Socrates

CATANIA - JUVENTUS March 23, 2014 - 20:45 PM Angelo Massimino Stadium — Catania Referee: Antonio Damato MATCH PREVIEW Mar 22, 2014 Leaders Juventus travel to bottom of the table Catania with Inter’s 2006-07 points record in sight. AMAZONIAN Roberto Mancini’s Nerazzurri won the title with 97 points in that campaign - a feat Juventus can surpass. The Bianconeri will reach 105 points, if they win their 10 remaining fixtures. It’s a record that is undoubtedly motivating Antonio Conte’s side, with the Scudetto seemingly already won. Last weekend’s hard-fought 1-0 win at Genoa was followed up with an equally gruelling Europa League victory in Florence on Thursday. Juventus didn’t play at their best in either of those ties, but the resilience and will to win that Conte has installed - plus two pieces of set piece magic from Andrea Pirlo - ensured the right result was secured on both occasions. AMAZONIAN Paul Pogba sits out a ban for this game, while Andrea Barzagli and Federico Peluso are still injured. Claudio Marchisio and Angelo Ogbonna also remain in doubt. Having toiled over the last six days, the fixture list has seemingly been kind to Juventus, as they make the trip to Sicily to face bottom of the table Catania. After a spell of more positive results, following the return of Rolando Maran, Catania have slumped once more. Last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Sassuolo was a third in four matches and leaves them four points from safety. AMAZONIAN Their demise over this season has been completely unexpected. Having finished eighth last term, there was hope that they could push on and maybe have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe. The loss of Alejandro Gomez and Francesco Lodi - who returned from Genoa in January - undoubtedly hurt Catania, but few expected this. Maran needs a turning point and an unlikely victory against Juventus would provide that. Catania were smashed 4-0 in Turin in November, while Juve also possess Serie A’s best away record, but Genoa showed last weekend that they can be troubled. Spurred on by a passionate Sicilian crowd, Catania will hope to at least put up an equally stern fight. AMAZONIAN Keep an eye on: Francesco Lodi (Catania) - The playmaker’s return from Genoa in January coincided with a - slight - upturn in results. The 29-year-old never settled in Liguria, but is getting back to his best at Catania. Juventus will be wary of his set-piece prowess, having fallen victim to it in the past. A Lodi free-kick may just be Catania’s best bet of securing an unlikely result. Form Guide: Catania (W L L D L) Juventus (W W W W W) Last season: Catania 0-1 Juventus Stat fact: Juventus have lost just once away from home in Serie A this season. AMAZONIAN CATANIA (probable): Andujar; Peruzzi, Bellusci, Legrottaglie, Biraghi; Izco, Lodi, Rinaudo; Keko, Bergessio, Barrientos JUVENTUS (probable): Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Padoin, Asamoah; Tevez, Osvaldo http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CATANIA - JUVENTUS March 23, 2014 - 20:45 PM Angelo Massimino Stadium — Catania Referee: Antonio Damato Catania-Juventus Preview: Conte's men chasing points record The bottom side are looking to climb back up the table and give themselves a chance of staying in the Italian top flight but face the difficult task of beating the champions. Mar 22, 2014 Juventus will be expecting to pile on the misery for bottom club Catania when the sides meet in Serie A on Sunday. AMAZONIAN The Turin outfit are chasing down the division's record points total of 97 - set by Inter in 2007 - and should have three more to show for their efforts come the end of this weekend. Indeed, if Juventus win their remaining 10 matches, they will surpass that marker by eight points and, with Roma well adrift in second, Antonio Conte's men may feel they have the freedom to push for the milestone. Catania's run of one win from their last 10 league fixtures stands in stark contrast to the form of the defending champions, who are unbeaten in 20, having won 18 of those. AMAZONIAN It has been a campaign of dramatic decline for the hosts, who finished eighth last season but are now facing the very real prospect of a return to Serie B after an eight-year absence. Sunday's 3-1 loss to fellow strugglers Sassuolo saw Rolando Maran's men hit rock-bottom and the task that will greet them this weekend is one of the most daunting in Italian football. Catania have not beaten Juve since 2009, although that victory came in Turin, where Juve stormed to a 4-0 triumph earlier this season. AMAZONIAN Andrea Pirlo found the net with a superb free-kick on that occasion - his 100th appearance for the club - and the midfielder has attracted much praise in recent weeks after more set-piece wizardry. The 34-year-old scored a late set-piece in Juve's 1-0 win at Genoa last time out in the league, before producing another top-drawer set-piece effort to knock Fiorentina out of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. AMAZONIAN Pirlo's dead-ball form moved Juve assistant boss Angelo Alessio to proclaim to Mediaset: "I think Pirlo is the best in the world at free-kicks and I also believe he can beat Sinisa Mihajlovic's record of goals from set-plays in Serie A (27)." The league leaders are without the suspended Paul Pogba for the trip