Socrates

Serie A - 17^ Giornata - Andata - 8-1-2012 (ore 15:00) 0 - 1 Alessandro Matri (27') Stadio Via del Mare - Lecce Arbitro: Mauro Bergonzi Spetttori: 23300 Serie A - La Juve soffre ma passa a Lecce Basta un gol di Alessandro Matri ai bianconeri per restare imbattuti e in vetta alla classifica insieme al Milan. Preoccupa per

The chief of defence Initially signed as a squad player last January, Andrea Barzagli is now an unexpected key element in Juventus’ Scudetto bid. Antonio Labbate writes. Jan 11, 2012 Fabio Cannavaro had no doubts when he was asked earlier this season who, at the time, was Italy’s best defender. “Andrea Barzagli,” he responded with conviction. “He has experience and he has picked himself up after a difficult spell. I’ve congratulated Juventus President Andrea Agnelli for bringing him back to Italy. That was an excellent move.” Cannavaro knows Barzagli well. They were teammates at the 2006 World Cup when Andrea, under the guidance of the Italy captain, played his part in the Azzurri’s German triumph following injury to Alessandro Nesta and suspension to Marco Materazzi. Barzagli had just turned 25 and was widely considered as an international regular of the future. Things didn’t quite turn out as anticipated. In 2008 he decided to leave Palermo and was expected to move on to a bigger club which could match his ambitions. Instead he ended up at Wolfsburg in Germany. “After four years at Palermo it was time to go,” the centre-back recalled. “There was an agreement between myself and the Rosanero that we would part company. I was waiting for a big club to come in for me, but they all had excellent defenders already. Wolfsburg offered me a good contract and I decided to sign for them.” The Bundesliga switch may have benefitted him financially and saw him win a League title, but it came at a cost in his homeland. The longer he remained abroad, the more forgettable he became. He then disappeared from the international scene completely after a pretty shaky performance in Italy’s unconvincing 2-1 win against Cyprus back in September 2008. It wasn’t until this time last year that Barzagli entered Italian football’s consciousness again. With a contract coming to its end, Juventus opted to net him for €300,000 – less than three years after Wolfsburg agreed to pay almost €12m. He was initially signed on a contract until 2013 as a squad player, but today he’s one of the cornerstones on which the Old Lady’s Scudetto bid is built. So far this season under Antonio Conte he’s been an untouchable in the team. He’s played in every second of the side’s Serie A campaign, totalling 1,618 minutes of action – a stat only matched by right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner. He also featured in the 120 minutes that it took his team to dispose of Bologna in the Coppa Italia. “It’s down to hard work,” Barzagli says of his rejuvenation. “As a player, there are seasons which go well. Saying that, joining a club like Juventus is the maximum for anyone. I just do what I need to do on a daily basis to make sure that I deserve to wear this shirt.” Barzagli may not have great speed or even the technical ability of current centre-back partner Leonardo Bonucci, but what he does have over his younger colleague is focus, positional sense, as well as an understanding and reading of the game which he has acquired over the years. He’s also disciplined given that his last booking came in May last season in the game against Napoli. As it stands, Juventus have the second best defence in the land with 11 goals against – just one more than Udinese. They’ve kept a clean sheet in their last three Serie A games and six from their last eight. The last goal they conceded was against Roma in Week 15 – 355 minutes ago – when Arturo Vidal miserably failed to clear a Daniele De Rossi effort. Not bad stats from a team whose defence was viewed as their Achilles’ heel at the start of the season. “We all have to stay alert and concentrated,” the 30-year-old says. “As soon as the defenders lose focus for an instant then things can get complicated. But Coach Conte is always stimulating us and that is important for a defender like myself. We have a great midfield, a great attack and if we at the back don’t concede then one of our strikers will put the ball in sooner or later.” Barzagli’s form hasn’t been lost on Italy boss Cesare Prandelli either. Dealing with a shortage of quality stoppers, an area that the Italian game once excelled at, the former Under-21 international returned to the international stage in October 2011 to win his 26th and 27th caps. “I didn’t think that my Azzurri career was a closed book, but I admit that I did stop thinking about it…” Euro 2012 now awaits, as does a possible Scudetto and a probable new contract.

Barzagli set for Juve extension Jan 11, 2012 Juventus have reportedly already started negotiations with Andrea Barzagli in a bid to extend his contract. The international defender is only contracted to the club until June 2013 and a new deal seems to be on the horizon. Barzagli, signed for less than €500,000 from Wolfsburg last January, has played in every minute of all Juventus’ games so far this season. According to Tuttosport, the Turin giants have held initial talks with the World Cup winner’s representative. It’s unclear at this stage whether the Old Lady will offer the 30-year-old fresh terms until June 2014 or 2015.

