Juventus Season 2011-2012

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Serie A Week 36 - 2-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

1 - 1

Claudio Marchisio (9′)

Andrea Bertolacci (85′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Paolo Valeri

Attendance: 32000

Marchisio stands by Buffon

May 3, 2012

Claudio Marchisio has backed teammate Gigi Buffon to bounce back after his error cost Juventus victory against Lecce.

The goalkeeper’s late mistake gifted the relegation threatened side a goal which netted them a 1-1 draw in Turin.

“Gigi was obviously upset because he absolutely wants to clinch the title,” stated Marchisio who had given his side the lead.

“However, he’s a strong character and against Cagliari he will immediately be our certainty again.

“In Trieste we’ll give our all in order to win. And if good news come from Milan, it will be better, however we just have to think about ourselves.”

Juventus are now just a point ahead of Milan following the Old Lady’s failure to see off a Lecce side who had gone down to 10 men.

“We should have sealed the victory against Lecce, also considering that they were one man down,” continued the midfielder.

“We tried to manage the ball possession, because perhaps we were a bit tired having played three days ago.

“Moreover, there was that mistake. Unfortunately, these circumstances can happen, but we can set it right.”

Juve will face Cagliari on Sunday, while the Rossoneri will play their city rivals in the San Siro derby.

“We’re still at the top of the table,” added Marchisio, the scorer of nine League goals during this campaign.

“Now, we must play and show our strength and calmness, especially because we must remember that at the beginning of the season, we didn’t expect to be one point in front of the second side in the table with two games to go.”

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 36 - 2-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

1 - 1

Claudio Marchisio (9′)

Andrea Bertolacci (85′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Paolo Valeri

Attendance: 32000

Bertolacci feels for Buffon

May 3, 2012

Andrea Bertolacci may have benefited from Gigi Buffon’s mistake, but the Lecce man is hoping it doesn’t cost Juventus the Scudetto.

The 21-year-old dispossessed the goalkeeper late in the game to score Lecce’s equaliser in their unexpected 1-1 draw in Turin.

“Buffon gave me a high-five at the end of the game,” stated the Roman. “There was disappointment there and I hope that what has happened won’t compromise their campaign.

“We were down to 10-men and I just attacked him.

“We looked to give it our all and there is great satisfaction that we got a point. We are fighting for survival and we’ll keep working hard until the very end.”

The Old Lady are now just one point ahead of Milan at the top of the table with two games left this season.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 36 - 2-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

1 - 1

Claudio Marchisio (9′)

Andrea Bertolacci (85′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Paolo Valeri

Attendance: 32000

Juventus are still in control of Serie A, says Allegri

AC Milan boss has stressed that the Old Lady still have everything

in their own hands, but added that anything's possible in the last two games.

May 3, 2012

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has stated that Juventus are still in control in the race for the Scudetto, despite their slip-up against Lecce on Wednesday evening.

The Serie A leaders had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home, while Milan beat Atalanta 2-0 in their Serie A fixture at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Nevertheless, Allegri has pointed out that Juventus still hold a one-point lead over the Rossoneri with two more games to go.

"Juventus still have everything in their own hands. We just have to do our best to keep the race open and hope for another slip-up but that’s tough to see," Allegri stated at a press conference.

"We’ll see now what happens on Sunday. This is why football is beautiful; anything can happen in a game.

"This is the proof that the most impossible things to achieve are always the most beautiful and you always have to believe."

Milan resume league action on Sunday when they take on rivals Inter.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 36 - 2-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

1 - 1

Claudio Marchisio (9′)

Andrea Bertolacci (85′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Paolo Valeri

Attendance: 32000

Juventus use up their Get Out of Jail Free card

as Buffon gifts AC Milan Scudetto lifeline

The Bianconeri's hold on the title race was loosened thanks to the goalkeeper's bizarre

late mistake, allowing the reigning champions to close the gap to a single point.

May 3, 2012

COMMENT

By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Editor

That wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.

On the night Juventus could have left the field as champions, they instead allowed the current holders of the Serie A title to believe again. And it was one of their most flawless, unflustered individuals who gave AC Milan hope.

Of all people, it was Gianluigi Buffon who gifted Lecce a late equaliser at Juventus Stadium to allow the Rossoneri to close the gap at the top to a single point. In a squad of players many of whom have not tasted the experience of a title run-in before, it was the likes of Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Del Piero who were expected to just get on with business. If a season-changing error was to be made, it would surely come from a younger, less savvy player … right?

