Juventus Season 2012-2013

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Lennon's men unable to break through glass ceiling

CELTIC wore black in Turin and that turned out to be

predictably appropriate for their Champions League burial.

Mar 6, 2013

What had always looked like a deeply ominous second leg in the last 16 proved to be exactly that last night as Juventus put them out of their misery. A cold, clinical victory – coupled with the devastating first leg result at Parkhead – sent Celtic toppling to a 5-0 aggregate defeat, the heaviest they have ever suffered in Europe. The pain will be eased only a little by recognition of the fact they had been snuffed out by the most impressive opposition they have faced this season.

Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella scored to extend Celtic's sequence to nine visits to Italy without a win. Any comfort for Celtic had to be drawn from the fact they generally competed well and were not humiliated.

Still, Juventus won without going through the gears, playing neither their best striker, Mirko Vucinic, nor their strongest defender, Giorgio Chiellini. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had an undemanding evening and Andrea Pirlo produced a display of quiet excellence. Juventus were superior in every department and the joy Celtic had from free-kicks earlier in the campaign – including against Barcelona – was entirely absent against the Italians' defending.

The last 16 remains the glass ceiling for the Scottish champions. Celtic can deliver thrilling individual results in the group stage – beating Barcelona proved that – and qualifying for the knock-out round is clearly a realistic annual target.

There is an unmistakable step up in class when the tournament enters a new year, though, and inevitably Celtic do not have the resources to cope with opposition as classy as the Serie A leaders. Juventus are unbeaten in home European games for over three years. Celtic never threatened that run.

Efe Ambrose did little to help the cause when he was disciplined yesterday for missing the team bus to training on the morning of the match. Instead he made his own way there in a taxi. Ambrose had a horrendous first leg and was little better last night, missing a fine chance with a header after he came on at half-time.

Celtic endured a long, hard night but it was not one of those when they were starved of possession. They had plenty of the ball, plenty of it in the Juventus half, too.

Biram Kayal, Charlie Mulgrew and Joe Ledley moved and shuttled and fed each other and when they could they got the ball forward to Kris Commons. But that's when Celtic hit a wall of black and white.

Lennon had been as positive as could realistically have been expected given the circumstances and had Gary Hooper and Georgios Samaras up front, but neither of them made a mark on the match. Juventus's back three of Andrea Barzagli, Luca Marrone and Leonardo Bonucci were too strong and too quick for them. With Federico Peluso and Simone Padoin ferrying back from the wing-back roles to offer even more protection Celtic faced an impenetrable line.

They opened Juventus up only once in each half. There was the Ambrose header, and earlier when Samaras put on a burst down the left and flashed the ball across the goalmouth. Hooper launched himself to connect with it but it was struck too hard and flew past him and away. Anything else amounted to half-chances. Buffon was required to make only one sharp save when Hooper's deflection changed the course of a low Commons shot, but the great Italian's reactions were a match for it. Juventus always looked comfortable and composed. They don't have the joint best defensive record in the Champions League without good reason.

They were content to mount periodic counter-attacks and scored with one of their first. Hooper had dropped deep – presumably already frustrated by his lack of involvement in the early play – but he was muscled out of possession by Barzagli and suddenly Juventus were in. Barzagli slipped a pass to Quagliarella and his low shot was parried by Fraser Forster but only into the path of the unmarked Alessandro Matri who rammed home an easy finish. Forster, so often excellent in the campaign and important again with some other big saves here, was at fault for the goal.

He saved well from Arturo Vidal and was equally impressive in pushing away a Quagliarella shot just after the break. By then Celtic were facing the same strikers with a different defence. Kelvin Wilson and Victor Wanyama had been the central pairing until half-time but Wanyama was replaced by Ambrose, who then moved to right-back when Adam Matthews pulled a hamstring.

It takes organisation and order to cope with Juventus and Lennon would have been anxious about having to reshuffle his pack. There was no great urgency from Juventus but, still, they opened Celtic up again midway through the second half. Pirlo floated a ball over Izaguirre for Matri, and suddenly Celtic were horribly exposed. He squared the ball into the goalmouth where Quagliarella scored with a tap-in.

There were no complaints from Celtic this time. The refereeing was not the factor it had been at Parkhead. Firat Aydinuas was unobtrusive. The Turk booked Peluso for an early foul on Matthews which was so mild it amounted to a kiss on the cheek compared to some of what was inflicted on the Celtic players in the first leg. Izaguire and Ledley were also booked but otherwise it was uneventful.

Juventus's wonderful new stadium pulsated, both sets of fans loud and colourful. Only out on the pitch did Celtic go quietly.

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Lennon: Juventus were a class above

Mar 6, 2013

Celtic boss Neil Lennon said his team had been outclassed over two legs by Juventus but claimed both he and his players have learnt valuable lessons from their Champions League crusade.

Juve won 2-0 in Turin thanks to goals from Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella to move into the quarter finals with an emphatic aggregate scoreline of 5-0.

Lennon had no complaints about the result but praised his team for getting into the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition.

"Quality counts at the end of the day," Lennon told Sky Sports. "Our finishing at times let us down, our build-up play was very good but it's about execution.

"(Efe) Ambrose had a great chance with a header before half-time [in the first leg] that would have made it 1-1 and who knows what would have happened. On the night class tells in the end and that's what's happened in the two games."

Lennon cast doubt on how many of his current squad will still be at the club next season, perhaps a result of the potential they have shown in Europe.

"I hope they've learned a lot as they move on in their careers. They've done the club proud and tonight I'm proud to be the manager here in this fantastic arena. I hope these young guys will blossom from this experience. But last-16 is cut throat and Juventus beat us."

