Juventus Season 2015-2016

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Juventus 4-0 Palermo: Bianconeri Thump
Rosanero To Increase Lead Atop Serie A

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/04/juventus-4-0-palermo-bianconeri-thump-rosanero-to-increase-lead-atop-serie-a/?

Apr 17, 2016
 
Juventus were always going to make life miserable for a morally deflated Palermo side, the Bianconeri defeating the Rosanero 4-0 at the Juventus Stadium.

Sami Khedira opened the scoring for the home side within the opening 10 minutes. Second half strikes from Paul Pogba, Juan Cuadrado and Simone Padoin completed the rout and has all but assured the Bianconeri a fifth consecutive Scudetto.

Juve were applying pressure from opening minute and after narrowly missing the target, Khedira put his team in front, chesting down a lovely Paul Pogba lofted through ball before volleying past goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino with the outside of his boot.

Worrying moments followed for Juventus as Claudio Marchisio was stretchered off the pitch in obvious discomfort.

Palermo’s first effort on goal came after 18 minutes when Gianluigi Buffon was able to adjust himself to Ivaylo Chochev’s deflected shot.

At the half-hour mark, a Paulo Dybala corner kick found Pogba alone in the box but the phenom’s effort was pushed away from the top corner by Sorrentino.

Two minutes later Aleksandar Trajkovski beat Buffon with a chipped effort after being played through on goal by Franco Vazquez but Andrea Barzagli backed up his keeper well to make a crucial clearance.

On the stroke of halftime a Dybala free kick found the head of Patrice Evra but the Frenchman wasted his chance.

Juventus doubled their lead after 71 minutes when a Juan Cuadrado corner kick was flicked on by Alvaro Morata across the face of goal to a grateful Pogba who converted from close range.

Juventus made it three just three minutes later from a fantastic individual effort from Cuadrado. The Colombian flicked the ball past Achraf Lazaar and feigned right to create a bit of space before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top corner of the net.

The rout was completed in the 89th minute when substitute Padoin slid his effort past Sorrentino after being played through by Morata.

The victory puts Juventus nine points clear of second-place Napoli. Palermo, meanwhile, drop down to the 19th spot, with Frosinone’s last-gasp victory against Hellas Verona.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Juventus move nine points clear at Serie A
summit with Palermo thrashing

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/match/431945/juventus-palermo/report

Apr 17, 2016
 
Juventus are within touching distance of a fifth straight Serie A title after pulling nine points clear at the top with a 4-0 home humbling of Palermo.

Napoli's defeat at Inter Milan on Saturday evening left the door wide open for Juve to secure a huge advantage heading into the five-game run-in, and Massimiliano Allegri's reigning champions made no mistake.

Sami Khedira's goal ensured the Bianconeri edged a difficult first half before Paul Pogba, Juan Cuadrado and Simone Padoin made it a chastening return to the Palermo bench for recalled boss Davide Ballardini.

Khedira opened the scoring in the 10th minute, the former Real Madrid midfielder chesting down and volleying Pogba's clever pass beyond Stefano Sorrentino.

Juve suffered an unexpected setback when midfielder Claudio Marchisio went off with a serious knee injury that could jeopardise his role with Italy at Euro 2016, with Mario Lemina taking his place.

But the Bianconeri did not let their heads drop and just before the half-hour mark Cuadrado's cross found Pogba for the French dynamo to smash a volley against Sorrentino's crossbar.

Nineteenth-placed Palermo might have equalised before the break, though, with Juve defender Andrea Barzagli clearing Aleksandar Trajkovski's goalbound shot off the line before Ivalyo Chochev fired just wide following a mistake by Khedira.

Champions-elect Juve took control of proceedings when play resumed.

Pogba quickly stuck Cuadrado's corner kick away at the far post and it fell to the latter to make the points safe in the 74th minute, the Colombian winger leaving Sorrentino with no chance of stopping his cleanly-struck rocket.

So porous was Palermo's defence there was even time for substitute Padoin to get among the goals with an easy conversion of Alvaro Morata's assist at the death.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Juventus 4 - Palermo 0: Initial
reaction and random observations

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/4/17/11446552/juventus-palermo-2016-serie-a-round-33-final-score-result-initial-reaction

Apr 17, 2016
 
If you are a Juventus fan, you knew the situation entering Palermo's visit to Juventus Stadium on Sunday. It's why you're here. You knew one more win would quiet any kind of talk of the Scudetto race still being a thing. You knew that one more win would mean Juve could start to talk about the Scudetto being theirs more than they already have.

Consider it done.

Juventus pushed their lead atop the Serie A standings to a commanding nine points over Napoli thanks to a 4-0 poker face-themed beatdown on relegation battlers Palermo. It was, for in all intent and purposes, exactly what Juventus should have done to a Palermo side that has been switching managers more often this season than some of us do laundry. One team is the best in the league, the other is a complete and utter mess. It was pretty easy to see which one was which once the game actually got going in Turin.

Of course, this game was by no means a total cake walk before Juve broke things open in the second half or something to totally enjoying knowing that Claudio Marchisio had to be stretchered off in the first half after his knee went in a direction it shouldn't be going. But while we sweat over the upcoming Marchisio medical report that will be posted on the Juventus website, we can at least take solace in one pretty important thing.

With five rounds to go, Juve have a nine-point lead over Napoli.

That has a pretty good ring to it, right?

I would hope so.

By the time Napoli play Roma on Monday, Juventus could very well already be crowned champions. Like basically on the brink of officially official kind of stuff, people. From minus-12 to potentially being up plus-12 and saying everything is a wrap.

It's just crazy to think about knowing how this season started. Seriously crazy.

But I guess when you're unbeaten in your last 23 games and have 22 of those outings be wins, you're going to be racking up a whole lot of points right and left. Even more impressive knowing how injuries have happened all over the place this season, too.


Random thoughts and observations

INJURIES ARE STUPID AND I AM GETTING SICK OF REMINDING YOU ALL ABOUT IT.

Don't blame Max Allegri or Juve's training staff for this injury. A knee just isn't supposed to move that way. You could tell right away that after Marchisio went in for the tackle that something wasn't feeling right. And that's not just because he immediately reached for his knee.

Also lost in the Marchisio injury was the substitution that happened: Allegri went with Mario Lemina ahead of Hernanes, who was also warming up after Marchisio went down in a heap of pain. Pretty telling about the current-day Juventus midfield hierarchy, if you ask me. Maybe it's also a hint that Lemina is sticking around past this season.

The combined age of the two keeper captains on Sunday: 75 years old.

Take that you crazy young people.

Paul Pogba might very be playing his best ball of the season right now. Another goal, another assist, another really good overall performance from Juve's No. 10. He's got four assists and three goals in his last four league games. That's exactly what you want from your big-time players as the games get important down the stretch. Pogba is certainly delivering the goods right now.

A moment you all should cherish for the rest of your lives, honestly.

Padoin also got smacked about eight or 10 times on the top of his head by Pogba after scoring his goal. Go ahead and tell me this team doesn't have fun and the smack on the head won't be so friendly.

I know in the grand scheme of Sunday's game that Paulo Dybala didn't do much, but it sure was nice to have him back to spin in those wonderful free kicks again. Oh, and that smile. I missed that smile, too.

Juan Cuadrado was having kind of an okay game with his crosses doing not much of anything at all. Then he goes and scores a sweet goal with an even sweeter shot fake that confused the living hell out of the Palermo defense around him. Not bad, man.

Juventus hasn't allowed a goal at home in a Serie A match since the middle of December against Fiorentina. That's eight league matches at Juventus Stadium where Gigi Buffon hasn't had to pick a ball out of his own net. Put your head around that for a minute. It's now the middle of April, people.

And just for context, Juve have scored 14 goals over that same span. Not earth-shattering offense, but when the opponent isn't scoring goals, it doesn't really matter.

Clearly all of Palermo's managerial changes this season are paying off. God, what a complete dumpster fire that front office has become. (And even more than before.)

Thanks for making that pre-6 a.m. wake up call a little easier to deal with, Juventus.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Juventus Coach Fears The Worst
After Midfielder Injury

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/04/juventus-coach-fears-the-worst-after-midfielder-injury/?

