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Serie A Week 15 - 1-12-12 (20:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Chiellini hoping to score again in Turin derby The Italy international is ready for his return to action when Juventus take on city rivals Torino, and he has admitted that he would love to get on the scoresheet again. Nov 30, 2012 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini wants to be the match-winner again when the Italian champions take on Torino in the Derby della Mole. The Italian has been on the sidelines with an injury issue but is back in training with the squad ahead the weekend clash. "I have recovered from the calf problem I felt towards the end of the match with Chelsea. It wasn't too serious and after a week I am back training with the team," he told Mediaset. The last Turin derby was played three years ago and it was Chiellini who claimed the winning goal that night, and he has not hidden his intention to do the same again. "Will I score the winner again? I hope so! It would be a dream, though I imagine the Torino fans wouldn't see it that way," he continued. "It is wonderful to score in a game like this, because people do care about it so much. Some say that it matters more to Toro than to Juve, but I think that’s underestimating how much people want to win. "Even if we are fighting for different targets, once the derby begins it wipes out any differences. I am happy to be facing Torino again, as it’s good for the city to have two Serie A sides, and I hope they can strengthen to go for ever stronger objectives as the years go on. "The derby of the past had always been in the same stadium, but this team it really will be a derby in an ‘away’ stadium. That’ll make it even better, as winning on your opponents’ own turf always feels special. Last weekend against AC Milan, Juventus lost their second game within a month after suffering a 3-1 reverse to Inter a couple of weeks back, but Chiellini has refuted the suggestion that his side are feeling the strain of success. “We do not feel pressure, as it’s far too early to look at the table and there will be numerous changes of position. I hope we can stay on top, of course!" the Italy international concluded. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Pirlo: Juventus have missed Conte The experienced midfielder has nothing but praise for the successful coach, while also offering words of encouragement to young Italy centre-mid Marco Verratti who is at PSG. Nov 30, 2012 Andrea Pirlo feels that the absence of head coach Antonio Conte has hurt Juventus in the opening months of the 2012-13 campaign. The 43-year-old was handed a 10-month ban at the start of the season for his failure to report instances of match-fixing during his spell in charge of Siena, which was later reduced to four months, and Pirlo is glad that Conte is on the verge of a return. "We miss Conte a lot on the bench, especially at half-time. He always has a word for everybody, and can turn a match around with his tactical changes," Pirlo was quoted as saying by Tuttosport. "Fortunately, his ban is almost over. It's only one more week. He really is an exceptional coach. He's always well prepared and is capable of transmitting his philosophy to the team." The influential midfielder then had his say on Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, labelling the youngster as his natural heir. He added: "Verratti is quite similar to me. He's a great player. We must give him time to develop and let him make mistakes in order to improve. I see him as my heir."

