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OLYMPIQUE LYON - JUVENTUS April 3, 2014 - 9:05 PM Gerland Stadium — Lyon Referee: William Collum (Scotland) Garde: 'Juve are a mountain' Apr 2, 2014 Lyon Coach Remi Garde said Juventus are like “a mountain” to climb in tomorrow’s Europa League quarter-final. AMAZONIAN The first leg is at the Stade de Gerland on Thursday at 20.05 UK time (19.05 GMT). “We are confronted with a mountain, so it will take the perfect game,” said Garde in his Press conference. “Juve have the players for a Champions League quarter-final, let alone one in the Europa League. Our players can’t wait to enjoy this moment in the spotlight, their little chance to shine. AMAZONIAN “We must adapt our style of play to that of Juventus, because the level of quality in Europe is much higher than in France.” Garde was asked whether he saw similarities between Juve and Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain. “They are identical teams in the way they dominate everyone in their respective Leagues. They are both packed with champions. AMAZONIAN “Carlos Tevez is a constant danger. Antonio Conte is doing great work and knows how to make his team play well. “It will be our 52nd game of the season, but I won’t make calculations or rotate my squad. The best available players will start.”

Cavani swap for Pogba? Apr 2, 2014 Juventus will ask for cash plus Edinson Cavani should Paris Saint-Germain make a move for Paul Pogba in the summer. AMAZONIAN The France international has been heavily linked with a number of top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United. But it is the Ligue 1 leaders who have been consistently rumoured to be tracking the 21-year-old, with several stories emerging that they would be willing to pay upwards of €60m for the midfielder. However, Tuttosport have led with the news this morning that should Laurent Blanc’s men come back in for Pogba during the off-season, the Bianconeri will ask for Cavani in return, plus cash. AMAZONIAN It is suggested that Antonio Conte’s outfit would accept a much lower fee than €60m, but that would be cancelled out by the Uruguayan striker’s supposed transfer fee and wages. The former Napoli man is apparently keen to return to Italy, having become disillusioned with life in the French capital.

OLYMPIQUE LYON - JUVENTUS April 3, 2014 - 9:05 PM Gerland Stadium — Lyon Referee: William Collum (Scotland) Lyon v Juventus – Team News, Tactics, Line-ups And Prediction Apr 2, 2014 Juventus travel to the State De Gerland to take on Lyon in what will be the first meeting between these two sides in a competitive fixture. Juventus will start as favorites against a Lyon side who despite fielding a very young side are enjoying a pretty good season. We must keep in mind that this is not the same Lyon side led by Paul Le Geun who won an incredible seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles in the period of 2001 to 2008. To sanction a new stadium, budget has been very tight and the team now comprises of promising academy graduates rather than the likes of as Sonny Anderson, Juninho Pernambucano , Karim Benzema , Fred , Michel Bastos, Lisandro Lopez , Michael Essien , Florent Malouda , Eric Abidal , Diarra Mahmadou, Hatem Ben Arfa. Under the stewardship of former Arsenal midfielder Remi Garde, the squad has few experienced names which include Bafatembi Gomis, who is in the last year of his contract and will leave the club in summer, the talented but very inconsistent Yohann Gourcuff and Steed Malbranque a youth academy alumnus who has returned to his former club to finish his career. Les Gones – which fittingly means ‘the Kids’ in the local dialect of Arpitan, have some exciting talents which include the very impressive Clement Grenier and also leftback Samuel Umtiti. Centre Tola Vologe has produced top-level players at a volume only Barcelona and Real Madrid can match in recent seasons, with stars such as Karim Benzema, Hatem Ben Arfa, Loic Remy, Sidney Govou and Ludovic Guily. Juventus, as history suggests, have performed well against French clubs and they would be looking to grab a positive result here after the setback in Naples on Sunday. Antonio Conte himself has been pretty vocal about respecting the Europa League and his players will look to carry on their momentum of good domestic form in Europe as well. Except the historic 6-1 victory against PSG in 1996, Juventus have struggled on French soil so they would look to improve on this record. This clash also sees the youngest side (Lyon-average age 24.3 yrs) in Europa league take on the oldest (Juventus- average age 29.4 yrs). AMAZONIAN Team News and Tactical Brief LYON Lyon have switched between the 5-3-2 and 4-1-2-1-2 formations this season with Remi Garde preferring a more pragmatic approach away from home.In goal they have the very impressive Portuguese Anthony Lopes, who at age of 23 has already displaced the experienced Remi Vercoutre and is seriously challenging to be Portugal’s No.1 goalkeeper at World Cup 2014. Samuel Umtiti has grabbed headlines with commanding displays at the heart of the defence. Excellent positional sense, good physique and a great left foot are his best qualities. He will be partnered by the experienced Serb Milan Bisevac. The full back positions are taken by Henri Bedimo and Miguel Lopes, another Portuguese on loan from Sporting. Garde usually prefers Burkina Faso international Bacary Kone when he uses a 3men backline. In front of the defence sits the captain and midfield anchorman Maxime Gonalons who seemed destined to join Napoli this year. Along with him he has the Franco- Cameroonian Gueïda Fofana. Jordan Ferri has proven himself a viable option in the midfield and will take the place of Fofana in case he does not recover from his injury. Malbranque and Grenier are the creative outlets in midfield and Clement Grenier in particular is a very dynamic young prospect who has grabbed headlines with some wonderful displays this season. The former AC Milan player Yoann Gourcuff is now only an alternative from the bench. Gourcuff would love to step up on this big stage and show some glimpses of his talent which once made him one of the most coveted youngsters in Europe. AMAZONIAN The forward line will comprise of Jimmy Briand who will start ahead of Bafatembi Gomis. Brian has been in good form this season notching up 11 goals already. He will be partnered by rising star and the most positive story of this season for Lyon: Alexander Lacazette has already netted 19 times in all competitions and will hope to make a mark against Juventus as well. Another promising talent for the future is the 19yr old striker of Algerian origin Benzia Yassine. Probable Starting Line-up (4-1-2-1-2): Lopes(GK); Bedimo, Bisevac, Umtiti, Lopes; Gonalons, Gourcuff, Grenier; Malbranque,Lacazette, Briand. AMAZONIAN JUVENTUS Juventus travel to France with a weakened defensive lineup as long term absentees Ogbonna Barzagli and Peluso continue to remain on the sidelines. Buffon will lead a three man defence of Bonucci Cheillini and Caceres. This will be the fifth consecutive game that the same trio lineup as centre-backs highlighting the lack of options Antonio Conte has due to the injuries. In midfield Andrea Pirlo is likely to be rested as Claudio Marchisio will get to start after his injury layoff and will take the role of a regista in which he has flourished so far this season. Arturo Vidal will partner Paul Pogba in what promises to be an interesting duel with Gonalons and Grenier.Both of them have looked well below par last month as the congested fixture list seems to take a toll on the entire squad. Mauricio Isla will look to impress in a rare