Socrates

Serie A Week 26 - 3-3-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Trapattoni: Juventus have slight edge over AC Milan The 72-year-old believes that the Bianconeri have an advantage over Allegri's men in that they are not burdened by the added pressure of competing in Europe. Mar 2, 2012 Giovanni Trapattoni believes that AC Milan have greater talent at their disposal than Juventus but the Republic of Ireland boss feels that the Rossoneri's involvement in the Champions League will hinder their hopes of retaining their Serie A crown. Milan currently top the table by a single point but Juve have a game in hand. Former Bianconeri boss Trapattoni sees little to choose between the pair, so he feels that his old side's lighter schedule could prove decisive. "There is no favourite but they are very different," the legendary Italian coach mused in an interview with La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "Milan have more individual quality; they can resolve difficult moments with Ibrahimovic and Boateng. "Juve are compact, balanced, settled; they run for and believe in Conte. "But now is the time of questions as we are entering the crucial phase of the season. "With Milan in the Champions League, Juve have the small advantage of not playing in it." Trapattoni enjoyed two separate spells as a coach with Juventus and won six Serie A titles, one European Cup and two Uefa Cups with the Turin-based outfit. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 3-3-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Juve without Pepe and Vidal Mar 2, 2012 Antonio Conte has named his 22-man squad to face Chievo this weekend, with Simone Pepe and Arturo Vidal absent through suspension. Vidal was sent off during the Turin team’s 1-1 draw at Milan last weekend, a game in which Pepe received a yellow that triggered a one-day suspension for him too. All those involved for Italy in their midweek friendly against the USA are included for the weekend visit of Mimmo Di Carlo’s side. Antonio Conte is tipped to switch back to a 4-3-3 formation on Saturday. Juventus squad to face Chievo: Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres ,Marchisio, Del Piero, De Ceglie, Manninger, Vucinic, Barzagli, Elia, Quagliarella, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Borriello, Giaccherini, Lichtsteiner, Krasic, Estigarribia, Storari, Matri, Marrone http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 26 - 3-3-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Andrea Gervasoni Conte: Just like old times Mar 2, 2012 Antonio Conte believes Juventus is beginning to feel as it did when he was a player. “I’m nostalgic for the old times and they seem to be returning.” Juve drew 1-1 with Milan last weekend in a highly-charged and controversial affair. The fallout from that fixture, coupled with the Bianconeri’s advantage in the title race, has left Conte remembering previous times in Turin. “To me, it has been a bit like going back to when I was a player and we were fighting for the League title and we were fighting every year for the Scudetto and things between the clubs were not so rosy,” Conte told the assembled media on Friday afternoon. “I am nostalgic for the old times and they seem to be returning, but we must be clever and realise that football is the ultimate expression and that’s where you have to prove yourself as the strongest opponent. “Why was there this situation in Milan last weekend? Because after so many years we are back to being a team that is once again competitive and then we had the honour and fortune to play in a game billed as determining the League title. “The game at San Siro was fundamental, but there’s still a long way to go in the championship and we still need to develop. “Milan have the advantage as they are more of a team. We are still learning because we started from scratch last summer. Every situation is a new discovery and we have to break each one down.” Despite this, Conte is still keen to impress that the team have outperformed expectations. “I reviewed the game, I’ve seen it in an objective light and am very happy - I expected a strong start from them. I think we were a bit frayed when there was the episode with the non-goal, where we lost focus. “But, in considering the game, I have realised that we created the more dangerous opportunities. It is a game that should help us grow, help us become more aware of our means. We are not where we are by luck. “It has been 24 games and we are still unbeaten and every now and then certain people forget about this. “We’ve had some great results, great results, unimaginable at the beginning of the season and I never tire of repeating this.” Across four of the midweek international games, the Old Lady saw 10 of its players used by their natioanl team, including six who were given a run-out for Italy in Genoa. Bianconero Coach Conte admitted that there is a source of pride to the high number being called up, but also reflected that it has hit his preparations for the weekend visit of Chievo. “I say this very sincerely…we’ve had today to prepare for the match with Chievo. Almost everyone who has returned is tired. “Clearly, yesterday I had to give them a day of recovery. And then we have only one workout, one day to prepare for a game as important as the one against Chievo. “That said, I am always delighted to see our players called up to the national team because it means that the work you are doing at your club is appreciated.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A 7^ Giornata - Ritorno - 3-3-2012 (ore 20:45) - Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro: Andrea Gervasoni Confronti ufficiali 19 - 17 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Juventus 12 - 11 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 6 - 5 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Chievo 1 - 1 (Serie A) Goals Juventus 35 - 32 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) Goals Chievo 17 - 16 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Juventus - Chievo - Serie A a Torino Confronti ufficiali 8 Vittorie Juventus 6 (L'ultima il 23.08.2009, 1-0) Pareggi 2 (L'ultimo il 09.05.2011, 2-2) Vittorie Chievo 0 Goals Juventus 18 Goals Chievo 10 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Chievo a Torino 6 presenze Buffon Gianluigi 5 Camoranesi Mauro German 5 Pessotto Gianluca 5 Thuram Lilian 5 Trezeguet David Sergio 4 Del Piero Alessandro 4 Nedved Pavel 4 Zambrotta Gianluca 3 Cannavaro Fabio 3 Chiellini Giorgio 3 goals Zalayeta Marcelo Danubio 2 Iaquinta Vincenzo 2 Trezeguet David Sergio 1 Camoranesi Mauro German 1 Chiellini Giorgio 1 Del Piero Alessandro 1 Ibrahimovic Zlatan 1 Matri Alessandro 1 Nedved Pavel 1 Salas Josè Marcelo Ultimi confronti diretti 13.03.2005 Serie A Chievo-Juventus 0-1 28.08.2005 Serie A Juventus-Chievo 1-0 18.01.2006 Serie A Chievo-Juventus 1-1 09.11.2008 Serie A Chievo-Juventus 0-2 05.04.2009 Serie A Juventus-Chievo 3-3 23.08.2009 Serie A Juventus-Chievo 1-0 17.01.2010 Serie A Chievo-Juventus 1-0 19.12.2010 Serie A Chievo-Juventus 1-1 09.05.2011 Serie A Juventus-Chievo 2-2 16.10.2011 Serie A Chievo-Juventus 0-0 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 4 - Pareggi 5 - Vittorie Chievo 1 - Goals Juventus 12 - Goals Chievo 8