Serie A Week 15 - 1-12-12 (20:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Juventus gunning for derby glory Nov 29, 2012 Leaders Juventus will be eyeing a swift return to winning ways in Serie A after suffering their second defeat of the season against AC Milan. The Turin club fell to a 1-0 defeat against the Rossoneri to see their lead at the summit cut to two points by Napoli. A derby against Torino awaits Juve on Saturday, and club director Beppe Marotta has issued a rallying cry to his players in a bid to reverse a sequence that has seen them win just once in their last four Serie A outings. "Last year we won the championship with our never-say-die attitude,'' Marotta said. "From there we've continued our positive run and we're still top of the league as it stands. We know that we've got experienced competition and we can't help but acknowledge the value of our opposition. The title race is open and it's our duty to believe we can do it.'' Juve's nearest challengers Napoli stepped up their title challenge with a 1-0 win at Cagliari last weekend. Marek Hamsik scoring the only goal in that match, and the Slovakian has called on his side to continue in the same vein throughout December, starting with Sunday's home encounter with rock-bottom Pescara. "I want four wins up to Christmas, starting obviously against Pescara; a game that is easy on paper,'' he said. "We will not just be going head-to-head with Juventus. Inter are still in the running, with Fiorentina, Lazio and Roma.'' Third-placed Fiorentina are defending an eight-match unbeaten run and will hope to continue exerting pressure on the leaders when they play host to Sampdoria. La Viola have a string of injury problems ahead of the match, however, with Adem Ljajic, Luca Toni and Stevan Jovetic all struggling for fitness. Mounir El Hamdaoui is Fiorentina's only fit senior striker so Vincenzo Montella could turn to 20-year-old Haris Seferovic. Inter Milan are in fourth place, level on 28 points with Fiorentina, and will be bidding to snap a three-game winless streak when they entertain Palermo, while fifth-placed Lazio welcome Parma. Elsewhere on Sunday, second-bottom Bologna play host to Atalanta, Siena entertain Roma, Udinese bid for a first win in six when they meet Cagliari, while third-bottom Chievo are the visitors to Genoa. The action gets under way tomorrow night as ninth-placed Catania play host to a Milan side one point and one place behind them in the standings, yet full of confidence following last week's victory over Juventus. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 1-12-12 (20:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Serie A 2012/13: Round 15 Preview – Return of the Turin Derby Nov 29, 2012 Competition is on the rise in Italy’s top flight of football thanks to the Milanese clubs who have prevented Juventus from breaking away at the summit of the table. Following another controversial game, AC Milan beat the Old Lady, paving the way for the giants from the colloquial ‘south’ – Napoli, to reduce the gap to two points, as they climb up to the second place. As the red half of Milan rejoiced, the blue half were left clueless and frustrated. Inter’s much dreaded trip to the Ennio Tardini concluded in another defeat as a result of which, the standings have altered at the top end of the table. Fiorentina managed to maintain their third position but the Nerazzuri dropped two places to fourth. Similarly, the battle at the bottom end of the table has taken an interesting turn with three teams – Pescara, Bologna and Siena – tied at 11 points. Though lacking big games, round 15 sees the return of the much awaited derby della Mole. In addition, Chievo and Genoa provide a promising encounter with both teams fighting to stay clear off the drop zone. Derby della Mole After three long years, derby day returns to the city of Turin with Juventus hosting city rivals Torino on Saturday evening. The champions have struggled of late as they try to navigate through a difficult line up of fixtures. Unsurpsingly, European football has taken its toll on the Bianconeri’s domestic form which is evident from the fact that they have managed to pick only one point from three games. With no leverage left at the top of the table, Antonio Conte’s men will be keen to get back to winning ways against their fourteenth placed city rivals. Meanwhile, having avoided defeat against the likes of Napoli, Fiorentina and Lazio, I Granata will be hoping to knick a point or three off their arch rivals. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 1-12-12 (20:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Juve-Toro: Holy Mole… One of Italy’s biggest rivalries will be revived this weekend, but will it prove to be worth the wait? Scott Fleming looks forward to the Derby della Mole. Nov 29, 2012 Three years and eight months. That’s how long we’ve been waiting for a Derby della Mole. That wait will finally come to an end this Saturday evening, with the first edition in the derby’s 105 year history to be played at the Juventus Stadium. I’d like to say how much we’ve all missed it. But unless you support either club, the truth is you probably haven’t. The Mole is the equal of the Madonnina and Capitale derbies in terms of history and tradition, but in terms of competitiveness and excitement, the most recent editions have been sadly lacking. Torino haven’t beaten Juventus since April 1995. Just three goals have been scored in the last four derbies – three 1-0 Juve wins and a goalless draw. But before you decide to do something foolish with your Saturday night, such as socialising, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this game will be different. Indeed, the simple fact that Turin has been starved of its derby for so long almost guarantees it. Firstly, Juventus are no longer invincible. To describe them as vulnerable would be pushing it, but a run of one win in four Serie A games is certainly abnormal for Antonio Conte’s side. Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Milan has prompted questions and resurrected everyone’s favourite, in-no-way tedious polemic about their lack of a ‘top player’ up front. Then there’s the fact that to take something from Saturday’s game would be typical of Giampiero Ventura’s Toro. The Serie B runners up have managed to lose most of the games they’ve been expected to win since returning to the top flight, yet proved surprisingly strong against the big clubs and in away games. The Granata have lost just once on their travels and held Lazio, Napoli and Fiorentina to draws in recent weeks. The fixture should also provide plenty of intrigue from a tactical perspective, pitting Conte’s 3-5-2 against Ventura’s 4-2-4. Conte was also fond of the audacious 4-2-4 in the past, hence Bari’s decision to replace him with Ventura when he left the Apulian outfit in 2009. The Derby della Mole has borne witness to some brilliant and bizarre happenings over the years, from Torino founder Alfredo Dick being locked in the dressing room by Juve during the very first meeting to gunfire breaking out in a ‘friendly’ between the two that took place shortly after the end of World War II. We’re unlikely to see anything quite like that on Saturday, but hopefully we will see the dawn of a new era, when Turin derbies are a lot better to watch, and a lot harder to predict. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 1-12-12 (20:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Ventura: Derby a festival of football Nov 29, 2012 Torino boss Giampiero Ventura believes Saturday's derby with Juventus will be 'a festival of football'. The 64-year-old is confident that his team will be more than up for the first Turin derby in almost four years, but hopes that the fans are entertained by what happens on the pitch. “Juventus will be determined, foaming at the mouth,” he told a Press conference. “However, we'll be determined as well. “After several years of absence, hopefully it will be a great festival of football for Turin. “The derby is a match in itself. We will try our hardest, but the important thing is that it is an opportunity for a great festival of sport.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Buffon makes Parma admission Nov 29, 2012 Gigi Buffon says he would only consider leaving Juventus to re-join Parma – even if he’s on the verge of signing a new deal in Turin. The goalkeeper is only tied to the Old Lady until June 2013, but he is soon expected to renew terms with the Bianconeri. “I’ll sign my contract soon,” he stated to La Nazione. “It is not a question of money and everything will be made official in a little while. “If I left Juve then I would happily go back to Parma, the side who launched me at the top level.” The 34-year-old was brought up through the Parma youth system and he made his Serie A debut for the club as a 17-year-old in a 0-0 draw with Milan. He joined Juve in the summer of 2001 for a goalkeeping world record fee of £32m.

