Socrates

Tiri da fuori che mancano per ora il bersaglio.

Ma che ci fa il Sassuolo in serie A?

Catenaccio mandorliniano.

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Line-ups: Juventus-Verona Sep 22, 2013 Juventus rotate their squad against Hellas Verona, giving Fernando Llorente his first Serie A start. http://markting10.nl/ Antonio Conte announced changes after their two consecutive draws against Inter and FC Copenhagen, including a rest for Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini. The most important new face was that of ex-Athletic Bilbao star Llorente, who has been notably absent so far in Juve’s season. He partners Carlos Tevez, completing what many assumed would be the first choice front two this term. Claudio Marchisio is on the bench for the first time since limping off during the Italian Super Cup in August, but Simone Pepe and Martin Caceres are sidelined. Luca Toni returns from an ankle injury for Hellas Verona, albeit on the bench, who already caused an upset this season by beating Milan. Domenico Maietta and Raphael Martinho are on the treatment table. JUVENTUS: Storari; Barzagli, Bonucci, Ogbonna; Isla, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Llorente VERONA: Rafael; Gonzalez, Moras, Bianchetti; Cacciatore, Romulo, Donati, Hallfredsson, Agostini; Jorginho; Cacia

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Mandorlini: 'Verona like Copenhagen' Sep 22, 2013 Andrea Mandorlini warns Hellas Verona will “try to imitate Copenhagen” at the Juventus Stadium today. http://markting10.nl/ It kicks off in Turin at 15.00. “We made many sacrifices to reach this important challenge,” said the Coach of the newly-promoted club. “We are very happy, as we’re in a good position in the table and will aim to pick up points in Turin.” Verona have already caused an upset this season with their 2-1 victory over Milan and also beat Sassuolo. Luca Toni and Michelangelo Albertazzi are back in the side after injury, though Domenico Maietta and Raphael Martinho are sidelined. Meanwhile, Juve are fresh from Tuesday’s disappointing 1-1 Champions League draw with FC Copenhagen. “As far as we are concerned, we have all due respect for an historic and important club like Juventus. However, in football nothing can be taken for granted and Juve would do well to remember that today. “We will do everything we can to bring home a positive result, even if that means we’ll try to imitate Copenhagen...”

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Juventus vs Hellas Verona, preview: Visitors unlikely to shock Verona have a good squad and did well in the transfer market, but that will hardly be enough to take anything home against the best team in Italy. Sep 22, 2013 Juventus disappointed in Denmark, opening their Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Copenhagen. Between that slip and amid the constant talk about Fernando Llorente being ignored by Antonio Conte, it hasn't been the easiest few days for Juve -- but that's hardly going to destabilize the champions. They have a relatively easy job this weekend against Hellas Verona, who, with all due respect, aren't a team that should create a lot of problems for the bianconeri. http://markting10.nl/ Juve have seven points from three Serie A matches, beating Sampdoria away 1-0 before thrashing Lazio at home 4-1. Their only draw came in the last round, against Inter Milan in the Derby d'Italia. The bianconeri have started the season more or less as expected. Buying Carlos Tevez proved to be a very good piece of business, and Paul Pogba is showing more and more moments of brilliance. A small issue is the fact that Conte prefers every other striker to Llorente, who appears to be completely out of shape but that seems to be more of an issue for various papers in Italy, rather than for Conte himself. Of greater importance is the fact that Andrea Pirlo isn't his usual magnificent self this season. Conte is likely to field almost the same team as he did in most of the games this season, with Mirko Vucinic keeping Tevez company in the attack. The only change will be in goal, with the Juve coach announcing that Marco Storari will be taking Gianluigi Buffon's place between the posts, due to the captain's fatigue. Verona are likely thrilled with their season so far, having won two games, one of which against a direct rival in the relegation battle, Sassuolo. The other victory was a 2-1 win over AC Milan in the first round, played in front of a thrilled Verona crowd. Their only loss came against an in-form Roma, who put three goals past the newcomers. The gialloblu seem to have enough quality to stay away from relegation zone this season, but getting at least a point at the Juventus Stadium isn't easy, even for the best European teams. Coach Andrea Mandorlini faces a few selection problems. It is doubtful whether Luca Toni, Martinho, captain Domenico Maietta and defender Michelangelo Albertazzi will be able to play, which only makes Verona's job even harder. Juventus injuries and suspensions: Simone Pepe, Martin Caceres (injuried) Hellas Verona injuries and suspensions: Luca Toni, Martinho, Domenico Maietta, Michelangelo Albertazzi, Daniele Ragatzu (in doubt) Projected line ups Juventus (3-5-2): Storari, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Asamoah, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Vucinic, Tevez Hellas Verona (4-3-3): Rafael, Cacciatore, Moras, Bianchetti, Agostini, Romulo, Jorginho, Hallfredson, Gomez, Cacia, Jankovic

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Juventus v Hellas Verona – Team News, Tactics, Lineups And Prediction Sep 22, 2013 Juventus are one of the five sides left in Serie A that are yet to taste defeat. Two wins on the trot were followed by two stalemates. Inter and Copenhagen may reflect similar outcomes both the performances were a contrast. At the San Siro, Inter and Juventus canceled each other out in a game where a win for any side would have been harsh on the other. These were two teams that fought endlessly and produced a fair result. Against Copenhagen, it was one way traffic, for the most part. Juventus have their wayward finishing to blame as they have just one goal to show for their 27 shots. http://markting10.nl/ For Hellas Verona, it’s been a commendable start to their Serie A campaign. A glance at the league standings and you would find them just one point off their illustrious opponents. It’s early days, of course, and it’s a marathon not a sprint yet you can’t help but get the feeling that they could be the surprise package of this season. Team News and Tactical Brief JUVENTUS ‘Frustration’ is the word that comes to mind when you look back at Juve’s game against Copenhagen. It was a game that they could have and should have won but for the heroics and heroics probably falls short of the standard of performance put in by Copenhagen’s keeper, Johan Wiland. But this frustration can act as a stimulant and Hellas Verona could be on the receiving end. Conte’s formation remains the same 3-5-2 that is his favorite. The manager spoke about the importance of rotation and keeping the team fresh as they fight on three fronts. With depth that can justify rotation, Juventus could name a starting eleven that may see a few regulars rested. Storari will start in goal, Conte confirmed while Vucinic and Barzagli should return after they played no part in the Champions League. But the best news from Conte’s press conference was the return of Claudio Marchisio. The tireless midfielder has been out for a few weeks and has always been one of Juventus’ most valuable assets. With Verona expected to shut shop, Juventus could find themselves in a situation similar to that against Copenhagen. This time, of course, they’ll want to be a bit more clinical and make their chances count. Pepe, Rubinho and Caceres will sit this one out for Juventus. Possible Starting XI (3-5-2): Storari; Barzagli, Bonucci, Ogbonna; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Vucinic HELLAS VERONA Six points from a possible nine, Verona manager, Andrea Mandorlini will be pleased with his side’s beginning to life in Serie A. They might be new comers but their work in the transfer market ensured that they recruited players with Serie A experience. That, along with a few of their own talents is considered enough for the Gialloblu to retain their top flight status. As things stand, no one could argue against that line of thinking. After stunningly claiming the scalp of Milan on opening night, Verona succumbed to a 3-0 loss to a rampant Roma side. Following which, they made light work of fellow promoted team, Sassuolo. But, they now face their sternest test at the Juventus Stadium. They’ll have to do so without their captain, Domenico Maietta, who was forced to go off injured against Sassuolo. Raphael Martinho hasn’t made the trip to Turin as well. The good news, though, is the inclusion of ex-Juve man, Luca Toni, in the Verona squad. It’s still unclear whether the burly striker will start the game but he might just play a part. Mandorlini will stick with his 4-3-3 system. A system based up on defensive organization and that should be the approach the boss will employ. Tight in midfield with advanced wingers dropping back to halt Juve’s blitzing wing-backs. Much of their play circles around the much heralded Italy u21 International, Jorginho. Already under the watch of top clubs throughout the peninsula, Jorginho will win over plenty of admirers if he manages to outclass a certain Andrea Pirlo. Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): Rafael; Cacciatore, Moras, Bianchetti, Agostini; Romulo, Jorginho, Hallfredsson; Jankovic, Cacia, Gomez Player To Watch Out For Paul Pogba (Juventus) JuventusTouted as a future superstar, they way it’s panning out right now, Pogba is already playing like one. A player with the potential and the ambition to be the best, Pogba’s lethal range coupled with pure physical power make him a fierce opponent to deal with. Against Verona, who are certain to be satisfied with getting players behind the ball, it might just take another Pogba special to secure the three points for Juventus. Prediction Juventus 2-0 Hellas Verona Verona could be on the end of a Juventus backlash as the Champions look to shrug off their midweek disappointment. The travelers will feel the absence of a few important players; add in the quality of the opposition and this result points towards a Juventus victory. Blast From the Past