Serie A - 6^ Giornata - Ritorno - 25-2-2012 (ore 20:45) 1 - 1 Antonio Nocerino (14') Alessandro Matri (83') Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) - Milano Arbitro: Paolo Tagliavento Spettatori: 53000‎ Serie A - Matri salva la Juventus dalla fuga del Milan Spettacolo ed errori arbitrali a San Siro: alla fine è pareggio per 1-1. Apre le danze Nocerino al 15', pareggia l'attaccante bianconero all'84'. In mezzo due gol ingiustamente annullati a Muntari e allo stesso Matri dal guardalinee Liberatore. Eurosport - Sabato, 25 febbraio 2012 Si legge pareggio. Ma Milan-Juventus 1-1 ha il retrogusto della vittoria per i bianconeri di Antonio Conte, alle corde per 70' buoni e capaci di cogliere comunque il pareggio a sei minuti dal termine grazie ad Alessandro Matri, entrato nella ripresa al posto di Fabio Quagliarella. In mezzo anche due errori clamorosi da parte della terna e in particolar modo dal guardalinee Romagnoli: che al 25' annulla il 2-0 di Sulley Muntari e al 75' il primo pareggio dello stesso Matri. In entrambi i casi una topica pazzesca. FUORI ANCHE NESTA, CONTE SCEGLIE BORRIELLO - Massimiliano Allegri ha le scelte obbligate dagli infortuni di Nesta, Boateng, Seedorf e Maxi Lopez, oltre all'arcinota squalifica di Ibrahimovic. Il modulo resta il 4-3-1-2 ma con Emanuelson a supporto di Robinho e Pato, oltre alla mediana composta da Nocerino e Muntari ai fianchi di van Bommel. In difesa, infine, Mexes prende il posto di Nesta, con Antonini titolare a sinistra. Conte ha l'imbarazzo della scelta data l'assenza del solo Marrone. Il modulo è quindi il 3-5-2 delle ultime settimane, con molte sorprese in attacco dove Vucinic e Matri vengono rimpiazzati da Quagliarella e Borriello. L'esterno sinistro, infine, è Estigarribia e non Pepe. In altre parole, tutto confermato a parte il tridente titolare del girone d'andata. NOCERINO APRE, MUNTARI RADDOPPIA MA NON E' 2-0 - La Juventus parte forte e prende il controllo del campo nel migliore dei modi. Ma dalla trequarti in avanti i bianconeri non trovano spazi, finendo per lanciare spesso alla ricerca di Borriello e sfruttando poco i fraseggi a centrocampo. Il Milan, in altre parole, inizia a chiudere i varchi e andare in ripartenza con Robinho. Con il passare dei minuti, i rossoneri prendono fiducia e alzano il baricentro andando in pressing. Qui arriva la svolta del match, alla prima occasione vera. Al quarto d'ora, Bonucci sbaglia clamorosamente a impostare l'azione regalando palla a Robinho. Il brasiliano appoggia subito a Nocerino che dai 25 metri calcia una sassata centrale, deviata proprio da Bonucci. La conclusione è imparabile per Buffon e il Milan va in vantaggio. San Siro esplode, la Juventus fatica a reagire e dopo dieci minuti i padroni di casa troverebbero anche il 2-0, un tocco sotto misura di Muntari che Buffon salva soltanto dietro la linea. Peccato che l'arbitro Tagliavento e il guardalinee Romagnoli non se ne accorgano, lasciando continuare il gioco. Lo stadio esplode nuovamente, ma per protestare, mentre Estigarribia va vicinissimo al gol in ripartenza (gran parata di Abbiati). Il match, però, non cambia. La Juventus è sempre più schiacciata e soffre tremendamente le accelerazioni di un Robinho in forma smagliante. Conte capisce che così non può andare e al 38' lascia il 3-5-2 per passare al 4-3-3 con Estigarribia nel tridente offensivo. Di scossoni, però, non ce ne sono. Anzi, van Bommel va vicinissimo al 2-0 con un gran tiro da fuori (42') e alla Juventus non resta che una conclusione simile di Vidal al 45'. Si va all'intervallo con il Milan meritatamente in vantaggio. ALTRO GOL ANNULLATO, MA ALLA FINE E' 1-1 - Il secondo tempo si apre con due cambi. Allegri toglie un pessimo Pato per mettere El Shaarawy, mentre Pepe entra al posto di Estigarribia sull'altra sponda. Il primo brivido è per un pugno di Mexes a Borriello, non visto dall'arbitro e quindi oggetto della prova tv nei prossimi giorni. Conte al 54' toglie anche un nervosissimo Borriello per Vucinic, ma sopratutto al 69' leva Quagliarella per Matri. È la mossa che cambia la partita. Perché il Milan entra in riserva e la Juventus con la formazione titolare del girone d'andata inizia a spingere sull'acceleratore. Al 69' Abbiati fa il miracolo su una conclusione a botta sicura di Quagliarella, mentre al 79' Matri si vede annullare un gol regolarissimo dal solito guardalinee Romagnoli (nettamente il peggiore in campo). Da uno scandalo all'altro, il Milan ha una sola buona occasione in ripartenza all'82', ma Barzagli salva tutto su Robinho. E all'84' arriva il pareggio: Pepe sfonda a destra, crossa al centro dove Matri anticipa Thiago Silva e insacca l'1-1. Il Milan torna in avanti, ma non crea più nulla. Le emozioni però non mancano perché la gara si accende: Vidal si fa espellere per un fallaccio su van Bommel (88'). E, nel finale, si accende anche una rissa innescata proprio dalle proteste dell'olandese. Finiscono in mezzo Chiellini e Ambrosini, ma fortunatamente finisce tutto in fretta. L'epilogo peggiore per una partita molto italiana. Combattuta, tattica e tesa fino all'ultimo. Un pareggio per tutte e due, una mezza vittoria per la Juventus. MILAN BEFFATO, JUVENTUS SODDISFATTA - Niente da fare per i rossoneri, che hanno meritato in lungo e in largo di vincere la partita fatta eccezione per l'ultimo quarto d'ora, quando sono crollati fisicamente e hanno incassato l'1-1 su una delle poche palle gol concesse. Un pareggio che priva il Milan di tre punti importantissimi, che sarebbero giunti dopo una gran partita giocata proprio nel giorno in cui mancavano Ibrahimovic e molti altri. Il vantaggio in classifica resta di un punto, ma ora la Juventus può sorpassare con il recupero di Bologna. La Vecchia Signora esce da San Siro imbattuta e ora ha dalla sua anche il bilancio negli scontri diretti con il Diavolo. Il massimo con il minimo sforzo, se si considera che sino all'ingresso di Matri la Juventus era stata surclassata dall'avversario. Conte per una volta ha sbagliato la formazione, ma è stato bravo a correggere il tiro a gara in corso. E, ancora una volta, è stato premiato dal campo. Che sia davvero l'anno della Juventus? Mattia Fontana - Eurosport Milan - Juventus 1-1

