Juventus Season 2011-2012

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Conte’s Juventus storm back from 2-0 down

to draw 3-3 at Napoli

Nov 29, 2011

The starting line-ups (with Napoli's front three rotating)

One of the good things about a very tactical match is that the coaches are pressed for the reasons they made particular decisions at the post-match press conference.

Antonio Conte’s approach away to Napoli was very surprising. Having started the season with a 4-4-2 often called a 4-2-4 and more recently moved to a 4-1-4-1, he switched to a 3-5-2 system. Giorgio Chiellini tucked in, Marcelo Estigarribia played on the left, and Simone Pepe moved inside to the centre of midfield, with Claudio Marchisio suspended.

Walter Mazzarri, meanwhile, played his usual 3-4-3ish shape, though Juan Zuniga started rather than Andrea Dossena, and Edinson Cavani was injured so Goran Pandev played upfront. The front three switched around even more than usual, but one always made sure they dropped onto Andrea Pirlo and closed him down quickly.

With the coaches outlining very interesting reasoning for their decisions, this article will be in two parts – a larger first looking at the coaches’ explanations, then a smaller part looking at how and why Juventus managed to turn it around in the second half.

The quotes are all taken from the superb Football Italia website.

Part 1 – quotes and analyis

Conte’s starting line-up:

Conte: “We tried to mirror Napoli, as Christian Maggio makes the difference for them and I wanted him to go head-to-head with Estigarribia, who had an extraordinary game.

Conte’s openness about wanting to mirror Napoli is interesting. Presumably, since Juventus were 3-5-2ish and Napoli were 3-4-3, he means mirroring them with a back three and wing-backs, rather than in midfield. In basic terms, it’s quite unwise to try and beat an opponent at a particular style of football they excel at, and in the first half Napoli’s wing-backs were much more effective than Juventus’.

Estigarribia has seen little Serie A football, and when he has he hasn’t looked completely convincing, so it’s surprising Conte wanted to put him up against the man who he considered Juventus’ biggest threat. He doesn’t have many alternatives for that role, but perhaps Pepe could have played on the left and ex-Napoli star Michele Pazienza could have done a job in the centre.

Did the approach to stop Maggio work? Not really – Maggio set up the first from a set-piece with a header across the six-yard box for Marek Hamsik, contributed the second by closing down Andrea Pirlo with the ball falling to Pandev, and crossed for the the third, Pandev’s cool finish. Granted, the first goal was from a free-kick and therefore not about formations and positioning in open play, and the second was an accidental assist that came from pressing, but you can’t say that Juve successfully nullified Maggio – although later they attacked him brilliantly.

Napoli defence v Juventus attack:

Conte: “We had prepared a match with Mirko Vucinic against Salvatore Aronica and Alessandro Matri on Paolo Cannavaro. We didn’t do well in the first half, as we often hesitated in giving them service. After the break the two strikers had much more of an impact.”

The positioning here caused Napoli problems at the back. Ordinarily in 3 v 2 you’d want the central player, Cannavaro, sweeping up behind two others, Aronica and Hugo Campagnaro. But it meant that Campagnaro was the free man and spent the game leaving his zone and moving to the left of the pitch. Watch Juve’s first goal and you’ll find Campagnaro towards the left, leaving a huge amount of space for Matri. The second is almost identical, but more exaggerated and with Estigarribia free. It’s ironic that the one Napoli centre-back not mentioned by Conte was the only one mentioned by Mazzarri…

Mazzarri: “When Hugo Campagnaro is sharp, he won’t let anything past, but when tired you can make silly mistakes.”

Pepe

Conte: “Pepe is a very intelligent player tactically and had a little trouble finding his position in the middle, but then became devastating.”

Pepe: “I’m not a narrow midfielder, but I was able to go about my duties thanks to my teammates. I felt at ease and enjoyed myself when I found space, also because Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo protected me and granted me the freedom to go forward.”

Pepe, who grabbed the equaliser, has become the versatile workman that Juventus have always been great at creating. In the mould of Moreno Torricelli, Angelo Di Livio, Alessandro Birindelli, Gianluca Zambrotta and Gianluca Pessotto, Pepe is a man for all seasons and all positions and his current goalscoring form (three goals in three for the first time in his career) underlines his contribution.

Tiredness

Conte: “It was a very difficult start and Napoli immediately played at a high tempo, but we seemed almost as if we were waiting for them to tire themselves out.”

