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Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Borini ready for Juve-Roma Apr 21, 2012 Fabio Borini and Maarten Stekelenburg are in the Roma squad travelling to Turin, although it’s not clear if they are fit to face Juventus. Both players have missed training sessions this week and there are particular doubts over striker Borini’s ability to play tomorrow evening. Borini was not expected to be in the squad at all after interrupting Friday’s session with a left hip problem. Stekelenburg has now recovered from a bout of flu and is fit to start between the posts. Nicolas Burdisso, Juan, Bogdan Lobont and Marco Cassetti are all ruled out with injuries. Roma squad: Borini, Curci, De Rossi, Gago, Greco, Heinze, Kjaer, Bojan, Lamela, Marquinho, Osvaldo, Perrotta, Pigliacelli, Pjanic, Rosi, Simplicio, Stekelenburg, Taddei, Totti, Jose Angel http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Juventus v AS Roma Preview: Del Piero v Totti, One Last Time? Juventus take on AS Roma in what will be one of the most crucial encounters as Serie A limps back to action after cancellation of all matches due to Piermario Morosini’s tragic death last week. Apr 21, 2012 Antonio Conte’s Juventus were in unstoppable form before the unexpected break in action and the Juventus gaffer will be hoping that his team keeps their focus intact. AS Roma’s form has not been in the same level although they have picked up some very important points in last two months. With Lazio, Udinese and Napoli being in suspect form right now, the Lupi have a more than decent chance of sneaking into UCL spots. Team News and Tactical Brief Juventus A wonderful run of form in past few rounds have seen Juventus overtake defending champions AC Milan in the table standings. With six games left to play, it is up to Conte’s men to maintain the lead till end of season. Juventus suffered a mini-crisis the last time their matches were re-scheduled and one of Conte’s biggest challenges will be to bring back the intensity and drive shown by Bianconeri players against Napoli or Palermo. The 3-5-2 has been overwhelmingly successful in last few matches for Juventus but Conte did change his formation back to a 4-3-3 at the very last moment against Lazio. His decision to change the formation was more down to Paolo De Ceglie’s last minute injury rather than a tactical one. However, Conte might stick to the 4-3-3 formation in order to counter Luis Enrque’s tactics in this match. Stefan Lichtsteiner played one of his best matches in the black and white shirt against AS Roma in first leg. The Swiss express is likely to wrestle the starting position away from Martin Caceres. A fit-again Paolo De Ceglie is likely to start on opposite wing with the reliable pairing of Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini starting in central defence. Juventus midfield triumvirate of Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal get picked on merit. Pirlo had another magical night against Lazio in last match as his beautiful floated assist to Simone Pepe opened the scoring for Juve. With 11 assists Pirlo is just one behind Fabrizio Miccoli in terms of most assists. However, no other player in Serie A comes close to his incredible record of completing 2252 passes out of attempted 2606 passes till now. Fabio Quagliarella has been enjoying a good run of form recently and could have easily score a goal against Lazio if not for Marchetti’s brilliant saves. The ex-Napoli striker is being rumoured to be on the verge of signing a new Juventus contract in coming weeks and should be looking to cap off his new contract with a few more goals. Simone Pepe is most likely to start on the right-wing with Montenegrin striker Mirko Vucinic. Ever since Alessandro Del Piero scored the all-important match winner against Lazio, news has been dominated by speculation about his Juventus contract. This will also be probably the last time when Del Piero squares off against Francesco Totti. Possible Starting XI(4-3-3): Buffon(GK); Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Chiellini, De Ceglie; Marchisio, Vidal, Pirlo; Pepe, Quagliarella, Vucinic Possible lineups AS Roma Despite starting off with a stutter, Luis Enrique’s much-vaunted project at the Stadio Olimpico is looking towards a moderately successful finish. Roma has been pretty inconsistent in last two months but poorer form of other teams above them mean that the Giallorossi still have a good chance of clinching the third place. They are just four points behind third placed Lazio, though they have a daunting fixture list awaiting them. AS Roma’s last three matches have seen a lot of goals. They started with a 5-2 thrashing of basement boys Novara but surprisingly slumped to a 4-2 loss at relegation battlers Lecce. Roma bounced back in style and earned a 3-1 win over direct rivals Udinese with two late goals. The Romans are suffering from a defensive crisis which sees them desperately short of proper central defenders. Daniel De Rossi is likely to partner Kjaer in central defence. De Rossi is usually one of Roma’s best players whenever they face off against Juventus though his Scandinavian