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Serie A Week 13 - 17/11/2012 (06:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Klose ready for Juventus test Nov 15, 2012 Lazio are hopeful that Miroslav Klose will be ready to face Juventus this weekend after a bout of the flu. The German, seven goals in 11 League games this season, is a doubt after he missed Germany’s 0-0 draw with Holland last night. However, Klose took part in this morning’s training session at Formello and Sky Sport Italia are suggesting that he will be ready to take on Juve on Saturday. The Biancocelesti, fresh from their 3-2 win over Roma in the derby, will be without the suspended Stefano Mauri and Senad Lulic for their trip to the Juventus Stadium. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 13 - 17/11/2012 (06:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Pepe back for Juventus Nov 15, 2012 Simone Pepe should be at the disposal of Juventus boss Antonio Conte for the game against Lazio this weekend. The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport is suggesting that the Italian international will be named in the squad for the Juventus Stadium tie. The attacking midfielder has yet to make an appearance in 2012-13 for the Italian champions because of injury. Pepe has been out of the side since he picked up a left thigh muscle problem in the Trofeo TIM tournament on July 21. The 29-year-old was a key man for the Old Lady last term, especially in the 4-3-3 system, as he scored six goals in 31 League games. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 13 - 17/11/2012 (06:00 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato 'This was important for us, the club & the fans' - Klose The Germany striker has played down his role in Lazio's derby win over Roma, but was delighted to make a contribution to his side's comeback. Nov 14, 2012 Lazio forward Miroslav Klose believes that his side's 3-2 derby victory over Roma in Serie A on Sunday is important for everyone associated with the club. Vladimir Petkovic's men fell behind to an early Erik Lamela goal, but fought back with goals from the veteran forward, Antonio Candreva and Stefano Mauri to claim a narrow victory in a thrilling contest. “This was a very important victory for us, the club and the fans,” the Germany international told reporters. “It was difficult to play on this pitch, but we put in a great performance. Am I a decisive man in the derby? No, the important thing is that the team does well and wins. "I am not interested in who scores or not, just that we got the points." Having suffered from a difficult start at his current club, Candreva was particularly delighted over having netted the all-important equaliser by converting a free-kick. “It was a curious game,” he commented. “We managed to get it back on track before half-time, but derbies are always one-off occasions. "I have dreamed of this goal since the moment I arrived here." Lazio now sit in fifth place in Serie A, nine points behind current leaders Juventus. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Kwadwo Asamoah ready to play in any position for Juventus Nov 14, 2012 Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah says he is willing to play in any position for the club. The 23-year-old Asamoah, who joined from Udinese in the summer, marked his debut with a superb strike in Juve’s 4-2 Super Cup triumph over Napoli back in August. Asamoah was initially brought in to provide cover for the central midfield trio of Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio, but the Ghana international has made his mark on the left side of midfield. It’s a position he feels more than comfortable in, although Asamoah is keen to stress that he will play wherever manager Antonio Conte and his assistant Angelo Alessio want him. “The manager liked what he saw in that game and from there we’ve gone on in the same way. I’m prepared to play in any position,” Asamoah said on the club’s website. Asamoah is quickly winning over fans of the current Serie A champions. His recent displays include a spectacular overhead kick in the 6-1 win over Pescara last Saturday. “It was a good result, but it hasn’t changed anything as far as the dressing room atmosphere is concerned,” he said. “We’ve begun well and taken many points from our start to the season, but there are still plenty of games to play and we need to hang in there, fighting all the way to the end.” Juve currently lead Serie A after 12 rounds with 31 points which is four better than rivals Inter Milan in second.

Buffon on verge of extending Nov 14, 2012 Gigi Buffon will sign a new contract with Juventus by the end of next week, reports Tuttosport on Wednesday. The Italian international is only tied to the Turin giants until June 2013, but talks regarding a renewal are almost complete. Buffon will apparently put pen to paper on a deal until June 2016 after the Chelsea tie. He will also reduce his salary from around €5.5m a year to €3.5m. However, there are some lucrative bonus terms which could see the former Parma custodian handsomely rewarded. A Scudetto win would see him net an extra €500,000, while a Scudetto and Champions League double would deliver €1.5m.

