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UDINESE - JUVENTUS April 14, 2014 - 8:45 PM Friuli Stadium — Udine Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Udinese-Juventus Preview: Bianconeri hoping to restore giant lead at the top Antonio Conte's men are looking to restore their eight point lead over Roma but face one of their most difficult remaining fixtures. Apr 13, 2014 Juventus visit Udinese on Monday hoping to become the first away side to win at Stadio Friuli since January. Udinese may sit 14th in the table but they are unbeaten in their last seven home matches in all competitions. That run has involved five wins, including triumphs against Fiorentina and Milan, and Juve, who top the league by five points with a game in hand in their bid for a third successive title, will need to be at their best. Antonio Conte's men have looked comfortable at the summit for much of the second half of the campaign, but the second-placed Roma have shown no signs of conceding defeat in the title race by going on a run of seven consecutive victories. The top two are scheduled to meet on May 9, but Conte will be keen to wrap up the title before that showdown. Monday's trip to Udinese is arguably the most difficult of their matches between now and the fixture at the Stadio Olimpico, with Bologna and Atalanta to face at home and a trip to strugglers Sassuolo. Former Udinese man Mauricio Isla knows the challenge Juve will face against Francesco Guidolin's side. "It will be a tough match, because even though Udinese are no longer what they were two years ago, they have important players like Di Natale, Roberto Pereyra, Luis Muriel…and they also give 100 per cent whenever they face Juve," he told JTV. "We'll have to be on our guard and play in the way we know how, because it's important to win when you're six games from the end." And Chilean Isla expressed his gratitude to Udinese, whom he left for Juve in 2012. "I'm grateful to Udinese for all that they gave me. I spent some fantastic years there, it was a happy time and it's thanks to that experience that I'm now part of the best team in Italy," he added. Juve will be concerned with the fitness of Arturo Vidal, who revealed he was suffering with a knee problem after being withdrawn during Thursday's 2-1 Europa League win over Lyon, which sealed their place in the semi-finals, where they will face Benfica. Carlos Tevez is still battling a thigh problem, and has been substituted in his last three games, while defender Andrea Barzagli (calf) continues to struggle. Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu is suspended for Udinese. Head to Head Serie A ‎- Dec 1, 2013 - Juventus 1 - 0 Udinese Serie A -‎ Jan 19, 2013 - Juventus 4 - 0 Udinese Serie A ‎-‎ Sep 2, 2012 - Udinese 1 - 4 Juventus Serie A ‎-‎ Jan 28, 2012 - Juventus 2 - 1 Udinese Serie A ‎- Dec 21, 2011 - Udinese 0 - 0 Juventus Last Five Matches UDINESE Apr 6, 2014 - Fiorentina 2 - 1 Udinese - Serie A Mar 31, 2014 - Udinese 1 - 0 Catania - Serie A Mar 27, 2014 - FC Internazionale 0 - 0 Udinese - Serie A Mar 23, 2014 - Udinese 1 - 0 Sassuolo - Serie A Mar 17, 2014 - Roma 3 - 2 Udinese - Serie A JUVENTUS Apr 10, 2014 - Juventus 2 - 1 Olympique Lyonnais - EL Apr 7, 2014 - Juventus 2 - 0 Livorno - Serie A Apr 3, 2014 - Olympique Lyonnais 0 - 1 Juventus - EL Mar 30, 2014 - SSC Napoli 2 - 0 Juventus - Serie A Mar 26, 2014 - Juventus 2 - 1 Parma - Serie A http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

