Socrates

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 FIORENTINA Kwadwo Asamoah (42′) March 9, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 38000‎ Initial reaction and random observations Mar 9, 2014 Juventus is developing a pattern. It could be viewed as good, it could be viewed as bad. Regardless, said pattern was on full display at Juventus Stadium during Sunday's lunchtime throwdown between Juve and Fiorentina. AMAZONIAN Yeah, it was one of those first halves. But it was also one of those second halves. The difference between the Juventus of the first 45 minutes compared to the Juventus of the second 45 minutes was as noticeable as the awesomeness of Kwadwo Asamoah's stunning goal. Juventus' shots towards the Fiorentina goal were firing high and wide in the first half, but the main thing was that they were obviously creating plenty of opportunities. The second half, though, it was the Juve we've seen after the break the last few games. Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Montella clearly changed his team's approach, and it showed. It was almost as if the teams switched roles at halftime without telling anybody. But sometimes you just need a shot to clang off the upright. When you're good, you get luck going your way, I guess. AMAZONIAN Antonio Corsa @AntonioCorsa Il commento di Buffon al palo di Matos. Alas, three points is three points and that's exactly what Juventus got against Fiorentina. Home turf defended again. The revenge tour was completed. Preparations for a second straight home match against Fiorentina on Thursday will start right about...now. Or now. AMAZONIAN Random thoughts and observations • Kwadwo Asamoah is making me rethink the notion that Juventus need to sign a new starting left wingback this summer. He has been absolutely fantastic the last couple of months. It's the exact opposite of how he played during the second half of the season last year. How much that had to do with the busyness of the Africa Cup of Nations I don't really know, but it's pretty easy to see that Asamoah hasn't been this good form-wise since his first couple of months in a Juventus jersey. And that's never going to be a bad thing. Oh, one more thing: HE SCORED A GOAL WITH HIS RIGHT FOOT. • Juventus' home form this season: WWWWWWWWWWWWWW Pretty. 14 games at Juventus Stadium, 14 wins. • This stat will make you think a little bit. OptaPaolo @OptaPaolo 49.1% - Fiorentina kept 49.1% of ball possession vs Juventus: their lowest percentage this season. Exertion. AMAZONIAN If that's Fiorentina's lowest possession percentage this season, holy cow. I don't know what's more impressive in what comes out of that number — that Juventus kept Fiorentina to that, or that 49.1 percent possession became the lowest of the season. Impressive in both aspects, really. • Leonardo Bonucci getting some much deserved rest gave Angelo Ogbonna to play in the center of the Juve defense for the first time in a little while. And he definitely took advantage of it. There seems to be a nervy moment or two whenever Ogbonna plays, but not Sunday afternoon. He was as reliable as he's ever been this season. He didn't play on the ball as much as Bonucci does because Juve were really putting an emphasis on attacking down the wings, but Ogbonna was one of his team's best players on Sunday. • Claudio Marchisio with another unspectacular yet solid game as the fill-in for Andrea Pirlo as Juve's regista. He's done one hell of a job adapting to his new role and it just seems that he's getting better and better at it as he becomes more comfortable in it. AMAZONIAN • Gigi Buffon had one big save to make at it wasn't technically a save. Don't lie if your heart rate doubled when you saw San Gigi rushing off his line and out of the box to clear the ball. I know mine did. • Unbeaten run currently stands at 19 games and counting. Juventus' lead atop Serie A currently stands at 14 points going into the afternoon and evening matches (you would like to think Roma vs. Napoli should be rather interesting). That's all I got for now. The sun is about to rise here in California and I'm going back to bed. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 FIORENTINA Kwadwo Asamoah (42′) March 9, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 38000‎ Juventus do just enough to grab a win against Viola Mar 9, 2014 Yet another victory for Juventus, and this one was to equal Torino's record of 14 consecutive home wins from 1975-76. It may not have been an especially dazzling performance against Fiorentina, but when the same opponents must be faced twice more over the next 10 days -- in the last 16 of the Europa League -- energy needed to be preserved. AMAZONIAN Kwadwo Asamoah and his delicious feet ensured a 1-0 victory and the full three points to keep Juve at the top of the table. Fiorentina's strategy was obvious in the first 45 minutes. They wanted to contain the pressure by defending deep in their own half and then making the most of their pace when they won back possession. Defensively, they succeeded in frustrating Juventus, who struggled to play through them. Shutting down the spaces through the middle and defending very narrowly, the Bianconeri explored their avenues on the wings in the hope of stretching the back-line before pinging a ball into the