Socrates

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Scouting Report: LAZIO – Serie A, Round 32 Apr 14, 2012 0n Monday night, Juventus head to the Stadio Olimpico to face Lazio, in need of a victory in order to continue their pursuit of the Scudetto crown. Last week’s Champions League defeat represented a set back to the Bianconeri, but thoughts must now turn to domestic matters and seeing out the league in which Juventus lead by 9 points ahead of the chasing pack led by Napoli. Lazio too, had a disappointing week in European competition, going out in the Europa League quarter finals 3-1 on aggregate to a Fenerbahce side containing ex-Juventini Milos Krasic and Reto Ziegler. However unlike their counterparts from Turin, Lazio’s domestic form heading into the game has been poor, winning only one of the last 5 games and with that, their hopes of conquering their rivals for the third coveted Champions League qualification place appear dead and buried. Both teams have very different goals for the remainder of the campaign, however Lazio and Juventus imperatively need a victory to bounce back from European disappointments. April 8 2013: Roma 1-1 Lazio Last Monday saw the second Rome derby of the season. Always a fiery affair, an excellent game from both a mental and a tactical perspective was to be expected. It didn’t let down with it proving to be a highly entertaining and interesting encounter. Roma lined up with a diamond formation using a 4-1-2-1-2 with De Rossi as the protector/playmaker in front of the back four. Totti was played on the left of the two central forward positions, however he was often keen to drop into the left channel where Florenzi made vertical runs to move beyond the experienced number 10. Lazio used the 4-1-4-1 system they’ve used for the majority of the season, which saw Hernanes partnered in the midfield by Nigerian Ogenyi Onazi. Klose led the line on his own upfront, with Lulic and Candreva in the wide areas to provide the width to support the German. Both teams played an extremely contrasting game. Roma were very keen to retain possession, demonstrated by the splitting of their two centre backs with the full backs pushing up the pitch down the sides. Roma had to make use of this width from the full backs as their diamond formation meant they outnumbered Lazio in the middle, but didn’t offer any natural width when in possession. Lazio, on the other hand, were very content to just sit back and absorb pressure, when without the ball, their defensive line and midfield dropped off, freeing up Roma’s centre backs and Daniele De Rossi to have the freedom to move the ball around the back. Klose was solely in charge of pressing from the front, however nobody from Lazio’s midfield were too keen to join him, playing a very disciplined game in which when Roma played the ball into the middle third of the pitch, one Lazio midfielder would close down, the other would cover, never swarming the man in possession which saw them utilising a patient system with regards to their defensive strategy. Lazio’s counter attacks from deep positions were a key feature of the game. As I mentioned, Lazio didn’t employ a high pressing game and so they abode their time when Roma were in possession of the ball, however when they did break down Roma’s play, they clearly had one directive and that was to attack as quickly and as directly as possible. There was no messing around here, possession of the ball didn’t matter to them, it was a simple strategy but an effective one based on players’ energy, work rate and off the ball movement to get forward and overload Roma at the back when they were caught high up the pitch. All four of the Lazio midfield – ahead of the deepest midfield Ledesma – broke from their deep defensive positions and ran at the Roma defense at a high intensity causing Roma to back peddle and struggle to form any sort of defensive shape. It proved very effective and led to numerous chances, which if Lazio had been more clinical, they would have taken the victory, rather than settling for the point the 1-1 draw proved to be. The way in which they countered was excellent too. If Marchetti received the ball to start a counter attack, he’d quickly roll out the ball to Radu who’d run with the ball at full octane down the left flank. Then via a few direct passes in the midfield they’d switch the ball to the right hand side to Antonio Candreva who used his direct style of play to cause problems down the right side. In starting the attack down the left before switching it quickly to the right, it dragged Roma’s shape all over the pitch and opened up gaps for Hernanes to exploit. Hernanes appeared to relish the space these quick counters created and was able to play an influential role throughout the game. Candreva was probably the most dangerous player on the pitch, but he often made the wrong decision to shoot whenever he got a sighting, rather than looking for a teammate. Both of Lazio’s two wide players offered different but effective threat on the break. Candreva being a shoot on sight type of player was more inclined to come inside, running directly into the space between Roma’s left centre back Castan and the left back Marquinhos, while Lulic preferred to hug the touchline which was expected from him given he’s the more natural wide player of the two having played left back and left wing back for Lazio in the past. Lazio’s ability to either go down the line, or come inside depending on which flank their counter took place meant they offered a multi-dimensional threat which Roma’s backline struggled to cope with, despite limiting the scoreline to just one goal. Lazio were the better team throughout, but weren’t helped by poor finishing – perfectly summed up by a missed penalty from Hernanes and then a red card for a second yellow to centre back Biava. They had the opportunities to win the game, but were unable to take them and Roma proved resolute and gained themselves a point via a Francesco Totti penalty, showing the Brazilian how it’s done. Roma’s retention of the ball was excellent, however this was irrelevant given Lazio’s gameplan meant they needed the other side to be in control of possession and dictate the game. Keys To A Juventus Victory I think it goes without saying, that one of the keys to a Juventus victory is preventing Lazio being so effective on the counter attack. Juventus in Serie A naturally like to retain the ball and dictate the rhythm of the match. This is the style Conte has implemented and the 3-5-2 generally works excellently in doing this. What’s important though is that when Juventus do dictate the game via the building from the back starting from Buffon to the centre backs, the team is patient in possession. Lazio will be happy to drop into their deep defensive shape and let Juventus go for long periods of the game with the ball, when they do this it will be tough to break them down, which means there could be anxiety from Juve’s players (particularly Bonucci) to get the ball forward quickly in taking riskier passes. This would play into Lazio’s hands as a poor pass to cheaply give away possession would leave Juventus exposed at the back with the majority of the Bianconeri pushed forward to support what was supposed to be a Juventus attack. Lazio would then be able to spring forward with their excellent vertical runs to support Klose and overload the back three plus Pirlo with a potential 5 v 4 situation which could prove costly. As I stated, it’s important Juventus remain patient in possession and look to stretch Lazio via recyling play down both wings in order to draw them out of position. Retaining the ball for long periods of the game does test a team’s concentration and the longer Juventus keep the ball, the more Lazio’s ability to focus defensively will be tested. While it may seem obvious, Juventus’ ability to work Lazio’s defence will prove crucial. Lazio are without the suspended duo of Radu and Biava and therefore will have to employ a makeshift defence who won’t have much experience playing together. When a team’s strategy is very dependent on keeping the opposition out before countering, it’s important to have a strong and impenetrable defence. The suspensions and injuries to important members of Lazio’s first choice defence means the odds don’t stack in Lazio’s favour and when one of your centre backs in Cana isn’t a natural defender in the first place, testing the Lazio back line is obviously going to be high on the agenda. This means that the Juventus striking duo need to be clever and test every facet of the Lazio defences game. Dropping off, running in behind, moving into the channels – the general stretching and moving of the Lazio back four will test their inexperience in playing with each other and would undoubtedly lead to gaps and potential defensive mistakes in order to capitalise upon. Clever forward movement will mean the gaps will open up for the midfield and won’t lead to the need to force passes, eliminating the potential problems this could cause. Individually, it’s key to prevent the influence of Hernanes. Hernanes has proven himself to be a top class midfielder since his arrival in Rome. Either as a number 10, in a deeper midfield position or as a box to box midfielder, he has shown he can be highly influential in a number of roles and has the ability to punish Juventus more than anyone else in the Lazio side. His ability to pick passes means it’s important not to allow space to Klose and Candreva who both possess excellent and good off the ball movement respectively. Equally whilst tracking those running beyond Hernanes, it’s important not to give him time and space outside the area as his striking from distance is as pure as it comes and with either foot. Klose’s ability to poach a goal out of nothing doesn’t need mentioning to anybody as everyone is fully aware of his talents, but Antonio Candreva is another one who can cause problems on his day. The ex-Juventino has had a solid season and is very confident in running at a defence, either with the ball or without it. His finishing can be inconsistent, but he does possess good quality, which is something the Juventus backline must be wary of. They must not only focus on the threats of the more obvious duo in Hernanes and Klose, but also supporting players such as Candreva and Mauri, both of whom possess the quality to make a telling contribution. