Socrates

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Juventus and Roma Battle It Out In Showdown of Italian Superpowers Dec 13, 2011 Juventus F.C. and A.S. Roma are two of the best teams in Italian football. Indeed, they are part of the elite in Calcio, alongside A.C. Milan and Inter Milan. Historically, at least, those four constitute the usual Scudetto suspects. However, lately this has changed. While only Inter and A.C. Milan have won the Scudetto recently, teams like Napoli, Lazio and Udinese are fighting their way into the upper heights of Serie A. Last year, Napoli spent most of the year towards the top of the table. In fact, until Inter (under Leonardo) recovered from their disastrous Rafa Benitez-led start to last season, Napoli was the second-place team. The emergence of other clubs into the Calcio elite is not the only change. As anyone who follows Serie knows, Juventus suffered a precipitous decline in long-term form after Calciopoli. They have since recoverd under Conte, but nonetheless their place in Serie A has changed. Granted, they may be on the way back to their rightful place as ''the usual suspects'', but as of now they still have to prove themselves again. Roma, too, has undergone changes recently. More specifically, the team got both a new owner and coach this summer. The new ownership brought in Barcelona ''B'' coach Luis Enrique, who started an ambitious rebuilding project. Enrique brought in players like Bojan Krkic and Fernando Gago. Bojan came from Barcelona (just like Enrique), while Gago came from Real Madrid, where he was out of favor. This new-look Roma has been attempting to try a Barcelona-esque style of game play, with heavy control of possession. That said, they have struggled with their new tactics. While they have shown flashes of brilliance, they languish currently in the middle of the table. To make matters worse, three of their best players (Bojan, Gago and their phenomenal centerback Juan) received red cards in last week's 2-0 loss to Fiorentina. Those suspensions, coupled with some injuries, left Roma with a pretty decimated backline. Daniele De Rossi, who is usually Roma's star midfielder, instead substituted as Roma's fine centerback. He performed pretty admirably for someone who was playing out of his usual position. Regardless of how De Rossi played, going into the game, Roma was not favored by many. The assumption by some was that Juventus would plow through their feeble defense. I was a bit wary of the Roma attack, with Francesco Totti in particular giving me worry. Totti has a reputation as one of the greatest for a reason, and he was sure to show Juventus that. Now, for the game itself. Roma came in knowing that they had to go on the offensive, as their main weakness was the backline. Juventus, meanwhile, were up to their usual ways, which was heavy possession and frequent attacking play. It was a true game of monday night football, as the two sides battled for victory. The aforementioned Roma icon Francesco Totti gave Juventus some serious trouble, as he had a pretty big hand in Roma's first goal. His pass to Pablo Osvaldo led to Osvaldo drawing a corner, and then his short passing helped open up the Juventus defense for Daniele De Rossi's successful shot on goal. Arturo Vidal had a chance to clear De Rossi's shot, but he completely whiffed it. It was an uncharacteristic mistake from the Chilean Sensation (as I like to call him), but he made up for it over the course of the game with his grit and ability. Roma had done something that neither A.C. Milan nor Inter Milan could do: score first on Antonio Conte's Juventus. Roma may be struggling this year, but do not mistake their table position as a sign of the team's ability. As they showed today, Roma can tango with the big boys. Of course, this is Antonio Conte's Juventus. So the De Rossi goal was followed with two straight corner kicks for Juve. They were not that dangerous, but the point remains that the players did not get distracted by going down a goal, and plowed right ahead in attack. Clearly, the players remembered the spirit and "grinta" of the Great Neapolitan Comeback. It was only a few weeks ago, so I'm sure they haven't forgotten it. The first half continued with Juventus making chances for goals, but not scoring any. Both teams had a fair amount of attacking movements against each other, although Juventus looked the more dangerous. The second half started off with a bang, or rather, a flare. More specifically, a fan threw a flare onto the field. Luckily, a wacky Italian firefighter was there. The friendly firefighter came to the rescue and put out the flare. Juventus