Socrates

Llorente misses Confederations Cup May 27, 2013 Juventus-bound Fernando Llorente has the summer off, as he has been left out of Spain’s provisional squad for the Confederations Cup. Heading out to Brazil as world and double European champions, La Roja have listed a provisional 26-man selection, due to be trimmed down at the conclusion of La Liga’s fixtures next weekend. Coach Vicente del Bosque has pulled few surprises with his choices, listing 20 of the 23 that won last year’s Euro 2012 title, but Llorente is one of those three to lose their place since last summer. The 28-year-old, who is joining Juventus at the end of June on a Bosman, has not featured for Spain since August 2012’s friendly with Puerto Rico, having endured a miserable season in the shadows at Athletic Bilbao.

Arsenal attempt for Pogba May 26, 2013 British newspapers claim Arsenal will offer £15m to Juventus in a bid to lure Paul Pogba back to the Premier League. The French international midfielder only left Manchester United last summer when his contract expired, joining Juve as a free agent. He has been a revelation this season, even prompting Coach Antonio Conte to adjust his tactics to accommodate him in the starting XI. The Sunday People claims today that Arsene Wenger tried twice before to sign Pogba and is prepared to offer £15m for a third attempt. However, any such move is extremely unlikely, as Pogba is only 20 and has quickly become a fan favourite. Arsenal’s other big Serie A target, Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic, also seems to be beyond their reach, as he would prefer to remain in Italy.

Moggi questions Juve attacking moves May 24, 2013 Luciano Moggi isn’t impressed by the idea of a Juventus side containing Fernando Llorente and Gonzalo Higuain. The former Old Lady transfer guru, who was banned from the game for his part in the Calciopoli scandal, thinks they need a different kind of player in attack. “Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski is a player who makes the difference for club and country,” Moggi told Tutto Nocerina. “The club need to sign important players, but Higuain and Llorente are decent and nothing more. “The likes of Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella are not worth any less, the thing is that foreign players are desired by journalists and fans – but that guarantees nothing.” Juve have already agreed a deal with Llorente who will join the club on a free transfer once his Athletic Bilbao contract expires next month. Meanwhile, Turin officials flew to Madrid this week to discuss a possible transfer for Real and Argentina striker Higuain. Lewandowski, meanwhile, is being strongly linked with a summer move to Bayern Munich after catching the eye for Borussia this term. The Polish international, who Roma were advised to sign while he was still at Lech Poznan, scored four in the recent Champions League semi-final win over Real Madrid.

Buffon: 'Pogba will make history' May 23, 2013 Gigi Buffon praised 19-year-old teammate Paul Pogba. “He will make history for Juventus and France.” The midfielder arrived as a free agent last summer when his contract with Manchester United expired and has now been called up for the Under-20 World Cup. “Pogba has been a real surprise, as when he arrived nobody thought he could be this good,” Buffon told RMC. “He is an extraordinary player who maintains great humility. I think he will make history for Juventus and France.” This season Pogba became a key figure, prompting Juventus to change their tactics to accommodate him and earning his first senior cap for France.

Pogba picked for U-20 World Cup May 23, 2013 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been named in the France squad for this summer's Under-20 World Cup. The Bianconeri youngster has been called up by Coach Pierre Mankowski for the tournament in Turkey, which weld be played between June 21 and July 13. Les Bleus have been drawn against Ghana, Spain and the USA in Group A. Full squad: Areola (PSG) Charruau (Valenciennes), Dupe (Nantes) Worthy (Lille), Foulquier (Rennes), Jullien (Auxerre), Rossiglione (Sochaux) Sabaly (PSG), Naby Sarr (Lyon), Umtiti (Lyon) Zouma (Saint-Etienne) Kondogbia (Siviglia), Lemina (Lorient), Ngando (Rennes), Pogba (Juventus), Veretout (Nantes) Bahebeck (Troyes), Bosetti (Nizza), Sanogo (Auxerre) Thauvin (Bastia) Vion (Porto).

