Socrates

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/

Coppa Italia - Semifinale - Andata - 8-2-2012 (ore 20:45) 1 - 2 Martin Cáceres (53′) Stephan El Shaarawy (62') Martin Cáceres (83') Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) - Milano Arbitro: Paolo Mazzoleni Coppa Italia - Super Caceres, la Juve sbanca San Siro Il primo round delle semifinali di Coppa Italia va alla Juve che espugna con merito San Siro grazie ad una doppietta del neo acquisto Martin Caceres. Al primo gol dell'uruguaiano aveva risposto El Shaarawy, poi il raddoppio con un pregevole pallonetto. Male la difesa rossonera. Eurosport - Mercoledí, 8 febbraio 2012 Il primo round della semifinale di Coppa Italia tra Milan e Juventus va alla Vecchia Signora. La capolista del campionato, ancora imbattuta in questa stagione, espugna San Siro con un atto di forza molto significativo anche in relazione alle gerarchie della Serie A. Conte insiste nel voler vedere il Milan come favorito, ma la supremazia del gioco dei suoi ragazzi induce a fare qualche riflessione di più in merito ai reali valori delle due squadre, comunque minati dalle numerose assenze. Poco turn-over per gli uomini di Allegri che di fatto concedono riposo solamente ad Abate (rilevato da Bonera), Nesta (al suo posto Mexes) e allo squalificato Nocerino, ma che 'sfruttano' la squalifica di tre turni inflitta a Ibrahimovic in campionato dopo lo schiaffo ad Aronica per utilizzare lo svedese in Coppa Italia. Più cambi nelle scelte di Conte: Storari fra i pali Padoin, Giaccherini, Estigarribia, il neoacquisto Caceres in compagnia di Pirlo (alla sua prima da ex a San Siro) sulla mediana alle spalle dell'inedita coppia Del Piero-Borriello. I bianconeri sono più aggressivi fin dai primi minuti di gioco. Per espresso volere di Conte pressano alti sul portatore di palla rossonero provocando qualche grattacapo ai difensori del Milan. La squadra di Allegri appare timida e poco intraprendente, ma crea il primo sussulto: grande lancio di Bonera per El Shaarawy che stoppa, supera Barzagli con un tunnel e calcia da posizione defilatissima e quasi impossibile. Palla fuori con Ibrahimovic solo a reclamare palla in mezzo all'area. Nel complesso è un primo tempo equilibrato, durante il quale sono però gli ospiti ad esprimere le migliori idee di gioco. Facendo perno su una difesa molto attenta e collaudata, i bianconeri ripartono sempre bene, trovano l'ispirazione in Pirlo e sfondano sempre più sulla fascia. In un paio di occasioni si rende pericoloso Estigarribia, ma a sfiorare il gol è Giaccherini, autore di una conclusione al volo dalla distanza che, deviata, obbliga Amelia al grande intervento: toglie la palla da sotto la traversa con la mano di richiamo. Nelle primissime battute della ripresa il Milan sembra voler cambiare l'inerzia della gara, ma presto le iniziative si affievoliscono, così la Juventus riprende il comando, risultando ancor più graffiante che nella prima fase di gioco. Al 52' arriva il vantaggio bianconero: palla in profondità per Padoin che perde lo 'spalla contro spalla' con un difensore rossonero ma di fatto apre gli spazi a favore dell'ex Borriello, il cui tiro non viene trattenuto da Amelia che con il suo errore spalanca la porta all'accorrente Caceres. Il colpo inferto provoca qualche reazione del Diavolo che, ferito, tenta subito di trovare il pareggio. Con confusione, estrema lentezza e poche idee i rossoneri cercano di arrivare un po' più spesso alla conclusione, ma i (necessari) cambi dalla panchina tardano ad arrivare. Esattamente dieci minuti dopo il rossonero più vivace coglie il momentano pareggio. Si tratta di El Shaarawy: il piccolo 'Faraone' raccoglie l'assist di testa di Ambrosini successivo al traversone di Antonini e riaccende le speranze della curva. Robinho entra a dar manforte ai suoi, ma ancora una volta non si rende protagonista di azioni degne di nota. Al 68' Ibrahimovic segna dopo un'azione insistita, ma è colpevole di un tocco di mano nel controllo per cui Mazzoleni giustamente annulla. Tre minuti più tardi Chiellini compie una miracolosa scivolata a fermare una nuova iniziativa dell'ariete svedese in area e, passato lo sfogo rossonero, la Vecchia Signora torna a controllare il ritmo della gara. La difesa rossonera si comporta molto male: Mexes pecca di sicurezza e commette errori banali, gli esterni (specialmente Bonera) subiscono eccessivamente le avanzate in contropiede. Una di queste prende in controtempo il terzino del Milan che si fa superare da Giaccherini, cross nel mezzo, Ambrosini effettua una respinta difettosa sulla quale si precipita Caceres che con uno splendido tocco sotto batte per la seconda volta Amelia e fa esplodere Conte in panchina. Un grande ritorno. Matteo Marceddu - Eurosport Milan - Juventus 1-2

Padoin: Conte quieter now Feb 10, 2012 Simone Padoin believes that Antonio Conte is a quieter and more flexible Coach at Juventus, in comparison to his days in charge at Atalanta. http://markting10.nl/ Padoin, a January transfer deadline day signing from the Orobici, worked with Conte the for the first half of the 2009-10 season at the Bergamo club, before 42-year-old Coach resigned with the club struggling in a relegation battle. Now in his squad at an unbeaten Juventus, Padoin reflects that he has seen a lot of changes in his Coach in those two years since. “He seems quieter now as compared to the time spent in Bergamo, especially in the training sessions,” began the midfielder on Juventus Channel. http://markting10.nl/ “I think he has deeply changed from the tactical point of view, because before he was always loyal to his 4-2-4 system, and now he’s shown to be able to change it according to the rivals, and I believe this can be appreciated. “However, he’s still a ‘hammer’, he hasn’t changed from this point of view. I think that Juventus needed this kind of Coach, also beloved by the public. “When fans see a man like him leading their side, who gave his all for this shirt, it is an added boost.” http://markting10.nl/ Padoin also reflected on the differences he is experiencing between life at Atalanta and at Juve. “It is a complete change as far as my life is concerned, but in connection to my mentality I think that I won’t have such difficulties considering that playing to win is the greatest thing. “I’ve noticed the difference when we’ve prepared ourselves for the game against Milan - with my former side, we’d have focused ourselves on the defensive movements, while here at Juve we always try to impose our way of playing.” http://markting10.nl/ Speaking to the club’s official television channel, the 27-year-old relived the day he found out he was moving to the Turin side. “I had just finished the training in Bergamo. It was Monday, and on Wednesday we’d have had a game. “I went home and I found my agent who asked me if I’d have liked to join Juventus. I thought he was joking… http://markting10.nl/ “Since then, I’ve had no other thought. I was rushed because everything happened in a couple of hours and I went to Milan in order to sign the contract…” Padoin made his debut in the midweek Coppa Italia semi-final first leg win over Milan at San Siro. “I was very excited, I’ve been so lucky, and I’m not able to imagine a better debut with this shirt. http://markting10.nl/ “It doesn’t seem real - just one week ago I was at Atalanta. When I was a child, I had ambitions to achieve, but I never had these expectations. “I wasn’t thinking of signing with Juventus, also because I recently renewed with Atalanta, and when you’re 27, receiving this kind of important opportunity isn’t common.”