Asked about the summer transfer window, he added: "It's going to be a big ask (to keep them all). It's hard to stop progression... We'll see what the summer brings. There'll be players who want to progress their careers and it's a progression for us too. We want to bring in players, develop them and sell them on, so far that strategy's worked for us."

Asked about his own memories of the Champions League campaign, he added: "Winning in Moscow was very special and the two games against Barcelona were titanic, coinciding with the club's anniversary it was very emotional."

Georgios Samaras echoed Lennon's calls and said the club's young players would benefit from the experience.

"I would say that it was a great experience for all the lads," he told Sky Sports. "We're a young team with a lot of talent, and that's an experience we'll learn from.

"I think it was a great journey for everyone in the club, the players, the coaches, staff and supporters, they've enjoyed it from the first second to the last. Next year hopefully we'll be back in the Champions League."

The odds were always stacked against Celtic on the night but Samaras kept the result in perspective.

"We're playing against a great team in the round of 16, it's a big thing for us," he said. "We tried to play attacking football, to press them high like we did in the first half and we had a couple of chances but we didn't take them.

"But I didn't see any negative things in the game. We keep the positive things and keep learning."

Celtic exceeded expectations by coming this far, and Samaras believes the memories of a campaign that included victory over Barcelona and a double against Spartak Moscow will stay with the club for a long time.

"We're trying really hard all together to be a successful team," Samaras said. "The highlights of this journey were the two games against Barcelona, the way we played, the heart we showed was something amazing, not only for the players but also the supporters and the club. We'll remember these games for many years."

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Player Ratings: Juventus 2-0 Celtic (Agg 5-0)

Goal.com rates the players on show as goals from Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella

see the Bianconeri comfortably past Neil Lennon's men and into the quarter-finals.

Mar 6, 2013

JUVENTUS

Gianluigi Buffon - Although Celtic enjoyed the lion's share of possession the keeper was left relatively untroubled. He showed his class with a great stop midway through the first half as he readjusted to turn Hooper's effort behind.

Andrea Barzagli - Could not have done a better job when stepping out of defence in the 23rd minute, as his pressure on Hooper was the key to the opening goal. He was largely comfortable at the back but was unable to dominate the aerial game.

Luca Marrone - Played at centre-back and look completely at home. He showed tremendous composure when on the ball in defence and refused to be rushed into hitting it long, instead keeping it on the ground and encouraging the play.

Leonardo Bonucci - The Italy international never looked concerned at the back, displaying a confidence-inspiring authority. He stifled Hooper in the final third but was never really tested by the opposition.

Simone Padoin - Could not offer an awful lot of width going forward as Juve were happy to sit back and invite Celtic onto them. He was more adventurous in the second half but was let down by a number of poor deliveries.

Paul Pogba - The young Frenchman made some impressive late runs to support the forwards and try to stretch the visitors. He protected the ball and did a good job patrolling things in midfield.

Andrea Pirlo - Found a lot of space in the Celtic half but was not particularly suited to the counterattacking game that Juve employed in the first half. With more possession after the break he weaved his magic with a great pass leading to the second goal.

Arturo Vidal - The Chilean was combative in midfield, pressing hard and winning the ball in some dangerous areas. He did not offer the Celtic players a moments rest and also found time to push on and support the forwards. A great run and unselfish pass enabled Quagliarella to make it 2-0.

Federico Peluso - Had plenty of freedom down the left-hand side but could not put in a decent performance. He lacked the pace to get at Celtic and also struggled defensively, allowing Samaras and Commons past him too easily.

Fabio Quagliarella - There was plenty of bright attacking movement from the forward as he played on the shoulder of the last defender. Always looking to get in behind, his run and shot was crucial to Matri's opener and he then got one of his own after the break.

Alessandro Matri - Always looked sharp and ready to cause damage to Neil Lennon's men. His link-up play with Quagliarella was impressive and he displayed his goalscoring instinct to follow his partner's shot up for a simple goal.

Substitutions

Mauricio Isla - Came on for his compatriot Vidal in the 66th minute but could not display the same level of energy in midfield.

Kwadwo Asamoah - The Ghanaian replaced Peluso in the 59th minute but did not offer much more in terms of quality down the left side.

Emanuele Giaccherini - Brought on in place of Pirlo in the 69th minute and kept Juve looking dangerous on the break.

CELTIC

Fraser Forster - The keeper should probably have done more to get Quagliarella's 24th-minute shot to safety, but he parried it straight back into danger and Matri capitalised. However, he made some impressive saves from Quagliarella and Vidal as the game went on.

Adam Matthews - The full-back made some decent interceptions early on and showed a great desire to get forward and press Juve back in their own half. He left a bit too much space in behind at times and was substituted in the 52nd minute.

Emilio Izaguirre - Tried to get forward and offer some extra width on the left but was frequently caught out of position. He failed to track Vidal's run from deep as the Chilean set Quagliarella up for Juve's second of the night.

Kelvin Wilson - Allowed Quagliarella far too much space inside the area in the build up to Juve's first goal, which ultimately ended any hopes of a miraculous result early on. He could not cope with the link-up of the Bianconeri strikers.

Charles Mulgrew - Simply aimed for efficiency in the centre of midfield. He kept his game simple with a series of horizontal passes. He did not stretch himself to the maximum of his ability which is surely required on such nights.

Kris Commons - Drifted in from the wide areas to try and provide Celtic with a cutting edge in the final third. He never stopped looking to provide that creative spark but as he struggled to find that killer ball, he instead let a few decent shots fly from range.

Joe Ledley - Attempted to give the attack direction from deep but struggled to show his quality on the night. He did not track back to help his team defend against the counterattack and did not provide enough of a threat in the final third.

Beram Kayal - Put in plenty of effort to get forward and support the attack. He was keen to close the space and try and pen Juve in but did not provide enough of an influence when in possession of the ball.

