Juventus Season 2014-2015

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Greek Comedy: Juventus reach farcical
levels with ancient Pirlo

The Bianconeri flopped once more on the continent, but it was the midfielder's
horror show which helped to ensure their defeat against Olympiakos.

Oct 22, 2014

By Kris Voakes | International Football Correspondent
As if Juventus’ difficulties on the road in the Champions League were not enough, the travails of Andrea Pirlo have given Massimiliano Allegri something else to worry about following their 1-0 defeat to Olympiakos.

Pajtim Kasami’s goal was the least the home side deserved for their efforts, with Pirlo’s loose pass in midfield quickly pounced upon before the Swiss attacker guided Kostas Mitroglou’s centre into the back of the net.

Had Kasami buried a golden opportunity early in the second half, there could have been no complaints from a Juventus side that were simply not at the races.

Just as was the case away to Atletico Madrid three weeks ago, Juve were lifeless for far too much of the encounter. But, unlike their trip to the Vicente Calderon, this shouldn’t have been a fixture which held any significant fear for them.

They weren’t without their chances in the first half, but those that did fall their way came almost exclusively from set-pieces.

Omar Elabdellaoui had to clear off the line after Carlos Tevez’s shot skewed over goalkeeper Roberto from one corner, while the Argentine would later have a goal disallowed from another.

A Pirlo free-kick was only partially dealt with, but Angelo Ogbonna couldn’t hook the ball goalwards from the bouncing ball. Alvaro Morata also failed to steer on target after another Pirlo set-piece.

From open play, it was a completely different story.

There was no fluidity about Juve’s passing, with the kind of clinical and controlled possession football which has decimated Serie A for the past three years notable by its absence. Normally their midfield strangles the life out of its opposition, but tonight they appeared more intent on killing off their own air supply.

The ageing Pirlo was a long, long way short of form and fitness, regularly losing the ball in very unfamiliar fashion and floating one horrendous free-kick strike high and wide of goal. It summed up his night, and was followed seconds later by his removal in favour of Claudio Marchisio. Rarely can his substitution in the 57th minute have been so widely celebrated.

It was little coincidence that Juve stepped up their game after he had departed. Suddenly they found greater space in the attacking half, with Morata forcing two fine saves from Roberto and Tevez also being kept out by the brilliant Spaniard.

The late onslaught, though, was more a reminder of all the things Juve hadn’t been trying for the first hour.

Since dispatching Celtic with ease in the Round of 16 in 2012-13, Juventus have gone from hopefuls to also-rans in the Champions League. In six trips across the continent they have lost to Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Galatasaray, Atletico and now Olympiakos. Their only point on their travels came against the minnows of Copenhagen.

Juventus need to get their act sorted, and fast, if they are to avoid a second straight group exit, but they must also decide what to do about Pirlo.

Having forced him out onto the pitch as he continues his comeback from injury, they need to give him time to come to terms with the pace of first-team football again. As for his sudden inability to find a team-mate from 10 yards away, they had simply better hope that the metronomic midfielder can find his range again soon.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Vialli: Juventus Deserved A Point
Against Olimpiacos

Oct 22, 2014

Former Juventus striker Gianluca Vialli has said that the Bianconeri deserved a draw on Wednesday night against Olympiakos.

La Vecchia Signora lost 1-0 against the Greek giants at the Karaiskis Stadium in the UEFA Champions League group stage, and Vialli was quick to say that Massimiliano Allegri’s men deserved to draw the game.

“Juventus had 18 shots on goal, Allegri’s men deserved to draw,” he told Sky. “However, you cannot start the match in such a defeatist manner.

“Juve are always playing catch-up.”

The former Sampdoria striker then went on to criticise the performance of midfielder Andrea Pirlo, saying that he negatively impacted the past two games against Olympiakos and Sassuolo.

“Pirlo is also not in condition,” he said. “He has negatively impacted the previous two matches in which he has played in.”

It is also worth mentioning that Juventus’ next game is at home to Palermo in Serie A on Sunday.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Tevez: 'Juve need new mentality'

Oct 22, 2014

Carlos Tevez said Juventus “have to change” mentality in the Champions League after a defeat to Olympiacos.

“Roberto put in an incredible performance and Olympiacos can thank him for the victory,” the striker told Sport Mediaset after a 1-0 result.

“We have to turn over a new leaf and find something within ourselves. We must remember that we are Juventus. We certainly didn’t come here to lose.”

The Bianconeri are so dominant domestically, yet have won the Champions League only once.

“The history of Juventus have always been a bit like this, they do well in Serie A and struggle in Europe. If we want to become a great team then we have to turn that around and I believe we can change it.

“I think it is an issue of mentality and it depends only on us to change.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Pajtim Kasami secures victory
for Olympiakos over Juventus

Oct 22, 2014

Olympiakos edged Juventus 1-0 on Wednesday night in Piraeus after a first-half goal from Pajtim Kasami.

The Swiss midfielder struck in the 36th minute to hand his team three valuable points in the Champions League.

The outcome has left Michel's side level on six points with Atletico Madrid at the top of Group A after three games played. Atletico thrashed Malmo FF 5-0 in Spain.

Juventus failed to test Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto Gago in the opening half but had plenty of opportunities to equalise after the re-start yet failed to convert any.

Juve encountered a hostile atmosphere at the Karaiskakis Stadium and lost to Olympiakos for the first time in Greece.

The Italians have dropped to third in the pool, three points adrift of the leaders.

Arturo Vidal returned to the starting XI for Juve after the Chilean midfielder was rested in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sassuolo.

Alvaro Morata earned his first start for the Italians, playing alongside Carlos Tevez up front.

The hosts had the first chance of the game in the seventh minute when Alejandro Dominguez's curled effort was kept out by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Juve almost took a 12th-minute lead when Morata headed the ball down and in the direction of Tevez.

The Argentinian's goal-bound shot was blocked by defender Omar Elabdellaoui on the goal-line with Gago already beaten.

At the other end, Luka Milivojevic's hard drive from 30 yards was tipped over the bar by Buffon.

The Italy national team captain was called on again to make a save midway through the first half and had to clear Kasami's powerful strike from long range.

Olympiakos' efforts paid off when a play started by Dominguez saw Kostas Mitroglou set up Kasami just outside the area.

He then hit the ball towards the near post and out of Buffon's reach.

Juve looked more dangerous in the second half and should have pulled level when Paul Pogba set up Stephan Lichtsteiner in the box but his effort went wide.

Before the hour mark, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri brought on Claudio Marchisio in place of Andrea Pirlo.

Tevez was denied the equaliser in the 75th minute when his right-footed attempt was saved by Gago.

Five minutes later and Gago again came to the rescue when he kept out Morata's 12-yard shot from the centre of the box.

With four minutes remaining, Morata fed Tevez just outside the area and his powerful attempt was saved by Gago as Olympiakos held on for their second win in Group A.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Allegri: 'Juve good chance of qualifying'

Oct 22, 2014

Max Allegri defended Andrea Pirlo and assured Juventus “have a very good chance of qualifying” despite defeat to Olympiacos.

“I imagined this game differently above all in terms of the first half,” the Coach told Sport Mediaset after a 1-0 Champions League loss in Athens.

“We were bad technically, didn’t move enough and allowed three or four counter-attacks, which were what Olympiacos wanted.

“In the second half we wasted too many scoring opportunities. We leave here with a bitter result and regrets over the first half, but I maintain we still have a very good chance of qualifying.”

It’s a complicated situation, as Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos now have six points, while Juve and Malmo have three apiece.

“I think we made a lot of unforced errors in the first half and couldn’t control the game. Olympiacos pressed us a lot and in fact lost a lot of intensity as time wore on.

“We were too deep and stretched out between the sections in the first half, so we can only take the blame for having played like that.”