Mazzarri: “We had a spectacular first half while our strength held out, but unfortunately we paid the price for the many fixtures. When the games notch up, you pay for it… We had a similar problem against Manchester City, as we knew we were facing a top club and lost sharpness due to fatigue, so the fear of not getting the points sets in…I always tell my players we can’t go at 1,000mph all the time, but it’s one thing to say and another to do. We must learn how to speed up at the right moment, otherwise we use up all our energy. We were on the ropes in the second half, as our legs started to give way…I could see we lost our stamina after the break.”

It’s fascinating that Mazzarri knew his side was vulnerable late on when fatigue set in, and Conte thought Napoli would tire too, which is probably why he didn’t make any substitutions until the game was at 3-3.

Mazzarri isn’t blessed with the biggest squad, but his failure to rotate has been particularly obvious this season, probably not sustainable in the Champions League as well as the league. Last season Napoli were kings of the late winner, now opposition managers see them as vulnerable in the closing stages.

The second half line-ups

Part 2- the crucial change

At 2-0 down, it was amazing that Conte emerged for the second half with the same XI that contested the first, but he did make a crucial change.

Estigarribia was pushed higher up the pitch to become more like a left-winger and forcing back Maggio back to more like a right-back (a move that clearly benefited Juventus, both in basic territorial terms and because that puts Estigarribia into a position he’s more comfortable in, and Maggio into a position he’s less comfortable in).

Lichsteiner wasn’t a force in the second half, but Chiellini was a cross between a left-sided centre-back and an attacking left-back, tucking in narrow without the ball but pushing on down the flank. All three Juventus goals were scored from a left-of-centre position, and Chiellini had another great chance in the 78th minute from that side of the pitch.

It took some key position changes, but eventually Conte’s initial focus on the left side of the pitch worked. They needed to be more aggressive though – it wasn’t about stopping Maggio playing, it was about attacking him.

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Matri: 'That first half...'

Nov 29, 2011

The Bianconeri were losing all the way against Napoli until finally making it 3-3 at the Stadio San Paolo.

“There are both positive and negative aspects of this game,” said Matri, who was one of the goalscorers.

“The result is good, considering how it started. We must always step on to the field convinced of our abilities, the way we did after the break. We must never repeat that first half again.

“It was a strange match, as we conceded two goals during our best period of play. We did well to stay in the game.”

As Claudio Marchisio was suspended, Matri’s goal makes him Juve’s top scorer for this season.

“The important thing is that this goal helped the team to achieve a point.”

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Mazzarri: 'Glass half-empty'

Nov 29, 2011

Walter Mazzarri couldn’t help but be disappointed after a 3-3 draw with Juventus. “I really thought we’d won it at 3-1.”

Napoli dominated the first half in a 3-3 thriller at the Stadio San Paolo, but were pegged back in the final stages.

“The glass is half-empty for me. We had a spectacular first half while our strength held out, but unfortunately we paid the price for the many fixtures. When the games notch up, you pay for it,” sighed Mazzarri.

“I didn’t want the half-time break to come, as our enthusiasm could’ve kept us going for another 15 minutes. You could see we weren’t putting enough pressure on.

“On the 3-1 with Goran Pandev’s goal, I honestly thought we had won it, even if we were struggling in terms of stamina.

“Big teams with more experienced players like Andrea Pirlo know how to slow the tempo and cool things down. We’ve still got to learn how to do that.

“It’s a shame, as we conceded the third goal with four players around Simone Pepe and he got a lucky deflection off one of ours. I really thought we’d won it.

“When Hugo Campagnaro is sharp, he won’t let anything past, but when tired you can make silly mistakes. We had a similar problem against Manchester City, as we knew we were facing a top club and lost sharpness due to fatigue, so the fear of not getting the points sets in.

“I always tell my players we can’t go at 1,000mph all the time, but it’s one thing to say and another to do. We must learn how to speed up at the right moment, otherwise we use up all our energy.

“We were on the ropes in the second half, as our legs started to give way. We had put Juventus under such a lot of pressure in the first half and I could see that, the same way I could see we lost our stamina after the break.”

Pandev had been disappointing so far this season, but bagged a well-taken brace in Edinson Cavani’s absence.

“Pandev is a top quality player, he played for world champions Inter. We’ve been unlucky this season, as he got injured just as he was starting to get into gear. I only played him for 60 minutes on Saturday and now he knows why, as he had to grow slowly.”

Napoli are nine points off leaders Juventus, but Mazzarri is setting no targets.