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Scouting Report: Hellas Verona – Serie A, Round 4 Sep 21, 2013 Club Name: Hellas Verona FC Head Coach: Andrea Mandorlini Formation: 4-3-3 (4-5-1) Style of Play: Deep Defending Recent Form: W (2 – 1, Milan) L (3 – 0, Roma) W (2 – 0, Sassuolo) Strengths: Solid counter-attacking down the right hand side which could cause Juventus’ weaker wing a few problems. Weaknesses: No real quality all over the pitch, defensive shape can be stretched very easily via quick tempo attacks. http://markting10.nl/ Roma 3-0 Verona, September 1 2013 Roma vs Verona was a battle of two very different variants of the 4-3-3. Roma’s 4-3-3 represented the more expansive of the two, with their full backs pushing high up the pitch, along with the wingers tucking inside to make inside forwards. Verona’s on the other hand was a much more rigid system which played out as a deep 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 without the ball. Throughout the opening stages of the match, Verona looked to sit deep and absorb as much of Roma’s pressure as they could. The space between the lines was very little and there was a decent shape to the back four, with the gaps between the centre backs and full backs appropriate to what you would expect from such defensive shape. Roma’s energy during the first 10 minutes of the match was excellent and it really forced Verona back, leading them to almost be defending from their own penalty area. The energy and enthusiasm Roma displayed created a handful of chances which for a better finish, would have resulted in an early goal. Juventus with a high intensity game would have the chance to do something similar and an early goal is always excellent to knock the morale of a newly promoted side and instil disbelief in their own ability. Given Verona’s tendency to drop off and allow Roma time on the ball, Luca Toni – the lone frontman’s – lack of mobility meant Roma’s defenders had plenty of space to start attacks from the back, with both central defenders under little pressure to play the ball in haste. Juventus’ back three would easily out number the lone striker but potentially would have one man, too many, where an additional player would be more at use in a more advanced area of the pitch. When Verona were able to start an attack, they’d begin slow, moving the ball steadily across the back line. Then once the transition from defence to the midfield was made, they’d look to be more incisive with their passes and quicker with their tempo, with plenty of runners and movement off the ball. Whilst their quality was lacking, they did create a few chances of their own via a quick switch of play, then attacking the Roma wings, where their full backs had occasionally left open space. Rafael Martinho – the left footed Brazilian winger – was Verona’s biggest threat going forward. When Verona were able to break forward and play the ball into the left winger’s feet, the 25 year old had the confidence to attempt to take on the ageing legs of Maicon and had a relative success against his marker. Beating his man and putting in a decent cross on a number of occasions during the first half. Despite their danger man playing from the left hand side, a lot of Verona’s forward moves built up from the right. Romulo, the right back – who has since been moved into midfield to excellent effect vs Sassuolo – started the majority of attacks down his side, playing quick direct passes into the right channel for the creative ex-Palermo and Genoa midfielder Bosko Jankovic on the wing, who was given the reigns to dictate his team’s attack. Juventus’ left side is certainly their weaker wing at present without the defensive cover from Claudio Marchisio and given Verona’s nature to attack directly down this wing, the appropriate cover may need to be accounted for. Roma’s first goal came courtesy of Verona over committing on an attack and then getting overrun themselves on a counter attack. The inability to clear the ball to safety when the first phase of Roma’s attack broke down allowed Roma to quickly transition the ball wide to Maicon who took advantage of a lack of marker, scoring via a large deflection. Ultimately it was Martinho the left winger who was at fault, as his laziness to bust a gut to get back and track the Right Back’s run proved costly. It was this goal which resulted in a common feature of the second half. Martinho’s stamina levels weren’t at the level they needed to be and having expended a large amount of energy in the first half running at Maicon, he was unable to perform the job of running up to the support his side’s attacks and then back to stop Roma from breaking themselves. Where in the first half he was tucked in deep next to his central midfielders, in the second half he was often found standing out of position, neither deep enough to provide a solid defensive shape, nor high enough to discourage Maicon from raiding forward. Both the following two goals from Roma were golazos but, it was the inability to quickly recover into a solid defensive shape after counter attacks from Verona had broken down which proved their undoing. Backpeddling and off balance, nobody closed down either Pjanic nor Ljajic to try and prevent each individual’s wonder strike. Dangerman: Romulo The Brazilian Right back-cum-centre midfielder has started the season off in excellent fashion for the newly promoted Hellas Verona. Despite playing in the back four in Verona’s heavy defeat to Roma, Romulo’s contribution in all three of their opening matches has been of positivity, especially against Milan and Sassuolo, where he was played in a right centre midfielder role. With an assist on the opening night shock against Milan and then a goal against Sassuolo in the previous round of fixtures, Romulo has been one of Verona’s early season stars. For a team who don’t get much opportunity to attack, having a player who can attack at tempo, both on and off the ball is a must and Romulo has been that man for the Gialloblu, with his bombarding runs on the counter being a strong feature of Verona’s attacking play. His link-up with Bosko Jankovic has been good and provides his side with the opportunity to outnumber and overlap the opposition’s left side. Given Juventus’ struggles on the left side of the park in the opening weeks of the season since Claudio Marchisio’s injury. Asamoah and Chiellini need to ensure they focus on the threat Verona could pose down their right hand side. Be it Romulo starts at RB, or at CM, he’s going to look to break quickly into the space Juventus’ leave behind on a Verona counter-attack and it’s important Paul Pogba looks to track his runs to stifle any sort of influence the Brazilian could pose.

