Socrates

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1^ giornata - Andata) - 19-9-2012 (ore 20:45) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - Londra Arbitro: Pedro Proenca (Portogallo) Spettatori: 40918‎ Juve, cuore da Champions: Chelsea rimontato Vidal nel primo tempo e Quagliarella nel finale di gara rimontanto il doppio vantaggio dei Blues arrivato grazie alla doppietta lampo di Oscar: 2-2 il finale. Un punto importante per i bianconeri nella tana dei campioni d'Europa. Shakhtar in testa al girone. Eurosport - Mercoledí, 19 settembre 2012 Diciamoci la verità, dopo un campionato vinto rimanendo imbattuta, la Juventus di Antonio Conte era attesa alla prova di maturità della Champions League, per un esame nella tanta dei campioni d'Europa che non si prospettava certamente come la partenza che ogni "studente" vorrebbe affrontare . E proprio per questo il 2-2 finale con cui i bianconeri, in rimonta, sono riusciti ad evitare una sconfitta, vale probabilmente più di una semplice promozione. Sì perché la Juventus doveva provare a imporre il ritmo, fare la partita e controllare il Chelsea mantenendo il pallone tra i piedi e, per buona parte della gara, ci è riuscita. Nonostante infatti il doppio vantaggio dei Blues firmato da uno straordinario Oscar - in 2 minuti 2 gol - i bianconeri hanno saputo reagire trovando il gol della speranza sul finale di primo tempo con Vidal e pareggiando la gara, a dieci minuti dalla fine, proprio nel momento in cui la spinta offensiva - e le forze - degli uomini di Conte sembrano essere venuti meno. E' stato Fabio Quagliarella a fissare il pareggio finale levando le castagne dal fuoco a quel reparto - l'attacco - che come nella passata stagione era stato l'unico a non convincere. Detto questo, la Juve ha dimostrato di essere già matura. LA MOSSA - Che il tema tattico per la Juventus fosse scritto - provare a tenere in mano la partita con il possesso palla - era un diktat imposto da Conte in maniera piuttosto chiara ma, tra il dire e il fare, c'è di mezzo il mare. O in questo caso sempre qualcosa di blu, ma che risponde al nome di Chelsea, la squadra campione d'Europa in carica. I bianconeri provano infatti il consueto possesso palla ma, poco dopo il centrocampo, iniziano i veri problemi. I Blues sono attenti a chiudere tutti gli spazi e presentare un pressing asfissiante che, nel caso di Andrea Pirlo, si ritraduce addirittura in una marcatura a uomo. La mossa tattica a sorpresa di Di Matteo - Oscar al posto di Mata - è infatti un trappolone "all'italiana" in cui il registra bresciano ci casca con entrambi i piedi. MARCHISIO E VUCINIC SPRECANO.... - Il Chelsea, una volta prese le misure, trova così il suo gioco fatto di ripartenze e, soprattutto con i palloni aerei, prova a fare male a una Juventus un pochino impacciata nella gestione dei corner. Torres per due volte, grazie anche "all'aiuto di Asamoah", spaventa Buffon, ma parlare di vera occasione da rete è azzardato. Sì perché ad avere la chance per passare avanti, in ben due occasioni, è la Juventus. Al 22' Barzagli pesca sul filo del fuorigioco Marchisio ma il numero 8 della Juventus, lanciato solo verso Cech, sbaglia il primo controllo agevolando l'uscita bassa del portiere del Chelsea. Otto minuti più tardi e Vidal, per la prima volta, riesce a prendere in ripartenza i Blues fornendo a Vucinic un pallone in area che il montenegrino, da ottima posizione, spara sul fondo. E' il preludio alla punizione divina. ... OSCAR PUNISCE - La legge non scritta del calcio "gol sbagliato, gol subito" si avvera infatti ancora una volta e nel giro di un minuto la Juve subisce lo schiaffone. Al 31', Oscar, si libera al limite dell'area e lascia partire un destro teso che la deviazione di Bonucci rende imprendibile per Buffon. Passano 120 secondi e ancora il brasiliano, fin lì più impegnato a tenere Pirlo che a giocare a calcio, fa vedere a tutta l'Europa il suo valore liberandosi con il controllo di Pirlo e lasciando partire un destro a giro d'antologia. In 3 minuti la Juve passa così dal potenziale vantaggio al 2-0 Blues. CUORE VIDAL - La mazzata psicologica è una di quelle da ko tecnico, ma la Juventus dimostra cuore e testa. La reazione e infatti immediata e arriva proprio con l'uomo più rappresentativo dal punto di vista dello spirito: Arturo Vidal. Il cileno, visibilmente dolorante alla caviglia dopo un contrasto con Ivanovic, al 38' si libera in dribbling dal limite dell'area e con il sinistro lascia partire una rasoiata incrociata che fulmina Cech. E' il gol che risveglia la Juve e la manda