Socrates

Serie A - 7^ Giornata - Ritorno - 24-2-2013 (ore 15:00) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro: Domenico Celi Spettatori: 38000 Serie A - La Juventus non sbaglia: 3-0 al Siena e +7 Vincono nettamente i bianconeri allo Stadium e aumentano così il vantaggio sul Napoli secondo, impegnato lunedì sera a Udine. Vanno in rete Lichtsteiner nel primo tempo e Giovinco e Pogba nella ripresa. Generosi gli ospiti, che hanno colpito una traversa e un palo con Emeghara e Terlizzi, quando però erano già sotto di due gol. Rientro importante di Chiellini dall'infortunio. Eurosport - Domenica, 24 febbraio 2013 La Juventus non spreca la grande occasione e, ad una settimana dallo scontro diretto del San Paolo, batte per 3-0 il Siena allo Stadium, aumentando momentaneamente il vantaggio in classifica sul Napoli, impegnato nel posticipo del lunedì a Udine, a più sette punti. La capolista, bella nel primo tempo, dove trova la rete del vantaggio di Lichtsteiner, meno bella nella ripresa, dove però chiude la gara con Giovinco e Pogba, ha il merito di concedere la prima occasione da gol ai toscani ad un quarto d’ora dalla fine. La traversa di Emeghara e il palo di Terlizzi testimoniano che la formazione allenata da Iachini non ha reso vita così facile alla Juventus, brava comunque a giocare e vincere da grande squadra. Nel finale un’altra buona notizia per i bianconeri: il rientro di Giorgio Chiellini dopo oltre due mesi dall’infortunio al ginocchio. JUVE CON LA GIUSTA MENTALITÀ. Antonio Conte voleva “la partita della vita” e i suoi giocatori hanno provato ad ascoltarlo, almeno a livello mentale. I bianconeri hanno approcciato il match contro il Siena con la grinta e la concentrazione tanto desiderate dal proprio allenatore: compatti, aggressivi, con la difesa attenta a non subire le ripartenze di un Siena completamente rintanato nella propria metà campo sin dall’inizio. Così, con la regia di Pirlo e gli scambi di Vucinic e Giovinco (preferito a Matri), la capolista ha cominciato ad imporre il proprio gioco fin dai primi minuti, inanellando occasioni da gol. LICHTSTEINER CON FORTUNA. Pegolo, che fino al minuto 30 era stato il migliore dei suoi, avendo stoppato le insidiose conclusioni di Marchisio, Giovinco e Pogba, è però protagonista sfortunato della carambola che porta avanti i bianconeri alla mezzora. Vucinic, che continua ad alternare giocate da campione a pause preoccupanti, serve un pallone delizioso sul taglio di Lichtsteiner, che è fortunato nel vincere il rimpallo con l’estremo difensore del Siena e ad infilare l’1-0. Per lo svizzero, che oltre ad annullare Rubin, è sempre propositivo quando è ora di attaccare lo spazio, è il quarto centro in campionato. Il Siena, per tutti i primi 45 minuti, subisce l’iniziativa bianconera, senza mai farsi vedere dalla parte di Buffon. Rosina ed Emeghara, che avevano schiantato la Lazio, sembrano fantasmi e l’1-0 con il quale si chiude la prima frazione, può esser considerato anche riduttivo per il divario mostrato in campo tra piemontesi e toscani. RIPRESA AD ANDAMENTO LENTO. Nel secondo tempo la Juventus abbassa i ritmi e tenta di risparmiare energie in vista del confronto diretto in programma venerdì sera al San Paolo di Napoli. Il Siena prende campo, ma non riesce mai ad impensierire veramente la retroguardia bianconera. I padroni di casa, nei primi venti minuti della ripresa allentano la pressione e sbagliano tanti appoggi, rivitalizzando quindi la squadra di Iachini, che rimane in partita fino al 75’. GIOVINCO LA CHIUDE, SIENA AL PALO. E’ proprio alla mezzora della ripresa che Giovinco decide di chiudere il match. Uscito Vucinic, un po’ fischiato dai tifosi dello Stadium, il numero 12 bianconero concretizza l’unica vera occasione della sua partita: lancio su punizione in verticale di Pirlo e sinistro sotto la traversa della formica atomica, che segna così il suo 7° gol in campionato. Il Siena accusa il colpo e prova a reagire quando probabilmente è troppo tardi. Il primo tiro in porta dei toscani arriva al 76’, con Emeghara che colpisce la traversa di testa, dopo una grande deviazione di Buffon. Due minuti più tardi è Terlizzi a colpire il palo con il sinistro: la porta di Buffon rimane immacolata con un po’ di fortuna e in contropiede la Juve arrotonda ulteriormente il punteggio. RIENTRA CHIELLINI, GIOIA POGBA. Dopo aver gioito per il rientro in campo di un recuperato Giorgio Chiellini ad oltre due mesi dall’infortunio al ginocchio, il pubblico bianconero trova il modo di festeggiare anche la terza rete della giornata, con Pogba protagonista di un coast to coast devastante a due minuti dal termine. Destro perfetto e angolato dal limite del francesino, che conferma la crescita costante delle sue prestazioni con la sua quinta rete stagionale. Il 3-0 finale conferma le qualità della squadra di Conte, che ha giocato da grande squadra e può presentarsi con un vantaggio notevole al big match di venerdì sera. Enrico Turcato http://it.soccerway....regular-season/

No chance of Juve Pogba exit Feb 26, 2013 The representative of Paul Pogba has dismissed the idea that the player could be sold by Juventus at the end of the season. The 19-year-old has been a revelation for the Turin giants since his transfer from Manchester United in the summer. Although liked by a host of Europe’s top sides, Mino Raiola insists that the midfielder is already at the right club. “Pogba’s talent is crystal clear,” Mino Raiola told GR Parlamento. “It is hard to find another player like him around. “Everyone at Juventus is helping him to grow and there are no signs that he will be saying farewell at the end of the season.” Pogba has scored five goals in 18 League games for the Bianconeri this season. He’s also been used in five Champions League ties.

Pogba to stay 'for a long time' Feb 25, 2013 Paul Pogba has insisted that he wants to stay at Juventus 'for a long time' after a successful first season at the club. The young French midfielder joined last summer from Manchester United, and has already bagged five goals for the Bianconeri this term. And the 19-year-old has revealed that he would like to continue with Antonio Conte's side, even with reported interest from other European clubs. “I do not care if there are stories linking me with other teams,” he told reporters. “I feel really good here at Juventus and I want to stay for a long time. “Personally, I am very happy with my first year here, partly because I've already scored five goals.”

