Socrates

Loro non hanno Artur ma noi abbiamo Arturo stasera.

Si alza un vento puzzolente dalle chiappe portoghesi.

... dice Jorge Jesus.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Line-ups: Juventus-Benfica May 1, 2014 Juventus rely on Fernando Llorente, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal to win tonight’s Europa League semi-final with Benfica. It kicks off in Turin at 21.05 CET, as the Bianconeri need to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit if they are to play the Final in their home stadium. Tevez scored in Lisbon, his first European goal since 2009 when he was still at Manchester United, and he starts again tonight with Llorente. Mirko Vucinic was used in the first leg, but has been returned to the bench in favour of the Spanish striker. Arturo Vidal struggled with a knee injury recently, but he is in the starting XI alongside Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba. Leonardo Bonucci was rested for Monday’s 3-1 win at Sassuolo, but starts today on his 27th birthday, while Martin Caceres steps in for Andrea Barzagli. Benfica still have a series of injury problems to contend with, as Silvio and Lujbomir Fejsa are ruled out with Eduardo Salvio back on the bench. Andre Gomes is a big loss, as he sits out a ban for a card he picked up in the first leg, but goalkeeper Artur is surprisingly benched. Perez starts after Juve lodged a complaint with UEFA claiming he elbowed Giorgio Chiellini in the first leg. Juve can look to history for reassurance, as the last time these clubs met in Europe was the UEFA Cup quarter-final in 1993. Benfica won 2-1 at home, but lost 3-0 in the second leg and the Bianconeri went on to lift the trophy that season. Juventus have a 100 per cent home record in Serie A this term and are unbeaten in 27 official games at this stadium, including 23 victories. The Eagles also have previous, as they won the first leg of their Europa League semi-final 2-1 in 2010-11, but went out after losing 1-0 at SC Braga. Benfica were the beaten Finalists a year ago, losing to Rafa Benitez’s Chelsea. JUVENTUS: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Llorente Juventus bench: Storari, Barzagli, Marchisio, Padoin, Vucinic, Giovinco, Osvaldo BENFICA: Oblak; Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Siqueira; Ruben Amorim, Perez; L Markovic, Rodrigo, Gaitan; Lima Benfica bench: Artur, Jardel, Andre Almeida, Sulejmani, Ivan Cavaleiro, Oscar Cardozo, Salvio

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Benfica pay Superga respects May 1, 2014 A Benfica delegation have today paid tribute to those who lost their lives at the Superga air disaster. The 65th anniversary of the tragedy is three days away, with all 31 people aboard the flight killed as the Torino team returned home from a match against the Portuguese side in 1949. With Benfica in Turin for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with Juventus, the club’s Vice-president Alcino Antonio and a group of other officials visited the memorial to the tragedy on Superga Hill. Toro directors Antonio Comi and Alberto Barile were also present as a greeting and exchange of gifts took place between the two delegations. “Grande Torino will continue to live with us,” Antonio said during a short speech.

Buffon Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal, Asamoah Tevez, Llorente

Kohler - Peruzzi - Dino Baggio - Julio Cesar - Möller - Conte - Marocchi - Roberto Baggio - Carrera - Vialli - Torricelli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFeW5-4UZCQ

JUVENTUS - BENFICA U.E.F.A. EUROPA LEAGUE (Ritorno - Semifinale) 1 maggio 2014 - ore 21:05 Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro: Mark Clattenburg (Inghilterra) Confronti ufficiali 5 - 3 (Europa League) Vittorie Juventus 1 - 1 (Europa League) Pareggi 0 Vittorie Benfica 4 - 2 (Europa League) Goals Juventus 5 - 5 (Europa League) Goals Benfica 7 - 4 (Europa League) Juventus - Benfica a Torino - Coppa UEFA Confronti ufficiali 1 Vittorie Juventus 1 (Il 17.03.1993, 3-0) Pareggi 0 Vittorie Benfica 0 Goals Juventus 3 Goals Benfica 0 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Benfica 2 presenze Anzolin Roberto 2 Baggio Dino 2 Baggio Roberto 2 Bercellino I Giancarlo 2 Carrera Massimo 2 Conte Antonio 2 Del Sol Luis Cascajares 2 Galia Roberto 2 Julio Cesar Da Silva 2 Kohler Jurgen 1 goal Baggio Dino 1 Kohler Jurgen 1 Ravanelli Fabrizio 1 Tevez Carlos Alberto 1 Vialli Gianluca Ultimi confronti diretti 09.05.1968 - Coppa dei Campioni - Benfica-Juventus 2-0 15.05.1968 - Coppa dei Campioni - Juventus-Benfica 0-1 04.03.1993 - Coppa UEFA - Benfica-Juventus 2-1 17.03.1993 - Coppa UEFA - Juventus-Benfica 3-0 24.04.2014 - Europa League - Benfica-Juventus 2-1 Giocate 5 - Vittorie Juventus 1 - Pareggi 0 - Vittorie Benfica 4 - Goals Juventus 5 - Goals Benfica 7