a riposo "ancora in partita". L'INTENSITA' NON BASTA - La Juventus, infatti, inizia la ripresa con ancor più cattiveria della fase centrale del primo tempo e per un quarto d'ora abbondante chiude il Chelsea nella sua metà campo. Di Matteo e i Blues, però, sono abituati a compiti del genere avendo supportato anche pressioni ben maggiori (Barcellona vi dice qualcosa?) e pur dando l'impressione di pensare solo alla difesa, di fatto non concedono ai bianconeri reali occasioni da rete. Se la Juventus infatti continua a girare bene - Vidal sontuoso, Marchisio rigenerato nell'intervallo - le note dolenti arrivano come al solito dal fronte d'attacco. Giovinco fatica ad entrare negli scambi e Vucinic, come spesso gli accade, pecca di leziosità in troppe giocate. CHELSEA SICURO - Ne viene fuori quindi un match controllato, povero di reali occasioni da rete e che il Chelsea sembra poter gestire fino alla fine. Anche perché a un quarto d'ora dalla fine, dopo aver tenuto ritmi ben superiori a quelli del campionato italiano, la Vecchia Signora pare non averne più e il baricentro avanzato di 15 metri da parte dei Blues di Di Matteo ne è prova tangibile. IL JOLLY - Carrera è però bravo nel crederci fino alla fine e al 75' pesca il jolly: fuori Giovinco dentro Quagliarella. L'attaccante napoletano, al "vero" esordio stagionale con i bianconeri (un paio di minuti nel finale a Udine), ci mette solo 5 minuti per creare ulteriore confusione nelle già precarie gerarchie avanzate della Juventus: Marchisio trova un assist geniale e Quagliarella beffa la retroguardia del Chelsea - non c'è fuorigioco - lanciandosi solo davanti a Cech e punendolo con un pallone sotto le gambe. Il Chelsea risente del colpo psicologico e, a tre minuti dalla fine, rischia addirittura di capitolare: Quagliarella - sì, ancora lui - è indiavolato e dal limite dell'area lascia partire un sinistro a giro improvviso che scheggia la parte superiore della traversa. E' l'ultima emozione prima del fischio finale. RISPOSTE - Insomma, se la Juventus cercava risposte dall'Europa ne ha certamente trovate. La più positiva, tanto per cambiare, arriva ancora una volta dall'atteggiamento costruttivo e dalla conferma della caratura internazionale del suo centrocampo (Vidal e Marchisio su tutti). Quella più "preoccupante", invece, è un leitmotiv della scorsa stagione: la scarsa vena degli attaccanti. Ma se la soluzione arrivasse proprio dalla panchina?... Simone Eterno - Eurosport Chelsea - Juventus 2-2

Conte appeal verdict postponed Sep 21, 2012 Antonio Conte’s touchline suspension continues after an appeal court opted to postpone making a judgment on the Juventus tactician. The Coach is currently serving a 10-month ban after he was found guilty of failing to report an alleged attempt to fix a game which he was in charge at Siena. Conte has taken his case to the TNAS in Rome in a bid to get his ban overturned – or at least reduced. A decision was expected today, but after hearing from Conte’s lawyers for around 30 minutes, the panel decided to postpone the hearing until October 2. It’s understood that the decision was taken in order to give Conte’s legal team more time to gather evidence.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Bonucci: Scare factor Juventus Sep 21, 2012 Juventus are working to become one of Europe’s most feared sides, says centre-back Leonardo Bonucci. The Old Lady returned to the Champions League on Wednesday when they collected a 2-2 draw at holders Chelsea. “We’re back in Europe with our heads held high and need to keep showing this hunger to make us feared by everyone,” the Italian told Sky Sport Italia. The game started badly for the Bianconeri as they went 2-0 down, but they kept their cool to hit back against the London outfit. “We’re satisfied at gaining an important draw from a tough venue,” he added. “We again displayed that we’re a team with great values. “We have drive, the desire to never give up and can hold our own wherever we play. “The two goals conceded in quick succession were certainly a blow, but we didn’t drop our heads. We did well to get back into the game in the first half and then we drew level through Fabio Quagliarella.” The striker came off the bench to seal a point after he broke the offside trap. “It was a move prepared on the training ground and demonstrates that our work during the week pays dividends,” Bonucci explained. “Our preparations with Coach Antonio Conte enable us to be calm when we take to the field and we know that whoever is on the bench will stick to his game plan.”