Celtic's Brown to miss Juventus tie with abductor injury The Hoops’ skipper is unlikely to recover in time for his team’s Champions League trip to Turin where the Scottish side will aim to come back from a 3-0 home defeat. Feb 26, 2013 Celtic midfielder Scott Brown will miss the Scottish side's crunch Champions League second leg match in Juventus next week. The Hoops will have to overturn a 3-0 deficit to reach the next round, and will need to do it without their captain as Brown is still suffering from an abductor injury that has kept him out of several games recently. Brown will also miss the first competitive games of new Scotland manager Gordon Strachan’s tenure – World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Serbia. Celtic boss Neil Lennon told reporters: "Scott is out indefinitely. "We are still waiting to hear from the specialist, whether it requires surgery or not and I am hoping that we will get a definitive answer by the end of the week." Lennon also spoke about the returns of defenders Mikael Lustig and Charlie Mulgrew from their own injury lay-offs. The Northern Irishman added: "Lustig is still out and Charlie Mulgrew, they are the only three absentees. Lustig is out for two to three weeks, it is bone bruising so it could even be longer. "So I imagine he will miss Juventus. We are hoping Charlie will be fit for Juventus and the game at the weekend. "Kris Commons is back from his virus and Lassad Nouioui has had a bit of a virus but he is in the squad."

Juventus will win the Scudetto, says Galliani The AC Milan CEO has lost all hope of securing the league title this term, but says his side should aim for a second-placed finish instead. Feb 25, 2013 AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani is certain that Juventus will go on to retain their Serie A crown. The Bianconeri currently hold a handsome lead at the top of the table, but after the Rossoneri enjoyed an upturn in form, the 68-year-old is optimistic ahead of the remainder of the campaign. "Will Juve win Serie A? Absolutely. That's what I think," the 68-year-old told Rai Sport. "But after the two matches of Napoli and our next match, we could think about the second place. Now it's too early to talk about it, however." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Pogba: I want to stay at Juventus for a long time The former Manchester United youngster is content with life at the Old Lady and sees his future at the club. Feb 25, 2013 Paul Pogba has made it clear that he has no intention of leaving Juventus any time soon and declared his happiness with life in Italy. The French midfielder joined the Bianconeri from Manchester United on a free transfer in the summer of 2012 and has since impressed with a number of fine performances. The 19-year-old's form has caught the attention of a number of top European clubs, but Pogba is keen to stay put. "Attention from other clubs? It doesn’t interest me. I really like it here and I want to play in this shirt for a long time," Pogba was quoted as saying on the club's official website. "Personally, I’m happy because in my first year at Juventus, I’ve already scored five goals." The midfielder has netted five times in 18 league appearances.

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000 Lichtsteiner: Napoli clash will not decide Scudetto race The Switzerland international believes his side still have a long way to go, while Paul Pogba has set his sights on the full three points against the Partenopei. Feb 25, 2013 Juventus wing-back Stephan Lichtsteiner believes a win over Napoli on Friday would not guarantee the Bianconeri the Serie A title. Juve currently hold a seven-point lead over the Partenopei, who have a game in hand, and Lichtsteiner has insisted that the Scudetto race is by no means decided just yet. "If we were to win against Napoli [on Friday], it would make it really tough for them, but it still wouldn’t be decisive in terms of the race for the Scudetto," Lichtsteiner was quoted as saying on the club's official website. "There will still be 11 games left and with so many remaining, it will be far from over." Young midfielder Paul Pogba, meanwhile, has stated that the Serie A leaders will be gunning for victory against Napoli. "It’s a contest we have to go into looking to win. We need to play with ruthlessness and concentration, as we did against Siena." Juve recorded a 2-0 home win over Napoli earlier this season. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000 Juventus’ Pogba enticed to shoot Feb 25, 2013 Paul Pogba has revealed that the atmosphere at the Juventus Stadium urges him to shoot from distance. The young Frenchman netted with another long-range effort on Sunday when he capped off the 3-0 win over Siena. “The Coach and my teammates always tell me to have a go,” the midfielder noted. “And sometimes I feel that the stadium is encouraging me to shoot as well. “I had the chance to against Siena and it came off – even though the most important thing is that the team won.” Pogba has already scored five League goals this term and the teenager is dreaming of many more strikes in the Old Lady’s stripes. “The attention from other clubs doesn’t interest me,” the summer signing from Manchester United continued. “I really like it here and I want to play in this shirt for a long time. I’m happy because I’ve already scored five goals in my first year at Juventus. “I have a great will to learn and I like listening to others. That’s how I’m learning the language, also thanks to my teammates, especially Simone Pepe, who is always talking.” With the Siena victory now archived, the player is looking forward to Friday’s game against second-placed Napoli. “We have to go into that one looking to win. We need to play with ruthlessness and concentration, as we did against Siena.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000 Buffon expects ‘real’ Juve in Naples Feb 25, 2013 Gianluigi Buffon has insisted that Juventus will face Napoli in Serie A on Friday with their usual game plan. The Bianconeri currently have a seven-point lead over the second-placed Azzurri who will face Udinese later today. But Buffon insists that the points difference between the two clubs will not have any effect on the way they will prepare for the tie. “We’ll go and play Napoli without making any calculations,” the custodian noted. “That’s also because when we try to do that, things don’t add up. “We need to approach the Napoli tie in the way we always face matches, without straying from our usual game.” Buffon again underlined his worth to the Old Lady on Sunday during their 3-0 victory over struggling Siena. “We played a good game against a side in good form,” he added. “We knew they would cause us difficulties and that’s how it went, but we tackled them in an intelligent manner. “I work with passion and the desire to show that I’m still an important goalkeeper, and when I say this I don’t mean being the fifth or sixth best in the world. “I’ve still got the will to amaze and this enables me to focus and face training and games in the right way. “When I realise that I’m approaching a game with little concentration then I think back to the error against Sampdoria and I re-find the right mentality.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Buffon expects ‘real’ Juve in Naples Feb 25, 2013 Gianluigi Buffon has insisted that Juventus will face Napoli in Serie A on Friday with their usual game plan. The Bianconeri currently have a seven-point lead over the second-placed Azzurri who will face Udinese later today. But Buffon insists that the points difference between the two clubs will not have any effect on the way they will prepare for the tie. “We’ll go and play Napoli without making any calculations,” the custodian noted. “That’s also because when we try to do that, things don’t add up. “We need to approach the Napoli tie in the way we always face matches, without straying from our usual game.” Buffon again underlined his worth to the Old Lady on Sunday during their 3-0 victory over struggling Siena. “We played a good game against a side in good form,” he added. “We knew they would cause us difficulties and that’s how it went, but we tackled them in an intelligent manner. “I work with passion and the desire to show that I’m still an important goalkeeper, and when I say this I don’t mean being the fifth or sixth best in the world. “I’ve still got the will to amaze and this enables me to focus and face training and games in the right way. “When I realise that I’m approaching a game with little concentration then I think back to the error against Sampdoria and I re-find the right mentality.”