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Preview: Lazio vs. Juventus Apr 14, 2012 Ahead of the Serie A meeting on Monday night, both of these sides exited European competitions at the quarter-finals stage last week. You could argue that the three points are needed more by hosts Lazio, who are under pressure from Inter Milan in the final Europa League place. What's more, a victory would draw them closer to a Champions League slot. However, any positive result that they are able to collect would have to be achieved without the suspended trio of Giuseppe Biava, Stefan Radu and Senad Lulic, while Abdoulay Konko, Andre Dias and Bruno Pereirinha are all injured. There are no such problems for the visiting league leaders, who only have an injury doubt over Claudio Marchisio. Should he miss the match, Paul Pogba has been tipped to deputise. The Old Lady have lost just one of their last 10 meetings with Rome-based Lazio. Recent form Lazio: WLLLWD Juventus: WDWWWW Possible starting lineups Lazio: Marchetti; Gonzalez, Ciani, Cana, Stankevicius; Ledesma, Candreva, Mauri, Hernanes, Onazi; Klose Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Peluso; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Matri, Vucinc Sports Mole says: 2-1 http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Lazio v Juventus Preview – Team News, Tactics, Line-ups And Prediction Apr 14, 2012 Juventus and Lazio, two of Serie A’s last standing participants in European competitions were both humbled in mid-week as they bowed out meekly. Both teams will be looking to bounce back from those disappointments, but Lazio will have the extra incentive for a Champions League berth from this encounter. LAZIO The Romans were once tipped to be a prime competitor to Juventus and Napoli for the Scudetto, but they have slumped to an all too familiar loss of form after winter break. A steady downslide has seen the Aquile drop from a potential top-3 finish to outside the top 5. They have done better in Cup competitions as they have already reached the Coppa Italia final after knocking Juventus out in the semi-finals. They were also the last remaining side from the peninsula in Europa league. Lazio lost a man and conceded two goals in last the 12 minutes to lose to Fenerbahce in Turkey before managing just a 1-1 draw at home as they were knocked out in the quarter-finals. Lazio will line up in a 4-5-1 formation with a fit Miroslav Klose as the lone striker. Italy international Marchetti has been particularly inspirational for Lazio this season and the custodian will hope to continue his streak of great form against Juventus from the past couple of seasons. Influential full-back Senad Lulic will miss out because of suspension and is likely to be replaced by Uruguayan Alvaro Gonzalez. Experienced Albanian Lorik Cana is likely to partner Michael Ciani in Lazio’s central defence. Lazio’s midfield has been one of the most consistent in this season’s Serie A, and they will have an interesting battle with Juventus’ 5-man midfield. Antonio Candreva, who spent a loan season in Turin a few years ago, has found his form in the Capital club and will be partnered with Stefano Mauri on the opposite wing. Candreva and Mauri are more offensive wingers than Juventus’ wing-backs, and it will be interesting to see how they can cope with Juventus’ lateral movement. Brazilian Hernanes has undoubtedly been one of the best transfers in Serie A in the past few seasons, and he will once again be the life force of Lazio’s attacks. Hernanes had a wonderful first half in the Roman derby last week but somehow managed to turn up a totally different player in the second half, giving away a penalty and missing one himself as the match ended 1-1. Twenty-year-old Nigerian Ogenyi Onazi has been impressive for Lazio during their Europa League campaign and is likely to slot in as the defensive component in their midfield. The return of Miroslav Klose from injury will be a major boost for Lazio. The German legend’s injury after winter break was one of the main reasons why his side lost form, and his experience will be absolutely vital against a Juventus defence which will miss Giorgio Chiellini. Probable Starting XI (4-5-1): Marchetti; Gonzalez, Cana, Ciani, Stankevicius; Candreva, Ledesma, Onazi, Hernanes, Mauri; Klose JUVENTUS The much hyped clash against Bayern Munich finally turned out to be a damp squib for Juventus as the club barely mustered a fight before exiting after losing both legs by the same 2-0 margin. Juve’s loss against Bayern showed exactly the difference in level that exists between Serie A and Bundesliga currently, and the fact that being the best in Italy doesn’t go far in competing with the best in Europe. Antonio Conte’s team need to ensure that their exit from Champions League doesn’t impact their Serie A campaign negatively. Giorgio Chiellini injured himself during training and is expected to be out for a couple of weeks. Federico Peluso is likely to be a direct replacement for Chiellini on the left side of the three-man defence after he sat out the last two matches. Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci will complete Juve’s defensive line along with Peluso. Both Stefan Lichtsteiner and Arturo Vidal sat out of Juventus’ loss against Bayern and will come back into the starting XI. Lichtsteiner has often performed well for Juventus against his old club, while Vidal was absolutely monstrous when Juventus beat Lazio last season on their way to the title. Both Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio looked completely out of sorts against Bayern, and one of them is likely to be rested to accommodate Paul Pogba. Most Juventus players had bad games against Bayern but the poorest of them, unarguably, was the department often rightly pointed out to be the club’s weakest: attack. None among Vucinic, Matri, Giovinco or Quagliarella managed to make the barest minimum of impact against Bayern, and Juventus almost never looked like scoring a goal. It was evident once again that should Juventus want to compete for bigger prize in Europe, they need to upgrade their frontline significantly. Fabio Quagliarella has played major portions of three matches in the past one week and is likely to be benched for this one in favour of Alessandro Matri. Mirko Vucinic’s form, despite the brace he scored against Pescara last week, has been very ordinary recently and he would be looking to make an impact against his former rival club. With both teams stacking players in the central midfield, the match will belong to the side which takes control of the midfield quicker. In this respect Lazio have a slight disadvantage of playing a high intensity match against Fenerbahce in mid-week and getting a day less of rest. Serie A fans will also be eager to take a look at two of the brightest young midfielders in the league this season when Pogba squares off against Onazi. Probable Starting XI (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Peluso; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pogba, Marchisio, Asamoah; Vucinic, Matri Players To Watch Out For Arturo Vidal (Juventus): Vidal had a good and week-long rest after playing against Pescara, and he will be gunning to show the same form he showed against Lazio almost an exact year ago. Vidal set up several chances for his teammates in that game but had to watch them squander them before Del Piero came off the bench to win the match. Hernanes (Lazio) Arguably Lazio’s main creative outlet, the Brazilian will be looking to make amends for his disastrous performance in the second half of the derby last week. He also needs to be at the top of his game, because otherwise the best midfield in Serie A can knock Lazio out of the game quickly. Prediction Lazio 1-2 Juventus Lazio’s fatigue will make a difference in the end. Lazio have played two taxing games against Roma and Fenerbahce in the last few days, while Juventus had an easy run in against Pescara and gave very little effort in the last 20 minutes against Bayern as the result was beyond doubt. Blast From the Past http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Lazio v Juventus: Preview Apr 14, 2012 Juventus' rivals may be close to admitting defeat in the race for the Serie A title but Bianconeri head coach Antonio Conte knows anything can happen at this stage of the season. Walter Mazzarri's Napoli and Massimiliano Allegri's AC Milan look suitably adrift in second and third place respectively but, ahead of tomorrow night's trip to Lazio, Conte tried to put things in perspective. He told juventus.com: ``History teaches us that anything's still possible. If I was Mazzarri or Allegri I would still believe in the comeback. ``We approach the Lazio game on the back of four consecutive wins, gained at difficult places like Bologna or against Inter Milan at the San Siro. ``We still have some difficult games to play and we need to stay alert because we're the only ones who can slip up, not the chasing pack.'' Lazio were expected to push Juve all the way for the Scudetto but the capital club have drifted out to sixth after winning only two of their last 