Juventus News

[Socrates 7962]

 

Juventus curva closed for Udinese

 

http://www.football-italia.net/70312/juventus-curva-closed-udinese?

Jul 30, 2015

The Curva Sud at Juventus Stadium will be closed for the curtain-raiser against Udinese, but the ban has been reduced.

The Bianconeri were handed a two-match closure of the area behind the goal after violence in the derby with Torino on April 26 last season.

The appeals court has partially accepted the appeal, reducing the ban to one game, as well as lowering the fine levied on the Old Lady from €50,000 to €30,000.

However, the Turin giants will still be without fans for the first match of the new season, though they may look to allow local children to sit in the stand, as has happened after previous closures.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Juve blame Torino for ban

 

http://www.football-italia.net/70315/juve-blame-torino-ban?

Jul 30, 2015

Juventus announced they will appeal a partial stadium ban, as they shouldn’t pay for the “failings and inefficiencies” of Torino.

The club was today ordered to close the Curva Sud for their season opener against Udinese.

This is a reduction of the original two-match closure after a firework was thrown into a sector of Torino fans during the derby on April 26.

Juventus hit back with a statement and promised a new appeal to the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee).

“Juventus Football Club is greatly perplexed by the decision reached by the FIGC’s Court of Appeal today.

“When the perpetrator of the crime was identified and arrested, we were able to demonstrate that the perpetrator was inside the Stadio Olimpico in Turin for an event organised by another club, was not in possession of a ticket and did not appear on the list of Juventus fans present in the visiting supporters section

“He was already subject to a ban on attending sporting events (Daspo) and is not a Juventus season ticket holder.

“It is thus unclear how the club can be held responsible, even objectively, for the perpetrator’s actions. Juventus and its fans must not be made to pay for the failings and inefficiencies of others.

“Juventus Football Club will make recourse to the Italian National Olympic Committee’s Collegio di Garanzia dello Sport (Board of Arbitration for Sport) to contest today’s decision.”

[Socrates 7962]

 

Marseille vs. Juventus: Team News & Preview

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2532065-marseille-vs-juventus-team-news-preview-live-stream-tv-info?

Jul 31, 2015

Juventus make their third short trip of the summer to Marseille on Saturday, taking on the Provence-based club as they relaunch the Robert Louis-Dreyfus Trophy in honour of their former owner, who died in July 2009.

The pre-season contest has been absent from the calendar since the first edition in 2010 due to renovations at the Stade Velodrome ahead of Euro 2016. However, the game will provide a tough test for Massimiliano Allegri’s men given the disparity in how far along each team is in their preparations for the forthcoming campaign.

Given that the French league season gets underway just seven days after this meeting, Marcelo Bielsa’s men will be much closer to full fitness than Juventus, who will still be three weeks away from the start of Serie A.

With the Bianconeri also set to face Lazio in the Italian Super Cup a week after facing Marseille, the players could be forgiven for having their eyes on the prospect of silverware in China rather than the south of France.


Form Guide

ES Sahel 1-5 Marseille (Friendly)
Fenerbahce 3-1 Marseille (Friendly)
Antalyaspor 2-5 Marseille (Friendly)
Marseille 1-2 AS Livorno (Friendly)

Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Juventus (Friendly)
Lechia Gdansk 1-2 Juventus (Friendly)


Predicted Formations

Marseille (4-3-3): Steve Mandanda; Brice Dja Djadje, Nicolas Nkoulou, Karim Rekik, Benjamin Mendy; Alaixys Romao, Mario Lemina, Bouna Sarr; Florian Thauvin, Romain Alessandrini, Michy Batshuayi

Juventus (3-5-2): Gigi Buffon; Daniele Rugani, Leonardo Bonucci, Martin Caceres; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira, Paul Pogba Patrice Evra; Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic


Player to Watch

With Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo no longer around, 2015/16 could prove to be a pivotal season for Juve’s Paul Pogba. The club’s remaining midfielders—including the likes of Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio—are undoubtedly of high quality, but arguably lack the magic of the two men who have moved on.

Pogba most certainly has that magic, and Allegri is likely to hand the 22-year-old much more on-field responsibility this season. The player has proved he is capable of delivering at the highest level, but he will now be called upon to do so on a more consistent basis and raise the quality of his performances once again.

There is no better place to start than in his native France, this pre-season match providing an early return home to the country that will host next summer’s European Championships. That is a tournament in which Pogba will hope to shine, and the Paris-born star would likely enjoy giving the Stade Velodrome crowd a taste of what he can do.


Key Battle

While Juventus will expect much from their new-look midfield, it is in attack where the biggest question marks hang over this team. With the loss of Carlos Tevez—who scored an incredible 50 goals in 96 games for the Bianconeri—Allegri will be fully aware of his side’s need to begin finding the back of the net as quickly as possible.

Mario Mandzukic will be vital in achieving that aim, with the Croatian striker looking to find a home in Italy following two quick transfers in succession. Leaving Bayern Munich for Atletico Madrid just 12 months before his move to Juventus, it is important things click for the 29-year-old in Turin.

Mandzukic has hit the 20-goal mark in each of the previous three seasons, and he will hope to do so again, making these friendly fixtures important to him. Nicolas Nkoulou will be looking to stop him on Saturday—the Cameroon international defender is becoming increasingly important figure for the Ligue 1 side.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Juventus name squad for Marseille

 

http://www.football-italia.net/70379/juventus-name-squad-marseille?

Jul 31, 2015

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri has named a 26-man squad for the friendly with Marseille, with Roberto Pereyra returning.

The Argentinian and Chilean wing-back Mauricio Isla had been given extended leave after their Copa America exertions, but return for tomorrow’s match.

Fernando Llorente and Kwadwo Asamoah are still not deemed fit enough to travel to Stade Velodrome, while defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli are also injured.

Young attacker Kingsley Coman has recovered, however, and will join his teammates for the match in his native France.


Juventus squad to face Marseille: Buffon, Isla, Caceres, Pogba, Zaza, Marchisio, Morata, Coman, Mandzukic, Bonucci, Padoin, Dybala, Rugani, Neto, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Khedira, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra, Audero, Vitale, Parodi, Tello, Cerri, Vadala.

