record." Rudi Garcia, whose AS Roma side finished 17 points back in second, concurred: "They did something unique this season. Honestly, I don't think we will see a team passing the 100-point mark again in the near future." 100: Real Madrid CF (Spain 2011/12) "It was hard winning league titles in Portugal, England and Italy, but this was the hardest of them all," is how former Madrid coach José Mourinho summed up the achievement of leading the Merengues to their first championship in four years. "This was truly one to celebrate." If it seemed difficult to the coach, then his side certainly made it look easy, scoring 121 goals (including 46 for Cristiano Ronaldo) and finishing nine points clear of FC Barcelona as they took their 32nd Liga title, and becoming the first Spanish side to rack up a century of points. 100: FC Barcelona (Spain 2012/13) Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona matched Madrid's record within a season, starting as they meant to go on with 18 wins and a draw in their first 19 games. Having scored 50 in the previous campaign, Lionel Messi scored 46 – including, for the first time, at least one against all of the other sides in the league. "There are some records we won't be able to break, like being league leaders from the first to the last week of the season," Vilanova said, a little nonplussed after leading the club to their 22nd crown. "But after everything we've come through, I think we should be pleased." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Juventus vs. Cagliari: 6 Things We Learned May 19, 2014 Juventus kicked off their final match of 2013-14 safe in the knowledge that the Serie A title was already assured. The Bianconeri have been in incredible domestic form throughout the campaign and have certainly enjoyed a season to remember. With a new record points tally set last week, very little motivation remained for the squad, yet they still ran out 3-0 winners against their overwhelmed opponents. Cagliari proved no match for the all-conquering champions, able to provide little resistance to the Turin giants. Over the following pages are six lessons to be taken from the game. This Juventus Is Truly 1 for the Ages Having already bettered Inter's record points tally, Juventus have raised the bar significantly this term. Victory here took them to a staggering 102 points, a total that could stand for quite some time, and they can look to their imperious home form as a major factor. The win over Cagliari meant the Bianconeri are now the only team to ever record a perfect campaign on their own soil, winning an incredible 19 of 19 matches at Juventus Stadium. That dominance bodes well for next season, and few teams will relish a trip to Turin in 2014-15. Antonio Conte Puts All the Credit on His Players Antonio Conte has enjoyed a remarkable three seasons at Juventus, winning the title in each campaign and setting countless records along the way. The coach is quick to defer to his players however, quickly praising them to Sky Italia once the final whistle blew against Cagliari, telling them (via FootballItalia): “The players were special with three straight titles and a record of points, but they surpassed themselves because 102 points will be very tough to beat. I will never stop thanking them. I tried to pull them to the end, but it wasn’t hard to get them going really. I continually thank them, as over three years they have been incredible.” But the Players Thank the Coach While he may believe it is those on the field who are responsible for Juve's success, Antonio Conte's players are happy to hand him the plaudits. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Andrea Pirlo thanked the coach, telling them how he had transformed the club's fortunes. "This was an extraordinary campaign and crowned by this victory,” the midfielder said (via Football Italia). "Much of the credit for these trophies goes to Conte, as he picked up a team fresh from finishing seventh twice and won three Scudetti in a row.” And so Do the Supporters The prospect of Conte leaving Juventus, via Matthew Scott of Goal.com, has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, with serious questions asked about how long he will remain with the club. Against Cagliari, the Bianconeri supporters would leave no such uncertainty about their faith in the 44-year-old coach. As the second half began, the fans behind one goal unveiled a huge banner with a picture of Conte’s face and the phrase: "Without you we won’t go far...Because you are the best and have Juve in your heart!!!" Focus Will Now Shift to Transfer Talk With the season over, talk about potential transfer targets is likely to dominate the news, and that is certain to be the case with Juventus. Always linked with a plethora of new signings, the Bianconeri collapsing in the Champions League could see a shift in focus and players arriving to fill that tactical shift. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Barca: Cesc out, Pogba in? May 19, 2014 Reports in Spain this afternoon claim that Barcelona will make a move for Paul Pogba, but only if Cesc Fabregas leaves. There have been heavy rumours that the Spain international is open to a move away from Camp Nou this summer, following a disappointing campaign. The former Arsenal man has been a perennial substitute in the big games for the Blaugrana this term, and Manchester United are thought to be keen on bringing him back to England for the new campaign. If the 27-year-old does then depart for Old Trafford, Marca believe that the Catalan giants will try and bolster their midfield by signing the Juventus man. The France international has been linked with some of Europe’s biggest sides, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain said to be interested.