UDINESE - JUVENTUS April 14, 2014 - 8:45 PM Friuli Stadium — Udine Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Udinese v Juventus– Team News, Tactics, Line-ups And Prediction Apr 13, 2014 With only 38 points from 32 games and currently sitting in 14th place, Udinese are having a mediocre season to say the least. Entering 2014 with six wins, Udinese have registered only five wins since then and a total of sixteen losses this season paints a picture of gloom for a club who won plaudits in the past few years for maintaining a healthy model of buying cheap and selling them for profit yet managing to do reasonably well in the league. Udinese patron Giampaolo Pozzo will be counting on the new stadium (The project has set a completion date of the 2014-15 season) which will no doubt give them and their fans something positive to look forward to. One of the biggest problems Udinese had for the last few seasons is the lack of comparable substitutes; while their starting lineup is decent, they do not have the depth to fill in once injuries inevitably plague the team. Despite playing the worst season in recent history, Udinese did not feel necessary to make any changes to their disaster of a squad. The Zebrette look on course to match their performance of 2009-10 season where they finished a lowly 15th. Udinese have managed only 35 goals this season and as expected Antonio Di Natale is once again their top scorer with 11 goals which by his standards is a paltry return. Fresh from their midweek victory over Lyon and the subsequent qualification to the semi-finals of the Europa League, Juventus will be looking to keep up their winning habit as we approach the business end of this season. With Roma winning on Saturday, the Bianconeri will be aiming for three points to restore their eight-point lead at the top of the table. Juventus are unbeaten against Udinese under the stewardship of Antonio Conte and they would be looking to extend this run on Monday evening. Team News and Tactical Brief UDINESE Udinese coach Guidolin will field a 3-5-1-1 formation with teenage sensation Simone Scuffet on goal. Scuffet has been the only major talking point for Udinese in what has been a woeful season for them. Danilo will be marshaling the three men defence. The Brazilian has done reasonably well but he will have to be on the top of his game to neutralize the in-form Fernando Llorente. He is expected to be joined by inexperienced Croat Igor Bubnjic and Frenchman Thomas Heurtaux. Left fullback Gabriel Silva has had a good season so far and is rumored to be on Inter Milan’s wish list for next season. He will be looking to stretch Lichtsteiner with his pace and direct runs. In the middle of the park Allan Marques is the creative outlet for Udinese along with Andrea Lazzari and a lot will depend on how they can dictate the play against a strong Juventus midfield. On the right, Dusan Basta will be looking to trouble Asamoah who will have to keep a check on his darting runs. The midfield trident will be completed by the Argentine Roberto Pereyra who has been a bright spot in the team this year and will be looking to put up a good display against the club who are reportedly interested in his signature. Age finally seems to be catching up with Antonio Di Natale whose performances have lacked the sharpness so far this term. Di Natale has managed 11 goals this season including the winner against Milan few weeks back but his overall game looks a bit rusty. He delivered a lively performance in the reverse fixture where he was denied only by the heroics of Buffon. Udinese will be hoping that Di Natale has a simliar outing on Monday as well. Portuguese teenager Bruno Fernandes is expected to start behind him in attack. Having scored 3 goals in 12 appearances, Fernandes has looked quite lively in the games he has started so far and has drawn comparisons with the legendary Rui Costa. Possible starting XI (3-5-1-1): Scuffet; Heurtaux, Danilo, Bubnjic, Silva; Lazzari, Allan; Basta, Pereyra, Fernandes; Di Natale JUVENTUS Juventus will lineup in their tried and tested 3-5-2 formation with Gianluigi Buffon in goal. The trio of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Martin Caceres (tenth successive game as a starter) will make their ninth consecutive start at the back. The emergency situation in defence after the injuries to Andrea Barzagli and Angelo Ogbonna has not been felt thanks to the solid displays of these three who ensured that Juventus came out unscathed from a congested fixture list with minor hiccups. The fullback positions will be taken by Stephan Lichtsteiner and ex-Udinese man Kwado Asamoah. Arturo Vidal complained about a thigh strain after the midweek game so he is expected to sit out this game. Paul Pogba will start after his midweek rest and he is expected to be partnered in midfield by the two goal scorers against Lyon: Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio. Fernando Llorente finally got on the scoresheet after a barren run of eight games and is expected to build on his confident display. He will be partnered by Carlos Tevez as Conte has decided to go in with his first choice pair upfront. Possible Starting XI (3-5-2): Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba, Lichtsteiner, Asamoah; Llorente, Tevez Players to Watch Out For Roberto Pereyra (Udinese) The impressive Argentine has been one of the brightest spots this season for Udinese and the Furlans will be hoping for a similar show from him as they host the champions this week. Roberto Pereyra has won plenty of admirers this season including Juventus and he will be looking to put up a confident show in front of his suitors on Monday. Fernando Llorente (Juventus) The Spaniard will be looking to continue his goal-scoring run here. He already has fond memories of this fixture as he headed in the winner last time these two teams faced each other. Apart from goals, Llorente will be looking to act as a fulcrum for his teammates to dislodge the opponents challenge. Prediction Udinese 0–2 Juventus This should be a comfortable victory for the visitors without too much fuss. Udinese do not look equipped enough to possess an answer to the questions thrown at them and could find the Juventus pressure overwhelming. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

UDINESE - JUVENTUS April 14, 2014 - 8:45 PM Friuli Stadium — Udine Referee: Nicola Rizzoli MATCH PREVIEW Apr 12, 2014 With the title in sight, Juventus travel to Udinese on Monday for one of their toughest remaining fixtures. Antonio Conte’s side are closing in on a third straight Scudetto. For the young tactician, the aim will be to secure the title before Juventus face nearest rivals Roma in Week 37. That can be achieved with a run of four consecutive victories. On paper, Udinese are Juventus’ most challenging opponent in the lead up to a potential showdown at the Stadio Olimpico. Should the Old Lady negotiate the Zebrette, then just Bologna, Sassuolo and Atalanta will stand between her and the Scudetto. While that run of fixtures appears favourable, Udinese have the potential to complicate matters. They may not have had the kind of superhuman campaign that otherwise has come to be expected from them, but their recent form at the Stadio Friuli is impressive. Last season, they lost just once at home, but with the stadium under reconstruction, the atmosphere has lacked its usual intensity. As a result, performances have suffered, though their last five outings in Udine have yielded four wins and four clean sheets. Further cause for optimism is provided by Juventus’s physical condition. Progression to the latter stages of the Europa League has stretched a tiring squad. Suspensions and injuries to the likes of Andrea Barzagli haven’t helped, but Juve appeared a bit laboured in Thursday’s 2-1 victory against Lyon, as noted by midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah, “Physically we’re not in great shape, so we had to make the ball work for us. We are playing every three or four days, so it’s not easy.” Conte is expected to make three changes to face Udinese, with Fernando Llorente, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Paul Pogba coming back in. Barzagli, however, is still out, as is Simone Pepe. Conte’s opposite number Francesco Guidolin will also be forced into some alterations. Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu is suspended, so Andrea Lazzari is expected to start, while Antonio Di Natale and Dusan Basta also return. Keep an eye on: Simone Scuffet (Udinese) - The 17 year-old has been one of the revelations of the season. His calm and composed nature are more befitting of a veteran. Scuffet has performed heroics to secure results against the likes of Internazionale and Milan in recent weeks and will likely need to do some once more if Udinese are to dent Juventus’s Scudetto challenge. Form Guide: Udinese (L W D W L) Juventus (W W W L W) Last season: Udinese 1-4 Juventus Stat fact: Udinese and Juventus have drawn the fewest games in Serie A this season. UDINESE (probable): Scuffet; Heurtaux, Danilo, Bubnjic; Basta, Lazzari, Allan, Pereyra, Gabriel Silva; Fernandes; Di Natale JUVENTUS (probable): Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Llorente, Tevez http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