[Socrates 7962]

 

MARSEILLE V JUVENTUS – FRIENDLY MATCH

 

http://www.juvefc.com/marseille-v-juvenus-friendly-match/?

Olympique Marseille v Juventus

Friendly Match – Saturday, 1st August – 18:00 GMT – Stade Vélodrome

Aug 1, 2015


Preview

Juventus play their third friendly of the summer against French side Olympique Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.


Probable lineup:

4-3-1-2: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Caceres, Evra; Pogba, Khedira, Marchisio; Pereyra; Morata, Mandzukic

4-2-3-1: Mandanda; Djadjedje, Rekik, Nkoulou, Mendy; Lemina, Romao; Alessandrini, Barrada, Thauvin; Batshuayi


Juventus squad to face Marseille:

Buffon, Isla, Caceres, Pogba, Zaza, Marchisio, Morata, Coman, Mandzukic, Bonucci, Padoin, Dybala, Rugani, Neto, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Khedira, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra, Audero, Vitale, Parodi, Tello, Cerri, Vadala.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Line-ups: Marseille-Juventus

 

http://www.football-italia.net/70419/line-ups-marseille-juventus?

Aug 1, 2015

Paul Pogba, Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata start as Juventus visit Olympique Marseille in a pre-season friendly.

This is the Bianconeri’s last test before facing Lazio in the Italian Super Cup in Shanghai next Saturday.

It kicks off at the Stade Velodrome at 19.00 CET.

Max Allegri is without Fernando Llorente, Kwadwo Asamoah, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini.

The two centre-backs are ruled out for three weeks, so will also miss Lazio.

The alternative back four is tested out today with Leonardo Bonucci and Martin Caceres in the middle.

It is the first game in the squad for Mauricio Isla and Roberto Pereyra, who were involved in the Copa America and therefore had later vacations.

Pereyra is thrown straight into the starting XI as a trequartista behind Mandzukic and Morata.

Evidently the Spaniard has been forgiven after Allegri criticised his “bad attitude” when hauling him off 25 minutes into a friendly against Lechia Gdansk.


Olympique Marseille: Mandanda; Djadjédjé, Nkoulou, Rekik, Mendy; Sparagna; Barrada, Lemina; Thauvin, Batshuayi, Alessandrini

Marseille bench: Pele, Aloe, Romao, Thauvin, Ocampos, Nkoudou
 

Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Caceres, Evra; Marchisio, Khedira, Pogba; Pereyra; Mandzukic, Morata

Juventus bench: Neto, Rubinho, Audero, Isla, Zaza, Coman, Padoin, Dybala, Rugani, Sturaro, Vitale, Parodi, Tello, Cerri, Vadala

[Socrates 7962]

 

Juve fall apart in Marseille

 

http://www.football-italia.net/70429/juve-fall-apart-marseille?

Aug 1, 2015

Juventus lost 2-0 to Olympique Marseille, but even worse Stephan Lichtsteiner saw red and Sami Khedira was stretchered off.

This was the Bianconeri’s final friendly before the Italian Super Cup against Lazio in Shanghai next Saturday. Over 64,000 were in the Stade Velodrome for the fifth edition of the Robert Louis Dreyfus trophy, but Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Fernando Llorente were out injured. Roberto Pereyra made his summer debut after Copa America duty and replaced Paulo Dybala in the trequartista role.

It was a strong start, as Paul Pogba’s through ball saw Mario Mandzukic roll across for Alvaro Morata, his pass cut out by a desperate sliding tackle. From the resulting corner, Pogba’s header was cleared off the line by Romain Alessandrini and Morata blasted over.

Khedira should’ve scored after 10 minutes when clear on goal, but prodded a weak effort straight at Steve Mandanda.

Florian Thauvin nodded on to the upright, but was offside at the time, and Gigi Buffon was at full stretch to palm away an Alessandrini curler.

Bad news for the Bianconeri, as after 25 minutes Khedira suddenly pulled up clutching his hamstring and was stretchered off. It’s his second muscular injury of the summer and he’s highly unlikely to face Lazio next week.

Marseille took the lead almost by accident, as Alessandrini misplaced his cross from the right, but the ball looped over a surprised Buffon into the far top corner.

Before the break Buffon was alert to palm away a Thauvin deflected chip after sending Lichtsteiner to ground. The tension got to Lichtsteiner, who said something he clearly shouldn’t have to the referee and was shown a straight red card. It’s remarkable to get sent off for dissent in a friendly, but the Swiss international achieved it.

After the restart, Buffon was again ready on a smart Benjamin Mendy volley, but being down to 10 men Juve were more focused on defending than going forward.

Nicolas Nkoulou nodded over, but Pogba was so unlucky not to equalise on 67 minutes when his free kick bounced off the upright with Mandanda rooted to the spot.

Michy Batshuayi surged forward from midfield to drill just wide and Sarr fired over, while Simone Zaza single-handedly almost harassed the Marseille defence into giving away a goal.

In the final stages, the French side did double their lead with Abdelaziz Barrada. A poor Mauricio Isla clearance was volleyed into the ground and past Neto into the far bottom corner.


Marseille 2-0 Juventus

Scorers: Alessandrini 35 (M), Barrada 84 (M)

Olympique Marseille: Mandanda; Djadjédjé (Aloe 87), Rekik, Nkoulou, Mendy; Sparagna (Romao 66); Barrada, Lemina; Thauvin (Ocampos 66), Batshuayi (Nkoudou 87), Alessandrini (Sarr 54)

Juventus: Buffon (Neto 55); Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Caceres (Zaza 77), Evra (Isla 64); Marchisio, Khedira (Sturaro 26), Pogba (Rugani 69); Pereyra (Padoin 46); Mandzukic (Coman 69), Morata (Dybala 55)

Sent off: Lichtsteiner 45 (J)

[Socrates 7962]

 

Marseille 2-0 Juventus: Alessandrini
and Abdel sink Scudetto holders

Stephan Lichtsteiner saw red in the first half as Massimiliano Allegri's 10 men
slumped to defeat against Marcelo Bielsa's charges, who looked the better side.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/olympique-marseille-vs-juventus/2040250/report

Aug 1, 2015

Juventus endured a night to forget in the south of France as the Serie A champions slumped to a 2-0 friendly defeat at the hands of Marseille.

