Juventus Season 2014-2015

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

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Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Stramaccioni: Udinese Will Do Its Best
To Get A Result Against Juventus

Jan 31, 2015
 
Udinese coach Andrea Stramaccioni believes the Zebrette are set to finally do away with their recent ‘bad luck’ as they prepare to play host to league leaders Juventus on Sunday.

The Bianconeri have only collected one win from their last six Serie A matches, but the 39-year-old is confident his side can build off their 2-1 victory over Empoli last Monday despite coming up against the defending champions.

“I think that the important thing is the trend in performances the squad has taken on,” he stated at his pre-match press conference as reported by tuttoudinese.it.

“I would list is it as starting with the Inter match, along with the defeat to Verona, where we played a great first half.

“We have had a lot of unfortunate events so I think that we are undergoing a good run of performances. We know that the best team in Italy are arriving, but we want to try and play our match.

“Allegri alternates between several formations. However they present themselves, we will do our best to get the result.

“Muriel? I want to wish good luck to Luis, a player that was always available with me but unfortunately very unlucky.

“He could have spared a few more grateful words for Udinese because if he is in top level football it is also thanks to this club, but I am also sure he will do that in his next interview.”

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

.-

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Juventus call De Ceglie already

Jan 31, 2015
 
Juventus have Paolo De Ceglie back for the trip to Udinese, but Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal miss out.

It kicks off on Sunday at 15.00 CET.

De Ceglie is thrown straight into the squad after he was recalled from a season-long loan at Parma early.

Marchisio is suspended, while Vidal, Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo are sidelined.

Sebastian Giovinco is not included in the team, fuelling reports he'll terminate his contract by mutual consent in order to join Toronto FC early.


Juventus squad for Udinese: Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres, Ogbonna, Pogba, Pepe, Morata, Tevez, Coman, Llorente, Barzagli, De Ceglie, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Lichtsteiner, Storari, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

.-

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Allegri Squashes Rumors Of Vidal
Bust Up Ahead Of Udinese Clash

Jan 31, 2015
 
Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has brushed aside reports of an altercation between him and midfielder Arturo Vidal before his side’s trip to the Stadio Friuli to take on Udinese.

The Chilean midfielder was substituted during the second half of the Bianconeris’ Coppa Italia quarterfinal against Parma and was not in good spirits as he left the pitch, but Allegri played down the situation.

“I was amazed by the Tuttosport headlines. If a player leaves the field angry because he was replaced it is part of football,” he stated at his pre-match press conference.

“Vidal had knee surgery, then played at the World Cup and it is normal that he is suffering but the doctors and other staff members have done a really good job with him.

“He took a knock to his ankle against Parma but I think he will be available for the match against AC Milan.”

Allegri then highlighted that playing the Zebrette in their own stadium is a demanding task and warned his players not to take their opponents lightly.

“It is difficult because winning in Udine is never easy. They are coming off a victory against Empoli and they play very well in the spaces and have Di Natale who always scores goals. We will therefore approach this match with great care.”

The 47-year-old also spoke about the Bianconeri’s transfer market activities which have, on the whole, been low profile.

“It is a crucial time because the market closes Monday. Paolo De Ceglie has returned from his loan spell at Parma and he can come in handy in the absence of Asamoah.

“And if we part with Giovinco before the window closes, we surely need another striker.”

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

.-

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Udinese - Juventus Match Preview

Jan 31, 2015
 
Ninth-place Udinese host Juventus at the Friuli in Italy’s very own black and white derby.

The only thing one can say with absolute certainty about the hosts is that they’re wildly unpredictable - Udinese ended a miserable five-game winless streak late last year by beating Inter on the road, before then falling at home to Verona.

Whilst the Zebrette have put up a stiff fight on the road against strong opposition like Sampdoria, Sassuolo and Empoli, who they beat on Monday, they are a walking disaster at home, where they now have three draws against minnows Cesena, Chievo and Cagliari.

Former Inter Coach Andrea Stramaccioni has been a mixed bag, flirting with four at the back before reverting to the three his predecessor Francesco Guidolin used. Even more surprisingly, Cyril Thereau has netted seven goals this season, finally providing Antonio di Natale with the foil the Zebrette have been looking for since Alexis Sanchez’s departure.

Udinese’s midfield could struggle, however, with Panagiotis Kone suspended for three matches and midfielders Emmanuel Badu and Molla Wague still in Africa.

Juventus, on the other hand, seem to have returned to their consistent ways after dropping points to Inter, Sampdoria and Fiorentina in the space of a few weeks. Whilst Roma can’t seem to stop drawing, the Old Lady has won three on the trot and has a seven-point cushion at the top of the table.

A key stat here is that Juventus have only dropped two points against bottom-10 teams, and that was against Sassuolo, who played very well to tie 1-1 in the autumn. Paul Pogba is on a tear at the moment, adding two goals against Verona and Chievo to the screamer he netted against Napoli three weeks ago.

The Turinese outfit has been just as happy to discover a new talent in Roberto Pereyra, the former Udinese man impressing in his 18 games with a goal and two assists, as well as a clean disciplinary slate.

 

Keep an eye on: Orestis Karnezis (Udinese) - Last year, all anyone could talk about was teenage sensation Simone Scuffet, who began life in Serie A with six clean sheets in his first 10 games. This season, however, he has been quietly dethroned by Karnezis, and the Greek international has not disappointed, averaging the highest performance mark across Italy’s papers by far, with an excellent 6.40. Di Natale and Allan are also on the podium with 6,33 and 6,21 respectively. Karnezis has, quite simply, been a life saver, and in a game in which Juventus are very likely to pile up the chances, it will be crucial to have a reliable shotstopper in goal. His average giornalaccio rosa rating is fifth in Serie A among goalkeepers with 20 or more appearances.
 

 

Form Guide: Udinese (D L D D W) Juventus (W D W W W)

Last season: Udinese 0-2 Juventus

Stat fact: Five years. It has been almost five years (March 3, 2010) since Antonio di Natale scored a League goal against Juventus. Despite netting exactly 100 since the beginning of the 2010-11 season, he has failed to score against the Old Lady in that timeframe. Udinese can count on the fact that all of his goals - minus the one he bagged last week against Empoli - have come at home.