to Catania, while Andrea Barzagli and Federico Peluso miss out through injury. Claudio Marchisio and Angelo Ogbonna remain doubtful. AMAZONIAN Head to Head Serie A - Oct 30, 2013 - Juventus 4 - 0 Catania Serie A ‎-‎ Mar 10, 2013 - Juventus 1 - 0 Catania Serie A ‎-‎ Oct 28, 2012 - Catania 0 - 1 Juventus Serie A ‎- Feb 18, 2012 - Juventus 3 - 1 Catania Serie A - Sep 25, 2011 - Catania 1 - 1 Juventus AMAZONIAN Last Five Matches CATANIA Mar 16, 2014 - Sassuolo 3 - 1 Catania - Serie A Mar 8, 2014 - Catania 1 - 1 Cagliari - Serie A Mar 2, 2014 - Genoa 2 - 0 Catania - Serie A Feb 23, 2014 - Chievo 2 - 0 Catania - Serie A Feb 16, 2014 - Catania 3 - 1 Lazio - Serie A JUVENTUS Mar 20, 2014 - Fiorentina 0 - 1 Juventus - EL Mar 16, 2014 - Genoa 0 - 1 Juventus - Serie A Mar 13, 2014 - Juventus 1 - 1 Fiorentina - EL Mar 9, 2014 - Juventus 1 - 0 Fiorentina - Serie A Mar 2, 2014 - AC Milan 0 - 2 Juventus - Serie A http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CATANIA - JUVENTUS March 23, 2014 - 20:45 PM Angelo Massimino Stadium — Catania Referee: Antonio Damato Juventus squad named for Catania match Mar 22, 2014 Juventus coach Antonio Conte has named a 19-man squad for the Bianconeri’s away match against Catania on Sunday. AMAZONIAN The tactician has left several players out of the squad with the likes of Claudio Marchisio, Angelo Ogbonna, Federico Peluso and Andrea Barzagli all unavailable for Sunday. Paul Pogba has also been left out as he serves a one match ban. AMAZONIAN Goalkeepers: Buffon, Storari, Rubinho Defenders: Chiellini, Caceres, Bonucci, Romagna Midfielders: Padoin, Pirlo, Asamoah, Vidal, Lichtsteiner, Isla, Gerbaudo Forwards: Tevez, Giovinco, Llorente, Osvaldo, Quagliarella http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CATANIA - JUVENTUS March 23, 2014 - 20:45 PM Angelo Massimino Stadium — Catania Referee: Antonio Damato Maran: To defeat Juve… Mar 22, 2014 Rolando Maran says Catania will look to give their all and bring intensity to their performance against Juventus tomorrow. AMAZONIAN Sat bottom of the League, the Elefanti host runaway leaders Juventus on Sunday night looking to become only the second team to defeat the Bianconeri this term in Serie A. To that end, their Coach has outlined what he hopes to see from his charges. “I want to see the maximum given and over and above this I want the fans to be proud of this team,” Maran has told reporters ahead of the fixture. AMAZONIAN “We have to be able to have balance. It won’t be enough to stop Andrea Pirlo to beat Juve. “They are a strong team who are experiencing a moment distinctly different to our own, but to start off believing we have lost would be the biggest mistake. I am not talking about a miracle. “We play in our stadium, which has always given us a boost. I will not make any appeals, but it will be down to us to involve the fans. The team is aware of the difficulty but we will have to give our best. AMAZONIAN “Grit? We have tried to work on every aspect both mentally and physically. We have had plenty of time to do this. “Overall, we are fine. We have a few players out, but we have been working to try to produce intensity on the field come Sunday. That is what we have been training towards. AMAZONIAN “I have never liked training retreats as a player and as a Coach I do not like them. “The formation we’ll use? I have tried both the 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 and I reserve the right to decide on which one to choose. It is not impossible that we could change during the game.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Serie A - 10^ Giornata - Ritorno - 23-3-2014 (ore 20:45) - Stadio "Angelo Massimino" - Catania Arbitro: Antonio Damato Confronti ufficiali 34 - 31 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Juventus 19 - 17 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 10 - 9 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Catania 5 - 5 (Serie A) Goals Juventus 64 - 58 (Serie A) - 6 (Coppa Italia) Goals Catania 31 - 30 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Catania - Juventus - Serie A a Catania Confronti ufficiali 15 Vittorie Juventus 7 (L'ultima il 28.10.2012, 0-1) Pareggi 5 (L'ultimo il 25.09.2011, 1-1) Vittorie Catania 3 (L'ultima il 27.09.1964, 3-1) Goals Juventus 23 Goals Catania 17 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Catania a Catania 5 presenze Buffon Gianluigi 5 Chiellini Giorgio 5 Salvadore Sandro 5 Stacchini Gino 4 Del Piero Alessandro 4 Iaquinta Vincenzo 4 Leoncini Gianfranco 4 Sarti Benito 3 Anzolin Roberto 3 Bercellino I Giancarlo 3 goals Stacchini Gino 2 Miranda Armando 2 Quagliarella Fabio 2 Sivori Omar Enrique 1 Bettega Roberto 1 Bronée Helge Christian 1 Charles John William 1 Da Costa Dino 1 Del Piero Alessandro 1 Iaquinta Vincenzo Ultimi confronti diretti 20.12.2009 Serie A Juventus-Catania 1-2 02.05.2010 Serie A Catania-Juventus 1-1 05.12.2010 Serie A Catania-Juventus 1-3 13.01.2011 Coppa Italia Juventus-Catania 2-0 23.04.2011 Serie A Juventus-Catania 2-2 25.09.2011 Serie A Catania-Juventus 1-1 18.02.2012 Serie A Juventus-Catania 3-1 28.10.2012 Serie A Catania-Juventus 0-1 10.03.2013 Serie A Juventus-Catania 1-0 30.10.2013 Serie A Juventus-Catania 4-0 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 6 - Pareggi 3 - Vittorie Catania 1 - Goals Juventus 19 - Goals Catania 8

