Juventus Season 2013-2014

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli

Pogba: Must win match

Apr 18, 2014

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has labelled the Old Lady’s match against Bologna tomorrow as must win.

The Bianconeri lead Roma by eight points in the race for the Scudetto but the Frenchman does not want to give the Giallorossi any encouragement.

“For us the match against Bologna is extremely important,” Pogba told JTV today. “We really want this Scudetto.

“We absolutely must win, we cannot think of doing anything else. We want to give our all out on the pitch.

“Roma are breathing down our necks, they are waiting for us to slip up.

“We have prepared well for this match and we will do everything we can to win and make our fans happy.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli

Di Vaio: How to beat Juve

Apr 18, 2014

Marco Di Vaio believes Bologna will have to play an almost perfect match if they are to beat Juventus tomorrow.

The Italian forward, who currently plays for MLS side Montreal Impact, enjoyed spells at both the Rossoblu and the Old Lady during his time in Serie A.

“How do you beat Juve? By playing a match of extreme attention and concentration from the first to the last minute,” Di Vaio told Zerocinquantuno.it.

“They must not concede anything, or at least the minimum possible.

“They will also need some courage though, because just putting up the barricades won’t be enough.

“The boys will need to try to hit Juve on the break or take advantage of a set piece.

“Even if they only get a half chance they cannot afford to let it go to waste.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli

MATCH PREVIEW

Apr 18, 2014

Juventus are just three wins away from claiming the Scudetto, while opponents Bologna are still to confirm their Serie A status.

A comfortable 2-0 win over Udinese took Antonio Conte’s men ever closer to the crown. Sebastian Giovinco opened the scoring, before Fernando Llorente sealed the win. With Juve taking the field after Roma in recent weeks, they’ve had to respond to Giallorossi pressure, but have done so in convincing fashion.

Conte refuses to look past Bologna. With just nine points required, the tactician is aware that should Juventus do the business in the next three matches then the penultimate round showdown in the capital will mean little.

He has a number of selection decisions. Andrea Barzagli is battling to be fit for the Easter clash, but Leonardo Bonucci and Stephan Lichtsteiner are suspended. Simone Pepe remains sidelined, while Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez are likely to sit on the bench.

Bologna are on course to survive the drop, three points clear in 17th. They have battled to consecutive draws against European contenders in recent weeks. Following a point against Inter, the Rossoblu took the lead against Parma through Nicolo Cherubin, only for Raffaele Palladino to ensure a share of the spoils.

It’s the spirit Davide Ballardini wanted to see, but got little of beforehand. Just one win in eight ahead of the Inter game saw Bologna in trouble, but they go to Turin with greater confidence. Yet it will take an immense effort to stop a team that has won all 16 home matches, especially considering the Felsinei have won just twice on the road.

Francesco Della Rocca’s season is over, while Rene Krhin and Jose Angel Crespo will not make the trip due to injury.

The two have met 67 times in Turin, with Juventus winning 37 times compared to the Rossoblu’s five. Last term it ended in a 2-1 result thanks to Paul Pogba’s last-gasp winner.

Keep an eye on: Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus) – With Carlos Tevez sidelined in Udine, the Atomic Ant rewarded Antonio Conte with a goal and fine performance. Giovinco has responded to fan criticism to put in good displays when called upon and will look to continue his positive spell.

Form guide: Juventus (W W L W W) Bologna (W L L D D)

Last season: Juventus 2-1 Bologna

Stat fact: Rossoblu midfielder Michele Pazienza made nine appearances for Juventus in 2011-12, but left in January for Udinese, before joining Bologna that summer.


JUVENTUS (probable): Buffon; Caceres, Ogbonna, Chiellini; Isla, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Llorente, Giovinco

BOLOGNA (probable): Curci; Antonsson, Natali, Cherubin; Garics, Friberg, Pazienza, Christodoulopoulos, Morleo; Kone; Cristaldo

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli

Juventus News – Bologna Updates, Lightning Round!

Apr 18, 2014

Another week, another hero pulls Juve through.

True, the collective mentality has never left the Bianconeri. If anything, Antonio Conte’s team philosophy and tactical drilling have pulled Juve through even the most exhausting stretches of this very exhausting season.

But in recent months, Juventus have relied on a hustle play or moment of brilliance from individual players to nail results: Fernando Llorente’s scrappy strikes, Leo Bonucci’s hustle play in Lyon, so many Andrea Pirlo free kicks. Monday was no different.

Juve’s latest hero was Sebastian Giovinco, whose spectacular curling shot from just inside the penalty area (and from a tough angle) not only broke Udinese early but cemented the fact that our Atomic Ant is in sustained good form for the first time all year. He’s put in several good performances in a row, constantly creating offensive opportunities in the absence of Arturo Vidal’s marauding runs and compensating for the recent goal-shyness of Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba.

Thanks to solo turns from the likes of Seba, the Bianconeri are steadily staving off Roma for the Scudetto with only five games left in the campionato. Plus, Juve have already exceeded last year’s points total and are still on track to break the 100-point barrier (scientists say when it’s broken, Fabio Capello starts weeping uncontrollably).

Another opportunity to further the cause arrives on Saturday with Bologna’s visit to Turin. Struggling against the drop, the Rossoblu are desperate for points — but hopefully not as desperate as the Bianconeri are to mathematically seal a third straight championship.

A blow against Bologna is a blow against Roma. Andiamo!

Bologna Updates: Lichtsteiner and Bonucci Suspended, Giovinco-Llorente to Start

The Udinese match was a relatively routine affair — with two exceptions.

Leonardo Bonucci and Stephan Lichtsteiner were both served telltale yellow cards for behavior seemingly unrelated to anything taking place on the pitch — Bonucci never even played in the match.

Leo was booked during the celebration of Sebastian Giovinco’s goal for getting into a “row with someone from the Udinese bench,” as Football Italia put it. Then the Swiss Express was ironically booked for taking a majestically long time to leave the pitch when substituted.

Strange, testy behavior atypical of an Antonio Conte squad, but the upshot is that both will be suspended for Bologna.

In defense, with Andrea Barzagli rejoining the squad for training but probably unfit to start, Conte will have to stick with Monday’s back line of Martin Caceres, Angelo Ogbonna and Giorgio Chiellini shielding Gigi Buffon.

On the flanks, Lichtsteiner (who is really mixing it up with officials these days) will be replaced by Mauricio Isla on the right, with Kwadwo Asamoah likely to stay on the left. Federico Peluso should be fit to play, but probably not from kickoff.

In the midfield, Arturo Vidal is still doubtful as he struggles to recover from the knock to his knee. Conte will likely save him for Benfica, if he’s fit to play at all. That means Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio will man the central midfield once again. Simone Padoin is always available, and if Conte wants to give one of those three a rest, this would be the match to do so.

In attack, Carlos Tevez is reportedly inching towards full health, but Conte is leaning towards resting him for Benfica. Moreover, at this point it makes sense to keep playing Sebastian Giovinco, who is finally stringing together (and finally being allowed to string together) a few great performances in a row. Partnering Giovinco should be Fernando Llorente, who has discovered his scoring habit after a short drought.

It remains to be seen whether Tevez will be on the bench (probably), but behind the starting pair there’s always Mirko Vucinic, Dani Osvaldo and Fabio Quagliarella, in updated order of importance to Conte.

There’s no specific sense of occasion for this one — which as we know can make a match like this all the more dangerous.

