Juventus Season 2012-2013

[Socrates 8329]

[Socrates 8329]

[Socrates 8329]

[Socrates 8329]

[Socrates 8329]

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 7 - 7-10-2012 (3:00 p.m.)

1 - 2

Andrea Pirlo (14′)

Emanuele Calaiò (45+2′)

Claudio Marchisio (85′)

Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena Stadium - Siena

Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni

Attendance: 15373

Zebes Crack a Tough Nut & DB Gets All Sentimental

Oct 9, 2012

This was a result that could not have happened two seasons ago. Juventus dominated possession throughout the match (ESPN Soccernet says 29%-71%, which is as lopsided a statistic as I’ve seen outside a Barça match), and the Zebes looked consistently threatening. Sure enough, Andrea Pirlo scored an early goal off a free kick and after that, the ball somehow didn’t seem to get into the net.

This was more of a concern than an actual problem during the remainder of the first half, at least until the Juve defense (still perfect of course, and always will be no matter what… um, probably… don’t hold me to that) headed off to the locker room about 30 seconds before the half technically ended, and Calaiò got a late equalizer. Antonio Conte was not impressed.

Not, I’m sure, what the manager imagined when he returned to the scene of his supposed crime. Did the Zebes return from the half-time dressing room talk energized and rarin’ to go? Um, yes (remember the possession stat?) But still… THE. BOYS. COULD. NOT. GET. THE. BALL. IN. THE. BACK. OF. THE. NET. Until they did, and Juve won the match and they all lived happily ever after.

Except for Dirtbunny, who hasn’t had a decent visit from her boyfriend in a long, long time. Oz is not convenient for a weekend hop across the pond the way Europe is.

. Also, Margarita season is over, so the depth of my woes is nearly bottomless (well… not completely so; the black pants of the Zebes’ away kits may as well be a crotch burqa, but I still know how to work in a sad little dick joke… all is not lost).

★ ★ ★

Um, yeah. So we’re here to talk about a football match. Well, it started — as they do — with players taking the pitch with kids from the youth sector.

Awww. Andrea Pirlo got a sweet little girl (I think) and Sebastian Giovinco‘s mascot looks like he’s going to trip on his own pants. ♥ I hoped they would wear the pink. I slept the night before in my pink Pirlo jersey in an attempt to exert some influence, and it worked!

Speaking of Super-Seba, time for the Mirko Vucinic Gallery of Fail™! Not because he was bad (he wasn’t), and not because he had any actual fail (he didn’t… at least no more than any good player always has in every game… the shots — they do not all go in). But rather because of his Fail Face:

That is a championship-caliber tantrum face. ♥ It’s even better than Maicon’s tantrum face because it’s real, whereas Maicon’s tantrums were invariably built on pure bullsh**.

Geez, Felipe. Is that all you’ve got? You look almost as if you’re afraid to defend Seba, heh heh.

Giorgio Chiellini came out hard and got a harsh early yellow. Later, when he really started committing fouls, he was lucky not to get sent off. My commentators wouldn’t call it “lucky”: they came this close to outright saying that Mr. Mazzoleni was bought. [Cuz THAT's the only possibility, right? If a referee makes a mistake it's NOT because he's a human being and error is human, but rather because he was bought by the other team, right? /end Referee rant — Ed.]

After that, Siena tried to draw another card by crumpling to the floor any time Giorgione came within 2 meters of one of them, but Chiello settled down and kept it clean for the rest of the match, because he is a champion and not a dingbat.

In place of Bunny’s Favorite Dingbat (suspended Leonardo Bonucci), Conte/Carrera started Luca Marrone (featuring above with some Luca Marrone belly).

Ya know? Luca‘s a pretty decent center back. I wonder if Andy Carroll could be repurposed that way…

[Take notes, Sam Allardyce — Ed.]

★ ★ ★

Aside from starting Marrone, the only notable squad rotation involved Paolo DeCeglie, one of my special favorites.

He’s a soldier. Perhaps not the most effective soldier possible. Earnest good faith and hard work count for a lot but don’t make up for a lack of ability, as we learned from… *covers Marco Pantanella’s ears*… Molinaro.

[Huh? Did someone say something? Something about Matteo Paro? — Ed.]

Listen to me, complaining that PDC is not the world’s best left-back. Two seasons ago, we were crying for any competent left-back. Competent, he is, and more.