‘Barzagli the best in Italy’ Sep 21, 2012 Juventus stopper Andrea Barzagli is the best defender in Italian football, says fellow 2006 World Cup winner Simone Barone. Barzagli has become something of a rock at the back for the Old Lady in recent seasons and Barone thinks he doesn’t get enough credit. “I played with him for two years at Palermo and I have to be honest, Barzagli is a really strong defender,” the free agent midfielder told Tutto Juve. “Not enough people talk about him. It’s right that people speak of Mirko Vucinic, Andrea Pirlo and Gigi Buffon who are top players, but Barzagli is doing some extraordinary things. “He never gets a game wrong. Andrea is a really important player whose strength is his concentration and consistency.” The Old Lady netted the 31-year-old in January 2011 from German club Wolfsburg for just €600,000. “Barzagli arrived quietly as he tiptoed amongst the sceptics who had forgotten him after his experience at Wolfsburg. But Andrea has done really well and he is today the best defender in Italy!”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Cartoon of the Day: Juventus ruin Chelsea's big Oscar night Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day. Sep 20, 2012 It was a performance worthy of an award, but not quite enough for three points - Oscar dazzled fans at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night with two first-half goals to give Chelsea a commanding lead over Juventus. But the Italian side would soon pull the red carpet out from underneath the Blues as Arturo Vidal struck before the interval. And, 10 minutes from time, Fabio Quagliarella clinched a valuable Champions League point to put a dampener on what would have been a perfect night for the competition holders.

Marrone to get new four-year deal at Juventus After impressing in his brief appearances this season, the midfielder is set to be offered a new four-year deal by the Turin outfit as they see him as a possible successor to Pirlo. Sep 20, 2012 Midfielder Luca Marrone is set to be offered a new deal by Juventus after impressing for the Italian champions in his appearances as a substitute in the early weeks of the season. The Bianconeri are looking to tie down the 22-year-old for a further four years after putting in some eye-catching displays in different positions. The Italy Under-21 international has played both as a central midfielder and central defender so far this campaign, and manager Antonio Conte has been impressed with the performances of the former Siena loanee. Prior to this season the youngster had only made six senior appearances for the Turin outfit, but it would now seem that he will be seen on a much more regular basis for the Italian giants. Marrone is viewed as a possible successor to Andrea Pirlo, who is the current first choice central midfielder, and has been tipped to form a dynamic pairing with new signing Paul Pogba in years to come.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 'It's nice to be a part of a great goal like that' - Buffon reserves special praise for Oscar The veteran goalkeeper acclaimed the Brazilian prodigy for his second strike of the evening, while he was delighted with the Old Lady's performance in west London. Sep 20, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon has lavished praise on Chelsea midfielder Oscar following his wonder strike against Juventus in Wednesday's 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. The Serie A champions fell two goals behind following a double from the Brazilian, but it was his second of the night which caught the imagination of the Bianconeri No.1, as while he did not approve of his net being breached, he was impressed by the quality of the finish. "Oscar turned on a sixpence and put the ball under the bar," Buffon told Uefa.com after the game. "I won’t say it’s nice to concede a goal, but it’s still nice to be a part of a great goal like that. Compliments to him." The goalkeeper then went onto express his satisfaction with Juve's second-half comeback, as Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella scored late on to rescue their side a point on their return to European competition. "We played a good match and deserved to draw and as such we are very happy," the goakeeper added. "They also had chances to score, but in the end we played well, attacked and tried to win. A draw isn't a bad result. "We are happy to be here. It is two years since we've been in this tournament and two years of disappointment, but last year we had a great season and we deserved to be here this evening."

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Oscar thrilled with Champions League debut but disappointed not to beat Juventus The 21-year-old Brazil international struck two goals against the Serie A holders, but believes that a victory would have made the performance even better. Sep 20, 2012 Oscar has expressed his delight at the reception he received from Chelsea's fans after making his first appearance for the club in Europe, describing it as a "dream". Having moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer from Brazilian club Internacional for a fee in the region of €31 million (£25m), the youngster has so far been used sparingly by boss Roberto Di Matteo as he looks to slowly integrate him into the side. However, against Juventus, it was Oscar who managed to grab both goals as the Blues were held at home by Serie A reigning champions Juventus yet the 21-year-old was more than happy with his display. "I am very happy with two goals on my debut but I would have been much happier if the team had won the game," Oscar told reporters. "In Brazil, young boys dream of playing in the Champions League and I'm very proud to have realised my dream. "I liked the reception from the fans. They're great. I hope I can keep growing and scoring goals." After his performance, he also came in for some praise from his new team-mates and centre-back David Luiz believes that there is more from Oscar to come now that he starting to adjust. "I think he has a great future. Not only with Chelsea but with the national team, too. So tonight he showed who is Oscar," he said. "I know how hard it is when you don't speak the language, to go out to a restaurant or something and you don't know what to do if you're waiting for food or something. "But now I'm trying to help Oscar and he can help Chelsea, too." Goalkeeper Petr Cech also felt that the midfielder played well in what was a sizeable test against a side unbeaten in Italy for over a year, arguing that he looks as if he is more than capable of justifying his huge price-tag. "He's a very talented guy and it's great for him to score two goals because, for his age, he cost a lot of money," he added. "So there is a lot of pressure on him, and it's great for people to see how good he can be for this football club and today I was very pleased that he got his goals and he played very good football. "He played nice, simple football. He's always in the movement, always available and really efficient."

