Socrates

Milan in vantaggio

Marotta nervosissimo negli spogliatoi.

Inter-Milan 1-1

Rigore clamoroso per il Milan.

Vidal dolorante

Naingolang rischia il rosso

Pressing asfissiante del Cagliari.

Orsato ma che fischi?

2-0 Inter annullato.

2-0 Inter annullato

I mafiosi sono a meno 4

Vuole tornare. Inter in vantaggio!

La prossima sará ininfluente ...

Giallo per Vidal.

Cominciamo bene. Ora continuiamo cosí.

MIRKO VUCINIC

Ariaudo scatenato

Conte scaramantico a inizio partita.

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste Referee: Daniele Orsato Line-ups: Cagliari-Juventus May 6, 2012 Juventus have Alessandro Matri, Simone Pepe and Mirko Vucinic leading the way as they could clinch the Scudetto tonight against Cagliari. The Bianconeri will mathematically be crowned champions of Italy this evening if they win and Milan fail to beat Inter in the derby. Paolo De Ceglie is the only player on the treatment table, as Simone Pepe returns to the starting XI after his ankle problem. Matri faces his former teammates at the Stadio Nereo Rocco in Trieste, where Cagliari are now playing their home games due to restructuring work at the Stadio Sant’Elia. The Bianconeri are adopting a 3-5-2 system with Pepe, Matri and Vucinic. Cagliari are safely mid-table, but Alessandro Agostini is suspended with Daniele Dessena, Rui Sampaio, Sebastian Eriksson and Moustafa El Kabir injured. They too have an exciting trident with South Americans Victor Ibarbo, Mauricio Pinilla and Thiago Ribeiro. Many of the team worked under Milan Coach Massimiliano Allegri and are therefore eager to help him win the Scudetto. Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Pepe, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Lichtsteiner; Matri, Vucinic Juventus bench: Storari, Caceres, Estigarribia, Giaccherini, Quagliarella, Del Piero, Borriello Cagliari: Agazzi; Ariaudo, Canini, Astori, Pisano; Ekdal, Conti, Nainggolan; Ibarbo, Pinilla, Thiago Ribeiro Cagliari bench: Avramov, Perico, Gozzi, Dessena, Larrivey, Cossu, Nene http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste Referee: Daniele Orsato Vucinic: 'Juve are over Lecce draw' May 6, 2012 Mirko Vucinic spoke ahead of the crunch match with Cagliari and said tonight Juventus “gamble with everything.” The Bianconeri fumbled a three-point lead with their 1-1 draw against Lecce midweek and are now just one point in front of Milan. “We have already put that disappointment behind us,” assured the Montenegro international. “Tonight we are gambling with everything. We have to win without thinking about next Sunday or Milan’s result in the derby. “Our strength is in our squad, as with unity we are achieving great things.” Juve will secure the Scudetto tonight if they beat Cagliari and Milan fail to win against Inter. The 1-1 draw with Lecce was decided by a Gigi Buffon howler, but there are many banners at the Stadio Nereo Rocco cheering on the goalkeeper. One read ‘A mistake will not cancel out our love,’ while another stated ‘The greats are not those who never fall, they are those who fall and get back up.’ http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste Referee: Daniele Orsato Juventus recall Matri for crucial Cagliari clash The former Rossoblu striker will line up alongside Mirko Vucinic and Simone Pepe in the Bianconeri's three-pronged attack, with Fabio Quagliarella the man to make way. May 6, 2012 Juventus coach Antonio Conte has recalled forward Alessandro Matri for Sunday night's crucial Serie A clash with Cagliari in Trieste. The Italy international has slipped down the pecking order in recent weeks but he will spearhead the Bianconeri attack against his old club, with Fabio Quagliarella having been dropped to the bench. Simone Pepe returns on the right wing as league leaders Juve revert to 4-3-3, with wing-back Paolo De Ceglie's season having been ended by injury. As for the Rossoblu, Thiago Ribeiro and Ibarbo have both been selected to start and will flank top scorer Mauricio Pinilla. Alessandro Agostini is suspended, while Daniele Dessena is only deemed fit enough for a seat on the bench. Juventus (4-3-3): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio; Pepe, Matri, Vucinic. Subs: Storari, Caceres, Estigarribia, Giaccherini, Quagliarella, Del Piero, Borriello. Cagliari (4-3-3): Agazzi; Pisano, Canini, Astori, Ariaudo; Ekdal, Conti, Nainggolan; Ibarbo, Pinilla, Thiago Ribeiro. Subs: Avramov, Perico, Gozzi, Dessena, Cossu, Nene, Larrivey. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Non facciamo scherzi eh!