Victor Wanyama - Played at the heart of defence and did well to stay tight to Matri until the striker took his chance to net the opener, though that was not directly his fault. He was then withdrawn at half-time.

Georgios Samaras - Occasionally looked dangerous in the wide areas but did not really possess the pace to get at the defence and test them. He put one decent cross in that Hooper should have finished and lacked conviction in the air.

Gary Hooper - The striker looked bereft of confidence up against the robust Juventus defence. He did not have the foresight to gamble for a simple tap in from Samaras' first-half cross and in fact had more of an impact at the other end as he was caught in possession ahead of the first goal.

Substitutions

E. Ambrose - The centre-back had a shocker at Parkhead but was far more solid after he replaced Wanyama at half-time. He should probably have tested Buffon with a free header close to the hour mark.

James Forrest - Came on for Matthews in the 52nd minute but did not make Celtic look any more threatening in the wide areas.

Niouoi Lassad - Replaced Commons in the 73rd minute but did not do enough to get involved in the game.

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Victory over Celtic was not easy, says Matri

The 28-year-old striker opened the scoring for the Old Lady,

but admitted the tie was tougher than the aggregate result suggests.

Mar 6, 2013

Alessandro Matri says Juventus' 2-0 Champions League win over Celtic was not as comfortable as it appeared on the surface.

The striker opened the scoring after 24 minutes, and though the Bianconeri went on to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Fabio Quagliarella wrapping up a 5-0 aggregate win, he contemplated how it could so easily have gone sour.

"It seemed to be an easy game for us but it was not. If we had conceded an early goal it would have been tough for us tonight," Matri said to reporters after the game.

"I scored both in the first leg and tonight, I am happy especially because I could celebrate it in front of our supporters.

"I still feel hungry for more, of course I would like to play every game but it's not possible. I have to do all I can when I am on the pitch."

Paul Pogba agreed with the sentiments of his team-mate and offered his opinion that Antonio Conte's men must expect to be pushed to their limits in every game if they hope to go further in the competition.

“We played very well and are all very happy with the result, as this was a difficult game for us," he said.

"I don’t know how far we can go. We hope to win this Champions League, as we must keep going like this, knowing every game is difficult. We are Juve, so we must win.

"I always have to improve, that's what my coach keeps telling me and this is what I will do. I just want to play and win, that's all.

"The supporters always want me to shoot from long distance because I scored a few goals like that, but that's not easy. The game was not as easy as it seemed tonight."

Juve join fellow qualified outfits Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain in the draw for the quarter-finals on March 15.

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Celtic boss Lennon says star names may move on

The Parkhead boss expresses his pride in his young side as they manage to make their way

into the last 16 of the Champions League before falling to defeat against Juventus.

Mar 6, 2013

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has admitted he made have to sell some of his star players who helped the SPL leader to the last 16 of the Champions League.

After watching his side crash out at the hands of Italian side Juventus, Lennon knows that sides will be looking to swoop in on players such as Victor Wanyama, and admitted that some may want to move.

"We'll see in the summer how many players want to progress elsewhere," he told Sky Sports. "It's a progression for us, we want to bring in younger players, develop them and sell them on, that strategy has worked well for us."

The 41-year-old former Hoops skipper admitted that there was a gulf in class between his side and Juventus that was reflected in the 5-0 aggregate scoreline

"I think quality counts at the end of the day and our finishing at times let us down. Our build up play was very good and just our execution, Ambrose had a great chance just after half-time that would have made it 1-1 and who knows what would have happened.

"In the final third we had some good play, Samaras has flashed one across the goal and you're expecting Gary Hooper to finish and [Gianluigi] Buffon's made a superb save from a deflected shot, but on the night class tells in the end and I think that told over the two games.

"I hope my team have learnt a lot, I hope they move on with their careers and they've done the club very proud and I'm proud to be a manager here in this fantastic stadium.

"I hope these young guys blossom from this experience, but last 16 is cutthroat and Juventus were clinical over the two games."

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Barcelona games were the highlight, says Samaras

Celtic striker hopes his side can make it back into the Champions League next season

after reaching the last 16 before falling at the hands of Italian giants Juventus.

Mar 6, 2013

Celtic striker Georgios Samaras put the two fixtures against Barcelona as his highlights of the SPL leaders Champions League campaign as they bowed out at the last 16 stage.

The Glasgow giants fell at the hands of Juventus, who claimed a comfortable 5-0 aggregate win, after goals from Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella saw the Italian side through to the quarter-finals.

"I don't want to say about me, it's all about the team and teamwork, we tried really hard together to be a successful team," Samaras told Sky Sports.

"I think the highlight of this journey has been the two games against Barcelona, I think the way we played, the heart we showed was something amazing."

Samaras also stated that the Juventus games were a good experience for the younger players in the team, and that they will learn from it and come back a better team.

"I will not say it was tough," he added. "But it was a great experience for the lads in the team. We're a young team with a lot of talent and that’s experience.

"I think it was a great journey, everyone in the club, the players, the coaching staff and the supporters all enjoyed it from the first second to the last minute, now hopefully next year we'll be back in the Champions League.

"Playing against a great team in the round of 16, it's a big thing for us, we tried to play attacking, pressing them high like in the last game, we had a couple of chances and could have had a goal in the first half."

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Matri: 'It only looked easy'

Mar 6, 2013

“Tonight it only seemed easy, but if we had conceded early then it would’ve got ugly. We interpreted it in the right way and struck at the right moments,” he told Mediaset after a 2-0 win.

Both Matri and Fabio Quagliarella were on target to secure the 5-0 aggregate victory.