I hope he’s happy. It’d be terribly sad to lose him to some crap team where he could play every week.

Oh dear. I’m getting all soppy. Let’s just notice Claudio Marchisio in his traditional position on the pitch — Hiya Claudio! — and come back to him later.

Andrea Pirlo. Oh My God. Let’s do him now.

So, I told you in the PREVIEW‘s comments that Felipe was the worst defender in Serie A, right? Well, he is. He got a card for a foul on Seba and gave up a free kick on the edge of the area in the 13th. Pirlo lines up, looking unimpressed and perhaps even a little bored, as he tends to do (ADP always fiddled with his nose while he was waiting to take a FK).

What do we normally think of when we think of a Pirlo free kick? I think of something with a beautiful curve that goes over the wall and tucks into the upper corner of goal. What did we get yesterday? A straight, squat groundball that went under the wall and splattered off the keeper and into the net. It was the Opposite of Pirlo. And it went in.

Paci: “Oh crap! Dudes, it’s a low one! Try to un-jump or something!”

You know what this means, don’t you?

We already knew that Andrea was a Smooth Operator™… silky, tricky, slippery, and smarter than you.

Well, guess what? Maybe you thought that a player could be one or the other, but now you know he can be both. Here, Pirlo receives his tribute from fellow BMF Giorgione.

Wow. WE PAID NOTHING FOR HIM. MILAN THOUGHT HE WAS WASHED UP AND LET HIM GO FOR FREE!

I know I’ve said that before, but I also said I may never stop laughing, and so far, I haven’t.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Moving along, Conte/Carrera started Arturo Vidal in his usual place as the “V” in the MVP midfield.

I was a bit surprised. He looked tired and out of it against Shakhtar, and I thought he might get some rest.

Yeah, I said tired. We love you Arturo, but you’re looking a bit fatigued and it showed in Europe (though you did fine yesterday). Now go home and get some sleep!

★ ★ ★

Mirko Vucinic started up front. He had a good match, but he could not get a goal. Why? It wasn’t for lack of trying. The Zebras had sixteen shots… eight on target.

It wasn’t just Juve that couldn’t close the deal. Calaiò missed an absolute sitter. Seriously. My Grandma Buongiorne would have had time to step out from behind her walker and tap that one in. But of course, we don’t care much about that. What we do care about is why the Zebes had so much trouble.

You know why. For some reason, when Juventus goes off into the provinces to play the smaller teams, the smaller teams’ second-rate goalkeepers get to work. Siena’s Gianluca Pegolo was no exception. Pretty baby made save after save after save. By the way is it a law that goalkeepers in Italy have to be shupa-sheckshee? Cuz there don’t seem to be very many exceptions.

There are exceptions, of course coffcoffSebFreycoff and Salvatore Sirigu is banished for as long as he stays in France (I can understand having a desperate need to escape from the Palermo hellhole, but c’mon.) At any rate, Pegolo had a power breakfast, put on his savin’ boots and… well, I was going to say that he had the match of his life except I seem to remember that he did pretty much the same thing the last time Siena played Juventus. *looks it up*

Yup. Six saves yesterday. Seven saves in last season’s ritorno. Lordy. What’s going on here? Does he get all jazzed up to face Juventus, The Mighty Opponent? Of is it that he thinks more people will see him against a bigger team and it could be his big chance to score a big contract at a bigger team? Dude only makes €250,000 a year, which is less than every single Zebra except Rubinho. He might as well have gone to law school.

Carrera: Hey Pegolo! Boo. BOOOOOOO!

Pegolo: If you don’t like it Old Man, then try to beat me. If you can.

Carrera: Basta. You get in there Quags, and shut his mouth.

And so Carrera did something really courageous. He took Marrone out of the game and put in Quagliarella in the 80th. He had already taken out Lichtsteiner and De Ceglie in favor of Giaccherini and Asamoah, so that left Juve with a *gulp* two-man defense (plus Asamoah tracking back to cover). Talk about balls out. Draws are for pussies: win big or lose big.

So, yeah, that kind of substitution could never have happened two seasons ago. Most coaches would have gone defensive and played for the draw. But you know what else? Two years ago, if coach told his players in the 80th minute to buckle down and get the winner, the Boyz would have freaked out. But this year, this year, with this coach, the Boyz found something they didn’t used to have. Patience. And Grinta. To keep trying, trying, and trying, and never give up. And then…

BOOOOM!

