Socrates

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Copenhagen & Juve UEFA CL Updates Sep 17, 2013 If we didn’t know for sure, we do now: Mauro Icardi is an official Juve villain. We were put on watch when he scored three goals against us last season for Sampdoria (two at Juventus Stadium). But nothing provides confirmation like scoring a goal for Inter in a Derby d’Italia. http://markting10.nl/ Thankfully, Juve’s “bete noire” (as the press are calling him) was neutralized by our own white knight, Arturo Vidal, who equalized minutes later with a quietly incredible strike through four defenders, allowing Juve to leave San Siro with a hard-fought point. But forget the Derby for now. Tonight, the Bianconeri address the more important matter of Champions League glory. The dream begins with this evening’s group stage encounter with Copenhagen, as Juventus look to take what they’ve learned from the joys and sorrows of last season’s final-eight performance in Europe’s top competition, determined to get as close as possible to winning it all. Copenhagen Update: Quagliarella’s Turn? Antonio Conte is contemplating some smart turnover for tonight’s CL opener. In an effort to both rest ailing starters Andrea Barzagli and Mirko Vucinic, as well as provide some crucial European experience for Angelo Ogbonna (in a relatively low-pressure, non-Real Madrid environment), the Juve coach is considering starts for both Ogbonna and Fabio Quagliarella, according to several Italian sources. Fabio looks to be ready, if his performance against Inter was any indication. He certainly claims to be, according to Sky Sport Italia (via Football Italia): The Coach, as always, makes his decisions. But my objective is to do well in training and convince him to pick me game after game. I’m always ready. When the Coach decides that I need to start a game or come on as a substitute, he knows that he can calmly rely on me. If he decides that it is my turn to play then there would be no problem at all. Starting both Quagliarella and Ogbonna would be a good move. The former is not shy on European nights, as evidenced by his heroics vs. Chelsea last year. And as mentioned above, this is the perfect opportunity for Ogbonna: a chance to play in a “big” European match that will nevertheless (hopefully) allow for a few rookie mistakes. As you would expect for such an important match, Andrea Pirlo will start in midfield, but there’s good news on the horizon for those of us who think he’s being flogged to death week after week: Our architect will likely start from the bench next weekend against Verona. In tacit acknowledgment of their relative unfamiliarity with Copenhagen (see the official site’s summary of the Danish side’s recent exploits for what little we know), Gigi Buffon focused more on Juve’s general goals for this year’s European campaign (via Juventus.com): Winning a Champions League is an exceptional achievement, and something that hasn’t happened too often for us and other great teams. Managing to lift the trophy would be hugely satisfying, not from a personal point of view, but for the whole environment here: fans, club and teammates.” I’m intrigued to see if we’re able to follow up the good things we did last year and improve the results we managed to gain. On paper you could say we’ve developed since then. We’ve got two important years behind us and the club have strengthened the team in the transfer market. But proof of this can only come from what happens on the pitch and it will be our enthusiasm and desire to keep surprising that will confirm this feeling. Juve may be intent on surprising this year, but the group stage will certainly provide some surprises of its own. This current squad knows very well not to underestimate a side like Copenhagen, who are capable of providing the same stiff competition as Shakhtar Donetsk and compatriots Nordsjaelland did last season. “Minnow” is a relative term, especially in the Champions League. Beware, Bianconeri. FORZA JUVE!!! Conte & the Champions League: Learning from Experience Antonio Conte expects his men and himself to learn from last year’s Champions League experience — especially from their struggles in the early group stage. The Bianconeri’s eventual triumph vs. Celtic and sobering defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in the knockout stages was certainly not a foregone conclusion after the first three matchdays of the 2012-13 campaign. Needing a valiant comeback just to draw with Chelsea and suffering shock stalemates with Nordsjaelland and Shakhtar, Juventus were staring down the very real prospect of crashing out prematurely. As stated in his press conference yesterday (via Juventus.com), Conte is well aware of the need to start brightly: The last time we were here we only managed to clinch a point right at the end and risked our chances of getting out of the group stages. You have just six games and it’s always difficult to bounce back from any slip-ups. Danish champions FC Copenhagen have strangely struggled for form so far this season and even fired a coach in August. Antonio is baffled by this turn of events, but is wisely preparing for a club at their best: I’m struggling to understand why Copenhagen find themselves in the position they’re currently in. We’ve studied them well, they play good football and always appear to have something over their opponents, even if the final outcome hasn’t always been positive. So we’ll need to pay great attention to them, taking heed of what happened here last year. Conte finds his squad to be comfortably placed in their group in terms of CL expectations. Real Madrid’s presence makes Juve automatic underdogs, which will take a bit of pressure off the Bianconeri and allow to initially focus solely on progressing further than last season: It’s a fascinating group. Real Madrid, who have been chasing their tenth Champions League title for years and continue to spend heavily, will be regarded as favourites, at least on paper. We’ll be battling it out with Galatasaray for second place, but we’ll also need to pay attention to Copenhagen, who could cause an upset. We know that there’s still a way to go and a year’s added experience will help us. We’ll be outsiders, but a dangerous outsider for anyone to face. We know who we are and how far we can go. We won’t place limits on our progress, but we’ll maintain a level of realism which will enable us to keep our feet on the ground. Of course, the onset of the Champions League fixtures means that the Bianconeri will run through a bit of a gauntlet over the next month: seven matches in 25 days (including Saturday’s match with Inter). So, then, the inevitable question: Who’s going to rest, and when? Also, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO REST PIRLO? The answer to that last question might easily be “when Marchisio comes back.” But let’s let Antonio answer for himself: It’s inevitable that I’ll rotate the side in this important period, looking to grant rest to those who need it in order to have them ready for the next game. What won’t change, however, is our philosophy. Pirlo doesn’t need a break at present and will start tomorrow. I believe you can change a maximum of four players at a time, in order to avoid upsetting the balance of the side too much, but I’m convinced I’ll get the right responses from everyone. Last season’s mild turnover can partly be excused by the lack of “quality” in the side, but as far as the media and most tifosi are concerned, there are no such excuses this year. Making turnover decisions is a dangerous game, and Conte will be playing it with ever-higher stakes for both the club’s future and his own. Giuseppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici have arguably given him what he wanted over the summer. And sure, those signings have to pay off, which is mostly down to the signings themselves. But if Juventus are expected to arrive at the promised “next level” as a club, then Conte is expected to arrive there as a coach, too. Part of that will entail tactically outwitting the Bayerns, Barcelonas and Real Madrids of the world. But an equally important part will be ensuring that Juve are physically and mentally rested enough to not only balance the demands of multiple important campaigns, but be devastatingly effective in each one. This season was designed to be an evolutionary one for Juve, but no less of one for Conte himself. He is very much ready to be a next-level coach. The next level starts tonight. Previously in Denmark… Historically, Juve have had precious few adventures on Danish soil, and never with the same club. Tonight will see only the third Bianconeri encounter with a Danish side. The first occurred on September 15, 1982 in the last-16 of what was then known as the European cup (I’m figuring this is before Heineken took Europe hostage). Here’s the summary from the official site: A Juve side with six recent world champions, not to mention Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek, lined up against Hvidovre for a place in the European Cup quarter-final. Giovanni Trapattoni’s adventurous attacking formation paid dividends as the Bianconeri ran out 4-1 winners, with goals from Platini, Paolo Rossi, Sergio Brio and Antonio Cabrini putting the Danes to the sword. Interestingly enough, that fixture became the inspiration for a character in the Danish film Italian for Beginners: Curiously, the game came to have an impact on Lone Scherfig’s 2000 film “Italiano per principianti”. Telling the story of a tiny community living in the Copenhagen suburbs that go to an Italian-speaking school, it features a powerful example of absolute love for the Bianconeri: one of the main characters is a waiter who practically lives in the Juventus shirt after watching the team beat Hvidovre. Of course, you’ll remember the second Danish encounter, which took place last year at tonight’s venue, Parken Stadium, against Nordsjaelland, who played us to a draw: Although the hosts took the lead through a Mikkel Beckmann free kick, the Bianconeri fought back and found an equaliser when Mirko Vucinic converted Mauricio Isla’s cross from the right-hand side 10 minutes from the end. The Nordsjaelland draw snapped Juve out of their stupor, spurring them on to eventually top the group. Let’s hope this group stage never sees Juve in such dire straits in the first place. Speaking of history, tonight’s official, Ivan Bebek of Croatia, has handled only one Bianconeri match, that being a 2-1 win at Ajax during the very painful Europa League campaign of 2010. His linesmen will be Tomislav Petrovic and Miro Grgic, while Dalibor Conjar will be fourth official (and will hopefully remind Conte to use his substitutes). From the Enemy Camp: Copenhagen Speaks! Copenhagen find themselves in a strange place at the moment — which could be very dangerous for our Bianconeri. Defending champions of the Danish Superliga, FC Copenhagen have nevertheless found themselves at the bottom of table following a disastrous start to the domestic season, their coach replaced by a returning hero. Stale Solbakken recently returned for a second spell in charge, hoping to add to the success of his first. Copenhagen won five league titles between 2006 and 2011, all under Solbakken’s stewardship. His return has already had a galvanizing effect on the squad, who are finally starting to see some positive results towards a successful defense of the Danish crown. Now Solbakken turns his attention to the Champions League, hoping for a big scalp or two to further boost his club’s domestic confidence (via Juventus.com): Getting a result tomorrow could represent the turning point of our entire season. We’re focusing on the three games that we’ll be playing at home, even though we’re perhaps in the most difficult group. Juventus need to win at all costs and perhaps we’ll be able to surprise them. We hope to do the same against Galatasaray. We’ll be playing against superior sides, but perhaps they might underestimate us. We need to believe we can do it, otherwise we won’t get a result. We need to stick to our own game plan, have plenty of belief and play to the best of our abilities. If we do just that, who knows, we could well spring a surprise. “Who knows” indeed. The above quote should be a lyric in the official Champions League song. Although Bianconeri tifosi may be unfamiliar with Copenhagen as a club, they should recognize one relatively friendly face from TDDBC (The Dark Days Before Conte): Olof Mellberg. Asked about his time at Juve, Mellberg’s response was to marvel at the complete overhaul in personnel and philosophy: The team has changed a great deal since I was there. Back then they had plenty of experienced players, such as Del Piero, Trezeguet, Camoranesi and Nedved. Now they’re a younger group and have changed their style of play. Only Buffon, Chiellini, Marchisio, Giovinco and De Ceglie have remained from my spell in Turin. It’s a completely different side and I think they’ve improved. As for the match itself, Conte’s relentless tactical drills should come in handy, if Mellberg’s assessment of Copenhagen’s readiness for tonight is any indication (of course, he could be laying a trap!): It will be difficult because we haven’t had much time on the training ground to prepare specifically for this clash. But we’ll give it our best shot and try and get a result. We’re aware of the dangers that we could potentially come up against. I played against Carlos Tevez when he was at Manchester United and tomorrow will be a tough battle against a striker of his quality. You know what they say about wounded animals, so I won’t repeat it here (and I’ll also pretend it applies to football clubs). Suffice it to say that Copenhagen is exactly the type of club to trip up a Champions League hopeful or two with a bravura performance, especially at home. If Juve want to avoid the more desperate moments of last year’s group stage, they must leave nothing to chance and dispatch Copenhagen as quickly as possible. The last thing we need is for things to get “interesting.”

