Socrates

Serie A Week 18 - 21-12-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Ennio Tardini Stadium - Parma Referee: Antonio Damato Parma: 'Cagliari-Juve is a pain!' Dec 20, 2012 Cagliari-Juventus has been moved to the Stadio Tardini tomorrow evening and nobody is more irritated than Parma. “It’s a complete pain.” The Serie A match was switched to a neutral venue after the Is Arenas failed security checks and an appeal from the local Mayor came through too late to change again. “For us this game is a total pain,” snapped Parma general manager Pietro Leonardi. “I’ve been flooded with phone calls from people asking me for tickets, but tomorrow I’ll be in Bologna with the team and don’t want to know anything about it. “Whoever decided this change of venue should take full responsibility. When a neutral venue is chosen, the Lega Calcio asks the local council for its availability, but nobody asks us. “When we signed up to the Serie A season we named the Stadio Tardini as the venue for our home games. Seeing as it is all up to scratch and capable of hosting matches, it is automatically at the disposal of the Lega if they want to use it as a neutral venue. There’s nothing we can do about it.” In Italy the only club to own their stadium are Juventus, as the others are owned by the local council and rented out to football clubs on match day. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 18 - 21-12-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Ennio Tardini Stadium - Parma Referee: Antonio Damato Juve squad for Cagliari clash Dec 20, 2012 Juventus have named their 22-man squad for the match against Cagliari on Friday evening at Ennio Tardini in Parma. Leonardo Bonucci returns after missing the last League game against Atalanta, but Giorgio Chiellini misses out with a long-term injury. Simone Pepe and Nicklas Bendtner are also not involved. Goalkeepers: Buffon, Storari, Rubinho Defenders: Caceres, De Ceglie, Barzagli, Bonucci, Lichtsteiner, Isla Midfielders: Pogba, Marchisio, Vucinic, Padoin, Pirlo, Asamoah, Vidal, Giaccherini, Marrone Forwards: Vucinic, Giovinco, Quagliarella, Matri http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Chiellini confirms three-month lay-off Dec 20, 2012 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini confirmed a three-month lay-off awaits as tests showed “a lesion to the calf muscle.” The World Cup winner had hoped the tests would show only a strain, but this afternoon he posted a message on Twitter. “Unfortunately, a lesion to the calf muscle has been confirmed. I’ll have to be out for a while... But I’ll do everything I can to return as soon as possible and stronger than ever! “I thank you for the many get well soon messages I received over the last few hours. A hug to all of you!” Juve will likely now go back on to the market in January for a replacement, especially as Lucio was released from his contract to join Sao Paulo this week.

Juventus defender crisis after Chiellini injury A scan will determine whether the Bianconeri defender faces up to three months on the sidelines, with Antonio Conte already short of cover at the back. Dec 19, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini will find out on Friday whether a calf injury sustained in training rules him out of action for up to three months. The Italy international defender could miss Juventus' Champions League round of 16 double-header in February, as well as several domestic fixtures if the injury proves to be as serious as feared. The incident comes at a bad time for the Serie A title holders, who have just released experienced Brazil defender Lucio from his contract. Chiellini is also valued for his leadership abilities, with the 28-year-old the vice-captain behind Gigi Buffon for both club and country.

