Socrates

Bonucci: Title not won yet Apr 19, 2013 Leonardo Bonucci has called for focus as his Juventus side edge towards another Italian championship. The Old Lady have an 11 point lead at the top of the table with just six games left, meaning they only require another seven points to regain the Scudetto. “We have to keep our guard up right until we are mathematically sure of winning the League again,” he told Sky Sport Italia. The Turin giants have dominated in Serie A this term, but their hopes of a treble were ended by Bayern Munich in Europe and Lazio in the Coppa Italia. “We’ll have to define the season we have had at the end of the campaign,” continued the centre-back. “In the Champions League we gained a lot of experience which will be of use to us next time around, while we were unlucky in the Italian Cup. “Had we taken that chance in the 96th minute of the semi-final against Lazio then we would be talking about another Final.” Juve reached the Italian Cup Final last season, but were beaten by Napoli.

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Nedved: I hope Balotelli will play against Juventus The Bianconeri director hopes the controversial striker will get the chance to play against the Serie A leaders. Apr 18, 2013 Ex- legend Pavel Nedved hopes Mario Balotelli’s suspension is reduced so he can feature in Juventus' clash with AC Milan on Sunday. Balotelli was handed a one-match ban after picking up his fourth yellow card of the campaign in the 2-2 draw with Fiorentina and then given a further two-game punishment for insulting an assistant referee. But rather than be happy at facing a weakened Rossoneri, Bianconeri director, Nedved, would like to see the controversial forward feature to provide a greater spectacle for supporters. He told reporters: "Obviously it's always better when both teams have a full complement of players, not only for Milan, but for everyone. "If the disqualification was reversed for Balotelli, I expect a great match with two top teams playing against one another, but it will still be a great game if he doesn't play." The ex-Manchester City striker has scored 11 times in 10 games for club and country since returning to Italy in January. Milan go into the game in third place, four points adrift of second-placed Napoli and 15 behind leaders Juve. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Vieira: Pogba better than I was at that age The 36-year-old feels the promising youngster has a bright future ahead of him following his good performances for Juventus this season. Apr 18, 2013 Former France international Patrick Vieira has taken the time to praise Juventus starlet Paul Pogba and believes the midfielder already plays at a higher level than himself at the age of 20. The powerful midfielder joined Juve from Manchester United in the summer of 2012 and has since impressed with a number of fine performances for the Bianconeri. "He is a better player now than I was at the same age. Only time will tell how things pan out for him, but I think that he has a great career ahead of him," Vieira told RMC. "I believe he can be the next great midfielder for France. He is always calm and very technical. He has a better shot than I had and will score a lot more goals. "He's already making an impact at Juventus at this young age. When I was that old, I played five games in an entire season at AC Milan." Pogba has made 24 Serie A appearances so far this term, scoring five goals in the process.

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Barzagli: 'Milan need points too' Apr 18, 2013 Andrea Barzagli acknowledges there is a lot at stake in Juventus-Milan this Sunday. “We’re chasing the Scudetto, while they’re aiming for Champions League qualification.” The giants go head-to-head at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday evening and it is first against third in Serie A. “Both us and Milan are in need of points. We’re chasing the Scudetto, while they’re aiming for Champions League qualification. It won’t be easy, but we’re preparing well,” the 31-year-old told Sport Mediaset. The game after that, the Turin Derby, will see Barzagli mark his 100th appearance in the Bianconeri jersey. “I’m very happy, it’s pleasing to be able to play as much as I do. Reaching 100 appearances for such a prestigious club is a real source of pride. “The last few years have been the best of my career in terms of consistency. There was a time when my performance levels tended to fluctuate more. “Ever since I started playing I’ve never thought about scoring, preferring instead to focus on stopping the opposition. I’m not particularly talented going forward… all that matters is that my team-mates find the target.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Vieira: Pogba better than I was Apr 18, 2013 Patrick Vieira has been left impressed by Juventus youngster Paul Pogba. “He’s better than I was at his age…” Pogba, who has been likened to Vieira, is a 20-year-old midfielder who has been a revelation since leaving Manchester United in the summer. “I first saw him play as a teenager in a game against Portugal,” Vieira, formerly of Milan, Juventus and Inter, told RMC Sport. “It didn’t take long to understand that he was destined to become a good player, then I saw him for Juve and knew that he was a very strong one. “I believe that he is a better player than I was at his age. He has a great shot on him and a good physique for someone who has only just turned 20. “Only time will tell, but I think he has a great opportunity to have an excellent career. “He will be the next great midfielder of the French national team. He will learn things very quickly.” Pogba, who was recently handed his first full international cap by Didier Deschamps, has scored five goals in 24 League games this term.

