Juventus Season 2014-2015

[Socrates 8518]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

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

UDINESE 0 – 0 JUVENTUS
PLAYER RATINGS – WEEK 21

Feb 1, 2015

Juventus dominated the match but found their chances limited by a resolute Udinese side who held out for an impressive 0-0.

Udinese had chances of their own in the match, including some great counter attacks started by Toto Di Natale. The Juve defence looked vulnerable early on while the midfield was well marshalled and chances up front were limited.

Juve’s best chances came from Roberto Pereyra who hit the upright while Carlos Tevez wasted a golden opportunity to win it late one by shooting wide.


Gianluigi Buffon 6.5 - Had to endure a few nervy moments as Udinese threatened early on. Tested twice by Di Natale but his effort was straight at Gigi. Needed to be at his best and turned in another solid performance.

Martin Caceres 5.5 - Much like his fellow CB’s, his passing and decision making was poor at times. Pushed forward when he could but ultimately a game to forget.

Leonardo Bonucci 5.5 - Covered Di Natale well early on, and provided some great overhead balls for the strikers to chase but his positioning was poor on some of Udinese’s through balls.

Giorgio Chiellini 5.5 - Made some poor passes and was caught out on more than one occasion by the Udinese front line.

Stephan Lichtsteiner 5.5 - Spent much of the game in Udineses’ half, trying to create something of use for the strikers. Marshalled well by the Udinese defence and ineffectual for large parts of the game.

Roberto Pereyra 6.5 - One of the few bright sparks in a game to forget. Almost opened the scoring for Juventus but his effort hit the upright. Tried to create chances when he could but was kept quiet by the Udinese midfield.

Andrea Pirlo 6.0 - Had to resort to balls over the top again and again, many of which failed to find their target. Poor on his corners and made a mistake late on that could have let Udinese in.

Paul Pogba 6.0 - A bright start but quickly silended by Allan who kept Pogba in his pocket for much of the game.

Patrice Evra 5.5 - Provided little to no attacking threat and his defensive contribution looked poor as well.

Carlos Tevez 6.0 - Shot wide of Karnezis’ near post from a tight angle early on and had a great chance to steal all 3 points at the end of the game but put his effort way wide.

Fernando Llorente 5.5 - Nearly capitalised on a Karnezis error early on, more mobile than in previous matches. Missed a huge chance to put Juve a goal up when he put his header wide and drifted out of the game afterwards.


Substitutes

Alvaro Morata 6.0 - Gave Juve some more energy and movement up front and set up Tevez for what should have been the winner.

Simone Padoin N/A

Simone Pepe N/A

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

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

Juventus' draw at Udinese exposes
pitfalls of playing in a 3-5-2

Feb 1, 2015

Another disappointing performance by Juventus, who once again proved they struggle to play in the afternoon. With Roma having only managed a draw against Empoli on Saturday night, this was the perfect chance to create a larger gap at the top of the table. However, forced to revert back to their old shape, an imprecise and sloppy Juventus only managed a scoreless draw against an Udinese side that was both balanced and ambitious.

It's never easy to face an Andrea Stramaccioni side, especially if you're a big team. The master of opposition scouting, he studied the Bianconeri well, noted the absences and played an excellent game that forced the opponent to run a few risks. Unlike other opposing teams that tend to take a defensive approach against Juventus, prioritising their security over the will to win, Udinese played an intelligent game when deployed in their 3-4-1-2 formation. They closed the gaps, man-marked Juve's best players and provoked errors.

With three men up front, the Zebrette refused to sit back and halt Juve and their task was made that much easier as absences in midfield forced Massimiliano Allegri to revert to the 3-5-2 formation. Once again, Bianconeri fans were treated to the frailties that come with that shape as not only did the team look offensively impotent, but they were lucky not to concede on the counter.

Allegri's men played "Antonio Conte's formation" without the "Conte attitude" required to make it work. The problem with the formation is that it can be easily neutralized. Unless Juventus play with high intensity and profound determination, it can prove frustrating. Instead of gritting their teeth and expending the necessary energy to put their opponent in trouble, the Bianconeri's movements were unusually slow and laboured, especially when faced with a relentlessly hardworking midfield.

Such a tactical shape relies on the wing-backs forward thrusts, but in the Stadio Friuli, both Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra failed to provide their side with the inspiration required to trouble the Zebrette, while Silvan Widmer deserves recognition for his role in ensuring Juve were left without a strong presence on the wing. As such, the responsibility to create and overpower fell to the three central midfielders, but all three struggled to overcome the fight within Udinese's midfield.

