Socrates

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 Initial reaction and random observations Apr 10, 2014 When you get a piece of magic four minutes into a game, you think it's going to be your night. That's exactly what Juventus got on Thursday, courtesy of a pretty familiar source from an even more familiar dead-ball situation. Go ahead and look at the gif below, it won't hurt you to do so. That thing of beauty you see above was the reason Juve were soaring high after just four minutes Thursday night. Well, one of the reasons why, at least. Juve came out like gangbusters, took the lead, and appeared to be storming into the semifinals rather than limping to the quarterfinals like was the case in Florence a few weeks back. But because Lyon grabbed an equalizer a mere 13 minutes after Pirlo's latest dead-ball masterpiece, things weren't so easy. In fact, I feel safe in saying that outside of the first 15 minutes, Lyon was certainly the better side. And if it wasn't for that away Juve had in their back pocket — more on that later — things could have been much more difficult with things level on aggregate instead of having a 2-1 lead. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@Asabob20: "Their goal made it a different game, but we did well to keep the ball. We can't always go at full pelt when we play so often." Ah, the beauty of getting a goal in the first game away from home rather than at Juventus Stadium. And once Claudio Marchisio's long-range shot deflected off a Lyon player and into the back of the net, Juve's place in the Europa League's final four was just about wrapped up. Just two games separate Antonio Conte's squad from a European title game being a home game. It's a possibility more than ever before now. 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 The man does have a point, you guys. Regardless of how you feel about the Europa League, it's a pretty unique opportunity that not many clubs will ever get to play for. Would I like to be in the semifinals of the Champions League instead of the Europa League right now? Well, yeah. That's pretty obvious. But having the chance to play for a Europa League trophy in front of the Juventus Stadium faithful is a pretty unique alternative. Random thoughts and observations • Andrea Pirlo is good at free kicks. You heard it here first. • Gianluigi Buffon is good at goalkeeping. You heard it here first. • Can you imagine how much different this game could have been if Leonardo Bonucci didn't score in the dying minutes in France? That away goal from Lyon would have been even more of a possible possible reason for Europa League derailment. But because of Bonucci's goal last Thursday night, we're here thinking about Juventus in the Europa League semifinals, not being dumped out of another European competition. • The announcers on Fox Sports 1 here in the states were getting some good use out of the "Carlos Tévez hasn't scored a goal in Europe in four years" narrative. And while it's true that Carlitos hasn't scored a goal in a European competition in quite awhile, that doesn't mean he's playing poorly at all. He was pretty close to grabbing a goal on more than one occasion Thursday night. You get the feeling that long-awaited goal will come. Say, the Europa League final sounds like a good time to break the duck... • There was a Seinfeld episode where Jerry was dubbed 'Even Steven' by Kramer because when something bad happens, a good thing ends up being right around the corner. I think that's how I will think of Claudio Marchisio's performance against Lyon. His sub-par defending allowed Lyon to tie the game at 1-1 in the first half, but his second-half goal was what allowed Juve to breathe a little easier and win both legs. See? Claudio Marchisio, also known as Mr. Even Steven. • It seems like it's becoming redundant at this point, but Martin Cáceres is really, really good at what he does for a living. • Juventus had a lead in the 80th minute and Antonio Conte didn't throw on Simone Padoin. Somebody help because this does not compute. • Friendly reminder: Europa League semifinal draw tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 CET. In case you're wondering and feel like laughing at yours truly, that's at 3 a.m. here on the West Coast. Dammit.

