Socrates

Paris Saint-Germain to offer Verratti for Juventus star? May 3, 2014 Juventus could be set to exchange Paul Pogba for Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti in a deal that could hit records in the market. The Parisiens have been keen to capture the 21-year-old, insisting that the Frenchman would make the perfect iconic symbol at the club. According to Tuttosport, Verratti is worth €35 million and would be part of the deal, this would help reduce the value of Pogba as he is estimated to be worth between €70-80 million. Nothing has been set in stone as yet however PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has reiterated that he wants the former Manchester United player and would not block any sort of deal if he can land him. Pogba has made 52 appearances and scored 9 goals in all competitions this season, while Verratti has made 43 appearances.

JUVENTUS - ATALANTA May 5, 2014 - 9:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Andrea De Marco Garcia: 'Scudetto race is over' May 3, 2014 Roma Coach Rudi Garcia admits “the Scudetto race is over” regardless of their result in Catania, “but we’ll play to win anyway.” It kicks off on Sunday at 15.00 CET at the Stadio Massimino. Despite nine consecutive victories, the Giallorossi are still eight points adrift of Juventus and the title could be assigned on Monday if Atalanta lose in Turin. “Could our victory in Catania put pressure on Juve? No, the Scudetto race is over,” shrugged Garcia in his Press conference. “Our result won’t change anything, but we’ll play to win anyway, as we want to extend our winning streak. It’ll be tough on their home turf, but we want to play well and give our all, even if it’s meaningless in terms of the title. “We compliment Juve, a great club with great players. Their record-breaking campaign is in part down to us and vice-versa.” Roma already set a new club record of points in a single Serie A season, but Juventus are on track to amass 100 points – something no team has ever achieved in this Division. Despite their domination in Italy, Juve were knocked out of the Europa League semi-final by Benfica on Thursday and consequently the Portuguese League will surpass Serie A in the rankings. “Serie A is very tough and I can tell you Portugal isn’t very difficult, so you can rest many players and still get results. You can’t do that here. “Last season Benfica lost all three chances of silverware at the last hurdle. Now they are back in the Europa League Final and as such have already won, because this is the path to follow. We haven’t won anything yet, but must surf on this positive wave.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Buffon: 'Benfica didn't humiliate Juve' May 3, 2014 Gigi Buffon maintains Juventus were beaten “but not annihilated” by Benfica in the Europa League. The Bianconeri went out of the semi-final 2-1 on aggregate after a goalless second leg in Turin on Thursday. “These were two very balanced games and in boxing terms we deserved more on points,” the goalkeeper told Sky Sport Italia. “They were two matches in which the details made the difference in these cases you can win or, as happened to us, you can lose. “We were not humiliated or made people change their view of us. We played on a par with Benfica. They did well to go through, but we were not annihilated. “Benfica are a side who, if I’m not wrong, are sixth in the European club rankings and yet we played at the same level and probably deserved to qualify. We have to compliment them for their progress.” Benfica will play the Europa League Final against Sevilla at the Juventus Stadium on May 14.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Random thoughts about Juventus and European competition May 2, 2014 There is a reason why there was no post on this site on Friday. Your boy needed to think about a few things. And not just think about how to live a long, somewhat stress-free life when I root for a team like Juventus, but also what exactly happened Thursday night against Benfica and resulted in Juventus players sporting sad faces in many of pictures available to us. The simple way to put it: Juve didn't get to the final of the Europa League when EVERYBODY thought they were the favorites to win the whole damn thing. Another simple way to put it: Juventus need to improve in Europe. Now that all of you are thinking something like "Thanks, genius." I'll try and elaborate a little bit more than just sounding like a complete dope. Juventus are one of the select few teams this season that can say they've been eliminated from two European competitions within the span of a couple months. I'm pretty sure that's something they didn't want to be saying at the beginning of the season when Antonio Conte sat down for one of his first press conferences back in August and September. There's reasons why Juventus are here. You don't enter the season as a sleeper to do damage in the Champions League and then not even make it to the knockout stage. You don't fall into the Europa League, get picked the thing and then fall short of making the final. Juventus are dynamite in Italy — which is good, and also bad. But when it comes to Europe, something just isn't right. (And, just for the record, I'm still pissed off about Thursday's game. Yeah, so much for not caring about a second-fiddle European competition. So close, yet so far, I guess.) Juventus' manager is still learning how to coach in Europe Antonio Conte isn't perfect — but we pretty much knew that already. And if you didn't think he's not perfect, then I don't know what to tell you. Conte can be stubborn about things we want him to possibly reevaluate. Conte can be somewhat frustrating when it comes to squad selection some of the time. And yet, there's also this: Conte, the player and the manager, is one of the best things to happen to Juventus in recent memory. While it's tough to ignore what some of Juventus' managers have done in Europe over course of the past couple of decades, is it fair to compare Conte to them? In some ways yes, in some ways no. Conte is damn good at what he does, but it's apparent that his ability to show the same kind of results he gets in Italy on the European stage. And if that means adapting, then so be it. There should be some tactical flexibility I'm not saying ditch the 3-5-2 completely. Let's not forget that even when Juve went 4-3-3 in the second half against Benfica on Thursday night, it's not like things magically changed and it went from sluggishness to absolute jubilation offensively. But for every game like that, there's a 4-3-3 sample of when Juve played Real Madrid toe-to-toe in two Champions League group stage game. You know, the same Real Madrid team that just advanced to the Champions League final. It seems like those two games were years ago, not all of five months ago, doesn't it? Simply going 4-3-3 won't solve all of Juve's apparent problems. Neither will sticking with the 3-5-2. Either way, a mix of the two won't be the worst thing in the world. It would just be nice to see the same kind of willingness to go from one formation to another we saw in Conte's first year. That's what we call tactical flexibility, ladies and gents. Juventus