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Serie A Week 25 - 16-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Conte fears Juventus fatigue Feb 15, 2013 Antonio Conte is keeping his fingers crossed that his Juventus players have the energy to pick up a result at Roma on Saturday. The Bianconeri face their third game in eight days after their wins over Fiorentina in Serie A and Celtic in the Champions League. “The players are in good shape, I’ll just have to see if anyone needs a rest,” the tactician stated on Friday afternoon. “The idea is to, more or less, go with the side that has done well in these past two games. But I do fear tiredness – that’s why I would have preferred to have had the match scheduled for Sunday.” The League leaders are eight places and 21 points better off than Roma, but the Coach still respects the capital threat. “They have a great squad and they’ll be really motivated against us,” he added. “Roma have great technical value. They started the season aiming for the top spots, now they’ve slowed down a bit. But this will be a really difficult game.” Juve will go into the tie on the back of an impressive showing in Europe this week, where they put one foot in the last eight of the European Cup. “Our morale is certainly sky high after that win. We’ve won a lot of praise, but they shouldn’t weigh us down. “I’m proud that we are in the same competition as Real Madrid and Manchester United. We’re an outsider who can cause problems. “We want to enter the elite of football, but now we’ll dive back into the championship.” When asked about his striking choices, he suggested that Mirko Vucinic and Alessandro Matri would retain their starting shirts. “I always choose the players who are at their best and I have the good fortune that I have five forwards to choose from. Right now is the moment for Vucinic and Matri.” The tactician also provided an update on the injured Giorgio Chiellini. “I hope that he will be back training with the squad in the week, with an eye on having him back for the Siena game.” Kwadwo Asamoah and Paul Pogba are expected to replace the suspended Federico Peluso and Claudio Marchisio. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 25 - 16-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Roma squad for Juventus Feb 15, 2013 Alessandro Florenzi, Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Daniele De Rossi have been included in the Roma squad for Saturday’s game against Juventus. All three were doubts for the Stadio Olimpico tie, but their names do appear in Aurelio Andreazzoli’s 22-man squad. Florenzi has been struggling with a cold this week, Osvaldo has had a knee problem and De Rossi has been complaining of a thigh issue. Roma are without the injured Leandro Castan, Dodo and Mattia Destro. Squad: Balzaretti, Bradley, Burdisso, De Rossi, Florenzi, Goicoechea, Lamela, Lobont, Lopez, Lucca, Marquinho, Marquinhos, Osvaldo, Perrotta, Piris, Pjanic, Romagnoli, Stekelenburg, Tachtsidis, Taddei, Torosidis, Totti. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 25 - 16-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Conte fears Juventus fatigue The 43-year-old admits he is concerned that some of his squad may be tired as they prepare for their third game in seven days against Roma on Saturday. Feb 15, 2013 Antonio Conte is anxious over the fitness of his Juventus squad ahead of their Serie A clash with Roma on Saturday. The Bianconeri have already faced Fiorentina in the league and Celtic in the Champions League in the last week, and Conte admits he is concerned that his players may be suffering with fatigue due to the hectic schedule. “The players are in good shape, I’ll just have to see if anyone needs a rest,” he told a press conference on Friday. “The idea is to, more or less, go with the side that has done well in these past two games. But I do fear tiredness – that’s why I would have preferred to have had the match scheduled for Sunday.” Although Juventus are eight places and 21 points clear of Roma, Conte has warned that Aurelio Andreazzoli's side remain a force to be reckoned with. “They have a great squad and they’ll be really motivated against us,” he continued. “Roma have great technical value. They started the season aiming for the top spots, now they’ve slowed down a bit. But this will be a really difficult game. “Our morale is certainly sky high after that win [against Celtic]. We’ve won a lot of praise, but that shouldn’t weigh us down. “I’m proud that we are in the same competition as Real Madrid and Manchester United. We’re an outsider who can cause problems. “We want to enter the elite of football, but now we’ll dive back into the championship.