Socrates

Il Cagliari affronta lo spauracchio Juve ma non dovr? aver paura Il tecnico rossobl? suona la carica: "Per tirarci fuori da questa situazione difficile occorre far punti con tutti" "Le occasioni riusciamo a costruirle, dobbiamo per? mettere maggiore voglia e attenzione per tramutarle in goal". Quella contro la Juventus non ? la partita migliore da giocare quando sei a zero punti in classifica e la situazione generale ? quanto mai nera dopo la debacle in Coppa Italia contro la Reggina, il Cagliari, per?, che domenica affronter? una squadra bianconera su di giri dopo la vittoria al ritorno in una Coppa europea dopo due stagioni, non pu? fare tanti calcoli, come spiega il mister rossobl? Massimiliano Allegri. "Dobbiamo avere la forza di rimetterci in piedi - ha detto il tecnico degli isolani - Per tirarci fuori da questa situazione difficile occorre far punti con tutti. Le occasioni riusciamo anche a costruirle, ma dobbiamo avere maggiore voglia e attenzione per tramutarle in goal. E magari fare meno errori difensivi. Tutti quanti, io per primo, dobbiamo dare di pi? di quanto dato fino ad ora".

Tribuna e contratto: Giovinco ? gi? (da "Leggo") L?Arsenal corteggia il giovane asso. Dopo cinque partite, Giovinco ha racimolato la miseria di venti minuti di campo con la maglia della Juve. Troppo poco per un ragazzo che soltanto tre mesi fa dichiarava di voler giocare con continuit?. Ranieri ha sottolineato la poco convincente condizione fisica dell?attaccante reduce dalle fatiche olimpiche. Ma tra un adeguamento contrattuale ancora da definire e una presenza fissa in tribuna, quello di Giovinco - da mesi corteggiato dall?Arsenal - rischia di diventare un caso spinoso.

Juventus: per Del Piero niente Cagliari Alessandro Del Piero non e' tra i convocati di Claudio Ranieri per la trasferta di Cagliari. Insieme al capitano bianconero, resta a casa anche German Camoranesi, entrambi in non perfette condizioni fisiche. I due giocatori 'fanno cosi' compagnia' agli altri assenti Zanetti, Zebina e quello che e' diventato un assente di lungo corso, David Trezeguet. Nella lista dei convocati anche Fausto Rossi, centrocampista classe 1990, che si era gia' messo in luce nei pochi minuti giocati nel Trofeo Berlusconi. Questa la lista completa dei bianconeri convocati per il Cagliari: Buffon, Chimenti, Manninger, Molinaro, Grygera, De Ceglie, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Mellberg, Knezevic, Salihamidzic, Marchionni, Iaquinta, Amauri, F. Rossi, Marchisio, Poulsen, Sissoko, Nedved e Giovinco.

