Juventus Season 2011-2012

[Socrates 8330]

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Conte unconcerned about potential return of Ibrahimovic

The 42-year-old coach is unworried that the Swedish striker

may return to action in time for the upcoming Serie A contest.

Sep 25, 2011

Juventus coach Antonio Conte says he will not make any special plans to counter the threat of AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Sweden international is expected to regain full fitness during the course of the week after sustaining an adductor injury in training earlier in the month.

Ibrahimovic remains doubtful for the midweek Champions League game against Viktoria Plzen, but it is believed he will be fully fit by October 2, when AC Milan travel to Turin to face Juventus.

However, Conte has indicated his side's preparation for the Serie A encounter will not be affected by Milan's injury list.

"We do not prepare for a match based on this or that player being present," Conte told Rai Sport.

"We have our own mark, a very precise playing identity, and we want to implement it."

The 42-year-old coach acknowledged AC Milan are favourite for the upcoming game, but stressed his side will go out for the win.

"The only thing we can do is to try to narrow the gap between ourselves and Milan: we are still growing, they are big already," he concluded.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Allegri: 'Juventus and Inter are our rivals for the title'

The 44-year-old AC Milan coach identifies his side's main challengers

for the Scudetto, despite their conflicting fortunes at the start of the Serie A season.

Sep 26, 2011

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri maintains that Inter and Juventus will be his side's main title challengers this season, despite their contrasting fortunes at the start of the 2011/12 Serie A campaign.

Inter won their first game of the season on Saturday, coming away from Bologna with a 3-1 victory, whilst the Turin giants top the table following their 1-1 draw in Catania.

A 1-0 defeat of Cesena earned Allegri his first win of the season too, but he believes that, in spite of their indifferent starts to the season, the Milan sides will accompany Juventus in the title chase.

"Inter and Juve are our rivals for the title," Allegri told Tuttosport.

"The Bianconeri have conducted a great transfer market, and the Nerazzurri will fight for the title."

Juventus and Milan come face to face when they meet in a league clash at the Juventus Stadium on October 2.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Allegri: We'll start thinking about Juventus on Thursday

AC Milan coach urges his team to put domestic matters to the back of their minds

and concentrate on beating their Czech opponents in the Champions League group stage.

Sep 28, 2011

AC Milan will put thoughts of Sunday's match with Juventus to the back of their minds and concentrate on the Champions League group stage clash with Viktoria Plzen, coach Massimiliano Allegri has promised.

The Serie A champions host the Czech Republic side in their second Group H fixture, and the 44-year-old tactician has urged his players to focus on the task at hand.

"I'll put out my strongest team, then we'll start thinking about Juventus on Thursday," Allegri told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

"All I want to think about now is this match and getting [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic back."

The former Cagliari coach also issued a word of warning ahead of Wednesday's fixture, claiming that, despite their low-profile status on the European stage, the Czech champions have the ability to cause his side problems.

"They're a well-drilled unit, technically sound and very quick on the wings," he said.

"As it's never easy to win matches, we'll have to face them with the right amount of determination."

Milan go into the game in a strong position having earned a point away to Barcelona before securing their first league win of the season on Saturday, beating Cesena 1-0 at San Siro.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Allegri fears fatigue factor

Sep 28, 2011

Massimiliano Allegri was glad to have Zlatan Ibrahimovic back, but warned Milan

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Quagliarella ready for AC Milan's visit in Serie A

The Italian striker feels in great shape after making a full recovery from injury,

now it's down to coach Antonio Conte to pick him against the domestic champions.

Sep 28, 2011

Juventus striker Fabio Quagliarella is sounding fresh and ready for action when AC Milan travel to Turin for Sunday night's big Serie A clash.

The league leaders welcome last season's champions to the Juventus Arena, and they have been boosted by the forward's return to action.

Quagliarella has not played a full game since January when he injured his knee against Parma.

But, having played 90 minutes with the youth team on Wednesday afternoon in which he scored, the former Napoli man is raring to go.

"Playing with the youth team was good training for me. I don't know when I will play a full 90 minutes with the first team, but I am ready," he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

"My knee is no longer giving me problems and the injury is behind me now.

"Physically I am doing fine now."

Juventus have won two and drawn two in Serie A so far this term, but are tied at the top of the stadings with Udinese. Quagliarella featured in the 1-1 draw against Catania, albeit for just nine minutes.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Abate plays through the pain in Champions League win

The full-back is optimistic that the adductor problem he struggled

with at San Siro on Wednesday night is nothing more than muscle fatigue.