 

Udinese (probable): Karnezis, Heurtaux, Danilo, Piris; Widmer, Allan, Guilherme, Fernandes, Pasquale; Thereau, Di Natale

Suspended: Kone

Juventus (probable): Buffon, Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Pirlo, Pogba, Evra; Morata, Tevez

Suspended: Marchisio

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

.-

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Roma held to draw for fourth straight game in Serie A

Jan 31, 2015
 
Roma were held to their fourth successive Serie A draw, but reduced the arrears on league leaders Juventus to six points with a 1-1 result against Empoli.

Massimo Maccarone scored from the penalty spot for Empoli after Kostas Manolas was sent off in the 37th minute. Riccardo Saponara was also shown a red card on the stroke of half-time as both sides ended the game with 10 men.

Maicon levelled just shy of the hour mark, but Roma could not find a winner and could find themselves nine points adrift at the top of the table if Juve win at Udinese.

Empoli have won many admirers this season for their attractive brand of football and they displayed no fear of showing it at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday evening.

Twenty-three points may have separated the two sides coming into this game, but for the first half hour, it would have been easier to predict that Empoli were that far ahead of Roma, such was the difference in quality.

It was anything but the kind of performance one might expect from the Giallorossi, and they could have no complaints at going into the break a goal behind.

That goal arrived from the penalty spot after Manolas fouled Saponara as he was preparing to shoot with only Morgan De Sanctis to beat.

The result was a red card for the Greek defender and a chance which Maccarone took, driving the ball emphatically to the left of De Sanctis.

Roma's uphill struggle to recover was levelled off slightly for them in first-half stoppage time when Saponara was shown a second yellow card for handball.

The transformation in Roma was evident from the opening exchanges of the second half with Maicon looking particularly inspired, finding space down the right that was not there in the first half.

He wanted a penalty in the 52nd minute when he cut inside and went to ground, but while he did not get that, he did get the equalising goal five minutes later when he was again left completely unmarked to stroke the ball into the far corner with his weaker left foot from Miralem Pjanic's pass.

Davide Astori's header grazed the top of the crossbar and Radja Nainggolan had a few sighters as Roma searched for a winner.

They risked losing it, though, when another penalty could justifiably have been awarded to Empoli when Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa charged Manuel Pucciarelli, but the referee this time waved play on.

In the end, Rudi Garcia's side lost the energy to persist with both sides having to settle for a draw - Roma's sixth in their last eight games.

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

.-

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Udinese vs. Juventus Preview: Round 21
Bianconeri on Bianconeri crime

Feb 1, 2015
 
Just how one-sided have things been between Juventus and Udinese the last couple of years? Let's take a look.

Juventus have won their last six games against Udinese.

Juventus have recorded shutouts in their last four games against Udinese.
Juventus have scored at least two goals in five of their last six games against Udinese.

 

That sure sounds pretty nice, doesn't it?

I like Juventus winning games. And so should you. (Unless you don't root for Juventus, obviously.)

There's another thing...

Juventus has been getting plenty of help lately — but not exactly the kind that would have the Italian papers going absolutely bonkers over a potential controversy that is full of headline-grabbing material. Juventus' lead atop the Serie A table has grown to as many as eight points in recent weeks. It currently stands at six after Roma had another disappointing result, this time a 1-1 draw against Empoli on Saturday night.

That means when Juve travel to the Stadio Friuli for a Sunday afternoon showdown with their bianconeri brethren, they'll have the chance to stretch their lead over their closest competition to a season-high nine games.

I don't know about you, but that sounds like a wonderful thing to see happen.

JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen
.@OfficialAllegri: "Our aim is to come away with three points at this crucial moment of the season. But it won't be easy."

While it's true Juventus haven't played all that great in their last couple of games — a 2-0 win over Chievo and a 1-0 win against Parma in the Coppa Italia — they're getting results. That's more than we can say these days when it comes Roma, which has drawn five out of the last six Serie A matches. (Not good.)

Will the recent dominance over Udinese be the cure for Juve's less-than-stellar showings over the past seven days?

That sure would be nice.

And if that happens, then it will be more than just a six-point lead atop the table for Juventus. That, too, would be pretty nice.
 

 

GOOD NEWS

Roma continue to drop points even when they get beneficial refereeing decisions. And because of it, the lead atop the Serie A table has the potential get even larger. That bares repeating, I think. Why? Because it's a wonderful development — especially since things were about as tight as they can get in December.
 

 

BAD NEWS

Claudio Marchisio is suspended due to his yellow card against Chievo and therefore we won't be able to look at his wonderful face for a couple of hours. Well, at least there's image searching on Google if you so please at halftime.

Also missing out is Arturo Vidal, who isn't fully fit thanks to a minor knee injury. It hasn't been a good couple of weeks for Vidal, has it?
 

 

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

1. Juventus (likely) going back to the 3-5-2.

Because of Marchisio and Vidal not being called up, the choices in the center of the midfield for Max Allegri are about as slim as they've been in quite a while. That will likely mean Allegri switches to a 3-5-2, something he has done in the past if the situation has called for it. Of course, when we hear '3-5-2' these days, the thoughts aren't exactly the most positive and could possibly make us want to throw a thing or two across the room. But the potential decision from Allegri to change formations makes sense considering who is available for selection this weekend. Here's to hoping that Juventus at least produce a little bit more against Udinese than the last time they used a three-man defense from the start.

 

2. Paul Pogba and his continued on-form magnificence.

The month of January was one where the 21-year-old French midfielder took over games. Like, more than before. He scored goal after goal, blew up Vine videos with moves that put defenders on skates, and had the whole world of football talking about him even more than before. January might as well have been renamed Pogba Month based on how well he's played since Juve came back from the Christmas/holiday break. We're witnessing the continued development of one of the world's best players right before all our eyes. And the way things are going, who knows when Pogba will finally reach his true peak potential. Either way, he's killing it right now, and doesn't look like he's going to slow down anytime soon.

