Socrates

Prandelli: Pirlo still wants Italy Oct 5, 2012 Italy boss Cesare Prandelli insists that Juventus ace Andrea Pirlo has no plans to retire from international football. There have been suggestions that the midfielder should quit the international scene in order to concentrate on his club career given that he is now 33. However, speaking with Raisport on Friday, Prandelli says that the playmaker is still a key part of his project. “Andrea is the only guy who needs to make a decision on what he wants to do in the future,” the tactician argued. “I had a conversation with him recently and he still feels like he wants to be a reference point for this blue shirt. “He wants to get to the 2014 World Cup Finals and he’ll still be an important player for us.”

TNAS to cut Conte ban Oct 5, 2012 Juventus boss Antonio Conte should today have his touchline suspension reduced by the TNAS appeal court. The tactician’s lawyers have put their case forward to the tribunal in Rome and a decision is expected on Friday. Conte is unlikely to be acquitted, but his 10-month ban should be reduced by a number of months – even if it is unclear by how many. The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport is speculating that the former Bari tactician could be back on the bench for the January 6 tie against Sampdoria. The Coach is currently banned from match-day duties after he was found guilty of failing to report an alleged attempt to fix a game which he was in charge at Siena. Massimo Carrera sits on the bench during match-days, but Conte is allowed to continue training the side.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2^ giornata - Andata) - 2-10-2012 (ore 20:45) ................ JUVENTUS 1 - 1 SHAKHTAR Alex Teixeira (23′) Leonardo Bonucci (25′) Juventus stadium - Torino Arbitro: Bas Nijhuis (Olanda) Spettatori: 29368 Un ottimo Shakhtar ferma una Juve spenta Gli ucraini fermano una spenta Juventus con un pareggio che li proietta al primo posto del girone E insieme al Chelsea. Al vantaggio di Teixeira al 23' risponde 2 minuti più tardi un gran destro di Bonucci. Bianconeri sottotono e Shakhtar che sfiora il colpaccio al 93' con la traversa di Willian. Eurosport - Martedí, 2 ottobre 2012 Più che la trasferta di Stamford Bridge in casa dei campioni d'Europa, dove la motivazione e il ritorno della massima competizione per club al mondo avevano fatto il loro dovere, il vero banco di prova per la Juventus di Antonio Conte era la sfida delicatissima contro lo Shakhtar Donetsk di Mircea Lucescu. E i bianconeri escono più che ridimensionati dalla sfida contro i campioni d'Ucraina, capaci per tutta la prima frazione di gestire il ritmo e il pallino del gioco e nel secondo tempo di amministrare tutto sommato in maniera piuttosto agevole una Juventus che, per la prima volta nella gestione dell'allenatore pugliese, è apparsa veramente in difficoltà nella gestione del gioco e nella creazione del pressing. La Juventus ha avuto sì infatti, pur non giocando al meglio, una serie importante di palle gol (non finalizzate... quello invece è un problema già visto nella scorsa stagione), ma allo stesso tempo lo Shakhtar nella ripresa è stato in grado pur rallentando il ritmo di fare male in contropiede: la clamorosa traversa al 93' di Willian ne è soltanto la prova finale. Juventus quindi che strappa un punto tutto sommato più stretto agli avversari. Bianconeri ora costretti a inseguire nel gruppo E proprio Chelsea e Shakhtar a quota 4. La trasferta del 23 ottobre a Copenaghen contro il Nordsjaelland sarà già decisiva. LA PARTITA - Che lo Shakhtar Donetsk sia venuto a Torino a fare la vittima sacrificale è un pensiero stupido oltre che poco veritiero nei confronti