Pirlo was particularly disappointing, giving away possession several times, including on the incident that led to the goal.

“I am not worried, as Andrea was out for a long time and just needs match fitness. I played him tonight because I needed someone in front of the defence who could slow the game down and keep the ball while Olympiacos pressed us.

“I’m certain that with time and more fitness work Andrea will return to being the player we all knew.

“Morata proved he had great quality tonight, both in the first and second half.”

Allegri moved to the 4-2-3-1 system in the final 15 minutes, but should Juventus adopt that shape from the start in Europe?

“The idea tonight was to get the ball high up the field, but you need to stay tight and we left some gaps in midfield, staying too stretched out.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

TEAM RATINGS

Oct 22, 2014

OLYMPIAKOS PIRAEUS

16 Roberto Jiménez - Had little to do in the first half though came off his line well to collect balls into the box. Was called upon much more after the break, making countless unbelievable saves to deny the visitors.

14 O. Elabdellaoui - Never gave Asamoah or Pogba an inch on the Juventus left. Struggled to get forward to support the hosts' attacks.

3 Botía - Made a number of clearances inside his own area as he stayed tight to Tevez. Blocked superbly to deny Morata in the second half.

22 E. Abidal - Showed all his experience up against Morata as he forced the former Real Madrid man away from goal with his runs. Won a number of key headers.

26 A. Masuaku - Forward runs forced Lichtsteiner back, though his final ball was sometimes lacking. Strong in defence as he put in a fine performance.

2 G. Maniatis - Won the ball a number of times in midfield as he got close to Pirlo and put the Italy international under plenty of pressure. Never stopped running.

11 P. Kasami - Cleared off the line to deny Tevez before showing great composure to break the deadlock from the edge of the area. Should have made it 2-0 as he slid a shot wide after the break.

5 L. Milivojević - Saw a deflected effort tipped over the bar by Buffon in the first half and won a number of challenges in midfield, especially on Lichtsteiner.

10 A. Domínguez - Stung Buffon's palms with an early free kick before volleying narrowly wide. Direct running caused problems, no more so than when helping create the opening goal.

8 D. Ndinga - Worked hard on the right-hand side as he regularly tracked back with Asamoah. Rarely figured going forward.

7 K. Mitroglou - Was the focal point of the hosts' attack, and though his own efforts on goal were disappointing he provided some excellent link-up play.


Substitutes

6 I. Afellay - Had little impact after replacing Mitroglou for the final quarter of the match.

JUVENTUS

1 G. Buffon - Saved well early on from Dominguez's free kick but had no chance with Kasami's opener. Had little to do thereafter as the visitors dominated.

5 A. Ogbonna - Won a number of aerial battles at both ends of the pitch though his passing was not always at the required level. Replaced late on.

19 L. Bonucci - Was the spare man much of the time and kept possession well, though his long balls were largely poor. Defensive positioning was solid throughout.

3 G. Chiellini - Struggled up against the physical presence of Mitroglou while Dominguez's direct runs also showed him up for a lack of pace.

26 S. Lichtsteiner - Struggled to get forward and impact the game as Masuaku's forward runs inhibited him. Balls into the box were poor when he got the opportunity to deliver.

6 P. Pogba - Was not involved as his manager would have liked, though he almost equalised with a speculative effort from 30 yards that Roberto palmed away.

21 A. Pirlo - Gave the ball away a number of times, including in the build-up to Kasami's opener. Set-piece delivery caused some problems though his shooting was largely off-target. Replaced inside an hour.

23 A. Vidal - Won a number of tackles in midfield and carried the ball well. Was sometimes sloppy in possession which allowed the visitors to launch counterattacks.

22 K. Asamoah - Was barely seen as the visitors failed to utilise their wing-backs enough. Was given no space to run into by the excellent Elabdellaoui.

9 Álvaro Morata - Pace and direct running added a different dimension to Juve's attacking. Was denied on three occasions by some fine goalkeeping by Roberto.

10 C. Tévez - Saw an early effort cleared off the line before seeing a header ruled out for offside. Could not find as much space as he would have wanted to, though almost equalised late on, only for Roberto to save well low to his right.


Substitutes

37 R. Pereyra - Made little impact after replacing Ogbonna for the final 10 minutes.

8 C. Marchisio - Kept the ball much better than Pirlo though was bypassed late on as the visitors chased an equaliser.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Pogba: 'Juve lack something'

Oct 22, 2014

Paul Pogba admits Juventus “lack something in the Champions League” after a 1-0 defeat to Olympiacos.

“I think we do lack something in the Champions League, whereas in Serie A we are more relaxed,” the Frenchman told Sport Mediaset.

“In Europe we play against teams who are all very strong and we must take that extra step to go forward.”

Pogba had one of the best scoring opportunities in the second half with a cross-shot that Roberto flapped out from under the bar. Was it an intentional hit?

“It was meant to be a cross. I wanted to hit it hard across, but it went up and the goalkeeper anticipated it. The ball could’ve gone in, the goalkeeper did a great job tonight.”

Juve were caught out on the counter this evening when Andrea Pirlo was dispossessed and Pogba revealed this is a tactical issue.

“Allegri tells me to run off the ball, but the problem is that I should be closer to Andrea, as otherwise I leave him on his own.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Morata: 'Roberto among the best'

Oct 22, 2014

Alvaro Morata said Olympiacos goalkeeper Roberto’s remarkable performance was “not an excuse” for Juventus.

The ex-Real Madrid striker had comfortably the best chances to score in Athens, but was denied on several occasions by Roberto and the woodwork.

“We could’ve won this game, even if we played in a difficult arena against one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Morata told Sky Sport Italia.

“I have to work harder to score goals, because the fact Roberto had a great performance was not an excuse.”

The Bianconeri were beaten 1-0 by Olympiacos, who now lead the Champions League group on a par with Atletico Madrid.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Player Ratings: Olympiacos 1-0 Juventus

Oct 22, 2014

Olympiacos have narrowly defeated Juventus 1-0 at the Giorgios Karaiskakis Stadium in the third round of the Champions League group stages.

Both sides struggled to settle into the match early, but it was the home side with the sporadic bursts forward on the counter. Indeed it was a single goal from Pajtim Kasami that sealed the victory for the Greeks, despite the Bianconeri onslaught in the second half.

OLYMPIAKOS

Roberto – 7 – Colossal - Consistently made excellent saves that kept his side in the match, was alert for the entirety of the game.

Omar Elabdellaoui – 6.5 – Good - The young-gun not only defended well but made a few runs forward on the right flank on the counter.

Alberto Botia – 6 – Strong - Had a great game as his forceful defending limited the influence of Alvaro Morata.

Eric Abidal – 6 – Solid - The French veteran was an important figure in the Greek defence and was forced to make several important passes to stop the likes of Morata from scoring.

Arthur Masuaku – 7 – Stellar - The French international advanced on every possible occasion and was made continual threatening runs via the left flank.

Giannis Maniatis – 6.5 – Usual - The captain was a consistent figure in his side’s victory yet was the strains of the previous few matches had taken a noticeable toll on his body, which impaired his performance.

Pajtim Kasami – 7 - Goal - The goalscorer was dangerous in attack and managed to continually get in behind the Bianconeri defence. He had several attempts on goal and was replaced by Kostas Giannoulis with only injury time remaining.

Luka Milivojevic – 6 – Important - The Serbian International dominated the midfield in the first half and made several decisive passes that allowed his team to move forward quickly on the counter attack.

Alejandro Dominguez – 6 – Solid - Was a dangerous presence in and around the box in the first half, however had his influence wane over the course of the game, until he was taken off.

Delvin Ndinga – 6 – Important - Made some threatening plays forward on the counter and managed to contain Asamoah.

Kostas Mitroglou – 6.5 – Average - Had a few chances in the box and his lay off was responsible for the goal yet remained quiet for the match. Was subbed off in the second half.