need to change their European mindset in a hurry Restoring the classic Juventus grinta became a staple of Conte's first year as Juventus manager. And in that sense, he has proven he can do exactly that. But when it comes to the early goings of the group stages in the Champions League, Juve have been 2 for 2 in starting out like total crap. They got away with it the first time around, but obviously not this year. The sluggish start bit Juve right in the backside and is one of a handful of reasons why Juve didn't even get into the knockout stages of the Champions League. It's one thing to draw against a team of Real Madrid's caliber, it's another to struggle to a draw against FC Copenhagen. Nobody expected European dominance right off the bat. Well, maybe a few people, but that's just silly. But nobody expected struggling against Danish sides for two straight years, either. While it's true you can't take any team lightly in Europe's biggest competition, there's also a reason why they're games considered Juventus should win. And until they actually do beat the worst team in the group twice, there's still going to be plenty of motivation to pull our hair out. Juventus need better squad depth from top to bottom Yes, the struggles in Europe aren't solely on Conte (as much as some people don't want you to believe that). Juventus have been playing a whole lot of games this season. And up until a few weeks ago, it was pretty much the same group of players starting every single game. It doesn't really matter what formation Conte deems as his default one next season. To have the tactical flexibility, Juve need players that are able to adapt. And that means no Simone Padoins around next season as much as it might be depressing to lose the official human victory cigar. I'm not saying Juventus need to go out and spend €100 million this summer just to say they did. Beppe Marotta is good at what he does because he finds himself some good deals. And for every deal he makes — Carlos Tévez, Andrea Pirlo, Fernando Llorente — the base is there. You improve the bench, you bring in a really good winger, and now we're talking some serious aspirations. Juventus acutally learn from both European exits this season To be honest, I was thinking the same thing last year when Juve were throttled by Bayern Munich over two legs. But there's a pretty big difference between this season and 12 months ago: That Bayern team were an absolute machine who took no prisoners and demolished just about every squad in sight, Juve have pretty much themselves to blame in this year's European woes. It's understandable and reasonable to say Juventus need to say learn from their mistakes in Europe the past two years. And while I'm always going to be Mr. Optimism, until those mistakes are, ya know, corrected, there will always be at least a little bit of skepticism. I guess it just all comes full circle. Conte learn from mistakes. Management learn what they need to improve the squad. The players learn to not lose to annoying Danish teams they have no business losing to. Full circle, folks. Hooray, hooray.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Juventus Hard Done by Fate, Referees in Fall to Benfica May 2, 2014 Football is a game of inches. That was evident throughout the second leg of Thursday's Europa League semifinal between Juventus and Benfica. Had Kwadwo Asamoah's cross in the first minute of first-half stoppage time been six inches farther ahead of Arturo Vidal, the Chilean could have powered his header past Jan Oblak instead of craning his neck to bounce it into the ground and see Luisao desperately clear the ball off the line. Three minutes earlier, a flick on from an Andrea Pirlo free-kick evaded Carlos Tevez's boot by the slightest of gaps. Pirlo's swerving 30-yard free-kick just after the hour just didn't knuckle enough to get by Oblak. Martin Caceres' header from a last-gasp corner was just too close to the Slovenian keeper to get by. Most glaringly, Stephan Lichtsteiner's mishandling of a ball from Claudio Marchisio in the 80th minute when it looked easier to score could have changed the game and sent Juve to the final. Yes, fate was a fickle lover for the Old Lady of Italian football Thursday night. The Bianconeri controlled the game and played like lions, but even at 10 and then nine men, Benfica could not be broken. If a team has to go out at this stage, that is the way fans want to see it. There was, however, one element that did not live up to the quality of the game: the officiating. I am not one who normally squeals about being hard-done by the officials. Having officiated sports games myself as a baseball umpire, I understand how difficult it is to do these things, especially at the highest levels of a fast-paced sport. But the way Mark Clattenburg handled Thursday's match was dreadful. The Englishman is one of the more respected officials in the English Premier League, but he and his crew missed at least three legitimate penalty appeals from the hosts. The first came early in the first half after Paul Pogba was brought down in the box with the defender nowhere near the ball. The next two came on the same play, when Fernando Llorente was undercut while going up for a header and a Benfica defender handled the ensuing deflection. Of course, judgement calls can always be criticized with the benefits of hindsight and six replay angles. One gets angry but eventually can forgive. But Clattenburg's inability to deal with Benfica's time-wasting, especially in the late stages of the game, cannot be forgiven. He started chastising Oblak for slow play early in the game but did nothing substantial to speed things up when the Portuguese side began moving at a walking pace. By the end of 90 minutes, it was taking 20 to 30 seconds for Benfica players to take throw-ins. Lazar Markovic took the better part of two minutes late on to be helped off the field by the training staff, but he was obviously sprightly enough to get into a fight with Mirko Vucinic on the touchline less than three minutes after he was withdrawn. The only trick Benfica didn't pull was the shameful faked injury Brazilian defender Erika was guilty of in the 2011 Women's World Cup against the United States. By the time Clattenburg was done sorting out the touchline fracas between Vucinic and Markovic and the legitimate injury suffered by Ezequiel Garay, it's arguable that at least 10 minutes should have been added to the game. The initial number on the board was six—a number likely sent in before so much time was lost due to those incidents—but to stop at eight was still not going far enough. Simply put, his management of Benfica's blatant time-wasting and his subsequent management of stoppage time were, at best, subpar. Clattenburg's performance was not the reason Juve did not go through to the final, but it certainly did not help—especially when Arturo Vidal could easily have stepped up to the spot more than once. His future European appointments should be selected with care—and maybe shouldn't be at such advanced stages. In the end, heartbreaking as it was for Juve's fans, their team couldn't break Benfica down in either leg and paid for it. The team can now build for next year's European campaigns and hope to finally break through in the last phase of their post-Calciopoli rebuild—and fans will hope that they are much happier.