Socrates

Serie A - 9^ Giornata - Andata - 28-10-2012 (ore 12:30) 0 - 1 Arturo Vidal (57′) Stadio Angelo Massimino - Catania Arbitro: Andrea Gervasoni Spettatori: 14000 Serie A - Juve, a Catania 3 punti e polemiche Un gol di Vidal nella ripresa regala i 3 punti ai bianconeri che centrano così il 48esimo risultato utile consecutivo in Serie A. Polemiche per un paio di decisioni arbitrali di Gervasoni e Maggiani: sullo 0-0 annulato infatti un gol nettamente regolare a Bergessio. Eurosport - Domenica, 28 ottobre 2012 Nel bene e nel male la Juventus di Antonio Conte è destinata a far discutere. Nel bene, perché i bianconeri espugnano un campo insidioso, difficile, tosto come quello di Catania grazie al gol di Arturo Vidal e centrano così il 48esimo risultato utile consecutivo in Serie A. Nel male, loro malgrado, perché la partita è caratterizzata da un paio di decisioni errate –entrambe a favore dei bianconeri – del quintetto arbitrale: nel primo tempo infatti, sullo 0-0, viene ingiustamente annullato un gol al Catania per un fuorigioco inesistente di Bergessio e nella ripresa, poi, la posizione di Bendtner da cui nascerà la rete di Vidal è viziata da una leggerissima posizione di offside non rilevata dall’assistente Maggiani. Detto questo, nel mezzo, la solita solidissima prova di una Juventus che ormai non fa più notizia: tanto possesso palla così come occasioni sprecate (soprattutto nel finale dopo l’espulsione del catanese Marchese) dagli avanti bianconeri. LA PARTITA - Che il Catania fosse squadra tosta, soprattutto tra le mura amiche, è fatto piuttosto risaputo e i primi 45 minuti da questo punto di vista non regalano nulla di sorprendete. Così come non sorprendete è la scarsa forma dei quintetti arbitrali che, dopo gli abbagli degli anticipi, sfoderano il piatto forte di giornata a Catania negando agli etnei un gol clamorosamente regolare: al 25’ infatti, dagli sviluppi di una sponda area di Spolli e da una mini-deviazione del Papu Gomez, il pallone sbatte sul palo della porta difesa da Buffon e Bergessio mette dentro il gol del vantaggio catanese. La gioia dura però il giro di pochi secondi: l’assistente Maggiani richiamato all’attenzione dall’arbitro di porta Rizzoli, segnala a Gervasoni un fuorigioco assolutamente inesistente dello stesso Bergessio. La scelta è un“capolavoro” figlio dei famosi “due occhi in più” che dovrebbero aiutare, il gol è ingiustamente annullato e la Juventus si salva. JUVENTUS SVEGLIA, ANDUJAR SUPER - Scampato il pericolo gli uomini di Conte tornano a fare quanto tentato fin da inizio gara: sviluppo del consueto possesso palla a terra alla ricerca dell’inserimento giusto. Maran è però bravo a bloccare tutte le vie centrali e non è un caso che le uniche occasioni della Juventus passino dai cross sugli esterni. Asamoah è ancora una volta più propositivo dello spento Lichtsteiner, Bendtner si dà un gran da fare ma la sua unica pericolosità arriva soltanto a gioco fermo (prima Andujar blocca un tocco sotto e poi una traversa: entrambe le occasioni da posizione di fuorigioco). A regalare la prima vera grande chance ai bianconeri è quindi la coppia Rolin-Legrottaglie che sbagliando un disimpegno mette Vucinic davanti ad Anjuar: fondamentale l’intervento proprio del difensore pugliese che da terra devia il pallone al montenegrino. Il portiere argentino è poi bravo prima del duplice fischio a superarsi ancora su Vucinic che, dopo una sponda aerea di Bendtner, gli testa i riflessi con una conclusione da zero metri. CATANIA, GOL E BEFFA - Il Catania, che aveva terminato il primo tempo in maniera piuttosto nervosa dopo il torto subito – 4 ammonizioni più l’espulsione in panchina di Pulvirenti – esce dagli spogliatoi con l’atteggiamento giusto: rabbia dimenticata e concentrazione assoluta sugli episodi del campo più che quelli extracalcistici. Il ritrovato atteggiamento è spezzato però da una cinica Juventus che, proprio sul più bello, punisce l’unico errore difensivo dei catanesi: la difesa etnea infatti non si posiziona bene dagli sviluppi di una punizione rasoterra di Pirlo, Vucinic trova per la prima volta spazio centralmente e serve l’assist a Bendtner che spara su Andujar; la respinta finisce però sui piedi di Vidal che a porta vuota sigla il gol partita. MAGGIANI, GIORNATA NO! - La giornataccia però, per il malcapitato guardalinee Maggiani, è completa: se nel gol annullato a Bergessio è infatti decisivo l’intervento del giudice di porta Rizzoli, in questa occasione il guardalinee non vede la gamba avanti di Bendtner sull’assist di Vucinic. Il fuorigioco seppur difficile da vedere c’è e per il Catania la beffa si fa completa quando 10 minuti più tardi, Marchese, commette un ingenuo fallo di mano e si prende il secondo giallo. La partita di fatto termina lì. JUVENTUS CHE VA - La squadra di Maran, provata dai grandi ritmi tenuti nel primo tempo e in avvio di ripresa, non ha più le forze per aggredire il possesso palla della Juve e il risultato è salvato soltanto dalla poca lucidità sotto porta dei vari Vidal, Bendtner e Giovinco e dalle parate di un Andujar in versione super. La squadra di Conte torna così al successo dopo lo stop infrasettimanale di Champions e si proietta alla sfida col Bologna ancora saldamente in testa la classifica. E se per i bianconeri ci si mette anche la fortuna, per le altre la rincorsa si fa davvero difficile. Simone Eterno - Eurosport Catania 0-1 Juventus