“Quagliarella brings me luck and we played well over the summer too. We both did well, as did the whole team, both attacking and defending. The goals were the right reward for our efforts.

“When I play, I want to prove that I deserve to play.”

Now that Juve are six points clear at the top of the Serie A table and have notched up five consecutive Champions League victories, some papers are talking about the possibility of The Double.

“We know the newspapers like to exaggerate. We know our primary objective is the Scudetto, while there is also this European dream to chase,” continued Matri.

“I dedicate the goal to my family, who during the toughest moments stayed closest to me.”

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Pogba: 'Juve can win Champions League'

Mar 6, 2013

Paul Pogba expressed his joy at playing for Juventus and admits they “hope to win this Champions League.”

The Bianconeri pushed past Celtic 5-0 on aggregate and have now won their last five European games without conceding to reach the quarter-finals.

“We played very well and are all very happy with the result, as this was a difficult game for us,” he said of the 2-0 win in Turin.

“The whole team and staff have confidence in me. I am happy, as I came to Juve to play and the Coach has trust in me too.

“I don’t know how far we can go. We hope to win this Champions League, as we must keep going like this, knowing every game is difficult. We are Juve, so we must win.”

Whenever Pogba went into the final third, the crowd as one would shout ‘Tira!’ (Shoot!)

“The fans always urge me to shoot, but I didn’t do it tonight. The most important thing was the victory.”

There were reports that agent Mino Raiola was in negotiations with Juventus yesterday to discuss a contract extension.

“No, there have been no contract talks.”

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Lennon: 'Juve class tells'

Mar 6, 2013

Celtic manager Neil Lennon confessed the big difference with Juventus was “quality and class” after a 5-0 aggregate defeat.

The Hoops created numerous chances in both legs, but failed to get the better of Gigi Buffon.

“Quality counts at the end of the day. Our build up play was good but our finishing let us down. If it was 1-1, who knows what would have happened,” he said of the 2-0 defeat in Turin, 5-0 on aggregate.

“On the night, was it a fair result? Class tells in the end. I hope the players have learned a lot and move on with their careers. I am very proud to be manager in this arena, and hope the young guys blossom from this experience.”

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Conte: 'A wonderful dream'

Mar 6, 2013

Antonio Conte concedes he and Juventus lack experience in Europe, so “this Champions League represents a wonderful dream.”

A fifth consecutive victory, beating Celtic 2-0 in Turin, sent them through to the quarter-finals.

The Bianconeri have the second best scoring record in the Champions League and the best defence, as they kept a clean sheet for 495 minutes of football.

“The statistics certainly make us smile, as they show the great journey we are on. This is our first Champions League in many years, while it is the first for me and many of our players,” Coach Conte told Mediaset.

“The Champions League represents a wonderful dream that we earned last season by winning the Scudetto. We got through a really tough group, have qualified for the quarter-finals and we’re very happy.”

Some in Italy are starting to suggest Juve could go for The Double, as they are top of the Serie A standings.

“It’s all very easy with words, but we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground. Without any false modesty, it will be very difficult for us to repeat our success in Serie A, as Europe takes a lot out of the players and their Coach.

“It is our first experience in two major competitions, so we are learning and it is a new challenge for us.

“There are also some strong antagonists in Serie A like Napoli, Lazio and Milan. It won’t be easy, but the important thing is we are building something special at Juventus.

“Whether we achieve our objectives or not, we are building something here and we should be satisfied.”

Juventus had won the first leg 3-0 at Parkhead, but Conte insisted he was nowhere near confident.

“At half-time I told the lads not to keep going so deep on the flanks. In all honesty, if you ask me whether I was relaxed before kick-off, then I’d say no. it’s not easy to face this type of game, even with a 3-0 first leg lead.

“I and many of the players do not have much experience of two-legged ties, so we had to take each game as a lone event. We had to be wary early on and avoid conceding free kicks as they are so strong in the air, as a goal could’ve introduced some fear into the team.

“We had prepared the game to take advantage of spaces when going two against two with their defenders.”

Juventus are in the quarter-finals, where they could face the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.

“I believe in fate when it comes to this sort of thing, so we’ll see what the draw has for us. These fixtures come during some crucial moments in the Serie A calendar, so I have asked every player to train at their best, because we will need everyone.”

Conte had been critical of supporters in the Juventus Stadium last week, claiming they didn’t make enough noise and watched a game ‘as if they were at the theatre.’

“I want to thank the fans for their efforts tonight and compliment the Scottish supporters. To see them singing like that when 5-0 down on aggregate is truly something extraordinary. They deserved the applause of the whole stadium.”

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Buffon: 'How far Juve have come'

Mar 6, 2013

Gigi Buffon reveals the key to his focus against Celtic and looks back over how far Juventus have come in 15 months.

“It was a wonderful evening and I was happy the team played as a unit, especially early on when we were under pressure,” the goalkeeper told Mediaset after a 2-0 victory.

“We cared a great deal about this match, as we are still unbeaten in the Champions League and wanted to keep the clean sheets going too, so there was a lot riding on it.

“Many times I have to answer questions like ‘how can you not get bored’ or ‘you only had one save to make,’ but that’s the toughest part is keeping concentrated for 90 minutes.

“Also, nobody gives credit to passes and catches, as they only notice them when they go wrong! It’s my way of giving the team confidence and of course of keeping myself in the game.

“At this stage of my career, I don’t want any regrets, so it is my duty at my age to keep my teammates focused and give advice.”

Juventus are through to the Champions League quarter-finals and emerging as dark horses after five straight wins.

“It feels great to be back in the quarter-finals, especially as we couldn’t have expected this 15 months ago. When you work hard, believe in what you do and dream, then sport can reward you,” continued Buffon.