SERIE A - 3a GIORNATA ANDATA Catania - Atalanta 1-0 ..................20/09/2008 - ore 18:00 Roma - Reggina 3-0 .....................20/09/2008 - ore 20:30 CAGLIARI - JUVENTUS 0-1 ........21/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Fiorentina - Bologna 1-0 ............21/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Lecce - Siena 1-1 .........................21/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Palermo - Genoa 2-0 ...................21/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Sampdoria - Chievo 1-1 .............21/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Torino - Inter 1-3 .........................21/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Udinese - Napoli 0-0 .................. 21/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Milan - Lazio 4-1 ......................... 21/09/2008 - ore 20:30 .......................Team............................................. Partite.......................................... Casa............................................. Fuori ....................................................Pts...G.......V.......N.........P....GF.GS..-...G.......V........N........P....GF..GS..-...G......V.......N.......P....GF.GS Inter............. 7.. 3... 2... 1... 0.. 6..3.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 1.-. 2.. 1... 1... 0.. 4..2 Juventus..... 7.. 3... 2... 1... 0.. 3..1.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 1.. 0.-. 2.. 1... 1... 0.. 2..1 Lazio........... 6.. 3... 2... 0... 1.. 7..5.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 0.-. 2.. 1... 0... 1.. 5..5 Palermo....... 6.. 3... 2... 0... 1.. 6..4.-. 2... 2... 0... 0.. 5.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 1..3 Catania........ 6.. 3... 2... 0... 1.. 3..2.-. 2... 2... 0... 0.. 2.. 0.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 1..2 Atalanta....... 6.. 3... 2... 0... 1.. 2..1.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 1.. 0.-. 2.. 1... 0... 1.. 2..0 Napoli.......... 5.. 3... 1... 2... 0.. 3..2.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 1.-. 2.. 0... 2... 0.. 1..1 Roma........... 4.. 3... 1... 1... 1.. 5..4.-. 2... 1... 1... 0.. 4.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 1..3 Torino......... 4.. 3... 1... 1... 1.. 5..4.-. 2... 1... 0... 1.. 4.. 3.-. 1.. 0... 1... 0.. 1..1 Siena........... 4.. 3... 1... 1... 1.. 3..2.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 0.-. 2.. 0... 1... 1.. 1..2 Udinese....... 4.. 3... 1... 1... 1.. 3..2.-. 2... 1... 1... 0.. 3.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..1 Fiorentina.... 4.. 3... 1... 1... 1.. 3..3.-. 2... 1... 1... 0.. 2.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 1..2 Chievo.......... 4.. 3... 1... 1... 1.. 3..4.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 1.-. 2.. 0... 1... 1.. 1..3 Lecce............ 4.. 3... 1... 1... 1.. 3..4.-. 2... 1... 1... 0.. 3.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..3 Milan............ 3.. 3... 1... 0... 2.. 5..5.-. 2... 1... 0... 1.. 5.. 3.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..2 Bologna........ 3.. 3... 1... 0... 2.. 2..3.-. 1... 0... 0... 1.. 0.. 1.-. 2.. 1... 0... 1.. 2..2 Genoa.......... 3.. 3... 1... 0... 2.. 2..3.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 0.-. 2.. 0... 0... 2.. 0..3 Sampdoria... 2.. 3... 0... 2... 1.. 2..4.-. 2... 0... 2... 0.. 2.. 2.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..2 Reggina....... 1.. 3... 0... 1... 2.. 2..6.-. 1... 0... 1... 0.. 1.. 1.-. 2.. 0... 0... 2.. 1..5 Cagliari........ 0.. 3... 0... 0... 3.. 1..7.-. 2... 0... 0... 2.. 1.. 5.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..2 Classifica marcatori 4 Goal M. ZARATE (Lazio - 1 R.) 2 Goal C. AMAURI (Juventus) - A. AQUILANI (Roma) - F. CASERTA (Lecce) - E. CAVANI (Palermo) - A. DI NATALE (Udinese) - A. GILARDINO (Fiorentina) - M. HAMSIK (Napoli) - Z. IBRAHIMOVIC (Inter) - F. MICCOLI (Palermo) - G. PANDEV (Lazio) 1 Goal E. ABBRUSCATO (Torino) - M. AMBROSINI (Milan) - N. AMORUSO (Torino) - C. JULIO BAPTISTA (Roma) - R. BIANCHI (Torino) - C. BOVO (Palermo) - M. BRESCIANO (Palermo) - E. CALAIO' (Siena) - J. CASTILLO (Lecce) - G. DELVECCHIO (Sampdoria) - M. DI VAIO (Bologna) - D. FICAGNA (Siena) - P. FOGGIA (Lazio) - D. FRANCESCHINI (Sampdoria) - A. GHEZZAL (Siena) - T. GUARENTE (Atalanta) - G. INLER (Udinese) - V. ITALIANO (Chievo) - KAK? (Milan) - A. LANGELLA (Chievo) - J. LARRIVEY (Cagliari) - C. MAGGIO (Napoli) - MAICON (Inter) - G. MASCARA (Catania) - D. MILITO (Genoa) - A. MUTU (Fiorentina) - P. NEDVED (Juventus) - S. PADOIN (Atalanta) - C. PANUCCI (Roma) - A. PATO (Milan) - S. PERROTTA (Roma) - G. PLASMATI (Catania) - R. QUARESMA (Inter) - G. SCULLI (Genoa) - C. SEEDORF (Milan) - F. VALIANI (Bologna) - G. ZAMBROTTA (Milan) - P. ZANETTI (Torino) - B. CORRADI (Reggina - 1 R.) - M. MARCOLINI (Chievo - 1 R.) - A. ROSINA (Torino - 1 R.) 1 Own goal M. DI LORETO (Reggina) - M. PISANO (Torino) - C. TERLIZZI (Catania)