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Maradona at Juve and Napoli games May 1, 2014 Diego Armando Maradona will be at Juventus-Benfica tonight and the Coppa Italia Final Napoli-Fiorentina on Saturday. It’s reported that Juve striker Carlos Tevez personally invited Maradona to the Europa League semi-final this evening, where the Bianconeri must overturn a 2-1 deficit. Maradona was at Stamford Bridge last night for the Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid. His lawyer also confirmed El Pibe de Oro is eager to be at the Coppa Italia Final on Saturday at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome between Napoli and Fiorentina.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Juve fans promise 'cauldron' May 1, 2014 Juventus ultras group the Drughi announced they will “transform the stadium into a cauldron” against Benfica. Antonio Conte called for the supporters to replicate or even surpass the passion of the crowd in Lisbon during the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. The second leg is tonight in Turin, kicking off at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT), and the Bianconeri must overturn a 2-1 defeat. “We climbed the walls of Hell with our support and our passion to get back to being the Juve feared and hated by all,” read a statement from the Drughi. “Tonight the eyes of all Italy and Europe will be aimed on us, a challenge awaits us and we must be called to action! “Tonight we will go home without voices, as we have the duty to be the extra man on the field, and we will be! “We will transform the stadium into a cauldron! All the way... Forza ragazzi, we believe!!!” If Juve do get through, they’ll be able to play the Europa League Final on home turf, at the Juventus Stadium in Turin.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Cabrini: Benfica slight favourites May 1, 2014 Ex-Juventus player Antonio Cabrini believes the Old Lady are slight underdogs to progress to the Europa League final. Antonio Conte’s side face Benfica tonight looking to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit and secure a place in the final of the competition, which will be played at their own Juventus Stadium. “It’s not an easy match for Juventus,” Cabrini told Tuttojuve.com. “It’s clear that the 2-1 result in the first leg gives Benfica a 60 per cent chance to get through. “Juventus, because of their away goal, have a 40 per cent chance. “Next season? Knowing the club as I do, I think that next season they will aim very much towards doing well on an international level.”

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Conte will guide Juventus to Europa League final, says Tacchinardi The former Bianconeri midfielder is expecting a tough battle but expects the Serie A champions to prevail and contest the showpiece on home soil. May 1, 2014 Alessio Tacchinardi is confident that Antonio Conte will guide Juventus past Benfica in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday night. The Serie A champions were beaten 2-1 in Lisbon last week, but Tacchinardi - who wore the Juve jersey between 1994 and 2007 - has little doubt that they will turn things around and reach the final in Turin. "Juventus will reach the final, although it will be a tough battle. They might suffer, but I have no doubt that they will reach the final at their own stadium," Tacchinardi told Goal. "It will be a complicated game, but Juventus are the favourites for me. Home advantage will play a big role. I am confident that Juve can turn things around. "Conte has already proven to be a great coach and can also bring the team's winning mentality to Europe. "He deserves to reach the final for his commitment, his philosophy and his man-management." The Europa League final takes place at the Juventus Stadium on May 14.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Dino Baggio confident of Juve progress May 1, 2014 Ex-Juventus midfielder Dino Baggio is confident the Old Lady will overcome Benfica to reach the Europa League final. The second leg of the semi-final tie between the sides takes place tonight at Juventus Stadium, with the Italian champions trailing 2-1 from the first leg last week. However, the former player believes the Bianconeri have what it takes to overturn the deficit and also praised the job done by Juve Coach Antonio Conte. “It is definitely a situation where you should not underestimate the result of the first leg,” Baggio told Tuttojuve.com. “To reach the final a 1-0 win would be enough but it would be better to score more goals. “For me Juventus have everything they need to end up on top, even though it will be tough against Benfica. “They are very incisive on the counter-attack so Juve will have to be very watchful of that. “Juve’s form at the moment is fine. It’s normal that at the end of the season you are a little tired but mentally they are ready. “The League is pretty much over after they beat Sassuolo and now they can think of winning this trophy. “It’s hard to think that Juventus will allow the chance to play in a home final slip away from them. “In these three years Conte has done very well. I think that he and the club will discuss a renewal at the end of the season if they haven’t already. “I think Antonio is happy at Juventus, he has the chance to build a great team there.”

