Socrates

Thiago Motta takes responsibility for Juventus’ defeat and refuses to rule out new signings Juventus coach Thiago Motta takes responsibility for a 2-0 loss against Benfica and refuses to rule out making new signings on the final days of the January transfer window. ............ “We must improve quickly. Today, we missed creating something in the final third,” Motta said at a post-match press conference attended by Football Italia. “We faced a team that deserved to win. We must improve quickly and recover players for Sunday.” ............ “We didn’t deserve to win today. Benfica created more chances than us,” continued Motta. “We must improve quickly because we have another game on Sunday. Today’s first half was tough, even though Samuel [Mbangula] had a good opportunity to take the lead. “In the second half, we didn’t do enough to cause trouble for Benfica, and they deserved to win.” ............ “We must go forward when we go down, so we had to play openly today. We didn’t do what we wanted. If you can create and finalise well, it’s a way to prevent the opponents from attacking. Surely, re-aggression must be better. We are the first ones to be unhappy. It’s the second consecutive defeat; we are not satisfied, and there is just one way to bounce back: recover for the next game and win it.” Pierre Kalulu was forced off the pitch early in the first half with a suspected muscle injury. “Let’s see how he feels. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious, and he can return with the group for the next match. I think it’s difficult, but let’s see,” said Motta. “I don’t want excuses. Now, we must focus on the next game to win.” ............ “This is my responsibility. The lads always try to give their best.” ............ “We are on the same page. We know what this team needs, and our philosophy is only to buy players who can improve the team.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/motta-responsibility-juventus-defeat-transfers/

Player Ratings: Juventus 0-2 Benfica – Motta sinks as Bianconeri booed Perin 7 – Stunning save to keep Juve alive seconds before the half-time break. Weah 5 – Surprisingly picked as a right-back. He ran up and down the right flank, but was never quite in the right position to defend or attack. Gatti 4 – Didn’t intercept a long pass in the build-up to Benfica’s opener. Tried to make up for it with a few forward runs which didn’t produce any effect. Tricked by Aktrukoglu’s movement when Benfica scored the second. Confused. Kalulu N/A – Suffered a muscle injury after just 15 minutes. Juventus conceded 30 seconds after he was subbed off. (16′ Locatelli 5) McKennie 5.5 – ............ Douglas Luiz 5 – Too slow with the ball at his feet and too many backward passes. K Thuram 5.5 – ............ (60′ Koopmeiners 5.5) Conceiçao 6 – Booed by Benfica supporters every time he touched the ball. Tried to hurt them with some dribbles and crosses from the right flank. Not enough. Yildiz 5.5 – ............ Mbangula 5 – ............ (60′ Nico Gonzalez 6) Vlahovic 4.5 – Clumsy on the ball. The Serbian looked quite irritable and was booed by some fans during the first half. Didn’t have any real chance aside from a central free kick that he sent over the crossbar in the second half. Coach: Motta 5 – Sterile ball possession and too exposed to Benfica counter-attacks. His players panicked after Benfica’s opener in the first half and even though they dominated possession after the break, they didn’t really produce genuine goal-scoring opportunities. The team was booed after the final half-time and full-time whistle. It’s his fault too. Benfica: Trubin 6; Bah 6.5, Otamendi 7, Antonio Silva 7, Tomas Araujo 6.5; Orkun Kokcu 7.5 (90′ Rollheiser N/A), Florentino Luis 7, Aursnes 7; Di Maria 7 (71′ Akturkoglu 7.5), Pavlidis 8 (84′ Amdouni N/A), Schjelderup 7 (71′ Barreiro). Coach: Bruno Lage 7. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-benfica-player-ratings-motta-sinks/

Limp Juventus lose at home to Benfica 2-0 in Champions League Juventus were beaten 2-0 at home in the Champions League by Benfica, continuing a terrible week for Thiago Motta’s men. After dropping points at Club Brugge, Juventus still held slim hopes of finishing in the top eight and needed a big win against Benfica, but the Portuguese side started the game as though they were determined to take all three points. ............ As Juve struggled to contain Benfica, their night worsened when Pierre Kalulu picked up an injury and could not continue. Seconds after the Frenchman was subbed off, Vangelis Pavlidis smashed the ball home to open the scoring. ............ In added time at the end of the first half, Benfica could have extended their lead if Pavlidis hadn’t drawn a world-class save from Perin. After the break, Juve continued to struggle to create clear-cut chances. ............ As Juventus searched for an equaliser, Benfica struck again against the run of play, with Kökçü finally finding the back of the net with a fine effort. The second goal deflated the Bianconeri’s confidence, and despite their efforts, they were unable to find the goal they had worked so hard for, ultimately succumbing to another disappointing defeat. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/limp-juventus-lose-at-home-to-benfica-2-0-in-champions-league/