Juventus optimistic over Chiellini Feb 25, 2013 Giorgio Chiellini should be available for the Napoli tie after the Juventus defender picked up an ankle injury on his return to action. The stopper, absent since December, was used as a second-half substitute in the 3-0 win over Siena on Sunday. However, the central defender limped out of the game after picking up a blow to his right ankle. The Italian international has had an x-ray which has ruled out any serious damage as the club have revealed that he has just sustained heavy bruising. Juventus travel to the Stadio San Paolo on Friday night.

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000 Conte: 'Juve fans mustn't jeer' Feb 24, 2013 Antonio Conte criticised the Juventus Stadium fans for jeering Sebastian Giovinco. “At times they really irritate me.” Giovinco scored in the 3-0 victory over Siena, but the supporters in Turin were not always fully behind the side. “We should enjoy today’s victory, as we had to win and it was not easy,” Conte told Rai Sport. “Siena are in great shape and they deserve compliments for their performance. We got three points and did very well in psychological terms to control the game. “At times certain murmurs of complaint from the stands really irritate me, as I find them inopportune. People forget that 18 months ago Juve were seventh. “They ought to be enthusiastic at having players like Giovinco, so I do not agree with those who jeer.” Next Friday there is the Scudetto showdown with Napoli, as the gap at the top is currently seven points awaiting the Partenopei’s trip to Udinese tomorrow. “We will go to Naples with humility and play with a more relaxed state of mind thanks to today’s win,” added Conte. The tactician has been linked with Chelsea and dropped a hint he is considering it. "I am attracted by the idea of working overseas." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000‎ Conte 'irritated' by boo boys The Juventus coach has admitted he was disappointed to hear some sections of the Bianconeri support booing the players during their comfortable 3-0 victory over Siena. Feb 24, 2013 Juventus coach Antonio Conte has slammed some sections of the home support for not getting behind the team during their 3-0 win over Siena. Goals from Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sebastian Giovinco and Paul Pogba ensured what turned out to be a comfortable victory for the hosts, who extend their lead at the top of Serie A to seven points. However, Conte was left disappointed, despite the victory, as the Bianconeri faithful resorted to jeering the players, particularly goalscorer Giovinco, before they eventually took control of the game. “Unfortunately booing is becoming a bad habit at this stadium, supporters can’t boo the lads’ first mistake," he told the official club website. “I’ll remind them that this team has done extraordinary things, but above all brought back a sense of belonging and pride to all Bianconeri fans.” He told Rai Sport: “At times certain murmurs of complaint from the stands really irritate me, as I find them inopportune. People forget that 18 months ago Juve were seventh. “They ought to be enthusiastic at having players like Giovinco, so I do not agree with those who jeer.” Conte was pleased, however, with the way his side handled a potentially tricky encounter as Beppe Iachini's men had gone three games unbeaten before Sunday's clash. He continued to the official club website: “We took to the field with a good approach, showing great respect for Siena who possess all the characteristics required to stay up. “They’re in good form and came into the fixture following important results. I knew it wouldn’t be easy and that’s why I kept the tension high. “Congratulations to the lads, they really did well today. I’m happy about Giovinco’s goal and for how it came about. We always look to work on every little detail, including set pieces.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000‎ Player Ratings Goal.com rates the players on show at Juventus Stadium, as the Bianconeri extended their lead at the summit of Serie A to seven points. Feb 24, 2013 JUVENTUS Gianluigi Buffon - Forced to push a Rosina cross out of play for a corner early on, but was rarely tested by the lackadaisical Siena front line until the 70th minute when he had to tip Emeghara's header onto the bar. Andrea Barzagli - Impenetrable in the heart of the Juventus backline and ensured that a clean sheet was kept having hindered the impact of Emeghera. Leonardo Bonucci - Booked in the first half following a late sliding challenge, but a faultless performance from the Italian. Federico Peluso - After allowing Rosina in early to force a Siena corner in the opening exchanges, Peluso recovered from this stuttering start to perform solidly in the back three beside Barzagli and Bonucci. Stephan Lichtsteiner - Broke forward expertly and linked up well with Vucinic to fire an effort over the bar before his goal on the half hour mark. Paul Pogba - A quiet afternoon for the Frenchman until his 89th-minute drive from distance that left Pegolo beaten. Andrea Pirlo - Typically masterful in the middle of the Juventus midfield, fired a free kick over in the first half before sending a delicate chip just inches wide of the Siena post on the hour mark. Claudio Marchisio - Regularly linked with up Vucinic expertly and forced a great save from Pegolo with a curling effort in the first half. Kwadwo Asamoah - Broke down the flanks with purpose and Belmonte struggled to contain the Ghanaian. Could've had himself an assist had Pogba made a decent connection with his first-half strike. Mirko Vučinić - At the hub of everything. Pushed forward for Juventus and provided the assist for Lichtsteiner's goal. Siena really struggled to contain him before his second-half withdrawal. Sebastian Giovinco - A dominant performance from the Italian, who secured the win for Juventus with a stunning strike midway through the second half. Substitutions Giorgio Chiellini - Continued his comeback from injury with a brief 15-minute cameo, and didn't put a fault wrong as he attains match fitness. Emanuele Giaccherini - Entered the fray late on, but could've netted after curling just wide of the Siena post in added time. Alessandro Matri - Replaced Vucinic just after the hour mark, and may not have offered a similar threat to the Montenegrin, but was a handful during his time on the pitch. SIENA Gianluca Pegolo - Could do little to prevent goals from Lichtsteiner, Giovinco and Pogba, but did well to deny Marchisio and Giovinco expertly. Didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Felipe - Had a good game, all things considered, but was never able to deal with the marauding Lichtsteiner. A lack of cover from his team-mates didn't aid his cause. Matteo Rubin - Pushed forward well, but was regularly contained in his own half to help Felipe deal with the threat of Lichtsteiner. Jorge Filipe Avelino Teixeira - Struggled with the threat of the returning Asamoah, and was never really able to help play the ball out as well as he'd hoped. Christian Terlizzi - Almost gave his side a glimmer of hope in the second half having struck the post, but was unable to prevent Siena conceding three. Nicola Belmonte - Pushed forward well and did what he could to help out Teixeira with the threat of Asamoah, but was never going to exert himself as well