Socrates

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 0 Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Attendance: 21000 Buffon clings to 'good point' Sep 25, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon praised Fiorentina and said Juventus “suffered” for their point at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. The Bianconeri didn’t really have a shot on goal during tonight’s 0-0 draw, whereas the Viola rattled the crossbar with Stevan Jovetic. “We were tired tonight, just as our opponents may well have been considering they also played on Saturday. They did well,” the goalkeeper told Sky Sport Italia. “You can tell Fiorentina have a great Coach and a tactical system they believe in. It can happen to draw a game like this, there’s no shame in that. “We suffered, but they only had three or four dangerous scoring opportunities. The fact we kept a clean sheet means this is a point well earned.” Coach Antonio Conte was in the Plexiglas booth along with Juventus Channel commentators, as there were fears he’d be too exposed to supporters in the stands. “The public in Florence responded well to the situation, as did ours. There were no incidents and the rivalry was maintained on an acceptable level,” concluded Buffon. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 0 Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Attendance: 21000 There's no shame in drawing, says Buffon after Juventus' draw with Fiorentina The Bianconeri No.1 admits his side looked tired after playing at the weekend, but spoke positively about picking up a hard-earned point against a strong Viola outfit. Sep 25, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon remains upbeat despite Juventus playing out a goalless draw with Fiorentina on Tuesday and their failure to create any real chances in the process. The 34-year-old was also quick to praise the Viola, who had the best chance of the game when the goalkeeper saw a Stevan Jovetic effort cannon off his crossbar. "We were tired tonight, just as our opponents may well have been, considering they also played on Saturday. They did well," conceded Buffon after the match. "You can tell Fiorentina have a great coach and a tactical system they believe in. There's no shame in drawing a game like this. "We suffered, but they only had three or four dangerous scoring opportunities. The fact we kept a clean sheet means this is a point well earned." In the build-up to the fixture, it was speculated that suspended coach Antonio Conte would be exposed to Tuscan supporters in the stands of the Artemio Franchi, but Buffon praised the atmosphere in the stadium. "The public in Florence responded well to the situation, as did ours. There were no incidents and the rivalry was maintained on an acceptable level." Meanwhile, Juventus interim boss Massimo Carrera admitted Fiorentina deserved all the plaudits following their attempts in stifling the attacking potential of his side. “It isn’t always necessary to crush your opponents, as at times you also have to be good at containing them," the former defender argued. "Fiorentina deserve a lot of credit, as they ran hard for 90 minutes and played very well. We were unable to do what we wanted to. "We knew Fiorentina would put in the performance of a lifetime, so it was a show of strength for us to keep them quiet and maintain the clean sheet. "We had to block David Pizarro, although we didn’t manage it that often." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 0 Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Attendance: 21000 Player Ratings: Fiorentina 0-0 Juventus The Bianconeri escaped from Florence with a point and a 44th unbeaten game as the home side were unable to take their chances. Goal.com takes a closer look. Sep 25, 2012 Fiorentina Emiliano Viviano - Not called into action much, but made no mistake with the routine. Gonzalo Rodríguez - Marked Quagliarella well, though Juve’s lack of impetus in the attacking third meant that he wasn’t put under as much pressure as one might have expected. Facundo Roncaglia - Good show at the back as he refused to be rattled, and got forward to good effect as well, smashing a shot just wide after a mazy run from deep. Manuel Pasqual - Not given much to do in his own half of the field, so spent his time bombing forward dangerously to support the attack. A threat out wide, and almost scored a late winner with a header from point blank range that was sent wide. Nenad Tomovic - Like the rest of his defensive colleagues, he was not put under a lot of duress by the visitors. Still though, he kept his concentration well to deal with whatever came his way. Rômulo - Injected some energy into the hosts’ attack. He picked his moments to surge forward very well and was difficult to halt once in full flight. However, his shooting left a lot to be desired. David Pizarro - An accomplished and composed display on the ball, as he never looked fussed when in possession. A great focal point for his team to channel their attacks through, and did well at keeping the ball under pressure. Outdid Pirlo at his own game. Juan Guillermo Cuadrado - Probably the coolest player on the ball tonight, as his trickery on the flanks was a nightmare for Juve to deal with. He played an instrumental role in setting up a few great chances for his team. Also, in his own half of the field, he popped up in the right place at the right time to snuff out a few Juve chances. Borja Valero Iglesias - Distributed the ball simply and effectively, and his decision making was key in keeping the Fiorentina attack ticking. Disciplined in tracking back and covering when not on the ball. Stevan Jovetic - For the first half hour he was isolated an anonymous in attack, but he grew into the game as time progressed. Crashed a strong header off the bar and nodded another effort just wide in the second half, as his runs from deep often went unnoticed by the Juve defence. Adem Ljajic - Isolated for long spells, and did not fare well when on the ball either. Dragged a finish wide from a position where he really should have scored, and was booked for a dive after going down too easily in a tussle with Chiellini. Looked more dangerous in the second half though, as he adopted better attacking positions. Substitutions Matías Fernández - Some crisp passing, and looked fresh in the latter stages of the game. Juventus Gianluigi Buffon - Not often tested despite the home side's dominance. Looked to have his posts covered on a few long range efforts that went off target. Giorgio Chiellini - Looked a little shaky in the first half, but improved as things went on the make a relatively strong finish to the game, despite Fiorentina’s late surge. Andrea Barzagli - Generally able to keep a handle on things, and stepped forward to good effect to curtail the effectiveness of Ljajic whenever he looked to drop deep. Good show in the air as well, winning his fair share of headers. Leonardo Bonucci - A solid first half was almost undone when he allowed Ljajic to beat him for pace and strength at the end of the