box. In failing through that strategy, Antonio Conte's men were always looking for that vertical pass over the top towards Fernando Llorente, who could hold the ball up and allow Carlos Tevez to make the right run. AMAZONIAN A lack of quality in Fiorentina's back-line made for an entertaining game. Modibo Diakite for one, had a torrid time trying to keep up with the Old Lady attack, over committing at the wrong times or simply too slow to halt a movement. Thus it came as no surprise that the goal Juventus did manage, came from the left, via Asamoah, who showed delightful skill to cut in and strike. Once Fiorentina did win back possession, they struggled to come out of their own half, usually surrendering the ball back to one of the Bianconeri's midfielders, who pressed incessantly. Simply unable to make their time on the ball count, Fiorentina were forced into giving up on the notion of attack in order to contain Juve. Wasteful, careless and surprisingly poor in controlling the ball, the only chances Vincenzo Montella's men did have came when they committed a foul, or a perceived foul, to launch a quick attack before Juve had adequately rearranged themselves at the back. Even then, wrong decisions were made and Viola striker Mario Gomez was left ruing the little service he was given. As for Juve, they enjoyed the ample space and time offered to Claudio Marchisio to pick out the right passes into the front areas. Rarely closed down, Fiorentina concentrated on marking the potential targets of his passes as opposed to cutting out the service altogether. AMAZONIAN In the second half we saw the Viola allowed more time on the ball as they attempted to start constructing attacking passages of play. Gomez squandered an excellent chance when he was free to head in an equaliser. Juventus, unfortunately, seemed to be too content with their 1-0 lead and adopted a relaxed approach in the latter half of the game. Pleased with possessing the ball as opposed to pushing through and creating goal scoring opportunities, they began to demonstrate imprecision with their passes, whilst both sides were guilty of seemingly dropping their focus. However, this quickly changed when Montella began to make his substitutions and the Viola made the most of Juve's drop in intensity to start forcing errors from the likes of Angelo Ogbonna and creating good chances at goal. Gianluigi Buffon had to remain incredibly alert as he was forced into acting as a sweeper to rescue a back-line that erred again during a dangerous Viola move. AMAZONIAN Direct runs by Juan Cuadrado and Ryder Matos' movement and tenacity made for a nervy ending but Juventus managed to hold on and register all three points to keep them in first place. It was indeed puzzling to see that Conte's men had not learned their lesson from the last time they played the Viola, dropping their intensity to allow Fiorentina to grow in confidence. Perhaps this was an exercise in preserving energy, expending only the necessary amount and nothing more to make for an interesting Europa League tie. Only time will tell as the two face-off again on Thursday night. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 FIORENTINA Kwadwo Asamoah (42′) March 9, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 38000‎ Asamoah goal enough for Bianconeri to avenge Florence defeat Mar 9, 2014 Juventus defeated Fiorentina 1-0 at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Serie A. AMAZONIAN The Bianconeri gained revenge for their astonishing defeat in Florence back in October as a first half goal from Kwadwo Asamoah was enough to see off the challenge of the Viola. Although Vincenzo Montella had the fit again Mario Gomez to call on, the absence of the suspended Borja Valero and long-term injury victim Giuseppe Rossi seemed vital against a determined Juventus side despite themselves missing Andrea Pirlo. Despite the absence of the suspended Italian international it was the Bianconeri who controlled the opening exchanges, pressing the vistors straight from kick-off and creating the first clear chance when Fernando Llorente played in Arturo Vidal, but after supplying the onrushing Stephan Lichtsteiner the Swiss international sliced well wide after being forced onto his left foot. AMAZONIAN While the Viola seemed content to stifle the Juventus attacks they did slowly begin making their way into the game with Anderson trying to impress in midfield, snapping at the heels of the opposition and trying drive the team forward. With Antonio Conte’s side struggling to play their way through the Viola it was a more direct approach that nearly brought the breakthrough as Claudio Marchisio played a ball over the top of the defence for Carlos Tevez who’s attempt to control the ball saw it trickle past the post despite appearing offside. On 26 minutes Juventus went even closer when Asamoah met a deep cross sweetly on the volley, but Neto showed great reflexes to readjust his body and palm away when Alberto Aquilani’s outstretched boot nearly deflected the ball past him. AMAZONIAN With their constant domination looking destined to give the Old Lady the lead a corner kick was excellently flicked on at the near post by Paul Pogba, but Juan Vargas just managed to rise high enough to head away and stop Vidal nodding into an empty