Juventus have Marchisio doubt Oct 30, 2012 Juventus boss Antonio Conte will have to decide whether to rest or play Claudio Marchisio in the game against Bologna. The Italian international didn’t feature in the 1-0 win at Catania on Sunday because of an ankle problem. Marchisio is thought to be available for tomorrow’s game, but he may not be risked given that Inter arrive in Turin on Saturday evening. The 26-year-old has one goal in eight Serie A appearances so far this term.

Agnelli: Lay off Juventus Oct 30, 2012 Juventus President Andrea Agnelli has defended his club from the accusations being thrown at them after their 1-0 win at Catania. The Old Lady have been attacked after Catania had a good goal disallowed, while the Bianconeri’s winner should have been ruled out for offside. “There was an attitude, a behaviour of tension surrounding Juventus before, during and after the game,” he declared. “There were insults thrown at us in the stands that forced our directors to leave their seats and at the Press conference it was obvious what a siege was waiting for boss Angelo Alessio. “These are unpleasant things that do the sport no good. We were placed in a state of siege that I find absolutely abnormal and atypical.” Agnelli admitted that the match officials had made mistakes, but he was quick to point out that Juve haven’t been overly favoured this term. “We immediately recognised the error and there’s an article on the Panorama website that states how Juve are the team that has benefited the least from alleged refereeing mistakes… “I condemn this behaviour towards us.” Agnelli then defiantly underlined how dominant his side have been in the Italian game over the last year. “We’re closing in on 50 League games without a defeat and, when also taking last season into account, we’re coming off the back of 18 wins and two draws. “That is not to mention the ban of Coach Antonio Conte. We’re waiting for him to return, waiting for him to unleash the great sense of desire that he has!”

Pogba to start for Juve again Oct 29, 2012 Paul Pogba will retain his place in the Juventus starting XI that will face Bologna on Wednesday evening. That is according to Sky Sport Italia, who have backed the young Frenchman to make his second successive start. Pogba was placed into the first team that beat Catania 1-0 on Sunday because of the absence of Claudio Marchisio. Marchisio should return to the side, but Pogba will be confirmed as Arturo Vidal will be suspended after his booking in Sicily. Pogba, a summer signing from Manchester United, has scored one goal in five Serie A appearances so far this term.

Prandelli praises Ballon d'Or three Oct 29, 2012 Cesare Prandelli has responded to the news that three Italian national team players have been nominated for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or. Gianluigi Buffon, Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo have been nominated in a 23-man list for the governing body's annual award, and the 55-year-old Coach has congratulated his squad members for recognition of their impressive 12 months. “It is great news for the whole of Italian football,” he told reporters. “It is recognition that gives us great optimism for the future. “It is brilliant to have three candidates for the Ballon d'Or.”

Prandelli praises Ballon d'Or three Oct 29, 2012 Cesare Prandelli has responded to the news that three Italian national team players have been nominated for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or. Gianluigi Buffon, Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo have been nominated in a 23-man list for the governing body's annual award, and the 55-year-old Coach has congratulated his squad members for recognition of their impressive 12 months. “It is great news for the whole of Italian football,” he told reporters. “It is recognition that gives us great optimism for the future. “It is brilliant to have three candidates for the Ballon d'Or.”