starting role as the right fullback. Kwado Asamoah also has shown signs of fatigue in recent weeks but will continue to start on the left side as there are no alternatives for him at this moment. AMAZONIAN Upfront Juventus will be glad to see the return of Carlos Tevez who was absent against Napoli in which the Juventus forward line offered very little in an insipid display. Mirko Vucinic made a cameo appearance on Sunday after almost two months and will make his first start since 5th January when Juventus travelled to face Bologna. The two looked promising as a front pair at the beginning of the season,particularly in the Supercup and the league game against Lazio, and Conte will be hoping that they rediscover that understanding. Probable Starting Line-up (3-5-2): Buffon(GK);Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Vucinic. AMAZONIAN Players to Watch Out For Carlos Tevez (Juventus) Few eyebrows were raised in the summer when Juventus handed the iconic number 10 to new arrival Carlos Tevez. Eight months into the season and those doubts have been pretty much put to rest by the Argentine who has exceeded all expectations in his debut season to register 18 goals. Apart from his goals, Tevez has also become the crowd favorite with his relentless running and bullying of opposition defence, carving out chances for his teammates and sacrificing himself for the team’s cause. It seems Tevez can do no wrong ut quite astonishingly he has failed to find the back of the net in Europe since 2009. Having scored the match winners in his previous two matches against Catania and Parma, this might just be the tie where he breaks his European duck.Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons claimed that he had already stopped Falcao so he would not lose his sleep over Tevez. Apache would be looking to answer that on the field this Thursday. AMAZONIAN Clement Grenier (Lyon) Grenier joined Lyon in 2002 from his hometown club FC Annonay and soon became one of the club’s best prospects. A wonderfully talented player who likes to play in the hole behind the two strikers or as part of a midfield trio, he is also one of the best dead-ball specialists in France right now. His free-kicks have drawn plenty of comparisons with Lyon legend Juninho Pernambucano. Unsurprisingly, he is also a threat from long distance as well and although his defensive work isn’t great but that isn’t necessarily a key aspect of his game. The best part about Grenier is that he is just 22, and his potential is huge. Watching him play is almost like watching the player that his team-mate Yoann Gourcuff could have become with a bit more consistency and more luck with injuries. Lyon will be hoping that Grenier succeeds and the early signs are very positive to say the least. Maxime Gonalons(Lyon) Maxime Gonalons, the captain of Lyon, has had to show maturity and calmness beyond his 24 years as Lyon struggle through a period of transition. Gonalons has been with Lyon for over 14 years now and since making his professional debut back in 2009 has grown to become one of their most reliable players in the period following their dominance in France. His versatility to be both the classic defensive midfielder protecting the back line, but also to combine that with lung-busting box-to-box runs means he is usually the first name on the team-sheet for Lyon, and since early 2013 he was handed the captain’s armband of his beloved hometown club. Gonalons has remained a consistent leader on and off the pitch and even though he will never be a midfielder who will score buckets of goals; his real skills lie in his intelligence and ability to assess situations almost instantly. His 6’1″ frame means he is a threat from set pieces. His performances over the last couple of years has led Gonalons to be linked with a number of Europe’s leading clubs from Arsenal to Napoli, the latter being a highly possible move as rumours of recent meetings with senior staff at the Italian club refuse to go away. AMAZONIAN Prediction Lyon 1–3 Juventus Lyon have an inexperienced but talented squad of players who have performed admirably in this year’s Europa League. But this Juventus side might be an obstacle too formidable to dispatch. Expect them to put up a good fight but Juventus are the clear favorites in this fixture. AMAZONIAN Blast From the Past This will be the first meeting in European stage for these two teams. They previously met in a friendly in 2010.

OLYMPIQUE LYON - JUVENTUS April 3, 2014 - 9:05 PM Gerland Stadium — Lyon Referee: William Collum (Scotland) Tevez not worried by lack of European goals Apr 1, 2014 Ahead of their Europa League quarter-final tie with Lyon on Thursday Juventus striker Carlos Tevez has insisted that, despite his lack of goals in European competition for the Bianconeri this season, is not obsessed with scoring. AMAZONIAN The Argentinean has been prolific in Serie A since arriving for Manchester City in the summer, however, in eight appearances in Europe, including their earlier Champions League participation he has failed to hit the net. “I’m calm because sooner or later the goals will come, but for me it should not be an obsession,” Tevez told Uefa.com. “Unfortunately I could not play this weekend but it will give me the opportunity to prepare well for Lyon. I will be able to recharge the batteries before the trip to France.” AMAZONIAN With the Old Lady suffering their first Serie A defeat this term against Napoli on Sunday the 30-year-old believed that playing so often during the closing stages of the season can often affect teams. “It is a difficult moment,” he continued. “We’re playing a lot of games and you cannot always play at a high tempo. “However, we have managed to win most so far and this is what matters. We could not do more.”

OLYMPIQUE LYON - JUVENTUS April 3, 2014 - 9:05 PM Gerland Stadium — Lyon Referee: William Collum (Scotland) Marchisio: Juve must perform Apr 1, 2014 Claudio Marchisio says Juventus must put in a strong performance in the first leg of their Europa League quarter final with Lyon. AMAZONIAN The Old Lady face the French side on Thursday on the back of a disappointing performance and result against Napoli at the weekend. “Tomorrow we head to Lyon,” Marchisio wrote on his official Facebook page. “We need to put in a good performance. AMAZONIAN “We need to get the Napoli performance out of our heads and get back to doing what we are best at. Winning.”

OLYMPIQUE LYON - JUVENTUS April 3, 2014 - 9:05 PM Gerland Stadium — Lyon Referee: William Collum (Scotland) Juventus could face hooligan problem as they prepare for trip to Lyon Apr 1, 2014 Juventus are in danger of a potential violent hooligan attack when they travel to Lyon for the first leg of their Europa League quarter final tie. AMAZONIAN There is growing concern from local police that the Lyon supporters may cause problems for the Bianconeri as they are set to stay at hotel that is located close to the Stade de Gerland. According to Tuttosport, the police have been placed on maximum alert because of events that took place over the weekend during the derby match between St. Etienne and Lyon. AMAZONIAN Reports suggest that hundreds of hooligans tried to barge into the hotel that housed the visiting team, St. Etienne, forcing local police to intervene and calm the situation. The mob also attacked the away side’s bus before security personnel escorted the St. Etienne coach to the bus. With the Bianconeri set to stay at the Novotel Gerland, which is even closer to Lyon’s stadium than the hotel in which St. Etienne stayed at during the weekend, local police are already hard at work to prevent a similar situation from taking place on Thursday.