Substitutes

Ibrahim Afellay – 5 - Same - Replaced Mitroglou in the 69th minute, made a few passes but was mostly required to track back and defend.

David Fuster – 5 - Same - Replaced Alejandro Dominguez. His first Champions League match since his injury yet played no instrumental role in the final 20 minutes.

Kostas Giannoulis – N/A - Came on for Kasami just before the start of injury time. No real influence.

JUVENTUS

Gianluigi Buffon – 5 – Consistent - It was an average night for the Italian champion, who was kept on his toes by the opposition, especially Masuaku. Made one amazing save from a freekick in the first half.

Angelo Ogbonna – 4.5 - Errors - Played an important role in the defensive line-up yet made a few key errors and was arguable one of those at fault for the goal.

Leonardo Bonucci – 5 – Consistent - The Italian international made several decisive passes and was key in stopping the Olympiacos’ onslaught.

Giorgio Chiellini – 5 – Solid - As always, the Italian international was a consistent figure in the Old Lady’s defence, but found himself dragged out of position on too many occasions.

Stephan Lichtsteiner – 4 – Poor - Ever the selfless and tireless player, Lichtsteiner was frustrated on the left flank and hardly came forward. He received a yellow card for his foul on Masuaku.

Paul Pogba – 5.5 – Usual - The French international played his usual game and was key for the Bianconeri not only in the midfield but also when tracking back to defend. But didn’t have the support around him as he usually does.

Andrea Pirlo – 4 - Unusual - The midfield magician played an uncharacteristic match and continually surrendered possession in the centre of midfield, resulting in numerous counter attacks and the eventual goal. However his partnership with Vidal, began to slowly control the midfield. Additionally had several woeful free-kick attempts.

Arturo Vidal – 5.5 - Best - It seemed the Chilean was everywhere on the pitch and made several key passes. Was important in creating plays forward for the bianconeri.

Kwadwo Asamoah – 4 - Invisible - Had a disappointing first half and made few plays forward, as his influence was limited by Ndinga.

Carlos Tevez – 4.5 – Disappointing - The Argentinian looked frustrated for the entire match and played deep in an attempt to contribute for his side. Had one goal disallowed due to offside.

Alvaro Morata – 6 – Impressive - Did inject an extra element of pace into the bianconeri attack, however was not sufficiently fed balls into the area in the first half. Managed to get in between the Olympiakos defenders and had the most attempts on goal for the bianconeri.


Substitutes

Claudio Marchisio – 6 – Instrumental - Replaced Pirlo in the 57th minute, had immediate effect as his pin-point passes allowed his side to gain momentum going forward. The Italian was key in providing balls into the box.

Roberto Pereya – 5 – Average - Entered the match in the 77th minute for Angelo Ogbonna. No real influence in the match.

Sebastian Giovinco - N/A - Replaced Paul Pogba in the 87th minute. Had little to no time to do any real damage but did made some key passes into the area.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Olympiacos 1 - Juventus 0: Initial
reaction and random observations

Oct 22, 2014

There comes a point where Juventus' struggles in the Champions League — group stage or elsewhere — can't be simply categorized as bad luck. And it's safe to say after their 1-0 loss in Greece to Olympiacos, we've reached that point.

Was Roberto simply fantastic between the sticks? Yes. Was Olympiacos very good in the first half? Yes. DId Juventus play better in the second half? Yes, of course they did.

But when push comes to shove, there's just one overlying problem in a game that had plenty of issues for Max Allegri's squad: Juventus didn't win away from home in the Champions League once again, making it five out of the six games away from Juventus Stadium that they've failed to come home with at least one point.

We can play the "What if..." game all we want right now. But what we truly know is what we saw take place Wednesday night. That's Juventus coming out slow in a Champions League game — again. And Juventus paying for it — again. The first 45 minutes were as drab as drab can be. Juve looked just completely out of their element. Their attack was bland, their defense was almost chasing Olympiacos players around as they burst forward on the counter.

Paolo Bandini @Paolo_Bandini
Juventus authors of their own demise in CL - persist in starting games far too slowly. But they have run into some ridiculous GK displays

Shot after shot after shot and absolutely nothing. Roberto was insanely good — continuing the notion that there is an unwritten rule saying goalkeepers must have the game of their life when they play Juventus. It indeed was a Buffon-esque kind of game for the Spanish shotstopper.

But Juventus should have done better. Why? Because they had plenty of chances to.

Something has to change. Be it mentality, tactics, personnel in the starting lineup, whatever. The group stage is only at the halfway point, so there's still time to turn this thing around. But with two of the final group stage games at Juventus Stadium, this team has to take advantage of the schedule being in their favor and get max points. And they have to do it now. No excuses.

JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen
#Buffon: "If we played like we did in the second half the whole way through, the final outcome would have been different." #OlympiacosJuve

I'm not yelling at you, Gigi, but PLEASE PLAY LIKE THAT TO BEGIN THE GAME, PEOPLE.

Random thoughts and observations

When was the last time Gianluigi Buffon had to make four saves in the first 13 minutes of a match?

Outside of not scoring a goal, I think it's safe to say Álvaro Morata's first Juventus start was a widely successful one. He was easily Juventus' most dangerous player. He helped create chances for himself, he set up chances for his teammates. He was really good. If he were to start over the weekend against Palermo, I would be totally okay with it.

Is it really that difficult to start a game with the same urgency as the way Juventus finished it? Seriously, you start a game so slow, you're bound to get punished. Guess what? Juventus did.

We can argue all day and night about 3-5-2 vs. 4-3-3/4-3-1-2/4-whatever-whatever, but this game really showed how ineffective Juventus' offense is when there's absolutely nothing — in this case Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah — coming from the wings. Something has to change.

Eighteen shots, no goals. I'll just leave it at that.

I was in favor of starting Claudio Marchisio over Andrea Pirlo, but obviously Max Allegri had different ideas. Before the former replaced the latter in the 56th minute, it was an absolute fall-flat-on-your-face kind of game for Pirlo. Passes were off, he looked a step or two behind the Olympiacos counterattack, and his dispossession led to the game's only goal in the first half. Just another bad night for a player who hasn't even been close to his best since returning from injury a few weeks ago.

Speaking of players who didn't have a good night, you can include Arturo Vidal in that group. He's there, he's running around like he usually does, but he's just lacking that typical Vidal bite on both ends of the field. A lot like Fernando Llorente, he's just not playing well at all right now.

How vulnerable did Juventus' defense look when Olympiacos broke on the counterattack? We bemoan the formation and lack of creativity in the attack, and that's understandable at this point. But Juventus' defense has looked more and more shaky in Europe as time goes on. Luckily for them, they only gave up one goal, not two or three like could have happened if not for Buffon.

Thanks for not winning on my birthday, Juventus.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Olympiacos vs. Juventus: Lessons

Learned from Champions League Game

Oct 22, 2014

Having struggled in their last three matches, Juventus travelled to Athens on Wednesday evening, taking on Olympiacos at the vociferous Karaiskakis Stadium. The Greek champions had already registered a win over Atletico Madrid, an impressive display that made many observers pay them greater attention.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Michel has turned them into a formidable opponent, and the Bianconeri knew they would need to be at their best to leave with a positive result. The Turin giants had already lost to Atleti in Group A, following that defeat with a controversial win over Roma and Saturday’s laboured draw with Sassuolo.

Needing a good performance, Massimiliano Allegri’s side failed to deliver, losing 1-0 on a disappointing evening. Over the following pages is a look at the lessons La Madama will have learned from the encounter, information that could be hugely important when Olympiacos visit the Juventus Stadium next month.