Sep 29, 2011

Ignazio Abate is hoping that the discomfort he experienced during AC Milan's Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen will not jeopardise his hopes of playing in Sunday

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Giaccherini: AC Milan will be Juventus' first major test of the season

The former Cesena winger is looking forward to the upcoming match against the reigning Serie A champions.

Sep 29, 2011

Emanuele Giaccherini believes that the visit of AC Milan provides Juventus with their first major test of the Serie A season.

The Turin giants are still unbeaten after four games and sit joint top of Serie A with eight points, and Giaccherini feels that the game against Milan will provide some indication as to where Juventus really stand.

"We are first and we have to continue like this, but we know that there is considerable room for improvement," Giaccherini told Tuttosport. "Sunday evening we will learn many things."

"The game with AC Milan will be our first major test of the season on Sunday night, and we can understand many things."

The last competitive meeting between the two side resulted in a 1-0 win for the San Siro side on March 5, 2011.

The match between Juventus and Milan kicks off at 20:45 CET.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Allegri is not yet sure if Boateng will be fit to face Juventus

The Ghanaian midfielder has recovered quickly from the rib injury he suffered

at the Camp Nou and is in line to play some part in Sunday's Serie A showdown in Turin.

Sep 29, 2011

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is refusing to confirm if Kevin-Prince Boateng will make his return to action against Juventus this weekend.

Boateng has been sidelined since injuring his ribs in the 2-2 draw with Barcelona at Camp Nou on September 13, but it has been reported that the Ghana midfielder will be available for the trip to Turin.

However, Allegri, who currently has a plethora of players in the treatment room, including Brazilian forwards Robinho and Alexandre Pato, would only reveal that Boateng is in with a chance of facing Juventus.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Cesare Prandelli: Juventus are second to no-one

The 54-year-old is expecting some first-class entertainment

when the Turin outfit collide with Milan at the weekend.

Sep 29, 2011

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli is looking forward to a potential mouthwatering clash as Juventus prepare to welcome AC Milan in Serie A's big game on Sunday night.

The Turin outfit currently sit at the top of the table league along with Udinese following an unbeaten start to the campaign.

Milan, on the other hand, have stumbled early in the season, but are coming off a 2-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League.

Prandelli is not voting for either side, but he is expecting to be entertained as he hailed Juve's progress under Antonio Conte.

"Two great teams will play each other, Milan are champions, while Juventus are second to no-one," Prandelli is quoted as saying by La Repubblica.

"Juventus have conviction in their play and I am sure it will be a great game."

Antonio Cassano continues to impress for his side and the coach was pleased to see the Italy international score against Plzen.

"Antonio has started well and he must continue like this," Prandelli said.

Kick-off at the Juventus Arena is at 2045 (CET).

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Seedorf: "Juventus-Milan will be a great match"

Sep 29, 2011

Clarence Seedorf has thanked the Milan crowd for the standing ovation they gave him on Wednesday night, and claimed he is tired of talking about the boos.

The Dutchman played 71 minutes of the Champions League contest with Viktoria Plzen. He has now started every game of the season so far, but admitted when reflecting on the game that he has yet to fully recover from a knee injury.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Giak: 'Room for Juve improvement'

Sep 29, 2011

Juventus winger Emanuele Giaccherini had admitted his new team are yet to reach their full potential and that Milan could be an important marker.

The diminutive wide-man signed from Cesena over the summer and has played in three of the team's four games under Antonio Conte.

Whilst the team are top of the League on goals scored, the 26-year-old believes the team are yet to reach their expected levels.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Ibra: 'Bring on Juventus!'

Sep 29, 2011

Milan hitman Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists he

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Prandelli looks at Juve-Milan

Sep 29, 2011

Cesare Prandelli laughs off recent criticism of Giorgio Chiellini and looks ahead to Juventus-Milan.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Boateng set for Turin comeback

Sep 29, 2011

Kevin-Prince Boateng is winning his battle to be fit in time for Sunday

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Del Piero: Juventus - AC Milan clash is not decisive

The legendary Italian playmaker is eager to face the champions

as he prepares for the marquee match-up of the weekend in Italy.

Sep 29, 2011

Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero is relishing Sunday's Serie A encounter against AC Milan, but said the game will not determine how their season pans out.

Del Piero is preparing for the big game as his side aim to continue a positive start to the season thus far.

Antonio Conte's men currently top the table, and a win against the champions will set down a marker of how things stand.

The former Italy international knows a classic is in store as Milan are coming off a 2-0 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League.

"This game has always been a Scudetto clash and it marks the race for the title," Del Piero is quoted as saying by La Repubblica.