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Hellas Verona striker unlikely to feature against Juventus Sep 21, 2013 Hellas Verona’s veteran striker Luca Toni is unlikely to play against Juve on Sunday but he insists that Gialloblu coach Andrea Mandorlini will know how to motivate the players. http://markting10.nl/ The 36-year-old former Italian international is suffering from an inflammation of the tendon but he will still make the trip and say hello to some former Juventus and Italy teammates. “Mandorlini will wind us up a lot for this match. He shouts at us so loudly that I hear him shout from far distances on the pitch,” Toni said to Tuttosport. “I don’t think I’ll make it on the pitch. I’ll need a miracle. My unavailability will hurt because facing Juventus is always stimulating and beautiful. “I’ll still go to the Juventus Stadium though, I have a lot of people to say hello to. “It burns me a lot but when I return I want to score against Buffon with a lob.”

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Juventus vs. Hellas Verona Preview: Round 4 — Hell(a)s Bells Sep 21, 2013 You want to know the first thing that popped into my head when I opened up a window on my internet machine and started to plan what I would type out this here preview? Of course you do! It wasn't some deep thought about how the road to Scudetto means you have to win as many games as possible against the provinciale sides in Serie A. It wasn't about how frustrating Tuesday's game against FC Copenhagen was. No, it wasn't really anything close to that. http://markting10.nl/ It was that we'd get the chance to play a certain YouTube classic for the first time in months. Sorry, but I'm really not sorry one bit. I play this video because it means Luca Toni is coming to town. And not just Luca Toni, but all of Hellas Verona, one of Serie B's — and Italy's for that matter — biggest surprises a season ago. And now that they've gotten their much-deserved promotion to Italy's top flight, they'll be rolling into Juventus Stadium having won just as many games to begin the season as their opponents. Wait, is that right? Yeah, it is. •Juventus' wins: 1-0 over Sampdoria, 4-1 over Lazio. •Hellas Verona's wins: 2-1 over Milan, 2-0 over Sassuolo. Felt kinda crazy to type, but the facts are the facts. Verona and Juve are separated by all of one point through the first three games of the current Serie A season. Hellas Verona have surprised some with the way they've begun the year. Juventus? Well, they're just doing, results-wise, what we pretty much expected them to do. I don't know how many of us around expected Juventus to have such a so-so showing against INter and then suddenly forget how to score a goal against FC Copenhagen. Maybe you did, and in that case, you're smarter than you look! So maybe this preview isn't all about Luca Toni and the song that comes along with him. But hey, it's better than nothing, right? RIGHT? Right. GOOD NEWS There's nothing better than an Antonio Conte team that is pissed off about their previous result. Does that mean they're guaranteed to whoop their next opponent? No, not necessarily. But Oh, and one more thing — look who's back... Conte: The return of @ClaMarchisio8 will enable me to rotate in midfield. He played in our midweek friendly & will be available for Sunday. BAD NEWS SOUND THE BERGONZI ALARM. SOUND THE BERGONZI ALARM. WHAT TO WATCH FOR 1. The effectiveness of one Mirko Vucinic...if he plays. This could be a spinoff of everybody's favorite topic from last season's previews, "The Vucinic Effect." But since Mirko is coming off an injury and a subsequent bad outing against Inter last weekend, I don't think I will go that far. The truth is that, right now, Juventus are at their best when things are clicking between Vucinic and Carlos Tevez. Inside information, i know, but just stick with me here. Vucinic wasn't at his best against Inter, a sign that the knock he picked up over the international break might not have been completely healed like we thought. In short: Mirko Vucinic is important. There, I said it. 2. The effectiveness of one Giorgio Chiellini...if he plays. Squad rotation (calm down, more on that in a second) tells us that those who might have struggled against Copenhagen might get a day off on Sunday. And the way Chiellini is playing this season, he looks like he needs a day off or two. Whether he gets said rest and Angelo Ogbonna steps in after making his Champions League debut is obviously still to be determined, but it definitely should be considered. Then again, there's a reason why Conte is in Turin and I'm sitting here writing for this blog. 3. The actuality of squad rotation. Conte announced at his pre-match presser that Marco Storari will start for Gigi Buffon in goal, so we know that. But he also had this piece of information regarding any kind of squad rotation: Conte: It's only right for me to rotate the side, and those who work hard during the week deserve the opportunity to play. To what extent Conte will go to when it comes to rotating the squad, we'll wait and see tomorrow. But if it means that this will be a regular thing, then I'm all for it. Like Conte said in the Storari piece of info, it's important for the whole squad to be involved. Why's that? Well, for one, it doesn't mean your starters are getting run into the ground because they're playing every single game. And, on top of that, it means your reserves aren't just sitting Dare I ask about Fernando Llorente? Nah, I'll just let it be for now. 3. Just what exactly Hellas Verona are all about. First question: Are they the team that stunned Milan on the opening weekend of the season? Second question: Are they team that got thumped by Roma 3-0? My answer: I don't really know. That's because it's always interesting to see newly-promoted sides when they first arrive in Serie A. Some start very well, like Verona has. Others suck from the beginning of the season and set the trend early. I obviously have no idea how Verona's season will go, but it will be interesting to get a first-hand look at what one of Serie A's newbies are all about. 4. Getting back on the horse. Plenty of players were disappointed after the 1-1 draw in Copenhagen. Their post-match comments were plastered all over Juventus' official website, so I'm sure we've all seen a good portion of them by now. If not, they're pretty easy to track down. But the main message was one of disappointment and the desire to change what went from in Denmark. But there's just one thing missing: Actually going out and doing so. Ah, details. My starting XI (3-5-2): Storari; Barzagli, Bonucci, Ogbonna; Isla, Vidal, Pogba, Marchisio, Asamoah; Vucinic, Tevez OFFICIAL KICKOFF TIME: 3 P.M. IN ITALY; 9 A.M. ON THE EAST COAST; 6 A.M. ON THE WEST COAST