as he could've liked as a result. Francesco Valiani - Never able to provide the necessary support that Emeghara needed and, as a result, Siena's attack continuously broke down. Francesco Della Rocca - Booked in the first half and was never really able to make his mark as a result. Struggled with Vucinic dropping deep and Marchisio. Alessandro Rosina - Forced Buffon into action early on, but couldn't build on his blistering start. Subbed in the second half. Francesco Bolzoni - Continuously attempted to make things happen for his team. A tough task considering the opposition, but did well to stifle the threat of Pogba prior to his goal. Innocent Emeghara - A handful for the Juventus defence, forcing Buffon into action with a goal-bound header in the final 15 minutes of the game. Dealt with well by Bonucci. Substitutions Valerio Verre - Not enough time to make an impact. Salvador Agra - Gave Siena the attacking threat that Rosina failed to provide, but in the end, it was too little too late for the lowly Serie A side. Nicola Pozzi - While Valiani struggled to make his mark, Pozzi was the same which often left Emeghara isolated. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000 Juventus Win 3-0 vs. Siena: 6 Things We Learned Feb 24, 2013 Seeing Juventus vs. Siena on the schedule isn't exactly something that gets your average calcio fan excited. However, it turned out to be a bit of a show when all was said and done. Siena's Gianluca Pegolo kept it a lot closer than it could have been. Still, a 3-0 win for Juve means most of the show was the Bianconeri's class as they moved the ball so well all afternoon. Juventus showed why they're Italy's best; they were just too much for lowly Siena. Here are six things we learned after Sunday's match. 1. Juventus Control Their Own Destiny in the Scudetto Race They haven't necessarily locked it down. A lot can happen over the next three months. But with a seven-point lead after Sunday's action, Juve would really have to lose concentration to not finish with the Scudetto this season. It's not a sure thing, though. They travel to second-place Napoli on Friday. They've done all they can to put pressure on the Partenopei ahead of Friday's clash. Napoli travel to Udinese Monday staring down a seven-point deficit. 2. There's More to Juventus Than Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo Stephan Lichtsteiner and Mirko Vucinic really played well Sunday. Lichtsteiner had Juve's first goal. It was pure effort that made it happen, but that's who Lichtsteiner is. It was an important break in a scoreless tie that beat Gianluca Pegolo, who before then looked unbeatable. For Vucinic's part, he was like a conductor at the front, setting up fellow teammates with one incredible ball after another. He didn't end up with an assist, but his creativity was unbelievable throughout the match. 3. Paul Pogba Has a Bright Future Ahead of Him Paul Pogba was another huge force for Juventus Sunday. He ended up with the Bianconeri's third goal, and it was pure class. He had a few other chances before he finally converted and played the ball really well throughout the match. More impressive than anything else: Pogba's only 19 years old. For fans worried about how much longer Andrea Pirlo will play, a young promising midfielder like Pogba may make the thought of il maestro's absence a bit easier to deal with. Just a little. 4. Relegation or Not, Pegolo Shouldn't Play for Siena Next Season There are way too many clubs in the top flight that need an upgrade at keeper for Gianluca Pegolo to continue to go down with Siena's sinking ship. Yes, he surrendered three on Sunday, but throughout the season he's been a major factor in Siena's success, though limited. It's not so much that he's great, as there are a lot of other top clubs that need to upgrade at 'keeper. And Pegolo would be a tremendous upgrade for some. Just ask Napoli fans how they feel about Morgan De Sanctis... 5. The Juventus Back Line Is Very Much Improved The road has been bumpy without Giorgio Chiellini, but Juventus endured. Leonardo Bonucci, Federico Peluso, Martín Cáceres and Andrea Barzagli have been better in recent weeks. But now that Chiellini's back, that back line is going to get a lot stronger. The vice-captain has been sorely missed and will be just the boost Juve need at the back as they advance in Champions League and head toward the end of the Serie A season. 6. Andrea Pirlo Is Must-See TV Every Time He's on the Pitch If you're a calcio fan, you've known this for years. But with not too many years left, you should really carve out some time to watch this guy work every time he steps on the field. Even if Juve is playing a cellar dweller like Siena. If you're not a regular Serie A watcher or are just new to the beautiful game, you need to get to know Andrea Pirlo. Watching il maestro in action will more than explain all the outrage surrounding his absence from FIFA's World XI. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000 Confident Bianconeri lock up victory Feb 24, 2013 Juventus defeated Siena 3-0 at the Juventus Stadium in Serie A action on Sunday afternoon. Stephan Lichtsteiner struck in the first half before Sebastian Giovinco and Paul Pogba scored in the second. Juventus had the first opportunity of the game in the seventh minute off an Andrea Pirlo free kick, but his effort was a little too high. A few moments later, Giovinco, from a Pogba assist, had a go, but he was just wide of the left post. Pogba tried a couple of shots of his own not too long after, but both missed to the left. Another midfielder attempted from distance, this time it was Claudio Marchisio, who saw his effort saved by Gianluca Pegolo. It was Giovinco that then made the goalkeeper work just past the half-way point of the first half. Mirko Vucinic found the Italian international, but Pegolo stopped the follow-up. Finally at the half-hour mark, Juve got their breakthrough. Vucinic played in a lovely ball to Lichtsteiner, who made no mistake in tapping it into the net from close range to make it 1-0 for the hosts. The first chance of the second interval arrived after an hour of play through Pirlo, as he hit a long distance shot, but he missed just left of the far post. Finally, just after 70 minutes, Siena recorded a shot, but Francesco Bolzoni’s effort was high and wide to the left following the corner. Things went from bad to worse for the visitors. After winning a free kick, Pirlo took the set piece, found Giovinco, who powered it high past Pegolo for the 2-0 tally. Seconds expired when Innocent Emeghara smacked a header towards goal, but was saved by Gianluigi Buffon. Giorgio Chiellini came on as a substitute on 77 minutes, making his return after a three month absence due to a calf injury. Christian Terlizzi was close with his opportunity, but he found the left post instead of the mesh. Just as added time approached, Pogba displayed some brilliant footwork, then shot from 25 metres into the net for Juve’s third goal. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000 Juventus go seven points clear Feb 24, 2013 Juventus extended their lead at the top of Serie A to seven points thanks to a 3-0 win over Siena, although the visitors made a game of it at the Juventus Stadium. Stephan Lichtsteiner and Sebastian Giovinco gave the Bianconeri a two-goal advantage, but Siena hit the woodwork twice as they made Juve work hard for their win. Paul Pogba then ended Siena's hopes with a third goal in the dying stages. The three points take Antonio Conte's side further ahead of Napoli at the top of the table, while Siena remain just a point off the foot of the table and five adrift of safety. Conte had warned that this would be one of their toughest and most important games of the season, and his message appeared to have been understood by his team. Not for one minute did it look like they would take the Serie A strugglers lightly and a committed attacking effort led to Claudio Marchisio testing Gianluca Pegolo for the first time in the 20th minute. Ten minutes later, Lichtsteiner somewhat fortunately gave the home side the lead. He surged into the area to meet Mirko Vucinic's pass, but he would not have reached it had Pegolo not pushed the ball onto the Swiss full-back's shin with the rebound looping into the net. Andrea Pirlo went close to adding a second with a free-kick as Juve continued to keep their concentration high. Giovinco made it two with a shot from a tight angle which Pegolo pushed in off the underside of his own crossbar in the 74th minute, but the day's work was far from done. Gianluigi Buffon did well to tip Innocent Emeghara's shot onto the bar in the 76th minute before Christian Terlizzi's shot hit the post six minutes from time. Pogba then settled Juve's nerves in the 89th minute as he took aim from 20 yards out, beating Pegolo with a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000‎ Juve sweep Siena aside Juventus swept Siena aside 3-0, Paul Pogba completing the rout, but the Tuscans did hit the woodwork twice. Feb 24, 2013 Juventus swept Siena aside 3-0, Paul Pogba completing the rout, but the Tuscans did hit the woodwork twice. The Serie A leaders suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Roma last week, so the gap at the top was cut to four points. Claudio Marchisio and Federico Peluso returned from their bans with Giorgio Chiellini on the bench for the first time in two months, but Paolo De Ceglie, Martin Caceres and Nicklas Bendtner were injured. Siena beat Inter and Lazio over the last few weeks, picking up 10 points from their last five games, but Simone Vergassola failed a fitness test. Antonio Conte had asked the fans to make more noise and not “sit there as if they’re watching theatre,” so the Juventus Stadium was particularly full-throated and sang the club anthem before kick-off. Leonardo Bonucci horribly wasted a great opportunity on a well-worked corner when he hit a fresh-air shot from just inside the area. Andrea Pirlo then curled a free kick off target, as did Stephan Lichtsteiner with his snapshot. Gianluca Pegolo needed a fine save to keep out Marchisio, flying to palm his curler round the post. Juve were putting on the pressure and broke through on the half-hour mark. Mirko Vucinic threaded through with a smart angled pass and Pegolo only managed to flap aimlessly at it, allowing Lichtsteiner to tap in at the back post. Paul Pogba side-footed straight at Pegolo from the edge of the box, but Siena struggled to mount a fightback. After the restart Gigi Buffon punched an Alessandro Rosina corner away and Marchisio stopped Emeghara getting the follow-up. Pegolo stood and watched a delightful Pirlo chip flash just past the far top corner, but it was Giovinco who put the result under lock and key. A free kick was rolled forward into the box and Giovinco smashed a powerful finish in at the near top corner. Pegolo got a hand to it, but the shot was so strong that it continued under the bar. Emeghara ensured the Bianconeri stayed on their toes, as he got a towering header moments later that Buffon fingertipped on to the crossbar. The assist was from Salvador Agra, another Siena January buy, who soon after forced a save out of Buffon from the edge of the box. Giorgio Chiellini made his comeback after two months out with a torn calf muscle. Christian Terlizzi was unfortunate not to get one back for Siena, as his long-range daisy-cutter thumped the base of the upright. Instead, Pogba hit one of his traditional screamers from distance that surprised Pegolo in the bottom corner. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JUVENTUS: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Peluso; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah (Chiellini 78); Giovinco (Giaccherini 81), Vucinic (Matri 65) SIENA: Pegolo; Jorge Texeira, Terlizzi, Felipe; Belmonte, Della Rocca (Verre 92), Rubin, Bolzoni; Rosina (Agra 71), Valiani (Pozzi 65); Emeghara Ref: Celi http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) 3 - 0 Stephan Lichtsteiner (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (74′) Paul Pogba (89′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 38000‎ Giovinco among scorers as Old Lady extend Serie A advantage The routine win for Antonio Conte's men means they have stretched their lead at the top of the table to seven points, with Napoli to play on Monday, while Siena's unbeaten run ends. Feb 24, 2013 Juventus have gone seven points clear at the summit of Serie A after goals from Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sebastian Giovinco and Paul Pogba handed the hosts a 3-0 win over lowly Siena. The Swiss defender gave Antonio Conte's side the lead after 30 minutes, following a perfectly weighted pass by Mirko Vicinic. His Italian team-mate then secured all three points in the 70th minute, only for Pogba to add a third late on. Andrea Pirlo forced out the first real opportunity of the encounter after Giovinco was fouled on the edge of the Siena box, but the Juventus midfielder could only guide his free kick over the bar. The hosts enjoyed the larger share of possession in the initial 15 minutes, and looked to make their dominance count, as Lichtsteiner and Mirko Vucinic linked up excellently, before the former fired an effort over the Siena goal. Claudio Marchiso then forced a superb diving stop from Gianluca Pegolo having combined well with Vucinic as Juventus began to exert themselves. Giovinco followed up by working the Siena goalkeeper again, but the shot-stopper was equal to it. The Bianconeri deservedly took the initiative with a half hour gone after Pegolo palmed Vucinic's lofted pass onto the shins of the surging Lichtsteiner, who bundled the ball into the far right corner. Juventus looked to add a second, moments later, following some good work by the creative Vucinic and Kwadwo Asamosh before the latter picked out Paul Pogba in the middle of the park. However, his effort was tame and trickled straight through to Pegolo. Pirlo came close to doubling the hosts' advantage on the hour mark, but couldn't direct his audacious chip from the edge of the 18-yard box into the far corner. With 15 minutes remaining the Turin outfit secured the win after Giovinco was picked out by Pirlo from a free kick. The former pushed down the left side of the Siena box before firing into the roof of the net leaving Pegolo with no chance. The strike sprung the visitors into life and moments after the goal, Gianluigi Buffon was called into action, but tipped Innocent Emeghara's goal-bound header onto the bar. Christian Terlizzi came even closer for Siena in the final five minutes, beating Buffon from the edge of the box, only to see his effort cannon back off the foot of the post. However, any chance of a comeback was dealt a final blow in the dying embers, as Pogba added a third from the edge of the Siena area. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Line-ups: Juventus-Siena Feb 24, 2013 Juventus look to Mirko Vucinic and Sebastian Giovinco as they hope to avoid becoming the latest big victims of Siena and Innocent Emeghara. Over the last few weeks, Siena have beaten Inter and Lazio, while January signing Emeghara has netted four goals in three games. The Swiss-Nigerian striker again starts with support from Alessandro Rosina and Francesco Valiani, while defender Jorge Texeira is a surprise pick. Simone Vergassola has failed a fitness test and is not even on the bench. Juve welcome back Claudio Marchisio and Federico Peluso from suspension, while Giorgio Chiellini is on the bench two months after tearing a calf muscle. Martin Caceres joins Paolo De Ceglie, Nicklas Bendtner and Simone Pepe on the injury list, but Paul Pogba is given a rare start alongside Andrea Pirlo. JUVENTUS: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Peluso; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Vucinic Juventus bench: Storari, Rubinho, Chiellini, Anelka, Padoin, Vidal, Giaccherini, Quagliarella, Matri, Isla, Marrone SIENA: Pegolo; Jorge Texeira, Terlizzi, Felipe; Belmonte, Della Rocca, Rubin, Bolzoni; Rosina, Valiani; Emeghara Siena bench: Farelli, Paci, Uvini, Mannini, Verre, Bogdani, Calello, Matheu, Agra, Grillo, Pozzi, Reginaldo. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Juventus-Siena Preview: Round 26 — Getting Back on the Horse Feb 23, 2013 For all intents and purposes, Juventus were the definition of a tired team last Saturday. They were sluggish, and therefore the 1-0 loss to Rome was pretty much the result that should've happened. We didn't like it around these parts, but that's what really did take place. There's no getting around it. After seven-plus days of rest, there's really only one thing to do: Get back to being Juventus. See? It's simple. Okay, maybe not that easy, but it helps that Juve are hosting a team that is currently in one of Serie A's relegation spots rather than, say, Napoli. But that's next week. For now, Antonio Conte welcomes his Bianconeri coaching past to the home of his Biaconeri coaching present and foreseeable future. It's certainly a fixture that Juve's manager respects. And it's certainly one that Juve needs to win to not only win, but play well to get some good vibes going again with Napoli and the second leg against Celtic in the Champions League on the horizon. That's just the simple truth. They've had eight days to rest. Now it's time to show why they're Italy's best team against. It's simply time to get back on the horse. Nothing needs to be said other than that. End the preview here! Or maybe not. Onwards and upwards we go! GOOD NEWS It's Italy's first-place team going up against one of the three clubs in the relegation zone. After a disappointing loss, you can't ask for much more from the scheduling gods than something like that. And Claudio Marchisio will all but certainly return to the starting lineup after sitting out the loss to Roma last weekend. We all know how much of a difference Il Principino makes. We missed you, Claudio. Welcome back. BAD NEWS Siena are actually playing quite well, all things considered. Therefore, they are alive and breathing despite being in the bottom three. Beppe Iachini doing well for relegation battlers Siena. 10 points from a possible 24 when Serse Cosmi only managed 17 from a possible 51! Add in Siena's ultra-surprising 3-0 win over Lazio last weekend, and that's 13 out of a possible 27 points. They might have only moved up one spot in the Serie A table since the last time they faced Juventus in Tuscany, but they've certainly showed signs of life compared to some of the league's other bottom feeders. Conte: Tomorrow we'll be taking on a team in great form. They've beaten Lazio and Inter and could have taken more from Bologna. WHAT TO WATCH FOR 1. Squad rotation. Any kind of word you want to use to describe how Juventus played against Roma, it probably is going to be accurate. And a lot of that had to do with how the squad being flat out tired as can be. But with some injuries developing during the week — Martin Caceres and Arturo Vidal didn't practice on Friday morning, according to the Juventus website — Conte maybe take more of a cautious, play-it-safe approach to selecting his squad. And then we have this from Conte's pre-match presser: Conte: Caceres will not feature tomorrow. Vidal missed yesterday's training session, we'll assess his condition today. So we know of one or two guys who may or may not be playing tomorrow. If Vidal is out too, then so be it. Juventus need as many healthy starters for Napoli as possible. If there's even the slightest risk of Vidal's condition being in doubt, sit him down and keep on the bench. Hell, don't even call him up. Just make sure that when Juventus start Friday's game against Napoli, he's out there and completely healthy. 2. Striker selection.First, since this post has become field with Twitter posts, here's another one: Conte: Giovinco's in good shape, available and we'll make our decisions after training. I still haven't chosen my side for. Methinks the Atomic Ant will be in the starting lineup tomorrow. It's been a couple of weeks since Giovinco appeared in the starting lineup — a lot of that having to do with the resurgence of Alessandro Matri. Will it be Matri alongside Giovinco on Sunday? Or maybe Mirko Vucinic? Maybe even Fabio Quagliarella making a rare 2013 appearance? Whatever combination Conte may be thinking of using, it does seem like thing will be shaken for the first time in awhile. 3. Juventus' physical state. Tired, tired, tired. That's what Juventus were against Roma. Now, the logical thinking is week off, and the troops are ready to go again. Easier said than done, but it's always good to get rest this time of year — and that's not even considering that Juventus played like crap last weekend because they were completely exhausted. But now that they're seven days separated from the loss in the capital, they shouldn't be tired. (Please don't be tired, Juventus.) 4. Juventus' mental state. When you're physically tired after a huge game, you're usually just as tired mentally as well. The squad have had a week of to not only recuperate, but also recover rest their minds. The thing I want to see? Well, to be frank, I want Juventus to be pissed off. Just think about the last time Juve had a post-Champions League letdown and lost to Milan. The next result: Juventus 3, Torino 0. Rinse and repeat, Il Mister. 5. The impact of Innocent Emeghara. Read this mighty fine piece of writing, and then defend at your own will. 6. If this weekend will mark Giorgio Chiellini's comeback. Conte said at his pre-match press conference that Giorgio will be on the bench against Siena. For me, it should only be brief appearance if he does in fact see some action. It's been months since Chiellini was last seen on the Juventus Stadium pitch. Get his feet wet now and then let him loose against Napoli in five days. That sounds like just a dandy plan. Maybe it's because I thought of it all by myself. Genius. My starting XI (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Peluso; Isla, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Quagliarella. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Juventus vs Siena PREVIEW: Conte welcomes old side to Juventus Stadium Feb 23, 2013 After another disappointing loss, this time away at Roma, Juventus return home to the Juventus Stadium to face Tuscan minnows Siena. Conte’s men have alternated in recent months between dizzying highs and grounding losses, that form suggests an easy win over one of the relegation candidates of Serie A. That’s simply not the case, however, as Siena are one of the “in form” sides in Serie A. Left for dead in December, Conte’s former team has had a bit of revival, winning 3 out of their last 6 games including a great 3-0 victory over 3rd placed Lazio. In fact, Siena has picked up only 1 less point than Juventus in the last 6 games, a testimony to Juve’s stumbling but also Siena’s solid form. SIENA Siena only picked up 15 points from their first 19 matches, but have won an impressive 10 in their last 6, form that has seen them climb out of the worst relegation spots – they currently are only 4 points away from safety. Much of their revival is owed to “the 2nd most famous hat wearer in calcio” former Brescia coach Giuseppe Iachini, who has gotten a reaction from his side since being named coach in late December. Siena’s offensive is not prolific, nor has it been all season, but Iachini has tightened the defense, despite the loss of defensive stalwart Neto to Zenit St. Petersburg in January. They’ve conceded 1 goal per game in the last 6 games, which has seen Siena take on opponents like Udinese, Inter and Lazio. They’ve done this without any star players (with Neto gone) rather solid tactical work from a group of capable if not spectacular defenders. Despite a relatively conservative offense, it’s exploded in the last month. The Robur knocked 3 goals past both Lazio and Inter, with Innocent Emeghera bagging 4 goals in 3 games since his signing in January. The former Lorient player has been a revelation since his mid-season switch, scoring consistently and providing quality play up top in a team quite short of attacking firepower. Siena aren’t leaking goals like fellow relegation candidates Palermo, Pescara, Genoa, or Roma, and that may be why they avoid the drop. The team is still similar to the one that Conte got back into Serie A- a tactically compact team that defends well, pressures well, but struggles to score. That formula has kept them in Serie A under Conte’s successor Sannino, and Iachini may succeed in doing so. Probable Formation: (3-4-2-1) Pegolo; Texeira, Terlizzi, Felipe; Belmonte, Vergassola, Della Rocca, Rubin; Rosina, Sestu; Emeghara JUVENTUS As stated above, Juve’s form has depended heavily based on the last fixture. The team crushed Nordsjaelland in the Champion’s League after the first loss in the Conte era to Inter. Weeks later, they would destroy Chelsea before falling to Milan, and we saw Conte’s men lose to Roma just after a mid-week exhausting triumph over Celtic. There’s unquestionably a physical aspect to these variations. Against Roma, the team tired badly in the 2nd half, the toll of a very physical mid-week duel clearly evident. It was at this point that Roma built pressure, Totti scored, and the team was too tired to react. Instead, they meekly walked off the pitch after a 1-0 loss. Conte blasted his men for the loss, insisting that players complaining of fatigue had assured him before the match that they felt 100% fit to play. He’s absolutely right – if a player is tired, he shouldn’t mislead the coach. On the other hand, as Efy Ambrose shows, few players will let minor fatigue get in the way of them playing in a big match. The inconsistency also points to a telling mental characteristic. The team has often fatigued in mid-week and let that lead to a poor result on the weekend, but just as often, a disappointing loss has provoked a fierce reaction from Conte’s men. The team was sorely disappointed to lose their phenomenal undefeated streak to Inter, especially at home, and took it out on poor Nordsjaelland on the weekend. The team was tired after the Chelsea match, lost disappointingly to Milan, and channeled that frustration into a 3-0 demolition of Torino the next week. The Celtic match definitely influenced Juve’s performance against Roma, but as we’ve seen this season, the Roma loss, and particularly the depressing manner of the loss (utterly impotent) may well condition the Siena match as well. Both the players and Conte were clearly disappointed both with the loss but also the standard of play in Rome, and poor old Siena (a club ally of Juventus) may bear the brunt of it. There are a few selection headaches for Juventus. Caceres and Vidal have both been ruled out- Vidal has been called up, but bruising to his calf probably means he probably won’t feature. Caceres has some strong lower back pain, and was not named in the team. Vucinic’s fatigue was noticeable in the Roma game, so Giovinco will probably start in his place with Matri, as Quagliarella continues to be on the fringes of the squad- expect to see Vucinic enter as an attacking substitute, however. Probable Formation: (3-5-2) Buffon; Bonucci, Marrone, Barzagli; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Matri Juventus have had a whole week to prepare for this match, and the team absolutely has to play it without thinking about the away match against Napoli that looms on the horizon. The team lost to Roma last week, and no Scudetto winning team has lost more than 4 matches (Roma was our 4th) in the last 15 years. Conte&co. have more points than last season and a better attack, but the losses sting. One of the differences between last season and this season is the performances against big and small teams. Last year, the team badly struggled to break down the provincial sides, but dominated the big teams, beating Inter and Lazio twice, thrashing Napoli and Roma, and dominating Milan 2-0 at the Juventus Stadium. This year, the team has not struggled as badly against the minnows, but 3 of the losses have come against big teams- Inter, Milan, and Roma. That’s probably not the best stat for the team’s ego, but it bodes well for the title race. Teams like Siena were Claudio Ranieri’s undoing- the man had a stellar record in big matches, but his failure to pick apart smaller teams was why his Juve was unable to mount a serious title challenge. We can worry about the big matches later- tomorrow, there’s only one job for the team that will be wearing Bianconero- Win! http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Giorgio Chiellini returns for Juventus Feb 23, 2013 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini will return to the Juventus squad for the Bianconeri’s match against Siena after a long lay-off with injury. Chiellini, who had made 19 appearances for Juventus this season, has been sidelined since suffering a muscle tear in his calf on December 16. Chiellini missed out on the Italian side’s first fixture in their knockout round tie against Celtic, but will likely be included for the follow-up in Turin. The Juventus vice-captain will be returning to the bench this weekend, along with Claudio Marchisio and Federico Peluso. The latter two served bans during Juventus’s 1-0 defeat to Roma. In further Juventus injury news, Martin Caceres will not be included due to a muscular problem, however central-midfielder Arturo Vidal will be included in the side despite spraining his ankle.