Serie A Week 18 - 21-12-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Ennio Tardini Stadium - Parma Referee: Antonio Damato Cagliari lose last-gasp Juve appeal Dec 19, 2012 Cagliari’s Mayor gave the all-clear for the game with Juventus at the Is Arenas, but it came too late and the tie has been confirmed for the Tardini in Parma. It was announced today that Friday’s Serie A match will be played at the neutral venue of the Stadio Tardini in Parma after the local Cagliari council refused to grant the Is Arenas a temporary safety certificate. However, this evening Mayor Mauro Contini signed a special order allowing the game to go ahead at the Is Arenas. The two clubs and the Lega Calcio were in negotiations to move the match back to Cagliari, but it has now been confirmed it’s too late to change again. Construction work continues on the troubled stadium, which failed security checks and saw several games played behind closed doors. It had seemed as if the problems were sorted out, with full crowds allowed into the Is Arenas over the last few weeks. Cagliari had already sold 15,000 tickets for the big match when told it would be played in Parma instead. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Juve seek Chiellini replacements Dec 19, 2012 If Giorgio Chiellini really is out for three months, then Juventus need a replacement and are looking at Federico Peluso and Siena’s Neto. The Italian international defender pulled up in training today with a calf strain and initial reports suggest he has torn the muscle, meaning a three-month lay-off. Juve already released Lucio from his contract so he could join Sao Paulo this week, so there are precious few options in defence. According to the early rumours, the main target to fill the gaps is Siena’s Brazilian talent Neto. Siena confirmed last week they were willing to release Neto “for the right price,” though many other clubs are also interested. Another option for Juventus would be Atalanta defender Peluso, who can play both centre-back and full-back.

Chiellini out for three months? Dec 19, 2012 Italian champions Juventus could be without Giorgio Chiellini for the next three months because of injury. The stopper has picked up a calf strain in training which, if initial fears are confirmed in 48 hours, will see him set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Chiellini is a key figure in Antonio Conte’s three-man defence alongside Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci. The injury comes in the same week that Juventus rescinded the contract of centre-back Lucio given his lack of playing time. Martin Caceres will in all likelihood take Chiellini’s place in the starting XI, but Juve could now look to sign a new defender in January given their Champions League commitments in 2013.

Serie A Week 18 - 21-12-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Ennio Tardini Stadium - Parma Referee: Antonio Damato Parma to host Cagliari-Juventus Dec 19, 2012 Friday’s Serie A game between Cagliari and Juventus will be played at a neutral venue, the Lega Serie A have confirmed. The switch of stadium has been made necessary after the local Cagliari council refused to grant the Is Arenas a temporary safety certificate because of on-going work around the ground. The game will now be played at Parma’s Stadio Tardini. Cagliari had already sold around 15,000 tickets for the arrival of the Italian champions. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 18 - 21-12-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Ennio Tardini Stadium - Parma Referee: Antonio Damato Cagliari-Juventus venue doubts Dec 19, 2012 Cagliari are set to play Juventus on Friday night, but there is still no confirmation regarding where the game will be staged. The local council have still not issued the temporary safety certificate that the club need to invite fans to Friday night’s encounter. As a result, the tie at the Is Arenas could be played behind closed doors or the match could even be switched to Bari’s Stadio San Nicola or Parma's Tardini. Last season’s Cagliari-Juventus tie was also played on the neutral ground of Trieste on the night that Juve were crowned Italian champions. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Buffon to sign for Christmas Dec 19, 2012 Gigi Buffon will sign a new contract with Italian champions Juventus before Christmas, reports suggest. The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport is claiming that the veteran, who is currently tied to the club until June 2013, will put pen to paper on a new two-year agreement. Buffon’s agent Silvano Martina held talks with Turin officials at Vinovo on Monday where terms were ironed out. The 34-year-old will accept a cut in salary to €4m a season, however he will be handed a €1m bonus if the Bianconeri win the Scudetto or the Champions League. The Italian international, now club captain, joined Juventus in the summer of 2001 from Parma at a cost of £32m.