Even the Best Have Bad Nights

Andrea Pirlo is without doubt one of the finest midfielders in the world today, yet his personal performance in Athens was woeful. His display should serve to remind Juventus that even the best can have a bad game, and that bouncing back from such a disappointment is vital.

The World Cup winner was uncharacteristically sloppy in possession, stats site WhoScored.com showing he completed just 76.7 per cent of his pass attempts. In addition, he was dispossessed on a number of occasions, most notably when a swift counter-attack led to Patjim Kasami’s goal.

Pirlo will undoubtedly shrug off the match and return to his best, with supporters hoping he can once again inspire the Bianconeri to do the same.


Chances Cannot Be Wasted

While it may be cliched to say that teams are punished for not taking their chances in the Champions League, Wednesday’s loss proved just that. Juventus registered twice as many attempts on goal as their opponent, WhoScored.com showing they had 18 shots to the nine mustered by Olympiacos.

Many of those should have been converted, and the eventual 1-0 scoreline only served to highlight how their lack of sharpness came back to haunt them.

The Bianconeri need to start finding the back of the net, having now gone two matches without a goal in this competition.


But Sometimes the Opposing Goalkeeper Deserves Credit

While Juventus undoubtedly need to improve their attacking prowess, the performance of Roberto deserves special praise. The Olympiacos goalkeeper turned in an incredible display, making a string of saves to preserve his side’s clean sheet.

The 28-year-old pulled of some superb stops, with his efforts to deny Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata particularly noteworthy.


A Change in Formation May Bring a Change of Fortune

Massimiliano Allegri has been extremely careful not to make too many changes in his first few months in charge, seeking to bring some continuity to his new side. Yet perhaps now is the time to make a break with the past and usher in a new formation in order to maximise the potential of this Juventus.

Having overseen a tepid first half, the coach made a raft of changes after the break, and was rewarded with a vastly improved performance. Gigi Buffon certainly took note, as he discussed the match with Sport Mediaset shortly after full time, telling them (h/t Football Italia):

We deserved a point considering the number of chances, but there are also regrets at a ‘normal’ first half. If we had played the whole game at this tempo, it would’ve been a different result.

At half-time the Coach adjusted two or three things, modifying some positions and it went much better.

The most notable switch was a move to a 4-2-3-1 framework, the added attacking impetus leading to excellent chances for Paul Pogba and Alvaro Morata. Perhaps that is something Allegri will consider on a more permanent basis after seeing its impact here.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Chiellini: 'Juve did it all wrong'

Oct 22, 2014

Giorgio Chiellini said Juventus “did everything we said we shouldn’t do” in their 1-0 defeat to Olympiacos.

“We certainly didn’t deserve to lose this game, as we created so many chances in the last half-hour and the goal seemed to be cursed,” he told Sport Mediaset.

“We need a more thorough analysis and must take responsibility for a poor first half, where we did everything we said we shouldn’t do, including concede counter-attacks.

“It’s a shame, as Olympiacos couldn’t really trouble us any other way and we knew that was going to be the situation.”

Juventus now have three points along with Malmo, while Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos are top with six points.

“Our destiny is still in our hands, but we did not expect to be in this situation after three games, nor should we be,” continued Chiellini.

“We lacked some luck so far, but it’s also fair to say we made mistakes and need to take responsibility. They were the same mistakes we made against Sassuolo on Saturday.

“Our first month was fantastic apart from the defeat to Atletico Madrid, where I saw a Juventus team that showed character, took control and deserved more than even just a point.

“I think we need to step up a gear, as after the break for international duty we lost the momentum we had in that opening month.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Sacchi: Juventus And Italian Football
Haven’t Adapted To Europe

Oct 23, 2014

Former AC Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi has said that the Italian style of football is different to the rest of Europe after Juventus lost to Olympiacos in the Champions League.

The Bianconeri lost 1-0 to the Greek giants on Wednesday night and Sacchi has cited that the Italian way does not work in European competitions.

“The history of Juventus in the last few years is of difficulty in the Champions League,” Sacchi told Sport Mediaset.

“In Europe they play a different type of football and Juventus has not made that jump although they were very unfortunate in the second half.

“They threw it away one time however, [which was] mediocre. The only beautiful thing was the build-up of the goal.

“Our football is based on individuality, on low rhythm [and] there is no continuity. Instead in Europe it is not like this.

“Olympiacos tried to score. In Italy, there are squads back there that don’t even try.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Pogba: Juventus must be more
clinical in front of goal

The Frenchman does not believe the Bianconeri have a psychological problem in Europe
after they lost to Olympiakos and says they must not be so wasteful with their chances.

Oct 23, 2014

Paul Pogba has expressed his frustration after Juventus were beaten 1-0 by Olympiakos and says that the Italians must be more clinical in front of goal.

A Pajtim Kasami goal on 36 minutes proved to be the difference between the two sides in Athens, but Carlos Tevez, Alvaro Morata and Pogba himself all had late opportunites to salvage a draw.

"We need to be more clinical in front of goal. You can't win games without scoring," Pogba told Sky Sport at full time.

"We were better in the second half, but their goalkeeper played great."

Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto was in inspired form in the final 20 minutes, pulling off one magnificent stop from Morata when he pushed the striker's drive onto the crossbar.

Tevez said after the match that his side need "a new mentality" but Pogba rejects the notion that Juventus lack the mental strength to succeed in Europe.

"Every team in the Champions League is strong, we need to improve," he added.

"There is not the same space to play in Europe that there is in Serie A. I don't think we have a psychological problem in Europe. I think we just lack a certain calmness in front of goal."

Juventus' defeat means they now drop down to third place in Group A with just three points from three games.

Atletico Madrid thrashed Malmo 5-0 in Spain to join Olympiakos on six points, although the Greeks are top of the group due to a superior head-to-head.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Michel: Roberto Was Fantastic For Olympiacos

Oct 23, 2014

Olympiacos coach Michel did not hide his delight after his side’s win over Juventus in their third group stage match of the Champions League.

The Greek outfit had successfully powered past La Liga champions Atletico Madrid on matchday one, and rebounded from a loss to Malmo by securing a slim 1-0 win in front of their own fans on Wednesday.

A key part to their victory was their solid defense, with goalkeeper Roberto being the star of the show as he produced some good saves to keep the Bianconeri’s attack at bay as Massimiliano Allegri’s men sought to get back into the match.

“Naturally, I’m very happy with this result and how my team played today,” he stated in a post-match press conference as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.

“We won a difficult game by working together well as a group, but more important, our goalkeeper [Roberto] had a great match. It’s never easy to beat [a team like] Juventus and we will all definitely remember this effort with great satisfaction.”

The Spanish shot-stopper’s heroics were not unnoticed by his compatriot, who hopes that the 28-year-old’s stock will continue to rise, especially on the international front with the Spanish national squad.

“I am hoping that Vicente Del Bosque will be tracking him closely.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Cannavaro: Juve lacked courage

Oct 23, 2014

Former Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro has accused the Bianconeri of lacking courage in their defeat to Olympiacos last night.

Juve went down 1-0 to the Greek side through Pajtim Kasami’s first half effort, and although the Italian champions launched a second half assault on the opposition goal, they found opposition goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez in inspired form.

“Juventus lacked courage in the first half,” Cannavaro told Mediaset in analysis.

“They didn’t want to take any risks in the first half.

“They only tried at the end, and they created lots of chances, but this is not the Juventus way.”

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Juve lacking European aura

Juventus have work to do after a second successive Champions League loss
and Luca Cetta thinks they need a change of mentality on the continent.

Oct 23, 2014

Wednesday’s giornalaccio rosa dello Sport was in a historical mood. Across its front page was sprawled the words ‘The Sack of Rome’ in reference to Bayern Munich’s incredible win over Roma. And in looking ahead to Juventus’ match against Olympiacos, the pink paper evoked the Greek Gods of mythology. There was Angelo Ogbonna as Hercules and Giorgio ‘Leonidas’ Chiellini. Carlos Tevez was likened to Achilles and sitting on the throne was Andrea Pirlo as Zeus. They wanted to see 11 heroes take the field.