11 league games. Nevertheless, the Biancocelesti have frustrated tomorrow's visitors in three meetings this season - a goalless draw in Turin preceding Juve's exit from the two-legged Coppa Italia semi-finals. ``We still haven't beaten them this season?'' Conte added. ``There's always a first time for everything. ``Lazio, along with ourselves, are the team who have gone furthest in Europe and played the entire Coppa Italia campaign. It will be a tough game at a difficult venue.'' Defender Giorgio Chiellini and forward Sebastian Giovinco are injured while midfielder Simone Pepe as well as strikers Nicklas Bendtner and Nicolas Anelka are working their way back to full fitness. Conte added: ``There's no pecking order as far as I'm concerned. The players in the best condition and form will be in the starting line-up.'' Lazio also have several key players unavailable. Defenders Giuseppe Biava and Stefan Radu are suspended alongside midfielder Senad Lulic, with Abdoulay Konko, Pereirinha, Andre Dias and Cristian Brocchi all nursing injuries. Vladimir Petkovic's Lazio were briefly the last Italian club standing on the continent until Fenerbahce completed a 3-1 aggregate win in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. The Bosnian coach told La Repubblica: ``The team is doing well and I congratulated the boys anyway because they always give 100 per cent. ``But we will need 150 per cent against Juve. They are the best team in the league and we will need a much bigger effort. ``They have pretty much won the Scudetto but football teaches you that there are no unbeatable teams.'' http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro MATCH PREVIEW Apr 14, 2012 After their disappointment in Europe, Juventus look to bounce back against a Lazio side who also faced similar heart-break last week. Despite the belief and the desire, Juventus finally came up short against German champions Bayern Munich as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat in Turin in their Champions League quarter-final second leg. A 0-4 loss over the two legs would have been hard for Antonio Conte to take, given that his team went almost a year unbeaten not so long ago. However, on the balance of play it has to be said the Bavarians deserved that scoreline. Now, the Bianconeri turn their attention back towards the League where they enjoy a healthy nine-point lead over nearest rivals Napoli. And while their second successive Scudetto looks to be assured, they won’t want to take the foot off the gas just yet. The Old Lady will remember the 2005-06 season when a quarter-final loss to Arsenal in Europe saw them almost throw away a 10-point lead over Milan in the final eight games. And a trip to the Olimpico will not be an easy one, despite Lazio’s Euro weariness as Roma found out last week. Conte has most of his squad available with no suspensions to contend with, and only Giovinco out through injury. There will also be added incentive for the Bianconeri to beat the Aquile, given they have failed to do so in three meetings this season, and went out of the Coppa Italia at their hands. Lazio have had a great season so far, and though Champions League qualification is unlikely, Vladimir Petkovic can be proud of the work he has done to turn this side into a doughty unit. The Laziale have had to deal with a major hole up front with the loss of Miroslav Klose for an extended period through injury, but they coped with it quite well. The German featured in the derby last week, and Petkovic might just put him on from the start on Monday night. Despite the huge number of games they have played this season, the Aquile players have shown a tenacity that can be attributed to the Serbian Coach’s advanced training methods. This was particularly evident against Roma, as the team continued to press despite playing with 10 men. Lazio’s new found never-say-die spirit was also seen against Fenerbahce in the Europa League as they continued to give their all in the competition - uncharacteristic for Italian sides. However, fatigue could very well be a factor in this game as they are without quite a few key players. Giuseppe Biava, Senad Lulic and Stefan Radu are suspended, while Cristian Brocchi, Andre Dias and Bruno Pereirinha are out through injury. Petkovic will likely stick with Ogenyi Onazi in the middle of the park, while Marius Stankevicius should deputise for the Portuguese. With the visit of Milan coming up followed by the trip to cross-town rivals Torino, Conte knows it is imperative to get the three points in Rome but Lazio will make things difficult once again. Keep an eye on: Miroslav Klose (Lazio) – The German returned from injury about two weeks ago, but he is yet to find the back of the net so far. Given his appetite to show up on the big occasions, he will be looking to make an impact on Monday. Stat Fact: The last time Juve failed to beat Lazio during the season was back in 2005-06, since then the Bianconeri boast a record of eight wins and three draws against the Aquile in the League. Form Guide: Lazio (L L L W D)Juventus (D W W W W) PROBABLE LINE-UPS LAZIO: Marchetti; Gonzalez, Cana, Ciani, Stankevicius; Ledesma, Candreva, Onazi, Hernanes, Ederson; Klose JUVENTUS: Buffon; Brazagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Vucinic, Matri http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Lazio-Juventus Preview: Serie A giants looking to bounce back after European disappointment Everything is to play for in this crucial clash as Juve can strengthen their grasp on the title while Vladimir Petkovic's men are battling it out for Europe. Apr 14, 2013 PROBABLE LINE-UPS LAZIO Marchetti Gonzalez, Ciani, Cana, Stankevicius Ledesma Candreva, Mauri, Hernanes, Onazi Klose JUVENTUSBuffon Barzagli, Bonucci, Peluso Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah Matri, Vucinc Lazio and Juventus will be quickly looking to put behind them their European disappointment by achieving a positive result at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday. After their derby exploits against Roma last week the Biancocelesti are missing key players because of suspension including Giuseppe Biava, Stefan Radu and Senad Lulic. While Abdoulay Konko, Andre Dias and Bruno Pereirinha are unlikely to be fit in time for the clash. Ogenyi Onazi and Stefano Mauri return from suspension which saw them sit out the 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce which ultimately eliminated Vladimir Petkovic's men from the Europa League. Meanwhile for Juventus, Giorgio Chiellini, who injured himself in Friday's training session, is out and Sebastian Giovinco is unavailable, too. Simone Pepe is out for the season. Claudio Marchisio is doubtful which means Paul Pogba is likely to come in and replace him other than that, however, Juve are at full strength. DID YOU KNOW? • Lazio looked as though they would be title contenders heading into 2013, but have managed just two wins from their last 11 Serie A games. • Miroslav Klose is the club's top goalscorer with 10 league goals, however, the veteran Germany striker has yet to find the back of the net against Juve in six attempts. • The Biancocelesti have only won once in their last 10 encounters against Antonio Conte's men in all competitions, a 2-1 Coppa Italia win. • Juventus' last defeat on the road in Serie A came against Lazio's fiercest rivals Roma where a solitary strike from Francesco Totti separated the two sides. • Mirko Vucinic had a five-year stint at Roma and also played for Lecce. The Montenegrin has featured against the Biancocelesti 21 times, scoring seven goals in the process. • The Old Lady have not been beaten at the Stadio Olimpico in the league in the previous seven meetings with the last two encounters finishing 1-0 to Juventus. Head to Head Coppa Italia ‎- Jan 29, 2013 Lazio 2 - Juventus 1 Coppa Italia ‎- Jan 22, 2013 Juventus 1 - Lazio 1 Serie A ‎- Nov 17, 2012 Juventus 0 - Lazio 0 Serie A ‎- Apr 11, 2012 Juventus 2 - Lazio 1 Serie A ‎- Nov 26, 2011 Lazio 0 - Juventus 1 Last Five Matches Lazio Apr 11, 2013 Lazio 1 - Fenerbahce 1 EL Apr 8, 2013 Roma 1 - Lazio 1 - Serie A Apr 4, 2013 Fenerbahce 2 - Lazio 0 EL Mar 30, 2013 Lazio 2 - Catania 1 - Serie A Mar 17, 2013 Torino 1 - Lazio 0 - Serie A Juventus Apr 10, 2013 Juventus 0 - FC Bayern München 2 - UCL Apr 6, 2013 Juventus 2 - Pescara 1 - Serie A Apr 2, 2013 FC Bayern München 2 - Juventus 0 - UCL Mar 30, 2013 FC Internazionale 1 - Juventus 2 - Serie A Mar 16, 2013 Bologna 0 - Juventus 2 - Serie A Players to Watch Miroslav Klose Goals have been hard to come by for Lazio in recent weeks having failed to score in three of their last five Serie A matches. The German veteran though is coming back to full fitness, so if the Biancocelesti are to find the back of the net, it's likely to be through this man. Mirko Vučinić Has been on the receiving end of criticism in the press for his work rate in recent weeks which seems to be slightly unjustified. Scored a double against Pescara last week but his goalscoring exploits are not the only thing he has to his game. Excellent at holding up the ball and bringing others into play, the Montenegrin will be key to Juve's potential success on Monday. Prediction These games have been notoriously tight affairs with only one of the last nine matches at the Stadio Olimpico in all competitions seeing more than a goal seperate the two sides. It is difficult to see this changing on Monday, despite the hosts' injury and supension problems, as they have been strong at home throughout the campaign, though Juve may just have a little bit too much quality on the day. Editor's Prediction Lazio 0 - 1 Juventus http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Petkovic: 'Juve aren't unbeatable' Apr 14, 2012 Lazio welcome Serie