Italians miss out on Ballon d'Or Nov 29, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli have missed out on the final shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award. The Italian trio were initially nominated for the prestigious award, given to the world's best player, but the triumvirate have been cut from the final three as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta make it through to the final round of voting. Pirlo had been considered an outside bet for the award following his outstanding performances for Juventus in their unbeaten Scudetto win as well as his guiding Italy to the final of Euro 2012. The announcement was made at a Press conference in Sao Paulo this afternoon, as the La Liga players were deemed the superior candidates in the original 23-man list. Messi has won the Golden Ball for the past three seasons and is the clear favourite for this year's edition. The winner will be announced on January 7 in Zurich, with the recipient being decided by each national team captain, Coach and leading journalist.

Italians miss out on Ballon d'Or Nov 29, 2012 Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon and Mario Balotelli have missed out on the final shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award. The Italian trio were initially nominated for the prestigious award, given to the world's best player, but the triumvirate have been cut from the final three as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta make it through to the final round of voting. Pirlo had been considered an outside bet for the award following his outstanding performances for Juventus in their unbeaten Scudetto win as well as his guiding Italy to the final of Euro 2012. The announcement was made at a Press conference in Sao Paulo this afternoon, as the La Liga players were deemed the superior candidates in the original 23-man list. Messi has won the Golden Ball for the past three seasons and is the clear favourite for this year's edition. The winner will be announced on January 7 in Zurich, with the recipient being decided by each national team captain, Coach and leading journalist.

PSG target Lichtsteiner Nov 29, 2012 Stephan Lichtsteiner could be the subject of a January transfer bid from Paris Saint-Germain, reports in the Italian media have suggested. The Swiss defender has been used sparingly by Antonio Conte this season and La Stampa believe that the Ligue 1 club could make a move during the winter break. The 28-year-old is tied to the Bianconeri until June 2015, but an offer of around €15m is likely to turn their heads. Lichtsteiner has started seven Serie A games so far this season, scoring one goal.

Juventus & AC Milan have an excellent rapport, insists Marotta The Serie A champions' general director has dismissed rumours that the relationship between both teams has turned sour following recent incidents. Nov 29, 2012 Giuseppe Marotta has insisted that there are no problems between Juventus and AC Milan following the recent refereeing controversies involving both sides. The two sides have seemingly had a tense relationsip in recent months following a controversial decision not to allow Sulley Muntari a goal when they met last season. However, Marotta has stressed that the recent events have not affected the status of their rapport. "There has always been a good rapport between Juventus and Milan," he told Sky TG24 when questioned on the matter. "There’s the right competitiveness on the pitch and everyone wants to win, but we also have common off-field objectives designed to reach a winning strategy." Juventus' general director also took the time to discuss the Bianconeri's attacking situation, and insisted that they do not have any problems up front. "If we consider last year’s championship and the first part of the current campaign, Juventus have the most prolific attack. We've scored 94 goals and we've never had difficulties in putting the ball in the back of the net. "We’re the team with the highest number of different goalscorers and our tactical ethos is geared towards players breaking forward, so it’s not just the strikers who get on the score-sheet."