Marotta: 'Juve not a selling club' Apr 17, 2013 Beppe Marotta assured fans that Antonio Conte, Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal will be staying, but Juventus “won’t go crazy” on the transfer market. The director sat down with Juventus Channel to discuss numerous topics, including last night’s Coppa Italia Primavera victory over Napoli. “It is the crowning moment of a project we started three years ago. We are proud and happy for both them and for Juve,” he said of the youth team. “We have 78 young players in Italy and abroad, either owned or co-owned by us. In Serie B alone there are 18 of our players, while in Serie A we have elements like Manolo Gabbiadini and Ciro Immobile. At the end of the season, we’ll sit down with the coaching staff and evaluate who will return. “In these three years there have been more than 30 players coming in and out of the club. Clearly there have been some errors, but we have opted to trust in a leader of the technical staff, a Coach with a strong personality and a strong sense of belonging to the club. “Conte is in perfect symbiosis with the club and there are the foundations for him to stay here for many years, because the objectives we can reach are very prestigious indeed.” Marotta also commented on the players attracting interest around Europe, such as Vidal, Pogba and how Juve snapped up World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo on a free transfer. “Pogba is tied to us by a contract that represents an investment for the future and we are happy he has sped up that process. He is staying with us. “Vidal was a smart choice by the club, while the Coach made the most of him. Our desire is to keep hold of him. Juve are not a selling club and we have important objectives to achieve. “As for Pirlo, you’ve got to know how to take opportunities. When Pirlo and Milan decided to split up by mutual consent, we approached the player, discussed it with Conte and wrote up a contract. Pirlo is the symbol of my time here, as he is a player with a great trophy cabinet who is no longer as young as he once was. “Signing him left us open to criticism, but at the end of the day we won a great gamble. I couldn’t sleep at night the first few days after the signing...” Much as the free transfers and bargains have impressed fans, the Champions League exit to Bayern Munich fuelled the demands for a ‘top player’ in attack. “The difficult thing is to combine excellent sporting results with excellent balance sheets. The Financial Fair Play rules wanted by UEFA are trying to put the brakes on the crazy amount spent by many clubs in recent years, some of them even disappearing from the football landscape due to that approach. “It is our duty to respect the economic limits, without abandoning the idea of winning that is intrinsic in this club. “Champions League results are not only down to investments, but also planning. We want to create a winning model that can achieve any result.”

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Milan stars target Juve fitness Apr 17, 2013 Kevin-Prince Boateng, Massimo Ambrosini and Bojan Krkic look to be fit in time to face Juventus on Sunday night. The Milan trio have all been suffering from knocks recently, but took part in the full training session with their teammates today. Giampaolo Pazzini worked on strength exercises, while Ignazio Abate remains in doubt for the big game, as he focused on the gym and the sand strip. Boateng and Abate limped off during the 1-1 draw with Napoli, while Bojan pulled out the night before with a muscular problem. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Pete Nordsted: Two weekend tips from the Both Teams to Score market Pete has analysed the statistics around this weekend's fixtures from several top European leagues and he has selected two bets from Serie A . Apr 17, 2013 Well last week we had a poor weekend with both selections losing and both teams scored early on in the two matches. Let’s hope this weekend we get a far better run for our money. As always here we are following a system bet and you are advised to keep stakes reasonable and always try and obtain the best price available. This weekend after trawling through the major leagues once again we are focusing our attention on Italy where we have two selections from the Serie A. Our first match features one of the Italian marquee games when leaders and reigning champions Juventus, who are once again closing in on another Serie A title, host third-placed AC Milan who are chasing the automatic Champions League spot that Napoli have currently. Since January 2011 when hosting other Italian elite sides both teams have scored in only two of Juve's last eight matches and in recent home matches only three of 10 games have seen both sides finding the net. The stats are not as