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Juventus vs. Benfica: Lessons to Be Learned for Antonio Conte's Men May 2, 2014 The idea of playing in a European final in their own stadium had further motivated Juventus, determined to lift the trophy in familiar surroundings and deliver some long-overdue continental silverware. Not since their Champions League triumph in 1996 had they managed such a feat, despite finishing as runners-up three times in the intervening years. While they will lament their elimination at the hands of Benfica, the thought that 2013-14 has been anything other than a success for the Bianconeri is almost laughable. Roma need to take all three points against Catania on Sunday to prevent the Turin giants from winning the league title, and even if they do they will only be prolonging Juventus' inevitable league triumph. Victory over Atalanta on Monday will secure the Serie A crown, Juve lifting it for a third consecutive time, a feat they have only managed once in their history. That was way back in the 1930s, meaning Antonio Conte will have already achieved something neither Giovanni Trapattoni nor Marcello Lippi managed during their trophy-laden years with the club. With three matches remaining, Juventus are also just five points short of setting a new record on the peninsula, aiming to top the 97 won by Roberto Mancini’s Inter in 2006-07. The team has continued to evolve under the current coach, the players available to him now vastly improved from his first season in charge. Supporters and observers demand and expect La Madama to contest the latter stages of European football’s elite competition, but it must be remembered that this is only his third year in the job. Even more important is that it is only the second campaign of his career where he has needed to balance domestic and continental obligations. That Conte has followed last season’s Champions League quarter final exit with a European semi-final this time around shows he too is improving. Questions remain over his choice of formation, with the 3-5-2 decried as unsuited to facing the differing styles across Europe, yet it is hard to blame the shape of the team for Thursday night’s 0-0 draw. His post-match press conference was littered with complaints, but Conte did make one extremely salient point after the final whistle. “They have international experience and showed it tonight,” he told reporters (h/t Football Italia), a nod to the fact Benfica finished runners-up in this competition last season. Juventus will enter next season with similar insight into what is required of them at the highest level, and they will rightly be expected to contend much longer in the Champions League. This year’s group-stage exit was—no matter the circumstances—hugely disappointing, with this all-conquering side expected to exert similar dominance outside of Italy. To do so they may yet need one more big-name signing, with the idea of a pacey attacking player such as Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez perhaps at the forefront of that thinking. That would allow the coach to vary his tactics, finding gaps even against a team as resolute as Benfica were here in Turin. Paris Saint-Germain’s Jeremy Menez has also been linked with the club, according to Football Italia, while their co-ownership in Sassuolo starlet Domenico Berardi hints at the club management seeing the need for that same type of player. Delivering one (or even two) of those should be Beppe Marotta’s main priority this summer, with the squad clearly strong in almost every other area. They will also benefit from having their star forward enjoying a summer off, with Argentina continuing to ignore the claims of Carlos Tevez for a place in Brazil this summer. The No. 10 has been a revelation in his first season with the club, weighing in with 21 goals and eight assists in all competitions. Strike partner Fernando Llorente struggled in the early part of the season, taking until November to earn a regular place in the Juventus side. But he has flourished since, adding 15 goals of his own and forming and excellent tandem with Tevez, which bodes well for next season. Their Europa League exit may have been disappointing, but the experience, combined with having Tevez and Llorente together and another attacking option to come, should make 2014-15 year to remember for Juventus.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) ‘Juve must improve in Europe’ May 2, 2014 Former Juventus player Mark Iuliano believes the Old Lady must concentrate on performing better in Europe in the future. Antonio Conte’s side exited the Europa League at the semi-final stage last night, having failed to break down Portuguese champions Benfica. Despite feeling that the Bianconeri were hard done by in their 2-1 aggregate defeat, the 40-year-old now expects the club to have a clear plan moving forward. “If you consider both legs, home and away, Juventus did show they were stronger than Benfica,” Iuliano said to CalcioNews24. “But you need to applaud Benfica and say well done. They defended well and they managed to go through without even scoring. “The first leg result turned out to be very damaging. I am sorry both for my old team and for the Italian League’s UEFA ranking, which is going down. It is a shame. “They had a lot of chances to get into the final, but they also need to think about improving now. “I’m talking about on a European level. Domestically Juventus have dominated. “I think that the Juve board of directors and Coach have a clear idea of what to do. From next season the players will have more experience in Europe, which has come from this year. “In the transfer market they need to strengthen in terms of numbers. Maybe at this stage of the season some of the players are tired because they have been starting matches so often.”

Llorente: We deserved more May 2, 2014 Fernando Llorente believes that Juventus ‘deserved more’ after crashing out of the Europa League. The Bianconeri could only draw 0-0 with Benfica on Thursday evening, exiting the competition 2-1 on aggregate at the Last Four stage. But the Spanish striker has insisted that his men can’t feel sorry for themselves, ahead of a crucial League clash with Atalanta. “We gave everything in the Europa League this year,” he told Juve TV. “It's a pity we couldn’t make the final - we deserved more than we got. “But I would like to thank the fans, they were truly incredible last night. The atmosphere produced by the fans is fantastic, they always help us.” The former Athletic Bilbao man then commented on his own personal season, and Monday’s match with La Dea. “15 goals represent a decent haul for me, but you can always improve. I always aim to do better. “We need to pick ourselves up straightaway after yesterday’s defeat, we've got an extremely important game ahead of us on Monday. “Atalanta won't be an easy game. We need to try and put in a top performance and get back amongst the goals. “It's not easy in the League, many teams have caused us problems, but so far we've done really well.”