Apr 17, 2016
 
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was not in an overly-exuberant mood, despite his side’s 4-0 thrashing of Palermo, after an injury to one of his key players.

The Bianconeri have stretched their lead to a near-insurmountable nine points on second-place Napoli but a seemingly serious first-half injury to midfielder Claudio Marchisio has left a bitter-sweet taste in the mouth of the Juventus boss.

“Unfortunately, I fear the worst for Marchisio as doctors suspect a cruciate ligament rupture,” Allegri told Mediaset Premium.

Allegri then switched his focus to Sunday’s victory and the Bianconeri’s subsequent lead in the Serie A table.

“As for the match, it was important not to concede, but the Scudetto is not yet won,” the 48-year-old concluded.

“We are in the final sprint but there are still two wins needed at the minimum.”

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Allegri: 'Juve can't lose focus'

http://www.football-italia.net/82953/allegri-juve-cant-lose-focus

Apr 17, 2016
 
Max Allegri stresses the importance of not losing focus after beating Palermo 4-0: 'It's not over between Napoli and Juventus'.

The Bianconeri now hold a lead of nine points over the second-placed Vesuviani, but their Coach refuses to relax.

Before discussing the game, however, Allegri commented on Claudio Marchisio's injury after the player was stretchered off during today's game.

“It's probably about the cruciate ligament, we'll have an evaluation tonight or tomorrow,” he told Mediaset Premium. “We hope it's not that serious.

“Today we had several goal-scoring chances in the first half, but we lost focus after ten minutes. Nobody can afford that, not even us. The goal difference is at stake," he said, even though Juventus' superior head-to-head record would see them winning the Scudetto regardless of goal difference, should they draw with Napoli in terms of points.

"We must not concede goals. The game must be managed better because we're in the final sprint. You've got to kill off your opponents when they're dying.

“Yesterday's game made it look like the challenge for the Scudetto was over, but that's not the case. We still need two wins and a draw to make it to 86 points. I won't calculate our odds to win, we just need to make more points. Other teams have a simpler schedule of games.

Allegri then discussed the individual performance of his players, including Paul Pogba, Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala and Mario Lemina.

“That Pogba should have quality and be decisive is already well-known. I sometimes tell him off, because it doesn't make sense that he should go a whole game without mistakes, only for mistakes to multiply themselves as soon as he makes a single one.

“Lemina played a good game today. He must improve tactically, making less mistakes. I chose him because he offered me protection, though we have alternatives in that position. Hernanes did well to interpret his role,

“Morata did well and so did Dybala. Morata gave us technique and did well physically, although he still committed a few errors from inexperience. He should not be picking up yellow cards for protesting.

“Judging by the results, yes, this is the strongest Juventus team. We can improve with a group of excellent veterans or very good youngsters. This team has an important future. The youngsters will be given a different level of responsibility.

“We're interested in reaching the end and being one point above Napoli, but we'd be satisfied with a draw as long as we have a better goal-difference.”

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Juventus vs. Palermo: Winners
and Losers from Serie a

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2633533-juventus-vs-palermo-winners-and-losers-from-serie-a?

Apr 17, 2016
 
Having watched Inter Milan defeat Napoli on Saturday evening, Juventus Stadium welcomed Palermo on Sunday afternoon aware the hosts could extend their lead at the top of the Serie A table to nine points.

Fielding a full-strength starting XI, they would do just that. Juventus emerged comfortable winners in a game that ended 4-0 to the home side, thanks to goals from Sami Khedira, Paul Pogba, Juan Cuadrado and Simone Padoin.

In the buildup to this fixture, Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri explained that he was preparing to face a reinvigorated opponent after the Rosanero made their ninth coaching change of the campaign last week.

"It's a tough game because they've spent the whole week on a training camp together and their Serie A survival is on the line,” Allegri told reporters at his most recent press conference, where he also discussed the prospect of winning a fifth consecutive league title.

The Livorno native called that “an exceptional achievement,” and this victory brings the Bianconeri another step closer to reaching that goal. What follows is a look at the individual winners and losers from the game in Turin, highlighting the best and worst performances from this Serie A fixture.


Winner: Paul Pogba (Juventus)

While this game was expected to be straightforward for Juventus, the result hung in the balance until Paul Pogba netted their second goal after 71 minutes. Having already provided an excellent pass to create the opener for Sami Khedira, it was a well-deserved goal for the France international and capped a fine all-round display.


Loser: Davide Ballardini (Palermo)

Returning for his second spell in charge of Palermo this season, Davide Ballardini could not have wished for a more difficult match to begin his latest tenure. No matter who patrols the sidelines, the Rosanero appear to lack the quality needed to survive, but they were particularly poor here and handed numerous chances to Juventus.

The reigning Italian champions hardly need such charity, putting Ballardini in immediate difficulty less than a week after his return. His first spell ended after major internal issues—such as refusing to talk to the players before, during or after a loss to Hellas Verona (h/t ESPN FC)—and he might feel just the same after this abject performance.


Winner: Juan Cuadrado (Juventus)

If Pogba’s strike ensured the Juventus victory, Juan Cuadrado added the exclamation point with a delightfully taken third goal for the Turin giants. After skipping beyond one defender, the Colombia winger faked a pass to out-fox another before slotting beyond Palermo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino for a wonderful solo effort.


Loser: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus)

Had Palermo done more to eradicate their basic mistakes, this match could have been much closer, and Mario Mandzukic was largely at fault for the Bianconeri. The striker offered little threat going forward, and statistics provided by WhoScored.com show he managed just one shot—which failed to find the target—in 90 minutes.


Winner: Andrea Barzagli (Juventus)

Palermo did little to trouble the Juventus defence, but on one rare forward burst, they opened up the Bianconeri back line before Andrea Barzagli saved their blushes with a decisive goal-line clearance.

Moving behind goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, the 34-year-old defender was perfectly placed to block Aleksandar Trajkovski’s shot following some great play from Franco Vazquez and preserve Juve’s lead.

While he eventually picked up his second booking of the game for a foul, figures from WhoScored.com show Barzagli made one tackle, two interceptions and four clearances by the final whistle, also connecting with 91 percent of his 67 pass attempts.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Italy midfielder Marchisio to miss
Euro 2016 with cruciate ligament injury

The 30-year-old will now undergo surgery after an MRI scan revealed that
he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during Juventus' 4-0 win over Palermo.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/7135/euro-2016/2016/04/17/22493952/-?

Apr 17, 2016
 
Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has been ruled out of Italy's Euro 2016 campaign after suffering a cruciate ligament injury.

The 30-year-old was forced off on a stretcher during Juventus' 4-0 victory over Palermo on Sunday after falling awkwardly in a challenge with Franco Vazquez.

Juventus have now confirmed the midfielder has undergone an MRI scan and the results have shown that he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and will now require surgery.

Marchisio has been capped 54 times by Italy, whose Euro 2016 campaign kicks off against Belgium on June 13.

Meanwhile, Juventus moved nine points clear at the top of Serie A with the win over Palermo.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Juventus 4-0 Palermo
RATINGS: Khedira dazzles for Juve

The Bianconeri move nine-points clear at the summit with a seventh-consecutive
league win, dealing a blow to the Rosanero's survival hopes.

http://www.goal.com/en/match/juventus-vs-palermo/2120702/ratings

Apr 17, 2016
 

Juventus

1 G. Buffon - Didn't have a wealth of saves to make, but there were some difficult ones which he made look rather easy.

15 A. Barzagli - A goal-line clearance in the first half preserved the lead and the clean sheet. It was the first of a number of important interventions he made throughout.

19 L. Bonucci - His prominent self in possession, while hardly putting a foot wrong at the back.

24 D. Rugani - Another capable showing as he continues to deputise at the back for the injured Chiellini.

16 J. Cuadrado - His impact increased as the match progressed, really hitting his stride late on. Scored the third Juventus goal with a brilliant individual run and finish.

6 Sami Khedira - Showed wonderful control and an even better finish to put his side ahead early. Responsible in possession throughout, asserting his influence in midfield.

8 C. Marchisio - Injured inside of 15 minutes and was forced off.

10 P. Pogba - Sent a terrific ball over the top to play Khedira through for the opener, before coming close to scoring himself later in the first half, sending a volley off the bar. Got his goal later on with a tidy flick at the near post to double Juventus' lead. Such an imposing figure in midfield.