CAGLIARI - JUVENTUS .................................. SERIE A - 3a GIORNATA ANDATA DOMENICA, 21 SETTEMBRE 2008 - ORE 15:00 STADIO "SANT'ELIA" CAGLIARI Scontri diretti Totali 64 - 56 (Serie A) - 6 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Coppa UEFA) Vinte Juventus 26 - 24 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 26 - 23 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) Vinte Cagliari 12 - 9 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Coppa UEFA) Juventus Goals 75 - 66 (Serie A) - 8 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Coppa UEFA) Cagliari Goals 53 - 45 (Serie A) - 5 (Coppa Italia) - 3 (Coppa UEFA) Partite a Cagliari Serie A Giocate 28 Vinte Juventus 8 (L'ultima il 02.09.2007, 2-3) Pareggi 12 (L'ultimo il 15.04.2006, 1-1) Vinte Cagliari 8 (L'ultima il 31.01.1999, 1-0) Juventus Goals 22 Cagliari Goals 25 Primatisti Juventini contro il Cagliari 9 partite Furino Giuseppe 9 Salvadore Sandro 8 Causio Franco 8 Cuccureddu Antonello 8 Del Piero Alessandro 8 Zoff Dino 7 Anastasi Pietro 7 Bettega Roberto 7 Morini Francesco 6 Capello Fabio 3 goals Altafini Jos? Jo?o 2 Bettega Roberto 2 Tardelli Marco 1 Anastasi Pietro 1 Baggio Roberto 1 Boniek Zbigniew Kazimierz 1 Cannavaro Fabio 1 Capello Fabio 1 Chiellini Giorgio 1 Conte Antonio Ultimi confronti diretti 20.09.1998 Serie A Juventus-Cagliari 1-0 31.01.1999 Serie A Cagliari-Juventus 1-0 12.09.1999 Serie A Cagliari-Juventus 0-1 30.01.2000 Serie A Juventus-Cagliari 1-1 16.01.2005 Serie A Cagliari-Juventus 1-1 29.05.2005 Serie A Juventus-Cagliari 4-2 11.12.2005 Serie A Juventus-Cagliari 4-0 15.04.2006 Serie A Cagliari-Juventus 1-1 02.09.2007 Serie A Cagliari-Juventus 2-3 03.02.2008 Serie A Juventus-Cagliari 1-1 Giocate 10 - Vinte Juventus 5 - Pareggi 4 - Vinte Cagliari 1 - Juventus Goals 17 - Cagliari Goals 9

Bravo!

Thank you my friend.

Sei tornata la portafortuna di qualche anno fa, Franca.

Almeno stasera siamo tornati con i piedi sulla terra.

