Socrates

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57′-PG) Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Attendance: 38000 Juve four points from title defence Apr 21, 2013 Juventus need four points to successfully defend the Serie A title after Arturo Vidal's penalty decided a crucial victory over AC Milan. While the Rossoneri sweat over their chances of competing in next season's Champions League, Juve can seal a second straight Scudetto by winning next Sunday's derby meeting with Torino, should second-placed Napoli fail to beat Pescara. A Vidal penalty in the second half was the difference between the two sides, who are now separated by 18 points with five games remaining. The result means the Bianconeri are assured of their place in the Champions League next season while, with an 11-point cushion over Napoli, they could wrap up the title with four games to spare. Milan, however, are looking over their shoulders with fourth-placed Fiorentina now just a point behind in the race for Champions League football. Rossoneri head coach Massimiliano Allegri picked an attacking line-up in response to Napoli's earlier 3-2 win over Cagliari which opened a seven-point gap between second and third place. Robinho, one of three forwards in his starting XI, tried his luck in the early exchanges but just missed the target. Andrea Pirlo went closer to breaking the deadlock in the eighth minute with a free-kick that took a deflection off Massimo Ambrosini in the wall, making life difficult for Christian Abbiati who somehow managed to change direction and turn the ball behind for a corner. Milan's top goalscorer Stephan El Shaarawy responded by giving Gianluigi Buffon his first test of the evening in the 24th minute. Marco Amelia soon came on for the injured Abbiati and he had to deal with another deflected Pirlo free-kick as the two sides reached the break on even terms. The substitute keeper negatively affected his team, however, as his foul on Kwadwo Asamoah in the 57th minute earned Juve a penalty. Chile international Vidal made no mistake when placing his spot-kick high into the net to give the hosts the lead. Milan responded brightly with Sulley Muntari and Riccardo Montolivo both testing Buffon. But the visitors just could not find an equaliser, despite introducing a fourth striker in the shape of Bojan Krkic, and Juve rode out the final throes to edge closer to their 31st domestic title. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57′-PG) Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Attendance: 38000 Vidal sees off toothless Milan Arturo Vidal’s perfect penalty gave Juventus victory over an uninspired Milan, putting them closer to the title and leaving the Rossoneri only one point clear of Fiorentina in third. Apr 21, 2013 Last season this was a Scudetto showdown, but this time round the Rossoneri were pushing to challenge Napoli for second place and aiming to stay clear of Fiorentina in fourth. Mario Balotelli and Mathieu Flamini sat out bans, but Massimo Ambrosini returned from injury. Stephan El Shaarawy was back in the starting XI after he was surprisingly dropped against Napoli, but Kevin-Prince Boateng moved into midfield to make way for Giampaolo Pazzini and Robinho. Juve had Giorgio Chiellini after an ankle injury, though Sebastian Giovinco, Nicolas Anelka and Simone Pepe were sidelined. Once again, Claudio Marchisio acted as support striker so there was room for Paul Pogba. Andrea Pirlo almost opened the scoring against his former club, as a free kick took a deflection off the wall and Christian Abbiati changed direction to palm it off the line. The goalkeeper hurt his knee during that move and after a while limped off to make way for Marco Amelia. This was the fifth time in three seasons Abbiati had to be substituted due to injury. An acrobatic Pogba overhead kick from Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross whistled wide, then Ambrosini pounced on a Pirlo error only to drill off target. Robinho also hit the side-netting after Mirko Vucinic gave possession away. Another Pirlo free kick went over the wall, but into Amelia’s arms, while Vucinic was just unable to get a touch to Lichtsteiner’s assist as he came sliding in. Ambrosini also needed treatment with a strong bandage applied to his ankle before the break, as injuries were beginning to take their toll on the Milan squad. Sulley Muntari replaced the captain for the second half, as the armband want to Riccardo Montolivo. Chiellini nodded over from a corner and a deflected Marchisio strike was smothered by Amelia, while Philippe Mexes pushed forward and fired straight at Buffon. Cristian Zapata used his strength to prevent Vucinic pulling the trigger from a defence-splitting pass. Just shy of the hour mark, Ignazio Abate let a pass go through so Kwadwo Asamoah burst into the box and Amelia rushed off his line, clattering into the Ghanaian for a clear penalty. Arturo Vidal stepped up and placed a perfect spot-kick into the top corner. Pogba nodded a corner over the bar and then set up Vucinic for a shot that Mexes crucially charged down. A dangerous Pirlo cross was not cleared effectively, but Chiellini couldn’t quite get it out from under his feet. From that corner, Leonardo Bonucci shinned a volley into Amelia’s arms. A fine Boateng run down the right saw him roll the ball across for Pazzini, but Bonucci got there first to prevent the tap-in. Muntari’s snapshot and a swerving Montolivo long-range effort were smothered by Buffon. Mexes fired wide from a free kick, but Pazzini had been flagged offside anyway, while Montolivo’s angled drive was again easy pickings for Buffon. These attempts summed up Milan’s performance, as they had 58% of possession in Turin, but barely troubled the goalkeeper. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner (Padoin 81), Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal, Asamoah (Peluso 92); Marchisio; Vucinic (Quagliarella 90) Milan: Abbiati (Amelia 15); Abate, Zapata, Mexes, Constant; Montolivo, Ambrosini (Muntari 46), Boateng; Pazzini, El Shaarawy, Robinho (Bojan 70) Ref: Banti http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Madrid were also interested in Llorente, reveals Perez The Blancos president is in no doubt that the Spain international, who is joining the Bianconeri on a free transfer, will prove a big hit in both Serie A and the Champions League. Apr 21, 2013 Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has revealed that he was interested in signing Fernando Llorente before the forward agreed to join Juventus. The Bianconeri announced in January that the Spain international will move to Turin on a free transfer upon the expiration of his current contract with Athletic Bilbao at the end of the season. Despite Llorente's imminent arrival at the Juventus Stadium, the Italian champions are still said to be pursuing another striker, much to the bemusement of Perez who remains a keen admirer of Llorente. "You [Juventus] are really looking for a forward?" the Blancos supremo is quoted as saying by Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport. "But you have already taken a really good one: Llorente. "He's really good. I am certain that he will score a lot and that he will also do well in the Champions League. "He was also liked by us, but our [transfer] policy does not allow us to take a player whose contract is expiring away from another team." Despite Perez's recommendation, the 28-year-old Llorente has scored just one goal in 19 appearances for Athletic in La Liga this season.