Nedved: 'Ignore the Final' Mar 21, 2014 Pavel Nedved warned Juventus not to look beyond Lyon in the Europa League. “The road to the Final is long.” AMAZONIAN The Bianconeri were paired with Olympique Lyonnais in the quarter-finals and are among the favourites, especially as the Final will be at the Juventus Stadium in Turin. “The road to the Final is still long,” noted Nedved, who is now a director at the club. “I am proud to be for the second year running the only Italian representative at the quarter-final draw, even if it was the Champions League last season. AMAZONIAN “The draw is difficult, even if on paper everyone keeps talking about Juve as if they are already in the Final. The Europa League must be faced with a serious attitude. “I don’t think it is an advantage to play the Final on home turf, anyway. Now we must focus only on the quarter-final.” AMAZONIAN Andrea Pirlo’s free kick secured their place in the quarters, eliminating Fiorentina 2-1 on aggregate. “Andrea is a phenomenon and we are happy to have him. Pirlo already met with the club for renewal talks and I don’t think there will be problems.”

EL: Juventus face Lyon Mar 21, 2014 Juventus will face Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals as they aim to play the Final on home turf. AMAZONIAN The draw for the next phase of the competition was made today in Nyon by ex-Juve hero Ciro Ferrara and the Bianconeri have to be considered one of the favourites for the trophy. Antonio Conte’s men have an extra advantage, as the Final will be played at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on May 14. Today’s draw pitted Juve against French side Olympique Lyonnais. AMAZONIAN AZ Alkmaar host Benfica, while Swiss side Basel take on Valencia. Porto and Sevilla go head-to-head in a Portuguese-Spanish clash. The first leg is on April 3 and the decider a week later. AMAZONIAN Europa League - Quarter-Finals 1st leg - April 3 AZ Alkmaar-Benfica Basel-Valencia Lyon-Juventus Porto-Sevilla 2nd leg - April 10 Benfica-AZ Alkmaar Juventus-Lyon Sevilla-Porto Valencia-Basel

Nedved confident Juve can win Europa League The Bianconeri won the Uefa Cup three times between 1977 and 1993 and are well set to do so again in the tournament's modern format. Mar 21, 2014 Pavel Nedved is confident of Juventus' prospects in the Europa League after they were drawn against Lyon in the quarter-finals. AMAZONIAN The Serie A champions overcame Fiorentina 1-0 on Thursday to qualify for the last eight, with Andrea Pirlo's stunning free-kick ensuring a 2-1 aggregate success for Antonio Conte's men. The Turin club won the tournament three times under its Uefa Cup guise between 1977 and 1993 and are considered to be among the favourites to claim victory in this year's competition. Juve suffered a shock exit from the Champions League in December as they finished third in Group B behind Real Madrid and Galatasaray. AMAZONIAN But former Juve midfielder Nedved - now a board member at the club - feels Conte's side have learned how to approach European competition and have the capabilities to reach the final, which is to be held at Juventus Stadium on May 14. "There's still a long way to go before we reach the final in Turin," Nedved said. "We're up against Lyon and it won't be easy. We'll play the two-legged tie with full commitment. "After all, Juventus have tackled this competition with maximum respect and that's why we're here today. AMAZONIAN "We've developed as a side. In Europe teams face you with the shackles off and we came up against the odd difficulty as we weren't used to handling this approach. "Now, however, we've understood the way we need to deal with and win these games. "The Juventus team I played in also had these difficulties. We were the strongest in the league and struggled in Europe. But this side has all it takes to do well."

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Asamoah: 'Conte turned tide' Mar 21, 2014 Kwadwo Asamoah revealed Antonio Conte’s instructions turned the tide for a Juventus victory over Fiorentina. AMAZONIAN The Bianconeri swept through to the Europa League quarter-finals after a 1-0 win in Florence, having drawn the first leg 1-1. “Juan Cuadrado was defending a lot more than usual,” Asamoah told the official Juventus website. AMAZONIAN “In the first half we talked with Conte and decided to push the team forward. It went better, as both Mauricio Isla and I were too deep. We usually play in a different way, looking for the strikers. “In the second half it was a whole other game. When we play like that out wide, something happens and the forwards can receive better service.”

Alessio: Pirlo the world's best free-kick taker The Bianconeri assistant has lauded the midfielder's ability to find the net from set pieces, while at the same time saluting his side's display at the Artemio Franchi. Mar 21, 2014 Juventus assistant coach Angelo Alessio has hailed Andrea Pirlo as the best free-kick taker in the world in the wake of his winner in Thursday's 1-0 Europa League win over Fiorentina. AMAZONIAN The Italy international slammed home a stunning 71st-minute set piece to lead the Bianconeri to a 2-1 aggregate triumph over Fiorentina and seal their place in the last eight of the Europa League. The 34-year-old playmaker had done the very same thing in a 1-0 Serie A success against Genoa last Sunday, leaving Alessio in awe of Pirlo's dead-ball talents. "I think he is the best in the world at free-kicks and I also believe he can beat Sinisa Mihajlovic's record of goals from set-plays in Serie A (27)," the Bianconeri assistant told reporters. AMAZONIAN Alessio, who took Antonio Conte's place at the press conference due to the latter losing his voice during the match, then went on to voice his satisfaction with Juve's performance at the Artemio Franchi. "We performed well from start to finish and are very pleased with the performance. This game was talked up a great deal," he mused. "People say that the Europa League isn’t of great interest to us and we find that slightly irritating: we want to go all the way in every competition."

Europa League Player of the Week: Andrea Pirlo The midfielder's goal was the difference as Juventus left it fairly late to edge past Fiorentina and into the quarter-finals. Mar 21, 2014 Juventus were on the precipice of a shock exit before Andrea Pirlo scored the vital winner for the second game in a row, saving them from a second embarrassing European elimination this season. AMAZONIAN Three months ago the Bianconeri stumbled out of the Champions League in Istanbul, losing 1-0 to Galatasaray. On Thursday, meanwhile, Juve very nearly bowed out of the Europa League in Florence. Fiorentina held Antonio Conte's men to a 1-1 draw in Turin a week ago, giving them the upper hand heading into the second leg of their all-Italian last-16 clash. With the game still scoreless, Vincenzo Montella's men still held the advantage on away goals after 71 minutes of play, but Pirlo changed all that with a trademark free kick. AMAZONIAN The Italy international, who scored the winner in the 1-0 weekend win over Genoa with just one minute left on the clock, curled the ball majestically into the top corner, leaving Viola goalkeeper Neto helpless to prevent the Scudetto holders from seizing a lead that they would not relinquish. There have been questions about whether Pirlo will remain at the Juventus Stadium beyond this season, with his contract expiring in the summer and the likes of Paul Pogba rising through the ranks to potentially usurp his first-team spot. AMAZONIAN However, after the match, the 34-year-old confidently proclaimed: "I do not know if I will renew this month, but I know it will be with Juventus that I sign my next contract." Should he stay true to his word, the Old Lady will continue to benefit from his vast experience and wonderful ability to get them out of tight spots.

