Socrates

Serie A Week 36 - 2-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Paolo Valeri MATCH PREVIEW May 1, 2012 Juventus can almost smell the Scudetto but having fought all season to preserve their Serie A status Lecce aren't going to lie down now. Juve will seal their first post-Calciopoli League title if a win over Lecce is coupled with a Milan loss to Atalanta on Wednesday night. “We know how to add up,” commented Coach Antonio Conte. “We are ahead and are masters of our own destiny. Wednesday will be the game of our lives.” The Bianconeri have won their last eight games, scoring 21 goals and conceding only one in the process. “An unbreachable defence is one of the secrets of this Juve side,” according to centre back Leonardo Bonucci, who turns 25 today. Lecce wasted a golden opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since Week 4 when they lost 2-1 at home to Parma on Sunday, just hours after Genoa's loss to Bologna had opened the window of opportunity for them. However one point remains the gap between them and 17th placed Genoa, and with the Rossoblu having to play their two remaining home games on neutral turf all is not yet lost for Serse Cosmi's side. The Salentini have collected 20 of their 35 points away from home. Their one and only victory over Juve in Turin was a spectacular one, 4-3 at the Stadio delle Alpi in April 2004. The fixture is one that holds great personal significance for Conte, who hails from Lecce and spent six years with the Giallorossi as a player, though he later risked his home town’s wrath by taking the job of Coach at fierce local rivals Bari. Juventus are hale and hearty other than injured winger Simone Pepe. Lecce are without injured former Roma duo Julio Sergio and Daniele Corvia, whilst Andrea Esposito is suspended. Keep an eye on: Mirko Vucinic (Juventus) – Conte isn't the only one with Lecce connections. Mirko Vucinic spent six years with the Salentini after being discovered by Pantaleo Corvino in his youth, scoring 19 goals for them in the 2004/05 campaign. The Montenegrin is much less prolific these days but has still played a key part in Juve's Scudetto charge with his pace, creativity and work rate. Form Guide: Juventus (W W W W W) Lecce (W W D L L) Last season: Juventus 4-0 Lecce Stat fact: Juventus have scored 23 goals more than Lecce but none of their players have scored more than David Di Michele. The flamboyant veteran has hit 11 Serie A strikes, one more than Bianconeri top gun Alessandro Matri. Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Quagliarella, Vucinic Lecce: Benassi; Oddo, Miglionico, Tomovic; Cuadrado, Giacomazzi, Blasi, Delvecchio, Brivio; Di Michele, Muriel http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 36 - 2-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Paolo Valeri Preview: Bianconeri look to continue Serie A title march against desperate visitors The Bianconeri will look to stay at least three points ahead of AC Milan in the Scudetto race as they welcome the relegation-threatened southern side to Turin. May 1, 2012 PROBABLE LINE-UPS JUVENTUS Buffon Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie Quagliarella, Vucinic LECCE Benassi Oddo, Miglionico, Tomovic Blasi, Delvecchio Cuadrado, Giacomazzi, Brivio Muriel, Di Michele In-form Juventus will attempt to continue their impressive run of victories against Lecce as they close in on the Serie A title. Coach Antonio Conte looks set to continue with a 3-5-2 formation, but Simone Pepe's persistent ankle problem could see Paolo De Ceglie come back into the starting XI on the left side of the midfield quintet with Stephan Lichtsteiner lining up on the opposite flank ahead of Emanuele Giaccherini and Martin Caceres. Striker Alessandro Matri returns from suspension, but Fabio Quagliarella, who signed a new contract until 2015 on Monday, is set to join Mirko Vucinic in attack. Turning to the relegation-threatened visitors, defender