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 25 - 16-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Totti: We win and lose together The Roma captain has urged the club to remain united and ignore media speculation about rifts between team-mates as they seek to end a long run without a league win. Feb 15, 2013 Francesco Totti has urged Roma to stay united as they look to put an end to their poor run of form. The capital club are yet to taste victory in Serie A this season and have come in for widespread criticism, but the veteran skipper has reminded them that the team win and lose as a collective. “We win and lose together, from the first to the last, as joy and pain must be divided equally between us," he was quoted as saying on the club's official website. “Now more than ever I say always and only Forza Roma. Hands off my, our and your Roma! There have been many words and fantastical reconstructions of what happened in Genoa. "It was something that happened within the match and at the final whistle it’s all over for me. During moments of difficulty, a captain needs to make his voice heard. "I have had this role for many years and try to do it with responsibility, belonging, passion and clarity. Blaming individuals is not good for anybody. “My team-mates and I form a united group and Daniel is one of us. This must not be forgotten and I hope he will soon return to celebrating with joy after scoring a goal. This is what we should all hope, to celebrate victories together." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 25 - 16-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Roma injury concerns for Juve Feb 14, 2013 Roma have injury concerns for Alessandro Florenzi, Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Daniele De Rossi ahead of Saturday’s match with Juventus. Midfielder Florenzi did not take part in today’s training session after he came down with flu symptoms and is hoping to recover his strength in time for the weekend. Osvaldo is continuing to struggle with problems in his knee, while De Rossi had a left thigh twinge and is on a specific training schedule. However, there are hopes that all three could be ready to feature against Juventus. The Giallorossi are already without Leandro Castan and Mattia Destro, while Federico Balzaretti is on the road to recovery. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Ottavi di finale - Andata - 12-2-2013 (ore 20:45) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Arbitro: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spagna) Spettatori: 57917 Champions League - Matri, Marchisio, Vucinic: Juve da urlo! La formazione di Conte passa 3-0 al Celtic Park grazie a una partita praticamente perfetta: la qualificazione ai quarti di finale è già cosa fatta. Era dal 1969 che una squadra italiana non vinceva in casa del Celtic: l'ultima, e unica fin qui a riuscirci, era stato il Milan di Rocco con un gol di Pierino Prati.... Eurosport - Martedí, 12 febbraio 2013 Attenta e concreta. La Juventus fa esattamente la partita che doveva fare e torna da Glasgow con un 3-0 che, in vista del ritorno allo Juventus Stadium, è molto più di un’assicurazione. Il Celtic è vinto sotto tutti i punti di vista: a Torino, fra tre settimane, basterà contenere. Perché l’impresa del Celtic Park vale già da sola la qualificazione. JUVE CON MATRI+VUCINIC: CELTIC SENZA SAMARAS – La Juventus conferma il 3-5-2 annunciato alla vigilia: Caceres titolare in difesa per via dell’indisponibilità di Chiellini (infortunato, e comunque squalificato), mentre largo a sinistra gioca Peluso al posto di Asamoah, di ritorno dalla Coppa d’Africa ma che non va nemmeno in panchina. Davanti Matri e Vucinic. Nel Celtic non c’è invece Samaras, non al meglio: al suo posto gioca Commons. Subito titolare invece Ambrose, vincitore con la Nigeria della Coppa d’Africa 2013. MATRI IN AVVIO PER IL VANTAGGIO BIANCONERO - Parte molto forte il Celtic, che come prevedibile comincia a ritmo altissimo e prova a fare la partita fin dai primi minuti. Ma, come le vecchie squadre inglesi di una volta, manca di qualità; quella qualità che permette, con l’ultimo passaggio, di mettere il proprio attaccante solo davanti al portiere avversario. Wanyama spaventa Buffon da 30 metri, poi però - al terzo minuto di gioco - la Juve trova il gol del vantaggio: lancio lungo di Peluso, dormita di Ambrose (un azzardo farlo partire titolare, era di ritorno dalla Coppa d’Africa) e Matri, che sta vivendo uno straordinario momento di grazia, anticipa Forster per l’1-0 che gela il Celtic Park. La formazione di Lennon riprende in mano la gara, ma Buffon non corre comunque grossi pericoli. Nemmeno il suo collega del Celtic, a dire la verità, ma la sensazione è che la Juventus – soprattutto in contropiede – possa fare male agli scozzesi. La partita nel finale diventa molto più fisica rispetto alla prima parte di gara, ma la squadra di Conte reagisce colpo su colpo al guanto di sfida lanciato dal Celtic. E a fine primo tempo torna negli spogliatoi avanti 1-0. E con pieno merito. IL CELTIC CALA, LA JUVE TRIONFA - Il film della partita è lo stesso anche nel secondo tempo, con l’unica differenza che il Celtic però comincia ad avere meno carburante nel serbatoio. Al 62esimo Ambrose ha sulla testa il pallone del 2-1, ma – tutto solo davanti a Buffon – conclude centralmente. La Juve prende coraggio, sfiora il gol del raddoppio con Vucinic al 67esimo e poi, dieci minuti più tardi, chiude la partita con Marchisio, al primo centro nel 2013, che sfrutta una grandissima sponda di Matri, salta Brown e batte Forster con un destro potente sul primo palo. Il grande risultato diventa poi trionfo al minuto 83, quando Ambrose (sempre lui!) si addormenta con il pallone tra i piedi e regala il possesso a Marchisio: pallone nel corridoio per Vucinic che, con il piatto destro, deposita in rete il gol del definitivo 3-0 Un risultato che sa di impresa: un’impresa che vale i quarti di finale della Champions League 2012-2013. Andrea Tabacco.