SERIE A - 2a GIORNATA ANDATA Palermo - Roma 3-1 ..........13/09/2008 - ore 18:00 Inter - Catania 2-1 ..............13/09/2008 - ore 20:30 Bologna - Atalanta 0-1 ......14/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Genoa - Milan 2-0 ..............14/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Lazio - Sampdoria 2-0 ......14/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Lecce - Chievo 2-0 ............14/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Napoli - Fiorentina 2-1 ......14/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Reggina - Torino 1-1 .........14/09/2008 - ore 15:00 Siena - Cagliari 2-0 ........... 14/09/2008 - ore 15:00 JUVENTUS - UDINESE ..........14/09/2008 - ore 20:30 .......................Team............................................. Partite.......................................... Casa............................................. Fuori ....................................................Pts...G.......V.......N.........P....GF.GS..-...G.......V........N........P....GF..GS..-...G......V.......N.......P....GF.GS Lazio........... 6.. 2... 2... 0... 0.. 6..1.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 0.-. 1.. 1... 0... 0.. 4..1 Atalanta....... 6.. 2... 2... 0... 0.. 2..0.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 1.. 0.-. 1.. 1... 0... 0.. 1..0 Torino......... 4.. 2... 1... 1... 0.. 4..1.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 3.. 0.-. 1.. 0... 1... 0.. 1..1 Inter............. 4.. 2... 1... 1... 0.. 3..2.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 1... 0.. 1..1 Napoli.......... 4.. 2... 1... 1... 0.. 3..2.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 1... 0.. 1..1 Udinese....... 3.. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 3..1.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 3.. 1.-. 0.. 0... 0... 0.. 0..0 Genoa.......... 3.. 2... 1... 0... 1.. 2..1.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 0.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..1 Siena............ 3.. 2... 1... 0... 1.. 2..1.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 0.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..1 Palermo....... 3.. 2... 1... 0... 1.. 4..4.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 3.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 1..3 Bologna....... 3.. 2... 1... 0... 1.. 2..2.-. 1... 0... 0... 1.. 0.. 1.-. 1.. 1... 0... 0.. 2..1 Catania........ 3.. 2... 1... 0... 1.. 2..2.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 1.. 0.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 1..2 Chievo.......... 3.. 2... 1... 0... 1.. 2..3.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..2 Lecce............ 3.. 2... 1... 0... 1.. 2..3.-. 1... 1... 0... 0.. 2.. 0.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..3 Juventus..... 1.. 1... 0... 1... 0.. 1..1.-. 0... 0... 0... 0.. 0.. 0.-. 1.. 0... 1... 0.. 1..1 Fiorentina.... 1.. 2... 0... 1... 1.. 2..3.-. 1... 0... 1... 0.. 1.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 1..2 Reggina....... 1.. 2... 0... 1... 1.. 2..3.-. 1... 0... 1... 0.. 1.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 1..2 Roma........... 1.. 2... 0... 1... 1.. 2..4.-. 1... 0... 1... 0.. 1.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 1..3 Sampdoria... 1.. 2... 0... 1... 1.. 1..3.-. 1... 0... 1... 0.. 1.. 1.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..2 Milan............ 0.. 2... 0... 0... 2.. 1..4.-. 1... 0... 0... 1.. 1.. 2.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..2 Cagliari........ 0.. 2... 0... 0... 2.. 1..6.-. 1... 0... 0... 1.. 1.. 4.-. 1.. 0... 0... 1.. 0..2 Classifica cannonieri 3 Goal M. ZARATE (Lazio - 1 R.) 2 Goal A. DI NATALE (Udinese) - M. HAMSIK (Napoli) - G. PANDEV (Lazio) - F. MICCOLI (Palermo) 1 Goal C. AMAURI (Juventus) - M. AMBROSINI (Milan) - A. AQUILANI (Roma) - C. JULIO BAPTISTA (Roma) - R. BIANCHI (Torino) - M. BRESCIANO (Palermo) - E. CAVANI (Palermo) - G. DELVECCHIO (Sampdoria) - M. DI VAIO (Bologna) - P. FOGGIA (Lazio) - A. GILARDINO (Fiorentina) - Z. IBRAHIMOVIC (Inter) - G. INLER (Udinese) - V. ITALIANO (Chievo) - J. LARRIVEY (Cagliari) - G. MASCARA (Catania) - P. NEDVED (Juventus) - S. PADOIN (Atalanta) - G. PLASMATI (Catania) - R. QUARESMA (Inter) - F. VALIANI (Bologna) - P. ZANETTI (Torino) - B. CORRADI (Reggina - 1 R.) - M. MARCOLINI (Chievo - 1 R.) - A. ROSINA (Torino - 1 R.) 1 Autogoal C. TERLIZZI (Catania)