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Juventus-Benfica Betting Preview: Back the guests to spoil the party in Turin Antonio Conte's men can set up a dream final in front of their own fans with a victory tonight, but Al Hain-Cole is backing the rampant Portuguese champions to tear up the script. May 1, 2014 Juventus will need to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit if they are to set up a dream Europa League final on home turf when they welcome Benfica to Turin on Thursday. A late goal in Portugal leaves La Vecchia Signora playing catch-up this evening, with William Hill offering odds of 6/10 (1.60) on them coming out on top in the match odds market. However, Jorge Jesus’s side are chasing an historic quadruple having already lifted the Portuguese league title and reached both domestic cup competitions, with 4/1 (5.00) odds available on them securing a second consecutive Europa League final appearance with a victory tonight. March’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham is the only time Os Aguias have failed to win in this competition since last season’s final defeat against Chelsea, and you can get odds of 11/4 (3.75) on them claiming a priceless draw in this one. Carlos Tevez’s equaliser in Lisbon was celebrated like a winning goal by his team-mates, only for Lima’s late strike to take the wind out of their sails and leave them with a tough task on their hands this evening. While the away goal means Antonio Conte’s team require only a 1-0 win to set up their eagerly anticipated home final, the visitors demonstrated just this weekend that they are certainly no pushovers. A red card after just half an hour during Sunday’s cup game against Porto left Jesus’s team a man light in the back yard of one of their fiercest rivals, yet they still managed to hold out for a 0-0 draw before triumphing on penalties. That performance could represent the perfect dress rehearsal for tonight’s clash, where they will attempt to silence a home crowd likely to feel the tension should things fail to go their team’s way. Having conceded just nine goals in their last 20 games in all competitions, Benfica are more than capable of making life difficult for their hosts this evening, and should also be confident of finding an away goal of their own after failing to score just twice in their last 32 fixtures. With all the pressure on Juventus as they look to reach their dream final, it is worth backing the visitors to spoil the party and secure a second successive final appearance, particularly at generous quotes of even money (2.00) with William Hill.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Vidal to start against Benfica? May 1, 2014 Arturo Vidal is in line to make his return to the Juventus starting line-up against Benfica, whilst Martin Caceres will again come in for Andrea Barzagli. Chilean midfielder Vidal has been restricted to brief appearances from the bench in recent weeks as he has been dealing with a minor knee injury causing discomfort. On from appearing as a substitute in each of Juve’s last three League games, speculation from the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport is that Vidal could be in line for a start in this evening’s Europa League semi-final second leg. If the 26-year-old does make it, Claudio Marchisio looks set to drop out. Andrea Barzagli has been included in the matchday squad also, but speculation is that he will drop out in favour of Martin Caceres returning to the first XI, whilst Stephan Lichtsteiner is seen by Tuttosport as in line to replace Mauricio Isla too. Probable Juventus XI to face Benfica: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal, Asamoah; Tevez, Llorente

Marotta: Hands down on Conte May 1, 2014 Beppe Marotta has called for an end to the dispute between Juventus and Roma over comments exchanged between Coaches. Rudi Garcia’s call last week for opponents to up their game against the Bianconeri drew Antonio Conte’s ire and criticism that in turn saw the Giallorossi’s director general Mauro Baldissoni get involved. Now though, the Old Lady’s dg has stepped in and has looked to put an end to the war of words. “That’s enough, hands down on Conte, and no lessons from others, thanks,” Marotta has commented to the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport this week. “I can assure you that when Roma win, we will be the first to applaud.”