33 P. Evra - Offered great width down the left, but his final ball often let him down. Never caught out with Palermo on the break.

21 P. Dybala - His deliveries from set pieces were top notch, but otherwise he looked a bit off the pace in his return from injury. Replaced with 20 minutes left.

17 M. Mandžukić - Struggled to get on the end of a chance and needed to offer a lot more movement off the ball up top. Was strong in the air but he wasn't provided with a ton of crossed to attack.


Substitutes

18 M. Lemina - Confident showing off the bench, doing well to limit Palermo's opportunities on the break with some determined defending in midfield.

9 Álvaro Morata - Was an inspired substitution, picking up a pair of assists and factoring in heavily in attack, coming on with his side just 1-0 up.

20 S. Padoin - Got his goal off the bench with a tidy finish just ahead of stoppage time.


 

Palermo

70 S. Sorrentino - Made some important saves to keep the game close for the longest time, until Juventus finally pulled away late.

6 E. Goldaniga - He made a few important blocks and did well to limit the impact of Mandzukic, but needed to read the game better. Replaced at 2-0.

12 G. González - Faded so quickly over the course of the second half after organising his side so well in the first 45 minutes.

4 S. Anđelković - Had a torrid time of it at the back. Caught out time and time again and his mistakes were eventually punished by a clinical Juventus side in the final 20 minutes.

3 A. Rispoli - Excellent work rate on the right flank, tracking back with great effect throughout while still offering a bit of support on the break.

10 O. Hiljemark - Strong in possession and covered plenty of ground as he was able to lend a hand in defence while still kick-starting his side on the counter with some capable running.

28 M. Jajalo - Did an excellent job of disrupting Juventus' rhythm in possession from deep in midfield. Replaced at the hour mark.

18 I. Chochev - Limited to a few strikes from range and otherwise struggled to make an impact.

7 A. Lazaar - Offered very little going forward, struggling to see much of the ball and didn't seem eager to put in the work to change that either.

20 F. Vázquez - Had an effort cleared off the line by Barzagli in the first half as he was very bright on the front foot despite limited opportunities.

8 A. Trajkovski - Needed to be more clinical in taking his chances, as they were always going to be few and far between.


Substitutes

16 G. Brugman - Unable to alter the course of the match off the bench.

54 A. La Gumina - Palermo conceded twice more one he replaced Goldaniga.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Khedira, Pogba, Cuadrado and Padoin
score as Juventus cruise vs. Palermo

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2852798/khedira-pogba-cuadrado-and-padoin-score-as-juventus-cruise

Apr 17, 2016
 
You would think Juventus dominated Palermo in Sunday's 4-0 win, controlling play and imposing their superior strength.

However, in contrast to what many casual observers think about Serie A, the relegation battlers played on par with the champions, creating several attacking opportunities to threaten.

While Sami Khedira's opener was a team effort, the third goal via Juan Cuadrado was a great demonstration of individual ability. Juve won thanks to a strong team ethic and talented individual play; something the rest of Serie A struggle with.

The Sicilians were strong going forward but defensively, they were shockingly weak, especially at set pieces. Paul Pogba scored the second from a corner as Juventus made the visitors pay.

It seems every week fans and pundits claim this was far from the Bianconeri's best performance. They rarely have to play at their best to win. While their opponents seem to always give it a go, mistakes undo their best efforts and allow the Old Lady to finish their opportunities.

Continuing to accumulate wins, it's important Juve refrain from such sloppy play after securing the opener. Too often they allowed Palermo to charge forward when more concentration was required.

While that has hardly stopped them from winning in Italy, if this side want to win it all, especially in Europe in the future, they must minimise their errors.


Player ratings

Gianluigi Buffon, 7 -- Showed how attentive he was by making a string of vital saves as Palermo continued to try their luck. Never dropped his concentration, even at the end.

Andrea Barzagli, 7 -- Alert and focused, the defender rescued Juve on too many occasions. An important performance, he got back in time to make a goal-line block and another valuable clearance to ensure a clean sheet.

Leonardo Bonucci, 6 -- A below-par performance from the centre-back, who must learn how to remain composed under pressure.

Daniele Rugani, 6 -- Produced a fine performance and is maturing in each game. Strong in the air, too.

Juan Cuadrado, 7 -- Infuriating when he gives up on certain defensive challenges but his goal was a thing of beauty, demonstrating his great talent. Excellent in one-on-ones, he needs to learn how to play a more balanced game as he rarely understands when to hold his position and when to charge forward.

Sami Khedira, 7 -- Excellent positioning from a player who always knew where to be. Scored the opening goal and his intelligence and team work make him a valuable asset to the team.

Claudio Marchisio, N/R -- The midfielder suffered an injury early on and was taken off.

Paul Pogba, 8 -- Quite easily the man of the match. His penetrative passes going forward coupled with the goal he scored and assist he provided make him the most valuable attacking player Juventus have. Maturing in his decision-making.

Patrice Evra, 6 -- A little reckless on this occasion, Evra performed his duties without adding much more.

Paulo Dybala, 6 -- His first game back after injury, the Argentine is clearly not at his best but still good at creating problems for the opposing defence with his intelligence and movement.

Mario Mandzukic, 6 -- Failed to produce any attacking threat but a player who fights for his teammates nonetheless.


Substitutes

Mario Lemina, 6 -- The youngster doesn't have quite the range of passing required and committed a few errors that perhaps should be expected. However, he proved important defensively, recovering possession well and providing the necessary clearances.

Alvaro Morata, 7 -- What a blessing to have him available on the bench to count upon. His great skill and ability to run with the ball at speed threatened Palermo and the two assists he provided ensured a flattering scoreline. Let himself down with a yellow card.

Simone Padoin, N/R -- Only on for a few minutes yet scored to make it 4-0.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Palermo Coach Admits To Nerves
After Juventus Defeat

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/04/palermo-coach-admits-to-nerves-after-juventus-defeat/?

Apr 17, 2016
 
Palermo coach Davide Ballardini has admitted to nerves amongst his players on the heels of another heavy defeat.

The Rosanero were pummeled 4-0 at the hands of league leaders Juventus and have fallen to 19th place in the Serie A standings, but despite a state of mental fragility throughout the ranks after a ninth coaching change, players are aware of what they have to do in order to climb out of the relegation zone.

“It is a complicated situation and the players are a bit nervous,” Ballardini admitted to Sky Sport Italia.

“However, everyone remains positive with a desire to continue working and fighting for safety.”

Ballardini then switched his attention to the team’s performance on Sunday afternoon, and the bench boss made a point of taking positives from the match.

“For 70 minutes we were compact and created some problems for Juventus, but unfortunately we came apart near the end,” the 52-year-old noted.

“We were not as bad as the scoreline suggests and a number of the players did well over both halves.

“We are already looking forward to Wednesday’s match against Atalanta.”

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Serie A: Juve close on title

Juventus moved a step closer to a fifth straight Serie A title after
pulling nine points clear at the top with a 4-0 home humbling of Palermo.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11854/10247473/serie-a-juve-close-on-title?

Apr 17, 2016
 
Napoli's 2-0 defeat at Inter Milan on Saturday evening left the door wide open for Juve to secure a huge advantage heading into the five-game run-in, and Massimiliano Allegri's reigning champions made no mistake.

Sami Khedira's goal ensured the Bianconeri edged a difficult first half before Paul Pogba, Juan Cuadrado and Simone Padoin made it a chastening return to the Palermo bench for recalled boss Davide Ballardini.

Earlier on Sunday, Roma veteran Francesco Totti came off the bench to force a 3-3 draw with Atalanta in Bergamo.

Lucas Digne and Radja Nainggolan gave the third-placed Giallorossi control of the match until Marco D'Alessandro and Marco Borriello dragged Atalanta back into the tie.

Borriello's second gave the hosts a shock lead until 39-year-old striker Totti, a late replacement for Daniele De Rossi, salvaged a point for Roma.

Andrea Consigli's comical own goal helped Fiorentina secure a 3-1 victory over Sassuolo at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Domenico Berardi's second-half response to Gonzalo Rodriguez's opener for Fiorentina forced Josip Ilicic to restore the lead, ensuring a tense finale.