di una squadra che da anni, ormai, è presenza costante del palcoscenico europeo. La Juventus, infatti, di fronte alla tecnica dei palleggiatori brasiliani e al bel schieramento messo in campo dal vecchio stregone Lucescu, va per i primi 45 minuti in crisi come poche altre volte la si era vista nella gestione Conte. JUVE IRRICONOSCIBILE - La difesa è bassa, il consueto pressing è praticamente inesistente e quando arriva è costantemente saltato dai tocchi di prima del tecnicissimo Shakhtar, il posesso palla è di conseguenza sempre in mano agli ucraini e la Juve, non a caso, dopo 23 minuti si ritrova sotto. Le avvisaglie del gol erano già arrivate al 13 quando da un cross di Mkhitaryan l'arbitro Nijhuis non vedeva una chiara trattenuta di Lichtsteiner su Willian, graziando così i bianconeri dalla massima punizione. Dieci minuti più tardi però, dopo una lunga azione insistita, arriva il meritato vantaggio degli Uomini di Lucescu. Willian - un'autentica spina nel fianco per la difesa della Juventus - lavora un bel pallone centralmente e lo serve in orizziontale per Teixeira che, sul filo del fuorigioco, fredda Buffon con una bellissima conclusione a mezza altezza. Shakhtar avanti con merito. BONUCCI, GOL FONDAMENTALE - La Juventus, però, già prima del gol aveva dimostrato la forza della grande squadra e pur non convincendo nessuno sotto il profilo del gioco, ancora sulla 0-0 era riuscita a procurarsi un paio di occasioni da rete piuttosto golose: sulla prima, Matri, peccava del giusto tempismo per il tapin sottoporta dopo il cross basso di Vucinic e sulla seconda, Marchisio, non riusciva a finalizzare l'assist illuminate di Pirlo concludendo un bell'inserimento con un tiro di destro alto sopra la traversa. Nessuna sorpresa quindi quando meno di un minuto e mezzo dopo il vantaggio ucraino la Juve trova il pari: dalla bandierina Pirlo prova lo schema con Bonucci che, liberatosi al tiro, lascia partire un destro chirurgico che si infila del sette. Uno a uno e la Juve, in qualche modo, non fa scappare l'avversario. BIANCONERI SORNIONI - Il gol, di fatto, non cambia la partita ma lo Shakhtar, pur dominando sotto il profilo del possesso palla, deve registrare un altro paio di occasioni da gol dei bianconeri: la più grande proprio con Bonucci che, poco prima di rientrare negli spogliatoi, chiama Pyatov a un super intervento di piede dopo un gran colpo di testa da corner. AVVIO ILLUSORIO - Insomma, se la Juventus nel primo tempo si dimostra incapace di fare ciò cui sempre ha abituato nella gestione Conte, l'avvio di ripresa è tutt'altra cosa. Sarà perché lo Shakhtar abbassa decisamente i ritmi, sarà che la linea difensiva della Juventus si riaggiusta 10 metri più avanti, ma per un quarto d'ora abbondante la musica sembra cambiare. Al 60' Giovinco, subentrato da soli 2 minuti a uno stanco Vucinic, mette sui piedi di Matri il pallone del 2-1, ma l'attaccante lodigiano dimostra di essere ancora ben lontano dall'aver risolto i suoi problemi e da dentro l'area piccola spara alto. Sarà l'ultima grande chance della Juventus. SHAKHTAR VIVISSIMO - Sì perché lo Shakhtar, pericolo scampato, prova ad addormentare la partita abbassando il ritmo e mettendo in mostra un possesso palla più fine a se stesso che all'affondo. Detto questo, però, è paradossalmente più pericoloso del primo tempo. Gli ucraini trovano infatti gli affondi più importanti con i contropiedi ben condotti dagli ottimi Texeira, Mkhitaryan e soprattutto dal brasiliano Willian. Al 73' il talentuoso Mkhitaryan fa tremare Buffon con una conclusione che lambisce il palo, dieci minuti prima era stato Willian a pulire la base esterna del legno con una conclusione di piatto destro dal limite ma, l'occasione più