Socrates

March 7 given three games Feb 13, 2012 The postponed Bologna-Juventus, Parma-Fiorentina and Cesena-Catania ties will now take place on Wednesday 7 March. The matches have been recently postponed in Italy because of the bad weather and all three will now kick of at 18.30 local time on Match 7. Cesena-Catania was originally set to take place on Wednesday 15 February, but that has been called off again because of the continuing snowfall in the region.

Amelia expects Milan-Juve duel Feb 13, 2012 Milan and Juventus will be fighting for the title until the very last day of the season, says Marco Amelia. The Rossoneri returned to the top of the table with a win at Udinese. They are two points clear of the Old Lady, but Juve do have two games in hand. “It will be a nice duel with Juventus and I think it will last until the very end of the campaign,” the Diavolo goalkeeper noted. “They won’t give up as they have the desire to start winning trophies again. We, meanwhile, want to confirm the Scudetto which we won last term. “It’s battles like this one which stir up desires for victory.” The 29-year-old, currently the club’s first choice while Christian Abbiati is sidelined with injury, also revealed his hopes for the future. “I want to win the Champions League with Milan,” he added. “However, one day I hope to play for Roma and be a protagonist.” Amelia grew up on the Giallorosso youth system but has never played in Serie A for his hometown club.

Milan and Juventus Set to Challenge for Serie A Title Feb 12, 2012 Milan and Juventus are currently the top two teams in the Italian league with the Rossoneri ahead by two points but the Serie A champions have played two more matches than their rivals Juventus. Juve’s positive run, the club is undefeated this season in official play, is due to a number of factors such as a solid defensive record and a midfield marshaled by veteran Andrea Pirlo with the aid of Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal. As for Milan, the league champions are dependent on the volatile star Zlatan Ibrahimovic and an experienced squad spearheaded by savvy veterans such as Alessandro Nesta and Clarence Seedorf. Below is a glance at what makes Antonio Conte’s Bianconeri prime candidates for the Italian league title: 1) Hunger: There is a hunger among established Juve players, particularly Marchisio and Giorgio Chiellini, who have yet to win a major trophy with the club. In addition, Pirlo has a point to prove after his free transfer from Milan during the summer. 2) Balance: The proper blend between the old and the young players. Older stars such as Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon offer the experience and stability needed at a prestigious club (such as Juve) while emerging players such as Vidal and Marchisio provide the energy and enthusiasm. 3) Pirlo: Midfielder Andrea Pirlo has been one of the most successful stories of this season after some pundits and fans wrote him off following his reduced role with Milan due to injury in 2010-11. Pirlo has been both decisive and crucial in leading Juve’s charge with his pinpoint passing, calm demeanor and his ability to keep the ball as well as dictate the game when needed. While Vidal provides non-stop running and Marchisio knocks in crucial goals such as his late winning double against Milan, the rejuvenated Pirlo orchestrates the attacks and serves as the focal point of Juve’s possession game. 4) Spirit: Prior to Calciopoli, the Juve squads were often defined by their fighting spirit and other related intangibles. Juve players often conjured their never-die attitude to pull famous wins and avoid defeats in some tight clashes. The determination and dedication were hallmarks of the Marcello Lippi era yet the Bianconeri lost such priceless qualities in the previous couple of years. During this season, former Juve captain Conte, who played under Lippi, has worked hard on restoring the club’s pride. Conte has done a phenomenal job up to this point and it would not be surprising to see Juve end up with the title once the season is over. One great example of Juve’s fight was the 3-3 draw with Napoli after the Bianconeri trailed 1-3 to the dangerous Partenopei side. 5) Stadium: The new Juventus arena has been a decisive factor in helping the club with the supporters playing a positive role in spurring the players forward when the visiting teams were attempting to force a draw on the Bianconeri. Juve did draw 4 home games but these games came against weaker sides which opted to close shop and pack their area in order to prevent the Bianconeri from scoring. Below is a list of factors which could tip the title in Milan’s favor: 1) Ibrahimovic: The Swedish star has weighed in with 15 goals and 4 assists in league play. Zlatan is Milan’s focal point in attack and is often the key player when the Rossoneri are looking for an opening against tough opponents. 2) Experience: The Rossoneri squad is composed of experienced players in every position starting with goalkeeper Christian Abbiati and centre-back Nesta as well as midfielders Massimo Ambrosini and Mark Van Bommel. These players have won the league title last season so they have the knowledge of what is needed to win trophies. 3) Depth: Despite the injuries and absence of key players such as Antonio Cassano (heart issue), Alexandre Pato (injury) and now Ibrahimovic (suspension- did not feature against Udinese), the Rossoneri squad has shown it is deep enough to cope with such emergencies. The Rossoneri have been without injured goalkeeper Abbiati as well as Alberto Aquilani, Gennaro Gattuso and Kevin-Prince Boateng. 4) Attack: The Rossoneri have Serie A’s best attack having registered 45 goals, 8 more goals than Lazio, while by comparison Juve have managed only 33 goals. 5) Nocerino: The midfielder signed from Palermo was signed to replace the aging Gattuso yet Antonio Nocerino has proven to be a very important player for Milan having played 20 league matches so far, including 19 as a starter. However, the biggest surprise has been Nocerino’s scoring exploits as the midfielder, not known for his goals, has managed to register 7 goals so far.