first half, with only the Serbian’s profligacy sparing his blushes. Stephan Lichtsteiner - Not the sturdiest of performers in defence as he was beaten a few times by opposing fullback Manuel Pasqual, who was able to get past him with sheer pace. Andrea Pirlo - Not able to stamp his authority on the match in his usual manner, as there was not a lot of movement in front for him to facilitate. Indeed, he was outshone by Pizarro in the central area. Kwadwo Asamoah - Did not get forward as much as he would have liked, but he was sound and energetic in defending his flank, and tracked into the box to cover to good effect when danger lurked in a more central position. Arturo Vidal - Defensively he was sound in the first half, tracking back well and winning the ball, particularly one last-ditch challenge to take the ball off Ljajic’s toes deep inside the area. But he faded after the break, and was terrible offensively throughout, as many of his passes forward were intercepted. Emanuele Giaccherini - Offered nothing noticeable to his team’s cause. Appeared rather lightweight as Fiorentina were able to bypass him often, and rather useless when going forward. Mediocre at best today. Sebastian Giovinco - The lone offensive spark for Juve in the first half. He was afforded space to drop deep and receive the ball, and his dribbling from such a position caused Fiorentina problems. Faded as the second half wore on. Fabio Quagliarella - Did not contribute anything for his team in attack, as he failed to make any meaningful runs or touches on the ball whenever his team was in possession. Hauled off for Vucinic in the second half after an ineffective display. Substitutions Paul Pogba - Rather ineffective after coming off the bench. Mirko Vučinić - Provided a little more thrust than Quagliarella in the moments following his introduction but gradually fell into the same lull as his team. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 0 Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Attendance: 21000 Home side dominate in a clash of similar systems Sep 25, 2012 3-5-2 versus 3-5-2, and one point apiece. Vincenzo Montella made three changes. The most significant involved him selecting the industry of Romulo over the creativity of Mati Fernandez. Adem Ljajic came in for Haris Seferovic, and Manuel Pasqual for Mattia Cassani. Antonio Conte and Massimo Carrera decided to rest Claudio Marchisio, with Emanuele Giaccherini starting instead. Fabio Quagliarella replaced Mirko Vucinic after his impressive impact in the last couple of games. Fiorentina were the better side but struggled in front of goal, with Juventus seemingly happy with a point. Formations This was a very ‘obvious’ tactical battle. The two sides set out very similarly – three centre-backs, energetic wing-backs expected to cover a lot of ground, a clearly-defined regista spreading the play, two central midfielders ahead doing battle, then a nippy support forward dropping off the main striker. When four-man midfields play ahead of three centre-backs, they’re necessarily more conservative than when playing ahead of a back four, because the wide players have to defend the flanks more keenly. When two of these midfields face each other, the result is generally a cagey battle. To use a chess analogy, it’s as if all sixteen pawns have been moved two spaces forward, and there’s a mass block either side of the halfway line. There’s space in defensive positions, but little forward movement for the likes of David Pizarro and Andrea Pirlo (the queens?) to look for. Creativity? In such an identical clash of systems, there was concern about where the attacking drive and creativity in the final third would come from. In Pizarro and Pirlo the game had two of the finest deep-lying playmakers around, but the absence of both Marchisio and Fernandez meant the central midfield zone was otherwise functional. Borja Valero is a fine passer and showed good ability to play one-twos and move into dangerous positions, but Arturo Vidal’s role was mainly defensive, with Fiorentina dominating possession. Romulo and Giaccherini were runners. The home side were better on the ball, moving it quicker across the midfield – but the primary cause for their dominance was simply their ambition, urged on by a packed Artemio Franchi. Juventus were cautious – the midfielders stayed in position, the wing-backs spent more time in their own half. Fiorentina also started off more compact, with Ljajic and Stevan Jovetic dropping deep and helping defend – Juve’s forwards started in a more relaxed manner, although eventually did the same. Ljajic and Giovinco The key to the game was getting the two support forwards involved. Ljajic and Sebastian Giovinco are not dissimilar players – part-winger, part-playmaker. Because of that ability to play wide, they both offer good lateral movement, and both drifted into good positions towards the flanks, with the main strikers contained by the back threes. In one minute shortly before half-time, long balls towards first Giovinco and then Ljajic got both into promising positions – Giovinco miscontrolled, Ljajic dragged his shot wide of the far post from the game’s most promising opportunity. In Facundo Roncaglia, Fiorentina had the centre-back most willing to step forward and join the midfield battle, and another thing Montella’s side did better was getting their main striker involved. Quagliarella’s movement was poor and he was the first player to be withdrawn, while Jovetic dropped deeper and had a bigger impact, providing another passing option and getting into the box. Second half Frustratingly, for a game between two well-matched sides, there was no real tactical progression. At the start of the second half Ljajic seemed to play deeper, occupying Pirlo more than in the first half. This made him less of a direct attacking threat, although he sped past Pirlo when Fiorentina got the ball, and Carrera was concerned enough to remove Pirlo and introduce Paul Pogba, who tracked Ljajic’s runs much more effectively. Vucinic replaced Quagliarella, Marchisio replaced Giaccherini – both attacking moves, but this changed little because Juve weren’t getting the ball forward. Ljajic was nullified by Pogba, so Montella brought on Fernandez in his place, trying to provide more creativity. He waited until 77 minutes to make the first change, though, and his final two substitutions were in the last five minutes – indicating he was happy with his side – with the exception of their inability to find a finish. Conclusion A goalless draw was never assured as Fiorentina went close on an number of occasions, but the 0-0 was always a possibility simply because of the lack of attacking players in the final third. Giovinco and Ljajic were given huge creative responsibility – Ljajic was brighter yet typically frustrating, offering good movement and clever dribbling, but being booked for diving and missing the game’s best chance. Fiorentina were more positive and better in almost every area. Pizarro outshone Pirlo, the wing-backs played higher up the pitch, the two forwards were more involved, there was more attacking urgency from the centre-backs. Juve were underwhelming, but illustrated why they’re on such a long unbeaten run with a battling, committed display. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 0 Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Attendance: 21000 The Champions Remain Unbeaten Sep 25, 2012 The champions Juventus dropped their first points of the season with a 0 – 0 draw away to Fiorentina, in a game in which they were lucky to avoid defeat to their fierce rivals. Fiorentina had the better chances in the game and went close in the first half through Adem Ljajic who put the ball just wide after going clean through on goal. Stevan Jovetic also went close for the home side in the first half but his header agonisingly rattled of the crossbar to deny him his fifth goal of the season. Vincenzo Montella’s men continued to push for a goal in the second half but didn’t manage to breach the Bianconeri defence. Juventus created no great chances throughout the game but they held on for a undeserved draw, and are now unbeaten in 44 games in the league. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 0 Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Attendance: 21000 Fiorentina v Juventus Report Sep 25, 2012 Fiorentina gave Juventus a stern test of their unbeaten record, which stretches over a season, but the Bianconeri held on to a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Artemio Franchi which keeps them at the top of Serie A. The Viola had two penalty appeals turned down in the first half and Stevan Jovetic rattled the crossbar with a header as Juve were put to the test. Fiorentina had the best chances in the second half too, but were unable to find a way past the defending champions, who defend their place at the top of the table. Adam Ljajic was involved in most of the Viola's attacks in the first half, and he wanted a penalty on two occasions when he went to ground inside the penalty area - but he was given a dressing down by the referee each time. Ljajic only had himself to blame for not giving the home team the lead in the 41st minute when he dragged his shot wide of the post with only Gianluigi Buffon to beat. Only seconds earlier, Jovetic beat Buffon with a header, but the crossbar kept the ball out. Fiorentina held the upper hand in the second half too with Juan Cuadrado going the closest to breaking the deadlock in the 73rd minute with a low shot which was just inches wide of the left-hand upright. Full-back Manuel Pasqual headed wide in the 81st minute before Buffon touched a speculative shot behind for a corner. Luca Toni was sent on as a late gamble by Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella, but the former Juve man did not have the key to the Juve defence either as the Tuscan side had to settle for a point. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 0 Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Attendance: 21000 Hosts dominant but Bianconeri retain unbeaten league run The defending champions were far from their best in Florence, but escaped with a point as Vincenzo Montella's men were unable to convert their superiority into goals. Sep 25, 2012 Juventus extended their unbeaten run to 44 Serie A matches on Tuesday, despite playing out an unconvincing 0-0 draw against Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi on Tuesday. A cat-and-mouse encounter saw the hosts control proceedings, with Stevan Jovetic hitting the woodwork in the first half as the Viola were unable to take what chances fell their way. The Old Lady, meanwhile, displayed little interest in attacking throughout the match, and rode their luck at times to claim a fortunate point, which nonetheless increased their lead at the top of the table to three points over second placed Napoli. Sebastian Giovinco was picked ahead of Mirko Vucinic to partner Fabio Quagliarella in attack for the visitors, while Andrea Pirlo also returned to the starting XI. For the Tuscans, midfielder Romulo was drafted into the line-up, with Adem Ljajic and Jovetic beginning together up front. Fiorentina seemed to have the edge in matters during the early exchanges, and saw a penalty appeal correctly go unanswered after Ljajic was challenged inside the area by Leonardo Bonucci. They were up in arms again 25 minutes into the game after the impressive Manuel Pasqual was felled in the area by Arturo Vidal, though replays suggested that the Chilean had got a touch on the ball first. Juventus’ first-half display offered more evidence to their growing reputation as slow starters, with a pair of tame efforts from Giovinco about the best they could muster. The Viola continued to hold the upper hand throughout the first period, but chances remained at a premium as Juve were able to pack numbers back in their own half. That all changed minutes before the break, however, as Fiorentina fashioned two clear-cut chances from which they really should have gone ahead. First, David Pizarro whipped in a devilish free-kick that Jovetic headed onto the crossbar from point-blank range. Then, Ljajic spurned an equally-great opportunity, dragging a shot across the face of goal with only Gianluigi Buffon to beat after racing clear of Bonucci. The pattern continued at the start of the second half. Facundo Roncaglia drilled just wide from outside the box after beating two players on a mazy run, and Jovetic guided a good header off target after connecting with Juan Cuadrado’s cross. The tempo of the match slowed down markedly after that, as Juventus seemed content to defend deep in their own half, without providing any penetration in attack. Fiorentina, though, continued to look the better side, and Cuadrado went close in the 73rd minute when his low belter from the edge of the area flew the wrong side of the post. The Colombian then created an even better chance for Pasqual minutes later with a great cross into the heart of the area, but the full-back was unable to make the most of it and headed wide. Fiorentina continued to push forward in the closing stages of the game, but were unable to create any more meaningful chances as Juventus held on to claim a point that they scarcely deserved. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 0 - 0 Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Attendance: 21000‎ Juve survive Viola scare Fiorentina had the better chances, including a Stevan Jovetic header off the bar, so Juventus can be content with a point that ends their perfect record. Sep 25, 2012 “This is not a game. This is The Game,” said Viola captain Manuel Pasqual before stepping into this clash of immense rivalry, one the home side hadn’t won since 1998. Adem Ljajic was chosen as partner to Stevan Jovetic, while Romulo got the nod ahead of Giulio Migliaccio. Juve were defending the only remaining 100 per cent record in Serie A this season, but rested Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic. Antonio Conte was in the stands due to his 10-month ban, but opted for the Plexiglas coverage of the commentator’s box used by Juventus Channel, as the VIP box was considered too open to potential missiles from fans surrounding it. Ljajic went down far too easily under a Stephan Lichtsteiner challenge in the first few minutes, then Sebastian Giovinco’s angled drive skimmed the far post and Pasqual volleyed over from a corner. The Stadio Franchi was up in arms when Arturo Vidal went in with a last-ditch sliding tackle on Pasqual, but the referee ruled he got the ball and replays suggest he was right. Some wonderful one-touch football set up Ljajic for a shot deflected wide off teammate Juan Cuadrado. David Pizarro was caught in possession by Andrea Pirlo and was booked for handling as he scrambled to get it back, stopping a dangerous counter-attack. From the resulting free kick, Pirlo’s effort whistled wide of the near post. The closest chance of the game so far came after 40 minutes when a Pasqual free kick from near the corner flag found a glancing Jovetic header that cracked against the crossbar with Gigi Buffon beaten. Less than a minute later, Ljajic sprung the offside trap in the final third from a Cuadrado pass and sprinted past Leonardo Bonucci, but pulled the angled drive just wide of the far stick. Gonzalo Rodriguez was booked for clipping Giovinco’s heels in first half stoppages and the touched-on free kick for Quagliarella went off target. The tension escalated after the break when Ljajic was booked for simulation in the D, though there was certainly some contact with Giorgio Chiellini. Soon after, Vidal was carded for a fairly similar challenge on Jovetic. Facundo Roncaglia cut in from the right and placed a daisy-cutter inches wide of the upright, then another Jovetic glancing header whistled past the post. Buffon smothered a long-range Jovetic effort and Pasqual’s taut cross flew along the box with nobody able to get a final touch. Massimo Carrera tried to shake things up by introducing Vucinic and Paul Pogba. Romulo scrambled a Giovinco free kick clear, but a Cuadrado screamer grazed the base of the far post from the edge of the box. Pogba had to stick to Ljajic like glue to stop him getting the shot away at the by-line, then Jovetic was furious with Cuadrado for wasting a counter-attack. Pasqual had a fantastic chance when Jovetic failed to get to the cross, so his diving header at the back post flashed across the face of goal to skim the far post. Buffon had to punch a deflected Pasqual cross out from under the bar, but even Luca Toni coming off the bench couldn’t break the deadlock. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fiorentina: Viviano; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Tomovic; Cuadrado, Romulo (Migliaccio 91), Pizarro, Borja Valero, Pasqual; Ljajic (Mati Fernandez 76), Jovetic (Toni 87) Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo (Pogba 68), Giaccherini (Marchisio 73), Asamoah; Giovinco, Quagliarella (Vucinic 58) Ref: Tagliavento http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Siamo imbattibili, caro Montella.

Ecco l'ex Luca Toni.

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento HT: Juve woodwork denies Fiorentina Sep 25, 2012 Fiorentina rattled the crossbar, missed a great chance and had a penalty appeal, but it’s still 0-0 with Juventus at half-time. “This is not a game. This is The Game,” said Viola captain Manuel Pasqual before stepping into this clash of immense rivalry, one the home side hadn’t won since 1998. Adem Ljajic was chosen as partner to Stevan Jovetic, while Romulo got the nod ahead of Giulio Migliaccio. Juve were defending the only remaining 100 per cent record in Serie A this season, but rested Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic. Antonio Conte was in the stands due to his 10-month ban, but opted for the Plexiglas coverage of the commentator’s box used by Juventus Channel, as the VIP box was considered too open to potential missiles from fans surrounding it. Ljajic went down far too easily under a Stephan Lichtsteiner challenge in the first few minutes, then Sebastian Giovinco’s angled drive skimmed the far post and Pasqual volleyed over from a corner. The Stadio Franchi was up in arms when Arturo Vidal went in with a last-ditch sliding tackle on Pasqual, but the referee ruled he got the ball and replays suggest he was right. Some wonderful one-touch football set up Ljajic for a shot deflected wide off teammate Juan Cuadrado. David Pizarro was caught in possession by Andrea Pirlo and was booked for handling as he scrambled to get it back, stopping a dangerous counter-attack. From the resulting free kick, Pirlo’s effort whistled wide of the near post. The closest chance of the game so far came after 40 minutes when a Pasqual free kick from near the corner flag found a glancing Jovetic header that cracked against the crossbar with Gigi Buffon beaten. Less than a minute later, Ljajic sprung the offside trap in the final third and ran into the box, but pulled the angled drive just wide of the far stick. Gonzalo Rodriguez was booked for clipping Giovinco’s heels in first half stoppages and the touched-on free kick for Quagliarella went off target. Fiorentina 0-0 Juventus (Half-Time) Fiorentina: Viviano; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Tomovic; Cuadrado, Romulo, Pizarro, Borja Valero, Pasqual; Ljajic, Jovetic Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Giaccherini, Asamoah; Giovinco, Quagliarella Ref: Tagliavento http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Giovinco starts for Juventus against Fiorentina The Atomic Ant returns for Massimo Carrera's side, as the Viola go with Romulo over Matias Fernandez. Sep 25, 2012 Juventus have recalled Sebastian Giovinco for the trip to Stadio Artemio Franchi to face Fiorentina on Tuesday. The former Parma man will start up front in place of Mirko Vucinic, alongside Fabio Quagliarella. Elsewhere, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal will return to the starting XI, with Emanuele Giaccherini, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah playing with them. In defence, Andrea Barzagli comes in for Lucio, with Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci keeping their places at the back. For Fiorentina, they have brought in Brazilian midfielder Romulo to the starting line-up, to play alongside Borja Valero and David Pizarro. Juan Cuadrado and Manuel Pasqual will flank them, with Gonzalo Rodriguez, Facundo Roncaglia and Nenad Tomovic playing at the back. Stevan Jovetic and Adem Ljajic will start up front. Fiorentina (3-5-2): Viviano; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Tomovic; Pasqual, Valero, Pizarro, Romulo, Cuadrado; Ljajic, Jovetic Juventus (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Giaccherini, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Giovinco http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Line-ups: Fiorentina-Juventus Sep 25, 2012 Fabio Quagliarella and Sebastian Giovinco lead Juventus out against arch rivals Fiorentina this evening, while Adem Ljajic supports Stevan Jovetic. Serie A Week 5 is a midweek