Bonucci questions Juventus hunger The Italy international has insisted that the title race is not over yet and has urged his team-mates to keep giving their all. Apr 1, 2014 Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has questioned the hunger of his team-mates and says the race for Serie A is far from over. http://markting10.nl/ The reigning champions were stunned by Napoli at the weekend, as Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens scored either side of the break to seal a 2-0 victory for Rafael Benitez's men. The result leaves Juve sitting 11 points clear of second-placed Roma, who have a game in hand, with Bonucci concerned that the Bianconeri have taken their foot off the gas. "What this defeat really showed me is firstly that the Scudetto is still not won and secondly that it will keep our feet on the ground," he wrote on his official website. http://markting10.nl/ "You can always learn more. Napoli showed that they had more hunger than we did. "The Juventus that I know has always shown more hunger than their opponents." Antonio Conte's side have seven league games remaining, including a trip to Roma in May.

Buffon: Absences have hurt us Mar 31, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon believes that Juventus have been struggling for the past six weeks due to the absences in their playing staff. AMAZONIAN The Bianconeri suffered a second League defeat of the season on Sunday evening at Napoli, to hand Roma a slight hint at a title race entering the final eight rounds of the season. For the Old Lady’s captain, the way the Vesuviani went about collecting their 2-0 win over his side was not unexpected, but for a number of reasons. “Did they surprise us? No, because we expected a team that would play at great pace, that would spit blood in order to take the scalp of Juventus,” Buffon considered to Raidue after yesterday’s game. AMAZONIAN “And we definitely arrived for this game in a bit of trouble. How so? Because I look at the newspapers, the medical reports, the commitments that we have had in the last month-and-a-half and it can be understood why at certain moments the blanket has appeared shorter. “Crisis? No, no, there is room and space for each kind of speculation and consideration, but certainly, in fact, with all these commitments, in the last month or so we have not been the brightest, nor the steamroller that we had been up to a month, a month-and-a-half ago. “I believe that we have been missing for a month, players of great worth - Barzagli, Ogbonna, we have Marchisio who is slowly coming back, but [yesterday] we also missed Tevez. AMAZONIAN “In short, we were and are in an emergency for the past 30-40 days, with three games a week. It is normal that something has to give. “It is also best that this happens when you have a sufficiently large advantage over second place, considerable, we can say.” AMAZONIAN Buffon, who also commented to Mediaset that ‘the championship is wide open’, was asked if it was a concerning issue heading into this week’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Lyon. “To be concerned is right, in the sense that if we are a great team, when occasionally we do lose, then the reaction should be even more vehement, which it should be as we are a great team, made up of great champions. Usually it is the case and will be so again this time.”

Tevez: Roma still in it Mar 31, 2014 Carlos Tevez has warned that so long as Roma remain mathematically challenging for the Scudetto, Juventus can’t call it their own. AMAZONIAN The Bianconeri were defeated 2-0 at Napoli on Sunday night, but still hold a sizeable advantage over the third placed Partenopei and Rudi Garcia’s Giallorossi in second. Even so, the Old Lady’s No 10 has ruled out talk of the League being already decided. “With Roma there are two clubs fighting for the title,” Tevez has warned to the Corriere dello Sport this week. AMAZONIAN “Roma are working very well, and are building a team that can look to great things. Mathematically the Giallorossi still have a chance of winning the Scudetto. “And until we have mathematically won it, we cannot say we are champions.” The 30-year-old reflected on life with the Turin club. AMAZONIAN “Juve is a great in Italy, and one of those clubs where any child dreams of playing. We are a big family and that is what counts. “We are doing very well and we spend a lot of time together. I think this is an important aspect. “We have clear objectives. Win the championship and continue our journey in the Europa League. We have a great team and we can look to the final. It depends only on us.” AMAZONIAN Tevez spent seven years playing in the Premier League and was asked for his opinion on their much closer title race this term, which doesn’t include former side Manchester United. “We all know that English football is one of the most spectacular in the world. I believe that Manchester City and Chelsea are one step ahead of the others. AMAZONIAN “United’s struggles? It is hard to replace a Coach like Sir Alex Ferguson, who built up the success of the club for so many years, and it is difficult to maintain certain things, particularly in the first season. “I think that the club has to adapt, and to change the mindset of the people. It will be difficult to match what Sir Alex Ferguson did.”

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Serie A wide open again, claims Buffon The goalkeeper insists Napoli were fully deserving of their 2-0 win on Sunday and suggested that the defeat has given Roma a lifeline in the title race. Mar 31, 2014 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes the Serie A title race has been blown wide open by his side's 2-0 loss to Napoli on Sunday. AMAZONIAN Jose Callejon opened the scoring midway through the first half at the Stadio San Paolo before Dries Mertens' effort with nine minutes left to play secured all three points for the third-placed Partenopei. The reigning Scudetto holders remain 11 points ahead of Roma in Italy, although they have played a game more than Rudi Garcia's men. "Without going in search of whatever excuse, I have to say that Napoli deservedly won and that we we did not express ourselves adequately," Buffon told Mediaset Premium. AMAZONIAN "The Scudetto is wide open because Roma are in great shape. They have all of the credentials to make it a race for the finish line should be slip up again. "The loss does not bother me ahead of the Europa League last eight. In the end, sometimes losses precede big wins, which has often happened for us in the past. Let's hope that's the case again." Juve visit Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday in the opening leg of their last-eight European tussle with the French giants. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Napoli deserved winners against tired Juve Mar 31, 2014 Juventus have not lost a Serie A match since October 2013, but on Sunday night they deserved to lose to a tactically astute Napoli side that scored a 2-0 result to secure a home victory. Just as it looked like the Scudetto was virtually guaranteed, Roma need only a win on Wednesday to close down the gap at the top to eight points. AMAZONIAN While Napoli manager Rafa Benitez's tactics were questioned in the reverse fixture due to his decision to play a passive game that relied on counterattacking football, one can do nothing but applaud his team on Sunday night who played with intelligence, passion and with great intensity. Making the most of an exhausted Juve side, Napoli simply refused to sit back and watch the Bianconeri secure another win with a halfhearted display as has been seen from them in recent weeks. The Partenopei defended astutely, played aggressively and watched with a wry smile as the Old Lady struggled to raise her game. While goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon rescued the side several times in the opening twenty minutes, the Azzurri's movement and relentless energy saw them first to every ball, desperate