soon had a flair of their own. I'm not talking about the Nature Boy here, though Ric Flair is a great man. I'm talking about a Giorgio Chiellini header going straight into the Roma goal. The inexperienced hodge-podge Roma backline finally buckled under pressure from the Bianconeri. Chiellini was left unmarked, and pounced on the ball to head it goalwards. Perhaps my favorite memory of the game was the team's celebration after the goal. The microphones were close enough that those of us viewing the game on television could hear the players shouting and celebrating. I will not lie, It gave me a pretty smile. Still, Vidal currently remains the 2011-2012 season celebration champion. Until his ''shots'' celebration with Simone Pepe is surpassed, Vidal will remain champion. Pepe deserves credit too, but the move was extra ballsy for Vidal, given his troubles involving the Chilean national team. Anyway, back to the match. Chiellini's goal was followed almost immediately with a penalty for Roma. Arturo Vidal took down Erik Lamela in the box, and the referee awarded Roma with the penalty. The dangerous Totti lined up to take the kick, but he was not ready to pass the Buffon Challenge. Buffon blocked the penalty, and Juventus were brought back from the edge of defeat. Buffon made one more impressive play. In the 83rd minute, Juventus was protecting against a heavy Roma attack. Fabio Simplicio had the ball and was coming right towards Buffon, but Buffon covered him well without fouling him. There very well could have been a goal on that play, had Simplicio passed to Totti. However, Simplicio instead allowed Buffon to shut him down. Fabio Quagliarella made another appearance. The man is now definitely considered a regular player for this Juventus side. I predict that he will start more games before the winter break, perhaps the game against Novara. Quags did not score, but he had several dangerous attempts. The newboy Eljero Elia also made an appearance, off the back of getting a fair amount of playing time against Bologna in the Coppa Italia (sorry TIM). Elia is a very, very pacey winger. Indeed, if I were to give him a nickname (one like Mark ''The Sanch'' Sanchez) it would be, quite simply, "Pace." His speed led to one serious Juventus attack, although it quickly fizzled. Elia, for all his speed and attacking ability, is not a great defender. He really struggled to help Lichtsteiner while defending. This mirrors the struggles last year of Milos Krasic, who excelled offensively (at first) but consistently struggled to cover the right flank on defense. Thankfully, the man who cleans up the mess this year is Stephan Lichtsteiner, one of the best right backs in Italy. Last year, the defensive absence that Krasic often left was supposed to be filled by Marco Motta. Yikes. Juventus also subbed on Emanuele Giaccherini (though before Elia was put in the game), and he was definitely a game-changer. Though he did not score, he had several pretty serious challenges, including one placed shot that was incredibly close to being a goal. Giaccherini has earned much praise from Antonio Conte lately, and he is only getting better. Even though there were six minutes of added time (more like Fergie Time in this context), Juventus could not get the winning goal. They spent plenty of time in Roma's half, even during the added time, but nothing came of it. Antonio Conte said in his post-match press conference that he was pleased with the team. I had hoped that Juventus would score a second goal and secure the win, but I cannot complain with a hard-fought come-from-behind draw. Roma brought their A-game, but it was not enough to defeat Juventus. Juventus remains the only unbeaten team in Serie A and in Europe. Manchester City were unbeaten in the Premier League for a long while (though they lost to Napoli in the Champions' League) until they lost to Chelsea today. No one knows how long Juventus will stay undefeated. I have faith in Conte and his players, but the season is still young. This is no doubt one of the top teams in Italy, though. Last year around this time, I made an unfortunate prediction. As Juventus had been riding an unbeaten streak for a while (though it was not nearly as impressive or strong as this year's unbeaten streak), I boldly proclaimed that they were my favorites for the Scudetto. Of course, they immediately capsized after the winter break, and finished in seventh place. For that reason, I will avoid any bold proclamations at such an early time. The game next Wednesday against Udinese, who are now tied in first with Juventus, should be one more big test for Juventus. They have already successfully passed all of their previous tests, but we will have to wait and see what happens next week. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Walter Sabatini salutes Daniele De Rossi for performance against Juventus The Giallorossi's sporting director was full of praise for the Italian midfielder, who performed heroically at centre-half against the Bianconeri at the Stadio Olimpico. Dec 13, 2011 Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini heaped praise on Daniele De Rossi after the makeshift defender turned in a stirring display in Monday night's 1-1 draw with Juventus in Serie A. With the Giallorossi missing a host of defenders because of injuries and suspension, coach Luis Enrique was forced to play midfield ace De Rossi alongside Gabriel Heinze at the back. De Rossi excelled in his defensive role and even managed to open the scoring in the Italian capital before Roma were pegged back by Giorgio Chiellini’s second-half equaliser for Juventus. “It was almost embarrassing how easy it was for De Rossi to read and understand the defensive situations,” Sabatini told Roma Channel. “De Rossi has given us a big hand tonight.” As for the player himself, he was happy with the way in which he slotted into the back four but was reluctant to accept the plaudits for what was a wonderful performance. “I was greatly helped by the entire team,” the Italy international said. “Heinze, in particular, was very close to me. “But the important thing was to see a team playing together. There were eleven players who were crucial.” The point takes Roma up to ninth in the standings ahead of their pre-winter break trips to Napoli and Bologna. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Marotta puts away Juve chequebook Dec 13, 2011 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has warned fans that the club won’t be making any big game signings during January. The Old Lady have been linked with a number of new elements, but the club official has eased expectations. “The club made some significant investment in the summer and I don’t think we’ll be making any more,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Saying that, if there are some opportunities, like Andrea Barzagli last year, then we’ll look to take advantage of them if we can.” Centre-back Barzagli, 30, joined the Bianconeri from Wolfsburg for an initial transfer fee of €300,000 as he had less than six months left on his contract. While Juve may not buy after Christmas, they are expected to sell – starting with unwanted striker Amauri. “We spoke to him last week,” Marotta said of the reported Tottenham target. “He wants to find a new club as soon as possible. We just have to find the right buyer.” The former Sampdoria director also again denied speculation that the outfit could sell Milos Krasic after he lost his place in the first team. “At this moment in time he is not demonstrating the value that he has, but he is a strong player and he’s proved it.”

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Buffon won’t commit to title bid Dec 13, 2011 Gigi Buffon is remaining grounded after his ‘lucky’ penalty save helped Juventus return to the top of the table. The Italian international denied Francesco Totti from the spot in the second half of last night’s 1-1 draw at Roma. “It was an important save at a very delicate moment of the game,” Buffon commented after the Stadio Olimpico encounter. “When you save a penalty there’s also an element of fortune that’s involved, but we also work on these things because when a player needs to play, he’s obliged to improve on everything.” The Old Lady are now joint top of the standings with Udinese, two points clear of Milan and Lazio, but the ‘keeper isn’t getting carried away amidst talk of a Scudetto. “We were also up at the top of the League until Christmas last year,” the former Parma custodian warned. “In football, a bad month is enough to leave you with a few points and many problems. This is why I’m not getting thrown off course. “We’ve played 14 games and it’s early to think of having crossed a line that could separate this present time from the past.” Juve fell behind early in the game last night when Arturo Vidal failed to clear a Daniele De Rossi effort. Giorgio Chiellini equalised after the break. “It was a bit unjust for us to be a goal behind in the first half because we produced more, while Roma only created one scoring opportunity and perhaps the shot could have even gone wide. “After the break both teams played an open game and I believe the draw was a fair result. Roma gave their all, also from a character point of view. “When you come to play at the Olimpico you know that you’ll face a battle and to win it you need to be perfect. Roma are still a threat.