Verratti: Pirlo and I for Italy Nov 14, 2012 Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti says that he and Andrea Pirlo could co-exist in the same Italian national side. Verratti will start instead of the Juventus playmaker in this evening’s glamour friendly against France at Parma. However, the former Pescara revelation is confident that Cesare Prandelli could field both simultaneously. “Pirlo will soon return to the starting line-up, but I am convinced that we can co-exist,” commented the 20-year-old. “I can, after all, play as the attacking midfielder behind two strikers because that is a role I have covered in the past.” Verratti was transformed into a Pirlo-style deep playmaker by Zdenek Zeman at Pescara last season. He joined PSG for €12m in the summer.

Asamoah: Juventus must keep fighting to the end The Ghana international has voiced his opinion that the Bianconeri will have to keep on giving their all in order to challenge for the Scudetto. Nov 14, 2012 Kwadwo Asamoah has stressed that Juventus cannot afford to rest on their laurels if they are to be successful in the 2012-13 campaign. The reigning champions went four points clear of second-placed Inter this weekend following their 6-1 win over Pescara and their rivals' 3-2 loss against Atalanta, but Asamoah has insisted they have not achieved anything yet. "It was a good result against Pescara, but it hasn’t changed anything as far as the dressing room atmosphere is concerned," Asamoah stated at a Juventus Club Doc fan evening in Rivara. "We’ve begun well and taken many points from our start to the season, but there are still plenty of games to play. "We need to hang in there, fighting all the way to the end."

Serie A - 12^ Giornata - Andata - 10-11-2012 (ore 20:45) 1 - 6 Arturo Vidal (9′) Fabio Quagliarella (22′) Emmanuel Cascione (25′) Kwadwo Asamoah (30′) Sebastian Giovinco (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (45′) Fabio Quagliarella (53′) Stadio Adriatico (Giovanni Cornacchia) — Pescara Arbitro: Luca Banti Spettatori: 14000 Serie A - Quagliarella show, goleada Juventus Tutto facile per la Juventus che resitituisce l'umiliazione subita nella stagione 93-94 dal Pescara (5-1). I bianconeri vincono 6-1 grazie alla tripletta, la prima in carriera e nell'era Conte, di Quagliarella. Di Vidal, Giovinco e Asamoah gli altri gol della Juve. Di Cascione l'unica marcatura del Pescara. Eurosport - Sabato, 10 novembre 2012 Tutto facile, tremendamente facile per la Juventus di Antonio Conte. Serviva una vittoria per riprendere il cammino in campionato dopo il brutto ko interno contro l’Inter di Stramaccioni. E una vittoria, e che vittoria, è arrivata. Con punteggio tennistico, 6-1, e con una tripletta, la prima della gestione Conte. È la serata di Quagliarella, affiancato a Giovinco in attacco e protagonista assoluto del match con tre gol importanti e che portano a dieci le realizzazioni bianconere in appena due partite. Un Quagliarella che nonostante le numerose panchine viaggia su una media di un gol ogni 57 minuti. Bianconeri travolgenti e avanti subito dopo appena otto minuti con Vidal, al quinto gol in campionato, pescato in maniera eccezionale da Giovinco. Difesa del Pescara ai limiti dell’imbarazzante e per i bianconeri è un gioco da ragazzi raddoppiare con Quagliarella, servito da Isla e bravo di battere Perin con un diagonale. Il Pescara si sveglia solo dopo il raddoppio juventino e gioca per dieci minuti, il tempo di colpire e accorciare le distanze con Cascione che in area anticipa tutti di testa e batte un non irresistibile Buffon, lento nella reazione in tuffo. Per un attimo si pensa addirittura all’incredibile rimonta ma la sfuriata abruzzese si spegne con la terza rete bianconera, una perla di Asamoah che insacca in rovesciata un pallone alzato da Quagliarella in area piccola. È il ko per il Pescara e gli uomini di Conte premono sull’acceleratore per chiudere definitivamente il conto. Marchisio salva una conclusione avversaria sulla linea di porta e a segnare il quinto gol in appena trenta minuti ci pensa uno dei migliori della serata, Sebastian Giovinco, che calcia al volo un pallone servito dal solito Quagliarella. Pescara allo sbando e proprio allo scadere del primo tempo arriva la doppietta di Quagliarella, bravo ad agganciare in area e segnare con un diagonale preciso. È una Juventus cinica ma davanti c’è un Pescara decisamente di categoria inferiore. Le accuse a mister Stroppa sono ingenerose visto il potenziale a disposizione e la posizione del club abruzzese mette sempre più in dubbio il futuro del tecnico. Non basta infatti il coraggio contro la prima della classe e la serata dell’Adriatico si trasforma in incubo. La Juventus riesce a restituire con gli interessi la tremenda umiliazione subita nella stagione 93-94 con quel 5-1 che macchia la storia juventina. Nella ripresa non cambia nulla. Mister Stroppa prova a giocarsi le ultime speranze schierando un 4-3-3 con l’ingresso di Caprarica ma in campo c’è solo una squadra: la Juventus. Passano sette minuti e Quagliarella segna il suo terzo gol. Sugli sviluppi di un calcio d’angolo battuto da Andrea Pirlo l’attaccante batte Perin con una magnifica rovesciata da distanza ravvicinata. Prima tripletta in carriera per Quagliarella e Juve che torna al successo nel migliore dei modi e a pochi giorni dall’altra goleada contro in Nordsjealland in Champions League. Per trovare una tripletta in casa Juve bisogna tornare al 20 aprile 2008 con i gol di Alex Del Piero nel successo per 4-0 contro l’Atalanta. Mister Alessio inserisce anche Padoin e Marrone al posto di Isla e Chiellini e concede minuti preziosi ma non certo sfruttati a Bendtner, sempre più oggetto del mistero in casa Juve. Non ci sono altri gol ma nel finale il Pescara protesta per un intervento al limite di Padoin in area. Proteste che portano all’espulsione di mister Stroppa. I bianconeri tirano il freno e portano a casa tre punti fondamentali, necessari per rispondere al primo ko dell’era Conte contro i rivali dell’Inter. Sconfitta dimenticata e testa al campionato per una squadra ritrovata e finalmente amica del gol, anche se il valore delle squadre affrontate non deve illudere la dirigenza juventina. Per il Pescara una sconfitta pesante ma che non può cancellare il lavoro comunque buono di Stroppa. Andrea Prete - Eurosport Pescara 1 - 6 Juventus