A leaders Juventus on Monday evening and Vladimir Petkovic warns “nobody is unbeatable.” Both these teams went out of Europe this week and will be eager to put that heartache behind them. Kick-off is at the Stadio Olimpico at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT). “It’s true the Bianconeri are close to the Scudetto, but there is no such thing as an impossible game. Nobody is unbeatable, not even Juventus,” said the Coach. So far this season they have crossed paths three times between Serie A and Coppa Italia, but Lazio have remained unbeaten. “We already put Juve under pressure and knocked them out of the Coppa Italia semi-final. We must never let up the intensity for the full 90 minutes and ensure we don’t let them play at their best. “Even 100 per cent is not enough against Juventus, so we have to give 150 per cent. I really admire Antonio Conte, as he is one of the best Italian Coaches with such grit and determination.” Lazio went out of the Europa League on Thursday night with a 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce, but the game was played behind closed doors due to a two-match UEFA ban. “It’s true we couldn’t play at our best without the fans there, as we lacked that push to get us beyond our limits. I hope to see a huge crowd again, just as there was in the Derby.” The Biancocelesti are currently in fifth place and continue to hope they can snatch third from Milan. “We believe we can reach the Champions League places,” assured Petkovic. “Tomorrow will be a decisive game, as if we win that then the fixture list is looking more comfortable for us. The fact we’re out of Europe means we can work all week and finally see the best Lazio again. “This is not the time to analyse what went wrong this season. At the end of the campaign we’ll look each other in the eyes and understand what happened.” Lazio are without the suspended Giuseppe Biava, Stefan Radu and Senad Lulic, while Bruno Pereirinha, Abdoullay Konko, Andre Dias and Cristian Brocchi are injured. “I won’t have many choices at my disposal, but all those who step on to the field will give their all. Stefano Mauri is ready to play, even if he hasn’t got 90 minutes in his legs. Miroslav Klose has recovered and needs to prove he can make the difference.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 32 - 15-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium — Rome Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro Conte: 'Confidence not shaken' Apr 14, 2012 Antonio Conte knows both Juventus and Lazio will be eager to put their European exits behind them when going head-to-head on Monday night. “Our confidence is not shaken.” The Bianconeri visit the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow evening at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT). “I don’t think the games against Lazio and Milan are more important than any other. Every match is worth three points,” said the Coach in his Press conference. He confirmed Giorgio Chiellini, Sebastian Giovinco, Nicolas Anelka, Nicklas Bendtner and Simone Pepe are out of this trip to Rome. “There is no hierarchy within the squad. I will choose the best possible line-up for this game, so those in the best shape will play. It will be a tough match in a difficult arena. Don’t forget Lazio got as far as we did in Europe, who knocked us out of the Coppa Italia semi-final, so basically we’ve both played more than anyone else this season. “Milan-Napoli? We always focus on playing our own game without considering what the other teams are doing. That has always been our strength. Those who win write the history books, the others just read them. If I were Walter Mazzarri and Massimiliano Allegri, I'd believe in a comeback. We need to keep winning, but they could also slip up.” Both clubs were eliminated this week, as Juventus lost 4-0 on aggregate to Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Lazio went out of the Europa League 3-1 on aggregate to Fenerbahce. “Our objective for this season was to get back into the Champions League and target another Scudetto. I think we are well on the way to achieving those aims. “Why would the defeats to Bayern have taken away some of our confidence? We knew full well that reaching the quarter-finals was already an achievement. What the club asks of me every year is to qualify for the Champions League and target victory in Italy, so anything more than that is thanks to our hard work. “I think we are doing very, very well this season, so I don’t see why that should affect our confidence or shake some of our certainties in what we’re doing.” The newspapers this morning have been filled with talk of a bid for Barcelona striker Alexis Sanchez. “Talking about the transfer market right now is disrespectful to my players and all the hard work they are putting in for Juventus. I want to focus only on the present. “We win as a team and lose as a team. I hope people appreciate the extraordinary work my lads are doing.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Quarti di finale - Ritorno - 10-4-2013 (ore 20:45) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spagna) Spettatori: 40823 Champions League - Juve, niente impresa: altro 0-2 dal Bayern La Juventus perde 2-0 anche la gara di ritorno contro il Bayern Monaco e saluta la Champions League ai quarti di finale. A decidere la sfida dello Juventus Stadium sono le reti, tutte nel secondo tempo, di Mandzukic e Pizarro. Eurosport - Mercoledí, 10 aprile 2013 Ci ha provato, ma contro questo Bayern Monaco c’era ben poco da fare. I tedeschi sono ai vertici europei da tanti anni: la Juventus, che non raggiungeva i quarti di finale di Champions League dal 2006, avrà tempo e modo di rifarsi. Ora bisogna fare i conti con la realtà: il Bayern, oggi, è più forte della Juve. Che saluta l’Europa, ma che si appresta a rivincere lo scudetto in Italia. Da dominatrice assoluta. CONTE SI AGGRAPPA A VUCINIC – Tutto confermato nella Juventus, con Conte che si affida al consolidato 3-5-2 per cercare l’impresa contro il Bayern Monaco: Padoin e Pogba sostituiscono gli squalificati Lichtsteiner e Vidal. Peluso va in panchina: gioca Asamoah. Davanti spazio alla coppia Vucinic-Quagliarella. Nel Bayern, Heynckes sceglie gli stessi undici della gara d’andata a eccezione di Luiz Gustavo, che restituisce il posto allo spagnolo Martinez (all’andata era squalificato), e Robben, titolare per via dell’indisponibilità di Kroos. PIRLO CI PROVA SU PUNIZIONE - La Juventus comincia bene, Vucinic mette subito in mostra le sue qualità liberando il destro dal limite dell’area dopo appena due minuti, ma la sua conclusione è debole e per Neuer non ci sono problemi. Dopo un inizio con il freno a mano tirato, il Bayern si scuote e al 9’ va vicino al gol: provvidenziale la chiusura di Padoin su Mandzukic che stava per girare in porta il perfetto cross dalla destra di Ribery. Al 23esimo Juve vicina al vantaggio, ma sulla punizione di Pirlo appena fuori dall’area di rigore bavarese, Neuer risponde con un gran riflesso negando la gioia del gol al regista della Nazionale. Dopo la mezz’ora vengono fuori gli ospiti, che vanno alla conclusione con Müller, destro a lato su scarico intelligente di Mandzukic, e Alaba, sugli sviluppi di un angolo messo dentro dalla destra: Buffon riscatta lo scivolone dell’andata deviando nuovamente in calcio d’angolo. Al 35’, il Bayern perde per infortunio van Buyten: al suo posto dentro Boateng, il fratello del milanista Kevin-Prince. Nel finale un’occasione per parte: Bonucci si viene a trovare a tu per tu con Neuer, ma la sua girata non trova il bersaglio. Il Bayern risponde con è Ribery, ma il destro del francese dal limite dell’area si spegne a lato. MANDZUKIC E PIZARRO: IL SOGNO CHAMPIONS E’ FINITO - Juventus subito pericolosa nel corso della ripresa: passano quattro minuti e Quagliarella converge dalla sinistra e poi libera il destra dal limite. La palla colpisce il palo esterno e termina a lato, ma Neuer sembrava comunque essere sulla traiettoria. Il Bayern non si scompone e al 57esimo pareggia con Robben il computo dei legni: il sinistro dell’esterno olandese dal limite dell’area ha il giro giusto, batterebbe anche Buffon, ma si stampa sul palo alla destra del portiere della Nazionale. Pochi giri di orologio, minuto 64, e la Juventus va sotto. Sugli sviluppi di una punizione battuta da Schweinsteiger dalla destra, la difesa di Conte va in affanno e Martinez è libero di calciare da due passi: Buffon si supera, ma sul tap-in ravvicinato di Mandzukic non può nulla. La Juve si lancia in attacco, ma inevitabilmente offre il fianco all’avversario, che al 66esimo si divora il gol del 2-0 con Müller: destro alto da ottima posizione sugli sviluppi di un assist di Robben. Conte inserisce Matri e Isla, e poco dopo ricorre anche a Giaccherini, ma la solfa non cambia: la partita la fa il Bayern, che non rischia nulla e che nel finale va nuovamente vicino al gol del raddoppio con Robben, prima di trovarlo davvero un minuto oltre al 90esimo con Claudio Pizarro, da pochissimo in campo al posto di un bravissimo Mandzukic. L’ESPERIENZA E’ STATA FATTA: ORA SERVE INVESTIRE - La Juventus esce di fatto con le ossa rotte dal doppio confronto con il Bayern Monaco: in due partite zero gol fatti e quattro subìti. In 180’, la formazione di Conte non ha mai dato realmente la sensazione di poter far male al Bayern, che invece ha disposto dei bianconeri a proprio piacimento. All’andata e al ritorno, dove non ha corso grandi rischi e ha vinto ugualmente. La strada per la risalita è tracciata: la Juve sta facendo esperienza, che servirà sicuramente per giocarsela anche in Europa nei prossimi anni. Ora serve lavorare, e investire: in Champions League, senza i grandi giocatori, al massimo si arriva ai quarti di finale. Andrea Tabacco.