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Enrique: 'I thought Totti...' Dec 12, 2011 Luis Enrique admits he “clearly expected” Francesco Totti to score the penalty in Roma’s draw with Juventus. Daniele De Rossi had put them in front and Giorgio Chiellini equalised, but the score remained 1-1 because Gigi Buffon saved Totti’s spot-kick. “I clearly expected it to be a goal,” confessed the Coach. “I thought Francesco would do what he knows how to do best – score a goal. But he was faced with Buffon, who is an intimidating goalkeeper. “I enjoyed the first five minutes of the game, then I saw Juve are a great side and their Coach has given them real character. The attitude of my team was wonderful, even with three or more players missing. The fans were also right behind us.” De Rossi was pulled back into central defence with 19-year-old Viviani given his Serie A debut in midfield, but Roma still seemed more solid than usual. “We wanted to keep the ball in the first half, but Juventus were putting pressure on us. After conceding the equaliser, we saw that the possession was less balanced and created four scoring opportunities. The team did what the fans wanted to see tonight, so we hope to continue this way.” There was also controversy, as Pablo Daniel Osvaldo was clearly irritated at being substituted and went straight down the tunnel. This was his comeback after a suspension for punching teammate Erik Lamela. “I know Osvaldo very well, he is a good man and a spectacular player. He wants to win and it’s normal that he reacts this way. This is the grit I want to see.” Enrique was also asked about a comment he made during yesterday’s Press conference, in which he said “never say never” about possibly resigning. “If I look back at the recent history of Roma, then Luciano Spalletti and Claudio Ranieri both resigned. When I talked about this, I said that in football you can never say never, but today I saw a faithful group of fans. “The club believes I have the opportunity to do something. I will continue working until I see there is a problem with the club.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Conte: 'Juve fell into chaos' Dec 12, 2011 Antonio Conte believes Juventus “fell into chaos” during their Roma draw, but they are still doing better than expected. The Bianconeri had to fight back from an early Daniele De Rossi goal, created by Arturo Vidal’s howler, then saw Gigi Buffon save Francesco Totti’s penalty in a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico. “We played well in the first half with intensity, tempo and some important moves, though we could’ve done more on the flanks,” said Conte. “It’s not easy when you go behind straight away, so we did well to react. I didn’t like the middle of the second half, though, as we fell into chaos. “We still had lots of chances to score and Maarten Stekelenburg was crucial for Roma. It was a good game, as both I and Luis Enrique had prepared for it well.” Juventus are joint top of the table with Udinese and Conte does not see this as a missed opportunity against a decimated Roma. “If I look at the table, then I can say we are doing extraordinary things, well beyond expectations at the start of the season. The fact people think Juve should win all the time shows we have become an important team.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Chiellini celebrates point Dec 12, 2011 Giorgio Chiellini insists Juventus should be proud of their point at the Olimpico. “Considering how things were going...” The Bianconeri went behind in the first few minutes when Arturo Vidal’s howler allowed Daniele De Rossi to score, then equalised through Chiellini before Gigi Buffon saved a Roma penalty. “Considering how things were going, this is an important point,” said the defender after their 1-1 draw. “We had the strength to fight back and try to win right to the end. We allowed Roma more than we should’ve, but overall it was a positive performance that gives strength to the side and puts us back on top of the table. “Was this a wasted opportunity? Clearly we had come here to win and tried to do that, but everyone struggles in Rome. It’s a long way from saying this is a slip-up.” http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Luis Enrique buoyed by Roma's performance against Juventus and refuses to blame Totti for penalty miss The under-fire coach wants his players to continue to show the same endeavour and effort they displayed against the Bianconeri for the remainder of the season. Dec 12, 2011 Roma boss Luis Enrique was enthused