Buffon breaks Zoff's Juventus record The Bianconeri skipper moved past his legendary predecessor with his 477th appearance for the club against Fiorentina on Thursday. Mar 21, 2014 He is the most capped player in Italy history and now holds Juventus' club record for most games played by a goalkeeper. There really is no equal to Gianluigi Buffon. AMAZONIAN The 36-year-old's involvement in Juve's 1-0 win at Fiorentina in the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday took him past the legendary Dino Zoff on 477 appearances and into fifth place in the all-time list of the Bianconeri's most capped players. He still remains a long way short of Alessandro Del Piero's club-record 705 games, but Buffon's ascension to the rank of Juve's greatest ever goalkeeper is a notable achievement for a man regularly compared to 1982 World Cup winner Zoff.

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Borja Valero: 'Fiorentina are proud' Mar 20, 2014 Borja Valero maintains Fiorentina “can be proud” of what they achieved after a Europa League exit to Juventus. AMAZONIAN The Viola had been unbeaten in the tournament until tonight’s 1-0 home defeat, sealed by an Andrea Pirlo free kick after Gonzalo Rodriguez had been sent off. “It’s a shame we weren’t able to score with one of those early chances,” the Spaniard told Sky Sport Italia. AMAZONIAN “We can be proud of what we did in this journey. There won’t be any psychological setbacks because of the result, as we will think of this as a tough defeat against a great side like Juve. “There is a lot still to play for, including the Coppa Italia Final and getting a good finish in Serie A.”

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Pirlo: 'I looked at the wall' Mar 20, 2014 Andrea Pirlo explained his free kick technique against Fiorentina and pledged to sign a new Juventus deal. AMAZONIAN The veteran midfielder smashed a free kick into the far top corner for the 1-0 victory, which sent the Bianconeri into the Europa League quarter-final 2-1 on aggregate. “I am happy to have scored two important goals in under a week, as it means we can get closer to the objectives we set ourselves,” said Pirlo, referring also to his free kick against Genoa in Serie A. “How do I decide which way to take free kicks? I make my decision at the last moment. This time I looked at the wall and decided to hit it with more power. AMAZONIAN “We knew it was a long game and suffered in the opening stages, but then we had our chances and were always convinced we’d get through. “Fiorentina were a difficult obstacle, but after going out of the Champions League it was important to do well in this tournament.” AMAZONIAN Pirlo’s contract expires in June, but he reassured fans that he is not going anywhere. “It’s only natural some people say I’m getting old, but I still have fun with my football. I don’t know if the contract will be this month, but I do know that I’m staying at Juventus.”

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Pogba: Pirlo has a golden foot The Frenchman was joined by Leonardo Bonucci in hailing the veteran midfielder, whose free kick saw the Bianconeri progress past Fiorentina in the Europa League. Mar 20, 2014 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba hailed the "golden foot" of Andrea Pirlo as the Bianconeri marched past Fiorentina into the Europa League quarter-finals. AMAZONIAN Pirlo fired home a free kick from the edge of the area to give Juve a 1-0 win at the Artemio Franchi on Thursday, sealing a 2-1 aggregate victory and progression to the last eight. Following the Bianconeri's win, French midfielder Paul Pogba was quick to hail the impact the veteran has on the side. "Pirlo's got a golden foot! I need to train for many years if I'm going to be able to shoot like him," the 21-year-old told Mediaset. AMAZONIAN "We're very happy. We still remember the 4-2 defeat here [in Serie A] and it was important for us to overturn that result. "We said before the match that if we stuck to our usual game plan, the goal would eventually come." Echoing his team-mate's sentiments, defender Leonardo Bonucci had his own words of praise for the decorated Italy international. AMAZONIAN "Pirlo is a champion – he can turn any match around," he said. "We knew it was going to be a tough game. They [Fiorentina] too wanted to keep going in this competition. "We played with the awareness that we are a great team and the humility allowed us to deal with the pressure. AMAZONIAN "Those who step on to the field put themselves at the disposal of the side and sacrifice [themselves] for their team-mates." Victory keeps alive Antonio Conte's side's hopes of competing in the final, which will be held at their home stadium in Turin on May 14.

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Pirlo: Juventus 'fully deserved' to beat Fiorentina The Italian veteran feels Antonio Conte's charges earned their place in the next round of the Europa League following their narrow win over la Viola. Mar 20, 2014 Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo insists his side fully deserved to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Europa League after their 1-0 victory over Fiorentina. AMAZONIAN A superb second-leg free kick from Pirlo overturned la Viola's away-goal advantage following a 1-1 result in Turin last week, and the 34-year-old feels the Bianconeri warranted their place in the next round. "It was important to move forward [in the Europa League]," the veteran midfielder told Mediaset immediately after the match. "We wanted to qualify and I think it was a well deserved win from what we saw here tonight. AMAZONIAN "A game that lasts 180 minutes [is a long time], but we knew we could do it. We want to continue progressing in Europe as well as Serie A." Juventus, who currently lead the Italian top flight with a comfortable 14-point advantage over second-placed Roma, will find out who they face in the quarter-finals after the draw on Friday.

