Socrates

Buffon returns to action for Juventus' clash with Udinese Veteran stopper returns from injury for trip to Stadio Friuli, while Giorgio Chiellini and Sebastian Giovinco are also declared fit. Sep 2, 2012 Juventus welcome recent injury victims Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini back into the side for Sunday's Serie A trip to Udinese. Both players missed the opening weekend's win over Parma, but have been passed fit and take their place in a now familiar 3-5-2 formation. Sebastian Giovinco, who had been expected to miss the next two weeks with a sprained ankle, also features in the starting lineup alongside Mirko Vucinic. New signing Nicklas Bendtner, brought in on loan from Arsenal, did not complete his registration in time to take part. Udinese welcome newcomer Andrea Lazzari into the midfield, but there is no place for Brazilian Maicosuel, whose disastrous ‘Panenka’ penalty proved decisive in the Zebrette's Champions League play-off against Braga this week. Instead, Diego Fabbrini will support Antonio Di Natale in attack. Udinese (3-5-1-1): Brkic; Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi; Basta, Pereyra, Pinzi, Lazzari, Armero; Fabbrini; Di Natale Juventus (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Vucinic

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Friuli Stadium - Udine Referee: Paolo Valeri HT: Juve lead 10-man Udinese Sep 2, 2012 Juventus are leading 2-0 at half-time away to 10-man Udinese with Arturo Vidal, Mirko Vucinic and a controversial red card. The Bianconeri welcomed back Gigi Buffon, Sebastian 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. Curiously, this was the first Juventus spot-kick to be successfully converted in Serie A this season, as Vidal's was 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. Udinese 0-2 Juventus (Half-Time) Scorers: Vidal pen 14 (J), Vucinic 45 (J) Udinese: Brkic; Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi; Basta, Pereyra, Pinzi, Lazzari, Armero; Fabbrini (Padelli 13); Di Natale Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Vucinic 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.) - Friuli Stadium - Udine Referee: Paolo Valeri Line-ups: Udinese-Juventus Sep 2, 2012 Gigi Buffon, Sebastian Giovinco and Giorgio Chiellini are back as Juventus take on Udinese in the early evening Serie A kick-off. The goalkeeper and defender missed the opening 2-0 win over Parma, but have recovered from injuries in time for the 17.00 UK time start at the Stadio Friuli. It is Chiellini’s first appearance since he picked up a muscular injury in the Euro 2012 Final for Italy. Giovinco was expected to be out for two weeks after spraining his ankle against Parma, but he’s already back in the starting XI with Mirko Vucinic and ex-Udinese hero Kwadwo Asamoah. Mauricio Isla, Simone Pepe, Lucio and Simone Padoin are sidelined, while Nicklas Bendtner’s transfer did not come through in time. Udinese are still traumatised by their defeat to Sporting Braga on penalties, which saw them knocked out of the Champions League play-offs for the second year running. Coach Francesco Guidolin had been ready to resign, but he was convinced to stay on and has a full squad at his disposal apart from the injured Emmanuel Badu. Andrea Lazzari is a newcomer this week from Fiorentina and is thrown straight into the starting XI. Udinese: Brkic; Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi; Basta, Pereyra, Pinzi, Lazzari, Armero; Fabbrini; Di Natale Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Vucinic http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Lazzari ci segna di nuovo.

Doppietta di Seba

'Pirlo is a true great' - Lamela pays tribute to Juventus midfielder The Argentine talent heaped praised on the veteran midfielder, although he is confident Roma are not far behind in the race for the Scudetto. Sep 1, 2012 Roma midfielder Erik Lamela has labelled Andrea Pirlo as the key behind Juventus' bid for a second successive Serie A title, but believes his side are not far behind the reigning champions. La Maggica take on Inter at the San Siro on Sunday as they look to bounce back from last week's 2-2 draw against Catania, while Juventus travel to Udinese, with Lamela paying homage to the veteran Pirlo. "Pirlo is a true great, and Juventus have an advantage with him," the 20-year-old acknowledged to giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

Vucinic quasi 0-4

Lingua di Giovinco alla Del Piero

Bravissimo Giovinco. Peccato per il tiro.