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Juventus give Europe a glimmer of their capabilities by silencing the champions on their own turf The Bianconeri came back from two goals down to earn a draw with Chelsea, and it was the very least their play deserved as they bossed the game at Stamford Bridge. Sep 20, 2012 COMMENT By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Writer Watch out Europe... Juventus are back! They may not have won on their return to the Champions League, and there may have been signs of a few old failings still on display, but the Bianconeri showed that they are the real deal in coming from two goals down to earn a draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. When the European champions hit them with a double sucker-punch on the half-hour mark, they could easily have folded. But instead they took confidence in having overcome a difficult opening quarter to wrestle the initiative from their hosts. There was also another key moment during that 120-second period between Oscar’s two goals, as Arturo Vidal hobbled back onto the field of play. The Chilean had seemingly damaged ligaments in his ankle in the act of almost putting Juve ahead, and for a while it appeared as though his night would end there. But when he regained his feet, the Old Lady regained hope, and within five minutes he limped his way into the Chelsea penalty area and fired them back into the game. From there, Juve’s usual possession game, which has served them so well under Antonio Conte, was too much for Chelsea to handle. The Bianconeri dominated the second half, and were fully deserving of their equaliser, brilliantly taken by Fabio Quagliarella after he peeled off the static John Terry to latch onto Claudio Marchisio's excellent through ball. If Juve had gone on to get a winner, which they nearly did when Quagliarella turned and hit an excellent left-footed shot off the top of the bar, then Chelsea could have had no complaints. They may have ridden their luck at times - such as when substitute Juan Mata fired wide at 2-1 - but this was a display of real belief and real intent. The occasional moments of weakness at the back, particularly early on when they found a couple of testing corners difficult to deal with, were quickly overcome. Vidal remained key throughout a fixture played at a much more frenetic speed than anything Juve have played during their two-and-a-half year absence from the Champions League, with Andrea Pirlo closed out early on and the responsibility shifting to the former Bayer Leverkusen man to rein things in in midfield. The feeling is though, if he had gone off, then there may have been no point to show for their endeavour at the end of the night. In dominating Chelsea, and pegging back the Blues, the Bianconeri proved they have the game and the desire necessary to go far in the tournament, but there still remains a question mark over what will happen if they are forced to dig deep within the squad reserves. Quagliarella came off the bench to save the day, which was one positive, and it will give Conte and Massimo Carrera great hope. But there will be other, less obvious, but equally huge tests to come. So it’s so far, so very good for Juventus. Looking at the bigger picture, a point on the opening night is more credible than incredible, but it’s an excellent first step, and ensures that the rest of Europe will now be taking them very seriously.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Juventus displayed weaknesses against Chelsea, admits Carrera The caretaker boss was satisfied with his side's performance, as they came back from behind to earn a point at Stamford Bridge, but conceded they looked vulnerable on occasions. Sep 20, 2012 Massimo Carrera believes Juventus still have plenty of room for improvement following Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Chelsea in their maiden Champions League clash of the season. Two goals from Oscar helped the titleholders to a comfortable lead, but the Bianconeri fought back as Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella eventually tied the scores at Stamford Bridge. "We did very well, we were in good physical condition and that's how we turned the match around. We were losing by two goals but came back fighting," the interim coach said after the match. "We also know we have weaknesses that we have to work on. We could have won it; we could have lost it as well. But that's football. I'm just happy that tonight we proved we can play at this level." Carrera then went on to praise Arturo Vidal, who pulled one back for his team just minutes after an injury which seemed to force him off. "Vidal reflects the soul of this team. He was injured and we were going to take him off, but he said he was alright and he came back to score a goal – it just shows our strength." Juventus take on Shakhtar Donetsk on October 2 in their second Group E game.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Juventus’ good and bad records Sep 20, 2012 Juventus haven’t won a game in Europe since August 2010, but they are still unbeaten when playing their first Champions League game of the season. The Turin giants drew 2-2 with Chelsea last night which simultaneously prolonged a winless streak and extended an unbeaten record. La Signora have now not won in European competition for seven games after picking up seven consecutive draws. Their last win was against Sturm Graz in the Europa League. That has equalled a negative record which goes back to 1998 when they collected five draws and two defeats in the Champions League. However, Juventus have still never lost their first group game of a new Champions League season. They’ve picked up eight wins and five draws since 1995-96.