“If we think that 15 months ago we finished seventh for the second year running, but now we have won the Scudetto, Super Cup and are in the top eight in Europe, we’ve come a long way. We earned all that with hard work and dedication.

“We know there are three or four teams stronger than us, but we do have some certainties to rely on and can trouble even the most fearsome opponent.

“The important thing this year was for Juve to win back the respect of other teams and I’d say we achieved that.”

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Bonucci still dreaming of Wembley

Mar 7, 2013

Leonardo Bonucci is dreaming of hoisting the European Cup into the Wembley sky after Juventus qualified for the last eight of the Champions League.

Having won the first leg of their last 16 tie 3-0 at Celtic, the Old Lady finished the job in Turin on Wednesday with a 2-0 win.

“The dream continues,” the 25-year-old noted after the Italian champions kept their fifth consecutive clean sheet in the competition.

“Anything’s possible when you get to this stage, you just need a bit of luck to go all the way.”

Juventus will learn the name of their opponents in the next round when the draw is made in Nyon on March 15.

“There’s little difference between the sides now,” the Italian international added. “They’re all very strong.”

With qualification wrapped up, Juventus will now switch their attention back to the Serie A race.

“Catania are next up and we can’t allow ourselves to be distracted,” he stated ahead of Sunday’s Juventus Stadium encounter.

“We’ve got a six-point lead in the League, but last year we were seven behind and then managed to win the Scudetto.

“So we’ll go on with a humble and focused approach against a team who are enjoying a great season.”

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Quagliarella: I want Juventus

Mar 7, 2013

Fabio Quagliarella has underlined how happy he is to be playing Champions League football with Juventus.

The player’s future is in some doubt given that he isn’t guaranteed first team football in Turin, but he marked his return to the side last night with a goal in the 2-0 win over Celtic.

“I want to underline that I have never turned down offers from other clubs because I have never considered leaving Juventus,” he stated.

“The Champions League represents a dream for me. I’d always watched the competition on television before, but to be a part of it is unique.

“I’m happy with my performances and I’m always at the disposal of the Coach. I’m ready when I’m needed.

“It was a great game against Celtic,” he added. “I scored one and created the other. I’m really happy.”

Quagliarella is Juventus’ top scorer this season with 11 goals in 22 matches.

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Mulgrew: Juve won fair and square

Mar 7, 2013

Charlie Mulgrew has admitted that Celtic were beaten by the better side after being knocked out of the Champions League by Juventus.

The Scottish champions lost 2-0 to the Bianconeri on Tuesday evening, going down 5-0 on aggregate in the last 16 clash.

And the 27-year-old has conceded that Antonio Conte's team were deserved winners.

“Juventus are a great team,” he told uefa.com. “They have a great attack and a very solid defence.

“There is no doubting their quality. I wish them all the best for the rest of the competition.

“Juventus won fair and square, but we are disappointed with the result.

“Our mistakes were punished. You have to give them credit.”

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

I was not sorry to see Man United lose, claims Pogba

The France starlet took a swipe at his former employers after helping to guide Juventus

to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 5-0 aggregate win.

Mar 7, 2013

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba says he was not disappointed to see Manchester United lose to Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The Red Devils were edged out 3-2 on aggregate by Jose Mourinho's side after a controversial Nani red card led to a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford, and Pogba rubbed further salt into the wound by suggesting he was not sorry to see them depart the competition.

"Did I watch Manchester United yesterday? Of course I did. Was I sorry to see them lose to Real? No," he told reporters at Juventus Stadium.

A goal apiece from Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella saw the Bianconeri overcome Celtic and book their place in the last eight of the tournament, and Pogba insisted his side are aiming to go all the way this season.

"We are pleased. It was a very difficult game and we played the right way," the 19-year-old went on. "There is a great confidence within the team and the staff, and we will try to win the Champions League because we are Juve.

"I know the fans always expect me to score, but today it didn't matter because the most important thing was to win. The game was not as easy as it seemed tonight.

"I just want to play and win, that's all. The coach believes in me, and I'm glad I came here to play."

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Last 16 - 6-3-2013 (8:45 p.m.)

................

JUVENTUS 2 - 0 CELTIC

Alessandro Matri (24′)

Fabio Quagliarella (65′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Firay Aydinus (Turkey)

Attendance: 39011

Buffon: Tactical awareness Juventus' biggest strength

The experienced goalkeeper has voiced his delight with the Bianconeri's performance,

and believes they need a bit of luck if they are to win the competition.

Mar 7, 2013

Gianluigi Buffon has hailed Juventus' tactical awareness in the wake of their Champions League round of 16 victory over Celtic.

The Turin side beat Celtic 2-0 on Wednesday to book their ticket to the quarter-finals of the competition after previously beating the Scottish champions 3-0 in the first leg, and Buffon was delighted with Juve's performance over 180 minutes.

"Our strength is having a tactical awareness and level that we didn’t have before. This allows us to go anywhere and play our game. You can win or lose, but in the toughest moments, the group has an extra weapon to call on: our playing style," Buffon was quoted as saying on the club's official website.

"We always look to impose our style of play but in previous Champions League campaigns we may have relied too heavily on individuals. But by sticking to game plan, you actually allow players to shine even more."

"We are into the last eight which is no mean feat when you think that that just 15 months ago we finished seventh in Serie A for the second year in a row."

The shot stopper then went on to stress that Juventus need a bit of fortune if they are to win the Champions League this term.

"You need a lot of luck to go all the way - just look at this week’s Manchester United-Real Madrid game, where one incident allowed the Spaniards to progress."

The draw for the quarter-finals takes place in Nyon on March 15.

[Socrates 8329]

Juventus edge closer to Manchester United's

all-time unbeaten run record in Europe

The Bianconeri's 2-0 win over Celtic sent them into the last eight of the Champions League

and continued a streak which is edging them ever closer to the record books.