Wrong! With Juve still holding just the narrow lead given to them by Claudio Marchisio’s early header which escaped the clutches of Massimiliano Benassi, they remained vulnerable to a sucker punch. And, with Lecce having not previously troubled Buffon in the entire game, the keeper took a heavy touch on his left foot from Andrea Barzagli’s simple back pass, allowing Andrea Bertolacci to steal in and grab a point for the Salentini.

It hadn’t been a vintage Juve showing, but they had done enough to get into several good positions to grab a second goal. This time around, they couldn’t do it. It was a return to the profligate side of the first three-quarters of the season, but more than that it was a nervy showing of sorts. Against a Lecce outfit battling for survival, they gave up more possession and more space than they generally have this term. Their penalty area remained practically unbreached, but mainly thanks to their having camped out in their own half at times in a way they simply hadn’t done before in 2011-12.

It was a huge result for Serse Cosmi’s side in their quest to stay in the heavyweight division, especially with relegation rivals Genoa winning against Cagliari, but that wasn’t really the story. Instead, Buffon had made all the headlines. The Italy captain, the man who followed a World Cup win with a trip to Serie B with the Bianconeri, the second-highest caps holder for the national team, one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the world, he was suddenly the failure.

His inability to deal with Barzagli’s pass has blown open the race, not simply due to the gap being reduced, but also because of the new pressure it will induce. There is no margin for error anymore. Gone is the knowledge that they can slip up once and get away with it. Every clearance, every shot, every crucial tackle that needs to be made, could now be a title-defining one. The ‘Get out of jail free’ card has been used. Juve now need to at least match Milan’s results in the final two games in order to claim a 28th official title.

It can still be done, and they are still favourites, but it’s no longer the foregone conclusion it appeared. They still could be champions by Sunday night, but that’s not under their control anymore. Milan entered the field against Atalanta knowing it could be for the last time as champions, but left with a renewed spring in their step.

Marchisio’s goal in Turin had been almost immediately mirrored by Sulley Muntari’s opener at San Siro. Replays suggested he may have been offside by about a stud’s length, but one could forgive the referee’s assistant for not have a magnifying glass on him to make the call. The pass to the Ghanaian had come from Kevin-Prince Boateng, and he was the architect for what was little less than an onslaught on Andrea Consigli’s goal early on.

Like Juve, Milan held on to their slender lead until late, with even Zlatan Ibrahimovic miscuing wildly at one point. But then, having heard news of Lecce’s equaliser, the Rossoneri grabbed a late clincher, with Robinho superbly following in to turn home Consigli’s parry from Ibrahimovic’s long-range blast.

Belief and momentum. Two things that can be supremely vital in a title race are suddenly with Milan, if only for a few days. Juve remain ahead, and with the more simple run-in to negotiate, but the cafe debates and message-board threads will all be about their ability to hang on now, rather than planning Sunday afternoon celebrations in Sardinia. Where once it was a carefree march to the crown, now it is a test of nerve for players young and old. Meanwhile, Milanisti will head to the derby clash with Inter that evening believing they can pull off Mission Impossible.

It’s game on again.

ELSEWHERE…

• Delio Rossi ended the 2010-11 season waving a fond farewell to the 40,000 Palermo fans who had travelled to Rome to see their side compete in the Coppa Italia final. Twelve months on, he finishes the campaign jobless after one of the craziest moments witnessed in calcio for some time … and that’s saying something!

Rossi was forced into an early rethink after his Fiorentina side fell 2-0 behind to relegation-threatened Novara at the Artemio Franchi, and he made the decision to withdraw the under-performing Adem Ljajic just after the half-hour mark. The young Serb’s response was to sarcastically applaud his coach, which led the 51-year-old to gesticulate wildly at his player before launching himself into the dugout swinging punches at the winger.

While many have quickly defended Rossi by rightly proclaiming that the behaviour wasn’t indicative of his usual manner, the extraordinary scenes were always likely to lose him his job. Two Riccardo Montolivo goals would eventually be enough for the Viola to save face and relegate Novara, but the real damage had already been done.