Toppling Juventus will be a difficult task, says Napoli sports director The Partenopei chief has commented on the challenge his side will face in beating the Bianconeri this season, but tipped them for a successful campaign. Oct 29, 2012 Napoli sports director Riccardo Bigon says his club face a difficult task in toppling Juventus from the top of the Serie A table. The Old Lady grabbed a controversial 1-0 win over Catania at the Angelo Massimino on Sunday, after which the losing side's president expressed his anger over Gonzalo Bergessio's disallowed strike. "It will be hard if Juventus continue to win when they don't play very well," Bigon told Gazetta dello Sport. "Referees said that every time you go away from the technical area you will be booked, but in Catania this situation was different." Concerning his side's championship ambitions this season, the 41-year-old added: "We are sure that Napoli will fire until the end of the season for the first, second or third position." Juventus, who face Bologna on Wednesday at home, are currently enjoying a three-point lead over Napoli in Serie A.

Sneijder unlikely to feature against Juventus, admits Stramaccioni The midfielder recently returned to the training pitch after a one-month layoff, but next Saturday's encounter might come too soon for him to make his comeback. Oct 29, 2012 Inter trainer Andrea Stramaccioni has revealed that Wesley Sneijder is unlikely to be fully match fit in time for the Nerazzurri's crunch clash against Juventus. The Netherlands international has been out of action ever since picking up a thigh injury in the 2-0 win over Chievo on September 26, but recently resumed training again. However, Stramaccioni has no intention of rushing his playmaker's comeback and feels the game in Turin will come too soon for Sneijder. "I don’t think he’ll make it for Turin. It’s senseless to force it if we just risk losing him again," Stramaccioni said at a press conference. Sneijder has made five Serie A appearances for Inter so far this term, scoring one goal in the process.

Serie A Team of the Week: Di Natale double takes the plaudits in controversial weekend Goal.com looks at the star performers from the latest round of Italian league action at the weekend. Oct 29, 2012 There were big decisions made by officials in Serie A this weekend, but the performances of the players made for some tough calls when compiling Goal.com's latest Team of the Week. Amidst the mayhem at the Massimino came a cool display in between the sticks from Catania's Mariano Andujar, despite not being able to prevent Juventus from taking a controversial victory back to Turin. In defence, Andrea Ranocchia again makes our team after scoring the opener in Inter's victory at Bologna, and he is joined by Andrea Barzagli, who helped Juventus prevent a single shot on target (Gonzalo Bergessio's aside!) against Catania. Davide Astori gets the final spot for his assured display in Cagliari's excellent away day win at Sampdoria. The midfield quartet supplies a little bit of everything. On the right, Juan Cuadrado contributed both with and without the ball as Fiorentina beat Lazio, while Marek Hamsik's superior energy helped him see off Chievo and score Napoli's only goal in their Sunday night win. Esteban Cambiasso repeated a feat he managed in Inter's treble-winning season of three years ago, scoring in a 3-1 win at Bologna, and Jonathan Biabiany was the star of the show in Parma's victory at Torino. Up front, two players emerge from the same fixture. Erik Lamela grabbed a quickfire double to give Roma what seemed like a winning lead, but Antonio Di Natale struck back with two of his own as Udinese took all three points in stunning fashion. The final man in our XI is birthday boy Stephan El Shaarawy, who gave his old Genoa side a torrid time before slotting home AC Milan's winner on Saturday night. ANDUJAR (Catania) RANOCCHIA (Inter) - BARZAGLI (Juventus) - ASTORI (Cagliari) CUADRADO (Fiorentina) - HAMSIK (Napoli) - CAMBIASSO (Inter) - BIABIANY (Parma) LAMELA (Roma) - DI NATALE (Udinese) - EL SHAARAWY (Milan)

Moggi: Juventus referee should have been closed in the dressing room The ex-Italian football administrator has claimed his former club were victims on Sunday, despite having won the controversial match. Oct 29, 2012 Luciano Moggi has attacked referee Nicola Rizzoli for disallowing a Catania goal against Juventus in Sunday's Serie A encounter. The Old Lady secured a 1-0 win over the Rossazzurri at the Stadio Angelo Massimino, leaving the hosts empty-handed after a 'goal' by striker Gonzalo Bergessio was wrongly ruled out for offside. "Refeeres didn't act in bad faith, they made only errors. The assistant, [Luca] Maggiani, validated the goal and then Rizzoli confused him," the Italian told Radio Kiss Kiss. Much controversy has followed the clash and Moggi has given his full support to Catania chairman Antonio Pulvirenti, who claimed after the game he had just witnessed "the death of football". "Catania chairman Pulvirenti should have closed Rizzoli in the locker room," he blasted. "The real problem is that the referees are now insufficient and want to do more than usual and this is the case with Rizzoli. The goal that was disallowed is something that has no real logic. Rizzoli should be punished." Moggi concluded his assessment of the afternoon by defending the Bianconeri, stating that they did nothing to influence the decisions made. "Juventus didn't ask for favours. They are victims."