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Benfica defeat will help Juventus grow May 2, 2014 They may have suffered a defeat, but Juventus have every reason to be proud of its Europa League semifinal loss to Benfica. Proud of giving it absolutely everything they had, for showing great character and determination and most important for laughing in the face of every Italian Football cliche. Attacking and positive in every sense of the word, Juventus tried until the final moment to score their goal but failed against Benfica’s dogged defence. Congratulations to the Portuguese for reaching the Europa League final vs. Sevilla on May 14. Benfica, who have suffered disappointment by missing out on many trophies in the final minutes of last season, have learned their lesson. Their game plan well executed and their chances were well taken, but nothing has been more impressive than their defence. They tightened lines, pressed effectively and ran relentlessly to close down every offensive movement. Defence wins you trophies and Jorge Jesus is simply another coach proving the motto. It takes three things to win European trophies: defensive steel, efficiency and most important, luck. The defence has sadly let Juventus down in Europe, both in this competition and in the Champions League. We can easily blame that fateful and somewhat unjust night in Istanbul when they lost to Galatasaray or on the wasted chances against Copenhagen, but Juventus lost their place in the prestigious competition when they allowed Galatasaray to equalise in the 88th minute in Turin just one minute after the Italians thought they had won the important match thanks to a Fabio Quagliarella goal. In Portugal, they suffered the same problem. Working so hard to score the away goal, their good work was wasted when they allowed Lima the room to score a belter and grab the win that forced them into a pressure situation tonight. Benfica had only three shots on target in the two games and yet managed two goals. However, this is football and each match, whether lost or won gives a team the opportunity to learn. These experiences help to grow a team, to help them conceive new ideas and to improve the mentality of those not yet accustomed to this level, and that includes coach Antonio Conte. Attacking wise, they have much to learn. Pressure robs the Turin giants of clarity and forces them into imprecise and poorly constructed plays. They are still prone to forcing their forward movements, of pushing forward with no clear idea of what to do next. How many times have we seen that chip over the top or the hopeful cross into the box with no recipient earmarked. They attempt to run past too many defenders whilst they turn to their physical edge when frustration takes its toll. They lack the composure necessary for this level and that will come in time. They must learn to calm down, look up and use their minds to unlock a situation. The right decision is not always made and that must be addressed. Not making the most of their chances has long been Juve’s weakness and whilst one can blame the tactics on occasion, we have to also acknowledge the lack of varied skill within the side. Conte is right to demand certain players so that he has options. That includes players that allow for different tactics and a change in formation as well as players that can resolve certain situations. These include dribblers who possess pace, strikers that make intelligent runs and creative players who ease the pressure of Andrea Pirlo to offer alternatives. However you can never discount luck. Juventus were unlucky in Istanbul and again tonight, but luck is on Benfica’s side this year. The Portuguese had the experience, the desire and necessary dose of good fortune to reach their second consecutive Europa League final. It’s unfortunate for Juventus, but football is cyclical and luck can either desert you or stand right beside you in nervy moments. Lady luck abandoned Italy in the 2002 World Cup and as if remorseful, she sought out the Azzurri in 2006. She came through in that match against Australia and Marcello Lippi’s squad will never forget the joy of lifting that coveted trophy in Germany. She looked down upon Chelsea that fateful night in 2009, allowing Barcelona to steal the show but repaid the London boys when she awarded them an iron goal frame that saw so many thunderous Barca shots bounce off it in 2012. She guided them along to their first ever Champions League trophy. Juventus hardly suffered the same bad luck this season, but they deserved more and it’s only a matter of time before they will celebrate their next achievement. The final note belongs to Conte. There is absolutely no shame in exiting the competition as Juventus did tonight, against experienced and determined opponents. The blog has often criticised him for his perceived snobbery but tonight he played his best team, attempted every change he could to encourage more but lost. Tonight they were just not enough. To try and to lose shows courage and slowly it will come together as they learn from their mistakes. Tonight he made his fans proud -- proud to have a coach who is truly attempting to raise his boys into footballing heroes. We expect more because we always expect more, it’s part of Juve’s DNA. To be pleased with defeat is to surrender to mediocrity thus criticism is vital for their development and his ideas going forward. Under his guiding hand and bottle throwing tantrums, one has no doubt the Bianconeri will grow into a formidable team that will have their say in Europe and for that, Turin and Italy are grateful.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Initial reaction and random observations May 2, 2014 Talk about a missed opportunity. Juventus dominated the possession. Juventus dominated the scoring chances. Juventus got to play nearly two-thirds of the second half with a man advantage after Enzo Pérez was shown a second yellow card. Heck, they were even playing up two after Ezequiel Garay got a Paul Pogba boot right in the face. They just could get the one thing they needed the most. No goals, no extra home game in the Europa League final in two weeks. Juventus needed a goal, but after nearly 100 minutes on Thursday night, they never got it. They had plenty of chances to do so, they just couldn't finish a single shot to put the aggregate score on level terms and therefore have the chance to make it to the final in their very own stadium. A lot of chances. But not one found the back of the net. Were Juventus the better side over two legs? Yeah, I feel pretty safe in saying they were. It's not like Benfica were totally terrible, though. They're in the Europa League final for the second straight season. They're a team, much like Juventus, that shouldn't be in the Europa League to begin with. Benfica are good, really good. It's not like they don't deserve to be in the final, as much as Antonio Conte might disagree with that statement. But when it mattered most, Juventus didn't do the most important thing they needed to on Thursday night. They needed a goal and didn't get it. That's that. We can shout about tactics, we can shout about formations all we want. When push came to shove, though, Juventus were set up as they usually are, created more than enough scoring opportunities, and didn't make Benfica pay. I'm a simple kind of guy and that's my simple explanation. Random thoughts and observations • /grumble • There's a whole lot of Antonio Conte-related rage on the interwebs right now. It's not exactly that hard to find it. Just go ahead search for it. Is it deserved? Maybe some of it. He's the manager and Juve had aspirations of playing the Europa League final in their own stadium, so of course he is going to hear about it — good or bad. He's a very good manager, but not the perfect manager. He's still learning how to compete on the European stage just like a lot of other people are with his kind of experience level. Just remember this: This is Conte's second year as a manager in Europe. He's already conquered Italy (almost) three times over, but obviously doing things on the