Socrates

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/

Juventus remember Scirea Sep 3, 2012 Italian giants Juventus have remembered club legend Gaetano Scirea on the 23rd anniversary of his death. “Today Juventus fans across the globe pay tribute to a legend,” the outfit wrote on their website. “The death of Gaetano Scirea, 23 years ago to this day, moved the entire football world. http://markting10.nl/ “Scirea was a leader, a champion and a classy individual. His dedication to the Juventus cause knew no bounds. “The 36-year-old tragically lost his life in a car accident whilst on a routine scouting trip to Poland in 1989. “His death deprived the club and Italian football of a hero. Scirea won all four major European trophies during his 14 years in Turin. “But it also deprived the world of a remarkably humble gentleman, much loved and respected by the fans.” Scirea was a classy defender who won the World Cup for Italy in 1982 during his 78 cap international career.

Genius Totti exposes Inter's frailties to show why Juventus are in a league of their own The legendary veteran opened up the Milanese at will at San Siro, and it will take a brave man to bet against the Scudetto holders after they thumped Udinese. Sep 3, 2012 COMMENT By Kris Voakes at San Siro It was fancy, it was fluid, and it was great fun to watch, but for Inter fans, their 3-1 defeat to a Francesco Totti-inspired Roma was a reminder that their side have a lot of growing up to do – and fast – if they are to challenge Juventus for the Scudetto this season. The Giallorossi skipper rolled back the years to help his troops tear an abysmal Inter defence to shreds, with the movement between he, Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Alessandro Florenzi down the Roma left being the feature of a hugely deserved victory at San Siro. The No.10, looking as fit and as content as he has in a long time, capped his excellent display with a magnificent through-ball for Osvaldo to put Roma back in front, having also supplied the final ball as Florenzi ghosted into space to grab the first-half opener. By the time Marquinho turned in Osvaldo’s nonchalant ball from the left wing, Inter had been beaten into submission by their visitors’ superior energy, ideas, desire and movement. It started from the midfield, where Florenzi put in a fantastic shift on the left before switching to the right after Daniele De Rossi left the fray with a foot injury and performed equally admirably. Panagiotis Tachtsidis was also heavily influential, while Mattia Destro stretched Inter whenever called upon. “Yes, they were younger, they were faster, they were more positive,” said Roma coach Zdenek Zeman of his midfield after the match, agreeing with the assessment that it was in the centre of the park that the Giallorossi laid the groundwork for their win. It also reflected badly on the Nerazzurri. If Roma were younger, faster and more positive, it was in part due to the fact that their hosts were laboured, slow and negative. On top of that, their defensive work was horrible. Florenzi found space for Roma’s first goal thanks to Walter Gargano allowing the youngster to run and Matias Silvestre paying no attention to the advancing opponent. When Osvaldo made it 2-1, he did so peeling off an Inter back four that had been warned countless times, with a handful of previous runs having just about fallen foul of the offside flag. One was bound to stick, and when it did there could be no complaints. Silvestre and Andrea Ranocchia planted a cherry on the icing by allowing Marquinho time and space for the final goal, but Luca Castellazzi, who did little to inject confidence and authority into his defence all night, should still have effected a save from the narrow angle. It was not as though Roma’s defence had been all that much better though, more that Inter couldn’t make the most of it. Their front six – unlike that of the Lupi – gave the impression of a group thrown together at the last minute. There were occasionally impressive individual moments, but nothing seemed to be working as a unit. Antonio Cassano’s goal came with a touch of fortune, his shot cannoning off the outstretched leg of Nicolas Burdisso and spinning in off the far post after Leandro Castan had allowed the striker to turn and shoot. Arguably, Cassano shouldn’t have started. He still looks a long way off match fitness, and was replaced after only five minutes of the second period having spent the majority of his time on the field looking rather irritated by the hotch-potch approach of his new side. The movement of Roma’s front three was not matched by Diego Milito, Wesley Sneijder and Cassano, with Yuto Nagatomo and Javier Zanetti also penned back so much that overlapping runs were a real rarity as Inter lacked new angles of attack. Each neat flick or slick pass from a white shirt was a reminder of what was missing from the Nerazzurri. The performance, perhaps more so than the result, leaves nobody in any doubt that Andrea Stramaccioni has a hell of a job on if Inter are to become the real deal under his leadership. Yes, there are a lot of new faces in his squad, but they have had more competitive fixtures than anyone else in Italy this term, giving them more chance to blend. Alvaro Pereira apart, every one of these players had worn blue and black before. What Inter were missing was any kind of direction, any kind of out-of-the-box thinking. They were one-dimensional, lacking pace of both movement and passing. Stramaccioni said afterwards that Inter lacked something psychologically, but they handed over that particular baton when they allowed Roma the freedom of the park and offered nothing in return. If they really harbour hopes of chasing down Juve this term, then much has to change, starting with the coach’s approach to his team’s style and also with some of his team selections. They need all of this to happen sooner rather than later, with Juventus already threatening to run away with the league. Their 4-1 win at Udinese came with the compulsory hint of controversy, but it also demonstrated just how easy they find some of the very same things that Inter and the rest are lacking. Zeljko Brkic was hugely unfortunate to see red in the 14th minute for his foul on Sebastian Giovinco despite there being no doubt that it was worthy of a penalty. The time has come for referees to stop pulling a red card out for every single foul made by a goalkeeper. A clear goalscoring opportunity, it was not, with Giovinco having Danilo immediately to his left and Maurizio Domizzi to his right as Brkic made contact. There was still much work for the little striker to do, and as such, the Serbian should not have been ejected. Either way, the Bianconeri more than likely would have won a fixture they dominated almost from start to finish against