Pogba agent to meet Juve May 1, 2014 Paul Pogba’s future at Juventus beyond this season is seen as set to be resolved, with his agent reported as in Turin this week. Reports this season have increasingly focused on the young Frenchman’s future, with Juventus seen as willing to hand the midfielder an improved contract, against apparent interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Chelsea. Whilst his agent Mino Raiola commented recently that a decision on the 21-year-old’s future would not be made until after the World Cup, the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport are running the line that the agent will be in Turin this week for such talks. A guest at tonight’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Benfica, Raiola is seen as set for talks with Beppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici, over the club’s apparent readiness to extend his current deal by a year and treble his net salary to €4.5m.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Benfica’s salvation: How Jesus has put the Eagles back on their perch in 2014 Last year was a disastrous one for the club, but ahead of their Europa League semi-final second leg with Juventus, the current campaign could yet be their greatest ever. May 1, 2014 COMMENT By Joe Wright From the brink of history to the depths of despair. Top of the Primeira Liga, with cup finals against Vitoria Guimaraes and Chelsea to look forward to, Benfica collapsed under expectation in 2013. Defeat to Porto cost them the league, Branislav Ivanovic ended their Europa League dream, and two goals in two minutes saw them throw away a lead in the Taca de Portugal final. But even in the darkness of last May, there was light at the end of the tunnel. “I cannot explain how we lost because everything we needed to do, we did,” said goalkeeper Artur after their 2-1 defeat in Amsterdam. “This is a group with a lot of merit. We made this stage of the competition deservedly and we showed the world what Benfica are about. We showed that Benfica are now ready to start winning.” Twelve months on, they are. And in style. Their 33rd league title is sown up, and vengeance over Porto has been delivered in icy-cool fashion following victories in the semi-finals of both domestic cups. As they prepare to take a 2-1 first-leg lead to Turin in Thursday’s last-four second leg with Juventus, history is once more theirs for the taking. It’s a remarkable transformation by coach Jorge Jesus. Last summer, his future was subject to intense speculation after Benfica’s collapse, but the Estadio da Luz hierarchy looked beyond the tears of Oscar Cardozo and Co. in Amsterdam and foresaw the chance of redemption. Ignoring grumblings of discontent in Lisbon, president Luis Felipe Vieira backed Jesus’ vision for the season to come and handed him a two-year contract extension. Not many club owners would be so bold; even fewer coaches would be allowed such a second chance. It was a gamble worth taking. Jesus plundered the transfer market, bringing in a total of 15 players at a cost of just less than €33 – a hugely impressive feat in itself – while, crucially, the core of the side was held together, with veteran Pablo Aimar the only high-profile departure. The average age of the incoming players was less than 22; they were hungry to impress and with huge scope for development. Perfect for a side with a point to prove. Six of the new signings were Serbian, and two have emerged as leading lights this term: Miralem Sulejmani, who arrived on a free from Ajax, and Lazar Markovic, a €10m steal from Partizan. Scouted by Chelsea and several other top clubs, Markovic was persuaded by compatriot Nemanja Matic to move to Lisbon, and his attacking understanding alongside Sulejmani, Nicolas Gaitan, Toto Salvo and Rodrigo has been too much for almost every side this season. Seven goals, no assists and a key pass every other 90 minutes may seem average stats at best in more than 25 appearances, but Markovic’s direct style has been a vital part of the lightning-fast transitional play which has seen Benfica beat Tottenham, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Porto (three times) this term. Behind an already-fearsome attack, Jesus side are now far more controlled. Matic’s January move to Chelsea was a blow, but Ruben Amorim, Ljubomir Fesa and young Andre Gomes have all deputised impressively in the axis of midfield. The imposing central defensive partnership of Ezequiel Garay and Luisao has never looked stronger, while the loan signing of left-back Guilherme Siquiera from Granada has proven a masterstroke after Lorenzo Melgarejo’s departure. In a stronger unit, the dependency on individuals has diminished. Cardozo – top scorer with 33 goals last season – may only have managed 11 strikes to date this term, but among 16 different goalscorers across all competitions his reduced rate has barely been noticed. Lima - whose winner against Juventus was his 21st of the season - has taken up Cardozo’s mantle with aplomb, while Rodrigo (17 goals) has been a willing accomplice. Mentally, they are a different animal. Gone is the pervading sense of entitlement to success which preceded last year’s collapse, replaced by a simple conviction that complacency is not an option. Since the opening day defeat to Maritimo, Benfica have not lost a league game, and have been top since beating Porto 2-0 in January. When they switched off with the tie almost over against Spurs to fall 2-1 down at home, they had to respond. They did. "We knew what awaited us was a hard game but we showed that we were prepared for any eventuality,” said Garay after a late Lima penalty maintained their remarkable unbeaten home run, now standing at 17 months. "I was never worried when we were losing 2-1, because even if they made it 3-1 it would only have gone to extra-time," added Jesus. Belief? You bet. Benfica still have a huge task ahead of them if they are to overcome favourites Juventus to reach the Europa League final and at last bring an end to Bela Guttman’s curse by winning their first European title in 50 years. Crucially, they're not yet looking too far ahead. “We will go to Turin as a united team to try to go through with humility. We have the quality and the ability to achieve that,” says Lima. The incredible celebrations in Lisbon after their league title triumph, the fortitude required to beat Porto on penalties last week, have been embraced, treasured, and now left behind. It’s all about the next step. “All that was missing was a small detail here or there," rued Artur after last May. "I am sure our luck will soon change and something good will happen to us.” The doubts have been banished, humility and unwavering belief embraced, and the Eagles have soared back onto their perch in sensational style. On to Turin they go. The march down the road to redemption continues.