Serie A - 6^ Giornata - Ritorno - 16-2-2013 (ore 20:45) - Stadio Olimpico - Roma Arbitro: Gianluca Rocchi Confronti ufficiali 176 - 157 (Serie A) - 15 (Coppa Italia) - 4 (Campionato a gironi) Vittorie Juventus 83 - 74 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) Pareggi 51 - 47 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) Vittorie Roma 42 - 36 (Serie A) - 6 (Coppa Italia) Goals Juventus 277 - 248 (Serie A) - 24 (Coppa Italia) - 5 (Campionato a gironi) Goals Roma 188 - 170 (Serie A) - 17 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) Roma - Juventus a Roma Serie A Confronti ufficiali 78 Vittorie Juventus 24 (L'ultima il 03.04.2011, 0-2) Pareggi 26 (L'ultimo il 12.12.2011, 1-1) Vittorie Roma 28 (L'ultima l' 08.02.2004, 4-0) Goals Juventus 94 Goals Roma 113 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro la Roma a Roma 13 presenze Boniperti Giampiero 12 Furino Giuseppe 12 Scirea Gaetano 12 Varglien II Giovanni 11 Bettega Roberto 11 Depetrini Teobaldo 11 Zoff Dino 10 Cabrini Antonio 10 Causio Franco 10 Morini Francesco 7 goals Borel II Felice Placido 4 Bettega Roberto 3 Anastasi Pietro 3 Boniperti Giampiero 3 Iaquinta Vincenzo 3 Nedved Pavel 3 Trezeguet David Sergio 2 Baggio Roberto 2 Bercellino I Giancarlo 2 Cevenini III Luigi Ultimi confronti diretti 21.03.2009 Serie A Roma-Juventus 1-4 30.08.2009 Serie A Roma-Juventus 1-3 23.01.2010 Serie A Juventus-Roma 1-2 13.11.2010 Serie A Juventus-Roma 1-1 27.01.2011 Coppa Italia Juventus-Roma 0-2 03.04.2011 Serie A Roma-Juventus 0-2 12.12.2011 Serie A Roma-Juventus 1-1 24.01.2012 Coppa Italia Juventus-Roma 3-0 22.04.2012 Serie A Juventus-Roma 4-0 29.09.2012 Serie A Juventus-Roma 4-1 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 6 - Pareggi 2 - Vittorie Roma 2 - Goals Juventus 23 - Goals Roma 9

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Celtic want Uefa 'clarification' on refereeing in Juventus match The 41-year-old reveals they will send the governing body a DVD of the game in search of "answers", lambasting the lack of "strong" officiating. Mr. Lennon, you are both, ridiculous and boring. Feb 13, 2013 Celtic manager Neil Lennon has revealed that the club intend to seek "clarification" from Uefa about the refereeing during Tuesday's Champions League defeat to Juventus. The Bhoys boss feels that the Italian champions should have conceded at least one penalty to his side for heavy-handed defending at set-pieces on their way to a 3-0 win at Parkhead and says that the club will send Uefa a DVD of the game to seek answers on the matter. "We will compile a DVD, send it to Uefa and see what kind of answers we get," Lennon told reporters. "You don't see our players doing that. There were pictures of the shirt coming off Gary Hooper's back; credit to him for keeping his cool. "It's a myth that Juventus 'did their homework'. That's rubbish. Juventus defend like that week-in, week-out in Serie A. If anything, we had done our homework and we made sure the referee was aware of it and he was looking at it time and again and Juventus went unpunished." Lennon went on to state that a "strong referee" would have acted on what he saw and suggested that Celtic would have been awarded a penalty for the same offences a decade ago. "We needed a strong referee and we didn't have that," he fumed. "As I said after the game, 10 or 11 years ago we got a penalty against Juventus in the exact same circumstances, the player was warned about grappling with Chris Sutton, the corner comes in he did again and the referee gave a penalty. "Have the rules changed since then?"

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Pirlo: Celtic tie still alive Feb 14, 2013 Andrea Pirlo knows that Juventus’ Champions League tie against Celtic is still not over after his Istanbul nightmare. The Old Lady are in a commanding position in their last 16 European Cup tie following a 3-0 first leg win in Scotland. But Pirlo was part of a Milan side who somehow lost the 2005 Champions League Final to Liverpool after going three goals up. “Of course we have put ourselves in a great position and, after a win like that, we expect to go through, but it would be dangerous to consider that the tie is won yet,” he stated. “I've been in football long enough to know miracles can happen. “I can still remember the Champions League Final against Liverpool. They scored three goals in just a half, whereas Celtic have a whole game.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Vialli believes in Euro Juventus Feb 14, 2013 Juventus have what is needed to win the Champions League this season, says former striker Gianluca Vialli. The latter lifted the European Cup with the Old Lady in 1996 and he has belief in the present Bianconeri side. “They can win the trophy,” Vialli told the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “They are practically in the quarter-finals and the last eight will all have that ambition. “There will be a few sides who remain favourites, but Juventus are a leading outsider along with Paris Saint-Germain.” The former Italian international was speaking after the Scudetto holders collected a 3-0 win at Celtic on Tuesday in the first leg of their last 16 tie. Vialli also paid tribute to the Juventus midfield, a unit he believes works because of boss Antonio Conte – his former teammate. “Something of our old life remains in all of us,” Vialli noted. “Antonio was a midfielder and you can tell by the way he looks after that department. “Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio are formidable both for their individual value and because all the team helps them out – from the covering attackers to the support of the full-backs. “If I still coached today then I think I’d look to help the centre-forward – it would be part of my nature.” Focusing on Marchisio, Vialli said: “I see the authentic Juventus DNA in him. He’s a restrained personality, his effectiveness on the field is outstanding and he has the ability to not make a mistake when it matters.”