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F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Champions League Preview: Juventus vs. FC Copenhagen It all begins again Sep 17, 2013 THE CHAMPIONS!!!! http://markting10.nl/ Juventus were drawn into a tough group in this season's edition of the Champions League. Am I going out on a limb with that last sentence? Nah, I don't think so. It's not very often three teams that made it into the quarterfinals the previous season meet the next time around. There's also this: Juventus don't have to play any of those two to begin the group stage. Instead, Juventus have made a trip to Denmark for the second straight year. But don't worry, there won't be the struggle to figure out how the hell to spell "Nordsjælland" on a regular basis. (And, for the record, I am glad about that.) No, it's just simple spelling this time around, with Juve's trip to Denmark seeing them play FC Copenhagen in the Group B opener for both teams. While their trip to play Nordsjælland last season was Juve's return to European football, this time the journey to Denmark comes with serious expectations. Juve have added to their squad this summer, reinforcing what was already a Champions League quarterfinalist and two-time defending Serie A champions. Now, Antonio Conte is looking to build on what is a damn good foundation. Go right ahead, Mister. You won't find me complaining about wanting to go even further in the Champions League. GOOD NEWS Juventus are opening the group stages with FC Copenhagen instead of Real Madrid. Say what you want about opening with a challenge, but I'll take the very good chance to get three points straight away every day of the week. BAD NEWS Injuries. Martin Caceres (knee surgery), Claudio Marchisio (knee ligament), Simone Pepe (thigh strain) and Rubinho (pelvic muscle strain) are all recovering from their respective problems. Fun! And the schedule is busy again. Seven games in about a month. That's rough — with or without the current injuries Juventus are dealing with. More on that in a little bit. WHAT TO WATCH FOR 1. Just how pissed off Juventus are after a Derby d'Italia draw over the weekend. Antonio Conte likes to win. I like that Antonio Conte likes to win. I think everybody likes that Antonio Conte likes to win. Well, those of us who root for this great club, but I'm not so sure about the others. And even though Conte was pleased with his team's effort against Inter on Saturday, it wasn't a win — and therefore Il Mister can't be completely satisfied...right? This is a great chance for Juve to start Group B action on a really good note and get all three points right out of the shoot before the tougher group games arrive. I'm sure they realize that, and want to have all three points possible in their pocket when they get on the plane back to Turin. 2. The condition of Mirko Vucinic. After hearing for a week leading up to the derby about Vucinic's injury status and availability, Vucinic was available on Saturday and his performance was, uh, not so good. Maybe that's just Mirko being Mirko and following the trajectory of his career, I dunno. But with everything that was going on during the week and having to shake off an injury in such a short period of time, it's hard to think it didn't play some kind of role — significant or minor — in his performance. 3. The striker situation. I could, realistically, say this in every preview I write up in the same kind of fashion I did a season ago. But this time, it's not because we don't know who will play on consistent basis. Carlos Tevez will play much more often than he won't. I could go on and on about Fernando Llorente needing a chance to show what he's capable of just to shut people up, but I won't. For all I know, Conte could be planning on changing things for the simple fact of squad rotation and that will be that. Much like the Inter preview, this is basically tied to Vucinic — if he's deemed healthy enough to play, Mirko will most likely play. It's as simple as that. 4. Which Andrea Pirlo shows up. Conte has made his stand, and we know the maestro is playing. Now that we've established that Pirlo is playing, let's talk about how he hasn't been the player we've come to know since he arrived the last couple of weeks. Pirlo's not on his best form. That's not some wild theory I'm throwing out there right now, either. The amount of misplaced passes are starting to add up. So are the amount of turnovers he's committing. Conte says he doesn't need rest, so we'll go with that. But I'm just going to sit here and wonder what a night off might do if that okay with all of you. It's not like giving Pirlo a break has helped in the last year or two. Oh wait... 5. The condition of Olof Mellberg's world-class viking beard. Because before Pirlo's beard, there was Mellberg's beard. And since we'll be seeing an old friend tomorrow night, there's no reason not to pay attention to his glorious facial hair. 6. How much Conte actually rotates the squad — now and in the future. From Conte's post-match interview on Saturday night: "I'll need to call on everyone and will rotate the side the side when the moment's right, with the league championship in mind as our realistic objective. I definitely couldn't rotate in a match against Inter." So, he's established that he will rotate things. How much? That's still to be seen. But it's something I expected him to do more often a year ago and it didn't happen as much as it probably should have. Has Conte learned? I don't know. That's just something he's going to actually have to prove to me — and a lot of other folks around these parts — before we truly believe that squad rotation is going to be happening when the schedule is busy like it currently is. Even with some of his better players injured right now, Conte has the depth at his disposal. It's time to take advantage of it. My starting XI (3-5-2): Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Llorente (?), Tevez OFFICIAL KICKOFF TIME: 8:45 P.M. IN ITALY; 2:45 P.M. ON THE EAST COAST; 11:45 A.M. ON THE WEST COAST