A mis-hit cross from Romain Alessandrini and a late volley from Abdel Barrada ultimately proved the difference between the two sides, but Juve also lost Sami Khedira to a hamstring injury and Stephan Lichtsteiner to a senseless red card.

Khedira, a close-season signing from Real Madrid, was carried off on a stretcher clutching his hamstring after just 25 minutes and the Germany international looks likely to miss next week's Supercoppa Italiana clash with Lazio in China.

The 28-year-old could also be a doubt for the start of the Serie A season at the end of the month, which would be a huge blow for the Turin club as they aim to retain their league title.

Moments after Khedira's premature departure, Alessandrini's ball in from the right eluded Gianluigi Buffon to give the hosts the lead and shortly before the break, Lichtsteiner managed to earn himself a straight red for dissent.

With the start of the Ligue 1 season just a week away, Marseille looked understandably sharper and fitter than the Italian champions and almost doubled their advantage early in the second half, Benjamin Mendy forcing a fine close-range save from the overworked Buffon.

Juventus, in contrast, created precious little in terms of clear-cut chances, although French star Paul Pogba did strike the frame of the goal with a stunning free kick on 68 minutes and received a standing ovation from the home fans when he was substituted moments later.

Abdel then sealed the win for the home side shortly before the end with a spectacular volley, much to the delight of the majority of the 60,000-plus crowd in the Stade Velodrome.

But if it was a grim night for Juve then it was an ideal final pre-season hit-out for Marcelo Bielsa's men, who will head into next week's Ligue 1 opener against Caen with a real spring in their step.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Marseille 2-0 Juventus: Bianconeri Preparations
Take Yet Another Damaging Blow

 

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/marseille-2-0-juventus-bianconeri-preparations-take-yet-another-damaging-blow/?

Aug 1, 2015

Juventus were beaten 2-0 by Ligue 1 side Marseille in a friendly at the Stade Velodrome on Saturday afternoon, as the French outfit lifted the Trophee Robert Louis-Dreyfus

Smart play from both sides provided numerous opportunities throughout the game, yet it was the home team who capitalised on their chances with a goal either side of the half-time whistle from wingers Romain Alessandrini and Abdelaziz Barrada.

Juventus opened the match in fiery style and almost came close to an opener twice within the first five minutes.

A stinging pass from Paul Pogba set new signing Mario Mandzukic through on goal, only for the Croatian international to be cruelly denied by the swift Nicolas Nkoulou.

Alvaro Morata was gifted a golden chance from the resulting corner after a poor clearance, however he only managed to fire high and wide from five yards out.

The Bianconeri continued to press high and dominate proceedings, with the next chance of the game falling to Sami Khedira, however poor finishing spurned yet another opportunity.

The French side began to grow in confidence in a period which saw successive shots from outside the box, one of which hammered against the post as Alessandrini tried his luck. Marseille’s first clear cut chance didn’t arrive until ten minutes later however, when Florian Thauvin forced Gianluigi Buffon into a diving save.

The first half looked set to end goalless though a moment of magic from Alessandrini saw his side go into the break ahead, as he spotted Buffon off his line and duly chipped the Italian from over 30 yards out.

The action was not to end just there however, as Juve full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner was shown an avoidable red card just minutes before the end of the first 45 minutes for dissent.

Marseille came close to doubling their lead early on in the second half through a sweetly struck volley by defender Benjamin Mendy, though Buffon came to Juventus’ rescue beating the ball wide.

Pogba was then presented with the perfect chance to equalise for Juve with a free-kick inches outside of Steve Mandanda’s box, however the Frenchman’s strike could only hit the outside of the post.

The introductions of youngsters Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza failed to earn the visitors a way back into the game that they so desperately sought after, with Barrada putting the result beyond doubt with a neat volley in the dying minutes.

The loss means Juventus have now lost two of their last three friendly matches.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Player Ratings: Marseille 2-0 Juventus

 

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/player-ratings-marseille-2-0-juventus/?

Aug 1, 2015

Juventus were defeated 2-0 by Ligue 1 outfit Marseille on Saturday afternoon at the Stade Velodrome.

Despite their valiant efforts, the Bianconeri failed to cause a great deal of trouble for keeper Steve Mandanda, and were eventually condemned to defeat after two late goals either side of the half time whistle by Romain Alessandrini and Abdelaziz Barrada.


Marseille

Steve Mandanda – 6 – Aware - Largely untroubled for the most part of the game, the French goalkeeper made routine saves and showed good instinct to claim the ball in the air.

Brice Dja Djedje – 7 – Sprinter - Constantly running all over the field to help out his team, Dja Djedje was a non-stop workhorse. Teamed up well with Alessandrini on the right hand side, providing some nice link play.

Karim Rekik – 6 – Ox - The young centre-back made some crucial interventions and displayed good technique and holding skills while on the ball.

Nicolas Nkoulou – 6.5 – Rock - Much like Rekik, Nkoulou slid in numerous times to ensure that no threat would ensue, additionally cleared the danger whenever needed. Some smart dribbling and passing topped off a more than comfortable game for him.

Benjamin Mendy – 6 – Eager - Deployed in a more advanced role by coach Marcelo Bielsa, Mendy excelled and was able to storm his way up the left flank in order to cross the ball in for his team-mates. His touch did let him down once or twice, though the pitch’s conditions certainly didn’t help.

Stephane Sparagna – 6 – Forceful - The 20-year-old is being gradually added into the first team by Bielsa and if this game is anything to go by, then it’s no surprise why. Sparanga made himself known with some crunching tackles and allowed no room for the attackers to pass him.

Mario Lemina – 6 – Grit - Lemina got into his fair share of scraps during the game, but proved to be essential in the Marseille midfield. He was able to win the ball back at a moments notice and distribute it to the wings.

