Socrates

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 0 Mirko Vučinić (53′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′) Fabio Quagliarella (83′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 34000‎ Juventus 3-0 Napoli: 3-5-2 v 3-4-3 Apr 1, 2012 The starting line-ups Juventus were by far the better side – they move two points behind leaders Milan. Antonio Conte, as expected, moved to 3-5-2 with Paolo De Ceglie the left wing-back. There was a surprise upfront, where Alessandro Matri was left out, and Marco Borriello partnered Mirko Vucinic. Walter Mazzarri’s first XI is always easy to predict, and there were no surprises in the usual 3-4-3 shape. The reverse fixture was goal-crazy (although a fascinating tactical battle too) – this was much tighter, and less interesting than it should have been. It’s rare to get a formation battle like this – although Conte has generally played a three-man defence against a three-man defence – having done so twice against Udinese, and now twice against Napoli. Battlegrounds Perhaps the players were prepared for the situation, because the battle in the first half was lacking in excitement. We had a very straightforward situation – see below-right. Napoli had a spare man at the back, there was a 2 v 2 in the middle, and a wing-back battle on the flanks. The only issue was the battle at the other end, although this was the same situation as in the first meeting between the sides. Marek Hamsik dropped back and played around Andrea Pirlo (opposition coaches have worked out that you simply can’t leave Pirlo free) rather than playing high up in a natural front three. Therefore, rather than a 3 v 3 at the back and Pirlo free (which would have made goals more likely, at either end), both sides had a spare man at the back, and it was even in midfield. Movement So where were the attacking moves going to come from? A decent bet would have been down the flanks, but none of the four wing-backs significantly got the better of their opponent. Stephane Lichtsteiner was more conservative than usual despite one good early cross for Borriello at the near post, and Christian Maggio didn’t last long before being replaced by Andrea Dossena, with Juan Zuniga moving to the other side. Instead, the focus turned to how one side could outfox the other at the back, and try and void their opponent’s spare man. In theory, Napoli could have done this (especially on the break) with Hamsik moving past Pirlo and high up the pitch. But their transitions were poor – they usually intercept the ball on the edge of their own third and motor forward brilliantly, but here they barely constructed a break in the entire game. Therefore, Hamsik was playing as a midfielder, and Juve remained comfortable. The four battlezones At the other end, Napoli’s man-marking system meant their back three was being dragged around. In theory, Paolo Cannavaro was the spare man behind Hugo Campagnaro and Salvatore Aronica, but the movement of Borriello and Vucinic was decent (even if their all-round game and workrate without the ball was poor). Therefore, The Napoli defenders weren’t quite sure of who was picking up who, with Cannavaro often being drawn high up the pitch and leaving a big gap between the two remaining centre-backs. Other times, Aronica was drawn into the centre as Vucinic drifted laterally, but Arturo Vidal was often too deep to take advantage of this – he should have been motoring past Walter Gargano more. Set-piece goal, Napoli respond poorly The crucial goal was always going to be the opening goal, and Juve got it after half-time, thanks to a free-kick. The way the goal went in – off Cannavaro – was comical and fortunate, but Napoli had conceded far too many free-kicks within their own third, especially when you consider their previous problems in this area (and Pirlo’s brilliance). Mazzarri then had to move to a more attacking approach, and he brought on Goran Pandev for Gokhan Inler. Hamsik moved a little deeper, but Napoli now seemed more like a front four than a front three, and they pressed Juve 4 v 4 high up the pitch at goal-kicks. This left Gargano on his own against Vidal and Claudio Marchisio, and when the Uruguyan picked up a booking soon after this change, you wondered how much Juve would attempt to attack towards him on the break, and how much longer he would remain on the pitch. As it happens, Juve didn’t look to break too much – they focused on keeping the ball (which is, of course, also where their midfield advantage came into play). Mazzarri then brought on Blerim Džemaili for Hamsik and reverted to something more like the 3-4-3, albeit with Džemaili playing much higher up than Inler had been (his position was essentially between Inler’s and Hamsik’s, the two departed players). Still, he was too high up the pitch to do much defensively, and Marchisio