Socrates

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) HT 0-0: Juve knock on Benfica door May 1, 2014 Arturo Vidal was denied by a goalline clearance, as Juventus had the better of the first half, but it’s still 0-0 with Benfica. In the other semi-final, Valencia are leading Sevilla 2-0, so it's 2-2 on aggregate. The Bianconeri had to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit if they were to play the Europa League Final on home turf. Arturo Vidal started despite a knee problem, but Martin Caceres came in for Andrea Barzagli. The Eagles missed Silvio and Lujbomir Fejsa with Eduardo Salvio only fit for the bench and Andre Gomes suspended. Ex-Roma goalkeeper Artur was dropped in favour of Jan Oblak. Diego Armando Maradona was in the stands as a personal guest of Carlos Tevez, even though his representative claimed he would be supporting Benfica. Benfica scored at the third minute in Lisbon and almost netted even earlier in Turin, as a long throw-in was flicked on for Rodrigo, whose shot was charged down from point-blank range by Stephan Lichtsteiner. Leonardo Bonucci, on his 27th birthday, stood his ground for a great block on Rodrigo and Maxi Pereira did the same to stop Paul Pogba pulling the trigger moments later. Fernando Llorente knocked down a Kwadwo Asamoah cross for Andrea Pirlo’s screamer, which was fingertipped over the bar. Vidal volleyed a Pirlo assist on to the roof of the net in an audacious finish. An even more spectacular Tevez volley was just over from 12 yards, while Lichtsteiner drilled straight at Oblak when he should’ve passed on a counter. Llorente didn’t get enough power on a shot from just inside the box, seeing it charged down, and as the move continued Vidal’s cushioned header skimmed the back post and Vidal. Ruben Amorim performed a decisive tackle on Vidal and Pirlo blasted wide from distance. Pirlo curled in a free kick from just in front of the corner flag, but Bonucci’s glancing header skimmed the back post with Tevez sliding in. A Tevez slide-rule pass sent Lichtsteiner through, but Oblak was smart to anticipate and smother at his feet. In first half stoppages Juve thought they had scored, as Asamoah crossed for a Vidal diving header into the ground, but Luisao performed a decisive goalline clearance, turning it out from under the bar. Juventus 0-0 Benfica (Half-Time, 1-2 agg) Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Llorente Benfica: Oblak; Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Siqueira; Ruben Amorim, Perez; L Markovic, Rodrigo, Gaitan; Lima Ref: Clattenburg (ENG)

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Marotta: 'Juve-Benfica is a Final' May 1, 2014 Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta maintains the semi-final with Benfica is an early Europa League Final. “I believe these two clubs are the favourites for the trophy, so it’s a shame the draw put us together in the semi-final,” he told Sky Sport Italia. The other semi-final is an all-Spanish affair between Valencia and Sevilla. “We haven’t got long to go in order to secure a third consecutive Scudetto, but are also becoming competitive in Europe again. “We are here playing a semi-final for a trophy that might not be as important as the Champions League, but becomes more important when we consider the Final will be in our stadium.” Atletico Madrid will play the Champions League Final against Real Madrid, so does this give hope to clubs who cannot spend €100m on a single player? “I think the presence of Atletico is an exception. Every year we see in the semi-finals that at least three of them have huge revenue,” continued Marotta. “If we take the last five years as an example, the same clubs tend to reach the final four. That means clubs with more money can certainly buy better players, but football is a sport and the richest side doesn’t always win.” Marotta was asked whether he felt Carlos Tevez or Gonzalo Higuain deserved to be at the World Cup this summer. “They are two excellent players who could easily represent Argentina at the World Cup, but Sabella has a tough job as there are many great forwards at his disposal. “In terms of experience, character and history Tevez would deserve to be in the squad, but there appear to be some non-footballing issues that are keeping him out. He is certainly very bitter about this.”

Luisao salva il Benfica

Llorente un pó deludente e fuori dal gioco.

Grande occasione per la Juve.

Pirlo tira fuori.

Che sguardo intelligente un tifoso portoghese.

Oblak terrorizzato dal colpo di testa di Vidal vicinissimo al palo.

Tecnicamente sono bravissimi i portoghesi comunque.

Grande Vidal.

No Pogba

Fortissimo Asamoah sia in attacco che in difesa.

Non dovevi tirare Forrest Gump!

Llorente un pó fuori dal gioco.

Gaitan fa il furbo.

Grande girata di Carlos.

Era da ammonizione.

Vidal ha tentato il goal del secolo.

Ruben Amorimmazzato.

Lichtsteiner crossa sul portiere.

Diego applaude Carlos.

Siamo aggressivi, il Benfica sta abbassando la cresta.

3 della Juve su Rodrigo!

Vidal spara alto.

Gran tiro di Pirlo, Oblak para in angolo.