La voce di Giovinco mi fa venire in mente la parodia ..... Zio Antonio!

Chi non salta é bianconero .... e saltó tutto lo stadio.

0-2

Palla favolosa di Giovinco

Di Natale dá la mano al guardalinee

Vidal oggi segna

Rigore e rosso al portiere

Fabbrini gioca bene

Serie A Week 2 - 2-9-2012 (6:00 p.m.) - Friuli Stadium - Udine Referee: Paolo Valeri MATCH PREVIEW Sep 1, 2012 Udinese will be aiming to bounce back from dual losses when they face reigning champions and fellow Bianconeri Juventus. The Friulani have endured a horrible week. Coach Francesco Guidolin was furious with their performance in the Serie A opener, as they threw away a first-half lead to lose 2-1 at Fiorentina. The tactician warned another such showing in midweek would mean elimination from the Champions League. Unfortunately his prediction came true, as a flat Udinese were dumped out by Braga. Pablo Armero gave them the lead, but the Portuguese club equalised and Maicosuel’s chipped effort doomed them to penalty shoot out defeat. For the second year running the Zebrette missed out on the group stage, and an emotional Guidolin contemplated quitting post-match. The Brazilian has the chance to redeem himself from the start as Udinese make changes to shake off the effects of playing an extra 30 minutes on Tuesday. Odion Ighalo, Giampiero Pinzi and Paulo Barreto are set to miss out through injury. Juventus extended their unbeaten League run to 40 matches with a 2-0 win over Parma on the opening day. A controversially awarded - but saved - first-half penalty made little difference as Stephan Lichtsteiner and Andrea Pirlo netted. The latter’s free kick just crossed the line and was the first instance of the newly introduced additional assistant referees making a goal-line decision. It was by no means a polished performance, something Saturday’s captain Claudio Marchisio admitted. “We won and that's what we wanted. We’ll take the three points, but we know we have to keep on improving.” Lucio is out for an extended period thanks to an ankle injury, while Sebastian Giovinco misses the trip. They join Martin Caceres, Mauricio Isla and Simone Pepe on the absentee list. However, Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini are ready to make their seasonal debuts. Last December’s 0-0 draw was the tenth stalemate between the pair in Udine. The hosts have walked away with a victory on just five occasions compared to Juve’s 22. Keep an eye on: Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus) – The Ghanaian returns to the Stadio Friuli for the first time since his summer transfer. Having already impressed Coach Antonio Conte and his new teammates during his brief time in Turin, Asamoah will look to continue his positive moment. Form guide: Udinese (- - - - L) Juventus (- - - - W) Last season: Udinese 0-0 Juventus Stat fact: Udinese’s 2-1 victory in 2008-09 snapped an 11-game winless run at home versus the Old Lady. Udinese: Brkic; Heurtaux, Danilo, Coda; Basta, Faraoni, Willians, Pereyra, Pasquale; Maicosuel; Di Natale Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Matri, Vucinic 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 Guidolin's Udinese heartache Sep 1, 2012 Francesco Guidolin has to prepare for Juventus, but reveals why he felt so distraught that he wanted to quit Udinese this week. “I wanted to be the only one.” The Coach fought back tears in post-match conferences and hinted he would resign after the Friulani lost the Champions League play-off for the second year running. “We must look forward, because this is life and this is sport,” said Guidolin today. “Who helped pick me up again? My family, friends, the people I met and those who wrote to me. Above all my desire to get back on track. “It was the most important match for me, but life is different. As I am a man of sport, I have to turn the page and begin again. “For someone like me who didn’t come here for money or to advance his career, as I just adore being in Udine, my dream was to be the only Coach who could bring Udinese into the Champions League. Luciano Spalletti got them to the play-off stage and then left the side to Serse Cosmi, so I wanted to be the only one to do the whole journey. “History counts more than career for me, and glory more than money. As I married this