Socrates

Serie A stars add to tributes following death of former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova Apr 27, 2014 Serie A joined the footballing world in mourning the premature death of former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, with Juventus duo Fernando Llorente and Andrea Pirlo offering their condolences via social media. His death at just 45-years-old was officially announced on Friday evening after the Spaniard had fought a relapse of the throat cancer that had caused him to resign as Barcelona coach at the end of the last campaign. “You have been an example of a struggle for everyone, you will always be remembered Tito. Rest in peace,” countryman Llorente posted in Twitter. Bianconeri midfielder Pirlo reiterated those feelings and expressed how such a tragic end can make people appreciate those around them. “I cling to family and friends after the death of Mr Vilanova,” Pirlo announced on Twitter. Despite a vital win over AC Milan to keep pressure on Juventus at the top of Serie A Roma captain Francesco Totti included his thoughts of Vilanova’s passing during his post-match interview. “The whole day has given us joy, but also bitterness and sorrow for the death of Tito Vilanova,” Totti told Tuttomercatoweb. “He left as a football man respected by many and I join the condolences expressed by athletes throughout the world.”

Serie A stars add to tributes following death of former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova Apr 27, 2014 Serie A joined the footballing world in mourning the premature death of former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, with Juventus duo Fernando Llorente and Andrea Pirlo offering their condolences via social media. His death at just 45-years-old was officially announced on Friday evening after the Spaniard had fought a relapse of the throat cancer that had caused him to resign as Barcelona coach at the end of the last campaign. “You have been an example of a struggle for everyone, you will always be remembered Tito. Rest in peace,” countryman Llorente posted in Twitter. Bianconeri midfielder Pirlo reiterated those feelings and expressed how such a tragic end can make people appreciate those around them. “I cling to family and friends after the death of Mr Vilanova,” Pirlo announced on Twitter. Despite a vital win over AC Milan to keep pressure on Juventus at the top of Serie A Roma captain Francesco Totti included his thoughts of Vilanova’s passing during his post-match interview. “The whole day has given us joy, but also bitterness and sorrow for the death of Tito Vilanova,” Totti told Tuttomercatoweb. “He left as a football man respected by many and I join the condolences expressed by athletes throughout the world.”

5 Reasons Why Juventus Won't Let Paul Pogba Go Apr 25, 2014 As the summer transfer season approaches, expect there to be plenty of column inches dedicated to the future of Juventus' Paul Pogba. The France international has been sensational since joining the Bianconeri in 2012 and has made a name for himself as one of the brightest young talents in world football. He has a contract with Juve until 2016, but they might want to improve that deal if they don't want to lose him to a European rival—something that would greatly hurt their chances of bringing the Champions League trophy to Turin. Here are five reasons why Juventus won't let Pogba go right now. He's Their Best Young Player Let's start with the obvious: Teams that are serious about competing in the Champions League don't sell their best players. Especially not when they're so young that they're almost guaranteed to get a lot better. Pogba is already one of the best midfielders in Italy, but before long he looks set to become one of the leading lights in European and world football. Letting a player like that go before he's really made his mark on the club would be foolish, even for huge sums. If the Bianconeri can hold on to the young Frenchman for another couple of seasons, continue to dominate in Italy and possibly win Europe's biggest club competition, they could sell him for even more than they'd get now. He'd still be young and still be talented, but he'd have plenty of experience having achieved something special in Turin and couldn't be blamed for wanting a fresh challenge. If He Goes, It Will Be Hard to Keep Arturo Vidal Selling a player as clearly talented as Pogba now would send a clear message: Juventus are more serious about profits than they are about winning trophies. That would be a bitter pill to swallow for their other in-demand midfielder, Arturo Vidal. The Chilean is one of the best in the world and would not be short of offers if he elected to leave Turin. Despite that, he's repeatedly committed himself to the club and insists that he wants to win the Champions League with Juve (as reported in Italian by the Turin-based daily Tuttosport and reproduced online in Italian on tuttomercatoweb.com). If Pogba goes, it will be hard for the club to convince other top stars such as Vidal to stick around because if they're going to succeed in Europe, they'll need all of their current best players and then some. It Doesn't Make Sense to Strengthen Their Rivals It's unlikely that Pogba would return to Manchester United, the club he left for Juve back in 2012. But rumours persist and according to the Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils were scouting the Frenchman during the Bianconeri's recent Europa League clash with Benfica. Selling to United—or any other major European team—wouldn't make sense for Juve because they'd just be making their own task of winning the Champions League more difficult by strengthening a rival. It's tempting to use the example of Zinedine Zidane to illustrate the fact that Juventus aren't above selling their best players, but it's an unfair comparison. Zizou had already enjoyed plenty of success in Turin, and when the offer eventually came, it was too good for the player or the club to turn down. That world-record transfer fee allowed them to bring in Lilian Thuram, Pavel Nedved and Gianluigi Buffon—three players who would go on to define the decade for the Turin side. Pogba could be sold for big money, but he won't fetch a big enough price that it would allow a similar reinforcement. He's Not Ready for the Pressure For evidence of the damage that too much pressure, too soon, can do to a young player's career, look no farther than Milan's Mario Balotelli. The striker has been one of the most talked-about footballers in the world since he was a teenager—something that has almost certainly had an effect on his career. Balotelli is now as famous for outbursts like the recent one after Milan's loss to Roma as he is for scoring goals and is now struggling with being in the media spotlight 24/7. Big-money moves to Manchester City and then to Milan have only served to focus attentions on the young striker—and heap on the pressure. It would be better for Pogba to take his time developing as a footballer, surrounded by players and coaches with whom he has built a relationship and who are some of the most talented in the business. Juve Have More Faith in Him Than a New Club Would By his own lofty standards, Pogba's form hasn't been great of late—the outstanding showing against Bologna aside. He's still brilliant in patches, but it's been streaky in the second half of the season. Despite that, Antonio Conte continues to play him because he knows that dips are a natural thing for any player, especially one so young. Conte also knows what a great talent he's got on his hands, and he's obviously keen to nurture it. If Pogba moves to another club for big money, he'll be expected to justify the fee right away, and any slumps in form as he develops are unlikely to be looked upon kindly. Young players who find themselves going through difficult periods are all too often labelled flops or unfairly criticised for not being the finished article by the age of 21. Staying at Juve will give him more time to develop and fine-tune his talent.