 

3. Does Álvaro Morata get another start?

We've been seeing a lot of Mr. Morata lately. And, to be honest, it's not like that's really a bad thing. This is the first time in his early Juventus career that he's been receiving consistent playing time, with him taking advantage of it for the most part. His game-winning goal against Parma in the Coppa Italia midweek was his first big-time difference maker he's had in a Juventus shirt. But, like he has done so many times before this season, Allegri left the door open at his pre-match press conference to Fernando Llorente potentially get the start against Udinese on Sunday. Who knows if that truly does mean anything. If I've learned anything about Allegri and what he says about lineups, he's never going to truly tip his hand. I guess that's

 

4. Containing Toto Di Natale.

At the tender age of 37, Antonio Di Natale is still one of the most efficient strikers in Serie A. In 18 league games (16 starts), he's got nine goals, which ranks him sixth in Italy's top flight. Now, you may be telling yourself, "Well, Juventus hasn't allowed a goal in nearly a month, so what's the big deal?" And that line of thinking could be considered legitimate and worthwhile. But this is Toto, who has been known to be a complete pest and has scored a handful of goals against Juventus in the past. Basically what I'm trying to say is, if there's one person Juve's defense needs to keep an eye on Sunday afternoon, it's Antonio Di Natale. It doesn't matter how old he may be. He's still good at game.


My starting XI (3-5-2): Buffon; Cáceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Pirlo, Pogba, Evra; Tévez, Morata


OFFICIAL KICKOFF TIME: 3 P.M. IN ITALY; 9 A.M. ON THE EAST COAST; 6 A.M. ON THE WEST COAST

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

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Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Strama: 'Udinese fight Juve to the death'

Feb 1, 2015
 
Andrea Stramaccioni warned Udinese “will fight to the death” against Juventus this afternoon. “We learned our lesson.”

It kicks off at the Stadio Friuli at 15.00 CET.

“I was clear with the team: we are going through an excellent period of form and this is why we must try to play our game,” said the Coach.

“Of course we are facing the best team in Italy, but we are ready for them. Humble but determined, we are Udinese and we will fight to the death.”

Juve beat Udinese 2-0 in Turin back in September with Carlos Tevez and Claudio Marchisio on target.

“We learned our lesson on a tactical level. Tevez is basically an added midfielder, which was the tactical key last time out. He forced us to ‘lose’ a defender, leaving space to push up.

“We must not repeat the same mistake. We need grit and the support of the fans too.”

Panagiotis Kone starts a three-match ban, while Maurizio Domizzi, Giampiero Pinzi, Alexandre Geijo, Emmanuel Badu and Molla Wague are unavailable.


Udinese squad for Juventus: Karnezis, Meret, Scuffet; Bubnjic, Danilo, Faraoni, Gabriel Silva, Heurtaux, Pasquale, Piris, Widmer; Allan, Fernandes, Guilherme, Hallberg, Jadson; Aguirre, Di Natale, Thereau

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

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Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Roma will push Juventus all the way - Pirlo

The midfielder stressed Roma's recent struggles have not made the Scudetto race
a cakewalk for the champions and discussed their upcoming European battle with Dortmund.

Feb 1, 2015
 
Andrea Pirlo has stressed his belief that Juventus will be pushed by Roma all the way this season - despite the gap opening up at the top of Serie A.

Massimiliano Allegri's men have won three Scudetti in a row, all under previous coach Antonio Conte, and currently sit six points clear in the Italian top flight with the capability of going nine points adrift with a win over Udinese on Sunday.

Pirlo, who has been a key part of Juve's team over the past three and a half seasons, does not think that Rudi Garcia's side are fading in the title race despite their run of draws in the league.

"We are early in the second half of the season," the Italy international told JTV. "We have to keep winning to keep Roma at bay.

"Our current lead does not mean anything. Roma are strong and will continue to give us a hard time."

Pirlo also discussed Juve's upcoming Champions League round of 16 clashes with Borussia Dortmund, who are rock bottom in the Bundesliga, and he thinks that seizing the advantage on home soil is essential.

"Against the Germans, the first leg with be crucial," the veteran midfielder, 35, said of the home tie in Turin. "Winning that would allow us to play the return leg with greater confidence."

Juve host Dortmund on Tuesday February 24 before going to Germany for the decisive match on Wednesday

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

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Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Line-ups: Udinese-Juventus

Feb 1, 2015
 
Juventus have the chance to go nine points clear at the top, but have midfield problems against Antonio Di Natale’s Udinese.

It kicks off at 15.00 CET at the Stadio Friuli.

Roma are in crisis and their fourth consecutive draw, 1-1 with Empoli last night, means Juve can consolidate their Serie A leadership.

Max Allegri is forced into some changes, as Claudio Marchisio is suspended with Arturo Vidal, Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo injured.

Sebastian Giovinco was not called up, fuelling reports he will terminate his contract early to join Toronto FC.

Allegri looks as if he is changing to a 3-5-2 system for this fixture.

The Bianconeri needed an 89th-minute Alvaro Morata goal to get the better of Parma in the Coppa Italia quarter-final midweek and looked far from sharp.

Roberto Pereyra gets the chance to play against his former teammates.

Udinese have numerous absentees too, as Panagiotis Kone begins a three-match ban.

Giampiero Pinzi, Alexandre Geijo, Emmanuel Badu, Maurizio Domizzi, Molla Wague and Lucas Evangelista are all unavailable.

Di Natale leads the way, as always, with support from Cyril Thereau.

In the last four Serie A home games against Juventus, Udinese have scored one goal and suffered three defeats.


Udinese: Karnezis; Heurtaux, Danilo, Piris, Gabriel Silva, Allan, Bruno Fernandes, Guilherme, Widmer; Di Natale, Thereau


Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Pirlo, Pogba, Evra; Tevez, Llorente

Juventus bench: Storari, Rubinho, Barzagli, Ogbonna, De Ceglie, Padoin, Pepe, Coman, Morata

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

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Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Carlos Tevez returns for Juventus against Udinese

Feb 1, 2015
 
Carlos Tevez has returned for Juventus ahead of this afternoon's Serie A match at Udinese.

The Argentine was rested for the Bianconeri's 1-0 victory over Parma in midweek, but he is back to partner Fernando Llorente in the attack.

Gianluigi Buffon and Paul Pogba are also restored to the starting lineup, but they are without the injured Arturo Vidal and the suspended Claudio Marchisio.

As for Udinese, Antonio Di Natale and Cyril Thereau lead their attack, while midfielder Allan makes his 100th appearance for the club.