bigger, European stage aren't coming as quickly as domestically. • With that said, Conte blasting referee Mark Clattenberg and saying Benfica didn't deserve to go through right after the final whistle might not have been the right way to go about things when looking back on how things went. I can understand he's got emotions running high after such a crazy game, but that probably wasn't the best thing to do right out of the shoot. • We might not be here if Luisao didn't have a goal-line clearance in the second half. Like I said, the chances were there... • We might not be here if Stephan Lichtsteiner was able to control that Claudio Marchisio cross and put something on target. • Nineteen total shots, seven on goals. So many chances. So many chances. • I do hope this result serves as a realization that Juventus need something more to truly compete on the European stage. Signing somebody like Carlos Tévez was a really good first step, but Juve aren't the total package just yet. They were the trendy sleeper to do things in the Champions League, then became the overwhelming favorites to win the Europa League. But they need more. And as great as it is to be the top dog in Italy the past three years, Juve can't settle for just that. • On a positive note because all of this other stuff can be considered doom and gloom at this point: It was really nice to see Paul Pogba doing Paul Pogba things again. • Mirko Vucinic getting sent off without playing a second is quite...interesting. • So, do we still think Juventus didn't care about the Europa League? • One request: Just go out and throttle Atalanta on Monday night. I can't think of a better way to kick off a Scudetto party in front of the Juventus Stadium crowd.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Llorente fears Juventus hangover The striker is keen to ensure the Bianconeri don't allow their European troubles to affect them in Serie A on Monday. May 2, 2014 Fernando Llorente says Juventus can ill afford to dwell on their Europa League heartbreak as they close in on another Serie A title. The Turin giants were eliminated by Benfica following a 2-1 aggregate defeat at the semi-final stage, after a goalless second leg on Thursday, meaning they missed out on a home final against Sevilla. Juve must now turn their attention to Monday's Serie A clash at home to Atalanta, when they could already have the title wrapped up if second-placed Roma fail to beat Catania on Saturday. Even if Rudia Garcia's side do secure all three points at the bottom-of-the-table side, Antonio Conte's men can finish off the job by beating the Bergamo outfit, but Llorente will not be taking anything for granted. "We need to pick ourselves up straight away, we've got an extremely important game ahead of us on Monday," he told Juventus TV. "It's not an easy league, many teams have caused us problems, but so far we've done really well. "Atalanta won't be an easy game. We need to try and put in a top performance and get back amongst the goals." Llorente has scored four goals in his last four league appearances, but was unable to fire them into the Europa League final.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Juventus deserved to reach Europa League final, says Chiellini The Italy international believes the Serie A champions were unfortunate to crash out at the penultimate hurdle and has conceded the defeat is a huge blow. May 2, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini has voiced his disappointment with Juventus' failure to reach the Europa League final at the expense of Benfica and believes they were unfortunate not to progress. The Serie A champions were held to a scoreless draw in Thursday's second-leg at the Juventus Stadium after a 2-1 defeat in Lisbon last week, yet the defender feels Juventus did enough to make it through. "It’s disappointing because we deserved to reach the final out there," Chiellini told the official Juventus website. “It’s hard to take because the result doesn’t reflect our performance. We were missing a slice of luck in both legs. "I think we played two great games in this tie but we were punished by individual moments. "The final was one of our aims, so it’s a shame to miss out." Benfica meet Sevilla in the Europa League final at the Juventus Stadium on May 14.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Benfica better than Juventus - Jesus The 59-year-old shrugged off Antonio Conte's criticisms after Thursday's 0-0 draw in Turin, hailing his defenders' "masterclass" on the night. May 2, 2014 Jorge Jesus believes Benfica proved themselves to be better than Juventus as they reached the Europa League final on Thursday. The Portuguese champions held Juventus to a 0-0 draw in the second leg of their semi-final tie in Turin, adding to their 2-1 win last week to see them through to the final for the second campaign in a row. After losing to Chelsea in last season's decider, Benfica have another chance to claim silverware when they face Sevilla in the final at Juventus Stadium on May 14 and Jesus was adamant that his players deserved to progress more than the Bianconeri. "Benfica earned the final because we played better in both legs, better than Juve in Lisbon and Turin," Jesus told Sky Sport Italia. "Juve are a good team, but defensively Benfica played very well. "We had the advantage from the first leg and controlled all their movements in the second leg. We deserved to reach the final because we were better than Juve." Despite the absence of goals, there was still plenty of action in Italy as three players were sent off during the clash. Benfica's Argentine midfielder Enzo Perez was the first to go on 67 minutes after his second bookable offence, ruling him out of the final. Jesus will also be without Serbian striker Lazar Markovic, who was sent off during the closing stages following a touchline altercation with Juventus substitute Mirko Vucinic, who also received his marching orders despite not being on the pitch. "I thought it wasn't easy to make up for these situations with Juve attacking, but we knew that we had to stay calm and our players maintained their heads," Jesus added. "I think Benfica gave a masterclass on how to defend and it's not easy with nine men on the field against Pablo Osvaldo, Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente."

Pirlo to sign two-year Juve deal May 2, 2014 Andrea Pirlo will sign a two-year contract extension with Juventus, it has been reported on Friday. The veteran midfielder’s current deal with the Bianconeri ends this summer, but several outlets, including Sport Mediaset, insist that the Italy international will put pen-to-paper on an extension. It is suggested that the 34-year-old will continue with Antonio Conte’s men for a further two years, after negotiations between himself and the club were a success. Pirlo has been virtually ever-present for the Turin giants this term, playing in 41 matches and scoring six goals. With the former Milan man now confirmed, attention turns to Paul Pogba, who the club are desperate to keep despite heavy interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Pogba: United disrespected me May 2, 2014 Paul Pogba has accused Manchester United of making him train alone and showing him a lack of respect before his July 2012 exit. The Frenchman failed to agree a new contract at Old Trafford and after a handful of appearances, left the club on a Bosman to sign with Juventus. Whilst the English club accused the player at the time of lacking respect, the 21-year-old has had his say on the affair. “They didn’t want me to train with the first team or the reserves,” Pogba has revealed on BBC World Football Focus this week. “Once I trained with the Under-18 team, I’ve trained alone and I’ve been in the gym. I said ‘I am not an athlete, I am a footballer’. “They left me out because they said I wanted to leave. I think that is disrespect. Maybe they didn't think they were making a mistake. “Manchester United is a big club but you have to think about yourself. “You have to play. The Coach told me there would be space to play, but I wasn't playing.”

