Socrates

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2^ giornata - Ritorno) - 20-11-2012 (ore 20:45) ................ JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CHELSEA Fabio Quagliarella (38′) Arturo Vidal (61′) Sebastian Giovinco (90+1′) Juventus stadium - Torino Arbitro: Cuneyt Çakir (Turkey) Spettatori: 39670 Champions League - Bella di notte: la Juve umilia il Chelsea Quagliarella, Vidal e Giovinco annientano un Chelsea troppo rinunciatario. Juventus in controllo del match per 90 minuti. Per la qualificazione agli ottavi di Champions League ai bianconeri manca ora solo un punto sul campo dello Shakhtar già qualificato. Eurosport - Martedí, 20 novembre 2012 E’ un vittoria totale quella della Juventus. E’ un KO di rare dimensioni invece per il Chelsea campione d’Europa, umiliato davanti a uno Juventus Stadium vestito a festa e che per la prima volta (non ce ne voglia il Nordsjaelland), può esplodere in una serata di Champions League. Juventus batte Chelsea 3 a 0. O, se preferite, Antonio Conte batte Roberto Di Matteo. Il tecnico di origine svizzera prova a scendere a Torino alla caccia di un punticino che gli regalerebbe la sicurezza di una comoda chiusura casalinga proprio contro i danesi ma, davanti a se, trova una squadra che lo sovrasta in ogni reparto. Non serve infatti l’accorgimento tecnico Azpilicueta al posto di Torres, nel tentativo di chiudere le fasce bianconere e creare maggiore intensità di uomini davanti alla difesa; la Juventus per corsa, superiorità fisica, intensità e voglia di vincere non lascia scampo ai Blues campioni d’Europa e si prende onore e gloria di una serata senza storia. E’ un 3-0 tondo, siglato da Quagliarella nel primo tempo – quando la porta di Cech sembrava essere per l’ennesima volta stregata – e suggellato nella ripresa dalle reti del solito Vidal e di Sebastian Giovinco. La Juventus – ancora imbattuta in Europa – vola così a 9 punti nel gruppo E, uno in meno del già qualificato Shakhtar. Sul campo degli ucraini, tra due settimane, basterà un solo punto per centrare gli ottavi di finale. Un risultato che, dopo stasera, non può fare paura all’armata di Conte. LA PARTITA - E che la Juventus potesse giocare in una sola maniera è evidente fin dai primissimi minuti. Ritmo indiavolato, pressing altissimo e un movimento congiunto di 5 uomini d’attacco – da Asamoah a Lichtsteiner passando per l’inserimento di un centrocampista a turno più le due punte – mette in difficoltà i campioni d’Europa che nei primi 20 minuti sono annichiliti. PARTENZA FULMINE - Dopo 4 minuti infatti, da una bella combinazione tra Vucinic e Asamoah, nasce un cross dal limite dell’area che pesca Lichtsteiner libero alle spalle di Cole: lo svizzero va a colpo sicuro ma Cech devia prima col ginocchio e si salva poi con l’aiuto del palo. Quagliarella ci prova poi da fuori, Marchisio testa i riflessi di Cech dagli sviluppi di un calcio d’angolo e Vucinic è una spina nel fianco di Cahill e Luiz... Insomma, in avvio la Juventus sottopone i campioni d’Europa a una sorta di assedio che non trova però il fine sperato. IL RISCHIO - La squadra di Di Matteo è infatti sorniona nella più pura accezione del termine. Al primo contropiede disponibile, alla prima ingenuità, le talentuose mezze-punte dei Blues provano a far male ai bianconeri e solo un miracolo di Buffon salva la Juventus dalla più classica delle beffe. Al 10’ – nell’unica occasione in cui il Chelsea mette la testa fuori nel primo tempo – Oscar semina il panico nella metà campo bianconera e serve un pallone delizioso ad Hazard: il diagonale del belga è deviato in corner dal tocco con il piede di Buffon. La Juve si salva. Sarà un tocco fondamentale. LA MOSSA DI DI MATTEO - Si perché passato lo spavento inziale il Chelsea trova per una decina di minuti le contromisure, ritraducibili fondamentalmente in una mossa più o meno prevedibile: Azpilicueta, schierato al posto di Torres, da esterno alto si trasforma in quinto di difesa e la maggiore concentrazione al limite dell’area, insieme a un baricentro avanzato di qualche metro, permette alla squadra della fermata Fulham