Socrates

Van Persie would have been a bad choice for Juventus, says Marotta The Turin giants eventually opted against signing the Dutchman, but are pleased with their overall transfer activity, while still keeping tabs on Ogbonna and Llorente. Sep 7, 2012 Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta feels that signing Robin van Persie would have been the wrong choice for the Serie A champions due to his hefty transfer fee. The Bianconeri were eager to lure the Netherlands international away from Arsenal this summer, but eventually decided against signing the attacker, who joined Manchester United in the end. "I have some regrets about Van Persie, but it would have been a bad choice for the club if we had paid €30 million for a player with an expiring contract," Marotta stated to Tuttosport. "We are happy with the business we were able to carry out, though. We signed good, young players with reasonable salaries - Asamoah, Isla and Giovinco. "Additionally, we should not forget that we managed to hold on to Vidal and Marchisio amid foreign interest." Marotta then admitted that Juve are closely monitoring the situation of Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna. The Italy international has a contract with his current club until the summer of 2016 and Torino have so far been adamant that they will not sell Ogbonna. Nevertheless, the Juve director has made it clear that Juve are ready to make a move if they decide to make the defender available. "Ogbonna is a big talent and a player we really like. Juventus would have an obligation to make a move for him if Torino were to make him available on the transfer market," he said. The Juve director then went on to discuss the situation of Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente, who was believed to be on his way to the Turin giants in the summer transfer window, and stressed that they remain interested in signing the towering attacker. "Llorente remains an option for us as long as he's on the market. We will look at what's possible in January." The Spain international's contract with Bilbao is due to expire at the end of the season.

Moggi sues Inter for 'spying' Sep 7, 2012 After Christian Vieri won €1m compensation for Inter wiretapping his phone calls, Luciano Moggi announces he’ll demand even more. The club was ordered to pay the sum to Vieri after it was revealed they hired a private detective agency to track his movements and even tap his phone to see if the striker was abiding by the code of conduct. The trial suggested the Nerazzurri were performing these checks on several players, referees and former Juventus director general Moggi. “Vieri was being spied on, but so was I,” Moggi told Radio Kiss Kiss. “When it comes to us, it’ll be even worse. We have requested much more than €1m in damages, but I can’t remember the exact sum. “I am sure my ban from football will be resolved soon. Will I return to the role of director? At the moment I am enjoying myself doing the job of journalists. Some say I still run Italian football? That’s just an urban myth.” Moggi then mocked the Calciopoli trial with reference to this season’s refereeing decisions. “If Juventus had penalties and red cards to their advantage, then that means it wasn’t me behind it! The truth is the Bianconeri focus only on playing. If the referees get things wrong, it’s certainly not the fault of the players on the pitch.”

FIGC 'not in conflict' with Juve Sep 7, 2012 FIGC President Giancarlo Abete insists “there is no reason to have a rapport of conflict with Juventus.” In recent months with the betting scandal and Antonio Conte’s 10-month ban, Juve have released several very harsh statements criticising the “dictatorial” sporting justice system. They also implied the problems with the system stretch back to Calciopoli, while the club has the motto ‘30 on the field’ written on the team jersey – including the two Scudetti stripped in the scandal. “The Federation has no reason to have a rapport of conflict with Juventus,” assured Abete on Sky Sport Italia. “That is true not only because of what the Bianconeri represent, but also the value of Juventus for the Nazionale. “Are we going to call a truce? We have different positions, but I don’t think we can talk about this as a war.”