partner has had a largely forgettable season till date. The most intriguing battle will take place in midfield where the trio of Pjanic, Gago and Marquinho will clash against Juve’s M-V-P midfield. In terms of stats, Juventus and Roma are two of the best passing teams in the league and their respective midfields have a major role behind those stats. Like in many other matches, this match might very well be decided based on whoever takes control of center of the park. Francesco Totti missed a crucial penalty kick against Juventus in the first leg and will be looking to make amends for that costly miss. Totti’s return to the starting line-up has acted as a primary catalyst to Roma’s resurgence. The hero of eternal city scored a goal against Udinese and will be once against crucial to Enrique’s plans, playing as the trequartista behind strikers Fabio Borini and Osvaldo. Borini and Osvalo have notched up 20 goals together in Serie A with the Argentine making further contributions with 5 assists. It will be interesting to see how lethal the duo can be in front of the best defence in Serie A. Possible Starting XI(4-3-1-2): Stekelenburg(GK); Taddei, Kjaer, De Rossi, Jose Angel; Pjanic, Gago, Marquinho; Totti, Osvaldo, Borini. Key Match Facts Juventus (61.2%) and AS Roma (60%) are the top two teams in Serie A terms of average ball possession per match. The teams are tied at the top of Serie A with 85% pass completion rate. Roma has not drawn a match since 8th February, 2012 while Juventus have most drawn matches in Serie A TheHardTackle’s Players to Watch Out For Arturo Vidal (Juventus) Vidal’s costly error led to AS Roma taking an early lead in the first leg. Juventus never really recovered from that early set-back. The combative Chilean is in red hot form right now and will be looking to make up for that error. Francesco Totti (AS Roma) Totti’s career is filled with a number of stellar performances against Juventus. He would be looking to put his missed penalty in first half of the season and get back to scoring form against Juventus. This will probably be his last showdown with Del Piero, so he will have extra-motivation. TheHardTackle’s Prediction Juventus 1-0 AS Roma The tickets for this match were sold out in just 40 minutes, which shows how eager Juventus fans are for this match. This will be first time for AS Roma to play in the pressure cooker environment of Juventus Stadium. Roma will make life difficult for Juve but home advantage will be crucial in this match in the end. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Enrique 'surprised Juve unbeaten' Apr 21, 2012 Luis Enrique warns his Roma side that “you cannot make a mistake against Juventus,” but insists he won’t be content with a draw in Turin on Sunday night. The Giallorossi have a dismal away record and visit the unbeaten Serie A leaders tomorrow evening in a huge Serie A fixture. “The difference between the teams in the table is clear, but it will be an open game between two sides who know how to play football and know what they can do,” said the Spaniard. “I am surprised that Juventus are still unbeaten, as often big clubs have a drop in concentration levels against the smaller sides, but it hasn’t happened to them this season. “Antonio Conte is doing an extraordinary job. We will play our game, as we always do, trying to keep possession and score goals. It is exciting for us to play in Turin and try to end their run. “We are 100 per cent motivated and you cannot make a mistake against Juventus. Don’t forget we lost 3-0 in the Coppa Italia despite what I thought was a good performance. I doubt the Juventus Stadium will be a problem for us, as the word ‘fear’ must not exist in the football world. If anything, the atmosphere will give further motivation. “At the halfway stage of the season, I said Milan were the only team stronger than Roma, but today only Juve and Milan have done better than everyone else. We were inconsistent, which is why we’re far off the top of the table. We must work to get closer to their level.” It will probably be the final Serie A meeting between Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero, as the Juve captain’s contract expires this summer. “They are certainly two great champions and are still proving that,” continued Luis Enrique. “I praise both of them, although I am more interested in the group ethic to beat our opponents. If we make mistakes, then we will be punished.” Juan, Marco Cassetti, Bogdan Lobont and Nicolas Burdisso are injured, while Fabio Borini and Maarten Stekelenburg are at risk. It means Daniele De Rossi could again be used in central defence. “We have many games to play in quick succession to the end of the season and need a complete squad to get through them. De Rossi as defender is an option I could use. He remains in any case a midfielder, as that is his natural role.