That tension was broken by laughter at the death as Consigli improbably clipped the ball over his own goal-line to reinforce Fiorentina's grip on fifth place.

Simone Inzaghi celebrated victory in his first home game as Lazio boss as the capital club beat Empoli 2-0.

The former Biancocelesti striker replaced Stefano Pioli as head coach two weeks ago, soon leading the Romans to a 3-0 triumph at Palermo.

And a sixth-minute penalty from Antonio Candreva, coupled with Ogenyi Onazi's close-range finish just before half-time, made it two wins from two for Inzaghi, who had his older brother Filippo supporting him from the stands.

Carlos Bacca gave Cristian Brocchi a winning start to life as AC Milan coach as the striker's second-half goal sealed a 1-0 win at Sampdoria.

The Colombian's smart finish, which came shortly after he had missed a great chance to open the scoring, ended a five-match winless streak for the visitors, a run of form which had cost Brocchi's predecessor Sinisa Mihajlovic his job.

In the battle to avoid the drop, Alessandro Frara's last-gasp winner boosted Frosinone closer to survival while pushing Hellas Verona towards the trapdoor.

Promoted Frosinone, who took the lead at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi through Adriano Russo, are now one point behind 17th-placed Carpi after Frara's stoppage-time effort clinched a 2-1 victory.

Matteo Bianchetti looked to have rescued a point for basement boys Verona by equalising midway through the second half, but Frara's goal leaves Hellas nine points from safety with only five games remaining.

Elsewhere, both Udinese and Chievo had a player sent off - Felipe and Riccardo Meggiorini respectively - as the Stadio Friuli played host to a goalless draw.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Juventus Winger Insists
Title Race Is Not Over

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/04/juventus-winger-insists-title-race-is-not-over/?

Apr 17, 2016
 
Even though Juventus are nine points clear at the top of Serie A, Juan Cuadrado is adamant the Scudetto race is far from over.

The Bianconeri extended their lead over Napoli after an easy 4-0 win over struggling Palermo but the former Fiorentina man is not getting carried away.

“The game against Palermo was a difficult one,” Cuadrado told Premium Sport. “However, the most important thing for us was just to make sure we got the win.

“We didn’t do too well in the first half but I thought we were much better in the second.

“Of course, we are thinking about the Scudetto but nothing is certain. It isn’t finished yet.

“You only have to look at Barcelona to see how things change. They had a 10-point lead which is now three so we just have to keep winning.”

Juventus take on Lazio in midweek hoping to extend their 23 game unbeaten run in Serie A and stay in charge of the title race.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Juventus manager Max Allegri:
We're in the final sprint

Manager's comments after Juventus' 4-0 win over Palermo.

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/4/18/11447050/juventus-manager-allegri-in-final-sprint-palermo-napoli

Apr 17, 2016
 
Juventus' relentless march to a 5th consecutive Scudetto continued unabated today, as they took full advantage of Napoli's slip up to extend their lead to 9 points at the top of the table, with just five games left to play.

However, the game was overshadowed by key midfielder Claudio Marchisio being stretchered off with what manager Max Allegri had described as a cruciate ligament injury.

"It's a suspected cruciate injury for Claudio. Tomorrow [Monday] we'll do the tests, but it's something serious."

However, Juventus wasted no time in carrying out the tests and released a statement soon after the press conference saying that Marchisio would be out for the rest of the season.

On the team's performance on the day, Allegri said:

"Today we had several goal-scoring chances in the first half, but we lost focus after ten minutes. Nobody can afford that, not even us.

"The goal difference is at stake. We must not concede goals. The game must be managed better because we're in the final sprint. You've got to kill off your opponents when they're dying.

"Yesterday's game made it look like the challenge for the Scudetto was over, but that's not the case. We still need two wins and a draw to make it to 86 points. I won't calculate our odds to win, we just need to make more points. Other teams have a simpler schedule of games."

Allegri also spoke out about a few players:

"That Paul Pogba should have quality and be decisive is already well-known. I sometimes tell him off, because it doesn't make sense that he should go a whole game without mistakes, only for mistakes to multiply themselves as soon as he makes a single one.

"Mario Lemina played a good game today. He must improve tactically, making less mistakes. I chose him because he offered me protection, though we have alternatives in that position. Hernanes did well to interpret his role, too.

"Alvaro Morata did well and so did Paulo Dybala. He [Morata] gave us technique and did well physically, although he still committed a few errors from inexperience. He should not be picking up yellow cards for protesting."

When asked if the team was its strongest it has been under him -

"Judging by the results, yes, this is the strongest Juventus team. We can improve with a group of excellent veterans or very good youngsters. This team has an important future. The youngsters will be given a different level of responsibility.

"We're interested in reaching the end and being one point above Napoli, but we'd be satisfied with a draw as long as we have a better goal-difference."

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Juventus vs. Palermo 4-0, Bittersweet victory puts
Juve nine points ahead in the title race

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/4/18/11447964/juventus-palermo-2016-serie-a-round-33-final-score-recap-result

Apr 18, 2016
 
Bittersweet is the only way to describe this match. On the one hand, Juventus opened a massive nine-point lead in the Serie A table, all but guaranteeing the Scudetto will be sewn to the kits next season. Great news there. On the other hand, Juventus lost Claudio Marchisio to an ACL injury that will not only sideline him for the rest of the season, but will have lasting impact in our summer mercato and next year's championship. I know that at Juventus, winning is the only thing that matters, but as things stand, I would have taken a loss if Il Principino was going to be okay.

Fortunately, I also know that at Juventus, he will be supported as he comes back to the fold many months from now.

Let's talk about the game. After Napoli dropped points in Milan (ironically, in the first game they played ahead of Juventus in weeks), Juventus needed to capitalize from that result and open up a bigger gap at the top of the table. Max Allegri was clear about this in the pre-match press conference: Juve need to continue fighting until the Scudetto is mathematically secured. And so they did. Juventus started with their classical 3-5-2, with Daniele Rugani playing at the back alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli. In the middle of the park, Patrice Evra and Juan Cuadrado manned the wings while our top-three midfielders (minus SImone Padoin) took care of the center of the park. Up front, Allegri welcomed young Paulo Dybala ready to face his old side alongside Mario Mandzukic.

Juventus started the game strong and it only took 10 minutes for the Bianconeri to get ahead. The goal came from a beautiful Paul Pogba assist (his 10th of the season) and an equally nice finish from Sami Khedira to beat Stefano Sorrentino and make it 1-0. And here is where things went south. A couple minutes after the goal, Marchisio went down to tackle Palermo's Franco Vasquez and he never stood back up. You could tell from his demeanor, and that of his teammates, that something bad had happened. Il Principino was carried out in a stretcher and youngster Mario Lemina came on to replace Marchisio.

This injury seemed to really unsettle the Juventus players who dialed the pressing back and started playing more conservatively. That is not to say that there weren't chances for both teams. After 25 minutes, Pogba's shot hit the crossbar before going out of bounds; and 30 minutes into the match, Barzagli saved a Vasquez effort after Buffon was already beaten. Palermo had a couple more chances and Juventus welcomed the end of the half as they went into the dressing room to regroup.

In the second half Juventus didn't show amazing football, instead they stamped the superior individual category to crush Palermo beyond all doubt. Álvaro Morata came on for Dybala after 69 minutes, and the Spaniard showed his great form for the duration of the match. The second goal will come from Pogba, who just like last week, was at the back post of a corner, ready to make Sorrentino pay

Then the floodgates opened.

After a turnover from a Palermo player, Juan Cuadrado lifted the ball to take out a defender and then shot it across from where Sorrentino was standing. A beautiful finish, credit here to Khedira and Morata who opened up the Palermo centerbacks to give Cuadrado plenty of room. In less than five minutes Juventus had tripled their lead and the game was done. What do you do when a game is done? You bring in your human victory cigar. Padoin came on at the 78 minute mark for a tired Khedira. Eleven minutes later, he got his name on the score sheet. Because, let's face it, if Francesco Totti scored a goal in Roma's game, Simone could not be outdone.


Pagelle

Buffon 7.0 As usual, he wasn't really tested but when he was, he pulled off a couple good saves.