Florian Thauvin – 6.5 – Stylish - The French winger was almost untouchable whenever he had the ball at his feet as he darted in between the Juve midfielder and defence. His tidy dribbling and accurate passing proved a threat on a lot more than one occasion.

Abdelaziz Barrada – 7 – Dazzling - Another player in attack that displayed great flair and good vision, Barrada like Thauvin dribbled his way around the pitch, though wasn’t afraid to get stuck into a few tackles. Eventually rewarded for his efforts with a nice goal towards the end of the game.

Romain Alessandrini – 7.5 – Speed demon - Alessandrini certainly turned on the afterburners for this match as he tore past Patrice Evra on the right hand side. But it wasn’t just his pace that proved a nuisance to the Juve defence as he caused trouble with his fancy passing and whipping shot. Scored a beauty from near the half-way line in the first half as he caught Buffon off his line.

Michy Batshuayi – 6.5 – Smart - The Belgian provided a constant danger for the Juventus back-line and was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet.


Substitutes

Bouna Sarr – 6.5 – Impressive - The new Marseille signing gave the Velodrome even more to cheer about, as he picked up where Alessandrini left off with his silky skills and blistering pace.

Lucas Ocampos – 6 – Useful - Immediately after his introduction the Argentine showed his enthusiasm by storming through on goal with Batshuayi. His neat touches and surprising defensive contribution were all pleasing to the eye.



Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon – 6 – Shame - Made some great saves throughout the match, beating the ball away from danger. However all his work was let down after wandering off his line for the first goal.

Stephan Lichtsteiner – 4 – Reckless - Committed himself to silly challenges which eventually led to his sending of, albeit rather indirectly. Instead of staying quiet and accepting his reckless actions, Lichtsteiner decided to argue with the referee, before heading for an early shower.

Leonardo Bonucci – 6 – Decent - Didn’t leave too much room for error in terms of tackling, though on occasions would push too far up field leaving Buffon somewhat exposed.

Martin Caceres – 6 – Steady - Comparable to Bonucci, made sensible tackles though would often be caught upfront.

Patrice Evra – 5.5 – Recked - Picked apart by Alessandrini like a vulture on a carcass. He performed well in holding up the ball and passing it around, though when it came to keeping up with his man, his age began to show.

Claudio Marchisio – 5.5 – Quiet - Poor by his standards, passed the ball around but had little else to had to the game.

Sami Khedira – N/A – Injured - Looked comfortable on the ball and even had a weak shot at goal, but his appearance was brought to an end early on with an unfortunate injury.

Paul Pogba – 7 – Steamroller - Juventus’ stand out player this match, Pogba was the architect of all their attacks. His superb skill and passing abilities went unrewarded, though he came agonisingly close to equalising with a free-kick.

Roberto Pereyra – 6.5 – Swift - Moved well on the ball and linked up smartly with team-mates.

Alvaro Morata – 5.5 – Frustrated - Should have buried a chance in the opening moments of the game, but skied his volley. From then on little went the Spaniard’s way.

Mario Mandzukic – 6 – Lacking - Faired slightly better than his fellow forward, though was unable to get into the box a lot. A cracking shot at goal in the second half went just wide.


Substitutes

Stefano Sturaro – 5.5 – Jelly legs - Preferred to spend most of his time on the floor rather than helping his team.

Paulo Dybala – 6.5 – Active - Came on in the second half and added the extra desire that Juve had been lacking.

Norberto Neto – 5.5 – Steady - Handled the ball well, couldn’t have done much on Barrada’s goal.

Kingsley Coman – 5.5 – Unimpressive - Added little to the game.

Mauricio Isla – 5 – Disappointing - Juve were crying out for him to get into the action and help, but his introduction proved fruitless.

Simone Zaza – N/A

Daniele Rugani – N/A

[Socrates 7962]

 

Sami Khedira's injury adds to Juventus'
growing crisis in preseason

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2545062/sami-khedira-injury-adds-to-juventus-concerning-crisis?

Aug 2, 2015

Another friendly, another loss for Juventus. While the result means little for the Bianconeri as they were much further behind in their preparations than Marseille, a team about to start their season, the Italians must be concerned with how many players they are losing to injury.

It started with injuries to two defenders with Andrea Barzagli's thigh strain suffered in the Dortmund friendly on July 25 and then Giorgio Chiellini torn his thigh muscle in the exhibition against Lechia Gdansk on Wednesday. Today against the Ligue 1 opponents, Sami Khedira was stretchered off and looked to be in agony. Juventus will have to operate without three important players when they face Lazio in the Supercoppa next Saturday and it won't be easy.

Massimiliano Allegri's men started the match well. More energised and capable of holding on to the ball for longer stretches of time, it was the attack that excited. Lined up in a 4-3-1-2 formation, Roberto Pereyra was deployed as the playmaker in the hole and despite little training time, he impressed in the role. However, it was Paul Pogba who seemed the most determined in the match, fighting for the ball and launching forward with ambition. He not only helped control the midfield but contributed exceedingly well in attack and was Juve's best player on the pitch, earning a round of applause from the spectators.

Mario Mandzukic also demonstrated his growing understanding of Allegri's tactics, working hard to ensure he's always available to receive and shoot. He understands the spirit of sacrifice and gives his all in each match he has played. Sadly, despite the good start, the game was decided by random occurrences, the first of which was Khedira's injury.

The German made his debut against Lechia Gdansk a few days ago and was roundly criticised for how slowly he operated, looking out of rhythm and unable to keep up. A player clearly getting to grips with a new team and new tactics, he was rusty due to spending so much time on the sidelines. His improvement was going to take some time. Yet against Marseille, there were some positive signs before his injury.

A tactical player, Khedira is athletic and energetic, renowned for his stamina. In that respect, he is similar to the player he was brought in to replace in Arturo Vidal. However, unlike Vidal, he is not a player who has a defined style of play that he imposes but one who watches and studies the patterns of play before understanding how to make his contributions. He is a particularly intelligent player that needs time to understand his team but less time to understand the opponent. A midfielder who knows when to push and aid the offence, he is also brilliant at getting back to press, tackle and act as the warrior Juventus need in light of Vidal's departure.