Inter Have An Advantage But We Will Fight - Chiellini Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini knows his side?s Scudetto push will not be easy this season and he believes Inter have an advantage over the other challengers. The Bianconeri have put Europe and the Tricolore on top of their agenda this term as they attempt to win some major Silverware for the first time since lifting the Serie B title in 2007. Chiellini has just returned from injury and he can?t wait to get back into action to help his side along the road to glory. ?The Champions League will have an extra special appeal for us after two years of hard work and it will be better than the league. I really want to play against Zenit,? said the stopper. ?The Scudetto? Inter begin with an advantage over everyone else because they have a squad of 26 players who are all stronger than each other. ?However, it?s Jose Mourinho?s first year in charge and mmistakes will happen where as we already know what Claudio Ranieri expects from us.? The Bianconeri pick up their Serie A campaign against Udinese this weekend and they will be hoping for maximum points. Chiellini is available to Ranieri but he may be rested with the Champions League game next week in mind.

Chiellini Ready And Raring To Go Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini admits he cannot wait to get back in action and he reveals he will be ready to play against Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League next week. The Italian stopper has been out of action since twisting his knee during the Berlusconi trophy defeat to Milan last month. He has now made a full recovery and he cannot wait to get back in action for his side to help with their Scudetto and European push. ?I hope to be on the pitch against Zenit. Everyone wants to play in a game like that,? Chiellini told Il Corriere Dello Sport. ?The knee is doing fine and I am ready but it will be the coach who decides whether to play me this Sunday against Udinese or on Wednesday in the Champions League.? Chiellini is also adamant on success both domestically and in Europe and he admits that everyone is fired up for glory this term. ?We all have the will to win something. Scudetto or Champions League and I think we will win one of them,? added the stopper. ?Zenit are the surprise team of the group and we would have preferred to avoid them.? Chiellini is likely to be drafted straight into action this weekend as Nicola Legrottaglie has picked up an injury with La Nazionale and he is unlikely to feature against Udinese.

Given As Good As Buffon ? Trapattoni Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has advised Italian clubs to sign Shay Given, and says that the Newcastle United goalkeeper is so good that he resembles the great Gianluigi Buffon. The 32-year-old Given has spent virtually his entire career at Newcastle, having signed for them in 1997, but despite his undoubted quality he has yet to win any trophies at the forever underachieving club. Newcastle are currently engulfed in a crisis after manager Kevin Keegan resigned last week, and Trapattoni, who coaches Given for Ireland believes the player is wasting his career at St James Park. The Italian coaching legend, who has won honours galore at the likes of Juventus, Inter and Bayern Munich, believes that Given is a truly world class goalkeeper, and has advised Serie A clubs to put in a bid for him. ?I would recommend Italian clubs to buy Shay Given from Newcastle,? stated Trap. ?He resembles Gianluigi Buffon and I am not exaggerating when I say this. ?He is a born goalkeeper and there is a vacancy for players like this in Serie A.? Given will be in action for Trapattoni?s Ireland tonight when they take on Montenegro in their second World Cup 2010 qualifier.