Bologna are fighting relegation, which means every move will be a desperate one. But perhaps more worrying is Juve’s recent tendency to do just enough to win when playing against inferior sides or when tired from a packed schedule — and both conditions apply here.

But even if Juve have never lacked for motivation even during the worst stretches of this season, they’d do well to focus on one goal: Making next month’s trip to the Stadio Olimpico completely meaningless.

It’s much more advisable to tactically prepare for Bologna, but take the pitch with an eye toward keeping Roma at least eight points away from a Scudetto upset.

FINO ALLA FINE, FORZA JUVE!!!


Brand-New Ref for Bologna!

Welcome to the Ju-niverse, Piero Giacomelli of Trieste!

Giacomelli will referee his first official Bianconeri match this Saturday at Juventus Stadium.

According to Juventus.com, Piero’s been in Serie A circulation since 2011 and has held the whistle for three previous Bologna matches, but he is a complete neophyte to all things black and white.

Giacomelli’s linesmen will be Vivenzi and Schenone, with the mysterious Meli as fourth official (sounds like the name of a fortune-teller or magician).

What a pity Piero can’t be screamed at by Lichtsteiner in his Bianconeri debut — it’s just not an authentic experience.

Past Precedents: Leaving it Late vs. Bologna and Easter Weekend Thrillers

During this daunting stretch of the schedule, Juve have typically sought to ice a game before halftime, then “manage” the second half until the result was certified.

But as the official site explains, matches against Bologna often see the opposite trend. Two recent victories and one ancient one were what you would call “scraped”:

"The most recent Juventus v Bologna fixture in November 2012 was decided by a late Paul Pogba header, one of three triumphant winners right at the death of a home clash with the Rossoblu that stand out from previous encounters.

“The fixture was swung the Bianconeri’s way in similarly breathtaking fashion in 2002, when Juve picked up three fundamental points in the Scudetto race at the Delle Alpi thanks to a late Massimo Tarantino own-goal.

“Though there are no survivors from that Bologna squad in today’s group (and the manager at that time was Francesco Guidolin, current Udinese boss), Gigi Buffon and Antonio Conte were both battling on the field for Juventus in the fight for Scudetto number 26.

“Going back to the beginning of the history between the two sides, Juventus’ very first victory over Bologna was also secured in the dying embers.

“It finished 2-1 in 1924 at the Stadio di Corso Marsiglia as it had also done at the Delle Alpi in 2002, Virginio Rosetta netting an emphatic winner just 60 seconds after Pietro Genovesi had equalised Piero Pastore’s Bianconeri opener with 85 minutes gone."

I would be shocked if Saturday’s match follows this pattern, based on Juve’s recent performances, but I would be equally shocked if the match proved to be as exciting as others from past Easter Weekends:

"On 7 April 2012, Juventus were embroiled in a head-to-head battle with Milan at the top of the table. Antonio Conte’s men headed to Palermo in second place, knowing that a win would put them in the Serie A driving seat following Milan’s shock home defeat at the hands of Fiorentina earlier that day.

“Second-half goals from Leonardo Bonucci and Fabio Quagliarella proved the difference at the Stadio Renza Barbera, giving Juventus an advantage that they would refuse to relinquish en route to the club’s 30th Scudetto title.

“A regular fixture of the Easter period has been the meeting with historic rivals Inter, who, in the last 20 years, have been pitted against the Bianconeri on no less than four occasions during the holiday season.

“These four encounters have produced as many victories for the team in the black and white stripes: in 1994, 2001, 2008 and 2013.

“There was also a memorable Derby della Mole encounter contested in the run up to Easter. Almost 20 years ago, on 6 April 1996, Juventus locked horns with inter-city rivals Torino at the Stadio Delle Alpi.

“It wasn’t plain sailing for Marcello Lippi’s men, who were required to battle back from Ruggiero Rizzitelli’s opener just past the half-hour mark. But a second-half revival, led by an inspired Conte in the centre of midfield, yielded an instant Sean Luca Sogliano own goal before Gianluca Vialli sealed all three points with his tenth strike of the season."

Sadly, we won’t see our Easter capocannoniere on the pitch this weekend:

"Setting the benchmark for goalscoring contributions in games played over the Easter weekend is none other than Alessandro Del Piero, who marked his particular fondness for the time of year with eight goals.

“In fact, the striker’s last double for Juventus came right on the stroke of Easter celebrations, with Catania falling victims to his prowess in front of goal on 23 April 2011."

There’s something to be said for holiday heroics and last-minute thrills, but let’s just be content that Juve have no need for resurrection in this campionato.

Let’s just stay the course.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli

Juventus name 22-man squad for Bologna clash

Apr 18, 2014

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has named a 22-man squad for the Bianconeri’s home match against Bologna on Saturday.

Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez have been included in the squad though they are expected to start from the bench.

Andrea Barzagli is back in the squad along with Simone Pepe, while Leonardo Bonucci and Stephan Lichtsteiner are out through suspension.


Goalkeepers: Buffon, Storari, Rubinho

Defenders: Chiellini, Caceres, Ogbonna, Peluso, Barzagli

Midfielders: Pogba, Pepe, Marchisio, Padoin, Pirlo, Asamoah, Vidal, Isla

Forwards: Vucinic, Tevez, Giovinco, Llorente, Osvaldo, Quagliarella

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli

Bologna clash is a must-win
for Juventus, says Pogba

The France international has warned his side cannot afford to give Roma any hope
in the Serie A title race, while Marco Di Vaio has called for courage from the hosts.

Apr 19, 2014

Juventus are facing a must-win encounter against lowly Bologna, according to midfielder Paul Pogba.

The defending Serie A champions welcome relegation candidates Bologna to Juventus Stadium on Saturday, with victory set to put Antonio Conte's men on the cusp of a third consecutive Scudetto title.

But a slip up against the 17th-placed Rossoblu would open the door for title rivals Roma, who are eight points adrift with five games remaining and will host Juventus on May 9.

"For us the match against Bologna is extremely important," Pogba told JTV. "We really want this Scudetto.

"We absolutely must win, we cannot think of doing anything else. We want to give our all out on the pitch.

"Roma are breathing down our necks, they are waiting for us to slip up.

"We have prepared well for this match and we will do everything we can to win and make our fans happy."

Meanwhile, former Italy international Marco Di Vaio says Bologna must be courageous against Conte's side.

Di Vaio, who plies his trade with MLS outfit Montreal Impact, won the Serie A during his two-year spell at Juve, while he also spent four years with Bologna.

"How do you beat Juve? By playing a match of extreme attention and concentration from the first to the last minute," Di Vaio told Zerocinquantuno.it.

"They must not concede anything, or at least the minimum possible.

"They will also need some courage though, because just putting up the barricades won’t be enough.

"The boys will need to try to hit Juve on the break or take advantage of a set piece. Even if they only get a half-chance they cannot afford to let it go to waste."

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli

Barzagli and Pepe comebacks

Apr 19, 2014

Andrea Barzagli and Simone Pepe are back in the Juventus squad for this evening’s game with Bologna.

It kicks off at the Juventus Stadium at 18.30 CET.

Barzagli had been out of action with a calf injury since mid-March, while Pepe has managed just one Serie A appearance between this season and the last due to a recurring thigh tear.

Antonio Conte is forced to reshuffle, as Leonardo Bonucci and Stephan Lichtsteiner are both suspended.

Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez are in the squad, but remain big doubts to feature with fitness problems.


Juventus squad for Bologna: Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres, Ogbonna, Pogba, Pepe, Marchisio, Vucinic, Tevez, Giovinco, Peluso, Llorente, Barzagli, Osvaldo, Padoin, Pirlo, Asamoah, Vidal, Quagliarella, Storari, Isla, Rubinho

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli

Preview: Hosts Juventus hope to move closer to another
Scudetto against relegation-threatened Bologna

The Bianconeri look to maintain their lead over Roma
in the last league game before their Europa League clash with Benfica.

Apr 19, 2014

Although Juventus currently lead Roma by eight points, it is still not enough for La Vecchia Signora to take their foot off the gas in the Scudetto race. Any potential slip-up by the reigning title holders, coupled with a positive result for the Giallorossi and they could find themselves in a very uncomfortable position with just five league matches remaining.

And naturally, Bologna, who rests in an uncomfortable 17th place with just 28 points earned, will try to make the Bianconeri's task as hard as possible. The Rossoblu have had a torrid time this season, with their highest place--15th--coming back on matchday two. However, they have spent the vast majority of their domestic campaign either in the drop zone or uncomfortably hovering above it.

Simply put, should they lose in Turin, coupled with wins for Livorno and Sassuolo, and they might find themselves only ahead of those two sides on a slightly superior goal difference. Unfortunately for them, they will be coming up against a squad that despite having already set their continental football ducks in a row--securing Champions League football for next season and being in the semi-finals of the Europa League this term--will be looking to wrap up their domestic campaign as quickly as possible.

Bologna, who has the second-weakest attack in the league with just 27 goals will obviously have to be wary of Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez, who alone have scored 31 league goals between them. Then there is the issue of the Bianconeri's strong back-line, which has just conceded 22 goals, the second-best after Roma's 19.

The Rossoblu, on the other hand, have shipped 51, and while not the worst out of the 20 teams (that dubious honour goes to Livorno), it will be hard on finding anyone willing to bet that Antonio Conte's men will not score in this match.

So, obviously on paper, all odds are in favour of the hosts, but the visitors will certainly be hoping that their opponents will have one eye on their tough clash with Benfica on April 24th in Lisbon and may be a bit distracted. Yet, given the fact that Roma refuses to give up in the Scudetto race, that's highly unlikely, and it looks to be a game of not who will win, but how Bologna will try to keep the score-line down.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli

Juventus v Bologna – Team News,
Tactics, Lineups And Prediction

Apr 19, 2014

It’s so close you can almost taste it. That’s the view from the from the Juventus and Bologna camps. Both the teams though, have different objectives in vision. For Juventus, three wins will see them retain their Scudetto regardless of what Roma do in their next few games. Bologna, on 28 points and in the 17th position in the league table, have a bit more work left to do in order to secure Serie A status for next season.

Juventus are coming off a 2-0 victory away at Udinese that maintained their 8 point lead at the top of the Serie A table. Their opponents, Bologna, are winless in 4 games with their previous two games stalemates against Inter and Parma.


Team News and Tactical Brief

Juventus

The next few weeks for the Bianconeri are tumultuous to say the least. Games domestic and in Europe could define the number of titles that are added to the pack in Turin. With the away leg at Benfica just around the corner, Conte might decide to give a few players a breather. Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal in particular are expected to start against Bologna from the bench while Leonardo Bonucci and Stephan Lichtsteiner are suspended for this game. Andrea Barzagli and Simone Pepe are continued absentees through injury.

Giovinco and Llorente are expected to continue their partnership in attack. Giovinco was jeered a few weeks ago by the Juventus fans and that has seemed to catalyze a strong reaction from the Atomic Ant. An excellent goal against Udinese was the icing on the cake of a string of good performances from the Juventus youth product. His understanding with Fernando Llorente is gradually increasing and the Spaniard too has been going through a rich vein of form and will look to add to his 14 league goals this season.

Recent matches have seen Juventus assert themselves a bit more off late. Rotation has allowed players to refresh themselves when fatigue reared its tiresome head. Players who are not regular starters such as Caceres and Giovinco have also performed admirably which will no doubt delight the manager.

Possible Starting XI (3-5-2): Buffon; Caceres, Ogbonna, Chiellini; Isla, Pogba, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Giovinco, Llorente

Bologna

Davide Ballardini’s side are floating just above the relegation zone and are now fighting for their lives in Serie A. Having lost Diamanti in the winter transfer window, skeptics seemed certain that their fate would see them plying their trade in Serie B next season. As of now, the club have a way to go to prove their critics wrong.

The 2-2 draw at Inter saw them show a bit of fight as they came back from the jaws of defeat not once, but twice at the San Siro. The Rossoblu then followed that impressive showing by throwing away a one goal lead against Parma on home soil. Games against Juventus, Fiorentina, Genoa, Catania and Lazio mean their run-in poses quite a few difficult hurdles. Each point secured will go a long way in assuring themselves of a spot in the top flight of Italian football.

Injuries haven’t helped their cause as Ballardini’s side will have to make do without Della Rocca, Crespo and Krhin who are all on the treatment table and won’t make the trip to Turin. The expected line up should remain the same as the one that drew against Parma. Bologna are in the relegation dogfight and every point gained from here on end could end up separating them from the doom of the drop zone. Ballardini’s side are expected to sit back and try to break Juventus on the counter. Their efficiency when the inevitable chances do arrive could determine the course of the game.

Possible Starting XI (3-5-1-1): Curci; Antonsson, Natali, Cherubin; Garics, Friberg, Pazienza, Christodoulopoulous, Morleo; Kone, Cristaldo


Player To Watch Out For

Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)

Andrea Pirlo - Juventus midfielder | Serie A Review: Milan deeper into oblivion, Juventus juggernaut rolls on | Week 28The Italian maestro has come under the spotlight off the pitch this week after his autobiography; “I Think Therefore I Play” was released in English. On the pitch, he’s always the star of the show. Pirlo is the centre of the Bianconeri’s play and you wouldn’t put it past him to unlock the Bologna defense with those incisive passes. Or who knows, he might just deliver yet another one of his signature free-kicks.


Prediction

Juventus 2–0 Bologna

16 wins out 16 at home make Juventus the frontrunners for this contest. Factor in current form and there looks like there’s only one certain winner. Juventus should do justice the pre-game odds and record yet another victory. Bologna, for their part, will make themselves difficult to beat and given they have their safety to fight for, the Rossoblu won’t go down without a fight.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli

Line-ups: Juventus-Bologna

Apr 19, 2014

Juventus give Sebastian Giovinco and Fernando Llorente another chance to start together as they host motivated Bologna.

It kicks off at 18.30 CET.

The Bianconeri have one hand on the Scudetto and hope to take advantage of Roma’s difficult trip to Fiorentina this evening.

Andrea Barzagli is back in the squad after a month out, but Leonardo Bonucci and Stephan Lichtsteiner are suspended.

Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez are still nursing injuries, so are not risked from the start, while Giovinco aims to continue his strong form upfront.

Bologna are fourth from bottom, going into the Easter weekend just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Davide Ballardini’s men have caused upsets this season, taking points off Napoli and Inter.

There is a lengthy injury list including Panagiotis Kone, Rene Krhin, Jose Crespo and Francesco Della Rocca.

Jonathan Cristaldo leads the attack with support from Lazaros Christodoulopoulos and Erik Friberg.