Andrea Esposito is suspended alongside coach Serse Cosmi, who will not be on the bench after verbal abuse to the referee during the 2-1 loss to Parma. Influential winger Juan Cuadrado is expected to be back in the starting XI after serving a ban, with the speedy Luis Muriel partnering veteran David Di Michele in attack. DID YOU KNOW? • Juventus have won their last eight Serie A games, only conceding one goal during that entire span of matches. • After not scoring in his first nine appearances for the Bianconeri, Marco Borriello has two goals in his last two games, striking versus Cesena and Novara. • Conte's side earned a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture on January 8th with Alessandro Matri bagging the winner at the Stadio Via del Mare. • Lecce are currently just inside the relegation zone sitting in 18th place, one point behind Genoa. • Cosmi's men have five away victories this season, the most of any team in the bottom half of the Serie A table. • Lecce have only managed one win, one draw, and eight losses in the previous 10 times they have played the Bianconeri in all competitions. Head to Head Serie A ‎- Jan 8, 2012 - Lecce 0 - Juventus 1 Serie A ‎- Feb 20, 2011 - Lecce 2 - Juventus 0 Serie A ‎- Oct 17, 2010 - Juventus 4 - Lecce 0 Serie A ‎- May 3, 2009 - Juventus 2 - Lecce 2 Serie A ‎- Dec 7, 2008 - Lecce 1 - Juventus 2 Last Five Matches Juventus Apr 29, 2012 - Novara 0 - Juventus 4 - Serie A Apr 25, 2012 - Cesena 0 - Juventus 1 - Serie A Apr 22, 2012 - Juventus 4 - Roma 0 - Serie A Apr 11, 2012 - Juventus 2 - Lazio 1 - Serie A Apr 7, 2012 - Palermo 0 - Juventus 2 - Serie A Lecce Apr 29, 2012 - Lecce 1 - Parma 2 - Serie A Apr 25, 2012 - Lecce 0 - SSC Napoli 2 - Serie A Apr 22, 2012 - Lazio 1 - Lecce 1 - Serie A Apr 11, 2012 - Catania 1 - Lecce 2 - Serie A Apr 7, 2012 - Lecce 4 - Roma 2 - Serie A Players to Watch Claudio Marchisio The willingness to get forward of Cuadrado could cause some problems, so the Italy international midfielder will not only have to get forward to help out the attack, but also stay attentive regarding his defensive duties and track back diligently to help out Paolo De Ceglie. Luis Fernando Muriel Whenever Lecce have come up with a moment of brilliance this season, Muriel has typically been at the heart of it. The 21-year-old's performances have caught the eye and the hosts should be wary of threat he poses when he is allowed the run into space as he can punish any lapses in concentration in an instant due to his electric pace and sense for the unexpected. Prediction Juventus seem to be at their very best in the closing stages of the season and anything other than a win against Lecce, despite the visitors' desperation to pick up points in their fight against relegation, would be a shock. Editor's Prediction Juventus 2 - 0 http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A - 17^ Giornata - Ritorno - 2-5-2012 (ore 20:45) - Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro: Paolo Valeri Verso Juventus-Lecce: I bianconeri vogliono scrivere la parola 'fine' sulla lotta Scudetto, i salentini sperano nel miracolo La Vecchia Signora

Serie A - 17^ Giornata - Ritorno - 2-5-2012 (ore 20:45) - Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro: Paolo Valeri Confronti ufficiali 37 - 29 (Serie A) - 6 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Serie B) Vittorie Juventus 25 - 19 (Serie A) - 4 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Serie B) Pareggi 8 - 6 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Lecce 4 - 4 (Serie A) Goals Juventus 76 - 59 (Serie A) - 10 (Coppa Italia) - 7 (Serie B) Goals Lecce 29 - 25 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Serie B) Juventus-Lecce a Torino Serie A Confronti ufficiali 14 Vittorie Juventus 10 (L'ultima il 17.10.2010, 4-0) Pareggi 3 (L'ultimo il 03.05.2009, 2-2) Vittorie Lecce 1 (Il 25.04.2004, 3-4) Goals Juventus 37 Goals Lecce 11 