grande, arriva al 93: lo stesso Willian, dagli sviluppi dell'ennesimo contropiede, di trova sul destro il match ball ma per fortuna del silenzioso Juventus Stadium (curva in sciopero del tifo per il caro biglietti) il pallone si stampa sulla traversa. Insomma, la prima serata di gala europeo del nuovo impianto bianconero si conclude sicuramente con un brivido ben diverso da quello sperato alla vigilia. Vedere il bicchiere mezzo pieno è però l'unica soluzione per la Juventus che già tra 20 giorni sarà chiamata a una partita praticamente da dentro-fuori in quel di Copenaghen. Lì capiremo le reali ambizioni europee degli uomini di Conte. Simone Eterno - Eurosport Juventus - Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1

Did Conte accuser sell story? Oct 4, 2012 There are shock claims from a showbiz agent that Filippo Carobbio wanted €15,000 to sell his story accusing Antonio Conte of match-fixing. Juventus Coach Conte is currently sitting out a 10-month ban for failing to alert authorities to a potential fix while he was at Siena in Serie B in 2010-11. The only evidence against him is the testimony of ex-Siena player Carobbio, who has been considered “credible” by the Disciplinary Commission. However, today showbiz agent Fabrizio Corona – no stranger to controversy and legal problems himself – made some surprising accusations on Radio 24. “Everyone knows they can make money from these stories,” said Corona. “I knew an interview with Carobbio could have a huge economic value, what with Conte being the Coach of Juventus. “Carobbio and his wife came to me asking to negotiate an interview deal. It was an operation worth €15,000 for them, but I would’ve given them at most €3,000. “In the end, Carobbio’s wife was the one who did the interview and was paid €5,000, but she didn’t get anything. It went to me for having sold the photographs and interview.” Conte is currently fighting the ban on appeal and it’s possible this will be used as new evidence in his case.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2nd leg) - 2-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 1 - 1 SHAKHTAR Alex Teixeira (23′) Leonardo Bonucci (25′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Bas Nijhuis (Netherlands) Attendance: 29368 Tacchinardi: Juventus needed a 12th man against Shakhtar The former Bianconeri midfielder believes the Italian champions suffered from a lack of vocal backing in their 1-1 draw on Tuesday night. Oct 4, 2012 Alessio Tacchinardi has insisted that Juventus needed a 12th man against Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this week, but felt they were let down by the club's supporters. The reigning Serie A champions struggled to a 1-1 draw with the Ukraine side in their Champions League clash in Turin on Tuesday, in front of a crowd of less than 30,000 at the 41,000-capacity Juventus Stadium. And former Italy international Tacchinardi has emphasised the importance of home support to Antonio Conte's charges. “Fans at the Delle Alpi were not the team’s 12th man, but they are at Juventus Stadium,” he told Tuttosport. “That’s why the other night against Shakhtar Donetsk, the Bianconeri clearly paid the price for the lack of encouragement. “You instantly saw that the side were tired, but, if the usual support was there from the previous games, then the players would have found some extra energy. “Even during the warm-up at Juventus Stadium, the fans prepare you for the game. Without support it becomes difficult.” Some supporters had chosen to boycott the match due to ticket prices, while others reportedly opted to watch in silence in protest at the club's legislation against the use of flags and banners within the stands.