Argentina boss Sabella all but ends Tevez's World Cup hopes The 59-year-old has ignored the forward since taking charge of the Albiceleste in 2011 and says he there is little chance of him ending the Juventus ace's international exile. Apr 26, 2014 Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella has all but ended Carlos Tevez's hopes of featuring in World Cup 2014, admitting that it is "very unlikely" that he will select any players that he has not called upon before. The striker has been in sensational form for Juventus this season, playing a key role in the Italian side's bid for a Serie A and Europa League double, and he recently admitted that he was still dreaming of representing his country in Brazil this summer. However, Sabella has not called up Tevez once since taking charge of the Albiceleste in 2011 and admitted that he is unlikely to imminently end the striker's international exile. "We're just a few weeks away from the selection," he told reporters. "I'm not saying no, but I think it's really hard to see it. "I will not stop evaluating [players] right up until the end and maybe there's a chance of me calling on someone I've never called upon before. "I don't want to name names. But I repeat: it's really very unlikely to happen." Tevez has struck 18 times in his debut season in Serie A, while he also bagged a crucial goal in Thursday's Europa League semi-final first-leg defeat at Benfica - his first in continental competition since 2009.

Liverpool look at Tevez Apr 26, 2014 The Corriere dello Sport claims Liverpool will target Juventus striker Carlos Tevez if Luis Suarez leaves. Tevez only joined the Bianconeri last summer for €9m (£7.9m) from Manchester City, scoring 18 goals in 30 Serie A games so far this season. According to the Corriere dello Sport newspaper, the 30-year-old is the first name on Liverpool’s shopping list if hitman Suarez decides to walk away from Anfield. Although Tevez has Premier League experience with West Ham, Manchester United and Manchester City, he also ran into a series of personal issues in England. This move seems to be extremely unlikely, particularly as Suarez rejected offers to leave Liverpool last summer and is now on the verge of winning the Premier League with Champions League qualification.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Lichtsteiner: Juventus conceded silly goals The Switzerland international has acknowledged his side defended poorly in the 2-1 Europa League defeat to the Portuguese champions on Thursday. Apr 25, 2014 Stephan Lichtsteiner has voiced his frustration with Juventus' defensive performance in their 2-1 Europa League defeat against Benfica on Thursday. The Serie A champions conceded two goals in a match for only the second time in 18 fixtures as the Portuguese giants recorded a vital win in the first leg of their semi-final tie courtesy of Ezequiel Garay and Lima. Lichtsteiner feels Juventus should have done more to prevent the "silly" Benfica goals, which came either side of a Carlos Tevez strike. "When you lose, it's never a good result," the Swiss defender told Sky Sport Italia. "The important thing was to score here and we had the chance to net a second or third. We didn't manage it, but those chances leave us confident for the second half. "Unfortunately we conceded a silly goal after two minutes which was avoidable. On the second goal we were all lined up in defence, but weren’t focused enough and at this level that gets punished. "But we feel confident that we'll be able to play the final at our home." The return takes place in Turin on May 1.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Benfica have quality to eliminate Juventus, insists Lima The attacker is full of respect for the Serie A leaders but is confident his side can triumph over two legs following their 2-1 victory in Lisbon on Thursday. Apr 25, 2014 Benfica forward Lima is confident that the Portuguese champions have the quality to eliminate Juventus in the Europa League semi-finals after their 2-1 home win in the first leg on Thursday. Jorge Jesus' men went 1-0 up early on when Ezequiel Garay headed home a corner kick, only for Carlos Tevez to restore parity in the second half, before Lima eventually helped the hosts to victory with a thumping late strike. The 30-year-old is confident the newly-crowned Portuguese champions can seal the deal in Turin next week having proven their calibre against Antonio Conte's men. "We will go to Turin as a united team to try to go through with humility. We have the quality and the ability to achieve that," Lima told uefa.com. "We were not expecting to concede a goal but it happened. We must acknowledge that this was no ordinary opponent. It was Juventus. "But the important thing is that we won and we have an advantage. Once again we won at home and showed the strength of our squad. Now we will go to Italy with a positive spirit." The return at Juventus Stadium takes place on May 1.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ We fell asleep at the back, says Conte Apr 25, 2014 Juventus coach Antonio Conte was disappointed by his team’s lack of focus when they lost to Benfica, as Brazilian striker Lima struck a wonder goal with six minutes remaining, edging Benfica to a 2-1 semi-final first-leg win in the Europa League on Thursday. “It’s a shame, as at that moment we were pushing for our second goal,” said the Juve coach. “We fell asleep at the back.” After Carlos Tevez tucked away a brilliant equaliser for Serie A leaders Juventus with 17 minutes remaining at the Estadio do Luz, Lima smashed home an unstoppable drive to give the Lisbon outfit a precious advantage. Juventus must now score at home next Thursday to keep their bid on track to reach the final at the Juventus stadium on May 14. In the other semi-final, Sevilla beat La Liga rivals Valencia 2-0 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. The hosts went ahead after Stephane Mbia backheeled the ball into the roof of the net despite clearly being in an offside position before Carlos Bacca doubled Sevilla’s advantage soon after.