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Lichtsteiner: This is our stage Sep 20, 2012 The Champions League is the right competition for Italian giants Juventus, Stephan Lichtsteiner has insisted. The right-sided wing-back made that claim after Wednesday’s impressive 2-2 draw in London against European Cup holders Chelsea. “We have shown that we are good enough to play in this Champions League,” he stated. “We are a side with character because it wasn’t easy to pick ourselves up after going 2-0 down. “We had an important chance after about half an hour before Oscar got those two goals. However, we didn’t play too bad in the first part of the game either.” Lichtsteiner was again asked to make an impact at the back and up front, as well as keeping an eye on Eden Hazard. “I’m in good shape,” he stated. “It’s not easy to play as a fifth defender and a fourth attacker. It’s normal to be tired at the end of the game. I had Hazard on my flank and it was important to limit his impact.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Quagliarella: 'When I saw Cech...' Sep 19, 2012 Fabio Quagliarella explained what he was thinking when he nutmegged Petr Cech to earn a 2-2 draw for Juventus. “Considering the way the game was going, this is a very important result for us against the reigning champions,” he said of the Champions League result at Chelsea. “I was about to shoot with my left foot, then I realised the defender wasn’t there, so I took it into a one-on-one with Cech.” Quagliarella had come off the bench a few minutes earlier, replacing Sebastian Giovinco. “It was a tough game. I was called upon and hoped to have a few chances to score. I took one and went close with another by hitting the bar. I gave my all. “It’s certainly not easy to sit on the bench and watch the matches from the sidelines, but in a big team there is always going to be competition. I always sit there hoping to a) start or b) to come off the bench. Maybe earlier than the last 10 minutes!” Quagliarella ran to hug stand-in Coach Massimo Carrera after the goal, but revealed it wasn’t his original intention. “I was running towards Marco Storari to celebrate with him and was very pleased to hug Massimo, as he is someone who suffers along with us. It was his Champions League debut too, so we were all a bit tense and emotional. “I have felt 100 per cent fit for a while, but if you don’t play consistently then match fitness is tough to achieve. It’s not something you can get from training alone.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Buffon: 'Juve are competitive' Sep 19, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon complimented Oscar on his goal and noted Juventus have already won by “proving we’re competitive and a side to be respected.” The Bianconeri returned to the Champions League for the first time since 2009-10 and fought back from 2-0 down to hold Chelsea after Oscar’s brace. “Oscar turned on a sixpence and put the ball under the bar. I won’t say it’s nice to concede a goal, but it’s still nice to be a part of a great goal like that. Compliments to him,” laughed Buffon. “Clearly we are all happy to have equalised away to the reigning champions, but analysing the game we were 2-0 down in a fairly unexpected way, as we had been playing on a par with Chelsea. The fact we were 2-0 down was harsh considering the performances of the two teams. “The statistics say we aren’t keeping clean sheets at the moment. As long as it’s three or four games, that is one thing, but if this run stretches on then that is a warning sign we ought to work on. “It went the way I expected, not better or worse. In order to not disappoint and to confirm its belief, the team had to make this performance. “We could’ve lost 2-1 playing like this and that still would’ve been proof Juventus are competitive and a side to be respected. That is a very important ‘trophy’ we won last season.” There were over 3,000 Bianconeri supporters at Stamford Bridge and they often drowned out the home fans. “We do sense the enthusiasm of the fans. I am one of the few left who went through the past success and the six years of decline. I can assure you, six years is a lot. “Throughout that time we dreamed of winning a Scudetto and winning back the respect of teams in Europe. That doesn’t necessarily mean lifting the trophy, but having our say on this stage again. “It is certainly difficult, if not impossible, to win the Champions League this season. It would also be a very arrogant thing to consider in September. “We reinforced our squad with important elements and it is allowing us to play every game our way – with a high tempo and lots of quality, trying to impose our football on the opposition. “If we can keep this up throughout the season, then of course we can look to building on it. The difference between a victory and defeat can often be the size of an upright or a deflection, as Chelsea saw last season.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Vidal hails Juve heart Sep 19, 2012 Arturo Vidal reassures Juventus fans his ankle injury is not serious after scoring a goal in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea. “I had this ankle injury, but I am fine now and I’m happy the team proved the work we did last season led us to this. We’re happy to be in the Champions League,” said the Chilean. He was already limping heavily after turning his ankle on the Stamford Bridge turf when he scored a fine daisy-cutter from the edge of the box before half-time. The Bianconeri were 2-0 down at the time, but fought back with Fabio Quagliarella for a thrilling 2-2 draw. “We showed the same heart as last year in Serie A. We want to play in three competitions and this is the Juventus we need to see every game. “I am fine and will work with the doctors, so should be fit for the weekend if the Coach wants to pick me.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Di Matteo: 'Oscar's dream debut' Sep 19, 2012 Roberto Di Matteo hailed Oscar’s Chelsea debut against Juventus, both for his brace and man-marking Andrea Pirlo. “Oscar’s debut was fantastic. He was tactically perfect and it was the right game for him to start his career with us,” the manager told Sky Sport Italia after a 2-2 draw. “It was a good game played well by both sides. We have regrets, as we were 2-0 up and couldn’t win it. “Juve are full of quality, we knew that, and it is difficult to play against them. We made a few mistakes in defence and allowed them to score two goals. “Pirlo dictates the tempo of the team, so it was important not to give him space or time on the ball. That was Oscar’s job tonight and he did it well. “I think we should’ve pushed harder for the third goal to finish off the game, but we made a mistake on the second goal when losing possession cheaply in midfield.