Socrates

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 2-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ BAYERN 2 - 0 JUVENTUS D. Alaba (1′) Thomas Müller (63′) Allianz Arena - Munich Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Attendance: 68000‎ Bayern experience trumps Juve Apr 2, 2013 It had been heralded as the most wondrous tie of the round, but may well end up as the most one-sided. A brilliantly assured Bayern Munich are well on the way to the semifinals with a performance that was much more emphatic than even 2-0 suggests. What will be most galling for Juventus will be the fact that they simply didn't give a true account of themselves. This was a meek surrender to defeat from a side who have otherwise shown such strength to go an entire Serie A season unbeaten. What will be most encouraging for Bayern, though, was that they didn't even have to be at their best to win so commandingly. At times, especially in the second half, they were almost casually strolling as they struck the ball around. That, however, is not to say they didn't professionally do their job. Most notably, striker Mario Mandzukic often dropped into a holding role in order to abrasively win the ball back and ensure Bayern’s superiority was maintained. It perfectly illustrated the pressing, passing game implemented across the team as a whole. What’s more, it allowed them to overcome the injury to the usually vital Toni Kroos without any notable effect. With the young midfielder having suffered a muscle tear and set to be out for the rest of the season, however, that may become more of an issue later on in the campaign. Here, Bayern just brushed Juve off to maintain their balance. To a degree, that reflected exactly the reality of what these teams are. Since this Bayern core started to come together around the summer of 2009, they have reached two Champions League finals in three seasons. By contrast, this was only Juventus's second European knockout tie under Antonio Conte, with the first obviously coming in the last 16 against Celtic. In that, the Italian side suddenly bore all the hallmarks of an otherwise fine team facing a quality of side they aren't usually accustomed to. Indeed, Juve almost looked like the Manchester United team they themselves subjected to such a reality check in the 1996-97 season. Not only did they fail to create a chance of note, they failed to get any kind of foothold on the game and always looked a step behind Bayern. Of course, the quick-fire David Alaba goal would have unfortunately affected any game plan, but then it's just as telling that Juventus were so disrupted by it. In the long term, it's of no concern. The club just need to accustom themselves to playing teams of such quality again, and they won't get too many lessons as stark as this. In the short term, though, it is troubling how far that anxiety spread and how badly some of their most experienced individuals were affected. Gigi Buffon, for example, uncharacteristically slipped up to allow Thomas Muller to slot home for the clincher. And, for the opening goal, Andrea Pirlo played a shockingly sloppy pass to open things up for Alaba. Even worse, it was the first of many from the playmaker. Pirlo ended up with a pass completion of just 51 percent. It may just be coincidence, but the last time he had such an ineffective game was another against a passing-pressing team: the Euro 2012 final. Bayern may not be quite as good as the Spanish side that beat Italy 4-0 in that match, but they're developing a justifiable reputation of their own. This game will only fortify the perception that they are finally set to end a 12-year wait for the Champions League trophy they crave above all. It is mental fortitude, however, that may be the only remaining barrier to doing so. As it stands, this Bayern team have still choked in three big continental occasions, while Arsenal ran them pretty close in the last round. Juventus's only hope is to try to do the same. Bayern's lead, however, should strongly mitigate against that.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 2-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ BAYERN 2 - 0 JUVENTUS D. Alaba (1′) Thomas Müller (63′) Allianz Arena - Munich Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Attendance: 68000‎ Juve capitulate in Munich Juventus will need a remarkable performance to reach the Champions League semi-final after numerous mistakes in their 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich. Apr 2, 2013 The Bianconeri were still unbeaten in the Champions League this season and kept five consecutive clean sheets going into the first leg of this quarter-final. Their track record in Munich was perfectly even thanks to a 1-0 win in 2004, a draw and a defeat. Juve also knocked German teams out in all five previous quarter-finals. Mirko Vucinic was still suffering from flu symptoms, so Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella started in attack. Javi Martinez was suspended and Holger Badstuber injured, but Bayern were fresh from a 9-1 Bundesliga victory over Hamburg. It was the worst possible start for the Bianconeri. Andrea Pirlo gave the ball away and David Alaba hit a speculative long-range effort that took a deflection off Arturo Vidal. Gigi Buffon was heading the wrong way and had to change direction, but slipped and couldn’t quite get there in time to keep out the shot in the opening 30 seconds. Juve’s run of four consecutive clean sheets in Europe was ended in bizarre fashion, but did not lose heart and Pirlo’s free kick landed on the roof of the net, then Vidal’s snapshot whistled wide. Bad news for Bayern, as Toni Kroos hobbled off with a suspected groin strain to make way for Arjen Robben. The Dutch international almost scored within three minutes of coming off the bench, as he pounced on an Andrea Barzagli error to shoot from seven yards, forcing Buffon to parry with his ankle. Barzagli gave the ball away again in the final third and Franck Ribery’s counter-attack was deflected inches past the near post. From that corner, a Dante glancing header went wide. Daniel Van Buyten also protested as Giorgio Chiellini stopped him getting to another corner. Bastian Schweinsteiger’s free kick floated just over the far top corner, but Juve were under pressure and continually giving the ball away in the final third. Another error allowed a Thomas Muller counter and Robben fired wide of the near post from a very promising position. Matri at full stretch just failed to get on the end of a long pass and Manuel Neuer plucked it off his foot. Robben’s weak angled drive was into Buffon’s arms and Ribery flashed a ball across the six-yard box, but Mario Mandzukic couldn’t make contact under pressure from Chiellini. Schweinsteiger blasted over the bar, but Juve finally created a chance in first half stoppages when Bonucci’s glancing header from a Pirlo corner landed on the roof of the net. Surprisingly, Antonio Conte made no changes at the break and Buffon parried a Mandzukic counter-attack at the base of the near post. The goalkeeper also had his palms stung by a fierce Alaba free kick. Bayern remained in control and doubled their lead when Buffon palmed a long-range Luiz Gustavo effort into the path of Mandzukic, who reacted quicker than the Juve defence to roll across for Muller’s tap-in. There were suspicions of offside on Mandzukic in the build-up. It was only the sixth time in all competition this season that Juve had conceded more than one goal. Vucinic and Sebastian Giovinco were thrown on for the ineffective Matri and Quagliarella. Vidal was booked for a handling offence and will be suspended for the second leg. Juve finally had a shot on goal on 69 minutes when Vidal stung Neuer’s gloves from eight yards, but on the counter Ribery did the same to Buffon. Paul Pogba replaced Federico Peluso, as Juve moved to a 4-4-2 system in the final 15 minutes. Stephan Lichtsteiner was harshly booked for simulation when he burst into the box and clattered into Dante, as the English referee thought he went looking for the contact. Ribery was fortunate to escape even a free kick when he stamped his studs on Vidal’s calf. Alaba charged down a Pogba strike in the box, but as the move continued Bonucci ballooned an attempt high and wide. Buffon got down to beat away a Muller snapshot and was glad to see the Bayern forward fire the follow-up over the bar. Bayern 2-0 Juventus Scorers: Alaba 1 (B), Muller 63 (B) Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, van Buyten, Dante, Alaba; Luiz Gustavo, Schweinsteiger; Muller, Kroos (Robben 16), Ribery (Shaqiri 92); Mandzukic (Gomez 90) Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Peluso (Pogba 75); Matri (Vucinic 65), Quagliarella (Giovinco 65) Ref: Clattenburg (ENG)