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Reviewing How Benfica Managed to Beat Juventus Apr 25, 2014 Portuguese Liga champions Benfica earned themselves a shock 2-1 win at home to Juventus on Thursday evening in the Europa League semi-final first leg, and they are now daring to dream of avenging last season’s disappointing loss in the 2013 Europa League final to Chelsea. So how did Benfica pull it off? And what did Juventus do wrong against them? Stats taken from BBC Sport, WhoScored.com, Statto and FoxSports.com. Starting Strongly Benfica manager Jorge Jesus set up his side, as he always does, to hit teams hard on the break with pace down the flanks. It paid dividends, as Benfica overloaded in the wide areas to full effect against the Serie A champions-elect. Juventus have been advocates of a 3-5-2 formation and lined up with it once again against the Portuguese outfit. The opening 15 minutes saw the tactic failing horribly, as Benfica were taking advantage of Juve’s lack of support in the wide areas. As you can see, Juventus' wing-back is getting drawn in to press the ball, which leaves space into which the Benfica forward can run. Their bright start led to their opening goal. Juve were forced to concede a corner following a Benfica break, which led to defender Ezequiel Garay's header. Pressing Juventus High Up the Pitch The Portuguese side did their homework on Juve’s penchant for playing the ball out of the back, pressing the Italian giants high up the pitch early to limit the time they had to pick out passes. Chief orchestrator Andrea Pirlo found himself stifled at times, and he was ineffective from Benfica’s high pressing. That led to Juve having to play very direct from deep positions, which saw them frequently giving away the ball. The midfielder is being blocked off from receiving the pass from Kwadwo Asamoah in the shot, which meant he was largely ineffective. With Juve not blessed with pace in the spine of their side, distribution is essential. In the picture, you can see there's no pass on for the Italian outfit to get forward. One of the Juve players is even offside. It summed up the opening passages of play until the Serie A holders started to settle. Benfica’s Counter-Attacks Causing Juve Problems Another deciding factor was Benfica's counter-attacks. The side would break with outstanding speed, and their runs would overlap either side of the ball to give options left and right of the player in possession. As Juve committed numbers to their own attack, the manner of Benfica's breaks meant they were forced to go player-for-player against the opposition, which left gaps to exploit. Benfica continued to break with pace to try to find the important second goal in the game by hitting Juventus on the break in this manner. The lack of protection down the flanks for Juve meant sights such as this were a regular occurrence throughout the game. It also meant Juve wing-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner and Asamoah became fearful of pushing high up the pitch, They knew they'd be caught out of position, as shown above. Juventus Too Narrow on the Ball For Juventus's 3-5-2 formation to be successful, the wing-backs have to support the play when they're in possession and overlap like natural wingers would. But such was the threat from their opponents on the break that they remained very deep. Asamoah, most notably, was barely in shot when the Italians had the ball in Benfica's half. That led to the play being very narrow and very predictable from the Serie A outfit. Asamoah is being of no help to his side by sitting back. Juve were chasing the game and in need of a goal, but their play was easily snuffed out by Benfica. Had more players made runs from deep for the Italians, they could have attacked with more pace to create clear-cut openings. Asamoah Finally Gambles and Gets an Assist It was no coincidence that the one time Asamoah gambled and made a run beyond his opposite marker led to a goal following his cutback into the area. The 25-year-old was the highest player up the pitch for Juve on the left side, and with one touch, he picked out the advancing Carlos Tevez free in the area to score. Benfica Overlap the Wide Areas to score Winning Goal Juventus eventually threw the game away by not heeding the warning of Benfica's threat from wide areas. A simple ball into the space in the middle of the pitch then saw the Benfica player follow his pass and run around the back of his teammate Enzo Perez on the right-hand side. His overlapping run wasn't picked up quick enough by any Juve player, and after collecting the pass, Perez plays the ball into the middle, it's cleverly dummied by substitute Ivan Cavaleiro, and eventually rifled home by the onrushing Lima to win the game for Benfica. Summary Benfica did their homework and knew what Juventus' weaknesses were. Cutting off the supply to their chief creator Andrea Pirlo and pressing the side high up the pitch to force them to go long played into the Portuguese side's hands. Jorge Jesus' men were fast on the break and specifically targeted the flanks. Juve had no protection from the wide men, as they weren't playing with natural wingers to aid the full-backs in defence. It was Juve's first defeat in the Europa League this season, while Benfica now have a slim lead to take into the second leg of the semi-final.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Juventus deserved at least a draw, says Marchisio The midfielder says Thursday's performance against Benfica was one of his side's best in Europe this season and is adamant they deserved a better result than a 2-1 defeat. Apr 25, 2014 Claudio Marchisio feels Juventus deserved more than a 2-1 defeat in the Europa League semi-final first leg against Benfica on Thursday. Ezequiel Garay gifted the Portuguese champions an early lead before Carlos Tevez restored parity after the break with his first goal in European competition for five years. The Portuguese champions sealed a hard-fought victory thanks to Lima's fine finish in the 84th minute, but Marchisio believes the Bianconeri had merited at least a draw for what he felt was their best showing in Europe this season. "We could and we should have kept the draw, at least. We did not manage to but we will try to turn things around in the return leg," Marchisio told the official Uefa website. "It was important to score at least one goal, it's a pity to have conceded the second late on because we had more chances than Benfica in the second half. "I think this was one of Juventus's best performances in Europe this season, if not the best. It's an important sign, it means we are growing as a team because it's not always easy to play well at the end of the season when you are missing a few players and legs are a bit tired. We certainly played a good game." Juventus resume domestic action away against Sassuolo on April 28 before the return leg against Benfica on May 1.