It was half-glorious and half-hot mess. In the 85th, Giovinco swung a cross into the box from the left. Giorgione headed the ball away from goal — are you telling he me meant to do that? — and it fell into the path of Claudio Marchisio, who slammed it low and hard on the volley.

★ ★ ★

[sENTIMENTAL TANGENT TIME — Ed.]

I didn’t cry at the time, but I’m starting to cry now just thinking about it, and I’m not much of a weeper.

There’s something completely ridiculous about my JUVE-LOVE. It takes up time I could be spending, I don’t know, curing cancer, working to shut down animal agribusiness, writing the novel that’s in my head, refinishing the basement, or hell, just shaving my legs a bit more often.

Fanhood doesn’t do anything. I can’t imagine it on my tombstone (“Here lies Dirtbunny, whore for goalkeepers.”)

It’s completely useless. And expensive. All those extra cable channels and intraweb stuff cost actual money, and I burn some vacation time to watch midweek matches. That Luca Toni jersey from 2009-10, the ADP jersey from the 2008 Euros, the Giorgione and Gigi jerseys from World Cup 2010, and all the other jerseys and jackets and doodads that are too embarrassing to mention… well those ain’t cheap.

I don’t technically need an audience for my silly fanlove and embarrassing sexual fantasies and imaginary boyfriends, and I may just be displaying my inner freak when I should be keeping it quiet like everyone else does with theirs. It takes hours to put these together. The editors need all the photos done just so and I understand why but it’s tedious and time-consuming to gather them and label them properly and then to figure out which ones to use and what to say.

I have not yet seen El Clásico or the Milan derby because I’ve been working on this. Or eaten lunch. Or done my laundry.

[Yup, blogging IS hard work. I haven't had lunch either... — Ed.]

I’m not complaining. This isn’t always easy to do, for me, or for any of the JuventiKnows writers and editors. But I love it. I do it because I love the game and I love Juventus and all this Juve-stuff needs somewhere to go and it can’t be in real life because no one else has a clue. Mr. Dirtbunny comes close, but he likes Arsenal, so you can see there are certain impenetrable barriers there that hinder footie communication.

I do it because I love connecting with other people who share the same goofy passions as me. Yeah some of you won’t want to admit that they’re the same, so you can regard them as similar or related (but without the icky sex stuff) and I promise not to mock you for the next 10 minutes.

In fact, the posts and the matches are pretty much the same: SUFFERING and ARDENT LOVE. I love it all, even the sucky parts.

I love the bitching and moaning and drama from the opposing players and coaches. Especially Serse Cosmi. He can really put on a show.

I love the Juve players, even Kwadwo Asamoah whom I forgot to mention, and when I know them better, I end up loving them even more.

I love the affection the players have for each other, or really, any sign that they have fun playing football. I love the ridiculous boots and I love Pirlo’s ripped socks. I love it when their socks are saggy and I love it when they jack their socks up over the knee.

I love it when the players get pissy and grumpy, like Quags here. Or maybe you’d say he’s just been caught off-guard by a camera click. If that’s what’s going on here, then I love that too. Because it shows a moment where soccer players are real persons who aren’t used to having a camera on them 99.9% of the time, and who wish they had a little more personal space separating themselves from… umm… well, from us.

I even love Simone Pepe (pictured here with his companion, the lovely and apparently normal Agnese Bizzarri) even though he’s a ham and a doofus and if he were actually here in my house goofing around, I’d probably have to kick him out. Come back soon, Simone. I miss you! *bawls*

Thanks for listening.

★ ★ ★

Next match is after the international break, the big showdown against Napoli, at home, on October 20, a week from Saturday.

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Montella tips Juventus and Napoli to battle it out for Serie A title

The Viola boss says the division's early pacesetters have the character to continue

their impressive form and praised the respective qualities of both sides.

Oct 10, 2012

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella is tipping Juventus and Napoli to battle it out for the Serie A title.

Montella's side have started the season promisingly but trail the pair by eight points after the first seven league games.

The Viola coach claims the competitiveness Antonio Conte has instilled in the Turin side makes the defending champions formidable opposition.

"Conte created a team that believes in what he does, plays with great fury, and maintains it for 95 minutes," the former Roma striker told Corriere dello Sport.