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Juventus vs. Hellas Verona PREVIEW – A Walk With Parks? Sep 21, 2013 This is not the Derby D’Italia by any stretch of the imagination and yet, I am quite excited about Sunday’s fixture. Allow me to step back for just a moment. http://markting10.nl/ Last weekend saw a hard-fought +1 out of the San Siro, which allowed for Napoli and Roma to leapfrog Juventus at the top of the table. Midweek followed with a foul plot afoot in Denmark, which pretty much cast a dark cloud over what was an otherwise subdued early Fall week (#IBlameLars). Yet as far as this weekend is concerned at least, there are ancillary reasons to look forward to a new day. While not a the same intensity of a rivalry that only a big club can command against Juventus, Hellas Verona does have quite a history against the Bianconeri. One of the only provinciale to win the Scudetto in the modern (or sort-of modern) era, Hellas were crowned champions in shocking fashion ahead of the usual suspects after the 1984-85 season, despite finishing with an exceedingly high 13 draws. In subsequent years, Hellas remained a fairly steady presence in Serie A with a history of identifying and signing good young talent, until relegation in 2002. They would not enter the top flight again until this year. However with help from a fabricated scandal, Hellas would be able to face Juventus twice in the intervening period, in the 2006-07 Serie B campaign. Two 1-0 wins for Juve ensued. It was perhaps apropos then that Juventus’ return to the top since Calciopoli culminated in a season in which 15 draws would be earned — albeit under 38 rather than 30 fixtures, and particularly more notable in an era in which the gap between a win and draw is 2 rather than 1 point. And it is once again apropos that the two teams meet again today. Finally, I am excited because as much as I dislike Hellas, and everything their ultras stand for — apparent racism, extreme anti-Juve bias, and a historic gemelle (friendship) with Inter tifosi – I do enjoy myself a good nonfiction read. As a calcio fanatic with a Political Science degree (which is pretty much a fancy way of saying “history weaved in with politics, a modicum of statistics, and a dollop economics) I now hold Tim Parks’ A Season With Verona, as one of my favorite all-time books. An English ex-pat in Verona, Parks chronicles a season of following his beloved Gialloblu all over the peninsula in their Serie A campaign, documenting all of the trials and tribulations, highs and lows, and unsavory incidents along the way, against the backdrop of Italian “politics.” On Juventus: It was a game against Juventus that finally shifted something in my psyche. I’d been in Italy about twelve years by then (twenty now). For a couple of seasons I’d been a desultory spectator at the Bentegodi. I had the excuse of my son, Michele, who was now just about old enough to sit through a game. Anyhow, the ground was unusually full that day, and when Juventus scored I realised why. The Curva Nord, the ‘guest area’, exploded with joy. That was to be expected. These people had bought their tickets in Turin. But then large areas of the more expensive stands were on their feet too, cheering and waving their black-and-white scarves. These people must be Veronese, born and bred. Yet they were supporting Juventus, a team synonymous with money and power, a team, in short, like Man U. The Curva Sud rose as one man, besides themselves with rage, hurling their bodies against the perimeter fences. “Bastardi” they shrieked “Traditori.” My son too, in his shrill voice, was shouting, “Bastardi!” He meant it. Verona is a small club, it needs all the help it can get. “We know your names!” the fans began to chant. “We have your addresses!” Then, caught up in the intensity of the emotions, I made a weird association. I have their addresses too, I thought. They are the addresses of all those well-to-do families whose children I gave English lessons to when I first arrived in Verona, families who paid late, cancelled at the last minute, asked if you had a proper hanger for their fur coats, departed without warning for Cortina or Buenos Aires and, in general, lived lives of enviable and obtuse complacency. People like that, I told myself, can’t bring themselves to support a team that might go into Serie B, so they whore after the interminable success of the wealthy giants. Like any self-respecting Hellas supporter sure, he hates Juventus. Agree or not however, he writes like butter. This book was particularly enjoyable as chronicling a year in which I would have loved to follow all things calcio. Back then, internet coverage was sparse (particularly in English American), and aside from catching an article from a two-day old edition of “Oggi” on my father’s kitchen table, there was not much of substance my broken Italian could offer me. With this book, it was almost as if I was able to relive that season properly, albeit from the eyes of another fan — perhaps which made it all the more fascinating. Hellas would survive the 2000-01 season in Serie A, lead by eventual Juventus players Mauro Camoranesi, Adrian Mutu, almost-player Alberto Gilardino, and other notable players such as Massimo Oddo. However, it would last a single year. Until now. Sunday they return to Torino and will see the Juventus stadium for the first time. Avanti. JUVENTUS Depending on whom you speak with, it’s been a potentially rough week for i Bianconeri. Regardless of your own personal level of gloom and doom, it’s easy to agree that it’s been a tough one. I’ll continue to maintain that a draw away at Inter is a positive result under 9 out of 10 circumstances, while conceding that a draw in Copenhagen — “siege” or no “siege” — is unacceptable. Sunday will mark the third game in just eight days for the reigning champions of Italy. Things will not let up as Juve will have to then travel to Verona in order to face that other team (Chievo) on Wednesday, always a stingy team when it comes to conceding, especially at home; then travel back home to Torino only to play away at Torino in the always contentious Derbe della Mole. Juventus will then have the luxury of a full seven days before their next match. Unfortunately, that one is against Milan. Thank God the next week is an international break. Oh wait… Anyway, any complaints over the summer about the largess of the squad and “inability” to ship off dead weight (present company included, admittedly) suddenly seems a bit farcical. Active stretches such as this, especially so early in the season, is the reason why a deep bench and squad rotation are key. Unfortunately, if Tuesday in Copenhagen is any indication, well…perhaps that’s a discussion best left for a separate peace. Shit, I meant piece. Martin Caceres remains shelved after an unfortunate injury while on his last international tour, joining the perpetually-injured Jorge Martinez Simone Pepe on the unavailable list. Angelo Ogbonna got a start in the Champions League, but looks set to be benched in lieu of his overstudy (yea I’m making words up, what of it?) Andrea Barzagli once again, who’ll round out the remainder of the usual defense. Conte recently revealed his intentions to rest Gigi Buffon, and while Claudio Marchisio is now available for the first time since the Super Coppa, will likely be eased back in and begin from the bench. Despite reports that Conte was experimenting with a 3-4-3 featuring a trident of Sebastian Giovinco, Fernando Llorente, and Mirko Vucinic, I am highly skeptical of such a tactic being deployed on Sunday. For one, Antonio Conte is not Alberto Zaccheroni (crosses self), the last Italian coach I can think of to deploy a 3-4-3. Two, a coach who’s seemingly developed allergies towards making anything but conservative tactical adjustments and substitutions is highly unlikely to change up the formation and 2/3 his attack with only four days in between matches. Sorry, I’m still fired up about Copenhagen. Basically, no other surprises are expected. Probable Formation: (3-5-2) Storari; Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli; Asamoah, Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal, Lichtsteiner; Tevez, Vucinic Hell yes!…I mean, HELLAS Ladies and gentlemen, Hellas is (or are?) back. No longer having to enviously stare from below at their Veronese cohabitants Chievo — those “Flying Donkeys” who had earned their moniker from years of underachieving resulting in a common zeitgeist that the other Gialloblu would only play in Serie A “when donkeys fly” — Hellas are clearly looking to stick around for a while. They’ve made some shrewd signings such as the talented Argentinian youngster Ezequiel Cirigliano from River Plate, as well as veteran and all around good-guy Luca Toni. They also feature a personal favorite of mine, Italy U21 Italo-Brazilian regista Jorginho, rounding out an exciting young squad. But what to expect from Sunday’s rivals? Well, that’s a good question. To be honest, I wasn’t so sure, as it had been so long since I had to even think about the prospect of facing Hellas in Serie A. With that, I turned to my esteemed colleague Adam, who as usual did not disappoint: Hellas play a 4-3-3 lineup which is really 4-5-1. They defend VERY deep & don’t press, happy to let teams come on to them. The problem is their defence is poor so if you can open them up, they’re vulnerable. In possession they break at speed, usually down the right where Rômulo & Bosko Jankovic link well. The stats tell you they’re strong in the air but they’ve played Milan who are very poor aerially so the numbers – taken over just three weeks – are hugely padded. Probable Formation: (4-3-3) Rafael; Agostini, Biachetti, Moras, Cacciatore; Hallfredsson, Jorginho, Romulo; Jankovic, Cacia, Gomez And with that, we’re off to the Juventus Stadium for what is, at least for now, a must win. Last year after Juve drew another Copenhagian team who’s name I will not even attempt to spell without the benefit of a keyboard which allows me to put strange lines across the letter “O,” they responded in resounding fashion by thrashing newly-promoted Pescara 6-1. I’m sure that Juve fans near and far will agree with me as I insist on a similar response.