TACTICAL ANALYSIS: Udinese 1-4 Juventus Sep 6, 2012 Tactics-wise, the two teams fielded their formations as expected. The Bianconeri confirmed the same line-up they vs. Parma, with the exception of Chiellini replacing Marrone and the return of Gigi Buffon between the sticks. Thus, in their customary 3-5-2 line-up, JUVENTUS fielded BUFFON in goal, BARZAGLI-BONUCCI-CHIELLINI (R to L) as the defensive trio. On the outside, LICHTSTEINER and ASAMOAH, with usual suspects VIDAL, PIRLO and MARCHISIO in the middle. The attacking pair was once again formed by VUCINIC and GIOVINCO. UDINESE coach Francesco Guidolin also replied with a 3-5-2: Brkic in goal, Benatia, Danilo and Domizzi forming the backline, Basta (right) and Armero (left) on the wings; Pinzi playing defensive mid in front of the D line and in between Pereyra and new signing Andrea Lazzari (the two mezz’ali). Up front, Fabbrini was paired with Totò Di Natale. Tactical Developments The two squads both lined up with three defenders, five midfielders and two strikers, but similar team positioning does not usually coincide with identical playing philosophy. Indeed, Juventus focus obsessively on ball control and territorial domination while Udinese, especially for big matches, prefer to close up shop at the back and restart with fast counter-attacks, exploiting in particular the running ability & speed of their wingers. Amazingly enough and compared to the Friulians’ usual habits (and those exhibited by teams facing Juventus), with Udinese not holding the ball Guidolin chose not to line up his strikers vertically (which would entail assigning Fabbrini to control PIRLO) but rather horizontally, instructing both to challenge the passing movements of the Juventus defensive trio. PIRLO, who’d eventually be picked up by an Udinese midfielder as each play developed, was thus left relatively free… a mistake which the Friulians would pay for dearly. The two following slides show the position of Fabbrini and Di Natale, during Udinese’s pressuring phase at the start of the Bianconeri’s build-up. On the other side of the field, in a similar situation, Juventus tried to force pressuring by pushing MARCHISIO up towards Benatia and thus challenging the Udinese defenders’ ball movement in even-number situations. In the 10 minutes during which the two teams played 11 vs. 11, Udinese were able to bring the ball towards the Juventus box a few times, in particular thanks to the liveliness of Fabbrini, who moved to receive passes in the intermediate zone (in front of Juve’s defenders and behind the Bianconeri midfield) of the playing field. Juventus on the other hand, with a consistency indicating a clear tactical desire to strike what evidently had been identified as the weak point of the Friulian backline, played several deep balls behind the Udinese defenders. In the first 10 minutes of play, Juve managed to send a lone man through against Brkic on three separate occasions. In the first opportunity shown below, GIOVINCO moves in between Benatia and Danilo and is sent deep thanks to MARCHISIO‘s pass. Juve’s #12 is only a few centimeters short from getting to the ball before the Serbian goalkeeper. It is interesting to note how out of the two Juventus forwards, GIOVINCO was the one instructed to make runs into space and stretch the opposing team. In the slide below, a deep run by the diminutive striker, moving in between Domizzi and Danilo, once again generates — on the long pass of a perfectly unmarked PIRLO — a serious danger to Udinese. Upon reception of the ball by the Juventus forward, deep into Udinese’s half, the Friulians are then forced to commit the foul leading to the penalty kick. In between the two GIOVINCO chances, another great opportunity landed on the foot of LICHTSTEINER. Starting from his now familiar deep right-wing position, the Swiss player performs, in the slide below, his typical cutting move (from outside to inside) and is served with an inch-perfect Andrea PIRLO long ball which surprises Armero. ★ ★ ★ In the 10-minute timespan during which the two teams played at even strength, Juventus were thus able to create serious danger for Udinese, exploiting the Friulian backline’s difficulty at reading the deep runs of Bianconeri players. Antonio Conte’s team confirmed the trends of its 3-5-2, which already emerged during the course of the Parma game. In particular, the runs performed by Claudio MARCHISIO (compared to those of the other mezz’ala, Arturo VIDAL), and the coordinated movements required by the two forwards against an already-deployed opposing defense. Once again, MARCHISIO was continuously able to penetrate towards the center-left of the Juventus attack, leaving the central and center-right regions to the two