Serie A Week 9 - 28-10-12 (12:30 p.m.) 0 - 1 Arturo Vidal (57′) Angelo Massimino Stadium - Catania Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Attendance: 14000 Marotta defends Juventus in ref storm Oct 29, 2012 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has rubbished claims that they are in charge of some sort of refereeing conspiracy. The Old Lady have been placed in the middle of a storm after Catania had a good goal disallowed on Sunday, while Juve won the game with a strike that should have been ruled out. “I agree with the analysis of refereeing mistakes,” Marotta told Radio Anch’Io Sport on Monday morning. “There have been mistakes and there will be mistakes, but I do not accept the allegations being thrown at us. “Or the insinuations that we got the referee to change his decision. I do not want to hear about any kind of plot and I intend to defend the world Juventus. “And who is to say that Catania’s goal, had it been awarded, would have decided the outcome of the game?” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 9 - 28-10-12 (12:30 p.m.) 0 - 1 Arturo Vidal (57′) Angelo Massimino Stadium - Catania Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Attendance: 14000 Pulvirenti makes linesman claim Oct 29, 2012 Catania chief Antonino Pulvirenti has alleged that assistant referee Luca Maggiani – the man at the centre of yesterday’s controversial loss to Juventus – is a Bianconero fan. “There is a picture of Juve’s Scudetto on his Facebook page,” Pulvirenti claimed in an interview with Radio Anch’Io Sport. “Everyone can support whichever team they want. But after what happened on Sunday and how he was influenced, tell me what we should think. I’m shocked.” At this time, it seems that the Facebook page in question is not actually his. “I’ve printed it out,” Pulvirenti continued. “If it is not authentic then I will apologise. I’m not an expert, but I do think it is his profile.” Maggiani hit the headlines at the weekend when he ruled out a perfectly good goal by Catania, with the score at 0-0. “We can accept an error, but something more happened,” the Massimino chief continued. “It seems clear that there is psychological sublimation.” Pulvirenti argued after the 1-0 loss that Maggiani was forced into his decision after being pressurised by the Juventus players on the bench. “The Juventus players deserve a severe punishment,” he added. “President Andrea Agnelli, who wants to reform football, should start from the simplest things. “He should ask for his side to be handed a 3-0 loss. That would be a great gesture. Had the roles been reversed, we would have had three players dismissed from our bench…” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 9 - 28-10-12 (12:30 p.m.) 0 - 1 Arturo Vidal (57′) Angelo Massimino Stadium - Catania Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Attendance: 14000 Referee may have helped Juventus beat Catania, but conspiracy talk is ridiculous The Bianconeri were helped out by horrendous officiating in Sicily, but they are not the only side to receive big decisions in their favour, and calls of a fix are preposterous. Oct 28, 2012 COMMENT By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Writer We have seen it a million times before, and we will see it a million more. We saw it plenty of times around the footballing world this weekend, with Serie A alone providing plenty of examples. Poor refereeing decisions are the bane of the game’s existence, but they also give the sport's massive band of followers something to chew over in the local on a Sunday night. Yet when it involves Juventus, there are so many extra connotations. On Sunday in Catania, Juve won by virtue of a shocking refereeing call. After 25 minutes, the home side took the lead when Nicolas Spolli’s header escaped the attention of the Bianconeri back-line, hit the post and was tapped in by Gonzalo Bergessio. The Argentine wheeled away in delight, followed by his team-mates. The goal caption on millions of TVs read Catania 1-0 Juventus. The score boxes of most of the world’s internet play-by-play updates said the same. But then came the twist. While Catania celebrated, referee's assistant Luca Maggiani was busy speaking to goal-line official Nicola Rizzoli over the officials’ communication system. He wanted clarification from his colleague as to whether Francesco Lodi had got a touch on the ball as it made its way from Spolli to the post, believing that Bergessio had been in an offside position when the midfielder swung at the ball. After Maggiani and Rizzoli had conferred, referee Andrea Gervasoni was clearly seen asking Maggiani “E’ fuorigioco?” (“Is he offside?”) The answer was in the affirmative, and the goal was ruled out. Only it should not have been. On both the header from Spolli and the apparent touch by Lodi, Bergessio was clearly onside; so much so, he was standing shoulder to shoulder with Kwadwo Asamoah, who was goal-side of him as the last defender. It was a horrible, astounding decision which contributed massively to the Old Lady’s 1-0 win, compounded by a debatable onside call