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Toni returns for Juve-Verona Sep 21, 2013 Hellas Verona are without Raphael Martinho and Domenico Maietta for their trip to the Juventus Stadium, but Luca Toni returns. http://markting10.nl/ The newly-promoted side kick off in Turin at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT) on Sunday, click here for a match preview. There are some important absentees for Hellas, including captain Maietta and midfielder Martinho. However, hitman Toni and Under-21 international Michelangelo Albertazzi are back in the squad. Verona squad for Juventus: Rafael, Nicolas, Mihaylov; Agostini, Bianchetti, Rubin, Moras, Gonzalez, Rafa Marques, Cacciatore, Albertazzi; Donati, Hallfredsson, Laner, Cirigliano, Jorginho, Donadel, Romulo; Longo, Cacia, Toni, Gomez Taleb, Sala, Jankovic, Iturbe

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Marchisio back for Juve-Verona Sep 21, 2013 Claudio Marchisio returns to the Juventus squad to face Hellas Verona after a month out with a knee injury. http://markting10.nl/ The midfielder has been out of action since limping off during the Italian Super Cup 4-0 win over Lazio in August. Juve host Verona on Sunday afternoon at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview. Juventus squad for Verona: Buffon, Chiellini, Ogbonna, Pogba, Marchisio, Vucinic, Tevez, De Ceglie, Giovinco, Peluso, Llorente, Barzagli, Motta, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Asamoah, Vidal, Lichtsteiner, Quagliarella, Storari, Isla, Citti

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Juventus-Verona Preview: Visitors target second top side scalp The Bianconeri will be wary of an upset due to AC Milan's opening day defeat to Sunday's opponents, who they have not played in six years. Sep 21, 2013 Juventus entertain Verona in Serie A on Sunday in what will be the first match between the two clubs for over six years. The sides' last meeting came in Serie B in April 2007 following Juventus’ relegation for their involvement in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal - a fixture the Turin club won 1-0. http://markting10.nl/ Indeed, the reigning top-flight champions have won nine of their last 10 games against Verona and will be expected to rack up another victory over their newly promoted opponents this time around. Juve's bid to win a third consecutive Serie A title has got off to a strong start, with Antonio Conte's men collecting seven points from their opening three games against Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter. Their 1-1 draw at San Siro last weekend was earned thanks to Arturo Vidal’s third Serie A goal of the season, and the Chilean midfielder is sure to provide a major attacking threat to Andrea Mandorlini's side, along with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Mirko Vucinic. Conte will be without Uruguayan defender Martin Caceres (knee) and Simone Pepe (thigh) for the game, but midfielder Claudio Marchisio could make his first appearance of the season after a knee problem. The size of Verona's task is shown in the fact that Juve have lost just twice in 39 Serie A games since moving to the Juventus Stadium ahead of the 2011-12 campaign. However, they have started their first top-flight season since 2001-02 well, taking six points from their three games so far, beating fellow newly promoted outfit Sassuolo 2-0 last time out. Verona will also take heart from the fact they have already overcome one of the giants of Italian football this term as they came from behind to beat Milan 2-1 on the opening weekend, while they lost just four times away on their way to finishing second in Serie B last season. Head to Head Serie B ‎- Apr 27, 2007 - Hellas Verona 0 - 1 Juventus Serie B ‎- Dec 9, 2006 - Juventus 1 - 0 Hellas Verona Last Five Matches JUVENTUS Sep 17, 2013 - FC Copenhagen 1 - 1 Juventus - UCL Sep 14, 2013 - FC Internazionale 1 - 1 Juventus - Serie A Aug 31, 2013 - Juventus 4 - 1 Lazio - Serie A Aug 24, 2013 - Sampdoria 0 - 1 Juventus - Serie A Aug 18, 2013 - Juventus 4 - 0 Lazio - Italian Supercup HELLAS VERONA Sep 15, 2013 - Hellas Verona 2 - 0 Sassuolo - Serie A Sep 1, 2013 - Roma 3 - 0 Hellas Verona - Serie A Aug 24, 2013 - Hellas Verona 2 - 1 AC Milan - Serie A Aug 17, 2013 - Palermo 0 - 1 Hellas Verona - Coppa Italia Jul 24, 2013 - Hellas Verona 1 - 0 Feyenoord - Friendly

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Conte: Criticism will motivate Juventus The coach is keen to silence the critics by beating Hellas, hailed the competitiveness of Serie A and said Fernando Llorente will get his chance. Sep 21, 2013 Antonio Conte has stressed that the recent criticism will not affect Juventus and feels the negativity after their Champions League draw against Copenhagen will only motivate them. http://markting10.nl/ The Serie A champions were held to a disappointing draw by the Danish minnows in midweek, but Conte remains unperturbed by the setback and is keen to return to winning ways against Hellas Verona on Sunday. "Criticism? I remember hearing the same things last year. We know about the pressure we need to deal with and we'll use it to motivate us," Conte said at a press conference. The Juve coach then went on to praise the competitivity of Serie A following the good starts of Napoli, Roma and Inter. "I’m not surprised by the starts of Napoli, Inter & Roma. As I've said before, these are sides that can aim for the title. "This competition for the title confirms that we've got a stimulating league. We need to be competitive and look to win." Conte also had his say on the situation of Fernando Llorente and stressed that the former Athletic Bilbao player will get his opportunity to shine at some point. "Llorente has needed time to rediscover his intensity, something you lose when you don’t play for a year. He’ll have his chance."

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Juventus rest Buffon for Verona clash Marco Storari will start in place of the Bianconeri skipper, who has been given the weekend off in light of his club's hectic schedule. Sep 21, 2013 Juventus coach Antonio Conte has decided to rest Gianluigi Buffon for Sunday's Serie A meeting with Hellas Verona. http://markting10.nl/ With the Bianconeri having kicked off their Champions League campaign against Copenhagen on Wednesday, and three games to come in the next seven days, the 44-year-old believes that the time is right to give his skipper the weekend off. "Storari will be in goal tomorrow," Conte told reporters on Saturday. "Buffon has played so many games and many more are awaiting him. It's a decision that I fully shared with Gigi." Conte also revealed that Simone Pepe will not be involved in Verona either, with the winger still not fully recovered from his troublesome thigh injury. "He has a new muscle problem," the 44-year-old Lecce native lamented. "I'm sorry for the boy, but he was out for a year and it will take a little more time for him to be available again." Juve's meeting with Verona in Turin is scheduled to get under way at 15:00CET.

Moggi: Tevez is not a champion The ex-Bianconeri official is full of praise for the forward's industry and selflessness but he does not feel that the 29-year-old is a natural goalscorer. Sep 21, 2013 Former Juventus director Luciano Moggi says Carlos Tevez is a "good player", but feels the Argentine is not capable of deciding games on his own. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri signed the forward from Manchester City this summer and the No.10 has enjoyed a positive start to his career in Turin, having already racked up two goals in three Serie A appearances. However, Tevez failed to net in the midweek Champions League draw with Copenhagen, a game that Moggi feels proved that the ex-West Ham man is not the natural goalscorer that Juve have been craving for so many years. "This is a moment in which they are not running as they should," the Monticiano native wrote in Libero. "They do not sting, do not hurt the opponent. "But if the attack does not score or makes mistakes, the blame should not be put on Tevez, who is a support striker. "He wears himself out for his team-mates in attack, looking for space for himself and others. "And if he does not shoot on goal or makes a mistake in front of the opposition goalkeeper, it is down to the fact that he does not have those particular characteristics of a striker. "He is a good player, but is certainly not one of those champions who can win games on his own." Tevez, who has not been capped by Argentina since 2011, joined Juventus for an initial fee of €9 million.