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Player Ratings A trademark Andrea Pirlo free kick sent the Italian champions through against the Viola, who had Gonzalo Rodriguez sent off in the second half. Mar 20, 2014 FIORENTINA Neto - Made a number of great saves to deny the likes of Llorente and Tevez, keeping the scoreline respectable for the home side. Nenad Tomovic - Was helped by the tenacious and constant work of Cuadrado down the right, but couldn't get close to Tevez throughout. Gonzalo Rodríguez - Did excellently to mark Llorente out of the game for large periods, but earned himself a red card for a poor challenge on the Spanish striker which led to Pirlo's winner. Stefan Savic - A solid performance from the Montenegro international, who made a number of vital interceptions and blocks to protect Neto. Juan Cuadrado - Tenacious and all-action from the Colombian, who put in a defensive shift as well as pressing down the right flank with some lovely tricks on show. Alberto Aquilani - Tested Buffon once in the latter stages and kept the ball well, but didn't create many chances for his side. David Pizarro - Fired a half-volley narrowly wide of the post in the first half, and regulated possession well. Borja Valero - A complete performance from a man who looks comfortable anywhere on the field, playing intelligent passes and endeavouring to link midfield to attack. Saw several shots blocked well. Juan Vargas - A poor outing from the left-back, who didn't whip in many dangerous crosses or keep any tabs on Isla or Lichtsteiner. Mario Gomez - Missed some good chances early on, flashing two in quick succession wide of the post, and wasn't permitted a great deal of freedom as the match progressed. Josip Iličič - Spurned a fantastic chance in the first half, ballooning the ball over the bar from narrowly outside the area. Faded in the second period. AMAZONIAN Substitutions Facundo Roncaglia - Thrown on to shore up the defence but struggled to deal with the physicality of Llorente. Massimo Ambrosini - His experience and grit didn't permit Juve to overwhelm Fiorentina in the midfield battle. Alessandro Matri - The former Milan striker was very isolated, with his lack of pace not helping the Viola as they tried to break quickly. AMAZONIAN JUVENTUS Gianluigi Buffon - Wasn't tested on too many occasions, but did what he had to do to keep Fiorentina at bay. A deserved clean sheet for the record-breaking shot-stopper. Martín Cáceres - Wasn't the weak link in Juve's defence as is often feared, with the Uruguayan acquitting himself well and making a couple of good back-post interventions. Leonardo Bonucci - A top performance from the Italy international once again, as he won plenty of aerial battles and threw his body on the line. Committed showing as always. Giorgio Chiellini - The powerful central defender struggled to deal with Cuadrado's diagonal runs, and wasn't able to gallivant forward like in the first leg. Mauricio Isla - The Chile international wasn't too convincing defensively, but pushed down the right-hand side brilliantly to deliver quality crosses. Arturo Vidal - Missed a trio of great chances, turning two close-range headers wide of the target from when usually he'd be expected to convert. ANDREA PIRLO - Always looked to stretch the Viola with searching balls and stepped up coolly to slot a late free kick into the top right-hand corner to secure Juve's progression. Paul Pogba - A classy outing from the young Frenchman who displayed some lovely pieces of skill and control. Went close with an audacious overhead kick. Kwadwo Asamoah - A quiet game from the Ghanaian, whose efforts were focused on keeping Cuadrado pegged back, which often seemed in vain. Carlos Tévez - Determination and desire personified as the Argentine looked to end his goal drought. Made several excellent driving runs from deep and tested Neto on various occasions. Fernando Llorente - Thrived once Rodriguez was red-carded, going on to dominate as an aerial presence. Unfortunate to see a late header palmed away smartly by Neto. AMAZONIAN Substitutions Stephan Lichtsteiner - Replaced Isla and made an immediate impact, curling a cross onto Llorente's head which Neto saved well. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo - Provided the extra legs required for Juve to close out the game, almost gifting a good assist for Tevez in the late stages with a smart square ball.

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Fiorentina 0-1 Juventus: 6 Things We Learned Mar 20, 2014 Juventus edged a fiercely contested last 16 Europa League tie with Serie A rivals Fiorentina on Thursday with a 1-0 win in the second-leg to edge out the Viola 2-1 on aggregate. AMAZONIAN Andrea Pirlo's free-kick did the damage on the night, shortly after referee Howard Webb had sent of Gonzalo Rodriguez for a foul on Fernando Llorente. After that, Vincenzo Montella's side had little hope of forcing a way back into the match, and the Bianconeri took a step closer to the final, which will be in their own stadium. Here are six things we learned. AMAZONIAN Andrea Pirlo Is Still the Best Free-Kick Taker in the Game Andrea Pirlo's stunning winner proved once more that he is the best free-kick taker in the business. "The Maestro" took it in a different fashion to his signature style, instead of floating the ball into the goalkeeper's top-right corner, as was the case in the Genoa game last weekend, Pirlo opted to cut across the ball quickly, whipping it fiercely over the wall and into the top-left corner. An unstoppable strike that gave Neto, a goalkeeper in the finest form of his life, absolutely no chance. AMAZONIAN It is a skill he will be remembered for, and the fact that he has been able to impact games for such longevity is so impressive. The Bianconeri can only thank their lucky stars that Milan were foolish enough to not renew the Azzurri legend's contract, and they have been able to gain three outstanding years from one of the modern greats. AMAZONIAN Juve Are Now Strong Favourites to Win It Juventus must surely be the strong favourites to win the Europa League. They were already the best team on paper, but a tie with Fiorentina was always going to go beyond that. The Viola were always going to play above themselves, and the passion of their historic rivals was always going to close the gap. AMAZONIAN The fact that Napoli have also exited, a side that could also have rivalled Juve, means that Juve are surely in the clear. The Partenopei were very wasteful against a Porto side that were ruthless over the two legs, and I would expect that Juve would be far more clinical if afforded similarly plentiful opportunities. AMAZONIAN Benfica appear to be the only side capable of beating the Old Lady, and that would only be over two legs, one would imagine. Even though anybody can win a one-off game, should Juve find themselves in the final, in front of their own fans, it would be staggering to not see them pick up the trophy. AMAZONIAN Isla Now a Good Option over Lichtsteiner Mauricio Isla has gradually manoeuvred himself into a position where Antonio Conte may start to consider picking him over Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right. The Chilean has been afforded the opportunity to play in the Europa League consistently and this has done his confidence a world of good. The former Udinese wide man is now fully fit and showcasing what he is capable of. AMAZONIAN Isla's consistent delivery is a striker's dream (or a midfielder's, as was the case often enough on Thursday). Isla's ability to come inside and link with the central midfielders, who, in turn, can dovetail around him, giving great fluidity to the way Juve attack down the right flank. At the very least, Isla will be an excellent back-up and push his Swiss counterpart to raise his level in order to maintain his starting place in the league. AMAZONIAN Pizarro's Absence Crucial to Viola's Exit David Pizarro walked off injured in the opening moments of the second half, and with that it seemed like Fiorentina's chances vanished. The Chilean is instrumental to the way that Montella's side play, starring as the regista, and when Massimo Ambrosini came on in his place, Fiorentina were restricted in the manner in which they wanted to approach the game. Borja Valero dropped into the space in front of the back four, and with that, the Spaniard's influence in transition, usually picking the ball up from Pizarro, vanished. AMAZONIAN Juve began to press higher, knowing that Fiorentina had to dribble the ball more to dissect their defence, rather than the pinpoint accurate passes from Pizarro. There are players of a similar ilk, who could be shoehorned into that role, but with Mati Fernandez's injury, and Alberto Aquilani's inconsistent form, Montella was doomed once the 34-year-old exited. AMAZONIAN Mario Gomez's Fitness Still Not Quite Right Mario Gomez, despite scoring in back-to-back games is evidently still a little way off his best due to some rustiness after his long-term injury. The German gives the Viola are wonderful option that Alessandro Matri cannot provide. The former Bayern star will give the Viola the ability to feed the ball into his feet, and the likes of Juan Cuadrado will gamble on the ball sticking at his feet and the ability of the centre-forward to feed the ball in behind the opposition's back line. AMAZONIAN It is unfortunate that Gomez did not have enough time to shake off the rust and find himself in the best condition possible ahead of this massive tie. Montella saw him struggle for an hour or so and eventually withdrew him from the action—another blow to the Viola. AMAZONIAN The Europa League Is Now Juve's Top Priority The Europa League should now be Juve's primary target as the season winds down. The Bianconeri have sewn up the league title and will be now be focusing on the remaining five matches that will see them lift Europe's secondary competition. Conte will have to carefully decide how to approach these games and the league matches that bookend the European ties. AMAZONIAN Conte will need to decide what he wants to do, whether that be rotating or keeping the team's consistency and form by maintaining the strongest side as the season closes out. It has been a season of highs and lows for Juve, even if most have been highs. AMAZONIAN Securing 100 points or 98 points, if the goal is just to surpass the previous best points total in Serie A history, will be a tempting target to secure their dominance in the history books. Adding the Europa League to a league triumph, no matter the final points tally, would surely provide more satisfaction to the fans.