strong with Milan though. When facing top four sides away from San Siro we see both teams have scored in five of the last nine. Indeed, when looking at all of Milan’s away matches this season only four of 16 have seen the 'No' on both sides scoring. The stats are strong enough with Juventus to justify a bet and it should also be remembered that both teams have not scored in the last three head-to-head matches in Turin. The "No" outcome on the both teams to score market can be backed at 10/11 (1.91) with bet365 For our second match we move over to another fascinating contest when Udinese take on Lazio. This year five of Udinese’s eight home matches have seen at least one side not scoring and in the case of visitors Lazio 13 of their last 17 away games have seen the 'No' on both teams scoring. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Chiellini hopeful of making Milan clash The defender hopes to be match fit in time for this weekend's encounter and is keen to stay at his current club after his active career. Apr 17, 2013 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is desperate to make his comeback in this weekend's Serie A match against AC Milan after missing the 2-0 win over Lazio on Monday due to injury. The Italy international picked up a knock during Friday's training session that ruled him out of the match at the Stadio Olimpico, but he has stressed that his physical condition is improving ahead of Sunday's encounter. "I am feeling better. We will see how things stand by Sunday. I definitely hope to be there for the match against Milan," Chiellini told Tuttosport. The defender then went on to discuss his long-term future and made it clear he wants to stay at Juventus after his active career. He added: "I hope to stay in the footballing world in a different role when I hang up my boots. I would love to stay here at Juventus and work for the club that I love." Chiellini, 28, joined Juventus in the summer of 2005 and has made over 250 official appearances for the Bianconeri so far. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Madrid usurp Manchester United as most valuable club in the world Barcelona have risen 99 per cent in value over the last 12 months while the Red Devils see their top position crumble as the Blancos take over in Forbes' top 20 rankings. Apr 16, 2013 Real Madrid have usurped Manchester United as the most valuable football club on the planet for the first time since Forbes magazine began their rankings in 2004. The Red Devils have sat at the top of the list for nine years in a row but Jose Mourinho's men are now worth $135 million more (€103m) at $3.3 billion (€2.429bn), while Sir Alex Ferguson's side sit second in the business magazine's most valuable club list. Barcelona are perched comfortably in third - $565m (€434m) behind United but $1.274m (€978m) ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal - and rose 99 per cent in value over 12 months. Bayern Munich fill out the top five having made the Champions League final last season as well as finishing second in the Bundesliga. Their value is sure to rise further in next year's rankings with the added interest of Pep Guardiola as coach, not to mention their triumph in this season's Bundesliga and a potential treble of trophies. AC Milan are the top-placed Serie A side in sixth and the highest-placed club to be valued below the €1bn mark this year. However, they are also the only club in the top 10 which have gone down in value over the last 12 months. Chelsea's Champions League-winning season saw maintain their place in the list and boost their value by 18%, not so contrasting to the team below them, Juventus, who saw their value rise by 17% after returning to Scudetto-lifting ways in 2012 (8th place). Manchester City rose from 13th to 9th in Forbes' list after winning the Premier League last season and qualifying for the Champions League for the second successive campaign. An English team not faring as well are Liverpool, who were fourth in April 2008 but find themselves 10th five years later as they continue to suffer from not competing with the European elite. Outside of the top 10 sit Europa League quarter-finalists Tottenham in 11th, Bundesliga side Schalke in 12th, Champions League semi-finalists Borussia Dortmund in 13th, Italian giants Inter in 14th and Olympique Lyonnais in 15th. The final five in the list are South America's sole entrants Corinthians in 16th, Walter Mazzarri's Napoli in 17th, German side Hamburg in 18th, Olympique de Marseille (who dropped 18% in value, the biggest drop in the top 20) in 19th and Newcastle United perched 20th. Interestingly, despite being considered one of the most valuable clubs in the world, Paris Saint-Germain fail to make the top 20, while La Liga's top-three duo are the only Spanish sides to make the list.