Serie A Week 23 - 12-2-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Renato Dall’Ara Stadium - Bologna Referee: Luca Banti Bologna-Juve 'was not safe' Feb 11, 2012 Bologna President Albano Guaraldi explains why Sunday’s game with Juventus had to be called off. “Despite fact we worked every day to keep the pitch clear until Friday evening, the heavy snowfall over night made it too dangerous,” explained Guaraldi. “We could not guarantee the safety of the stadium, the fans coming into the arena or the roads around it, so a unanimous decision was made to postpone the match. “It will probably be played on March 7 at 18.30 (17.30 UK time, ndr).” This is the second Bologna home game to be snowed off in the last few weeks, as their tie with Fiorentina was also postponed. The Emilia-Romagna region has had the worst of the record-breaking arctic weather sweeping across Italy, leading to blizzards that shut down schools, roads and airports. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Juventus to offer Andrea Barzagli contract extension The Old Lady are ready to reward the fine form shown by the Italy centre-back this season by renewing his current deal, which presently expires in 2013, for a further year. Feb 11, 2012 Juventus are hoping to tie up a contract extension for defender Andrea Barzagli in the near future, according to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. The 30-year-old had penned a two-year deal upon his arrival from Wolfsburg last January, but after becoming an important part of Antonio Conte's plans, the club are now preparing to renew his terms until 2014. However, it is expected that talks will not formally commence until the end of the month, as general manager Giuseppe Marotta will speak to the stopper in regards to extending his stay in Turin. Barzagli has been an ever-present fixture at the back for Juventus this season, and has played a key role in the side's unbeaten start to the season, having formed impressive partnerships with the likes of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini at the back.