Serie A - 17^ Giornata - Andata - 16-12-2012 (ore 15:00) 3 - 0 Mirko Vučinić (2′) Andrea Pirlo (14′) Claudio Marchisio (27′) Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro: Davide Massa Spettatori: 38000 Serie A - La Juventus cala il tris e prova la fuga Dominata l'Atalanta allo Juventus Stadium. Nel 3-0 finale segnano Vucinic, Pirlo e Marchisio, tutti in gol nella prima mezzora. Bianconeri che volano a quota 41 punti in classifica, campioni d'inverno con due turni d'anticipo, grazie ai 7 punti di vantaggio sull'Inter. Bergamaschi mai in partita e rimasti in 10 per l'espulsione di Manfredini. Eurosport - Domenica, 16 dicembre 2012 La Juventus vince la terza partita in questa settimana e inizia la mini fuga sull’Inter, ora distanziata di 7 punti in classifica. I bianconeri sono già campioni d'inverno, con due giornate d'anticipo. La squadra di casa chiude la pratica Atalanta nella prima mezzora, con i gol di Vucinic, Pirlo (splendida punizione) e Marchisio. Bergamaschi annichiliti e rimasti anche in 10 per l’espulsione di Manfredini. Un 3-0 che significa tredicesima vittoria in 17 partite: la Juve ha ritrovato il suo condottiero Conte ed è tornata a volare. CARRO ARMATO JUVENTUS. Quando la Juventus approccia il match con la fame agonistica che l’ha contraddistinta durante la scorsa stagione non c’è avversario che tenga. La prima mezzora dei bianconeri è quanto di meglio può mostrare una squadra di calcio: Barzagli e Chiellini non sbagliano un intervento, Pirlo gestisce con sapienza ogni pallone che tocca, infischiandosene della marcatura di Bonaventura, Vucinic e Giovinco si cercano e si trovano a meraviglia, Vidal e Marchisio si inseriscono come frecce. Conte, al rientro in campionato allo Juventus Stadium (aveva già fatto il suo ritorno in panchina in Coppa Italia mercoledì sera), può solo applaudire i suoi da bordo campo. Al minuto numero 2 la Juve è, infatti, già avanti: lancio di Giovinco per Vucinic, che entra in area e rientra col destro e supera Consigli sul secondo palo. E’ il suo quarto gol nello Stadium, il terzo stagionale in campionato. PIRLO SONTUOSO. Il vantaggio gasa i bianconeri, che aggrediscono un Atalanta troppo timorosa e con un Denis troppo solo davanti. Così, su una punizione da circa 30 metri, Pirlo celebra l’ennesimo capolavoro della sua straordinaria carriera. Palla sotto l’incrocio dei pali e 2-0 Juve dopo un quarto d’ora (quarto sigillo per il centrocampista della Nazionale in Serie A quest’anno). Non si fermano i padroni di casa, che dopo aver sprecato un paio di buone opportunità, chiudono definitivamente il match: alla mezzora Chiellini tocca per Marchisio che con l’esterno destro fa partire un gran tiro che non dà scampo a Consigli. 3-0, match chiuso e pubblico bianconero in visibilio. ATALANTA IN 10. A complicare ulteriormente le cose ad una sconvolta Atalanta ci si mette anche il suo capitano Manfredini, che nel giro di dieci minuti, già sul 3-0, prende due cartellini gialli e lascia i bergamaschi in 10 uomini. La Juve così chiude la prima frazione in totale controllo e Colantuono, per limitare i danni, è costretto ad inserire Stendardo (l’avvocato) togliendo Bonaventura e spegnendo qualsiasi speranza di rimonta ospite. SECONDO TEMPO IN SURPLACE. Il secondo tempo è giocato dalla Juventus a ritmi ragionevolmente più bassi. Per risparmiare le tante energie spese in questa prima parte di stagione, i bianconeri rallentano e tentano solamente di gestire il risultato, lasciando alle iniziative personali la libertà di colpire. Consigli si fa notare con un paio d’interventi su Giovinco e su Quagliarella, e Colantuono tenta di limitare i danni, coprendo atteggiamento e schieramento. Conte toglie anche Vucinic, Barzagli e Marchisio (per farli riposare in vista del prossimo match) e il 3-0 con il quale si chiude la partita sancisce la tredicesima vittoria in campionato dei bianconeri, che volano, in attesa del Napoli a più sette sull’Inter seconda in classifica. Venerdì si chiuderà il grande 2012 della Juventus, con la sfida al Cagliari in trasferta. Conte può sorridere: con queste prestazioni, fatte di personalità, grinta e sicurezza, i Campioni d’Italia sono praticamente imbattibili. Enrico Turcato - Eurosport http://youtu.be/-lK1JikKTrA http://youtu.be/Gkl3nYuRZPg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlXulo1l5qY Juventus 3 - 0 Atalanta