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Chiellini hopes to face Milan Apr 17, 2013 Juventus stopper Giorgio Chiellini is keeping his fingers crossed that he’ll be fit enough to take on Milan on Sunday. The defender has had an injury-plagued campaign and he missed the 2-0 win at Lazio on Monday with ankle problems. “I’m felling better,” he stated. “And I’m certainly hoping that I will be available to face Milan. We’ll just have to see what happens.” The 28-year-old has appeared in just 18 League games for the Old Lady so far this season. He missed only four Serie A games last term. Juventus need just seven points from their last six games to win their second consecutive championship. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Boateng on fitness & Juve clash Apr 16, 2013 Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has insisted he will be fit enough to face Juventus this weekend. The 26-year-old limped out of the Rossoneri's 1-1 draw with Napoli last Sunday, but the former Ghana international has claimed he will be fit to play the Bianconeri, whilst also making reference to Sulley Muntari's 'ghost goal' against Antonio Conte's men last season. “I am fine,” he told Milan Channel. “At first I thought the damage would be greater, but today I feel a lot better and hopefully I'll be available against Juve. “We are still there or thereabouts and we want to finish second – and to do that we have to win in Turin. “The matches against Juventus are always special – there is no need to talk them up further. “This time we'll kick the ball harder in order to make it clear for everyone that the ball has crossed the line.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Montolivo: Juve deserve Scudetto Apr 16, 2013 Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo has admitted that Juventus 'deserve' to win the Scudetto. The Rossoneri face the Old Lady next weekend looking for the three points that would consolidate their Champions League place. But the Italy international has conceded that it will be tough against 'the best team in the League'. “Juventus deserve to win the title,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “We will be playing the best team in the League. “It is definitely going to be a tough game for us. “I have been happy with my performance this season – although at the moment I am only thinking of reaching third place.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Boateng: Beating Juventus is key to second place The attacker admitted the team don't want a repeat of Sulley Muntari's 'ghost goal' from when the two sides last met while he also says he will be fit for the crunch clash. Apr 16, 2013 AC Milan playmaker Kevin-Prince Boateng says his side's match against Juventus on Sunday could hold the key to them pushing for a second-place finish in Serie A. Massimiliano Allegri's side have been on the up since the turn of the year, though a Champions League place is still not assured. But with not long left of the campaign, a win over the current league leaders would put them in pole position to challenge for automatic qualification. Former Tottenham man Boateng also alluded to Sulley Muntari's goal that was not given the last time the two sides met, and vowed to make sure the referee was left in no doubt as to when the Rossoneri have found the net. "We are still there or thereabouts and we want to finish second, and to do that we have to win in Turin," he told the Milan Channel. "The matches against Juventus are always special. There is no need to talk them up further. "This time we'll kick the ball harder in order to make it clear for everyone that the ball has crossed the line!" Boateng also revealed he hoped to be fit for the encounter after limping off in the 1-1 draw with Napoli on Sunday, and admitted the injury was not as bad as it first seemed. He added: "I am fine. At first I thought the damage would be greater, but today I feel a lot better and hopefully I'll be available against Juve." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Montolivo targets Juventus scalp The Italy international says his side must aim to win every match as they aim for a Champions League spot at the end of the season. Apr 16, 2013 Riccardo Montolivo has stressed that AC Milan do their utmost to bag all three points against Juventus at the weekend as they look to secure a top-three finish. The former Fiorentina midfielder realises that beating the Bianconeri will be though, but has insisted that the Rossoneri owe it to their fans to aim for victory in every match. "We face a tough team in Turin, both individually and as as a team. They are deservedly top of the table," he told Milan Channel. "It will be a very tough match but we will try to win because we are Milan and we always try to win every match. "Juventus-Milan will be a good game. Andrea Pirlo is one of the best in the world in that position, but there are other quality players in the Juve team." The midfielder also had his say on Stephan El Shaarawy's dip in form in recent months and stressed that the attacker does not have a problem with his spot on the bench against Napoli at the weekend. "El Shaarawy was not bothered about starting on the bench, he is calm about the situation, I spoke to him about it," he continued. "Obviously he was disappointed because those are the kind of games that every player want to play but the coach thought it was the best thing to rest him and that is OK." El Shaarawy has scored only once in his last eight Serie A appearances. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - 13^ Giornata - Ritorno - 15-4-2013 (ore 20:45) 0 - 2 Arturo Vidal (8′-R) Arturo Vidal (28') Stadio Olimpico — Roma Arbitro: Antonio Giannoccaro Spettatori: 31000 Serie A - Lazio ko: la Juventus vede lo scudetto La formazione di Conte vince 2-0 all'Olimpico grazie a una doppietta di Arturo Vidal: il vantaggio sul Napoli secondo in classifica sale a 11 punti. Per il titolo matematico ne basteranno 7 nelle prossime 6 partite. Eurosport - Lunedí, 15 aprile 2013 Serve ancora la matematica per poterlo affermare in via ufficiale, ma - con il successo ottenuto all’Olimpico contro la Lazio – la Juventus chiude definitivamente la pratica-scudetto. E per Conte e la sua squadra si tratta del secondo titolo di fila. Difficile, infatti, per non dire impossibile, che il Napoli possa recuperare ai bianconeri gli 11 punti (che poi sono 12 per via degli scontri diretti a favore della Juve) che separano le due squadre in classifica. E alla fine del campionato mancano appena 6 giornate. EMERGENZA LAZIO, JUVE CON IL 3-5-1-1 - Per la prima volta in questa stagione, fatta eccezione per una gara in Coppa Italia proprio contro la Lazio, Conte sceglie il modulo con una punta sola, Vucinic. Alle spalle del montenegrino Marchisio: questa decisione è presa soprattutto per non dover rinunciare a Pogba, uno che - nonostante l'età -potremmo già considerare come un titolare. Chiellini è infortunato: gioca Peluso. Nella Lazio, fra infortuni, squalifiche e scelte societarie, mancano la bellezza di 8 difensori: Petkovic si affida sugli esterni a Gonzalez, che non è al meglio, e Stankevicius, che non è titolare da 14 mesi. Centrali Cana, che non è un difensore di ruolo, e Ciani. Dal centrocampo in su è la Lazio tipo: manca solo Lulic, ma torna Mauri dopo oltre due mesi. Ledesma regista basso, Klose in campo dal primo minuto. VIDAL IN FORMATO FENOMENO - Contrariamente a quello cui si assisterà nel corso della partita è la Lazio a partire meglio: i giocatori di Petkovic corrono di più e vanno altissimi nel pressing. Ma è un fuoco di paglia. Alla Juve bastano meno di dieci minuti per sistemarsi e mandare Vucinic dentro l’area di rigore avversaria: il resto lo fa un’entrata sciagurata di Cana, che stende il montenegrino, si becca un giallo sacrosanto e spedisce Vidal sul dischetto. Marchetti è spiazzato e il cileno può festeggiare il sesto gol del suo campionato. Pochi minuti dopo, Vucinic ha la palla del 2-0, ma sul suo tocco di suola da distanza ravvicinata Marchetti si supera. La grande occasione per la Lazio capita sui piedi di Cana, quelli sbagliati, ma il sinistro del giocatore albanese non trova la sfera a tu per tu con Buffon sugli sviluppi di un angolo dalla sinistra. Conte dalla panchina sembra un indemoniato: vuole che i suoi ragazzi continuino a giocare con aggressività e determinazione nonostante il vantaggio. E alla mezz’ora, Vidal trova la rete del 2-0 su splendido invito di Vucinic, che voleva servire Marchisio ma il cui suggerimento diventa invece un assist perfetto per il cileno dopo la deviazione del solito Cana: tocco morbido sull’uscita di Marchetti e per Vidal i gol in campionato salgono a sette. Il primo tempo si chiude con la Lazio in avanti: la squadra di Petkovic ci prova con Candreva, la cui punizione deviata da Pirlo in barriera chiama Buffon alla parata in due tempi. All’intervallo tanta Juve e poca Lazio: Petkovic prende furente la via degli spogliatoi. JUVE: E’ SCUDETTO, LA LAZIO RISCHIA L’EUROPA - Petkovic rivoluziona la sua squadra nell’intervallo: restano negli spogliatoi Hernanes e Mauri per fare posto a Kozak ed Ederson. Lazio che passa al 3-4-1-2 con il doppio centravanti. Già al 49esimo i padroni di casa sfiorano il gol che riaprirebbe la partita, ma - sul colpo di testa di Ciani - Buffon risponde da campione. La Juve si butta in avanti, e con Marchisio va vicina alla rete del 3-0, ma il centrocampista della Nazionale sbaglia il tap-in a porta vuota che Marchetti gli aveva offerto respingendo corto una bella punizione di Pirlo. La risposta della Lazio arriva da Kozak, al 61esimo, che di testa manda alto sopra la traversa un perfetto cross di Ederson, quindi - tre minuti più tardi - è lo stesso brasiliano ad avere il pallone buono sullo scarico di Klose, ma la sua conclusione non è abbastanza precisa. La partita finisce con Klose che calcia a lato di contro-balzo una delle migliori palle-gol capitate alla Lazio, che - per l’impegno messo in campo - avrebbe sicuramente meritato almeno un gol. La Juve passa all’Olimpico contro i biancocelesti per il quarto anno di fila e vede lo scudetto: per la Lazio, 12 punti nelle 13 partite del girone di ritorno, ora anche l’Europa League non è più così sicura. Andrea Tabacco http://it.soccerway....regular-season/