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Juventus honoured Italian football against Benfica, says Conte The Bianconeri boss felt his players dominated after conceding a third-minute goal and were merely punished for falling "asleep at the back" in the closing stages. Apr 25, 2014 Juventus coach Antonio Conte believes all of Italy can be proud of his side's performance in the 2-1 loss to Benfica in Lisbon. A late Lima goal saw the Portuguese champions triumph in Lisbon, after Carlos had cancelled out Ezequiel Garay's third-minute opener in what proved a tightly contested Europa League semi-final first-leg clash at the Estadio da Luz. However, Conte was left to rue the final score after his side responded well to Ezequiel Garay's early goal but feels that his side did Italian football proud. "There is great result for this unjust result," he told Sky Sport Italia. "The game didn't start in the best way, as we conceded a couple of minutes from a set play. However, after that we took control and allowed Benfica practically nothing. "We felt from one moment to the next they would capitulate, but instead their goal arrived out of nowhere. It's a shame. At that moment we were pushing for a second but we fell alseep at the back. "The semi-final is open and the Juventus Stadium can match the extraordinary atmosphere in Lisbon. "This performance gives me confidence. We didn't come and play like a stereotypical Italian team, we attacked and kept up the tempo. We kept up the honour of Italian football tonight."

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Carlos Tevez Ends Drought with Vital Away Goal Apr 25, 2014 Juventus travelled to Lisbon to face Benfica on Thursday, entering their first European semi-final in over a decade, with a place in next month’s showpiece finale on the line. With the climax of the Europa League taking place in their own stadium, the Bianconeri are aiming at an incredible place in history, the possibility of matching old records mounting by the week. As La Madama chases her third consecutive Serie A title, the Portuguese opposition approached the tie with the Liga Sagres title already secured. Jorge Jesus’ men clinched their first domestic crown in four years, ending a barren spell similar to the one Antonio Conte dragged Juventus from after arriving in 2011. Yet there was also one other unwanted drought on the line, as Carlos Tevez had continued to misfire in continental competition for over five years. Indeed, the Argentinean’s last strike in Europe came on April 7, 2009, when the striker was still a Manchester United player. Twenty matches and two clubs later, the 30-year-old himself was unconcerned by his inability to find the back of the net, telling UEFA.com last month that "I'm calm because sooner or later the goals will come, but it's not an obsession for me." But it quickly became the only criticism of what has been a remarkable first campaign with Juventus, one which had seen him notch no fewer than 18 league goals—with another in the Italian Super Cup—going into last night’s game. His coach had also professed to be more interested in the attitude of his newest star, quickly defending him from criticism back in December. Speaking at a press conference shortly after Juve’s Champions League exit, Conte was asked if Tevez’s failure to score was responsible for their elimination, and he snapped back (h/t The Guardian): “I do not judge an attacker on the basis of the goals that he scores, I have been here for three years and I think you know by now how I judge my forwards. When an attacker scores but does not do the work they were supposed to do, then I am not happy with them. I judge on behalf of the team, you lot judge on individual performances.” It then became a side-issue as the club dropped into the Europa League, with the striker not always featuring as Conte gave Mirko Vucinic and Daniel Osvaldo some much-needed playing time. The Bianconeri were comfortable in wins over Trabzonspor and Lyon, but then came the difficult semi-final draw against Benfica. Again the coach rotated his strikers, once more resting the in-form Fernando Llorente, with the Spaniard having started just once before in this competition. But even Tevez could do nothing as the Portuguese side opened the scoring, powerless as Leonardo Bonucci’s poor marking allowed Ezequiel Garay a simple header. For a period, the Serie A champions elect looked overwhelmed as their opponents countered at incredible speed, carving open the Juventus defence on a series of occasions. At the other end there was little opportunity, with perhaps the best chance coming from a Paul Pogba header after some smart work from Claudio Marchisio. They say “cometh the hour, cometh the man,” but Tevez would be almost a quarter-of-an-hour late, as Kwadwo Asamoah ran on to a Marchisio pass before pulling the ball back from the left. Some smart footwork enabled him to ride a tackle from Luisao, before firing a well-timed shot past the goalkeeper. Just like that, the drought was over and La Madama had her life-line. Next week’s second leg is in Turin but will be a difficult proposition, Benfica’s eventual 2-1 lead an “unjust result,” in the eyes of Conte (per FootballItalia). Speaking shortly after the match with Sky Italia, the Coach went on to add that “optimism and confidence are given to me by the performance tonight,” while the goalscorer also believed Juve could complete the task in seven days' time. "My goal isn't the important thing, as it only matters only that we are still in the running for qualification." Tevez told Sport Mediaset (via FourFourTwo). He might downplay the significance, but with his first European strike since 2009, Carlos Tevez may have just scored his most vital goal yet in a Juventus shirt.