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Lecce a Torino 8 presenze Del Piero Alessandro 7 Pessotto Gianluca 5 Birindelli Alessandro 5 Buffon Gianluigi 5 Nedved Pavel 4 Conte Antonio 4 Galia Roberto 4 Marocchi Giancarlo 4 Montero Ronald Paolo Iglesia 4 Tacconi Stefano 4 goals Del Piero Alessandro 3 Ibrahimovic Zlatan 3 Nedved Pavel 2 Conte Antonio 2 Platini Michel 2 Ravanelli Fabrizio 2 Schillaci Salvatore 2 Serena Aldo 2 Trezeguet David Sergio 1 Appiah Stephen Ultimi confronti diretti 17.04.2005 Serie A Juventus-Lecce 5-2 23.10.2005 Serie A Lecce-Juventus 0-3 26.02.2006 Serie A Juventus-Lecce 3-1 25.11.2006 Serie B Juventus-Lecce 4-1 14.04.2007 Serie B Lecce-Juventus 1-3 07.12.2008 Serie A Lecce-Juventus 1-2 03.05.2009 Serie A Juventus-Lecce 2-2 17.10.2010 Serie A Juventus-Lecce 4-0 20.02.2011 Serie A Lecce-Juventus 2-0 08.01.2012 Serie A Lecce-Juventus 0-1 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 8 - Pareggi 1 - Vittorie Lecce 1 - Goals Juventus 27 - Goals Lecce 10

Serie A - 16^ Giornata - Ritorno - 29-4-2012 (ore 15:00) 0 - 4 Mirko Vučinić (16′) Marco Borriello (40′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (50′) Mirko Vučinić (64′) Stadio Silvio Piola - Novara Arbitro: Domenico Celi Spettatori: 17649‎ Serie A - La Juve passeggia a Novara: 0-4 Al Piola la Juventus evita i patemi di Cesena e chiude la partita giù nel primo tempo con Vucinic e Borriello. Nella ripresa il gol in apertura di Vidal e la doppietta del montenegrino completano la festa. Bianconeri che restano a +3 sul Milan a 3 giornate dalla fine. Novara quasi in B. Eurosport - Domenica, 29 aprile 2012 La Juventus continua la sua corsa e lo fa spazzando via tutti gli ostacoli. Dopo il retrocesso Cesena, anche il Novara viene "semi condannato" dagli uomini di Antonio Conte che si impongono con un secco 4-0 che lascia poco spazio agli approfondimenti. Sì perché la Juventus, dalla trasferta di Genova ad oggi, si è trasformata in un'autentica macchina da guerra: 8 vittorie di fila (9 contando il passaggio del turno col Milan in Coppa Italia), 23 gol fatti e un solo gol subito nelle ultime 9. I numeri, per quanto la scaramanzia di Conte possa intervenire, sono da Scudetto. Il Novara l'ha provato oggi sulla propria pelle quando è stato messo sotto dal ritmo e dall'attenzione di Pirlo e compagni che, già nel primo tempo, avevano messo in chiaro i discorsi con i gol di Borriello e Vucinic. Nella ripresa poi, Vidal e ancora Vucinic chiudevano ogni discorso. Mercoledì per la Juventus arriva il Lecce: forse l'ultimo ostacolo nella comunque strepitosa stagione di Corso Galileo Ferraris. CESENA? NO, GRAZIE - L'obiettivo numero uno per la Juventus oggi, al di là dei singoli 3 punti, era evitare la faticaccia di Cesena durata la bellezza di 80 minuti. E l'idea tattica ben chiara - attaccare e aggredire - , con Giaccherini preferito all'ultimo a De Ceglie - 3-5-2 che si trasforma il 4-3-3 in fase offensiva - porta da subito i suoi frutti. Il fortino novarese infatti resiste solamente un quarto d'ora con Vucinic "delicatissimo" a infilare sotto il sette una punizione calciata non proprio perfettamente da Pirlo. NOVARA "VORREI MA NON POSSO" - Il Milan intanto, già avanti 2-0 a Siena, impone alla Juve di continuare ad attaccare e, di fronte alla rabbia degli uomini di Conte, il Novara può poco. Alzare il baricentro infatti significherebbe automaticamente esporsi alle infilate velocissime di Giaccherini e alle verticalizzazioni di Pirlo oltre che, naturalmente, a un dispendio doppio di energie in fase di copertura difensiva. BORRIELLO BOMBER SETTIMANALE - Ecco che allora l'unico tentativo dei piemontesi di Tesser è un colpo di testa di Mazzarani, servito da Gemiti dopo una discesa a sinistra, che termina di poco alto sopra la traversa. Lì la Juventus capisce che non è più tempo di scherzare e, a 5 minuti dall'intervallo, passa nuovamente. Pirlo (tanto per cambiare) lancia lungo, Marchisio colpisce di testa all'indietro, Giaccherini crossa