round and kicks off tonight at the Stadio Franchi at 19.45 UK time. “This is not a game. This is The Game,” said captain Manuel Pasqual. The Viola are without the injured Alberto Aquilani, Mounir El Hamdaoui and Francesco Della Rocca. Coach Vincenzo Montella had several options open to him, but has chosen Ljajic ahead of Mati Fernandez and Juan Cuadrado rather than Mattia Cassani. Juventus defend their unbeaten run and haven’t lost in Florence since 1998, when Gabriel Batistuta got the decisive goal. Simone Pepe and Simone Padoin are still out of action, but Quagliarella is again given the chance to shine after scoring three goals in the last two games against Chelsea and Chievo. Mirko Vucinic is rested for this trip, so Giovinco is the partner in a 3-5-2 system that brings back big names like Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Stephan Lichtsteiner. However, Claudio Marchisio is given a night off in favour of Emanuele Giaccherini in midfield. The referee is Paolo Tagliavento, who has not officiated a Juventus match since Sulley Muntari’s infamous ‘phantom goal’ was not seen to cross the line for Milan last season. Fiorentina: Viviano; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Tomovic; Cuadrado, Romulo, Pizarro, Borja Valero, Pasqual; Ljajic, Jovetic Fiorentina bench: Neto, Hegazi, Olivera, Lupatelli, Mati Fernandez, Savic, Cassani, Seferovic, Llama, Migliaccio, Toni, Camporese Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Giaccherini, Asamoah; Giovinco, Quagliarella Juventus bench: Storari, Rubinho, Caceres, Lucio, Isla, De Ceglie, Pogba, Marrone, Marchisio, Bendtner, Matri, Vucinic http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Marotta: 'Juve fair on Berbatov' Sep 25, 2012 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta insists his club “did nothing unfair or unethical” with regards to a battle with Fiorentina over Dimitar Berbatov. The former Manchester United striker had agreed terms with the Viola and was flying out to complete his medical, but never turned up. Juve claimed they only began talks after being told by United that the move to Florence had collapsed, but later that evening Berbatov changed his mind again and signed for Fulham. “Have I met with President Della Valle after the Berbatov affair? No and I don’t want to talk about it,” said Marotta ahead of tonight’s Fiorentina-Juventus match. “We didn’t do anything unfair or unethical. We acted with great respect and now false motivations are given to this whole situation.” The Berbatov saga only added to the huge tension between the clubs, which means Coach Antonio Conte is watching this game from the Juventus Channel Plexiglas box rather than the stands. “The tone around this match is a little over the top and the fact Conte can’t sit in the stands is a negative advertisement for Italian football. We put in the effort, but everything around this match seems exaggerated.” Marotta also revealed the summer Juventus approach for Stevan Jovetic was not entirely unwelcome. “We received positive feedback from the player and his entourage, but talking about anything else is pointless now.”

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Conte to move in Stadio Franchi? Sep 25, 2012 There are reports Antonio Conte has moved his seat to the Juventus Channel box at the Stadio Franchi due to security fears. The Bianconeri Coach is sitting out a 10-month ban in the betting scandal and has been sitting in the stands during away games so far this season. However, the intense rivalry between Juve and Fiorentina has raised questions over how wise it is to have him seated within reach of the home fans. According to Sky Sport Italia, Conte had been planning to sit in the VIP box with Juventus President Andrea Agnelli and director general Beppe Marotta. However, it is reported the practice run with police suggested it was still too ‘open’ a position, as it is surrounded by the regular supporters. It is now claimed Conte will sit in the boxed-off area where the Juventus Channel commentators will watch the game. Fiorentina-Juventus kicks off at 19.45 UK time. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Zoff: 'Juve will worry in Florence' Sep 25, 2012 Dino Zoff warns Juventus “will face a hostile environment” at the Stadio Franchi against arch rivals Fiorentina this evening. The former Bianconeri goalkeeper has experienced the fiery Florentine fans and expects an upset. “This time Juventus could run into difficulty,” he told Violanews. “After all, they can’t win all the time, nor put in great performances. “It is a very dangerous game. I remember when we came to Florence to play there was always a little concern within the squad. “They will face a hostile environment and at times we played some terrible games against a great Fiorentina. “Juventus are clearly superior as a team, but I really like this Fiorentina. They are organised, play the ball to feet and are not afraid of anyone. So, yes, there could be an upset.” Coach Antonio Conte is sitting out a 10-month ban, but there are security fears over where he will be seated in the stands. There are reports he could be placed in with the journalists of Juventus Channel, but the more likely seat will be in the VIP section along with Juve President Andrea Agnelli and the Fiorentina owners Diego and Andrea Della Valle. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Chiellini: We want to start a winning era at Juventus The defender is keen to establish a period of Bianconeri dominance in Italian football, whilst revealing that the squad remain fully in support of suspended coach Antonio Conte. Sep 25, 2012 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has issued a warning to the club's rivals, insisting that the Serie A champions want to begin a winning era in Italy. The Old Lady are currently on an incredible 43-match unbeaten run in the Italian top flight, and have taken maximum points from their opening four league matches this season, whilst they battled back from two goals down to draw with European champions Chelsea in their opening Champions League fixture. However, Chiellini has stressed that the Bianconeri must not rest on their laurels, and feels they must build on their recent success to establish a period of dominance in the game. He told Il Messaggero: "We think we are a stronger team compared to last year, but we must not relax for a second. "For the players, the Juventus of Capello was a stronger team than us, that one was a team formed by football superstars. We, instead, have improved in a short time. We want to open a cycle as Inter did after Calciopoli." Juventus will be forced to spend most of this season without coach Antonio Conte on the sidelines, after he was issued a 10-month global ban from football in the wake of the Scommessopoli scandal. Chiellini admits that his presence on the touchlines is a huge loss, but that the team are fully in support of their coach and are desperate for success in his absence. The 28-year-old said: "We are all with him. I thought we would not, but we miss him so much on the bench. "He transmits grit to us with his words and also he knows how to solve difficult situations during the game. To win without him on the bench would be something incredible." There have been suggestions within the Italian media that Conte could watch Tuesday's match with Fiorentina from the stands, and Chiellini said that he did not foresee a problem should their boss wish to attend. "He can't watch the match seated in the main stand in Florence stadium? [Owners Diego and Andrea] Della Valle, except in the Berbatov case, have always behaved like gentlemen with Juventus. I do not see why he should not be there," he continued. The Italy defender also refused to be drawn on the issue surrounding Lazio midfielder Stefano Mauri, who escaped similar punishment to Conte in the aftermath of the match-fixing scandal earlier this year. "The fact is that Mauri is innocent until someone brings evidence to the contrary," he added. "Before making hype more evidence is needed. It