• Inter’s much-improved run under Andrea Stramaccioni came to an abrupt halt four days before the derby with a 3-1 defeat to Parma at the Ennio Tardini. After Wesley Sneijder grabbed the opening goal, it appeared that the Nerazzurri’s Champions League charge would continue unabated. But a disappointing second-half display saw the home side eventually run away with the points, leaving Inter to dust themselves off ahead of their clash with Milan at the end of a five-game fortnight.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

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Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Inter will have to do Juventus or Milan a favour, says Moratti

The 66-year-old supremo concedes that his side will have to give a helping hand to one

of their two bitter rivals, while refused to rule out a top-three finish for his club.

May 3, 2012

Inter president Massimo Moratti has claimed that his side could decide who wins the Serie A title when they face arch-rivals AC Milan on Sunday.

After Juventus' 1-1 draw with Lecce on Wednesday, just one point separates the Bianconeri and the Rossoneri at the top of the table.

However, should the Nerazzurri triumph in the Milan derby and Juventus beat Cagliari on Sunday, the Turin club will be crowned champions for the first time since their controversial relegation in 2006.

"This season, it looks like we'll have to do a favour for one of them," Moratti noted according to Corriere dello Sport.

"Which would be better? I don't really know, it would be the same."

Wednesday's defeat at the hands of Parma left Inter three points adrift of the final Champions League place with two games remaining, but Moratti refused to rule out a top-three finish.

"Is our Champions League dream over? You never know with this championship. We certainly didn't help ourselves on Wednesday night.

"We did well in the first half at Parma, but if you make mistakes, then you run the risk of losing.

"Now we will face the derby with the same spirit as always. It's a unique game and we won't be favourites."

Inter's encounter with Milan on Sunday kicks off at 20.45CET.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Cagliari-Juventus kick off moved

May 3, 2012

The Cagliari-Juventus game has been switched to an evening kick-off so that it takes place at the same time as the Milan derby.

The tie, to be staged at Trieste’s Stadio Nereo Rocco, was set to begin at 15.00 local time on Sunday afternoon.

However, with just one point separating Juventus and Milan, their two games will now be played simultaneously at 20.45 in order to not offer any side an advantage.

Sky Italia are against the idea – given that their audience figures will be affected.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Moratti: Inter could decide title

May 3, 2012

Inter President Massimo Moratti has conceded that his club will inadvertently help one of their great rivals – Milan or Juventus – to the title.

The Old Lady currently lead the Rossoneri by a point in the standings ahead of this weekend’s San Siro derby. Inter will go into that game needing a win for their hopes of a top-three finish.

“This season it looks like we’ll have to do a favour for one of them,” the oil baron noted on Thursday morning.

“Who would be better? I don’t really know, it would be the same…”

A win against Milan would favour Juventus in the title hunt, while a loss against the Rossoneri would see the Diavolo maintain the pressure or even overtake the Bianconeri this weekend.

Inter’s own season took a turn for the worse on Wednesday when they were defeated 3-1 at Parma. They are now three points behind Napoli and Udinese.

“Is our Champions League dream over? You never know with this championship,” he continued. “We certainly didn’t help ourselves last night.

“We did well in the first half at Parma, but if you make mistakes then you run the risk of losing. But I don’t think that Coach Andrea Stramaccioni made mistakes.

“Now we will face the derby with the same spirit as always. It’s a unique game and we won’t be favourites.”

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Cellino: Juve are arrogant

May 4, 2012

Massimo Cellino has hit out at the Lega Calcio and Juventus for rearranging their Week 37 fixture without consulting the Sardinians.

The weekend fixture has been moved from a 2pm UK time kick-off on Sunday afternoon to 7.45pm UK time the same day, so that it can be played at the same time as Milan’s derby with Inter.

Cellino, however, has complained that Cagliari were not consulted on this change, despite being the designated home side in Trieste.

“We don’t count for anything,” the President blasted in the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport on Friday.

“I read that [Lega Calcio President Maurizio] Beretta called Juve to set the time at our place, but no-one has felt the need to inform me.

“The venue of our last game with Genoa was changed at the last minute too. So the team has travelled by bus to Trieste because we knew we needed to play at 2pm [uK time].

“But now the evening kick-off is causing us problems and inconvenience no end. Remember that the League has 20 teams.

“These changes could be organised in time. But above all they lack respect, they are arrogant. Since they are there, do they want to choose the referee too?”

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Boateng: 'Milan deserve Scudetto'

May 4, 2012

Kevin-Prince Boateng would love a goal in the Milan derby on Sunday night and insists “we deserve the Scudetto.”