to close down space and effective when in possession. Their opponents, on the other hand, resembled a diamond drowning in sand, unable to dazzle, unable to breath. With Napoli cutting off Juve's routes to goal, the Bianconeri were not only poor at penetrating via the wings but also not allowed to deliver the perfectly accurate vertical ball through the middle. Andrea Pirlo was effectively marked, Fernando Llorente could barely hold the ball up while Arturo Vidal's performance perfectly encapsulated his team's display -- that of exhaustion. Unable to cover the ground necessary, his usual hunger and intensity on the field went missing leaving a shell of a man desperate for some time off. AMAZONIAN Juventus were simply too tired, not only physically buy psychologically too. The midfield that is regularly attentive to runs and excellent at closing down space was a little absent-minded, leaving the back-line to fend for themselves on several occasions. Napoli, showing their ambitions and a big game mentality, took advantage of the situation. They imposed their aggressive and energetic style of play, used Gonzalo Higuain and his attacking teammates to press high up the pitch and forced Juventus to defend. It didn't take long before the Azzurri finally cashed in on a goalscoring opportunity when the ever mobile Jose Maria Callejon overcame Kwadwo Asamoah to strike and score their opening goal. In Juve's defence, the Spaniard was marginally offside, while the goal was scored when Giorgio Chiellini was off the pitch, attending to his injury. Nonetheless, Napoli deserved to be in the lead. AMAZONIAN In the second half the Old Lady attempted to raise her game. Sitting further up the pitch, the penetration on the wings somewhat improved but when it came to actually creating chances, Juventus simply seemed out of ideas. The team dearly missed Carlos Tevez and his mobility. A player that seems to never surrender to exhaustion, his mentality may well have proved the difference on the night. Instead, Juve fans were subjected to the Llorente-Pablo Osvaldo partnership that simply doesn't work. While the tired Spaniard disappointed, Osvaldo tried to make an impact but just isn't yet that familiar with the team's patterns of play and not the right player to deploy on the night. Mirko Vucinic's arrival on the pitch immediately improved matters for the Bianconeri but a goal still seemed too ambitious for manager Antonio Conte's men on the night. AMAZONIAN In fact, it was the home side that managed another to further compound Juve's misery on the night. Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina set the attacking wheels in motion when he delivered a perfect ball only for Goran Pandev to deliver an delicious pass for Dries Mertens to slot in. An impressive finish, Napoli demonstrated just how to counter-attack effectively to make it 2-0. In truth, this was perhaps the worst domestic performance that has been seen from the Bianconeri this season. Against Fiorentina, Juventus scored and dominated the match only to concede four in 14 minutes of madness. However, on Sunday night, the Old Lady simply didn't compete and with so many injuries and players forced to play many matches in quick succession, one has to accept this result. Napoli deserve to celebrate their victory. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Napoli still not at Juventus' level, says Benitez The Spanish coach claims his side must develop a stronger mentality to compete in multiple tournaments during a season and once more pointed to the Bianconeri's better revenue. Mar 30, 2014 Napoli boss Rafa Benitez believes his side must develop a stronger mentality if they are to reach the same level as Juventus. AMAZONIAN The Partenopei sealed an impressive 2-0 win over the league leaders on Sunday, and while he was impressed with his side's display, Benitez feels his charges must maintain their concentration throughout the season if they are to challenge for supremacy in Serie A. "No performance is ever perfect. Tonight it was a top-level game against a top-level team. I said the squad would make the difference over a season, but in the starting XI anything can happen," Benitez told Sky Sport Italia. "It's not easy, as we don't have as much strength in depth as Juventus and it becomes even tougher when you see Roma ahead of us aren't making any mistakes. AMAZONIAN "It was key to have possession, which in the first half was remarkable as Juve only had 38 per cent. We could have scored more, but by keeping possession we ensured Juve couldn't hurt us. "We played many games at a high level and it's tough to maintain that level throughout the season without remarkable strength in depth, especially when it's a Champions League game followed by a less important fixture. "This step up in mentality is what we need to reach the level of a side like Juve." AMAZONIAN Antonio Conte took a swipe at Napoli in his post-match interview, claiming they have developed very little despite investing over €100 million in the squad this season, but Benitez once again pointed to Juve's better financial turnover as proof that the Bianconeri should not complain over spending. "A coach must try to keep that intensity up, but it requires time and experienced players who are prepared to sit on the bench. Today Tevez wasn't playing, so Osvaldo and Vucinic were ready. "This is a winning squad that can cover all areas, which again is why I mentioned the revenue of the two clubs." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Conte: 'Benitez, check your stats' Mar 30, 2014 Antonio Conte told Rafa Benitez to “check his calculations,” but confessed Napoli deserved to beat Juventus. AMAZONIAN “It certainly wasn’t a good first half performance, in terms of approach, character or anything,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia after a 2-0 defeat at the Stadio San Paolo. “Napoli played a very good first half and we paid the price for the fact we’ve got such a packed fixture list and the injury emergency means the same players have to play all the time. “We were facing a Napoli side that was built to win and not to take part. After all, a club that spends more than €100m on the transfer market cannot be happy just to take part.” AMAZONIAN It was a reference to Benitez repeatedly pointing out Juve have to be favourites thanks to their revenue, which is much higher than any of the other Serie A clubs. “The revenue issue is one of opinion. You can make €500m revenue, but it depends on how much you invest in the squad. Napoli spent more in one year than Juventus have in three,” continued Conte. “We paid out €25m, but covered that expenditure with sales like Emanuele Giaccherini. I hope Benitez will stop saying this or at least check his calculations. It’s important to say the truth and not just spreading stories that have no real basis in fact. AMAZONIAN “The numbers are there, you can look at them. Juventus spent €25m on the transfer market this summer and Napoli spent €100m in order to go out of the Champions League in the group phase and the Europa League in the Round of 16. “We try to reply on the field by winning and hope to do so again this season.” Carlos Tevez was suspended and Juve really missed the Capocannoniere this evening. AMAZONIAN “Let’s not forget Mirko Vucinic was out for two and a half months, Sebastian Giovinco returned this week and we’ve had a big emergency situation. It is inevitable Fernando Llorente would feel tired, as he is playing all the time. Daniel Osvaldo does well when called upon. Carlos is clearly a leader and someone who makes his presence felt in fiery games like this. “Napoli did well to peg us back and we were also not aggressive enough to contrast them. We were playing against a very good side and it can happen when playing every three days to pay a price for fatigue. “They seemed hungrier in the first half, but we had a strong reaction after the break and nobody could’ve complained if we had equalised. Of course, looking at the 90 minutes Napoli deserved the win.” AMAZONIAN Conte was also asked about Jose Mourinho’s comments this week, in which the Chelsea manager said Juventus could not consider it a success to win the Europa League when they were constructed to win the Champions League. “Mourinho was not talking about Juventus. He discussed Porto, Benfica and Napoli, so I think he was trying to make what Benitez did winning the Europa League last season with Chelsea seem less impressive. His real target was Benitez.