Mar 7, 2013

By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Writer

It was a case of mission accomplished for Juventus as they avoided an embarrassing turnaround against Celtic in the Champions League round of 16, backing up their 3-0 first-leg victory with a 2-0 win in Turin on Wednesday night.

The second-leg triumph not only saw them safely reach the quarter-finals but also extended the Bianconeri’s unbeaten run in European competition to 18 games. Antonio Conte’s side have yet to taste defeat in this season’s Champions League, and also had a 10-match European streak carried over from Luigi Del Neri’s days in charge.

Del Neri’s one and only season in charge in Turin began as early as July 29, with the Old Lady’s seventh-place Serie A finish in 2010-11 forcing them to begin their Europa League campaign in the third qualifying round. Two-leg victories over Shamrock Rovers and Sturm Graz saw them claim a place in the competition proper with something to spare, but they would go on to chalk up a run of six straight draws which would prove insufficient to progress to the knock-out stage.

18 NOT OUT | Juve's unbeaten streak

EUROPA LEAGUE 2010-11

• Shamrock Rovers (a) W 2-0

• Shamrock Rovers ( H) W 1-0

• Sturm Graz (a) W 2-1

• Sturm Graz ( H) W 1-0

• Lech Poznan ( H) D 3-3

• Manchester City (a) D 1-1

• Red Bull Salzburg (a) D 1-1

• Red Bull Salzburg ( H) D 0-0

• Lech Poznan (a) D 1-1

• Manchester City ( H) D 1-1

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2012-13

• Chelsea (a) D 2-2

• Shakhtar Donetsk ( H) D 1-1

• Nordsjaelland (a) D 1-1

• Nordsjaelland ( H) W 4-0

• Chelsea ( H) W 3-1

• Shakhtar Donetsk (a) W 1-0

• Celtic (a) W 3-1

• Celtic ( H) W 2-0

Home-and-away clashes with Lech Poznan, Manchester City and Red Bull Salzburg saw the Old Lady earn only six points, with the matches against Poznan of particular note. Juve had to battle back from 2-0 down in the home fixture on Matchday 1, but after Giorgio Chiellini had struck twice and Alessandro Del Piero put Juve ahead, Artjoms Rudnevs hit a 92nd-minute leveller to complete an impressive hat-trick. The trip to Poland in December then caused a stir as the game took place in temperatures pushing minus 20 degrees, with Vincenzo Iaquinta grabbing a late equaliser.

After a season out of Europe last term, the Old Lady continued their strange fascination with drawn games in the early part of their Champions League run this term. They shared the points with Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk and, shockingly, Danish minnows Nordsjaelland, leaving them on the verge of elimination. However, a 4-0 victory over the group outsiders was followed by a storming 3-0 win at home to Chelsea, and the comeback was completed with a 1-0 triumph in Ukraine in December.

And with their two-legged success over Celtic, the Bianconeri are now on a run of five straight wins, taking their total to nine victories and nine draws in their past 18 European fixtures. It puts them among an elite group to have recorded such a streak in the history of European club competition, although they still have seven games to go to match the record of Manchester United. The Red Devils were unbeaten right through their triumphant 2007-08 Champions League campaign and then didn't suffer a loss until the final of the following year, going down 2-0 to Barcelona at the Olimpico in Rome.

Interestingly, this is not Juventus’ longest unbeaten run in Europe, with their Fairs Cup run of the early seventies stretching to 20 matches. Despite that excellent record, the Bianconeri didn’t actually pick up any silverware during that spell, with an away goals loss to Leeds United in the 1971 final denying them glory.

Club history could be rewritten before this season is out, and while Conte will ensure that his side are focused on the task at hand, if the quarter-final draw is favourable to Juve, then they could well be chasing twin goals in the remainder of their European campaign.

[Socrates 8329]

Legrottaglie backs Euro Juve

Mar 8, 2013

Juventus can reach the Champions League Final this season, former stopper Nicola Legrottaglie has underlined.

The Catania man, during an interview with Tutto Juve, was left impressed with the way the Bianconeri saw off Celtic in midweek.

“They can get to the Final at the very least,” the 36-year-old commented. “They have the capacity to do that. I actually get the sense that this could be their year.

“I see great balance in the Champions League this season and I don’t see any impossible sides to face.

“If Juventus truly believe then they can go all the way because I don’t think there are any sides who are clearly better than anyone else.”

The Bianconeri will find out the identity of their last eight opponents when the draw takes place on March 15.

Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain also came through their last 16 ties earlier this week.

[Socrates 8329]

Juve as good as Bayern and Real

Mar 8, 2013

Juventus have as a good a chance as Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in winning the Champions League this season.

That is according to Pietro Vierchowod, the former defender who won the European Cup with the Old Lady in 1996.

“This team can go a long way,” the ex-Sampdoria and Milan man told Tutto Juve. “They have great potential and there are no unbeatable sides in Europe.

“Juve can compete with Bayern Munich or Real Madrid, the two prime candidates to win the tournament.”

The Turin giants booked their place in the last eight of the Champions League with a 5-0 aggregate win over Celtic.

“Celtic are not a great side, that is true, but Juve eliminated them without conceding a goal in 180 minutes,” Vierchowod continued.

“Boss Antonio Conte has taken them to the highest levels and he can get them to the level of our side in 1996.

“A club like Juventus should have more European Cups than they do right now. Perhaps now is the time to win it again.”

Juve have twice been crowned champions of Europe – in 1985 when they beat Liverpool and in 1996 when they defeat Ajax on penalties.

[Socrates 8329]

Platini: 'Juve can win Champions League'

Mar 8, 2013

UEFA President Michel Platini admits he would “like to hand the Champions League trophy to Juventus” and believes Milan can knock Barcelona out.