e Borriello sbuca in tuffo sul secondo palo: due a zero e primo tempo in ghiaccio con il secondo gol in 4 giorni dell'attaccante napoletano. VIDAL AL SETTIMO CIELO - E pensare che in avvio di ripresa Borriello potrebbe anche trovare la doppietta ma solo, davanti a Fontana, la punta bianconera incespica goffamente facendo vedere il vero valore del suo piede destro. Poco male però: un minuto dopo Vucinic spara ancora su Fontana ma la respinta è preda di Vidal che infila così il suo settimo sigillo stagionale. JUVENTUS "SQUADRA" NEL DNA - La partita di fatto finisce qui. Il Novara alza bandiera bianca di fronte alla voglia, l'intensità e l'attenzione della Juventus e, anche la notizia dei gol del Parma a Lecce, non può fare molto di più. Vucinic trova al 63' il gol del 4-0 dopo l'ennesima galoppata dell'ottimo Giaccherini e da quel momento, per Conte, scatta la girandola dei cambi: a tirare il fiato i due mediani - Marchisio e Vidal - dentro Padoin e l'oggetto misterioso Elia. Proprio l'olandese da lì alla fine inizierà una battaglia personale contro Fontana - tre occasioni nitide - che lo vedrà uscire sconfitto. Sarebbe stato il diciannovesimo giocatore diverso ad andare in rete quest'anno con la maglia della Juventus. Emblematico dato statistico di "squadra" nella sua più completa accezione: tutti corrono, tutti difendono e, alla fine, tutti segnano. Simone Eterno - Eurosport Novara - Juventus 0-4

Barzagli next up for Juventus May 1, 2012 Andrea Barzagli is set to become the latest Juventus player to be handed a new contract by the club. Fabio Quagliarella signed until 2015 on Monday, joining the likes of Paolo De Ceglie, Leonardo Bonucci and Alessandro Matri in committing themselves to the Old Lady. Centre-back Barzagli will reportedly be the next Bianconeri to put pen to paper on a new agreement in Turin. The 2006 World Cup winner is only contracted to the Old Lady until June 2013. He will extend until 2014 or 2015. The former Palermo stopper joined Juve in January 2011 for a nominal fee of €600,000 from German club Wolfsburg. Barzagli, 30, made 15 League appearances last term and he’s currently on 32 games in Serie A this term. Goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, contracted until 2013, is also being tipped to extend his stay at the club.

Juventini Assemble! – The Shoutbox May 1, 2012 JUVENTINI ASSEMBLE! Ladies and Gentlemen, this season is almost finished. Three matches remain and three points separate Juventus from AC Milan. These are the foes our superhero team has left to face: • LECCE • CAGLIARI • ATALANTA Two victories are what it will take for Juventus to realize a dream. Are you ready? ★ RAISE YOUR VOICE! ★

Cagliari-Juventus could be moved The Bianconeri would like the match to be moved so it kicked off in the evening, the same time as the Rossoneri's fixture against Inter. May 1, 2012 The upcoming fixture between Cagliari and Juventus could be moved from a 15.00CET kick-off on Sunday to 20.45CET, so as to play at the same time as Inter against AC Milan, according to Sky Sport Italia. With both teams involved in a battle to claim the Scudetto, it is understood the sides would rather play at the same time to avoid extra pressure on match officials. The two teams are in action on Wednesday with Juve entertaining Lecce and AC Milan at home to Atalanta and if both teams win, the title could be decided if the Bianconeri were to pick up maximum points against Cagliari. If this was to happen before the Milan derby, it would leave the Rossoneri with nothing to play for against their city-rivals - a situation the likes of Udinese, Napoli and Lazio would be keen to avoid for opponents Inter as all of them are fighting for the third place in the table. According to Sky Sport Italia, a meeting was held between Milan's Adriano Galliani and Juve director general Beppe Marotta with both men agreeing on moving the fixture. The final decision will be made by Lega Calcio.