an Udinese side suffering a hangover from the double blow of their Champions League knockout and a summer transfer window which saw the heart ripped from their first team. Giovinco would add two cool second-half finishes to his account after Arturo Vidal had converted the early penalty and Mirko Vucinic slid home the killer second on the stroke of half-time, with Andrea Lazzari’s first goal in an Udinese shirt coming too late to have any kind of effect. Such is the Friulani’s demise at the moment that one Inter fan watching the game on TV outside San Siro commented: “They’re dead. Udinese are dead, dear God.” But many more performances like the one the same fan would witness a couple of hours later inside the Meazza, and Inter’s assault on the top three could quickly head the same way, with Juventus already looking more than ready to dance on their grave. ELSEWHERE… • The weekend got underway with an excellent display from Torino as they overcame Pescara 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, but there was more than just Christian Terlizzi’s first-half sending-off at the heart of the Delfini’s demise. Giovanni Stroppa’s side have lost both of their opening two games by three-goal margins after a summer which saw them shorn of their coach Zdenek Zeman as well as their four most impressive players. Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne, Marco Verratti and Marco Sansovini have been replaced by functional enough players, but the impact of those they have lost is already being borne out in their results. • Anybody who caught a glimpse of the San Paolo pitch on Sunday will rightly wonder how on earth a Serie A match could be allowed to take place on what resembled a potato field. The pitch was heavily sanded across its entire surface, meaning Napoli and Fiorentina played out what should have been an exciting fixture on what might as well have been a beach. The home side eventually won 2-1, but coach Walter Mazzarri could offer no answers after the match, saying that he wasn’t sure who was responsible for the disgraceful conditions. He did add that his club need to “sort it out”, which nobody can disagree with. • Miroslav Klose helped to ensure that Lazio kept their 100 per cent record, while Antonio Candreva scored the goal of the weekend as the Biancocelesti saw off a shocking Palermo 3-0 at the Olimpico. The German twice took advantage of dreadful defending in the six-yard box by Giuseppe Sannino’s side, but the pick of the strikes was the former Juventus and Livorno midfielder’s piledriver into the top corner after shaking off a tackler 30 yards from goal. Vladimir Petkovic’s men may well have a lot to live up to after finishing fourth last term, but they've started on the right foot. • Giampaolo Pazzini got his Milan career off to a magnificent start with a hat-trick at Bologna on Saturday, giving Massimiliano Allegri a couple of weeks of breathing space after a testing start to the campaign. The former Inter man got up after a controversial penalty award to put Milan ahead, then cleaned up after Federico Agliardi dropped a simple cross in the second half. His third was the pick of the bunch though, showing all of his striking instinct to divert Antonio Nocerino’s effort into the bottom corner. The tripletta was enough for him to earn a recall to Cesare Prandelli’s Italy squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta, while his booking for a high boot showed that he’s already been taking ninja lessons from new team-mate Nigel De Jong! http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) 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 Attendance: 23000 Juventus would have preferred to beat Udinese on equal terms, says Marotta The Bianconeri director was pleased with his side's win, but felt the circumstances in which they bagged the three points took the shine off the result. Sep 3, 2012 Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta believes Udinese goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic's dismissal in Sunday's Serie A encounter was harsh, and feels the red card effectively decided the match. The reigning champions cruised to a comfortable 4-1 victory after their opponents were reduced to 10 men, but Marotta would have preferred to bag the three points against a full Zebrette outfit. "The goalkeeper's red card was a big factor in the game and I honestly think it was a harsh decision," Marotta was quoted as saying on the official Juventus website. "We came to the Friuli for a win. However, winning against 10 men is no great joy. We would have preferred to beat them on equal terms. We're pleased to have won but would have preferred to do it against a full team. "In the next meetings we'll have to start a dialogue with the refereeing body with a view to changing this rule or getting referees to change their approach, because this damages the game as a spectacle." Juventus resume match action on September 16 away against Genoa. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Van Persie ‘impossible’ for Juventus Sep 3, 2012 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has insisted that it was “impossible” to sign Robin Van Persie from Arsenal this summer. The Italian giants had tracked the Dutchman, but he eventually decided to join Manchester United instead – the club he scored a hat-trick for on Sunday. “We had a few objectives on the market and we couldn’t get all of them,” the Turin official stated when asked about his club’s moves. “Take Van Persie for example, at this moment in time it was impossible for any Italian club to sign him. “To pay €30m for a player coming towards the end of his contract, without taking into account his wages, was not possible for Juventus or any other Serie A side.” The Italian champions were looking for a new forward and eventually landed Niklas Bendtner, but only after failing to sign Dimitar Berbatov from United. Juve’s bid to net the Bulgarian has been heavily criticised by Fiorentina who have blamed Juve for interfering with their proposed swoop for the forward. “I hope to come across President Andrea Della Valle soon so that we can clear up this Berbatov situation, but I want to underline that we didn’t do anything wrong towards Fiorentina. “We made an enquiry after the player had already turned down the Viola, but it all ended quickly because he told us that he preferred Fulham.” Juve have started the season as favourites for the Scudetto, but they are also keen to challenge in the Champions League. “We have reinforced a lot for Europe even if we can’t say that we are at the same level as the four or five top teams on the continent,” Marotta added. “But we will be hoping to make a difference with our style of play. We’ll need a lot of intensity which was our winning characteristic from last season.”