Champions League | Juventus 0-2 Benfica: Motta’s men collapse Juventus are heading for a potentially very difficult play-off draw after their dismal 2-0 home defeat to Benfica. ............ It was a chaotic start in Turin, as Samuel Mbangula’s header forced a tricky save at the back post, while Mattia Perin had to deny a dangerous Schjelderup angled drive. Pierre Kalulu limped off injured, replaced by Manuel Locatelli, and as the defence was still trying to get organised, Benfica took full advantage. Alexander Bah controlled a cross from the right and laid it off for the easiest of Vangelis Pavlidis finishes to silence the home crowd. ............ Benfica threatened a second in first half stoppages, Pavlidis pouncing on a Locatelli error to force a desperate Perin save. Douglas Luiz got something to a dangerous Weston McKennie cross, forcing a flying save from Trubin at the back post, while Kenan Yildiz and Thuram had efforts from distance, but Benfica doubled their lead instead. Pavlidis was involved again, his through ball finding Orkun Kokcu after a smart Akturkoglu dummy, allowing him to drill into the near bottom corner. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/champions-league-juventus-0-2-benfica-collapse/

Juventus booed after poor first half against Benfica Juventus fans booed the team and urged the players to ‘show some balls’ after a poor first-half performance against Benfica at the Allianz Stadium. Juventus are 1-0 down at the break as Vangelis Pavlidis gave the visitors the lead early in the first half, seconds after an injury to Pierre Kalulu. The Bianconeri’s reaction was inconsistent, aside from a few crosses easily controlled by the Benfica defenders and goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. ............ The Allianz Stadium is sold out tonight and most of the crowd was upset by the Bianconeri’s performance. Loud boos were heard even before the half-time whistle when ultras in Curva Sud shouted ‘Show some balls’ urging the players to react and put in a better performance in the second half. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-booed-poor-first-half-against-benfica/

Kalulu injury blow for Juventus against Benfica Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu was forced to be substituted in the early stages of a Champions League match against Benfica, and the visitors scored just a few seconds later. Juventus defender Kalulu was forced off the pitch after just 15 minutes of a Champions League meeting with Benfica in Turin. ............ He returned to the pitch for a few seconds before being replaced by Manuel Locatelli shortly afterwards. Thiago Motta didn’t have another central defender on the bench, so he picked the Italian midfielder, who has already played as a centre-back this term. However, Juventus conceded just a few seconds after Kalulu’s substitution as Federico Gatti failed to intercept a long pass, and Locatelli was caught off position. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/kalulu-injury-blow-juventus-against-benfica/

0-2

Vlahovic alto

Il pallanuotista sull'esterno della rete

Meglio il Milan del Real

Si é fatto male Kalulu?

Occasione clamorosa per il Benfica dopo 40 secondi

Ciao Capitano. Buona fortuna al Flamengo!

“The Portuguese are strong and boring” Sacchi discusses Juventus-Benfica match Arrigo Sacchi analysed Juventus’ crucial Champions League fixture against Benfica and explained what the Bianconeri could anticipate from their opponents. ............ The Bianconeri have demonstrated consistent effort to remain competitive in Europe this season, and their roster includes players with the quality to overcome challenging opponents. However, Benfica is a strong team, and underestimating its capabilities would be a dangerous mistake. The Portuguese side possesses the talent and structure to pose serious problems, making it imperative for Juventus to approach the game with maximum focus and determination. Arrigo Sacchi previewed the encounter and offered some valuable insights into what Juventus can expect. ............ “Maximum attention for Juventus, the Portuguese are strong and boring to face. Juve are trying to get into the top eight, even if it is complicated, but I hope they give a great performance. After the defeat in Naples, they must get back up and they have the opportunity. Thiago Motta is a coach who teaches football and for this reason I respect him. The Juve players just have to follow him and apply his lesson.” A victory against Benfica is not only vital for progression in the competition but also serves as an important opportunity for Juventus to recover from their disappointing loss to Napoli over the weekend. A positive result would provide much-needed momentum as they continue to navigate the challenges of a demanding season. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/the-portuguese-are-strong-and-boring-sacchi-discusses-juventus-benfica-match/