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Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Fiorentina - Juventus Betting Preview: Why the visitors should be backed to score at least twice With the champions in impressive scoring form, Phil Kitromilides believes backing them to net two or more goals is the best bet as he looks to continue his winning streak. Sep 25, 2012 For a club of Fiorentina's stature, last season was simply not good enough. The Viola lost too many games at home and won too few on the road, finishing an extremely disappointing 13th in the table. Yet the summer saw them spend wisely in the transfer window, reinforcing the midfield with bite and creativity respectively in the form of David Pizarro and Borja Valero. Upfront, Stefan Jovetic has continued his impressive goal scoring form from the previous campaign and has already notched four goals in four matches. All this means, this trip to the Stadio Artemio Franchi for defending champions Juventus may not be as straight forward as they might have hoped. Bet365 price a win for Juventus at 11/10 (2.10) while Fiorentina can be backed at 5/2 (3.50) and the draw offered at 23/10 (3.30). However, despite their decent start to the season, it is important to point out Fiorentina's woeful recent record against The Old Lady. The side from Turin won here 5-0 last season, while Vincenzo Montella's team have not beaten Juventus at home since 1998. Indeed having gone the whole of the previous campaign unbeaten, Juve stretched their run without a loss to 43 league matches at the weekend by beating Chievo 2-0. On paper it is a match the champions should win, yet as mentioned before Fiorentina have the capability of making things complicated for Juve and as such a simple bet is best in this match. Backing Juventus to score over 1.5 goals at evens (2.00) looks like being an excellent option, offering the chance for punters to double their money. This bet has paid out in every one of Juve's last six league games and was also the correct selection in both of the league meetings between the sides last season. If Juve are capable of scoring at least two goals, Fiorentina should also be able to find the net as they have done in every league game so far. Over 2.5 goals is offered at evens (2.00) but over 3.5 goals at 12/5 (3.40) offers some decent value for a small investment. Fiorentina have managed to score at least twice on three occasions this season, and should they do so again here, this bet will have a great chance of paying out. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - 5^ Giornata - Andata - 25-9-2012 (ore 20:45) - Stadio Artemio Franchi - Firenze Arbitro: Paolo Tagliavento Confronti ufficiali 162 - 146 (Serie A) - 12 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) - 2 (Coppa Uefa) Vittorie Juventus 73 - 67 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Coppa Uefa) Pareggi 53 - 48 (Serie A) - 4 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Coppa Uefa) Vittorie Fiorentina 36 - 31 (Serie A) - 5 (Coppa Italia) Goals Juventus 276 - 239 (Serie A) - 19 (Coppa Italia) - 15 (Campionato a gironi) - 3 (Coppa Uefa) Goals Fiorentina 182 - 158 (Serie A) - 23 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Coppa Uefa) Fiorentina - Juventus a Firenze Serie A Confronti ufficiali 73 Vittorie Juventus 20 (L'ultima il 17.03.2012, 0-5) Pareggi 28 (L'ultimo il 17.04.2011, 0-0) Vittorie Fiorentina 25 (L'ultima il 13.12.1998, 1-0) Goals Juventus 84 Goals Fiorentina 96 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro la Fiorentina a Firenze 13 presenze Boniperti Giampiero 13 Scirea Gaetano 12 Cabrini Antonio 12 Cuccureddu Antonello 11 Bettega Roberto 11 Causio Franco 11 Salvadore Sandro 11 Zoff Dino 10 Del Piero Alessandro 10 Gentile Claudio 4 goals Bettega Roberto 3 Boniperti Giampiero 3 Magni Pietro 3 Trezeguet David Sergio 2 Boninsegna Roberto 2 Causio Franco 2 Charles John William 2 Del Piero Alessandro 2 Hansen John 2 Ibrahimovic Zlatan Ultimi confronti diretti 07.10.2007 Serie A Fiorentina-Juventus 1-1 02.03.2008 Serie A Juventus-Fiorentina 2-3 31.08.2008 Serie A Fiorentina-Juventus 1-1 24.01.2009 Serie A Juventus-Fiorentina 1-0 17.10.2009 Serie A Juventus-Fiorentina 1-1 06.03.2010 Serie A Fiorentina-Juventus 1-2 27.11.2010 Serie A Juventus-Fiorentina 1-1 17.04.2011 Serie A Fiorentina-Juventus 0-0 25.10.2011 Serie A Juventus-Fiorentina 2-1 17.03.2012 Serie A Fiorentina-Juventus 0-5 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 4 - Pareggi 5 - Vittorie Fiorentina 1 - Goals Juventus 16 - Goals Fiorentina 9

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Fiorentina v Juventus Preview: Bianconeri Look To Maintain Their Perfect Start Sep 25, 2012 FIORENTINA vs JUVENTUS Artemio Franchi September 25th 2012, 18:45 GMT kick-off Fiorentina prepare to host Champions and arch rivals Juventus at the Artemio Franchi as an old rivalry is reignited on Tuesday night. A rivalry that dates back to the 1981-82 season where Fiorentina fans felt cheated as Juventus clinched the Scudetto, finishing a point above the Viola on the final day of the season through a ‘disputed’ penalty, in the eyes of Fiorentina supporters. The transfer of legendary attacker Roberto Baggio from Florence to Turin hasn’t quite helped bring the two clubs closer. The antagonism between fans of both the clubs could cause Juventus coach Antonio Conte to watch the game from the comfort of his living room. Such is the rivalry that there is a growing fear regarding Conte’s safety were he to sit in the stands. Team News and Tactical Brief Fiorentina La Viola’s start to the season has warranted the enthusiasm that surrounded their transfer campaign. Vincenzo Montella has in a space of a few weeks managed to bring cohesion to a Fiorentina squad that is a far cry from the one that crawled themselves to a disappointing 13th place last season. The manager is expected to a few changes from the one that faced Parma. Migliaccio, Pasqual and Ljajic could replace Mati Fernandez, Cassani and Seferovic. His 3-5-2 will see the back three comprise