Barzagli 7.5 Saved Juventus from going level in the first half.

Bonucci 6.5 Wasn't really troubled in defense and also didn't contribute much going forward. A really average game for him.

Rugani 7.0 Another beastly game for the young Italian. Four successful tackles out of four tackles attempted, three clearances, and three interceptions. Most of Palermo's attacks came from his side but were easily shut by him.

Cuadrado 8.0 WhSscored will tell you he was the Man of the Match. With five dribbles, two clearances, and one interception, the Colombian was a problem for Palermo all night.

Khedira 7.5 One goal to get us started, and his smart movement made space for Cuadrado to take his shot for the third goal. He was impeccable today.

Marchisio s.v. Come back soon, Principino, Gutted by the injury.

Pogba 8.0 My man of the match. On the attacking side, one goal and one assist. On the defensive side, he had the second most aerials won, and three successful tackles. If that is not a complete match, I don't know what is. He is really enjoying his football and you can tell.

Evra 6.5 A game-high five tackles made him, and he was a force on the left hand side of defense. However, his attacking contributions were really lacking I thought.

Dybala 6.5 Nice to see Dybaby back. He has to gain a bit more fitness, but he was an inconvenience to the Palermo players.

Mandzukic 7.0 Did what we expect of him. Pushed the defense around and made space for others. I want to see more goals from him as he missed a clear chance today.

Lemina 7.0 He played most of the match today and did an amazing job shutting down Palermo while also moving the ball around. He had the second most successful dribbles (after Cuadrado), the most aerial balls won (three defensive, one attacking), two tackles, five clearances, and two interceptions.


Allegri 7.5 He set us his team well, and reshape them during the second half. All his substitutes played a huge role in the win today.


Things I think I think

- I am from Ecuador, and our country had a massive earthquake last night claiming over 250 lives. It is hard to be happy for the win, when I have been watching pictures of my country destroyed since last night. Although I really enjoy football, and Marchisio's injury was hard to take as a fan, my thoughts and prayers really go out to those that lost loved ones during this tragedy both at home, but also in Japan a couple days ago. FYI, everyone in my family is safe.

- Marchisio's injury is a huge blow for the club and its plans. I will try to write a piece about this during the week if time allows. Needless to say, Lemina needs to play every single game between now and the end of the season. We need to take him for a serious test drive, now that we know our starting CM will be out till November and won't likely be in any form until January or February. ACL injuries are notoriously slow to heal, specially at a psychological level. But if someone can come out of this one, it will be our Principino. I just don't think we'll see the real player until August 2017 rolls round.

- I am willing to bet that Juventus will mathematically clinch the title in two more matches, at the end of the Fiorentina match. Napoli are letting their foot off the gas and Juventus seem really unstoppable.

- Pogba's strength is beyond this world In the first goal, Hiljenmark was hanging on to the Frenchman with everything he had. Pogba kept moving forward, not really bothered by the Palermo player. Keep in mind that they are both roughly the same age, and that the Swedish player is not a small guy.

- I am glad Cuadrado treated us to such an amazing goal. I have never watched a replay of the Bayern match, I don't know that I ever will. I am glad the Colombian gave me a goal that I can watch over and over again.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Who is Juventus's Player of the Season?

The Bianconeri are on course for a fifth straight Scudetto and another domestic double
but who has been their standout player this campaign? Cast your vote in our poll...

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/04/18/22480582/-?

Apr 18, 2016
 
It has been a remarkable 2015-16 season in Turin. At the end of October, Juventus's Scudetto challenge seemed almost certainly over as they won just three and lost four of their first 10 league games of the campaign.

However, a remarkable run of 23 wins and one draw from their next 24 Serie A matches mean that Juve are almost certain to win a fifth straight league title. They are also on course for another domestic double as they face AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final in May and, were it not for a hugely unfortunate Champions League loss to Bayern Munich, they could even have been dreaming of the treble now.

There have been a number of outstanding performers who have helped Juventus recover from the losses of Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez last summer. Veteran Andrea Barzagli and new arrival Alex Sandro have enjoyed exceptional campaigns and almost make it onto our three-man shortlist for Player of the Season.

But it is captain Gianluigi Buffon, Paul Pogba and new superstar Paulo Dybala who have stood out most from the crowd. Who do you think has been Juve's top performer in 2015-16?


GIANLUIGI BUFFON

Gianluigi Buffon celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Serie A debut during this season but, at the age of 38, he still shows no signs of slowing down. Indeed, this campaign has been one of the finest of his career – and there are now many who believe that he is the greatest goalkeeper of all time.

The Bianconeri captain has put in a string of fantastic performances, none more so than during the 2-1 win at San Siro against AC Milan where he pulled off a series of stunning saves. He has conceded only 16 goals – and it is now looking increasingly probable that he will lead out Italy at World Cup 2018 at the age of 40.


PAUL POGBA

Juventus value Paul Pogba at around €100 million but even that figure may not be enough to prise him away from Turin this summer after another exceptional season. Despite starting the term slowly, as did all his team-mates, the Frenchman has been the Bianconeri's undisputed leader in midfield.

He has scored a number of memorable goals - including again Bayern Munich, Milan and in both Turin derbies – and is on course for his best-ever seasonal tally since joining the club in 2012. Set to be France's main man at Euro 2016, Pogba is surely a future winner of the Ballon d'Or.


PAULO DYBALA

Eyebrows were raised when Juventus decided to splash out €40m on Paulo Dybala from Palermo. However, the Argentine's transfer value has already doubled after an incredible first season with the Serie A champions.

The 22-year-old has scored 14 goals and supplied eight assists in Serie A – maintaining a consistently outstanding level in attack whether partnered by Mario Mandzukic, Alvaro Morata or Simone Zaza. His gorgeous left foot has gifted fans a selection of beautiful goals – including wonder-strikes versus Lazio and Sassuolo and crucial winners against Milan and Roma. The heir to Lionel Messi for Argentina.


Gianluigi Buffon 35% - 2.234 votes

Paulo Dybala 34% - 2.179 votes

Paul Pogba 31% - 1.964 votes

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Padoin: ‘Great day yesterday’

http://www.football-italia.net/83007/padoin-%E2%80%98great-day-yesterday%E2%80%99?

Apr 18, 2016
 
Juventus midfielder Simone Padoin thanks fans for “a great day” after his goal against Palermo yesterday.

The 32-year-old scored the final goal in a 4-0 win, and thanks the Bianconeri supporters for the reception his strike received.

“Obviously yesterday was a great day from a personal point of view, because of the goal,” Padoin told Sky.

“However, maybe the greatest thrill was the roar of the crowd, which I honestly wouldn’t have expected.

“Then there was all the affection that my teammates showed me, that really was the best thing.”

Padoin was also asked about the chant dedicated to him, which goes ‘who needs Ronaldo, we’ve got Padoin’.

“Don’t ask me to sing it, I prefer not to sing! It’s a chant that makes me very happy.

“When we were in China, in Shanghai, even the Chinese sang it! So it’s something very special.”

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

4 - 0

Sami Khedira (10')
Paul Pogba (71')
Juan Cuadrado (74')
Simone Padoin (89')

MATCHDAY 33
Sunday, April 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Pietro Giacomelli

Bonucci: ‘Juventus should be applauded’

http://www.football-italia.net/83008/bonucci-%E2%80%98juventus-should-be-applauded%E2%80%99?

Apr 18, 2016
 
Leonardo Bonucci says Juventus’ rivals should “praise a team that is making history” rather than engage in conspiracies.

The Bianconeri have stretched their lead at the top of Serie A to nine points, and seem all-but certain to retain the Scudetto for the fifth season in a row.

Second-placed Napoli have complained about refereeing and the scheduling of their matches, but the defender says they’d be better off praising the achievements of the Old Lady.

“I think when a team like Juve recovers 20 points on the second team in the League there’s not much point clinging to futile excuses,” Bonucci insisted in an interview with Tuttosport.

“Instead they should just clap their hands and praise a team that is making history, but that’s very unlikely to happen in Italy.

“We continue on our way, we’ll keep going to the end to prove once again that Juventus are the strongest.”

Claudio Marchisio suffered a cruciate ligament injury in yesterday’s win over Palermo, why have Juve had so many injuries?