Marotta: No Pogba talks yet May 2, 2014 Beppe Marotta commented yesterday on there being ‘no issue’ with Paul Pogba’s contract and indeed no talks this week planned with his agent. The Frenchman’s representative Mino Raiola was a guest at Juventus Stadium last night for the Europa League semi-final second leg, prompting speculation that discussions were to be held this week over the 21-year-old’s future, with it seen split between a new contract in Turin and a move to one of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or Chelsea. However, for the club’s director general, Pogba is not up for discussion until at least the end of the season. “As we have always said Pogba is one of our players and a contractual issue does not exist. I do not think that there is any kind of problem,” Marotta told Mediaset before yesterday’s draw. “Is he bulletproof [sic] then? That is a strong word for him like it is for others but there are all the indications that he will continue on with us. “Raiola was at the stadium because these days there are so many representatives in football and he is one of the guests. We have a great relationship. “We will not speak of Pogba, there is no case with Pogba and at the end of the season we are going to review the contract. Pogba is important for his quality.”

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Chiellini: 'Benfica have character' May 1, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini confessed to Juventus regrets, but complimented Benfica on their defensive display. “There are regrets, as over two legs they had two shots on goal and went through. We created so much and didn’t qualify,” he told Sky Sport Italia. The first leg was 2-1 in Lisbon and the Eagles held on to it for a 0-0 in Turin this evening. “Benfica reach the Final, but to be honest I feel that we deserved it more. We could’ve made more of the last 10 minutes, but deserved to be ahead long before then. “You pay for incidents and we weren’t sharp enough going forward or defending. In the end, the result in Lisbon proved decisive. “They had great character to sit behind the ball for 90 minutes and block everything off, so we have to compliment Benfica on their performance. “However, with all due respect, we should be in the Final.”

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Bonucci: 'Benfica didn't play' May 1, 2014 Leonardo Bonucci had his birthday ruined and the Juventus defender said Benfica “didn’t come here to play.” The centre-back turned 27 today, but was left in tears at the final whistle after a 0-0 draw sent Benfica to the Europa League Final 2-1 on aggregate. “I had dreamed of a different birthday. Tonight it was confirmed that in this sport the best team doesn’t always win,” Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia. “Benfica thought only about the first leg result, they didn’t come here to play and only tried to obstruct us. “Of course now we have to turn over a new leaf, look forward with positivity and try to win our third consecutive Scudetto. We leave the Europa League with our heads held high.” Juve failed to find the net even against nine men, so could they have done more? “We didn’t create as many chances as usual, but there were three or four occasions where we were very close. Don’t forget Luisao performed a goalline clearance, as that was going in. “Benfica had seven men in defence and in the end details make the difference. We made too many mistakes in Lisbon, both in attack and defence, so if that had ended differently then we might’ve been celebrating tonight. “There is certainly disappointment, as we knew the Final was within our grasp. Over two legs we proved that we played better, but Benfica came here determined not to concede a goal, one way or another. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but once we absorb this we have to learn from the experience and look forward.” Juventus can celebrate the Scudetto on Monday evening with a win over Atalanta.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Jorge Jesus: 'Benfica were better' May 1, 2014 Jorge Jesus insists Benfica “reached the Europa League Final because we played better than Juventus in both legs.” The 2-1 first leg victory proved decisive, as it ended 0-0 in Turin and sent them through to face Sevilla on May 14. “Benfica earned the Final because we played better in both legs, better than Juve in Lisbon and Turin. Juve are a good team, but defensively Benfica played very well,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia. “We had the advantage from the first leg and controlled all their movements in the second leg. We deserved to reach the Final because we were better than Juve.” Benfica went down to 10 men at the 67th minute when Enzo Perez was sent off, then Nicolas Garay was stretchered away in stoppages. “I thought it wasn’t easy to make up for these situations with Juve attacking, but we knew that we had to stay calm and our players maintained their heads. I think Benfica gave a masterclass on how to defend and it’s not easy with nine men on the field against Osvaldo, Tevez and Llorente.” Antonio Conte claimed there was a clear penalty for a handling offence on Fernando Llorente’s header. “I don’t think it was a penalty. In Lisbon they complained about the referee there too.”

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Conte: 'Benfica don't deserve Final' May 1, 2014 Antonio Conte complained about the referee and Benfica time-wasting. “The team that least deserved it went through.” The Coach spoke to Sky Sport Italia after a 0-0 Europa League semi-final, which sent the Portuguese through thanks to their 2-1 first leg win. “What didn’t work was that we didn’t get that incident going our way. It’s a shame, as these games are right on the limit, Benfica obstructed us at every turn and the referee allowed them to do it. “He gave six minutes of stoppages when we were already three in without playing, so it took us for a ride,” said Conte of English referee Mark Clattenburg. “It’s a shame, as with two shots on target over two legs Benfica went through. Over the two games Juventus certainly deserved to go through. “I think Juventus gave all they had. It is an exciting, but also very exhausting season, because for the first time we’ve reached the final stages of European competition. “I don’t think we saw a team struggling to stay on its feet tonight. They ran from the first to the 95th minute. It was a strong performance, we didn’t get the lucky moment we needed to change the game, so in that sense Benfica were more fortunate. “It was a real pity, as in the first leg there was a red card and penalty for the elbow on Chiellini, while tonight there was an obvious penalty not given. The team that least deserved it went through. “You just have to look at the statistics. Benfica had two shots on target over two legs. That was it. They have international experience and showed it tonight, as down to 10 men they stopped us playing and I am truly disappointed the referee allowed them to get away with that.” The Europa League Final will be at the Juventus Stadium on May 14 between Sevilla and Benfica.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Siqueira: 'Benfica deserved it' May 1, 2014 Guilherme Siqueira insisted Benfica “more than deserved” to knock Juventus out of the Europa League semi-final. He spoke to Sky Sport Italia after the 0-0 draw in Turin and was asked about reports of a brawl in the tunnel. “When I arrived it was all over. It’s normal there is some tension in these games, but I didn’t see anything. The losing team have something to say, that’s to be expected. “Benfica know our strengths, we try to defend strong and then go on the counter with four or five players. What we did in Lisbon gave us the confidence to come here and play. “Juve are a spectacular side, but Benfica were warriors tonight and this qualification was more than deserved.” The Eagles will play Sevilla in the Final at the Juventus Stadium on May 14, hoping to make up for their defeat to Chelsea last season. “We don’t think about the past, as what happened last season helped the team to prepare for the future. We won the title in Portugal and now have three Finals.”