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Juventus-Siena Preview: Scudetto holders looking to respond after loss to Roma Beppe Iachini has never beaten Juventus but his own Bianconeri have gone three games unbeaten ahead of Sunday’s match in Turin. Feb 23, 2013 PROBABLE LINE-UPS JUVENTUSBuffon Bonucci, Marrone, Peluso Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah Quagliarella, Giovinco SIENA Pegolo Texeira, Terlizzi, Felipe Belmonte, Vergassola, Della Rocca, Rubin Rosina, Sestu Emeghara Juventus winger Simone Pepe has suffered a setback in training and will likely have to undergo surgery to repair a thigh injury. The 29-year-old has made just a single appearance from the bench so far this season. Coach Antonio Conte is also without on-loan Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, who is still recovering from adductor surgery and is expected back sometime in March. Defender Paolo De Ceglie is sidelined with a thigh injury suffered against Fiorentina earlier this month and Giorgio Chiellini will be given the day off to rest his troublesome calf. Claudio Marchisio returns from suspension. Iachini’s only injury concern involves wing-back Angelo, who has a muscle injury but is expected to play some part in his side’s match against Atalanta on March 3. Defenders Roberto Vitiello and Claudio Terzi are serving extended bans for their part in the 2011 match-fixing scandal. DID YOU KNOW? • Since the beginning of January, Juventus have dropped points in four of eight Serie A matches, including losses to Sampdoria and Roma. They also lost 2-1 away to Lazio in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia. • Only Roma have scored more than the 50 goals Juventus have managed in the league so far this season, but Fabio Quagliarella is the only player with at least seven of them to his name. • Juventus are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Siena. Their most recent defeat to them came in May 2008. • Siena are third from bottom in Serie A but would be 15th had they not been deducted six points for their role in the 2011 Italian match-fixing scandal. • Coach Beppe Iachini lost his first three matches after replacing Serse Cosmi last December but has since dropped just one of his last five while beating Sampdoria, Inter and Lazio. • Striker Innocent Emeghara has scored three goals in four matches since joining Siena on loan from Lorient in January. Head to Head Serie A ‎- Oct 7, 2012 - Siena 1 - Juventus 2 Serie A ‎- Feb 5, 2012 - Juventus 0 - Siena 0 Serie A ‎- Sep 18, 2011 - Siena 0 - Juventus 1 Serie A ‎- Mar 14, 2010 - Juventus 3 - Siena 3 Serie A - Oct 25, 2009 - Siena 0 - Juventus 1 Last Five Matches Juventus Feb 16, 2013 - Roma 1 - Juventus 0 - Serie A Feb 12, 2013 - Celtic 0 - Juventus 3 - UCL Feb 9, 2013 - Juventus 2 - Fiorentina 0 - Serie A Feb 3, 2013 - Chievo 1 - Juventus 2 - Serie A Jan 29, 2013 - Lazio 2 - Juventus 1 - Coppa Italia Siena Feb 18, 2013 - Siena 3 - Lazio 0 - Serie A Feb 10, 2013 - Bologna 1 - Siena 1 - Serie A Feb 3, 2013 - Siena 3 - FC Internazionale 1 - Serie A Jan 27, 2013 - Udinese 1 - Siena 0 - Serie A Jan 20, 2013 - Siena 1 - Sampdoria 0 - Serie A Players to Watch Claudio Marchisio The last time we saw the 27-year-old midfielder he was starring for Juventus in the Champions League against Celtic. Suspended for last weekend’s match against AS Roma —a 1-0 defeat— he’ll be a welcome addition for Antonio Conte ahead of Saturday’s match against Siena and will be expected to drive play forward like he has on so many occasions. Innocent Emeghara Siena boss Beppe Iachini has admitted he only saw the Nigeria-born Switzerland international on DVD before signing him on loan from Lorient last month. But the 23-year-old’s acquisition was definitely worth the gamble. He has scored three goals from just six shots since moving to Italy. Prediction Juventus have Marchisio back and will not want to go two matches without a win following last Saturday’s loss in the capital. And while Siena have started to turn things around under Iachini they’ll be hard-pressed to get anything from an irritated opponent that has turned its home stadium into a fortress. Editor's Prediction Juventus 2 - 0 Siena http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 24-2-2013 (3:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Domenico Celi Next 13 games are World Cup finals for Juventus, says Conte The Bianconeri lost ground in the defence of their title against Roma last weekend, and the 43-year-old has called for focus on their remaining league matches. Feb 23, 2013 Antonio Conte has claimed that Juventus must treat their next 13 Serie A matches like World Cup finals if they are to retain their Scudetto crown. Last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Roma saw the Old Lady's lead at the top of Serie A cut to four points, and their coach has called on the supporters to act as the 12th man in the title run-in. “We need to play 13 World Cup finals and dropping points could prove costly. We’ll face a very difficult fixture tomorrow and I hope the fans take note and raise the volume at the stadium," he was quoted as saying on the club's official website. “Now is the time to urge the team on in the way they did last year and have done on certain occasions this season." Juventus' next clash is against Conte's former side, Siena, and the 43-year-old warned his tropps not to underestimate the in-form Tuscans, despite their lowly standing in the table. "Siena will put us under pressure. They’re in excellent form and have conceded just three goals in their last five games," he continued. "They produced comprehensive wins over Inter and Lazio and were only beaten in Udine by a goal on the counter. “They've got a good mentality, strong work ethic and an excellent coach in [Giuseppe] Iachini. People might say it looks straightforward on paper, but that certainly won’t be the case.” Conte also took the time to congratulate AC Milan and Lazio for their midweek European triumphs and felt the masses are beginning to take note of teams on the peninsula once more. “In Italy we’re tackling the economic crisis through ideas, work, culture and focusing on developing youngsters. "We've lost many great players, but this has brought the opportunity for coaches to bridge the gap with work and organisation. The Italian league is very competitive and we’ve displayed that in Europe. “I’d like to congratulate Milan and Allegri on their magnificent achievement in midweek. Inter and Lazio also did extremely well. Italian teams are very well organised. "If a foreign side lined up against Siena tomorrow, they would come up against the same difficulties that we’ll face.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/