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ It's not over for the defeated Old Lady Apr 25, 2014 Juventus may have suffered their first Europa League defeat but there's every reason to believe that they can overturn the 2-1 result at home, in Turin, in front of their own fiery fans next week. The away goal was vital but squandering such valuable chances may be something the Old Lady come to regret. After all, efficiency is the name of the game in matches such as these. The Portuguese side are blessed with great pace and while their decision making needs to improve, they are good at exposing space and making the most of defensive errors. Scoring the early goal, Leonardo Bonucci erred on a set piece when he focused on the man and not the ball. This rattled Juve but they were also aware of the fact they had plenty of time to get the equaliser. With swift passes through the middle, chips over the wall, they counter-attacked when possible but were met with a strong back-line and a team that defended as a strong and compact unit making it hard to penetrate. Always taking an extra touch when it wasn't required or attempting the glamorous quick flick forward rather than just a simple pass, Juventus at times complicate the issue when simplicity is key. Quick counter-attacks are important but it means little if precision is lost in the process. It certainly didn't help that Paul Pogba, despite his imperious form, seemed desperate to move forward; Carlos Tevez attempted to dribble past everyone in search for his goal and Mirko Vucinic slowed down the play to frustrating levels. The Italians lacked composure when looking for a goal, forcing the issue when patience was required. We have seen this from them far too often. With Andrea Pirlo consistently looking to chip the ball and passes that were quickly dispatched but inaccurate in their direction, they allowed Benfica to feel comfortable. Patience is a quality Juve must demonstrate. The players simply have to retain possession and identify the best possible option for the pass rather than needlessly playing the ball forward regardless of the number of bodies in their way. Despite this, one has to acknowledge what a breathtaking player Tevez is. His control on the ball and instinctive style of play are really a pleasure to watch, while his goal -- that vital goal -- was a demonstration of beautiful technique. However, it's been said in this blog before and it needs to be said again: he plays for himself far too often rather than looking at the bigger picture. This shows a lack of respect for team play. Whether it is because of his burning desire to net a European goal or simply because it's his style of play, he needs to look up and accurately judge whether or not there's someone better placed to take control of the ball. Head down and dribbling forward may result in a spectacular goal, but more often than not it leaves teammates and the fans frustrated. On this occasion it was Vucinic who suffered. The second half saw manager Antonio Conte address certain issues. Asking his players to keep the ball and look for the right pass at the right time, the Bianconeri were better at making the most of the space on the wings and penetrating different areas to stretch the opposition. It is here that one must note how much Kwadwo Asamoah ought to be appreciated. He's not a player of the highest level but he's more technical than Stephan Lichtsteiner and his contributions in both phases of the game are important if not crucial. Not only did his clever passing help get the goal but he's also essential when it comes to his positioning in the defensive part of the game to prevent the counter-attacks. Those counter-attacks are part of Benfica's DNA. Blessed with pace and skill going forward, the manner in which they shift their play and expose the gaps demonstrates their strength. Benfica boss Jorge Jesus perhaps erred in not starting Lima. The player brings added mobility and allows for faster and better movements. Had he started, Benfica might have produced more even if he managed a terrific second goal for his team. However, Juventus missed their own player capable of making the difference -- Arturo Vidal. While the Chilean's forward play is essential (he would have probably finished off a certain chance or two), he's even more important in the defensive stage of the game. The Bianconeri needed to be more compact and ought to have tightened their lines to counter Benfica's pace and prevent them from shooting to grab the second goal. Instead, they made schoolboy errors at the back and it was embarrassing to see certain runs not being tracked -- such as the one Benfica striker Rodrigo managed in the first half. Juventus must and should overcome the scoreline next week. They have the players, the personality and the superior technical skill, but they simply must eradicate the errors from their game and play together and with intelligence if they hope to reach the final. They believe and so do their fans.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Bonucci 'angry with myself' Apr 25, 2014 Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci is “angry with myself” for his error in the Europa League semi-final defeat to Benfica. The centre-back was at fault for the opening goal from Ezequiel Garay within the opening two minutes in last night’s 2-1 loss in Lisbon. “Nothing is decided yet!!!” he wrote on his Facebook page. “I am the first person to be angry with myself... We have to look forward with positivity.” The second leg is next Thursday at the Juventus Stadium.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Jorge Jesus wanted penalty Apr 24, 2014 Coach Jorge Jesus insisted Benfica should’ve beaten Juventus by more than 2-1 and were denied “a clear penalty.” The first leg of the Europa League semi-final went to the hosts in Lisbon and the decider is next Thursday in Turin. “We were justly winners,” Jorge Jesus told SCI after the game. “We could’ve scored more goals, in fact. The referee did not give us a clear penalty on Enzo Perez.” The incident occurred in the second half when Enzo Perez ran into Martin Caceres in the box and fell over his leg. Juventus had 57 per cent possession in Lisbon and Benfica scored with their only two shots on target. “It was important to get the victory, but would’ve been more important to win 2-0 rather than 2-1. The tie is still open, but we’re in a stronger position in Turin because we won. “We knew that we were facing a great team and even while being defensive Juventus usually score goals. “We had to be perfect defensively and came close to achieving that. We only had a few difficulties on the Carlos Tevez goal, as that was great individual play. “It was a spectacular game between two great teams and the first Juventus defeat in this Europa League. I think both sides showed what they can do and it was worthy of a Champions League tie.”