UDINESE - JUVENTUS April 14, 2014 - 8:45 PM Friuli Stadium — Udine Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Conte to end media blackout Apr 12, 2014 Antonio Conte will give his first pre-match Press conference in three months ahead of Udinese-Juventus. The tie kicks off on Monday at 20.45 CET. Conte had not spoken to the media before a Serie A game since the meeting with Sampdoria in January, insisting the media questions would only distract the team. However, in a surprise move the club announced that Conte will be sitting down at a Press conference on Sunday and taking questions from the gathered media. The Coach had been speaking to journalists after games and was contractually obliged to hold conferences before Europa League ties, but otherwise had avoided the Press. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Marchisio: 'Juve aren't tired' Apr 12, 2014 Claudio Marchisio insists Juventus “have plenty of energy left” as they go for the Scudetto-Europa League Double. The Bianconeri are eight points clear at the top of the Serie A table and will face Benfica in the semi-final. “Juve have plenty of energy left,” assured the midfielder on Sky Sport Italia. “I am not just saying that because of all the fitness tests we’ve done recently. You can tell we’re in good shape, especially in recent outings, despite some criticism on our style of football. “Our team doesn’t run many risks and is clinical, which means over the last year we have matured a great deal.” Arturo Vidal is likely to be rested against Udinese on Monday evening due to a knee problem.

Buffon on Juve and Italy Apr 12, 2014 Gigi Buffon warns the Scudetto race “isn’t over yet” and has high hopes for Italy at the World Cup. The Juventus goalkeeper spoke to Radio 105 today and insisted an eight-point gap at the top of the Serie A table isn’t insurmountable. “The tournament isn’t over yet and Roma are proving themselves to be a very strong side playing a fantastic season,” said Buffon. “We want to win the Europa League, yes, but also the Serie A title.” There are going to be many Bianconeri stars in Italy’s World Cup squad flying to Brazil. “If we all give our best, then we can really achieve something there. We are not favourites, obviously, but we can have our say.”

Balotelli could be crucial to Italy World Cup bid, says Pirlo The veteran midfielder believes every player will be a key part of the Azzurri's campaign in Brazil but feels Balotelli could have a huge role this summer. Apr 12, 2014 Andrea Pirlo believes Italy's bid to win the World Cup could depend on the form of AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli. Balotelli was an integral part of Italy's unbeaten qualifying campaign, scoring five goals, and the 23-year-old will be looked upon to help Italy through a tricky World Cup group featuring Uruguay, England and Costa Rica. Experienced Juventus midfielder Pirlo feels the form of Balotelli could be crucial to Italy's success, but warned that the whole squad will have to be at their best. "We know it's a difficult group, but I really like the atmosphere in Brazil," he said in an interview with La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "Do we depend on Mario Balotelli? Partly yes, but we are all important to the cause. Mario is old enough now, so he doesn’t need advice any more. "He just needs to focus on finding his form in the summer, concentrate on the football and leave the rest alone."

Pirlo: I've not even thought about retirement The Italy international recently signed a contract extension until the summer of 2016 but he says that he could easily play on for a few more years after that. Apr 12, 2014 Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo insists that he has not yet given "the slightest thought" to retirement. The Italy international, who will turn 35 in May, signed a two-year contract extension with the Bianconeri in January. It has been speculated that Pirlo will hang up his boots when his new deal expires in the summer of 2016 but he says that he intends to continue playing for as long as he feels sharp, both physically and mentally. "I have not given even the slightest thought to the date of my retirement," Pirlo told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "And I won't - not as long as I have this strength and this desire." Pirlo admitted that he is currently motivated by the prospect of winning a league-and-cup double, with Antonio Conte's men currently eight points clear at the top of Serie A and set to face Benfica in the last four of the Europa League, the final of which will be staged at Juventus Stadium. "We always wanted to go as far as possible in the Europa League, driven by the possibility of a final in Torino," the midfielder explained. "The cup is not a distraction. We want it as much as the Scudetto. "At this point, though, every squad that remains in the Europa League is as strong as the other. They are all formidable opponents. "But Benfica have done will to get here. They have had a great season and, technically, they are well equipped."