Juventus must improve financial results, says Elkann The Exor CEO has urged the Bianconeri not to waste their current dominance and says they need to reap the monetary benefits of their good work. Apr 16, 2013 John Elkann has urged Juventus to translate their success over the last two years into “better financial results”. Last season Bayern Munich earned €128m more than the Old Lady, and the financial gap between the teams was clearly visible in their quarter-final fixtures in the Champions League. The Fiat chairman remains very close with the club and believes it is important for them to not waste all the good work they have done. “They worked in a splendid way to build an unparalleled winning mentality, which is the real strength of this company,” he wrote in a letter to Exor shareholders. “Of course we cannot forget the valuable support of the fans, especially in the new Juventus stadium. “The challenge now is to transform the good news on the field in better financial results.” He added that Exor has endorsed their faith in the club, rewarding good results with an increase in shares. “I was particularly pleased to see Juventus win the Scudetto in 2012, tallying 30 victories on the field, making them the highest winning team in Italy.”

Who is Juventus’ Player of the Season? Goal.com nominates the top three standout performers for the Bianconeri. Apr 16, 2013 Having bounced back to the very top rung of Italian football in 2011-12 with an unbeaten league triumph and a Coppa Italia final appearance, Juventus have moved up another level over the course of this season. With an 11-point lead going into the final games, the Bianconeri have long since looked set for a second successive Scudetto, while their endeavours on their return to the Champions League saw them knock out European champions Chelsea on the way to a respectable quarter-final finish. At the heart of their displays were some massively consistent figures, with coach Antonio Conte's decision not to rotate as much as some would have expected meaning that the most influential players in his squad were asked to deliver at regular intervals. And for the most part they did exactly that. Andrea Pirlo has been excellent once more, Giorgio Chiellini has been solid either side of an injury-enforced absence, Kwadwo Asamoah has fitted straight in side and Gianluigi Buffon has been Gianluigi Buffon. But there have been other, even more influential members of the Juve squad this term. Below, in alphabetical order, are Goal.com's three nominees for Juventus' player of the season, based on their club performances in all competitions. LEONARDO BONUCCI | DEFENDER While the Bianconeri finally saw their sheen of invincibility rubbed away this season, falling to four league losses after last term's defeat-free campaign, their back line has largely stood resolute. They have occasionally been exposed to pace down the flank guarded by Andrea Barzagli, but alongside him Leonardo Bonucci has stood tall for the large majority of the Old Lady's season. He may not be everybody's cup of tea and can arguably be shown up when used in a back four, but he has been a rock at times in Juve's 3-5-2 system during 2012-13. His combative power, attitude, fearlessness and resolute manner have helped to make him into an untouchable member of the Bianconeri's defensive trio. Bonucci was a key player in the run which saw Juventus go five games without conceding a goal in the Champions League to extend their stay in the competition and also earned them three vital points with his only goal of the campaign against Shakhtar Donetsk in October. STEPHAN LICHTSTEINER | WING-BACK The old adage says that you don't know what you've got until it is gone, and Stephan Lichtsteiner represents exactly that to Juventus. He has proven himself once more this season to be the finest wing-back in Italy with regular performances of phenomenal desire, ability and work-rate. And when he hasn't been available, Juve have struggled badly to replace him. Perhaps Mauricio Isla's struggles best exemplify the true effect of the 29-year-old former Lazio defender, with a seemingly perfect fit having not worked out. Lichtsteiner, however, has been a constant presence at both ends of the pitch to demonstrate just how good a job can be done by a player who fits the role of wing-back as well as he does. Like Bonucci, he took to the Champions League challenge with great aplomb, with his performance up against the likes of Willian and Henrikh Mkhitaryan away to Shakhtar helping to ensure progression. He has racked up the rare feat of notching the opening goal of the league season for the last two years, with both coming at home to Parma. ARTURO VIDAL | MIDFIELDER Back in his AC Milan days, many suggested that Andrea Pirlo wouldn't have been the same player if he didn't have a platform-setting engine like Gennaro Gattuso alongside him. At Juve, the Italy midfielder has an even greater luxury to his right, with Arturo Vidal continuing to show his magnificence in midfield during 2012-13. Still only 25, the Chilean is fast becoming one of the world's most complete midfielders with his phenomenal tackling stats allying with an ability to cause all sorts of trouble in the opposition third. His guts, strength, vision and superb execution make for a concoction which has drawn the attention of other giants in the game. While he has turned in many standout performances this term, nobody will quickly forget the heart and desire he showed in shaking off a nasty ankle injury against Chelsea in September to score a goal and complete an energetic 90-minute showing which went a long way to Juve qualifying from the group. His two goals against Lazio all but clinched the Scudetto - Juventus would be absolutely insane to sell him.