The Rossoneri closed the gap at the top of the table to just one point from leaders Juventus and continue to look back at their controversial 1-1 draw, in which Sulley Ali Muntari’s shot crossed the line but was not spotted by the officials.

“That incident was in the past and I don’t think it’s right to talk about it now, but it was important, as with that goal we’d have another two points and be the leaders,” Boateng told Sky Sport Italia.

“We have closed the gap and our objective is to keep believing to the end. We deserve the Scudetto, despite the fact Juventus had a good season. It was a strange campaign and we played so many matches.

“I was on the bench when news filtered through that Lecce had equalised against Juve. The whole stadium just exploded. We won and they made a mistake.

“Their fixture list is easier now, but they have the pressure on their shoulders, because if they slip up again then we are ready.”

Milan face rivals Inter on Sunday evening, while Juventus play Cagliari in Trieste.

“I’d love to score a goal in the derby, but the important thing is that the team wins. If I could take a player off Inter, it would be Wesley Sneijder, as he is a great friend and a great player.”

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Juventus are arrogant and lack respect,

says Cagliari president Cellino

The Sardinian club's supremo has hit out at the Old Lady for their perceived negative attitude

against referees, while claiming that they have an inflated opinion of themselves.

May 4, 2012

Cagliari president Massimo Cellino has attacked Juventus for being arrogant and has also accused the Turin giants of lacking respect for others.

The Bianconeri have attracted criticism from sections of the media for their perceived negative attitude towards referees when results have not gone in their favour.

Their complaints have not gone down well with the Sardinian outfit's patron, who is heavily critical of Juve's stance, and insists the standard of match officiating in Italy will suffer as a consequence.

"Juventus, above everything else, lack respect. They are arrogant," Cellino said at a press conference.

"For months they have screamed about the referees and in the long run this attitude will affect our playing environment.

"I expect a great performance against Juve. I would have the same approach if we played against Milan."

Cellino also lamented a "bad year" for football, as he reflected on the players' strike at the start of the season and the controversy of Juve's third star among other issues affecting Calcio.

"Someone in Turin has also started to talk about the third star. Unfortunately it's been a bad year for football," he continued.

"We started badly with a players' strike that could have been avoided and there are still many unresolved problems.

"Unfortunately due to the mandates of Coni and the FIGC, our football is fragile at the mercy of politics."

The president had his say on the incident which saw Delio Rossi relieved from his managerial post at Fiorentina following his assault on Adem Ljajic, stating that while he did not condone the coach's actions, he would still consider appointing him.

"I'm with Delio Rossi. Yes he was wrong, but certain actions must be understood," he mused.

"Ljajic should also not pass for a victim. It was a similar story here when Carlo Mazzone slapped Francesco Cozza at San Siro.

"Massimo Ficcadenti has all my confidence, but I respect Rossi. In fact I'd take him at Cagliari."

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

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Juventus' nerve, Inter's derby incentive & five things

that will decide the Scudetto after Buffon’s blunder

After Wednesday night's twist of fortune for the Bianconeri, there are a number

of factors which could now influence the Serie A title race just as it had appeared over.

May 5, 2012

COMMENT

By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Editor

Wednesday night could have been the moment Juventus celebrated the end of six hellish years with their 28th official Serie A title. But Gianluigi Buffon's heavy touch allowed Andrea Bertolacci to equalise for Lecce, while AC Milan grabbed a 2-0 win over Atalanta to narrow the gap at the top to just one point with two games to go.

Now there are a number of scenarios in the scrap for the Scudetto, with Juve's eight-match winning run over, but their 36-game unbeaten streak still intact. Meanwhile, the Rossoneri are seemingly coming out of a run of bad form at a time when they face a Milan derby and have a serious hope in the title battle once more.

So what will decide where the Scudetto goes now? There are any number of possible twists and turns still to come, with Juve still in with a chance of clinching the crown as early as tomorrow evening.

JUVENTUS' NERVE

After the events of Wednesday, there is now no room for a Juventus slip-up. Having enjoyed an excellent winning run since the middle of March, the Bianconeri had fashioned a three-point lead which, taking head-to-head into account, gave them the advantage of knowing they could afford one misplaced step in the run-in.

That has now been squandered, though, after the 1-1 draw with Lecce, meaning the Old Lady face a real test of nerve over the remaining 180 minutes. It is now going to be vital that they show a steely interior over their last two matches since they know that two wins will see them take the title, but one more error could see them end up with only second place to show for their magnificent campaign.