The 38-year-old has also been impressed with the start Napoli have made, despite them not always hitting top gear.

"When a team wins with minimal effort it is a great sign. Napoli have also won against Fiorentina, which for me is a sign of a team that can compete for the title," he added.

Montella then went on to stress that it would be wrong for Fiorentina to try and copy Barcelona's style of play as the Catalans are one of a kind.

"It would be a mistake to use Barcelona as an example. They really are extraordinary and unique in what they do. It's true, though, that smaller strikers have become fashionable again."

The young coach also had his say on the collapsed transfer of Dimitar Berbatov during the summer transfer window, and stressed that he's happy with the squad he has.

"I honestly don't mind that Berbatov eventually didn't join us. If I look at our transfer activity throughout the summer, the club's done an excellent job."

Berbatov eventually snubbed Fiorentina for Fulham as he preferred to remain in England.

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Hamsik looks forward to Juve tie

Oct 10, 2012

Marek Hamsik says his Napoli side will be ready to take on Juventus when Serie A returns after the international break.

The two sides, joint top of Serie A with 19 points from the 21 on offer, will face up to each other in Turin on Saturday 20 October.

“Lately, we like picking up victories when we suffer,” he stated following the 2-1 win over Udinese on Sunday night.

“It was important that we won seeing as Juventus got the three points earlier in the day with a win at Siena.

“We are a united squad and that is why we are in first place.

“It’s too early to say that we are like Juventus, but we will be fired up to face the Bianconeri when the League returns.”

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Pandev aims to stay top

Oct 10, 2012

Goran Pandev has warned Juventus that Napoli don’t intend to relinquish their grip on first place in Serie A.

The two teams are joint top of the Division and they’ll face each other in Turin when Serie A resumes after the international break.

“I’m happy that I scored the decisive goal in the win over Udinese,” he said of the 2-1 triumph on Sunday.

“But the most important thing was that we won. We’re still top of the League and we want to stay there…”

Both sides have won six and drawn one of their first seven League games.

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Cannavaro: Giovinco causes big problems

Oct 10, 2012

Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro says that he fears Sebastian Giovinco more than any other Juventus forward.

Speaking to Il Mattino ahead of the Week 8 clash between the joint leaders in Turin, Cannavaro discussed the problems in facing players of Giovinco’s stature.

“Giovinco is the player who scares me,” the Italian noted. “It’s really difficult for defenders to face small players who have that sort of speed.

“It was once said that players of that type couldn’t play football, but players like him are now becoming decisive.”

Both clubs have only dropped two points so far this term, but the Old Lady of Italian football haven’t been beaten in the championship for 46 games now.

“It will be a game for real men as we are up against an unbeaten team,” he added. “Juventus put you under great pressure in Turin and they are a really hard team to beat.

“But nobody is unstoppable in football even if we will need a perfect game against them to get a result.

“Juventus are really strong mentally,” the centre-back added. “They always believe and are always aggressive to every ball.”

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

If only Juve had Cavani…

Oct 11, 2012

Fabio Cannavaro believes that Juventus are an Edinson Cavani short of becoming a truly great side.

Speaking to La Stampa ahead of the Week 8 game between Juve and Napoli, the stopper was asked for his opinion on his two former clubs.

“Juventus would be stellar with Cavani,” he stated of the Azzurri striker. “He is the kind of top player that they were looking for in the summer.

“He works hard for the team, he doesn’t leave any reference points and he scores goals. For a defender, he is an opponent that you don’t see but feel.”

Both clubs are currently leading the standings after seven games, but the 2006 World Cup winner insists the game won’t be decisive.

“It won’t decide the Scudetto,” Cannavaro, whose brother Paolo captains the San Paolo outfit, continued.

“Both sides like to win by playing their brand of football and they line up in a similar way. But there is a difference in how they score.

“Antonio Conte’s Juve attack as a unit, whereas Napoli leave it to their three attackers.”

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Chiellini: Napoli clash not decisive in title race

The Juventus defender anticipates an interesting encounter versus the San Paolo side,

and has insisted that he is in fine form physically.

Oct 11, 2012

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is eagerly anticipating the Serie A match at home against Napoli on October 20 after the international break.

The reigning champions and the Partenopei currently sit joint top in the league table with 19 points from seven games, but the Italy international does not believe the match will be vital in the title race.