Juventus confirm Higuain and Jovetic interest Director Giuseppe Marotta earmarked the two strikers as potential transfer targets but stressed that the club are exploring "various options" in the market. May 23, 2013 Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed the club's interest in luring both Gonzalo Higuain and Stevan Jovetic to Turin this summer. Reports emanating from Italy suggests the Bianconeri will dispatch representatives to the Spanish capital on Wednesday in an attempt to thrash out a deal for Real Madrid striker Higuain after agreeing terms in principal with the Argentine earlier this month, while Fiorentina's failure to secure Champions League qualification this season has thrown Jovetic's future at the club into further doubt. Speaking to Rai Sports, Marotta insisted the Old Lady were weighing up their options before making a move but could not disguise his affection for the duo. "Jovetic and Higuain are both great strikers," he said. "We want to improve the playing staff available to [Antonio] Conte in the summer so we are exploring various options at the moment." Juventus, who recorded back-to-back Serie A titles this season, have long been linked with moves for Europe's top striking talent - including the likes of Carlos Tevez and Luis Suarez - as they look to bolster their forward line ahead of the coming campaign.

Marrone set for Juventus talks May 22, 2013 The agent of Luca Marrone will discuss the youngster’s future with Juventus officials on Thursday. The Italian Under-21 international is rated highly by the Turin outfit, but he has struggled for regular action over the last few seasons. Marrone is a central midfielder, but he was transformed into a centre-back by Antonio Conte this term to act as cover for Leonardo Bonucci. Conte is a fan of the 23-year-old, but Marrone was used in only 15 games this term. He featured in just six during 2011-12. Marrone, represented by Beppe Bozzo, is understood to have admirers in the form of Parma, Fiorentina and Sampdoria. Juventus are likely to only consider a loan or a co-ownership deal for the boy who was born in Turin.

Buffon: Pogba has to be more mature The Juventus skipper says the young Frenchman has made a great impact in Turin but feels the midfielder still has some growing up to do. May 22, 2013 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is delighted with Paul Pogba's performances for the club but feels the young Frenchman needs to become more mature. The midfielder arrived in Turin last summer from Manchester United and made 28 Serie A appearances, scoring five goals in the process, and the Bianconeri skipper has been pleasantly surprised by his team-mate's impact. "You have to say that he's been a big and great surprise because we didn't know how strong he could be when he arrived," Buffon told RMC. "He's shown on the pitch that he can be very strong and we have got to know him. He's an exceptional kid, very humble. "He still has problems with punctuality but that's normal because he needs to become more mature. "But I'm certain that he will leave his mark on the history of Juventus and the France national team."

New deal for Lichtsteiner? May 21, 2013 While some reports are suggesting that Juventus could get rid of Stephan Lichtsteiner this summer, Tuttosport say that he’ll be handed a new contract. Whispers over the last 24 hours claim that the club could offer the Swiss international to Real Madrid as part of their bid to net Gonzalo Higuain. However, the Turin daily is writing that the Old Lady want to reward the player for his efforts with fresh terms. The former Lazio right-back, signed at a cost of €10.5m in 2011, is presently tied to the outfit until the summer of 2015. Lichtsteiner, who has also caught the eye of Paris Saint-Germain over the last 18 months, currently earns €1.7m a season at the Juventus Stadium.

Man Utd prepare £25m for Marchisio May 20, 2013 Momentum continues to build around reports Juventus will sell Claudio Marchisio to Manchester United for £25m. The 27-year-old midfielder grew up in the Juventus youth academy and has been a key figure for the side since 2006. Manchester United have long been interested in Marchisio, but up until now he was considered to be off the market. According to persistent Italian reports, the situation has changed with the arrival of Paul Pogba on a free transfer from Manchester United. His sale for around £25m would help raise funds for the reinforcements Juve want in attack over the summer. Among the targets are Carlos Tevez of Manchester City and Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.