and Vidal promptly combined for a quick attack at the Napoli defence and Vidal fired in. Substitute Fabio Quagliarella rounded it off with a good third. Conclusion This was very tight and tense in the first half, and it seemed as if a clever change from either coach (probably Conte, the man more likely to switch formation midway through the season) would decide the game. It didn’t take that – Conte’s decision not to change his forwards at half-time was odd – and it was a set-piece that helped get the breakthrough. The use of Borriello (and three centre-backs) helped the set-piece threat, not that there was any great design behind the goal. Juve were much the better side, however. They had more strength and more guile, and Napoli’s counter-attacking threat was never apparent. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 0 Mirko Vučinić (53′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′) Fabio Quagliarella (83′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 34000‎ Juventus moves within 2 points of AC Milan Apr 1, 2012 Juventus beat Napoli 3-0 Sunday to move within two points of Serie A leader AC Milan and set up an enticing battle for the Italian league title with eight rounds remaining. Leonardo Bonucci scored from the center of the area in the 53rd minute at the Juventus Stadium, Arturo Vidal found the target in the 75th with an impressive solo effort, and Fabio Quagliarella finished off a counterattack in the 83rd as Juventus dominated from start to finish in a preview of the Italian Cup final. Napoli was reduced to 10 men for the final five minutes after Juan Zuniga was sent off for elbowing Giorgio Chiellini in the face. Milan was held to a 1-1 draw at Catania on Sunday and faces a tough test at Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, following a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the San Siro. Juventus, which remained undefeated in all competitions this season, holds the tiebreaker over Milan, with a win and a draw head-to-head. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 0 Mirko Vučinić (53′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′) Fabio Quagliarella (83′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 34000‎ Juventus ease past Napoli to close gap on leaders AC Milan Apr 1, 2012 Undefeated Juventus closed the gap to AC Milan at the top of the Serie A table to just two points with a 3-0 win over Napoli in Turin on Sunday. Leonardo Bonucci, Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella scored the goals as Juve capitalised on Milan's 1-1 draw at Catania the day before. It also maintained their unbeaten run this season, which now stands at 34 games in all competitions. "It's a crucial victory because it all but wraps up second place and that's already amazing given where we started," said Juve coach Antonio Conte. "We'll keep an eye above us because that's only right as should Milan slip up we have to try to be ready. But it's Milan's to lose." Napoli's defeat means they stay fourth, three points behind Lazio in the final Champions League qualification position. They also had Juan Zuniga sent off late on for elbowing Giorgio Chiellini. Their main problem, though, was being guilty of giving away too many free-kicks in potentially dangerous positions. The opening goal came early in the second period and was due in no small part to luck, although Napoli were finally made to pay for their ill-discipline. Andrea Pirlo swung over another free-kick that Andrea Barzagli mishit, the ball falling to Mirko Vucinic, who crashed a shot off Bonucci's chest and past a stranded Morgan De Sanctis. Now able to hit Napoli on the counter, Juve made their visitors pay as Vidal turned Hugo Campagnaro inside out and smashed a shot across De Sanctis. Quagliarella then beat the goalkeeper at his near post with a fierce shot seven minutes from time. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 0 Mirko Vučinić (53′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′) Fabio Quagliarella (83′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 34000‎ Juve close gap at summit Apr 1, 2012 Juventus reduced the arrears on AC Milan at the top of Serie A to two points thanks to a 3-0 win over fourth-placed Napoli at the Juventus Stadium. Goals from Leonardo Bonucci, Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella provided the perfect response to Milan's draw with Catania yesterday as the two-team battle for the Scudetto intensified. Napoli ended the game with 10 men after losing Juan Zuniga in the second half, and they joined fellow Champions League-chasing sides Udinese and Lazio in losing this weekend, leaving Roma as the real benefactors with a win over Novara today bringing them back into contention for third spot. Andrea Pirlo was the dangerman in a bright opening for the home side. Napoli simply did