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Pjanic: 'Roma hope to end Juve record' Apr 21, 2012 Miralem Pjanic is looking forward to Sunday’s trip to Turin, as “Roma want to be the first to beat Juventus. It feels like a Champions League tie.” These two clubs have not really experienced Europe this season, as the Giallorossi went out in the Europa League preliminary round. “Roma want to be the first to beat Juventus this season,” smiled Pjanic on Sky Sport Italia. “As a kid I watched Juve because Zinedine Zidane played there and I’ve always liked this team. They’re having a great campaign and are difficult to face, as they are such a compact unit. They are back to the top level. “Third place is still possible for us, as there are six important games left and this with Juve is one of the best to play in. It feels like a Champions League tie. “They are fighting for the Scudetto, we are fighting for third, but we want to play a great game and hopefully end their unbeaten record. “I have learned more from Luis Enrique than any other Coach in my career. I am happy here and am concentrated on doing my best.” The media has also pointed out this will likely be the last time Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti get to face off in a Serie A match. “They are both great champions and won a World Cup together,” continued Pjanic. “It is a unique battle between two players who can always make the difference. It would be a shame not to see them together again, as all of world football would miss these two.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi "The Roma game will be an open affair" – Alessandro Matri The Juventus striker is eagerly awaiting what he believes will be a hotly-contested encounter at the Juventus Arena on Sunday. Apr 21, 2012 With only a handful of matches left to play in the Serie A this season Juventus have a one-point lead over second-placed AC Milan and are highly fancied to secure what would be a 28th Scudetto. La Vecchia Signora come into Sunday's mouthwatering fixture with Roma with five consecutive victories under their belt and will be hoping to make it six in a row to move within touching distance of the much sought after title. However, they must be on top of their game at all moments, because rivals Roma are hungrier than ever and on paper appear to have what it takes to end Juve's impressive 32-game unbeaten run. According to Alessandro Matri the clash with Roma will be a very difficult game, because both teams have much at stake. The 27-year-old, who believes that it will be an open game, stressed the importance for Juve to maintain total concentration throughout the entire ninety minutes to obtain the desired result. "The Roma game will be an open affair because both teams are fighting for an important target. We need to do well to make the most of the chances that come our way and play with maximum concentration, urged on by the great support our fans will certainly provide," affirmed Matri. Matri, whose ten goals for Juventus this season has made him the club's leading scorer, also expressed his joy for the moment which the Bianconeri are passing through. "At the start of the season it would have been difficult to imagine being top of the league with six games remaining and Coppa Italia finalists," he said. "As the months have gone by, we've become aware of our strength and desire to be where we are. We're currently at the decisive moment, we mustn't give up now, we want to aim to reach both targets and fulfill our dream." Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw by Roma at the Stadio Olimpico earlier on in the season, but they proved their superiority over the Romans with a crushing 3-0 victory in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals in January. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Juventus looking to strip Milan of Serie A title and record Apr 21, 2012 Juventus are closing in on two prizes currently held by AC Milan as the Serie A race heads into a crucial and demanding period of the season. Following the postponement of last weekend’s games due to the death of Livorno’s Piermario Morosini, top flight teams now face a run of five games in two weeks. Not only are Juve defending a one-point lead at the top of the table over champions Milan but the Old Lady of Turin are also closing in on the rossoneri’s record unbeaten run. Back in the days of Fabio Capello, Milan went 42 games unbeaten over 11 months from April 1992 to March 1993. Juve’s current run stands at 37 games in league and cup, starting with the final match of last season. If they get through the next two weeks without a loss, they will match Milan’s marker while remaining unbeaten to the end of the league season would allow them to surpass their rivals. It has been a remarkable turnaround for a team that finished seventh in the previous two seasons and missed out on European competition in this campaign. More than the unbeaten record, Juve are aiming for a league and cup double and have a cup final to come against Napoli a week after the Serie A season ends. But the main prize is the scudetto and with six games left, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri says it will come down to a mental battle. “The team which keeps its nerve will win,” he said. Milan have a slight advantage in playing first this weekend, at home to lowly Bologna. Should they win, the pressure would be on Juve ahead of their meeting tomorrow against Roma. But while all teams have a difficult next two weeks