JUVENTUS: Buffon; Barzagli, Ogbonna, Chiellini; Isla, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Llorente
Juventus bench: Storari, Rubinho, Caceres, Padoin, Vidal, Peluso, Pepe, Quagliarella, Osvaldo, Tevez, Vucinic

BOLOGNA: Curci; Antonsson, Sorensen, Cherubin; Garics, Ibson, Pazienza, Christodoulopoulos, Morleo; Friberg; Cristaldo
Bologna bench: Stojanovic, Malagoli, Cech, Mantovani, Laxalt, Perez, Moscardelli, Paponi, Acquafresca, Bianchi

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Pogba piledriver puts
Bianconeri on brink of title

With the champions struggling to break the relegation-threatened Rossoblu down,
the France international produced a moment of magic to decide the game in the hosts' favour.

Apr 19, 2014

Paul Pogba produced a trademark piledriver to earn Juventus a crucial 1-0 victory over Bologna that edges the Italian champions ever closer to a third successive Serie A title.

Antonio Conte's men initially suffered frustration against their struggling opponents in Turin on Saturday, before their France midfielder found the breakthrough in the 64th minute.

Regardless of other results, Juventus can secure the Scudetto with wins over Sassuolo and Atalanta before they visit second-placed Roma on May 9, while the reigning champions could even retain their title sooner should Rudi Garcia's side slip up.

Pogba saw two promising chances go begging within the first quarter of an hour, but from there Bologna kept things tight with a solid defensive display.

That trend continued after the break, but Pogba ultimately found a way through to ease the tension in Turin.

The result was somewhat harsh on Bologna, who sit just one place above the drop zone - level on points with 18th-placed Sassuolo - and must quickly regroup ahead of a home game against Fiorentina next weekend.

Juve carved open the visiting defence as early as the fifth minute. Fernando Llorente held the ball up well before laying into the path of Pogba, who sent a tame shot straight at goalkeeper Gianluca Curci when he should have done better.

Pogba was once more guilty of wastefulness from Juve's next opportunity, the France international heading Andrea Pirlo's superb corner over the crossbar from eight yards.

Having survived those early scares, Bologna improved at the back and restricted the home side to a series of fruitless crosses, although Juve may have moved ahead had Claudio Marchisio made contact with Llorente's centre shortly before the half-hour mark.

Llorente had tentative claims for a penalty turned down soon after when he claimed Bologna centre-back Mikael Antonsson had tugged his shirt. The Spaniard appeared to go to ground too easily and referee Piero Giacomelli waved play on.

Juventus looked for more thrust in attack after the break, and a neat flick from Sebastian Giovinco found its way to Mauricio Isla – playing in place of the suspended Stephan Lichtsteiner - but Curci was quick to react and made a smart save.

Juve's frustrations continued as Pogba curled a left-footed shot from the edge of the box wide of the far post.

Pogba was not to be denied, however, and finally broke Bologna's brave resistance in the 63rd minute. The France international received Isla's pass before drilling a low effort into the bottom left-hand corner.

From the next attack Isla almost doubled the lead but he was denied as Curci sprung to his left to make a stop. Pogba again went close in the closing stages, the 21-year-old hitting a half-volley straight at Curci from eight yards.

However, one goal proved to be enough for Juventus, who can now look forward to Thursday's encounter at Benfica in the first leg of a Europa League semi-final.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Pogba sees off Bologna

Paul Pogba’s strike proved enough to give Juventus a 1-0
win over Bologna, coming a step closer to the Scudetto.

Apr 19, 2014

The Bianconeri could almost touch the Scudetto and with it an all-time record of Serie A points, but welcomed a Bologna side desperate to avoid the drop. Davide Ballardini’s men were fourth from bottom going into the Easter weekend, three points clear of the relegation zone after scraping two consecutive stalemates. Leonardo Bonucci and Stephan Lichtsteiner sat out bans, while Andrea Barzagli returned after a month out. The Rossoblu had already caused upsets against Inter and Napoli this season, but missed Panagiotis Kone, Rene Krhin, Jose Crespo and Francesco Della Rocca.

Bonucci took advantage of his suspension to stand in the Curva along with the hardline Juve ultras.

After four minutes Gianluca Curci was alert to parry a Paul Pogba shot with his feet at the near post. The Frenchman went close again with a free header over from six yards on Andrea Pirlo’s corner.

Pirlo curled a free kick over the wall and into Curci’s arms, then another effort straight into the defensive wall.

Giorgio Chiellini surged forward and rolled a dangerous ball into the box, but Claudio Marchisio only got a touch and Curci was able to smother.

Fernando Llorente couldn’t quite turn in the box to get his shot away, as he and Antonsson tugged each other’s shirts.

Giovinco flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal after bursting past two defenders, but Llorente just failed to get the final touch.

Jonathan Cristaldo had an audacious attempt from distance, curling over the far top corner. Kwadwo Asamoah had a similar opportunity to Giovinco with another ball going all the way across with nobody to tap in.

Juve were far more aggressive after the restart and pegged Bologna back into their own half, but Curci was alert to block at the feet of Mauricio Isla on a Giovinco assist.

The deadlock was finally broken past the hour mark. Isla rolled a ball to the centre for Pogba, who controlled and smacked a fierce finish from outside the box that flew under Curci’s arm and into the far bottom corner.

Moments later Curci got his fingertips to turn an Isla snapshot over the bar, but Marchisio had to bravely throw himself in the path of a Christodoulopoulos strike and got a bruised shin for his trouble.

Pogba drilled wide from an improbable range and Bologna threatened on the counter with Gigi Buffon getting behind a sudden Christodoulopoulos snapshot.

Pogba was having a fine game and tested Curci again in the final minutes with the goalkeeper just about getting it under control. Giovinco was utterly exhausted by the end and hobbled off the field with help from physios.

To their credit, Bologna poured forward throughout five minutes of stoppages and saw a Christodoulopoulos shot charged down in the box after a free kick. Juventus came away with three points, but it was the classic ground out result.


Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Ogbonna, Chiellini; Isla (Padoin 81), Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco (Vidal 88), Llorente

Bologna: Curci; Antonsson (Laxalt 79), Sorensen, Cherubin; Garics, Ibson (Paponi 69), Pazienza (Acquafresca 88), Christodoulopoulos, Morleo; Friberg; Cristaldo

Ref: Giacomelli

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Pogba Strike Sinks Resilient Rossoblu

Apr 19, 2014

Juventus beat Bologna 1-0 on a wet Saturday evening at the Juventus Stadium.

Paul Pogba scored the Bianconeri’s only goal in the 64th minute in what was a difficult game for the Old Lady against a dogged Rossoblu side.

The game’s first chance came in the fourth minute for Juventus but Pogba’s low shot was saved comfortably by the feet of Gianluca Curci.

Pogba had another good chance in the 11th minute but missed the target with his header from Andrea Pirlo’s corner.

Pirlo had two free-kicks in dangerous looking positions in the 18th and 24th minutes but neither threatened Bologna’s goal.

Curci was forced into a good save down low to his left after Giorgio Chiellini’s low drive into the area was redirected by the shin of Claudio Marchisio.

There was shout for a penalty when Fernando Llorente went down in the 33rd minute after his shirt was pulled inside the Bologna area but the Old Lady’s appeals were rather half-hearted.