The reforms Italian football must make to return to the top of Europe The peninsula's final representatives were eliminated from continental competition this week, prompting Juventus coach Antonio Conte to suggest calcio is far from healthy. Apr 14, 2013 COMMENT By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Writer After his Juventus side had been knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday, Antonio Conte was honest and forthright in his assessment of calcio’s place in the European game. “I can’t see an Italian team winning the Champions League in the coming years,” admitted the former Bari and Siena coach. “It makes me laugh when I hear that with just two or three new signings we can win the Champions League. Italian football has come to a standstill and that should be a concern for everyone.” A Juve side arguably better-equipped than the Chelsea outfit which was triumphant on the continent 11 months ago bowed out with their tails between their legs after a 4-0 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich, but comparisons to the over-achieving English side are misleading. It is the comparative strength of some of Europe’s top clubs which has Conte worried for the future of Italian football. While the Bavarians continue to excel in their push to topple Barcelona and Real Madrid as the game’s powerhouses, German football in general is growing. And while the Premier League continues to attract attention come rain or shine, Serie A is foundering. “When was the last time an Italian team reached the semi-finals?” asked Conte, knowing full well that Lazio’s subsequent failure to overcome Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday leaves the peninsula without representation in a European semi-final for the third successive season, a first for Italian football. “I think everyone has to pull together to try to change things. When I say everyone, I mean the clubs, the supporters, the media and all the institutions,” he continued. And with that statement he hit the nail on the head. For while other leagues continue to prosper despite severe global economic issues, times are hard in Italy’s national game. The Azzurri’s continued good form from Euro 2012 into the ongoing World Cup qualifiers has shown that there is talent at the very top, but the depth, appeal, organisation and marketing is simply not in evidence. And now is the time for action. Italian football must prepare itself for a massive overhaul if it is not to fall even further off the pace in the years to come, and there are many different areas in which improvements must be made. BUILD NEW STADIA, WITH OR WITHOUT LEGGE STADI In October 2009, authorities drafted a law which would aid clubs in the construction of their own stadiums. However, as recently as December 2012, FIGC president Giancarlo Abete warned that “save for miracles, it will remain only a proposal”. At present, only Juventus own their own stadium, with the remaining 19 renting from local bodies for match days. The Bianconeri are the only ones who can take advantage of the financial boon of collecting all gate receipts, hosting concerts and other such events which can be staged during each week. Currently, the Legge Stadi remains tied up in red tape. “It is a typical Italian story,” Abete explained. “New buildings are needed, but if the law doesn’t go through we will just have to forget about it.” The change of law, which would force councils to make a judgement on a stadium planning application within 90 days, is desperately needed by Italian football. But there are ways of getting around it should there be no redrawing of the lines. As happened when Juve knocked down the old Stadio delle Alpi and constructed Juventus Stadium, it is permitted for new stadia to be built on existing sites. This should prompt clubs to follow a similar pattern. There is nothing to stop boards making the decision to buy the land of their ground from the local council and then putting plans in place to build a new stadium on the site. Clubs could either play at a nearby Serie A ground for the duration of the work or build the new structure in two phases to allow football to continue throughout. While it is not an ideal scenario, and may not resolve problems for the Milanese and Roman clubs who share their homes, it sure beats standing still. For as long as there is no change to the status quo, calcio is falling further behind, grounds are becoming even older and more decrepit, and clubs simply cannot make money from matchday revenue. Until a new law is finally passed, it remains about the only option left open to clubs, and as such needs to be taken seriously. STOP BURYING BAD NEWS It is an all too regular occurrence in Italian football for people to want to overlook issues within the game. Whether that be the widespread ignorance of racist behaviour from supporters (this writer has witnessed on several occasions very noticeable chanting which has been completely passed over by the media and authorities), the continuation of poor results on the field, or the lenient sentences for match-fixing, there is a very real need to start taking such problems seriously. Attention needs to be drawn to these issues if they are ever to go away, with the practice of allowing them to go on almost forgotten in the background adding fuel to the fire of the problems. When the Calcioscommesse scandal broke in the summer of 2011, it was Italian football’s chance to show that it really wanted to get to the root of the problem of match-fixing in the country’s pastime. Instead, the news soon moved from page one to page 17 or 25, and before long it was being explained away as a largely misunderstood sequence of events. Players, agents and others implicated in the scandal sat out short suspensions for the most part, and many of them are back doing their jobs once more. Bans should have been far longer, if not permanent, in order to send a message that calcio will not stand for match-fixing. Similarly, results in Europe cannot continually just be accepted and passed off as the result of clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain having been injected with foreign cash. Instead, there should be deep inquests into the elimination of every single Italian club from Europe. Hopefully, on this point at the very least, Antonio Conte’s words will be heeded. But the trend has not been thus in calcio of late. Bad news has instead been buried, and the practice has to stop if people are ever going to feel the pressure to push the country’s football forward. FAVOUR EUROPA LEAGUE CLUBS MORE Uefa are not going to change their mind. As brain-dead as the current country coefficients clearly are, they are here to stay. So now it is up to Italian football to do whatever possible to help clubs who represent the country on foreign shores. A system which dictates that Europa League semi-finalists Benfica have so far this season gained the same number of coefficient points as Juventus, despite them failing in the Champions League group stages, needs reforming. But it will not be. Instead, calcio needs to come to terms with the fact that the Europa League needs greater attention if Italy are to hold on to their third Champions League place, let alone regain the fourth place lost to Germany in recent years. At present, there is little at stake for clubs who play in the little sister competition, with minimal prize money offered and at least 17 games needing to be negotiated in order to win the trophy. It seems to many in the Italian game that the number of injuries suffered can sometimes be greater than the proceeds in Euros a decent run on Thursday nights can provide. However, calcio needs to offer greater incentives to clubs who do more to gain coefficient points for their country. Prize money from Serie A should be weighted towards those who go further in the Champions League and Europa League rather than simply on league finishes in order for clubs to take their Thursday football more seriously. There is currently only €5 million available to the Europa League winners, but if Italian authorities agree to offer independent financial incentives to clubs who progress into the latter stages of the tournament, perhaps the likes of Udinese, Napoli, Sampdoria, Genoa, Palermo etc. will place greater stock in their hopes of going further on the continent the next time they are representing Italy. Until such a system is considered, clubs will continue to put their own targets of Champions League qualification or Serie A respectability a long way above the Europa League in their list of priorities. REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TEAMS IN SERIE A It was not really a decision made for the wider benefit of Italian football when Serie A was expanded to contain 20 teams back in 2004, but rather a misjudged reaction to the Caso Catania as calcio looked for a way to alleviate the issues growing in an expanded Serie B. Nine years on, it is fair to say the expansion of the top flight has not really worked. Yes, teams have two extra home games from which to make money, but it is not as though they are coining it in to the tune of millions. And in other regards the 20-team format has many downsides. Too often come the latter weeks of each season there are too large a number of teams with nothing to play for, and the tendency is for those already safe to go through the motions in the final weeks of the campaign. Bologna’s reaction to reaching 40 points with eight games to play in 2010-11 was to take the final two months off. They collected just two points from their remaining matches, scoring two goals and conceding 15, and finished just two places above the drop zone. And that case is typical. But it also damages the integrity of the sport, too. While Bologna played both Milan and Napoli in their run-in, losing to both, they had already taken on Inter twice, meaning that the three-way title race was partly conditioned by the calendar. Yes, that can be said of the schedule in almost all countries, but given the Italian trait of not caring too much once your destiny is fixed exaggerates the issue in Serie A. Therefore, there needs to be greater competition for longer. Serie A should return to being an 18-team league. In each club’s 34 games there would be that bit more urgency for points, such as there is in the thriving Bundesliga. The tendency to believe