coming up, Milan forward Maxi Lopez says the rest over the last seven days has done them the world of good. “We can’t let up at all, we managed to train well this week. Today’s match will be the first of six finals,” he said. A couple of weeks ago the general consensus was that Juve had the tougher run-in but they have won their two toughest assignments against Napoli and Lazio, meaning Milan now appear to face the greater pitfalls, including a derby with Inter Milan in their penultimate match. However, after the clash with Roma, Juve face the bottom three, which could be a difficult prospect against teams fighting for their lives, although both Cesena and Novara could be already relegated by the time they play the leaders. Cesena could go down this weekend if they lose at home to Palermo and Genoa get at least a point at home to Siena. If Novara lose at Napoli, they could also be relegated in midweek. That match is not just crucial to Novara’s future but also Napoli’s. They have lost their last three and failed to win in five leaving them six points behind Lazio in third, the final Champions League qualification position. That battle looks set to go down to the wire, in part because none of the teams in contention are in good form. Lazio have lost three of their last five while fourth-placed Udinese have lost three of their last six and have only one win in seven. Those two play next weekend in what could be a decisive encounter. This weekend Lazio host third-bottom Lecce while Udinese are at mid-table Chievo. The other two teams in with a chance are Inter, who travel to Fiorentina, and Roma, although like Napoli, both will need to string some wins together to overhaul Lazio. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Unbeaten run will count for nothing if we do not win Serie A, admits Marchisio After 32 rounds of action, the Bianconeri have yet to lose a game, but the title is the only thing that matters as far as the Italy international is concerned. Apr 20, 2012 Claudio Marchisio has admitted that Juventus will derive no joy out of going through the entire Serie A season undefeated if they do not win the Ser. With just six games to go, the Bianconeri are on the verge of becoming just the third Italian side to finish a league campaign unbeaten, after Perugia in 1978-79 and AC Milan in 1991-92. However, Marchisio admits that the only thing that matters as far as Antonio Conte's men are concerned is preserving their one-point lead over the current Rossoneri lineup. "It’s an even tussle with Milan," the midfielder mused during an interview with Sky Sport Italia "We’re unbeaten and this makes us proud, but maintaining that run is only nice if we have something to show for it at the end.” Marchisio is also aware that Juve's unblemished record could also be ruined by Champions League-chasing Roma this weekend. “Roma are an excellent team and they’re in a good run of form," the Italy international pointed out. "They have their ups and downs, but possess great champions and we’ll face them with total respect." The Old Lady's crunch clash with the Giallorossi kicks off at 20.45CET on Sunday. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Borini doubtful for Roma's trip to Juventus The Italy international picked up a minor knock in Friday's training session and his availability for this weekend's match in Turin is not certain. Apr 20, 2012 Roma striker Fabio Borini is a last-minute worry for coach Luis Enrique ahead of Sunday's Serie A game against Juventus, according to Il Corriere dello Sport. The 21-year-old left Friday's training session after just 15 minutes, complaining of pain in his lumbar region. He will undergo a series of tests on Saturday to determine whether he will be able to take part in the match against the Serie A leaders. Meanwhile, Maarten Stekelenburg has resumed full training after missing Thursday's session because of flu and is available for the encounter in Turin. Roma lie in fifth position in the Serie A table, 18 points behind Juventus. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

'Juventus will be like Real Madrid and Barcelona in two years' - Tacchinardi The retired midfielder stated that the Turin club will soon be on top of the football world and was full of praise for the work of the Bianconeri directors. Apr 20, 2012 Former Italy international Alessio Tacchinardi believes that Juventus will soon scale the same heights as Primera Division duo Real Madrid and Barcelona. The Bianconeri are currently one point clear at the top of the Serie A standings with six games remaining. They are also very close to securing a place in next season's Champions League after a two-year absence, and Tacchinardi says that the club will soon be back at the top. "General director Beppe Marotta and president Andrea Agnelli are making the difference, when compared to their predecessors," Tacchinardi, who played at Juve between 1994 and 2007, told Radio Mana Mana. "In two or three years, Juventus will be like Real Madrid and Barcelona. "Antonio Conte has managed the situation differently because he is now backed by everyone at the club." Juventus will host Roma on Sunday in their next Serie A fixture.