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Conte fumes at Benfica 'time wasting' Jorge Jesus' men battled to a 2-1 aggregate win with a goalless stalemate in Turin, but his counterpart is unhappy at the way his side crashed out of Europe. May 1, 2014 Juventus boss Antonio Conte fumed that Benfica's "time wasting" allowed them to reach the Europa League final at his side's expense on Thursday. The Bianconeri were held to a 0-0 draw in the semi-final second leg, meaning that Jorge Jesus' team progressed having won the opener 2-1 in Lisbon, despite seeing Enzo Perez sent off before Ezequiel Garay's late injury saw them go down to nine men having used up all three substitutions. Conte was upset with the officiating in the match and believes Juve - who will miss out on the chance to play in the Europa League showpiece at their own ground - were the more worthy finalists. "We reached for the dream, but we could not make it happen," he told Mediaset Premium. "Benfica were extremely obtrusive and the referee allowed it. This affected us. "There were only 40 minutes of actual play, and the average is around 60 minutes. There were continuous stops to the game and time wasting, especially in the second half. "Benfica showed all of their experience, they've been doing this in Europe for a long time and this evening they showed they were able to handle it. "We deserved much more but this is football. We must keep our heads up, my boys put in all of their effort. Now we will focus on Serie A, on Monday we can conquer our third consecutive Scudetto. "We gave everything, I did not like the obstructive attitude of the opponent and the referee who allowed it to happen." Benfica will face Sevilla, who defeated Valencia in dramatic fashion on away goals, in the final on May 14.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Player Ratings The Portuguese champions held out despite pressure from Antonio Conte's team as the visitors finished with ten men and both side had players on the bench sent off. May 1, 2014 Juventus Gianluigi Buffon - Had very little to do but was off his line quickly to deny Rodrigo in the second half. Kept a clean sheet but missed out on a first Europa League final. Martín Cáceres - Miscontrolled on far too many occasions and Benfica almost capitalised. Passing wasn't always accurate but he almost won it with a powerful late header that Oblak kept out. Leonardo Bonucci - Attempted to keep the hosts moving forward but his passes were largely aimless. Replaced in the second half as the hosts chased the game. Giorgio Chiellini - Got across to make a number of key challenges and was the pick of the Juventus players. Won headers at both ends of the pitch. Stephan Lichtsteiner - Spent more time arguing with the referee than on the ball and wasted the hosts' best chance as he totally fluffed his lines from Marchisio's cross to the back post. Paul Pogba - Showed off an array of his flicks and tricks as well as combining well on the left-hand side with Asamoah. Never really got a sight of goal to test Oblak. Andrea Pirlo - Couldn't stamp his authority on the game as he would have liked as he was tightly marked. Set-piece delivery was poor but the odd cross from open play did find its target and he tested Oblak from distance once or twice. Arturo Vidal - A constant threat in the Benfica box as he went close three times in the first half. Faded in the second period as his fitness issues caught up with him. Kwadwo Asamoah - Put in some good crosses from the left but was kept quiet by Markovic. Booked in the second half after an accumulation of previous fouls. Carlos Tévez - Got in some good positions but his shots on goal were either off target or straight at the goalkeeper. Still looked the most likely to break the deadlock. Fernando Llorente - Marked out of the game by Luisao he wasn't strong enough in the air and failed to hold the ball up enough to bring others into the game. Substitutions Claudio Marchisio - Brought on for Vidal and put a couple of good crosses into the box. Mirko Vučinić - Didn't make it onto the pitch but was still sent off for an altercation on the touchline with Markovic. Sebastian Giovinco - Buzzed about after replacing Bonucci but his only effort on goal flew into the stands behind. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo - Thought he had won it when he volleyed in after Pogba's knockdown but saw his celebrations cut short by an offside flag. Benfica Jan Oblak - Made some fine saves as he kept his 19th clean sheet in just 23 Benfica appearances. A superb stop from Caceres in injury time saw his side through to the final. Maxi Pereira - His long throws caused problems early on but he was soon forced into defensive duty for much of the night. Allowed Asamoah too much space at times but made a crucial challenge on Pogba in the first half. Luisao - A rock at the back as he won his battle with Llorente with relative ease and made a number of crucial interventions. Got back well to nod Vidal's first-half header over the bar with Oblak beaten. Ezequiel Garay - Formed a solid partnership with Luisao and made a number of superb clearances under pressure. A miraculous overhead kick denied Tevez before he was stretchered off in injury time with a nasty cut to his face. Guilherme Siqueira - Contained Lichtsteiner well and only really came under pressure when Vidal or Pirlo popped up on the right. Carried the ball out of defence well in the second period. Ruben Amorim - Protected the visiting defence well with a number of tackles in and around the box. Tasked with marking Vidal, he kept the Chilean quiet in terms of creating chances for others. Enzo Nicolás Pérez - Strong in the tackle but got himself needlessly sent off midway through the second half after two silly challenges from behind in quick succession. Lazar Marković - Worked tirelessly on the left-hand side as he got back to keep Asamoah quiet as well as carrying the ball forward when he got the chance. Will miss the final after spoiling a good night by getting involved with Vucinic on the touchline. Rodrigo - Wasted a good chance early on before firing over the top when well-positioned just after the break. Replaced after Perez's sending off. Osvaldo Nicolás Fabián Gaitán - Not as involved as Jesus would have liked but showed flashes of what he is about. Eventually replaced late on as Benfica looked to close the game out. Lima - Left to plough a lone furrow up front and was feeding on scraps for much of the 90 minutes. In the end his first-leg goal settled the tie. Substitutions Toto Salvio - Brought on to sure up midfield but his only impact of note saw him harshly booked for handball and he will now miss the final through suspension. André Almeida - Made a number of key challenges after he replaced Rodrigo following Perez's red card. Miralem Sulejmani - Replaced Gaitan for the final five minutes.