Serie A Week 15 - 1-12-12 (20:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Juventus handed Vidal muscle injury blow The combative midfielder could miss Saturday's game against Torino due to physical problems, while Martin Caceres has also sustained a knock. Nov 28, 2012 Juventus caretaker coach Angelo Alessio may have to do without Arturo Vidal for the derby clash with Torino after he suffered a muscle injury. The midfielder picked up a knock on the training pitch earlier this week, and it is not yet known if he will be match fit in time for Saturday's encounter. "Arturo Vidal pulled up in Tuesday’s workout due to an overload in his adductor muscles. The Chilean midfielder’s condition will be progressively monitored over the next few days," a statement on the official Juventus website reads. The 25-year-old has been a key figure for the Bianconeri so far this season, scoring nine goals in 18 appearances. Meanwhile, Martin Caceres could also face a spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury in training. "Martin Caceres missed out on Tuesday’s double workout after reporting for training with a pain in his left ankle," a statement reads. "The defender was given an MRI scan which displayed a notable joint effusion and a minimal ankle ligament strain. His recovery time will be assessed over the coming days." Caceres joined Juve from Sevilla in January 2012, and has since become an important first team member at Juventus Stadium. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Reasons Why Juventus Will Struggle to Win the Champions League Nov 28, 2012 Juventus have seemingly opened up and spread their power across Europe following their 3-0 win over Chelsea in the Champions League last week. A win against Shakhtar Donetsk in their final Group E clash will see the Old Lady of Italian football through to the last 16. If they do get through, the big question will be whether they can win the tournament. This article will look at the reasons why a mountain lies ahead for the Italian champions. Stronger Teams Ahead of Juventus As good as the win against Chelsea was, Juventus are likely to struggle when playing the rest of Europe’s big hitters. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern Munich all qualified for the last 16 with games to spare. Spanish giants Barcelona are favourites to win the trophy and it’s easy to see why. In Lionel Messi they have arguably the world’s best player. Messi has scored five goals in five games in the Champions League this season, and the more he plays, the more he scores. Barcelona also have Xavi Hernandez, the pass master of world football. The Spanish midfielder has made 719 of Barcelona’s 4427 passes so far in the competition. Real Madrid are phenomenal too and have Cristiano Ronaldo in their side. Like Messi, Ronaldo has also notched up five goals in five group games in Europe this season. Compare those stats to Juventus. Fabio Quagliarella is Juve’s top scorer in the Champions League with three to his name. Mirko Vucinic, his striking partner, has scored just one goal in four appearances. No Big Name In Attack One area Juventus struggle in compared to the other sides in the Champions League is the lack of a big name forward up front. Barcelona have Messi, Real Madrid are inspired by Ronaldo, Manchester United fly with Robin van Persie. All these strikers are used to the big time. They have years of experience playing in the Champions League. At Juventus, both Quagliarella and Vucinic are relied upon to break down the barriers of opposition defences, but they will likely struggle when push comes to shove in the nail-biting games of the latter stages. Juventus clearly have a problem up front with 51 attempts off target across their five games to date. These worrying statistics could be a reason why the Italians have only won two group matches this term. They cannot finish off their chances in front of goal compared to the stronger sides. Over-Reliance on Midfield At the back, Juventus are smartly balanced with Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, all of whom are Italy internationals. But it is the midfield which has become the driving force behind their steady course over the past two seasons. Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchiso provide an array of weaponry which has had devastating effects on teams in Europe and in Serie A. However, there is too much reliance in that department and it shows. Marchisio and Vidal between them have scored just one goal less than all of Juventus’ attacking players combined in the Champions League this season. When the forwards are not in form, and when the midfield struggles, who will score for Juve? The loss of Alessandro Del Piero It’s times like these when Alessandro Del Piero would have been a galvanising influence inside the dressing room. Juventus must beat Shakhtar away from home to be guaranteed a place in the round of 16; no easy feat considering the Ukrainian side currently sit top of Group E. Del Piero’s wealth of experience and presence could have made the difference, and the loss has been underestimated following his departure during the summer transfer window. Despite all of the shortcomings highlighted, Juventus do have good infrastructure such as having their own stadium. It may be too early for Antonio Conte’s men to conquer Europe this season, but who’s to say they cannot win it in a few years if they continue building as they are.

