Socrates

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 comeback silences Chelsea Sep 19, 2012 Juventus fought back from 2-0 down to grab a well-earned point at Chelsea with Fabio Quagliarella cancelling out Oscar’s brace. The Neapolitan striker also hit the bar in the closing stages. The Bianconeri returned to the Champions League for the first time since 2009-10 and did it against the trophy holders at Stamford Bridge. Gianluigi Buffon made his 400th appearance for the club and there were no surprises in the starting XI. Roberto Di Matteo had John Terry back after a two-match ban and opted for Oscar’s first start in attack rather than Juan Mata. As in Serie A, Antonio Conte was in the stands so Massimo Carrera manned the touchline. Juve had lost their last five consecutive Champions League trips to England against Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Arsenal (twice). The last time the Bianconeri conquered English soil in this competition was 1-0 at Manchester United in the group stage on November 11, 1996. After three minutes David Luiz bundled a corner into Buffon’s arms, but in numerous early set plays Giorgio Chiellini and Terry got up close and personal. Arturo Vidal’s shot was charged out for a corner, but on the counter Andrea Barzagli intercepted a dangerous Eden Hazard pass to Fernando Torres. Claudio Marchisio trapped a long ball forward to spring the offside trap and was one-on-one, but Petr Cech came flying out to parry at his feet from nine yards. In the opening stages in London, Chelsea appeared to be focusing on the counter-attack. Ramires and Torres had efforts charged down from close range as part of the same chaotic move, as did Mirko Vucinic from Stephan Lichtsteiner’s pull-back. Vucinic should’ve done better when Vidal intercepted a Branislav Ivanovic pass in midfield, but the Montenegro international hit the side-netting from a very promising position. Vidal turned his ankle during that move and was off for treatment when Chelsea got a goal out of nowhere. Oscar aimed from distance and it took a big deflection off Leonardo Bonucci’s shin to loop over a helpless Buffon. It gave the home side the lead against the run of play. Juve were still stunned when Chelsea added a second from a similar position, but this time there was no deflection. The Brazilian spun round between two defenders to curl an unstoppable strike into the top corner that dipped mercilessly under the bar. Vidal tried to curl one too, but it was over the bar and he still seemed to be limping heavily from that ankle sprain. Despite being in very poor condition, Vidal still managed to get a goal back for Juve. His first touch on the edge of the box gave him enough space to smash a precise angled drive into the near bottom corner. The Chilean could barely celebrate as he was grimacing at the pain of his ankle. Cech smothered a slightly over-hit Vidal through ball at Giovinco’s feet, then Buffon had his palms stung by a Ramires snapshot from a tight angle. Ashley Cole charged down a Giovinco spin from the D. The first half ended with an Andrea Pirlo free kick that was curled just wide. After the restart Buffon got down to palm a dangerous long-range Ivanovic strike out of the bottom corner. Frank Lampard’s powerful free kick found a gap in the Juventus wall and Buffon punched it away. Hazard went down rather too easily under a Barzagli challenge and the referee ushered him back up amid weak penalty appeals. Giovinco curled a free kick over, then the Atomic Ant cut in from the left for a dangerous shot turned out for a corner from which Bonucci nodded against the back of John Obi Mikel’s head. David Luiz did well to block Marchisio as he was pulling the trigger from the edge of the area. Bonucci went into the tackle late and landed on Oscar’s ankle. Ryan Bertrand and Juan Mata were introduced, while Fabio Quagliarella and Mauricio Isla made surprise entrances for Giovinco and Lichtsteiner. Juan Mata combined at pace with Hazard for the Spaniard to eventually hit the side-netting. However, it proved to be an inspired substitution by Massimo Carrera. Quagliarella sprung the offside trap on a Marchisio through ball to surprise Terry and he kept his cool to nutmeg Cech for a fantastic equaliser. Mikel had given the ball away in midfield to spark the move. Cech captured an Isla cross and Vucinic went down with cramp in his calf. Quagliarella nearly turned the game around completely with a sudden turn from just inside the box that curled on to the top of the crossbar with Cech beaten. It still wasn’t over, as a free kick fell to Torres and his attempt was charged down. Chelsea 2-2 Juventus Scorers: Oscar 32, 34 (C ), Vidal 38 (J), Quagliarella 81 (J) Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Mikel; Ramires (Bertrand 69), Hazard, Oscar (Juan Mata 74); Torres Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichsteiner (Isla 77), Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco (Quagliarella 75), Vucinic (Matri 88) Ref: Proenca (POR)