They have plenty of experienced heads to help them through, but it was one of them whose lack of concentration cost them in midweek.

BOLOGNA v NAPOLI

Last April, Napoli beat Bologna 2-0 at the Renato dall'Ara to go level with Milan at the top of the league, boosting their hopes of a first Scudetto in 21 years. This season, their clash could well have just as big a say in the title race, despite the Azzurri having been well out of sight of the top two for some months.

Walter Mazzarri's side still have much to play for in the chase for the Champions League playoff spot, and their 2-0 win over Palermo on Tuesday put them three points ahead of Inter, who lost 3-1 at Parma 24 hours later. The Nerazzurri now know that a victory for the Partenopei in Emilia-Romagna on Sunday afternoon will end their hopes of reaching the major European event next season, regardless of their own final two results.

So, while there is no such thing as a protocol Milan derby, Inter could be heading for the big game at San Siro on Sunday evening with no competitive incentive and with a huge blow having just been suffered. This could potentially result in a slight drop in intensity on their part, giving the Rossoneri a boost as they look to push Juventus all the way.

Of course, Inter could also see it as a chance to play party poopers in foiling their neighbours' big night.

MILAN'S DERBY DAY FORM

Much was made of Milan's results against their local rivals last season as their six points in the two clashes came at vital stages in their title-winning campaign. The 1-0 win in the opening fixture helped them to kick on to a healthy lead heading into the winter break, while the 3-0 success in April saw them all but extinguish Inter's hopes of earning a stunning comeback title triumph.

This time around, they were underwhelming to say the least when the two sides met in January, with Diego Milito grabbing the only goal after Ignazio Abate's error gifted the Argentine possession, and a repeat performance could be all that is needed to ensure that the title does not go back to Milanello this term.

There have been pivotal Milan derbies in the greater picture of the title race before, but perhaps not one quite so intriguing as this one, and it is important that the Rossoneri turn in a big performance in order to give them hope of retaining the Scudetto.

MIXED MESSAGES

As the Scudetto decision goes down to the last two days, simultaneous kick-offs have been scheduled which are sure to make for nervous times. There will also no doubt be many in the stadiums checking for scores from the other match in order to get a better picture of how the title race stands.

In an age of some marvelous modern technology, one would have thought that misinformed reports were a thing of the past, but many at San Siro last Wednesday thought that Milan's winner against Genoa had been quickly followed by an equaliser for Cesena against Juventus. A roar went up in Lombardy despite no such goal having been scored, and the Rossoneri's Kevin-Prince Boateng even admitted afterwards that he thought Juve had taken one point rather than three when he left the pitch at full-time.

Whatever roars, groans or gasps are heard in the crowd, both teams must ensure that they simply get on with their own job, and not let the atmosphere lead them into any kind of false sense of security.

CONCENTRATION

The importance of staying focused has been underlined by the lack of concentration displayed by one of the most experienced players in Italian football at Juventus Stadium in midweek. Andrea Barzagli's backpass was the kind of task Buffon has dealt with thousands of times over his magnificent career, but having taken his eye off the ball for just a split second, he has put the Bianconeri's title march in jeopardy.

Such a moment serves to prove that anything can happen to anyone, and both title rivals will be looking for flawless performances from their troops over the next two games. Of course, not everyone can be perfect technically for the full 90 minutes, but Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri will demand 100 per cent concentration from their players for the entirety of both fixtures.

With the gap now so small between the two sides, one false step could end either's hopes. Two points dropped for Juve mean the initiative is with Milan, while a missed step for the Rossoneri will crown the Old Lady as champions. It really is that close, meaning he who blinks first could well miss out on glory.

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Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Conte: 'Historic Juve moment'

May 5, 2012

Juventus may have fumbled their lead at the top of the table, but Antonio Conte insists the parallels with May 5 2002 are more inspiring than frightening.

The Bianconeri were four points clear of Milan, but the gap was cut to just one after a surprise midweek 1-1 draw with 10-man Lecce.

Precisely a decade after Inter dropped a seemingly secure Scudetto on the last day to hand it to Conte’s Juve, can the same be happening in reverse?

“We are back to experiencing these high profile games and I think that is the most positive aspect of all,” assured the Coach ahead of Sunday night’s game with Cagliari.