Juventus could win Serie A title on Wednesday Apr 30, 2012 Juventus may be able to wrap up the Serie A title on Wednesday after thrashing Novara 4-0 on Sunday to stay three points clear at the top of Serie A. The Turin giants will clinch their first scudetto since spending a year in the second tier and being stripped of two titles for involvement in the 2006 Calciopoli match-fixing scandal if they beat Lecce at home and second-placed AC Milan lose to Atalanta at the San Siro. That would give unbeaten Juve a six-point lead with two games to go. This would be an unassailable advantage as they have a better record in the head-to-heads with champions Milan - the factor that decides who takes the crown if two sides finish level on points. "The difficult thing now is that we have to win on Wednesday, which is the match of a lifetime," Juve coach Antonio Conte said of the clash with third-bottom Lecce, who are fighting to avoid the drop to Serie B. "We are are closing in (on the title) in the right way, by winning matches, although we know we are up against a great rival (in Milan). We know that we are in front and we are the masters of our own destiny". Regardless of what Milan do, Juve now know that two wins from their last three games will suffice for them to win the title after a Mirko Vucinic double and goals by Marco Borriello and Arturo Vidal gave them victory in Novara. "I prefer to win all three," said Conte.

Cagliari-Juventus could be moved Apr 30, 2012 Week 37’s fixture between Cagliari and Juventus could be moved to a Sunday evening kick-off so as to be played at the same time as Inter-Milan. Locked in a tight battle for Lo Scudetto, the two clubs are understood to prefer to play at the same time as each other so as to ‘remove any extra pressure on the match officials’ and to maintain the Rossoneri’s motivation for their derby. Should both teams win their Week 36 tests this midweek, then Juve could mathematically wrap up the title with a win against Cagliari, which if played before the Milan derby, could render that game a nothing encounter for the red half of the city, something that the likes of Udinese, Lazio and Napoli would be keen to avoid for opponents Inter. This is according to Sky Sport Italia, who say that a meeting held between Rossonero Vice President Adriano Galliani and Bianconero director general Beppe Marotta has the clubs in agreement on moving the fixture. A final decision on moving the game will be down to the Lega Calcio.

The importance of Pirlo… Apr 30, 2012 Former Parma boss Franco Colomba has underlined how important Andrea Pirlo has been to Juventus’ Scudetto bid. Pirlo joined the Turin giants from Milan in the summer, on a free transfer, and the Old Lady are now three points clear of the Rossoneri with three games left. “Pirlo is their extra man,” the tactician told Sport Italia. “He is a player who has allowed the others around him to grow. “I think that has made the real difference this season. “Juventus are now a very strong team mentally – they are aware that they are good physically and technically.” The out-of-work tactician, axed in January, also praised Marco Borriello after he netted his second goal for the club in the 4-0 win at Novara. “He’s overtaken Alessandro Matri and he can be signed outright at the end of the season,” added Colomba. “I think he deserves to be confirmed by Juventus.”

Bonucci on the defensive Apr 30, 2012 At a time when Juventus have started scoring for fun, Leonardo Bonucci has underlined the strength of their defence. “Our success at the back is an added value,” the former Bari centre-back stated after Sunday’s 4-0 win at Novara. “I think our unbreachable defence is one of the secrets of this Juventus side.” The Bianconeri have conceded just once in their last nine League games, scoring 23 in the process, which has helped them to a three-point lead at the top of the table with three games remaining. “We spoke in the dressing room and knew it would be another tough game like we faced in Cesena,” he said of yesterday’s win. “We took to the field with the right focus, possessing the hunger of those who want to win. “We instantly managed to get things going in our favour, and did well to immediately put the game to bed. “It was a good victory that’s come from a great team, a great Coach and a great project. We’ll now think ahead to Wednesday, because we still haven’t achieved anything.”