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 sparkles but holders stunned by Old Lady’s spirited comeback Roberto Di Matteo's team fail to hold on to two-goal lead as they begin Champions League defence in disappointing fashion. Sep 19, 2012 By Wayne Veysey at Stamford Bridge Roberto Di Matteo called retaining the Champions League crown Mission Impossible. So it might prove, as his Chelsea began the defence of their title in unpersuasive fashion, surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Serie A flagbearers Juventus. The aptly-named Oscar had threatened to steal the show with two goals in two minutes on his full Chelsea debut and in his first Champions League appearance, the second a strike of rare quality. But Arturo Vidal gave his team hope with a fine strike shortly before half-time and substitute Fabio Quagliarella made the home side pay for a sloppy performance with an 81st minute equaliser. It was the least the well-drilled visitors deserved in their return to the competition following a three-season hiatus. Manager Antonio Conte, watching from the stands as he continues his lengthy touchline ban, had watched in dismay as his team wasted two gilt-edged chances midway through the first period but Quaglieralla, who also hit the top of the bar in the dying minutes, ensured a second consecutive night of drama in the marquee Champions League fixture of the evening. In his perch high up in the stands, there was no chance of Conte doing a Jose Mourinho-style knee slide but his joy would surely have been as unabated as 'His Specialness'. It is more than two decades since any club managed to retain Europe's grandest trophy – "because of the fierce competition," reckoned Di Matteo in his pre-match media briefing. "Every season there are new strong teams coming in like PSG and Juventus. It just has proved impossible for anybody to win it twice. But we will try to do the impossible." The Chelsea manager made only a slight tweak to the team that stuttered to a goal-less draw at QPR last Saturday, replacing the sweet left foot of Ryan Bertrand with the more exotic skills of Oscar, the £25million signing from Internacional who has been gradually eased into life at Stamford Bridge following his exertions for Brazil at the Olympics. It proved to be an inspired use of the considerable attacking midfield resources at the disposal of the Chelsea manager, who was unable to field a recognised striker on the bench following the late withdrawal of Daniel Sturridge with a hamstring injury. Juventus arrived at Stamford Bridge with a desperate recent record on English soil, losing eight - including a 1-0 last-16 Champions League defeat at Stamford Bridge four seasons ago - and drawing three. Yet they returned to Europe’s head table for the first time in three years as Serie A winners, league leaders and Italy’s most convincing flag-bearers on the back of an astonishing 42-match league unbeaten run. Just to rubberstamp their rejuvenation, the visiting starting X1 featured six members of the Italy team that began the Euro 2012 final against Spain – Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli, Girogio Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio. Both sides struggled to create opportunities in the early exchanges, although David Luiz collected a nosebleed for his trouble after side-footing a fourth minute Frank Lampard corner straight at Buffon. Juventus began to threaten on the counter-attack and twice came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first period. Firstly, Marchisio broke from midfield to spring Chelsea’s off-side trap and latch on to a long pass from Barzagli but his first touch was too heavy and Petr Cech was able to smother the danger. Soon afterwards, Branislav Ivanovic sloppy pass was intercepted and Mirko Vucinic was sent through on goal but the imposing No9 biffed his shot wide. Chelsea had been erratic up to this point, lacking composure in the final third and sloppy at the back. But, following an anonymous half-hour, Oscar made his mark and demonstrated why he had been preferred to Juan Mata in the central playmaker role behind Fernando Torres. Eden Hazard was once again the creator. The Belgian upped his already burgeoning assist count by swerving in from the left after 31 minutes and teeing up his sidekick in the centre. Oscar took a touch and then let fly from 25 yards, although Buffon would surely have saved the shot had it not take a cruel deflection off Bonucci. If there was an element of fortune to Oscar’s first goal for his new employers, the second was an absolute gem of imagination and execution. With a single touch he was able to control the pass he received on the edge of the box and, at the same time, wrong-foot the defence to give himself a goal-shooting opportunity. The second touch was as glorious as the first, a delightful curled shot evading the dive of Buffon. The home fans, who had already been pumped up by the Champions League trophy – or the ‘Big Cup’ as one noteworthy former manager calls it – being paraded shortly before kick-off, were in jubilant mood. "We know what we are, we know what we are, Champions of Europe, we know what we are," sang the faithful. The vociferous visiting supporters, who had been momentarily silenced by Oscar’s sublime second, were soon back in full voice. Chelsea switched off again in the 38th minute and this time they were punished by Arturo Vidal. The midfielder lashed a low shot beyond Cech from 20 yards to give his team hope going into the break. Conte’s team are famed for combining their physical determination with a willingness to attack and proved in the second period why they have become such tough nuts to crack. Shortly after Oscar departed to a standing ovation from the home supporters, Quagliarella took full advantage of sloppiness from Mikel and a shocking attempt to play the off-side trap by Terry. Mikel gave the ball away deep in his own half and Chelsea dawdled before Terry tried to deal with a deep pass from Marchiso by attempting to catch out Quagliarella. It failed dismally. The Italian darted past him and slotted calmly past Cech for a deserved equaliser. It could have been even worse for the home side. With four minutes left, Quagliarella clipped the top of the bar following a delightful turn and shot. A 3-2 victory for Juventus would have delivered a finish as improbable as that at the Bernabeu last night but, by dropping two points in a home fixture, Chelsea have given themselves a lot of work to do in a difficult group.