by his side’s display in Monday night’s 1-1 draw with Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico and resisted the temptation to dwell on Francesco Totti’s failure to win the game for the Giallorossi from the penalty spot. The hosts opened the scoring after just six minutes through Daniele De Rossi only to see Giorgio Chiellini draw the Bianconeri level on the hour. However, just moments later, Roma were awarded a penalty after Arturo Vidal had felled Erik Lamela in the area, but Totti saw his subsequent effort from 12 yards out saved by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. "The penalty miss was a pity, but Buffon is a great goalkeeper,” Luis Enrique told Sky Sport Italia after the full-time whistle. “It is right to emphasise this. Just as we must acknowledge the proof that Juventus are very strong. “I'm happy with my boys; we played a good game. I'm glad I saw the crowd here ready to support us. “Today we made a great effort [so] let's continue with this attitude.” The Roma coach, who has come under intense pressure of late after disappointing defeats by Udinese and Fiorentina, singled out Miralem Pjanic for special praise for nullifying the threat posed by Juve’s principal playmaker Andrea Pirlo. “To stop Pirlo was one of our first objectives; Pjanic did a good job, as did the rest of the midfield,” Luis Enrique said. The former Barcelona B team boss recalled Pablo Osvaldo for the game after the striker’s one-game ban for striking Lamela during an altercation in the dressing room after the loss in Udine. Osvaldo, though, was less than impressed with being withdrawn with four minutes to go, but Enrique played down the significance of the incident. “Osvaldo's reaction? It's nothing. He was angry because he didn’t want to come off. That’s the right attitude,” the 41-year-old Spaniard said. A positive result in what were difficult circumstances for Roma, who were without a plethora of first-team regulars through a combination of suspension and injury, should ease the pressure on Enrique and he remains determined to finish the job he has started in the Eternal City. “ I feel the trust of the team, the club and the fans. I will continue to work until they tell me [otherwise], “ he declared. The point sees Roma climb to ninth in the standings, while Juventus edge above Udinese into top spot. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Antonio Conte declares himself satisfied with a point from Stadio Olimpico clash with Roma Juventus coach was pleased with his side's showing in the Italian capital and is grateful for the point which has returned the Turin outfit to the summit of Serie A. Dec 12, 2011 Juventus coach Antonio Conte claimed that he was content with a share of the spoils after his side's 1-1 draw with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night. The hosts were missing a number of players through a combination of suspension and injury but they went ahead after just six minutes through Daniele De Rossi and, after the Bianconeri had levelled midway through the second half through Giorgio Chiellini, the Giallorossi had a gilt-edged opportunity to reclaim the lead but Francesco Totti saw his spot-kick saved by Gianluigi Buffon. As a result, Conte was pleased with his players for having accrued a point which has moved them back to the top of the Serie A table, ahead of Udinese on goal difference. “We created a lot and if people think that we have to win all the time, it means that our stock is rising," the Juve coach told Sky Sport Italia. "I am satisfied; the boys have again given me their all. "Our first half was good. After six minutes a mistake gave Roma the lead, but then we did well to react, to find the right balance. “In the middle of the second half, however, we got lost and we did not control the game. We had to be cooler and more rational. “However, looking at the standings, I must continue to say that we are doing very well, beyond expectation." Although he was unhappy with the concession of an early goal, Conte refused to point any fingers at his defenders. “The De Rossi goal? When you concede goals, there is always a defensive error and we will analyse it," he promised. Up next for Juve is a home game against Novara before they travel to the Stadio Friuli just before the winter break for an eagerly-awaited showdown with surprise Scudetto challengers Udinese. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Giorgio Chiellini: Juventus satisfied with a point against under-strength Roma Even though their hosts at the Stadio Olimpico were missing a host of regulars, the Bianconeri were content with a share of the spoils, according to their Italy defender. Dec 12, 2011 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini claimed that Monday night’s 1-1 draw with Roma was very much of a case of one point gained rather than two points dropped. The Bianconeri fell behind to a first-half goal from Daniele De Rossi but drew level when Chiellini headed home on 61 minutes. Roma had an immediate chance to retake the lead but captain Francesco Totti missed from the penalty spot, and Chiellini admitted afterwards that Juve were happy with a draw – even though they had been playing against a side decimated by suspensions and injuries. "Given how it was [for us] at the start [of the game], we can talk about an important point,” the Italian international told Sky Sport Italia. “It shows that despite falling behind we have the strength to recover. “Today we suffered too many counter-attacks but, overall, it was a positive game for us because we have reached the top of the table again. “Roma had great players in spite of their absentees this evening and, if we look at the names, they had only one youth team player [Federico Viviani] on the field. “Of course, we came to win and we tried [to do that] right up until the 96th minute, but to call this a slip-up would seem excessive to me." The point edges Juventus ahead of Udinese at the top of the table on goal difference, while Roma climb to ninth. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Buffon keeps Juve's run intact Dec 12, 2011 Gianluigi Buffon kept out Francesco Totti's second-half penalty to extend Juventus' unbeaten run in Serie A to 14 games. Daniele De Rossi had put Roma ahead in the fifth minute before Giorgio Chiellini equalised on the hour mark. Roma had a chance to go in front two minutes later but Totti's central spot-kick was saved by Buffon. The Turin giants climbed back to the top of the standings with the draw and are level on 30 points with Udinese. Roma, who went into the game at the Stadio Olimpico on the back of two straight defeats, dropped to ninth. The hosts got off to the perfect start, Arturo Vidal failing to clear Totti's cross and De Rossi made no mistake in hitting the ball past Buffon. Juventus almost pulled level in the 12th minute when Simone Pepe got his head behind Alessandro Matri's cross but his effort went over. Midway through the half, Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg kept out Marcelo Estigarribia's eight-yard shot. The visitors continued to push forward and twice had the chance to equalise before the break. In the 38th minute, Vidal found Pepe inside the area and his strike was saved by Stekelenburg. The Roma goalkeeper then kept out Stephan Lichtsteiner's header from Andrea Pirlo's cross. Juventus picked up where they left off after the re-start and levelled in the 61st minute when Chiellini headed Estigarribia's cross-shot past Stekelenburg. Roma could have gone back in front one minute later after Vidal brought down Erik Lamela in the area. Totti struck the resulting spot-kick with power but right down the middle and Buffon kept it out. Juventus then had an opportunity to take all three points with two minutes remaining when Eljero Elia found substitute Fabio Quagliarella in the box and his strike was saved by Stekelenburg. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Player Ratings Goal.com analyses the performances of the players on show at the Stadio Olimpico as the Old Lady moved back to the top of the table after securing a draw. Dec 12, 2011 ROMA Maarten Stekelenburg 6.5 - Was well worked over the course of the match, but apart from Estigarribia's strike in 25th minute and a dart and block to thwart Quagliarella late on, they were, in the main, straightforward saves. Perhaps a little suspect on the equaliser. José Ángel 6.0 - The left-back was sound for the most part, but was fortunate not to be punished when Lichtsteiner managed to ghost in behind him and get his head on the end of a raking Pirlo pass. Also made a good recovery to dispossess Pepe, but positioning wasn't good enough initially. Gabriel Ivan Heinze 7.0 - Played as left-sided centre-back, where his defending was often desperate but always effective. Made two excellent last-ditch blocks and also demonstrated class to dispossess Pepe and knock ball round him in one move. Erik Lamela 5.5 - The Argentine wonderkid won the penalty which Totti failed to convert with a strung burst into box, and put over a teasing cross in 71st minute, but was otherwise largely anonymous. Cut a frustrated figure at times. Taddei 5.5 - The midfielder-turned- full-back was unsuprisingly effective going forward but often vulnerable at the back. Woeful