The Bianconeri came close again in the 38th minute after Sebastian Giovinco drove down the the right flank but there was nobody to get on the end of the Atomic Ant’s ball across the face of goal to tap into the open goal.

The Rossoblu’s first notable shot at goal came in the 42 minute through Jonathan Cristaldo from outside the area but his strike flew high and wide.

Juventus exerted some pressure just before the half-time whistle after Giovinco won a free kick down the right flank but the visitors were able to hold out and go into the break level at 0-0.

Juventus began the second half at a higher tempo and in the 5oth minute Mauricio Isla found space in the area but Curci did well to charge down the Chilean’s shot.

Cristaldo looked energetic for Bologna in the 55th minute to run away from Andrea Barzagli but was left isolated and Gianluigi Buffon comfortably caught the subsequent cross.

Juve started to turn the screw in the 59th minute but the disciplined Felsinei defenders prevented any clear-cut chances from emerging.

Pogba opened the scoring in the 64th minute with a powerful strike into the bottom left corner from outside the area after taking one touch to create some space and the second to fire passed Curci who got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.

Isla came close to doubling Juve’s lead minutes later after cutting back onto his left foot but his curling effort was brilliantly saved by Curci.

Juventus looked dangerous in the 79th minute but Pogba fired wide when he could have played in Isla who was open to his right.

Lazaros forced Buffon into his first save in the 82nd minute but the goalkeeper dealt well with the awkward bounce of the Greek’s long shot.

Pogba almost doubled his tally in the 87th minute but shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Bologna got forward in injury time but Juve had enough bodies back to block any shots at goal.

The result sends Juventus temporarily 11 points clear at the top while Bologna stay level on points with Sassuolo.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Paul Pogba fires Juventus to victory

Apr 19, 2014

Juventus have extended their lead at the top of the Serie A table with a slender 1-0 victory over Bologna.

The game's first two chances fell to midfielder Paul Pogba, who forced goalkeeper Gianluca Curci into a fine save on five minutes before flashing a header over the bar shortly after.

Andrea Pirlo and Sebastian Giovinco both went close for the Bianconeri before and after the half-time whistle - both denied denied by Curci once more.

Having been twice denied earlier in the contest, it was third time lucky for Pogba, who fired the opening goal past the Italian shot-stopper from range on 64 minutes.

Mauricio Isla should have added a second moments later when he was picked out inside the box, but he was denied by Curci, who was in inspired form.

Juve had another opportunity to wrap up the game late on, but Pogba was unable to find a way past the Bologna stopper once more, ensuring the game ended 1-0.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Juventus vs. Bologna: Score,
Ratings and Post-Match Reaction

Apr 19, 2014

Juventus edged a step closer to the Serie A title with a battling 1-0 win over Bologna.

It wasn’t Juventus’ best performance of the season, far from it if truth be told, but Paul Pogba’s goal was enough to seal the three points.

WhoScored.com ✔ @WhoScored
Paul Pogba: MotM vs Bologna, Rating 8.8, Shots 7, Goals 1, Key passes 1, Clearances 2

Ahead of Roma’s clash with Fiorentina later on Saturday, Juventus now hold a commanding 11-point lead in the title race.

Pogba was the hero, but he had the potential to be the villain of the piece in the first half.

On five minutes, he strode into the box but his shot lacked conviction and Gianluca Curci made a save with his feet.

Shortly afterwards, Pogba had a great chance when rising high to meet a corner, but he could not direct his header on target.

Curci kept Bologna on level terms shortly before the interval when getting down well to deny Claudio Marchisio.

The keeper made a stunning save to foil Mauricio Isla six minutes into the second half, but he could not keep out Pogba’s effort on 64 minutes.

A loose ball fell at the feet of the Frenchman and he smashed a low shot into the bottom corner.

Juventus were frustrated by a Bologna side just one place above the drop zone, but Giorgio Chiellini said they were never going to take their foot off the gas.

JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen
.@chiellini: "We just needed to up the pace after the break. We knew Bologna were a well organised team but we got the win we deserved."

Juve celebrated their 17th home league win out of as many games like champions. They cannot claim the title even if Roma are beaten in Florence, but it will surely come their way in the coming weeks.

That is certainly the view of Chiellini, who is intent on securing the hat-trick of titles.

JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen
.@chiellini: "It was an extremely important win. There are just four games to go and we want this third consecutive title at all costs."


Juventus Player Ratings

Buffon 6.5
Barzagli 6
Ogbonna 7
Chiellini 7
Isla 7.5
Pogba 9
Pirlo 7.5
Marchisio 7
Asamoah 5.5
Llorente 6.5
Giovinco 7.5

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Player Ratings

Paul Pogba grabbed the decisive second-half goal to pierce the resilient Rossoblu's armour,
with the young Frenchman pushing the Old Lady to within two wins of the Scudetto.

Apr 19, 2014

JUVENTUS

Gianluigi Buffon - The experienced goalkeeper was a spectator for the majority of the game, making a couple of routine saves on the way to yet another clean sheet.

Andrea Barzagli - The returning central defender had a relatively easy evening, due to the lack of penetration Bologna had down their left hand side. Was still class and composure personified, though.

Angelo Ogbonna - A composed outing from the former Torino man, who looked composed on the ball, as well as keeping tabs on Cristaldo well.

Giorgio Chiellini - A solid game from the Italy international, who didn't allow his concentration to go astray at any point, throwing himself into every challenge.

Mauricio Isla - Worked incredibly hard and got to the byeline on several occasions, but couldn't find Llorente. Saw a close-range effort saved brilliantly by Curci.

Paul Pogba - Showcased a few audacious pieces of skill and wasn't afraid to shoot from anywhere, with his self-belief being rewarded with a second-half goal from the edge of the box.

Andrea Pirlo - Dipped a couple of free kicks on target and kept the ball well, but wasn't able to play any incisive passes through a compact visiting defence.

Claudio Marchisio - The box-to-box midfielder popped up everywhere, putting his body on the line throughout. Had a couple of half chances deep in the Bologna box, but couldn't convert.

Kwadwo Asamoah - Offered width on the left-hand side and got in behind Garics on a couple of occasions, but couldn't pick out the killer ball.

Sebastian Giovinco - An energetic performance from the diminutive striker, who wasn't perturbed by the physical approach of Antonsson. Linked up well with Llorente and drove down the right on several occasions.

Fernando Llorente - Held the ball up well in the first half, but didn't get a great deal of good service after the break. Not the most dangerous performance from the Spaniard.


Substitutions

Simone Padoin - Worked hard down the right hand side in the last 10 minutes, delivering one impressive cross from that very flank.

BOLOGNA

Gianluca Curci - A brilliant performance from the Bologna goalkeeper, with the pick of his saves being a fingertip reflex stop to deny Isla from eight yards out.

Mikael Antonsson - A physical evening for the Swedish defender, who wasn't afraid to get in behind Giovinco and Llorente, being penalised several times for flooring the former.

Frederik Sorensen - Always pressuring Llorente in the air and ensured that the Spaniard wasn't permitted to turn in the penalty area.

Nicolò Cherubin - Won a couple of brave headers, but the Italian's performance was otherwise dwarfed by the twin pillars of Sorensen and Antonsson.

Gyorgy Garics - Worked hard down the right flank, stopping a number of crosses coming in from Juve's left. Made a number of fine challenges.

Ibson - A very quiet evening for the Brazilian, who was replaced by Paponi as Ballardini looked to gamble and make a positive switch.