strikers (in the following two slides, Juventus almost looks like they’re fielding a three-pronged attack with MARCHISIO, GIOVINCO, and VUCINIC). The slide below depicts a PIRLO pass towards MARCHISIO occupying the aforementioned area. Another situation (shown below), illustrates how GIOVINCO moves towards the ball carrier (CHIELLINI), while MARCHISIO makes a deep penetrating run while receiving the ball from Juve’s #12. On the other side of the pitch, the movements of VIDAL were more horizontal and included supporting Andrea PIRLO during Juve’s build-up phase, as well as drifting towards the wing in support of Stephen LICHTSTEINER‘s plays. ★ ★ ★ As mentioned previously in this column, the match furthermore confirmed a trend and tendency that is also a feature of Conte’s 4-4-2/4-2-4 formation: two strikers playing very close together and looking for fast combinations between one another. The tactical choice of Sebastian GIOVINCO as the preferred partner for Mirko VUCINIC is therefore hardly surprising: a typical sequence of Juve’s combinations involves the first forward (the one closest to the ball) making a move towards the ball carrier and, upon receiving the ball, delivering a first-time touch towards his striking partner. It is clear that plays of this kind require quick thinking and a good dose of technique, skills which GIOVINCO possesses in more-than-satisfying amount. For illustrative purposes let us look at a couple of the combinations we’ve just described. In the first play, GIOVINCO moves towards and receives the ball from PIRLO, then plays it first-time to Mirko VUCINIC. The second set of slides depicts the excellent opportunity obtained by GIOVINCO in the 50th minute. In this case it is VUCINIC that moves to meet the ball carrier (LICHTSTEINER) and serves, with a great backheel, a first-time pass towards GIOVINCO who is then able to get inside the box and beautifully use his dribbling skills to create space for himself, but then fails to get his shot on target. ★ ★ ★ With regards to the match’s development, after achieving a one-man advantage and consequently taking the lead, Juventus appeared to be in absolute control. The most common tactical situation was to see Udinese adopt a 3-5-1, and defend low with 5 defenders in line and three midfielders in the middle. After Fabbrini‘s exit (who came on to allow substitute goalkeeper Padelli to replace Brkic in net), Udinese was no longer capable of counter-attacking effectively. Juve were thus able to continuously maneuver with 10 men inside Udinese’s half, looking for the right opening, by alternating central combinations in narrow space and wide penetrations on the wing. As soon as Udinese lost the ball, they were incapable to build significantly durable phases of possession or even minimally dangerous counter-attacks. Juve’s doubling of the score was only a matter of time and was achieved by the end of the first half, thanks to a precise finish by Mirko VUCINIC. After a few minutes in the second half, Guidolin tried changing the match’s inertia by switching to a 3-4-2 and inserting Muriel (who partnered up Di Natale in attack) in place of Pereyra. Udinese’s pair of inner midfielders (Pinzi & Lazzari) was however unable to effectively counteract the Bianconeri’s midfield, thus allowing Antonio Conte’s team to run up the score even more. GIOVINCO‘s 3-0 came almost immediately, effectively marking the end of the game. Comments In the first 10 minutes before the red card, Andrea PIRLO delivered two long balls, one for LICHTSTEINER and another for GIOVINCO (who had moved into space), generating two great scoring opportunity for Juve. The second one resulted in the penalty / Udinese goalkeeper’s ejection but the two plays, along with another one (starring once again GIOVINCO), show how attacking the space behind the Friulian defense was considered — by Juve’s technical staff — to be the most indicated solution to put the Udinese rearguard into serious trouble. This choice resulted to be a winning one because of all the danger it created, and because it also directly left Udinese with 10 men. With their team already in trouble, deprived of Fabbrini‘s ability of stretching the Juventus defense and “hold onto” the ball in Udinese’s offensive third, the Friulians were left unarmed to counter Antonio Conte’s team’s superiority. In Juve’s own merit, the Bianconeri were skilfully able to keep the game under complete control thanks to their ball possession and territorial domination. Against 8 men lined up in front of Padelli‘s goal, generating scoring chances and increasing the team’s lead was not an obvious task, but Juve were able to do just so right before the stroke of half-time, thanks to Mirko VUCINIC‘s calibrated