“We will continue giving our best to go as far as we can, the same way we did last season.”

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Conte: 'So proud of Juventus'

Nov 29, 2011

Antonio Conte hailed the Juventus heart to come back from 3-1 down in Naples. “I am proud to coach these lads.”

The Bianconeri were 2-0 under at half-time and losing 3-1 in the second half until Marcelo Estigarribia and Simone Pepe snatched a spectacular 3-3 draw.

“There were some very strong responses in terms of character. Aside from the head, legs and tactics, without heart you cannot fight back and put a game like this back on track,” whispered Conte, who had lost his voice by shouting from the touchline.

“It was a very difficult start and Napoli immediately played at a high tempo, but we seemed almost as if we were waiting for them to tire themselves out. There were a few distractions and we went 2-0 down, so that result, that performance and this atmosphere at the San Paolo would’ve broken any other team.

“This is why I am so proud that my team showed such humility, passion and belief to fight back. Quite aside from their technical gifts, I am very happy to see this inner strength from the squad. I am proud to coach these lads.”

Conte was without the suspended Claudio Marchisio and surprised everyone with a modified 3-5-2 system.

“We tried to mirror Napoli, as Christian Maggio makes the difference for them and I wanted him to go head-to-head with Estigarribia, who had an extraordinary game. Pepe is a very intelligent player tactically and had a little trouble finding his position in the middle, but then became devastating.

“We had prepared a match with Mirko Vucinic against Salvatore Aronica and Alessandro Matri on Paolo Cannavaro. We didn’t do well in the first half, as we often hesitated in giving them service. After the break the two strikers had much more of an impact.”

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Simone Pepe: Napoli draw is worth as much as a victory

The 28-year-old winger hailed his side's never-say-die attitude against the Naples outfit

and admitted that he had a slice of good fortune with his equalising goal.

Nov 30, 2011

Juventus midfielder Simone Pepe underlined the importance of his side's 3-3 stalemate at Napoli in Serie A on Tuesday evening.

The Turin-based side saw themselves trailing by two goals with little more than 20 minutes left on the clock, but still managed to restore parity following strikes from Marcelo Estigarribia and Pepe.

The draw in the rearranged clash sees Juventus increase the gap on second-placed sides AC Milan and Udinese to two points.

"This draw is worth as much as a victory," Pepe told Sky Sport Italia. "Our group is united, we never give up.

"I was comfortable playing as an inside midfielder, it is fun playing there. Credit is also goes to my midfield colleagues, [Arturo] Vidal and [Andrea] Pirlo, both of whom gave me cover.

"I had a bit of luck in my goal, but you also want that in football."

Antonio Conte's side, who have taken 26 points from 12 matches, will host 19th-placed Cesena on Sunday.

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Antonio Conte proud of 'brave' effort in Napoli draw

The Turin side's head coach was very pleased with his team's performance in Tuesday's

Serie A game at the San Paolo in which they recovered from twice being two goals behind.

Nov 30, 2011

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has expressed his delight with the Turin giants' comeback in their 3-3 Serie A draw with Napoli on Tuesday evening.

Goals from Marek Hamsik and Goran Pandev gave Napoli a 2-0 lead at half-time before Alessandro Matri pegged one back after the break. The hosts restored their two-goal lead shortly after, but Juve once again fought back and eventually salvaged a draw.

"We struggled at the very beginning of the game, because we were not focused enough. Napoli, on the other hand, started with a special drive and scored twice," Conte told on the club's official website.

"However, we rediscovered ourselves and were brave enough to overcome the obstacles with our great heart. I’m very proud to be Juventus coach.

"I think that being two goals behind, especially at the San Paolo, would have struck down any team, but we fought back."

Juventus remain on top of the Serie A table after the away draw, with 26 points from 12 games.

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

'Serie A is boring, Juventus are finished' - 3-3 thriller at Napoli

shows that the Italian league is the most exciting in the world

The two sides played out a phenomenal contest at the San Paolo, displaying all of the

wonderful traits that characterise the country's game, which many will refuse to admit exist.

Nov 30, 2011

They say it is boring. They say it is defensive. They say it is full of divers and whingers. We knew they were wrong, but last night we were given our greatest proof yet. The 3-3 draw between Napoli and Juventus was the best game to be seen anywhere in the world this season. Played at the highest level, it had magnificent attacking play from start to finish with drama injected throughout, showcasing just what Serie A has to offer real football fans.