Marcelo Bielsa's Marseille were perfectly lined up in a 3-3-3-1 formation, tightly packed and offering little space yet Khedira quickly understood how they played and it didn't take him long before he found himself close to scoring with Pereyra assisting him. This was the game he needed to aid his recovery and help him get back into the swing of things yet it wasn't long before he went down with a muscle injury which was bound to occur considering the length of time he has spent not playing.

It was all downhill from there. Stefano Sturaro was brought on to provide the muscle but Bielsa's men began to stretch play and utilise the space on the wings, attacking with force. A seemingly innocuous cross from Romain Alessandrini, perhaps not even intended, stunned goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and found the back of the net. Marseille were 1-0 up and in control.

Once again it was the same problems for Juve, who looked narrow on occasion and easily overwhelmed by a quick counter-attack. The defence requires better security from those ahead of the backline, especially without Chiellini and Barzagli as it lacks some control despite Leonardo Bonucci's wonderful presence.

The final nail in the coffin was when Stephan Lichtsteiner was sent off for dissent, leaving Juventus to play the second half with only 10 men. Considering the circumstances, fans couldn't have expected much more from Allegri's men but at least it was a chance to test out certain players. Centre-back Daniele Rugani once again played well but on the other Mauricio Isla is simply not good enough to play for the Old Lady, putting in another poor performance.

Alvaro Morata played with a better attitude than previous friendlies but his performance was simply mediocre, unable to make the impact he so desires to make. It was a shame Paulo Dybala wasn't on for long and he didn't have enough time to make a real impact but he clearly understands Juve's ways and is integrating well. He should be a vital member of the squad.

Allegri only hopes that Khedira's injury is not too serious and that his men keep improving so that they can win their match against Lazio in Shanghai next Saturday. Until then, defensive maneuvers must be worked upon while the team needs to win back possession with more ruthlessness if they are to maintain their successful ways.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Former Juventus Striker Rejects Comparisons To Current Side

 

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/former-juventus-striker-rejects-comparisons-to-current-side/?

Aug 2, 2015

Fabrizio Ravanelli has rejected comparisons between the current Juventus side and the one he played in.

The former Juventus forward played for the club between 1992-1996 but he insists it is impossible to compare different eras.

“I dont think it is wise or helpful to compare my Juve to the current team.” Ravanelli told Tuttojuve.com.

“For example there is no real comparison between the front three of 1996 to [Mario] Mandzukic, [Alvaro] Morata and [Paulo] Dybala.

“With all respect they are three players who have completely different characteristics to me and my teammates.

“I dont think Juve has been weakened this summer.

“The players they have signed are all great and will bring something new to the team.

“I am sure Paul Pogba will grow at Juventus now Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal have left the side.”

[Socrates 7962]

 

Juventus punishment suspended

 

http://www.football-italia.net/70844/juventus-punishment-suspended?

Aug 10, 2015

The closure of Juventus’ Curva Sud has again been suspended, so it will be open for the season opener with Udinese.

Following violence in last season’s derby with Torino, in which a paper bomb was launched at Toro fans, the Bianconeri were handed a closure of the stand, but appealed the decision.

The ban was then reduced from two games to one, but the Old Lady again appealed, with the case going to CONI, the Italian Olympic Committee.

The organisation has today decided to allow the Curva Sud to be open for the visit of Udinese, accepting that more time is needed for “an in-depth investigation of the elements relevant to the decision’.

A hearing will now be held on September 3, where it will be determined whether or not Juventus should face punishment for the incident.

Juve maintain that because the incident took place at Torino’s Stadio Olimpico, they cannot be held responsible for what occurred.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Juventus Stadium to host Serie A opener against Udinese

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2558186/juventus-stadium-to-host-serie-a-opener-against-udinese?

Aug 11, 2015

The Juventus Stadium will be open in its entirety for Juventus' opening home game of the new Serie A season against Udinese on Aug. 23 after the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) suspended a partial closure ordered by the Italian Football Association (FIGC).

The FIGC originally ordered Juve to stage the final two matches of last season with the Curva Sud closed due to incidents which overshadowed the Turin derby last season.

Several Torino fans were injured after a cherry bomb was thrown at them by a spectator identified as a Juventus fan who had already been banned from attending matches and should not have been permitted to enter the Stadio Olimpico.

That punishment was lifted temporarily as an investigation continued, enabling Juve to celebrate winning a fourth straight Scudetto in front of a full house in Turin. However, the FIGC last month ordered the sanction to be imposed for one match -- Juve's opening fixture against Udinese.

The Bianconeri appealed and the CONI have partially accepted their petition by lifting the suspension once again, albeit delaying a final verdict until Sept. 3.

In the meantime, all the evidence will be consulted again, giving the CONI time to make a considered decision.

After hosting Udinese, Juve's next home fixture comes against Chievo on Sept. 13, by which time the CONI should have delivered its verdict.

If CONI agrees to uphold the FIGC's decision, the Turin club still has the opportunity to make a final appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which could then lead to a further delay in the sanction -- if confirmed -- being executed.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Prandelli: 'Serie A now balanced'

 

http://www.football-italia.net/70926/prandelli-serie-now-balanced?

Aug 12, 2015

Cesare Prandelli believes Serie A is now 'balanced' and praises Roma and Juventus for how they have changed over the summer.

The former Fiorentina and Italy Coach was interviewed by Il Corriere dello Sport and asked whether this year the Bianconeri's stranglehold on the Scudetto would be challenged.

“The first term that comes to mind when I look at the next championship is balance,” he said.

“Juventus will have to be a lot more careful because Napoli reinforced themselves, while Roma and the teams from Milan have a clear vision and want to play a central role again, at least in the Champions League zone.

“Then there are Fiorentina and Lazio, who absolutely cannot be underestimated.”

The 57-year-old then discussed the changes at Juventus.

“I'm not in favour of teams that are the photocopy of what came before.

“Carlos Tevez left and Mario Mandzukic came in, and that's for the good.

“There is no such thing as another Apache and it would have been a mistake to go and look for one.