Broadway di tirare il fiato per qualche minuto. JUVE: GOL, EMOZIONE E PAURA - La pausa, come accennato, dura però pochissimo. Al 38’ infatti Quagliarella si traveste da Pippo Inzaghi e la Juventus passa: Pirlo salta la prima linea di pressing e lascia partire un tiro rasoterra che, deviato dal piattone dell’attaccante napoletano, beffa il tuffo di Cech e si infila lento vinco al palo. Nemmeno il tempo di ricomporsi però e lo Juventus Stadium vive un minuto di emozione e paura. Un colpo di testa di Lichtsteiner deviato dalla difesa del Chelsea sta per terminare lentamente dentro la porta difesa da Cech ma Cole, esperto in salvataggi “italici” (i tifosi nel Napoli ne sanno qualcosa), salva sulla linea e fa ripartire Hazard: la difesa scoperta della Juventus lascia partire Hazard che serve Mata solo davanti a Buffon. Il portiere della nazionale è tempestivo in uscita ma il controllo dello spagnolo è clamorosamente difettoso. La Juventus si salva e va a riposo avanti di un gol preziosissimo. IL CAMBIO... - Di Matteo esce dagli spogliatoi consapevole di dover provare a far qualcosa di differente dal contropiede e per i primi 5 minuti prova ad alzare il baricentro – come aveva del resto fatto per una decina di minuti nel primo tempo – nel tentativo di allargare le maglie della difesa della Juventus. Entra anche Moses – una punta – prendendo il posto proprio di quell'Azpilicueta che aveva levato il posto da titolare a Torres. Il piano però, questa volta, non porta gli effetti sperati. ANCORA VIDAL - A riprendere in mano il pallino del gioco è infatti la Juventus e proprio dai piedi di Asamoah al 61’ (un minuto dopo l’uscita di Azpilicueta) nasce il gol del ko: Vucinic duetta col ghanese che serve un perfetto pallone a rimorchio per la conclusione di Vidal. Il cileno va a colpo sicuro e la deviazione di Ramires mette fuorigioco Cech. E’ la nona rete stagionale del centrocampista sudamericano. E' il gol che, di fatto, chiude i giochi. NOTTE DI GLORIA - Di Matteo infatti, sotto di due reti e consapevole delle notizie provenienti dalla Danimarca, inserisce anche Torres. E’ troppo tardi. I 5 giocatori offensivi dei Blues non riescono comunque a impensierire un Juventus perfetta nei suoi meccanismi difensivi e micidiale nel giro palla. Il Chelsea si getta in avanti nel finale ma, al 91’, deve subire il contropiede di Vidal chiuso dal tocco in anticipo del neo entrato Giovinco. E’ il gol della gloria. La ciliegina sulla torta della prima, grande, notte di gloria dello Juventus Stadium. Per il brindisi però si dovrà aspettare. Alla Juventus manca ancora un punto e stappare prima, si sa, porta male. Simone Eterno - Eurosport http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=I-5Kvy7FyOA#t=0s Juventus 3-0 Chelsea

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (5th leg) - 20-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CHELSEA Fabio Quagliarella (38′) Arturo Vidal (61′) Sebastian Giovinco (90+1′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Cuneyt Çakir (Turkey) Attendance: 39670 Giovinco: Chelsea win was beautiful Nov 22, 2012 Juventus striker Sebastian Giovinco has admitted that their 3-0 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday was a 'beautiful' moment. Goals from Fabio Quagliarella, Arturo Vidal and the former Parma man gave the Bianconeri a resounding victory in the Champions League. And the 25-year-old has conceded that it was a big moment for the club, as well as revealing what their ambitions are for the campaign. “It was important for us to try and win,” he told Sky Sport 24. “Thankfully we did that, and against the champions of Europe as well – it was a beautiful night. “Our goal is do well in all the competitions, and this is also true of the Champions League.” He also commented on the Old Lady's form this season, and also remarked on the performances of Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy. “We are a top side,” he said. “We are doing well in Europe and in Serie A. I think we have the best attack and the best defence in Italy. “El Shaarawy? He is a good player, making a difference for Milan.”