on Nicklas Bendtner in the build-up to Arturo Vidal's winner. But that is as far as we can seriously believe it goes, surely? “The Bergessio goal was ruled out by the Juventus bench, the linesman had given it,” said Elefanti president Antonio Pulvirenti after the game, and he was not the only one to think it. Twitter was flooded immediately with talk of “It is the Juve way” and “Juve are the definition of cheating," but that is always likely to be the first reaction of those with long memories. Calciopoli is still less than a decade ago, Sulley Muntari’s ghost goal remains fresh in the mind, and there have been other smaller incidents since that February controversy which many still point to which have gone in Juve’s favour. But which club has not had a ludicrous decision go in their favour? On Saturday, Ignazio Abate was offside in the build-up to AC Milan’s winner against Genoa, the following day Roma lost to a penalty which was awarded to Udinese for a dramatic fall by Roberto Pereyra in full view of both the referee and the goal-line official. Even Cristian Ledesma’s red card for Lazio at Fiorentina only seemed to come long after referee Mauro Bergonzi had heard calls from the home supporters to produce a second yellow card. Over in England, Manchester United received a helping hand from Mark Clattenburg’s decision to send Fernando Torres off for a dive that never was, reducing Chelsea to nine men in the process. Juventus are not the only beneficiaries of rubbish decisions, but their moments are the ones everybody loves to remember. “Serie A is fixed” alleged one tweet sent to this writer seconds after Bergessio’s disallowed goal, yet nothing similar was sent about the Premier League following the Torres decision later in the day. It’s nothing new in reaction to the Old Lady being helped out by a bad decision, but towards the end of the last campaign it was Bianconeri fans claiming the same as they adjudged themselves to be on the wrong end of several bad penalty decisions. Before the closing weeks, they had been awarded one spot-kick all season, despite a string of notable shouts, leading to press silences being enforced throughout the club at a time when title rivals Milan were being handed penalty after penalty. When it comes down to it, big teams get big calls regularly. In Italy and elsewhere. And champions particularly seem to receive a fair share in their favour. Inter got them post-Calciopoli, they were awarded to Milan in the early part of this decade, and Juventus are benefitting from them now that they have returned as the game’s leading force. But referees make bad calls here, there and everywhere. Just last week, Alejandro Gomez was clearly fouled in the penalty area by Fredy Guarin at a key moment of Catania’s trip to Inter, but no spot-kick was given and moments later Rodrigo Palacio tied up a 2-0 win for the Nerazzurri. It was not nearly as atrocious a decision as Maggiani’s on Sunday, but the sum total was the same. Catania were denied a goal against one of the game’s big clubs. The Catanias, Genoas, Bolognas etc of the world are used to calls going against them. It is the peril of being a provincial side. There is less intangible pressure coming from the ranks of a smaller club when it comes to an official making up his mind on a turning point in the game. Luca Maggiani made an awful error based on something he thought he saw. Just because conspiracy theorists would love to believe he deliberately went in Juve’s favour, it does not mean for one second that he did. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 9 - 28-10-12 (12:30 p.m.) 0 - 1 Arturo Vidal (57′) Angelo Massimino Stadium - Catania Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Attendance: 14000 Marotta: 'Ref error not decisive' Oct 28, 2012 Juventus director Beppe Marotta maintains the incorrectly disallowed Catania goal “would not have been decisive in this match.” The Elefantini would have taken the lead when Gonzalo Bergessio’s first half strike was ruled offside, but the referee and his assistants got it wrong. Juve eventually won 1-0 in the second half with Arturo Vidal’s tap-in, though there were offside suspicions here too. “The Catania goal was clean, but it would not have been decisive in this match,” insisted director general Marotta. “Nobody can say Juventus would not have overturned the result, especially if we consider that we dominated for the whole game. “I recognise it was a mistake by the referee, but at the same time I saw our victory was absolutely deserved. “I saw the footage again and there was a consultation between the referee, the linesman and the goal line judge. It therefore seems illogical to insinuate that our players have such power to force officials into changing their minds.” Juventus were once again not exactly impressive and Marotta believes the Champions League participation is taking its toll. “European games are taking away some energy from us and on some occasions you can see the fatigue, but we still performed well and earned the three points.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/