Buffon: Juventus a match for any team in Europe The veteran goalkeeper is brimming with confidence following the Bianconeri's good performances in the Champions League so far. Feb 14, 2013 Gianluigi Buffon believes that Juventus have the quality to compete with any team in Europe providing they show the right attitude. The Serie A champions have impressed in the Champions League this term with wins over Chelsea, Nordsjaelland and Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stages, before hammering Celtic 3-0 in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie, and Buffon is confident they can go far in the competition. "We have reached the point where we realise that we are a match for any team as long as we enter the pitch with the right approach," Buffon told Corriere dello Sport. "We should never neglect the fundamental characteristics of our game. We had a great evening against Celtic, but we cannot afford to slack off. "The wins over Shakhtar, Chelsea and Celtic are proof that we can aim higher than in previous years. We will have to keep this up and make sure the other teams in Europe look at us differently than before." Juventus will defend their 3-0 lead against Celtic on March 6 in Turin.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Tacchinardi: Only Barcelona better than Juventus The former Juve midfielder is optimistic about the side's chances of going all the way in Europe and sees the Catalans as their biggest rivals. Feb 13, 2013 Former Italy international Alessio Tacchinardi believes only Barcelona are in a better position than Juventus to win the Champions League following the Bianconeri's 3-0 win over Celtic on Tuesday. Goals from Alessandro Matri, Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic helped the Serie A champions to victory in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, and Tacchinardi is confident that Juventus can go far in the competition. "At the moment, Juventus are only inferior to Barcelona in Europe. I don't really believe in Real Madrid's chances as they have shown in La Liga that they're having problems," Tacchinardi told TuttoMercatoWeb. "Juventus put in a great performance against Celtic. It's true that the draw was in their favour, but Conte's team did a great job." The second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie between Juventus and Celtic takes place on March 6 in Turin.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Celtic deserve respect, says Buffon The goalkeeper has praised the Scottish champions for their display in Tuesday's Champions League encounter. Feb 13, 2013 Gianluigi Buffon feels Celtic deserve respect for their performance in Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League loss against Juventus. Goals from Alessandro Matri, Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic helped the Bianconeri to a comfortable victory, but Buffon has stressed that they cannot afford to take the second leg of the round of 16 tie lightly. "Celtic are an excellent side and they showed that tonight," Buffon told reporters. "We're not through yet. It's not good for us to be too relaxed. We must remain focused and keep showing Celtic the respect they deserve. "We set out to attack them but struggled to get into our rhythm so we had to settle for what we could manage, which was to defend well and break forward on the counter. We did a great job of it too – we were clinical and ruthless. "We have to be honest though: the game hinged on a couple of decisive moments. But it's a positive sign that things went our way and also that we took our chances." Juventus resume match action on Saturday when they travel to Roma.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Destructive Juventus finally show their clinical side to send out a Champions League warning They were not the Bianconeri that we have come to know over the last 18 months, but their display at Celtic showed another positive side to their play. Feb 13, 2013 COMMENT By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Writer They have long been Italy’s most profligate side, questions have been asked about their ability to soak up long periods of pressure, and seven years on from their last Champions League knockout win there were doubts as to whether they’d be able to manage such a game situation. But Juventus answered every question with overwhelmingly positive answers in beating Celtic 3-0 at Celtic Park to take themselves to the verge of qualification for the quarter-finals. Whereas much of the reign of Antonio Conte has been focused on retention of the football, dominance of territory, and high pressing of the opposition in order to gain cheap possession in dangerous areas, large spells of Tuesday night’s fixture were spent in the Bianconeri’s half as the Glasgow side attempted to respond to Alessandro Matri’s early goal by running over the top of Juve. But they just couldn't do it. Too many of their shots came from distance, too few of their runs to the bye-line resulted in them getting in behind the reinforced bank of black shirts, and the vast majority of their crosses were sent into the air, meaning either that Gianluigi Buffon was clutching easy catches out of the sky, or the Bianconeri back line were able to use their most overwhelming attribute to outmuscle the Bhoys’ lone striker Gary Hooper. This was not the best Celtic side ever to play in Europe, but with a passionate home support and a phenomenal home record in the Champions League era – with only Barcelona ever having beaten them in the East End of Glasgow in their 23 previous fixtures under the new banner – it was still a huge hurdle that Juve were being asked to climb. And for the most part, it was an effective performance from the champions of Italy rather than a spectacular one, but boy did they take their chances! First, Matri took advantage of an awful leave by Efe Ambrose, who misjudged a simple long ball by Federico Peluso, to poke the ball through the legs of the onrushing Fraser Forster. With the referee’s assistant having originally not given the goal despite it having cleared the line before Kelvin Wilson’s desperate lunge, Claudio Marchisio slammed home to make sure. However, Uefa rightly awarded the goal to the striker for the first effort. After soaking up such a long period of pressure, the Old Lady seemed more than anything to be playing a waiting game, expecting Celtic to tire after their exertions which had seen them overshadow the Bianconeri’s star-studded midfield. That eventuality came around the hour-mark, and Juve capitalised with two further goals which killed the tie. On 77 minutes, Matri’s fantastic flick sent in Marchisio, who was cool enough to cut inside and allow Scott Brown to embarrass himself with a flailing attempted tackle before slotting past Forster. With the bit between his teeth, the midfielder, who was excellent in the final third throughout the match, added an assist after substitute Simone Padoin had dispossessed the lethargic Ambrose, sliding the ball to Mirko Vucinic to send much of the home support heading for the exits. Those Celtic fans were also left fuming by apparent penalty claims, but