Having lost to Atletico Madrid the Bianconeri needed to get back on track. Yet there was only one player giving a performance to appease the Gods, Olympiacos goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez frustrating the Italian champions with a sequence of fantastic second half saves. He proved the hero giornalaccio rosa clamoured for. Juve were shown to be mere mortals.

Roberto was only part of the problem. For Massimiliano Allegri’s side the performance continued a string of listless Champions League matches, notably away from home. The Bianconeri have failed to win in any of their last six away fixtures, claiming just one draw at Copenhagen.

On the continent the Turin club has lost its aura of supremacy. Opponents do not fear Juventus as they once did and Olympiacos showed you can take the fight to them and succeed, controlling proceedings for much of the 90 minutes. That’s helped by Juve showing too much respect for opponents in their approach. Allegri conceded afterwards his team had to do better.

A trip to face the Greek champions is never easy. In recent seasons they’ve claimed the scalps of Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Manchester United, plus Atletico Madrid on Matchday 1. But for Juve it was the type of unproductive performance too frequent in the last three seasons. They do not exhibit the same authority as in Serie A, where teams are outplayed and overpowered. Paul Pogba acknowledges there’s an issue: “I think we do lack something in the Champions League, whereas in Serie A we are more relaxed. In Europe we play against teams who are all very strong and we must take that extra step to go forward.”

Allegri’s team didn’t help themselves with a plodding approach which failed to ignite until they realised the situation was desperate. The wing-backs’ ability to create width is vital to the formation, but Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah provided little. It made Juve predictable and the hosts comfortable until the closing stages.

The response in the closing stages was positive, but that 20 minutes is perhaps the only spell in which the Bianconeri have showed verve and desire out of 270. It was sorely lacking in the first half as Olympiacos took a deserved lead through Pajtim Kasami. Juventus were too laid-back in possession and body language. When they turned on the style Juve created ample opportunities but failed to finish in the face of a superb Roberto. It’s something Gianluigi Buffon considered: “If we had played the whole game at this tempo [shown in the second half], it would’ve been a different result.”

Carlos Tevez says something must change: “We have to turn over a new leaf and find something within ourselves. We must remember that we are Juventus. We certainly didn’t come here to lose... I think it is an issue of mentality and it depends only on us to change.”

One positive was Alvaro Morata’s showing in his first Juventus start. He looked the only player capable of dragging the Old Lady from the first-half mire and continued through to the final whistle. Morata created opportunities, brought others into the game and wasn’t afraid to take players on.

The result leaves the Turin club with plenty to do in the remaining three matches. Two are at home, the other away to Malmo. It starts with the return Olympiacos fixture, where the aim is to erase the deficit to the second-placed Greeks. Then they must set about finishing the job and at this stage, nine points is a must. They have the squad to do the job. But along the way there must be a change in mentality or Juve will not grow in the Champions League.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Old Wine In A New Bottle: Allegri’s
Juventus Have Not Changed Drastically

Newly appointed technician Massimiliano Allegri has settled in well
at Juventus and made some minor but effective changes to a winning system.

Oct 23, 2014

It would be fair to say that Massimiliano Allegri’s arrival at Juventus was hardly greeted with any enthusiasm in Turin. The feeling was more of disappointment rather than hostile and around 300 Juventus fans staged a protest outside the headquarters of the club while a group of ultras were allowed to enter the stadium to display their frustrations. The skepticism of the tifosi was understandable. After three years of domestic domination, it would have been a difficult task for anyone to replace Antonio Conte. Add to this the fact that Conte was a Juventino through and through and the fans could connect to the passion he displayed on the touchline for the last three years. Replacing him with an ex-Milan coach who was sacked in January this year was even more difficult to digest for the Bianconeri faithful.

Plus there was also the small matter of Andrea Pirlo with whom Allegri did not enjoy the best of understandings during his time with AC Milan to put it mildly. There was a major concern that the key architect of Juventus’ renaissance in the last three years would re-consider his future in Turin after extending his contract few months earlier. Fast forward three months and the situation stands: Juvenuts are one point clear at the top of the table with 19 points from their first seven games. All the senators in the squad including Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Pirlo have nothing but praise for the new man at the helm. Slowly but surely Allegri has made his own mark without radically changing Conte’s tactical module. The small but effective tweaks have so far yielded the right results except one defeat at the Vicente Calderon in the Champions League.

Less Long Balls From Defence

Leonardo Bonucci was sometimes deployed as vice-Pirlo or a deeper regista when Andrea Pirlo was man-marked by the opposition last season. Against Lazio he did manage not one but two Pirlo-esque assists for Arturo Vidal and Mirko Vucinic but in most of the games like the one against Lyon in France his long balls were frustrating to watch. This tendency seems to have changed under Max Allegri.

Last year Bonucci was averaging nine long balls per game; this year it is five. He is however carrying the ball forward into the opposition territory much more, something which was not evident under Conte. Nothing significant has been achieved due to this change but these thrusts do offer a new dimension to Juventus’ game-play. Firstly, the opposition will have to commit a man on Bonucci to check his forward movement. Secondly less long balls will mean more possession which is a better option in Allegri’s scheme of things.

The New Claudio Marchisio

Max Allegri usually favors a 4-3-1-2 formation which he frequently and sometimes frustratingly used at Milan. He wrote his coaching thesis on the dynamics of a three man midfield which is nothing revolutionary but the analysis is done in a very specific detail. The player in the centre according to the thesis must have charisma, good positional sense and capability to move the ball forward quickly to launch counter-attacks. It seems the role is tailor-made for Andrea Pirlo but the Juventus man suffered an injury in the Trofeo Tim Cup against Milan in pre-season and was forced to miss the start of the season. The fact that Juventus have not felt his absence is a testament to the work done by Claudio Marchisio as a regista this season. Antonio Conte did use him in that position few times last season but this year under Allegri,Marchisio has flourished even more. Marchisio, who is traditionally a mezzala, has shown his versatility in adapting to this new role. He does not open the defence with Pirlo-like passes but so far he has kept it simple and made the game flow quicker. Defensively he has offered more and has averaged around 101 passes per game. His display against Milan was one of his best in recent years and it certainly does not hurt Allegri to have two registas in his squad at this moment.

To the left side of the regista according to Allegri’s thesis there should be a player who is technically better than the other two in midfield and has the ability to take on an opposition and beat him, dribble, pick out the strikers with clever through balls and should have the necessary attributes to score himself. Paul Pogba seems to fit these requirements perfectly. Last season he mesmerized the Bianconeri fans with his skills and thunderbolts. This year he has enforced his physical powers to retain the ball. He is still a work in progress and it is true that his form with the club has not been sparkling so far. He is working on improving his defensive qualities and game reading abilities but these things should eventually fall in place as he gets more mature. Both his club and national team manager feel that he has a lot more to offer and Pogba certainly will be looking to do justice to his immense talent once again this term.

Arturo Vidal Is Still Not At His Best

Arturo Vidal is the Il Centrale or the box-to-box midfielder in Allegri’s tactical module. The Chilean needs no introduction but the phase which he is going through now is something abnormal. A knee injury sustained last season forced a surgery which threatened to keep him out of the World Cup in Brazil. He recovered in time to play but this summer was unsettling for him personally as he struggled to regain his full fitness while constant rumors of his move to Manchester United refused to go away. His performances on the field so far suggest he is not at his best but is slowly getting better. With 42 goals in 132 appearances and keeping in mind his ability at both ends of the field, Vidal is an almost irreplaceable player in the team. He is one of the most complete midfielders in Europe and a leader on the pitch. Everyone at the club is helping Vidal recover from this tough phase and Allegri feels it is just a matter of time before he is back to his brilliant best for the Bianconeri.