Inside the first 30 seconds, there was already a sense of real intent from the home side. Juan Camilo Zuniga wonderfully beat two men and chipped a teasing ball into the Juve box. And for the first 45 minutes, it would be Napoli who would continue to make most of the running.

Up against an unbeaten Juventus outfit who have led the way in attacking terms both with and without the ball, they became the first side to ask constant questions of the Bianconeri’s back four since the days before Antonio Conte. And, with two fantastic midfield pairings matching up, it was Napoli’s duo of Gokhan Inter and Walter Gargano who got on top of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal in the opening stages.

Goals were always going to follow, and inside a quarter of an hour it seemed the Partenopei had opened the scoring. Ezequiel Lavezzi got in behind Pirlo and was brought down, with Marek Hamsik firing home the resulting penalty. However, when he was asked to take it again due to encroachment by a handful of players, he fired high over Gianluigi Buffon’s bar. Yet it took the Slovakian just seven minutes to make up for the miss, stooping to head home after Leonardo Bonucci could only nod Lavezzi’s free-kick back across goal.

Napoli continued to hit the league leaders on the break, responding to Juve’s attempts to force them back by instigating lightning counters. And even without top-scorer Edinson Cavani, they had sufficient goal threat in Goran Pandev. The Macedonian was the quickest to react when Pirlo was beaten in the tackle by Christian Maggio and the ball squirmed into the box, firing low past Buffon, having spun off the back of Giorgio Chiellini with Bonucci still on the floor after his failed clearance.

As the teams left the field at half-time, the TV cameras paid particular attention to Conte, the coach facing his biggest test to date if Juventus were to maintain their unbeaten record. Whatever he said in the changing rooms clearly worked. When play resumed, suddenly it was the away side offering the greater threat. Pirlo was allowed more space as Vidal was given greater licence to get forward, stretching the previously-dominant Inler and Gargano out of their natural positions.

The increased territory paid immediate dividends, Vidal galloping forward to play a beautifully-disguised reverse pass for Alessandro Matri to slide home from his first real chance. It appeared that this would spark a more testing period for Napoli, but their response was to regain a two-goal lead.

Again it was Pandev’s movement which undid them, the former Inter striker taking a touch, teeing the ball up for himself with his knee and volleying home left-footed after Bonucci had committed himself to Maggio’s cross too late and ended up prostrate once more.

The pulsating nature of the game still had some way to go, though. Moments later, Marcelo Estigarribia poked home superbly ahead of Morgan De Sanctis after excellent play from Mirko Vucinic, and it became clear that, whatever the result, this was going to be one for the ages.

Many people claim that there needs to be a victor in any real classic, but that theory was blown out of the water by Simone Pepe 11 minutes from time. The Italian winger, who was the match-winner against Lazio at the weekend, became Juve’s saviour after Chiellini broke up a Napoli attack. Pepe picked up the ball and drove at the heart of the home defence, before showing brilliant reactions when his attempted pass fell back into his path to take a touch and fire low past De Sanctis.

The attacking intent, the excellent instinct, the technical ability… the goal had everything that the game had showcased. It was a worthy final word, even if it wasn’t a winning one. Juve had come back from two down against a team who last week saw off the supposedly-superior Premier League’s runaway leaders. Manchester City didn’t have the ability on the ball to respond, but the Bianconeri did.

Pepe claimed after the game that the draw was as good as a win and, but for the two extra points, he was right. Juventus came across their greatest test to date and passed with flying colours. Conte responded to his most difficult situation by sending his players out to stretch the home defence some more, and it brought its reward.

Napoli kept going until the end and could easily have snatched the win from any one of the second-half free-kicks Stephan Lichtsteiner gave away when already on a yellow card. It could have gone 4-3 either way, but it would have been unjust.

A game for the ages, played by two superb sides with very different – yet similarly very attacking – approaches, rightly rewarded both teams. Football was the winner, and the Serie A haters are the losers once more.

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Goran Pandev: It's a shame we didn't get

three points against Juventus

Walter Mazzarri's men threw away a 3-1 lead over the visitors at the San Paolo,

and the Macedonia international feels that his team could and should have won the game.

Nov 30, 2011

Napoli striker Goran Pandev has admitted that it is a shame that his side relinquished a 3-1 lead against Juventus on Tuesday night, but feels that he is back to his best.

The Macedonia international started in place of Edinson Cavani for Walter Mazzarri's men against the current Serie A leaders and bagged a brace to give the home team a two-goal cushion.