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Conte: 'An unjust result' Apr 24, 2014 Antonio Conte felt “great regret for this unjust result” and blasted his defence after Juventus lost to Benfica. The first leg of the Europa League semi-final ended 2-1 in Lisbon, while the decider is in Turin next Thursday. “I think there is great regret for this unjust result,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia. “The game didn’t start in the best way, as we conceded after a couple of minutes from a set play and knew the enthusiasm for Benfica. “However, after that we took control and allowed Benfica practically nothing. We felt from one moment to the next they would capitulate, but instead this goal arrived out of nowhere. “It’s a shame, as at that moment we were pushing for our second goal. We fell asleep at the back. We fell asleep. Let’s say we were caught napping there... “We have understood that the semi-final is open and the Juventus Stadium, when it wants to, is capable of matching the extraordinary atmosphere in Lisbon. It’s a Final we all want.” Conte was playing when Juventus lost 2-1 to Benfica in 1992-93, but they won the second leg and went on to lift the UEFA Cup that season. Does this precedent leave him more optimistic? “Optimism and confidence are given to me by the performance tonight. It wasn’t easy to come here and play like this against a team that was unbeaten on home turf. “We didn’t play in the clichéd Italian style, as we attacked, kept the tempo up, were intense and forced Benfica to focus exclusively on the counter. We kept up the honour of Italian football tonight.” The Bianconeri tried to spread the play down the flanks more in the second half to stretch Benfica. “In the first half that start really didn’t help, even though Benfica did practically nothing after that. We tried to go through the centre, but in the second half Markovic was struggling to keep up with Asamoah, so I told them to push more down that channel. “We could’ve been more efficient in front of goal and scored a lot more, but we remain optimistic for the second leg, even if we know it’ll be difficult.” Conte was asked whether he should adjust the 3-5-2 system for four at the back in Europe against teams with certain characteristics. “Systems count up to a certain point. Principles are more important and Juventus have done well to play attacking football over the last three years, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals and now hopefully the Europa League Final. “Other teams who play with four at the back are at home watching us on television, so the systems don’t make much difference.”

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Pogba: 'Concentration is key' Apr 24, 2014 Paul Pogba believes Juventus did everything right in the 2-1 defeat to Benfica, except for their “concentration.” The Bianconeri lost the Europa League semi-final first leg in Lisbon to the only two shots on target from the hosts. “We need to play the same way we did in the second half, but with more concentration,” Pogba told Sky Sport Italia. “We conceded two goals due to errors, but played well overall. We are Juve, so we have to do even more.” However, Pogba expects huge risks at the back in the second leg, as Juventus need to win and could leave themselves open. “Benfica are very rapid and dangerous on the counter-attack, as we saw tonight. They get into the box very quickly. “I had a player marking me for the whole game, but Stephan Lichtsteiner was alone, so we tried to spread the ball more.”

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Lichtsteiner: 'Avoidable goals' Apr 24, 2014 Stephan Lichtsteiner admits Benfica’s two goals against Juventus were “avoidable,” but has faith in the Europa League. The Bianconeri lost 2-1 in Lisbon and the second leg of this semi-final is next Thursday in Turin. “When you lose, it’s never a good result,” Lichtsteiner told Sky Sport Italia. “The important thing was to score here and we had the chance to net a second or third. We didn’t manage it, but those chances leave us confident for the second half. “Unfortunately we conceded a silly goal after two minutes which was avoidable. On the second goal we were all lined up in defence, but weren’t focused enough and at this level that gets punished. “We always had space to do something, even though we were too hasty in the first half. In the second we went down the flanks more. “We are still in with a good chance of playing the Final in our home stadium.”

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Jesus: I would have preferred a 1-0 win against Juventus The Eagles boss admitted that Carlos Tevez's away goal at the Estadio da Luz has cast doubt on his side's hopes of overcoming the Biaconeri on aggregate. Apr 24, 2014 Benfica coach Jorge Jesus was delighted with his side's 2-1 Europa League victory over Juventus but admitted that he would have preferred to have won by the same margin but without conceding. The Portuguese champions had led for much of the clash prior to Carlos Tevez's 73rd-minute equaliser, but Lima did at least a late winner to give the Eagles a slender advantage ahead of next week's second leg in Turin. "It was important to win, although a 1-0 would have been better than 2-1," Jesus is quoted as saying by Record. "We knew that we were going to play against a strong team who usually score. We had to be perfect and we almost were. It was a great individual goal from Tevez. "It was their first defeat in the Europa League and they showed their strength here. We always knew that nothing would be decided. "It's all open but let's do better in Turin." Lima, meanwhile, was delighted with the result but urged his side to finish the job in the second leg. "The win is important but it doesn't guarantee anything," the Brazilian pointed out. "It's only the first leg. "We didn't want to concede a goal but it was another victory and it is important to go to Italy with the confidence of winning the game."