Serie A - 19^ Giornata - Ritorno - 19-5-2013 (ore 20:45) 3 - 2 Fabio Quagliarella (25′) Eder (31′-PG) Lorenzo De Silvestri (57′) Mauro Emanuel Icardi (75′) Emanuele Giaccherini (90+1′) Stadio Luigi Ferraris - Genova Arbitro: Andrea Gervasoni Spettatori:‬ 23000‎ Serie A - Sampdoria bestia nera, la Juventus perde 3-2 I bianconeri incappano nel secondo ko stagionale contro i blucerchiati a Marassi, dove Eder, De Silvestri e Icardi ribaltano il gol iniziale di Quagliarella. A nulla vale l'ultima rete stagionale di Giaccherini sul finire del match. Eurosport - Sabato, 18 maggio 2013 La Juventus si presentava a Marassi senza grandissime motivazioni se non quella di cogliere il successo contro la Sampdoria per chiudere il 2012/13 con una vittoria contro tutte le squadre del campionato. Ma, come nel girone d’andata, i blucerchiati sono riusciti nell’impresa di stendere i bianconeri di Antonio Conte, imponendo un 3-2 in rimonta tanto severo quanto poco doloroso per i campioni d’Italia. Per la Sampdoria è un piccolo primato, quello di essere divenuta l’unica squadra ad aver battuto due volte in una stagione la Vecchia Signora della nuova gestione. QUAGLIARELLA TITOLARE - Delio Rossi ha fuori per infortunio Krsticic, Costa e Rossini, oltre allo squalificato Renan. Il modulo blucerchiato resta il tradizionale 3-5-2 con Castellini nel pacchetto arretrato, l’ex Estigarribia esterno sinistro e il duo Eder-Icardi in attacco. Antonio Conte ha tutti a disposizione tranne Pogba e Pepe, così conferma la rotazione post-scudetto con Storari tra i pali, Caceres in difesa, Isla, Padoin, Giaccherini e De Ceglie a centrocampo e il duo Quagliarella-Giovinco in attacco. QUAGLIARELLA APRE, RISPONDE EDER - La Juventus inizia con il piglio giusto e mette alle corde la Sampdoria con una serie di tiri da fuori di Quagliarella, Giaccherini e Chiellini, che al 21’ costringe alla grande parata Da Costa con la complicità di una deviazione di Gastaldello. Al 25’, poi, è il grande ex Quagliarella a legittimare battendo sul filo del fuorigioco (dormita di De Silvestri) il portiere blucerchiato dopo un lancio perfetto di Pirlo. La Sampdoria accusa il colpo, ma a rimetterla in partita è un rigore più che generoso concesso da Gervasoni per presunto fallo di Chiellini su Icardi. Dal dischetto va Eder e non sbaglia, rimettendo il match in pari al 31’. Chiellini va subito vicino all’autogol (33’), mentre Quagliarella spaventa ancora la Sampdoria al 40’, con Gastaldello che salva sulla linea dopo una smanacciata di Da Costa. Il primo tempo si chiude sull’1-1, un risultato decisamente stretto per la Juventus. PIOVONO GOL, 3-2 PER LA SAMP – La ripresa riparte con un altro paio di grandi parate di Da Costa su Quagliarella e Padoin, ma come sempre la Sampdoria dà lezioni di cinismo e al 57’ De Silvestri punisce con il secondo gol consecutivo, insaccando il 2-1 di testa sugli sviluppi di un corner in cui Isla si addormenta in marcatura. Conte rischia tutto con l’inserimento di Bendtner per Giovinco e Lichtsteiner per Padoin (73’), ma le cose non cambiano. E, con un contropiede pilotato da Estigarribia e chiuso rocambolescamente in gol da Icardi (decimo gol stagionale al 75’), chiude la partita. Conte, nonostante tutto, toglie Storari per dare spazio a Rubinho (79’) e si conferma una serata non fortunata, perché all’85’ Bendtner si infortuna seriamente al polso sinistro cadendo male dopo uno stacco aereo mentre Quagliarella si vede negare un rigore netto da Gervasoni (che prima assegna e poi cambia idea). La Juventus finisce in dieci, con la sola consolazione del gol di Giaccherini, che al 90’ batte Da Costa con un diagonale perfetto. Il sigillo sulla stagione bianconera in una serata più che sfortunata. Mattia Fontana http://it.soccerway....regular-season/