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 0 Arturo Vidal (57′-PG) Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti Attendance: 38000‎ Vidal edges Bianconeri ever closer to title The Chile international scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot, after Marco Amelia had clattered into Kwadwo Asamoah in the area. Apr 21, 2013 Juventus took a significant step towards a second successive Serie A title with a 1-0 win over AC Milan that simultaneously upset their opponents' hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League. Arturo Vidal scored the only goal of a desperately underwhelming encounter, the Chile international converting from the penalty spot after Kwadwo Asamoah had been felled in the area by Marco Amelia shortly after half-time. With Juventus in possession of an eight-point cushion at the summit of Serie A, the game was arguably of great importance to Milan, particularly with fourth-placed Fiorentina having defeated Torino earlier in the day to draw to within a point of the Rossoneri. Unsurprising, then, that the visitors began the brighter of the two, with Robinho and Stephan El Shaarawy both getting shots away inside the opening five minutes. However, it was Juve who went closest to an early breakthrough, with Christian Abbiati doing wonderfully well to change direction in time to scramble a deflected Andrea Pirlo free kick away for a corner. Unfortunately for Abbiati, that was to be his last contribution of note before being forced off through injury with less than 15 minutes on the clock. He was replaced by Amelia, whose first task was to deal with another Pirlo free kick, which he did with the minimum of fuss. The Rossoneri reserve goalkeeper had little to do for the remainder of the half, though, with Mirko Vucinic failing dismally to hit the target with a free header from yet another Pirlo set-piece. In truth, Milan looked the slightly more likely scorers during a cagey opening half. Massimiliano Allegri’s men were certainly the more composed side in possession, while Robinho and the recalled Stephan El Shaarawy buzzed about Giampaolo Pazzini with real intent. Their hopes of retaining control of the middle of the park were hit by the injury-enforced withdrawal of Massimo Ambrosini during the interval. Their hopes of winning the game, meanwhile, were hit by the concession of a penalty just 10 minutes later. Ignazio Abate and Amelia were both caught out by a seemingly innocuous diagonal in behind the Milan defence. Abate left it for his goalkeeper, who never had any chance of getting there in time and was powerless to prevent himself from clattering into the alert Asamoah, who had stolen in behind a hesitant Abate before cleverly nicking the ball past Amelia. Vidal buried the resulting spot-kick, firing high to Amelia's left to change the entire complexion of the game. Indeed, Milan suddenly looked completely devoid of any belief and the toothless visitors did not even go close to forcing an equaliser in the remaining 35 minutes, thus allowing Juve to coast to a victory that leaves them requiring just four more points to clinch the title. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Ma il Milan non era allo stesso livello della Juve secondo Galliani?

Quagliarella in Vucinic out

Conte imbestialito.

Constant

Inderdaad.

Anche io.