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918 Carrera: 'Everyone counts for Juve' Sep 19, 2012 Stand-in Coach Massimo Carrera admits Chelsea made it tough by man-marking Andrea Pirlo, but Fabio Quagliarella “shows everyone can make the difference.” Juventus made their Champions League comeback with a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, as Arturo Vidal and Quagliarella fought back from 2-0 down to snatch a point. Shakhtar Donetsk beat Nordsjaelland 2-0 to top Group E. Oscar scored a brace in the first half, including one huge deflection, but was also crucial when marking Pirlo in midfield. “We know that Andrea is man-marked, as everyone knows he is the centre of our play, so we have different options such as central midfielders who must come forward with the ball to feet,” said Carrera. Quagliarella replaced Sebastian Giovinco and proved decisive, scoring the equaliser and hitting the bar. “During the week we watch the players and see who is in the best shape. Ale Matri played on Sunday, but Fabio shows perfectly that everyone is needed at Juve and can make the difference when called upon. “He scored a great goal and threatened to win it at the end. We had a great performance and proved we can play on a par with anyone. “Giovinco does what we ask him to, as the strikers need to play into space. He will get better fitness levels soon and no doubt make himself heard in Europe as well.” Juve were trailing in London and also fought back from 1-0 down to beat Genoa 3-1 on Sunday. “The first goal was when we only had 10 men, as Vidal was out injured. We accept that, but obviously it didn’t help. “We started badly at Genoa, but here we took the initiative and controlled the game, creating two or three chances in the first half. Of course when playing against Chelsea you will have to give away some scoring opportunities eventually. “We are happy to have got this game back on track after being 2-0 down. Now we take this point and from tomorrow prepare for Serie A.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918‎ Vidal and Quagliarella elated with Juventus comeback after 2-2 draw with Chelsea The Old Lady pair inspired the Italian side to a creditable draw at Stamford Bridge in their return to Europe's elite football competition. Sep 19, 2012 Juventus goalscorers Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella praised their side's resolve after they fought back from two goals down to earn a point against Champions League holders Chelsea. After Oscar had put Chelsea two goals ahead inside the opening 33 minutes, the Serie A champions dug deep to claim a respectable point and Quagliarella spoke of his delight at their strength of character. Speaking to reporters after the game, the Italian striker said: "Considering the way the game was going, this is a very important result for us against the reigning champions. “It was a tough game. I was called upon and hoped to have a few chances to score. I took one and went close with another by hitting the bar. I gave my all." Since the return of Sebastian Giovinco from Parma, the 29-year-old striker has failed to hold down a starting role, but remains optimistic of being part of caretaker coach Massimo Carrera's plans. "It’s certainly not easy to sit on the bench and watch the matches from the sidelines, but in a big team there is always going to be competition. I always sit there hoping to start or to come off the bench. Maybe earlier than the last 10 minutes! “I was running towards Marco Storari to celebrate with him and was very pleased to hug Massimo, as he is someone who suffers along with us. It was his Champions League debut too, so we were all a bit tense and emotional," he added. Vidal suffered a knock to his ankle during the first-half, but moved to reassure fans that his injury is not serious. “I had this ankle injury, but I am fine now and I’m happy the team proved the work we did last season led us to this. We’re happy to be in the Champions League,” said the Chilean midfielder. “We showed the same heart as last year in Serie A. We want to play in three competitions and this is the Juventus we need to see every game. “I am fine and will work with the doctors, so I should be fit for the weekend if the coach wants to pick me.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918‎ Mikel laments Chelsea concentration lapse after Juventus comeback The Nigerian's sloppy attempted pass was a mistake that contributed to the Italian side's late equaliser after the Champions League holders had earlier been two goals up. Sep 19, 2012 Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel lamented his part in a collective switching-off as the Blues allowed Juventus to fight back and earn a 2-2 Champions League draw at Stamford Bridge. Last season's winners started their defence well, going 2-0 up with quickfire goals from Brazilian youngster Oscar, but Arturo Vidal’s swift reply was consolidated by a Fabio Quagliarella strike late on. Mikel gave the ball away in the build-up to the equaliser and he told Sky Sports after the game: "I think we switched off. It was a pass to Eden [Hazard] that didn't quite get there and then we just switched off. "We should have dealt with it properly." The Nigerian had been encouraged, however, by their energetic beginning to the match, adding: "I think we started the game well, we scored two goals and we had more possession of the game. We had the game under control but they scored one goal. "We came out in the second half trying to do something in the way that we started the first-half but their second goal was a cheap goal to give away."