“It's better to change the structure of the team and the way it plays, that's more stimulating.

“That aside, they replaced their three departing world-class players with others of the same level.

“Roma changed in the same way that Juve did, picking up an authentic poacher like Edin Dzeko.

“Not since Gabriel Batistuta did they have an authentic number 9 spearheading their offence.

“He will contribute a lot to Coach Rudi Garcia's team.”

[Socrates 7962]

 

WILL THE RIGHT MOVES BE ENOUGH ?

 

http://www.juvefc.com/will-the-right-moves-be-enough/?

Aug 18, 2015

Coming off a domestic double and losing to Barcelona in the champions’ league final, Juventus looked like a team ready to dance with the big names of European football. Boasting one of the deepest teams in the world, their continued dominance of the Italian football landscape looked like a foregone conclusion. Yet this off-season has proved that Juventus is a team that’s going into this campaign with some nagging questions. Surprising considering all their accomplishments up till this point.

Interestingly enough, Juventus started the off-season on a fantastic note. Quickly addressing pressing issues by snapping up highly touted Argentine prospect Paulo Dybala. Concluding deals for Simone Zaza and Domenico Berardi, bringing promising defender Daniele Rugani to Turin, picking up Sami Khedira on a free transfer and capping it all by signing Mario Mandkuzic from Atletico.

On paper, Juventus had conducted smart business. Amongst all the players listed above, Dybala was the most expensive. Considering the competition they were facing, it’s understandable that they would have to spend a bit to get him. Whilst there’s a lot of criticism leveled at Italian football and the problem it faces keeping its stars, Juventus by picking up Dybala and also ensuring that Zaza, Berardi and Rugani all have a future with the old lady, have secured and will develop some promising stars for the future of the Italian game.

With the likes of Kwadwo Asamoah and Martin Caceres returning from injury plagued seasons, the depth of the team looks even more impressive.

It is clear that Juventus is making a concerted effort to get younger. There are currently 7 first team members born after 1990. It’s a smart move for a team not only thinking of winning now, but also in the future.

Yet with all the great things the team has done this off-season especially in lowering the average age of the squad, there is a lot of pressure to not only win a 5th straight but also prove that by losing some key players, the team can still find ways to win.

Without a doubt losing Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo in the same off season is a major blow. Tevez was the team’s top scorer, providing many moments of pure magic last season. Whether the team can replicate his scoring prowess remains to be seen.

Andrea Pirlo has been instrumental to the team’s success in the last four years. In fact one could go as far as saying that his signing ushered in a new era of success for the Turin giants. Whilst age wise it was probably a prudent move to let him leave, his leadership and exceptional calm on the field of play will be sorely missed.

As for Arturo Vidal, it seems he needed a change of scenery. An incredible player in his own right, his heroics and exploits with the club will surely not be forgotten. His unique style of play, is a quality that only a few players possess in the world.

And so Juventus goes into the season without 3 of its key players. Whilst it’s arguable that Claudio Marchisio, Roberto Pereyra and Paul Pogba can hold their own in the midfield, Tevez’ knack for timely goals might be more difficult to replicate.

In a season where Juventus’ rivals have all strengthened most notably Inter and Roma, one wonders if this is the year they finally lose their stranglehold at the top of the league.

Whether this will be the case is a storyline to watch going into the new season. The old lady made the right moves by going younger, and it’s already paying off with Dybala scoring a beautiful goal to seal the super cup win for his new team. More of that will be required from him and his teammates this season. This might turn out to be one of their most challenging seasons in recent memory.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Zoff: ‘Juve, ignore past success’

 

http://www.football-italia.net/71183/zoff-%E2%80%98juve-ignore-past-success%E2%80%99?

Aug 18, 2015

Former Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff warns the Bianconeri that they must ‘ignore past successes’ to win a fifth straight Scudetto.

In an interview with Tuttosport, the 73-year-old explained that he still views the Old Lady as favourites, but says they must be mentally strong.

“They need to think that they’re starting from year zero and that there haven’t been any successes in the past,” he said.

“They can match the record of five league titles in a row, a huge milestone.

“The squad has changed and the new arrivals will bring their enthusiasm.

“I see Allegri's team as still in pole position - they can confirm that again despite facing fiercer competition.

“Roma, Milan and Inter have invested large sums. For any more assessments though, I’ll wait for the first official games.

“The new Stadio Friuli? It’s a good sign, a stadium that is owned brings new revenue and playing in your own home creates more enthusiasm.

“This is a mechanism that Juventus have been able to exploit.”

[Socrates 7962]

 

Line-ups: Juventus A v Juventus B

 

http://www.football-italia.net/71270/line-ups-juventus-v-juventus-b?

Aug 19, 2015

Juventus play their traditional friendly against their B-team in Villar Perosa, with Simone Zaza and Mario Mandzukic in attack.

The Bianconeri play against their youth squad at the Agnelli family’s estate every year, and the match today represents their final pre-season friendly.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri deploys his favoured 4-3-1-2 formation, with Paulo Dybala benched in favour of Simone Zaza.

Daniele Rugani is preferred to Giorgio Chiellini in defence, while Mattia Vitale replaces the injured Claudio Marchisio.


Juventus A: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Rugani, Chiellini, Evra; Pogba, Sturaro, Vitale; Coman; Mandzukic, Zaza.

Juventus A subs: Neto, Rubinho, Barzagli, Bonucci, Isla, Caceres, Padoin, Macek, Tello Dybala, Llorente


Juventus B: Audero; Lirola, Parodi, Blanco, Zappa; Slivka, Bouy, Rossi; Kastanos, Vadalà; Pozzebon

Juventus B subs: Del Favero, Vitali, Consol, Beruatto, Coccolo, Pellini, Romagna, Eleutieri, Favilli, Bove, Clemenza, Cassata

[Socrates 7962]

 

Pogba nets in Juve derby

 

http://www.football-italia.net/71280/pogba-nets-juve-derby?

Aug 19, 2015

Paul Pogba scored the only goal, Simone Zaza hit the woodwork and Mario Mandzukic limped off in the Juventus family outing.