Udinese: Karnezis, Heurtaux, Danilo, Piris, Silva, Allan, Bruno Fernandes, Guilherme, Widmer, Di Natale, Thereau

Juventus: Buffon, Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Pirlo, Pogba, Evra, Tevez, Llorente

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

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Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

HT 0-0: Udinese scare Juventus

Feb 1, 2015
 
Udinese have had the better scoring opportunities in the first half, as they hold leaders Juventus 0-0 at the break.

The Turin giants had the chance to go nine points clear at the top of the table thanks to a Roma crisis, but missed Arturo Vidal, Kwadwo Asamoah, Romulo and the suspended Claudio Marchisio. The Friulani had lost three of the last four editions of this fixture. They too had problems, as Panagiotis Kone began a three-match ban with Giampiero Pinzi, Alexandre Geijo, Emmanuel Badu, Maurizio Domizzi, Molla Wague and Lucas Evangelista unavailable.

Bruno Fernandes fired wide from a promising counter-attack, then Silvan Widmer failed to convert and in a similar situation Cyril Thereau tested Gigi Buffon.

Fernando Llorente should’ve done better when turning a free header off target from Andrea Pirlo’s corner, but Buffon was again called into action by Bruno Fernandes.

Orestis Karnezis comfortably smothered a Paul Pogba effort, but overall the Turin giants created very little in the first half.


Udinese 0-0 Juventus (Half-Time)

Udinese: Karnezis; Heurtaux, Danilo, Piris, Gabriel Silva, Allan, Bruno Fernandes, Guilherme, Widmer; Di Natale, Thereau

Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Pirlo, Pogba, Evra; Tevez, Llorente

Ref: Gervasoni

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Udinese 0-0 Juventus: Champions squander
chance to extend Serie A lead

The Bianconeri failed to take advantage of Roma's surprise draw at home to Empoli,
with Carlos Tevez missing the best chance of the game in the dying minutes.

Feb 1, 2015
 
Juventus missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of Serie A on Sunday as they turned in a somewhat off-colour performance to draw 0-0 with Udinese at Stadio Comunale Friuli.

With Roma's mid-season struggles continuing thanks to Saturday's 1-1 draw against Empoli, Massimiliano Allegri could have seen his side move nine points clear at the summit.

However, the holders looked jaded following their 1-0 Coppa Italia success at Parma in midweek and could have been behind at the break if Bruno Fernandes and Cyril Thereau had been more clinical with first-half efforts.

The visitors ended the half well and saw Roberto Pereyra hit the crossbar soon after the interval, but still they failed to find a breakthrough against a side whose last win at home in the league came in October.

Andrea Stramaccioni was ultimately rewarded for a solid defensive showing - having survived a late scare when Carlos Tevez shot wide - but Allegri will no doubt be frustrated after seeing his side fail to score in a top-flight game for only the third time this season.

Juve had taken 13 points from their last five league games on the road, but it was the hosts who started the brighter despite missing the suspended Panagiotis Kone and injured midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.

Allegri was without midfield pair Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio due to injury and suspension respectively, and Udinese almost made the most of their absences when Fernandes found himself clean through 12 minutes in – only to stutter and miss the chance to apply a finish.

Paul Pogba shot wide at the other end soon after, while Tevez continued to pose problems for the home side, but Udinese coped at the back and remained dangerous on the break.

Thereau was next to go close but, like Fernandes, was unable to finish a slick counter-attack midway through the half.

The unmarked Fernando Llorente headed wide from a corner and, while Juve ended the half on top, they were unable to find an opener before the change of ends.

As in the first half, Udinese began the second positively and forced Gianluigi Buffon into a smart save when Danilo flicked on Antonio Di Natale's corner.

In a fast-paced opening to the half, Pereyra rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike from inside the area before Allegri opted to replace Llorente with Alvaro Morata - matchwinner against Parma on Wednesday.

The Spaniard nearly found himself clean through on goal following a careless pass from Giovanni Pasquale, but a last-ditch challenge from Ivan Piris cleared any danger.

Morata's introduction gave Juve added impetus, with Tevez going close at the death with a close-range effort that went wide.

Ultimately the visitors had to settle for a draw that moves them back into a seven-point lead at the top, while Udinese are now winless in six at home, but will doubtless be content with their first point against Juve since 2011.

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Juventus stumble in Udine

Udinese and Juventus both had chances, but Carlos Tevez
missed a sitter in a surprising 0-0 draw.

Feb 1, 2015
 
The Turin giants had the chance to go nine points clear at the top of the table thanks to a Roma crisis, but missed Arturo Vidal, Kwadwo Asamoah, Romulo and the suspended Claudio Marchisio. The Friulani had lost three of the last four editions of this fixture. They too had problems, as Panagiotis Kone began a three-match ban with Giampiero Pinzi, Alexandre Geijo, Emmanuel Badu, Maurizio Domizzi, Molla Wague and Lucas Evangelista unavailable.

Bruno Fernandes fired wide from a promising counter-attack, then Silvan Widmer failed to convert and in a similar situation Cyril Thereau tested Gigi Buffon.

Fernando Llorente should’ve done better when turning a free header off target from Andrea Pirlo’s corner, but Buffon was again called into action by Bruno Fernandes.

Orestis Karnezis comfortably smothered a Paul Pogba effort, but overall the Turin giants created very little in the first half.

Roberto Pereyra finally had a great opportunity on 54 minutes, smashing his shot against the crossbar from Llorente’s knock-down.

Alvaro Morata’s volley was straight at Orestis Karnezis, while Di Natale ballooned over after a set play was not cleared. Carlos Tevez somehow failed to score on a Morata counter that was set up perfectly for him by Pogba, but blasted wide from 12 yards.


Udinese: Karnezis; Heurtaux, Danilo, Piris, Gabriel Silva (Pasquale 66), Allan, Bruno Fernandes, Guilherme, Widmer; Di Natale, Thereau

Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Pirlo, Pogba, Evra (Padoin 74); Tevez, Llorente (Morata 67)

Ref: Gervasoni

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Juventus held by Udinese

Feb 1, 2015
 
Juventus have seen their three-game winning run in Serie A come to an end following a goalless draw against Udinese this afternoon.

The home side made a bright start to the match and Bruno Fernandes came close with a strike from the edge of the box that he drilled just wide of the post.

Carlos Tevez had the Bianconeri's first attempt soon after, but he could only drag his shot wide of the target.