“All of this is thanks to the work done by the club, the staff and the players. We should be full of pride to be challenging for the Scudetto with two rounds to go and that must motivate us even more.

“Fortunately, I have experience of going through completely opposing experiences. I’ve been trailing at the last 90 minutes and on another occasion out in front.

“Football always brings new sensations and what counts is the present. We want to achieve something super-extraordinary. I always say to win you need head, heart and legs, in that order.”

The mind may well be crucial, as Juve risk losing confidence after Gigi Buffon’s howler gifted Lecce a late equaliser.

“At this stage we have such a strong unity within the team that we only need a glance to understand each other,” continued Conte.

“It is important for me to understand how everyone is feeling and I don’t see why anything should change tomorrow. After the Lecce game, everyone wanted to get straight back on to the pitch and play again.

“That was a heavy blow, but it only fuels our desire to make up for it and cancel out what happened on Wednesday night. The lads are ready and have belief, they know this is an historic moment.

“We can put ourselves in the Juventus history books and I doubt I need to do anything to motivate my men. If anything, I might have to hold them back.”

Paolo De Ceglie is out with a muscular injury, but Conte refused to confirm who would replace him. Simone Pepe has now recovered.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

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Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Allegri: 'It's now or never'

May 5, 2012

Massimiliano Allegri expects a very attacking Inter in the Milan derby, but warns “whoever is on top tomorrow evening is 99 per cent sure of winning the Scudetto.”

The Rossoneri sliced the gap at the top of the table from four to just one point thanks to the midweek round, but the Coach warns this title is still very much in the hands of Juventus.

“I believe whoever is on top tomorrow evening is 99 per cent sure of winning the Scudetto, although anything can happen,” said Allegri.

“If I had to play one of our games again, it may well be the head-to-head with Juve. However, I’d also like to point out we picked up five points in the first five rounds. Not everything can be decided by a single match. Milan have had an important campaign and it could get even more important tomorrow evening.

“We do hope that we don’t end up on level points with Juventus, as that would be pretty irritating.”

If the two teams do finish joint top, then Juve will win the title thanks to their superior record in head-to-head meetings this season.

While the Bianconeri visit Cagliari on neutral turf in Trieste, Milan take on rivals Inter in the Derby della Madonnina.

“I expect a very attacking Inter side, as they have done well recently and are still in the race for third. The derby is always a special game and we must put in a great performance, as we really can afford only one result.

“Inter will also be highly motivated because they have two objectives – staying in the Champions League hunt and winning the derby. We’ve just got to make sure we’re even more motivated.”

Thiago Silva has not recovered in time for Sunday’s match and there are reports he won’t be ready next week either.

“To be a point behind Juventus with all the injuries we’ve had means a lot,” insisted Allegri. “There are so many qualities within this squad. We must face the derby with courage and the awareness we can win and only then see what’s happening elsewhere.

“I have complimented Antonio Conte throughout the campaign, because Juventus have had a great season. Regardless of how it ends, it has been a wonderful season and a great challenge for the title.

“Antonio Cassano or Robinho? I will evaluate their form today, including Stephan El Shaarawy and Maxi Lopez. I rested Ignazio Abate midweek, but he is certainly ready.”

Allegri was asked whether he would ever accept the Inter job in future and had a cryptic reply.

“I have two years left on my contract, so I’ll tell you in two years.”

Naturally, the Coach was also asked about Delio Rossi’s dismissal from Fiorentina for attacking player Adem Ljajic.

“It was a great shame, as a fraction of a second later Rossi immediately regretted his actions. I think at times there needs to be more respect for players towards their Coach. There is so much stress and mistakes can happen, for these are professionals, but also men. Respect and politeness for people are fundamental concepts and many say modern society has changed them, but I’d prefer to go back.”

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[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Juve bring party to Trieste?

May 5, 2012

Juventus are perhaps preparing a Scudetto party, as Antonio Conte has brought the whole squad to Trieste, including injured Paolo De Ceglie.

The Bianconeri are one point clear at the top of the table and will mathematically win the title on Sunday evening if Milan lose to Inter and they register a victory over Cagliari.

All Cagliari’s remaining ‘home’ games are played at the Stadio Nereo Rocco in Trieste and over 30,000 Juve fans are expected to flood into the venue.

Conte might be expecting a party, as he has brought along injured De Ceglie along with the squad.

Meanwhile, Simone Pepe has recovered from his knee problem.