Agnelli: Juventus to close the gap with rest of Europe The Bianconeri supremo is determined to further help the club forward by developing the area around their stadium in order to generate more funds. Oct 4, 2012 Juventus president Andrea Agnelli believes that the Serie A champions can close the gap with the European top with their plans to develop significantly the Continassa district in and around the club's stadium by 2015-16. The 36-year-old is aiming to locate the club’s first-team training centre and administrative headquarters in the area, while also constructing a hotel, multiplex cinema, fitness centre and new private accommodation in the area. "It will be another step forward that places us ahead of our Italian competitors and allows us to bridge the gap with those in Europe," Agnelli stated in a meeting at the city hall. "We’ve always aimed for excellence and leadership and this is certainly a first-rate project which confirms our ambitions. "It will also be a further investment in this area, an investment that when placed alongside the stadium, museum and Area 12 amounts to €350 million." Back in March, Juventus' new stadium was awarded the right to host the 2014 Europa League final by Uefa.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2nd leg) - 2-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 1 - 1 SHAKHTAR Alex Teixeira (23′) Leonardo Bonucci (25′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Bas Nijhuis (Netherlands) Attendance: 29368 Tacchinardi: Juve needed 12th man Oct 3, 2012 Alessio Tacchinardi insists the lack of home support may have affected Juventus in Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Shakhtar Donetsk. Less than 30,000 fans were present at the 41,000 capacity Juventus Stadium – the new arena’s second lowest attendance – for the 1-1 draw in which the Bianconeri were perhaps lucky to grab a point. Having once played at the old Stadio Delle Alpi in front of just 561 fans for a Coppa Italia tie against Vicenza, the former Juventus midfielder knows the importance of the crowd. “Fans at the Delle Alpi were not the team’s twelfth man, but they are at the Juventus Stadium,” he told Tuttosport. “That’s why, the other night against Shakhtar Donetsk, the Bianconeri clearly paid the price for the lack of encouragement. “You instantly saw that the side were tired, but, if the usual support was there from the previous games, then the players would have found some extra energy. “Even during the warm-up at the Juventus Stadium, the fans prepare you for the game. Without support it becomes difficult.” Some fans stayed away because of the ticket prices, while others decided to follow the game in silence in protest at some of the club’s rulings with regards to the use of flags and banners.

Juventus: Fewer fans = higher income Oct 4, 2012 Juventus’ second lowest attendance at their new home on Tuesday actually generated their fifth highest income in terms of gate receipts. The Old Lady made their Champions League debut in the Juventus Stadium against Shakhtar Donetsk this week, but only 29,368 people attended. The arena’s capacity is 41,000. Only last season’s Coppa Italia tie against Bologna registered fewer spectators. However, according to Tuttosport, the club actually netted around €1.5m in ticket sales – only four other matches played there have brought in more cash. Juventus President Andrea Agnelli yesterday defended the club’s pricing of tickets, which averaged €51. A seat in the Curva on Tuesday was €40. In comparison, Milan offered fans a mini-season ticket for their three Champions League home games this season for the same price.

Juventus defend ticket prices Oct 3, 2012 Juventus President Andrea Agnelli says he’s satisfied with the attendance at last night’s Champions League tie. “No more than 10,000 would have shown up at the Delle Alpi…” The Juventus Stadium is usually close to being sold out for Serie A matches, but high ticket prices have been blamed for only around 30,000 fans turning up against Shakhtar Donetsk. “There has been some criticism about prices, but the problems are varied,” Agnelli told Sky Sport Italia on Wednesday. “The prices were in line with those adopted for games given a second tier status, without any increases. “I believe that the fact we got 30,000 supporters was a positive seeing as 10,000 wouldn’t have come at our old Stadio Delle Alpi. “This confirms how welcoming our new arena is, how it encourages fans to come to the stadium.” Juve demolished their old 70,000 capacity Delle Alpi to replace it with the 41,000-seater Juventus Stadium which opened last year.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2nd leg) - 2-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 1 - 1 SHAKHTAR Alex Teixeira (23′) Leonardo Bonucci (25′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Bas Nijhuis (Netherlands) Attendance: 29368 Vialli: Shakhtar deserved win Oct 3, 2012 Gianluca Vialli was left impressed by Shakhtar Donetsk’s performance at Juventus in the Champions League last night. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, but the former Bianconero striker insists that Mircea Lucescu’s side should have gone home with all three points. “They played well and they deserved to win,” Vialli told Sky Sport Italia. “No away side had previously created so many chances against Juve at the Juventus Stadium. “Shakhtar Donetsk had the better of the possession and they were well positioned out there by their Coach. They should also have been awarded a penalty in the first half.” Juventus looked like they were back to their best on Saturday with a 4-1 demolition of Roma, but they under-performed last night. “Juventus disappointed me,” added Vialli. “Andrea Pirlo, unlike on Saturday, suffered out there and when he’s not in form then the side struggles. “Juventus also went into the game in the wrong frame of mind.