Marchisio: Juve can succeed in Europe Nov 13, 2012 Claudio Marchisio insists that his Juventus side have what is needed to become a major player on the European stage. The Old Lady won the Scudetto last season and they currently lead the standings again thanks to a four-point cushion after 12 games. However, things are a bit more difficult in the Champions League given that they need four points from their last two games against Chelsea at home and Shakhtar Donetsk away to reach the last 16. “We are not short of anything to become a big team in Europe as well,” stated the Italian international midfielder. “We just have to play with the same approach that we have shown in our last two games.” Juventus’ 49-game unbeaten run in Serie A was ended by Inter recently, but they reacted to that with a 4-0 win over Nordsjaelland and a 6-1 thrashing of Pescara. “We have what we need to get through the group stage of the Champions League,” he added. “We shouldn’t be scared of Chelsea and we didn’t fear them in the first game – not even after we went 2-0 down. “We respect the European champions, but we are well aware that we have matured a lot over this last year and we’ll give it a go.” Juventus will play Chelsea on Tuesday 20 November. Meanwhile, Marchisio would not be drawn on the transfer speculation suggesting that Juventus could be interested in Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli. “I love Mario and he is a great champion, but this is a question which you should put to the club directors…”

'Conte was right to leave me out' Nov 13, 2012 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has admitted that his exclusion from the squad for the game against Pescara was 'a good lesson'. The 19-year-old was left out for the trip to the Adriatic coast because of late arrivals to two separate training sessions, but the teenager has conceded that it was right he was not involved. “It was just a misunderstanding,” he told L'Equipe. “The Coach decided not to involve me and it seemed right. “For me it was a good life lesson.” He also commented on his season so far, but claims he will not rest on his laurels. “So far everything is going well,” he said. “It is nice that I am playing, but I cannot settle for this. A career is not made on a couple of good games.”

Deschamps on Pogba Nov 13, 2012 France boss Didier Deschamps has explained why Paul Pogba is currently not part of his plans. “Calm is needed surrounding Pogba,” the former Juventus midfielder and Coach told the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “He’s young, he certainly has quality and he has really interesting potential,” he said of Juve’s 19-year-old. “I’m following him, but he has to play more games. And it is obvious that the competition for places in Turin is tough. “I still haven’t spoken with Juventus boss Antonio Conte, but playing 25 games for Juve counts for more than 40 with a smaller club. “Pogba, though, represents the future of France as Raphael Varane does at Real Madrid.”