Udinese were close to scoring again midway through the first half when Cyril Theraau saw his effort parried by Gianluigi Buffon and Fernandes smashed the follow up over the bar.

As the game approached the half-hour mark, Juventus had their best chance to score, when Fernando Llorente rose unopposed to head a corner inches wide.

The teams headed into the break on level terms, but Roberto Pereyra almost broke the deadlock on the hour-mark with an attempt from close range that smashed against the bar.

Antonio Di Natale then had a sight of goal when the ball fell to him kindly at the back post, but he fired his effort over.

Moments later it was Juventus who threatened again, as Paul Pogba laid the ball off for Tevez to drill just wide of the post.

It was to be the final chance of the match, as the game finished all square, with Juventus stretching their lead at the top of the Serie A table to seven points.

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Juventus and Udinese draw blank

Feb 1, 2015
 
Juventus missed the chance to pull nine points clear of Roma at the top of Serie A as they were held to a goalless draw at Udinese.

The reigning champions created the better opportunities in a battle between two sets of Bianconeri in Friuli, but Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Morata all suffered off-days in front of goal.

Second-placed Scudetto challengers Roma had laboured to a 1-1 draw with Empoli on Saturday night, so the single point taken edged Massimiliano Allegri's Juve into a respectable seven-point lead.

The visitors would not play at their incisive best during the first half but they would enjoy the better chances.

Tevez burst into the box when put through by Llorente in the 18th minute but the Argentinian's shot on the turn fizzed just over the bar.

Llorente was unmarked as he rose to head the ball from Andrea Pirlo's pinpoint corner before the half-hour mark, yet his finish shaved paint off a post with Orestis Karnezis rooted to the spot.

A few moments earlier Udinese had bared their teeth with Cyril Thereau racing into a one-on-one with Gianluigi Buffon.

The Juve goalkeeper would save with his palms, thus negating the danger, but he was soon under threat again when the second half began.

This time it was Thomas Heurtaux who lay in wait with the ball bouncing around the Juve box - Buffon did well to push it away from his goal line.

Allegri's men soon wrested back control of proceedings and Roberto Pereyra rattled the angle of post and bar after connecting with Llorente's knock-down.

Juve substitute Morata, on for fellow Spaniard Llorente, nearly made an instant impact as he controlled the ball with his chest in the box but the final product was lacking.

The former Real Madrid striker then should have done better with Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross but he instead scuffed his volley straight into Karnezis' arms.

Udinese had been on the back foot for a while yet they sprang a surprise in the 83rd minute with Antonio Di Natale blazing a fierce right-footed shot just over when the ball fell to him in the Juve area.

Tevez enjoyed a better opportunity when Paul Pogba supplied him a minute later, but he whipped his effort past the post, meaning Juve had to settle for a share of the points.

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Udinese 0-0 Juventus: Lacklustre
Champions Held By Defiant Udinese

Feb 1, 2015
 
Juventus were held by Udinese in a drab affair which finished 0–0 at the Stadio Friuli on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.

All communication out of Turin this week has claimed that a six-point lead over Roma would not be enough to guarantee another Scudetto for the Bianconeri, but their performance against Udinese could have fooled spectators into believing they felt comfortable enough in only extending the lead to seven points.

An Udinese team depleted from injuries and the African Cup of Nations, was expected to cause the The Old Lady few problems, but a spirited defensive performance combined with dangerous counter-attacking from the hosts, made for a starkly different outcome.

Juventus were rather slow out of the blocks, spending much of the early stages passing the ball well in possession but failing to create much in the way of chances. If anything, Udinese looked the more threatening proposition on the counter than Juventus, for all their possession.

Bruno Fernandes almost had the best opportunity of the game on 12 minutes when he found space beyond the Juventus defence, after Di Natale played him through, but the Brazilian lost control of the ball under his feet and his eventual shot dragged wide of Gianluigi Buffon’s goal.

Juventus’ best advances were limited to a trademark Paul Pogba drive but his wide, low effort was never a problem for Greek stopper Orestis Karnezis in the goal for Udinese.

Carlos Tevez wasted the away side’s best chance of the first half when he blazed over from inside the box on the right hand side following good hold up play and a pass from Fernando Llorente.

Massimiliano Allegri’s Bianconeri continued to dominate possession for the rest of the half but lacked any kind of spark to find an opening and a lead in the game as the first half ended at an uninspiring 0–0 scoreline.

Pereyra looked to take the initiative for on 57 minutes but saw his volleyed attempt crack against the crossbar and keep the game goalless.

Juventus feathers were becoming noticeably ruffled as they continued to struggle when Giorgio Chiellini reacted angrily to some close attention from Udinese’s Allan, who had a fantastic game disrupting the flow of the Juventus midfield.

With the game meandering towards a seemingly inevitable bore draw, Tevez wasted arguably the chance of the match on 82 minutes when Morata found space down the left and crossed towards Pogba, who played it back to the Argentinian striker only for him to fire a left-fooedt shot wide.

As the game drew to a close, neither side seemed willing to risk too much to win the points, rendering the final 10 minutes as tame as the other 80 that had preceded them. The game ended 0–0.

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Allegri: 'Juve risked losing'

Feb 1, 2015
 
Max Allegri admits Juventus “risked losing” against Udinese and was happy with the 0-0 draw.

“We played badly in the first half and kept throwing the ball away, were too hasty trying to go forward and left ourselves open to the counter-attack,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

“We went closer to conceding a goal than scoring in the first half. After the break we were more solid and more careful with the ball, so only ran a couple of risks.

“Udinese played with a lot of intensity and we made too many mistakes. In the end the result is fair, as it’s one of those games we risked losing.”

The Bianconeri moved to 3-5-2 and Gigi Buffon was forced into several saves.

“I think the difficulties in the first half were above all because we had three defenders plus Pirlo, then everyone else was already on the edge of the other box hoping to score. Against a side like Udinese that’s a very dangerous approach to take.”

Roma remain seven points adrift, but Juve could’ve gone nine in front with a victory.

“It’s a long season and seven points isn’t much. We have a long way to go yet and must look forward to next weekend.”

Allegri confirmed Sebastian Giovinco will terminate his contract early to join Toronto FC, so Alessandro Matri of Genoa and Inter outcast Daniel Osvaldo are the options.