Serie A Week 26 - 3-3-2012 (8:45 p.m.) - Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Andrea Gervasoni De Ceglie: Chievo fundamental Mar 1, 2012 Juventus full-back Paolo De Ceglie recognises the importance of beating Chievo this coming weekend. “Every game we face from here on in is fundamental.” The Old Lady have the advantage in the title race after Week 25’s troublesome 1-1 draw away to Milan. With the superior head-to-head record over the Rossoneri, the Turin outfit may be a point behind but still carry a game in hand - next Wednesday’s rearranged fixture with Bologna. Ahead of the weekend clash with Chievo, who held Juve to a 0-0 draw earlier in the season, De Ceglie has expressed the value he and his teammates are placing on each game. “It’s certainly an important moment,” the 25-year-old told the club’s official website. “Every game we face from here on in is fundamental. We’ll begin on Saturday against Chievo in a match we know will be difficult. “We’ll need to tackle it with maximum commitment and the right desire.” De Ceglie featured early in the season at left-back for the Bianconeri, but has more recently been playing in a left-wing-back role as Antonio Conte has switched around formations. “Our way of playing is different this year. We put in a lot more aggression and focus more on possession. “Playing in a back four or midfield five isn’t that different, the only thing that changes is the position you start off from.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Marchisio looks on the bright side Mar 1, 2012 Claudio Marchisio tries to look on the bright side of both Italy’s defeat to the USA and the controversy between Milan and Juventus. “It isn’t entirely worthless, as it remains a helpful experience,” the midfielder told Sky Sport Italia after last night’s 1-0 international friendly. “It wasn’t a great evening, even if I wouldn’t make a tragedy out of it. The defeat to the USA was simply a step towards Euro 2012 this summer.” Marchisio quoted an unlikely source when asked about the controversy surrounding Milan-Juve and the refereeing errors. “As Jose Mourinho said, this type of game starts four days before kick-off and ends five days after the final whistle. “Now we have all calmed down a bit, which is better, especially as we have to prepare for the next match. All we have in our minds now is the meeting with Chievo. “I still say Milan are the Scudetto favourites, which we saw on Saturday night, as they do have something more than us. They have a better chance of winning and we already knew that.”