Serie A Week 23 - 12-2-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Renato Dall’Ara Stadium - Bologna Referee: Luca Banti Conte slams Milan attitude Feb 11, 2012 Antonio Conte said Juventus were ready to play in Bologna before it was snowed off and blasted Milan. “Clubs and players must set an example.” The Bianconeri boss held his press conference just before the announcement came through that Sunday’s trip to the Dall’Ara had been postponed. “We’re waiting for news from Bologna. We prepared the game and are ready to step on to the field, but my idea is always that fans must be able to watch a spectacle. Therefore we need to be in the right conditions to guarantee that,” said the Coach. The main talking point in the absence of football is the bitter row that exploded between Milan and Juventus after the Coppa Italia semi-final. Giorgio Chiellini protested that Zlatan Ibrahimovic should be punished for an altercation with Marco Storari, while the Rossoneri accused the defender of ‘telling tales.’ “Chiellini simply replied to questions from the journalists,” noted Conte. “As for the rest, certain attitudes on the field are not good for football. “These are things that can provoke reactions and we must always act responsibly. Clubs and players must set the example.” The teams also go head-to-head in the Scudetto race as well as the Coppa Italia. “We won the first leg and are now the favourites to reach the Final of the Coppa, but when it comes to the Scudetto it’s a different story. There’s a long way to go and we’ll be battling till the very end, while a lot will depend on the other teams who get into the race. I am not so certain it will be just Juve and Milan for the title.” Conte was also asked about Fabio Capello, who resigned as England manager this week and is reportedly heading to Juventus as a director. “I worked with many great tacticians, but never had the good fortune to work with Capello, a person I respect very much. I am very happy with the club and we are all doing extremely well.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 23 - 12-2-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Renato Dall’Ara Stadium - Bologna Referee: Luca Banti Bologna-Juve, Parma-Fiorentina off Feb 11, 2012 Bologna-Juventus and Parma-Fiorentina have officially been called off due to blizzards. The Stadio Dall'Ara match was set to kick off at 19.45 UK time on Sunday evening, but had been in doubt for several days due to the latest wave of arctic weather. The Emilia-Romagna region has had the worst of the record-breaking snow and ice, a situation that deteriorated on Friday when a blizzard hit the area. It was confirmed this morning that the Stadio Dall’Ara is not able to host the game and so, rather than bring the kick-off forward to the afternoon, it has been called off. Parma is also in the Emilia-Romagna region and the Stadio Tardini encounter with Fiorentina has been snowed off too. It was set to begin at 14.00 UK time on Sunday afternoon. The fixture list is going to be increasingly packed, as Parma-Juventus and Bologna-Fiorentina had already been postponed due to the weather in previous weeks. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 23 - 12-2-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Renato Dall’Ara Stadium - Bologna Referee: Luca Banti Juventus' game against Bologna and Fiorentina's trip to Parma postponed due to adverse weather conditions Italy has been experiencing extreme snowfall and the proposed fixtures at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara and Stadio Ennio Tardini have been called off after pitch inspections. Feb 11, 2012 Sunday's Serie A fixtures between Bologna and Juventus at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara and Parma against Fiorentina at the Stadio Ennio Tardini have been postponed due to adverse weather conditions. Italy is in the midst of heavy snowfall and Antonio Conte's men have already had one match, against Roberto Donadoni's side, called off recently due to an unplayable surface. ANSA have confirmed that both pitches were checked on Saturday morning by Serie A officials and GOS [security Operations Group] representatives, with it deemed that the games the next day would be unplayable. There were also concerns over supporters travelling to both games, as a majority of the roads leading to the grounds are treacherous due to around 15 centimetres of snow. Bologna officials had asked for a later kick-off time for their fixture earlier this week due to the anticipated snowfall on Sunday, but it has now been decided that the games will be rearranged for a later date. As yet no intimation of when the fixtures will be replayed has been given. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 23 - 12-2-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Renato Dall’Ara Stadium - Bologna Referee: Luca Banti Bologna-Juve to be assessed Feb 10, 2012 Juventus’ trip to Bologna is at an ever-increasing risk of being postponed this weekend as a blizzard has hit the Emilia-Romagna region. Snow has again returned to the area and is anticipated to continue into Saturday. As a result, a meeting will be held on Saturday to determine whether to go ahead with the currently scheduled 8.45pm Italian Sunday kick-off between the Felsinei and visiting Bianconeri, or move it back to 3pm or postpone it. The Security Operations Group (GOS), which has been responsible for assessing the safety of football grounds during this past month, will hold a meeting with representatives from both clubs tomorrow morning. Bologna confirmed earlier this week that they had officially requested that the fixture be put back to 3pm, so as to avoid the freezing cold temperatures anticipated on Sunday evening. Both clubs already have one outstanding fixture each to play, after the Rossoblu’s home fixture with Fiorentina and Juve’s previous trip to Emilia-Romagna to face Parma both victims of the weather in Week 21. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 23 - 12-2-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Renato Dall’Ara Stadium - Bologna Referee: Luca Banti Simone Pepe unlikely to return for Bologna-Juventus Antonio Conte's men may have to face Bologna this weekend without the Italian winger, who has yet to fully recover from an ankle injury. Feb 9, 2012 Juventus winger Simone Pepe is unlikely to return for his side's Serie A clash away to Bologna this weekend. The Italy international was substituted in last weekend's match against Siena after just 37 minutes with an ankle injury and has not yet made a full recovery. According to TuttoMercatoWeb, this weekend's upcoming clash may be one game too soon for Pepe to return, despite Juventus coach Antonio Conte's desire to have the player make his comeback. Pepe has proven to be one of the more important players in Conte's side, starting 19 of Juventus' 21 matches this season- the same number as goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and midfielder Claudio Marchisio. At this point in time, the report indicates that Pepe is more likely to return next Wednesday for his side's match against Parma. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/