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 2-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ BAYERN 2 - 0 JUVENTUS D. Alaba (1′) Thomas Müller (63′) Allianz Arena - Munich Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) Attendance: 68000‎ Alaba & Muller net as German giants produce dominant display Jupp Heynckes' men have one foot in the final four after dominating their quarter-final first-leg clash with the Italian champions from start to finish. Apr 2, 2013 Bayern Munich took a significant step towards the semi-finals of the Champions League with a commanding 2-0 first-leg success over a strangely subdued Juventus side at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday evening. After opening the scoring inside a minute courtesy of a deflected drive from David Alaba, the runaway Bundesliga leaders dominated what many felt would be the most closely contested of the four quarter-finals and were full value for a victory which was deservedly capped by a second-half strike from Thomas Muller. Bayern had gone into the game on the back of a devastating 9-2 domestic defeat of Hamburg but even they could not have imagined that they would open the scoring against the tightest defence in the Champions League with such ease. Less than 25 seconds had elapsed when an uncharacteristically sloppy pass from Andrea Pirlo allowed Bastian Schweinsteiger to put Alaba into space some 35 yards out. Even then, there appeared to be little threat to the Juventus goal, but the Austria international’s subsequent strike took a slight deflection off Vidal that deceived Gianluigi Buffon, who, having inexplicably committed himself to a dive to his right, was unable to scramble back across his line to keep out a bouncing ball that was not travelling at any great pace. Credit to the visitors, they responded well to the concession of such an early goal, and Pirlo fired a free kick just over the Bayern bar seconds before midfield partner Vidal flashed a well-struck shot inches wide as the Bianconeri enjoyed a brief spell of dominance. The loss of Toni Kroos to injury after 16 minutes appeared further cause for concern for Bayern but the introduction of Arjen Robben coincided with a sustained spell of pressure for the hosts, with the Dutchman very nearly doubling his side’s advantage with a snapshot volley that Buffon did well to block with his feet. Franck Ribery then saw a low strike unluckily deflected wide by Bonucci, after the industrious Mario Mandzukic had brilliantly dispossessed a sleeping Andrea Barzagli, before Robben squandered another excellent opening on 32 minutes, dragging Muller's terrific cut-back wide of the right post with the entire goal at his mercy. Juve served a timely reminder of their set-piece threat just before the break when Giorgio Chiellini headed a Pirlo corner just over, but it was clear that the Bianconeri, who had not managed a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, would need a drastically improved second-half showing if they were to save an unbeaten away record in European competition that stretched back to 2010. As it was, Bayern continued to carry the far greater attacking threat and Mandzukic tested Buffon with a low strike after being released into space by Schweinsteiger. The crucial second goal that Bayern undeniably deserved arrived just after the hour mark. Again, there was some fortune involved. Mandzukic was offside when Luiz Gustavo hit a shot that Buffon was unable to hold, but the hosts deserved their good luck and Mandzukic had to be applauded for the way in which he coolly collected the rebound before leaving Muller with a tap-in. The beleaguered Bianconeri managed to muster a shot on goal in the final quarter, with Manuel Neuer easily parrying a Vidal shot away to safety, but Muller very nearly added a third Bayern goal at the end of what was already a bitterly disappointing night for the Italians. They must now attempt to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg without Vidal and Stephan Lichsteiner, both of whom where booked in Bavaria.