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Arturo Vidal (8′-PG) Arturo Vidal (28') Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Attendance: 31000 Vucinic: Don’t question my desire Apr 16, 2013 Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic has defended himself from the criticism thrown at him by his doubters. The Montenegro international is the club’s top scorer this term in all competitions thanks to 13 strikes in 39 games, but questions were raised about his commitment after the 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich. “All the strikers at Juventus make sacrifices,” he stated. “We run like crazy, but some people don’t notice these things. “I’ve been told that I have no desire, but if you look at the Bayern game then you can see that I ran more than I did against Lazio… “I find the criticism ridiculous. “I can accept it if people say I play badly, but not if they say that I lack desire and I’m not committed. It’s totally absurd and it hurts.” Vucinic was in action on Monday during the 2-0 win over Lazio, a game in which he linked up well with Claudio Marchisio as Juve fielded a 3-5-1-1 system. “Not a great deal changed because Claudio was playing as the second striker and had to stay close to me,” the 29-year-old insisted. “We played a good game and achieved an important victory, but we won’t talk about the Scudetto until it’s a mathematical certainty. “You never know in football, so we’re not going to let up.” The Bianconeri are now 11 points clear with six games left this season. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Arturo Vidal (8′-PG) Arturo Vidal (28') Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Attendance: 31000 New Juve system works for Conte Apr 16, 2013 Juventus boss Antonio Conte has given the 3-5-1-1 system the thumbs up after the Old Lady’s win at Lazio on Monday. The 43-year-old opted to just play with one striker at the Olimpico in the shape of Mirko Vucinic, with midfielder Claudio Marchisio fielded just behind. “It doesn’t matter how many forwards you play with, but how many players contribute in attack,” the Coach, who has primarily used 3-5-2 this term, stated. “Marchisio was able to perform this role, helping out in defence and becoming an orthodox striker when he moved forward. “He and Vucinic have a really good understanding. Marchisio was superlative, although I’m disappointed that he didn’t score.” Conte added that the shift in formation also allowed him to use 20-year-old revelation Paul Pogba. “I think that a Coach has to find a way, to invent something, in order for all of his best players to play,” he continued. “The solution I opted for against Lazio allowed me to use a player who it would be criminal to leave out at this moment in time and that is Pogba.” Juve won the game 2-0 thanks to a brace from Arturo Vidal. They now have an 11-point lead in the standings with just six games left. “We’ve taken another forward step and we’re drawing even closer to our target of the Scudetto, but we still need seven points to be mathematically certain,” Conte noted. “So we won’t talk about it until it’s in the bag, instead we’ll continue to push on. “Lazio? We came up against a very strong team, sometimes a rebound is enough to concede a goal and risk ruining an important position. “Those who understand football know that when you have games like these in your grasp, you have to really hold on to them.” Juventus began the season with the hope of winning the Scudetto and the Champions League, but their European Cup run ended in the quarter-finals last week. “People shouldn’t be disappointed or despondent. We reached the last eight in Europe and that’s an extraordinary achievement. “We’ve remained at the top of the League from last year and if a team like ours gets depressed after going out against Bayern Munich, then I really don’t understand anything about football.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Arturo Vidal (8′-PG) Arturo Vidal (28') Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Attendance: 31000 Petkovic congratulates Juve Apr 15, 2013 Lazio boss Vladimir Petkovic has congratulated Juventus after his side lost to the Old Lady this evening. The capital club went down 2-0 at Stadio Olimpico after a brace from Artuto Vidal, and the Biancocelesti Coach has claimed that his side were well beaten. “At the start we dominated,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Then we complicated matters by giving away the penalty. “Juve then took advantage of a goalscoring chance, but they have to be congratulated for the victory. “We looked tired today, but I think that's normal after playing five games in so few days.