Vidal best midfielder, Cavani best attacker - Serie A awards for 2012-13 Goal crowns the best and worst from Italy over the course of the season. May 20, 2013 Another dramatic Serie A campaign came to an end on Sunday, with the last of the season's 1003 goals sending AC Milan into the Champions League at the expense of Fiorentina. It was only fitting that viewers should stay glued to TV sets right down to the last after another campaign of ups and downs from minute one. Juventus marched to a second straight Scudetto, while Napoli earned a second visit to the Champions League in three seasons. With Milan's third spot secured, Fiorentina will head to the Europa League with Udinese, while Palermo, Siena and Pescara will spend next term in Serie B after each experiencing a campaign to forget. But what of the other winners and losers? Who have been the best players and coaches in the league season? And what of the worst? Goal hands out the individual awards at the end of another absorbing nine months of football. BEST GOALKEEPER Samir Handanovic (Inter) There were several goalkeepers with better statistical records than Samir Handanovic this season, but none of them had to deal with the malaise that the Slovenian encountered in his first term at Inter. Having replaced Julio Cesar between the posts for the Nerazzurri, the ex-Udinese shot-stopper found himself thrown in at the deep end with a ragged outfit in front of him. Yet despite being left with a sub-standard back line for much of the season, he won his side many points with his magnificent performances that were deserving of so much more than Inter's ninth-place finish. BEST DEFENDER Andrea Barzagli (Juventus) In by far the closest category of the lot, Andrea Barzagli's consistent performances earn him the Best Defender award to go alongside a second straight Scudetto winners medal. He may have occasionally been questioned for his lack of pace, but the Italy international showed he has the mental and physical capabilities to compensate for his lack of mobility. The former Palermo man was a huge factor in the Bianconeri marching to the title with the best defence in the league once more. BEST MIDFIELDER Arturo Vidal (Juventus) If Barzagli has one thing to be thankful for, it is that he is protected by the best midfielder in the business. Arturo Vidal again showed how important he is to both the attacking and defensive phases of play with countless match-winning performances. The heart of the engine room, the Chilean also showed his superb eye for a pass and ability in front of goal, ending the campaign as Juventus' top goalscorer. It took some doing to outshine Andrea Pirlo in the Bianconeri midfield, but Vidal managed it with ease. BEST ATTACKER Edinson Cavani (Napoli) The future of Serie A is increasingly believed to hinge on the retention of key players, and none more so than Edinson Cavani. His 29 goals earned him the Capocannoniere title, but above and beyond that his ability to rise to the big occasion helped to lift his profile and market value beyond all previous levels. Hat-tricks against Lazio, Roma and Inter took Napoli to the Champions League with a bit to spare, and with Cavani still in their squad, anything is possible for the Partenopei in the near future. BEST YOUNGSTER (Under-21) Stephan El Shaarawy (Milan) Never before has a giant of the the game appeared so reliant on such a young man as did Milan with Stephan El Shaarawy in the first half of the 2012-13 campaign. The Italo-Egyptian blasted his way onto the world stage with a string of wonderful individual displays and crucial goals at key moments as the Rossoneri otherwise limped through the first few months of the season. By the closing stages of the campaign, some were suggesting the former Padova man had lost form, but he still played a major role in Milan's Champions League-clinching turnaround at Siena on Sunday. BEST COACH Francesco Guidolin (Udinese) Francesco Guidolin deserves the Freedom of Udine for the job he has done with Udinese over the last few years. Successive Champions League play-off qualification spots looked set to be followed by a stagnant campaign following the sales of star names including Samir Handanovic, Kwadwo Asamoah and Mauricio Isla last summer, but the master tactician ensured he got the very best out of his troops before the season was out. He led them to an eight-game winning streak at the business end which saw them qualify for the Europa League. Thanks to Guidolin, Udinese continue to punch well above their weight. BEST TRANSFER Borja Valero (Villarreal to Fiorentina) The very fact that Fiorentina got to within 10 minutes of the Champions League one year on from a bottom-half finish is testament to the impact Borja Valero had in his first season in Serie A. The Spaniard slotted in remarkably quickly in Vincenzo Montella's new-look side, becoming the side's key playmaker from the word go. His clever distribution and timely forays forward helped to make the Viola one of the most attractive teams to watch in Europe, and with Valero in their side they could go one further next term. WORST TRANSFER Tommaso Rocchi (Lazio to Inter) There were many candidates for the category of Worst Signing, with Juventus' moves for Nicklas Bendtner and Nicolas Anelka among a huge number of head-scratchers to be seen around the league, but none quite summed up the struggles of an entire club like Inter's move for Tommaso Rocchi. From being fifth choice at Lazio, the 35-year-old suddenly found himself thrust into the spotlight for the Nerazzurri's forlorn bid to reach the Europa League, and while he wasn't a complete failure when used in the absences of Diego Miltio, Antonio Cassano and Rodrigo Palacio, his sudden elevation to the first XI said a lot about Inter's struggles. BEST PLAYER Arturo Vidal (Juventus) Not only was Arturo Vidal the best defensive player in Serie A this season, he was also arguably the best in possession too. His importance to the re-emergence of Juventus simply cannot be understated, with his fantastic tackle success rate marrying with a superb desire on the ball and a magnificent goals record to make a complete midfielder who has become one of the modern game's few true all-rounders. His continued presence in black and white now represents the main key behind Juve's hopes for continued success. WORST PLAYER Andrea Ranocchia (Inter) There may well have been lesser players on the rosters at the likes of Palermo and Pescara, but nobody showed such a vast separation between promise and product as Andrea Ranocchia. His performances in Serie A summed up Inter's season, with his initial burst as part of a three-man defence suggesting he may finally fulfill his talent in the blue and black shirt. However, his constant lapses in concentration, inability to track markers suitably, basic lack of tactical ingenuity and regular moments of madness with the ball anywhere near his feet made for a near-calamitous campaign by the time May was in sight. Once regarded as one for the future, Ranocchia has quickly become Inter's biggest liability. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Arsenal look to Lichtsteiner May 19, 2013 Arsenal are said to be lining up a £12m offer for Juventus star Stephan Lichtsteiner. The Swiss international has impressed Arsene Wenger during the two Scudetto-winning campaigns in Turin, as he can play at right-back or on the right side of midfield. According to TMW, the Gunners are among the favourites to sign Lichtsteiner as a replacement for Bacary Sagna. The 29-year-old has been suggested as one of the players who could be sold to raise funds for new buys, including Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez. Others potentially on the market include Mirko Vucinic and Claudio Marchisio.