it was little more than an act of straw-clutching, apparently justified by equally one-eyed complaints from the British broadcasters covering the game. On several occasions, Celtic corners were preceded by long periods of jostling and pulling between players on opposing sides, but as the larger part of the tangling came before the set-pieces were taken, the referee was in no position to give a penalty under Law 12 of the laws of the game. Add in the fact that Stephan Lichtsteiner, against whom there were the most vociferous claims, was also being fouled by Hooper in their particular round of confrontations, and it would have been as harsh to penalise the Swiss as it would have been to give Juve a free-kick. Complain all they like, the Scottish champions, whose very presence in the last 16 came thanks to a penalty awarded for a blatant Georgios Samaras dive in the 81st minute of their Matchday 6 clash with Spartak Moscow, were ultimately beaten because they offered nothing in attack, while Juve were simply destructive when their few chances came along. And it is this Italian-like ability to manage a fixture in such a way, a skill so rarely seen in Juve under Conte, which proves that there is more than one string to their bow as they begin to look ahead and plot a route to the final. There is a long way to go yet, with much sterner and better-equipped opponents than Celtic lying in wait, but the Bianconeri have proven they don’t need 60 per cent or more of possession in order to get the job done. They now have to be taken very seriously by any team that hopes to lift the Champions League trophy aloft at Wembley on May 25.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Vidal: Celtic win not as easy for Juventus as result suggests The combative midfielder has admitted that the Bianconeri had a difficult game, but was quite pleased with the final result. Feb 13, 2013 Arturo Vidal has insisted that Juventus' 3-0 Champions League win over Celtic on Tuesday evening was not as easy as the scoreline might suggest. Goals from Alessandro Matri, Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic helped the Serie A champions to a comfortable win in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, but Vidal has made it clear that they were pushed to their limit. "It was much harder than the final scoreline suggests," the Chile international was quoted as saying on the club's official website. "We played superbly and we definitely feel more comfortable with a result like this in the bag, but we're not there yet. "If we want to make sure of our place in the quarters, we must produce a similar performance in Turin. "We were up against an aggressive side but we carried out our plans as we'd prepared them." The return leg takes place in Turin on March 6.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Commons blames Ambrose Feb 13, 2013 The day after their 3-0 home defeat to Juventus, Kris Commons has publicly blamed Celtic teammate Efe Ambrose. “Certain individuals let the team down.” Nigerian defender Ambrose had only played in the Africa Cup of Nations Final on Sunday evening and arrived in Glasgow on Tuesday morning, but was thrown straight into the starting XI and was at fault for two goals. “Look, the manager picked him. The manager pulled him to one side and asked him if he was feeling okay. He said he was feeling brilliant,” noted Commons. “If he wasn't feeling okay then he should have said so. If he felt good then he should have put in a better performance. “It was just very sloppy individual mistakes - something you'd probably get away with on a playground, not in the last 16 of the Champions League. “There are certain individuals who let the team down. Hopefully this is just a one-off. The back four have made errors which have probably cost us the tie. But it's partly down to them why we're here in the first place. It's just a bitter one to swallow.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Buffon pays tribute to Celtic Feb 13, 2013 Juventus captain Gigi Buffon has admitted that the 3-0 scoreline doesn’t really reflect how tough Celtic made it for them in Glasgow. The Old Lady have taken a commanding first leg advantage in their last 16 Champions League tie, but the goalkeeper has underlined that it certainly wasn’t easy for his side. “If you didn't watch the game then you might think we cruised to victory,” the Italian international commented. “We have to be honest though as the game hinged on a couple of decisive moments. But it's a positive sign that things went our way and also that we took our chances.” Juve took the lead early on through Alessandro Matri. They then kept Celtic out before striking late with Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic. “Celtic are an excellent side and they showed that,” the former Parma man noted. “We set out to attack them, but struggled to get into our rhythm so we had to settle for what we could manage, which was to defend well and break forward on the counter. “We did a great job of it too – we were clinical and ruthless. “Are we already through? It's not good for us to be too relaxed. We must remain focused and keep showing Celtic the respect they deserve.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Only Barcelona better than Juve… Feb 13, 2013 Barcelona are the only side better than Juventus in the Champions League this season, says Alessio Tacchinardi. The latter, a former Juve midfielder, made the claim to TMW following last night’s 3-0 win in Glasgow against Celtic. “At the moment, Juventus are only inferior to Barcelona in Europe,” the Brescia youth team boss commented. “Real Madrid? I don’t have that much belief in Real seeing as they have had their problems in La Liga this season.” The Italian champions have one foot in the quarter-finals after their victory in Scotland on Tuesday evening. “Juve played a great game,” he added. “It’s true that the draw for the last 16 was kind, but Antonio Conte’s side interpreted the game well. “I’m happy for Conte,” Tacchinardi said of his former teammate. “He marked his debut on the bench in Europe with a great victory. “It’s a double joy for the Coach. As well as the win, he knows that he has constructed a side that is able to impose its play in Europe.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Vidal: 'Celtic are a physical side' Feb 12, 2013 Arturo Vidal warns Juventus aren’t qualified yet and explains how they approached Celtic expecting a “very physical” battle. The Bianconeri won 3-0 in Glasgow, the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16. “No, it’s not done yet. It was a great game and a result that leaves us more relaxed for the next game, but Celtic are a strong side and we must approach it the same way,” said midfielder Vidal. “We saw they were a very physical side and I think we pressed them perfectly from the start. “We expected it to be tough and it was. The result might not make it look that way, but we did not play the same way as we did against Fiorentina. In that game we played the ball more, whereas here we took a more tactical approach.” Vidal also confirmed Juve prepared for Celtic and in particular their set plays. “Celtic’s strengths were in corners and Stephan Lichtsteiner got into a few situations, but we had studied them.