Padoin: We believe we can win the Scudetto The midfielder is confident that the Bianconeri have what it takes to stay ahead of rivals AC Milan for the remainder of the season and win the league title. Apr 20, 2012 Juventus midfielder Simone Padoin has stressed that the Old Lady are confident they can win the Serie A title this term. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri have a one-point lead over AC Milan in the league table, and Padoin has insisted that Juve want to win all their remaining games in order to secure their first Scudetto since 2002-03. "The Scudetto? We believe we can do it, there are six games left and we don’t want to put a foot wrong in the remainder of the season. We have the desire to win the title," Padoin stated to Juventus Channel. http://markting10.nl/ The 28-year-old Padoin joined Juventus from Atalanta in the winter transfer window and has since made four Serie A appearances for the league leaders.

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Borini a doubt for Juve Apr 20, 2012 Fabio Borini is a late fitness doubt to face Juventus this weekend, after picking up an injury in training for Roma. The 21-year-old forward was forced to pull out of Friday’s training session at Trigoria after just 15 minutes, complaining of a muscular problem with his right buttock. The injury will be assessed by doctors and a decision made soon as to whether he will be available or not to Luis Enrique for the journey north to Turin this weekend. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Marchisio: Unbeaten only good if… Apr 20, 2012 Claudio Marchisio admits that finishing the season unbeaten will mean nothing for Juventus if they don’t win the Scudetto. Currently a point ahead of title rivals Milan with six games to play, the Bianconeri face arguably their toughest remaining test this weekend with Roma’s visit to Turin. However, midfielder Marchisio is aware that more than the weekend matters for the club in a tight title race. “The Scudetto race is absolutely not over, we will remain focused until the end,” he told Sky Sport 24 on Friday. “Allegri says that whoever wins the title will be the team with the surest nerves, this is true, but it is not the only component. We must stay focused as we have proven to be up to this point. We’ll also need a little luck to get to the end. “We’ll need to be alert and show desire in every game, not just in Sunday’s clash. On paper we have easier games ahead of us after Roma, but we’re fully aware it’s not like that and we must always be at our maximum. It’s an even tussle with Milan. “We attach great importance to the unbeaten record, but it will mean nothing if we fail to win the Scudetto. At this point, we want it very strongly.” The midfielder was asked about the potential last meeting this weekend between Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero, and if he and Daniele De Rossi were ready to take their place as their team’s flag bearers. “The final showdown between Totti and Del Piero? They’ve gifted extraordinary moments to Italian football, both with the World Cup win in 2006 and throughout their careers as a whole. “They’ll have the desire to play a key role once again. “It is up to us to deserve this ‘handover’. Daniele has so much experience and is not only a great midfielder but also a good defender, as we see him playing that role recently. “He stopped me when I tried to break forward in the first meeting, fingers crossed he won’t be so successful come this Sunday evening.” Marchisio was also asked of comparisons between this Juventus side and previous versions of the team that have fought for the title. “Surely, the fact that in the past two seasons Juve have struggled and finished seventh twice and not played in the Champions League can have an impact on the perception of our great players. “However, Juve still retains its charm, has always had its appeal, more so now that we are getting such great results and it is easier to see these great players again at Juve. “This is an important team, whilst it is also clear that next year we will improve again when reinforced for future objectives.” The Italy international also had a word for former Under-21 teammate Piermario Morosini, who died last weekend. “I felt great sadness at the death of Piermario. I remember the two years I spent alongside him with the Under-21s, along with the youth team games against Atalanta, where he played alongside Marco Motta... “He was a wonderful guy, always relaxed and helpful.”