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Arturo Vidal (8′-PG) Arturo Vidal (28') Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Attendance: 31000 Buffon: Step towards Scudetto Apr 15, 2013 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has claimed that the Bianconeri are a step closer to the Scudetto after beating Lazio. The Old Lady defeated the capital club 2-0 this evening thanks to an Artuto Vidal double. And the veteran shot-stopper has admitted that the title is within their grasp, but his side still need to do their job. “This evening we took a big step forward in the League,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “We do not really want to talk about it yet though. We still need seven points.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Arturo Vidal (8′-PG) Arturo Vidal (28') Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Attendance: 31000 Vidal 'satisifed' with performance Apr 15, 2013 Arturo Vidal has admitted that he was happy with his performance this evening as Juventus beat Lazio 2-0. The Chile midfielder scored both goals as the Bianconeri went 11 points clear at the top of the table. “I am satisfied with my performance tonight,” he told reporters. “But the season is not over. “This game was important for us. “There are only six games left and this win is crucial for us to get closer to the title.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Arturo Vidal (8′-PG) Arturo Vidal (28') Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Attendance: 31000 Juventus another brick closer, says Conte The Bianconeri boss is hopeful Monday's win will rid the club of their post-Champions League exit hangover. Apr 15, 2013 Antonio Conte said Juventus were "another brick closer to the finish line" after their 2-0 victory over Lazio moved them 11 points clear at the top of Serie A on Monday night. The win comes on the back of the Old Lady’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich and the Bianconeri boss is hopeful the three points will rid the club of their European hangover. He told reporters after the game: “We moved into the top eight in Europe. In Italy we have been in first place for a long time and now we won tonight. "There is nothing to be disappointed about. There are seven points (left to secure) victory, so I don’t speak of that. We have to keep pedaling. “We've got three very important points, another brick closer to the finish line. We have every right to be happy, not depressed." Juventus adopted a more cautious formation for the trip to the Stadio Olimpico, with Mirko Vucinic operating as a lone striker and Claudio Marchisio pushing forward in support and Conte felt the pair complemented one another perfectly. “It does not matter how many strikers you play with, but the build-up to the manouvere. and how many players contribute to the chances," he added. “I knew I could use Marchisio as the attacking midfielder. He and Vucinic are beautiful together, so I knew it would be fine. “Marchsio had an extraordinary game. He was a good help in the passive phase and also at the points when we pushed forward.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 2 Arturo Vidal (8′-PG) Arturo Vidal (28') Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Attendance: 31000 Victory a big step forward, says Buffon The goalkeeper was elated after his side's win on Monday night saw them move 11 points clear at the top of Serie A. Apr 15, 2013 Gianluigi Buffon believes Juventus' 2-0 victory over Lazio was a big step forward for the club in retaining their league title. Two goals from Arturo Vidal saw the Bianconeri move 11 points clear of Napoli at the top of Serie A and leave the reigning champions needing just another seven to seal a second successive crown. “I will not even pronounce the word championship," Buffon said to reporters after the game. “(But) I can say that today we have made a big step forward. We had to absorb elimination in the Champions League, which was deserved, but it has still come as a surprise to us. “There are still seven points to win by the end of the season. If we can achieve this goal, it will be another great accomplishment.” Buffon was also quick to give credit to Lazio, who sit in sixth spot after the loss and have a fight on their hands to secure European football next season. He added: “I went to say goodbye to the Lazio fans after the game because they have always shown me great respect. They deserve it. “Tonight we did well because it is not easy to win at the Olimpico. Lazio is always a tough opponent.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/