Bravissimo Pogba

Montolivo perdente

Mexes isterico

ARTURO VIDAL 1-0

Rigore Juve

Partita davvero noiosa.

Serie A Week 33 - 21-4-12 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Luca Banti HT 0-0: Juve-Milan stalemate Apr 21, 2013 Andrea Pirlo forced a tough save out of Christian Abbiati, who then went off injured, as Juventus and Milan are still goalless at the break. Last season this was a Scudetto showdown, but this time round the Rossoneri were pushing to challenge Napoli for second place and aiming to stay clear of Fiorentina in fourth. Mario Balotelli and Mathieu Flamini sat out bans, but Massimo Ambrosini returned from injury. Stephan El Shaarawy was back in the starting XI after he was surprisingly dropped against Napoli, but Kevin-Prince Boateng moved into midfield to make way for Giampaolo Pazzini and Robinho. Juve had Giorgio Chiellini after an ankle injury, though Sebastian Giovinco, Nicolas Anelka and Simone Pepe were sidelined. Once again, Claudio Marchisio acted as support striker so there was room for Paul Pogba. Andrea Pirlo almost opened the scoring against his former club, as a free kick took a deflection off the wall and Christian Abbiati changed direction to palm it off the line. The goalkeeper hurt his knee during that move and after a while limped off to make way for Marco Amelia. This was the fifth time in three seasons Abbiati had to be substituted due to injury. An acrobatic Pogba overhead kick from Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross whistled wide, then Ambrosini pounced on a Pirlo error only to drill off target. Robinho also hit the side-netting after Mirko Vucinic gave possession away. Another Pirlo free kick went over the wall, but into Amelia’s arms, while Vucinic was just unable to get a touch to Lichtsteiner’s assist as he came sliding in. Ambrosini also needed treatment with a strong bandage applied to his ankle before the break, as injuries were beginning to take their toll on the Milan squad. Juventus 0-0 Milan (Half-Time) Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal, Asamoah; Marchisio; Vucinic Milan: Abbiati (Amelia 15); Abate, Zapata, Mexes, Constant; Montolivo, Ambrosini, Boateng; Pazzini, El Shaarawy, Robinho Ref: Banti 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 Marotta: 'Pirlo ultimate professional' Apr 21, 2013 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta praised Andrea Pirlo and commented on those Zlatan Ibrahimovic rumours ahead of tonight’s game with Milan. “Pirlo personifies the profile of a great player, both in terms of quality and his professionalism. More than fortune, it was a favourable coincidence and we made the most of it,” he said of the free transfer from Milan. “We know that sides like Juventus are obligated to win always. We have to get the most from every game until we have mathematically won the Scudetto.” Agent Mino Raiola told the media this weekend that Ibrahimovic would be ideal for a return to Juventus. “Raiola does his job, which is to sell a champion like Ibrahimovic. Juventus, just like every other Italian club, are not prepared to support such a big contract, especially as the wages include taxes. “If he were to reduce his wages, then I imagine many teams would come in for him. I’m fairly sceptical about that, to be honest, especially as it would have to be a radical cut. “Juventus have certainly won back their international appeal. When we arrived it was difficult to work on the transfer market, as every player we contacted expressed reservations due to the tough seasons we went through. “We have rediscovered our appeal in Italy and abroad, so agents are daily coming to us in order to offer important players. “The Coach and club are in sync, so we’ll discuss the strategy together after the end of the season. We’ll try to make him as happy as possible, but we are still administrators of a business and in financial terms Italian clubs are having trouble competing with the European giants.” 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 Tassotti: 'A balanced encounter' Apr 21, 2013 Milan assistant manager Mauro Tassotti expects “a balanced encounter” at the Juventus Stadium this evening. “We need to play well tonight. It is going to be an important match for both teams, as they are close to the Scudetto, while it is also crucial for us to keep hold of third place,” said Tassotti. “We met recently in the Coppa Italia, but the games have always been very balanced and I expected another balanced encounter this evening.” Earlier this season Milan beat Juventus 1-0 in Serie A with a dubious penalty, then the Bianconeri won 2-1 in extra time for the Coppa Italia quarter-final in January. Mario Balotelli and Mathieu Flamini are suspended, but Robinho, Giampaolo Pazzini, Robinho and Kevin-Prince Boateng start together. “El Shaarawy has been a very important player for this team for three quarters of the campaign, but it can happen that every now and then someone can sit on the bench. Things need to be understood,” added Tassotti. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Marchisio non era in fuorigioco.

Partita noiosa di fine stagione.

Il pareggio va bene ad entrambe. Se consideriamo poi l'amicizia fra i due clubs ....

Bel cross di Abate, Robinho sull'esterno della rete.