The former Juve star spoke to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport and cast his eye over the current competition.

“Who will win the Champions League? If I say that I’d like to hand the trophy to Juventus, then someone will get annoyed,” smiled Platini.

“I saw two great German teams, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. I include Juve in the list of potentials, as they are so strong and I love their national identity. At times they play with nine Italians, which is so rare nowadays.

“L’Avvocato would’ve loved this team too, as he would not have enjoyed this sport with a thousand foreigners who come and go.”

L’Avvocato is the nickname used for former Juve President Gianni Agnelli, who was at the helm during Platini’s Turin stay.

“Can Juve win it? If Barcelona go out, then the Champions League is wide open,” continued the UEFA President.

“It is not easy to come back from a 2-0 first leg defeat, even for Barcelona. That’s what makes football great, the fact Milan can sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, have Mario Balotelli cup-tied and then beat Barcelona 2-0.

“If you’re Chelsea with tons of money, you can still lose in the Europa League to Steaua Bucharest. If you are Manchester United then you can concede two goals in 10 minutes. Just having a man sent off does not justify it.

“My Juve, Ajax and Bayern used to have three Finals in a row. Now every year it is different for the Champions League.”

[Socrates 8329]

Juventus want to avoid Bayern, says Lichtsteiner

The Turin giants booked their ticket for the Champions League last eight by beating

Celtic and the Swiss would rather not meet the Bundesliga leaders in the next round.

Mar 8, 2013

Stephan Lichtsteiner hopes that Juventus will not be paired with Bayern Munich in Friday's draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Bavarians recorded a 3-1 win in the first leg of their round of 16 tie against Arsenal, and the 29-year-old has little doubt they will progress to the next round when they host the Gunners on Wednesday.

"Who to avoid? I’d say Bayern," the Switzerland international told Sky Sport Italia.

"They’re extremely strong and, after the two finals lost in recent years, they’ll be hungry for revenge.

"We’ll now be facing the top sides and we’ll see how far we’re able to go. Of course it’s difficult, but we’re ready and can give it a go against anyone.

"We’ll need a bit of luck, but we've got our style of play going for us. Conte has made the difference, returning us to the top first in Italy and then in Europe."

Juventus are currently preparing for the Serie A match against Catania.

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A Week 28 - 10-3-2013 (3:00 p.m.)

-

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro

Catania will cause Juventus problems, says Padoin

The former Atalanta man has insisted that this weekend's clash

should be taken seriously as the Etnei will pose a stern test.

Mar 8, 2013

Juventus midfielder Simone Padoin is eagerly anticipating Sunday's Serie A match at home against Catania and has warned that the Old Lady cannot afford to take the Sicilians lightly.

Catania came close to beating Inter last weekend as they went two goals up before eventually losing 3-2, and Padoin believes they could cause Juve problems as well.

"They’re the revelation of the season. Last Sunday, they were beating Inter comfortably before a lapse in concentration cost them victory," Padoin told Juventus Channel.

"We also witnessed how good they are during the reverse fixture, it’s a compact and tightly-knit unit. They will cause us problems and it’ll be a tough match."

The midfielder also briefly discussed the upcoming Champions League draw, and stated that he would not mind meeting Real Madrid in the next round.

"Now we’ll see who we get in the next round. Real Madrid are the strongest team left in the competition, but it would be amazing to play against them."

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

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A Week 28 - 10-3-2013 (3:00 p.m.)

-

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro

Conte: 'I'm committed to Juve'

Mar 9, 2013

Antonio Conte believes the Scudetto race is still very open, that tomorrow they’ll face “Real Catania” and assures he is staying with Juventus despite foreign interest.

The Coach sat down for his Press conference this morning and was not resting on his laurels. Click here for a Juventus-Catania match preview.

“The Serie A race is still very open. The fact we and hopefully also Milan are in the Champions League quarter-finals can further encourage those chasing us in Serie A. Many of them deep down believe in a comeback,” said Conte.

“Now Milan are eight points behind us, though we still have to play this weekend and there is the head-to-head still to come.

“Last season when everyone said we had an advantage in not playing in Europe, I replied I’d have preferred to be tired if it meant being in the Champions League. It’s true cup competitions take away precious energy, but they increase confidence, belief and awareness of our own capabilities.

“Tomorrow we are taking on ‘Real Catania.’ We’ve got to face this game with the right attitude, because they are the revelation of the season. I hope the stadium will be packed to cheer us on and also celebrate our passage into the Champions League quarter-finals.

“Dropping points at this stage of the season could be lethal, so we have to be on our game.”

Conte has been repeatedly linked with some of the biggest jobs in European football, such as Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG.

“There is absolutely no chance of me leaving Juventus at the end of the season,” he declared. “It’s very pleasing to hear big European clubs appreciate you, but the praise is there for the players and Juventus overall.

“This means we are all working well together and should be proud. I am very much in sync with the President, directors Beppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici. As long as this harmony exists, there will be no problem.

“Do I feel ready for a big European club? I am already at a big European club,” he replied to journalists.

“We have just started this journey that is proceeding in stages, understanding the huge economic difficulties in Italy at the moment.

“Last year the President had faith in a Coach who had only earned two promotions from Serie B. I will always be grateful to him for that. We need to keep our feet on the ground, as the more I hear media talk of winning the Champions League and dominating the Scudetto race, I ask how long has it been since Juve finished seventh for two years in a row?

“We do not have huge economic resources, so our growth will be slower and there’s no point talking about objectives that are beyond our reach. In Europe, the economic gap with the bigger clubs is insurmountable.