Serie A Round 2 Results: Napoli & Lazio continue winning starts, Bergessio inspires Catania to Genoa scalp The second week of action in Italy did not disappoint, as Cagliari nicked a point at the death against Atalanta, while Sampdoria kept up their winning return to the top flight. Sep 2, 2012 Serie A Round 2 Results League Table TORINO 3 - 0 PESCARA Torino followed up their opening-day draw with Siena in emphatic fashion, as they cruised to a 3-0 success over fellow new boys Pescara on Saturday. The Delfini won last season's Serie B title at the expense of their opponents, but face a difficult season, having lost many of their stars, including Marco Verratti, Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne, during the close season, as well as coach Zdenek Zeman. A 3-0 defeat to Inter served as a warning sign to the team on matchday one, and within 27 minutes of their clash against Torino, Christian Terlizzi conceded a penalty and was sent off for a professional foul. Rolando Bianchi, however, missed from the spot. But just seven minutes later, Alessandro Sgrigna struck past Mattia Perin to give Torino the lead, before new arrival Matteo Brighi made it two on the hour mark after being thread through by the goalscorer. The win was sealed on 62 minutes, as Bianchi made amends for his earlier penalty miss by netting a header past previous nemesis Perin, consigning Pescara to another heavy loss. They move to 11th in Serie A, while the visitors remain 18th. BOLOGNA 1 - 3 AC MILAN Match Report - Player Ratings UDINESE 1 - 4 JUVENTUS Match Report - Player Ratings CAGLIARI 1 - 1 ATALANTA Cagliari had Albin Ekdal to thank, as the Swedish midfielder rescued his side an injury-time point in a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Just 18 minutes into proceedings, Thomas Manfredini handballed in the box to award the Sardinians a penalty, which Victor Ibarbo failed to convert. The striker saw his effort well saved by Andrea Consigli, who dived to his left. Incredibly, just eight minutes later, Federico Peluso was given his marching orders after taking down Ibarbo through on goal. Daniele Conti was entrusted with the responsibility of striking the penalty, but he too could not beat Consigli. Sadly for the hero between the sticks, a bad clash forced him to leave the pitch on a stretcher. His replacement Ciro Polito made an instant impact, denying Radja Nainggolan from close range with a save low down. But in the last 10 minutes, an onslaught followed. German Denis firstly put Atalanta one up indirectly from a set-piece, but Ekdal stabbed in a similar finish in injury time to earn his side a share of the spoils. CATANIA 3 - 2 GENOA A Gonzalo Bergessio double helped Catania emerge victorious on home soil, as they held on for a 3-2 win over Genoa on Sunday. A pulsating five-goal thriller was played out at the Angelo Massimino, but it was the visitors who went ahead midway through the first half. Last week's scorer Ciro Immobile drilled in a low cross for Juraj Kucka to finish off. The visitors kept their lead for the next 40 minutes, but a goal rush suddenly ensued in the advanced stages. Bergessio grabbed the first of his two strikes on 66 minutes, netting Lucas Castro's through ball, before he headed in a corner moments later. However, Catania's lead was short-lived. With only 10 minutes left on the clock, Bosko Jankovic rifled home a swerving low effort from the edge of the box to restore parity, but Francesco Lodi stepped up soon after to curl a free kick home. The result means Catania climb to fifth, while Genoa drop to seventh place in the standings. INTER 1 - 3 ROMA Match Report - Player Ratings LAZIO 3 - 0 PALERMO Lazio continue to improve under the leadership of Vladimir Petkovic, after they comfortably swept Palermo aside 3-0 at the Olimpico on Sunday. Miroslav Klose was imperious as ever on the night, and he scored the first of his two goals on 39 minutes, half-volleying Alvaro Gonzalez's cross past an uncertain Samir Ujkani. However, the former Novara goalkeeper could do nothing about the hosts' second of the night. Antonio Candreva found space in the final third and, from some distance, smashed a powerful drive into the top right-hand corner. The points were confirmed on 82 minutes, as Senad Lulic's cross was expertly chest-controlled by Klose, who had all the time in the world to pick his spot and seal a third straight win for his side. NAPOLI 2 - 1 FIORENTINA Napoli survived a late scare at the San Paolo on Sunday, as they eventually secured a 2-1 win over Fiorentina. The game struggled to live to its billing as one of the more eye-catching fixtures of the weekend in the first half, but Marek Hamsik changed all that on 55 minutes with a looping header from a free kick. They boosted their lead not long after through a stinging low drive from Blerim Dzemaili, much to the chagrin of Viola boss Vincenzo Montella, who was left looking into the abyss in his dugout. However, Napoli were forced to endure a nervy ending to the contest as, out of the blue, Stevan Jovetic curled in a fine strike from the edge of the box to make it two goals in two appearances. Walter Mazzarri's side make it consecutive victories in Serie A and move into second place. Fiorentina, on the other hand, must settle for ninth. PARMA 2 - 0 CHIEVO Parma returned to winning ways on Sunday by