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste Referee: Daniele Orsato Cagliari vs. Juventus PREVIEW: No More Errors May 6, 2012 It’s really difficult for me to write this. I’m not going to lie, I began to think and brainstorm during the game against Lecce. I’m not a superstitious man at all, so I won’t even go with the “I jinxed it”, “I spoke too soon” (etc.) self-absorbed, narcissistic diatribes attributable to far too many sports fans. (Yes, you’re right. I get it. YOU’RE so important, you… that one fan out of a million, that God, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, the Soccer Gods, whoever it is that can influence and ultimately will determine these outcomes, cares about some stupid ritual you did or didn’t do, something you said or didn’t say, or worse, something you thought or didn’t think, like Zuul ‘The Gatekeeper’ is reading your thoughts and about to send the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man after you). But still, I can’t help but feel a slight twinge of remorse. Yet, I didn’t do anything wrong, certainly nothing to affect the game’s outcome. More so because the draw against Lecce was so unexpected and happened in such a heartbreaking, unnecessary manner. I facetiously told my colleagues that we should PhotoShop a picture of Buffon with a smartphone (or an iPad or something) while standing in goal. The joke, of course, would be that he’s bored and has nothing else to do. Now, it’s not that funny… But that was Wednesday. Now it’s time to move forward, travel to the Island of Sardinia pro-Juve ground Trieste, (still) in sole possession of the Serie A 1st place and everything ours to lose. Opponents tomorrow, teammates in the Fall? LE CHIAVI One criticism that I’ve heard about Juventus in recent weeks pertains to their pressing style. The obvious comparison people make to Conte’s tactics is, as much as I hate this comparison, of Barcelona (with caveats, of course). The players are obviously not the same, arguably of a different caliber, and the Blaugrana’s movement is far more fluid they say. Specifically, I’ve heard people argue that when the Catalans press, they either get the ball back right away, or step back after a few seconds, reorganize, and then win the ball back eventually – usually sooner, rather than later. But the key is that the entire time they remain organized. Juventus on the other hand, critics say, keep pressing – desperately – whether they can get the ball back right away or not. When they do step back, they’re often disorganized and sputtering, much like an old-school EPL team. Against Lecce, I didn’t see that at all. During the first half the Giallorossi split possession with Juve. Quite a feat, actually, considering the difference in caliber between the two teams. Despite that, the Bianconeri stayed organized and poured the pressure on. What is this to do with this weekend you say? Well, they are going to have to carry that type of mentality over against Cagliari, another provinciale who will be happy to absorb pressure. And, they are tough in the middle of the pitch where possession and ball-movement will be key. Unlike against Lecce however, our finishing needs to be more modeled on the Novara game and less our mid-Winter form. In January we played Cagliari at home, finishing in a 1-1 draw. In what would epitomize our mid-season struggles with putting away smaller sides for +3’s, an early, clinical show of ball-movement culminating into the TEAM GOAL OF THE SEASON would be negated by a second half Cossu strike. It is true that match would precede a run of two consecutive wins, the second of which dispatched Udinese and crowned us campioni d’inverno. Unfortunately, there is no silverware awarded for the ‘Winter Championship’ and, at such a critical stage into the season, we cannot afford any dropped points against Cagliari this time around. No Paolino on Sunday... but he made the trip! A PERSONNEL ISSUE For the away trip to Trieste, Antonio Conte has brought along the entire team roster (yes, even injured Paolo De Ceglie). Unlike Football Italia is claiming, we really don’t think this is in expectation of a team “party” (though it could very well be) but rather, showing everyone the team is UNITED after Gigi’s midweek blunder and also remains FOCUSED towards the common goal. If so, that is exactly the right kind of message il Mister should be sending. Bravo! As we said, Paolo De Ceglie had to come off the pitch after just a few minutes against Lecce, and is out for Sunday as well for the rest of the season probably (possibilities remain on him recuperating for the Coppa Italia final). While the normally right-sided & right-footed Martin Cáceres filled in okay, the question remains whether Conte uses him again or if he opts for Emanuele Giaccherini (or perhaps even (gulp) Marcelo Estigarribia) for that left wing. Though Simone Pepe has missed the past several games with an ankle injury he should be regularly available for this match (Conte said he’s “at 100%”), perhaps even from the start in lieu of De Ceglie. Meanwhile everyone’s favorite punching bag (not to mention Mike’s blow-up doll) Marco Borriello was likely to return to the starting 11 until yesterday (we debated whether to put this into “BAD NEWS” below) but now seems to have been overtaken by Alessandro Matri. The verdict on Conte’s final selection? A few hours from kick-off tomorrow… Looking to end his goal-drought and send Juve to 7th Heaven... BAD NEWS A razor-thin single point separates us from the team who currently has the tricolore shield stitched to their shirt. But you know what? Our fate is in our own hands. No team in Serie A would say no to the chance to switch places with us right now. Remember that. GOOD NEWS Aside from the aforementioned injuries, Juventus will still have a deep squad to choose from. Cagliari is a team with a solid defense and a good midfield. However, they are decidedly entrenched in the middle of the pack with very little else to play for in the penultimate match of the season. Meanwhile, despite the unfortunate turn of events, Juve’s defense has been as air-tight as ever, a trend I can see continuing into Sunday. Also AC Milan, just like Juventus, have the entire enchilada to play for. Only their opposition is their hated cross-town rivals, Internazionale, who are going into the Derby della Madonnina with a spot in Europe (and possibly the UEFA Champions League) on the line. Considering that Inter’s final match is against Lazio – who currently sit one point ahead of them and occupying the final UCL spot – you can be sure they (and their spry little new coach) will be motivated. Oh God. No. Jesus. No. Don’t make me have to root for Inter… THE BOTTOM LINE It’s easy for a neutral soothsayer to foresee a 1-1 draw for both Juventus and Milan on the horizon, pushing the Scudetto showdown into the final week of the season. But my heart would give you 95 to 100 reasons per minute to wish against that. We simply cannot rely on anyone else to do our job for us. Certainly not Inter. We still control our own destiny, and simply must, and certainly can, win the next two games. That’s the only way to guarantee what is rightfully ours. Avanti. CAGLIARI (4-3-1-2) Agazzi Perico, Canini, Astori, F.Pisano Ekdal, Conti, Nainggolan Cossu Pinilla, Thiago Ribeiro BENCH: Avramov, Ariaudo, Gozzi, Dessena, Larrivey, Ibarbo, Nené JUVENTUS (3-5-2) Buffon Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Pepe Matri, Vucinic BENCH: Storari, Cáceres, Padoin, Giaccherini, Borriello, Del Piero, Quagliarella In Conte we trust! http://www.soccerway...regular-season/