Chiellini was a Milan fan Dec 18, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini says he now feels 100 per cent Juventus after admitting to supporting Milan as a youngster. The stopper was a Diavolo fan as a boy, but that all changed when he joined Juventus in 2005 and helped them get back into the top flight after Calciopoli demotion. “I’ve got no problem admitting it, as a youngster I supported Milan,” he told a Juventus Premium Member video chat. “But when I came here I fell in love with this shirt and the feeling grew over the course of time. “Following our return to the top and everything that’s happened, you can’t help but feel a sense of belonging to the shirt, city and fans.” Juventus returned to winning ways last term with the Scudetto and Chiellini thinks the new stadium played a part in that success. “What we accomplished last year, winning the Scudetto unbeaten, was an exceptional achievement which nobody will ever be able to follow up, only equal at the very most,” he added. “The inauguration of Juventus Stadium was a strange evening. We were coming off the back of two disappointing seasons, but something magical began that day and you could feel it in the air. “We saw the entire history of Juventus, the club’s past, and inside our heads we started to dream about the future – and then we managed to achieve it.” Chiellini is now a key figure in Antonio Conte’s three-man defence alongside Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci. “Over the last year Leonardo, Andrea and I have managed to create a unique unit,” he continued. “We know each other well, play off by heart and the more you work with someone the more you discover their strengths and weaknesses. “Individually speaking, there are better defenders than us around, but I doubt that they could do better if they were placed in our defence. “And then we have Gigi Buffon behind us. Many of his saves seem straightforward, but that’s only because he makes them appear as such.”

Conte: I would give the Ballon d'Or to Pirlo The Bianconeri boss insists the Italy playmaker deserves to win the prestigious prize, despite the record-breaking exploits of leading candidate Lionel Messi. Dec 17, 2012 Juventus coach Antonio Conte believes Andrea Pirlo should be given the Ballon d'Or this year. The 33-year-old put in an inspired performance in his side's 3-0 win over Atalanta on Sunday, scoring a stunning free-kick in the process, and his boss is under no illusions as to who should be crowned the best player in the world. "Even if Messi had scored thousands of goals, I would give the Ballon d'Or to Pirlo," Conte told reporters after the match. "Then, I would have the pleasure of being the coach of a Golden Ball winner. Maybe in the future I will." Pirlo was at the heart of his side's ruthless performance at the weekend, with the victory moving them seven points clear at the top of Serie A after Inter's defeat to Lazio. The former AC Milan midfielder was named on the 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or prize earlier this year, but missed out on a place in the top three nominations to Andres Iniesta, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Lichtsteiner: We want to win it all Dec 17, 2012 Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner has revealed that he wants to win every competition possible with the Bianconeri. The Swiss wing-back has been linked with a move away from Turin, with Paris Saint-Germain looking the most likely suitors. But the former Lazio man has admitted that he is happy at the club and wants to retain the Scudetto they won so convincingly last season. “We are very happy because we have completed one of our goals,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “We wanted to finish top of the table at the midway point, and we have done that. “It is fundamental however, that we continue at this pace. There are so many good teams in this League, but we have to concentrate on our own performance. “We will continue to be hungry for points. We want to repeat what we did last year. “I always give my best for this shirt and I want to win as much as possible with it.”

Marrone out of Italy U-21 squad Dec 17, 2012 Juventus’ Luca Marrone has pulled out of the Italian Under-21 squad on Monday because of injury. The midfielder, who is being used as a centre-back this term by the Old Lady, was originally included in the party for Tuesday’s friendly against an Italy B side. Marrone has returned to Turin because of a left ankle complaint. He’s the second player to withdraw from Devis Mangia’s party after Riccardo Saponara of Empoli was also ruled out with fitness issues. The latter has been replaced by Sampdoria midfielder Roberto Soriano.