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 EL: Juve see off Lyon Apr 10, 2014 Andrea Pirlo’s free kick and a deflected Claudio Marchisio strike beat Lyon 2-1 and sent Juventus to the Europa League semi-final. The Bianconeri had won the first leg 1-0 in France with a late Leonardo Bonucci goal, so had the upper hand in this Europa League quarter-final. Arturo Vidal returned from suspension, so Paul Pogba was rested with Andrea Barzagli sidelined. Lyon missed Mouhamadou Dabo, Milan Bisevac, Gueida Fofana, Clement Grenier, Miguel Lopes and ex-Milan midfielder Yoann Gourcuff. Within the opening three minutes Carlos Tevez, who hasn’t scored in Europe since 2009, unleashed a snapshot that skimmed the crossbar. Tevez went on a mazy run and was tripped for a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area. It was perfect Andrea Pirlo territory and he did not disappoint, curling it over the wall into the near top corner. Another of Pirlo’s set plays had sent Juve through to the quarter-finals against Fiorentina. This was his sixth goal of the season in all competition, all of them direct free kicks. Alexandre Lacazette had penalty appeals when his shot was charged down by Bonucci’s hand, but the referee waved play on as it was very close range. Lyon equalised and got a precious away goal, as from a corner a wayward Arnold Mvuemba cross came to Jimmy Briand, whose header bounced on the wet turf and rebounded off the inside of the far post. The French side were fired up by that equaliser and tested Gigi Buffon with a Maxime Gonalons strike from the edge of the box. Lyon continued to have the better of the play for the rest of the first half, as that fiery Juve start dissipated. Tevez also protested, as he tried to run between two defenders and appeared to trip over Bakary Kone’s leg. There was a well-worked move on the stroke of half-time, but Tevez fell too easily in the box when he tried to turn on a Marchisio pass. After the restart a Vucinic cross for Tevez was intercepted by Bakary Kone, then Kwadwo Asamoah’s cross just needed to be tapped in, but Samuel Umtiti proved decisive to stop it coming through to Tevez. Moments later, Asamoah’s shot was smothered by Anthony Lopes, who then came out to grab the ball as Vidal chested down a Marchisio pass over the top. Tevez thought he had finally broken his European goal drought with a sensational glancing header from a corner, but the offside flag was raised. Tevez gave the ball away in midfield to spark a Lyon counter and from that move Buffon had to punch away a Mvuemba free kick. However, from the Lyon corner it was Juve’s turn to counter and they made it count, as Marchisio’s strike took a decisive deflection off Umtiti’s thigh to leave his goalkeeper stranded. This was ‘Principino’s first Europa League goal. Another Tevez effort was charged down in the box and Buffon was right behind a strike from substitute Bafetimbi Gomis. Sebastian Giovinco went on a rapid counter from a Lyon corner and was barged into the advertising boards by Umtiti, who was booked for his trouble. The Atomic Ant tried to get on the end of an over-hit Marchisio assist, but could only balloon over the bar. The Bianconeri become the first Italian side to reach a European semi-final since Fiorentina in 2007-08. Juventus 2-1 Lyon (3-1 agg) Scorers: Pirlo 4 (J), Briand 18 (L), Marchisio 68 (J) Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Vidal (Pogba 75), Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Tevez (Giovinco 78), Vucinic (Llorente 60) Lyon: Lopes; Tolisso, B Kone, Umtiti, Bedimo; Malbranque (Danic 75), Ferri, Gonalons, Mvuemba; Briand (Njie 70), Lacazette (Gomis 70) Ref: Mallenco (SPA)

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 2-1 Olympique Lyonnais (Agg 3-1): Pirlo & Marchisio on target as Bianconeri seal semi-final spot The veteran playmaker opened the scoring just four minutes in with a sublime free kick and his midfielder partner clinched victory for Antonio Conte's men with a deflected strike. Apr 10, 2014 Juventus kept their dreams of a domestic and European double alive with a 2-1 Europa League victory over Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday. After a 1-0 victory in the quarter-final first leg in France last week, the Turin giants secured a 3-1 aggregate victory to progress to the last four of a European competition for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign. Inspirational midfielder Andrea Pirlo struck the opening goal after four minutes with an exquisite free kick from just outside the penalty area, but the visitors levelled when Jimmy Briand placed a header beyond Gianluigi Buffon before the close of an exciting opening quarter. The Italian champions were not to be denied, though, and sealed victory on the night thanks to a long-range Claudio Marchisio strike that took a wicked deflection off Samuel Umtiti and gave goalkeeper Anthony Lopes no chance. The victory extends Juve's unbeaten home record to over a calendar year, with their last defeat at the Juventus Stadium against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last April. Leading scorer Carlos Tevez, who has been nursing a thigh injury but was passed fit, missed a third-minute effort as Antonio Conte's side wasted no time in stamping their authority on the game. Then just a minute later Corentin Tolisso ended a typical bustling run from the Argentine striker on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder was punished when Pirlo fired a trademark free kick into the back of the net. Juve's lead only lasted quarter of an hour, though, as Briand caught them out when he levelled with a close-range header. From a quickly taken corner Arnold Mvuemba lifted a high ball to the back post, where Briand shrugged off a challenge from Marchisio and placed his header out of Buffon's reach. Lyon were slowly getting into their stride and created the next opening just before the half-hour mark, with Maxime Gonalons meeting a cross on the edge of the area but Buffon parried his low strike away to safety. A lacklustre start to the second half saw the hosts control possession without threatening the Lyon goal, in fact they had to wait until just after the hour mark to test Lopes again. The evergreen Pirlo whipped a cross into the penalty area for Tevez, who flicked a header into the top corner but saw his effort ruled out for offside. Mvuemba tested Buffon with a free kick in the 67th minute, but Lyon otherwise struggled to fashion goalscoring opportunities in the second half and a minute later they fell further behind in the tie. Marchisio was given far too much room 25 metres from goal by the Lyon defence, and he made them pay by unleashing a strike towards goal that Lopes looked to have covered until the ball struck Umtiti and flew in the opposite direction and into the net. Substitute Sebastian Giovinco wasted an opportunity to extend the hosts' lead further, but that never looked like being costly. Conte's men now progress to the semi-finals and continue to dream of reaching the final, which will be held in their own stadium next month.