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Benitez: 'Napoli stronger on the night' Mar 30, 2014 Rafa Benitez reiterated Juventus still have more “strength in depth, but with a starting XI anything can happen.” AMAZONIAN The Partenopei ended Juve’s 22-round unbeaten run with a 2-0 victory, although there are still 17 points separating them in the Serie A table. “No performance is ever perfect. It was tonight a top level game against a top level team. I said the squad would make the difference over a season, but in the starting XI anything can happen,” Benitez told Sky Sport Italia. “More than motivation against the smaller sides, we need the same level of concentration and intensity that we showed today. It’s not easy, as we don’t have as much strength in depth as Juventus and it becomes even tougher when you see Roma ahead of us aren’t making any mistakes. AMAZONIAN “It was key to have possession, which in the first half was remarkable as Juve only had 38 per cent. We could’ve scored more, but by keeping possession we ensured Juve couldn’t hurt us. “We know that we can’t change anything now. We played many games at a high level and it’s tough to maintain that level throughout the season without remarkable strength in depth, especially when it’s a Champions League game followed by a less important fixture. “This step up in mentality is what we need to reach the level of a side like Juve. A Coach must try to keep that intensity up, but it requires time and experienced players who are prepared to sit on the bench. Today Tevez wasn’t playing, so Osvaldo and Vucinic were ready. AMAZONIAN “This is a winning squad that can cover all areas, which again is why I mentioned the revenue of the two clubs.” Paulo Henrique arrived in January and has been an impressive addition, providing more balance to the side as a right-back. “We are talking about a centre-back, which is his main role. When he is close to our area he has the tendency to come back and help. He has experience and is strong in the air, which was very useful against Llorente tonight.” AMAZONIAN Roma boss Rudi Garcia said today he wanted Napoli to win, but will he regret that now? “I think Garcia has the same mentality as we do, that he is targeting Juve just as we are targeting Roma. Teams must always aim higher.” AMAZONIAN Benitez snapped at Jose Mourinho this week and was asked what he felt seeing Chelsea lose to Crystal Palace with Liverpool top of the Premier League table. “Chelsea? Nothing. My family is at Liverpool and my friends, but at the moment I have to focus on Napoli. The atmosphere and the fans are very similar. The big difference is that the stands are closer to the pitch and the players really feel that passion.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Napoli have played that well all season - Insigne The forward dedicated his side's 2-0 win over Juventus to the San Paolo supporters and said he is hopeful of being included in the Italy squad for the World Cup. Mar 30, 2014 Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne says the team were simply playing to their usual standard in Sunday's convincing win over champions Juventus. AMAZONIAN Goals from Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens sealed a comfortable victory for Rafa Benitez's side, bringing the league leaders' 22-match unbeaten run in Serie A to and end. Insigne - who set up Callejon for the opener - believes the Partenopei have consistently performed to the level they showed on Sunday this season and dedicated the win to the San Paolo's vociferous support. "I salute the stands, the fans gave us a big helping hand. We repaid their confidence by beating the champions of Italy," he told Sky Sport Italia. AMAZONIAN "Winning was important, it allows us to lock down third place without giving up on second. "The best performance of the season? We always play like that, it gives us great satisfaction." AMAZONIAN Insigne added his hopes that Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will be pleased enough with his performances this term to hand him a spot in the squad for the World Cup this summer. "I'm giving my best to Napoli, I'm happy and I hope to be rewarded by Prandelli at the end of the season," he added. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Player Ratings The Partenopei outclassed the league leaders, ending the Bianconeri's 22-game unbeaten run with goals from Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens either side of half-time. Mar 30, 2014 SSC NAPOLI Pepe Reina - May have expected to have been tested more by Juventus, but he had a rather comfortable night in between the sticks. Showed good judgement when coming off his line. Henrique - The defender played as a makeshift right-back but played with all the flair of a traditional Brazilian full-back. His combination play down the right with Callejon was particularly impressive. Federico Fernández - Was content to have the Juve forwards standing up against him for most of the game. His distribution from the back was good, though, as he played some quality passes from deep. Raúl Albiol - The centre-back showed good strength up against Llorente and Osvaldo. He was able to track their movement well and kept them under wraps. Faouzi Ghoulam - An impressive performance as he pushed up to support the forwards, although his deliveries weren't always the best. He was still solid at the back up against Lichtsteiner too. Gökhan Inler - Regularly found space just inside the final third and provided some penetrating passes from that area. He made a couple of clumsy challenges when defending, though. Jorginho - Did not stand out in the centre of the park, but he was industrious and effective as he dropped into any vacated space to keep his side compact. Lorenzo Insigne - Was extremely bright as he displayed his excellent dribbling ability on the left flank. He breezed past Caceres frequently and supplied a lovely assist for Callejon's opener. Marek Hamsik - Forced a save from Buffon early on, and it was as a result of the drifting across the pitch that he did so well throughout the game. José Callejón - The Spaniard's movement was brilliant all night, never more so as he lost Asamoah to slot home the opening goal in the first half, and he could have had more. Gonzalo Higuaín - Worked extremely hard in attack but the chances just didn't come his way. His movement was decent, but he did not test Buffon. AMAZONIAN Substitutions Blerim Dzemaili - Brought on for Callejon in the 89th minute. Dries Mertens - Came on for Hamsik in the 79th minute and scored a stunning goal to secure the three points. Goran Pandev - Replaced Higuain in the 73rd minute and held up the ball well, also assisting Mertens' goal with a terrific clipped pass. AMAZONIAN JUVENTUS GIANLUIGI BUFFON - Made a number of important saves, particularly from Callejon and Hamsik in the first half, to keep the score close for much of the game. Martín Cáceres - The Uruguayan was beaten by Insigne too easily on a few occasions. However, he did his best to get out to the wide areas and support Lichtsteiner. Leonardo Bonucci - Failed to read the movements of the Napoli attackers and was far too static at times. He was slow to react on the deck and gave away some needless free kicks. Giorgio Chiellini - Was put under a lot of pressure due to leaving too much space between himself and Asamoah. He was out of position on the opener after arguing with Benitez off the pitch. Stephan Lichtsteiner - Was penned back for much of the opening stages but when he did get the chance to attack he supplied some quality balls into the box. Paul Pogba - Made a couple of powerful runs through the midfield but ultimately was a peripheral figure in the game before being replaced just after the hour mark. Andrea Pirlo - It took him a while to stamp his mark on the game as Napoli dominated possession early on. He then began to stroke some lovely passes across the pitch, but his set-pieces were sub-par. Arturo Vidal - Took an early knock in the opening minutes but carried on playing. However, he failed to display his usual dynamism in the middle of the park during a disappointing outing, and was booked for a late dive when staying on his feet could have earned him the penalty he was after. Kwadwo Asamoah - The Ghanaian gave far too much space to Callejon in the wide areas and he allowed the Spaniard to get away from him to slot home the opening goal. Fernando Llorente - The Spaniard's touch let him down on a couple of occasions and he did not put in enough work to occupy the defenders and get a shot away. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo - Spent a lot of time chasing long balls as his link-up play with Llorente was non-existent. His best attempt was a wild scissor kick as another game passed without him even hitting the target. AMAZONIAN Substitutions Claudio Marchisio - Replaced Pogba in the 61st minute and was guilty of being too weak in the challenge as Mertens got away from him to score Napoli's second. Mauricio Isla - Came on for Asamoah in the 53rd minute and provided far more quality in the opposing final third. He was always looking to get in behind and fired in some good crosses. Mirko Vučinić - Brought on for Osvaldo and provided the sort of combination play that had been absent with the Italian and Llorente up top together. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Napoli 2 - Juventus 0: Initial reaction and random observations Mar 30, 2014 The form guide had said Juventus hadn't lost since the middle of October. And with that comes the comments of "Juventus is playing great football right now!" because they see a 22-game unbeaten run and nothing else. AMAZONIAN The fact is, though, Juve hadn't been playing as well as some people probably thought they were. They were winning, but it wasn't exactly with the same kind of dominant fashion they were doing things with when the unbeaten run get underway. And on Sunday night, the so-so overall form Juve has been showing for these past few weeks finally got punished by a team capable of doing some pretty good things. Napoli were good — really, really good. Juventus? Not even close to being very good. Pretty much the complete opposite, to be honest. If not for Gigi Buffon doing all kinds of wonderful Gigi Buffon things in goal over the course of the first half, the 2-0 final score in favor of Napoli could have been a lot worse. The defense was getting stretched by Napoli's attack, the 2013-14 edition of the M-V-P midfield wasn't doing anything at all. And with Napoli having the big share of the possession, the Carlos Tévez-less attack barely saw any of the ball. AMAZONIAN What could go wrong outside of Buffon going into God Mode pretty did go wrong. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen #Conte: "It wasn’t a good first half from us. Napoli played well and pinned us back. We were up against an excellent team." #NapoliJuve Frustrating? Hell yeah it was frustrating. Nobody likes to lose to any team, let alone somebody who is one of the best in the league and a pretty heated rival over the years. But it isn't like Juventus got worked by a team currently sitting 10th in Serie A. Napoli is a talented squad that can make you pay for your mistakes. Juventus came out like crap, didn't snap out of it until the second half, and Napoli made them pay. AMAZONIAN OptaPaolo @OptaPaolo 22 - Tonight’s defeat against Napoli ended Juventus’ 22-game unbeaten streak in Serie A (W20, D2). Stopped. #NapoliJuve You just hope that this loss works in the same fashion the last one in Serie A did. The best thing that could happen is that this negative can be turned into a positive and away Juve goes on another unbeaten run. I trust Antonio Conte. So should you. AMAZONIAN JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen #Buffon: "Sometimes certain losses can spark the start of great runs and feats. It’s often happened in the past, and I hope we see it again" Random thoughts and observations • I trust the guy, but man oh man did Conte get out-coached by Rafa Benitez. • No Carlos Tévez, no party. It's as simple as that. AMAZONIAN • Juventus played like crap. It's as simple as that. • Fernando Llorente and Dani Osvaldo aren't a good partnership and it's really starting to show the past couple of times they've been paired together. Way, way too static. It's as simple as that. • And that just shows how important Tevez is to the attack. It's not just that he works his tail off every game or that he's scoring goals at a pace we haven't seen from a Juve player in years, it's also because he just compliments Llorente so well. It's the right kind of partnership that plays so well off each other. Osvaldo and Llorente? Not even close. AMAZONIAN • A not-so-negative thought for a second: How good was Buffon against Napoli? It seems like pretty much every save he makes these days are of the spectacular variety. It's really unbelievable that he can be so good so often. But then again, it's Buffon, so maybe we shouldn't be so amazed whenever he does something God-like. Oh, and he's 36 years old. Just in case you forgot, guys. AMAZONIAN • Shots. Fired. • Remember when Juventus imploded against Fiorentina back in October and the very next game was a European tie against Real Madrid? Forget the final scoreline, that was one of Juve's best games of the season. Basically what I'm trying to say is this: Can we get angry Juventus against Lyon on Thursday night? I know Lyon isn't close to being Real Madrid on a talent level, but it'd sure be nice to see Juve show up big time in Europe and let some anger out. Just a thought. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Napoli 2-0 Juventus: 6 Things We Learned Mar 30, 2014 Juventus travelled to Naples on Sunday evening knowing they already possessed a comfortable 11-point lead in the Serie A standings. The two-time champions also carried with them a superb run of form that had seen Antonio Conte’s men win their seven previous matches, dropping a mere four points over their last 22 league fixtures. AMAZONIAN For their part, Napoli bounced back from last weekend’s 1-0 loss at home to Fiorentina with a 4-2 win over Catania on Wednesday. That victory, coupled with Fiorentina’s failure to defeat Sampdoria earlier on Sunday, meant the southern side had a nine-point cushion over the fourth-placed Viola. Over the following pages are six things the game highlighted about these two teams as Napoli outplayed Juve, going on to win the game 2-0. AMAZONIAN Juventus Sorely Miss Carlos Tevez While reluctant to describe Juventus as over-reliant on Carlos Tevez, it’s clear they miss the Argentinean when he is not in the lineup. He was unavailable for this match after picking up a suspension for the accumulation of yellow cards, and his absence took its toll on the Bianconeri. Yet such is the influence of the 30-year-old, it is impossible to imagine any side not missing his contribution. He has had an incredible impact on Juve, already weighing in with 18 goals and six assists since arriving from Manchester City. AMAZONIAN Conte’s Tactical Shift Helps Defensively but Blunts the Attack In recent weeks, Juventus have begun bringing the ball out at the back from wide areas, allowing Leonardo Bonucci to become a true defender instead of a second playmaker behind Andrea Pirlo. While that has improved the solidity of the Bianconeri back line, it has blunted their buildup play. Without his excellent long-range passing, Juve