Serie A Week 35 - 29-4-2012 (3:00 p.m.) 0 - 4 Mirko Vučinić (16′) Marco Borriello (40′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (50′) Mirko Vučinić (64′) Silvio Piola Stadium - Novara Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 17649‎ Allegri '100 per cent sure' of AC Milan stay It has been reported that the former Cagliari boss will be shown the door if the Rossoneri do not overhaul Serie A leaders Juventus over the course of the next three games. Apr 30, 2012 AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri believes he will still be at San Siro next season despite reports that the 44-year-old will be dismissed should the Rossoneri fail to retain their Serie A title. However, Allegri has dismissed the rumours that Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi and CEO Adriano Galliani are considering firing him. "I will be the coach of Milan next season," he is quoted as saying by La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "I'm 100 per cent sure about that. "Berlusconi told me again this morning that he's satisfied with my work, and I don't think that he also needs to say it publicly." Milan are currently second in the Serie A standings, three points behind Juventus with just three games remaining. The Bianconeri's resurgence this season has been inspired by Andrea Pirlo and is particularly difficult for Rossoneri fans to take given their club allowed the midfielder to move to Turin on a free transfer last summer. Allegri has copped a lot of criticism for allowing that to happen but maintains that releasing the Italy international was the right call. "Pirlo is a great champion, but we have absolutely no regrets whatsoever about him leaving Milan and joining Juventus," the former Cagliari boss stated. "Pirlo also wanted a three-year extension of his contract, but the board wouldn't give him that." "Besides, he needed new challenges to motivate him. Perhaps he wouldn't have had such a good season if he had stayed at Milan." Milan will be hoping to keep up the pressure on league leaders Juve when they tackle Atalanta at the Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 35 - 29-4-2012 (3:00 p.m.) 0 - 4 Mirko Vučinić (16′) Marco Borriello (40′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (50′) Mirko Vučinić (64′) Silvio Piola Stadium - Novara Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 17649‎ Platini looking forward to Juventus' return to the Champions League The Bianconeri legend is relishing the prospect of seeing the Old Lady compete with Europe's elite once again, and reserved special praise for midfielder Andrea Pirlo. Apr 30, 2012 Uefa president Michel Platini is looking forward to seeing Juventus play in the Champions League next season. The Bianconeri legend was in attendance as the Old Lady dismantled Novara 4-0 to keep their three-point lead over second-placed AC Milan in Serie A. After successive seventh-placed finishes in the league, Juventus are now just two wins away from claiming the Scudetto and Platini insisted that Antonio Conte's men will be a welcome addition to the Champions League. "Europe has missed Juve, just as the Bianconeri have missed Europe," the Frenchman is quoted as saying by La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. Platini went on to praise midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who has been instrumental to the Bianconeri's success this season, according to the Uefa president. "Juve have been much stronger in every department his year, but Pirlo is directing everything." The Bianconeri legend's sentiments were shared by Parma boss Franco Colomba who also lauded the impact of the former AC Milan man. "Pirlo is their extra man," the 57-year-old coach told Sky Sport Italia. "He is a player who has allowed the others around him to grow. I think that has made the real difference this season. "Juventus are now a very strong team mentally - they are aware that they are good physically and technically." http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 35 - 29-4-2012 (3:00 p.m.) 0 - 4 Mirko Vučinić (16′) Marco Borriello (40′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (50′) Mirko Vučinić (64′) Silvio Piola Stadium - Novara Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 17649‎ Cassano's miraculous Milan magic not enough as Juventus juggernaut closes in on Scudetto The Italy international returned to the starting line-up and steered the Rossoneri to victory, but they once again made no ground in the title race as the Bianconeri march on. Apr 30, 2012 Antonio Cassano returned to the starting XI with a fair old bang at Siena on Sunday, but AC Milan’s excellent 4-1 victory over the Robur gave them no significant boost in the Serie A title race as Juventus’ relentless run-in continued at Novara. For Cassano, the trip to Tuscany was a further chance to prove that he has overcome the medical issues that threatened a whole lot more than just his participation in Euro 2012. Having been ruled out for the rest of the season, he has gradually worked his way back to full fitness long before the predicted date, and at the Franchi Montepaschi Arena he looked like the ‘Fantantonio’ of yesteryear. Two minutes after tapping home the opening goal following a spill by Zeljko Brkic, he fired in an excellent angled pass for Zlatan Ibrahimovic that allowed the Swede to control and then belt home with his left foot. For a Milan side that weren’t really taking over the contest, it was a vital few moments. In recent times, they have looked insipid for long spells. Points have been dropped thanks to an inability to turn possession into significant chances, and even in the victory over Genoa in midweek there were extended stints