Juventus squad: Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres, Pepe, Marchisio, Del Piero, Manninger, Vucinic, Barzagli, Elia, Quagliarella, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Vidal, Borriello, Giaccherini, Lichtsteiner, Krasic, Estigarribia, Storari, Matri, Marrone

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Cagliari - Juventus Preview: Serie A leaders

look to keep slender lead in Scudetto race

With two games left to go in Serie A, Antonio Conte's men need a win in their last away

fixture of the season to fend off advances for the top spot from reigning champions Milan.

May 5, 2012

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

CAGLIARI

Agazzi

Perico, Astori, Canini, Pisano

Ekdal, Conti, Nainggolan

Cossu

Ribeiro, Pinilla

JUVENTUS

Buffon

Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini

Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Giaccherini

Vucinic, Borriello

The match unquestionably means more for Juventus than Cagliari; the home side are almost certain to end the season comfortably mid-table, being six points away from relegation and 14 from the final European spot in Serie A.

The Old Lady, on the other hand, are just a point above Milan following their draw to Lecce and need full points in order to assure their hold at the summit of the league.

Massimo Ficcadenti's men will look to bounce back to winning ways after a 2-1 loss to Genoa during midweek. The 14th-placed side will likely make a few changes from their defeat, with Alessandro Agostini suspended and Daniele Dessena a doubt for the match.

Up front, either Thiago Ribeiro or Ibarbo will start alongside team top goalscorer Mauricio Pinilla. The midfield quartet is set to stay the same as usual whereas the backline is also expected to look vastly familiar.

The visitors have lost Paolo De Ceglie for the rest of the season with a thigh problem and Simone Pepe is also likely to miss the match through injury. The biggest question mark for Antonio Conte's men revolves around who will partner Mirko Vucinic up front, with Marco Borriello and Alessandro Matri in contention to lead the front-line.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Cagliari have just one win in their last six matches, a 3-0 drubbing of Catania at home. During that span, the side have lost three times and acquired just five points.

• Pinilla, Cagliari's top scorer this season, has scored 10 goals this season, as many as Juventus' Alessandro Matri, AC Milan's Antonio Nocerino, and Bologna's Marco Di Vaio.

• The home side have had trouble netting this season; only four sides have notched fewer than Rossoblu's 44 strikes in 36 matches.

• Juventus can stretch their remarkable unbeaten run to 37 games this season should they avoid defeat against Cagliari.

• No side in Serie A has conceded fewer than the visitor's 8 goals during their travels this season.

• Juve are also tied for third most prolific team on the road in the current league campaign, having scored 26 goals in 18 away matches.

Head to Head

Serie A ‎- Jan 15, 2012 - Juventus 1 - Cagliari 1

Serie A ‎- Feb 5, 2011 - Cagliari 1 - Juventus 3

Serie A ‎- Sep 26, 2010 - Juventus 4 - Cagliari 2

Serie A ‎- Apr 11, 2010 - Juventus 1 - Cagliari 0

Serie A ‎- Nov 29, 2009 - Cagliari 2 - Juventus 0

Last Five Matches

Cagliari

May 2, 2012 - Genoa 2 - Cagliari 1 - Serie A

Apr 28, 2012 - Cagliari 0 - Chievo 0 - Serie A

Apr 24, 2012 - Cagliari 3 - Catania 0 - Serie A

Apr 21, 2012 - Parma 3 - Cagliari 0 - Serie A

Apr 12, 2012 - Bologna 1 - Cagliari 0 - Serie A

Juventus

May 2, 2012 - Juventus 1 - Lecce 1 - Serie A

Apr 29, 2012 - Novara 0 - Juventus 4 - Serie A

Apr 25, 2012 - Cesena 0 - Juventus 1 - Serie A

Apr 22, 2012 - Juventus 4 - Roma 0 - Serie A

Apr 11, 2012 - Juventus 2 - Lazio 1 - Serie A

Players to Watch

Davide Astori

Defensive nous will be the key to the home side taking points away from the match with Conte's men needing to attack throughout the match. Highly rated centre-back Davide Astori thus will need to be at his best in order to provide the most unlikely of upsets.

Mirko Vučinić

Though he's blown hot and cold this season, this spring has been somewhat of a revival for Mirko Vucinic. The former Roma striker has traditionally relished scoring in big games, which is exactly what this match has become if Juventus want to keep up hopes of a Scudetto.