Juventus want Alexis Sanchez - Marotta The Italian champions are looking for a select type of attacker as they look to strengthen during the summer ahead of the 2014-15 campaign. May 18, 2014 Juventus CEO Beppe Marotta has admitted that the Serie A side would love to sign Barcelona attacker Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean forward meets a very specific criteria that the Bianconeri are looking for as they aim to strengthen their squad to become a major force in Europe. “We're looking for a versatile player who can operate in several positions,” Marotta told Sky Sport. “We are looking for a quick wide attacker. We would like to have a player like Sanchez but there aren't many players like him at the moment. “And we shouldn't forget that Barcelona made a big investment to get him. But I repeat, he's a player we would like to have.” On the subject of transfers, it is unknown whether Antonio Conte will remain with the Serie A champions, but Marotta could only speak highly of the Italian trainer. “I have always said that the relationship with Conte is a wonderful one. We consider him a great coach and hope to continue with him. “However, there are issues that need to be addressed before any announcements are made in the coming weeks.”

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ People will remember this Juventus for years - Conte The Italian champions finished the season with 102 points and a perfect home record in Serie A and their coach is delighted with their achievements. May 18, 2014 Juventus coach Antonio Conte believes his side's exploits this season will be remembered for years to come. The Turin outfit concluded their Serie A-winning campaign by breaking the 100-point barrier thanks to a 3-0 win over Cagliari, maintaining their perfect home record this term. The former Siena coach is delighted with his troops and believes they have earned a place in the history books. "The guys have been special up until now, but they’ve surpassed themselves and what they’ve done is truly extraordinary. I’ll never stop thanking them," he is quoted as saying by the club's official website. "Now we’ll all celebrate together because we’ve achieved a historic goal, toppling record after record: 102 points, 19 wins from 19 at home, the best attack and best defence. "People will be speaking about this Juventus side for a long time to come. "We had strong rivals in Roma but managed to maintain our ferocious mentality, continuing to win even when we had achieved Scudetto success. Only a special group would have been able to pull it off." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Juve Scudetto party cut short May 18, 2014 Gigi Buffon lifted the Serie A trophy, but Juventus celebrations were cut short by a pitch invasion. The squad was called out one by one and their names chanted by the crowd after today’s 3-0 victory over Cagliari. Antonio Conte was the penultimate man out and given a standing ovation by the fans, who called for him to stay on. Captain Buffon lifted the trophy to the sky, the Bianconeri’s third in a row, but the planned run round the pitch with the silverware was cut short by a pitch invasion. The Curva Sud burst its banks and sent stewards flying, sending players, their wives and children running into the tunnel. It was also reported that Carlos Tevez was particularly angry at being manhandled by over-enthusiastic fans. The party therefore had to continue in a sedate manner inside the locker room, as milk replaced champagne with players holding their kids. Meanwhile, the ultras were seen trying to break apart the goal mouth to take home souvenirs from the Juventus Stadium. Juventus will now go through the city streets in an open-top bus. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Pirlo: 'Credit to Conte' May 18, 2014 Andrea Pirlo said “much of the credit” goes to Antonio Conte for a record-breaking 102-point Juventus run. “We beat every record, amassed 102 points and it will be almost impossible for anyone to repeat that. “This was an extraordinary campaign and crowned by this victory,” Pirlo told Sky Sport Italia after a 3-0 win over Cagliari. The entire second half was dominated by supporters waving banners calling for their Coach to remain. “It was a lovely show of affection from the crowd towards Conte and we hope it can all be resolved over the next few days. “Much of the credit for these trophies goes to Conte, as he picked up a team fresh from finishing seventh twice and won three Scudetti in a row.” This is a new top five European League record of 102 points. They are also the first Serie A side to end a campaign with a perfect home record.