Gigli: Buffon To City Fantasy Football Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has poured cold water over reports linking Manchester City with Juventus number one Gianluigi Buffon. With new money ruling the roost at Manchester City, rumours of moves for Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka and other world stars have hit the headlines worldwide. A stunning transfer coup was completed on the final day of the transfer window, with Man City capturing the signature of Brazilian striker Robinho for around 40 million euros from Real Madrid. Reports of late have also included Juve and Azzurri number one Gigi Buffon, one of the world?s best goalkeepers. Juventus president Gigli has calmed the fans with his comparison of the news to the game of fantasy football. ?Yes, lets call it fantasy football, this summer we had another incident of fantasy football, the reports of Trezeguet to Barcelona. Buffon?s reports are surely fantasy too,? said the unimpressed president. Bianconeri fans will be glad to hear the words of their president, after a great sum of money had reportedly been offered for the world-class keeper. Money does not seem to be an issue with the president, who does not blink at the potential offer of 70 to 75 million euros for Buffon. ?I?m not interested in Buffon?s price, I?m interested in having him as a person, as a sportsman, as an athlete and as a fundamental part of Juventus,? explained Gigli. The president was happy to see Buffon?s important contribution for Italy against Cyprus, where the acrobatic stopper made key saves allowing the Azzurri to record a win in their first World Cup qualifier. It seems that a move for Buffon is out of the question.

Buffon Is Priceless - Ranieri Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has warned Manchester City that Gianluigi Buffon is not for sale at any price. Reports in Italy claimed that the English side were ready to bid a mega ?70m for the Bianconeri and Azzurri number one but they can forget about making any attempt of a bid after Ranieri revealed that his shot stopper will not be up for sale. ?I am not worried, because you need more than money to buy all the champions in the world,? Ranieri told Tuttosport. ?I told Abramovich the same thing when we spoke about money in Sport at Chelsea. ?Over the years he has never been able to build the dream team he has wanted at Chelsea, but he has put together some excellent squads.? Manchester City?s new owners the Abu Dhabi Group for Development and Investment have been bragging about their powers to buy who they want and that money is no object. However, one person who objects is the Tinkerman as he tries to reassure fans that his goalkeeper is not moving. Buffon did, however, admit that such mega offers are not to be sneered at if they come his way.

Buffon Is Worth ?70m - Amauri Juventus striker Amauri believes that his team mate Gianluigi Buffon is worth the ?70m figure which reports claim Manchester City are preparing to bid for him. The Italian international has been linked with a mega-money move to Eastlands but he has brushed off suggestions he will leave by claiming the reports are just rumours. However, Amauri, who joined Juventus from Palermo this summer in a ?24m move, believes the shot-stopper would be worth every penny of the possible ?70m bid. ??70m is a great sum and Gigi is worth every penny,? Amauri told Sky Sport24. ?However, Juventus need him greatly and I think we have to keep hold of him. Buffon is fine in Turin, he doesn?t need to move.? The new Arab owners at Manchester City have sent the rumour mill into over drive as they claimed that the Citizens are prepared to spend whatever it takes for the greatest players. Juventus paid Parma ?32m for Buffon in 2001 and with the Champions League their major objective, it?s highly unlikely the will sell him for any price. Meanwhile, the Italian goalkeeper is away with La Nazionale as they preapare for the World Cup 2010 qualifying match against Cyprus in Lanarca tomorrow night.

No ?70m Offer And No Champions League - Buffon Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon admits that reports of a ?70m Manchester City bid for him are pure fantasy and believes his side are not ready to challenge for the Champions League. Reports in Italy claimed the English club were ready to table a mega world record-breaking swoop for the shot-stopper, but Buffon has poured cold water on the fiery hot rumours. ?There is no ?70m offer for me - it?s as simple as that,? said Buffon. ?It?s all just a fantasy. It?s obvious that people would think about such an offer, but I don?t think it will arrive.? Gigi then spoke about Juve?s Champions League ambitions this term. The emphasis is on continental success, but the 'keeper believes his side will not be lifting the trophy come May 2009. ?We are not ready to win the Champions League, but we will try and cause problems for the four or five favourite teams,? concluded the Italian. The Azzurri number one will be keeping guard between the sticks on Saturday night for his country as they begin their World Cup defence against Cyprus in Lanarca.