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Juventus vs. Benfica: 5 Things We Learned May 1, 2014 Benfica wrapped up their domestic title almost two weeks ago and are now back in the Europa League final. They came out and defended. They had to know that a 0-0 draw was enough, and it was. Benfica and Juventus finished the second leg of this Europa League semi-final scoreless, and Benfica advanced 2-1 on aggregate. It was desperate football, but it was smart, too. Benfica never looked like they were scrambling. When Benfica lost players, they only looked stronger. The final was supposed to be a celebration for Juventus. It is in Torino under two weeks from now, but Juventus will not be playing at home. Here are a few things to consider from a wild night. No Goals from the Juventus Strikers For a moment, the whole stadium went mad. Dani Osvaldo scored in the 80th minute, but it was offside. That was the closet Juventus would come to the one and only goal that would have won them the game and the tie. Only twice in this Europa League campaign has a striker scored for Juventus. Carlos Tevez has scored just once in 12 games in European competition all season, Fernando Llorente just twice. For all their goalscoring exploits in Serie A—they have 34 goals combined in the Italian league, tied for the most of any partnership—it is Tevez and Llorente who ultimately failed the Bianconeri in Europe. They just weren’t there when Juventus needed them. Vidal Makes His Return Arturo Vidal started his first match in three weeks and stormed the pitch early. He is a midfielder who enjoys a good run forward, and against Benfica he kept on attacking. It is clear that Juventus missed his presence in the intervening days. They play with much more balance with him; he is their equilibrium. It is all the running he does, all the ground he covers, that is irreplaceable. Vidal was forced to rest his injured knee and saw only limited playing time in the match against Sassuolo on Monday. But he could not last the 90 minutes and slowly faded away from the game. Juventus Fail to Take Chances They kept on building to a crescendo, but it never came. They created a lot of danger—Vidal’s header at the end of the first half was only saved off the line by the defender Luisao—and they kept surging forward. They managed 54 dangerous attacks, according to UEFA.com, but only two were of high quality. Juventus tried to break down Benfica, who were playing well behind the ball. However, the Bianconeri were mostly limited to speculative shots from outside the box. Juventus have struggled to score routinely in these last few months of the season, usually a maximum of a goal or two per game. Despite all their chances—they attempted 19 shots to Benfica’s four, according to WhoScored.com—Juventus lacked that killer edge. Benfica Potentially Lose Three Players There was nothing left to give. Benfica finished the match with nine men, and they may lose up to three players for the final. Enzo Perez was sent off early in the second half, while Lazar Markovic was red-carded after being subbed off. Eduardo Salvio handled the ball late and gave up a free-kick, earning himself one yellow card too many. He too will miss the final. Then at the end it was Ezequiel Garay who was carried off the field. He took a nasty hit to the face from Paul Pogba, who landed on the 27-year-old defender with his studs. Young Slovenian Calm in Net for Benfica Jan Oblak had played just twice before in the Europa League, but he replaced Artur Moraes in goal at Juventus Stadium and did a fine job. Threats were coming every way. Andrea Pirlo even took a fair few shots from afar. But the 21-year-old goalkeeper was sharp and steady. When the shots came at him, he gobbled up the ball. No fuss. He simply did not give out a bad rebound. He parried away a stinging free-kick from Pirlo and was cool even after Benfica went down to 10 men. Oblak now has 19 clean sheets in 23 games this season.

JUVENTUS 0 - 0 BENFICA (Agg 1-2) May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Benfica hold Juventus to 0-0 draw to secure aggregate win and final place Ten-man Benfica held Juventus to a goalless draw on Thursday evening to progress to the Europa League final for a second consecutive year. May 1, 2014 The Portuguese champions carried a 2-1 lead into the game in Turin and held on with Juve's best chance coming late in the first half. Benfica defender Luisao made a goal-line clearance from Arturo Vidal's header with the visiting goalkeeper Jan Oblak already beaten. The Portuguese champions had midfielder Enzo Perez sent off for a double booking with 23 minutes remaining but defended deeply to hold on. Benfica will meet Sevilla in the final on May 14 at the Juventus stadium, the venue of tonight's game. Juve coach Antonio Conte fielded Carlos Tevez, who ended his five-year European goal drought against Benfica last week, alongside Fernando Llorente in attack. The hosts made a purposeful start as they looked to overturn their first-leg deficit and Andrea Pirlo's shot forced an early save from Oblak. The Serie A leaders continued to press forward and in the 20th minute, Vidal's right-footed volley went just over the crossbar. At the other end, Benfica's Maxi Pereira drilled a right-footed shot from 30 yards that went off target. Juve twice had the chance to go in front before the interval but Leonardo Bonucci's header went just wide while soon after, Vidal's goal-bound attempt was cleared by Luisao. The visitors created a good chance early in the second half when the ball fell to Rodrigo in the heart of the area and his right-footed shot went over the bar. On the hour mark, Pirlo warmed the hands of Oblak with a powerful free-kick which the keeper saved. Juve, who had not reached the final of the competition since 1995, brought in Daniel Osvaldo and Claudio Marchisio with 12 minutes remaining. Osvaldo then had a goal disallowed for offside shortly after. With their European dreams fading, Juve piled forward in the closing stages. Oblak made a great save from Martin Caceres' header as Benfica denied Juve the chance to reach the final that will be played at their own ground.