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Juventus probable XI v Copenhagen Sep 17, 2013 Angelo Ogbonna and Fabio Quagliarella are expected to be named in the Juventus starting XI against Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday. http://markting10.nl/ Boss Antonio Conte is being tipped to make two changes to the side who began the 1-1 draw at Inter on Saturday. Ogbonna and Quagliarella will replace Andrea Barzagli and Mirko Vucinic, players who only appeared at the weekend after passing late fitness tests. Ogbonna, signed in the summer from Torino, is expected to play in the middle of the back-three which will see Leonardo Bonucci moved to the right of the trio. Italian international Ogbonna has never played in the Champions League before. Paul Pogba will again be handed a starting shirt as Claudio Marchisio is still sidelined with the injury he picked up in the Italian Super Cup Final. Juventus probable: Buffon; Bonucci, Ogbonna, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Tevez.

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Struggling Danes fear Juventus Juventus will have nothing to fear when facing FC Copenhagen on Tuesday, writes Danish sports journalist and commentator Karsten Krogh. Sep 17, 2013 FC Copenhagen are nowhere near as strong as the team that made it to the last 16 of the Champions League two years ago. They’re currently 10th out of 12 sides in the Danish Superliga. However, they’re probably still favourites for the title as their squad remains the best in Denmark. And they have just signed their old Coach Ståle Solbakken, who led the team to its best season ever 24 months ago. That may be a game changer. http://markting10.nl/ Two years ago FC Copenhagen sported probably the best Danish club outfit of all time. Led by former Chelsea star Jesper Groenkjaer, by a wide margin the best player ever in the Danish League, the team also had a great centre-forward in Dame N’Doye (now Lokomotiv Moscow), international midfielder William Kvist (now Stuttgart) and a rock solid defence – consisting of, among others, current Bologna defender Michael Antonsson. Swedish ‘keeper Johan Wiland is the only one left of that defence. FCK won the Danish championship with 26 points to spare the season of 2011 – even if they were also playing European football at the same time. When the campaign ended, almost everyone left. Still, most people expected FCK to win the title easily the next season but they failed to do so. Minnows and neighbours FC Nordsjælland beat FCK by two points and drew Juventus, Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. FC Nordsjælland were completely outclassed and basically humiliated, conceding a record 22 goals in the group stage alone. Last season FCK took their title back, although not in a very convincing fashion, and they ended the term with a string of defeats and draws. The poor results continued at the start of this campaign and the club decided to fire Belgian Coach Ariel Jacobs when they had a chance to sign Staale Solbakken, the man who took FCK to their great Champions League season. Solbakken was part of the FCK exodus two years earlier when Bundesliga club FC Köln came knocking. However, Solbakken was a failure in Germany and his later stint at Championship side Wolves wasn’t a success either. Now he’s back in FCK and his first two games in charge have brought optimism and four points to the title holders. However important Solbakken may be as a lightning rod and motivator, though, he can’t actually play the games for FCK, and it’s still a fact that FCK don’t have much of a team at the moment. Their defence has conceded 12 goals in eight matches and have only managed to score 11 goals – with four of those coming against relegation favourites Viborg. The team is struggling everywhere on the pitch. Brazilian midfielder Claudemir, excellent two seasons ago, is nowhere near the same player he was when playing with Kvist in central midfield. Goalkeeper Wiland, excellent for two seasons, has shown signs of weakness lately, and the strikers, Santin and Vetokele, have never been Champions League standard. FCK have bought two new strikers, German Pourie, from Danish club Silkeborg, and 193cm, 22-year-old Nigerian Adi from Slovakian FK AS Trencin but they really shouldn’t be a problem for the likes of Giorgio Chiellini or Leonardi Bonucci. Coach Solbakken recently stated that the Champions League could turn out to be a somewhat nasty experience for the troubled outfit and that seems to be an understatement. The truth is that this FCK is nowhere as strong as in the recent past and are probably expected to fetch maybe one point in their six games – their home game against Galatasaray. Anything more than that would be a big surprise. Last season Juventus sensationally drew 1-1 against FC Nordsjælland at Parken in Copenhagen, the same pitch where they’ll be playing FCK on Tuesday. It would be a huge, huge upset if they do anything of that sort again. The likes of Juventus and Real Madrid really shouldn’t have any problems picking up six points against the current FCK.