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2nd leg) - 2-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 1 - 1 SHAKHTAR Alex Teixeira (23′) Leonardo Bonucci (25′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Bas Nijhuis (Netherlands) Attendance: 29368 No more slip ups, warns Lichtsteiner Oct 3, 2012 Stephan Lichtsteiner says that Juventus can’t afford to make any mistakes in the their next two Champions League games against Nordsjaelland. The Old Lady are currently third in Group E, two points behind Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk, after collecting a 1-1 draw with the Ukrainian outfit last night. “It was important to get the three points this evening and we weren’t able to do so,” the right-back told Sky Sport Italia. “Now we must win our next games.” Juventus have been criticised for their performance on Tuesday and the Swiss international admits they under-performed. “I felt we were lacking the usual aggression in the first 10 minutes and managed little of what we had prepared in the build-up to the game,” the 28-year-old explained. “We then grew in stature, especially in the second half when we put in a good performance. When we pressed them and pinned them back we gave them difficulties. “Shakhtar’s strength is in their play, we should have kept a tighter grip on them.” Asked about the silence at the stadium as fans protested about ticket prices, he said: “There were not as many supporters as normal and they usually give us something extra.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2nd leg) - 2-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 1 - 1 SHAKHTAR Alex Teixeira (23′) Leonardo Bonucci (25′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Bas Nijhuis (Netherlands) Attendance: 29368 Rossi: That wasn’t the normal Juve Oct 3, 2012 Italian 1982 World Cup winner Paolo Rossi was left hugely disappointed by Juventus’ performance in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Old Lady could only collect a 1-1 draw at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in a tie which the away side threatened to win. “Juventus started the game very poorly,” the ex-Juventus and Milan striker told Sky Sport Italia after last night's encounter. “We are not used to seeing the Bianconeri playing like that, without pressing their opponents or pushing forward. “You have to give credit to Shakhtar Donetsk, though, who played really well. They underlined that they have great technical qualities.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2nd leg) - 2-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 1 - 1 SHAKHTAR Alex Teixeira (23′) Leonardo Bonucci (25′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Bas Nijhuis (Netherlands) Attendance: 29368 Marchisio thankful for point Oct 3, 2012 Claudio Marchisio is looking on the bright side of Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk. “It was certainly a point won!” The Turin giants disappointed at the Juventus Stadium last night in a game where their Ukrainian opponents created numerous scoring opportunities. “Given what happened in the closing stages of the game, this was certainly a point won rather than two lost,” the midfielder noted. “We were up against a strong side who were very dangerous in attack, but we had our opportunities too, chances that we didn’t take. “We started the game a little hesitantly, we then picked ourselves up even if we ran a few risks at the end.” The Old Lady didn’t have any European commitments last season and Marchisio admits they have to adapt. “It is hard to maintain the same rhythm when you play every three days,” he noted. “We have to spread out our energies a little better. “Now we have a double header against Nordsjaelland which, on paper at least, should be a bit easier. “We still need to approach them very carefully though. We've only just got back into the Champions League and we all need to prove that we’re good enough to be here.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2nd leg) - 2-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ JUVENTUS 1 - 1 SHAKHTAR Alex Teixeira (23′) Leonardo Bonucci (25′) Juventus stadium - Turin Referee: Bas Nijhuis (Netherlands) Attendance: 29368 Chiellini: We didn’t play like Juve Oct 3, 2012 The Champions League didn’t see the real Juventus in last night’s 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk, says Giorgio Chiellini. The Old Lady were looking for the three points after drawing 2-2 at Chelsea in their opener, but they were lucky to avoid defeat in Turin. “We came up against an opponent with great quality,” the defender told Sky Sport Italia. “We didn’t handle certain periods of the game very well. “We were a bit frenetic and we were not able to be our usual aggressive selves. We played the way we play for only a brief spell and that is when we caused them problems.” Shakhtar took the lead at the Juventus Stadium before Leonardo Bonucci netted the equaliser. The woodwork then saved the Bianconeri. “Bonucci scored a great goal,” the centre-back noted. “However, I think the fact that we didn’t lose the game is a good sign.”