Prediction

Though Cagliari are a very respectable team this season despite their table position, Juventus simply have too much momentum, power, and purpose heading into the match to go away with anything but a win.

Editor's Prediction

Cagliari 0 - 2 Juventus

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[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

MATCH PREVIEW

May 5, 2012

Cagliari may be safe but they could still have a say in the Scudetto race as Juventus look to try and seal the title.

The midweek loss to Genoa could prove to be costly to Cagliari, not in terms of their Serie A status but for achieving a respectable finish. Had the Isolani defeated the Grifone, they would have already equalled last season’s tally of 45 points, and would have done Lecce a favour by allowing them to draw level with Genoa on 36 points.

Even so, midweek results saw that the Rossoblu achieved mathematical safety, in light of their superior head-to-head records on other candidates for the drop.

Currently sat in 14th spot, the Sardinians still have two games in which to climb one place to equal last season’s finish. Massimo Ficcadenti’s men have a decent home record this season, but could expect a backlash from a hungry Old Lady.

Juventus will look to redeem themselves after a rare and costly Gigi Buffon howler against Lecce gifted Milan with a two-point reprieve in the title race.

The powers that be have rescheduled this tie to 7.45pm UK time in Trieste to coincide with the Milan derby, so the Bianconeri will not be able to cheer on their bitter rivals the Serpenti- but will still be hoping that they can do them a favour and end Milan’s title challenge.

An Alessandro Matri brace and Luca Toni strike sealed a 3-1 victory for the Bianconeri last term, but they were held 1-1 in Turin in Week 18.

In 31 meetings in Sardinia, Juventus only just edge the number of victories with 10 to Cagliari’s nine, and 12 have ended all square. The home side’s most recent victory was a 2-0 win in November 2009, and was their first for just over a decade.

Keep an eye on: Claudio Marchisio (Juventus) Scoring his ninth goal of the season against Lecce has allowed the Italian midfielder the opportunity to end the campaign in double figures, and he has surely cemented his place as a Bianconeri stalwart and a ‘must pick’ for Euro 2012

Form Guide: Cagliari (L L W D L) Juventus (W W W W D)

Last season Serie A: Cagliari 1-3 Juventus

Stat fact: A win here coupled with a loss or draw for Milan will grant Juventus the title, as the Bianconeri have a superior head to head over the Rossoneri.

Cagliari: Agazzi; Perico, Ariaudo, Astori, Agostini; Ekdal, Conti, Nainggolan; Cossu; Ibarbo, Pinilla

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Caceres; Quagliarella, Matri

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8328]

Serie A Week 37 - 6-5-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Nereo Rocco Stadium - Trieste

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Cagliari v Juventus: Preview

May 5, 2012

Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal has warned his team-mates they cannot afford to make any further mistakes if they are to clinch the Scudetto.

The Bianconeri will be crowned Italian champions if they win against Cagliari tomorrow night in Trieste and closest rivals AC Milan fall at Inter Milan.

Juve saw their lead cut to one point at the top of the standings with two games remaining after Milan won 2-0 over Atalanta on Wednesday and they conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Lecce.

"We cannot make any more mistakes,'' Vidal said.

"We are anxious about Sunday's game and we want to prove to everyone that we are the strongest team.''

Antonio Conte's Juve are two games away from joining Perugia and Milan as the only sides in the history of Serie A to go an entire season undefeated.

The Bianconeri have the best defensive line in the competition with 19 goals given away in 36 games.

Tomorrow's game will be played at the Nereo Rocco stadium as Cagliari are playing their home games in Trieste rather than Sardinia because of a dispute with the local council related to the renovations of the Sant' Elia stadium.

The hosts have nothing to play for except pride as, despite Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Genoa, results elsewhere ensured Cagliari are now mathematically safe.

Massimo Ficcadenti's men have won just one of their last six games and lie 14th in the standings.

"We have achieved our aim which was to defend our Serie A status,'' Cagliari defender Lorenzo Ariaudo said.

"Now we go into the game against Juventus without pressure.

"We will nevertheless have a lot of motivation to beat Juventus.

"They are unbeaten and have proved to be a very strong team, but we will try.''

Conte will have all of his players available with the exception of defender Paolo De Ceglie, who sustained a muscular injury in midweek and is out for the rest of the season.

Cagliari defender Alessandro Agostini must serve a one-match ban tomorrow.

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