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Garcia: 'Juventus run unique' May 18, 2014 Rudi Garcia was still content with Roma’s season, despite a third consecutive defeat, and hailed “unique” Juventus. The Giallorossi tested out several new faces for the 1-0 loss against Genoa this afternoon. Juventus shattered European records with 102 points in a single season and a perfect home record. “We won’t see a leader like that again for a very long time, as going over 100 points is unique. Next season is a new term, we have to be concentrated and the club also wants to make a competitive squad. “In Germany and Spain there are few teams after the first couple who can really challenge for the title or even the Champions League. In Italy there are Juventus, Roma, Napoli, Milan, Inter and Fiorentina, plus always a surprise element. “Serie A is very competitive, so we need to make sure we are able to challenge in Serie A as well as the Champions League.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Juventus success hard to repeat - Pirlo The Bianconeri ended the season by breaking yet another record and the veteran admits they have set a difficult bar to surpass in seasons to come. May 18, 2014 Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo says it will be difficult for the club to replicate their achievements this season after setting a new European points record on Sunday. The midfielder scored a free-kick as the Turin giants beat Cagliari 3-0 on Sunday to take their points tally for 2013-14 to 102. Juve were crowned champions for a third successive year several weeks ago and Pirlo admitted their success in recent years will be difficult to replicate. We wanted to win today to reach 100 points and we’ve done it. We’ve broken every record and we’re really happy to be celebrating," he told Sky Sport Italia. "Given Roma's strength, it’s been a difficult campaign, but we’ve picked up an awesome number of victories. "It’s been an extraordinary season, it will be tough for our record to be beaten. We broke all records and it will be hard to repeat this." However, speculation continues to surround the future of coach Antonio Conte after he revealed his willingness to discuss other 'projects' and Pirlo is keen to see the situation resolved sooner rather than later. "Conte deserves credit for a big part of our successes," Pirlo added. "I have never seen it before that the fans were chanting the coach's name. I hope his future will be resolved soon." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Player Ratings Goal took in the action in Turin as the Bianconeri surpassed 100 points for the season with a routine victory on the final day of the Serie A campaign. May 18, 2014 Juventus Gianluigi Buffon - Made an excellent save on Pinilla and was subbed off to a standing ovation in the second half. Martín Cáceres - Did not have a whole lot to do at the back and pushed forward into the midfield lines for a lot of the game. Leonardo Bonucci - Defended well against the threat from the opposition, which was few and far between. Angelo Ogbonna - Shepherded the dangerous Ibarbo into harmless areas more than once in a solid display. Stephan Lichtsteiner - Motored up and down the right flank providing decent support. Paul Pogba - Provided good moments in both halves of the field, testing Silvestri more than once. Andrea Pirlo - Opened the scoring with a wonderful free kick and was composed on the ball throughout. Claudio Marchisio - Scored his side's third with a lovely piece of control and a sumptuous volleyed finish. Kwadwo Asamoah - Had quite a few accurate cracks at goal from long range, proving a real menace for the keeper in the first half. Carlos Tévez - Held the ball up well, but try as he might, he was often frustrated in his attempts to get a shot off. Fernando Llorente - Set up Marchisio's goal with a good piece of control after slotting in one himself from close range. Always a threat from the knockdown. Substitutions Rubinho - Solid in goal off the bench. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo - Did not have much of a chance to score. Cagliari Marco Silvestri - A string of fine saves kept the score down as he showed his athleticism. Davide Astori - Subbed off at the break after being torn left and right by the home side. Gabriele Perico - Could not handle Asamoah down the left hand side and was left struggling. Luca Rossettini - Did not fare a whole lot better than Astori in central defence, losing out in a few aerial battles. Danilo Avelar - Blocked Tevex once or twice, but was suspect positionally on more than one occasion. Daniele Conti - Did not have much of a say in the game through midfield as he was run off the park. Andrea Tabanelli - Hardly had a meaningful touch of the ball and was no match for his Juve counterparts. Daniele Dessena - Gave up possession regularly in a torrid game for him. Andrea Cossu - A few decent moments in the attacking third, including one where he held the ball up for a great Pinilla chance. Mauricio Pinilla - Had two decent openings, not least one in the first half where he was one on one with Buffon, but saw his shot saved. Víctor Ibarbo - His direct running caused a few problems early on, but he drifted to the periphery of proceedings as time wore on. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Juventus seal record European points haul May 18, 2014 Ivo Pulga said it would be difficult. Cagliari’s coach may have adopted a defeatist attitude coming into the game, but we cannot accuse him of not being a realist. Juventus, playing at home and desperate to break records, controlled the match and won 3-0 to kick-start the celebrations in Turin. Nineteen games played at home in the Juventus stadium, 19 games won with 106 goals scored over the course of the season; Antonio Conte has created a winning machine, and for that the fans are grateful. A record-breaking season, Juventus finished having amassed 102 points in the league, 17 points ahead of second-place Roma. It's the highest any team has managed in Europe’s top five leagues and certainly more than Inter’s 97 points -- the record the Nerazzurri broke in 2007. Playing in a stadium prepared to celebrate and with a coach applauding the fans that held "Con te" banners, a play on words that means "with you," Cagliari were always going to struggle. Defending poorly, it took the champions of Italy only eight minutes to break the deadlock and score when Andrea Pirlo delivered another one of his perfect free kicks that troubled Marco Silvestri. It was a day to celebrate the brilliance of the coach, the strength of the captain, Gianluigi Buffon, who pulled off some excellent saves, and the chemistry between the two forwards who helped turn this Bianconeri side into an efficient team. Conte’s squad was one that created but rarely finished well. With Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente up front, their ability to work well together, exploit space and hold the ball up has made all the difference this season. Eight shots on target, three goals scored. Overall, the Spaniard has managed 18 goals this season while Tevez has netted 20 times in all competitions. Their understanding continues to develop and today we saw the brilliant Llorente dummy, the layoffs and the perfect touches while the Argentine moved around to take up excellent positions. It’s a shame he took one too many touches, overcomplicating his chance for a goal, but his work off the ball, the constant running and the hard work has turned him into a Juve hero this season, one Conte is grateful to have. Yet while the forward line is remarkably better than it has been in previous years, it’s the midfield that continues to dazzle. Claudio Marchisio, with his excellent skill and breathtaking intelligence, scored the third, but it’s Paul Pogba who entertains the masses while Pirlo can always be relied upon for moments of magic, especially when offered the chance to take a free kick. The fluidity, the passing, the composure shown today is what makes this Italian side so exciting to watch. The way they rotate the ball, looking for the spaces to exploit, coupled with Cagliari’s inability to provide a stern test, allowed them the win, but let us not forget that winning mentality. While Roma stopped fighting once they realised certain targets were beyond them, the Old Lady continued chasing victories despite having secured the title. Nothing satisfies her appetite. Once the three goals were scored and the points secured, the party atmosphere took over in the stadium. The staff started to put on the T-shirts emblazoned with the figure "102" and the crowd chanted. Conte was overwhelmed with the show of support, the players each noting his excellence when talking to the media. He in turn thanked them for achieving this milestone. Juventus didn’t just win Serie A, they demolished it. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Juventus Complete 102-Point Season, Break European Record May 18, 2014 This was exactly the way a lot of us wanted Juventus to get to 102 points on the season — beating up the opposition. If it was over before halftime, it was over when the players entered the dressing room for their short break between halves. First Andrea Pirlo did Andrea Pirlo things from a free kick situation, then it was Fernando Llorente, and finally Claudio Marchisio scored one hell of a goal to put the game away before halftime even arrived. And with it, Juventus made some history. Not a surprise seeing as that seems like a staple of Antonio Conte's reign as Juve manager. Most points ever in a single season? Yeah, 102 points got them there. A perfect 19 for 19 on their home soil at Juventus Stadium? Done that, too. A season filled with plenty of history got the send off it deserved — a little bit more entered into the lengthy tradition of this great club we root for week after week, month after month. That's a pretty good reason why it was impossible for Andrea Agnelli and his new beard to wipe the smile off his face during the course of the 3-0 win. Hell, I'd have a hard time not smiling while being at the stadium in that kind of festive atmosphere. Turin had a reason to celebrate — and that's exactly what they did. I feel pretty safe in saying it was a thumbs-up-worthy season. And I'm glad Stephan agrees. Random thoughts and observations • I appreciate Cagliari completely forgetting how to defend. It made the game that much better. • Fernando Llorente's final stats for the 2013-14 season: 34 games (29 stats), 16 goals, five assists. I'd say that's a pretty good year for a guy who was basically strapped on the bench for the entire season 12 months ago. • It was impossible to go five minutes without the crowd singing something in appreciation of Antonio Conte. And it was just as impossible of Conte not to recognize it. The rumors will continue to swirl about Conte's future until something official actually does happen because that's what the Italian press is good at doing no matter what the truth is. But I pose this question: If you saw Conte celebrating on the sideline towards the end of the match, did that really look like a guy who is leaving the club in a short amount of time? Antonio Conte wanted to party just as much as anybody there. • Carlos Tévez didn't get the 20th league goal of the season that he so rightfully deserved, but I don't care. Being named Juve's Player of the Season was a great honor, and there really was nobody better than Carlitos this year. And unlike a lot of his teammates, he'll have a bunch of time this summer to rest up. Yeah, Tévez-related expectations are going to be high next season. There's no doubt about that. • More Juventus children. Bring them out all the time. • Better goal, Marchisio or Pirlo? As much as I love Pirlo's, the spin move from Principino is kinda pulling me in his direction. • Gigi Buffon gave Mauro Bergonzi a hug before he left the field in the second half. That's class. • Juventus won 3-0 and Simone Padoin didn't play a single minute. Who knew that was possible. • But guess who did play? Rubinho! And for the second straight season, he's the only Juventus goalkeeper to not allow a goal during his time on the field. Might be a small sample size, though. We'll investigate and get back to you. • Juventus finish the season 17 points ahead of second-place Roma. Remember about a month ago when people were saying the Scudetto race might be back on? Yeah, so much for that. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Record breaking Bianconeri sign off in style May 18, 2014 Juventus were 3-0 winners over Cagliari in Serie A on Sunday afternoon at the Juventus Stadium, in the final game of their title winning season. Goals from Andrea Pirlo, Fernando Llorente and Claudio Marchisio ensured the Old Lady secured all three points and reached the coveted 102 points record in Serie A. The hosts started the more brightly in the party atmosphere of the Juventus Stadium. Labouring on the ball, Carlos Tevez stole the ball off Davide Astori, but his strike was scooped up comfortably by Marco Silvestri. After eight minutes, the home side were ahead courtesy of more Andrea Pirlo magic. Luca Rossettini fouled Fernando Llorente on the edge of the area and the Italian international’s