Come primo messaggio non c'é male! Complimenti! Ti ringrazio perché leggendo il tuo post mi sono venute in mente tante di quelle battaglie vissute a fianco della nostra signora. Hai 44 anni e sei vecchio? Allora io sono un tifoso decrepito della Juve.

Giovinco intima il silenzio a Gonalons molto piú grosso di lui.

JUVENTUS - OLYMPIQUE LYON April 10, 2014 - 9:05 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) HT 1-1: Juve deal with Lyon fightback Apr 10, 2014 Andrea Pirlo’s splendid free kick was wiped out by Jimmy Briand, as Juventus-Lyon is 1-1 at half-time, 2-1 on aggregate. The Bianconeri had won the first leg 1-0 in France with a late Leonardo Bonucci goal, so had the upper hand in this Europa League quarter-final. Arturo Vidal returned from suspension, so Paul Pogba was rested with Andrea Barzagli sidelined. Lyon missed Mouhamadou Dabo, Milan Bisevac, Gueida Fofana, Clement Grenier, Miguel Lopes and ex-Milan midfielder Yoann Gourcuff. Within the opening three minutes Carlos Tevez, who hasn’t scored in Europe since 2009, unleashed a snapshot that skimmed the crossbar. Tevez went on a mazy run and was tripped for a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area. It was perfect Andrea Pirlo territory and he did not disappoint, curling it over the wall into the near top corner. Another of Pirlo’s set plays had sent Juve through to the quarter-finals against Fiorentina. This was his sixth goal of the season in all competition, all of them direct free kicks. Alexandre Lacazette had penalty appeals when his shot was charged down by Bonucci’s hand, but the referee waved play on as it was very close range. Lyon equalised and got a precious away goal, as from a corner a wayward Arnold Mvuemba cross came to Jimmy Briand, whose header bounced on the wet turf and rebounded off the inside of the far post. The French side were fired up by that equaliser and tested Gigi Buffon with a Maxime Gonalons strike from the edge of the box. Lyon continued to have the better of the play for the rest of the first half, as that fiery Juve start dissipated. There was a well-worked move on the stroke of half-time, but Tevez fell too easily in the box when he tried to turn on a Marchisio pass. Juventus 1-1 Lyon (2-1 agg, Half-Time) Scorers: Pirlo 4 (J), Briand 18 (L) JUVENTUS: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Tevez, Vucinic LYON: Lopes; Tolisso, B Kone, Umtiti, Bedimo; Malbranque, Ferri, Gonalons, Mvuemba; Briand, Lacazette Ref: Mallenco (SPA)

Bravo Isla!

CLAUDIO MARCHISIO 2-1

Gigi para.

Punizione per loro dal limite.

Goal Tevez annullato.

É entrato Llorente e si vede.

Malbranque seguirá Pirlo anche al cesso alla fine della partita?

Incredibile, Tevez anticipato

Errori su errori.

Bonucci ammonito. L'arbitro é incomprensibile.

Si alza Llorente.

Vucinic risponde per le rime a Conte.

Tevez a terra, l'arbitro e il guardalinee non vedono niente.

Certo, ora loro hanno fatto un goal in trasferta come noi all'andata.

Pareggia il Lione.

Per l'arbitro non é rigore su Tevez.

Bella Juve!