without any real work for Grifone keeper Sebastien Frey. But on Sunday it was different. The Rossoneri had no more possession or territory than they had in any game over the past month. In fact, this may well have been their least dominant performance. The difference was that they had Cassano adding the creativity up top. After Erjon Bogdani’s goal had threatened to give Milan a tough final few minutes, the reigning champions stepped it up again. Antonio Nocerino responded to being left on the bench by grabbing the clincher in the final minute of normal time to reach double figures in the league this season. The ex-Palermo midfielder has now scored as many goals as any Juventus player this term. Milan, and more specifically Cassano, were not done there, though. With Siena’s defence retreating, the Bari native showed fantastic skill to twist one way and turn the other before steering a superb pass to Ibrahimovic, who slotted home his 26th goal of the campaign. Cassano’s ability to stretch defences in the fifth minute of injury time in his first start in seven months can only be a good sign for club and country. What wasn’t such good news for Milan, though, was the scoreline from Novara as Juve’s title march turned into a canter. After struggling to put teams to bed for three quarters of the season, the Bianconeri are suddenly doing so with great regularity, and no result has been such a forgone conclusion all term as their win over their Piedmont neighbours. Their eighth successive win takes their unbeaten run this season to 35 games, and it never looked in any doubt from the moment Mirko Vucinic swept the ball home superbly from Andrea Pirlo’s 16th-minute free kick. They continued to dominate the Azzurri for long spells, with Emanuele Giaccherini having a field day out on the left, and it was the former Cesena man whose cross teed up Marco Borriello’s diving header which killed the game as any kind of contest shortly before half-time. It could well have been seven or eight for the Bianconeri by the end, but they were more than happy to settle for 4-0, with Arturo Vidal’s strike after Vucinic had tested Alberto Fontana and then the Montenegrin’s second following in Giaccherini’s shot crowning the victory with barely an hour played. By the time the final quarter came around, Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Vucinic had all been rested, with even Eljero Elia given a run-out. That’s how straightforward it had become! The remainder of the calendar surely holds no fears for Antonio Conte’s side in this mood. After bagging just 39 goals in their first 27 games, Juve have now netted 23 times in their last eight. As much as some claim that the back line which has allowed just one goal in that time has been their catalyst, it is their greater conversion of chances which has blasted Milan out of sight. Two more wins in their final three games will see the Bianconeri secure a 28th official title. A defeat for Milan in midweek could see Juve crowned by Wednesday, but with Cassano back and in form, that seems unlikely. The Rossoneri and Il Talentino, though, can do nothing to stop Juventus swaggering towards the Scudetto. The race is very nearly run. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 35 - 29-4-2012 (3:00 p.m.) 0 - 4 Mirko Vučinić (16′) Marco Borriello (40′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (50′) Mirko Vučinić (64′) Silvio Piola Stadium - Novara Referee: Domenico Celi Attendance: 17649‎ Conte asks Juve for "game of our lives" Apr 30, 2012 There are 17 places between them in Serie A but Juventus coach Antonio Conte has described Wednesday's visit of lowly Lecce as the most important match of the season. Juve, who were stripped of the 2005 and 2006 Scudettos because of their involvement in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal, could claim their first title in nine years should they defeat Lecce and AC Milan lose to Atalanta at the San Siro. "We know how to add up," Conte said after Sunday's 4-0 win at Novara, which maintained their three point lead over second-placed AC Milan with three matches of the season to go. "We are ahead and are masters of our own destiny." Juventus, who finished outside the European places last season, are still unbeaten and have won their last eight matches, plundering 23 goals in the process to leapfrog Milan, against whom they have a better head-to-head record. When people talk about Juventus there is always someone trying to put a spanner in the works. Juventus coach Antonio Conte With the finish line in view in his first season as coach of the Turin giants, former Bianconeri Conte bristled as he belatedly gets the recognition his record deserves. "When people talk about Juventus there is always someone trying to put a spanner in the works," he said. "In this campaign, in which we are still unbeaten, there has always been a but. First it was the draws that were brought up, then they spoke about the lack of goals from our forwards. "But this just gave us extra drive to succeed, which together with our day-to-day improvement as a team, is helping us achieve something extraordinary. Wednesday will be the game of our lives." Conte is likely to keep faith with the Mirko Vucinic-Marco Borriello partnership up front with the rejuvenated former Roma forwards having scored four goals between them in the past two victories. "Borriello's in great form and he's fitted perfectly into our system," he said. "Together with Vucinic his performance was excellent against Novara." Lecce visit the Juventus stadium for the first time fighting for Serie A survival after suffering back-to-back home defeats against Napoli and Parma. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/