“I just hope the enthusiasm of last year doesn’t dissipate quickly, as people must not forget the extraordinary work. If success is considered routine, then it’s a big problem and would change many things.”

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

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A Week 28 - 10-3-2013 (3:00 p.m.)

-

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro

Conte: Dropping points could be lethal for Juve

The successful coach has insisted that the Old Lady must remain focused,

and has set his sights on victory against Catania on Sunday.

Mar 9, 2013

Antonio Conte has stressed that Juventus cannot afford to drop any points in the race for the Serie A title with Napoli and AC Milan ready to take advantage of any slip-ups.

The Bianconeri currently hold a comfortable six-point lead over second-placed Napoli, but the former Siena boss has made it clear that they cannot afford to lose focus ahead of Sunday's match versus Catania.

"All the games we play from now until the end of the season will represent finals as far as we’re concerned, dropping points could be lethal," he said at a press conference.

"Catania are doing extremely well this year. It’s an extremely tough game that needs to be faced with the right attitude, attention and determination.

"We’ll also need our supporters to urge us on. I hope to see a full house at Juventus Stadium to celebrate our qualification to the [Champions League] quarter-finals and, hopefully, witness a great performance and victory."

Sunday's match in Turin is scheduled to kick off at 15:00CET.

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

[Socrates 8329]

Serie A Week 28 - 10-3-2013 (3:00 p.m.)

-

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Antonio Giannoccaro

Juventus-Catania Preview: The Bianconeri

closing in on second successive Scudetto

Antonio Conte's men are firmly in control of Serie A having secured a precious point

at Napoli last week, and will be targeting three points when the Sicilians come to town.

Mar 9, 2013

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

JUVENTUS

Buffon

Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini

Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah

Vucinic, Giovinco

CATANIA

Andujar

Bellusci, Spolli, Rolin,

Alvarez, Izco, Lodi, Almiron, Marchese,

Castro, Gomez

Juventus return to domestic league action against Catania after booking their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League following a comfortable 2-0 victory (5-0 agg) over Celtic.

The Bianconeri will be able to field a pretty much full-strength team against the Sicilians with the exception of Arturo Vidal, who is suspended following his booking last week against Napoli, meaning Paul Pogba will continue in midfield.

Mirko Vucinic and Sebastian Giovinco are likely to return the starting XI, even though Fabio Quagliarella and Alessandro Matri played against the Hoops.

However, Conte will be without Martin Caceres, Paolo De Ceglie, Nicolas Anelka, Simone Pepe and Nicklas Bendtner.

Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, De Ceglie and Matri are one booking away from a suspension.

Meanwhile, for the visitors, Rolando Maran takes his eight-placed side to Juventus Stadium on the back of a 3-2 defeat to Inter.

Defender Ciro Capuano, midfielder Pablo Barrientos and striker Gonzalo Bergessio are unavailable. Centre-back Nicola Legrottaglie is suspended.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Juventus have only been beaten at home twice in 14 league encounters this season. Inter and Sampdoria are the two sides to take full points off them.

• The Bianconeri have lost one of the last 20 games against the Sicilians, in Turin in December 2009. Mariano Izco scored the winner in a 2-1 victory.

• Antonio Conte's men are undefeated in their last seven matches against the visitors.

• Catania, who are in contention for a European spot, have a very strong home record but they have recorded just three times on the road.

• Gonzalo Bergessio, who is the club's top scorer in Serie A this season with eight goals, has been ruled out of the clash. Alejandro Gomez (5) will have the goalscoring burden on him.

• The Sicilians were beaten 1-0 the last time these two sides met, but the match was not without its controversy, with Catania aggrieved to have a legitimate goal ruled out for offside. Arturo Vidal went on to secure the three points from the penalty spot.

Head to Head

Serie A ‎- Oct 28, 2012 - Catania 0 - Juventus 1

Serie A ‎- Feb 18, 2012 - Juventus 3 - Catania 1

Serie A ‎- Sep 25, 2011 - Catania 1 - Juventus 1

Serie A ‎- Apr 23, 2011 - Juventus 2 - Catania 2

Last Four Matches

Juventus

Mar 6, 2013 - Juventus 2 - Celtic 0 - UCL

Mar 1, 2013 - SSC Napoli 1 - Juventus 1 - Serie A

Feb 24, 2013 - Juventus 3 - Siena 0 - Serie A

Feb 16, 2013 - Roma 1 - Juventus 0 - Serie A

Catania

Mar 3, 2013 - Catania 2 - FC Internazionale 3 - Serie A

Feb 24, 2013 - Parma 1 - Catania 2 - Serie A

Feb 17, 2013 - Catania 1 - Bologna 0 - Serie A

Feb 10, 2013 - Atalanta 0 - Catania 0 - Serie A

Players to Watch

Mirko Vučinić

Was given a rest midweek as Juventus comfortably saw off Celtic to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, so will be fresh and raring to go here. Not only is he strong and technically better to most who share the same turf as him, but the Montenegrin also has the ability to bring others around him into play, which largely goes unnoticed. A key component of the Juventus attacking line and will cause a few problems against the Catania defence.

Alejandro Gómez

With Gonzalo Bergessio ruled out for this match the onus is on diminutive Argentine attacker to find the back of the net. A tricky winger, whose direct running and pace will give Stephan Lichtsteiner something to think about. The Juventus defence will also have to be aware of his runs off the ball and his tendency to cut in from the left and fire a shot with his favoured right foot.

Prediction

Catania will still be reeling after they were robbed of at least a point when the sides met back earlier in the season, and this may gave them added incentive to nick something here, but if their form away from home is anything to go by and if the Bianconeri can continue their strong form at Juventus Stadium, then all signs point to a comfortable win for Conte's men.

Editor's Prediction

Juventus 2 - 0 Catania

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