"I am sure it will be the great league clash we all expect, but I don't think that it will be decisive.

"Whichever way it goes, the road is still a very long one."

Del Piero has started two games for Juventus this season, but he has yet to score.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Del Piero on 'historic' Milan rivalry

Sep 29, 2011

Alessandro Del Piero fires up Sunday

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Bonucci to start for Juventus against AC Milan

Head coach Antonio Conte faces defensive selection problems

ahead of this weekend's home game versus the Serie A titleholders.

Sep 30, 2011

Juventus head coach Antonio Conte is considering handing defender Leonardo Bonucci his first start of the season in the upcoming Serie A match at home against AC Milan on Sunday, Tuttosport reports.

Conte is allegedly ready to field Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli as his centre-back pairing at the weekend, with Giorgio Chiellini moved to left-back to replace Paolo De Ceglie.

The latter only just returned to regular training, and Conte is having doubts as to whether he will be fully fit in time for Sunday's match at the Juventus Stadium.

It would be Bonucci's first start of the season if he features. A substitute cameo against Siena was his only Serie A appearance in the 2011-12 campaign so far.

Juventus go into Sunday's game joint top of Serie A with eight points from their opening four games, three points ahead of their Milanese opponents.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Buffon: 'Positive result for self-esteem'

Sep 30, 2011

Gianluigi Buffon has reiterated the importance of collecting a result against Milan this weekend for the Juventus dressing room's belief.

The Bianconeri go into Sunday's meeting top of the table and undefeated from the first four rounds of games.

Buffon believes recording a positive result against the Rossoneri, who they haven't beaten at home since December 2008, would be most important to continuing their positive start.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Juventus vs AC Milan will not finish with a draw - Aldo Serena

The former Italy international has a feeling Sunday's Serie A clash will result

in a win for either the home side or the guests, stating: "I don't think we'll see a draw.".

Sep 30, 2011

Former Italy international Aldo Serena, who wore the jersey of both Juventus and AC Milan during his career, is eagerly anticipating Sunday's Serie A match, and has told Goal.com that he doesn't expect the encounter to end in a draw.

Juventus currently sit top of the table with eight points from four games, while Milan have accumulated five points so far.

"Antonio Conte's Juventus will probably start the game with attacking intentions, without allowing Milan to hit them on the counter-attack. Milan, on the other hand, will try to keep the pressure on Juve's midfield and make it a physical meeting," Serena told Goal.com.

"If I had to make a prediction, I'd say either Juventus or Milan will take the full three points. I don't think we will see a draw on Sunday."

The 51-year-old then went on to voice his belief that Milan's Champions League obligations in midweek are more likely to have a positive impact than result in fatigue.

"I don't think that the match against Viktoria Plzen will have tired Milan. If anything, it will have given them a boost because of the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and moving to first place in the table ahead of Barcelona. The win in midweek has only boosted their confidence.

"Juventus, on the other hand, have the advantage that they're well rested because of their absence in Europe. Conte has had the chance to work on specific things this week with an eye on Sunday's match, and I'm sure that they've worked pretty hard."

Sunday's match at the Juventus Stadium kicks off at 20:45 CET.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

De Ceglie resumes training ahead of AC Milan clash

The full-back has returned to fitness after a brief injury lay-off

and could be available for this weekend's Serie A match against last season's champions.

Sep 30, 2011

Juventus have received some encouraging news from the treatment table in the build-up to the Serie A match at home against AC Milan on Sunday as Paolo De Ceglie has resumed training after an injury lay-off.

The defender, who has been first choice at left-back under new head coach Antonio Conte, picked up a knock in his side's 1-1 league draw against Bologna 10 days ago and has been ruled out of action since.

De Ceglie consequently missed Juventus' 1-1 draw away against Catania last weekend, but the Turin giants have now revealed on their official website that he is close to a return to full fitness.

The 25-year-old completed most of Thursday's training session without any noteworthy problems, and a decision on his availability for this weekend's clash is expected to be made in the hours before kick-off.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Pro Pirlo-dependency

Sep 30, 2011

As Andrea Pirlo's past and present teams prepare to meet on Sunday, focus is all about his role at both clubs, as Rob Paton explains.

It is fair to say Juventus' start to the season has been a success. Being joint top of the League after four rounds is backed up with early signs of the team's refreshing capacity to rotate its squad members without drastically affecting performance levels.

From game to game, Antonio Conte has made nine changes to the starting XI, switched left-backs through suspension and formation and focus up front through various forwards. Evidence of an unaltered end product perhaps comes from the fact that each of the seven goals scored by the team had been by a different player.