attempt to clear presented Estigarribia with clear shot on goal, while he was caught under Vidal's crossfield pass, which found Estigarribia lurking behind him and resulted in equaliser. Miralem Pjanic 6.5 - Was tidy and composed on the ball, especially in a 15-minute spell at start of second half in which he sparked counter with silky play which almost resulted in Totti crossing for Osvaldo to score. Is, however, a little slow and suspect in his application at times, though he did a good job on Pirlo. Daniele De Rossi 7.5 - Occupied a defensive berth as though he was made for the role. And as well as sticking to his task admirably, he also proved effective at the opposite end, hooking home a fifth-minute opener. Leandro Greco 6.0 - Played on the left of Roma's deeper midfield three from where he was quietly effective. Attempted to break up moves but sometimes took that a little too far, especially when he was booked for a trip on Matri in the 66th minute. Federico Viviani 6.0 - The 19-year-old made his Serie A debut at the heart of the Giallorossi midfield and made a reasonable 58-minute appearance. Worked hard to contain the likes of Pirlo and Marchisio. Pablo Osvaldo 6.0 - The naturalised Italian worked hard up front for Roma but had few clearcut chances to score besides a late chip which narrowly cleared the crossbar. Francesco Totti 6.5 - Despite missing the penalty, which was reasonably struck, the veteran had a decent match. Linked play well and provided the assist for De Rossi with a clever quick corner and precise cross. Also made a contribution at the other end, blocking a Pirlo free kick with his head. • Substitutions Simone Perrotta N/A - Replaced the tiring Pjanic with 16 minutes left. Fabio Henrique Simplicio N/A - The Brazilian attempted to make his mark on the game after taking Viviani's place. Regularly broke beyond the front men, and saw a hooked shot saved by Buffon. Marco Borriello N/A - Given the last four minutes in place of Osvaldo, but his team were pushed back in their own half for much of that time. JUVENTUS Gianluigi Buffon 7.0 - In a match in which he had little to deal with directly, besides the De Rossi goal which he could not be faulted for, he still made a huge contribution when he expertly parried Totti's second-half spot kick. Giorgio Chiellini 7.0 - The big defender continues to operate at full-back, from where he always attempts to get forward in his unorthodox style, and that drive led to equaliser when he headed home from close range. Also had a goal-bound volley blocked and defended reasonably well. Andrea Barzagli 6.5 - Right-sided centre-back was a strong presence at back for Old Lady. Didn't have too much to do but what he did, he did well, especially excellent move to come across and crucially intercept Totti pass to Osvaldo. Leonardo Bonucci 6.5 - Was particulalry prominent in early stages, making an important front-post clearance after Taddei wriggled away from Chiellini. Should have done better with headed chance shortly after De Rossi's goal. Booked in second half for pull on Osvaldo. Stephan Lichtsteiner 6.0 - Swiss full-back attempted to cover whole left flank, and popped up in some interesting attacking positions. However, he weakly headed straight at Stekelenburg in first half and weakly shot into side netting late on. Simone Pepe 5.5 - Saw a lot of the ball, but more often than not lacked quality in his final product. That included weak left-footed shot and terrible underhit centre for Matri in two-on-one counter. However, he at least offered his trademark effort. Claudio Marchisio 5.5 - Despite an excellent start to the season, this ineffective performance harked back to the Marchisio pre-Pirlo.Passing was off while he failed to make any real impact on the game. Andrea Pirlo 6.0 - Not quite as influential as he can be. Uncharacteristically gave ball away more than once in first half, but also showed flashes of ability with precise passes, including pin-point 30-yard switch to find Lichsteiner. Arturo Vidal Pardo 5.0 - Although it was the Chile international who clipped the ball to Estigarribia to volley towards goal for Chiellini's equaliser, he also made an embarrassing attempt to clear De Rossi's goal on post and gave away penalty with clumsy tackle on Lamela. Marcelo Alejandro Estigarribia 6.0 - Played on the left wing and gave Taddei a tough time defensively. Tested Stekelenburg with two reasonable first-half shots, but got a little lucky when his mishit volley bounced invitingly for Chiellini to score. Alessandro Matri 6.0 - Centre forward's running and movement was impressive - all he lacked was proper service from his wingers, which was never more evident than when he was unmarked in the centre, screaming for a tap-in, but Pepe failed to find him. • Substitutions Eljero Elia N/A - Late replacement for Pepe. Played fine slide-rule pass to put fellow sub Quagliarella in on goal. Emanuele Giaccherini 6.0 - Will have been disappointed to have been on the bench following impressive goalscoring display in Coppa Italia tie against Bologna on Thursday. Made an impression after coming on, forcing a save from Stekelenburg with curling effort. Fabio Quagliarella 6.0 Had two excellent late chances to win the match, but his angled finishes from either side were both saved by Stekelenburg. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

Serie A Week 15 - 12-12-2011 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Daniele De Rossi (6') Giorgio Chiellini (61′) Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Daniele Orsato Attendance: 60000 Totti misses penalty as second-half Chiellini header clinches point to send Juve back to Serie A summit The Old Lady leapfrogged leaders Udinese in the table after coming from behind to secure an away draw in Rome on Monday night. Dec 12, 2011 Juventus moved back to the top of Serie A after coming from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Roma at Stadio Olimpico on Monday night. Left-back Giorgio Chiellini was the Old Lady hero as he headed home a second-half equaliser to grab a share of the spoils after Daniele De Rossi had fired the hosts into an early lead. However, the visitors also had experienced goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to thank for sending them back to the summit when he flew to his right to parry a 62nd-minute Francesco Totti penalty. Although they secured the point needed, the match didn’t go according to the expected script as the hosts surged into a shock fifth-minute lead, when Totti worked a short corner with Miralem Pjanic before picking out De Rossi with a precise clipped pass. The midfielder, who was playing as a makeshift central defender, hooked the ball back across the face of goal, and although Arturo Vidal was handily placed to clear, he took a fresh-air swipe at the ball, allowing it to trickle into the net. The goal proved something of a false dawn for Roma, however, as Juventus immediately seized the initiative and surged forward on wave after wave of attack for much of the remaining 40 minutes of the half. However, despite their dominance, Juve struggled with the quality of their finishing, and only managed to force Maarten Stekelenburg into a string of routine saves. In the 25th minute, Marcelo Estigarribia fired in a low drive after Rodrigo Taddei had failed to clear, but the Dutch custodian plunged to his left to block. Vidal then attempted to make up for his earlier mistake. Firstly, with a swerving strike from distance which agonisingly swung wide of the upright at the last second, and then with an intelligent sliderule pass to Simone Pepe. But the winger failed to get any power behind his shot and Stekelenburg smothered with ease. Pepe’s first-half frustration was complete when, with one minute left on the clock and Alessandro Matri free in the centre in a two-on-one counterattack, his under-weighted centre was easily cut out by the impressive Gabriel Heinze. The visitors were not quite as dominant in the second period, but they managed to restore parity just after the hour when Chiellini arrived right on cue to nod home Estigarribia’s miscued volley from close range. After eventually getting on level terms, Antonio Conte’s side had Buffon to thank for preventing them from throwing it all away within 60 seconds after Vidal clumsily tripped Erik Lamela inside the box. The Italy international goalkeeper sprung to expertly block Totti’s powerful spot-kick and ensure his side remained on level terms. And while the save proved enough for the point needed to leapfrog Udinese, Juventus could, and probably should, have taken all three points, but Stekelenburg made important late saves to deny substitutes Fabio Quagliarella and Emanuele Giaccherini. The table-toppers return to league duty on Sunday afternoon when they host strugglers Novara at Juventus Stadium. Luis Enrique’s side, meanwhile, journey south to face Napoli at Stadio San Paolo later that night. http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

6 minuti di recupero

Gran serata di Stekelenburg

Osvaldo odia uscire

Simplicio passa la palla a Buffon

Sembrava goal

Elia entrerá per Pepe

Perché tiri Fabio?

Totti somiglia sempre piú ad Alberto Sordi da giovane

Vidal rischia il rosso

Ottimo Chiellini su Taddei

Entrerá Giaccherini per Estigarribia.