UDINESE - JUVENTUS April 14, 2014 - 8:45 PM Friuli Stadium — Udine Referee: Nicola Rizzoli ‘If Buffon says Scuffet is ready…’ Apr 11, 2014 Francesco Guidolin is satisfied that Simone Scuffet is ready to go to the World Cup, if Gianluigi Buffon says so. The Italy No 1 has already issued his public support for the Udinese 17-year-old to make Cesare Prandelli’s 23-man squad to go to Brazil this summer, and the Zebrette Coach isn’t disagreeing. “If Buffon says Scuffet is ready for the World Cup, that’s good enough for me,” Guidolin has told reporters this week. “I like the Juventus goalkeeper - he is smart, he always shows his face and he is wise. “Scuffet is amazing, the son every parent would want to have. I do not think that will change and he is a guy who has received an excellent education. “I see him as a guy with great prospects and firm values.” Guidolin, whose Udinese will host Juve on Monday night, was asked about the speculation over his future at the club beyond the end of this season. “The first thing to do is to consider that everyone is under discussion, starting with the Coach, especially in the season finale which is the part of the season which you remember the most. “If you feel challenged then it means that you are motivated and this is the first step. “We will be professional until the end, I want maximum effort, concentration and determination. “I believe that the group has a chance to get a points total of between 45 and 50 points in the League.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Llorente: Juventus will play Spanish team in final Apr 11, 2014 Juventus striker Fernando Llorente was in high spirits immediately after the announcement that the Bianconeri would meet Benfica in the semi-finals of the Europa League. With Sevilla and Valencia making up the remaining four hopefuls for this seasons competition the Spanish international admitted that he would have liked to have returned to his homeland with the Old Lady. “I just saw the draw. I would like to play in Spain, but we will play the final against a Spanish team. Forza Juve!,” Llorente wrote on Twitter. The 29-year-old left Athletic Bilbao during the summer for Turin and has formed an impressive partnership with fellow new signing Carlos Tevez and has contributed 15 goals in his 36 appearances in all competitions this term.

Marotta dismisses Pogba-PSG Link: Juventus would reject €70 million The Bianconeri official has dismissed talk of the 21-year-old leaving Turin, insisting that he is confident of persuading the midfielder to sign a contract extension. Apr 11, 2014 Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta has rejected rumours of a possible deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Paul Pogba, claiming the club would reject the reported €70 million on the table for the France international. The 21-year-old enjoyed a fine first half to the season but his poor form since January has sparked speculation that he has had his head turned by PSG's reported interest in signing him this summer. Marotta, though, insists that there is no truth in stories that Juve have already agreed to sell the midfielder for €70 million. "The rumours about the transfer of Pogba to PSG have no foundation," he told La Repubblica. "We want to keep Paul and prolong his contract. "It's true that €70 million would be an attractive figure, but Juventus is a club that always aims to win trophies. “In the past, these kind of sacrifices have been made - for example, we sold Zidane to take Buffon and Nedved - but this is not the case. “Anyway, today we do not have a concrete proposal, so there is nothing to talk about.” With Juve currently eight points clear at the top of Serie A, Marotta admitted that he is hoping that Antonio Conte's men pull off a league and cup double by winning the Europa League at Juventus Stadium on May 14. He said: “A third consecutive title would go into history and as for the cup, the final in our stadium gives us even more reason to honour this competition.”

Chiellini: Juventus one step away from dream final The prospect of playing a major final in front of their own fans is driving Antonio Conte's men on, according to the Italy international defender. Apr 11, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini and Juventus are now dreaming of playing in the Europa League final at their own stadium after Thursday's victory over Olympique Lyonnais. Already a goal to the good after last week's first leg in France, the Serie A leaders secured their progression to the semi-finals with a 2-1 victory in Turin on Thursday. Juve join Benfica, Sevilla and Valencia in the last four and Chiellini admits reaching next month's final, which is being held at Juventus Stadium, is driving Antonio Conte's men forward. "We are very satisfied," the Juventus defender told Sky Sport Italia. "But the only thing that interests me is coming back here in May for the final. "We want to play the final on our turf, as it's something that might never happen again in the history of this club. "It's too important to miss out on." Andrea Pirlo's fourth-minute free kick put Juventus on their way to victory, and although Jimmy Briand levelled soon after, the Italian champions secured their progression thanks to Claudio Marchisio's deflected strike in the second half. Chiellini admitted Juventus could have played better but felt over the 180 minutes they rightly booked a place in the last four. "At times people take Juventus success for granted but we saw that over two legs Lyon played to the death, man-marked us for 180 minutes and it becomes difficult to score in those circumstances," the 29-year-old said. "We did well to take our chances, though perhaps lost some sharpness during the second period of the first half. That came back after the break and I thought we deserved qualification."

Pogba: 'Future? We'll see' Apr 10, 2014 Paul Pogba was non-committal on his Juventus future after they reached the Europa League semi-final. The French midfielder is negotiating a contract renewal and remains at the centre of transfer gossip with Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and even Manchester United interested. “I am not thinking about that, as I am focused only on the pitch,” he told Mediaset. “Juventus want to keep me at all costs? That makes me happy. I am thinking only about doing well on the field, then we’ll see.” Pogba was speaking to the media after a 2-1 victory over Lyon, 3-1 on aggregate. “We played against a strong team, but fortunately we won and went through to the next phase. Now we have to focus on the next Serie A game, then the Europa League semi-final.”