It’s reported this morning Matri underwent a medical, as he is currently out injured.

“They are two important players, but the club will evaluate what are the best conditions to bring them to Turin.

“Giovinco is leaving, so four strikers aren’t enough and it’s normal we need someone else.”

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Andrea Pirlo warns Juventus against complacency

Feb 1, 2015
 
Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo has said that he is taking nothing for granted in the Serie A title race.

Juve are currently seven points clear of Roma at the top of the division, but the midfielder has warned against complacency.

"We are early in the second half of the season," the Italy international told JTV. "We have to keep winning to keep Roma at bay.

"Our current lead does not mean anything. Roma are strong and will continue to give us a hard time."

Juve were held to a goalless draw with Udinese on Sunday.

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Lifeless Llorente loitering
in Juve's last-chance saloon

The misfiring Bianconeri front man was again substituted after fading
into the background in Sunday's stalemate with Udinese.

Feb 1, 2015
 
The two dropped points won’t matter much in the final tally, but Fernando Llorente may well be left to rue another missed opportunity on Sunday as his Juventus career suffered another bump in the road with a goalless draw at Udinese.

Juventus drew 0-0 in Udine and rarely looked a real threat, but Roma’s failure to beat Empoli earlier in the weekend simply moved them one game nearer to the finish line without reducing their seven-point lead.

Llorente was a particular disappointment as he waved goodbye to another chance to kick-start his flagging spell, and is edging closer to the reject bin.

Llorente seemed to offer a new dimension during his first stanza with the club, a more direct target around whom the Bianconeri could base attacks. But in 2014-15 there have been far fewer obvious examples of what the Spaniard truly offers.

It was only fair that Carlos Tevez was the man who grabbed most of the headlines in the attacking department last term, albeit with the help of Llorente occupying markers expertly. But this time around the former Athletic Bilbao striker has given countless demonstrations of why he shouldn’t even be kept at the club next season, let alone persisted with in the starting XI.

Llorente has netted just five times in 25 games in all competitions, and has been allowed to see out the full 90 minutes of only three league matches since March 2014. What’s more, he doesn’t seem to provide the edge that he added to the forward line 12 months ago.

No longer that immense focal point, he is now a sterile figure, one opposition defences find far too easy to nullify. On Sunday he was once more replaced midway through the second half. His early withdrawal is fast becoming the most consistent stat of Juve's season.

In terms of Serie A, Juventus can afford to have one misfiring front man, thanks largely to Roma’s recent run of form.

The Bianconeri were slow to get started in Udine, yet there was no need to panic. A six-point and one-game advantage stripped them of the nervous energy they may otherwise have used positively had the margin still been a narrow one - as it was just a few weeks ago. Even as the game was dying out, there was no need to raise their levels too drastically. Juve's lead is so great that they can afford days like this.

While they have already dropped more points this season than they did in the entirety of 2013-14, there has been no challenge to their superiority. With Rudi Garcia’s men foundering, Massimiliano Allegri has been given more than enough breathing space to allow the likes of Llorente more time.

But there are still no signs that the big striker is what Juve need, certainly not in a Champions League sense. Other than when he netted in the must-win trip to Malmo in November, Llorente has done nothing of note on the continent. If the Old Lady are to have any hope of going deep in Europe, then the ‘Lion King’ may not be long for the first team.

With Tevez continuing to insist that he will leave the club at the end of his contract in 2016, another new overhaul is looking likely. Beyond Llorente’s troubles, Alvaro Morata also hasn’t shown enough to suggest he will be the long-term solution.

And now, with his 30th birthday approaching and no solid suggestion that his career curve is on an upward rather than downward trajectory, Llorente is fighting a losing battle in the Juventus forward line. He is quickly running out of last chances.

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Allegri: Juventus Were Poor Against Udinese

Feb 1, 2015
 
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was concerned about his side’s performance after their 0-0 draw against Udinese at the Stadio Friuli on Sunday afternoon in Serie A, but believed his side tried to win the match.

The Bianconeri were held in a match that had little for the neutrals, with much of the game being played in the midfield and both sides failing to provide a consistent goalscoring threat. Despite dominating possession, Juventus looked the less likely to score and Udinese’s veteran captain Antonio Di Natale as well as Cyril Thereau could have won the game for the hosts with more composure.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Allegri expressed his concern at the performance, which extended the Italian champions’ lead to seven points over Roma in second place, who also failed to win after a 1-1 draw with Empoli on Saturday evening.

“We played badly, we were too hurried on the ball and we were technically poor,” said Allegri.

“It wasn’t easy, Udinese were very aggressive and their defence was like a wall. There were some chances but the result was fair, and we could have even lost the game.”

When asked about whether the title could yet be declared won, the Juventus coach reacted in a typically coy manner.

“It’s a long season and there is a long way to go, there are still many victories required to win the league.”

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Juventus 0 - Udinese 0: Initial
reaction and random observations

Feb 1, 2015
 
Somewhere out there, somebody is probably crazily excited about Juventus having around 70 percent of the possession against Udinese on Sunday. And while possession numbers are perfectly acceptable and a good stat to use at times, here's a question to ponder regarding Juve having so much of the ball at the Friuli:

What, exactly, did Juventus do with all that possession?

Because it certainly wasn't leading to them finding the back of the net, that's for sure.

WhoScored.com ✔ @WhoScored
Juventus: Have failed to score in a Serie A match for the 3rd time this season, something they managed just once in the 2013/14 campaign

Juventus' somewhat-forced switch to a 3-5-2 formation didn't result in anything special against Udinese. In fact, it was pretty much the same kind of dour, uninspiring performance like we saw against Parma in the Coppa Italia earlier in the week. The Juventus attack didn't create much of anything despite having so much more possession than their opposition. Udinese goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis was barely troubled all game, with both of his two saves being as simple as simple gets.

There was a grand total of 13 shots — two of which were on frame — and nine corners from Juventus. And none of them, outside of Roberto Pereyra's screamer off the crossbar in the second half, were all too dangerous.

Yep, one of those days.

And I'm talking about the kind of game where Juventus creates a ton, finishes with 20 or more total shots and just can't finish anything to save their respective lives. Nope, Sunday afternoon at the Friuli was more about Udinese defending like a bunch of maniacs and Juventus having no kind of answer whatsoever.