defeating northern rivals Chievo 2-0 on Sunday. Both Gialloblu outfits experienced contrasting fortunes on matchday one, as the hosts suffered defeat at the hands of Juventus, while the Flying Donkeys profited against Bologna. However, Ishak Belfodil got the ball rolling at the Tardini, meeting Jaime Valdes' low cross on the half-hour mark, before a thunderous counterattack, led by Jonathan Biabiany, was finished off by recent signing Aleandro Rosi with minutes to spare. Parma move up to 13th in Serie A following their victory, but Chievo fall to 12th in the standings. SAMPDORIA 2 - 1 SIENA Sampdoria ensured their positive start to the new season remained intact with a 2-1 victory over Siena on Sunday. The newly-promoted side opened their account for the evening on the cusp of half time; Maxi Lopez bypassing Felipe before firing home an effort from the left-hand side. However, Serse Cosmi's charges bagged an equaliser on 62 minutes through Simone Vergassola. The veteran midfielder was on hand to net the rebound from Emanuele Calaio's shot, which cannoned off the post. But just six minutes later, Pedro Obiang's corner found the head of defender Daniele Gastaldello, who went on to nod home the winner and secure all three points for the Blucerchiati. They now place fourth in Serie A, while Siena sit rock bottom on -5. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) 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 Attendance: 23000 'Conte is the real coach' - Carrera taking inspiration from suspended boss The Old Lady destroyed 10 man Udinese in Serie A on Sunday, but the club's caretaker coach insisted the banned Italian remains the driving force behind their fine start. Sep 2, 2012 Juventus continued their excellent start to the season, despite the loss of suspended coach Antonio Conte, by seeing off Udinese 4-1 in the Stadio Friuli. While the game was marred by a questionable red card to Zebrette goalkeeper Zelkjo Brkic, Bianconeri coach Massimo Carrera focussed on his own team's performance after the game. "The team is developing even though we didn't keep the high tempo we wanted to at the start," he told Juventus' official website. "We wouldn't have conceded their consolation goal last season, so we need to show even more hunger." And despite winning a number of plaudits for the Old Lady's start to the new season, Carrera was quick to explain the real reason behind their success. "Conte is the real coach. I'm looking to take inspiration from him during the week so the team can continue to feel his presence," he stated. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) 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 Attendance: 23000 'The referee lacked common sense' - Udinese supremo Pozzo lashes out after Juventus defeat The Zebrette chairman criticised the red card shown to goalkeeper Zelkjo Brkic early in the first half of his side's clash with Juventus, claiming it ruined the game as a contest. Sep 2, 2012 Udinese chairman Giampaolo Pozzo launched a scathing attack on referee Paolo Vareli after watching Juventus dismantle his side 4-1. Goals from Arturo Vidal, Mirko Vucinic and Sebastien Giovinco (2) sealed an emphatic victory, but the Old Lady were helped on their way by the 14th minute sending off of goalkeeper Zelkjo Brkic. "Before making a decision so severe, that ruins a game, you should have a little common sense and balance," the Udinese supremo told Sky Italia. "It makes me angry, ruins the game and a Sunday of fun." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) 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 Attendance: 23000 Pozzo: 'Ref ruined the game' Sep 2, 2012 Udinese patron Giampaolo Pozzo was furious with the referee after their 4-1 defeat to Juventus. “He ruins games and has done it to us before.” The match was transformed after just 12 minutes when Zeljko Brkic was sent off for a challenge on Sebastian Giovinco, though it seemed a harsh straight red. “We have this referee who already came here twice. Last time he sent off Gokhan Inler for a debatable reaction foul. It’s a shame, as he has no balance and ruins games. “Juventus winning in Udine can happen, but deciding the match after 15 minutes does nobody any favours, including Juve. “The red card was completely unnecessary. Before making a decision like that, it requires a little common sense and balance. “Every time this referee comes here, he ruins games. These are Serie A officials, why is it not possible for them to evaluate things correctly. A penalty was understandable, but why the red card?” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) 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 Attendance: 23000 Carrera: 'These are the rules' Sep 2, 2012 Stand-in Coach Massimo Carrera blamed “the rules” on the early red card that saw Udinese go down to 10 men against Juventus. Zeljko Brkic was harshly sent off after 12 minutes for a last man foul, though it seemed as if Danilo was more at fault for shoving Sebastian Giovinco into the goalkeeper. It sparked a 4-1 Juve victory. “The rules are rules. When it’s a last man foul, that’s what happens. It’s a shame, but they must be respected,” shrugged Antonio Conte’s touchline surrogate. “This team is growing, although we still don’t have the tempo we are looking for. Last season we were hungrier, as perhaps then we wouldn’t have conceded the late goal.” The Bianconeri are in the same Champions League group as Chelsea, so Roberto Di Matteo was in the stands today. “We played our game, that is all. I don’t know what he got from this experience.