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918‎ Player Ratings: Chelsea 2-2 Juventus Oscar caught the eye with two first-half goals, the second an absolute stunner, but a casual attitude let the Blues down too often, with John Obi Mikel among the culprits. Sep 19, 2012 Chelsea FC Petr Cech - Taken out of the equation by Vidal's finish and let down by his outfielders for Quagliarella's equaliser. Otherwise not often directly challenged by the likes of Vucinic. Branislav Ivanovic - With Asamoah not getting particularly far forward from the left wing-back position, Ivanovic seemed to be unsure of his role. Beaten for strength by Vucinic, the Serbian’s most telling contribution was nearly a failed attempt to spring the offside trap on Marchisio – the midfielder let him off with a poor touch. Ashley Cole - A confident showing from the left-back, enough to see him nutmegging players in the Juventus half, and was generally spared from much threat by Lichtsteiner. David Luiz - A frustrating case. Moments of real class at both ends – a fine interception here, a testing cross from wide there – but too often casual at the back and quick to lump it long with no direction. John Terry - The more composed of the centre-back pair for much of the match but didn't learn from Ivanovic's failure to play the offside trap earlier in the game when he let Quagliarella through for the equaliser, a real error. Ramires - Guilty of dallying too long with a first-half chance as Chelsea fulfilled the recent traditions of trying to "Arsenal it in". Worked hard without getting a great deal of traction out of Asamoah and Chiellini. Frank Lampard - A veteran’s performance in the positive sense; calm and composed, determined and dogged. One or two particularly fine passes and tested Buffon with a strong free kick early in the second half. Oscar - An element of fortune in his first goal being deflected by Bonucci out of Buffon’s reach but no question about his second, a thrilling first touch and curled shot that drew every spectator out of their seat. A tad too impetuous but such is to be expected of a youngster making his first start to the club and his touch was generally superb. Taken off after a crunching tackle by Bonucci. John Obi Mikel - The Nigerian's passing from deep was poor, only emphasised by his part in Juventus' equaliser. Still has not progressed to the required level for this team. Eden Hazard - Surprisingly isolated in the opening stages but was brought into the game more and more as it went on. Caused trouble for the back line but the decision not to award him a penalty in the second half was justified. Fernando Torres - Faded in and out of the game - playing against three centre-backs, Chelsea's attacking midfielders were always more likely to be the key - but looked mildly threatening when involved. Substitutions Ryan Bertrand - Replaced Ramires with just over 20 minutes to go but was unable to have more of an impact. With Juve only employing one wide man - a wing-back - it was difficult to see why Chelsea needed him on the left wing. Juan Mata - Should have done better with a decent chance after replacing the apparently injured Oscar. A surprise not to see him start but on the night you could understand why the Brazilian had been picked ahead of him. Juventus Gianluigi Buffon - Let down by Bonucci for Oscar's opener and was visibly angered as the deflected effort went in and helpless to prevent the Brazilian's magnificent second. Dealt well with a Lampard free kick. Giorgio Chiellini - The strongest of the Italian champions' three central defenders, perhaps because Ramires' threat from the right was a less subtle one than that of Hazard and Oscar. Andrea Barzagli - Won some headers and played it out with composure, particularly in the first half, but now and then looked a little clumsy when up against Hazard. Leonardo Bonucci - Had impressed before his noncommittal touch on Oscar’s shot prevented Buffon from saving the Brazilian’s effort - his later tackle to bring the youngster down deserved harsher punishment, too. Played it out of defence well, though, both long and short. Stephan Lichtsteiner - A game runner in the first period though not too often given the chance as Juventus preferred to attack through the middle. Took a bit of a knock mid-game and his withdrawal after 75 minutes was not such a surprise as a result. Claudio Marchisio - His first touch was found wanting in an otherwise excellent first-half springing of the offside trap. The midfielder was everywhere but sometimes lacked venom - a problem he solved, however, when putting Quagliarella through for the equaliser. Andrea Pirlo - Narrowly squandered a free kick or two but as crisp and classy in the pass as ever without ever producing one of the game-defining through-balls of which he is so capable. Kwadwo Asamoah - Did not get forward much from his wing-back position but combined well with the central midfielders on occasion. Arturo Vidal - Took a knock early on but, despite hardly being able to stand, dispatched a great finish with much-needed calm to bring Juve back into it at a time when they could have sunk. The Chilean was a real highlight for the visitors, physically tough but also passing well. Mirko Vučinić - Impressively strong in holding the ball up but such a skill is rendered pointless if, as Vucinic did, one cannot pass it to a team-mate rather than an opponent. Wasted a good chance by blasting aimlessly