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Juventus vs. Benfica Preview May 1, 2014 Benfica will defend a 2-1 lead when they travel to Turin to take on Juventus on Thursday in the second leg of the Europa League semi-finals, in what could be the team's most important match of the 2013-14 campaign. The visitors have already locked up the Portuguese title and will be playing Rio Ave in the domestic cup final later this month, and a good result at the Juventus Stadium could set the team up for a historic treble. But Juventus are very close to the Serie A title themselves and would want nothing more than to qualify for the Europa League final, which will be played at their very own Juventus Stadium, setting the stage for an epic night of football on Thursday. Preview Benfica showed the world last year's final berth in the competition was no fluke when they came out and dominated Juventus for the opening 20 minutes of last week's fixture, scoring a vital early goal and hardly allowing the visitors to establish any sort of rhythm. Learning from Lyon's tactics in the quarter-final, the Portuguese champions jammed Andrea Pirlo early and forced the ball into the feet of Leonardo Bonucci, who buckled under the pressure and couldn't find any of the attacking targets with his long passing. Fans were quick to point the finger at the Italian international as he was caught out of position for both goals, and Bonucci didn't shy away from taking responsibility for his sloppy play following the match on his Facebook page (via Football-Italia.net): "Nothing is decided yet!! I am the first person to be angry with myself... We have to look forward with positivity." Benfica deserve all the credit in the world for the way they handled Juventus in the opening stages of the first leg, but it was no coincidence the Bianconeri looked most vulnerable in the centre of the defence and in support of Pirlo, with Andrea Barzagli and Arturo Vidal not fit for the match. While Barzagli is an important feature in the back line, Vidal's inclusion could prove to be the difference in this tie. His relentless approach toward the ball and constant movement make him the perfect guard dog for Pirlo, and his attacking contributions have been vital for the squad this year, as evidenced by his 18 total goals, per WhoScored.com. As shared by Jan Hagen, Benfica fielded a number of second-string players against Porto during the weekend: Jan Hagen @PortuBall Not playing Benfica XI vs Porto tonight: Artur - Maxi, Garay, Luisão, Silvío - Fejsa, Enzo Pérez - Markovic, Gaitán, Salvio - Rodrigo 7:02 PM - 27 Apr 2014 Fredrikstad, Norge The visitors have some injury concerns coming into this match, but the list of injured players is relatively unchanged from last week, when the team seemed just fine. Andre Gomes picked up his third yellow card in Lisbon and will be the only notable omission from last week's group of players. Miralem Sulejmani and Lazar Markovic were able to inflict real damage on the Bianconeri back line with their excellent athleticism and the high line the team used for much of the first half. Coach Jorge Jesus should employ a similar tactic in this match. Juventus were allowed too much time on the ball in the second half and took control of the match, with Carlos Tevez's equaliser more than deserved. The late push by the hosts and the subsequent winner from Lima once again showed Juventus' weakness against pressing teams, and Benfica should take advantage from that weakness as they look to erase Tevez's away goal and silence a furious home crowd early. A healthy Juventus squad won't make this an easy task, however, and the return of Vidal, Barzagli and Fernando Llorente could give the hosts just the boost they need on their way to the final.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Juve squad for Benfica Apr 30, 2014 Juventus have announced their 23-man squad for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with Benfica. The Old Lady will tomorrow look to turn around a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Lisbon last Thursday to reach the final, to be played at their own Juventus Stadium. The winners of the tie will face the victors of the other semi-final, an all-Spanish affair between Sevilla and Valencia. Juventus squad to face Benfica: Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres, Ogbonna, Pogba, Pepe, Marchisio, Vucinic, Tevez, Giovinco, Peluso, Llorente, Barzagli, Osvaldo, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Asamoah, Vidal, Lichtsteiner, Storari, Isla, Rubinho.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Chiellini: Juve must not concede Apr 30, 2014 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has stressed the importance of his side keeping a clean sheet against Benfica tomorrow. The Old Lady head into the Europa League semi-final second leg needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit to progress to the final, to be played at their own Juventus Stadium. “I can’t wait to get out on the pitch,” Chiellini said at the pre-match Press conference. “It will be a magical evening and one that all Juventini, whether they are at the stadium or watching on television, will want to experience. “It will be absolutely crucial to not concede a goal, because I am convinced that with the attacking threat we have we will manage to score. “We must also look to limit the number of errors we make compared to the first leg. “On that occasion we deserved more than we got but we found ourselves on the end of a negative result. “We have no fear. We are conscious that everything depends on us and tomorrow we have the chance to continue to live this dream of playing in the final here in Turin. “So we have no fear, but a lot of desire to play, do well and win. That’s it.”