shot. And as soon as Guidolin tried to give his team some offensive options (with the insertion of Muriel), Udinese effectively collapsed, unable — with only two central midfielders — to counter Juve’s passing game. From a tactical point of view, the Udinese match confirmed the trends that were already visible during the Parma game: the movements of MARCHISIO on the forward line, the various movements of VIDAL, the position very high up the field of Juve’s wingers with the team in possession. And, above all, looking to deliver the ball to the strikers with vertical passes on the ground and, subsequently, have these execute narrow combinations between one another. The choice of GIOVINCO partnering up VUCINIC was thus inevitable, due to the former’s ability at passing quickly & effectively in tight spaces. It is also interesting to note the skill with which Juve’s #12 moved into space, inserting himself in the gaps created between the opposing defenders. A skill which GIOVINCO did not possess (or at the very least did not display) during his previous tenure in Turin. Originally published in Italian on uccellinodidelpiero.com

Tacconi doubts Milan clubs Sep 6, 2012 Former Juventus ‘keeper Stefano Tacconi expects Milan and Inter to struggle in Serie A. “They’ll need time.” Both San Siro outfits have made some substantial changes to their squad this summer and Tacconi believes that will hurt them. “Juventus are in pole position for the Scudetto,” noted the former Italian international goalkeeper. “On the second row I would put Napoli, Lazio and Roma. “The two Milan clubs are behind them. They will need some time to return to the highest levels.” Inter and Milan are currently tied on three points in the standings after winning one game and losing one.

Rossi tips Juventus & Napoli as favourites for Serie A title The 51-year-old believes the two perennial rivals are the league's most complete sides, while he touched on his bust-up with Adem Ljajic and plans to reform Italian football. Sep 6, 2012 Delio Rossi has revealed that he expects the 2012-13 Serie A championship to be fought out by Juventus and Napoli. In an interview with Corriere dello Sport on Wednesday, the former Lazio and Lecce boss explained that the superiority of the Supercoppa pair sees them lead the way in the Italian top flight, and gave special mentions to Fiorentina, his former club, and Roma. "The two most complete teams I have seen are Juventus and Napoli," Rossi said. "They both followed a strict philosophy. "Napoli took a certain type of young player, and that will come in handy not only now but also in the future. "Juventus have always targeted players who are already 'built'. "Fiorentina did the only thing they could do - initiate a total revolution. Roma have also recruited well." Rossi then covered a wide range of issues currently affecting the development of Italian football, and identified long-term planning and the downsizing of professional leagues as to what is needed to boost calcio's prospects. "It has become a necessity to sign young players. Economic difficulties have led to a focus on players with lower salaries," he pointed out. "For budgetary needs, our football requires a thorough reform. We should reduce the number of professional teams, and introduce a system for semi-professional clubs. "Serie A and B should cut down in size, while Lega Pro should only have a couple of divisions. "Seventy or eighty professional teams are more than enough. And then if you really want to focus on young players, then you should also start looking at the youth leagues."

Prandelli stands up for Conte Sep 5, 2012 Cesare Prandelli has leapt to the defence of Antonio Conte after his 10-month ban in the betting scandal. “Any of us could be dragged into it, even if only by gossip.” The Italy Coach was asked about Conte’s appeal against the 10-month suspension for failing to report a potential fix to the authorities – charges he has always firmly denied. “I have not changed my mind on the betting scandal,” noted Prandelli. “Conte received a 10-month ban. What did you want, life in prison? Anyone who made a mistake has to pay, but there is a big difference between failing to report something and actual sporting fraud. “In a career spanning 20 years any of us could be dragged into it, even if only by gossip and hearsay.” This seems to be a reference to Filippo Carobbio, the former Siena player whose testimony is the only evidence against Conte. Carobbio claims Conte told the Siena squad the results of two games were already agreed, but the other players at the same team meeting do not share his version of events. Juventus Coach Conte lost the first appeal, but is now taking the matter to the TNAS tribunal.