net. Just before half-time Juventus had their advantage through Asamoah, the Ghanaian with a wonderful piece of skill to cut in from the left, and although surrounded by several Fiorentina defenders fired off a shot that took a slight deflection off the leg of David Pizarro and flew in off Neto’s left post. Highlighting the visitors meagre attempts to test the Gianluigi Buffon during the opening period was the fact that their only attempt was a blocked Aquilani shot from some 30 yards from goal. AMAZONIAN Although the second half started following a similar path Fiorentina finally created a second attempt on the Juventus goal only for Gomez to completely head a Manuel Pasqual cross off target six yards from goal. With Juventus seemingly willing to defend their one goal lead and Fiorentina failing to replicate the quality that they have shown on numerous times this season the game as a contest looked destined to fade away, as is the Viola’s hopes of catching Napoli in third and a chance of Champions League qualification. However, as the clock ticked down Fiorentina nearly drew level when Ryder Matos, on for the ineffectual Gomez, met a Rafal Wolski flick-on yards from goal but could only direct his header against the crossbar as Juventus had their victory. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 FIORENTINA Kwadwo Asamoah (42′) March 9, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 38000‎ Juventus scrape past Fiorentina A first-half goal from Kwadwo Asamoah was just enough for Juventus to secure a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina in this afternoon's Serie A clash. Mar 9, 2014 Fiorentina kept possession in the opening stages, but the home side began to push forward in search of an early goal. AMAZONIAN After 15 minutes, Juve had the first real chance when Arturo Vidal set up Stephan Lichtsteiner, however the full back's left-footed strike went wide of the mark. Soon after, Carlos Tevez had an speculative effort from the edge of the area, but his strike didn't trouble the goalkeeper and went well over the bar. Claudio Marchisio found Tevez again on 24 minutes with an intelligent pass, the Argentine connected with the cross, but the finish was poor. AMAZONIAN Juve continued to press the away side and came close again through Asamoah, who latched onto a pass and saw his powerful strike saved by the goalkeeper. Fiorentina worked an opening for Juan Vargas, but his strike from distance was blocked well by an alert defence. Juve eventually took the lead on 43 minutes when Asamoah cut inside and burst into the box before firing a shot which looped into the net to make it 1-0. AMAZONIAN The intensity of the game seemed to drop in the second half as both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball. The away side had a chance on the hour mark when Manuel Pasqual picked out Mario Gomez, but the striker fired his shot high over the bar. Paul Pogba created himself some space on 70 minute, but his strike was straight at the goalkeeper and easily kept out. AMAZONIAN Juve struggled to create anything going forward as the tempo of the game continued to stutter. Fiorentina had a huge chance to equalise on 80 minutes when Matos sent a header towards goal and hit the crossbar. The away side began to push for a late equaliser, however Antonio Conte's men held on and stood firm in defence to secure the points. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 FIORENTINA Kwadwo Asamoah (42′) March 9, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 38000‎ Asamoah decides Juve-Fiorentina Kwadwo Asamoah’s fantastic individual goal proved enough for Juventus to beat Fiorentina, though Ryder Matos hit the bar. Mar 9, 2014 This was the first in a triple bill, as these old rivals will also face off in the Europa League on March 13 and 20. The Bianconeri were looking for a 14th consecutive home victory, while the Viola had won just one of their last 21 visits to Turin. Andrea Pirlo was suspended, Mirko Vucinic injured, Leonardo Bonucci rested and Daniel Osvaldo on paternity leave, so Claudio Marchisio was the deep-lying playmaker. Fiorentina had Borja Valero and Nenad Tomovic banned, Giuseppe Rossi and Ante Rebic sidelined, but Mario Gomez was in the starting XI and seeking his first goal since rupturing knee ligaments in September. AMAZONIAN The hosts poured pressure on from the start, though Carlos Tevez’s shot was charged down, Stephan Lichtseiner blasted wide with the outside of his boot from an inspired Arturo Vidal assist and Apache fired over from a tight angle. Andrea Barzagli charged down an Alberto Aquilani strike. On 25 minutes Juve had a great chance, as Kwadwo Asamoah’s effort was deflected and forced Neto into a desperate one-handed reaction save. From the resulting corner, Asamoah’s angled drive flashed wide. Paul Pogba should’ve done better when left in acres of space in the box, but he controlled a Barzagli cross with his knee and volleyed over. AMAZONIAN Juan Manuel Vargas pounced on a poor defensive pass only for his shot to be blocked off, but he was crucial at the other end with practically a goalline clearance to stop Vidal nodding in a Pogba-flicked corner at the back post. Juventus finally broke the deadlock before half-time with a great goal from Asamoah. He cut in from the left