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Curci to face Juventus? Apr 20, 2012 Gianluca Curci is on stand-by ahead of the Juventus game after Marteen Stekelenburg was struck down by a virus. The goalkeeper missed training on Thursday and there are fears that he may not recover in time for Sunday’s showdown. The summer signing from Ajax has been a stable member of Luis Enrique’s side when fit so far this season. If the Dutch international doesn’t recover then the Spanish boss will have to turn to the former Italian Under-21 international. Back-up ‘keeper Bogdan Lobont is struggling with a knee injury, so the 26-year-old will be promoted from third-choice. Curci, a product of the club’s youth system, returned to the capital outfit in the summer after spells at Siena and Sampdoria. He hasn’t played a single minute of competitive football this season. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Borini: Del Piero is my idol Apr 20, 2012 Roma’s Fabio Borini has admitted a love for Alessandro Del Piero and Roberto Baggio ahead of Sunday’s game at Juventus. “Del Piero is my idol and I’m not saying that because we will be facing Juventus this weekend,” he told La Stampa. “I never remember Del Piero saying a word out of place, he’s the best you can get. Then there was also Baggio, Roberto Baggio.” Del Piero succeeded Baggio in the Juventus No 10 shirt in Turin. The 37-year-old, signed in 1993 from Padova, will leave the Turin giants in the summer. While leaders Juventus are going for the title, Roma are four points away from the last Champions League spot. “We want third, but our season won’t be decided in Turin,” continued the new Italian international. Borini, co-owned with Parma, has been a revelation in Serie A this term as the 21-year-old has scored nine goals in 19 League games. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Juve-Roma almost a derby Apr 20, 2012 Juventus-Roma games are the closest thing you can get to a derby match between two teams from different cities, says Vincent Candela. “It’s not a derby, but it almost is,” the Frenchman, who spent eight years with the Giallorossi, told Radio Incontro ahead of Sunday's meeting. “It’s always been a really important game. And, at this point of the season, it’s a key tie for both clubs.” Leaders Juventus are aiming to keep their one point advantage over Milan, while the Giallorossi are targeting third and qualification for the Champions League. “Third will be hard for Roma,” the ex-full-back continued. “They might stand a chance if they beat Juve, but if they lose then I think it will be all over for them.” The inconsistent capital outfit are currently fifth in the standings, four points adrift of city rivals Lazio in the last European Cup spot. “Roma are just missing two or three champions to become a great side again,” added Candela. “They would complete that squad with such players.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Roma set to recall Heinze for Juve clash The Argentine defender was demoted to the bench for last weekend's clash with Udinese, but lined up alongside Simon Kjaer in training on Thursday. Apr 19, 2012 Roma coach Luis Enrique looks set to recall Gabriel Heinze for Sunday night's crucial Serie A clash with league leaders Juventus. The veteran stopper was dropped to the bench for last weekend's victory over fellow Champions League chasers Udinese, with midfielder Daniel De Rossi dropping back into defence alongside Simon Kjaer. However, according to the Corriere dello Sport, Heinze was paired with Kjaer during a training game at Liguria on Thursday between the first-team and the reserves. Going on the respective line-ups, it seems that Aleandro Rosi will get the nod at right-back ahead of Jose Angel, with Taddei set to continue on the opposite side of the back four. Roma are currently just four points behind third-placed Lazio ahead of this weekend's games. Juventus, meanwhile, top the table by a solitary point from defending champions AC Milan. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Trieste will host Cagliari-Juventus Apr 19, 2012 There are likely to be more Juventus fans than Cagliari supporters when the two sides meet in Week 37 after Trieste was confirmed as the venue. The Rossoblu have decided to play their last four home games of the season at a neutral ground because of a bust-up with the local council regarding plans to erect a new stadium. Given that Trieste is over 600 miles away from Sardinia, Scudetto chasing Juventus are set to be heavily backed at the Nereo Rocco.