Carlos Tevez Dictating The Play From Deep

Perhaps the most noticeable modification in Allegri’s system is the role of Carlos Tevez. His evolution has seen him play a bit deeper, come short and start moves. His average position in the field is exactly where a number 10 should be playing: in the hole behind Fernando Llorente but also behind the ‘volante’ which in most of the cases this season has been new signing Roberto Pereyera. Tevez has provided a touch of fantasia to Juventus’ gameplay in Pirlo’s absence.

His goals against Malmo and Milan have all come from him dropping deep to collect the ball and then combining with his team-mate to find the back of the net. Tevez is maximizing his strength this season and Juventus fans will be hoping that ‘Jugador del Pueblo’ is just flexing his muscles.

Fernando Llorente had a difficult start to his journey in Italy last season but he came back strongly to score 18 goals which was a very good return in his first season in the peninsula. He looked sharp in pre-season but has struggled, failing to find the net even once in nine appearances for the club. Nor has he provided an assist. The circumstances are different from last season. This time Llorente seems lacking sharpness on the pitch.

With Tevez playing a bit deeper, Llorente looks isolated up front with his back to goal. A closer look at his stats reveals Llorente has 38 percent of his shots on target compared to 64 last season. Allegri’s system has largely benefited Tevez but the same cannot be said about Llorente. Conte’s system was built around the Basque striker with the wing-backs encouraged to swing in crosses for Llorente to feed on but this year the approach has been a bit different. His passing stats and hold up play has improved and has played a big part in Tevez scoring so much. Llorente would be looking to end his barren spell soon but there is every reason to believe ‘El Rey Leon’ will roar again for Juventus.

Bench Strength Looks Impressive

The fact that Juventus have not felt the absence of two stalwarts like Andrea Barzagli and Andrea Pirlo is enough to suggest the bench strength they have. Martin Caceres has ably deputized for Barzagli but surprisingly Angelo Ogbonna deserves even more credit. After a mediocre season last year in which he failed to justify his hefty price tag, the ex-Torino captain has looked more confident this term and has actually done admirably even when played out of position on the right side of defence. Roberto Pereyra is no vice-Vidal but he has carved out his own identity in this team. He does not have the tackling, stamina, ability to break plays like the Chilean but he is a better passer and links the midfield and attack.

Alvaro Morata and Kingsley Coman have already demonstrated that they are capable of making a decisive impact. Morata is a hardworking striker who can play out on the wings as well while Coman has shown flashes of skills to suggest that he can do a good job as the seconda punta. Both of them have qualities to be grouped as a Velocista(players who use pace as their primary attribute) and that can be a dangerous weapon against tiring teams during the course of any game.

The differences or the signs of evolution are based on nine games only; maybe there will be even more as the season progresses. Change is the only constant and Juventus are doing that. They have definitely added quality to their gameplay but whether that will be enough to win them titles cannot be determined at this point. But one thing that can be certainly concluded is these improvisations are laying a solid foundation for the future of Juventus.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Juventus cannot make
Champions League leap, says Sacchi

The ex-Azzurri coach believes that the Bianconeri's struggles in continental
competition can be attributed to the slow and defensive nature of the Italian game.

Oct 23, 2014

Juventus' homegrown style is leaving them unable to make the leap from Italian champions to true European heavyweights, according to former AC Milan boss Arrigo Sacchi.

No Serie A team has reached the last four of the Champions League since Jose Mourinho's Inter won the tournament in 2010 and the Bianconeri and Roma both showed up Serie A with embarrassing midweek defeats to Olympiakos and Bayern Munich, respectively.

While the Giallorossi probably expected a rough ride against the Bundesliga champions - although losing 7-1 at home certainly wasn't expected - Juve must have been anticipating all three points against their Greek opponents, who instead beat them 1-0 in Greece on Wednesday.

Sacchi hinted that Massimiliano Allegri's men are trapped, like the rest of Italy, playing an archaic brand of football that simply does not work against the likes of Bayern, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"Juventus' story in recent years is one of difficulty in the Champions League," Sacchi told Mediaset.

"In Europe, you have to play a different kind of football to win and Juventus have not made that leap - even if they were very unlucky in the second half against Olympiakos.

"They threw the game away in a mediocre first half, where the only good thing was the build-up to Olympiakos' goal.

"Italian football is based on individuality and is at a slow pace. There’s no success [in the Champions League] now because in Europe that’s not what it’s all about.

"Olympiakos tried to score, whereas back in Italy there are teams which don’t ever try to score."

Pajtim Kasami was the hero for the Greeks, who go second behind Group A leaders Atletico Madrid on goal difference, while Juve are three points adrift in third ahead of bottom-placed Malmo.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Allegri: Juventus will avoid another
embarrassing Champions League exit

The coach is certain that the Bianconeri are not heading for another elimination
before the knockout stage, despite losing two of their opening three games.

Oct 23, 2014

Massimiliano Allegri is "convinced" that Juventus will qualify from Champions League Group A, despite Wednesday's defeat against Olympiakos.

The Serie A champions suffered a second successive 1-0 loss in Europe courtesy of Pajtim Kasami's first-half strike at the Karaiskakis Stadium, although the Greek hosts were indebted to goalkeeper Roberto for a string of sensational saves.

Juve now sit third in Group A behind Atletico Madrid and Olympiakos with three games to go, but Allegri expects his side to progress, while at the same time acknowledging that Juve must raise their game in order to turn their campaign around.

"I'm full of optimism and I'm convinced we'll go through," the former AC Milan boss told reporters.

"We didn't play well in the opening period. We were stretched and unable to get at them high up the pitch. Technically, we were poor.

"We fell behind but then, after the break, we pushed up more. We need to improve in certain areas, against teams like this who hustle and harry a lot. Even if you're not on your game, you can't let them have three or four breaks like we did.

"They pressed us a lot and the whole team generally found it hard. We needed to show more movement when we were in possession but we didn't do that."

Andrea Pirlo was substituted early in the second half, after a performance which was considered woefully beneath his usual high standards, but Allegri backed the playmaker to come good after missing the start of the season through injury.

"Unlike some other players, I think Andrea needs to be playing to find his best form," the Juve coach added. "I thought he would be key to slowing down the tempo of our opponents.

"In any case he'll soon be bang on form again. He has a starring role to play for us in Serie A and our Champions League campaign."

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Juventus 0:1 Olympiacos: Another day,
another debacle in the C. League for Juve

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Oct 23, 2014

I'll be honest, I was too disgusted to write this report after I watched the Juventus game, and had to walk away from the keyboard to settle myself.

So when I did find myself a little more composed, I also saw a tweet that pretty much sums up yesterday's game (sorry I can't remember who it's from) -

First half - Juventus 2014/15
Second half - Juventus 2011/12

Alas, that was not going to be enough to get a draw or a win away to Olympiacos, not in the kind of form that the Greek team's goalie Roberto Gago was in yesterday. When the goalie was beaten, his defence stepped up to clear the ball and even the woodwork showed up to keep Juve out. Also, Pirlo was pretty poor for the second consecutive game, which is almost unheard of in the time he's been at Turin. While we're talking about poor performances, can we unequivocally accept that the 3-5-2 simply has to go, especially away in Europe?


Match Summary

Maybe it's these green and blue away jerseys Juve have been wearing. The Old Lady looked pretty bad at Atletico Madrid in the last round of games, and then looked even more abysmal in the first half yesterday. Olympiacos for their part stuck to their gameplan, backed by the raucous home support at the Karaiskakis Stadium. They out-hustled the Italian giants to every ball all game long, got their sole goal and then defended like their lives depended on it — in other words, they played like the provinciale side they are, which is scant consolation for Juve as they find themselves third in their Champions League group now, three points adrift. In fact, the Bianconeri lost to Olympiacos for the first time in Greece.