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Artur: 'Benfica in strong position' Apr 24, 2014 Benfica goalkeeper Artur said his side are “in a strong position for the second leg” after beating Juventus 2-1. The former third choice shot-stopper at Roma has found success in Lisbon and performed a crucial save on Claudio Marchisio in this evening’s Europa League semi-final. “I had to keep cool, knowing we were facing a strong side with many talented players who can make the difference in attack,” Artur told Sky Sport Italia. “Thankfully, at Benfica we all attack together and defend together. We won a very important match that puts us in a strong position for the second leg.” Benfica lost the Europa League Final to Chelsea last season, but also failed at the last hurdle in the League and Cup. “It’s not every team who can reach three Finals in a single season. We feel more confident in our capabilities now and are eager to make up for that cruel end to the campaign.” They’ve already gone some way to achieving that, as Benfica mathematically secured the Portuguese League title on Sunday.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Tevez: 'Juve have a good chance' Apr 24, 2014 Carlos Tevez believes Juventus have “a very good chance” of reaching the Europa League Final despite defeat in Lisbon. The striker broke his continental goal drought after four years in a 2-1 loss to Benfica this evening, but the second leg is next Thursday. “My goal isn’t the important thing, as it matters only that we are still in the running for qualification,” Tevez told Sport Mediaset. “I am in good shape physically, so I’m happy. We’ve got a very good chance of getting through to the next round. Qualification is wide open for the second leg.” Because of that away goal, a 1-0 victory in Turin would be enough to send Juventus through to the Final, which will be played at the Juventus Stadium.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Juventus can still make Europa League final, insists Tevez after Benfica defeat The Argentine played down the significance of his first strike in continental competition since 2009, saying he is only interested in helping the Bianconeri get through. Apr 24, 2014 Carlos Tavez insists that Juventus can still progress to the final of the Europa League - despite losing 2-1 at Benfica on Thursday night. The Bianconeri looked set to earn a fine score draw in Lisbon after the Argentine cancelled Ezequiel Garay's opener with just 17 minutes remaining, but Lima netted a spectacular late winner to give the Eagles a lead to protect in next week's second leg in Turin. Consequently, despite the fact that he finally managed to net in European competition, Tevez says that his sole concern is on helping Juve overcome their one-goal deficit - something he feels Antonio Conte's men are more than capable of doing on home soil. "My goal was not important; that we're on course to qualify is," the striker told reporters after the match. "We have a big chance of going through; qualification is open in the second leg." Midfielder Paul Pogba, meanwhile, has urged his side to defend better next week, arguing that both of the goals they conceded in Portugal were avoidable. "We need to play in the same was we did in the second half but with more concentration," the France international reasoned. "We concded two goals due to errors but we played well overall. "However, Benfica are very quick and dangerous on the counterattack. They get into the box quickly."

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Player Ratings A late goal from Lima gives the Eagles the upper hand in their Europa League semi-final with the Bianconeri, but Carlos Tevez's away goal could yet prove crucial. Apr 24, 2014 BENFICA Artur - The Eagles goalkeeper did not have an awful lot to do on the night, in truth, but after a decent save from Pogba's header, he was eventually beaten by Tevez. Maxi Pereira - Was fully-committed throughout, making some well-judged challenges and also pushing up to support his side when attacking. Luisao - The towering Brazilian had an impressive evening as he dominated the game aerially at the back. However, he could have done more to keep out Tevez's goal. Ezequiel Garay - The Argentine centre-back opened the scoring after just three minutes and was solid defensively throughout. Guilherme Siqueira - Showed plenty of energy to motor down the left when Benfica counterattacked, but, at times, he left too much space for Lichtsteiner and Pogba to exploit. Lazar Marković - An exceptionally dynamic performance from the midfielder as he made a number of charging runs through the middle when Benfica broke. Enzo Nicolás Pérez - Started the game brightly, with a few surging runs through midfield. His distribution was impressive but at times left the defence exposed. André Gomes - Sat in front of the defence but did not limit the space for the Juventus runners between the lines enough. He was forced into some late, clumsy challenges. Rodrigo - The Spaniard continued with his impressive recent form in the competition. He supplied some excellent early crosses from the left flank. Ó. Cardozo - Came into the side at the expense of Lima and failed to vindicate his manager's decision with a rather ineffectual performance. Miralem Sulejmani - A tireless performance from the Serbian, as he regularly found space on the left flank to trouble the Juve defence. He tracked back to defend but his influence decreased with time. Substitutions André Almeida - Came on for Sulejmani in the 60th minute but was unable to offer more protection down his side's left. Lima - The Brazilian replaced Cardozo in the 62nd minute and had the perfect impact, netting a fantastic strike late on to secure the win. Ivan Cavaleiro - Replaced Andre Gomes in the 82nd minute and played a role in the winner with a lovely dummy. JUVENTUS Gianluigi Buffon - Could perhaps have done more to keep Garay's header out of the bottom corner in the third minute. After that he was comfortable, particularly with the ball at his feet. Martín Cáceres - Looked vulnerable on the counterattack at times but regularly put in strong challenges to bring the Benfica attacks to a close after their bright start. Leonardo Bonucci - Defended poorly on the opener, not even challenging Garay to the header which resulted in the first goal. It seemed to knock his confidence for the remainder of the game. Giorgio Chiellini - The Italy international made a number of last-ditch challenges and interceptions, but he wasted a great chance to equalise in the final moments. Stephan Lichtsteiner - Was particularly positive on the right, which was Juve's main source of danger on the night. He made some clever runs in behind the defence. Paul Pogba - Combined well with Lichtsteiner down the right, regularly spinning into space. He drew a save out of Artur in the second half with a decent header and was one of Juve's best performers. Andrea Pirlo - Found it difficult to stamp his mark on the game as he was closed very quickly in midfield. His deliveries from set plays were often disappointing. Claudio Marchisio - The Italy international put a couple of decent balls into the box but he was unable to help Juve assert their dominance in the centre of the park and missed a great chance to equalise at the death. Kwadwo Asamoah - The Ghanaian had a rather quiet evening on the left flank, creating very little until picking out Tevez to slot home the equaliser. Mirko Vučinić - Did not time his runs well enough and was caught offside on a number of occasions. He did not get into goalscoring areas frequently enough. CARLOS TÉVEZ - The Argentine worked exceptionally hard for his team and was always looking to test Artur. He did eventually find the back of the net in the second half with a sublime finish to earn his side a priceless away goal. Substitutions Sebastian Giovinco - Replaced Vucinic in the 65th minute but failed to have the desired impact. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo - Came on for Tevez in the 82nd minute.