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Lennon: 'Celtic need a miracle' Feb 12, 2013 Celtic manager Neil Lennon concedes his men “need a miracle” to reach the Champions League Quarter-Finals after a 3-0 home defeat to Juventus. “The scoreline flatters Juventus. For 70-odd minutes we were by far the better side but you can't give away sloppy goals,” he said. Lennon came in for a great deal of criticism for starting Efe Ambrose, as he seemed shaky and jet-lagged after flying back from South Africa this morning. “We took a gamble on Ambrose, but he was poor for the first goal and he missed a great chance to equalise. We switched off for the second and third goals.” “We need a miracle now. That's the harsh reality of Champions League football.” Celtic complained repeatedly at the tussling in the box, particularly from Stephan Lichtsteiner. “I'd like to ask the referee is the game different in Spain and Italy? Every time my player moved in the area it was a foul. Time and time again. “We played Juventus 12 years ago and Chris Sutton won a penalty for the same thing – the player got a warning and the next time he did it, it was a penalty. He should’ve given a penalty on at least two occasions for us.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Conte: 'Amazing Celtic atmosphere' Feb 12, 2013 Coach Antonio Conte was overjoyed with the Juventus performance to beat Celtic 3-0 in Glasgow. “I’ve rarely seen a passionate atmosphere like this.” The Bianconeri have one foot in the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League after this first leg triumph in Scotland. “It was certainly a very important victory. I personally as a player have been in this competition for many years, but had rarely seen a passionate atmosphere like this,” said Conte. “At the start the Celtic players went above and beyond their capabilities, but we held out under their pressure. The moment they dropped the tempo a little, we got our goals and created more dangerous opportunities. “It wasn’t easy to play in that atmosphere, and I can say that as someone who has experienced these things as a player. I couldn’t communicate with the players because it was so loud. “Every time there was a corner, it felt like the stadium was coming down. The lads deserve praise for getting this result in Glasgow.” Alessandro Matri had been benched for many weeks, but has now become a regular and scored the opening goal, setting up another for Claudio Marchisio. “Matri contributed to a fine goal, as it came from a situation we had practiced many times in training. I had to work very hard before being worthy of Juventus. Alessandro is working very hard now and improving in terms of his knockdowns and assists. “In the first half I told the lads it was dangerous for us to sit too deep, so Arturo Vidal and Marchisio were crucial to push it up and take the defenders with them. I worked a lot on that aspect.” There were numerous tussles in the penalty area for corners, particularly with Stephan Lichtsteiner. “We changed something compared to our usual defending, as they had scored 40 per cent of their Champions League goals from corners and set pieces. We were only surprised once with a header over. “We did pretty well defensively apart from at times in the first half when we went too deep. It was a good performance, we knew Celtic were a good side and they might not be mentioned among the top teams in Europe for many years, but they beat Barcelona and eliminated Benfica and Spartak Moscow. “I think they were slightly surprised by Juventus, as they expected to get something more on home turf, but we prepared well in defence and attack. “We had as much possession as they allowed us, because Celtic were going at 100mph and rested all their players at the weekend, whereas we faced Fiorentina on Saturday.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917 Marchisio: 'We studied Celtic' Feb 12, 2013 Claudio Marchisio praised Juventus for “a great Champions League” and reveals how they studied Celtic. The midfielder scored one of the goals in this 3-0 away victory in the first leg of the Round of 16. “It is a very important victory, especially as we can be a little more concentrated on Serie A. We haven’t passed through yet, but it is a great win in a difficult arena and we put in a fine performance. “It’s true it is tough to overturn a 3-0 away win, but we must never be certain and always go out there with the same determination. “This team is having a great Champions League. This was an important signal to ourselves and nobody else. It was crucial to come here and score a goal, but we ended up getting three.” There were numerous tussles in the box and Marchisio reveals this was planned to block off Celtic’s tactics. “We saw they scored many goals from corners and with crosses into the box, so tried our best to make it difficult for them. “It is their nature to be gritty and physical, but we gave as good as we got.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917‎ Celtic boss Lennon slams 'pro-Juventus' referee The Hoops manager was critical of official Alberto Undiano Mallenco, believing he should have awarded at least two penalties to the home side as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat. Feb 12, 2013 Celtic manager Neil Lennon has described referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco's performance as "pro-Juventus" following his side's 3-0 defeat to the Italians. Lennon insisted the Hoops were denied two clear penalties for grappling in the box as they were ruthlessly swept aside by Antonio Conte's men at Parkhead. "I thought the referee was poor," he told reporters. "I thought he was very pro-Juventus. I was disappointed with his performance to say the least." "I'd like to ask the referee: 'Is the game different in Spain and Italy?'" the Northern Irishman also told ITV. "Every time one of my players was moving or trying to lose his man he was fouled, time and time again. He should have given a penalty on at least two occasions for us." The 41-year-old went on to claim his side deserved more, and lamented the performance of defender Efe Ambrose upon his return from a victorious Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Nigeria. He added: "I think the scoreline flatters Juventus. I thought for the best part of the game 70 odd minutes up until the second goal we were by far the better side - but we can't give away the goals we gave away. It was sloppy. "We took a gamble [on Ambrose], I thought he was poor for the first goal but we had a great opportunity to equalise and we had some great chances to be fair. We played ever so well for long periods of the game and we switched off defensively for the second goal and the third goal was poor. Lennon also remained realistic about his side's chances of progression to the quarter-finals but insisted that his young players will learn from the defeat. "We'll need a miracle. It’s the harsh reality of Champions League football," he admitted. "Some of our young players will have learnt a lot tonight."