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) 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 Attendance: 23000 Player Ratings Goal.com evaluates the performances of everyone involved at the Friuli, after a game in which Sebastian Giovinco struck twice for the rampant Bianconeri. Sep 2, 2012 Udinese Zeljko Brkic 1.5 - Lasted just 14 minutes, having been shown a straight red for taking out Giovinco after the forward had nodded the ball past him. Was it a penalty? Yes. Did the offence warrant a red card? Not at all given the goalkeeper's momentum had carried him into the Juve attacker, not to mention the fact that there were also two Udinese defenders in close proximity. Danilo 3.0 - Had it not been for Danilo, Udinese would have been hammered, with the Brazilian making a number of crucial interventions, with his wonderfully timed challenge on Vidal the pick of the bunch. Dušan Basta 2.5 - Certainly did not want for effort, Basta was a lively presence throughout, getting forward whenever he could. However, he was badly exposed defensively on occasions. Maurizio Domizzi 2.5 -Struggled with the movement of Giovinco and Vucinic and despite his best efforts, he was caught out of position far too often. Mehdi Benatia 3.0 - Played well in difficult circumstances and even threatened at the other end of the field whenever Udinese earned themselves a set piece in a dangerous position. Pablo Armero 2.5 - Did not pose any sort of attacking threat and struggled badly to contain Lichsteiner. He was also completely at fault for Vucinic's goal after failing miserably to cut out Asamoah's cut back. Roberto Pereyra 2.5 - Got forward down the right hand side a few times early on but he was unable to impose himself on the proceedings and was unsurprisingly whipped off 10 minutes into the second period. Giampiero Pinzi 2.0 - Blazed a shot over from the edge of the area early on but Krkic's dismissal signalled the end of his attacking endeavour. Indeed, the midfielder looked lost thereafter and his frustration ultimately got the better of him and he was booked for going through Chiellini. Andrea Lazzari 3.0 - Was far more effective in getting forward than Basta and his set-piece deliveries were also good. Worked tirelessly and it was somewhat fitting that it was he who pounced on Barzagli's poor clearance to net a consolation goal for the home side. Antonio Di Natale 2.5 - Only stopped running once his number went up with 15 minutes to go. The veteran forward showed some neat touches while he was on the field but he just did not see enough of the ball. Diego Fabbrini 2.0 - Impossible not to feel a fair bit of sympathy for Fabbrini, who was sacrificed just 14 minutes into the game in order to fill the void between the posts left by Brkic. Had looked reasonably lively up until that point. • Substitutions Daniele Padelli 2.5 - Had no chance with Vidal's penalty but while he made some good saves, most notably from Vucinic, he was badly at fault for Giovinco's goal after allowing Marchisio's shot to get away from him. Allan 3.0 - Only saw 15 minutes at the end after Di Natale had run out of steam. Muriel 3.0 - Came on in place of Pereyra shortly after the interval but, one breakway aside, he did not really have an opportunity to show what he can do. Juventus Gianluigi Buffon 3.0 - Could not have asked for an easier outing on his return to first team duty. Expended more energy celebrating his side's goals than dealing with anything Udinese could throw at him. But he'll be disappointed that his clean sheet was effectively taken away from him by Barzagli. Giorgio Chiellini 3.0 - Somewhat fortunate to escape a booking for a foul on the lively Basta, but he was rarely troubled once Udinese were reduced to 10 men and was ultimately afforded a rest at the end, with Marrone coming on his place. Andrea Barzagli 3.0 - With Udinese playing with reduced numbers and just one up top, the Italy international was enjoying the proverbial armchair ride at the heart of the Juve defence, but he lost his concentration late on and was at fault for gifting the home side a consolation goal with a poor clearance. Leonardo Bonucci 3.0 - Not quite as comfortable as his defensive colleagues - he was booked for pulling down Di Natale after being rolled by the striker on halfway - but he was solid enough at the back. Stephan Lichtsteiner 3.0 - Signalled his intent to put Armero on the back foot right from the off and really should have opened the scoring after leaving the Colombian for dead with just four minutes in. However, he was a constant threat down the right-hand side and Vucinic really should have buried a sublime cross from the Swiss. Claudio Marchisio 3.0 - Worked hard and was neat and tidy throughout the game, but only really started to make a menace of himself in an attacking sense as 10-man Udinese tired late on and was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet. Still, he did get an assist of sorts as it was his shot which Giovinco followed up. Andrea Pirlo 3.5 - Set the tone for a dominant display by putting Lichsteiner in on goal with a terrific through-ball with less