Marotta talks Juventus transfers Nov 22, 2012 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has underlined that Champions League progress could subsequently aid the club in the transfer market. The Old Lady were unable to sign a big name striker in the summer that they so desperately wanted, but a good European run could help Marotta bring in new faces. “The Champions League is also appealing for economic reasons,” the former Sampdoria official stated. “That is why it is important to progress. “Signing a striker in January, putting our financial resources to one side, will also depend a lot of who is available at the time…” The Turin giants have been paired with a possible move for Didier Drogba, the Ivorian international who is now playing his football in China with Shanghai Shenhua. “I will exclude nothing,” Marotta said when asked about the former Chelsea striker.

Conte to block Marrone exit? Nov 22, 2012 Juventus boss Antonio Conte has reportedly put an end to Genoa’s interest in signing Luca Marrone. The port club are being linked with a January swoop for the Italian Under-21 international who is struggling for games in Turin. However, Conte is believed to have told Turin officials that Marrone is a key element of his squad despite the fact that he has played in just four League games this term. Marrone is a 22-year-old central midfielder, but he has been used in the middle of a back-three this season as an alternative to Leonardo Bonucci. Genoa are looking to strengthen when the market opens at the start of 2013 as they look to avoid relegation to Serie B.

Pirlo: 'Belief by beating Chelsea' Nov 21, 2012 Andrea Pirlo says “beating the reigning European Champions” Chelsea gives Juventus even more confidence ahead of Milan. Last night’s 3-0 victory was a statement of intent to the Champions League as well as increasing their chances of qualification. “That was a great evening and we needed a victory like that to take a step towards qualification, even if we know that the last game with Shakhtar will be decisive,” Pirlo told the official Juventus website. “Beating the reigning European Champions gave us further belief in our own strength. We have always believed, but now we do even more.” On Sunday Juve face a crucial Serie A clash too, as they go head-to-head with Pirlo’s former club. “Facing Milan is special for me, but I just want Juve to win and continue playing like this. So far we have done well and Milan have had a few problems, but we only want to look at our own progress.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (5th leg) - 20-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CHELSEA Fabio Quagliarella (38′) Arturo Vidal (61′) Sebastian Giovinco (90+1′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Cuneyt Çakir (Turkey) Attendance: 39670 Juventus Beat Chelsea: What We Learned From Juve's Triumph Over the Champions Nov 21, 2012 Struggling Chelsea faced an in-form Juventus side Tuesday night in the Champions League, and very little went right for the visitors. Within first five minutes, Petr Cech was forced to push Stephan Lichsteiner's volley onto the post, and the pressure rarely let up from there. Though Eden Hazard had a great chance to put his side ahead inside ten minutes after a brilliant winding run from Oscar, the hosts were far the better team on the night. Chelsea, setting up in a defensive wing-back formation, had problems from back to front, while Juventus created chances consistently from all sides. It's no mean feat beating the champions of Europe so comprehensively, putting them in danger of elimination to boot. How did they do it? Roberto Di Matteo's Selection of Cesar Azpilicueta Was a Puzzling Mistake Roberto di Matteo inserted Cesar Azpilicueta into his starting 11 as a right wing-back to deal with Juventus wing-back Kwadwo Asamoah for only his fifth appearance of the season. The move looked ill-fated from the start, as Asamoah was pushing on beyond Azpilicueta and facing off against Branislav Ivanovic in the first minute. In fact, it was unclear throughout the match exactly what role Azpilicueta was meant to play, as the Chelsea defense often reverted to the simple flat back four to which they're more accustomed. Azpilicueta did little to quell the attacking prowess of Asamoah, and offered next to nothing going forward. He was duly substituted after 60 minutes. Chelsea's Defensive Tactics Were a Mess Beyond the puzzling selection of Azpilicueta, di Matteo's defensive tactics cost Chelsea control of the match. Playing without a striker should have given Chelsea much more control over the middle of the park, but they seemed content to sit deep and let Juventus dictate the pace of play. Juventus, meanwhile, took advantage of Chelsea's tentativeness, sending players forward at every opportunity. Without a recognized striker, Chelsea lacked a target for outlet passes from their defensive posture, as well as for crosses. Though they troubled Juventus on the counter, they were unable to take advantage of the few chances they managed to create. Andrea Pirlo Is Not the Sole Threat from Juventus's Midfield England supporters are just getting over their nightmares of Andrea Pirlo from the quarterfinal of Euro 2012, but the Chelsea fans now know the midfield maestro isn't the only quality player directing traffic in Turin. Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal turned in lively performances against Chelsea, building on their strong seasons and ever-growing confidence. The two midfielders play slightly advanced of Andrea Pirlo, and alternately pop up between Chelsea's midfield and defense. They are not shy from crashing into the penalty area to get on the end of crosses, as Vidal showed in the splendid move that led to his goal. Asamoah Was a Constant Threat Kwadwo Asamoah had a splendid match, getting up and down the left side and always looking to put in dangerous crosses for the two strikers. What he lacked in technique and passing ability, he more than made up for in pace, power and crossing ability. Azpilicueta couldn't deal with him, and Ivanovic didn't have the pace to contain him. His 40th-minute cross was was nearly bungled in by David Luiz and Ashley Cole before the latter managed to clear it off the line in the nick of time. His 46th minute cross was nearly met by the onrushing Lichsteiner before Ashley Cole managed to divert it clear. His diligent work was finally rewarded with an assist on 60 minutes when he quietly slipped behind Ivanovic on the left and found Vidal across the center. Juventus Will Be a Dangerous Team to Face If They Reach the Knockout Stage Juventus's massive victory over Chelsea could be a harbinger of things to come from the Turin side. Can they go on and win the Champions League? They may not be as good a pure football team as the likes of favorites Barcelona, and they will never complete as many passes as the Catalan giants. Nevertheless, they attack relentlessly with speed, power, and incisive movement. Their use of two strikers, increasingly uncommon in world football today, allows them to get the ball forward early without resorting to hopeful long passes. Though they may not defend with the same numbers, or intent, as great Italian sides of the past, they nevertheless can call on three international center-halves and one of Italy's great goalkeepers to keep things tight at the back. And despite their quick style of attacking, they have the calming influence and experience of Andrea Pirlo to keep the ball in midfield when needed. Before they can worry about the next phase, they face a tough task in Donetsk, where they will most likely have to get a point to advance.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (5th leg) - 20-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CHELSEA Fabio Quagliarella (38′) Arturo Vidal (61′) Sebastian Giovinco (90+1′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Cuneyt Çakir (Turkey) Attendance: 39670 Juventus vs. Chelsea: 6 Things We Learned Nov 21, 2012 Juventus secured a vital victory in the Champions League to push the champions toward the exit. Chelsea mixed it with the Bianconeri in the opening stages, but Juve began to gain a stranglehold on the game as the match went on, claiming the three points that puts qualification in their hands. The Bianconeri just need a point away to Shakhtar in the final match to secure progression from Group E, as they hold a superior head-to-head record over the Blues. Chelsea must beat Nordsjaelland and hope that the Ukrainians can do them a favour and beat the Italian champions. Here are six things we learned from the game. Kwadwo Asamoah Is Becoming One of the Most Dangerous Players in Europe Kwadwo Asamoah was bought from Udinese this summer where he had thrived as a centre midfielder. Antonio Conte, with an embarrassment of midfield options, decided to turn the Ghanaian into a left midfielder. The move has been a revelation and Asamoah is proving to be one of the best in Europe in this role. It is scary to think that he is actually better through the middle. Asamoah was able to drive at Branislav Ivanovic throughout the match, using his searing pace and power to knock the ball past the Serbian and deliver dangerous crosses into the penalty area. With strikers willing to drop deep or pull wide, such as Sebastian Giovinco and Mirko Vucinic, Asamoah is able to combine well and drive into the middle when afforded the opportunity. Eden Hazard Is Not the Answer in Attack—for Now Eden Hazard was selected to start ahead of Fernando Torres in attack for Chelsea against Juventus in a move that left many bemused. Torres deserved to be left out of the lineup, but his replacement was a troubling matter for Roberto Di Matteo, who did not have any obvious alternatives at his disposal. Daniel Sturridge was absent through injury, which begs the question as to why Romelu Lukaku was allowed to leave on loan when no reinforcements were summoned. Hazard has played the role of a "false nine" before, sometimes with the Belgium national team, but for him to be effective, Chelsea needed