Chiellini Back In Training Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is looking likely to be back for the Serie A match with Udinese next Sunday after returning to training, and taking part in a match within ranks today. Chiellini badly twisted his knee during the friendly defeat to Milan in the Berlusconi Trophy at San Siro on August 17, and there had been serious fears that he had suffered a cruciate ligament injury that could have ruled him out for six months or more. The injury proved not to be serious, although he was still expected to be out with a knee sprain for at least six weeks. Chiellini?s recovery has been miraculously fast though, and he is already back in training, taking part in an intense session this morning with those not on international duty. The 24-year-old also played in a training match within ranks, along with Marco Marchionni, David Trezeguet and Cristiano Zanetti, who are all recovering from injury too. The latter three all scored, and there is now every chance that they could be in contention for next week?s Serie A clash with Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico.

Manchester City To Bid ?70m For Buffon Juventus could lose Gianluigi Buffon to Manchester City as the Premier League side are ready to bid ?70m for the Italian goalkeeper, according to Leggo. The Citizens' new Arab owners are looking to take football to the next level as they attempt to bring in a host of the world?s greatest players thanks to their mega spending powers. Doctor Sulaim al-Fahim knows money talks and Buffon is next on his trasfer wishlist. ?If we can buy the greatest players in the world then we will; we only want the strongest,? said the chief. Leggo claims that the English club are ready to tempt the Old Lady with a mega ?70m bid for the experienced shot-stopper. Juventus are not likely to sell, however, given their Champions League ambitions, but such a massive offer is likely to raise some eyebrows in Turin. Buffon holds the record for being the most expensive goalkeeper in the world after Juve splashed out ?32m in 2001 to sign him from Parma. Manchester City?s owners are clearly not afraid to splash the cash and any serious offers may be considered. Juve, though, will be concerned by the threat of losing a key man.

Chiellini To Return For Next Serie A Match? Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini might be back sooner than expected following his knee injury. Initially it seemed like Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini would have had to stay out at least a month and a half following the knee injury he sustained during the Luigi Berlusconi Trophy against Milan. However, the diagnosis wasn't as bad as expected, and now it seems the Italian international could be back for the Bianconeri by mid-September. "Concerning my conditions, I have to be cautious," he said. "I got a big scare at the Berlusconi match, but now I'm improving and I started running again. We'll see how it goes if I start to kick the ball again." On Juve's opening match against Fiorentina, which saw them give up a 1-0 lead a minute before the end, he said: "I saw the match against Fiorentina and I was disappointed with the draw considering it seemed like we would be able to bring home the three points. Too bad, but I still saw a good Juve." The defender will have some time to recover before the league resumes on 13 September, after the international break for the World Cup qualifying matches.

Buffon expects fireworks Gianluigi Buffon trusts Juventus can fight it out for the Scudetto on a par with Inter and Milan. ?It?ll be the closest Serie A race in years.? The Bianconeri finished third last term after the Calciopoli scandal and the spell in Serie B, but have their sights firmly set on regaining the title. ?I am certain this is going to be the most important and closest Serie A race in years, because there are such top clubs and big stars to increase the prestige of the League,? he told Tuttosport. ?The likes of Jose Mourinho, Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko really raise the bar, as do Christian Poulsen and Olof Mellberg at Juve for the experience they bring.? Juventus make their seasonal debut this evening with a trip to Fiorentina. This year the real battle seems to be upfront, as Milan, Roma, Inter, Fiorentina and Juve have moved to strengthen their front lines. ?I absolutely agree that Juventus have the strongest strike force in the country. We have a devastating set of players with two certainties like David Trezeguet and Ale Del Piero who guarantee 35 goals per season, if not more. Not a bad start, eh? ?Plus we have a versatile figure like Vincenzo Iaquinta, who can make the difference even when coming off the bench, and Amauri was wanted by everyone, but chose to come to Juve.? Buffon is also looking forward to their return to the Champions League, even if it means entering the Group of Death with Real Madrid, Zenit and Bate Borisov. ?It?s wonderful to come back with a bang against Madrid! Do you know what my ideal group would be? Juve, Real, Barcelona and Manchester United. That would be tasty! After all, that?s what the Champions League was made for.?

Il Sissoko biondo.

Come al solito

Thanks my friend.