of Rocaglia, who scored a fantastic opener against Parma, Rodriguez and Tomovic. Former Bologna shot-stopper Emiliano Viviano will stand in goal for the home side. The creativity in midfield will come in the form of veteran Serie A midfielder David Pizarro and also Borja Valero. Pizarro, often under-rated, will sit in front of the defense and dictate Fiorentina’s play. The Chilean International possesses an extensive passing range and will often spray out passes on to the wings where Cuadrado and Pasqual will offer the width. In attack, Fiorentina’s talisman Stevan Jovetic will spearhead the attack and will be supported by another one of their bright prospects Adem Ljajic. Montella’s side are easy on the eye with their swift passing and movement. Jovetic, of course, is always at the center of every wave of Fiorentina attack, he will drop short or drift on to the wings in search of space and to receive the ball a bit deeper which will give him more time on the ball. Aquilani, Hamdaoui and Della Rocca are all ruled out for this game. Probable Starting Line-up (3-5-2): Viviano; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Tomovic; Cuadrado, Migliaccio, Pizarro, Valero, Pasqual; Ljajic, Jovetic Juventus The game against Parma proved once again that Juventus are streets ahead of their fellow Serie A teams. Despite rotating quite a few players, the Bianconeri gave the league a glimpse of the quality and depth they can call upon this season. Conte will stick with his 3-5-2 formation that has served him so well this campaign with just a few players who were given a rest expected to be back for this game. Barzagli, Pirlo, Vidal and Giovinco are all expected to make their return to the starting eleven after earning a break against Chievo. Martin Caceres and Paolo De Ceglie could take the places of Mauricio Isla and Kwadwo Asamoah as fullbacks. While Fabio Quagliarella, who seems to have rejuvenated his Juventus career will be partnered by the tricky Sebastian Giovinco in attack. Quagliarella bagged a brace against Chievo in what was without a doubt his strongest outing for Juventus. The former Sampdoria man seems to have recaptured the kind of form he displayed prior to his horrific knee injury back in January 2011. What he needs now more than ever is continuity which he will receive provided he keeps on finding the back of the net. Juventus will play their usual high pressing, high tempo game. Caceres and De Ceglie will look to stretch Viola’s defense as they try to exploit the width on the pitch. Andrea Pirlo will set the tone of Juventus’ attack but expect either one of Ljajic or Jovetic to escort him wherever he may venture. It is here where Vidal and Marchisio play key-roles in supplying the forwards and of course winning back the ball. Simone Pepe and Simone Padoin are both on the treatment table for Juventus. Probable Starting Line-up (3-5-2): Buffon; Lucio, Bonucci, Barzagli; Caceres, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Giovinco, Quagliarella Key Facts Juventus are unbeaten in 43 Serie A games. Fiorentina has not defeated Juventus in Serie A since 2nd March, 2008 Stevan Jovetic of Fiorentina, leads the goal-scoring charts in Serie A. Players To Watch Out For Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina) Fiorentina’s star man was courted throughout the summer by Juventus but the Viola stood firm over their €30M asking price, which Beppe Marotta wasn’t ready to meet. With 4 goals and 1 assist to his name already, it isn’t hard to see why Jovetic is considered as the brightest young talent in Serie A. Once again, Fiorentina will pile their hopes on his young shoulders in the hope he can deliver against the Champions. Claudio Marchisio (Juventus) The Juve youth product has enjoyed an encouraging start to his campaign. His late runs into the box coupled with his tactical awareness makes him an integral part of the Juventus midfield trident and so vital to Conte’s footballing philosophy. He faces a strong midfield on Tuesday night and his performance will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the midfield battle and indeed the game. Prediction Fiorentina 1-2 Juventus In Fiorentina, Juventus face their sternest Serie A test yet. The Viola will be motivated to bring their illustrious opponents’ 100% record to an abrupt halt. Given the footballing beliefs of both the managers, this will make for one highly entertaining game. Expect both teams to come out all guns blazing in a very open encounter. Form and the superior technical quality though suggest Juventus will be the last team smiling and gather the three points they aim for. Blast From The Past http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Fiorentina v Juventus: Probable line-ups Sep 25, 2012 Tonight Fiorentina take on Juventus at the Artemio Franchi in Florence in an eagerly-anticipated early season clash. The Bianconeri currently sit top of the table having beaten every team they have so far come up against this season while the Viola lie in 6th having picked up two wins, one draw and one defeat as yet. Three players miss out for the home side through injury with Alberto Aquilani, Mounir El Hamdaoui and Francesco Della Rocca all currently on the treatment table. Simone Pepe and Padoin miss out through injury for the Old Lady. Fiorentina (3-5-2): Viviano, Rodriguez, Roncaglia, Tomovic, Cuadrado, Migliaccio, Pizarro, Valero, Pasqual, Ljajic, Jovetic. Substitutes: Neto, Lupatelli, Hegazy, Camporese, Savic, Cassani, Fernandez, Romulo, Llama, Olivera, Seferovic, Toni. Coach: Montella. Juventus (3-5-2): Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah, Giovinco, Quagliarella. Substitutes: Storari, Rubinho, Lucio, Caceres, Marrone, De Ceglie, Isla, Pogba, Giaccherini, Bendtner, Matri, Vucinic. Coach: Carrera. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Zeman’s last chance, says Chiellini Sep 25, 2012 Giorgio Chiellini has told Roma boss Zdenek Zeman that he will only be considered a great when he starts winning. Speaking to the Messaggero, the Juventus stopper congratulated the tactician for his entertaining brand of football but questioned his lack of honours. “He has always taught the verb of football and his sides have always played with spectacular style,” the centre-back noted. “However, you can only become a great when you win things – it is the same for us players too.” The 65-year-old, who employs a 4-3-3 formation, is back in the top flight after he led Second Division outfit Pescara to promotion last season. “He has a great squad at Roma today and it is one that could still improve,” continued the Italian international. “The youngsters there can still grow and he can develop them to his liking. However, I’d say that this was his last chance to succeed at the highest level.” In a coaching career that has spanned over 30 years, Zeman has won one Serie C2 and two Serie B titles. Zeman is an unpopular figure at Juventus given his criticism of the club over the years. This morning Sampdoria boss Ciro Ferrara, a former Bianconero, hit out at the tactician too.