to provide plenty of support from the deeper areas and service on the deck, rather than in the air. Chelsea would have to sacrifice width if they were to pursue this idea any further, as Cesar Azpilicueta and Juan Mata, to an extent, left the former Lille star isolated in the middle. A Christmas tree formation might be a solution that Di Matteo experiments with moving forward, as Torres' form does not look like improving at all. Juventus Could Win the Champions League Juventus entered this Champions League campaign without a clear idea of where their expectations should realistically lie. The Bianconeri were sensational last season—claiming the scudetto in an undefeated season—but without European action, the true quality of this side remained somewhat of a mystery. Juve are unbeaten in the Champions League, despite facing two difficult opponents and are showing what a quality outfit they really are. Only one area can be highlighted as being somewhat mediocre and that is the attack. Fabio Quagliarella is in the midst of a purple patch while Mirko Vucinic is one of the most technically gifted players in Italy, but Sebastian Giovinco is still not proven at a club of Juve's stature, so this might be an area that Juve look to strengthen in the January transfer market. If they can add a potent goal scorer to an already formidable squad, Juve can realistically stand a chance of winning the Champions League. Ramires Is One of Europe's Most Athletic Players Without Ramires, Chelsea might have been further embarrassed at the Juventus Stadium due to the Brazilian's incredible athleticism, stamina and pace to be able to extinguish many Juve counterattacks. The former Benfica star covered an enormous amount of ground to be able to prevent the game from getting out of hand before Sebastian Giovinco ensured the score line was probably as emphatic as the game itself. As Chelsea went for it, throwing on Fernando Torres in place of Jon Obi Mikel, Ramires was left isolated with Oscar his only help against what many would consider the best midfield in Europe. It is a credit to Ramires that Chelsea were still in the game in the closing stages despite opening up, as he disrupted the Bianconeri counterattacks and initiated Chelsea's own. Who would you say can match Chelsea's midfielder for athleticism? Kwadwo Asamoah? Yaya Toure? Fernando Torres Is Done at Chelsea It is fair to assume after Chelsea's 3-0 defeat to Juventus that Fernando Torres' future at Chelsea is over. The Spaniard was omitted from the starting lineup, despite no natural alternative at the manager's disposal due to Daniel Sturridge's injury. In the Blues' biggest match of the season so far, their £50 million signing could not be trusted to deliver the goods, so unless Roberto Di Matteo is fired, Torres' future looks very bleak. Rafael Benitez has been immediately linked with the Blues' hot seat if Pep Guardiola shuns the overtures from Roman Abramovich, and it is only this scenario where you can imagine the Spaniard rekindling his Liverpool form at Stamford Bridge. Roberto Di Matteo Is Not the Man to Deliver Winning Attractive Football Roberto Di Matteo confirmed against Juventus that he is not the man capable of delivering success for the Blues along with free-flowing, attacking football. We have witnessed some lovely play from the Blues this season, but it is becoming apparent that this is likely due to an abundance of technically gifted players rather than attacking tactics from the Italian manager. Decisions when not afforded a fully fit squad or a tactical dilemma such as only needing a point at the Juventus Stadium to maintain control on their destiny in Europe have shown Di Matteo's true colours. Di Matteo selected Ryan Bertrand as a winger in the Champions League final and he replicated such a move tonight by opting for Cesar Azpilicueta as a right-winger to double up on the dangerous Kwadwo Asamoah. Eden Hazard as a "false nine" might not be conceived as totally negative when you consider Fernando Torres' form, but Di Matteo might have selected the likes of Victor Moses ahead of Azpilicueta in order to maintain an attacking balance to the formation. It is not always a manager with bold, risky tactics that produces attacking football, but establishing a solid foundation to the side that keeps clean sheets can give the attacking players more license to work their magic. With the Blues persistently leaking goals at the back without John Terry, the burden to rush their attacks in pursuit of an equaliser or a goal to get back into the game is hurting the side. Ultimately then, Di Matteo must be held accountable and as all managers know under Roman Abramovich, time is precious.