“He’s a big loss both on and off the pitch, Claudio is one of the leaders of Juventus and the national team.

“Now it’s up to us to win the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia and dedicate it to him and Caceres, because they deserve it.

“It’ been an intense year, because we started badly which meant we had to expend a lot of energy to recover points we dropped.

“But there’s definitely something not going your way when you have so many injuries, and improving the situation is on everyone’s mind, we have to find causes and solutions.”

Juventus have conceded just 17 goals in 33 games, and Bonucci feels it’s very much a team effort.

“Well, for a start we’re lucky enough to have the best goalkeeper in the world,” the defender said, in praise of Gianluigi Buffon.

“Then there’s the defensive contribution of Mandzukic, then Dybala and the other attackers. They’re the first line of defence.”

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 7978]

CALCIO: The beautiful swan that has
turned into an ugly duckling

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/4/18/11412812/calcio-the-beautiful-swan-that-turned-into-an-ugly-duckling

Apr 18, 2016
 
The season is nearing its end. Heck, for some Juventini, the season already ended the moment Jonas Eriksson blew the final whistle after a grueling 120 minutes of high intensity football in Munchen. I personally admit that without the Champions League, there's a big hole right in the middle of my weeks, and watching Juve games against Empoli and Milan weren't as exciting as it was before that cursed second leg tie against the Bavarian giants.

So, what to do now? What to fill the gap? Well I guess I could just sleep, considering that UCL games are normally broadcasted at 2 or 3 a.m. on weekdays where I live.

But, you know, it's been a while since I last contributed to BWRAO by way of writing an opinion piece. And it just turned out that I have a few topics that I think could be interesting to write about. For example, how have each Juve player fared this season? Which position(s) should Juve improve for next season? And, in relation to that, which player(s) should be sold? This is an interesting topic, even though it has been much discussed, because in my view there is a significant restriction that we often ignore when discussing it in the comments section — namely the four club-grown player minimum quota within the 25 player roster for the Champions League.

But before I delve into the above topic, I would like to try to tackle the bigger elephant in the room. Compared to Juventus' transfer strategy, this topic is about a much bigger problem that engulfs Calcio in general, and therefore by extension a HUGE issue for Juventus. It's about how Italy as a nation (not just FIGC, not just Lega, and not just the clubs) must go against its very nature and actually be inventive for once, in order to be able to prevent the rapid and continuous decline of calcio.

It's not a secret anymore: Serie A is no longer the crème de la crème of world football. It is arguably the fourth best league in the world right now, despite what Carlo Tavecchio, Adriano Galliani, and Claudio Lotito would have you believe. And no, preventing the likes of Carpi and Frosinone from being promoted to the highest division will not improve its quality. Serie A is no longer the best, and unless all parties involved start to do something radically different, the gap to the Barclays Premier League, La Liga, and even the Bundesliga will only grow wider. And the day when Serie A is perceived to be as weak as Ligue 1 will only come sooner. What after that? The Portuguese league? The Belgian Jupiler league? How far will Serie A fall before it gets its act together?

"So what?!!?" I hear some of you say. "I don't care about Serie A as long as Juve reigns supreme, and remain competitive in the European competitions against the so-called big clubs!!!" Believe me, I share the same sentiment. But I am also realistic in acknowledging that Juve cannot go against the current that is Serie A. It's true that Juve represents calcio in the eyes of the world, and strong performance by Juve would help improve the calcio brand. But the other side of the coin is also true, that calcio is part of Juventus, and weak calcio results in lower reputation points for Juve. In the world of globalization and digital media, perception absolutely matters. The impact for Juve is many and at multiple level, and all of them negative. World-class players (and, sadly, more importantly, "world class" agents) no longer prioritize Serie A as a destination; sponsors won't shell as much money for Italian clubs because the brand impact is not as widespread as BPL clubs; and any domestic successes, even record breaking achievements, are no longer considered as meaningful.

This is why Andrea Agnelli is supporting the idea of European Super League. For Juve to maximize its growth, it needs calcio to be stronger. If calcio as Juve's medium cannot grow anymore, then Juve needs to find another medium, and that is the ESL. At the very least, even though the ESL does not materialize, I think Agnelli hopes that by raising his voice and airing his concerns, he could garner enough support from within Italy to push for revolution in calcio. We all know how Juve have been pushing for reform in every opportunity. Unfortunately, the untrusting nature of the Italians makes every other clubs think that Juve is pushing for reform for solely its own benefit. And thus, those who benefit from maintaining the status quo can easily manipulate others to prevent reform from occurring.

Alright, enough of the doomsday talk. So what can be done about this? Now comes the disclaimer. I'm not Italian, I've never been to Italy, and I don't even speak, talk, or read Italian. I'm not familiar with the Italian culture in general, I'm not familiar with the judicial system, and I'm definitely not an expert in Italian women and how to romance them, alright, Chuks? So what I wrote here is purely the ramblings of a calcio fan. What I hope to achieve, however, is to instigate a discussion in the comments section.

Damn, I've written too much, and conveyed too little. So let's have a change of pace.

So what can be done to stop the decline of Serie A, and hopefully maybe even reverse the trend? In no particular order:

Calcio has to be more open to foreign investors. Not just the clubs, but also the fans, the regulation, and the country in general. The clubs, and by extension the owners of the clubs right now are not in good financial condition. Outside capital will be critical if we want to achieve the goal in the shortest timeframe possible. Postponing action by one year will result in additional 3-4 years of gap with the top leagues. They are moving forward, improving every year, while we are moving backward. Yes, it could result in loss of cultural identity of the clubs, and yes it could very well lead to over-commercialization of calcio. But this is the trend in world football, and fighting against it is futile. We adapt or we die.

In relation to the above, FIGC and Lega and whatever body that is relevant, MUST be better in conducting due diligence on these investors, foreign or not. These new owners must be able to prove that they are in it for the long run, and have the necessary capital to walk the talk. No more of Parma-like fiascos, please.

The investment climate must be friendlier. By this I mean the regulation must be less bureaucratic for clubs that actually wants to invest in building new stadiums, etc., PROVIDING that they can prove that they have the money and willingness to spend that money for the investment. This is very difficult, if not impossible, because it is ultimately more than just football-related. It demands the involvement of people outside of the footballing world. But what use would it be to attract investors if you fight against capital spending for investment?

A minimum standard must be introduced for youth development. If not by enforcement or regulation, then at least by sharing best practices. Germany, Holland, France, and lately Belgium have shown that you can actually improve the quality of youth by improving infrastructure, introducing a common core philosophy to the system, and actually incentivizing the clubs to bring its own youth products into the first team. This needs to be a centralized action, an orchestrated effort instead of individual initiative by each clubs. FIGC should send teams to other countries, learn how they formulate the youth system development as a holistic approach, and share the practices to the clubs. Finally, they should incentivize the clubs who proactively improve their youth system.

Have a reserve league for God's sake. Again, best practice sharing from other European league could be an easy answer.

This might be a radical idea, but FIGC and Lega should start introducing English as a mandatory second language to the elements inside calcio, particularly those involved in the media. For example, clubs can be encouraged — or enforced, whatever — to have an English website. English language can be made mandatory for the education of young players, and even for would-be managers in Coverciano. Broadcasting package can be prioritized for TV stations who have global reach with English coverage, etc.

Match scheduling to be reconsidered to adjust to the main market globally, instead of just to suit Italian lifestyles. Week-by-week match schedules should also be adjusted to avoid clashes with big matches from other European leagues.

Change the format of Coppa Italia to make it more exciting, so that big clubs pay more attention to it. Italian clubs are not used to knock out competition, and it shows. If possible, try to schedule the Coppa finale abroad, just like Supercoppa. Give the broadcasting revenue back to the participating clubs, otherwise the clubs won't be interested and whine like crazy.

Reduce the number of Serie A clubs from 20 to 18. Give more room for a more exciting domestic cup competition, and more rest between games to get higher quality games of football.

Amend the regulation so that Serie A is more in line with UCL/Europa league in terms of player registration as well as club management. If UEFA applies FFP, then Serie A should apply an even more stringent standard. If UEFA requires 4 club-grown players, then apply the bloody same standard at least. You know, something of that ilk. The thinking is to have the clubs as adjusted with continental standard as much as possible.