than four minutes on the clock. His understanding with Giovinco was there for all to see, as the pair combined for the fourth goal, as well as the penalty, the decisive moment in the game. Kwadwo Asamoah 3.0 - Enjoyed a productive return to the Friuli. Was rarely tested from a defensive perspective while at the same time getting forward whenever he could, playing a key role in Vucinic's goal just before the break. Arturo Vidal 3.0 - Tucked away his penalty in fine style but was actually caught in possession a couple of times early on, while his passing was a tad erratic. However, his influence grew as the game wore on. Mirko Vučinić 3.5 - Ambled about the pitch in his usual laconic style before coming to life around the half hour mark by stinging the palms of Padelli. Just before the interval, though, he gave the goalkeeper no chance with a wonderfully laid back finish from the edge of the area. Linked up really well with Giovinco but really should have been more clinical. Sebastian Giovinco 4.0 - A constant thorn in Udinese's side, the Italy international won the penalty which led to Juve opening the scoring and, even more significantly, Udinese being reduced to 10 men. Missed a great chance at the start of the second half after a jinking run but then helped himself to a double, with his second strike particularly impressive. • Substitutions Luca Marrone 3.0 - Came on for Chiellini for the last 15 minutes but did not have a major impact on the game. Fabio Quagliarella 3.0 - Replaced Giovinco late on but was unable to get himself on the scoresheet. Alessandro Matri 3.0 - Was expected to start in place of Giovinco, who had been carrying an injury, but ultimately had to settle for an uneventful cameo. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) 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 Attendance: 23000 Juventus Make Udinese Pay For Running Into Little People Sep 2, 2012 The discussion won't be about how Juventus beat Udinese 4-1. No, no, no. Who would want to do that? That just makes no sense. Why discuss the game when you can mention DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA! The talk after the game — hell, even while the first half was still going on — was about the decision to send off Udinese goalkeeper Zejiko Brkic for absolutely destroying Sebastian Giovinco as he attempted to catch a 50-50 ball at the top of the box. I mean, it's Italy. Who doesn't love them some controversy in Italy? Exactly my point. But without a doubt, the sending off of Brkic changed this game. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Udinese were looking fairly good when there were 11 men on the field to open thing sup. After Brkic was shown the red card? Completely different. Udinese went from positive play to doing absolutely nothing. So, you have your controversy. Go ahead and discuss. I won't stop you. Man of the Match: The lil' fella. Giovinco easily had one of the best games he's had in a Juventus jersey — past or present. Yes, the two goals obviously help his cause, but he has been contributing in all aspects lately. And today he got his goal(s). With Seba starting to really hit his stride with Europe and the Champions League a few weeks away, that's nothing but good news. Now if only we could get Mirko Vucinic to play like he's actually interested in things for more than a couple minutes at a time... Also of note: Juventus are undefeated in the last 41 Serie A games, including victories in 12 of the last 13. That's good. I would like it if Juve kept that trend going. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) 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 Attendance: 23000 Udinese 1-4 Juventus Sep 2, 2012 Juventus sent out a resounding message that they intend to retain their Serie A title with a comprehensive dismantling of Udinese. The Old Lady were aided by the 14th-minute dismissal of goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic, but regardless of that, such an emphatic win at the Stadio Friuli has to be taken notice of. Arturo Vidal opened the scoring with a penalty that was a consequence of Brkic's sending off, with Mirko Vucinic making it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time. It was game over eight minutes after the break thanks to Sebastian Giovinco and, when the same player made it four, it was a rout before Andrea Lazzari grabbed a consolation for the Bianconeri. With Antonio Conte again unable to coach Juve owing to his suspension, the Turin outfit had to operate on auto-pilot, with veteran midfielder Andrea Pirlo pulling all the strings. He laid on an early chance for Sebastian Lichtsteiner and then threaded the pass which led to Brkic hauling down Giovinco. Vidal stepped up and converted the subsequent penalty. Antonio di Natale had an immediate chance to level but his header was well wide, and with few opportunities coming their way as a result of being a man down, Udinese were forced to try and shut up shop. They managed to hold out until the 45th minute when Vucinic ended their resolve when he nipped in to finish after Pablo Armero failed to clear. Di Natale tried to lay on a chance for Dusan Basta after the restart but he failed to take it, while Giovinco went close from the edge of the box. The summer signing from Parma would get the first goal of his second spell with the club, though, cashing in after substitute stopper Daniele Padelli failed to hold Claudio Marchisio's shot. The goalkeeper did keep out Marchisio minutes later, but he was bending into the back of his net for a fourth time with 19 minutes left after Giovinco skinned Maurizio Domizzi and rapped a drive beyond him. Udinese would stir when Lazzari netted from close range with 12 minutes left, but it was nothing more than a token goal. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) 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 Attendance: 23000 Juve crush 10-man Udinese Juventus added to Udinese’s woes with a comfortable 4-1 victory at the Stadio Friuli, inspired by Sebastian Giovinco’s brace and a controversial red card. Sep 2, 2012 The Bianconeri welcomed back Gigi Buffon, Giovinco and Giorgio Chiellini from injury, the defender making his first appearance since the Euro 2012 Final in early July. Mauricio Isla, Simone Pepe, Lucio and Simone Padoin are still sidelined with Nicklas Bendtner’s transfer not come through yet, but Kwadwo Asamoah returned to face his former club. Udinese were still traumatised by Tuesday’s Champions League play-off defeat on penalties and Coach Francesco Guidolin had considered resigning. He had a full squad to choose from here except for Emmanuel Badu and threw new buy Andrea Lazzari straight into the starting XI. Juve have been drawn in the same Champions League group as Chelsea, so Roberto Di Matteo was in the stands. So was Antonio Conte, still sitting out his 10-month ban and represented on the touchline by Massimo Carrera. Stephan Lichtsteiner sprung the offside trap from a long Andrea Pirlo ball over the top, but placed his lob well over the net with only Zeljko Brkic to beat. There was controversy after just 11 minutes, as Giovinco ran into the box between two defenders on another long Pirlo pass. The Atomic Ant managed to get his head to it first, just a second before Danilo shoved him into the on-rushing Brkic. The referee hesitated for a moment before awarding the penalty and red card for the goalkeeper, who was flabbergasted. Ex-Liverpool ‘keeper Daniele Padelli came off the bench and his first job was to take Arturo Vidal’s penalty out of the net, as the Chilean blasted into the top corner. It was Juve’s second spot-kick of the campaign, but the first to be converted, as Vidal saw his saved against Parma. Tension threatened to explode moments later when Giampiero Pinzi was booked for tackling Chiellini and scuffles broke out around the field. Chiellini volleyed wide from a free kick under pressure from Danilo, but comical defending saw two Udinese players collide down the left, allowing Vucinic to get an angled drive which Padelli palmed round the far post. Maurizio Domizzi didn’t catch his volley properly from the D, sending it well wide. Juve kept possession without making much of an impact, but in first half stoppages Asamoah’s pass was let through by Pablo Armero for Vucinic to immediately curl into the bottom corner. The Montenegrin did not hesitate to take the chance from the edge of the box, leaving Padelli rooted to the spot. After the break Giovinco did everything right until the shot, skipping past Dusan Basta and committing Mehdi Benatia with a dummy, but fired over the bar. Moments later Padelli spilled a long-range strike from Claudio Marchisio, so Giovinco was ready to tap in the loose ball from four yards. The former Liverpool goalkeeper should’ve done better, even if the shot took a slight deflection. Padelli got a hand to Vucinic’s header and parried a splendid Marchisio rising strike at the near top corner. The young goalkeeper rushed off his line and used his legs to clear from Vucinic, but the fourth goal was in the air. Pirlo spread the play for Giovinco, who confused Domizzi with some footwork and smashed the angled drive into the far bottom corner. Still, the home side did get one back when Allan’s through ball was not dealt with properly, so eventually Lazzari turned in the loose ball from six yards on his Friulani debut. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Udinese: Brkic; Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi; Basta, Pereyra (Muriel 52), Pinzi, Lazzari, Armero; Fabbrini (Padelli 13); Di Natale (Allan 76) Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini (Marrone 72); Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco (Quagliarella 75), Vucinic (Matri 75) Ref:Valeri Sent off: Brkic 12 (U) http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) 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 Attendance: 23000 Giovinco double helps sink 10-man hosts The Italy international, who rejoined the Bianconeri from Parma during the summer, netted twice as the reigning champions heaped more misery on Francesco Guidolin's men. Sep 2, 2012 Juventus maintained their winning start to the new Serie A season by cruising to a 4-1 victory over Udinese at the Stadio Friuli on Sunday evening. Arturo Vidal opened the scoring from the penalty spot 14 minutes after Zebrette goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic had been shown a straight red card for taking out Sebastian Giovinco. Mirko Vucinic doubled the Bianconeri’s advantage just before the interval with a sublime finish before strike partner Giovinco tapped in to make it 3-0 early in the second half. The latter