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (5th leg) - 20-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CHELSEA Fabio Quagliarella (38′) Arturo Vidal (61′) Sebastian Giovinco (90+1′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Cuneyt Çakir (Turkey) Attendance: 39670 Juventus 3:0 Chelsea - This Is The Real Juventus! Nov 21, 2012 For the first time in a long time, the real Bianconero spirit comes through in the Champions League, and against the holding winners too! POST-GAME REFLECTION It's been almost a full day since referee Cuneyt Cakir blew the final whistle at Juventus Stadium and I've been rocking this album on repeat the whole time. My love for Kanye's idiotic-turned-genius music aside, I believe it really epitomizes what Juventus did today. I'll do my best not to repeat what every other website/pundit has or will say about this game, but c'mon, we played the Champions League winners, in a must-win situation, in our brand new stadium, with zero-to-none European experience (as this core group), and we truly dominated almost every aspect of the clash while putting 3 goals past Petr Cech and keeping a clean sheet. Not only that, but the way in which we did it was beyond impressive. I'm rarely one to exaggerate performances but you saw it - apart from a couple chances on the break-away it was all Juventus for most of the game. Ladies and gentlemen, your very own Juventus class of 2012! Hokay, here's why I'm beating the dead horse with this Graduation theme. Some experienced, quality players may have worn the bianconero jersey within the past couple years (Buffon, Pirlo, Vucinic, Chiellini, and Barzagli come to mind), but if you really think about it, this is still a young team. A young project. Parts of it were already there, but the new path we've taken was laid out just 18 months ago, with a coach whose only coaching experience was leading minor Italian teams through the ranks of Serie B. Yet, here we are - Champions of Italy in the first year and after struggling to find our form in the Champions League, emerging victorious when it was most necessary. Is the job done yet? Far from it. But the first huge test in Europe came along and we passed it with flying colors. What was a nervous, boyishly-looking team when the CL group stage begun is now a determined, refocused, deadly team that rises to the occasion. There will be ups and downs along the way - that is only normal. Heck, we could lose in Donetsk and not even qualify for the final rounds of the CL. But these players now know - they have been there, and they have done it before. They've elevated to that level of European competition with the pressure on their shoulders and the fatigue in their legs. They are no longer the kids that only win in Italy; they are the united, gritty, dangerous motherfuckers that represent Italy in the brightest of lights throughout Europe. It's time for teams all across the old continent to fear the Old Lady again. TACTICAL THOUGHTS Chelsea - People have and will say that Chelsea got lucky winning the Champions League last year, and they may be partially correct. Still, despite all that and their recent lack of wins, I still consider them a top quality team. In Torino, they tried to switch some things up to better show the quality of their team and players, but unfortunately for them it didn't work out. Zonal Marking has already put up a pretty interesting opinion of Di Matteo's tactical breakdown, but I'll try to complement that view. Honestly, it was time Fernando Torres sat down from the start and Chelsea started using it's attacking midfielders in a more advanced role. The scoring talent among Mata, Hazard, and Oscar is definitely big enough to compensate for the lack of finishing Torres provides. Playing Hazard as a false 9 was very interesting, but I really think he failed to make the most of it. His strength is running at the defense, not playing with his back to the goal and letting it off for others. Playing as a false 9 should have enabled him to run with the ball even as the most advanced player in Chelsea's formation, but it didn't happen that much on the day. He's such a talented player that he can definitely do whatever is asked from him with decent success, but if you're going to get creative, might as well use your players in their most effective positions. In addition, Di Matteo's 4-2-3-1 set up left a pretty big gap between the 2 holding midfielders and the attacking trio up top. Mata failed to track back, Ramires was at times more interested in a half-assed tackle hoping for a chance on the counter, all the while the MVP trio pushed forward more often and more determined. In fact... Juventus - ...most of Chelsea's issues I opined about above really came from Juventus' ferocious attacks on goal. We saw glimpses of those attacks against Pescara and Lazio, but even in a high-risk game like today Juventus really pushed forward with numbers and pace. One thing I LOVE seeing in our midfield finally, is the switch of positions among the MVP. Up until the Inter match, all of Vidal, Pirlo, and Marchisio had their own slice of the midfield carved up and they mostly operated within it. Lately, the three have been moving around a lot more - and most importantly, there has been a lot more vertical movement rather than horizontal. We know we can control possession around the box at this point, but it was Marchisio's