between a group of purple jerseys, rolled the ball along the sole of his boot to break free and curled a scorching finish in off the inside of the far post with his weaker right foot. Modibo Diakite had the ball in the net after the restart, but was flagged offside. Replays suggest it was an extremely tight decision as the free kick was floated in. AMAZONIAN Llorente dispossessed a distracted David Pizarro and sent Tevez through, but his pull-back for the Spaniard was crucially intercepted by Neto. Mario Gomez had a great chance to equalise just shy of the hour mark, but his glancing free header was wide of the far post when the Juventus defence had forgotten about him. Rafal Wolski replaced the disappointing Pizarro, who gave possession away several times, and Aquilani moved to the centre of midfield. It seemed to work, as Vargas smashed a powerful effort over the bar, then Diakite’s header into the ground went wide on a corner after Angelo Ogbonna’s panicked clearance. AMAZONIAN Wolski drilled an angled drive wide, but substitute Ryder Matos went incredibly close on 79 minutes when his header thumped the crossbar from eight yards at the end of a well-worked team move. Gigi Buffon had precious little to do in this game, but he was very alert to rush outside his box and clear with his chest from Cuadrado after Barzagli had slipped over. A free kick was touched on for Vargas and again charged down. AMAZONIAN JUVENTUS: Buffon; Barzagli, Ogbonna, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner (Caceres 78), Vidal, Marchisio (Padoin 88), Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez (Isla 82), Llorente FIORENTINA: Neto; Diakitè, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Savic, Pasqual; Anderson (Mati Fernandez 57), Pizarro (Wolski 65), Aquilani; Cuadrado, Gomez (Matos 77), Vargas Ref: Orsato http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 FIORENTINA Kwadwo Asamoah (42′) March 9, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance:‬ 38000‎ Asamoah exacts Viola revenge The Bianconeri were beaten 4-2 by Vincenzo Montella's side earlier this season, but the Ghanaian struck the only goal of the game to maintain the Serie A leaders' title charge. Mar 9, 2014 A 42nd minute strike from Kwadwo Asamoah was the difference between the two sides as Juventus saw off Fiorentina 1-0 in Turin. AMAZONIAN The sides are set to meet three times in less than a fortnight, with Sunday's Serie A clash to be followed by two encounters in the Europa League last 16. Juve enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half at Juventus Stadium, but had to wait until the 42nd minute to break the deadlock through Asamoah. Fiorentina threatened to battle their way back into the tie after the break, with Modibo Diakite having a goal disallowed, but Juve held out to avenge their sole league defeat of the season, which came in the reverse fixture back in October. AMAZONIAN The victory strengthens Juve's position at the summit of the Italian top flight, with the reigning champions now 14 points clear ahead of the clash between chasing duo Napoli and Roma later on Sunday. Antonio Conte welcomed Giorgio Chiellini and Arturo Vidal back from injury and suspension respectively, and it was the hosts who applied the early pressure amid an intense atmosphere in Turin, with Carlos Tevez seeing an effort deflected wide by Gonzalo Rodriguez in the opening five minutes. Stephan Lichtsteiner should have put Juve in front 10 minutes later when he received the ball from a Vidal cut-back, but skewed his attempt wide of the left-hand post. AMAZONIAN Fiorentina were struggling to get out of their own half, with home goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reduced to the role of spectator. Tevez failed to bring the ball under control when clean through on goal in the 24th minute, as he knocked the ball out for a goal-kick as Juve continued to press. The visitors had Neto to thank for keeping the game goalless, two minutes later, when he punched behind from a deflected Asamoah strike, before Paul Pogba lofted a volley over the crossbar. Juve’s pressure finally paid off three minutes before the break as Asamoah pulled off a delightful piece of skill in the penalty area to tee himself up for a right-footed thunderbolt, that flew into the back of the net off the right-hand upright via the slightest of deflections. AMAZONIAN Diakite then looked to have pulled Fiorentina level early in the second period, but his strike was ruled out for offside. Vincenzo Montella's men saw a lot more of the ball after the break and came close to an equaliser once again when Mario Gomez headed just wide of the target from a Manuel Pasqual cross from the left. Juan Manuel Vargas was next to get a sight of goal in the 68th minute, but sent the ball well over the crossbar of a grateful Buffon. AMAZONIAN Viola substitute Ryder Matos struck the crossbar with a header from a Vargas cross before going into the referee's book for a dive in the area under the challenge of Chiellini, as Juve lived dangerously in the closing stages. However, the Serie A leaders were not to be denied and maintained their perfect home league record this season, which now stands at 14 victories from 14 games. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Ottimo Padoin!