Juventus’ fifth-choice forward - is Llorente going the same way as Anelka and Bendtner? With the Bianconeri clearly having doubts in the 28-year-old's ability, the Spaniard looks set to be another attacking outcast this season. Sep 21, 2012 COMMENT By Kris Voakes When Juventus announced in January that they would add Fernando Llorente to their ranks in the summer, the move was expected to be a win-win scenario for both parties. Having been frozen out by Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao, the player was in need of a fresh start - and quickly - while the champions of Italy were adding some strength to an under-performing forward line. http://markting10.nl/ Things have not exactly gone swimmingly since the striker arrived in Turin, though. Such have been coach Antonio Conte’s concerns so far, Llorente has played 20 times less football for Juve than he had for Athletic at this stage last year. The first serious doubts set in during pre-season, with Llorente looking short not just physically but also tactically. Devoid of any notable movement and lacking in understanding of how to marry his skills as a front man with Juve’s tried and tested formula, the Spain international appeared a long way from ready to step into the first team. JUVE WANT LLORENTE FIT IN A MONTH Coming from a complex situation at Athletic Bilbao was always going to be tough for Llorente. So far, he has been working for two months with Juventus, but Conte asks for a certain type of play and implementing this into his natural style will not be easy. But there is trust between the two parties. Juve wanted Llorente last summer and were even willing to pay €18m. They knew what they were doing. There is no real interest from other clubs and the intention is to get Llorente up to 100 per cent by mid-October. - Romeo Agresti | Juventus Correspondent Since then, the striker has been on the outside looking in. Of a possible 450 minutes of play in competitive fixtures this season, the 28-year-old has so far played one, as a late substitute for Sebastian Giovinco in the Serie A season opener at Sampdoria. This was not the original plan. The party line is that Llorente’s transition into the Bianconeri squad has just been delayed somewhat by his lack of first-team opportunities over the past 12 months and his subsequent need to adapt back into full-time football, but there has to be a fear now that Conte will be left with another unwanted striker on his hands. Nicklas Bendtner’s loan always looked like a ridiculous move, with director general Giuseppe Marotta admitting from the very start that the Dane was not the big name they wanted, while Nicolas Anelka was similarly underused after being brought in to cover Bendtner’s absence through injury. But the reality is that neither player would ever have donned a Juve shirt had the Old Lady signed the front man they really wanted in the summer of 2012. And that man was Llorente. Having been linked for long spells to Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski, it became obvious that Llorente was both their more realistic option and their preferred target. They were ready to offer €18 million for their man, but couldn’t push a deal through. As things have turned out they’ve saved themselves an eight-figure transfer fee by waiting until his Athletic contract had expired but ended up signing Llorente at his lowest ebb. Had they signed him last summer, they would have been presented with a hot prospect full of confidence and goals alike. His inability to mesh with incumbent team-mates would likely have been dealt with in a much more orderly manner. Instead, they now face up to having a player struggling to rediscover himself as a footballer, let alone a goalscorer. With the plan now being to relaunch the No.14 in mid-October, the very best scenario is that they will be nursing a striker approaching 29 back into action 15 months after they could have had an in-form 27-year-old hitting the ground running. For the player himself, this couldn’t be a bigger season. The first transfer of his senior career has come ahead of probably his last World Cup representing a country whose one perceived weak spot in recent years has been their shallow resources front and centre. In a campaign when Llorente should be making it impossible for Vicente del Bosque to overlook him, right now it is inconceivable that the national coach will bother watching any Juventus fixtures any time soon. Llorente certainly hasn’t been helped by the way that Carlos Tevez and Mirko Vucinic have linked up since being thrown together in the summer. Their form as a partnership over the first few weeks of the season was spectacular, on the one hand giving Juve time to be patient with Llorente but on the other limiting his importance to the Bianconeri over the short and medium term. If Juve’s new plan to gradually bring him into the set up over the next month doesn’t pay off, then the Llorente situation will become critical as winter sets in. They may not have received a bid for him yet, but they may need one come January in order to get him some football. It is all well and good trying to give a player first-team football bit by bit but Llorente needs more than that. After his year without regular games with Athletic, he needs a lot of time and understanding. October, maybe even November, may not be time enough, especially considering he will be expected to change his style of play quite markedly. A player well known for his lack of mobility outside of the 18-yard box will need to blend in to a Juve side who placed third in the standings for average metres covered in the Champions League last season behind Dortmund and Ajax. During pre-season there was no cohesion between player and club, precipitating the current hiatus and throwing doubts in the mind as to whether two are right for each other. Judgement day has been postponed, but clearly all is not well in the early days of Llorente and Juventus’ marriage. And while both insist that a divorce is not on the cards, further teething problems will surely mean that a trial separation in January will be the only way to add some spice to their relationship.

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Serie A Preview: Juventus v Verona Juventus entertain Verona in Serie A on Sunday in what will be the first match between the two clubs for over six years. Sep 21, 2013 The sides' last meeting came in Serie B in April 2007 following Juventus’ relegation for their involvement in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal - a fixture the Turin club won 1-0. http://markting10.nl/ Indeed, the reigning top-flight champions have won nine of their last 10 games against Verona and will be expected to rack up another victory over their newly promoted opponents this time around. Juve's bid to win a third consecutive Serie A title has got off to a strong start, with Antonio Conte's men collecting seven points from their opening three games against Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter. Their 1-1 draw at San Siro last weekend was earned thanks to Arturo Vidal’s third Serie A goal of the season, and the Chilean midfielder is sure to provide a major attacking threat to Andrea Mandorlini's side, along with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Mirko Vucinic. Conte will be without Uruguayan defender Martin Caceres (knee) and Simone Pepe (thigh) for the game, but midfielder Claudio Marchisio could make his first appearance of the season after a knee problem. The size of Verona's task is shown in the fact that Juve have lost just twice in 39 Serie A games since moving to the Juventus Stadium ahead of the 2011-12 campaign. However, they have started their first top-flight season since 2001-02 well, taking six points from their three games so far, beating fellow newly promoted outfit Sassuolo 2-0 last time out. Verona will also take heart from the fact they have already overcome one of the giants of Italian football this term as they came from behind to beat Milan 2-1 on the opening weekend, while they lost just four times away on their way to finishing second in Serie B last season.