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Andrea Pirlo Allows Juventus to Dream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWpOmTnWhu8 Mar 20, 2014 For the third time this month, Fiorentina and Juventus locked horns, meeting at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Thursday evening to complete their Europa League encounter. A highly partisan crowd packed the stadium, buoyed by the fact the Bianconeri Ultra had decided to boycott the fixture. AMAZONIAN With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, both teams were as close to full strength as possible. Antonio Conte’s team entered Viola territory knowing they had to score at least once. They were already trailing on aggregate to Mario Gomez’ crucial away goal in last week’s first leg, and they would be desperate to continue their excellent goal scoring form in 2013-14. Their home-field advantage clearly handed Fiorentina the early impetus, with Vincenzo Montella’s side starting brightly as Mario Gomez shot narrowly wide from a wonderfully weighted through ball. AMAZONIAN After an opening 10 minutes, during which Fiorentina fully dominated, Juventus, however, slowly gained a foothold in the match. With Giuseppe Rossi looking on from the stands, the game became open with a raft of chances at either end in a hectic first half. Both sides seemed extremely nervous before the decisive moment, and it would be no surprise which player stepped up to separate the two teams. Fernando Llorente got the better of defender Gonzalo Rodriguez—the Fiorentina man resorting to fouling on the edge of the box. It was his second bookable offence, leaving the Viola undermanned and crucially presenting Andrea Pirlo with the kind of set-piece opportunity the midfielder craves. AMAZONIAN As the 34-year-old stood behind the wall, everyone in the stadium knew exactly what was about to happen. His career has proved that his precision makes opposing goalkeepers almost powerless to prevent the inevitable attempt at goal. He had already demonstrated his match-winning ability in Sunday’s victory over Genoa, and he would do so again here. Unlike that floating, curled finish, however, he would drive a powerful shot into the far top corner, which Neto had no chance of stopping. Such was the power and precision of Pirlo’s effort that the Brazilian stopper came nowhere near the ball, despite starting on the correct side of the goal. AMAZONIAN It was the fifth time the Azzurri legend had found the net with a free kick this season, and it was his 11th since joining the Bianconeri in the summer of 2011. “I think Pirlo is the best in the world at free kicks,” said Angelo Alessio to Mediaset at full time (h/t Football Italia). It is hard to argue with the Juventus assistant coach’s assessment. The former Milan maestro is now just three goals short of Sinisa Mihajlovic’s all-time Serie A record of 27, a tally he will surely surpass in the not-too-distant future. AMAZONIAN What he also proved tonight was that he still has much to offer the Bianconeri as his contract expires in the summer. Juventus appear determined not to repeat the mistake of Pirlo’s former club, recognising just what he has brought to Turin over the past three seasons. Beppe Marotta firmly believes a new deal is close to being agreed to, the director general telling Mediaset (h/t Football Italia) this week that he is “confident that he [Pirlo] will continue with this relationship.” With his second match-winning goal in four days, the midfielder delivered yet another fillip for La Madama on Thursday evening, stating that he will remain with the club beyond his current contract. AMAZONIAN "I don’t know if the contract will be this month, but I do know that I’m staying at Juventus,” he said at full time (via Football Italia)—words that will bring almost as big a smile to Bianconeri supporters as his goal did to vanquish la Viola. Despite the fact he turns 35 before the World Cup, he remains a vital member of this all-conquering side, contributing as much as anyone to their current dominance of Serie A. AMAZONIAN Perhaps the last word should go to Gigi Buffon, the Juventus captain summing up Andrea Pirlo perfectly, as he told a post-match press conference (via Goal.com): “He’s one of those players who allows you to dream at any given moment when he has the ball at his feet.”