curling free kick clattered in off the crossbar after the initial save from Silvestri. After a quarter of an hour, Cagliari’s panicking defense was undone once again. The Sardinians failed to clear the ball from a corner and Llorente tapped home his 16th of the season. As Juventus began taking their foot off the gas, Cagliari sought to trouble Gianluigi Buffon at the other end. Daniele Dessena found himself all alone in the box and forced Buffon into making a quick reaction save. However the lapse in concentration was fleeting as Juventus continued to dominate the match. Just before half time, the downpour of goals resumed when Llorente flicked the ball up for Claudio Marchisio, who took it on the turn and blasted it past Silvestri on the half volley in spectacular fashion. Minutes later the overworked Cagliari goalkeeper got down brilliantly to parry away Kwadwo Asamoah’s fierce long shot before the whistle signaled half time. At the restart, Cagliari did their very best to get on the scoresheet, and thought they would be helped when Rubinho replaced Buffon at half time, but the Brazilian proved just as stubborn. Goal scorer Llorente also made way for Pablo Osvaldo, for what could be his last Juventus appearance. The Sardinians wanted desperately to halt the hosts flood of goals, and in fact succeeded in doing so, holding a contented Juventus team to the final whistle. Celebrations followed the final whistle as Juventus broke the points record in Serie A. Antonio Conte bows out the season in the best possible fashion, earning the club it’s third consecutive title with just two defeats all season. With speculation rife over the Italians future, it’s unclear where he will be next season, but for now he will be content in celebrating Juventus’ success. Ivo Pulga closes the season on a sour note with this the third consecutive defeat for his Cagliari team. President Massimo Cellino may not be the club’s owner the next time these two meet, but fans will feel it’s the right direction to be heading in. Daniele Conti’s future is similarly unclear ahead of what should be a routinely difficult transfer window for the Rossoblu. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Juventus make history! Juventus crushed Cagliari 3-0 to set a new European record of 102 points with a 100 per cent home record. May 18, 2014 The Bianconeri had already shattered records this season for a third consecutive Scudetto, but had the opportunity to become the first side to go into triple figures. Giorgio Chiellini began his three-match suspension, while Arturo Vidal and Mirko Vucinic were injured. Cagliari were safely mid-table and missed Vlada Avramov, Eros Pisano, Matias Cabrera, Albin Ekdal, Nene, Matias Vecino and Nicola Murru. This game will be followed by the presentation of the Serie A trophy and an open top bus parade through the streets of Turin. The celebrations were already in full swing with the team photo including all their children before kick-off. Gigi Buffon even hugged referee Bergonzi, who is retiring after this match. However, Victor Ibarbo nearly ruined the festivities with an early counter-attack, his rising strike palmed away by Buffon after a Martin Caceres slip. Andrea Pirlo opened the scoring with one of his trademark free kicks, which Lorenzo Silvestri palmed on to the crossbar, but could do nothing as it ricocheted in off his shoulder. This could well be awarded as an own goal for the Cagliari ‘keeper, as a similar incident occurred for Luca Toni this month, but will only be made official on Monday. A Pirlo corner was flicked on by Leonardo Bonucci and the Cagliari defence failed to clear, so Fernando Llorente tapped in from six yards. Carlos Tevez should’ve made it 3-0 and a personal tally of 21 Serie A goals, but hesitated and allowed the defence to close him down. At the other end, Daniele Dessena was sent clear on goal by Andrea Cossu and kept out by a great Buffon reaction save from 10 yards. Tevez burst into the box and ran straight into the back of Danilo Avelar, while Kwadwo Asamoah’s screamer from distance was fingertipped out from under the bar. Llorente also had penalty appeals for a Rossettini tackle. Juventus did get their third with a spectacular goal from Claudio Marchisio. He gathered with back to goal, flicked it up on the spin to leave Dessena stranded and smashed his finish into the roof of the net. Silvestri performed a crucial save on Asamoah’s volley from the edge of the box, as it went through a sea of legs, including a Tevez dummy. At the dawn of the second half, the Curva Sud unveiled a huge banner with Conte’s face and the phrase: ‘Without you we won’t go far... Because you are the best and have Juve in your heart!!!’ However, soon after a smaller banner also appeared in the same area of the stadium reading ‘Speziale Libero.’ The Disciplinary Commission warned it will punish this slogan, which is calling for the release of a Catania ultra in prison for the murder of a police officer. The rest of the Juventus Stadium reacted strongly with jeers and insults at those who showed the banner. Agim Ibraimi attempted to cut the deficit for Cagliari, while Ibarbo volleyed just over from an Avelar free kick. Juventus: Buffon (Rubinho 54); Caceres, Bonucci, Ogbonna; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo (Pepe 80), Marchisio, Asamoah; Tevez, Llorente (Osvaldo 60) Cagliari: Silvestri; Astori (Bastrini 46), Perico, Rossettini, Avelar; Conti, Tabanelli, Dessena; Cossu (Ibraimi 66); Pinilla, Ibarbo (Loi 86) Ref: Bergonzi http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CAGLIARI Andrea Pirlo (8′) Fernando Llorente (15′) Claudio Marchisio (40′) May 18, 2014 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Attendance:‬ 39344‎ Bianconeri smash 100-points barrier Antonio Conte guided his side to victory in their final Serie A game of the season and ended the campaign by setting a new record. May 18, 2014 Juventus ended the season with a Serie A record 102 points following a resounding 3-0 win over Cagliari in Turin. With a third successive title sealed weeks in advance of the season finale, Sunday's final match of 2013-14 was merely a procession amid a carnival atmosphere in Turin. From the moment Andrea Pirlo opened the scoring with a typically nonchalant free-kick after just eight minutes, Antonio Conte's side were in complete control. Fernando Llorente and Claudio Marchisio's strikes ensured Juve headed into the break 3-0 ahead - a lead they maintained with a controlled second-half showing. The upshot was Juve ending the season with a tally of 102 points, having amassed an incredible 33 wins from their 38 top-flight fixtures. For Cagliari, the result, although expected, added further frustration to an average year that has seen them finish in 15th place. The visitors started brightly as Victor Ibarbo's snap-shot from a tight angle forced a fine save from Gianluigi Buffon, who dived full-stretch to tip the ball around the post. Juve were quick to respond, though, with Pirlo finding space on the edge of the area before producing an uncharacteristically wild effort that flew over. Such a strike was in stark contrast to his next attempt, however. The veteran playmaker struck a sublime 25-yard free-kick that Marco Silvestri could only tip on to the underside of the bar, with the ball bouncing over the line before hitting the goalkeeper and rolling into the net. Suddenly, the hosts were rampant and it was not long before Llorente doubled their advantage, dispossessing Daniele Conti - who failed to clear his lines from a corner - and sliding home. Cagliari came back strongly and should have reduced the deficit when Daniele Dessena was denied by Buffon from point-blank range. The game took on an end-to-end nature thereafter as Kwadwo Asamoah's sizzling 35-yard strike forced a superb stop from Silvestri. The visiting keeper could do little shortly after, however, as Marchisio stunningly controlled a ball into his own path before unleashing a powerful volley that flew past the 23-year-old. Juventus operated with a more controlled approach after the interval, with Conte's confidence epitomised by the withdrawal of Buffon for reserve keeper Rubinho - who was given his first playing time of the season. The wonderful ovation afforded to Buffon almost made way for celebrations, too, as Paul Pogba's effort from distance tested Silvestri soon after. That was to prove the last real opening as Juve eased their way to the points after the outstanding Pirlo was taken off to rapturous applause from the gleeful crowd. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Lichtsteiner si é stancato di correre.

No, é in Cile.

http://gofirstrow.eu/watch/261034/1/watch-juventus-vs-cagliari.html Andrea Barzagli

http://gofirstrow.eu/watch/261034/1/watch-juventus-vs-cagliari.html L'ultimo dei bambini é alto come Giovinco.