Giallo per Asamoah.

Bravo Isla, conquista un prezioso calcio di punizione.

Entra anche Padoin per Marchisio.

Aquilani abbatte alla fine Pogba, ammonito.

Gigi ultimo baluardo.

Matos fuori e in fuorigioco.

Isla per Tevez. Conte si copre.

Matos si tuffa

Traversa di Matos.

Cáceres per Lichtsteiner.

Esce Gomez entra Matos.

Savic ridicolo cascatore.

Tevez stava per fregare Neto.

Asamoah: 'My right foot debut!' Mar 9, 2014 Kwadwo Asamoah had an extra reason to celebrate his goal against Fiorentina. “It’s the first with my right foot!” AMAZONIAN The Ghanaian spoke to Sky Sport Italia at half-time after giving Juventus the lead in Turin. “I am happy, as the Coach has been telling me for a while to cut in and try shooting from that angle. I finally managed to get it in the goal. AMAZONIAN “It’s the first with my right foot and I am very happy.” Fiorentina inspire Asamoah, as he has now scored three of his total 12 Serie A goals against them.

JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA March 9, 2014 - 12:30 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Asamoah: 'My right foot debut!' Mar 9, 2014 Kwadwo Asamoah had an extra reason to celebrate his goal against Fiorentina. “It’s the first with my right foot!” AMAZONIAN The Ghanaian spoke to Sky Sport Italia at half-time after giving Juventus the lead in Turin. “I am happy, as the Coach has been telling me for a while to cut in and try shooting from that angle. I finally managed to get it in the goal. AMAZONIAN “It’s the first with my right foot and I am very happy.” Fiorentina inspire Asamoah, as he has now scored three of his total 12 Serie A goals against them. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111