However, Antonio Conte's side fought back to salvage a 3-3 draw, and the eastern European forward feels the result is a case of two points lost rather than a point gained.

"It is a shame that we have not brought home the three points," the 28-year-old told Tuttosport.

"We had a great first half but we play every three days and our concentration at the end dropped against a big team like Juve."

Pandev is currently on loan at Napoli from Inter after a frustrating 2010-11 campaign, and he is eager to prove his fitness and form to the club which he thanks for showing faith in him.

"My condition was a problem; looking back at my last year at Inter we can see that I have not played much," he conceded.

"Here I have worked hard to become injury-free. I have to thank the president, the coach and the director, as they really wanted me in Naples."

The result means that Napoli are nine points behind pace-setters Juventus in the Serie A standings, with Lecce at home on Saturday their next match.

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Alessandro Matri: Juventus showed character against Napoli

The Italy international was proud of how his team fought back from two goals down

to earn a share of the spoils at the Stadio San Paolo.

Nov 30, 2011

Juventus striker Alessandro Matri has taken the time to praise his side's attitude following their 3-3 Serie A away draw against Napoli on Tuesday evening.

The Turin side appeared to be on their way to their first league loss of the season when Goran Pandev made it 3-1 for Napoli in the 68th minute.

However, Juve fought back and goals from Marcelo Estigarribia and Simone Pepe helped them to a hard fought draw, much to the satisfaction of Matri who scored the Bianconeri's opener at the Stadio San Paolo.

"There were both positive and negative aspects from our performance. The result is good, considering the situation at the break, but we can’t play like we did in the first half, without conviction in ourselves," Matri was quoted as saying on the club's official website.

"However, we must always show the character we exhibited in the second half. The match was fairly odd, because we conceded two goals in our best spell, but we recovered and successfully obtained an important point.

"The most important thing was the involvement and willingness shown by every player. We’ve shown our great character."

Juventus remain at the top of the Serie A table after the draw, with 26 points from 12 games.

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Walter Mazzarri downbeat after draw with Juventus

Napoli coach is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his side

threw away a 3-1 lead in their epic encounter with the Serie A leaders.

Mazzarri, crying baby!

Nov 30, 2011

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri felt that fatigue was to blame for his side’s failure to see off Juventus in their thrilling 3-3 draw in Serie A at the San Paolo on Tuesday night.

Goran Pandev looked to have settled the game in the hosts' favour when he fired home on 68 minutes to make it 3-1 to the Partenopei.

However, Juve came storming back in the final 20 minutes and snatched a point thanks to goals from Marcelo Estigarribia and Simone Pepe, leaving Mazzarri downcast.

"Today I see the glass half empty," he is quoted as saying by Sky the morning after a breathless encounter.

"In the first half, we put on a show. But in the second half we paid for our efforts [in doing so]."

Mazzarri intimated that the added burden of Champions League football this season had taken its toll against a Juve side who have no European commitments.

"For us it was the fourth straight game," the Napoli boss argued. "The concentration had to remain high for another 20 minutes. We fell and it was seen.

"At 3-1 up, we were thinking that we had it won, even though we were in trouble from a physical point of view."

However, on the plus side, on-loan Inter forward delivered two goals of real quality which left Mazzarri feeling vindicated for bringing the much-maligned Macedonian to the San Paolo.

"Pandev is a player of the highest level, we are not surprised," the coach said. "He just had to get himself in the right condition."

The draw saw Napoli climb to sixth in the Serie A standings but they remain nine points adrift of leaders Juventus.

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Estigarribia good enough for Juve

Nov 30, 2011

Marcelo Estigarribia believes he’s proved a point after starting and scoring for Juventus in Tuesday’s 3-3 draw at Napoli.

The Paraguayan was inserted into the team given that boss Antonio Conte was without the suspended Claudio Marchisio.

“I’ve shown that I’m able to play for a great team,” said the South American. “Now I need to make the most of the opportunity given to me by the technical staff.”

Estigarribia was used as a wide left midfielder and he managed to get on the scoresheet by netting the club’s second.

“It’s always been a dream to score such a goal, in a similar setting, so I’ll enjoy this moment and dedicate it to my family who follow me from Paraguay,” he added.

Napoli were 2-0 and 3-1 up during the re-arranged Week 11 tie, but the Bianconeri hit back to extend their lead at the top of the table by two points.