Cannavaro votes for Pirlo & Iniesta Nov 28, 2012 Fabio Cannavaro has backed Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo or Andres Iniesta of Barcelona to win the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or. The two players are among the 23-man shortlist for the honour whose winner will be announced on January 7. “Pirlo is a player with extraordinary qualities,” the 2006 victor told France Football. “Not only did he win the Scudetto with Juventus, but he also took Italy to the Final of the European Championship. “Meanwhile, Iniesta continues to confirm his qualities,” the ex-Italian international captain continued. “He really is incredible. He is a fundamental player for his club and for Spain.” The 23-man shortlist in full: Sergio Agüero (Argentina), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Mario Balotelli (Italy), Karim Benzema (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Sergio Busquets (Spain), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Özil (Germany), Gerard Piqué (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire), Robin Van Persie (Netherlands), Xavi (Spain).

Hamsik: Napoli hungrier than Juve Nov 28, 2012 Marek Hamsik has warned Juventus and the rest of Italy that Napoli are serious about winning the Scudetto this season. “We are two points shy of the leaders and everything is still up for grabs,” the attacking midfielder told Radio Marte. “Juventus are accustomed to winning and they have consolidated their place at a certain level. But we have more hunger than they do. “It’s a shame that we lost in Turin against Juventus. But we’ve archived that moment and we’re looking ahead.” The Old Lady started the season as favourites, but a recent slump means that the top five are now separated by just six points. “As well as Juventus and ourselves, there is Inter, Fiorentina, Lazio and Roma,” the former Brescia man continued. “We are a very competitive side though. We’ve been unjustly criticised in the past, but we have never given up and we’ll look to achieve some prestigious results. “Winning at Napoli has a special taste, I was made aware of that after we won the Coppa Italia. Just imagine if we win the title…” Juve face Torino this weekend, while the Azzurri will play host to struggling Pescara.

Marotta: Juventus ‘forced’ to win Nov 28, 2012 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta insists that it is in the club’s DNA to fight for the Italian championship. The Old Lady won the Scudetto last term, but they’ve suffered a dip in form having picked up just four points from their last four games. “Last year we won the championship with our never-say-die attitude. From there we’ve continued our positive run and we’re still top of the League as it stands,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “We know that we’ve got experienced competition and we can’t help but acknowledge the value of our opposition. “The title race is open and it’s our duty to believe we can do it. We’ve got respect for everyone, but Juve must look to win, it’s in our DNA.” The Bianconeri took an early grip on the championship, but they are now just two points clear of Napoli. “Napoli are a well equipped team, built with focused signings,” Marotta noted. “They have a Coach who has been there for years and it’s natural they should play a key role this season. “There’s also the club’s prestige and history, they have every right to be considered as title contenders.” Marotta also played down reports that tension and anxiety had hit the squad after defeats to Inter and Milan. “Nothing happened between Claudio Marchisio and Leonardo Bonucci,” he said of an apparent rift between the two. “Fabio Quagliarella, meanwhile, was fined but only after a calm discussion with him. He was angry at being substituted in a game where the team were losing and he wanted to help his teammates to get an equaliser. It was an anger that immediately passed.” Marotta was then unsurprisingly asked abut his club’s ‘problems’ in attack after another summer passed without the capture of a top player in attack. “If we consider last year’s championship and the first part of the current campaign, Juventus have the most prolific attack,” he argued. “We’ve scored 94 goals and we’ve never had difficulties in putting the ball in the back of the net. “We’re the team with the highest number of different goalscorers and our tactical ethos is geared towards players breaking forward, so it’s not just the strikers who get on the scoresheet. “Let’s also remember that last year we had the strongest defence and the best goal difference. We know it’s our duty to improve but there’s no need to plug gaps in January.”