Moggi: 'Del Piero exit a mistake' Apr 18, 2012 Luciano Moggi has warned Juventus “it would be a mistake” to let Alessandro Del Piero leave and the Scudetto is not won yet. The captain’s contract expires at the end of the season and the club has so far resisted pressure to give him an extension. “It’s true that Alex is not the player he once was, but he is always decisive, as he proved in recent games,” former Juve director general Moggi told RadioCalciomercato. “The figures speak for themselves. I also know Alex as a person and can assure you we are talking about a great man. Del Piero would still be very useful for Juventus, even if used only occasionally. It would be a mistake to let him go. “He can have a future as a director in Turin, but I want to point out he still has a few years left in his legs and could be like Jose Altafini, who was often decisive coming off the bench. “The Juve directors have to understand if the player can still give his contribution to the Bianconeri cause.” Juventus are top of the table with a one-point lead over Milan, but Moggi warns there are still quite a few potential slip-ups along the way. “It’s not just Roma who are on their road to the Scudetto. Lecce, for example, play the best football in Italy right now and could really torture Antonio Conte’s side in a few weeks. “They also need to watch out for Cesena’s new-found defensive solidity. In qualitative terms the Juve squad is not exceptional, but they are superb when it comes to determination and grit.”

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Bonucci to play with mask Apr 18, 2012 Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci will be available to start the League game against Roma this weekend following nose surgery. The Italian international sustained a small fracture in the closing minutes of the 2-1 win over Lazio, an injury which required an operation. Bonucci was included in the squad to face Cesena last weekend, before the tie was postponed, but it was thought that he wouldn’t be risked. The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport is today writing that the former Inter and Bari stopper will begin against the Giallorossi with the aid of a protective mask. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Bonucci to play with mask Apr 18, 2012 Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci will be available to start the League game against Roma this weekend following nose surgery. The Italian international sustained a small fracture in the closing minutes of the 2-1 win over Lazio, an injury which required an operation. Bonucci was included in the squad to face Cesena last weekend, before the tie was postponed, but it was thought that he wouldn’t be risked. The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport is today writing that the former Inter and Bari stopper will begin against the Giallorossi with the aid of a protective mask.

Serie A - 15^ Giornata - Ritorno - 22-4-2012 (ore 20:45) - Juventus Stadium - Torino Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Confronti ufficiali 174 - 155 (Serie A) - 15 (Coppa Italia) - 4 (Campionato a gironi) Vittorie Juventus 81 - 72 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) Pareggi 51 - 47 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) Vittorie Roma 42 - 36 (Serie A) - 6 (Coppa Italia) Goals Juventus 269 - 240 (Serie A) - 24 (Coppa Italia) - 5 (Campionato a gironi) Goals Roma 187 - 169 (Serie A) - 17 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) Juventus - Roma a Torino Serie A Confronti ufficiali 77 Vittorie Juventus 48 (L'ultima il 01.11.2008, 2-0) Pareggi 21 (L'ultimo il 13.11.2010, 1-1) Vittorie Roma 8 (L'ultima il 23.01.2010, 1-2) Goals Juventus 146 Goals Roma 56 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro la Roma a Torino 14 presenze Del Piero Alessandro 14 Furino Giuseppe 12 Bettega Roberto 12 Salvadore Sandro 12 Scirea Gaetano 11 Zoff Dino 10 Cabrini Antonio 10 Causio Franco 10 Cuccureddu Antonello 10 Varglien I Mario 8 goals Del Piero Alessandro 6 Boniperti Giampiero 5 Bettega Roberto 5 Borel II Felice Placido 5 Praest Karl Aage 5 Sivori Omar Enrique 4 Cesarini Renato 4 Gabetto Guglielmo 4 Schillaci Salvatore 3 Capello Fabio Ultimi confronti diretti 16.02.2008 Serie A Juventus-Roma 1-0 01.11.2008 Serie A Juventus-Roma 2-0 21.03.2009 Serie A Roma-Juventus 1-4 30.08.2009 Serie A Roma-Juventus 1-3 23.01.2010 Serie A Juventus-Roma 1-2 13.11.2010 Serie A Juventus-Roma 1-1 27.01.2011 Coppa Italia Juventus-Roma 0-2 03.04.2011 Serie A Roma-Juventus 0-2 12.12.2011 Serie A Roma-Juventus 1-1 24.01.2012 Coppa Italia Juventus-Roma 3-0 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 6 - Pareggi 2 - Vittorie Roma 2 - Goals Juventus 18 - Goals Roma 8