Arturo Vidal is a pale shadow of his previous seasons — let's put it this way, the bad sides are still there, but the positive aspects that let us overlook the negatives are missing. He returned to the starting XI and played his part in the poor first half. We wondered when Massimiliano Allegri would wield the axe and drop Fernando Llorente, this game was it — Alvaro Morata made his first start for Juve and was guilty of a handful of missed chances. Carlos Tevez, just about the only Bianconeri striker who can find the back of the net, also had a few chances but it was not meant to be. The forward core of the team cannot buy a goal right now, and some of this falls on Allegri's shoulders - when things are not working, continuously trying the same things is by definition also known as insanity.

The home side were satisfied to let Juve have the ball, and try to bite them on the break, which they promptly did on the 36th minute. Pirlo got caught in possession and turned the ball a little too easily, and Swiss midfielder Pajtim Kassami beat goalie Gianluigi Buffon to put Olympiacos ahead. Gigi already had made smart saves to keep out shots from Luka Milivojevic and Kasami.

Allegri finally ended Pirlo's miserable day at the office bringing on Claudio Marchisio at the hour mark. Pirlo has seemed a step off and looks like he could have extended his recovery time a little longer. Roberto Pereyra came on for Angelo Ogbonna and Giovinco was on for Paul Pogba towards the end as Olympiacos stonewalled Juve who threw everything including the kitchen sink at them in the dying minutes. Frustrating game for Juve fans really.

Le Pagelle

Buffon - 6. Hard to fault him for the goal. Did what was expected of him otherwise.

Ogbonna - 6. Nothing to write home about really.

Bonucci - 6.5. Solid at the back, but not much help with his poor long balls.

Chiellini - 6. Beaten to the ball too often, he had the most touches on the team. Bad sign.

Lichsteiner - 5. Rough day for the Swiss Express. Olympiacos pinned both wingbacks down well.

Pogba - 5.5. Invisible, lost the ball too easily. Almost scored from nowhere.

Pirlo - 5. Had to be an icy day in hell when I gave him this score. It's an icy day in hell today.

Vidal - 7. Not the Vidal of old, but did win some tackles and carried the ball well.

Asamoah - 6. Second-most touches in the team on the day. Not a good sign.

Morata - 6.5. Surely he should have scored at least one today?!

Tevez - 6.5. All effort, all the time. Fates conspired against him today though.

Subs:

Marchisio - 6. Wasn't hard for him to be marginally better than Pirlo, that's how bad Pirlo was.

Pereyra - 5.5. Made little impact. Might as well have thrown Padoin or Coman on.

Giovinco - N/A


Manager:

Allegri - 5. The boss doesn't get a passing grade today. Change is required before this season starts spiralling out of control.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

OLIMPIAKOS - JUVENTUS

1 - 0

P. Kasami 35'

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 08:45 P.M.
Georgios Karaiskákis Stadium, Piraeus
Referee:‬ Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Why Do Juventus Fail in the C. League
Despite Dominating Serie A?

Oct 24, 2014

In Athens, a familiar story unfolded. Arriving as favourites for their Champions League game against Olympiacos on Wednesday night, Juventus started slowly, gave up a goal, woke up too late and were then thwarted by a combination of poor finishing and an inspired goalkeeper.

To put it another way, they did exactly the same thing as they had against Copenhagen last season, and Nordsjaelland the year before that. The only difference this time was that they wound up losing instead of scrabbling their way to a draw.

The intention here is not to take anything away from Olympiacos—a distinctly more talented group than either of those two Scandinavian sides—but simply to highlight the recurrent nature of the Italian champions’ woes. Juventus’ recent away record in the Champions League is atrocious.

Since beating Celtic in Glasgow two seasons ago, they have drawn one and lost five of their six away games in the competition. While their home performances have also been imperfect, they have lost just one Champions League game at Juventus Stadium over the same period—and that against a Bayern Munich team that was on course to win the whole tournament in 2013.

Clearly, Juventus's results away from home are preventing them from fulfilling their potential in Europe. So how should we explain such consistent underachievement?

Bayern Munich’s CEO, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, offered one possible explanation. He was quoted by the newspaper giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (in Italian) on Thursday as saying that Serie A clubs were not used to the high tempo at which other European clubs play the game.

His assertion is borne out, to some extent, by the numbers. Between the two Italian clubs competing in this season's Champions League, no player has run more than Stephan Lichtsteiner, who has covered 32,626 metres in three games. But this ranks him just 66th overall among all players in the competition, according to Uefa.com.

And yet, it is too simplistic to explain Juventus’ problems thus. While Rummenigge’s comment might have been influenced by Bayern’s 7-1 rout of Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday, we should not forget that the same Giallorossi team had set the tempo for long stretches against Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad barely three weeks earlier.

The same could be said of Napoli’s wins against Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Marseille last season, or at home against City and Chelsea two years prior to that. Demonstrably, with the right approach, it is still possible for the Italy’s best teams to impose themselves in European games, in a way that Juventus have repeatedly failed to do.

So what are they getting wrong? Many have argued that Juventus’s problem is simply one of tactics. When Antonio Conte first took over at the club in 2011, he experimented with a 4-2-4 formation that had served him well at Siena. Very quickly, though, he concluded that this shape did not suit his personnel, instead devising a 3-5-2 to take advantage of his abundance of central midfielders.

Domestically, it was a huge success, that formation granted Andrea Pirlo space to pull the strings while Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio put in the hard graft alongside him. But in Europe, where opposing teams have done a better job of restricting Pirlo, the same tactics have been far less effective. Conte’s successor, Massimiliano Allegri, has continued with the 3-5-2 so far this season, but it was noteworthy that Juventus only began their fightback against Olympiacos after he switched to a 4-2-3-1 in the second half.

Other teams have demonstrated that a three-man defence can prosper in Europe, but the issue is one of interpretation. Napoli used a 3-4-2-1 to great effect under Walter Mazzarri in 2011-12, because they were happy to sit back and absorb pressure before breaking at speed with three exceptional, jet-heeled, forwards in Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani.

Likewise, Bayern have been devastating in a 3-5-2 under Pep Guardiola this year, but they are interpreting the scheme in a manner unlike anything we have seen before—shifting fluidly between different shapes throughout the game. Tactics writer Michael Cox, of zonalmarking.net, defined their formation as “indescribable”.

Juventus, by contrast, have been all-too predictable. To some extent, that is a question of personnel. Lichtsteiner, for example, is a solid contributor, but he could hardly match the attacking contributions of his Bayern counterpart, Arjen Robben.

The Bianconeri have bigger problems up front. Carlos Tevez was a stunningly good signing at just €9 million plus bonuses, per The Guardian, last summer, but his difficulties scoring in Europe go back as far as 2009, and they have not been wiped away by two goals this season against Malmo. Fernando Llorente is struggling alongside him, and Alvaro Morata, while certainly talented, remains inexperienced on this stage.

The easy response here is to simply point to the club’s budget. Despite recent growth, Juventus’s overall income is still dwarfed by that of the biggest clubs in England, Spain and Germany. They placed ninth in Deloitte’s Money League for 2014, with revenues of €272.4 million, as compared to €518.9 million for first-placed Real Madrid.

But while nobody is expecting Juventus to win the Champions League as things stand, consistently competing for a place in the quarter-finals ought to be a realistic goal. What fans are asking today is not why the club cannot beat Madrid or Bayern Munich, but simply why they cannot win away to the likes of Olympiacos, Copenhagen and Nordsjaelland—clubs that do not appear in Deloitte’s top 20.

Perhaps the real answer is not one of tactics, or playing staff, at all, but simply one of approach. The truth is that domestically, Juventus are used to rolling over their opponents—too many of whom approach matches against the champions with cautious, defensive game plans based entirely around self-preservation.