have struggled to break down well organised opponents and Napoli under Benitez are certainly that. AMAZONIAN Mauricio Isla Is Slowly Playing into Form After arriving from Udinese in the summer of 2012, Mauricio Isla missed almost an entire season with injury, making just eight league starts for Juve last term. He has made the same number this term as niggling injuries have limited his impact, but he is slowly showing signs of returning to the heights he reached at his previous club. He was a constant threat to Napoli after his second-half introduction, adding to good recent performances against Trabzonspor and Fiorentina. AMAZONIAN Jose Callejon Is a Genuine Star Jose Callejon arrived at Napoli with much less fanfare than his former Real Madrid teammate Gonzalo Higuain, but the Spaniard has been sensational. He has instantly settled in Serie A, repaying the faith shown in him by Rafael Benitez this past summer. The 27-year-old has notched 11 goals and three assists thus far for the southern club, becoming a devastating force whether selected out wide or just behind Higuain. That he has still yet to be capped by the Spanish national side is unfathomable. AMAZONIAN Marek Hamsik Stuck to His Task Well Marek Hamsik was asked to track Andrea Pirlo, a tactical choice that looked to prevent Juventus’ patient approach in midfield. It was an intelligent move, but one which would only pay dividends if the Slovakian stuck to his task. He did precisely that, limiting the Juve man’s touches by denying him the ball, and the Juventus attack suffered as a result. AMAZONIAN Dries Mertens Highlights Improved Napoli Depth While Napoli fans still lament the sale of Edinson Cavani, it is undeniable that the squad has been vastly improved as a result. Where before they relied almost exclusively on the Uruguayan star, they now have a number of attacking stars contributing. The introduction of Belgian winger Dries Mertens showcased that new depth, netting less than two minutes after his introduction and sealing the points for the home side. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Napoli vs. Juventus: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction Mar 30, 2014 Napoli ended Juventus’ 22-match unbeaten streak in Serie A with a hard-fought but ultimately deserved 2-0 victory on Sunday evening. AMAZONIAN Jose Callejon finally got the better of Gianluigi Buffon midway through the first half before Dries Mertens’ brilliant finish with 10 minutes remaining clinched the match, as Italy’s likely champions suffered just their second defeat of the campaign. Buffon was perhaps the busiest player on the pitch over the course of the 90 minutes, saving twice from Callejon in the first half before producing breathtaking acrobatics to deny Marek Hamsik and Faouzi Ghoulam on either side of the break. Despite the defeat, Antonio Conte’s side remain 11 points clear at the top of the table, although AS Roma can reduce that margin to eight if they win their game in hand. AMAZONIAN Napoli’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are enhanced by the triumph, however, as they now lead Fiorentina by 12 points in the race for third. They are also just six points behind Roma, keeping alive the possibility of finishing second and avoiding a play-off to enter Europe's most lucrative competition. "This is a very important win, because it keeps us close to Roma," Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne said, per AP. "We're going to fight until the end." AMAZONIAN Paolo Bandini @Paolo_Bandini So here's a thought: Juventus's lead could be down to just five points by the time they next play in Serie A. Sam Tighe @stighefootball #Napoli were absolutely incredible tonight. Truly excellent. Ghoulam, Hamsik, all of them. Juventus were in trouble almost from the off, as Napoli showed real attacking intent from almost the first whistle. Callejon warmed up Buffon with a shot on goal that the Italian was more than equal to, before Hamsik forced him into a stretching save that drew gasps from the crowd inside San Paolo Stadium. AMAZONIAN Callejon was again denied by Buffon shortly after, having been played through by Lorenzo Insigne, but soon after the Spaniard would finally win the battle. It was a controversial goal for Juventus, who had seen Giorgio Chiellini forced off the pitch to change his shirt after bleeding on it from a facial wound. The captain was still trying to get back into position as Insigne swung a cross in right where he should have been, and Callejon ghosted in behind his man to turn a close-range shot past the frustrated Buffon. In the second half Napoli continued to press, but Buffon was back to being an immovable object in the Juventus goal. Ghoulam was the latest to be denied, the full-back’s fine free-kick somehow tipped away by the in-form veteran. AMAZONIAN Conte made changes—bringing on Mauricio Isla, Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic to change the shape and threat of his attack—but it was a move from Napoli boss Rafael Benitez that would seal the points with just under 10 minutes remaining. Infostrada Sports @InfostradaLive 43 - The Serie A record for scoring in most matches in a row ends at 43 as Juventus lose 2-0 at Napoli. Juve's 2nd league defeat of season. Mertens was not named in Benitez’s starting XI, but he made the difference off the bench, evading Claudio Marchisio to latch onto Goran Pandev’s high ball before dragging a powerful shot across Buffon and into the far corner. AMAZONIAN Juventus had a handful of shots throughout the match, but few of any real clarity and danger, with Stephan Lichtsteiner forcing Pepe Reina into action from a couple of half-chances and Pablo Osvaldo squandering an opening or two. A surprising six minutes of injury time offered the visitors a glimmer of hope of a dramatic late comeback—but after Reina rushed from his line to thwart Arturo Vidal’s burst toward goal the points were secured. AMAZONIAN NAPOLI Player Ratings Pepe Reina 8 Henrique 7 Federico Fernandez 7 Raul Albiol 7 Faouzi Ghoulam 8 Gokhan Inler 7 Jorginho 7 Lorenzo Insigne 8 Marek Hamsik 7 Jose Callejon 8 Gonzalo Higuain 6 Substitutions Goran Pandev 7 Dries Mertens 7 Blerim Dzemaili 6 AMAZONIAN JUVENTUS Player Ratings Gianluigi Buffon 8 Martin Caceres 6 Leonardo Bonucci 5 Giorgio Chiellini 6 Stephan Lichsteiner 6 Arturo Vidal 5 Andrea Pirlo 5 Paul Pogba 5 Kwadwo Asamoah 6 Pablo Osvaldo 5 Fernando Llorente 6 Substitutions Mauricio Isla 6 Claudio Marchisio 6 Mirko Vucinic 6 http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Napoli end Juventus' 23-match unbeaten streak Napoli have condemned Serie A leaders Juventus to just their second defeat of the season this evening, ending their 23-match unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory at the Stadio San Paolo. Mar 30, 2014 The hosts almost broke the deadlock after just six minutes when Gokhan Inler's shot deflected into the path of Jose Callejon, who was then denied by a fine stop from Gianluigi Buffon. AMAZONIAN Buffon was called into action again four minutes later when Marek Hamsik latched on to a cross before curling an effort towards goal, but the Juve keeper was equal to it. The visitors' first real sight of goal came with 26 minutes on the clock as Pablo Osvaldo set up Stephan Lichtsteiner, who drew a routine save from Pepe Reina. Napoli responded with another chance of their own three minutes later as Faouzi Ghoulam's cross from the left found its way to Callejon, whose shot once again kept out by Buffon. AMAZONIAN Callejon was not to be denied for much longer, however, as he opened the scoring eight minutes before half time with a close-range finish from another Ghoulam cross. Juventus looked to pull a goal back before the break through Osvaldo's acrobatic effort, but he couldn't steer his shot on target. The visitors began to step up the pressure in the second half and had a chance to level things up 10 minutes after the restart when Lichtsteiner found himself in an advanced position, but once again Reina was equal to his effort. AMAZONIAN Buffon was soon back in action again, however, palming Ghoulam's fierce free kick over the bar before denying Hamsik's low curling effort from the edge of the box. Napoli got their crucial second goal with nine minutes left as Dries Mertens made an immediate impact off the bench, latching on to Goran Pandev's pass before drilling his shot past a stationary Buffon. The visitors could not respond in the closing stages of the match as Napoli held on for three points that edge them within six of second-placed Roma in the table. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Napoli bring down Juventus Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens have blown the Scudetto race open by beating Juventus 2-0 in a San Paolo firecracker. Mar 30, 2014 The Bianconeri suffered only their second Serie A defeat of the season, the other being a 4-2 at Fiorentina in October. It is also the first time they have failed to score this season. Roma are now 11 points adrift, but with a game in hand against Parma to be played on Wednesday. AMAZONIAN This has always been a huge fixture in Serie A and also in Serie B, as both clubs were promoted together in the 2006-07 campaign. Going into the San Paolo there were 20 points separating first from third, but Capocannoniere Carlos Tevez was suspended with Andrea Barzagli, Angelo Ogbonna, Federico Peluso, Fabio Quagliarella and Simone Pepe sidelined. The Partenopei missed Christian Maggio, Juan Camilo Zuniga and Rafael Cabral, but Faouzi Ghoulam returned from suspension. Bad news straight away for Juve, as Arturo Vidal started limping after 90 seconds and then fell to the ground pointing to his right knee. Replays suggest it seemed to buckle under him after a pass, but he continued after a few minutes of treatment. Gigi Buffon needed a stunning save from point-blank range when a wayward effort was redirected by Jose Callejon. From the resulting corner Buffon parried and Marek Hamsik had the ball in the net, but was correctly flagged offside. AMAZONIAN Buffon was called into action again on nine minutes, flying to flap Hamsik’s first-time shot out from under the bar from seven yards. Napoli were dominating the early play and pinning Juve back into their own half. The first Bianconeri opportunity came after 25 minutes, as Fernando Llorente struggled to turn so Stephan Lichtsteiner fired straight at Pepe Reina. Insigne was very lively and his pull-back flashed across the face of goal, behind Kwadwo Asamoah and Higuain to find Callejon, whose effort stung Buffon’s gloves. AMAZONIAN Llorente just failed to get his head to a Lichtsteiner cross, held off by Paulo Henrique, but Napoli finally found their breakthrough. Callejon got round the back of Asamoah on the very edge of the offside trap to come sliding in and volleyed Insigne’s floated cross from the left. It was an extremely close decision, as his head appeared to be offside by a matter of inches. Daniel Osvaldo turned an overhead kick off target and in first half stoppages Higuain fell under Chiellini pressure, but seemed to lose his balance and the referee waved play on. AMAZONIAN Juventus seemed more aggressive after the restart and Reina smothered a Lichtsteiner effort, but Buffon again came to the rescue by fingertipping Ghoulam’s free kick on to the crossbar. Mirko Vucinic was the final substitution in place of an unhappy Osvaldo and immediately curled off target. The visitors were having a lot more possession in the second half and Vucinic knocked down a cross for Claudio Marchisio, but it was just over his head. Ghoulam needed a well-timed sliding tackle to block Isla as he was pulling the trigger inside the penalty area. AMAZONIAN Juve were dominating now and Hamsik sprung the offside trap from a Pandev slide-rule pass only to scuff his finish at Buffon. Dries Mertens came off the bench and scored with a classic route one game. It was a Reina long throw from a corner, Pandev’s cross-field pass and Mertens held off Marchisio to smash an angled drive across Buffon into the far bottom corner. The Belgium international had only been on the field for a couple of minutes. There were six minutes of stoppages, mainly due to a pause for bottles being thrown while Pirlo was trying to take a corner. Reina rushed off his line to anticipate Vidal, while Insigne set up Mertens to balloon over. Vidal was booked for simulation when he dragged his foot looking for Blerim Dzemaili’s leg in the box and did not protest the decision. AMAZONIAN Napoli: Reina; Henrique, Fernandez, Albiol, Ghoulam; Inler, Jorginho; Insigne, Hamsik (Mertens 79), Callejon (Dzemaili 89); Higuain (Pandev 73) Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba (Marchisio 60), Asamoah (Isla 53); Llorente, Osvaldo (Vucinic 69) Ref: Orsato http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

NAPOLI 2 - 0 JUVENTUS José Callejón (37′) Dries Mertens (81′) March 30, 2014 - 8:45 PM San Paolo Stadium — Naples Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 42000‎ Callejon and Mertens keep Serie A title race alive The Spaniard's first-half finish and the Belgian winger's clinical second ensure the Bianconeri's lead at the top of the table remains at 11 points. Mar 30, 2014 Napoli ensured the Serie A title race will remain alive for a while longer after Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens gave them a 2-0 win over Juventus on Sunday. AMAZONIAN The Spaniard prodded home from close range in the first half to put the hosts in front, although he was fortunate to escape an offside flag following Lorenzo Insigne's cross. Mertens sealed the win in the closing minutes with a well-taken finish to leave Juve's lead at the top at 11 points following Roma's win over Sassuolo. The defending champions went into the match on the back of seven straight wins in the league and Inter's record points total of 97 looked very much in their sights, but Napoli's commanding display and win has put that in doubt. AMAZONIAN Defeat for Juve - only their second in Serie A in 2013-14 - means their lead at the top of the table stands at 11 points after Roma won earlier in the day at Sassuolo, but Antonio Conte's men remain very much in line to secure a third successive title. Conte's counterpart Rafael Benitez made the point of highlighting the two sides' differing revenues in the build-up and Juve's financial firepower was encapsulated by Italy international Pablo Daniel Osvaldo replacing the suspended Carlos Tevez in attack. However, it was the hosts who looked more dangerous in the early stages and Buffon produced a crucial save after just six minutes, parrying away Callejon's close-range flick. AMAZONIAN Marek Hamsik had a goal disallowed for offside a few moments later, but went close to netting legitimately in the 10th minute as Buffon acrobatically tipped his effort over following Henrique's cut-back. The visitors finally tested Pepe Reina with 25 minutes on the clock, but he collected Stephan Lichtsteiner's tame left-footed shot with ease. Juve's attacking threat continued to dwindle and they found themselves behind in the 37th minute, as Callejon directed Lorenzo Insigne's deep cross past Buffon, despite appearing to be offside. AMAZONIAN After an inept first-half performance, Juve offered a little more from an attacking perspective in the second period, but Napoli still looked dangerous on the break and solid at the back. Despite their improvement, Juve had to rely on Buffon once again to keep them in the game in the 60th minute, with the veteran palming Faouzi Ghoulam's free kick on to the roof of the goal. Hamsik should have wrapped up the three points with 12 minutes to go as hit a gentle effort at Buffon, but Mertens made sure a few moments later, latching on to Goran Pandev's lofted pass before rifling into the net to secure a 2-0 win. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Goal di Mertens.

Ecco il pubblico napoletano in azione. 0-2 a tavolino.

Vucinic in campo