Serie A Week 38 - 19-5-12 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 2 Fabio Quagliarella (25′) Eder (31′-PG) Lorenzo De Silvestri (57′) Mauro Emanuel Icardi (75′) Emanuele Giaccherini (90+1′) Luigi Ferraris Stadium - Genoa Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Attendance:‬ 23000‎ 'I'm not like Heynckes!' - Delio Rossi plays down Juventus double Samp coach laughed off any similarities between himself and the Bayern Munich boss after guiding his side to a second win of the season over the Bianconeri. May 19, 2013 Delio Rossi says comparisons between him and Jupp Heynckes are "blasphemous" after Sampdoria completed the double over Juventus with a 3-2 win on Saturday night. Fabio Quagliarella opened the scoring for the visitors but a penalty from Eder followed by strikes from Lorenzo De Silvestri and Mauro Icardi gave the Blucerchiati a 3-1 lead, before Emanuele Giaccherini's injury-time consolation. Despite the Genoese outfit succeeding in becoming only the second side this season (after Bayern Munich's Champions League exploits) to defeat the Old Lady both home and away, Rossi was keen not to get carried away. "Beating Juve is always good business, but they had already won the championship," the 52-year-old Italian was quoted by La Repubblica. "We just wanted to close the season well, to have a more dignified league position. "We were saved [from relegation] in March and lately we have not kept the right tension. Am I like [Jupp] Heynckes? That's a blasphemous comparison!" Sampdoria moved to 14th after the win with 42 points from their 38 games and Rossi, days after signing a new contract, was quick to look to the future now the season is complete. "There will be work to do next year," the former Fiorentina coach added. "I hope to finish higher. This is a project that I like, based on the long term." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 38 - 19-5-12 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 2 Fabio Quagliarella (25′) Eder (31′-PG) Lorenzo De Silvestri (57′) Mauro Emanuel Icardi (75′) Emanuele Giaccherini (90+1′) Luigi Ferraris Stadium - Genoa Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Attendance:‬ 23000‎ Conte: 'Juve deserved more' May 18, 2013 Antonio Conte feels Juventus “deserved more” from their two defeats to Sampdoria and wished Nicklas Bendtner all the best after his injury. The Bianconeri lost both games against Samp this season, falling 3-2 this evening at Marassi. “We are a bit upset, because in both matches we deserved more. We were unlucky and didn’t convert our chances,” said the Coach. Bendtner was given a run-out in the final stages, but lasted for only 13 minutes when he fell heavily on his arm. The Arsenal-owned striker has been taken to hospital for X-Rays, as he has a suspected broken wrist. “It’s a shame for Bendtner, as he has been so unlucky. He damaged a tendon in his hip, then returned and hurt himself again. I wish him all the best, as he’s a good lad and a fine footballer.” This week Conte finally committed his future to Juventus after a meeting with President Andrea Agnelli and director Beppe Marotta. “I didn’t need convincing, just to confront our plans and make sure they matched. I haven’t extended my contract, nor adjusted my wages, as those were not important to me. “We want to build something here. Inter won the Treble and then ground to a halt, but that is not our objective.” This evening Marotta confirmed Juve had been approached by Carlos Tevez’s agents and could make a move for the Manchester City striker. “Gonzalo Higuain or Tevez? I like them, but I also like Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. You can throw in many names, but what counts is the balance sheet. We must figure out how to spend wisely.