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Pique: 'Juve among favourites' Sep 17, 2013 Barcelona midfielder Gerard Pique believes Juventus can win the Champions League and Milan “remain complicated rivals.” http://markting10.nl/ The tournament proper kicks off this evening with Copenhagen-Juventus, then Milan host Celtic and Napoli face Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. “Juventus will fight for the Champions League, as they are among the group of favourites for the trophy,” Pique told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Last season they were only stopped by Bayern Munich. They have strength in depth, Andrea Pirlo, a great defence, Gianluigi Buffon and with Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente have definitely strengthened in attack. “Napoli have Rafa Benitez, who is very competitive, and have signed players from Real Madrid who know what the Champions League is all about. In Serie A they started out scoring a lot and play decisively attacking football. They won’t win the Champions League, but they will have a good run.” Barcelona are in the same group as Milan, Celtic and Ajax, so have been paired with the Rossoneri for the fifth time in three seasons. “We know each other well,” smiled Pique. “In recent years they haven’t bought as many players because they are not in a great financial moment, but they remain complicated rivals. “As for Kaka, Milan need a player like him, whereas Real Madrid are full of them. Kaka didn’t play very much and over time that affected his confidence, so I think that’s why he left. He had his best years at Milan and can be reborn there. “Mario Balotelli? He’s special, in every sense! A very different player with great quality. He really needs to feel he is the star at the centre of a project and I think he has that at Milan, whereas it was tough for him to feel important at Manchester City. “He was already decisive last season and I hope he can be again this term.” Pique also cast his eye over some of the other contenders for the Champions League. “It’s true that with Carlo Ancelotti they are trying to keep the ball more, but Real Madrid haven’t changed their playing style all that much. With those players and now Gareth Bale, it’s natural to win back possession and hit you on the break. “Bayern Munich are in development and it’ll take a while to become the football machine Pep Guardiola wants, but this year they can win it all again. “Chelsea? In the Super Cup with Bayern Munich they had their chances, scored when down to 10 men and could’ve won. It’s the pure Jose Mourinho style – not the most entertaining football in the world, but the way he sees it that doesn’t matter as long as you win.”

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Cruyff believes Juve can challenge Sep 17, 2013 Johan Cruyff believes that Juventus can challenge for the Champions League this season. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri play Copenhagen this evening in their first European match of the campaign, and the Netherlands legend has claimed that Antonio Conte’s men can do well. “I think it’s likely that they will aspire to win the Champions League,” he told Tuttosport. “For two years now they have played some great football – football that suits Europe.” The Barcelona and Ajax hero then commented on Milan and Napoli’s chances. “Milan are always Milan, but this year they have changed a lot. For me, Kaka is still an unknown in this team. “Napoli though, are beginners in the competition. I will be following them with curiosity.”

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Verratti: A PSG-Juventus Final! Sep 17, 2013 Italian international Marco Verratti has a dream – a Champions League Final between his Paris Saint-Germain side and Juventus. http://markting10.nl/ The Champions League will begin this evening and the playmaker is hoping PSG and Juve will improve on reaching the quarter-finals in the last campaign. “An ideal Champions League Final would be PSG versus Juventus,” the 20-year-old told the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “A tie between my present and my future? For now all that counts is the present.” The Turin giants did try to sign the midfielder in the summer of 2012, but refused to match the €12m which PSG handed to Pescara for him. “I see an even more spectacular Champions League this season,” Verratti continued. “We went out in the last eight last season [to Barcelona], but we did so with our heads held high. “The club have invested a lot and well. Edinson Cavani gives us more strength, as do Marquinhos and Digne. “Progress in the European Cup depends on how you get out of the group, on the draws and on injuries. But we can believe we can get to the Final. “Other outsiders? The Italian clubs. Juve and Napoli have reinforced with intelligence. Milan have Mario Balotelli and we’ll have to see what Kaka can do when in form.” Paris SG are in Group C with Benfica, Anderlecht and tonight’s opponents Olympiacos. Juventus have been placed in Group B alongside Real Madrid, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Juventus can win Champions League, says Nedved The Bianconeri director is optimistic about his side's chances in Europe and feels they can spring a surprise and go all the way. Sep 17, 2013 Pavel Nedved believes that Juventus have what it takes to go all the way in the Champions League this term but accepts they may not be the strongest team in the competition. http://markting10.nl/ The Serie A champions will have to deal with Real Madrid, Galatasaray and Copenhagen in Group B and Nedved is confident that they will progress to the knockout stages. "There are a few teams that are perhaps a bit stronger, but the strongest team doesn't always win. So I'd say that we could win it if you ask me if we could go all the way," the Juve director told Tuttosport. "It will obviously be tough, but it's not something that's out of our reach. "We will be playing against Copenhagen and Galatasaray in our next two games. Then, against Real Madrid, anything can happen. "We could win or lose versus Madrid, but we will have to collect as many points as possible versus the Danes and the Turks." Juventus take on Copenhagen in the Danish capital on Tuesday evening in their Group B opener.

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Champions Club: Real Madrid & Dortmund favourites for European glory Nat Coombs is joined by international football writer Peter Staunton and former Champions League winner Didi Hamann as we preview this season's elite competition. Sep 17, 2013 The Champions League returns this week, as 32 teams battle it out for a place in the final at Benfica's Estadio da Luz stadium. http://markting10.nl/ Holders Bayern Munich start their title defence in the Russian capital, but with a new manager and ethos yet to settle, will last year's winners still be standing come this season's showpiece? And following a summer of unrivalled transfer activity, which stars will shine brightest in European football's premier competition.

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Buffon: Winning the Champions League would be exceptional The 35-year-old has never won the Champions League, but believes his team have the talent to change that this season. Sep 16, 2013 Gianluigi Buffon says winning the Champions League would be an exceptional achievement for Juventus. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri kick off their European campaign against defending Superliga champions Copenhagen on Tuesday in Denmark, a side they have never previously met in the competition. The Juve shot-stopper believes the club have improved over the summer with the signings of Angelo Ogbonna, Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, and is hoping that will translate into results on the pitch for the two-time European champions. “We’ve got two important years behind us and the club have strengthened the team in the transfer market,” he told reporters. “But proof of this can only come from what happens on the pitch and it will be our enthusiasm and desire to keep surprising that will confirm this feeling. “Winning the Champions League is an exceptional achievement, and something that hasn’t happened too often for us and other great teams. “Managing to lift the trophy would be hugely satisfying, not only from a personal point of view, but for the whole environment here: fans, club and team-mates.” Juventus will face their first test when they travel to the Parken Stadium, a venue they failed to win at in last year’s competition, drawing 1-1 with Superliga outfit Nordsjaelland. Antonio Conte’s side were drawn in Group B with Real Madrid, Galatasaray and Copenhagen, and Buffon is excited to test himself against some of Europe’s top teams. He added: “I’m intrigued to see if we’re able to follow up the good things we did last year and improve the results we managed to gain. On paper you could say we’ve developed since then.”