"It will be a great game just like the ones against AC Milan and Inter, but it won’t decide the Scudetto. It’s still too early for that," Chiellini told reporters.

"Our biggest strength is to take things on a game by game basis, and we need to maintain that mindset."

The defender then looked back on his return to match action in the past few weeks after a spell on the sidelines, and stressed that he's fully match fit.

"It’s been a very positive month. I’ve played well and don’t need to rest, which is also down to the fact that I’ve recently spent a long time on the sidelines through injury."

Chiellini is currently away on international duty with Italy as they prepare for the World Cup qualifiers against Armenia and Denmark.

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Crespo: Juve & Napoli teams to beat

Oct 11, 2012

Former Parma and Inter striker Hernan Crespo believes there are only two teams to beat this season in Serie A.

The Argentina international has praised both Juventus and Napoli, claiming that the Bianconeri and the Partenopei will undoubtedly be the two top come May.

“Unless something extraordinary happens,” he told Radio Kiss Kiss. “Then I think Napoli and Juventus are favourites for the title.

“They both have a recent history of winning, their Coaches are amongst the best and the teams have already proven their worth this season. Other teams are one step behind those two.”

He also lamented the current international break, believing that the gap in League proceedings will damage the two teams when they meet on Saturday October 20.

“It's a shame [about the internationals], because neither team will have a fresh squad to put on a show next Saturday,” he said.

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Pandev to avenge Juventus defeat

Oct 12, 2012

Goran Pandev is looking for Italian Super Cup revenge when Napoli travel to Juventus in Week 8.

The Old Lady defeated the Azzurri in August’s Supercoppa showdown thanks to a 4-2 scoreline, but only after Pandev and Juan Zuniga were dismissed.

“The Super Cup tie in Beijing was a fake,” the Macedonian noted. “I didn’t say anything to the linesman, but I was still sent off.

“One thing is certain, in the next game, I’ll keep my mouth shut. I won’t even look at an official in the face should I be fouled.

“I now understand how to play against Juventus…”

Both sides are currently top of the League and Pandev is hopeful that his Azzurri can be the first to collect an away victory at the Juventus Stadium.

“I’ve scored three times past Juventus while in the Napoli shirt and now I want another one,” he continued.

“We have to go to Turin without fear, because we have shown that we can play openly against anyone and we can beat the current champions of Italy.

“We must avenge the game of August 11 as we all know how that one ended…”

Juventus entertain Napoli on Saturday 20 October once Serie A resumes after the international break.

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Ciro Ferrara analyses Juventus-Napoli

Oct 12, 2012

Ferrara is a former player of both Napoli and Juventus, so will be very interested to watch their Scudetto showdown next weekend.

“It will certainly be a difficult match for Napoli, but it is also true that Juventus have an unbeaten record that has to end eventually.

“I don’t think this is going to be a decisive match for the Scudetto, though, as we are still at the start of the season.”

Insigne is in the Under-21 squad for tonight’s game and is finding success in Serie A at Napoli.

“I never had doubts on Lorenzo’s talent. I had been following him since his days at Foggia and had the chance to know him better with the Azzurrini. I even tried to take him on loan to Sampdoria this summer.”

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Pandev: Napoli have not forgotten about Juventus defeat

The Macedonia international still remembers their meeting from earlier

this season, and is gunning for revenge when they face each other again.

Oct 12, 2012

Goran Pandev is looking to avenge Napoli's 4-2 Supercoppa Italiana loss against Juventus when both sides meet after the international break.

The Partenopei were beaten in controversial fashion at the start of the season as they had two players dismissed, while Juventus were awarded a spot-kick, and Pandev is desperate to make amends on October 20 in Turin.

"We have to go to Juventus without showing them any fear. We have shown that we can trouble any opponent. We have what it takes to beat the Italian champions," Pandev was quoted as saying by Tuttosport.

"We all know how our previous game against them ended. We have to make amends for that defeat.

"The Supercoppa was one big lie. I didn't say anything to the linesman, yet I was still sent off. One thing's certain, though, I won't even look at one of the match officials this time.

"I now understand how to play against Juventus."

Juventus and Napoli sit joint first in the Serie A table at the moment with 19 points from seven games.

Juve are used to talk on the pitch, mr. Pandev! See you next saturday!

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Mazzarri: 'Napoli the anti-Juve?'