for the near post rather than the easier far before Chelsea got off the mark. The Blues' back line flattered him. Sebastian Giovinco - Flashes of his vast talent were on show at Stamford Bridge but never more than that. A flicked pass over a defender’s head, an impressive chested control before whipping in a dangerous cross, but not often given enough service. Withdrawn for Quagliarella as Juventus chased a more orthodox threat. Substitutions Mauricio Isla - Put in a decent shift down the right after replacing Lichtsteiner. Fabio Quagliarella - Made exactly the required impact when coming on as a more direct substitute for Giovinco. Made no mistake when Terry gifted him the space to equalise and nearly got a second when his lovely curled effort grazed the bar. A quality cameo. Alessandro Matri - Came on for Vucinic late but had no time to make an impression.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA 2 - 2 JUVENTUS Oscar (31′) Oscar (33') Arturo Vidal (38′) Fabio Quagliarella (80′) Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Attendance: 40918‎ Juve rally to peg back holders Sep 19, 2012 Chelsea blew a two-goal lead as their defence of the Champions League got off to a breathless start against Juventus in a match that ended 2-2. Oscar looked set to enjoy a dream European debut with a stunning first-half double but the Italian champions ruthlessly exposed the holders' defensive deficiencies to snatch a draw at Stamford Bridge. Arturo Vidal pulled a goal back before the break and, after Eden Hazard was denied what appeared a penalty, Fabio Quagliarella came off the bench to equalise and was a lick of paint from completing a sensational turnaround. That would have been cruel on Chelsea but - as in their UEFA Super Cup thrashing by Atletico Madrid - they left themselves exposed enough to make such an outcome possible. It was all looking so good after 33 minutes of what Roberto Di Matteo yesterday dubbed Mission: "Impossible". His Midas touch in the competition was in evidence again after the shock selection of Oscar, who he admitted the club might not have convinced to join them had they not ended their agonising wait for Champions League glory. Chelsea fans still pinching themselves at last season's astonishing triumph were given another glimpse of the European Cup before kick-off when members of the armed forces were handed the honour of parading it. That proved a prelude to a combative first half-hour, which left David Luiz with a bloody nose and Vidal needing treatment on a knock. The quality of football on show was not exactly what Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had paid £80million to see but there were glimpses of the drama to come. Luiz was under just enough pressure to steer Frank Lampard's corner straight at Gianluigi Buffon, while Fernando Torres wasted a great breakaway opportunity after robbing Andrea Pirlo, who is said not to have had a great start to the season by his high standards. Torres, looking more lively than in his wretched performance at QPR on Saturday, also went close with a header but Juventus carved out the first clear chance when Andrea Barzagli's crossfield ball put Claudio Marchisio one on one with Petr Cech, who came flying out to smother. Mirko Vucinic should have also done better than fire Vidal's pass into the sidenetting when clean through in the 29th minute and he was made to pay dearly in the next four minutes. Oscar, who had almost looked like he had been picked to shadow Pirlo, found himself in space 25 yards out and unleashed a drive that Gianluigi Buffon would surely have saved but for a telling nick off Leonardo Bonucci. If the first was lucky, the second was sublime, Oscar expertly controlling Ashley Cole's pass with his back to goal before spinning and unleashing an unstoppable dipping curler into the top corner. But Juve are not 42 games unbeaten in Serie A for nothing. Marchisio almost broke through again and Vidal fired over before taking full advantage of slack defending to drive a low left-foot shot into the bottom corner. Hazard wasted another breakaway before half-time, after which Chelsea cranked up the pressure, with Branislav Ivanovic's dipping shot just kept out by Buffon. The goalkeeper also beat away Lampard's driven free-kick before the home side were denied a penalty when Hazard surged into the box and went down under a clumsy challenge from Barzagli. Referee Pedro Proenca simply told Hazard to get up and he arguably made another mistake when booking Ramires for a perfectly clean tackle. Vidal deservedly saw yellow for hauling back Oscar but Juve were suddenly on top, Chelsea resorting to the sort of counter-attacking tactics that served them so well last season. Ramires was withdrawn for Ryan Bertrand before Oscar - who was stood on making a tackle - departed for Juan Mata. Juventus responded by sending on Quagliarella for Sebastian Giovinco, who was actually looking a real threat. And after Hazard and Mata almost combined to finish the contest - the latter blasting into the side-netting - the Juve substitute equalised. It was another defensive horror show from Chelsea, Luiz hopelessly out of position as Quagliarella burst into an acre of space between John Terry and Ivanovic to steer Pirlo's through-ball between Cech's legs. It was a nerve-jangling finish and Quagliarella was desperately unlucky not to complete an incredible turnaround when his left-foot curler clipped the crossbar.