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) FC Copenhagen vs. Juventus: Preview Sep 16, 2013 Juventus begin their Champions League campaign off the back of a comeback draw in the Derby d'Italia. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri responded with an Arturo Vidal to silence a raucous San Siro crowd, who had erupted in elation moments earlier when Mauro Icardi—the Juventus killer, having scored four times in three matches against the Old Lady—had given Inter the lead. Juve will be extra motivated in the Champions League this season after a satisfactory return to the competition last year. It was pleasing to top a difficult group that included the champions Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk, but the humbling given to them by eventual champions Bayern left a sour taste. Now the Bianconeri begin a new adventure in Denmark against FC Copenhagen—a game that, at least on paper, Juve should win comfortably. However, the attitude in the camp appears to be very professional, with Leonardo Bonucci commenting on his official website that "every match is a final (in the Champions League) and this is the first." Copenhagen will not be confident of upsetting the Italians either, as the Danish champions lie 10th in their league after a torrid run that has seen FCK win just one match since April. Copenhagen Team News Former Juventus centre-back Olof Mellberg is in line to play against his former club. The Danish champions have centre-back Kris Stadsgaard out injured, and backup goalkeeper Kim Christensen remains frozen out due to a contractual dispute. Stale Solbakken will hope to have Nicolai Jorgensen back to top condition after the Dane's recent fitness issues, while new strike Adi Fanendo continues to settle into the side. Expected XI: Wiland; Jacobsen, Mellberg, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson; Bolanos, Claudemir de Souza, Delaney, Jorgensen; Fanendo, Santin. Juventus Team News Antonio Conte has no fresh injuries to concern himself with ahead of the Champions League, with Claudio Marchisio, Martin Caceres, third-choice goalkeeper Rubinho and long-term casualty Simone Pepe the only absentees for Juve. Andrea Barzagli and Mirko Vucinic have shaken off knocks, but it remains to be seen as to whether Conte will pick them to start Tuesday, as a busy schedule ahead could prompt a little rotation. Angelo Ogbonna and Fabio Quagliarella will be ready to step in should Conte feel it necessary to rest a couple of players with Hellas Verona awaiting them this weekend in Serie A. Expected XI: Buffon; Bonucci, Ogbonna, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal, Asamoah; Tevez, Quagliarella. Key Battle: Adi vs. Ogbonna Copenhagen will look to get Claudemir on the ball alongside Bolanos, who can drift inside and link with the strikers. Their cutting edge should come from Adi's runs off the last man into the space behind, so the added pace to the back line that comes from Ogbonna will be crucial for Juve to be able to nullify that threat. The Nigerian-born Azzurri international has enormous potential and will be looking to prove his worth after his summer switch from Torino. It is not beyond question that Ogbonna could force his way into the starting lineup over the coming months at Juve, so a Champions League test will be a nice way to measure his capability.

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Mellberg: Juve have changed a lot Sep 16, 2013 Former Juventus defender Olof Mellberg has conceded that the club is barely recognisable from when he left. http://markting10.nl/ The Swedish centre-back currently plays for Copenhagen – the Bianconeri’s Champions League opponents tomorrow. And the veteran has admitted that the Old Lady have changed radically since he departed in 2009. “The team has changed a great deal since I was there,” he told a Press conference. “Back then they had plenty of experienced players, such as Del Piero, Trezeguet, Camoranesi and Neved. Now they’re a younger group and have changed their style of play. “Only Buffon, Chiellini, Marchisio, Giovinco and De Ceglie have remained from my spell in Turin. It’s a completely different side and I think they’ve improved.” “It will be difficult because we haven’t had much time on the training ground to prepare specifically for this clash. But we’ll give it our best shot and try and get a result. “We’re aware of the dangers that we could potentially come up against, I played against Carlos Tevez when he was at Manchester United and tomorrow will be a tough battle against a striker of his quality.”

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Conte: Juventus are dangerous underdogs The Bianconeri boss feels his side are dark horses to conquer Europe and believes Real Madrid have rightly been installed as favourites to win the competition. Sep 16, 2013 Juventus coach Antonio Conte has branded his side as Champions League underdogs, but "dangerous ones" at that. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri join Real Madrid, Galatasaray and Copenhagen in Group B and Conte feels his side have a good chance of proceeding to the knockout stages by coming out on top. "Juventus can be considered as Champions League outsiders, but dangerous ones," the 44-year-old told reporters at the press conference leading into the first group-stage encounter against Copenhagen. "We're realistic, but we won't place limits on how far we can go. "The added year of experience could be fundamental. In the Champions League groups you only have six games and it's difficult to recover after any slip-ups. "What won't change is the team's philosophy. I'm convinced everyone will give me the responses I'm looking for. "On paper you would say that Juventus and Galatasaray will battle it out for second place, yet Copenhagen could cause an upset." And Conte believes that Madrid, fresh from splashing out €100 million on Gareth Bale, are rightly being strongly-tipped to wrestle the trophy from Bayern Munich. "It's a fascinating group. Real Madrid are chasing their 10th Champions League title and have spent a lot of money. They're favourites." Juventus will play their first Champions League match of the season on September 17 against Copenhagen.

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) FC Copenhagen-Juventus Betting Preview: Visitors value to ease past out-of-sorts hosts Stale Solbakken's side face a stern test in the Champions League when Antonio Conte's men are the visitors and our tipster expects the Old Lady to be too strong for the Danes. Sep 16, 2013 Italian champions Juventus begin their Champions League campaign on Tuesday night when they travel to Denmark to take on FC Copenhagen. http://markting10.nl/ Antonio Conte’s side are considered by many to be dark horses to win the competition outright and they have been installed as warm favourites by the odds compilers to win against the Danish champions in Copenhagen. The Old Lady are chalked up at just 2/9 (1.22) to claim three points from their trip to Parken. Copenhagen, now under the stewardship of former Wolves manager Stale Solbakken, have endured a difficult start to the new campaign, with the defending champions having claimed just seven points from their opening eight league fixtures. Indeed, Copenhagen have won just one competitive fixture this season, so it is little surprise to see them chalked up at a chunky 9/1 (10.0) with BetVictor to defeat Antonio Conte’s men on Tuesday while the draw is available at 19/5 (4.80) with the same firm. The Italian side, by contrast, have enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, winning three of their opening four fixtures before being held to a 1-1 draw against Inter at San Siro on Saturday evening. Furthermore, Juventus have netted an impressive 10 goals in four fixtures this season – including a 4-0 Super Cup victory over Lazio – and they should prove too strong for Stale Solbakken’s side here. With that in mind, the 5/6 (1.83) quote from BetVictor for Antonio Conte’s men to keep a clean sheet in Copenhagen certainly offers plenty of appeal. However, given Juventus’ superior firepower, better value may lie in snapping up the 23/20 (2.15) quote on offer from BetVictor for The Old Lady to win to nil on Tuesday and that is the recommended play here. Those seeking to claim big winnings from small stakes are advised to concentrate on BetVictor’s correct score market, with the generous 6/1 (7.0) quote for Antonio Conte’s men to win 2-0 on Tuesday offering excellent value for punters from this clash.