Serie A Week 34 - 22-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Juve-Roma sold out in 40 mins! Apr 17, 2012 The tickets for Sunday night’s Juventus-Roma match all sold out within 40 minutes, as Scudetto fever is burning up Turin. Sales were suspended until this afternoon because the Lega had not yet confirmed the kick-off time or date. When they did become available, the Juventus Stadium was completely sold out in 40 minutes. Juve are the Serie A leaders and face off against old rivals Roma, who are in the running for a Champions League spot. It will also see Mirko Vucinic and Marco Borriello face their former club. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Fly Little Angel, Fly High in the Soccer Sky Apr 15, 2012 Italian soccer mourns the tragic death of Piermario Morosini today, the Livorno midfielder who suffered a cardiac arrest during Saturday afternoon’s Pescara vs. Livorno Serie B fixture. Juventus F.C. have sent their sincere condolences to the player’s family. The entire JuventiKnows crew joins them in prayer. The FIGC has postponed all of this weekend’s fixtures. Cesena vs. Juventus, which was to be played at 15:00 CET Sunday, has been canceled. We now await an announcement from Serie A regarding potential rescheduling dates.

Maldini urges AC Milan to stop moaning about Juventus 'phantom goal' The Rossoneri legend has voiced his opinion that the reigning champions should stop complaining about previous incidents, and has urged them to move on. Apr 15, 2012 AC Milan icon Paolo Maldini has urged Rossoneri coach Massimiliano Allegri to stop talking about Sulley Muntari's phantom goal against Juventus in their 1-1 Serie A draw earlier this season. The Ghanaian's strike crossed the line but was not given in the draw between the Scudetto challengers in February; much to the dismay of Allegri, who has brought up the incident more than once in recent weeks. "I agree that it was an important incident, but it's in the past now. You have to forget in order to relax and focus on your job. It's better for both sides to avoid further controversy," Maldini said to reporters at an Adidas event. "Milan have lost two of their three objectives for the season within three weeks. They were eliminated from the Champions League and Coppa Italia, but are still in the race for the Scudetto. "Any team can slip up. It's very common this season. I'd say that both Juventus and Milan have a 50 per cent chance of winning the title."

Maldini slams Allegri moaning Apr 15, 2012 Paolo Maldini has criticised Milan Coach Massimiliano Allegri for focusing on the ‘phantom goal’ against Juventus. “It’s in the past now.” Allegri went back on the Sulley Muntari goal that was not awarded in their 1-1 draw, as he feels with only one point separating the teams, the Scudetto could be decided by that incident. “It was an important incident, but it is in the past now,” said former Rossoneri legend Maldini. “In order to relax and focus on your work, you have to forget. It would be better for both sides to avoid further controversy. “In 20 days Milan have lost two of their three objectives for the season, going out of the Champions League and Coppa Italia, but the Serie A title race is still open. “Both Milan and Juve have a 50 per cent chance of winning the Scudetto, because slip-ups are very common this season.” Maldini was also asked to comment on Andrea Pirlo’s rebirth as a free transfer at Juventus and the possibility Alessandro Nesta could follow. “I never doubted Pirlo could still give a great deal, as he is a unique player,” the ex-defender told the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Nesta with the Bianconeri? I don’t know, he had a lot of physical problems and I think he takes it day by day.”