Oct 13, 2012

Walter Mazzarri prepares to face Juventus in Saturday’s top of the table battle, but insists “we never said Napoli were the anti-Juve.”

The two sides are currently joint Serie A leaders on 19 points each, already four ahead of the chasing pack. They go head-to-head in Turin on Saturday, kick-off 17.00 BST.

“This is a game that will be good for morale, but only at the end of the season will we get a clear idea of all the results and see where we are,” Mazzarri told the Corriere dello Sport.

“We never said that Napoli were the anti-Juve. All we want to do is continue along our own path.

“I love a challenge and sport means every match is like a Cup Final for me. That is how I get fired up for each test.”

Naples is the most superstitious city in Italy, but Mazzarri bucks the trend.

“I do not believe in superstition. I believe in work. It’s not true, but we’ll pretend to believe these things anyway...”

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Pandev returns to Napoli

Oct 13, 2012

Goran Pandev is expected to return early from international duty after the Napoli striker was suspended.

The Macedonian picked up a yellow card in the 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat to Croatia, which means he will be banned for Tuesday’s match with Serbia.

Pandev is therefore expected to fly back to Naples several days earlier than anticipated in order to prepare for Saturday’s Scudetto clash with Juventus.

Similarly, Arturo Vidal is returning to Turin in the next few hours after he was sent off for Chile.

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Padoin: Napoli are Juventus' biggest Scudetto rivals

The former Atalanta star believes Walter Mazzarri's men are best placed to challenge

the Old Lady this season, and is looking forward to next weekend's encounter.

Oct 13, 2012

Juventus midfielder Simone Padoin is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Serie A game against Napoli after the international break, and believes the Partenopei are the reigning champions' biggest rivals in the title race.

The Bianconeri and the Walter Mazzarri's side have both collected 19 points from their opening seven league games, and Padoin anticipates an interesting match against the Neapolitans.

"We’ll be prepared for the game against Napoli, despite all those away on international duty. I believe we’ll see the clash of the two teams with the greatest chance of winning the Scudetto," Padoin told Juventus Channel.

"I agree with Giorgio Chiellini, who said the match won't be decisive just yet. It’s an important game but it’s still not fundamental, it will only be the eighth championship fixture of the campaign.

"I think the game can be won in midfield, whoever proves to be the better in their individual duels could prove decisive.

"In Beijing [during the Supercoppa Italiana] we were exemplary in this department and deserved to win before the game went to extra-time."

The match at the Juventus Stadium takes place on October 20.

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Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Mazzarri: Napoli are not the anti-Juventus

The Partenopei boss has played down the importance of the clash between the joint leaders

of Serie A and stressed that he will approach the game with the same mindset as any other.

Oct 13, 2012

Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri has dismissed the hype surrounding his side's upcoming match against Juventus.

The pair have both taken 19 points from their opening seven Serie A games and look set to battle it out for the league crown, but the 51-year-old says the match is no more important than any other domestic fixture.

“This is a game that will be good for morale, but only at the end of the season will we get a clear idea of all the results and see where we are,” he told Corriere dello Sport.

“We never said that Napoli were the anti-Juve. All we want to do is continue along our own path."

But, the coach did admit that he will be fired up for the contest and says that he relishes the challenge that each game presents.

“I love a challenge and sport means every match is like a cup final for me. That is how I get fired up for each test," he added.

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Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Mazzarri: 'Bring on Juve-Napoli'

Oct 14, 2012

Walter Mazzarri warns Juventus that Napoli “will not be happy with a draw” in Turin on Saturday and has a message for referees too.

They are joint leaders going into next week’s Scudetto showdown and meet for the first time since the hugely controversial Italian Super Cup in Beijing on August 11, which saw Juve emerge 4-2 winners in extra time after red cards for Goran Pandev and Juan Camilo Zuniga.

“Is it decisive? Absolutely not,” Mazzarri told the Corriere dello Sport. “Anyone who loses will have time to make up for it. We are only in Week 8 and there are another 30 after this, so the journey is a long one.

“Plus don’t forget we meet again at the San Paolo and that, in my view, could well be considered decisive.

“Juve are like Barcelona, in that they don’t let you breathe and when losing possession try to win it back immediately. However, the Champions League does sap energy from a side.