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917‎ Marchisio and Conte thrilled with 'great win' The midfielder and his coach explained how tactical decisions proved pivotal in the victory over Neil Lennon's side and admit the Bianconeri coped well with the atmosphere. Feb 12, 2013 After his side's emphatic 3-0 victory over Celtic in the Champions League, Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio revealed his delight at the margin of the win. Marchisio, who notched the second goal of the evening, told reporters after the match how his side had all but secured their spot for the quarter-finals. “It is a very important victory, especially as we can be a little more concentrated on Serie A. We haven’t passed through yet, but it is a great win in a difficult arena and we put in a fine performance. “It’s true it is tough to overturn a 3-0 away win, but we must never be certain and always go out there with the same determination." The 27-year-old is delighted with his side's unbeaten Champions League campaign and believes that Antonio Conte's tactics worked to full-effect against Neil Lennon's side. “This team is having a great Champions League. This was an important signal to ourselves and nobody else. It was crucial to come here and score a goal, but we ended up getting three. “We saw they scored many goals from corners and with crosses into the box, so tried our best to make it difficult for them. “It is their nature to be gritty and physical, but we gave as good as we got.” Conte admitted that he made various tactical decisions for the match and was delighted that they paid off. “In the first half I told the lads it was dangerous for us to sit too deep, so Arturo Vidal and Marchisio were crucial to push it up and take the defenders with them. I worked a lot on that aspect," he revealed. “We changed something compared to our usual defending, as they had scored 40 per cent of their Champions League goals from corners and set-pieces. We were only surprised once with a header over. “We did pretty well defensively apart from at times in the first half when we went too deep. It was a good performance, we knew Celtic were a good side and they might not be mentioned among the top teams in Europe for many years, but they beat Barcelona and eliminated Benfica and Spartak Moscow." Conte went on to praise the deafening atmosphere at Celtic Park and the 43-year-old was delighted with the way in which his players coped with the Bhoys' 12th man. “It was certainly a very important victory. I personally as a player have been in this competition for many years, but had rarely seen a passionate atmosphere like this," he added. Chile international Vidal was equally thrilled with the scoreline but admits that it does flatter the Italian champions. He said: “I think we played exactly as we had to play tonight because Celtic are tough opponents, especially when they play at home. "If you look at the result you think it was an easy game for us, but I can say it was not like that at all. They were very dangerous especially from corners and set-pieces. We did well to control their attacks and then hit when the chances came in the late stages.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 12-2-2013 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CELTIC 0 - 3 JUVENTUS Alessandro Matri (3′) Claudio Marchisio (77′) Mirko Vučinić (83′) Celtic Park - Glasgow Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain) Attendance: 57917‎ Player Ratings Goal.com evaluates the performances of everyone involved in Glasgow, as the Bianconeri all but sealed their place in the quarter-finals with a resounding victory. Feb 12, 2013 CELTIC Fraser Forster - Conceded a goal that he could have done little about inside the opening two minutes but, in truth, had nothing more of note to do before being beaten a little too easily by Marchiso for Juve's second. Certainly not at fault for Vucinic's killer third, though. Emilio Izaguirre - The fit-again Honduran signalled his intent to bomb forward early on, firing wide of Buffon's right post after less than two minutes of action. Did a fine job of nullifying Lichsteiner, who is often Juve's best attacking outlet. E. Ambrose - A surprise inclusion in the hosts' starting line-up having only returned from South Africa on Tuesday morning, the Nigerian still appeared to be half asleep when he allowed Matri to net the opener. Squandered a great chance to make amends by heading straight at Buffon and then capped a dismal display by allowing Juve in for their third. Kelvin Wilson - Made a heroic bid to keep out Matri's opener but it proved in vain. However, he did succeed in keeping the goalscorer very quiet thereafter and also made a brilliant block on a shot from Marchisio midway through the second half. Not to blame for Celtic's late capitulation. Charles Mulgrew - Occasionally caught in possession and a tad over zealous in the tackle, but Mulgrew did a good job protecting his back four. Also got forward when he could, dragging a half-volley wide inside the opening 10 minutes, as well as sending over a cross that Ambrose really should have converted. M. Lustig - The Swede did wonderfully well to whip the ball away from the toes of Matri as the forward was shaping to shoot 21 minutes in. From an attacking perspective, he