and Vidal's runs that were sorely missed in some of those stale games earlier this season. Speaking of runs, the tactical "surprise on the night" if you will, came from the recently-frustrated Sebastian Lichtsteiner. Since the space between Mata and Ashley Cole was so big, the Swiss train of old was back at his best, running his heart out and often cutting in behind Cole and into the middle. LE PAGELLE Buffon: 7.5 - The passion, grinta, and focus to win a game of today's challenge had to start from the very back and our tough-guy-in-pink capitano made sure that happened. Gigi was quiet, but superb. Rarely challenged by Chelsea's counter-attacks, he made his mark in the few occasions the ball came dangerously in his box. Somehow managed to block Hazard's early shot with his trailing leg, then pulled up right on time to close down Mata's angle on a potential volley. Also, not sure if you noticed, but he looked a lot more secure with long balls. When he would otherwise punch a swerving ball in a crowd, today he went up and confidently pulled most long balls to his chest before letting it off for one of our defenders. I'm personally ecstatic for his clean sheet - it was well deserved. Barzagli: 7 - Was caught out of position only once or twice in defense and mostly stayed very tidy in the back. Not only that, but he spent a lot of time in Chelsea's half providing a back pass opportunity for Lichsteiner and Vidal who were trying to wreak havoc down the right. Bonucci: 7.5 - It may be a bit generous, but c'mon - did you see that goal-saving sliding block? It was perfectly timed. That, his really nice and accurate balls to our wings out of the defense, and his pace to stay with Hazard, Mata, and Oscar on their bursts was more than enough for a 7.5 in my mind. Chiellini: 7.5 - If Arturo Vidal's performance wasn't so effective on every end of the pitch, Chiellini would've been my man of match - easy. Vintage performance from our center back, whose only error was a bad pass which could've led to an early Chelsea goal. Other than that, he was ALWAYS either in front of his man or right there behind him to cause a disturbance, and did well to help out in attack as well. Lichtsteiner: 7.5 - Now this is a Forrest Gump I can get used to! For the first time in a big game, the Swiss came out not only prepared mentally, but also on queue technically. Did ever so well to create down the right flank and was always an option for Pirlo and co. Was prevented from scoring early by a great reflex save from Cech, then continued to link up well with Vidal and Quagliarella. Gave Ashley Cole a lot of trouble. If only Mr. Eta Beta was a bit more generous at times, he would've bagged a goal for sure. Keep this up Stephan! Pirlo: 7 - Early on I was petrified of his advanced position on the pitch. Given the nature with which our whole team attacked, I really hoped he would stay back more and try to hit up long balls over the defense as he usually does. While he managed to do so in decent volume, he also spent a lot of time right outside Chelsea's box, pressing and waiting to start up an attack. Thank God Marchisio and Vidal were around to switch with him and cover back when needed. He was rested, and it showed. A lot of his delivery was pin-point, and his set piece plays from corner kicks were a pleasant surprise. Oh, and this has to be mentioned - Pirlo tackled against Chelsea! He was getting stuck in and was determined to win that ball back. Great to see him play passionate defense as well. Marchisio: 7 - Claudio's and Arturo's level of fitness is absolutely incredible. I recently read an article by James Horncastle in which Borussia Dortmund's coach talked about how being physically in shape and having stamina enabled you to perform and show your technical skill more effectively. I absolutely agree with that, and these two guys are an example of that each and every day. Principino had a great shot in the first half which Cech saved but most notably - everytime he was needed on the pitch, he was there. On offense, on defense, in midfield, on the flank, he was truly everywhere. Warrior. Vidal: 8 - King Arturo is officially back. Rising to the occasion the same way he put Juventus on his back in the first leg in London, Vidal was, erm, vital for Juventus once again. Not only scoring that decisive second goal to put the game to rest, but his overall coverage of the field was spectacular. He notched a great assist on the third goal too. Again, warrior. Asamoah: 7 - After a bit of a dip in form, Kwado was up against a solid centre-back-turned-full-back and a helping Azpilcueta the whole game. Still he managed to beat Ivanovic on a couple of runs and made the perfect back pass to Vidal for the second goal. Was obviously helped out by Stephan's more active role on the right which we have to see more of. Quagliarella: 7 - Our most in-form striker continued his fine form with another goal in the Champions, again against Chelsea. His runs were a lot better today mostly because Vucinic did the bulk of the hold up