Serie A Week 17 - 8-1-2012 (3:00 p.m.) 0 - 1 Alessandro Matri (27') Via del Mare Stadium - Lecce Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Attendance: 23300 Antonio Conte: We can do better than what we showed against Lecce The Bianconeri coach stressed that his team must improve in closing out matches after their slender win over Lecce, but praised his players for their work ethic. Jan 9, 2012 Juventus coach Antonio Conte believes that his side did not perform at their best in Sunday's Serie A win over Lecce, but was pleased to see his side bag the full three points nonetheless. The Turin giants failed to impress in their first league game after the winter break, but a single Alessandro Matri strike in the 27th minute was enough to secure a 1-0 win for Juve. "We’re happy about the points, even if we could have wrapped the game up earlier. In terms of performance, we can do better," Conte said to the club's official website. "However, I liked how the lads wanted to seal the victory, working really hard right until the end. I already said on the eve of the game that the championship restart is always an unknown territory." The Juventus boss then went on to explain Marco Borriello's decision not to join the Bianconeri two seasons ago, and hinted that players such as Amauri and Luca Toni are likely to leave the club this winter. "Marco explained why he didn’t come here two years ago. He didn’t turn the club down; also because only someone crazy would reject Juventus. He, alongside Quagliarella, Matri, Del Piero and Vucinic, is one of the five strikers I have available. "We’ll see what happens in the rest of the transfer window - I speak with the club every day." Juventus sit joint first in the Serie A table with AC Milan on 37 points from 17 games. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 17 - 8-1-2012 (3:00 p.m.) 0 - 1 Alessandro Matri (27') Via del Mare Stadium - Lecce Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Attendance: 23300 Lichtsteiner happy with bad win Jan 9, 2012 Stephan Lichtsteiner has hailed Juventus’ flat performance in their 1-0 victory at Lecce. “It’s important to win like this.” The Old Lady maintained their joint-leadership of Serie A with Milan after Sunday’s success at the Via Del Mare. Although the full-back concedes that the Bianconeri didn’t shine, he feels the three points send an important signal. “It is important to win games even when you don’t play that well,” the summer signing from Lazio told Juventus Channel. Juve returned to Turin with another triumph thanks to a goal from Alessandro Matri – who is now their top scorer in Serie A this term with seven. “We knew that we would have had some difficulties to contend with against Lecce due to their aggressiveness,” the defender added. “We scored with our first real effort on goal and then the defence held up well which is also a good sign. “We just did what we needed to do in a game which Lecce had nothing to lose from.” Juventus have now kept a clean sheet in their last three Serie A games after shut-outs against Novara, Udinese and Lecce. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 17 - 8-1-2012 (3:00 p.m.) 0 - 1 Alessandro Matri (27') Via del Mare Stadium - Lecce Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Attendance: 23300‎ Barzagli on the defensive Jan 9, 2012 Andrea Barzagli insists that Juventus’ defensive strength this term is the result of teamwork and not just the back four. The Old Lady have been tough to break down in recent times. They kept their third clean sheet in a row yesterday at Lecce which was also their sixth in their last eight League matches. “The defence is doing well, but the credit also has to go to our teammates who help us,” the January 2011 signing from Wolfsburg noted. There were question marks over the Juve rearguard at the start of the season, but they have let in only 11 goals – just one more than Udinese who have the best defensive record in the League. Juve, who will be without the suspended Giorgio Chiellini against Cagliari, maintained top spot with Milan at the weekend thanks to a goal from Alessandro Matri at the Stadio Via Del Mare. “We prepared well for the Lecce game, knowing the risks that could arise with their quick strikers and strong counter-attacks,” Barzagli added. “We knew that this would be a difficult game, also because it came after the break. We gritted our teeth and emerged victorious.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Juve director talks transfers Jan 9, 2012 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has responded to transfer questions regarding Marco Borriello, Amauri, Carlos Tevez, Milos Krasic, Martin Caceres and David Pizarro. Juve have already brought in Borriello from Roma on loan for the rest of the season, a move which has been criticised by fans after the player allegedly turned down the Old Lady a year ago. A section of the support at Lecce yesterday unveiled a banner which read: ‘Borriello, mercenary without honour or dignity.’ “That message surprised me and I attach myself to what boss Antonio Conte said,” the official told Sky Sport Italia. “Juventus would never be able to sign a player who rejected our club in the past. “We signed him now because we could, whereas at the time Milan preferred to sell him to Roma as they could guarantee that they would later buy him outright.” Borriello isn’t expected to be the last new face brought in as the club are also keen on Sevilla’s Caceres and Roma playmaker Pizarro. “We are monitoring the window with great attention in a bid to increase the quality of the side, even if we have to keep an eye on finances,” Marotta continued. “Apart from Borriello, there is nothing concrete right now. “Manchester City’s Tevez? The Argentine is a strong player, but we were not after him before and we don’t want him now.” The Turin giants will also use the winter transfer session to sell with Amauri and Krasic possible departures. “We’ve had no offers for Krasic and he won’t be leaving,” the ex-Sampdoria man noted. “Amauri to Roma? There has been no contact.”

Serie A Week 17 - 8-1-2012 (3:00 p.m.) 0 - 1 Alessandro Matri (27') Via del Mare Stadium - Lecce Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Attendance: 23300 Comments Jan 8, 2012 Serse Cosmi: “There are regrets, because Juve were not their usual selves today and we had the chances to equalise. Rodney Strasser’s injury so early changed the balance of the team and I had to readjust.” Antonio Conte: “My players really wanted to win and we could’ve finished it off earlier without running so many risks. The team can certainly do better.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 17 - 8-1-2012 (3:00 p.m.) 0 - 1 Alessandro Matri (27') Via del Mare Stadium - Lecce Referee: Mauro Bergonzi Attendance: 23300 Fabio Quagliarella suffers fractured cheekbone against Lecce The Italy international sustained a facial injury in Sunday's Serie A encounter and could be out of action for a while. Jan 8, 2012 Juventus have received some disturbing news from the treatment table in the aftermath of their narrow 1-0 Serie A away win over Lecce on Sunday as attacker Fabio Quagliarella has fractured a cheekbone during the match and faces a spell on the sidelines. The former Udinese striker featured from the start in the Bianconeri's victory, but was forced to leave the pitch after 23 minutes of play due to the facial injury. Quagliarella immediately visited the Vito Fazzi hospital in Lecce to undergo further examination and Juventus have now announced on their official website that the attacker has fractured the cheekbone on the right side of his face. The Italy international travelled back to Turin with the rest of the team, and is expected to undergo surgery later this week. Juventus returned to the top of the table following Sunday's win and have now collected 37 points from 17 games. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/