Udinese family, I want to stay here. As I am ambitious, I wanted to be the only one to take Udinese all the way into the history books. But life goes on, nobody will wait or commiserate with us. There are the opponents to spice up our season again.” The first test just days after that exit on penalties to Sporting Braga is welcoming champions of Italy Juventus to the Stadio Friuli, kick-off at 17.00 UK time on Sunday. “We have to focus on tomorrow’s game and bring out great determination when facing the Scudetto favourites. Our season will be difficult, so our objective is safety and we must hunt down those precious points.” Udinese lost their opening Serie A game 2-1 at Fiorentina after resting almost the entire first choice XI. 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 Injured stars back for Juve Sep 1, 2012 Gigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Sebastian Giovinco and Martin Caceres are back in the squad as Juventus visit Udinese on Sunday. The goalkeeper and defender missed the opening Serie A game with Parma due to knocks, while Caceres has been out since July when damaging knee ligaments in the Trofeo TIM. It is interesting to note that Giovinco is also included after spraining his ankle against Parma. He had been expected to miss out for two weeks, but just seven days later is back in the squad. Juventus squad for Udinese: 1 Buffon, 3 Chiellini, 4 Caceres, 6 Pogba, 8 Marchisio, 9 Vucinic, 11 De Ceglie, 12 Giovinco, 15 Barzagli, 19 Bonucci, 21 Pirlo, 22 Asamoah, 23 Vidal, 24 Giaccherini, 26 Lichtsteiner, 27 Quagliarella, 30 Storari, 31 Branescu, 32 Matri, 39 Marrone 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 Buffon returns to Juventus squad ahead of Udinese clash The veteran stopper missed last week's win over Parma with a muscle injury, but has been cleared to feature against the Zebrette. Sep 1, 2012 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has returned to Massimo Carrera's 20 man squad to face Udinese on Sunday. The Italy skipper missed last week's 2-0 victory over Parma, with a muscle injury ruling him out of the Serie A opener. But the 34-year-old has made a swift recovery and looks set to be involved in the game which kicks off at 16:00 UTC. 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 Udinese pose the biggest of challenges, warns Carrera The caretaker boss is expecting a backlash from their forthcoming opponents on Sunday, while also commenting on his side's activity in the transfer market. Sep 1, 2012 Juventus interim coach Massimo Carrera has warned his players of the challenge that awaits them when they face Udinese on Sunday. The Zebrette recently failed to secure a place in the Champions League group stage at the final hurdle, crashing out on penalties to Braga in the last round of qualification. Carrera, deputising for the suspended Antonio Conte, has gone on to urge his side to expect a backlash when they travel to the Friuli for matchday two of the new Serie A season. "We will encounter a team with wounded pride," the former Italy defender said at a press conference ahead of the tie. "These are the most serious of challenges and will not be be easy. Juve will have to give 110 per cent." 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 Serie A Preview - Wounded Zebrette look to bounce back against Bianconeri Francesco Guidolin is reeling at the moment, having seen his side lose their Serie A opener before once again failing to qualify for the Champions League group stages. Sep 1, 2012 PROBABLE LINE-UPS UDINESE Brkic Heurtaux, Danilo, Coda Basta, Faraoni, Willians, Pereyra, Pasquale Maicosuel Di Natale JUVENTUS Buffon Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini Lichsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah Matri, Vucinic Udinese will be desperate to kickstart their 2012/13 campaign when they face Italian champions Juventus at the Friuli on Sunday evening. After slumping to a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina on the opening day of the new Serie A season last weekend, the Zebrette then saw their hopes of qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League dashed in agonising fashion, Francesco Guidolin's men suffering a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of Braga. Antonio Di