The formation wasn't great, sure, but Juventus were just off — from start to the final whistle. Not even Simone Padoin being brought on in the second half could save Juventus in this one. It didn't matter how much of the ball they truly had, it was just a lackluster showing from Juve in a game that was a great opportunity to put a massive gap in between themselves and their closest competition in Serie A.

JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen
.@OfficialAllegri: "It was a fair result. Udinese played with great intensity, we made lots of mistakes from a technical standpoint."


Random thoughts and observations

Still waiting for Max Allegri to make that third sub. Still waiting.

Still wondering how Carlos Tévez missed that golden opportunity toward the end of regulation. That ball was served up on a silver platter and Tévez just blasted it high and wide with his left. Unbelievable.

Andrea Stramaccioni 1, Max Allegri 0. And it wasn't even close.

I guess the secret to keeping Paul Pogba under wraps is to have Udinese midfielder Allan just completely keep the young Frenchman in his pocket. There's only one option for Man of the Match, and that's Allan. Much like the managerial matchup, this one isn't even close, either. Allan racked up tackles left and right, and he was basically involved in everything positive that Udinese did against Juventus.

So when does Beppe Marotta call up Udinese and offer up a loan-with-option-to-buy package for Allan? The transfer market is still open, you know.

It took Álvaro Morata all of about two minutes to show why he should have started ahead of Fernando Llorente. As much as I love Llorente, it's time for Morata to get the vast majority of the minutes from here on out this season. Llorente's form isn't getting any better and Morata is showing that he's the best option to partner with Tévez these days.

Well, would you imagine that. If that's not Allegri giving himself a hint that he should play Morata more, I don't know what is.

Andrea Pirlo's corners and free kicks were a mixed bag of mediocre and just plain bad. I don't remember a game where just about every ball he sent in was just totally off the mark or no kind of threat at all.

If you had to choose right now, who's your starting right back, Martin Cáceres or Stephan Lichtsteiner?

Was Gigi Buffon the only Juventus to truly play well against Udinese? It definitely feels that way.

If Udinese had won that game, they would have thoroughly deserved it. They were clearly the better side on Sunday, and they really could have scored a goal or two if not for a couple of blown chances.

One positive, I guess: Juventus' lead atop the Serie A table is back at seven points. It could be worse.

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Stramaccioni Proud Of His
Players After Juventus Draw

Feb 1, 2015
 
Udinese coach Andrea Stramaccioni was in a glowing mood after the Zebrette held champions Juventus to a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Friuli on Sunday Afternoon in Serie A.

Juventus dominated possession in the match but struggled to produce many goalscoring opportunities, though Carlos Tevez and Antonio Di Natale may feel they could have won the game for their respective sides. The draw sees the Friulani remain in 11th spot in the table, two points ahead of Ac Milan.

Speaking to Radio Rai after the game, Stramaccioni expressed his satisfaction at the performance and his tactics, as well as how proud he was of his players.

“We approached the game in the best way, with courage,” he said.

“I played three attackers to cause problems for Juventus and we were successful. Against Juventus, if you only think about defending, sooner or later they will score.”

“Buffon made two crucial saves, but I want to underline the great effort of the defence.”

Allan had a standout performance in the Udinese midfield, constantly hassling his opponents and disrupting the visitors’ flow, for which his coach reserved special praise.

“Allan was incredible, for me he is one of the best central midfielders in Europe, second only maybe to Paul Pogba.”

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Player Ratings: Udinese 0-0 Juventus

Feb 1, 2015
 
Udinese and Juventus finished scoreless 0-0 in a Serie A clash played at the Stadio Friuli on Sunday.

As expected, the Bianconeri controlled the tempo of the match for the most part but could not establish overall dominance over the Zebrette, who won their first point against the champions in over three calendar years.

Here are Forza Italian Football’s individual player ratings for the match.

 

Udinese

Orestis Karnezis – 6 – Stability - The Greek international had only two shots directed on his goal for all 90 minutes of play and he dealt with them with no problem, while at the same time picking every ball that entered his range from either side.

Thomas Heurtaux – 5.5 –Expectations - Should get the deserved credit for an overall good defensive display by the home team, but he was not one of the most active individuals in the backline until pressure increased in the closing stages of the match.

Danilo – 6.5 – Excellent - Did very well neutralising the Bianconeri’s lethal front men with good positioning and well-timed tackles, especially Llorente. Had one of his team’s best chances on goal from a corner, but Buffon saved his header well.

Ivan Piris – 6 – Solid - The only reason he has a lower rating than Danilo is that he mispossessed deep in his own half in the second 45 minutes, which could be punished had it not been for his wonderful recovery. Still…

Gabriel Silva – 5 – Unimpressive - Justifiedly substituted off by Andrea Stramaccioni

Allan – 7.5 – Star - Great performance all throughout in breaking Juventus’ attacking plays in safe distance from Karnezis’ goal. Undisputed winner of the personal battle with Pogba.

Bruno Fernandes – 6 – Dangerous - Creator of two of the three shots on the Bianconeri’s goal, asking Buffon to stretch well on one of them. His involvement decreased as the visitors took control in the second half.

Guilherme – 5.5 – Complementary - Picked up the slack when and where Allan could not be to form a nearly impenetrable first line of Zebrette defence.

Silvan Widmer – 6 – Improving - Slow opening half saw him struggling in his rare attacking runs and forced deep in his own half. He was one of the Zebrette’s best players on the pitch after the break, though, putting pressure higher up the field and neutralising the Bianconeri’s attacks from the right, especially late on.

Cyril Thereau – 4 – Absent - More like nowhere to be found.

Antonio Di Natale – 5.5 – Tiring - Actively looked for the ball, started some good attacking plays, even looked towards goal on several occasions, but impact decreased as the second half progressed.


Substitutes

Giovanni Pasquale – 5 – Unimpactful - Replaced Gabriel Silva after 66 and provided only fresh legs.


 

Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon – 7 – Responding - Certainly the busier of both goalkeepers, but that did not seem to bother him much. Pulled off two great saves, one in each half.

Martin Caceres – 5.5 – Quiet - Did his defensive duties without catching the eye of an average spectator.