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Garde: 'Juve are superior' Apr 10, 2014 Lyon Coach Remi Garde conceded “the best team won” after a 3-1 aggregate Europa League defeat to Juventus. “I have no regrets for this game, though maybe for the first leg,” he said in his Press conference. “The three goals were a little unusual. Andrea Pirlo’s free kick was marvellous, but we conceded in the first leg at the 85th minute and today Claudio Marchisio scored with a deflection. “I would’ve preferred Juve to show their superiority with better goals, but we cannot have regrets really. The best team won. “At half-time we thought that we were getting close to a huge achievement, because we only needed to score one more goal and knew we’d have chances after the break. “There are always regrets when you go out of a competition, but we have to recognise Juve’s superiority, even if over the two legs we didn’t see that much difference between the teams. I must say I’m proud of my players.” Garde also pointed out Lyon came close to causing an upset despite a series of injuries. “What were we missing? Maybe half of our team, even if I can’t complain about those who played tonight. We would’ve had other solutions in recent games and perhaps reached this tie with fresher legs.”

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Conte: 'Nothing easy for Juve' Apr 10, 2014 Antonio Conte snapped at those who “think everything is easy just because we are Juventus” after reaching the Europa League semi-final. The Bianconeri become the first Italian side to reach a European semi-final since Fiorentina in 2007-08, having beaten Lyon 2-1 on the night, 3-1 on aggregate. The other semi-finalists are Benfica, Sevilla and Valencia, who crushed Basel 5-0 in extra time. “I think that when we reach these levels, we meet excellent teams who are well organised,” the Coach told Mediaset. “It’s not that just because we are called Juventus we are greeted by a red carpet ushering us through to certain victory. “Anyone who thinks everything is easy just because we are Juventus is deeply wrong. There is always a journey to go through. “This season, even though the competition is different, we are still having an important journey in Europe. Juventus hadn’t reached this phase in Europe for 10 years.” Carlos Tevez again failed to score, as his goal drought in UEFA competitions stretches back to 2009. “I am happy because he played a very good game. Now we are going into a very important match against Udinese. “We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground and not forget three years ago this team wasn’t even in the Europa League. “We have won a great deal over the last two years and are protagonists this season too. The fans must stay close to the team for 90 minutes and I hope this can happen, so we never forget the past. “We cared about reaching this objective and hope all of Italy can be happy with it. We represent Italy and that has to bring satisfaction, as there hadn’t been a European semi-finalist for six years.” Conte elaborated on this point in a later interview with Sky Sport Italia. "Nobody gives a damn about the UEFA ranking in Italy. They are either Juventini or anti-Juventini. Let's not beat around the bush, it's a question of local pride. We wouldn't expect Juve to support Inter, so we're not so hypocritical as to say we want Inter fans to cheer on Juventus. "What happened on the goal? We fell asleep. It's that simple. We thought it was going to be easy. I want everyone to remember it's always a battle and we have to keep pushing. I am referring to the crowd too, as they should always support this team. I didn't like the crowd much tonight. "As for the semi-finalists, I'd say Benfica are the strongest opponents we could get in the draw tomorrow."

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Pirlo: 'A mini-Champions League' Apr 10, 2014 Andrea Pirlo explained his favourite free kick technique and said the Europa League is “a mini-Champions League.” The midfielder curled another trademark set piece in during the 2-1 win over Lyon, which sent Juventus through to the semi-finals. “This is a fortunate period for me and I hope it continues,” Pirlo told Sky Sport Italia. “I try to vary the free kicks. In the first leg I was unlucky, as the wall jumped except for one player whose foot got in the way. This time I decided to go over the wall. “The most enjoyable is always over the wall. It’s a classic and I’ve been doing those since I was a kid.” Benfica, Sevilla and Valencia are the other semi-finalists and the draw is on Friday. “These are three strong teams who are accustomed to the Champions League, so we can say this is like a mini-Champions League. We’ll wait to see who we get tomorrow in the draw.”

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Asamoah: 'Juve not in great shape' Apr 10, 2014 Kwadwo Asamoah confirmed Juventus are “physically not in great shape” and lost their focus against Lyon. The Bianconeri won 2-1 on the night, 3-1 on aggregate, to reach the Europa League semi-final. “It was very important for us, as it wasn’t easy. We saw in tonight’s game that it was not simple against an opponent like Lyon, who played better than in the first leg,” the Ghanaian told Sky Sport Italia. “We were able to do some of the things we studied in training. The tempo lowered a little and we lost concentration on the corner, so that’s where the game changed a bit. “We kept our calm and moved the ball around patiently to keep possession, as physically we’re not in great shape, so we had to make the ball work for us. “We are playing every three or four days, so it’s not easy.”

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Chiellini criticises Juve crowd Apr 10, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini criticised the fans at the Juventus Stadium for their reactions during the Europa League win over Lyon. “We are very satisfied,” he told Sky Sport Italia after a 2-1 victory, 3-1 on aggregate. “At times people take Juventus success for granted, but we saw that over two legs Lyon played to the death, man-marked us for 180 minutes and it becomes difficult to score in those circumstances. “We did well to take our chances, though perhaps lost some sharpness during the second period of the first half. That came back after the break and I thought we deserved qualification. “We got a little swept along by the crowd, as when we were 1-0 up they acted as if we were meant to go forward and win 4-0. “As soon as the equaliser went in, they started grumbling and that can really hurt confidence, create frustration and prompt us to lose our sharpness. That’s when passes are misplaced and we are under pressure.” When asked who he’d prefer to face in the semi-final, Chiellini shrugged off the question. “The only thing that interests me is coming back here in May for the Final. We want to play the Final on our turf, as it’s something that might never happen again in the history of this club. It’s too important to miss out on.”