Natale will make his first league appearance of the season, after being forced to sit out the trip to Florence, and will be supported by Maicosuel, who is expected to be promoted to the starting lineup in spite of his decisive missed penalty in midweek. Elsewhere, Giampiero Pinzi has been ruled out by injury, while Thomas Heurtaux, Andrea Coda and Marco Faraoni are all set to be recalled. As for Juve, Sebastian Giovinco misses out with a minor knock, so Alessandro Matri is likely to start up front alongside Mirko Vucinic, and the former Cagliari man will no doubt be keen to prove his worth with Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner having arrived in Turin on transfer deadline day. The Bianconeri are also buoyed by the return of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and defender Giorgio Chiellini, both of whom were sidelined for last weekend's 2-0 victory over Parma. Aside from those changes, it's expected to be a case of as you were for the champions, with Kwadwo Asamoah poised to make his first appearance against his former club. DID YOU KNOW? • Udinese also fell at the final qualifying round of the Champions League last season, losing 3-1 on aggregate to English outfit Arsenal. • The Zebrette did make it through in 2005 but they failed to make it out of a group containing Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen and FC Barcelona. • Kwadwo Asamoah, who arrived at Juventus Stadium during the summer, made 114 appearances for Udinese in Serie A, scoring eight goals. • Chile international Mauricio Isla also swapped Udine for Turin this summer but he misses the game against his former employers through injury. • Juventus have now gone 40 games undefeated in Serie A, following last weekend's victory over Parma. • Italy and Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon is embarking upon his 12th campaign with the Bianconeri. • Alessandro Matri was Juve's top scorer in Serie A last season, despite managing to find the net just 10 times in 31 appearances. Head to Head Serie A ‎- Jan 28, 2012 - Juventus 2 - Udinese 1 Serie A ‎- Dec 21, 2011 - Udinese 0 - Juventus 0 Serie A - Jan 30, 2011 - Juventus 1 - Udinese 2 Serie A ‎- Sep 19, 2010 - Udinese 0 - Juventus 4 Serie A ‎- Apr 3, 2010 - Udinese 3 - Juventus 0 Last Five Matches Udinese Aug 28, 2012 - Udinese 1 - Sporting Braga 1 - C.L. Aug 25, 2012 - Fiorentina 2 - Udinese 1 - Serie A Aug 22, 2012 - Sporting Braga 1 - Udinese 1 - C.L. Aug 11, 2012 - Southampton 0 - Udinese 4 - FR Aug 5, 2012 - Udinese 0 - Schalke 04 0 - FR Juventus Aug 25, 2012 - Juventus 2 - Parma 0 - Serie A Aug 11, 2012 - Juventus 4 - SSC Napoli 2 - Italian Supercup Aug 4, 2012 - Juventus 2 - Malaga 0 - FR Aug 1, 2012 - Juventus 1 - Benfica 1 - FR Jul 28, 2012 - Hertha BSC 0 - Juventus 2 - FR Players to Watch Maicosuel It's been a hell of a week for the Brazilian, who marked his Serie A debut with a goal before then missing the crucial spot-kick in Udinese's shoot-out defeat against Braga. Maicosuel only featured as a substitute against the Portuguese but he is expected to be restored to the starting lineup on Sunday evening so it will be fascinating to see how he responds to Guidolin's show of faith. Alessandro Matri While Juventus fans everywhere were left distinctly underwhelmed by the signing of Nicklas Bendtner on Friday, Alessandro Matri must have breathed a sigh of relief. The Dane's arrival obviously means more competition for places but it is not quite the level of competition Matri would have been expecting, with Juve having previously been linked with Robin van Persie and Edinson Cavani. Regardless, the onus is now on Matri to prove to Antonio Conte that he is good enough to lead the Juve attack. Prediction It's impossible not to feel anything but sympathy for miracle worker Guidolin and his fine Zebrette side in light of their Champions League heartbreak but the reality is that they only have themselves to blame after a substandard performance against Braga. Juventus are also a ruthless outfit who have mastered the art of winning without playing well, as they underlined against Parma last weekend, so expect the champions to edge a predictably tight affair. Editor's Prediction Udinese 0 - 1 Juventus http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/