Help the clubs fighting in the European competitions in terms of scheduling. Give them an extra day for resting their players and travelling. Like it or not, they ARE fighting for the reputation of calcio as well, directly and/or indirectly. If they do well, they will bring more money into calcio while giving less to other leagues. But make it clear, I don't believe that improving UEFA coefficients should be a priority. To me, UEFA coefficients are the result, not the cause.
That's as much as I can think of right now. Even if not all can be done, and even if those that can be done can't be done immediately, at the very least SOME of them are done, and SOME of them done immediately. Sadly, I am to be honest very pessimistic that the people in power will do anything right to improve the situation that we are in. These are the people that want to, and maybe NEED TO, maintain the status quo. For a change to happen, these people need to go. In the case of Tavecchio, Galliani, and Lotito, I think they will be replaced within 3-4 years by the likes of Agnelli, Palotta, and other forward thinking executives. And maybe after that, we will start to see some changes happening. I just wonder if it would have been too late by then.

 

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MATCHDAY 34
Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni

Allegri: ‘Marchisio back September’

http://www.football-italia.net/83041/allegri-%E2%80%98marchisio-back-september%E2%80%99?

Apr 19, 2016
 
Claudio Marchisio will be back from injury ‘in September’ says Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri, who will use Mario Lemina or Hernanes in his place.

The Bianconeri midfielder injured his knee against Palermo on the weekend and has been ruled out of Euro 2016 with Italy.

Allegri discussed his team selection ahead of Juve’s clash with Lazio tomorrow evening, when they will try to maintain a nine-point lead over Napoli.

“I spoke to Marchisio last night, he was quite calm,” Allegri said at today’s pre-match Press conference.

“Unfortunately he’ll miss the end of the season and Euro 2016.

“The one positive thing is that the summer’s in the middle of his injury. He’ll be looking to re-join us on the training ground around September.

“Lemina and Hernanes are both in contention for the role in front of the defence. Lemina has come on a great deal. He needs to improve his defensive game from a tactical point of view.

“Morata is suspended. We can’t afford to lose players already on a yellow card through dissent. This is an aspect we need to improve. Tomorrow I have only three strikers.

“I could change things up in defence. We could play with four at the back or use Evra as our third central defender.

“Everyone’s praising us, but we still haven’t won anything as it stands. A fifth successive Scudetto would represent an extraordinary achievement.

“Pereyra is working well and we’ll look to bring him back into the squad on Thursday. We don’t want to take risks.”

 

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MATCHDAY 34
Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni

Allegri: ‘Scudetto not guaranteed’

http://www.football-italia.net/83042/allegri-%E2%80%98scudetto-not-guaranteed%E2%80%99?

Apr 19, 2016
 
Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri warns ‘nothing’s guaranteed until the maths states otherwise’ ahead of their Lazio clash.

The Bianconeri currently hold a nine-point lead at the summit of Serie A, requiring seven more points to secure a fifth consecutive Scudetto.

Allegri demanded focus from his side today, as well as asserting that Juve ‘must still improve’ to succeed in the Champions League.

“The numbers that interest me are the seven that are missing for the title,” he said at today’s pre-match Press conference.

“Three points against Lazio would take us another step towards a fifth Scudetto.

“Tomorrow we’re facing a Lazio side who approach the game following back to back games without conceding.

“We still need to improve. We beat Palermo 4-0 but still had severe lapses in concentration that we can’t repeat.

“Juve have three more points than at this point last year. Napoli have had a great season, but ours has been even better.

“It’s an open and tough league, otherwise we would’ve already won it. We have two matches, the first against Lazio who are fighting for the Europa League and who have won two games in a row with a new Coach. Then we go to Florence. It’s up to us to get seven points.

“We’ve got a decent advantage over Napoli but nothing’s guaranteed until the mathematics state otherwise.

“This is a team that can have a fantastic future. But to have a great Champions League we must still improve – the club will think about the transfer market.

“We still haven’t spoken about the transfer market because we have a season to finish. Once this week is over we’ll start to talk about it.

"Renewal? I told the club we’d meet at the end of the season. The club already knows that if I’d decided to leave, I would've told everyone a month ago.

“Pogba or €100m to spend? Because I wouldn’t get the millions, I’d keep Pogba.”

 

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MATCHDAY 34
Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni

Juventus vs. Lazio: Team News, Preview

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2633703-juventus-vs-lazio-team-news-preview-live-stream-tv-info?

Apr 19, 2016
 
Thanks to a 4-0 win over Palermo, Juventus took a giant stride towards a fifth-consecutive Serie A title this past weekend and will look to press home their advantage when a resurgent Lazio arrive in Turin on Wednesday evening.

The club from the Italian capital have endured a tumultuous season so far, with Simone Inzaghi taking over as coach earlier this month following the dismissal of Stefano Pioli after an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to bitter rivals AS Roma.

Under Inzaghi’s guidance, they have secured wins over Empoli and Palermo to climb back into eighth-place, but the new Lazio boss told Sky Sport Italia that there is still room for improvement from his side.

OptaPaolo ✔ ‎@OptaPaolo
1 - Lazio have collected 2 clean sheets in a row for the first time in Serie A this season. Inzaghi.

“Those matches might’ve seemed easier than they were,” Inzaghi said (h/t Football Italia). “We were able to win the games and sort out our position in the table, so now we prepare for two difficult away fixtures. We played good football, though perhaps could’ve scored a few more goals today.”

There is little doubt that Juventus present a much sterner test for their new-found solidity, with the Bianconeri now sitting nine points clear at the top of the table pending Napoli’s Tuesday night clash with Bologna.

“We still need two wins and a draw to be mathematically certain of the Scudetto,” coach Massimiliano Allegri told reporters at his post-match press conference on Sunday. “We have to close out matches and be aware that the other title-chasers have an easier run-in than we do, given that we face two teams pushing for Europa League qualification in Lazio and Fiorentina.”

The Juve boss will also face the problem of replacing Claudio Marchisio, after a statement on the club’s official website announced the midfielder needed surgery on a “ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.”

His importance to the Bianconeri was discussed in this previous post, with Gabon international Mario Lemina the favourite to step in on Wednesday, and club officials insist the loss of Marchisio will not affect their progress this term.

“Juventus aim to keep winning in every competition,” director general Beppe Marotta told RAI Radio 1 (h/t Football Italia) earlier this week. “We don't intend to be extras in any show,” he added, and the Old Lady will intend to prove just that by despatching Lazio as quickly as possible.

 

Probable Lineups

Juventus (3-5-2)

Gigi Buffon; Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sami Khedira, Mario Lemina, Paul Pogba, Alex Sandro; Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala

Unavailable: Neto, Roberto Pereyra, Giorgio Chiellini, Martin Caceres and Claudio Marchisio (all injured), Alvaro Morata (suspended)


Lazio: (4-3-3)

Federico Marchetti; Dusan Basta, Milan Bisevac, Santiago Gentiletti, Senad Lulic; Eddy Onazi, Lucas Biglia, Marco Parolo; Antonio Candreva, Miroslav Klose, Keita Balde Diao

Unavailable: Stefan de Vrij, Stefan Radu, Ricardo Kishna, Abdoulay Konko, Stefano Mauri, Edson Braafheid, Etrit Berisha (all injured)


Key Battle

Given that aforementioned injury to Marchisio, Juventus will rely even more heavily on Paul Pogba when this clash gets underway. After a subpar start to 2015/16, the France midfielder has improved exponentially of late, weighing in with four assists and four goals in his last five outings for the club.

He was excellent again during the win over Palermo, creating the opening goal for Sami Khedira before netting himself with a well-taken strike from a corner. The pass to his German team-mate was superb, while his own effort was just what Juve needed after growing nervous in the second half.

The task of slowing down Pogba’s impact on Wednesday evening will likely fall to Lazio’s Eddy Onazi, who also scored at the weekend to help his side win against Empoli. It marked the first Serie A goal of the season for the Nigeria international, who has averaged 2.8 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game, according to figures from WhoScored.com.


Player to Watch

While the battle between Pogba and Onazi is likely to have a major influence on the final result, there is little doubt that Antonio Candreva remains the key figure for Lazio as they seek to improve their current league position.