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Amorim: Benfica won’t change Apr 30, 2014 Benfica midfielder Ruben Amorim says his side’s strategy will not change for their Europa League semi-final second leg. The Portuguese champions hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg against Juventus and the 29-year-old is anticipating another close match between the teams. “The strategy of Benfica will not change,” Amorim said at a Press conference. “We don’t know how to play any other way. “It will certainly be a difficult return leg, but we have studied Juventus. We know what we need to do and we know how we can get through. “Our problems will be the same ones that we had in Lisbon, it’s a difficult match. Our preparation for all our games is the same though.” The player is also pleased his team will have Enzo Perez available, after UEFA decided to drop disciplinary procedures against him following his apparent elbow on Juve’s Giorgio Chiellini last week. “It’s good news, even more so because there was no reason for him not to be playing tomorrow. “But we weren’t worried about potentially missing him anyway. “I think that Juventus respect Benfica, they showed that in the first leg and the rest is not important.”

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Vialli trusts Conte Apr 30, 2014 Former Juventus player Gianluca Vialli trusts Old Lady Coach Antonio Conte to deliver European success to the club. On the eve of the Bianconeri’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Benfica, the 49-year-old thinks victory in the competition could provide a springboard to future success in the Champions League. “I trust Conte and all the older players like Buffon and Pirlo,” Vialli told Uefa.com. “But the other players must improve in Europe, especially in terms of confidence. “Winning the Europa League could be crucial in helping Juve to start playing better in the Champions League. “It would certainly be a good way to gain belief and knowledge. It worked for us.” Vialli was part of the Juventus side to win the 1993 UEFA Cup.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Juventus News – Europa League Updates Apr 30, 2014 It’s uncanny how Juve’s 2-1 first-leg Europa loss to Benfica last week not only echoed some haunting moments and themes from the Champions League campaign, but also how the match followed the entire September-to-December arc in miniature. The opener in Portugal featured an early concession eerily reminiscent of the lapse in concentration that hampered the Champions League opener in Copenhagen. It also featured the type of valiant comeback that the Bianconeri have mounted all season in response to setbacks, whether in a game or during a rough stretch of the season — in this case, Carlos Tevez’s first European strike in five years, an away goal that could ultimately decide the fixture. And unfortunately, it also featured a late concession which might threaten to spoil the whole party, just like both matches against Galatasaray. As they have so many times this season, Juve managed to not so much lose to another team as to beat themselves. Sure, Benfica are a dangerous side, and their go-ahead goal was brilliantly struck, but Juve let them in. Fortunately, on Thursday evening Juventus will have a chance to come full circle, to finally rectify not only last week’s mistakes but those of the entire European season by beating Benfica at home and booking a trip to the Europa League final in Turin. Even better news is the fact that Juve finally look offensively potent for the first time in a long while. With Monday’s come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Sassuolo, the Bianconeri finally seemed to regain their former attacking prowess under Antonio Conte. After a terrible 30 minutes, Carlos Tevez equalized emphatically, Claudio Marchisio hit the kind of clinical finish he used to do every other week two seasons ago, and Fernando Llorente punctuated the affair with a very stylish (and very Spanish) backheel that sent Antonio Conte sliding across the rain-soaked pitch as if he had scored himself. Beyond securing the possibility of clinching the Scudetto next Monday, this kind of performance was exactly what Juve needed. And they’ll need more of it on Thursday. The Bianconeri must score at least once to go through on the away goal, provided they completely shut out Benfica. Otherwise, they’ll have to score in bulk. Either way, this is basically it. Whatever meaning this season accrues in retrospect will be dependent on how Antonio Conte’s men deal with those crazy, sudden-death, knockout European nights. A third straight Scudetto would be wonderful and historic, but this season was never about Italy. They may not be able to win Europe’s biggest prize this year, but answering the Europa League