Juventus vs. Benfica match preview There are a lot of different ways to describe Juventus’ return to the Champions League. Some words are appropriate for a place like this, other ones are probably only applicable for the group chat. And, at this point, it’s hard to say just how many of those words are actually filled with positivity. Well, here’s a word for the eighth and final matchday of the UCL league phase: chaos. That’s not only because all 36 teams will be playing at the same time. Or that the live table on whatever website you prefer to view it on is going to be working overtime Wednesday night. But the chaos that is about to commence is very much getting set to begin, with Juventus’ part being a league phase finale against Benfica in Turin. Juventus enter Matchday 8 sitting in 17th place, part of an absolute logjam that has Atlético Madrid in fifth place and Celtic in 18th separated by all of three points. ............ At the very least, we know that Juventus’ Champions League campaign doesn’t end Wednesday night. That’s because Juventus have qualified for the play-off round at the very least, with a spot in the top eight very much an uphill climb because of what has happened over the previous seven matchdays. ............ Only if 10 of the 12 teams from fifth to 16th don’t get maximum points! That’s a lot that has to bounce in your favor, my friends. Wonder what the actual odds are of that happening. ............ But positioning very much matters when it comes to who Juve will potentially face in the play-off round. Because of how the draw is formatted and clubs put into four-team pods based on where they finish in the play-off spots, Juventus would be drawn against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid if the draw were to happen today. That’s ... not great. ............ A draw against Club Brugge — and not looking good at all while doing it — and Juve moved down a couple of spot in the table and now are in quite a pickle despite their spot in the play-off round already being locked up. Then you look at Benfica’s current standing in the league phase table and it’s very much not set in stone. They’re currently sitting 21st and very much not with a play-off round spot locked up like the opponents have Wednesday night. They are playing to keep their Champions League campaign going with the very real fact that two of the biggest spenders in this sport, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, are below them in the table and facing must-win situations themselves. Translation: Old pal Angel Di Maria and Benfica are coming to Turin in need of points and they are very much going to approach things that way. The chances of Juventus getting into are pretty dang slim, but a win over Benfica can certainly give them the chance to make Friday’s play-off round draw a little more favorable. ............ TEAM NEWS The big injury news to come out of Thiago Motta’s pre-match press conference: Andrea Cambiaso’s injured ankle is a problem again and will cause him to miss Wednesday night’s game against Benfica. (This also, of course, has fueled another round of transfer speculation considering the rumors we heard a couple of weeks ago that Manchester City were plotting a big-money move for Cambiaso.) With Cambiaso out, that likely means Juve’s two starting fullbacks will be Nicolo Savona and Weston McKennie, who has been bouncing between the left and right side of the defense depending on who is available of late. ............ All three of Juve’s January signings — Randal Kolo Muani, Alberto Costa and Renato Veiga — won’t be part of the squad Wednesday night. It’s just one of the quirks of the league phase stretching into the January transfer window. ............ Juventus are winless in their last six meetings Benfica, the most recent matchups coming two years ago when they met in the Europa League and Di Maria was wearing bianconero. JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH Dusan Vlahovic ............ Dusan Vlahovic turned 25 years old Tuesday. When he steps onto the field against Benfica, it will be the three-year anniversary of his move to Juventus becoming official after they dished out a club-record fee for a January transfer. And when he steps onto the Allianz Stadium field, it’s expected to be ahead of the Champions League anthem being blasted on the speakers around the building rather than as a second-half substitute like we’ve seen since he came back from missing a couple of games earlier this month. So as there continues to be questions about Vlahovic’s future at Juve, there’s no denying they need him to be Good Dusan in a game that is pretty important. ............ So with Kolo Muani not an option Wednesday night, the goal scoring responsibilities up front will fall on Vlahovic’s big Serbian shoulders once more. Maybe not starting a big game like the trip to Naples was will light a bit of a fire under him. Maybe it won’t. But Juve need Vlahovic to be the good version of himself if they want any chance to beat Benfica. MATCH INFO When: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. Where: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy. Official kickoff time: 9 p.m. in Italy and the Central European time zone, 8 p.m. in the United Kingdom,3 p.m. Eastern time, 12 p.m. Pacific time. . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/1/29/24352530/juventus-benfica-2025-champions-league-league-phase-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