Buffon talks set for summer Mar 1, 2012 Gigi Buffon and his agent will wait until the end of the season before discussing a new contract with Juventus. “Juve are very happy with Buffon and Gigi is happy at Juve,” representative Silvano Martina told Radio Sportiva. “There has been no contact between us and the club about a new deal. We’ll wait until the campaign has come to an end.” The 34-year-old Buffon is presently tied to the Old Lady of Italian football until the summer of 2013. There have been reports that a number of Chinese sides are showing an interest in a ‘keeper who last night won his 113th cap for Italy. “That would be a difficult hypothesis at this point in time for Buffon,” Martina noted. “Buffon could end his career at Juventus, but anything can happen.”

First signs of Juve-Milan peace Mar 1, 2012 Juventus and Milan have taken the first steps towards renewed peace, while Philippe Mexes has also said sorry. The relationship between the two clubs was already strained going into last week’s Serie A clash and things hardly improved after it. The decision to not award Sulley Muntari’s goal, despite it being clearly over the line, infuriated the Rossoneri. So much so that Vice-President Adriano Galliani exchanged angry words with Juve boss Antonio Conte during the half-time interval. The fall-out continued after the game which eventually ended 1-1. However, with tension rising, the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport claims that Bianconero President Andrea Agnelli has contacted Galliani by phone in a bid to heal the wounds. Meanwhile, Milan’s Mexes has also publicly apologised for punching Marco Borriello during the game. TV evidence was subsequently used to hand him a three-game ban. “I said sorry to referee Paolo Tagliavento and I want to do the same to Borriello and my teammates who will now be without me for three matches.”

Agent reveals Buffon will commence contract talks with Juventus in the summer The Italian shot stopper's representative stated that his client will sit down with the Turin club and begin talks over a new deal at the end of the current season. Mar 1, 2012 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will discuss his future with the club at the end of the season, his agent has revealed. The 34-year-old's current contract expires in 2013 and it has been suggested that the Bianconeri are interested in offering him a new deal which would keep him in Turin until he decides to retire. "Juventus are happy with him and he is very happy at the club," agent Silvano Martina told Radio Sportiva. "The reason why there has not been any contact is because we will wait until the end of the season." However, the glovesman's agent was non-committal when asked if his client wanted to see out the rest of his career at the club. "It is hard to say. He could end his career at Juve, but anything can happen," Martina concluded.

Frey backs up Buffon Feb 29, 2012 Sebastien Frey has defended under-fire Juventus ‘keeper Gianluigi Buffon, but the Genoa man has asked for the introduction of goal-line technology. Buffon has been heavily criticised for his admission that he wouldn’t have told the referee that Sulley Muntari’s ghost-goal, in the 1-1 with Milan, should have been awarded if he had realised it had crossed the line. “You can’t question Buffon,” the Genoa No 1 told Sky Sport Italia. “I would have acted in the same way that Gigi did. “There are referees who are there to make the decisions. Buffon is blameless in all this. “We’ve taken some important steps forward with technology and I would be in favour of its use in football. It wouldn’t be bad to give the referees a helping hand.”