Leonardo Bonucci – 5.5 – Average - An average game by the 27-year-old. Most significant involvement was to press Fernandes on his run to goal in the first half, making it hard for the Portuguese to put more power in his shot, thus helping Buffon deal with it better

Giorgio Chiellini – 5.5 – Parallel - Not any better, nor worse than his partners in the defensive line.

Stephan Lichtsteiner – 5.5 – Attack - Spent a considerable portion of the match in Zebrette’s half, even tried his luck early on, but lacked the final touch to create danger.

Roberto Pereyra – 6 – Close - Had the best opportunity to open the scoring for either team when he beat Karnezis on a rare occasion, but his volley from close range went as far as the crossbar.

Andrea Pirlo – 5.5 – Silenced - Enjoyed a fair share of in-play possession, but wasted multiple set piece opportunities to create danger.

Paul Pogba – 5.5 – Overshadowed - Started to find himself later on after an unproductive first half, but all compliments in that part of the pitch should go to his counterpart Allan.

Patrice Evra – 4.5 – Disappoining - Did not make as much attacking threat as expected – and usually provided – by him and logically made way to Padoin in the second half.

Fernando Llorente – 5 – Ok - Missed a good heading opportunity in the first half and later set up Pereyra perfectly for his shot at the crossbar, but replacing him with Morata seemed to be the right move by Massimiliano Allegri.

Carlos Tevez – 5.5 – Wasteful - Had several great opportunities throughout the match to become the Bianconeri’s hero, but his finishing was dreadful and none of his seven shots found the target.


Substitutes

Alvaro Morata – 5.5 – Unimpressive - Provided extra energy after replacing Llorente after 67 minutes, but bad touches and good defending prevented him from making the same impact as against Parma in the Coppa Italia earlier in the week.

Simone Padoin – N/A - Did not provide much to base his rating off.

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

UDINESE 0-0 JUVENTUS MATCH REPORT

Feb 1, 2015

 
MATCH REPORT

Statistics:

Man of the Match: N/A

Flop of the Match: N/A

Fouls: 16

Corners: 9

Pass Accuracy: 82%

Shots on Target: 2

Total Shots: 13

Ball Possession: 66%

Formation: 3-5-2


Lineups

Udinese: Karnezis; Heurtaux, Danilo, Piris, Gabriel Silva (Pasquale 66), Allan, Bruno Fernandes, Guilherme, Widmer; Di Natale, Thereau

Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Pirlo, Pogba, Evra (Padoin 74); Tevez, Llorente (Morata 67)

Ref: Gervasoni

 

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

[Socrates 8516]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrea Gervasoni

Udinese vs. Juventus: Drab Draw Shows
Paul Pogba and Allegri Have Work to Do

Feb 1, 2015

Having watched AS Roma draw for the fourth consecutive time in Serie A, Juventus travelled to face Udinese knowing victory would hand them a nine-point lead at the top of the table.

Their opponents had been struggling, having won just one of their previous six league games and facing the prospect of becoming embroiled in the relegation battle.

Massimiliano Allegri faced a selection dilemma, with Claudio Marchisio’s suspension and an injury to Arturo Vidal robbing the coach of two major weapons in midfield. To cover for the absence of such key players, the Bianconeri reverted to a 3-5-2 system, hoping its solidity would guard against the evergreen danger of Antonio Di Natale.

With Andrea Stramaccioni also fielding his side in a similar tactical framework, what followed was a difficult-to-watch encounter in which neither team was able to find the back of the net. Both had their chances, but the final 0-0 scoreline reflected the dull nature of the game witnessed by those present at the semi-rebuilt Stadio Friuli.

OptaPaolo @OptaPaolo
3 - Juventus have failed to score for the 3rd time in this Serie A. Last season they didn't manage to score only once in the league. Break.

While the work being done to remove the running track and reduce capacity in order to create a better atmosphere is important for Udinese, the backdrop also provided a stark metaphor for Allegri and Juventus. Following Antonio Conte’s surprise summer exit, the former AC Milan boss has been charged with reshaping the team he inherited, and the game highlighted the size of the task he faces.

Looking at this performance, the defence did its job and restricted Udinese to scraps on the break—opportunities they would perhaps not have received had the Juve midfield been at full strength. Marchisio in particular is adept at reading such danger, rarely getting the credit he deserves for the superb tactical acumen of his play.

At the other end of the pitch, the team looked better after the introduction of Alvaro Morata, the young Spaniard injecting the direct approach Fernando Llorente had previously failed to provide. Lacking the pace of his compatriot, the latter continues to labour, looking short on confidence and in desperate need of a goal to boost his morale.

Llorente’s problems were previously discussed at length here, and this match only saw those struggles continue. With Carlos Tevez also unable to unlock a resolute Udinese defence, the lack of invention and forward running from midfield grew increasingly apparent as the game wore on.

Rather than waiting for something to happen, the Bianconeri needed someone to step up and win the match. For all his wonderful qualities, Andrea Pirlo’s often perfect delivery is only effective with players in position to receive the ball, and all too often on Sunday, his Juventus team-mates stood around watching.

Given the talk that has surrounded him in recent weeks, the onus to do more fell to Paul Pogba, but against Udinese, he failed to carry his side to victory. While it must be remembered that he is just a 21-year-old in only his third professional season, it is games such as this in which the best players rise to the occasion.

To be considered a world-class talent, Pogba must deliver victory when others cannot, just as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic do so often. Against Udinese, he was held in check by Allan, a hard-working but limited midfielder charged with nullifying the youngster and preventing him from having an impact on the result.

WhoScored.com ✔ @WhoScored
Allan: MotM vs Juventus, Rating 8.17, Tackles 7, Interceptions 3, Clearances 2, Key passes 1

The Brazilian achieved that with some ease, ending the match with seven tackles and two interceptions, according to statistics from WhoScored.com. With all due respect to the 24-year-old, it is hard to imagine him enjoying the same success against the other names mentioned, and the visibly frustrated Pogba must learn to overcome such close attention.

It is something he will learn in time, and it is one of the few remaining skills he needs to add to his game in order to elevate himself to the highest echelon of stars. Like Pogba, Allegri has work to do, not only to help continue the development of the gifted Frenchman but also to motivate and guide his team to the success they crave.

Allan showed that they both remain a work in progress, and Juventus will hope both men can deliver the finished product come the end of the season.

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