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 38 - 19-5-12 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 2 Fabio Quagliarella (25′) Eder (31′-PG) Lorenzo De Silvestri (57′) Mauro Emanuel Icardi (75′) Emanuele Giaccherini (90+1′) Luigi Ferraris Stadium - Genoa Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Attendance:‬ 23000‎ Player Ratings Goal was on hand to cast a judgmental eye on proceedings as the hosts recorded a memorable double over the champions, despite the best efforts of Fabio Quagliarella. May 18, 2013 SAMPDORIA Angelo Da Costa - Was kept very busy throughout, and made numerous good saves to deny Juventus from getting a foothold in the game. Dealt with the slippery conditions well too. Shkodran Mustafi - Made a few important blocks and interceptions to deny Quagliarella, and put his body on the line when it was required. Was perhaps lucky to escape a penalty for a barge on Quagliarella. Paolo Castellini - Similarly to his teammates in the Sampdoria defence, Castellini had a solid outing, making a couple of particularly terrific blocks as he forced his side toward the finish line. Daniele Gastaldello - Was integral to Sampdoria managing to hold onto their heroic victory, throwing himself in the way of various efforts and dominating the likes of Quagliarella and Giovinco in the air. Lorenzo De Silvestri - Took his goal very well, timing his run well to rise highest and nod the ball home at the near post. Aside from his finish, he had a steady game, winning aerial battles well. Pedro Obiang - Made a few important challenges in the late stages of the game, as the hosts dropped deeper and deeper, but aside from this he was very pedestrian, as Juve played around him. Andrea Poli - Managed to disrupt the Juventus midfield hub, pressuring Pirlo when possible, and his efforts helped to force Juve into wide areas where they were having little joy. Angelo Palombo - Was substituted midway through the second half after fading, despite distributing the ball quite well in the first 45 minutes. Marcelo Estigarribia - Worked extremely hard down the left-hand side, and was actually unfortunate not to give Sampdoria an early lead after slipping over. Had to be substituted as a result of his industrious efforts. Eder - Converted his penalty fantastically, giving Storari no chance after placing the ball precisely in the bottom left corner. Was busy on the ball, as Juventus struggled to combat his trickery. Mauro Emanuel Icardi - His movement and ability on the ball caused the Juve defence a few problems and he was a dangerous player for Sampdoria on the break. Rewarded for his lone running with a fortunate tap in. Substitutions Gianni Munari - Was a willing runner for Icardi after being thrown on, allowing Sampdoria to continue to press from the front and force the away side to play down the flanks. JUVENTUS Marco Storari - Could do nothing to prevent Eder's penalty as the Brazilian's placement was fantastic. Did little wrong, yet found himself conceding three goals. Martín Cáceres - Sampdoria failed to really break down the left-hand side, and he didn't make any mistakes throughout the game. A solid performance. Leonardo Bonucci - Another solid performance in the Juventus back four, as he tracked back well to dispossess breaking Sampdoria players at times, and also offered an aerial threat during set pieces. Giorgio Chiellini - Gave away a penalty on the half-hour mark to allow Sampdoria back into the game, but may feel slightly aggrieved with the decision. Pressed forward into midfield well at times, and saw several shots blocked. Mauricio Isla - Offered a good outlet down the right, and saw plenty of the ball in the first half, but his overall quality of delivery let him down. Simone Padoin - Worked hard but failed to do the running for Pirlo. A forgettable performance, as he failed to have any real impact on the game, either offensively or when working back. Andrea Pirlo - Dictated play as would be expected, but couldn't find the defence-splitting pass required to carve open a resilient Sampdoria side. Made a few uncharacteristic errors. Emanuele Giaccherini - Worked hard in the centre of midfield throughout the game, and topped his steady performance with a beautiful goal in second-half stoppage time, placing the ball into the top right corner. Paolo De Ceglie - Delivered some reasonable balls from the left, with Quagliarella spurning several good chances as a result. At times, he could have benefitted from being more selfish. Sebastian Giovinco - Enjoyed some success when cutting inside from the left, testing Da Costa on various occasions with his right foot, but struggled against the physicality of the Sampdoria back three. Fabio Quagliarella - Was unfortunate not to grab more than one goal in the first half, but there was certainly an air of fortune about his opener. Was the only source of creation for his side, and spurned several fantastic chances in the second half. Substitutions Stephan Lichtsteiner - Offered good width upon coming on, delivering some good balls in from the right byline and committing his man well. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 38 - 19-5-12 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 2 Fabio Quagliarella (25′) Eder (31′-PG) Lorenzo De Silvestri (57′) Mauro Emanuel Icardi (75′) Emanuele Giaccherini (90+1′) Luigi Ferraris Stadium - Genoa Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Attendance:‬ 23000‎ Samp beat Juve again! Sampdoria beat Scudetto winners Juventus for the second time this year, but the 3-2 result had some controversial incidents. May 18, 2013 The Blucerchiati were the only team Juve had failed to beat this season, as they earned a shock 2-1 win in Turin despite going down to 10 men. Renan and Paul Pogba sat out bans, while Nenad Krsticic, Jonathan Rossini, Andrea Costa, Kwadwo Asamoah, Andrea Barzagli and Simone Pepe were sidelined. Juventus haven’t conquered Marassi since 2006, managing three draws and a defeat here. After three minutes Shkodran Mustafi needed a sliding clearance in the six-yard box to deny Sebastian Giovinco. Fabio Quagliarella’s sudden snapshot from 20 metres was beaten away with great difficulty by Junior Da Costa. An Andrea Pirlo volley was charged down by Angelo Palombo and Emanuele Giaccherini’s low drive was smothered on the ground. Giorgio Chiellini had a rare strike at goal from outside the box and the wayward volley took a huge deflection to wrong-foot Da Costa, but the ‘keeper managed to parry with his trailing leg. Quagliarella’s angled drive skimmed the back post and Da Costa beat away another Giaccherini effort with his palms under driving rain. The pressure eventually paid off, as Quagliarella sprung the offside trap on a splendid Pirlo pass over the top, his first touch was crucial and he managed to steer the finish in at the near post. However, the referee awarded a penalty for Chiellini’s tug on Icardi, who seemed to have the striker’s hand clamped under his arm, but it was a very soft decision. Eder converted with a daisy-cutter spot-kick in at the base of the near stick. Just 60 seconds later Eder was about to get another on the counter-attack when skipping past Leonardo Bonucci, but Chiellini came flying in to clear and risked an own goal. There was more danger, as from a corner a Lorenzo De Silvestri free header into the ground bounced over the bar. At the other end, Da Costa flapped a cross into the path of Quagliarella, but his follow-up was kept out by a crucial Mustafi goalline clearance. Chiellini nodded over from a corner, then after the restart made a decisive interception to stop Andrea Poli tapping in from three yards. Quagliarella went on the counter, but fired straight at Da Costa, then Simone Padoin was sent clear on goal through the middle by Giovinco, but found the goalkeeper’s fingertips. Storari had his palms stung by a fierce Eder strike from outside the box, but from the resulting corner De Silvestri got a precise header into the near top corner despite Storari getting a hand to it. The winger had peeled off his marker to find space. Da Costa did well to smother a Quagliarella low volley from close range, mainly because it slowed down in the mud. Icardi hadn’t scored in almost two months, but he has a special rapport with Juventus and ended that drought. It was a classic counter-attack that Marcelo Estigarribia rolled across the face of goal for Icardi to bundle over the line from a yard. He almost tripped on the ball, but it was so close to the open net that it was literally impossible to miss. There was a bizarre moment on 77 minutes when the referee awarded a penalty for a Mustafi clumsy header that clattered into Quagliarella, but the linesman disagreed and Gervasoni changed his mind. Chiellini was absolutely livid at the decision, as if anything this looked like more of a penalty than the one awarded to Sampdoria in the first half. Antonio Conte gave third choice goalkeeper Rubinho his debut for the final 10 minutes. Nicklas Bendtner was also given a run-out, but he landed heavily on to his arm and had to come off after just 13 minutes on the pitch, leaving Juve with 10 men. It could be a fractured wrist for the unlucky Danish striker. It still wasn’t over, as Juventus pulled one back with Giaccherini’s fierce effort under the crossbar from 14 yards. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAMPDORIA: Da Costa; Mustafi, Gastaldello, Castellini; De Silvestri, Poli, Palombo (Munari 65), Obiang, Estigarribia (Berardi 84); Eder (Sansone 79), Icardi JUVENTUS: Storari (Rubinho 80); Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Padoin (Lichtsteiner 74), Pirlo, Giaccherini, De Ceglie; Quagliarella, Giovinco (Bendtner 74) Ref: Gervasoni http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 38 - 19-5-12 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 2 Fabio Quagliarella (25′) Eder (31′-PG) Lorenzo De Silvestri (57′) Mauro Emanuel Icardi (75′) Emanuele Giaccherini (90+1′) Luigi Ferraris Stadium - Genoa Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Attendance:‬ 23000‎ Blucerchiati complete league double over champions Fabio Quagliarella opened the scoring in Genoa but the home side came storming back through Eder and Lorenzo De Silvestri, and Mauro Icardi's tap-in ultimately proved decisive. May 18, 2013 Sampdoria completed a league double over Juventus by coming from a goal down to defeat the champions 3-1 at the Luigi Ferraris on Saturday night. Fabio Quagliarella deservedly opened the scoring for the Bianconeri midway through the first half but the hosts levelled courtesy of a penalty from Eder before sensationally taking the lead through Lorenzo De Silvestri just before the hour mark. Mauco Icardi then added a third for the Blucerchiati and that goal ultimately proved decisive. Emanuele Giaccherini struck in injury time to set up a tense finale, but Samp held on to claim their first win since March - but their second over Juventus in the space of five months. Antonio Conte made several changes in personnel for what was a meaningless contest for both sides, but the Bianconeri began brightly, with Sebastian Giovinco, Quagliarella and Giorgio Chiellini all testing Junio da Costa with decent strikes from distance inside the opening quarter. Quagliarella then dragged a shot just wide before Emanuele Giaccherini called da Costa into action once again, as Juventus continued to pepper the Sampdoria goal with shots. Juve's relentless pressure finally told 25 minutes in when Quagliarella sprung the Blucerchiati offside trap to latch onto a terrific ball over the top from Andrea Pirlo before calmly slotting home. A rout looked a distinct possibility at that stage but the concession of a goal actually brought the best out of the hosts, who levelled matters from the penalty spot through Eder, after Chiellini had been harshly penalised for a push on Mauro Icardi in the area. Remarkably, Sampdoria almost went in front just 60 seconds later, but Chiellini made amends for his earlier indiscretion to block a low strike from Eder that had been destined for the bottom left corner. Chiellini then very nearly put Juve back into the lead just before the interval but he mistimed his jump ever so slightly, and headed over with the goal at his mercy. The second half began in a very similar manner to the first, with the Bianconeri launching wave after wave of attacks on the Sampdoria goal. Indeed, Quagliarella and Giaccherini had both been guilty of poor finishes before Giovinco put Simone Padoin straight through on goal with the most sublime lay-off only to see his team-mate's effort brilliantly saved by da Costa. Again, the goal was coming, only this time it came at the other end, with De Silvestri beating Storari with a near-post header from a corner. Juventus dominated the final half-hour and Quagliarella really should have restored parity on 70 minutes but he volleyed tamely at da Costa after being picked out unmarked eight yards out by a measured chip from Giovinco. However, they were then hit with a classic sucker-punch just moments later, with former Bianconero Marcelo Estigarribia racing clear down the right flank before rolling the ball across the box for a grateful Icardi to tap in. Juve kept fighting, and Giaccherini smashed in a late goal for the visitors, but they had left it too late to salvage something from their final game of an otherwise triumphant season. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

5th Italian Supercup 11 August 2012

Giaccherini 3-2

Bendtner si infortuna al polso = il massimo della sfiga.

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