not learn their lesson as they kept committing fouls around their own penalty area, and each time, the Italy international posed a threat. In the fifth minute Marco Borriello was only an inch away from heading in his teasing free-kick from close range. After half an hour, another Pirlo free-kick was headed wide of the far post by Vidal before another free-kick was almost diverted in by a Napoli defender, but Morgan de Sanctis got his fingertips to the ball to push it away. Napoli gave away another free-kick in the 53rd minute which Pirlo again sent the ball into the danger area, where it broke loose to Mirko Vucinic. His shot deflected in off the knee of Bonucci, who took credit for a goal he knew little about. Vucinic was on target five minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for what seemed like an incorrect offside decision. Juve deservedly doubled their lead in the 75th minute when Vidal did a few stepovers during which it was not clear whether even he knew where he was going, but he took the ball forward with his left foot and shot across De Sanctis into the far corner, showing he was indeed in full control. A minute later, Vucinic spotted De Sanctis off his goal line and tried his luck from the halfway line with the Napoli goalkeeper scampering back and diving despairingly only to see the ball land just wide. Alessandro del Piero's first touch after coming on as a substitute was to set up his fellow sub Quagliarella for the third in the 83rd minute. The former Napoli striker beat De Sanctis inside his near post, but did not celebrate his goal. Zuniga let off steam three minutes later, receiving his marching orders for elbowing Giorgio Chiellini just in front of the linesman. It was a fitting end to a frustrating night for Napoli, who remain three points behind third-placed Lazio. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 0 Mirko Vučinić (53′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′) Fabio Quagliarella (83′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 34000‎ Juve sweep Napoli aside! Juventus stepped on the accelerator in the second half and swept Napoli aside 3-0 to take themselves within two points of leaders Milan. Apr 1, 2012 This has always been a huge battle in Serie A, but this time they were going head-to-head for Champions League places. Juve needed to take advantage of Milan’s slip-up to close the gap at the top of the table, while Napoli had to do the same after Lazio and Udinese were beaten in the race for third this weekend. Both sides essentially had full squads to choose from and Antonio Conte mirrored their 3-5-2 system with Stephan Lichtsteiner returning from suspension as a wing-back. Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic were picked in attack, hoping to make the most of Napoli’s weakness at defending in the air. Christian Maggio returned from injury to start with the Three Tenors. Andrea Pirlo’s cross to the back post from the left flashed across the face of goal, but Borriello only glanced the header wide from under six yards. Another Borriello header was well off target from Lichtsteiner’s cross. The first Napoli chance was on 13 minutes, but Marek Hamsik’s touch let him down when going past Gigi Buffon and gave away a goal kick. A Pirlo free kick sailed over the bar from distance, but at the other end Leonardo Bonucci was at full stretch to intercept a dangerous Camilo Zuniga cross into the six-yard box. Bad news for Napoli, as Maggio’s comeback lasted only 25 minutes before he limped off again in favour of Andrea Dossena. Arturo Vidal’s glancing header flicked a Pirlo free kick across the face of goal to skim the far post. Hamsik blasted over the bar from distance and the tension got to Lichtsteiner, who was booked for dissent. The first actual shot on target was a Pirlo free kick that Morgan De Sanctis rather comfortably smothered at the near post. Vidal picked up a yellow card for going straight through Hamsik outside the box, but Lavezzi curled the free kick over the bar. Dossena charged down a Vidal volley in the area, but Juve went closer on 44 minutes when De Sanctis got down to palm a curling Pirlo free kick out for a corner at the base of the near post. After the restart Napoli risked an own goal, as Hugo Campagnaro’s header to clear a Pirlo free kick was palmed off the line by De Sanctis. Juventus were piling on the pressure at the dawn of the second half and broke the deadlock from a Pirlo free kick that ricocheted around the box until Mirko Vucinic’s strike from 12 yards took a decisive deflection off Leonardo Bonucci to wrong-foot De Sanctis. Vucinic did get the ball in the net soon after, but was flagged offside in a very tight decision. Goran Pandev replaced Gokhan Inler, moving Hamsik into a deeper role. Fabio Quagliarella replaced the disappointing Borriello to face his former