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Marchisio: 'It wasn't easy' Apr 10, 2014 “It wasn’t easy to reach the semi-final of the Europa League,” said Claudio Marchisio after Juventus beat Lyon. The midfielder got the second goal in a 2-1 victory in Turin, securing passage 3-1 on aggregate. “It wasn’t easy to reach the semi-final of the Europa League. We started well tonight, then conceded an equaliser,” Marchisio told Mediaset. “My goal was fortunate, but now we will play the semi. Our objectives are to keep going to the end in every competition.” Carlos Tevez had scored today, but his European goal drought continues after five years because it was flagged offside. “The important thing is that we win and that the team wins. Tevez is a great champion and he proves that when he doesn’t score too. “Our team has grown also thanks to Tevez.”

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Garde: Lyon came close to upsetting Juventus The coach was impressed with his side's efforts over the two legs, saying there was not too much between the two sides despite the superior talent at the Old Lady's disposal. Apr 10, 2014 Remi Garde praised his Olympique Lyonnais players despite their elimination from the Europa League at the hands of Juventus on Thursday. The Ligue 1 underdogs lost 2-1 in Turin to exit the competition 3-1 on aggregate, although they were within one goal of progression for 50 minutes of action courtesy of Jimmy Briand's equaliser on the night. Garde was proud that his side had kept the tie competitive until Samuel Umtiti’s own goal midway through the second half at Juventus Stadium eventually killed off any hopes of progression. “I must say I am proud of my players,” the Lyon boss told reporters. “At half-time we thought that we were getting close to a huge achievement because we only needed to score one more goal and we knew we would have chances after the break. “It is always disappointing when you go out of a competition, but we have to recognise Juve’s superiority - even if over the two legs we did not see that much difference between the teams.” Clearly reluctant to speak negatively about his side’s exploits over the two legs, Garde said the most frustrating element had been losing a goal so late to Leonardo Bonucci in the first leg, which made his side’s task more difficult. He continued: “I have no regrets for this game - maybe for the first leg. “The three goals we conceded were unusual. Andrea Pirlo’s free kick was marvellous, but we conceded in the first leg after 85 minutes and today Claudio Marchisio scored with a deflection. “I would have rather Juve showed their superiority over us by having to score better goals, but we cannot honestly have too many regrets.” Lyon return to action on Sunday when they face the first of two meetings in as many weeks against French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Conte: Rest of Italy wants Juventus eliminated from Europa League Even though a Bianconeri triumph would do wonders for the nation's falling coefficient, the coach says that it would be naive to think that everyone will support the Old Lady. Apr 10, 2014 Antonio Conte has dismissed the notion that everyone in Italy will be hoping that Juventus win the Europa League for the good of the domestic game, claiming that nobody in the country cares about the Uefa ranking. The Bianconeri progressed to the last four of the tournament on Thursday night, defeating Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 in Turin to go through 3-1 on aggregate. When it was put to Conte during his post-game interview on Sky Sport Italia that it was a good result for Italian football in terms of the country's Uefa coefficient, which has fallen dramatically over the past five years, the coach countered: "In Italy nobody cares about the ranking. Everyone else wants us eliminated. "People are either Juventini or anti-Juventini. Let's not beat around the bush: it's a question of local pride. "We wouldn't expect Juve to support Inter, so we won't be hypocritical by saying that we want Inter fans to cheer on Juve." Andrea Pirlo opened the scoring in Turin with a fourth-minute free kick but Jimmy Briand equalised soon after with a header and the hosts were ultimately indebted to a deflected Claudio Marchisio strike for sealing their place in the final four. Conte admitted afterwards that he had been distinctly underwhelmed by what he felt was a sense of complacency among both his players and the club's fans. "We fell asleep for Lyon's goal," Conte fumed. "It's that simple. We thought it was going to be easy. "I want everyone to remember it's always a battle and we have to keep pushing. "I'm referring to the crowd too, as they should always support this team. I didn't like the crowd that much tonight." The Uefa coefficient determines the seedings and amount of European places allocated to a country. Italy currently sit fourth, well behind leaders Spain, England and Germany, but only just ahead of Portugal.

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Marchisio: Juventus 'a little lucky' against Lyon The Bianconeri needed a deflected goal from the Italy international midfielder to belatedly break the resistance of the Ligue 1 outfit. Apr 10, 2014 Claudio Marchisio admitted that Juventus had been "a little lucky" in their Europa League victory over Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday night. A goal up from the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Gerland, the Bianconeri looked poised to coast into the last four when Andrea Pirlo broke the deadlock after just four minutes of play in Turin with a trademark free kick. However, Jimmy Briand dragged Lyon right back into it with his 18th-minute header and Juve needed a deflected effort from Marchisio midway through the second half to finally break their French foes' game resistance. "We absolutely knew that it would not be easy to reach the semi-finals," the midfielder told Sky Sport Italia. "We started very well. Then, however, we suffered a little setback when they equalised. "It's clear that my goal was a little lucky, but now we will go forward and fight right until the end with our intent to complete our objectives." Star striker Carlos Tevez once again failed to find the net for Juve in Europe this season, meaning it is still five years since the Argentine netted in continental competition. However, Marchisio insisted that the Argentine, who had a goal disallowed for offside, had played his part in the Old Lady's progression to the semi-finals. "The important thing is that the team wins," the Italy international mused. "In these cases, it's not necessary to focus on individuals. "Carlos is a great champion who helps the team greatly even when he doesn't score. His presence this season has helped us to grow in so many ways."