Michele Pazienza - The central midfielder was unable to have much of an effect on the game, due to Bologna enjoying very much the minority of possession.

Lazaros Christodoulopoulos - Bologna's brightest forward-thinking player, registering his side's first shot on target in the last 20 minutes. Always keen to drive at goal and try his luck.

Archimede Morleo - Didn't allow Isla to have much luck down the right-hand side, limiting the Chilean to only a handful of low-quality crosses.

Erik Friberg - Offered very little as Bologna failed to break upfield with any regularity whatsoever. Showed the odd skilful touch, but otherwise did nothing.

Jonathan Cristaldo - Tried a couple of speculative efforts from around the penalty area, but didn't test Buffon. Worked hard as Bologna's most advanced player, but earned nothing from it.


Substitutions

Diego Laxalt - Had a back post header hit the target, as the Inter loanee was thrown on in the late stages.

Daniele Paponi - Looked bright with his first touch, driving beyond his man with a clever touch and bursting into the space, before fading from the action.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Paul Pogba Gets His Goal and Swagger Back

Apr 19, 2014

Claudio Marchisio didn’t score the goal, but he lifted his arms and put his head back. It was Paul Pogba who finally broke down Bologna: a simple touch with the outside of his right foot and a super strike to get the only goal Juventus needed.

It was the 29th win of the season for Juventus—a club-high. It was he 11th time in all competitions that the Bianconeri won by a score of 1-0. And they wouldn’t stop until they got that.

Bologna don't look like a team that offer much of a resistance—they are currently sixth-last in goals conceded, and they are living dangerously, just outside the relegation zone—but many times the whole squad played behind the ball. Bologna put just two shots on goal, and the first came in the 82nd minute. They never really thought about scoring.

Pogba did. He put seven shots on net—more than any other player on the field, per WhoScored.com—and the goal was the culmination of all that work. In the first part of the game, he found himself in a position to score, but he released a shot without any sting.

He did eventually get his seventh goal in Serie A. Without Fernando Llorente posing much of a threat, Pogba overran Bologna and opened up space for himself. The Juventus manager Antonio Conte chose to rest Carlos Tevez in anticipation for the Europa League semi-final tie against Benfica this coming week, and so he was not there to make all the runs.

Sebastian Giovinco covered for his teammate, and he took the attention away from the powerful Pogba. Giovino made tackles and drew fouls, while Pogba jumped into the open channels.

He is not having the most consistent season. Llorente called it a “small crisis” in an interview with Tuttosport (h/t goal.com). Pogba’s contract runs until the summer of 2016, and he has not yet signed an extension.

Paris Saint-German continue to pester Juventus about a transfer, according to reports, but maybe it is not the burden of all those rumours that has weighed down on Pogba. Maybe he is just a 21-year-old trying to find himself.

“It's normal that you can spend moments of this kind, especially at 20, when you may feel more pressure,” Llorente told the Italian newspaper, “and maybe you are less experienced at managing the effects of fatigue.”

But Pogba does not seem to lack confidence. He is audacious. When he shoots inside the box, the result is sometimes tame, a shot lacking any ferocity.

It is outside the box when he scores. but he is audacious, and it is almost as if he waits for those perfectly still moments: a volley, an opening in the defence, a second of time. This goal was his first in the league since January 18, but he has played better the past couple of weeks. He is growing and helping.

In the first half, Juventus were thinking about scoring, but they weren’t actually doing it. They did not give up—as if they ever do.

In the second half, Pogba took down the pass from Mauricio Isla out wide, settled down the ball and rifled the opener. He walked away with Giovinco tugging on him like a kid for a sidekick, Pogba’s eyes menacing, celebrating in the corner.

Before it was Arturo Vidal doing the scoring when the forwards could not. Now that he is injured, Pogba has stepped up and commandeered the midfield. Andrea Pirlo is the graceful influence, but on his side is the brawn, Pogba muscling the opposition out of the way. There is always someone on Juventus reinforcing a weak seam; there is always a supplement.

The rest was not easy. Bologna summoned up the courage to push forward, and in the final minutes of stoppage time, Juventus were scrambling. And so Conte jumped into the arms of his staff when the referee blew the final whistle. They were relieved.

Juventus could win the title next weekend if results go their way. They have already racked up 90 points—normally enough to win the league by now—but they still could grab 100. No Serie A team has reached that total before.

And Pogba has never played so many games before: 44 and counting.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Chiellini thanks Roma for making
'third' title more enjoyable

The Old Lady have yet to clinch the Scudetto but the defender says that the Giallorossi's
strong challenge will ensure they savour what he feels is an inevitable Scudetto success.

Apr 19, 2014

Giorgio Chiellini has thanked Roma for pushing Juventus so hard this season, explaining that it will make their third successive Serie A title triumph all the more enjoyable.

Antonio Conte's men moved 11 points clear of the Giallorossi, who play Fiorentina on Saturday night, courtesy of a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bologna, which came courtesy of a fine strike from midfielder Paul Pogba.

Chiellini acknowledged that the Rossoblu had caused the champions problems but he was more concerned with expressing his gratitude to Roma for making Juve work so hard in this season's title race.

"We faced an organised squad that really left us very little space," the defender said of Bologna in an interview with Sky Sport Italia. "However, I believe that it was still a deserved victory."

"Now we've just four games left. We're only lacking a few [points] for this third successive Scudetto that we wanted at all costs.

"We're grateful to Roma for keeping us on our toes and making us realise how difficult [winning the title] is.

"Roma deserve a big round of applause for making us enjoy this Scudetto, which would have been less beautiful if there had been 20 points to second place."

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Juventus vs. Bologna: 6 Things We Learned

Apr 19, 2014

With the early evening kick-off this weekend, Juventus hosted Bologna knowing that they were just eight points away from clinching their third consecutive Serie A title. That would be a historic achievement, something that neither Marcello Lippi nor Giovanni Trapattoni ever managed, marking out Antonio Conte as one of the most impactful coaches in the club’s storied history.

For Bologna’s part, Sassuolo’s win earlier in the day meant that they travelled to Turin knowing that a defeat would see them end the weekend in the relegation zone. That they had lost three of their last away matches against the Bianconeri meant this was likely, and Juventus eventually triumphed by a 1-0 scoreline.


Bologna Continue to Struggle for Goals

The Rossoblu have found it difficult to score with any consistency this term, especially since the departure of Alessandro Diamanti to China. Since the 30-year-old was sold in early February, Bologna have scored just five goals, and he still remains their joint leading scorer.

That ineffectiveness in front of goal saw them ranked as the third-worst attack in Serie A here and looks set to see them return to the second tier this summer.


Sebastian Giovinco’s Impressive Form Continues

In early February, a section of Juventus supporters jeered Sebastian Giovinco as the striker was substituted, disappointed by another poor display from the Turin native. That prompted Antonio Conte to defend his player and criticise those fans who booed the 27-year-old from the field, telling reporters at his post-match press conference:

“I find it truly unfair this atmosphere that has emerged around Giovinco. I don’t even want to talk about it. Everyone should look to their conscience.”

The diminutive striker has responded perfectly, putting on another fine display here, and he has netted a goal and two assists since that ugly incident. Scoring a superb strike against Udinese last week, he has proven his value to this squad as a substitute for Carlos Tevez.