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) FC Copenhagen-Juventus Preview: Bianconeri bid to end European drought The Old Lady have not lifted the Champions League for 17 years but are strongly fancied to be serious contenders this term after making three high profile summer signings. Sep 16, 2013 Juventus travel to Denmark to face FC Copenhagen on Tuesday as many people's dark horses to win this season's Champions League. http://markting10.nl/ The Serie A champions have won back-to-back league titles but were knocked out of Europe by eventual winners Bayern Munich at the quarter-final stage last season. They are now ready to challenge for silverware on all fronts in 2013-14, particularly after some astute transfers in the close season, with Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente and Angelo Ogbonna all arriving in Turin. Group B rivals Copenhagen have endured a disastrous season domestically so far, taking seven games to win their first match before embarking on a 12-match winless streak prior to re-appointing former coach Stale Solbakken. In a group also containing Galatasaray and nine-time European champions Real Madrid, the Danish side are firm favourites to finish bottom. Copenhagen, however, will take solace from their last Champions League adventure in 2010-11 when they finished second only to Barcelona in the group stages before exiting at the hands of Chelsea in the knockout stages. Last Five Matches FC COPENHAGEN Jul 13, 2013 - VfL Wolfsburg 1 - 2 FC Copenhagen - Friendly Dec 6, 2012 - FC Copenhagen 1 - 1 Steaua Bucureşti - EL Nov 22, 2012 - Molde FK 1 - 2 FC Copenhagen - EL Nov 8, 2012 - FC Copenhagen 0 - 2 VfB Stuttgart - EL Oct 25, 2012 - VfB Stuttgart 0 - 0 FC Copenhagen - EL JUVENTUS Sep 14, 2013 - FC Internazionale 1 - 1 Juventus - Serie A Aug 31, 2013 - Juventus 4 - 1 Lazio 1 - Serie A Aug 24, 2013 - Sampdoria 0 - 1 Juventus - Serie A Aug 18, 2013 - Juventus 4 - 0 Lazio - Italian Supercup Aug 6, 2013 - Juventus 1 - 1 FC Internazionale - Friendly

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) UEFA Champions League: Copenhagen v Juventus Juventus' quest to end the club's 17-year wait for European success will see them start their UEFA Champions League campaign in Copenhagen. Sep 16, 2013 The Turin club were victorious in Europe's premier club tournament and UEFA Super Cup in 1996 but have since endured something of a barren spell in continental competitions, reaching their last final in the 2002-03 season when they were defeated by AC Milan in the Champions League showpiece at Old Trafford. http://markting10.nl/ Antonio Conte's men travelled to Denmark in last season's Champions League and could only take a point from their away match with FC Nordsjaelland. Juve, though, did manage to remain unbeaten through the group phase before losing 4-0 on aggregate to eventual winners Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Not that the setback had an impact on their domestic fortunes as Juve secured back-to-back Serie A titles They are now ready to challenge for silverware on all fronts in 2013-14, particularly after some astute transfers in the close-season as Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente and Angelo Ogbonna arrived, adding competition, ability and depth. While the Italian side have picked up two wins and drew 1-1 at Inter on Saturday so far in Serie A, Group B rivals Copenhagen have endured their worst start to a league season as they lost each of their first three games and could not muster a win until match number seven. The Danish champions embarked on a 12-match winless streak in the league before beating Viborg earlier this month as Stale Solbakken's managerial return ended an alarming slump. In a group also containing Galatasaray and nine-time European champions Real Madrid, Solbakken's side are firm favourites to finish bottom. Copenhagen, however, will take solace from their last Champions League adventure in 2010-11 when they finished second only to Barcelona in the group stages before exiting at the hands of Chelsea in the knockout stages. Juventus go into Tuesday’s tie on the back of a battling 1-1 draw at San Siro, with Conte optimistic about what the season could bring. He said: "We played a good game against a team like Inter, who confirmed they will fight for the title. And we could even have gotten a second. "Serie A is our real objective right now and we can achieve something historic this season. I saw my team play very well at a difficult ground."