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Lima's late winner gives Benfica 2-1 victory in semi-final first-leg Benfica substitute Lima struck late to give the newly-crowned Portuguese champions a 2-1 win over Juventus in the Europa League semi-final first-leg. Apr 24, 2014 Ezequiel Garay put the hosts ahead in the third minute only for Juventus striker Carlos Tevez to end his long European goal drought in the 73rd minute. Lima then ensured that Benfica will take an advantage for the return leg in Italy next week by scoring six minutes from time. Benfica, last season's runners-up in the competition, had the better start and were rewarded early on when Garay's powerful, downward header from Miralem Sulejmani's corner went into the back of the net. Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon did get a hand on Garay's effort but he could not keep the ball out. Benfica goalkeeper Artur was first called into action in the 14th minute when he kept out Tevez's hard drive from 30 yards. Juve's Stephan Lichtsteiner then nodded Claudio Marchisio's cross inches wide of the far post but he had been flagged offside. In the 34th minute, Benfica midfielder Andre Gomes was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Paul Pogba, meaning he will miss next week's encounter in Italy. Juve struggled to put a good move together and wasted two consecutive corner kicks before half-time. The Serie A leaders looked more dangerous after the break and almost pulled level in the 55th minute when Pogba's header from Claudio Marchisio's cross forced Artur to fully stretch to clear the ball. Artur was called again to make a save to deny Mirko Vucinic's goal-bound header. Juve's efforts were finally rewarded in the 73rd minute. Kwadwo Asamoah's cross found Tevez in the box and the Argentinian striker got past two defenders before hitting a powerful 12-yard shot past Artur. The goal was Tevez's first European strike since April 2009. Just when Juve looked to be in control, Benfica went ahead. Enzo Perez spotted an unmarked Lima at the edge of the area and the forward fired a right-footed shot past Buffon. Juve could not get past Benfica's defensive wall in the late stages of the game and will head to Turin needing to overturn the result in a week's time at the Juventus stadium, the venue for this year's final. Benfica Team Statistics Juventus 2 Goals 1 1 1st Half Goals 0 2 Shots on Target 5 4 Shots off Target 2 2 Blocked Shots 3 3 Corners 6 17 Fouls 12 0 Offsides 6 3 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 0 77.3 Passing Success 84.8 11 Tackles 21 81.8 Tackles Success 66.7 42.5 Possession 57.5 52 Territorial Advantage 48 397 Total Passes 539 6 Total Crosses 16 141 Lost Balls 134 55 Recoveries 67 50.1 1st Half Poss. 49.9 34.4 2nd Half Poss. 65.6

BENFICA 2 - 1 JUVENTUS Ezequiel Garay (3′) Carlos Tévez (73′) Lima (84′) April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM Estádio da Luz — Lisbon Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance:‬ 55779‎ Lima strike gives Aguilas advantage Apr 24, 2014 Benfica defeated Juventus 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final at the Estadio da Luz on Thursday night. Ezequiel Garay scored the opening goal of the match just two minutes in, but Carlos Tevez erased the advantage and grabbed the all important away goal for the Bianconeri in the 73rd minute. Lima broke the deadlock a little over 10 minutes later to give his team the victory. The hosts got off to a quick start, taking advantage of a corner from Miralem Sulejmani, which was converted by Garay with a thunderous header than Gianluigi Buffon couldn’t handle. Following the goal, Benfica continued to trouble Juve. Off a counter attack, Lazar Markovic played in a beautifully weighted through ball for Sulejmani, who sliced the ball wide of the near post. Tevez tried to muster some momentum for the Bianconeri, but it rolled slowly into Artur Moraes’ gloves. Neither team created anything noteworthy for the rest of the first half. After the restart, both sides fought for control with fouls flying left, right and centre. Juve nearly pulled level with Paul Pogba forcing a save out of Moraes with his header. Controversy ensued when Martin Caceres appeared to hip check Enzo Perez, but referee Cuneyt Cakir was having none of it, despite the protests of Benfica players and fans. Replays showed that Perez ran straight into Caceres and possibly embellished. Juve then dictated the tempo for the next few minutes as the Aguias couldn’t generate any shots on target. That paid off for The Old Lady as Tevez scored his first goal in European competition in five years off a Kwadwo Asamoah assist. The Encarnados searched for a second goal late in the match and they found it through Lima, who fired the ball into the top of the net, leaving Buffon with no chance to save it. Benfica almost scored a third shortly thereafter when Markovic sent a laser just past the far post. Claudio Marchisio returned the favour but Moraes came out quickly to prevent a clear shot. The Portuguese champions managed to weather a late storm from the visitors to hold on to a 2-1 lead heading into the Juventus Stadium for the second leg.