Le grandi sconfitte servono per costruire le grandi vittorie. (Gianni Agnelli)

Antonio é un allenatore giovane, stasera ha sicuramente imparato diverse cose.

Tutti possono sbagliare in campo: gli arbitri, gli attaccanti e anche un portiere come Buffon. Nessuno é infallibile.

Forse ti sei giá scordato quante volte il colpevole di stasera ci ha salvato in passato. Se fossi davvero obiettivo, accetteresti la sconfitta inflittaci da una squadra superiore. Non siamo ancora al livello del Bayern, quello deve essere il nostro obiettivo.

Entra il Iaquinta tedesco.

Tedeschi vicini al 3-0.

Gran pallone di Robben in area. Ci va bene di nuovo.

Complimenti a Ribery per il calcione a Vidal e per la sua antisportivitá. I veri Campioni non sanno solo giocare a pallone ...

Diverse decisioni discutibili dell'arbitro inglese stasera.

Conte ha letto il tuo post.

Questi sono i veri top players.

Bannato dal topic certamente.

Non riusciamo a fare un'azione decente.

Le punte titolari in campo.

Che faccia Conte.

2-0

Pirlo irriconoscibile stasera.

Hai detto niente!

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Quarter Final - 2-4-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ BAYERN - JUVENTUS Allianz Arena - Munich Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England) HT 1-0: Juve trail in Munich Apr 2, 2013 Bayern Munich went in front within 30 seconds and have had Juventus under pressure ever since, but it’s still 1-0 at half-time. The Bianconeri were still unbeaten in the Champions League this season and kept five consecutive clean sheets going into the first leg of this quarter-final. Their track record in Munich was perfectly even thanks to a 1-0 win in 2004, a draw and a defeat. Juve also knocked German teams out in all five previous quarter-finals. Mirko Vucinic was still suffering from flu symptoms, so Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella started in attack. Javi Martinez was suspended and Holger Badstuber injured, but Bayern were fresh from a 9-1 Bundesliga victory over Hamburg. It was the worst possible start for the Bianconeri. Andrea Pirlo gave the ball away and David Alaba hit a speculative long-range effort that took a deflection off Arturo Vidal. Gigi Buffon was heading the wrong way and had to change direction, but slipped and couldn’t quite get there in time to keep out the shot in the opening 30 seconds. Juve’s run of four consecutive clean sheets in Europe was ended in bizarre fashion, but did not lose heart and Pirlo’s free kick landed on the roof of the net, then Vidal’s snapshot whistled wide. Bad news for Bayern, as Toni Kroos hobbled off with a suspected groin strain to make way for Arjen Robben. The Dutch international almost scored within three minutes of coming off the bench, as he pounced on an Andrea Barzagli error to shoot from seven yards, forcing Buffon to parry with his ankle. Barzagli gave the ball away again in the final third and Franck Ribery’s counter-attack was deflected inches past the near post. From that corner, a Dante glancing header went wide. Daniel Van Buyten also protested as Giorgio Chiellini stopped him getting to another corner. Bastian Schweinsteiger’s free kick floated just over the far top corner, but Juve were under pressure and continually giving the ball away in the final third. Another error allowed a Thomas Muller counter and Robben fired wide of the near post from a very promising position. Matri at full stretch just failed to get on the end of a long pass and Manuel Neuer plucked it off his foot. Robben’s weak angled drive was into Buffon’s arms and Ribery flashed a ball across the six-yard box, but Mario Mandzukic couldn’t make contact under pressure from Chiellini. Schweinsteiger blasted over the bar, but Juve finally created a chance in first half stoppages when Bonucci’s glancing header from a Pirlo corner landed on the roof of the net. Bayern 1-0 Juventus (Half-Time) Scorers: Alaba 1 (B) Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, van Buyten, Dante, Alaba; Luiz Gustavo, Schweinsteiger; Muller, Kroos (Robben 16), Ribery; Mandzukic Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Peluso; Matri, Quagliarella Ref: Clattenburg (ENG)