Chiellini's recipe for success Sep 4, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini returned to action for the first time since the Euro 2012 Final and gave his “recipe for success: Humility and desire to win.” The Juventus defender has been sidelined since pulling a muscle in Italy-Spain back at the start of July and made his comeback in Sunday’s 4-1 win at Udinese. “Personally I was a little tense after two months out, especially as I had only been training with my teammates for 10 days and hadn’t played any real friendlies either,” he told Juventus Channel. “However, once I was on the field I immediately felt positive sensations and the tension transformed into concentration. “It is tough to be in the stands, because you see the others playing and wish you were there with them. “I have always set myself the target of 300 games for Juventus. I am on 247 now, but 300 means entering into the history of a club and having experienced a chunk of your life with them.” Juve won the Scudetto unbeaten last season and have started on the right foot again, notching up two consecutive victories. “We have to maintain intact that humility and desire to win. Naturally it also requires tactics and the players, but we had those in other seasons too. The first two elements are the real recipe for success.”

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Serie A - 2^ Giornata - Andata - 2-9-2012 (ore 18:00) 1 - 4 Arturo Vidal (14'- Penalty) Mirko Vučinić (45+1′) Sebastian Giovinco (53′) Sebastian Giovinco (71′) Andrea Lazzari (78′) Friuli Stadium - Udine Referee: Paolo Valeri Spettatori: 23000 La Juve rulla l'Udinese: il 4-1 vale il primato La Juventus travolge l'Udinese al Friuli e coglie la seconda vittoria in campionato. Decidono le reti di Vidal su rigore poi Vucinic e Giovinco, autore di una bella doppietta. Partita da dimenticare per i friluani in 10 per 79' (espulso Brkic) e a cui non basta il gol della bandiera di Lazzari. Eurosport - Domenica, 2 settembre 2012 Il campionato non è nemmeno iniziato e la Juventus è già in fuga. I bianconeri asfaltano l'Udinese al Friuli e confermano di essere la squadra da battere in questa serie A. Impressionante la prova dei ragazzi di Conte e Carrera, in una gara però condizionata pesantemente dal rigore ed espulsione di Brkic che Valeri sanziona dopo 11 minuti per un atterramento di Giovinco. Un episodio dubbio (il rosso al portiere non ci sta e forse il fallo lo commette Danilo fuori dall'area) che spiana la strada alla Signora che da quel punto controlla alla grande la gara e dilaga con le reti di Vucinic e di un Giovinco, in grandissimo spolvero e sempre più inserito negli ingranaggi della squadra di Conte. UDINESE CON LAZZARI, JUVENTUS CON BUFFON E CHIELLINI - Dopo la mancata qualificazione ai gironi di Champions League e le voci del malumore di Guidolin, l'Udinese si rituffa in campionato a caccia della prima vittoria stagionale in una gara ufficiale e propone un 3-5-1-1 con il neoacquisto Lazzari a centrocampo e Fabbrini confermato alle spalle di Di Natale. Dopo la mancata qualificazione ai gironi di Champions League e le voci del malumore di Guidolin l'Udinese si rituffa in campionato a caccia della prima vittoria stagionale in una gara ufficiale e propone un 3-5-1-1 con il neoacquisto Lazzari a centrocampo e Fabbrini confermato alle spalle di Di Natale. La Juventus invece recupera due pilastri come Buffon e Chiellini, che hanno recuperato dai rispettivi guai muscolari. I rientri dei due nazionali sono le uniche modifiche di Conte e Carrera che per il resto confermano per nove/undicesimi la formazione col Parma. Nuova chance per Giovinco che è confermato al fianco di Mirko Vucinic in avanti. MINUTO 11: CAMBIA LA PARTITA - L'Udinese nonostante le delusioni parte bene e risponde colpo su colpo ad una Juventus arrembante che già al 3' potrebbe passare se Lichsteiner, innescato