Juventus vs SL Benfica: Preview and Prediction Juventus have picked up just three wins from seven matches in the UEFA Champions League this season, and they are coming into Wednesday’s game vs SL Benfica on the back of a defeat against Napoli in Serie A. It will be interesting to see if they can bounce back with a strong performance in the midweek. Meanwhile, the visitors have lost their last two matches, including a thrilling 5-4 defeat at the hands of Barcelona. It will be interesting to see if they can get back to winning ways here. Benfica were in impressive form prior to the two defeats, and they will look to recapture their rhythm. ............ Team News & Tactics Juventus Gleison Bremer (knee), Juan Cabal (knee), and Arkadiusz Milik (calf) are all injured for Juventus ahead of the UEFA Champions League game vs SL Benfica on Wednesday. Andrea Cambiaso is sidelined with a knock as well. The home side will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Michele Di Gregorio in goal. Nicolo Savona and Weston McKennie will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Federico Gatti and Pierre Kalulu will pair up at the heart of the defence. As for the midfield unit, Manuel Locatelli will start alongside Khephren Thuram in the double pivot. They will look to add defensive cover and drive to the side. Francisco Conceicao and Kenan Yildiz will add pace and flair to the side, while Teun Koopmeiners will add creativity and goals from the central areas. Dusan Vlahovic will lead the line for Juventus vs SL Benfica. Probable Lineup (4-2-2-1): Gregorio; Savona, Gatti, Kalulu, McKennie; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic SL Benfica ............ Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Trubin; Bah, Araujo, Otamendi, Beste; Aursnes, Luis, Kokcu; Di Maria, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu Key Stats SL Benfica are undefeated in their last six matches vs Juventus in all competitions. Benfica have picked up four wins from the last six matches in all competitions. 17 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams. Juventus have picked up just one from the last six matches in all competitions. Benfica have conceded 12 goals in seven UEFA Champions League outings this season. Player to Watch Angel Di Maria ............ Prediction Juventus 1-1 SL Benfica Both teams will be desperate for a victory here, and it will be interesting to see how the game transpires. Juventus have been quite inconsistent, and they need to raise their performance levels when they take on SL Benfica. On the other hand, Benfica have shown a decline in the last two outings. Both sides will look to bounce back strongly. This is likely to be a close contest, and it will be hard to separate the two teams. They are likely to cancel each other out in a draw. The two sides are set to share the spoils here. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw between the two teams. . Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2025/01/28/juventus-vs-sl-benfica-preview-and-prediction/

Juventus Manager Thiago Motta Speaks Ahead of Crucial Benfica Clash Juventus head coach Thiago Motta addressed the media in a press conference on the eve of their crucial UEFA Champions League match against Benfica. The game, scheduled for tomorrow at the Allianz Stadium, marks the final matchday of the League Phase. While Juventus has already secured a spot in the playoffs, they still have a slim chance of direct qualification for the Round of 16. Motta emphasized the importance of the match, stating, “We need a very high-level performance against a high-level team. We must do our utmost to overcome the opponent and secure the final victory.” The manager confirmed that Andrea Cambiaso would be unavailable for the match due to an ankle issue. ............ Addressing the team’s recent form, Motta said, “We don’t like to lose, and we’re coming off a defeat. For a great team like ours and given our expectations, we need to recover as soon as possible and do our job. We need a great performance to achieve victory.” ............ Regarding star striker Dusan Vlahovic, Motta confirmed his availability for the match. “He’s doing well and will be part of the group tomorrow. We’ll see if he starts or comes on during the game,” the coach revealed. He also emphasized the team’s playing style, saying, “We want to play good football, with high quality, putting the opponent in difficulty. Each player must give their best for the team.” Motta also touched on the pressure of managing a club like Juventus. “It’s not pressure; it’s responsibility. We’re in a great club, and the demand is always to win. The level of expectation never drops in a club like this. We always want to win,” he asserted. ............ . Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/juventus-manager-thiago-motta-speaks-ahead-of-crucial-benfica-clash/

Francesco Oppini clarifies rumours linking Juventus and Xavi Hernandez There have been growing rumours that Juventus is secretly preparing for a potential managerial change, with Xavi Hernandez allegedly being considered as a candidate to replace Thiago Motta if the latter’s struggles continue. Motta has faced significant challenges in his role as Juventus manager, with the team failing to meet expectations despite having some of the best players in Italy in their ranks. Juventus fans, who are accustomed to seeing their team dominate, are growing frustrated with the underwhelming performances this season. ............ Francesco Oppini has weighed in on the rumours, stating that there has been no contact between Juventus and Xavi at this point. According to Oppini, Juventus has no immediate plans to sack Motta, despite the team’s recent struggles. He said: “Xavi has not been contacted by Juventus to date.” ............ Many feel that despite his achievements, Xavi might struggle to lead Juventus to a Serie A title (Scudetto) at this stage. The uncertainty around Motta’s future will continue to dominate discussions, but it seems that for now, Juventus is sticking with their current manager. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/francesco-oppini-clarifies-rumours-linking-juventus-and-xavi-hernandez/