play. When lined up alongside Giovinco, Gio's first touch can often betray him and spoil the run Quagliarella makes behind him. With Vucinic, the pass comes in a bit later but the control that Vucinic has makes it a lot easier for him to position himself correctly for the right run. A great instinct deflection on Pirlo's shot and a couple mild shots on goal at Cech was really what I mostly remember from him in the game. Key timing on that first goal though. Wish he is less selfish sometimes. Vucinic: 6.5 - It may be harsh on the Montenegrin, but he missed a sitter in the box, took some wild shots when he should've passed the ball, and was too quiet at times. He did very well to put Asamoah through for the second goal and that shouldn't go unnoticed. Subs: Caceres: 6.5 - Lichtsteiner ran so much that by the 60th minute he was visibly gassed. Caceres brought a fresh set of legs and his interception started the play for the 3rd goal. Giovinco: 7 - Was energetic and immediately made an impact with his offense and then icing-on-the-cake goal. The goal didn't help his reputation of scoring only when we have a comfortable lead though. Pogba: sv - Conte/Alessio: 8 - It wasn't so much Conte's genius that won the game but the lack of one by Di Matteo. In fairness though, the way in which Juventus attacked made it very difficult on Chelsea to get out of their box on a more consistent basis. It was encouraging to see the faith the coach has in these players to pull off something like that in such an important game. THINGS I THINK I THINK Dat Stadium - Mamma mia what a crowd at the Juventus Stadium! That place was visibly shaking from minute 1 and the support that they gave our players was fantastic. Games like these is exactly what's going to make our fortress irreplaceable. The fans were absolutely fantastic.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (5th leg) - 20-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CHELSEA Fabio Quagliarella (38′) Arturo Vidal (61′) Sebastian Giovinco (90+1′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Cuneyt Çakir (Turkey) Attendance: 39670 Vidal revels in 'perfect' night for Juventus The Chile international was delighted with the way things panned out for the Serie A champions, but stressed they need a similar performance against Shakhtar Donetsk. Nov 21, 2012 Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal said his side's 3-0 Champions League victory over Chelsea was "the perfect night". Goals from Fabio Quagliarella, Vidal and Sebastian Giovinco helped the Bianconeri to a vital win, and second place in Group E, much to the delight of the Chile international. "It was the perfect night, we played an incredible match against a great side like Chelsea and now we are very happy. We just have to keep on like this until the end," Vidal was quoted as saying on the official Uefa website. "We were eager to win this game. It was so important so that we could continue to grow as a team. It's not over yet – there is another game – but if we play as well as we did tonight it will be an interesting game for us against Shakhtar." The 25-year-old also took the time to hail the influence of the club's supporters on Tuesday night's game. "When our fans support us like they did tonight our hearts become bigger on the pitch. It's so important to have this kind of support from our fans in this stadium." Juve resume Serie A action on Sunday when they travel to AC Milan.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (5th leg) - 20-11-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 3 - 0 CHELSEA Fabio Quagliarella (38′) Arturo Vidal (61′) Sebastian Giovinco (90+1′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Cuneyt Çakir (Turkey) Attendance: 39670 Alessio calls on Juventus to replicate Chelsea display The Bianconeri assistant coach was delighted with his side's performance on Tuesday, but has made it clear they have not yet finished the job. Nov 21, 2012 Angelo Alessio has called upon Juventus to replicate their display in the 3-0 win over Chelsea when they face Shakhtar Donetsk in their final Champions League group stage encounter. The Serie A champions need just a point in Ukraine to book their ticket for the knockout phase of the competition, and Alessio has insisted that Juve need another stellar performance in order to achieve just that. "Our last game will be extremely important as we are not through yet, but we will play the same way we did tonight," Juve's assistant coach said at a press conference. "We like to play football – we did everything we could to win, and were rewarded with an important victory. Both teams have great players and it was a beautiful game. "I have to compliment the whole team on this game. We wanted to maintain a high pace over the 90 minutes, we wanted to force them to defend. "Of course we were playing against a big team like Chelsea so it's inevitable that they had a few chances as well." Juventus currently sit second in Group E with nine points from five games, trailing leaders Shakhtar by one point.