da un lancio illuminante di Pirlo, a tu per tu con Brkic non provasse un pallonetto senza convinzione che termina alto sopra la traversa. L'Udinese non sta a guardare ma all'11esimo minuto la partita si complica maledettamente per i friulani. Ennesimo lancio col contagiri di Pirlo per Giovinco che si invola verso la porta, l'attaccante bianconero viene spintonato da dietro con astuzia da Danilo e poi travolto da Brkic che però fa tutto per evitare il contatto con l'attaccante. Valeri all'inizio lascia correre poi, consultandosi con Rizzoli, sceglie di concedere il rigore e di espellere Brkic, una decisioneche lascia perplessi e che fa imbufalire lo stadio che inizia a fischiare pesantemente la terna arbitrale. Guidolin è costretto a richiamare Fabbrini per inserire il secondo portiere Padelli. Dal dischetto si presenta Vidal che, a differenza di sette giorni fa, non sbaglia siglando il primo gol stagionale. VUCINIC CHIUDE I CONTI - L'Udinese, in una condizione psicologica già deficitaria, si innervosisce e rischia di perdere la testa facendosi perdere dal nervosismo: gli animi si tranquillizzano però la Juventus continua a giocare sul velluto e a creare occasioni da gol come quella di Vucinic che viene stoppato da una strepitosa deviazione di Padelli (è il 35'). Il gol non tarda ad arrivare e si materializza puntualmente al 45': discesa di Asamoah sulla sinistra che pesca a centroarea Vucinic che con un piatto delizioso da fermo spedisce il pallone sul secondo palo dove Padelli non può proprio arrivare. GIOVINCO SI ACCENDE E CALA IL POKER - Nella ripresa la Juventus gioca sul velluto: i bianconeri fanno girare alla grande il pallone, giocano con gli esterni altissimi a centrocampo e sono abilissimi a sfruttare le deficenze dell'Udinese che prende l'imbarcata quando si accende anche a Giovinco che, dopo aver sfiorato un gol al 48' (destro alto dopo un bel numero su Basta) trova il primo gol della sua nuova avventura in bianconero scaraventando in rete da due passi un pallone svirgolato da Padelli. Il gol galvanizza la Formica Atomica che al 69' cala il bis con un diagonale chirurgico da posizione defilata. Non è neanche il 70' e non c'è più una partita al Friuli dove l'Udinese, sostenuta comunque dal tifo del pubblico, non molla e trova il gol della bandiera con Lazzari abile a scaraventare in rete un pallone vagante da due passi. Un neo che non rovina una domenica da incorniciare per la Juventus che da Udine lancia un messaggio chiaro al campionato: i campioni in carica non hanno nessuna voglia di abdicare. Stefano Dolci - Eurosport Udinese - Juventus 1-4

Moggi: Inter made a mistake selling Pazzini The man who was at the centre of the Calciopoli scandal has praised the 28-year-old Italy forward, and castigated the Bianconeri for not signing him. Sep 4, 2012 Former Juventus managing director Luciano Moggi has claimed that Inter made a mistake selling Giampaolo Pazzini, and that the Serie A champions should have signed the in-form striker instead of AC Milan. Moggi, who has a lifetime ban in football due to his role on the 2006 Calciopoli scandal, insisted that the Nerazzurri should have kept hold of the former Sampdoria man, and that he would have been well suited to the Bianconeri. “It is a well-trodden path at Massimo Moratti's Inter that they can't find a suitable partner for Diego Milito,” he told newspaper Libero. “But Inter's cast-off is now shining for Milan. “He was recommended to Juve, but instead they tried to get that unobtainable 'top player'. Pazzini would be a brilliant partner for Vucinic, but instead they have opted for Giovinco." And reflecting on the Giovinco transfer, the former Juve chief was also unhappy with the cost of the deal. “Parma wanted a high price for a player who was already black and white in their heart, and I think the situation could have been handled a lot better,” he said.