struck again on 71 minutes, rendering Andrea Lazzari's late strike purely academic. Juventus looked somewhat sluggish in last weekend's win over Parma but they could have been ahead inside four minutes in Udine, with Andrea Pirlo prising open the home side’s defence with a predictably precise pass only for Stephan Lichsteiner to lob his team-mate’s sublime through-ball over the bar. However, the Bianconeri would not have to wait much longer to break the deadlock. Again, Pirlo was involved, the playmaker picking out Giovinco with another exquisite ball over the top. The diminutive attacker nodded the bouncing ball past the onrushing Brkic, whose momentum carried him into the former Parma man. Referee Paolo Valeri quite correctly pointed to the spot but his decision to dismiss Brkic was harsh in the extreme given there was nothing malicious about his challenge, while there were also two covering Udinese defenders in attendance. The injustice of the straight red was of little concern to Vidal, though, and the Chilean confidently dispatched the ball past Brkic’s replacement, Daniele Padelli, to put the visitors a goal to the good. Unsurprisingly, Juve dominated possession thereafter, but without doing very much. Indeed, a well-struck drive from Vucinic, which Padelli tipped around the posts, was the sum total of their efforts before the Bianconeri’s Montenegro international put daylight between the two sides on the stroke of half-time. Former Udinese man Kwadwo Asamoah advanced down the left-hand side before pulling the ball across the face of the box. Pablo Armero really should have cut out the cross; he did not, and Vucinic pounced, controlling the ball before almost calmly bending it past a stationary Padelli. Giovinco almost bettered that strike after jinking his way past a couple of players shortly after the restart but the Italy international fired over the bar. However, he made amends just moments later, slotting home the rebound after Padelli had spilled Claudio Marchisio’s strike from distance. The 'Atomic Ant' then doubled his tally in emphatic style, firing home from just inside the area after being slipped in on goal by Pirlo. Udinese, who saw their hopes of Champions League football dashed by Braga in week, did manage a late consolation through Lazzari after he punished some sloppy defending from Andrea Barzagli but the spoils went to Juventus, who look set to go into the international break at the summit of the standings. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Friuli Stadium - Udine Referee: Paolo Valeri Di Matteo in stands for Juve Sep 2, 2012 Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo is in the stands for today’s Udinese-Juventus match, keeping an eye on his Champions League opponents. The Blues were drawn in the same group as Juve, Shakhtar Donetsk and Nordsjelland, starting the campaign at Stamford Bridge against the Italians on September 19. It is confirmed that Di Matteo was spotted in the stands ahead of the 17.00 UK time kick-off at the Stadio Friuli. He is looking to personally ‘scout’ the Bianconeri after Chelsea’s humiliating 4-1 European Super Cup defeat to Atletico Madrid on Friday. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Robin van Persie was an impossible signing for Juventus and any Italian club, says Giuseppe Marotta The Bianconeri official revealed that signing the Dutchman would be a hard task for any side from the peninsula, whilst clarifying what happened with Dimitar Berbatov. Sep 2, 2012 Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta has revealed that signing Robin van Persie was impossible for any Italian club during the transfer window. The Bianconeri official also insisted that there was no wrongdoing against Fiorentina in regards to the potential transfer of Dimitar Berbatov, who eventually snubbed the two teams in favour of Fulham. Nevertheless, Marotta revealed that whilst signing the former Arsenal captain was an objective, the transfer fee was not a feasible option for any Italian side in the current climate. "Last year we were able to hit a record that is hard to beat such as ending the season unbeaten. We had some goals and not all of them have been achieved," the 57-year-old told Sky Sport Italia. "I take the example of Van Persie. He is impossible for an Italian club right now. Spending €30 million on a player, not to mention the wages, is not feasible for Juve or for any other club in Serie A. "The Berbatov case? I hope to meet with President Andrea Della Valle soon to clarify the situation of Berbatov, but I want to clarify that there was no misconduct against Fiorentina. "We made an enquiry after the player said he did not want to go to the Viola, but it was off very shortly because he said he preferred Fulham." Marotta also turned his attention to the Champions League group stage, where the Serie A holders were drawn against Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk and Nordsjaelland. He continued: "We are pleased to return to an important competition like the Champions League. Although we can't say we are on par with the four or five most important clubs in Europe, we will focus especially on the way we play and on strengthening. "Progressing from the group is within our reach, even though there are dangers hidden around the corner. Just look at Basel and Apoel last year."