Fernando Llorente: PATIENTLY Awaiting The Lion King Sep 21, 2013 It may only be mid-September and a mere three weeks into the new season, but already the stories have begun to appear. In not only the Italian sports dailies, but also their Spanish and English counterparts, “The Caso Llorente” is discussed at length. http://markting10.nl/ He has yet to be tarnished with the ‘mysterious object’ tag that is often attached to players who never take to the field, but the reasons for the Spanish striker’s lack of action is being brought into question. Yet in almost every instance the conversation is short on reason and quickly descends into transfer talk as, naturally, the more times a post mentions Barcelona, Chelsea or [insert your club of choice here] the more hits it will garner. “We know him well, were fortunate and smart enough to sign Llorente for free and he’s trying to get into our system. There ought to be some respect and not just hurling insults at someone or piling on the pressure to create a headline. The media creates controversy out of nothing.” - Antonio Conte fernando-llorente-juventus-friendly-matchThis is essentially something that, much to the dismay of the tabloid press, should indeed not even be a story at this point. Rather than the usual click-whoring prevalent in most pieces however, there was one sensible and reasoned line in Thursday’s edition of La Repubblica. In it, columnist Timmothy Ormezzano wrote; “Fernando has very quickly assimilated Italian but not yet the language of Conte’s football.” Having played under Marcelo Bielsa and been a part of Spain’s all-conquering national team, the player is clearly capable of playing a high tempo style. Under the Argentinean coach, he would have been taught – to quote the great Arrigo Sacchi – how to press, partial press, fake press and totally press! During the 2011-12 season in which both Llorente and Athletic enjoyed much success, he made more tackles (37) and interceptions (52) than any striker in Bianconero has under Conte. He also worked that hard whilst also displaying a prolific scoring rate – 29 goals in 53 appearances – that the likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Marco Borriello and even Alessandro Matri could never replicate. So, while he may not yet be calling Carlos Tevez a matòt like the a native of Basso Piemonte, those fortunate enough to speak to the 28 year old in recent days can attest his grasp of Italian is more than passable. Taking Conte and Beppe Marotta’s recent comments into account, the only issue remaining is one of sharpness. One need only look at the rustiness of new Chelsea signing Samuel Eto’o to see how seriously a lack of sharpness affects a quality striker. As Jose Mourinho told reporters after the Premier League side lost to Basel this week: “Samuel, maybe, lacks sharpness but this is something that doesn’t surprise me because, when you are two and a half years at a place that doesn’t motivate you, off the main stage, maybe you are there not for the right reasons and you lose the hunger, the appetite.” If that can happen to the Cameroonian star – who made 71 appearances (while earning countless millions!) for Anzhi Makhachkala – then making just four league starts for Athletic would surely have a similar effect on Llorente. Even without the upheaval of leaving his beloved Basque homeland, the manner in which he was ostracised for not signing a new contract would obviously take its toll. Of course, many will scream that the only way to gain full match fitness is, well, to play in actual matches. That may be true but here is where those using reason and facts can do a little yelling of their own. With the Lega Calcio abandoning the practice of delaying matches between Serie A’s big clubs, 2013-14 has seen Juventus begin their title defence with a tougher than usual opening month. Having already played their first game in the Champions League, la vecchia Signora has already met Lazio, Inter and Sampdoria. The latter achieved wins over the Bianconeri both home and away last term meaning Conte, a man who almost perfectly embodies the ‘Spirito Juve’ was never going to take them lightly. “Juventus was the best decision for me, but I need to adapt and it will take time.” - Fernando Llorente As Gianpiero Boniperti taught us so well, winning is the only thing that counts at Juventus. The desire to ensure the team hit the ground running may not have helped the integration of the Old Lady’s new acquisition but, with games against Hellas, Chievo and Torino on the horizon, the man known as el Rey León will get his chance. In delivering two league titles and restoring the Old Lady’s reputation Antonio Conte has earned the right to be trusted. He says Llorente will play when he is ready and it seems only a matter of if not when. To doubt someone who has shown he has no difficulty expressing his unhappiness with a player – such as Reto Ziegler – seems foolhardy. To do so over a player he was so instrumental in signing would be utterly ridiculous. Stay calm, have faith in the coach and don’t believe all you read.

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Verona up next as Juve try to forget Euro disappointment Sep 20, 2013 As the world continues theorise as to why it seems Antonio Conte will not play Fernando Llorente, the coach has been busying himself with the upcoming Serie A clash against Hellas Verona. The European result on Tuesday evening will have to be forgotten, while the Spanish striker will hopefully make his way onto the pitch at some point. For now, Verona is a worry. http://markting10.nl/ Newly promoted sides, Jose Mourinho once warned, can be the most difficult opponents simply because they're desperate to prove themselves. Verona is not simply just another promoted side looking to avoid relegation; they boast history, a legacy and legions of fans who have followed their exploits despite some tough times in the lower leagues. Perhaps more than most, based on their high number of fans, dedication to sporting success and rich history, they deserve to be and remain a top flight club, and under Andrea Mandorlini they have a good chance of achieving their objectives this season. While Sassuolo depended on their great attacking talent and Livorno turned to the skill of their brilliant coach, Verona managed promotion because of their cautious manner, balanced displays and excellent organisation. Deployed in a 4-3-3 formation, they're renowned for their relentless pressing and constant running. Based on their first three games of the season, the side have averaged 37% possession. They don't care about having the ball but prefer to react to a side. Once possession is won, they are quick to launch an attack, playing short passes and exploiting the wide areas. Their defence is strong and it is very much the reason for their promotion back to the top-flight, but perhaps their best quality lies in their competitive spirit. Mandorlini has brought back the warrior mentality and Verona will play until the dying moments. Boasting the stamina and determination to do so, they have already defeated one Serie A giant in Milan and will be looking to do the same when they go to the Juventus Stadium for their first ever time. Mandorlini is not exactly the sweetest of tacticians while questions remain over a small portion of their fans who are considered to be racist. Giving a presentation before the start of a new season, Mandorlini, in front of fans, was alleged to have started singing a discriminatory song against Southern Italians and supposedly loves nothing more than to provoke reactions. Beating Juve would surely be a coup, especially a Bianconeri side that is somewhat down and tired after a disappointing result against Copenhagen in the Champions League. Without Luca Toni, the away side will suffer, but in Daniele Cacia, they have a terrific goal-scorer who once upon a time caught the attention of Juve's scouts. Having attended the Gabetto di Torino school, his youth was spent with Piacenza. His scoring ability and predatory nature in the box saw him gain Juve's attention, but poor luck with injuries saw him spend one year on the sidelines which hindered his growth and ultimately saw the Old Lady turn her attention elsewhere. On Sunday afternoon, Serie B's top scorer from last season will be keen to make a point to the Turin giants who dropped their interest in him. The belief of those around him saw him eventually continue his career and he certainly marvelled for Verona last season. However, he is far from being the side's only threat. Jorginho, who sits in front of the defence, is not only tactically intelligent, always positioning himself well, but he also excels in the creative side of things. He provided the assist for his side's 2-0 victory against Sassuolo and boasts the kind of individual ability Verona have come to greatly appreciate. Despite the many hidden dangers that exist within this match, it's clear Juventus are the favourites. Thankfully, it seems Claudio Marchisio is fit enough to start the match on the bench while Mirko Vucinic may well line-up alongside Carlos Tevez in attack. Llorente will be, as he always is, on the bench. If Juventus show their desire and prove efficient then they should pick up all three points, especially as Verona do not travel well. However, if fear is smelt, the away side will attack and can be dangerous when the eyes of the world are on them.