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Player Ratings Goal was on hand to see Juventus march into the last four, with a phenomenal Andrea Pirlo free-kick helping the hosts on their way to an unconvincing victory against Les Gones. Apr 10, 2014 JUVENTUS Gianluigi Buffon - Perhaps could have done better with Briand's goalscoring header, but the veteran made a couple of reasonable stops to beat away powerful strikes. Martín Cáceres - The Uruguayan, aided by Isla, made it difficult for Bedimo and Mvuemba to enjoy themselves down the left hand side as they did in the first leg. Leonardo Bonucci - Looked to have a mild injury complaint, but the central defender was willing to break out of the defensive line and supply Juventus' attack when Pirlo was marked. Giorgio Chiellini - A solid performance from the Italy international, who used his power and physicality to barely give Briand a sniff throughout. Mauricio Isla - The Chile international offered plenty of width and worked very hard defensively, but his touch and delivery let him down in advanced areas. Claudio Marchisio - The box-to-box midfielder injected plenty of energy, with his long-range effort being fortunately deflected beyond Lopes via a deflection off Umtiti. ANDREA PIRLO - The veteran midfielder curled in a delicious fourth minute free-kick, leaving Anthony Lopes like a statue. Calm and composed in possession, looking to kick-start Juve attacks whenever possible. Arturo Vidal - Didn't manage to carve out any opportunities for himself, but tracked back well to fulfill his defensive responsibilities in the first half. Kwadwo Asamoah - The Ghanaian wing-back was vibrant throughout, tracking back when needed, but also had the beating of young full-back Tolisso. Mirko Vučinić - The Montenegrin fed Tevez with a couple of smart flicks, but was generally anonymous. Rightfully replaced by Llorente in the second half. Carlos Tévez - The Argentine forward was a man on a mission for break his European goal drought, going on excellent driving runs with regularity. Unlucky to have an excellent header ruled out for offside. Substitutions Paul Pogba - The French midfielder didn't have a great deal to do, but held his position well and was a threat in Lyon's box from set pieces. Sebastian Giovinco - The diminutive striker was a handful, using his speed to get beyond Umtiti on several occasions, but his shooting let him down. Fernando Llorente - The Spaniard acted as a focal point for Juventus, knocking down several good balls for the likes of Tevez and Giovinco. OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS Anthony Lopes - The Portuguese goalkeeper made a couple of smart stops, but could do nothing to deny Pirlo's free-kick, nor Marchisio's deflected shot. Corentin Tolisso - The young full-back was beaten by Asamoah several times early on, but did press forward positively and break to the byeline on occasion. Baky Kone - Impressive aerially and made a number of important clearances to hook dangerous crosses away from the likes of Tevez. Samuel Umtiti - Unfortunate to be the man whose block sent Marchisio's shot beyond Anthony Lopes, but the youngster was otherwise a solid physical presence. H. Bedimo - Pressed forward whenever possible and tracked back excellent to deny Tevez on two occasions. Steed Malbranque - An excellent showing from the experienced Frenchman, who pressed Pirlo well, as well as getting in between the lines effectively for his side. Jordan Ferri - Bright in the first half, always looking to keep the ball moving and open up the pitch, but faded after the break. Maxime Gonalons - Tried his luck on one occasion from range, forcing Buffon into a good save. Tenacious and battling midfield showing. Arnold Mvuemba - Tested Buffon with a free-kick attempt, whipping in several good crosses, including the assist for Briand's header. Dangerous on his left foot. Jimmy Briand - His goal gave Lyon hope, diverting a header onto the inside of the post, beating Buffon. Otherwise a fairly quiet showing. Alexandre Lacazette - The prolific forward showed moments of brilliance, with nice skill to get beyond Chiellini in the second half. His shooting was very poor. Substitutions Bafetimbi Gomis - The physical striker didn't receive any service whatsoever, failing to have an impact on proceedings. Clinton NJie - His pace and quick feet caused Asamoah and Chiellini a couple of problems down the right flank, winning a couple of corners for his side.