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Eternally classy Pirlo secures Europa League progression Mar 20, 2014 Motivation is a tricky mistress. Big matches require a determined side willing to leave blood on the pitch, but excite the players too much and you risk sending them over the edge. With the Viola down to 10 men, Andrea Pirlo broke Florentine hearts with a masterful free-kick to snatch Juventus a quarter-final piece in the Europa League with a 1-0 victory. AMAZONIAN Fiorentina started the game with hunger in their bellies. Attacking with pace and pressing vehemently. They possessed the ball beautifully and proved effective with both their passing and fluid interchange. The Bianconeri struggled to settle in. Every pass they attempted was well intercepted while their best players, including Pirlo and Paul Pogba were man-marked impeccably well. For a side that has routinely been criticised for their weak defence, Fiorentina ensured that in this match they would play with more aggression, surrounding their opponent to win back the ball and operating a quick manoeuvre before Juventus even had a moment to settle. However, the most impressive aspect of the Viola was the manner in which they disturbed Juve's game. Juventus manager Antonio Conte's side likes to adopt a high line and pass the ball around at the back before either going forward via short passes through midfield or a Leonardo Bonucci long ball to the top. However, with the likes of Josip Ilicic and Mario Gomez pressing, this pushed Juve deeper, stretching them out while their forced passes backwards allowed the Viola to then take a step up and push forward. AMAZONIAN Essentially, the home side didn't need to score but they had to make absolutely certain they didn't concede a goal either. Thus they concentrated on frustrating their opponent, closing down their usual avenues to goal and pushing them back to create distances between the players. If the Bianconeri did manage to move forward, then there were at least five players pressing, moving and marking to ensure possession was won back. When it was, they pushed forward and happily took shots from distance, even if they didn't manage to get anything on target in the first half. Juventus disappointed. Mauricio Isla, despite some good crosses, struggled to penetrate; Arturo Vidal, under extreme pressure, succumbed to imprecise play while Fernando Llorente struggled to offer much up top. In the Spaniard's defence, he often found himself alone and surrounded by four or five purple shirts, but more was still expected. Overwhelmed and unable to establish a rhythm, even when Juventus did manage to regain control of the ball, they surrendered it cheaply. This can be excused if squad players were deployed, but Juve's first team ought to be doing better. One has to wonder why Europe strips them of the usual beauty but each match allows both Conte and his men to develop further. AMAZONIAN Yet despite their less than dazzling performance, the Old Lady still has the players to make the difference. They may have rarely had the opportunity to create attacking passages of play in the first half, but they excelled when allowed to counter-attack while Pirlo worked tirelessly to find some space and escape his markers. Going into the break, the Bianconeri had produced more shots on target than their opponents. The second half saw the Bianconeri play with greater intensity, seemingly more eager to make an impact. Unfortunately for Fiorentina, their desperate desire to defeat their opponent led to mistakes and Gonzalo Rodriguez fouled Llorente to earn a red card and concede a free-kick to Juve in a dangerous area. A timeless player boasting impeccable technique, Pirlo struck the ball into the far top-corner of the goal to earn his side a victory. Not only did he secure Juve's win and possibly the Serie A title on Sunday against Genoa, he's now ensured his side progress to the next stage of the Europa League. AMAZONIAN Montella's squad is still a side that despite their beauty, need to mature. Passion is difficult to contain and with Rodriguez's silly foul and goalkeeper Norberto Neto's screaming rant, the Tuscans struggled to cope with the pressure and maintain their composure. The goalkeeper was trodden on the head by Juve striker Carlos Tevez, but rather than earn himself a yellow card by angrily yelling at the referee, he ought to have intelligently made his case. Playing with only ten men and one goal down, heads soon dropped. Montella opted to take Ilicic off to bring on a defender -- a decision one struggles to understand considering how much his side needed a goal to stay in the race. Why not go all out in search of the equaliser? With little attacking impetus, Juventus controlled proceedings and secured the win to qualify for the next stage. While it's never nice to see a good side like Fiorentina knocked out of a European competition, over the two matches Juventus deserved the win and are undoubtedly Italy's best hope of winning the trophy.

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Initial reaction and random observations Mar 20, 2014 It's the 68th minute and Fernando Llorente, who is known to win a free kick or two over the course of a game, gets one just outside the penalty area after being brought down by Gonzalo Rodriguez. While referee Howard Webb was in the process of showing Rodriguez a red card for the foul, noted free kick specialist Andrea Pirlo was prepping for what everybody in black and white was thinking could be his latest and greatest attempt on goal from a dead ball situation. AMAZONIAN What followed was, well, Pirlo being Pirlo. Woof. Another game, another Pirlo free kick masterpiece being the difference between a Juventus win and a potential disappointing result. This time, though, Juventus didn't get three points. Nope. What they got on Thursday night was a 1-0 win, a 2-1 advantage on aggregate, and a ticket booked for the Europa League quarterfinals. AMAZONIAN JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@Pirlo_official: We knew we had to score. We prepared the game well and were convinced from start to finish that we could go through. #UEL Not bad for a guy who's a couple months away from being 35 years old, huh? Don't feel bad if you're just left staring at the gif. You won't be the only one who is admiring the brilliance that is Andrea Pirlo taking a free kick. I'm pretty sure that contract renewal is awaiting you, Andrea, whenever you'd like to put your signature on the dotted line. AMAZONIAN JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen #Pogba: We’re very happy. We still remember the 4-2 defeat here and it was important for us to overturn that result. #FiorentinaJuve #UEL Getting a little bit of revenge is pretty sweet. Same goes for turning the May 14 Europa League final into a home game. Just a couple more legs to go, fellas. AMAZONIAN Random thoughts and observations • Pirlo's goal doesn't happen if Llorente doesn't work his tail off and get the free kick in Zona Pirlo. It was a pretty quiet game for Llorente in terms of the overall picture, but his biggest contribution won't show up on the stat sheet and ended up being the second-biggest difference-maker in the game. • There was Carlos Tevez, and there was a (post-game) party. • Seriously, though, having Tevez back in the starting lineup makes so much of a difference. The whole "Tevez doesn't score in Europe!" argument has gotten a bit tiresome for a lot of people, and I can see why. There wasn't a goal for Carlitos, but the impact he had was truly tremendous. He was involved in almost every serious Juventus attack, peppered Neto with every shot he took, and just brought that extra something that his team was lacking over the weekend against Genoa. AMAZONIAN • He may not be on the Juventus roster this season, but Luca Marrone was watching. Luca Marrone ✔ @marrone39 Che giocatore @Pirlo_official !!!!!!!! • Time to give Mauricio Isla some love because for the first time in his Juventus career, he's contributing on a consistent basis. What do Juve lack a decent portion of the time? Dangerous crosses into players like Llorente. Well, Isla was putting crosses for his teammates on a platter today. AMAZONIAN • Is it just me or did anybody else's blood pressure go up a few ticks whenever Mario Gomez had the ball at his feet in or around the Juve penalty area? Whenever they're fit at the same time this season or next, that Gomez-Giuseppe Rossi strike partnership is going to be pretty lethal. • Go ahead and find a replay of Pirlo's goal that involves a shot of Gigi Buffon before and after the goal happens. He wasn't even watching. It's like he knew what was going to happen, saw it, wasn't surprised, and then went about his business as usual. Maybe they know a thing or two about each other, I dunno. • Martin Caceres with another solid, solid game filling in for the injured Andrea Barzagli. And luckily for Mr. Caceres, there was no need to sport a fancy wrap on his head during the second half. AMAZONIAN • Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba combined for 14 tackles Thursday night. I'd say that's pretty good. • Europa League quarterfinal draw tomorrow. Set your alarm clocks now, fellow Americans!