challenge would be Juve’s ultimate statement of intent for some heroic European exploits next season and beyond. Let’s close this out, ragazzi. Europa Updates: Vidal Could Start, Giovinco-Llorente Compete for Start The Sassuolo victory not only afford Juve the chance to seal the Scudetto when Atalanta arrive on Monday, but in keeping Roma eight points behind it also allows Antonio Conte to throw his best XI on the pitch in the latest “most important match of the season.” And Conte may have the luxury of a selection headache at two specific positions, thanks to the apparent recovery of Andrea Barzagli and Arturo Vidal. In defense, Gigi Buffon will most certainly be shielded by Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, but Conte is facing a tough choice for the last center-back slot between the recently reintegrated Barzagli and Martin Caceres, who in addition to being match-fit has an undeniable advantage in pace over Andrea. Martin could win out not only for tactical reasons, but also because he was rested for Sassuolo and should be fresh. On the flanks, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah are the only true choices on the right and left, respectively — Conte literally can accept no substitutes if he wants to win. In central midfield, Arturo Vidal could finally be ready to start, which is great news in general but a mixed blessing if he’s not physically ready to be his old self. That means one of Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba would have to sit, and all three make a solid case for inclusion. Pirlo is Pirlo, even on his worst days, while Marchisio is hitting his best form of the season (with Monday’s goal as proof). And Pogba is always a threat to do something potentially spectacular and match-winning, despite being visibly fatigued and probably hampered by all the transfer talk and hype surrounding him. In attack, we should expect Fernando Llorente to partner Carlos Tevez, but word from Vinovo has Conte thinking about pairing Carlito with Sebastian Giovinco. The pairing has its advantages (speed, for one) but would bring with it a sizeable (pun intended) disadvantage: Juve may not want to give up that much height up top. Juve have an away goal, which means that they could play for a very risky, nerve-wracking 1-0 result, but despite the fact that both Benfica goals were ultimately preventable, the Portuguese side is going seriously threat Buffon’s goal at times, and the best approach may be to press the issue on offense. Juve’s options to pass through to the final will be 1-0 or a rout, since a 2-1 win would lead to an extra 30 minutes and possibly penalty kicks. As mentioned above, in addition to being an opportunity for at least partial European redemption this season, winning this fixture on Thursday could have far-reaching ramifications not only for Juve’s Champions League prospects next season, but also regarding matters of personnel and international reputation. A victory here could conceivably convince someone like Pogba to stick around, or it could allow Conte to dream of bigger Bianconeri things at a time when I’m sure he’s wondering what else is out there. But most of all, it will signal to the rest of world football (and any of its discontented stars) that far from struggling with any perceived growing pains, Juventus are a club steadily on the rise. Beating Benfica and earning a spot in the final could be worth much more than playing for a trophy in front of a home crowd. It could be the opening words of a mission statement for Juve’s future ambitions. Is that a lot of weight to put on a Europa League match? Maybe. But great clubs play for everything, right? FINO ALLA FINE, FORZA JUVE!!! English Refs for Benfica Showdown The collective fate of Juventus and Benfica will be in English hands on Thursday evening, as Mark Clattenburg will hold the whistle for the Bianconeri’s Europa League moment of truth. Clattenburg’s previous Juve association is not a pleasant one: He presided over the 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in Germany which all but sunk last year’s Champions League hopes. Let’s not think about that. Otherwise, according to the Mothership, Mr. Clattenburg has officiated a few big-time matches, including the final of the 2012 Olympics, so he’s no stranger to pressure. And he’ll have more than a bit of it too, especially considering the less-than-veiled accusations from Joao Gabriel, Benfica’s director of communications, following an admittedly late investigation of a foul committed on Giorgio Chiellini in the first leg. Clattenburg’s linesmen will be Simon Beck and Stuart Burt. Darren England (that’s a bit on the nose, isn’t it?) will be fourth official. Keep things clean, chaps! Past Precedents: Juve-Benfica in Turin, Eagles’ Away Form Juve’s forays against