This traditional game between the A and B teams at the Villar Perosa training ground concludes pre-season preparations.

Only around 70 minutes were played, as the match was interrupted by a peaceful flood of enthusiastic fans seeking selfies.

The team also walked around the sides of the pitch showing off the Italian Super Cup, won 2-0 over Lazio in Shanghai earlier this month, the Scudetto and Coppa Italia trophies.

Pogba has been awarded the Number 10 jersey and also taken on a new role, playing in Andrea Pirlo’s old position in front of the defence.

Zaza hit the woodwork and Kingsley Coman forced a fine save, but Pogba broke the deadlock with a scorching left-foot strike from distance.

There were worrying scenes as Mandzukic limped off and sat on the bench with ice wrapped around his right knee following a knock.

Juve have already suffered from numerous injury problems this summer, including Claudio Marchisio, Alvaro Morata and Sami Khedira.

Paulo Dybala came on for the second half and impressed with some interesting moves, skimming the woodwork and pulling back for Fernando Llorente to fire at the goalkeeper.


Juventus A: Buffon (Neto 29) (Rubinho 46); Lichtsteiner (Padoin 46), Rugani (Barzagli 46), Chiellini (Bonucci 46), Evra (Caceres 46); Pogba (Pereyra 46), Sturaro (Isla 46), Vitale (Macek 46); Coman (Tello 46); Mandzukic (Llorente 32), Zaza (Dybala 46)

Juventus B: Audero; Lirola, Parodi, Blanco, Zappa; Slivka, Bouy, Rossi; Kastanos, Vadalà; Pozzebon

[Socrates 7962]

 

Del Piero: Juventus have been brave this summer

The former Bianconeri No.10 has applauded Massimiliano Allegri
for the personnel changes that the coach has made since the end of 2014-15.

 

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2015/08/21/14619672/-?

Aug 21, 2015

Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has hailed the "brave" transfer changes made at the Scudetto holders this summer.

Key trio Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal have been sold to Boca Juniors, New York City and Bayern Munich respectively as last season's Champions League runners-up revamped their squad.

Juve signed promising attacker Paulo Dybala for €32 million from Palermo at the climax of 2014-15, while strikers Simone Zaza and Mario Mandzukic have been signed for a cumulative total of €37m.

On Thursday, Porto star Alex Sandro became the latest high-profile signing for Massimiliano Allegri's men, who forked out an estimated €26m for the left-back.

Del Piero, who was part of the Bianconeri squad that won the first of their current four-in-a-row Serie A titles in 2011-12, thinks his former club deserve credit for their purchases.

"I'd call Juve's changes brave," he told La Stampa. "Their team have changed so much, but with careful tinkering and rigour.

"It may take a bit of time to replace the core team of recent years, but Allegri has clear ideas and the alterations will pay off in the future.

"I think it's great that Juve have reinforced with intelligent, targeted purchases. Everyone they've bought is useful, there's no wasted money of players brought in for the bench."

Allegri enjoyed an almost-perfect first season at the Turin club, winning Serie A and Coppa Italia in addition to taking Juve to the Champions League final for the first time since 2002-03.

[Socrates 7962]

 

CL: Juve top seeds in draw

 

http://www.football-italia.net/71646/cl-juve-top-seeds-draw?

Aug 26, 2015

Juventus are top seeds in the Champions League draw, while Roma are in the third pot.

Once again there will be only two Serie A representatives in the group phase, as Lazio were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Bayer Leverkusen.

It means Milan are the only Italian side to qualify via the Champions League play-offs in the last six seasons.

The draw for the group phase is on Thursday afternoon and last year’s Finalists Juve are top seeds.

Pot 1: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Zenit St Petersburg, PSV Eindhoven

Pot 2: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, FC Porto, Arsenal, Manchester United, Valencia, Manchester City, Bayer Leverkusen

Pot 3: Shakhtar Donetsk, Sevilla, Olympique Lyon, Dinamo Kiev, Olympiacos, CSKA Moscow, Galatasaray, Roma

Pot 4: BATE Borisov, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Wolfsburg, Dinamo Zagreb, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Gent, Malmö, Astana

[Socrates 7962]

 

Juventus Unveil New Adidas
3rd Kit for 2015/16 Season

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2556115-juventus-unveil-new-adidas-third-kit-for-201516-season?

Aug 27, 2015
 

JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen
Three stripes, three new kits. Today we present you our third @adidasfootball kit for the new season

Juventus have unveiled a new third kit for the 2015/16 season, courtesy of kit partners Adidas.

The new strip is predominantly black with "a unique gold imprint on the three stripes and club crest—a symbol of the club’s success in the major European competition," per the Adidas press release.

Juve's kit was revealed as part of Adidas' "Spark In The Night" launch, which also saw them unveil third kits for fellow European giants Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and AC Milan.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Juventus submit their Champions League squad list;
Kwadwo Asamoah, Simone Padoin not included

Padoin left off the list in a clear attempt to spare the rest of Europe.

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/9/1/9241131/juventus-uefa-champions-league-squad-list-no-asamoah-padoin

Sep 1, 2015

Now that transfer deadline day is over and done with — we survived it, y'all! — we can finally put all of our attention toward the on-field product that Juventus is going to be rolling out this season. But it's somewhat ironic to type that previous sentence considering we're at the start of an international break and Juventus won't be playing an actual game until next weekend when Chievo visits Juventus Stadium.

Either way and no matter when Juventus' next game might actually be, we have team news. And, at the same time, Champions League news.

Juventus have submitted their squad list for the Champions League group stage, which gets underway on Tuesday, Sept. 15, when Max Allegri's boys make the trip to England and the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City (who probably just spent another €40 million while I typed out this sentence). Here is the full list, courtesy of Juventus' official website:

1 Gianluigi Buffon
3 Giorgio Chiellini
4 Martin Caceres
6 Sami Khedira
7 Simone Zaza
8 Claudio Marchisio
9 Alvaro Morata
10 Paul Pogba
11 Hernanes
12 Alex Sandro
15 Andrea Barzagli
16 Juan Cuadrado
17 Mario Mandzukic
18 Mario Lemina
19 Leonardo Bonucci
21 Paulo Dybala
24 Daniele Rugani
25 Neto
26 Stephan Lichtsteiner
27 Stefano Sturaro
33 Patrice Evra
37 Roberto Pereyra
38 Emil Audero

The two obvious names missing — if you haven't noticed already or didn't read the story's headline — are those of Kwadwo Asamoah and Simone Padoin. And, you have to think, they are for two very different reasons.