was a terrific outlet down the right-hand side, sending over a couple of wonderful crosses during the first half before injury cruelly cut short his evening. Scott Brown - The skipper made it his business to get in Andrea Pirlo's face at every opportunity and he undoubtedly unsettled the Bianconeri playmaker. However, Brown, like those around him, was ultimately unable to maintain that astounding work-rate after the break. Kris Commons - A constant goal threat in the first half, Commons saw two fine strikes saved by Buffon, while also missing the target with two volleys, the second of which, an acrobatic overhead, bounced just wide. However, he faded badly in the second half and was replaced with just over 15 minutes remaining. James Forrest - Handed a start up front in the injury-enforced absence of Samaras, Forrest threatened only sporadically. Did his bit defensively, though, picking up a booking as part of Celtic's unapologetic attempts to rough up Pirlo. Victor Wanyama - The Kenyan sought to impose himself on the proceedings right from the off, testing Buffon twice with long-range efforts inside the opening six minutes. Adept at both pilfering and retaining possession, he played a key role in Celtic sustaining their onslaught for nearly the entire first half, but was nowhere near as influential in the second period. Gary Hooper - Was involved in a running battle with Lichsteiner which ultimately led to both being booked. Held the ball up well but, unlike those supporting him, never got a clear sight of goal. Jury is therefore still out on his claims as a top-level striker. Substitutions Adam Matthews - Came on in place of the hobbling Lustig just over 10 minutes into the second half but did not offer anything like the same attacking threat. Beram Kayal - Replaced Brown with 10 minutes remaining but was unable to turn the midfield battle back in Celtic's favour. Tony Watt - Took over from the increasingly ineffective Commons but did not offer anything particularly different. JUVENTUS Gianluigi Buffon - Underlined his enduring class and composure with a string of solid saves during the opening 45 minutes. Had less to do in the second half but was very reliable under the high ball. Andrea Barzagli - Unlike Lichsteiner, had the strength to deal with Hooper without having to resort to shirt-pulling. Yet another dominant display from the veteran defender. Leonardo Bonucci - Back in the Bianconeri starting line-up after serving a domestic ban, the Italy international proved his worth by playing a key role in Juve weathering the Celtic storm, with an expertly-timed tackle on the advancing Izaguirre the highlight of his night's work. Martín Cáceres - Loose pass early doors but made a couple of timely interceptions, most notably when Forrest was threatening to break through on goal. His prowess in the air also proved invaluable in light of Celtic's aerial bombardment. Stephan Lichtsteiner - Was afforded nowhere near as many opportunities to get forward as usual, but he still managed to get in behind Izaguirre on a couple of occasions. However, seemed to spent most of his time tangling with Hooper in the area, and was somewhat fortunate to avoid giving away a penalty for man-handling the forward. Claudio Marchisio - An oustanding performance from Marchisio, who caused Celtic all sorts of problems with his runs from midfield. Was on hand to make sure Juve went ahead by sending Wilson's clearance back where it came from, before all but booking the Bianconeri's berth in the last 16 with a splendidly taken goal and then a terrific through-ball for Vucinic. Andrea Pirlo - Undoubedly irked by the 'special' attention paid to him by Brown and his cohorts, Pirlo initially rose to the incitement before then doing what he does best: picking out passes. Much like Juve, class eventually told. Arturo Vidal - Offered plenty of bite in the middle of the park and his seemingly limitless supply of energy eventually wore Celtic down and allowed Juve to take command in midfield. Federico Peluso - With the game having come too soon for Asamoah, Peluso was chosen to fill the void left by the injured De Ceglie. Although he could easily have been penalised for elbowing Commons in the back of the head, he defended soundly before succumbing to cramp. Mirko Vučinić - Did not link particularly well with Matri early on, with the mercurial Montenegrin struggling to get himself into the game. Had a golden chance to double Juve's lead, but he blew it, with his first touch taking him too far wide. However, he simply bided his time and scored Juve's crucial third by coolly slotting the ball past Forster, after being put in on goal by Marchisio. Alessandro Matri - Got the nod up front in light of his recent hot streak in front of goal and vindicated his inclusion by netting the opener, the former Cagliari man outmuscling Ambrose before dinking the ball over Foster. Worked tirelessly thereafter, even if he did not get much service. Substitutions Paul Pogba - Sent on in place of Matri for the last 10 minutes and helped to shore things up in midfield. Simone Padoin - Replaced the tiring Peluso midway through the second half and employed similar tactics to Lichsteiner in keeping Hooper quiet. Nicolas Anelka - Saw four minutes of action at the death, after taking over up front from Vucinic.