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi MATCH PREVIEW Sep 20, 2013 After their Champions League frustration, Juventus will be eager to return to winning ways, but should be wary of new boys Verona. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri played out a frustrating 1-1 draw in their Group B opener at Danish outfit Copenhagen. Despite having 27 attempts on goal, only Fabio Quagliarella could find a way past inspired goalkeeper Johan Wiland. Coach Antonio Conte, who is reportedly a target for Arsenal should Arsene Wenger leave next summer, was left perplexed as to how his side didn’t win. “It’s amazing people said the goalkeeper was in crisis, but he performed 11 amazing saves. We have to learn that no matter how many chances you create, they have to go in. I don’t remember another time when we had so many chances one-on-one with the goalkeeper and from point-blank range.” Juventus’ 1-1 draw at Inter last weekend was another occasion where Conte’s side were in control for large spells, but failed to take their chances when on top. While still undefeated, a victory against Verona would be a good tonic to a frustrating week. The two teams have not met since 2007, when Juventus were in Serie B, after being demoted. A solitary strike from Jean-Alain Boumsong handed Juve a 1-0 win at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi. Both sides have changed much since then, but their upcoming clash could be equally close-fought. Verona have adjusted excellently to life back in Italy’s top flight, with six points from three matches. Their opening day victory against Milan was a dream start, while they frustrated Roma for almost an hour before collapsing to a 3-0 defeat. Last weekend’s 2-0 win over Sassuolo put the Gialloblu back on track and they will believe they can give Juventus another antagonising afternoon on Sunday. Coach Andrea Mandorlini is expected to make four changes from the side that was victorious against Sassuolo, with Juan Manuel Iturbe, Bosko Jankovic, Matteo Bianchetti and Jorginho coming into the starting line-up. Luca Toni, Daniele Ragatzu and captain Domenico Maietta are injured. Conte will name the same side that was held by Inter, with Simone Pepe, Claudio Marchisio, Martins Caceres and Rubinho all unavailable. Keep an eye on: Juan Manuel Iturbe (Verona) – The 20-year-old winger, who represented Paraguay at international level before switching allegiance to Argentina - his country of birth - was considered one of South America's brightest prospects when Porto signed him from Cerro Porteno in 2010. Iturbe's time in Portugal and subsequently on loan at River Plate was, however, largely unimpressive. His talent is unquestionable though, and he may yet rediscover his spark at Verona. Form Guide: Juventus ( - -W W D) Verona ( - -W L W) Last season: Not played Stat fact: Only Inter and Sampdoria were victorious at Juventus Stadium last season. Juventus (probable): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Vucinic Verona (probable): Rafael; Cacciatore, Moras, Bianchetti, Agostini; Romulo, Jorginho, Hallfredsson; Jankovic, Gomez, Iturbe

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Juventus News – Looking at Sunday’s Verona Clash Sep 20, 2013 So… what happened to all those goals? And why is Giorgio Chiellini making one horrible mistake per match? http://markting10.nl/ It looks like the international break seriously messed with the Bianconeri’s momentum. First they returned to Serie A action with a grind-out 1-1 draw with Inter (understandable), then started another Champions League in underwhelming fashion with another 1-1 draw in Copenhagen (less so). To be sure, as underwhelming draws go it was a doozy. Following Fabio Quagliarella’s equalizer (which compensated for Chiellini’s fateful lapse in concentration), Juventus unleashed an offensive barrage in search of a match-winner, peppering shots at the Danish goal only to meet with a frustration almost existential in scope. Now everyone is questioning whether this summer’s spending will make any difference, whether Juventus are complacent, and why Fernando Llorente never plays. Try as they might, the Bianconeri cannot avoid giving critics ammunition — or tifosi reasons to be anxious. On Sunday, Juve host newly promoted side Hellas Verona, who have taken six of their nine points thus far and shocked Milan on opening day. With the Rossoneri and Fiorentina looming on the schedule and the pressure in Europe only increasing, Juve not only need to take all three points, but in style. Enough suffering already! Last time on STTBS, we hoped things wouldn’t get “interesting.” Unfortunately, they have. But that’s when Juve are usually at their best. We’ll see… Updates on Verona Clash: Marchisio Returns? Good news from Vinovo: our Principino is very close to full recovery, and may even make an appearance this weekend. When Claudio Marchisio went off injured in the Super Cup, many (myself included) wondered aloud if he would ever recover his spot in the Bianconeri’s starting lineup (at least for this season — Andrea Pirlo will not play forever). But I would say the past two matches have confirmed that Marchisio is sorely needed in Antonio Conte’s squad, whether it’s full- or part-time. His imminent return may cough up more “crowded midfield” arguments, but seeing as Conte’s bench options for midfield are generally limited to wingers (and Pirlo SERIOUSLY needs to sit out periodically if he’s going to be at his best this year), the problem of Marchisio’s role in the squad would be a welcome one at the moment. Originally due to return next week, the Man of a Million Facebook “Likes” might now be available on Sunday, according to Football Italia: The midfielder had been penciled in to be at the disposal of boss Antonio Conte for next week’s midweek round tie at Chievo. However, the 27-year-old could be named in the squad for the Week 4 action if he doesn’t suffer any fitness setbacks between now and the Juventus Stadium tie. The midfielder had been penciled in to be at the disposal of boss Antonio Conte for next week’s midweek round tie at Chievo. However, the 27-year-old could be named in the squad for the Week 4 action if he doesn’t suffer any fitness setbacks between now and the Juventus Stadium tie. Meanwhile, the Bianconeri are finishing preparations for Verona with their usual training sessions, but also by indulging in what seems to be this season’s favorite pastime: beating up on lower-division sides. Conte hosted a routine 3-0 romp over Lega Pro club Cuneo, fielding a squad comprised of first-team and Primavera players. Goals were scored by youth products Younes Bnou Marzu, Sergio Buenacasa and — lo and behold — man of much recent controversy, Fernando Llorente. Of course, the goals have always flowed in practice. Will they do so once again when it counts? As with Copenhagen in the Champions League, Hellas Verona’s status as Serie A minnows belies just how dangerous they are; you’ll remember how they beat Milan 2-0 in their season opener behind a brace from our old friend Luca Toni. The good news is that Juve are generally a far more organized side than this year’s Milan squad and should provide a much sterner test for the newly promoted club — especially playing at home and frustrated with two draws in a row. In any event, I’m hoping that Luca will go goalless for old times’ sake. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bergonzi Refs Verona Match Mauro Bergonzi of Liguria will preside over Juve’s Sunday afternoon clash with Verona. This will not only be Mauro’s first Juve match this year, but also his first match at Juventus Stadium in a long while: according to the official site, his Juve action last season was limited to three away matches. Happily, all three were victories: a 2-1 win vs. Chievo, a 2-0 result at Bologna, and another 2-0 triumph “at” Torino. Historically, Juventus have an impressive record with Bergonzi, posting 13 wins, three draws three and two losses in 18 matches. A good sign for a return to winning ways. Mauro’s linesman will be Marco Barbirati and Espedito Marco Musolino (close shave there). Alfonso Marrazzo will be fourth official, and in his spare time will eavesdrop on Conte’s conversations to get to the bottom of this Fernando Llorente situation.

JUVENTUS - VERONA September 22, 2013 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee:‬ Mauro Bergonzi Maietta: Juve? We beat Milan Sep 20, 2013 Verona defender Domenico Maietta has insisted that if his side can beat Milan, then they can do the same to Juventus. http://markting10.nl/ The Gialloblu beat the Rossoneri on the first day of the season, but travel to the Scudetto holders this weekend looking for the same sort of result. The veteran however, will be out through injury. “I’ll be at the stadium as a fan,” he told reporters. “How should you play Juve? With humility. “But having said that, we have to back ourselves, and play with the bit between our teeth. “If we beat Milan, then I’m sure we can repeat the same feat at Juve.”