When teams break out of that mode, even in Italy, the Bianconeri can sometimes be caught off guard. Four days before the loss to Olympiacos, Juventus travelled to last-placed Sassuolo expecting an easy win. Instead the Neroverdi refused to be cowed, attacking their opponents with rare abandon, and they came away with a deserved 1-1 draw.

It is a model that other clubs in the lower-half of Serie A would do well to observe. And it is a lesson that Juventus would do well to learn.

Their best European performance of the last two seasons came against Real Madrid, where they lost narrowly last season after a harsh red card to Giorgio Chiellini. Knowing that they were facing one of the best clubs in the world, the Bianconeri raised their tempo from the outset, instead of waiting until they had fallen behind.

If they could bring the same gusto to the first-halves of their matches against Europe's lesser lights, they might not find themselves in the position that they do now. Juventus need to be much better in their remaining fixtures if they are to make it through to the last 16. The only good news is that two of the three are at home.

http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/49/uefa-champions-league/group?ICID=MP_TN_166

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

-

Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium - Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus V Palermo – Preview:
Juve Look To Return To Winning Ways

Oct 24, 2014

Juventus will look to overcome their recent drop in form this Sunday afternoon as they play host to Palermo in the eighth round of Serie A at Juventus Stadium.

The Bianconeri will be keen to bounce back from their surprise Champions League defeat against Olympiacos and the fact they dropped their first league points of the season in their previous match against lowly Sassuolo.

Meanwhile, the Rosanero will be in high spirits after they secured their first win of the season against Cesena following two successive heavy defeats against Empoli and Napoli.

History will be on the side of Juventus as the last four league fixtures between these two have all ended in wins for the Turin side and Palermo failed to score in each of those games. The last time the two sides faced off was back in May 2013 when an Arturo Vidal penalty was enough to see the Bianconeri earn the win.

Juventus, under new head coach Massimiliano Allegri had started the Serie A season in fine form, winning their first six games before stuttering to a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo. They have also managed to emerge victorious in every game they have played at Juventus stadium this season, including the Champions League.

The Rosanero, under the guidance of Giuseppe Iachini have struggled playing away from the Stadio Renza Barbera and have just one point from their opening three away games in their remarkable 3-3 draw with Napoli.

Iachini has no fresh injuries to players to be concerned about and has a full strength squad at his disposal for Sunday’s game and is likely to name a similar line-up to the one that faced Cesena last time out.

The Bianconeri, on the back of their trip to Greece will be wary of the fitness of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal but will be without the suspended Simone Padoin following his late dismissal against Sassuolo. They will also be missing the likes of Martin Caceres, Andrea Barzagli through injury whereas they are hopeful on the situations of Romulo, Luca Marrone and Simone Pepe.

Allegri is likely to keep faith with Alvaro Morata, who is line to make his first league start for the club, to partner Carlos Tevez in attack ahead of the goalless Fernando Llorente.


Expected Starting XIs

Juventus: Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Morata

Palermo: Sorrentino; Munoz, Gonzalez, Andelkovic; Pisano, Bolzoni, Rigoni, Barreto, Feddal; Vazquez, Dybala

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

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

-

Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium - Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Zamparini: No Kasami regrets

Oct 24, 2014

Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini insists he has no regrets about selling Pajtim Kasami - despite his Champions League winner against Juventus.

The Swiss midfielder played for the Rosanero in the 2010-11 season, making 14 appearances for the club without scoring a goal.

Kasami moved to Olympiacos from Fulham this summer, and scored the Greeks’ only goal as they beat Juventus 1-0 on Wednesday.

“I don’t regret it [selling Kasami] at all,” Zamparini has told Livesicilia Sport, though.

“Against Juventus he scored, but he also got another one spectacularly wrong.

“He’s not a player who could make a difference for Palermo. There’s a reason why he left the English League to play in the more modest Greek League.”

Zamparini’s Palermo travel to face Juventus on Sunday, but the Palermo patron is adamant his players should not fear facing a wounded Bianconeri.

“On Sunday I expect to see a Palermo side concentrated on the game at hand, ready to give everything without being worried that Juventus will want revenge for their defeat in the Champions League.

“The game will be far from simple, and the odds are not on our side but we have a duty to try and make an impression.”

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

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - PALERMO

-

Sunday, October 26th, 2014 - 3:00 PM
Juventus Stadium - Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus vs. Palermo: Key Issues
That Will Shape Serie A Game

Oct 24, 2014

Having lost to Olympiacos on Wednesday evening, Juventus return to domestic action against Palermo this weekend.

Having won the Serie B title last term, the Sicilian side have struggled thus far in 2014-15, registering just one win in their first seven matches.

That victory came last week against Cesena, themselves freshly promoted to the top flight, and the points lifted the Rosanero to 15th place.

Beppe Iachini’s side are likely to be battling to avoid relegation all year. They last beat the Turin giants back in February 2011.

However, there may be no better time to face the Old Lady, struggling as she has in recent weeks with just one win in her last four outings.

That came in the controversial match against title rivals Roma, with a loss to Atletico Madrid and a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo compounding the misery of the reigning champions.

Massimiliano Allegri will know there is huge pressure on him to return Juventus to winning ways, and he will hope to see improvements from a number of key performers.

Over the following pages is a look at the issues likely to decide this Serie A encounter, with the Bianconeri hoping to maintain their lead atop the Serie A standings.


Tactical Conundrum for Juventus

Perhaps the greatest question facing Allegri right now is whether to stick with the 3-5-2, which has brought Juventus such incredible success, or twist in favour of a new formation.

In the last quarter of Wednesday’s loss in Greece, the coach opted for a 4-2-3-1 framework, and he was rewarded with a much-improved performance.

While that may be a difficult decision to make, the fact the Bianconeri continue to struggle in Europe may sway Allegri to make a change. In doing so, he would hope to prepare the side before their next Champions League outing with Olympiacos at the Juventus Stadium in early November.

The one obstacle to making that switch may well be the injuries affecting the defence, with a number of players still absent.

In September, Allegri told reporters that he could not deploy a back four without Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini, per Football Italia. Therefore, he may simply be waiting for the return of the former—or the excellent Martin Caceres—before he makes the change.


The Desperate Search for Goals

Even more pressing than the choice of formation is the worrying lack of goals from Juve’s attacking options. With Fernando Llorente, Sebastian Giovinco and Kingsley Coman all yet to score, Allegri opted for Alvaro Morata alongside Carlos Tevez on Wednesday.

The former Real Madrid starlet is the only striker other than the Argentine to find the back of the net this term, with his lone strike coming in the win over Atalanta.

The young Spaniard looked sharp in midweek, so the coach may decide to try the same pairing, hoping to see their efforts rewarded on the scoresheet.

The attacking struggles of the Bianconeri front line were discussed in detail here. Juventus will hope the Palermo defence proves less resolute.

The Rosanero have allowed 15 goals thus far, with only Sassuolo having conceded more this term, which should provide hope for the Juve front men.


The Midfield Battle for Form and Fitness

Another area beginning to concern Juventus is in midfield, with the big names of the Bianconeri failing to recapture their previous excellent form.

With Arturo Vidal struggling for fitness, his team-mates have also been unable to provide the spark they so often inject into the team’s style of play.

Andrea Pirlo was uncharacteristically poor against Olympiacos, with Gianluca Vialli singling out the Italian shortly after the final whistle on Sky Sport Italia. “Pirlo is also not in condition,” he said (h/t Forza Italian Football). “He has negatively impacted the previous two matches in which he has played in.”

Having watched on as Pirlo struggled in possession—a display discussed in detail here—it is hard to argue with that assessment.

Juventus will hope their quartet can rediscover their best and help the side return to winning ways.

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