Marchisio: Juventus have no need to fear Chelsea The Italy international is looking forward to next week's Champions League encounter, and feels the Turin side have what it takes to get a good result on home soil. Nov 13, 2012 Claudio Marchisio is confident that Juventus can get a positive result against Chelsea in order to secure progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League. The reigning Serie A champions currently sit third in Group E, trailing joint leaders Shakhtar Donetsk and Chelsea by one point with two more games to go, and Marchisio has insisted that the Bianconeri don't fear the current trophy holders. "If we take to the field as we have done in the last couple of last games, both in the Champions League and Serie A, then we certainly have no need to fear Chelsea," Marchisio told reporters. "We didn’t fear them in the first encounter, when we found ourselves 2-0 down and fought back to draw. "We’ll have great respect for the reigning European champions, but we’ll face them with the knowledge that we’ve grown considerably in the last year and have everything that’s needed to get through to the next round." Juventus host Chelsea in Turin on Tuesday November 20.

Serie A Team of the Week: Quagliarella, Denis & Dybala head goal-glut XI Goal.com chooses the best eleven players in the Serie A this weekend, which saw AC Milan and Inter defeated while the likes of Juventus and Napoli earned three points. Nov 12, 2012 There were goals galore in the latest round of Serie A, and Goal.com's Team of the Week has nine different goalscorers, accounting for 14 of the 34 netted over the weekend. Mariano Andujar was the man primarily responsbile for the first of two 0-0 draws in Round 12, with his efforts between the sticks ensuring Catania took a point from Cagliari. Gabriele Angella was a surprise goal hero for Udinese, as his double earned the Friulani a draw against Chievo at the Bentegodi, and Gonzalo Rodriguez saw off Alexandre Pato by half-time as Fiorentina took all three points from their trip to Milan. Danilo D'Ambrosio showed his knack for grabbing the odd surprise goal too when netting the winner for Torino against Bologna. Antonio Candreva tilted the Rome derby in Lazio's favour with a first-half free-kick which somehow beat Mauro Goicoechea in the Roma goal, and his all-round contribution helped to seal the victory in the second half. Arturo Vidal was once again the catalyst for Juventus, scoring the opening goal in the 6-1 rout of Pescara, while Borja Valero got in on the scoring act as Fiorentina continued their fine form with victory at San Siro. Marek Hamsik earned his customary place in our XI with a battling display and crucial late goal as Napoli took three points off Genoa. A hat-trick for Fabio Quagliarella was the highlight of Juventus' battering of poor Pescara, and German Denis became a Bianconeri hero for the day by scoring a couple of goals in Atalanta's victory over second-placed Inter. Meanwhile, Paulo Dybala marked a rare first-team start with a double which gave Palermo a vital 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Sampdoria. ANDUJAR (Catania) ANGELLA (Udinese) - RODRIGUEZ (Fiorentina) - D'AMBROSIO (Torino) CANDREVA (Lazio) - VIDAL (JUVENTUS) - BORJA VALERO (Fiorentina) - HAMSIK (Napoli) QUAGLIARELLA (JUVENTUS) - DENIS (Atalanta) - DYBALA (Palermo)

Pogba insists he will not be late for Juventus training again The Frenchman has offered his apologies for his tardiness and has vowed that he will not let it happen again in the future. Nov 12, 2012 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has apologised for showing up late to training twice last week, and has insisted that he will not make the same mistake ever again. The Frenchman was left out of this weekend's Bianconeri Bianconeri squad for the side's Serie A match against Pescara following his tardiness, but the ex-Manchester United midfielder has stressed that he will learn from his errors. "I was wrong and I'm sorry for what happened. I apologise because I showed a lack of respect toward my team-mates and [heacd coach Antonio] Conte," the midfielder told Tuttosport. "I never had the intention to show up late. That I was late for training was down to some trivial things. I made a mistake. "I realise that I was wrong though, and I will do my utmost to make sure I do not make the same mistake again. I will not be late again in the future. The matter is closed now as far as I'm concerned." The 19-year-old has made eight appearances for Juventus this campaign, scoring twice in the process.