Match Highlighted Juve’s Need for Variety

For large portions of the match, Juventus struggled to unlock the resolute Bologna defence, an issue which has raised its head on a number of occasions this term. It appears to indicate a need for variety from the bench, perhaps a pacy winger to open up these well-organised sides that come to Turin simply looking to lock out the Bianconeri.

Domenico Berardi’s return to goalscoring action against Chievo earlier on Saturday was a timely reminder of what the 19-year-old could offer. Co-owned by Juventus, the Sassuolo winger could well move to the champions this summer.


Paul Pogba Continues Outside-the-Box Excellence

Paul Pogba continues to be lethal from outside the box, notching the game-winning goal here and helping Juventus to another victory. The strike marked his seventh goal of the season, making him the fourth-leading scorer for the Bianconeri this term.


Juventus Can Win Without Carlos Tevez

Juventus have begun to depend on Carlos Tevez this term, the Argentinean netting 18 goals and seven assists so far in 2013-14. Antonio Conte chose to rest his most reliable striker here, and the Bianconeri still emerged triumphant, highlighting the depth of their squad.


Title Almost Secure

With their win, the two-time champions drew ever closer to their third consecutive Serie A title, needing just five points from their remaining four games to clinch the Scudetto. Despite Roma’s 1-0 win over Fiorentina, Juventus are closer than ever to lifting yet another league title.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Ballardini: 'Bologna played well'

Apr 19, 2014

Davide Ballardini felt Bologna had a good game against Juventus and believes they can achieve safety.

Paul Pogba’s goal proved enough for a 1-0 result in Turin this evening.

“Bologna played well today and, although we could’ve done better on the break, in general it was a good performance,” the Coach told Sport Mediaset.

Now the Stadio Dall’Ara side is level with Sassuolo on 28 points, third from bottom.

“We have to focus on ourselves. Bologna must do their duty and the rest is of no interest to us. I don’t know how many points will mathematically secure safety, but our players know what to do.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Conte: 'Step towards the Scudetto'

Apr 19, 2014

Antonio Conte saw “a good step forward” towards the Scudetto as Juventus pushed past Bologna.

Paul Pogba’s goal proved enough to secure a 1-0 victory over relegation battlers Bologna.

“The only thing that counts is to win and that wasn’t simple today,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.

“All teams come to the Juventus Stadium in order to defend and create a packed midfield. It’s down to us to score early and break that deadlock. We were too slow in the first half, then raised the tempo.

“It’s tough against these sides who defend with 10 men. We did well not to lose our heads and prevented counter-attacks. Gigi Buffon was never called into action.

“This side is mature, has grown a great deal and I am happy. All of this explains the extraordinary campaign we’re having.”

Conte remained level-headed when asked if the Scudetto was now in Juve’s pocket.

“We made a good step forward. We only look to our own results and not what Roma do, even if they are doing extraordinary things. We’re not at the finish line yet, but now we have to focus on Benfica and the Europa League semi-final.

“We will prepare for that game studying their defects and trying to get the best out of our own characteristics. It won’t be easy, as it’s a fiery atmosphere, but we want to honour the Europa League.”

Juve are temporarily 11 points clear at the top of the table with four rounds to go, awaiting Roma’s result away to Fiorentina.

“This season we have something more in terms of attack than in previous years. It took time for Fernando Llorente to settle in and he brought a new dimension along with Carlos Tevez. Now we have two strikers who have scored in double figures, so that is an important element.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Pogba pushes Juventus closer
to Serie A glory

Apr 20, 2014

What more can you say about a side that managed their 17th home win? Juventus somehow found a way to bypass a parked bus and defeat negative Bologna 1-0 to take one giant step towards their third consecutive title. Roma may believe and they may be starving for trophies but their hunger has only served to push the Bianconeri on and ignite their competitive edge. This is their Scudetto and they will do all they can to achieve it.

Whilst the match looked to be easy on paper, Davide Ballardini’s has proved to be a difficult opponent to take on. After all, he has halted the Bianconeri train before. His sides are balways organised, his players tenacious and eager. He has travelled to the Juventus Stadium with two different teams and managed to take a point home with him on both occasions. On January 15, 2012 his Cagliari side managed an equaliser via Andrea Cossu to leave Alessandro Del Piero and co. with a 1-1 scoreline. One year later Ballardini returned, this time with Genoa. Yet again his team found the equaliser to snatch a 1-1 victory in Turin, scored by former Bianconeri forward Marco Borriello.

This time, Ballardini walked away with nothing. His Bologna side did as much and perhaps even more than his previous teams at Juve’s home but this Old Lady has matured. With Roma salivating over the prospect of a draw or loss in order to close the gap, Juventus have refined their technique and bettered their mentality to ensure a victory was achieved no matter the difficulty. Their hunger to collect points and secure their third consecutive title is nothing short of admirable. Repeated victories have done little to satisfy their appetite for more trophies and they continue to chase them with ferocious determination.

However, one must credit the Felsinei for their valiant defensive displays even if it hardly made for entertaining viewing. Defending so deep, their lines tight and the gaps closed, the away side quite forcefully crowded the area and blocked the passage to goal. There was no room to operate, no way of piercing through for the Bianconeri. Showing little ambition in going forward, Bologna proved ineffective in the attacking phase of the game, preferring to sit back and hold on for a draw and they very nearly managed to grab the coveted point.

Paul Pogba was unable to make the most of a few early chances whilst Andrea Pirlo failed to tantalise from his free-kicks but that didn’t stop Juve trying. Sebastian Giovinco proved dazzling with his mobility yet again. Pushing, passing and running, he thoroughly annoyed the opposing back-line that attempted to track him and often resorted to fouling him -- in dangerous areas. Gliding past players and looking for the right pass, he offered Juventus a glimmer of hope but he wasn’t quite enough. For a long time it seemed the Old Lady and her forwards didn’t have an answer to such a determined display of defensive football.

Kwadwo Asamoah proved indecisive in penetrating the left wing and rarely positioned himself well in the final third. He ought to have pushed forward more to offer another alternative for that decisive pass or even to busy a defender in hopes of dragging him out of position to create a gap. Instead he prioritised his defensive duties, ensuring that should his opponents counter, he’d be prepared to stop them. Mauricio Isla on the opposite flank also struggled to provide more, his crossing inadequate whilst his runs rarely troubled his markers.

The only way the Felsinei could be beaten was if they decided to attack, leaving some room at the back to exploit or if Juventus sped up their movements to overwhelm the organised lines. The latter has proved to be a problem for the Old Lady as their attempts to inject pace into their manoeuvres has usually resulted in imprecision and inaccurate play. However, they did just enough to create a little space for Pogba to score the only goal of the game -- the goal that takes Juventus one step closer to lifting another Championship trophy and solidifying his reputation as the next generation’s greatest talent.

They were hardly beautiful and barely interesting to watch but Juve’s cynicism is what made the difference. Conte was right in saying that in previous years, a game like this would have resulted in a draw but the fact Juve won demonstrates growth and leaves them on course for a spectacular end to the season.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Conte: 'Giovinco for World Cup!'

Apr 20, 2014

Antonio Conte is focused on the Europa League semi-final with Benfica, but proposed Sebastian Giovinco for the World Cup.

The Coach spoke after Juventus consolidated their eight-point lead at the top of the Serie A table with a 1-0 victory over Bologna.

“I am counting on having Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal ready for Thursday,” he said of the first leg against Benfica.