Grande risultato in casa dei campioni d'Europa.

Partita monumentale di Vidal.

Entra Matri.

Ora il 2-2 va stretto a noi.

Quasi il secondo per Quagliarella.

Marrone si scalda in ... mutande.

La Juve conquista Londra .... squadra e pubblico.

QUAGLIA!

Speedy Chelsea

Ecco Isla!

Male Seba stasera

Entrerá Quagliarella.

Esce zoppicando "lady" Oscar.

Vidal giallo.

Asamoah un pó timido stasera.

Giovinco impreciso.

Vai formica

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA - JUVENTUS Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) HT: Oscar performance stuns Juve Sep 19, 2012 Juventus have had more of the possession in the first half, but are trailing 2-1 at Chelsea after two Oscar snapshots. The Bianconeri returned to the Champions League for the first time since 2009-10 and did it against the trophy holders. Gianluigi Buffon made his 400th appearance for the club and there were no surprises in the starting XI. Roberto Di Matteo had John Terry back after a two-match ban and opted for Oscar’s first start in attack rather than Juan Mata. As in Serie A, Antonio Conte was in the stands so Massimo Carrera manned the touchline. Juve had lost their last five consecutive Champions League trips to England against Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Arsenal (twice). The last time the Bianconeri conquered English soil in this competition was 1-0 at Manchester United in the group stage on November 11, 1996. After three minutes David Luiz bundled a corner into Buffon’s arms, but in numerous early set plays Giorgio Chiellini and Terry got up close and personal. Arturo Vidal’s shot was charged out for a corner, but on the counter Andrea Barzagli intercepted a dangerous Eden Hazard pass to Fernando Torres. Claudio Marchisio trapped a long ball forward to spring the offside trap and was one-on-one, but Petr Cech came flying out to parry at his feet from nine yards. In the opening stages in London, Chelsea appeared to be focusing on the counter-attack. Ramires and Torres had efforts charged down from close range as part of the same chaotic move, as did Mirko Vucinic from Stephan Lichtsteiner’s pull-back. Vucinic should’ve done better when Vidal intercepted a Branislav Ivanovic pass in midfield, but the Montenegro international hit the side-netting from a very promising position. Vidal turned his ankle during that move and was off for treatment when Chelsea got a goal out of nowhere. Oscar aimed from distance and it took a big deflection off Leonardo Bonucci’s shin to loop over a helpless Buffon. It gave the home side the lead against the run of play. Juve were still stunned when Chelsea added a second from a similar position, but this time there was no deflection. The Brazilian spun round between two defenders to curl an unstoppable strike into the top corner that dipped mercilessly under the bar. Vidal tried to curl one too, but it was over the bar and he still seemed to be limping heavily from that ankle sprain. Despite being in very poor condition, Vidal still managed to get a goal back for Juve. His first touch on the edge of the box gave him enough space to smash a precise angled drive into the near bottom corner. The Chilean could barely celebrate as he was grimacing at the pain of his ankle. Cech smothered a slightly over-hit Vidal through ball at Giovinco’s feet, then Buffon had his palms stung by a Ramires snapshot from a tight angle. Ashley Cole charged down a Giovinco spin from the D. The first half ended with an Andrea Pirlo free kick that was curled just wide. Chelsea 2-1 Juventus (Half-Time) Scorers: Oscar 32, 34 ( C), Vidal 38 (J) Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Mikel; Ramires, Hazard, Oscar; Torres Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Vucinic Ref: Proenca (POR)

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1st leg) - 19-9-2012 (8:45 p.m.) ................ CHELSEA - JUVENTUS Stamford bridge stadium - London Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal) Juventus Will Experience True Test Sep 19, 2012 Juventus caretaker Massimo Carrera has emphasized the importance of their opening Champions League fixture against reigning champions Chelsea set to take place today. Carrera who took over for Juve manager Antonio Conte following his 9 month ban, believes that this game will be a true test to Juventus’ ability and strength in Europe. Juventus dominated the Serie A last year winning the Scudetto and going undefeated in the process. The Bianconeri have not qualified for the Champions League since the ’09-’10 season, in which they did not get past the Group Stages. Carrera has personal experience in the Champions League as he won the highest honor in club football with Juventus back in the ’95/’96 season as a player. “I’m not nervous. It will be a normal game for me. We are back in Europe and are very proud to be facing the holders of the trophy. It represents an important test for us.” Carrera will look to fair better than his compatriot Massimo Allegri whose squad struggled against Anderlecht and walked out of their Champions League opener with a disappointing tie. Both Chelsea and Juventus are top of the table in their respective leagues and surely have a lot to prove in their first game of Group E.

Pirlo vogliamo un goal

Pirlo e Giovinco ... un primo tempo mediocre.