that bigger is better doesn’t really apply. If Italian football is to become more appealing to the masses, it will not suffer for the loss of a couple of provincial clubs from the top flight. STAGGER KICK-OFF TIMES The growing world market has helped to ensure that the English Premier League and Spanish La Liga receive more attention than ever before, and it is high time Serie A got a piece of the action. With football TV audiences growing by the day in Asia, the Lega Calcio have made note of the appeal but have so far not gone far enough in cashing in. The Supercoppa Italiana was taken to Beijing for three years and one Serie A fixture was moved to 12:30CET each week in a bid to win over fans in the Far East who may otherwise be drawn to English and Spanish football. But that has not gone quite far enough, especially considering some of the third-rate match-ups rescheduled for the lunchtime appointment over the course of the season. Inter and Juventus have each played in the early slot only twice so far in 2012-13, while Milan’s trip to Fiorentina last week was their first such fixture. If Italy is serious about drawing an audience from Asia, then staggering kick-off times has to be considered. Given that every game is televised on the peninsula, there is little chance of affecting either attendances or viewing figures too much at home by moving more games to the early afternoon for the benefit of those abroad. In the format suggested here for an 18-team league, a Sunday triple-header of three of the weekend’s more appealing fixtures could be played at 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00CET, allowing Asian audiences to watch Serie A’s best clubs battle it out before bedtime. Meanwhile, there would be the opportunity to have Champions League sides play games on Friday nights (replacing the Monday slot for that week) and Saturday afternoons ahead of European appointments, while Italian audiences would also be catered for with three evening games. While a completely staggered fixture list may not sit well with traditionalists, it is vital that there is more than a cursory nod given towards attracting what is a huge foreign market. For instance, this Sunday for potential Italian football fans in Tokyo there is the appetite-whetting clash between Palermo and Bologna at 19:30 in the evening, while Milan-Napoli kicks off at 03:45 in the morning. That in itself is a great example of why calcio doesn't help itself sometimes.

Lippi: 'Not a good sign' Apr 13, 2013 Marcello Lippi celebrated his 65th birthday in China and cast his eye over the Italian football scene. “The clubs aren’t doing as well as the Nazionale.” The 2006 World Cup winner is now Coach of club side Guangzhou Evergrande and to mark his birthday on Friday spoke to RaiSport. “I am happy in China. As for the future, we’ll see,” said Lippi. “It’s a bad sign for Italian football that none of the teams got past the quarter-finals this season. It reflects the economic situation too, as the top European clubs have very different options on the transfer market. “The Italy squad is in great shape, but that is a different matter altogether. They are close to qualifying for the World Cup and have a good future ahead of them, but the clubs aren’t doing as well as the Nazionale.”

Marotta: No Italian Champions League winner for 'years to come' The Bianconeri director believes his side's defeat by Bayern Munich has underlined just how far they have fallen behind Europe's elite. Apr 12, 2013 Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta has admitted that he cannot foresee a Serie A side winning the Champions League for "many years to come". The Bianconeri reached the quarter-finals of this years competition but were thoroughly outclassed during both legs of a 4-0 aggregate defeat by Bayern Munich. Marotta believes that the games clearly illustrated just how far Italy's finest have fallen behind Europe's top clubs in recent years. "It's time in which you have to work with what you have," the 56-year-old told Tuttosport. "At this moment, I do not see any prospect of victory for an Italian team in the Champions League for many years to come. "We can not do any more work than we are currently doing: I think the car is moving at full throttle! "The problem is that Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, [Manchester] United and [Manchester] City are economic superpowers, with revenues and budgets of €450 million. "From this point of view I think that society is moving in an important way: the fact that we built the stadium shows that we are moving 360 degrees. "But, I repeat, it takes patience."

Chiellini to miss two weeks Apr 12, 2013 Giorgio Chiellini is set to miss the next two weeks after over-stretching during Juventus' training session this afternoon. The defender has complained of soreness in his knee, with reports suggesting that there could be come collateral ligament damage. It means the centre-back will definitely miss the match against Lazio this Sunday, and will more than likely be sidelined for the game with Milan next weekend. The 28-year-old will undergo further examinations in the coming days.

Juve require time and money Apr 12, 2013 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has underlined that it will take time and money to triumph in the Champions League. The Old Lady were knocked out of the competition at the quarter-final stage in midweek after a heavy 4-0 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich. “The theory that Juventus fans will, for at least three or four years, have to just be content with winning in Italy is right,” the club official told Tuttosport. “Let us not forget that we are at the beginning of a new cycle,” he added. “If you look at our squad from three years ago, there are just four of the old guard remaining – Gigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Paolo De Ceglie and Claudio Marchisio. “Time is required for Juventus to return to its former glory.” Marotta also underlined how important the economic aspect is when it comes to winning on the field of play. “A lot has changed in terms of finances over the last 10 years,” he continued. “Italian clubs were once leaders in revenue, but now our game is much weaker. “We’ve just finished our Champions League adventure and we’ve understood that we will need time and money to cut the gap between ourselves and the big European teams. “But time is synonymous with work and self-sacrifice, exactly what boss Antonio Conte is doing.”

Barzagli hails Euro Juventus Apr 12, 2013 Andrea Barzagli is classing Juventus’ Champions League campaign as a success despite their 4-0 aggregate loss against Bayern Munich. The Old Lady were knocked out of the competition at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday after failing to turn around a 2-0 first leg reverse. “I think we deserve an eight out of 10,” the centre-back told Tuttosport on Friday. “That’s what I would give us for our Champions League efforts. “Who would have thought that we would have got to the last eight at the start of the season? “Some are talking about our double loss, about our worst losses in these years, but you can’t ignore the fact that we had a battleship like Bayern Munich in front of us. “Bayern are a better team who have exceptional individual players at their disposal.” Barzagli was asked for his opinion on the claim that Juventus will struggle to compete because they don’t have the necessary transfer market finances. “These are issues for the club to discuss,” he stated. “We players just have to think about giving our all on the field of play.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 10-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Attendance: 40823 Juventus must build on Champions League experience, says Buffon The 35-year-old has reflected on the Bianconeri's elimination from Europe and is satisfied with the progress the club has made. Apr 11, 2013 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says the club must build upon their Champions League experience this season. The Bianconeri bowed out to Bayern Munich at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday, with the Bavarians running out 4-0 winners over the two legs. The Italy keeper remains upbeat about their European campaign, but admits there is work to be done next term. He told reporters: " We are among the top eight teams in Europe, that is a fact, and that is where we must start to improve again." The 35-year-old also revealed his delight with the support the Bianconeri received from supporters after the final whistle at Juventus Stadium. He continued: They were just amazing, the fans gave us extraordinary help, and the final applause was very nice, we were pleased, despite the disappointment of elimination. "The fans have realised that we have done the very best we could have done."

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 10-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Attendance: 40823 Marotta: There's a gap between Italian football and other countries The Bianconeri director was left frustrated with the difference in class between his side and Bayern, but was pleased with their European campaign. Apr 11, 2013 Giuseppe Marotta believes Juventus' Champions League quarter-final loss against Bayern Munich was further proof that Italian clubs are not in a position to challenge the European top teams. The Serie A champions were beaten 2-0 in Wednesday's return in Turin after previously losing the first leg by the same scoreline, and Marotta feels there is a big gap between Italian football and the game in other countries. "Unfortunately, there is currently a gap between football in Italy and other countries," Juve's general director was quoted as saying on the club's official website. "Just look at Bayern, they had double the turnover of any Italian team. It’s impossible for us to spend €40 million on players at the moment. We know we have to grow and improve, and we’ll work towards that." Nevertheless, Marotta was pleased with Juventus' performances in Europe this campaign. "This new management only took over in 2010, so we would have happily settled for being in the Champions League quarter-finals and playing against a great team like Bayern," he continued. "It’s been an important experience for us, so the thanks of the entire club goes to Antonio Conte and his team."