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) FC Copenhagen vs. Juventus PREVIEW – It’s All in the Mind! Sep 16, 2013 Can you feel it? It’s that time again… The biggest club tournament in the world is about to kick off, signaling that the 2013/14 season has begun, in earnest. And it’s hard not to be very, very excited about it. http://markting10.nl/ After the combative 1-1 draw with Inter on Saturday, Juventus head to Copenhagen for the second time in 11 months on Champions League business. Last time around, the Bianconeri were held to a very disappointing 1-1 draw by then Danish champions FC Nordsjælland, a side vastly inferior to Conte’s men. In the end it mattered little, of course, as Juve reversed the drawing trend after their Nordic experience and won the remaining three group games with an accumulated goal difference of 8-0. Stale-Solbakken-FCK-managerThis season, the Bianconeri get the chance to prove that they learned a valuable lesson from the get-go. Another visit to Copenhagen awaits, and like last time, the weakest team of the group plays host. It is a must-win game, like it was last year. This time, I suggest we damn well win it! FC COPENHAGEN Copenhagen – or FCK, as they are almost exclusively referred to in Denmark – is the powerhouse of Danish football. Build on the foundations of storied clubs KB and B1903 (the first of many club fusions to follow in Danish football), the new project prospered early on, winning the championship in 1993, only to stall significantly for the remainder of the decade. However, since 2001, when current England manager Roy Hodgson over the course of one season transformed the club from perennial underachievers to a veritable giant on the Scandinavian football scene, the club has won the championship nine times and never finished outside of the top 3 spots. And while this might not sound terribly frightening as such, being in Denmark and all, it’s worth remembering that the Danes actually beat Manchester United and held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in the Champions League not that long ago – the latter achievement even getting them into the knock-out stages for the first time ever in 2011. Those results, however, were achieved with a significantly stronger group of players than the present crop. For while Copenhagen is still the most resourceful Danish club by some margin, things have not been well in the capital for a few seasons now. Following the departure of their talismanic Norwegian coach, Ståle Solbakken after the successful 2010/11 campaign, three different coaches tried to take over the helm to marginal success. Even if domestic results didn’t show it, barring the shock Nordsjælland title in 2012, the club was in crisis – so much so that Belgian manager Ariel Jacobs, despite having led the club to the Danish championship in 2013, was sacked earlier this season following a run of very poor results, leaving Copenhagen struggling in the league for the first time in over a decade. Re-enter: Ståle Solbakken. The charismatic Norwegian was reunited with the Danish club in September after having suffered a few blows of his own trying to cope with German and English football, finding little resonance for his ideas either place. While initial signs have been mixed, it’s widely believed that Solbakken will – over time – reinvigorate the Copenhagen side, implementing again his tried and trusted 4-4-2 formation which, even if significantly weaker across the board from the side he left behind, is more likely to work than his successors’ failed attempts at evolution in his absence. The Key factor for Copenhagen in this game will be to try and cope with Juve’s pressing, and to strike on counters – Solbakken’s obvious problem being that very few players can actually pull off the moves, crosses and finishes necessary to make such a strategy work. Captain Lars Jacobsen is a tested quality player, and the runs of all-round offensive talent Nicolai Jørgensen will probably names to be aware of for the Juve contingent, but other than those, I fail to see any players really troubling their Juve counterparts. The Bianconeri will face an ex-teammate in Olof Mellberg, but while his beard is excellent as ever, the seasoned Swede has had a bit of a tough time in Copenhagen so far, being in and out of the team ahead of Solbakken’s arrival. The (only) real danger posed by Copenhagen lies not in their ability or physicality, but in their status as chihuahua-sized underdogs in this game. No-one expects them to be a match for Juventus, and after their poor start to the season (including a run of eight home game without a victory), most would be satisfied not to be cut in half by the Old Lady. Except Solbakken, who has a Conte-style winning mentality, and will – all media talk aside – have set up his team extremely well for this encounter, knowing well how much of a boost any kind of result would provide him with going forward. The question is whether effort and will power alone will cut it against the Italian champions, of course… Probable Formation: (4-4-2/4-4-1-1) Wiland; Jacobsen, Mellberg, Siggurdson, Bengtsson; Bolanos, Claudemir, Kristensen, Delaney; Jørgensen; Adi JUVENTUS You do remember, right? Last year when Juventus somewhat nonchalantly faced that awful Danish team, leaving them a point for their troubles? As I am sure Antonio Conte will tell the players – able to as he now is from the touchline – “let’s not do that again, shall we?” And, I imagine, adding the phrase: “EVER!” As in any tournament, in the Champions League it’s not the team you’re facing, but the end result you leave with that matters. This is exactly why Conte will do well to remember last year’s trip to Copenhagen. While it is a different team with a different philosophy Juve will be facing this time around, the mechanics are basically the same: Small team takes on huge opposition, will be dominated but try and make the most of their chances. This is exactly like travelling to the provinces in Italy and should be taken no less lightly than such an excursion. In fact, in group stage involving only six games, any lapse in concentration resulting in dropped points will be punished all the harder. I realize this is hardly rocket science, but based on last year’s exploits, I don’t mind coming off like a boring old school teacher repeating these clichés. They become such for a reason, you know. That said, while my fears proved correct the last time around, there is little to suggest they will on this occasion. Juve have had a good start in the league, and whereas a few key absences (Marchisio, possibly Vucinic, Barzagli) could have rattled the Bianconeri of yesteryear the depth of the squad has only increased since, and it should matter little in this context. What matters is keeping a cool head, taking charge and exploiting the chances created. Again, no science involved – except that of psychology, of course. Luckily, Antonio Conte is a master of that facet of the game and his presence this time should alone be enough to see Juventus bring the three points back to Turin. The (possible) injuries mentioned earlier aside, there is nothing to suggest that the Mister will change anything ahead of the game in Copenhagen. The 3-5-2 should overpower the Danes’ compact 4-4-2 (or likely 4-4-1-1, with Jørgensen the joker), as long as the basics are covered (i.e. protecting Pirlo and the WB’s putting in a good shift both in offense and defense). This may seem to some as a great time to tinker with the team, both tactically and in terms of personnel, as the opposition is fairly weak. However, I would prefer to only see like-for-like subs in areas affected. There will be plenty of time to experiment, and the CL, no matter the opponents, is not really the place to do so. Getting off to a good start in Copenhagen is vital, and the less messing about with players’ heads, the better. If we win the first four group games, we can talk about genuine rotation and experiments! Probable Formation: (3-5-2) Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Quagliarella So… I guess I just spent about 1500 words telling you that Copenhagen is not all that great and Juventus should win this game – just the kind of expert analysis you won’t find anywhere else! I deliberately waited until now to tell you outright though, as I thought you might enjoy a longer run given this is the CL and I’ll be watching the game live and therefore won’t be able to offer my “expert” views during the game… There’s only one more thing left to say, really: No more Copenhagen cock-ups, please!

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Solbakken: We can surprise Juve Sep 16, 2013 Copenhagen boss Stale Solbakken has claimed that his side can ‘surprise’ Juventus when the two face off tomorrow. http://markting10.nl/ The Danish side host the Serie A champions in their opening Champions League match of the season. And the Coach has insisted that a win could start their faltering domestic campaign. “Getting a result tomorrow could represent the turning point of our entire season,” he told a Press conference. “We’re focusing on the three games that we’ll be playing at home, even though we’re perhaps in the most difficult group. “Juventus need to win at all costs and perhaps we’ll be able to surprise them. We hope to do the same against Galatasaray. We’ll be playing against superior sides, but perhaps they might underestimate us. “We need to believe we can do it, otherwise we won’t get a result. We need to stick to our own game plan, have plenty of belief and play to the best of our abilities. If we do just that, who knows, we could well spring a surprise.”

'My dream? Winning the CL' Sep 16, 2013 Gianluigi Buffon has conceded that winning the Champions League is ‘the dream’ of everyone at Juventus this season. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri kick their European campaign off tomorrow night away to Copenhagen, and the goalkeeper has insisted that the entire squad will endeavour to get off to a winning start. “I am curious to see if we are able to continue to improve from last year,” he told a Press conference. “Winning the Champions League is a dream that I share with all the members of the Juventus – the playing staff, management and fans. “The leadership strengthened the team over the summer, but now it’s up to us players to prove that we’re better on the pitch.” http://markting10.nl/ Buffon then commented on a reunion with former teammate Olof Mellberg. “He is a nice guy who I have fond memories of. He is a true professional and I’m sure he’s very important to this team.”