Results have improved since Inzaghi took control, with Candreva also returning to form under the former Italy striker. Indeed, his penalty to help defeat Empoli on Sunday was his first goal since early February, when he netted in a 5-2 rout of Hellas Verona at the Stadio Olimpico.

Angry supporters confronted the team earlier this month after the 4-1 defeat to city rivals AS Roma, prompting Candreva to speak with them at the training ground. “You’re right, we’ve had a ridiculous season,” he said (h/t Football Italia) and the 29-year-old—who spent six months at Juventus back in 2010—will want to help keep Lazio’s positive momentum going after two consecutive victories.


Odds (via Odds Shark)

Away win: 7-1

Home win: 100-227

Draw: 16-5

 

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MATCHDAY 34
Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni

Allegri: Beating Lazio could be final step to Serie A crown

Juventus need just seven points from their remaining games to secure a fifth straight title,
and their manager believes a win on Wednesday would all but make them champions.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2557/news/2016/04/19/22562022/-?

Apr 19, 2016
 
Victory over Lazio on Wednesday could be Juventus' final step to a fifth successive Serie A crown, says manager Massimiliano Allegri.

Juve extended their advantage at the top of the league to nine points by defeating Palermo 4-0 on Sunday after second-placed Napoli suffered a 2-0 loss at Inter the day before.

Allegri's side need, at most, seven points in order to be crowned champions for a fifth straight season, and their coach is confident that overcoming Lazio will play a crucial role.

"The only numbers that interest me relate to mathematics – we need seven points, hopefully fewer after tonight, although it is unlikely that Napoli will not beat Bologna," said Allegri.

"We must be careful against Lazio. The three points would make a nice leap forward, probably the final one, to the fifth title. A fifth successive Scudetto would represent an extraordinary achievement.

"They are fighting for the Europa League and are a dangerous opponent, not to mention that we lack [Alvaro] Morata to a suspension. We're facing a Lazio side who come into the game following consecutive victories without conceding.

"We've got a decent advantage over Napoli, but nothing's guaranteed until the mathematics state otherwise.

"Everyone's praising us, but we still haven't won anything as it stands."

Claudio Marchisio sustained a cruciate ligament injury against Palermo that has ruled him out of contention for Italy's Euro 2016 campaign, and a statement released by Juve on Tuesday confirmed that the midfielder's surgery had been a success.

"I spoke to Claudio, he was pretty calm. It is a serious injury, but fortunately in September he will be back in training," the coach said.

Allegri added there have been no discussions about a new contract with Juve, but reiterated his intention to remain at the club.

"I have said again and again we will not meet this week, but at the end of the season," said Allegri.

"With the club there are no problems. If I wanted to leave I would have said a month ago, to allow Juventus to find another coach and myself to find another team."

 

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MATCHDAY 34
Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni

Inzaghi: ‘Lazio will play our game'

http://www.football-italia.net/83052/inzaghi-%E2%80%98lazio-will-play-our-game?

Apr 19, 2016
 
Simone Inzaghi insists Lazio “are going to play our game” against Juventus tomorrow night.

The Bianconeri are nine points clear at the top of Serie A, and have won 24 of their last 25 League games, but the Coach rejected suggestions that his side have nothing to lose.

“There is not nothing to lose,” Inzaghi insisted in his pre-match Press conference.

“We’re going to play our game. Whoever plays will have to be at a high level, we'll play with the same approach.

“We know we have to do something incredible, in the last 25 games Juventus have won 24 and drawn one, but our squad has shown we can handle big games.

“We’ll have to be quick when we get the ball back, moving it forward immediately to prevent them from regrouping.

“If we just have everyone sitting behind the ball we’ll have a big problem. To beat a team like this we’ll need a great Lazio and Juve not to be at their best.

“I’ve never been to Juventus Stadium, tomorrow will be a great feeling just as it was against Palermo and Empoli.

“We’ll try to do our best.”

Inzaghi also gave an update on the Aquile’s injury situation.

“[Antonio] Candreva, [Alessandro] Matri and [Milan] Bisevac won’t travel with us as they’ve had problems.

“We hope to have Candreva back for Sampdoria, I don’t think we’ll be able to do that with the other two.

“Then there’s [Miroslav] Klose who is a bit of a concern, we’ll have to see if we can at least get him on the bench.”

Lazio still have an outside chance of Europa League qualification, but the Coach doesn’t think it’s likely.

“The fixture list doesn’t help us,” Inzaghi acknowledged.

“On Sunday we go to Genoa and we expect another difficult match.”

 

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MATCHDAY 34
Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni

Lazio injuries pile up for Juve

http://www.football-italia.net/83059/lazio-injuries-pile-juve?

Apr 19, 2016
 
Lazio have a decimated squad for Wednesday night’s meeting with Juventus, but Ravel Morrison is available again.

It kicks off at 20.45 CET - 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

Coach Simone Inzaghi has won both his games in charge since Stefano Pioli was sacked, but he has some big problems to deal with.

Antonio Candreva, Alessandro Matri, Milan Bisevac, Stefan Radu, Ricardo Kishna, Stefano Mauri, Edson Braafheid and Stefan de Vrij are all out injured.

Inzaghi will reportedly rest Santiago Gentiletti and Eddy Onazi for Sunday’s game with Sampdoria.

Dusan Basta does return from a calf strain, while Etrit Berisha is back on the bench.

Simone Palombi and Alessandro Rossi are promoted from the youth team.


Lazio squad for Juventus

Marchetti, Berisha, Guerrieri; Basta, Braafheid, Gentiletti, Hoedt, Mauricio, Patric; Biglia, Cataldi, Felipe Anderson, Lulic, Milinkovic, Morrison, Onazi, Parolo; Djordjevic , Keita, Klose, Palombi, Rossi

 

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MATCHDAY 34
Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni

Juventus v Lazio: Preview

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/match/431935/juventus-lazio/preview

Apr 19, 2016
 
Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri refuses to look beyond his side's next two fixtures as they close in on the Serie A title, starting with Wednesday's home clash with resurgent Lazio.

The Bianconeri are nine points clear of closest rivals Napoli in the table with five games remaining, but Allegri will not contemplate Scudetto glory until at least two more hurdles have been safely negotiated.

``We need seven points to be mathematically certain of the Scudetto,'' Allegri told www.juventus.com.

``It's vital we get these as soon as possible. This is a particularly important moment, because we've got two tough games ahead of us.

``We're up against a Lazio team under new management, they're playing well and have registered back-to-back victories without conceding.

``They're in the hunt for a Europa League place, as are next Sunday's opponents Fiorentina.''

Juventus have won four straight league games since being knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Bayern Munich last month, scoring 13 goals and conceding just two in the process, but Allegri is not entirely satisfied.

``Even though we won 4-0 against Palermo, we made mistakes in the way we managed the game,'' he said.

``We switched off a little and suffered some serious lapses of concentration after taking the lead.''

Midfielder Roberto Pereyra remains sidelined and Allegri spared a thought for defender Claudio Marchisio, who ruptured knee ligaments in Sunday's win and will now miss the Euro 2016 finals.

``I spoke to Claudio (on Monday) and he was relaxed given the circumstances,'' Allegri added.

``It's a serious injury, but let's focus on the positives - he's got a whole summer to recover and could be back with us by September.''

Lazio remain outsiders for a Europa League spot as they remain 11 points adrift of fifth-placed Fiorentina despite securing back-to-back wins at the weekend under new manager Simone Inzaghi.

Inzaghi, younger brother of former Italy international and ex-AC Milan boss Filippo, was promoted from the club's Primavera dugout to replace Stefano Pioli, who was sacked earlier this month after the 4-1 home defeat to arch-rivals Roma.

The Biancocelesti have since won 3-0 at Palermo and 2-0 against Empoli at home last Sunday, but Inzaghi accepts his side must be at its very best to upset the odds against Juventus.

``We go to Turin looking to impose our own game,'' the 40-year-old was quoted on www.juventus.com.

``We know that we'll need to produce something very special on the night, but this team has already shown that they can deliver on the big occasion.''

Midfield pair Danilo Cataldi and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic are both available, but Antonio Candreva, Milan Bisevac and Alessandro Matri are still out.

 

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