Buffon: "We will miss Conte" Sep 4, 2012 Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon sees suspended boss Antonio Conte as a caged lion now the season is underway. The Bianconeri’s unbeaten league run from last season has continued after victories over Parma and Udinese but Conte has been forced to watch from the stands after his 10 month suspension. “It’s not like Conte's suspension is helping the team, a coach like him influences in the same way in the changing room and from the bench during the game,” he told La Stampa. “He did a masterpiece last year with the victories and providing the winning mentality, but now I see him as a caged lion.” Buffon, preparing for international duty with Italy, is now in his 12th season with the current champions and feels Juventus have the squad to challenge in the Champions League. “To say Juve is alone against everyone would be wrong, and also a way to copy those who always complain to create an alibi. We are alone against everyone only in the sense that all our opponents want to beat us. “We must be ready, it was our goal last season and now that we’ve reached it it’s important to be competitive. I think that Juve are on a par with everyone in Europe.”

Serie A Team of the Week: Pazzini treble & Consigli penalty heroics steal the headlines Goal.com looks at the star performers from the second round of Italian league action at the weekend. Sep 3, 2012 There were a total of 34 goals scored around Serie A at the weekend, but it wasn't just strikers who caught the eye. There were several stand-out performances all across the field - or beach, in some cases - as the Italian league backed up a successful first week with a blockbuster round two. With Juventus, Napoli and Lazio ensuring they finished round two with six points, all three are represented twice as Goal.com presents the star performers from the second round of action in Serie A. Andrea Consigli was the clear choice as the best No.1 thanks to his penalty-saving heroics. First he kept out Joaquin Larrivey's spot-kick, then he parried away Daniele Conti's effort from 12 yards as Atalanta earned a point from their trip to Cagliari. Unfortunately for Consigli, he didn't make it to the end of the game, having been forced to leave on a stretcher after sustaining a knock to the head in a heavy collision. Lazio's 3-0 victory over Palermo was notable for an excellent performance by right-back Abdoulay Konko, while Paolo Cannavaro was able to deal with both the Fiorentina attack and the horrendous surface to help Napoli continue their 100 per cent start. A debut performance to be proud of at Bologna earns Milan's Francesco Acerbi the nod at centre-back, while the versatile Nicolas Burdisso fits in at left-back after he helped to keep out Diego Milito and his former club Inter in Roma's 3-1 win. Burdisso is joined in the Team of the Week by Giallorossi team-mate Alessandro Florenzi, who wowed many with his fantastic performance at San Siro, capped by the opening goal in Roma's win. Andrea Pirlo made the most of being given the freedom of the Friuli to lead Juventus to a comprehensive victory against Udinese, while Marek Hamsik earned a second successive call for our XI with another opening goal and another key contribution as Napoli saw off Fiorentina at 'Spiaggia San Paolo'. Up top, it was goals galore in Serie A, with Sebastian Giovinco scoring two and winning a penalty in Juve's 4-1 win, and Miroslav Klose scored two of his own as Lazio's penalty-box poacher punished Palermo. However, Giampaolo Pazzini went one better on his Milan debut, netting a hat-trick in the Rossoneri's much-needed 3-1 victory away to Bologna. CONSIGLI (Atalanta) KONKO (Lazio) - CANNAVARO (Napoli) - ACERBI (Milan) - BURDISSO (Roma) FLORENZI (Roma) - PIRLO (Juventus) - HAMSIK (Napoli) GIOVINCO (Juventus) - KLOSE (Lazio) - PAZZINI (Milan) http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/