Benfica in Lisbon are not historically successful (and we can now include last Thursday’s match). Happily (and understandably), Juve have fared much better when hosting the current Portuguese champions, as the official site points out:  "There have been two previous European clashes between Juventus and Benfica in Turin, both in different competitions and eras. “The first meeting dates back to 1968 in a European Cup semi-final second leg hosted at the Stadio Comunale. “Reaching the final looked to be a bridge too far for Benfica to cross after the Bianconeri had pulled off an excellent 2-0 away win in Lisbon, and so it proved. “Juve allowed Heriberto Herrera’s men only one goal, netted by a Eusebio at the peak of his powers (the ‘Black Panther’ would later win the European golden shoe that season). “It was a different story in 1993, when Giovanni Trapattoni’s Juventus were challenging the Eagles for a place in the UEFA Cup semi-final. “In the first leg on Portuguese soil, the Bianconeri had lost 2-1 – exactly the same balance of the current Europa League tie. But at the Delle Alpi the hosts managed to snatch a lead with just two minutes gone thanks to Jurgen Kohler, and Dino Baggio made it two before the break. “From there, Trapattoni’s men (who included Antonio Conte that day) put the tie to bed through Fabrizio Ravanelli against a Benfica side which featured current club director of football Rui Costa and future Juve man Paulo Sousa.” Good examples to follow for Thursday, especially the latter. But lest we feel too confident going into the return leg, it might benefit us to acknowledge that after a rough road record in the Champions League, Benfica have performed very well away from home in the Europa League:  "In the Europa League, things have gone a lot smoother for Juve’s semi-final rivals on the road, a run that began with revenge of sorts over another Greek side: PAOK. “It was Lima, the match winner against Juventus last week, who lifted the visitors to victory in a first leg which lacked excitement but did show Benfica’s ability to close out a game. “They demonstrated it again against Tottenham, conquering White Hart Lane thanks to Rodrigo and a Luisao double in a game of exceptional shot precision from Benfica: eight of their nine shots hit the target on 13 March. “The first leg was played away from Portugal in the quarter-finals, too, and once again Benfica managed to pick up a victory that greatly increased their chances of qualification. “The source of the winner in Holland against AZ Alkmaar was Eduardo Salvio, whose quick reactions saw him make it to a parry from goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado first and slot home. “Overall, then, the Bianconeri’s semi-final opponents have won four and lost two on their travels in Europe this season ahead of running out at Juventus Stadium tomorrow, and are the only side still unbeaten in the Europa League overall.” Ultimately, when taken with Juve’s recent home form (generally excellent, even when raggedly so), it makes for a more balanced assessment for Thursday’s crucial encounter — and a balanced approach will certainly be necessary to pass through to the final.

JUVENTUS - BENFICA May 1, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Jesus: Benfica must score Apr 30, 2014 Benfica Coach Jorge Jesus is convinced his side will have to score an away goal if they are to secure a place in the Europa League final. The Portuguese outfit are in Turin for the second leg of their semi-final against Juventus and hold a 2-1 advantage from last week’s first encounter. “We firmly believe we must score,” Jesus said at his pre match Press conference. “We have players who can help us to do that. “Thanks to their great characteristics and technical qualities, we can think about playing an offensive game. “Juventus know how good Benfica’s attack is. Juventus’ tactics are tactics that we are not used to playing against, so we are obliged to come up with different ways to stop them. “We know that we face a tough match. Benfica have the advantage having won the first match, but we will not change who we are. “Whether we are going to try to score doesn’t depend on what we set out to do at the start of the match. It depends on the circumstances that occur during the match. “Juventus, to get here, have shown they are an excellent team, but we will approach them how we approach all our big matches.” The tactician also refused to be drawn on comments from within his own club that UEFA would like to see Juve progress to the final at his team’s expense. “At this moment the most important thing is to concentrate on the match. I as Coach and the players are not interested in that. “I understand the question, but I think the comments were just a diversion to ease the tension on the eve of the match.”