However, there is one striking constant to have come from the opening weeks - Andrea Pirlo's overriding influence on proceedings. This ranges from the three assists he has provided - just under half the team's goals - to constant involvement in the team's efforts to always play the ball along the ground from goalkeeper to forward.

For the player, it has been a return to some of his best football, the type perhaps last seen taking such hold on games when with the national team during their run to World Cup success in 2006. He has returned to the pendulum style of play - taking possession and ably spraying balls to the right, left or over the top of opposition back-lines - effectively dictating both how and when his new Juve side attack.

Unsurprisingly came Pietro Lo Monaco's suggestion in the wake of Catania's 1-1 draw last weekend that Juve had, within a handful of games, grown to be 'Pirlo-dependent'. Vincenzo Montella placed a man-marker on Pirlo, Juve put in a less-than-inspiring performance.

It is timely then that the Pirlo-dependency debate arises as he prepares to face Milan in Week 6, the team whose success was once perceived a direct result of his talents, and whose latter deterioration was then thought the outcome of an over-reliance on him.

His success and end at Milan perhaps provides the greatest insight into the debate that Lo Monaco's words have created. The last three years saw the Rossoneri struggle to both protect a central midfield and central defence that was vulnerable to counter-attacking, and justify placing Pirlo in his preferred position in front of that defence.

Pirlo's absence through injury during 2010-11 coincided with Massimiliano Allegri's redevelopment of the Rossoneri central-midfield. In place of the playmaker's less-than-convincing defensive attributes stood one of Mark van Bommel and Massimo Ambrosini, whilst the former Cagliari Coach - aided significantly by summer spending - was able to shift creative responsibility away from Pirlo and on to the forwards.

By the time the No 21 was fit to challenge for a spot, Allegri's first edition of his Milan team had marginalised both the footballer's strengths and weaknesses. The defence was protected by a more solid brute force and the attack could now score goals without him.

However, what is important to note is that this was not Allegri's final intention with the side. The Coach admitted he was disappointed with Pirlo's decision to leave in the summer as he said he intended to focus developing a way of bringing out the best of him, whilst maintaining the side's strengths that had grown in his absence through 2010-11. Alberto Aquilani's arrival and Kevin Prince Boateng's projected shift back into midfield is evidence to this line of thought.

Allegri's tactics had created a Milan team that for the first time in a decade could win without Pirlo. However, their start to 2011-12 with minimal selections in attack and subsequent struggles to break down teams, when put alongside Pirlo's form at Juve, backs up Allegri's belief that his team still had room and a need for the playmaker.

As such, at Juventus, the season is about - perhaps more than anything else - ensuring that the team learns from Allegri's Milan. That is say, that they both allow Pirlo to play as he can, which as he has proven still carries a heavy influence on team performance, and that they have a plan B that can operate, crucially, with the playmaker still on the pitch.

Allegri said he was developing this at Milan, and former Bianconero Aquilani's progress therefore becomes very interesting to track this season, in effect acting as what-might-have-been for a Milanese Pirlo.

For Juve short term, to a certain extent, Lo Monaco's reactionary comments are right - Juve are Pirlo-dependent. At this time. It is too early to declare them completely reliant on Pirlo, until the wingers and full-backs have had time to develop an understanding, and Alessandro Del Piero, Alessandro Matri, Fabio Quagliarella and Mirko Vucinic have formulated strike-partnerships.

Indeed, it is also too early to panic that Pirlo's influence is too great on the team. It would have been a far worse quandary for Conte had the 32-year-old player on a

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Allegri: 'Pirlo left for the challenge'

Sep 30, 2011

Ahead of facing him in a Juventus shirt, Milan Coach Massimilano Allegri has reflected on why Andrea Pirlo left the Rossoneri this summer.

The 32-year-old ended a 10-year spell at San Siro to make the move to Turin, after enduring a frustrating final year with il Diavolo under Allegri's coaching.

Allegri confirmed why Pirlo left, suggesting it was not because of contract or tactical issues.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Ibra enjoys new Juve-Milan

Sep 30, 2011

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is impressed with the new Juventus, but also feels he has found his ideal position at Milan.

Although he netted many times in Turin when wearing the Bianconeri jersey, the Swede has never scored here as an opponent and hopes to rectify that on Sunday evening.

[Socrates 8330]

Serie A Week 6 - 2/10/2011 (08:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Arena - Turin

Abate likely to miss Juve-Milan

Sep 30, 2011

Milan announced Ignazio Abate is likely to miss Sunday