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 10-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Attendance: 40823 'Juventus have a lot of work to do' - Conte The 43-year-old has stated that the Old Lady cannot compete with the elite just yet and has urged his team to shift their attention to Serie A again. Apr 11, 2013 Antonio Conte has admitted that Juventus still have a long way to go before they can measure themselves with the European elite following their Champions League elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich. The Bianconeri crashed out of European football this season on Wednesday with a 2-0 home loss after previously being defeated in the first leg 2-0. Conte feels Bayern are simply too good for Juventus at this stage and, with Pep Guardiola set to take the reins in the summer, he predicted that the next few seasons could see the Bavarians dominate on the continent. "We have a lot of work to do, we already knew that. In any case, I congratulated my players because what we have done in the last 18 months is amazing," Conte said at a press conference. "Nobody likes to lose, but you have to admit it when you face a team that is so stronger than you. They have played two finals in the last three years, so we knew there was a big gap between them and us. "Bayern are really strong, individually and collectively, they can do wonderful things and they fight for every ball. It's tough to play against them and we did everything we could. We just have to admit they're better than us. "I don't think we could have done anything more and the way the fans reacted at the end proves it. Bayern will be one of the best teams in Europe for many years to come." Conte then went on to urge his men to turn their focus to Serie A again as they are looking to retain the Scudetto. "We woke up from our dream - now we have to focus on the league again, and fast, because we want to win our second Scudetto in a row which would be a great achievement." Juve currently hold a nine-point lead over second-placed Napoli in the Italian top tier.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 10-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Attendance: 40823 Heynckes: Bayern too sloppy early on The experienced coach feels the Roten lacked focus in the opening stages of the game and has set his sights on more silverware this season. Apr 11, 2013 Jupp Heynckes feels that Bayern Munich were too sloppy in the opening stages of Wednesday's Champions League match versus Juventus, but was pleased with the way they responded after the interval as the Bavarians eventually recorded a 2-0 away win (4-0 aggregate). Bayern initially struggled against the Serie A leaders as they seemed to lack focus but they dominated proceedings in the second half after making a number of tactical changes. "It's not easy for players to be fully focused on a game after you've won the league just four days before," he told reporters at the post-match press conference. "That appeared to be the case in the first 20 minutes when we often lost possession too easily and weren't fluent in our game going forward, but slowly we took control of the match and improved a lot in the second half. "We discussed a few tactical matters at half-time. The tactical organisation had to improve and that's what happened in the second half. In the end we fully deserved the win." Bayern have received their fair share of praise so far this season, yet Heynckes has stressed that they are not getting carried away as they are desperate to win more silverware after clinching the Bundesliga title at the weekend. "We have received a lot of praise in the last few weeks. The positive aspect of this is that we recognised the praise but never let it influence our performances," he added. "We are having a very good season with some fantastic displays. We are Bundesliga champions, but we still have other goals. We will see if we are on the same level as Madrid or Barcelona." The draw for the semi-finals takes place in Nyon on Friday.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 10-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Attendance: 40823 What Juventus must do to challenge for the Champions League next season The Bianconeri were outplayed by Bayern Munich in their quarter final but, with the right additions and adjustments, they can catch the Germans, Barcelona and Madrid. Apr 11, 2013 COMMENT By Carlo Garganese Losing to Bayern Munich is nothing to be ashamed of. The newly-crowned German champions have reached the Champions League final twice in the last three editions, boast numerous world class players - both young and experienced - and have comfortably been Europe's best team this season. In the aftermath of Juventus' emphatic 4-0 aggregate defeat on Wednesday night, coach Antonio Conte even suggested that this may be the "best Bayern team of all-time". Barring another mental collapse, die Roten will probably win the Champions League in May. When you consider where Juventus were just two years ago - set to finish seventh in Serie A for a second successive campaign - and where they have come from following their crushing Calciopoli-enforced relegation to Serie B in 2006, it is something of a miracle that the Bianconeri are already mingling with the continent's elite once again. Some would argue that, given their relative financial resources, Juventus have no right to be challenging Europe's three strongest teams, all of whom take their place in Friday's Champions League semi-final draw in Nyon - Bayern, Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Bavarians alone earned €128 million more than Juve in the last year. Madrid passed the €500m revenue mark in recently topping Deloitte's Money League for an eighth successive season. Barcelona were in second place with €483m, with Juventus down in tenth with 'just' €195.4m. 'JUVE WILL HAVE €35-40M TO SPEND' THE BIANCONERI'S SUMMER TRANSFER PLANS "This summer Juventus are likely to have €35-40m to spend, but this figure can be increased by selling the likes of Felipe Melo, Reto Ziegler and Jorge Martinez. Juventus have two key positions they wish to strengthen: a centre-back who can act as a vice-Giorgio Chiellini and a centre forward. Conte's preference for the former role is Torino's Angelo Ogbonna. The current options in attack are Porto's Jackson Martinez, Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez and Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic. Juve will buy out the remaining half of Kwadwo Asamoah's contract from Udinese and will explore a financially-viable way of doing the same for Mauricio Isla. In January, Giuseppe Marotta laid the foundations for signing Sampdoria's Andrea Poli. Sassuolo starlet Gaetano Berardi, 18, is also a possible acquisition. In terms of outgoing players, contrary to reports, Vidal has not been offered to clubs and is not on the market but the presence of Pogba means that this is a situation worth monitoring. With the arrival of Fernando Llorente, one of Fabio Quagliarella or Alessandro Matri should depart. Paolo De Ceglie's future is also uncertain." Romeo Agresti | Juve Correspondent, Goal.com Italy But this doesn't mean that Juventus can't maintain their phenomenal progress, especially as their new economic and sporting structure - with their own stadium - is already reaping rewards. Coach Antonio Conte, director general Giuseppe Marotta and president Andrea Agnelli are not miles away from constructing a Champions League-winning outfit. The jigsaw is missing a few pieces, but with a few smart moves it can be completed. Most importantly, Juventus must not fail in the summer transfer market. Last pre-season, the Bianconeri splashed out €53m on new players - more than Barca and Madrid - but, while their outlay strengthened the squad and secured some promising youngsters such as the potentially world-class Paul Pogba, there was no significant improvement of the first team that had cruised to the 2011-12 Scudetto unbeaten. This summer, Juventus must throw all of their budget at one or two top class individuals. The Rafa Benitez philosophy of buying five good players instead of two great ones does not work at big clubs. In terms of solidity and organisation, Juventus are the equal of anyone but what is missing is star quality in the final third; quality that Bayern have in spades through Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller. A world-class attacker who can beat opponents, such as the previously-linked Luis Suarez, is a necessity - even if it means paying slightly over the odds. But in order to finance Suarez-like operations, Juventus must not sacrifice Arturo Vidal. The sale of the Chilean is not impossible right now, with the thinking in some circles that Pogba is a more-than-able replacement. But selling Vidal would be suicide. The 26-year-old is the world's best ball-winner - executing the most tackles in the whole of Europe last season, and the most in the Champions League group stages. Andrea Pirlo turns 34 in May and despite his unique playing style is approaching the end of his career. To win the Champions League, though, you don't just need top class players but also a top class coach. Antonio Conte has been a revelation since taking charge in May 2011. His leadership and motivational qualities are Jose Mourinho-like, with his iconic video at Vinovo demanding his troops "spit blood" perfectly typifying his coaching style. But there are still question marks over Conte's tactical ability, an attribute that is so important in Europe. In tight knockout games, outthinking your opponent strategically and making the right substitution is often the difference between success and failure. A key reason for Manchester City's Champions League shortcomings is Roberto Mancini's tactical debility. The same goes for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger. In Munich, Conte failed to be proactive or even reactive in dealing with Bayern's pressing and dominance in wide areas and waited until Bayern were 2-0 up before finally making a substitution. It is too early to write Conte off tactically, but this is an area of football that you can't really teach - you either have a natural grasp for tactics or you don't. In this respect, it may benefit Conte to employ a right-hand man who can bring this expertise to the Juventus bench. Current assistant Angelo Alessio may not be that man. As well as contemplating whether 3-5-2 is the ideal formation going forwards, Conte must learn to rotate his squad better and rest key players ahead of big Champions League games. Ten of the team who started in Munich took to the field at San Siro against Inter three days earlier. With Juventus nine points clear at the top of Serie A - and the Scudetto practically a certainty - Conte should have been smarter. If the Bianconeri want to win the Champions League then they may need to make some sacrifices in Serie A. Unlike Juve, Bayern are in prime physical condition for the business end of the season because they have spent the last month or so resting key players in domestic matches. Ultimately, Juventus will also need the gods on their side. Despite being outplayed, Bayern's two goals in Munich emanated from a freak deflection and an offside. Almost every team that has won the European Cup has ridden their luck at some point of the competition, the most obvious example being Chelsea last year. Franz Beckenbauer's Bayern deserved to lose all three of their consecutive finals from 1974-1976. Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan class of '89 - perhaps the greatest club team of all time - were losing 2-1 on aggregate at Red Star Belgrade and down to nine men in their second round second leg when the game was abandoned due to fog with just over half an hour to go. Milan won the replay on penalties. Juventus fans will naturally be disappointed after their elimination on Wednesday night, especially as they did not show their true colours in the tie, but this outfit is not far away from the summit. With a good transfer market, some tactical tinkering and a bit of luck, the Old Lady can certainly challenge for the 2013-14 European crown.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 10-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Attendance: 40823 Brilliant Bayern show why the Champions League is theirs to lose Die Roten overcame Juventus with minimal fuss on Wednesday to record a second victory against the Italian champions, giving further evidence of their growing superiority in Europe. Apr 11, 2013 COMMENT By Kris Voakes There was a palpable feeling of inevitability as Mario Mandzukic slotted home Bayern Munich’s killer first away goal against Juventus on Wednesday night. They had simply been the best team on the night just as they were eight days earlier at the Allianz Arena, proving worthy 2-0 winners in both legs. And if the oft-used phrase ‘the best team won’ is to be uttered at Wembley on May 25, then surely it will be die Roten lifting the Champions League trophy aloft. Over the last two midweeks, the Bavarian giants have once more shown everybody that they are the best team in Europe right now and must surely be considered as the favourites to win this season’s competition. Yes, they have fallen at the final hurdle with regularity in recent times - with defeats in 2010 and particularly 2012 hitting them right where it hurts - but, just as they have blown away the opposition in the Bundesliga this term, they are primed to deliver on the continent as well. Many observers are too quick to automatically install Barcelona as favourites simply because they are still in the competition but, just as was the case 12 months ago, the Blaugranahave shown significant frailties of late that most are willing to overlook simply because Lionel Messi wears blue and red. Yet those same critics are all-too-willing to rule out Bayern as serious front-runners because of nothing more than the events of years gone by. Very few give credence to the idea that the German champions may simply be more driven and more determined as a result of last season’s final defeat to Chelsea, as well as the participation of many of their players in Germany’s no-show against Italy in the Euro 2012 semi-final which followed soon after. Hard evidence tells us that Bayern are the continent’s most in-form side. While the more pragmatic Real Madrid are shaping up for a serious run at La Decima, it is die Roten who truly have the team to fear. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and a backline including the likes of Philipp Lahm, Dante and David Alaba will be difficult for even Messi to contemplate breaching, especially given the support and direction ahead of them which dictates that Bayern spend little of their time without the ball in most games. In possession, they are frightening, showing an ability to play at high speed for long periods. With the industry and artistry of Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger feeding the forever-threatening front four, consisting at various times of top quality players like Mandzukic, Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, Franck Ribery, Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben, they are simply the most formidable all-round unit in the European game as it stands. The fear is that they will not get the praise they deserve for just how good they are unless they are triumphant in north-west London in six weeks’ time. If they fail again, they will simply be written off as the lovable, laughable nearly-men that some critics are too quick to want to label them as. But the reality is very different and if a fifth Champions League triumph is what it takes for them to receive the headlines that they have earned with their magnificent football this term let us all hope that is what they achieve. In realistic terms, it is now Bayern’s trophy to lose.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 10-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Attendance: 40823 Buffon: Bayern on another level to Juve The experienced goalkeeper has no regrets as he has stressed the Bianconeri gave it their all but simply lacked the experience to trouble the Bavarians. Apr 11, 2013 Gianluigi Buffon has admitted that Bayern Munich were simply too strong for Juventus in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The Serie A champions were beaten 2-0 at the Juventus Stadium on Wednesday after previously losing the first leg 2-0 and Buffon feels the Bundesliga giants were on another tier of quality. "I thought we could have played at their same level tonight but Bayern proved I was wrong. I think they can win the Champions League," Buffon was quoted as saying on the official Uefa website. "The dream is over tonight. We tried to play our game, we have no regrets, we did the best we could. Unfortunately it was not enough because we faced a team that, from every point of view, are better than us. "They were in better shape, they played better, they have more experience - they're just better than us. We have to improve and grow up, the big difference between them and us is experience: they have played together for a few years and went far in Europe in the last few seasons. "I knew they were strong but, to be honest, I did not think they were that strong. I was even more impressed tonight [Wednesday] than in Munich. Because in the first leg we did not give our all, but tonight we did; still, there was nothing we could do."

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 10-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Attendance: 40823‎ Beckenbauer makes Buffon U-turn Apr 11, 2013 Franz Beckenbauer insists he was wrong to describe Juventus' Gigi Buffon as a pensioner. “He’s still one of the best goalkeepers in the world.” The German legend criticised the 35-year-old after his showing in the Champions League first leg defeat at Bayern Munich. However, the Honorary Bayern President has now admitted that he should not have said what he did about the Italian international. “I retract my words,” Beckenbauer stated after last night’s second leg tie which also ended 2-0 in his club’s favour. “When you are live on television then you can say foolish things. But I was just referring to the two goals that he conceded in Munich, especially the first, and not his career. “I tried to be ironic, saying that Alaba shot from 120 metres away, but the joke was not understood. Unfortunately you can’t cancel out words spoken on television. “Buffon is no longer a kid, but he remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world.” Buffon last night insisted that he wasn’t particularly bothered by Beckenbauer’s criticism. “My father was harsher,” he smiled.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 10-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Attendance: 40823‎ Heynckes still rates Juventus Apr 11, 2013 Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes has praised the ability of Juventus despite their comfortable 4-0 aggregate victory over the Old Lady. The German giants booked their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday by collecting another 2-0 win, this time in Turin. “We’re in the last four after beating a side of the highest level,” he insisted. “And I am sure that my players really enjoyed themselves in this stadium. “It is a beautiful theatre for a great spectacle like a game of football.” Juve started the second leg well, but Bayern kept them out and struck them down with two second half goals. “It's not easy for players to be fully focused on a game after you've won the League just four days before,” he added. “That appeared to be the case in the first 20 minutes when we often lost possession too easily and weren't fluent in our game going forward. “However, we slowly took control of the match and improved a lot in the second half. In the end we fully deserved the win. “We discussed a few tactical matters at half-time. The tactical organisation had to improve and that's what happened in the second half.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 10-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 0 - 2 BAYERN Mario Mandzukic (64′) Claudio Pizarro (90+1′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain) Attendance: 40823‎ ‘Bayern Munich are best in Europe’ Apr 11, 2013 Roberto Bettega and Gianluca Vialli believe that former club Juventus were knocked out by the best side in the Champions League. The Old Lady exited the European Cup on Wednesday against a Bayern Munich team who, after winning the first leg 2-0, won by the same scoreline in Turin. “The best side won,” Vialli, who lifted the trophy with the Old Lady in 1996, commented. “Bayern have been the strongest side on the continent for two years now. “They have some young players, but they are used to playing in these games. This German side is solid and complete. “But Juventus have now understood what is needed to arrive at the highest levels, they require a leader in attack.” Bettega, an ex-striker and club official, said: “Juventus were faced with the best in the competition, better even than Real Madrid and Barcelona. “Having conceded the first goal tonight, the light went out for Juventus. At that point there was no longer the necessary reaction to combat Bayern.”