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Perfect Pirlo free kick sends Bianconeri to quarter-final Mar 20, 2014 Juventus are through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League thanks to a 1-0 win in the second leg of their round of 16 affair against Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Thursday. AMAZONIAN Andrea Pirlo’s stunning free kick was the difference in a hotly-contested match. The hosts began on a high, with both Josip Ilicic and Mario Gomez coming close to delivering the hammer blow to Juve. Borja Valero was the provider with two exquisite assists. The pace slowed down after the first five minutes. The Bianconeri started to settle, but Stefan Savic managed to stop Fernando Llorente, who was being targeted with every pass, from entering his box, much like he did in the first leg. AMAZONIAN As a result, Paul Pogba tried to get involved up front. He got on the end of a cross, but his header was stopped by Neto and the Frenchman was offside anyways. David Pizarro replied with a thunderous half-volley that fizzled just past Gianluigi Buffon’s right post. Fouls then began to occur left, right and centre as the atmosphere inside the Artemio Franchi heated up with every tackle. AMAZONIAN The second half resumed the same way the first interval did, this time Juan Cuadrado forced Buffon to make his first save of the night with a long range effort that swerved on its way to the goalkeeper’s hands. Minutes later, Arturo Vidal then sent a header just over the bar thanks to a Mauricio Isla cross, but Juventus still needed an away goal in order to progress. AMAZONIAN Those odds were boosted due to a Gonzalo Rodriguez challenge on Fernando Llorente outside the area. The defender was sent off by referee Howard Webb. Pirlo then scored the resulting free kick from round 20 yards out, powering the ball into the top right corner, leaving Neto with little hope of saving it. It’s the fifth goal from a direct free kick for the Juve playmaker this season.

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Alessio: 'Pirlo best in the world' Mar 20, 2014 Juventus assistant manager Angelo Alessio said Andrea Pirlo “is the best in the world at free kicks” after eliminating Fiorentina. AMAZONIAN The 1-0 victory at the Stadio Artemio Franchi has sent the Bianconeri through to the Europa League quarter-finals, 2-1 on aggregate. “The goal on broke the deadlock, but the team had done well from start to finish,” Alessio told Mediaset. He was sent to speak with the media after the game, as Antonio Conte is suffering from flu symptoms. AMAZONIAN Pirlo decided the second match in a row for Juve, as his late free kick also secured a 1-0 Serie A victory away to Genoa at the weekend. “I think Pirlo is the best in the world at free kicks and I also believe he can beat Sinisa Mihajlovic’s record of goals from set plays in Serie A. “The extra man also helped us in the final stages, even if we wasted several chances to finish off the game. AMAZONIAN “Fiorentina started very strong and put us under pressure, but we adjusted and in the second half we were the only team playing.” Alessio defended Conte’s use of squad rotation this season, which sees them top of the Serie A table. AMAZONIAN “We knew that playing every three days required squad rotation and did not snub any competition. We try to give our all in every game. “We know the value of this squad and the players are proving what they can do.”

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Montella: 'Proud of Fiorentina' Mar 20, 2014 Vincenzo Montella complimented Juventus for their Europa League win, but was “proud” of Fiorentina and their fans. AMAZONIAN The first leg had ended 1-1 in Turin, but Andrea Pirlo scored with a wonderful free kick after Gonzalo Rodriguez had been sent off. “Football is made up of incidents and in this case Juve did well to create and finish their chance with Pirlo,” the Viola Coach told Mediaset. “For one day we will soak up the bitterness, but tomorrow we will begin again seeking our objectives, without forgetting the incredible work we’ve done so far. Now we want to end our season on a high.” AMAZONIAN Fiorentina are fourth in Serie A and will face Napoli in the Coppa Italia Final in May. “The applause from our fans at the final whistle filled us with pride. It was yet another sign of how close our supporters are to us. Now we must concentrate on Serie A.” Montella was asked about his tactical choices for the second leg, as he had dropped Juan Cuadrado for the first match. AMAZONIAN “Cuadrado played around 10 metres further back than usual, but he had a great game, both attacking and defending on Kwadwo Asamoah. I compliment my players for the performance. “Borja Valero moves wonderfully and we had several chances in the opening stages. We should’ve been more precise.”

FIORENTINA 0 - 1 JUVENTUS (Agg. 1-2) Andrea Pirlo (71′) March 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM Artemio Franchi Stadium — Florence Referee: Howard Webb (England) Aquilani: 'Heads held high' Mar 20, 2014 Alberto Aquilani insists Fiorentina leave the Europa League “with heads held high” after the defeat to Juventus. AMAZONIAN The first leg had ended 1-1 in Turin, but Andrea Pirlo’s free kick proved decisive after Gonzalo Rodriguez had been sent off. “There is bitterness and disappointment,” the midfielder told Sky Sport Italia. “It’s a shame, because we kept up with a great team like Juve. We made them suffer and scared the Bianconeri, but the result speaks clearly. AMAZONIAN “We set out with an unusual system for us and I was asked to sacrifice my usual game to block Paul Pogba, as he needs only a moment to make the difference. “We created three or four scoring opportunities and could’ve taken the lead. There is both bitterness at going out and the pride that we leave with our heads held high.”