“Would I be happy with a draw? Absolutely not. I want to infuse the squad with a winning mentality. We have already achieved something remarkable putting ourselves in this situation by building results and maintaining a strong club.

“When I arrived my promise was that this team would always have soul. I think I maintained that promise and often the fans applauded us even after defeats.

“We are more mature this season, as last year we’d concede goals at the first sign of trouble. We have also replaced Pocho Lavezzi and Walter Gargano with smart buys like Lorenzo Insigne and Valon Behrami.”

President Aurelio De Laurentiis was deferred to the Disciplinary Commission this week for the comments he made about referees and the Federation after the Super Cup.

“After the Super Cup, I tried to speak in a constructive fashion about what had happened,” continued Mazzarri.

“Now do not make me add any more. I will only say that the important thing is for uniformity in the decision-making process. There are rules and they must be applied the same way for every team.”

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Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Ferrara on Juventus-Napoli

Oct 15, 2012

Sampdoria boss Ciro Ferrara says he’ll be happy with whatever result when former clubs Juventus and Napoli meet in Week 8.

The two League leaders face each other in Turin on Saturday evening and Ferrara, who played for the duo, won’t pick one team over the other.

“I’ll be supporting both,” Ferrara, who had a brief spell in charge of the Old Lady too, told Tuttosport on Monday.

“I had some beautiful moments at both clubs and I can’t forget the past. I will, however, be watching the game as the Coach of Sampdoria…”

Juventus go into the game on an unbeaten League run which has now reached the 46-match mark.

“Sooner or later, all records come to an end,” the former Italian Under-21 boss added. “And Napoli can use this Sword of Damocles to stop Juventus.”

Despite both clubs clearly being Scudetto candidates this term, Ferrara doesn’t think the outcome of the game will decide anything.

“It won’t be a decisive encounter,” he continued. “We are only at the start of the season and there are other teams who could still enter the race.

“Juventus and Napoli certainly have a bit more than the rest, but they also have European games to deal with.”

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Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Cannavaro excited ahead of Juve clash

Oct 15, 2012

Paolo Cannavaro is looking forward to Napoli's clash with Juventus on Saturday, according to his agent.

The 31-year-old defender has been virtually ever-present in the Partneopei's backline this season, and is delighted at the prospect of a top-of-the-table clash this weekend, his representative has said.

“Paolo is excited,” Gaetano Fedele told Radio Gol. “He feels it more than others because he is a Neapolitan.

“The team believes in itself. The players are drawn to the thought of winning the League trophy, and are ready to cause problems to any side.

“The game against Juventus is one that gets everyone enthused. But the team have to be authoritative if they're to beat the Bianconeri.”

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Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

De Ceglie: Home advantage gives Juventus edge over Napoli

The 26-year-old is looking forward to Saturday's league encounter between the two

table-toppers, and has stressed that the Old Lady are determined to do well in Europe.

Oct 15, 2012

Juventus wing-back Paolo De Ceglie is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Serie A game at home against Napoli, and is confident the reigning champions can bag the full three points with the support of their fans.

De Ceglie believes both sides have improved compared to last season, and expects an entertaining encounter on Saturday as Juventus aim to build on last term's success.

"Both sides have strengthened and Saturday’s game will be of a very high level. We’re aware of our potential and we just have to express it on the pitch," De Ceglie told Sky Sport Italia.

"We’ll be playing at Juventus Stadium and our fans will support us and give us that little bit extra.

"We want to follow up our Scudetto achievement from last year. But we also have a great desire to show what we can do in the Champions League. It’s an important season and we want to do well."

Saturday's match in Turin kicks off at 18:00CET.

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Serie A - Week 8 - 20-10-2012 (6:00 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Damato

Lippi: "Juventus-Napoli is the real big match"

Oct 16, 2012

Italian World Cup winning boss Marcello Lippi was asked about Juve-Napoli.

“The League table at the moment is speaking clearly,” the Guangzhou Evergrande Coach continued. “Juventus-Napoli is the real big match.

“I like the project which is in place in Naples.

“Juventus give the impression that they have that something extra, but Napoli are not that far away.”

The Azzurri’s main threat at the Juventus Stadium is likely to be Uruguayan international striker Edinson Cavani.

“How do you stop Cavani? I’ll leave that question to Juventus boss Antonio Conte,” he smiled. “He’s an atypical bomber, he moves around a lot and then he suddenly attacks you.”

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/