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento Fiorentina v Juventus: Preview Sep 25, 2012 Interim Juventus coach Massimo Carrera has warned Fiorentina there is plenty of improvement to come from his side as they look to maintain their 100% start to the season at Stadio Artemio Franchi. The defending Serie A champions have come flying out of the blocks at the start of the new campaign, while several of their principal rivals, including Inter and AC Milan, have stuttered. A double from Fabio Quagliarella gave Juve a 2-0 win against Chievo at the weekend and made it four wins from four. But Carrera has made it clear no-one is resting on their laurels. "We've only played four championship fixtures," he told a press conference. "Yes, the other teams have started badly, but they also have time to improve and will do so accordingly. "But there's also plenty to develop from our point of view and we'll try to work on this as much as possible." Fiorentina lie fifth in the table following a 1-1 draw at Parma, and with recent meetings between the sides proving to be feisty affairs, Carrera is aware a considerable challenge awaits his team. He said: "We'll be up against a team who will want to bring an end to our unbeaten run. We'll need to show the desire to take the game to our opposition. "That's our spirit and the way we play. We'll go there to win, we never settle for a result and if we manage to score three or four goals, we'll do just that." Carrera may choose to make changes for the trip to face the Viola having rotated his squad against Chievo, but whatever combination he picks he is happy with his forward power, and praised Quagliarella's recent performances. "Our squad won the championship last season and we have strikers who are showing themselves to be top players," he said. "We don't need anyone else and I'm very happy with Fabio's work." http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 5 - 25-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi Stadium - Florence Referee: Paolo Tagliavento MATCH PREVIEW Sep 25, 2012 Fierce foes collide as Fiorentina seek revenge for last season’s thumping, and Juventus commence a tricky week at home and in Europe. The Viola came within a minute of leaving Parma with three points on Saturday, in a bizarre game defined by three penalties. Jaime Valdes and Stevan Jovetic both missed before Valdes atoned by converting in injury time, cancelling out the Facundo Roncaglia rocket which had given the visitors the lead. Though they are yet to taste victory on the road, Vincenzo Montella’s men have won two from two in front of their own fans, against Udinese and Catania. Alberto Aquilani, Mounir El Hamdaoui and Francesco Della Rocca are not in contention to feature due to injury concerns. However Adem Ljajic is set to return to the starting XI. Juventus kept their 100 per cent start to the season intact last Saturday by disposing of Chievo. Fabio Quagliarella followed his maiden Champions League strike with a fine second-half double to down the stubborn Veronese visitors. Notably the Bianconeri triumphed in the type of match they struggled to win last season, also keeping a clean sheet for the second time at the Juventus Stadium this term. The only goals conceded to date have been on the road, in Udine and Genoa. After making a number of changes for the Chievo clash, Antonio Conte - who may not even watch from the stands - is expected to recall the likes of Andrea Barzagli, Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo. In-form Quagliarella, who was linked with a move to Fiorentina in the summer, should keep his place. Simone's Pepe and Padoin are still out. Florentine memories of the 5-0 drubbing suffered at La Vecchia Signora's hands in March are still fresh. The win was Juve’s 20th in Florence, with 25 home wins and 28 draws also played out. The rivalry between these clubs has always been intense but this meeting could be particularly hard fought given recent events. Fiorentina were on the verge of signing Dimitar Berbatov this summer before Juve intervened, and although the player signed for neither club in the end, the bitterness remains, Gigliati President Andrea Della Valle branding the Turin giants 'shameful' and 'amateurish.' Keep an eye on: David Pizarro (Fiorentina) – The classy Chilean will be pitted in a head-to-head duel with fellow regista Andrea Pirlo. Pizarro is crucial to dictating Fiorentina’s tempo and attacking thrusts, and will look to control the central area of the pitch. Form guide: Fiorentina (- D W L W) Juventus (- W W W W) Last season: Fiorentina 0-5 Juventus Stat fact: Fiorentina have not defeated Juventus at the Stadio Artemio Franchi since 1998-99. On that occasion, Gabriel Batistuta secured their lone-goal success. Fiorentina (probable): Viviano; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Tomovic; Cuadrado, Migliaccio, Pizarro, Borja Valero, Pasqual; Ljajic, Jovetic Juventus (probable): Buffon; Lucio, Bonucci, Barzagli; Caceres, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Quagliarella, Giovinco http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/