Marotta: Winning is in Juventus' DNA The Turin powerhouse's general director has stressed that winning comes naturally to his side, and is confident they will survive the Champions League group stages. Nov 28, 2012 Giuseppe Marotta is confident that Juventus can successfully defend their Serie A title as winning has become second nature for the Old Lady. The titleholders were beaten by both Inter and AC Milan in recent weeks, but remain first in the league table, and the club's general director has little doubt that they will stay ahead of their rivals. "The title race is open and it’s our duty to believe we can do it. We've got respect for everyone, but Juve must look to win, it’s in our DNA," he told Sky TG24. "Last year we won the championship with our never-say-die attitude. From there we’ve continued our positive run and we’re still top of the league as it stands." Marotta then went on to discuss his side's chances of making the knock-out stages of the Champions League, and stressed that they have the quality to progress. "The Champions League is an important competition. We have the desire to go through to the knock-out stages, but there’s still a way to go. "We’re convinced we’ve got a balanced squad which is up to the standard required to reach this target." Juventus currently sit second in Group E of the Champions League, and a draw against Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday 6 will be enough to secure progress to the knockout stages.

Serie A Week 14 - 25-11-12 (20:45 p.m.) 1 - 0 Robinho (31′-PG) Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) Stadium - Milan Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Attendance: 77023 AC Milan-Juventus referee defends spot kick decision In the aftermath of Sunday's clash, Nicola Rizzoli still believes that he was correct in his decision to award the home side a penalty, despite what replays have shown. Nov 27, 2012 Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli has defended his choice to award AC Milan a controversial penalty against Juventus during the weekend Serie A clash, in spite of what television replays have shown. Rizzoli pointed to the spot in the 1-0 win for the Rossoneri, after judging that the ball had struck Mauricio Isla on the arm, whereas later evidence suggested that the contact was made with his torso. "There are two parrallel truths in football: what happens on the field at great speed with the sounds and all of the rest," explained the match official to reporters. "Then there is the television that breaks down images, slows them down, and one often cannot be certain which is the case as with the slow-motion replay with Isla. "Are we sure the ball never touches the arm despite downward trajectory?" Despite Robinho's penalty costing their side an important three points, Rizzoli spoke positively of the reaction of the Juventus players to his debatable decision. "Their protests were very civil and this allowed me to continue to arbitrate and officiate the game with maximum concentration," he added. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Cavani: Scudetto is within reach of Napoli The Uruguay forward believes that winning Serie A is a realistic goal for his side, and insists he joined the club to leave his mark on its history rather than achieve individually. Nov 27, 2012 Napoli striker Edinson Cavani has spoken optimistically of his side's title chances, stating that he and his teammates are "on the case". The Partenopei are currently second in the Serie A table - two points behind leaders Juventus - and Cavani believes that the Scudetto is a realistic target this season. "Winning the championship is not a dream so far," Cavani told reporters. "Juve are easily reachable. Let's just say that the team and I are on the case. "I did not come to Naples to do more than Maradona. I came here to get into people's hearts and leave a mark in the history of the club."

Luiz Adriano banned for Shakhtar-Juve Nov 27, 2012 Luiz Adriano is suspended for the Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League game with Juventus after he “violated the principles of conduct.” The striker hit headlines all over the world when intercepting a pass back to Nordsjaelland to score after the ball had been put out of play for an injury. UEFA opened an investigation and today announced Luiz Adriano has been suspended for one match. This means he won’t be available for the final Champions League Group E game between Shakhtar Donetsk and Juventus. The Bianconeri need a point from that match to be sure of qualification.

Ciro Ferrara: 'Juve and Napoli...' Nov 27, 2012 Ciro Ferrara admits he is torn between his former clubs, so hopes “Napoli win the Scudetto and Juventus get the Champions League.” The current Sampdoria Coach won the Serie A title as a player with both Juve and Napoli, who are battling for the tournament this season. “I never know who to cheer on,” Ferrara told Mediaset. “Last season Juve won the Scudetto and Napoli lifted the Coppa Italia. “This year I hope the Napoli win the Scudetto and Juventus get the Champions League, so everyone’s happy. “I do believe Napoli can challenge for the title. They have matured and have more strength in depth compared to last year. “Juve have something more in terms of mentality and history, but I don’t know if they’ll have the same hunger as last season.”