“They have both been carrying injuries for a while and I rested them to avoid making the situation worse.”

In the meantime, Giovinco has rediscovered his form as part of an ‘odd couple’ with Fernando Llorente and Conte had a suggestion.

“Giovinco is doing really well, as he is gaining confidence in his own abilities. It’s what I always told him to do. He’s so good at taking men on and can be decisive.

“I hope he can continue like this to the end of the season, because he still has a chance of going to the World Cup. Someone like Giovinco would certainly be of use to Cesare Prandelli.

“This win over Bologna was the kind of game we would’ve drawn last year. Over time we have matured and gained more experience to deal with these situations.

“The fact we have such a strong antagonist as Roma right behind us pushes us on to give our best every time. We’ve reached 90 points also thanks to the Giallorossi, who ensure we are always motivated and don’t think the Scudetto is already ours.

“Last season we won the title with three rounds to spare, after which we lost and drew. This season we’ve always had Roma with a pitchfork pointed at our backs, keeping us on alert.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

JUVENTUS 1 - 0 BOLOGNA

Paul Pogba (64′)

April 19, 2014 - 6:30 PM
Juventus Stadium — Turin
Referee: Piero Giacomelli
Attendance:‬ 38500‎

Bianconeri edge even closer
to third Scudetto

Another grind of a match ended with Juventus getting
all three points from a single moment of Pogba brilliance.

Apr 20, 2014

I swear, this has been the most bittersweet season I can remember. As a devoted fan, you watch every game, you will your team to victory, and you are ecstatic every time your team pulls it off. Yet as a Juventus fan, you expect a lot from the team, a standard that only legends before current players have set, a level of quality you grow accustomed to over time.

Juventus is winning, edging ever so close to that third consecutive Scudetto, a feat whose difficulty is understood by every true fan. It's a glorious achievement, really, to stay focused and determined for three straight seasons in a league like the Serie A with teams like Roma breathing down your neck.

But that same Juventus is playing far from great, struggling to create concrete chances, lacking in creativity, grinding for 90 minutes to pull off a single goal victory over teams like soon-to-likely-be relegated Bologna. And mind you, this has been the case for quite a few games this season. What can you do though? You take the good with the bad and you celebrate another very important victory as the season draws to a close. Five points from 4 matches is all we need. You can really start to taste that trophy.


MATCH SUMMARY

It didn't take long to find out who will be Juventus' aggressor on the night in pursuit for the win. With Tevez and Vidal on the bench, young Paul Pogba took over as the metronome of the team from the very beginning. In just 5 minutes, he tested Bologna's keeper with a close range shot shot, then followed it up later with a close header off a corner.

In the meantime, the two players in charge of scoring up front, Llorente and Giovinco, were just starting to get a feel for each other. The Atomic Ant performed a very good Tevez impression with his impeccable work rate to aid to Llorente's dominance in the air and as a target man.

Bologna rarely had possession for longer than a few seconds, which allowed the defense and especially the returning Barzagli to work on his match fitness before the Benfica game on Thursday.

As Juventus tried to create something out of nothing against Bologna's parked bus, frustration grew at Juventus stadium as the score was still 0-0 after an hour of play. That's when the genius of Pogba settled the game, with the young Frenchman controlling a pass from Isla superbly before slotting home a great shot outside the box to beat Curci.

It was Pogba again who had the best chance to really close the game out later on, but his half volley from close range was straight at the Bologna keeper.

It wasn't pretty, and it surely wasn't convincing, but here we are just 4 games from the end of the season with Juventus marching confidently towards a third Scudetto.


LE PAGELLE

Buffon: 7 - Bored out of his mind until the 85th minute, this was nothing but an easy scrimmage for San Gigi.

Barzagli: 6.5 - Newly returned from injury and looked rusty therefore. Got beat a couple times and had a couple errant passes that could've cost Juve against a better team. It was great to see him back though, we'll need his experience if we are to close out the two titles we are battling for.

Ogbonna: 7.5 - Thought he was great for the full 90 minutes. Won countless headers in the back and was always a force during set pieces in Bologna's 16. A very composed performance for the young center back.

Chiellini: 7 - Didn't have a whole lot of work to do defensively but did everything right when called upon. A solid performance from our King Giorgio.

Isla: 7 - Really pushed high at every opportunity and provided as much width as he could in attack. His crosses left plenty to be desired but that is to be expected. Could've closed the game out but Curci came up with a fantastic save to deny him some 20 minutes from the end.

Pogba: 8 - An enjoyable performance by Pogba who was clearly the difference of the game. He was determined to score and got his goal after an hour of play with a great outside shot. Showed some great skill on the ball too - something the fans always appreciate. He's young and over-emotional at times, but he certainly came through when most needed.

Pirlo: 7 - Found it hard to make a big impact when faced with 10 Bologna men behind the ball. Had several free kicks from which he unfortunately failed to score.

Marchisio: 7.5 - It was one of those vintage Marchisio performances really, running his heart out and battling for every single ball. He covered the whole pitch remarkably and really put in work on Saturday. Wasn't much of a threat offensively but overall I thought he sacrificed himself for the team every second he was on the pitch.

Asamoah: 6.5 - Wasn't as active as Isla on the right but had a hard-nosed Garics in front of him. Had a couple decent balls in the box but they didn't really find any of our strikers.

Giovinco: 7.5 - He probably lost something on the pitch during warm up as he spent the majority of the game rolling around looking for it. Nah, just kidding. While he did theatrically dive on several occasions, Gio actually had a very good game, working hard and slotting between Bologna's lines quite often. Wasn't able to score or create for someone else, but certainly did his best under the circumstances.

Llorente: 7 - He is a limited striker when we have poor delivery from the wings, and Saturday really showed that. Giovinco enjoyed some great put downs from Llorente's aerial prowess and the Spaniard really worked well to carve out his space in front of Bologna's defense.


Subs:

Padoin: sv - Leave it for Danny to totes call it - Simone got some garbage time minutes and looked all sheepishly ecstatic as usual.

Vidal: sv -


Coach:

Conte: 6.5 - I do believe that the majority of the issues I bitched about at the very beginning of this recap fall solely on Conte's shoulders. His inability to switch things around and become less predictable have miraculously only caught up with him in Europe, while in Italy we are scraping by towards our third consecutive title.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

[Socrates 8447]

BENFICA - JUVENTUS

April 24, 2014 - 9:05 PM
Estádio da Luz — Lisbon
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

Benfica crowned champions of Portugal
after win over Olhanense

Lima hit a double at the Estadio da Luz on Sunday night as Jorge Jesus' side
reclaimed their crown from Porto, who had won the past three Primeira Liga titles.

Apr 20, 2014

Benfica have been crowned champions of Portugual for the first time in four years courtesy of a 2-0 win over Olhanense.

Second-placed Sporting made the Eagles wait for the title by beating Belenenses on Saturday night, but Jorge Jesus' men recorded a 2-0 win at the Estadio da Luz less than 24 hours to move seven points clear with just two rounds remaining.

It is Benfica's 33rd Primeira Liga title but only their third in the past decade, with Porto having won the last three championships in succession, after establishing themselves as the dominant force in Portugal.

The Eagles could yet secure an historic quadruple this season: they reached the final of the Taca de Portugal on Wednesday with a 3-2 aggregate win over Porto, and have a Taca da Liga semi-final against Luis Castro's men, as well as a Europa League last-four battle with Italian giants Juventus still to come.