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Bianconeri Into Final Four Apr 10, 2014 Juventus defeated Lyon 2-1 at the Juventus Stadium in the Europa League Second-Leg Quarter Final, a result which meant the Italian side go into the semi-finals thanks to a 3-1 aggregate scoreline. Andrea Pirlo’s free kick opened the scoring for Juventus early in the match, before Jimmy Briand levelled for Lyon, but Claudio Marchisio’s deflected effort separated the teams on the night. The game started with a bang with Carlos Tevez curling just over Anthony Lopes’ crossbar from 25 yards after easily sidestepping Bakary Kone. The frantic start to the match soon had its first goal in the opening five minutes. Andrea Pirlo doing what he does best, placing a free kick given away by Corentin Tolisso into the top left corner with ease, leaving Lopes rooted to the spot. Lyon could have had a penalty not long after the opener as Tolisso struck a shot which appeared to strike Leonardo Bonucci on the arm but the referee waved away the protests. They would get their away goal though when a short corner ended with a miss-hit cross to the back post where Jimmy Briand would head back across goal and, although Gianluigi Buffon got a hand to it, the ball hit the inside of the post and went in. The game then settled in a midfield battle with both teams opting to play the ball long and to the wings but the final crucial pass wasn’t to either side’s usual standard. Just before the half an hour mark Maxime Gonalons met a strike brilliantly well from outside the area but Buffon matched the shot well with a good save as the Bianconeri were able to deal with the danger. Juventus couldn’t seem to find a way past the well structured Lyon midfield as the first half soon petered out. This was due to the sheer fact that both sides, although having a fair bit of the ball, were failing to do anything effective with it. The second half mirrored the final quarter of the first half as balls from Mirko Vucinic and Mauricio Isla were well intercepted by the Lyon backline with the Argentinean Tevez ready to pounce. A cross from Kwadwo Asamoah took a slight deflection off of Samuel Umtiti and goalkeeper Lopes did very well to get fingertips to the cross to deny Tevez who was waiting for an easy tap in to end his European goal drought. The best chance Lyon could muster in the opening quarter of the second half was a wild shot from Alexandre Lacazette which ended up going off for a throw in. The goal drought of Tevez looked to be over following the Lacazette effort, when he met a Pirlo cross brilliantly with a glancing header but was correctly ruled out for offside. The next five minutes would prove as frantic as the opening of the match with Arnold Mvuemba hitting a sweet free kick which was well saved by Buffon. The resulting two corners were cleared by Juventus and the Bianconeri countered with power and Claudio Marchisio got a long range strike away which took a massive deflection of Umtiti before nestling in the goal to restore the Juventus lead. Substitute Bafetimbi Gomis tried to ignite a Lyon fight back with an optimistic strike that was easily saved by Buffon as the match entered the final ten minutes. Lyon began to run out of ideas and time as Juventus started to control the game once more. Sebastian Giovinco taking an eternity to get a shot away inside the area which ended up flying over the bar. It would prove to be the final chance of the match. Juventus will find out which team they will meet in the Europa League semi-finals on Friday April 11.

JUVENTUS 2 - 1 OLYMPIQUE LYON (Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate) Andrea Pirlo (4′) Jimmy Briand (18′) Samuel Umtiti (68′O.G.) April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance:‬ 40710‎ Juventus Good Enough to Get Past Lyon in the Europa League Apr 10, 2014 The fans were loud all night. They were chanting, their voices swaying in sing-song, while Juventus kept up the fight against Lyon. It was a 2-1 win for Juve in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final, 3-1 on aggregate. A game of few scares, a little inspiration and some luck. Juventus have never lost to French opponents, and thus they have not yet lost in this competition. They have not lost at home this entire season. This is looking more and more like their tournament, the final of which will be played in Torino. leonera19 @leonera19 Le tifo de la Juve. #JuveOL They started the game well enough, Andrea Pirlo scoring off a free-kick after just four minutes. It was wonderful, and it was the 12th goal off a free-kick in just three seasons with Juve. Pirlo had scored eight such goals in 10 years with Milan. He doesn’t smack it, and he doesn’t take a huge wind-up. It’s a three-step process: a couple of steps and the kick itself, the ball struck with spin and just enough power. But then Juventus stopped. They didn’t surge forward or kill the game. It is something of a trend for them in 2014: Juventus often leave the game in doubt, even if the result never is. Kwadwo Asamoah told Sky Sport Italia after the game (h/t Football Italia) that "physically we’re not in great shape, so we had to make the ball work for us." He continued: "We are playing every three or four days, so it’s not easy." Juventus have lost just twice over the past four months, but they have won many of those games by a single goal. And that’s the point: Juventus don’t have to play well to win. The threat was still real. Jimmy Briand scored off a header in the 18th minute, and it was not particularly pretty. The central defenders were lost, and Briand nicked the ball just beyond the reach of Gianluigi Buffon. And Buffon made sure Juventus would not concede another. He held his ground, diving to save a rasping shot from midfielder Maxime Gonalons. Buffon later parried away a free-kick, giving Juventus the confidence to score a couple of minutes later. He does not make the most saves of all goalkeepers, and he does not even keep the most clean sheets, but he is always there. Buffon and Pirlo are the protagonists of this team. Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez have scored big goals, too—but Buffon and Pirlo are the mainstays. They have shown up in all competitions. Even the little things: Pirlo faking one way and going another, taking the threat right out of danger, playing a delicate pass out to an open teammate. He also made five interceptions—a game-high, per WhoScored.com. David Amoyal @DavidAmoyal Feels like Pirlo's free kicks are what kept Juve from having a very rough second part of season Juventus started the second half as they did the first. Tevez missed a chance to end the game when the ball skipped past him in the box. Then Lyon mounted one last challenge. They took back the ball and attacked in waves. But the Bianconeri did not falter. They have a great spine consisting of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Martin Caceres, and they made the important clearances. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@chiellini: "Playing the #UEL final at home might not ever happen again in the club's history. We must seize the occasion." #JuveOL On the other side of the field, Juventus only put two shots on target. The second goal they scored came off a deflection. Mirko Vucinic was totally ineffective. He started in place of Llorente, but he misplaced 46 percent of his passes, per WhoScored.com. He doesn't get much time anywhere, and he doesn't particularly use it well. Tevez also scored—until his header was ruled offside. He still has not found a goal in Europe since 2009, back when he scored for Manchester United against Porto. But it is not a curse that seems to affect Juventus. Finally, they will play in a European semi-final for the first time since 2003.