club. De Sanctis parried a long-range Claudio Marchisio strike to spark a Pandev counter, when Marchisio brought him down for a yellow card. Juve doubled their lead with a sensational solo effort from Vidal, who confused Campagnaro with a series of step-overs and smashed it across De Sanctis into the far top corner of the net. It was almost 3-0 moments later, as Vucinic spotted the Napoli goalkeeper off his line and attempted an audacious lob that was just wide. Cavani’s long-range daisy-cutter was off target, while Martin Caceres tested De Sanctis at the near post. Quagliarella got a third and refused to celebrate against his hometown club. Alessandro Del Piero created an assist with practically his first touch, rolling across to Quagliarella for a powerful strike between De Sanctis and the near post. More bad news for Napoli, as Zuniga was sent off for lashing out with an elbow to free himself from Giorgio Chiellini’s embrace. It was right in front of the linesman, who could not fail to see the gesture. Del Piero aimed a couple of efforts off target with solo runs, then a third attempt was well beaten away by De Sanctis. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Juventus: Buffon; Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner (Caceres 65), Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Borriello (Quagliarella 70), Vucinic (Del Piero 82) Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio (Dossena 25), Gargano, Inler (Pandev 61), Zuniga; Hamsik (Dzemaili 71), Lavezzi; Cavani Ref: Orsato Sent off: Zuniga 86 (N) http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 3 - 0 Mirko Vučinić (53′) Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′) Fabio Quagliarella (83′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 34000‎ Turin giants produce strong second-half display and close gap to leaders AC Milan to two points Leonardo Bonucci, Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella were all on target as the in-form Bianconeri cranked up the pressure on the Rossoneri at the top of the table. Apr 1, 2012 Juventus underlined their title credentials with an ultimately facile 3-0 victory over Napoli in Turin on Sunday night. After a dour first half, the Bianconeri opened the scoring midway through the second period when Leonardo Bonucci deflected a short from Mirko Vucinic past a helpless Morgan De Sanctis. Arturo Vidal scored a sublime second before substitute Fabio Quagliarella completed the rout with a late third. Both sides initially appeared intent on picking up where they left off at the San Paolo in November, treating us to a wonderfully open start to the game. The hosts looked particularly menacing and really should have taken the lead just four minutes in but Marco Borriello – surprisingly recalled to the Juventus starting lineup – inexplicably failed to get his head on the end of the most delicious delivery from Pirlo. Borriello did manage to connect with a Stephan Lichtsteiner cross moments later but the on-loan forward’s header flashed wide. The Partenopei then gave Juve an almighty scare on 13 minutes when Hamsik found himself in on goal after a delightful one-two with Ezequiel Lavezzi but in trying to take the ball around the onrushing Gianluigi Buffon, the Slovakian knocked it too far ahead of himself and it rolled harmlessly out of play. After such a promising opening, the game deteriorated rapidly thereafter, with Juve only threatening sporadically through set-pieces from Pirlo, while Napoli were restricted to nothing more than long-range strikes from the likes of Hamsik. The second half continued in the same vain so the source of the game’s opening goal came as no surprise, Napoli failing to deal with a free-kick from Pirlo from the right-hand side which bobbled around in the box before Bonucci diverted a hopeful effort from Vucinic into the back of the net. The visitors tried to rally but to absolutely no avail and Vidal deservedly doubled the home side’s advantage when he fired home after turning Hugo Campagnaro inside out. The Bianconeri put the seal on a victory which draws them to within points of Serie A leaders AC Milan when De Sanctis somehow allowed a shot from Quagliarella to beat him at his near post. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Aspetta l'estate ....

Ma chi canta 'o surdato nnammurato?

I tenori li abbiamo noi.

LEZIONE DI CALCIO AL NAPOLI

FABIO QUAGLIARELLA 3-0

Lo stanno fustigando in Piazza Plebiscito.

LA LEGGENDA!

Cavani non punge

ARTURO VIDAL!

Dzemaili ex granata vero?

Un napoletano esce e uno entra.

De Ceglie vuole fare troppo

Il fratello di Fabio rischia il rosso.

Sta per entrare ó uaglione Quagliarella.

Chiellini spinto in area ... per l'arbitro niente.

Alex vorrebbe entrare ma si scalda Caceres

Fallaccio ignobile di Gargano

Inaccettabile come dice il Milan ....

Noo Vidal