This may be the latest sign that we're not totally sure when Asamoah will be back from his injury troubles. The last Asamoah-related news we heard was that he would start training with the main squad in about three weeks. Well, it's been close to three weeks from that announcement, so we shall wait and see if that timetable truly does hold true. If it doesn't, then it will be a pretty good indication as to why Asamoah wasn't included in the

That brings us to Padoin, who has certainly been the recipient of a fair bit of criticism around these parts as of late. But when you think about where Padoin fits into things when the remaining injured players — Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira most notably — are expected to return, there just isn't room for Pado. As much as he's become the Human Victory Cigar, the additions of Hernanes and Mario Lemina means there's even less room for Padoin in the midfield, and the same goes with Alex Sandro's signing in defense.

And one more thing this list (unintentionally) provided us — jersey numbers for Hernanes and Lemina. Who doesn't like jersey number news, right? Yeah, jersey number news!

[Socrates 7962]

 

Juventus Announce 2015-16 Serie A Squad

 

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/juventus-announce-2015-16-serie-a-squad/?

Sep 3, 2015

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed his selected squad for the 2015-16 Serie A season.

Following Monday’s closure of the summer transfer window, clubs are obliged to submit their final squad of players to be used for the season. The squad is capped at 25 named players, however, those born on or after January 1, 1994 do not have to be included in the list, but can still be used regardless.

The full Juventus squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: 1 Buffon, 25 Neto, 34 Rubinho, 38 Audero.

Defenders: 4 Caceres, 12 Alex Sandro, 26 Lichtsteiner, 33 Evra, 3 Chiellini, 15 Barzagli, 19 Bonucci, 24 Rugani.

Midfielders: 6 Khedira, 10 Pogba, 11 Hernanes, 18 Lemina, 22 Asamoah, 37 Pereyra, 8 Marchisio, 20 Padoin, 27 Sturaro, 40 Vitale.

Attackers: 9 Morata, 16 Cuadrado, 17 Mandzukic, 21 Dybala, 7 Zaza.

[Socrates 7962]

 

Cause for Juventus midfield concern?

Juventus sought to bolster the midfield after a poor showing in Rome.
Luca Cetta assesses the heart of the Bianconeri team.

 

http://www.football-italia.net/72501/cause-juventus-midfield-concern?

Sep 3, 2015

Hit by a Bosnian one-two punch at the Stadio Olimpico, Juventus have recorded their worst start to a season in over a century. Not even Paulo Dybala’s strike and a late flurry could rescue a point from their Roman excursion.

No Juve team has commenced as poorly as Massimiliano Allegri’s side since 1912, when the competition was built on regional groupings. The Bianconeri later finished rock bottom of the Piedmont section after one win in 10 matches.

History surely won’t repeat itself, but back then Juventus weren’t coming off a season which so nearly ended with a treble. This was the first true test for either side, between the pair expected to battle intently for the Scudetto. And Allegri got it wrong.

The continued inclusion of Simone Padoin in midfield raised eyebrows. The jack-of-all-trades was ineffective against Udinese as Juventus probed without success. Against Roma he did not provide adequate defensive cover. Not that he was alone in that department as Paul Pogba and Stefano Sturaro also struggled, but in stating Padoin was the only player available to play the position, Allegri could not shy from the criticism.

The Coach knows he is working with a patched-together midfield. Shorn of Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira and Kwadwo Asamoah, the Turin club has scrambled for options. And when there are that many absentees, calling on Padoin to do a job isn’t the worst solution – but not in a position of such significance.

A lacklustre Juventus could not handle Roma’s intensity. The plan appeared to be to soak up Roma pressure and spring forth on the counter. It’s a tactic teams, including Juve, have used to success against Rudi Garcia’s Giallorossi. But when they needed to get a foothold in midfield to alleviate pressure and begin attacking forays, the plan dissipated. For an hour Mario Mandzukic and Dybala fed off scraps nor had enough support to trouble Roma. A side which likes to dictate was being dictated. Roberto Pereyra’s introduction and the change in dynamic showed what could have been.

Given the injuries and results, attention turned to who could help solve the issue. Allegri had requested a playmaker throughout the summer and after the chase for Julian Draxler fell flat, Juventus had to think quickly. Hernanes joined from Inter on deadline day for €11m, while Mario Lemina arrived on loan for €0.5m.

The young Frenchman offers a combative edge. Hernanes fits the mould of what Allegri was after, even if he was not on the list of initial targets. He never showed his Lazio best while in Milan, but has the technical ability – and set piece proficiency sorely lacking at present – to make a mark.

Not that Allegri is all too concerned about the slow start. He knows there have been mitigating circumstances. The message is it will take time. “I’m not worried about our zero points in the league, that’s something that can happen in football,” he said on Sunday. “Yes, we have to catch up, but we’ve got all the time and quality to do so. We need to remain calm, clear headed and run through what didn’t work for us.”

His coaching career has been dominated by slow starts. Last season proved the exception to an Allegri rule. Winning six on the bounce last term bucked the trend. In other seasons, only once has an Allegri-led team gained more than seven points from the opening four games.

Khedira is a little off from making his debut, but Marchisio will return after the international break. That should, in-turn, help Pogba. The Frenchman has cut a frustrated figure in the opening matches. The 22-year-old is still adapting to his new role. Where last season he had Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Marchisio alongside, here he’s had to carry the burden. That has resulted in Pogba trying too much to little effect. It will take time to adapt.

The Coach has just over a week to work with the squad for the clash against Chievo. He’ll be better suited once those injured return, while the new signings have time to slot into their new surroundings. Allegri will need his midfield to replicate the one of season’s past, a midfield which proved pivotal to Juve’s success.