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Juventus – The Champions League Dream Sep 16, 2013 28th May 2003, Old Trafford, Manchester The scenes of Shevchenko celebrating after an epic penalty shootout will be clearly etched in Antonio Conte’s mind, who then was still playing for Juventus.It has been 10 years since Juventus went past the quarter finals of a European Cup and for a club of Juventus’ stature, it is kind of an underachievement. Yes, the Calciopoli Scandal in 2006 is a major and a valid reason behind the slump, but it has been six years now since The Old Lady returned to Serie A, and after a few turbulent years, Antonio Conte, now manager, has done a commendable job in assembling a title-winning squad. It will not be completely wrong to label Juventus as European underachievers, despite being the first team in the world to win all the European and Intercontinental titles; but with only two European Champions Cup (or Champions League) out of a possible seven to show for, it is kind of a disappointment for the most successful Italian club boasting of one of the largest global fan-bases. http://markting10.nl/ Juventus had to wait agonisingly long for their first European Cup triumph. After defeats in two previous finals, the Michel Platini-led team finally won their first European Cup in 1985; but in the most tragic of circumstances. The final against Liverpool was a mere footnote to the Heysel tragedy where 39 fans lost their lives in one of the darkest hours of football. Another 11 years later, Juventus laid hands on the European Cup for only the second time, but their win was again marred by controversy surrounding illegal drug use and doping allegations. Losing in three finals since then, Juve have mostly experienced lows, Calciopoli scandal being the major one of them, which saw them relegated for the first time in their history to Serie B. The city of Turin deserves more for their patience where they have seen Juventus rise again heroically and will be hoping that this would be their year and one which would be remembered for the right reasons. The Bianconeri have a realistic case to believe they can reach the finals in Lisbon next year.After winning back to back domestic titles in the last two years and reaching the last-8 in the Champions league last season (bowing out to eventual winners Bayern Munich), Juventus will be eager to prove their credentials in Europe this season. Arsene Wenger recently commented-“Whoever puts Juventus among the possible surprises for the next Champions League is wrong, because Juve is not a surprise, but a strong team, which has come back to the top after a few years.” Wenger is partially correct in placing Juventus amongst the contenders for this season’s title, but The Old Lady have not yet upgraded completely from the ‘dark-horse’ status to the ‘favourites’ tag. This being their second season in Champions League after their return to the competition, the club from Turin can be excused for not being experienced as regular challengers for the much coveted European Cup. On the other hand, with the squad they have put together this season, adding the likes of Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente and Angelo Ogbonna to an already strong core of the last 2 seasons, it could be considered as a failure if they don’t go past the quarters this time around. The black and white stripped team have bought smartly and quickly, addressing their main issue of lack of goals in last season which was evident in their 4-0 aggregate loss to the eventual European Champions. Carlos Tevez has been one of the steals of the transfer window, coming in at 10M euros from Manchester City. Having already agreed a deal with Athletic Bilbao last season for the free transfer of Fernando Llorente, Juve spent another 13 million Euros on Ogbonna who is destined for great things. Juventus already have arguably the best defence in Europe with the Italian quartet of Buffon, Bonucci, Barzagli and Chiellini. They can also boast of one of the strongest midfields with the ever classy Andrea Pirlo along with Europe’s finest box-to-box midfielder Arturo Vidal. Completing the trio in the middle is Paul Pogba, the French youngster who is on his way to stardom, already replacing Claudio Marchisio in the M-V-P midfield of last season, with some strong and matured performances over the year. Marchisio, who is currently injured, adds solid strength to the squad. In Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juve have a workhorse, who keeps marauding up and down the right wing and is one of the better players in Europe in his position. Asamoah, Pepe, Isla are decent backups and complete the midfield showcasing their depth. In attack, Tevez has already cemented his place with an impressive start (3 goals in 3 starts). Llorente was intended to be Tevez’s partner in attack in Conte’s 3-5-2 formation – the Spaniard as the penalty box striker and the Argentine as the second striker. However, Llorente struggled in pre-season, meaning that Vucinic has retained his starting role alongside Tevez. Vucinic and Tevez,both similar kind of players,who like to drop deep and link midfield with the attack,have gelled brilliantly till now and it might be a difficult battle for Llorente to dislodge either one of them . The way in which Vidal, Vucinic and Tevez combined in the 4-1 demolition of Lazio in their first home league match of the season, Juve have sent a warning to all those big powerhouses in Europe. The Italian giants can now effectively blend their strong steely defence with some fast paced, high quality and intelligent attack. Sebastien Giovinco may already be a forgotten man, but he and Quagliarella will definitely add more firepower to their attack in what is going to be a long season ahead. Having been placed alongside Real Madrid, Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen in the group stage of the Champions League, qualification for the round of 16 looks certain for the Bianconeri. Playing the star-studded Madrid side will give a good account of Juventus’ capabilities in Europe. After their European campaign last season that was impressive in patches but disappointing overall, this season might be a good start for Juventus to reclaim their place in Europe’s elite. Conte has strengthened the squad efficiently and after conquering the domestic scene, should be able to deliver a third consecutive Scudetto despite several rival clubs having beefed up their rosters during the transfer window. He still, however, has to prove his tactical chops on the big European stage with the Juventus Stadium yet to experience those magical European nights of Turin. It is going to be a tough and exciting season ahead for Juventus, but with all the hype again around La Decima, The Old Lady might, and ‘might’ being the keyword there, just realize their own dream of Il Terzo (the third in Italian). Written by Dev Parikh

Llorente wants to stay at Juventus Sep 16, 2013 Chus Llorente, brother of Juventus striker Fernando Llorente, has revealed that the player wants to stay with the club. http://markting10.nl/ The 28-year-old was one of the Bianconeri’s big signings this summer, along with Carlos Tevez, after he joined from Athletic Bilbao, but there have been many rumours as of late that he may leave the Serie A side in January to play on loan with Real Madrid or Barcelona. Llorente spoke to Tuttosport about his brother’s situation at Juve and claimed that he has no wishes of leaving. “No, I do not speak on this,” said the sibling. “I do not want to say anything and I haven’t said anything. “And, most importantly, there is nothing to say. Fernando wants to stay at Juventus, period.” Many rumours of a January transfer have been linked to the striker’s apparent struggle to assimilate into The Old Lady squad, though both the club and the player have assured that everything is fine in recent weeks.

F.C. KOBENHAVN - JUVENTUS September 17, 2013 8:45 PM Parken Stadium — Copenhagen Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Nedved respects Copenhagen threat Sep 16, 2013 Juventus director Pavel Nedved is not underestimating Tuesday’s Champions League opponents FC Copenhagen. http://markting10.nl/ The Old Lady will begin their European Cup bid in Denmark tomorrow and the former midfielder is in cautious mood. “We must start the [European] campaign on the right foot, that is important,” the ex Golden Ball winner was quoted as saying on the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport website. “We are really focused on Copenhagen. It will be a hard game. Last year we went to Nordsjaelland where we struggled and drew.” Juventus reached the quarter-finals last season before being beaten by eventual winners Bayern Munich. “There are better sides than us, but the strongest don’t always win,” added the official. “We will know only on the field of play whether the gap between us and the top clubs has decreased in Europe, but Juventus have unquestionably reinforced and are stronger. “We are very competitive, as hard as always. That is the brand of Antonio Conte. The squad follows him, they have his character, they never give up. We’re very happy with what the players are doing.” Juventus have been knocked off top spot in Serie A following their draw at Inter on Saturday, but Nedved is happy with the club’s start to 2013-14. “We’ve lost the leadership, but we had a tough start to the season [sampdoria, Lazio, Inter]. We are satisfied, the side have expressed themselves well so far. “It was hard in Milan. Inter are a side who can just concentrate on the League. I think their best signing was boss Walter Mazzarri. He’s fixed their team, you can see his tactics, Inter gave a good impression. “I don’t know if it will be a battle between Juve and Napoli for the Scudetto. There are other sides in the race.” Nedved was also asked for an opinion on rising star Paul Pogba and Fernando Llorente, the summer signing who is struggling for playing time. “Pogba can win the Golden Ball. I have no doubts. He is still just 20, therefore he has all the time he needs to improve. “Llorente has arrived from a different League to a team that is already well defined. He just needs time. He will be very useful for us over the season.”