“It was a difficult game, but we’ve clinched a very important point from a tough venue and this is what’s given me most pleasure.

“Now we’re already thinking about the next game because Cesena are next up on Sunday.”

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

[Socrates 8372]

Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Pepe celebrates victorious draw

Nov 30, 2011

Simone Pepe has underlined how important last night’s 3-3 draw with Napoli was for Juventus. “It feels like a win.”

The Old Lady were 2-0 and 3-1 down during stages of the game, but fought back to make sure that they are still unbeaten in Serie A this season.

“We’re a united group and we never give in,” said the Italian international. “This is the signal that we’ve sent out.

“This draw feels the same as a win.”

Juve went into the game without the suspended Claudio Marchisio and winger Pepe was asked to replace him in the middle.

“I’m not a narrow midfielder, but I was able to go about my duties thanks to my teammates,” he continued.

“I felt at ease and enjoyed myself when I found space, also because Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo protected me and granted me the freedom to go forward.”

Pepe left his mark on the game by scoring the equaliser – his third goal in three games after previous strikes versus Palermo and Lazio.

“I don’t think I’ve ever scored three goals in as many games. I don’t even know if I’ve ever scored more than three at all…” he joked.

“This goal was more difficult than the one against Lazio at the weekend, however, because I did it with the ball at my feet.”

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

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Serie A Week 11 - 29-11-2011 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 3

Marek Hamsik (23')

Goran Pandev (41')

Alessandro Matri (48')

Goran Pandev (68')

Marcelo Estigarribia (72')

Simone Pepe (80')

San Paolo Stadium - Naples

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento

Attendance: 48000

Bonucci: Blame me for Napoli goal

Dec 1, 2011

Juventus stopper Leonardo Bonucci has accepted responsibility for Napoli’s third goal in Tuesday’s 3-3 draw.

The Azzurri went 3-1 up after Goran Pandev took advantage of the Italian international’s misjudgement to slot the ball past Gigi Buffon.

“I’m really disappointed with the third goal we conceded,” the former Inter and Bari man noted.

“I was sure that I could beat Pandev to the ball, but unfortunately it went the way it did. That goal was my fault.

“Hopefully this incident will make me stronger and improves my concentration.

“I’ll take everyone out for dinner to make up for my error.”

Although disenchanted with himself, Bonucci has applauded his teammates for their reaction at the San Paolo to take home a point.

“What can I say? We have the character of a lion,” the centre-back continued. “It was a great game and the result has given us even more strength and conviction.

“Now we have an improving Cesena on Sunday in Turin and it won’t be an easy game for us. But we are obliged to win in our own home!”

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

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Allegri names Juventus as Scudetto favourites

Dec 1, 2011

Milan Coach Massimiliano Allegri has named Juventus as the front runners in this seasons race for the Scudetto following their comeback in Naples this week.

Speaking to SkySport the Rossoneri coach hailed the ability of Juventus to return to snatch a point from a two goal deficit against Napoli and spoke of their unbeaten start as strong markers of their ability to capture the title.

"Juve are the only undefeated side, it is not easy to come back from two goals against Napoli. The championship is long but they were already a favourite and now even more so after the result in Naples and the win against Lazio."

Allegri also spoke about his excitement due to greater involvement of owner Silvio Berlusconi in the running of the club. "Berlusconi has always been the president, but now I hope he is at Milanello more often because his physical presence is an incentive for the whole environment."

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

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Allegri impressed by Juve start

Dec 1, 2011

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has been so impressed by Juventus' unbeaten start to the season that the champions' coach believes the Old Lady of Turin deserve to be top of the table.

Milan could, temporarily at least, take over top spot if they win away to Genoa on Friday night in a game brought forward from the weekend.

Juve, who finished seventh in the previous two seasons, would then have the possibility to reclaim the league leadership at home to second bottom Cesena on Sunday.

"Juve deserve to be top because they're the only unbeaten team in the league and on Tuesday they provided a show of strength," said Allegri, alluding to Juve's fightback to earn a 3-3 draw at Napoli.

"From 3-1 down they managed to salvage a match that appeared lost.

"Antonio Conte's team are title challengers, they were from the beginning and their current position has reinforced that theory."

However, since a difficult start in which Milan won just one and lost two -- including to Juve -- of their opening five matches, they have been the form team.

"We're on a good run of six wins and a draw. Juve are a step ahead but we've pulled back four points since the international break," said Allegri.

"There's still a long way to go. We have to play well to continue our run of results."

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

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