Udinese's Allan Loureiro proved fantastic on the night and is truly a midfielder that ought to play for a bigger club in Italy. Stramaccioni was quick to praise the player after the match, referring to him as one of the best midfielders in Europe. Not only is he technically blessed, but he is tactically intelligent too, demonstrating maturity and fight to inspire his fellow teammates. Disrupting Paul Pogba's game, the Frenchman was dispossessed more times than he would care to remember, failing to replicate his stunning performances of late.

The 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder, after his performances this season, would make a perfect addition to Juve's midfield, perhaps more so than a certain Roberto Pereyra. The ex-Udinese star once again disappointed on the day as he struggled to integrate himself within the patterns required for such a shape. Passive and confused, he improved greatly in the second half, but perhaps isn't one who deserves a long-term future with the champions.

Not that he was the worst Juventus player on the pitch; Fernando Llorente played a clumsy game that consistently infuriated onlookers, while Andrea Pirlo was restricted to passing sideways and failed to provide the geometric passes required to launch Juve's mighty attack.

Without Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal -- the real Vidal, not the one who has only sporadically played this season -- Juventus looked imbalanced and defensively insecure. While Allegri's squad must always play with ambition, pushing men forward and looking to create, it's vital to know when to be cautious and when to take the shackles off. Udinese is not a side to take lightly, nor can they be intimidated into playing a cautious game. Thus pushing forward in numbers and leaving the defence exposed was an immature idea that Udinese failed to exploit properly. Better control in the final third would have perhaps allowed Stramaccioni to once again celebrate a win over Juve.

Thankfully, Udinese's failures in the final step coupled with Gianluigi Buffon's alert performances in foal rescued a point for the Old Lady, who risked a defeat on the night. With one point in their hands, Allegri's men learned one thing: the 3-5-2 formation no longer seems to fit this team as comfortably as it once did. Time to focus on the alternatives.

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

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

31 O. Karnezis - The Greek goalkeeper did not have much many saves to make, but he looked calm and assured whenever called into action. A solid display.

75 T. Heurtaux - Swept up around Danilo and looked to pick up Juve midfield runners and he enjoyed an adept performance, making several blocks in and around his own penalty area.

5 Danilo - A strong showing from the centre-back, who came out on top in his battle with Llorente, making numerous interventions from crosses to clear the danger.

89 I. Piris - Although deployed closer to the middle than he is used to, the Paraguayan put in a fine display at the back, often dealing well with Tevez.

34 Gabriel Silva - The Brazilian did not look sharp early on after an injury-hit season, giving the ball away far too often. But, he put in a tireless shift on the left and defended well against Lichtsteiner and Pereyra.

6 Allan - The best player on the pitch. The midfielder dominated Pogba throughout, while he also proved extremely useful in starting attacks, with his positive distribution a real asset to the hosts.

8 Bruno Fernandes - A strange performance from the youngster. Found himself in good positions on countless occasions, with his movement and work rate particularly notable. But his finishing and final ball were generally poor.

19 Guilherme - Sat deep and acted as a shield for the defence, allowing Allan to follow Pogba around and he mostly did his job effectively, with Tevez and Pereyra struggling to weave their magic.

27 S. Widmer - Worked hard on the right-hand side, tracking back to good effect and helping to limit Evra's attacking input, though he had little impact in the final third.

77 C. Théréau - Occasionally threatened the Juve backline as the focal point of Udinese's attack, but he had a hard time making his presence known against three centre-backs.

10 A. Di Natale - Switched on as ever, the experienced Italian was a real nuisance for Juve, as he used the ball very well in the final third and continuously showed his fantastic awareness to create chances.


Substitutes

26 G. Pasquale - Took the place of the tiring Gabriel with 24 minutes to go and he picked up where the Brazilian left off, providing capable protection against Lichtsteiner.


 

Juventus

1 G. Buffon - Did all that was asked of him in a typically commanding and faultless display, with his second-half stop from Danilo particularly eye-catching.

4 M. Cáceres - Caught out of position a few times in the first half, with Udinese appearing to target him as a weak link on occasion. Improved after the break, though, making several well-timed tackles under pressure.

19 L. Bonucci - Generally dealt well with Thereau as he followed the Frenchman around and put his foot in on numerous occasions, while also winning a host of aerial battles.

3 G. Chiellini - Given the task of trailing Di Natale and he failed to nullify the experienced forward's influence, with the ex-Italy attacker enjoying a lively display.

26 S. Lichtsteiner - The Switzerland international failed to have much on an impact on the right, with Gabriel - and then Pasquale - countering him very well. Booked late on for a foul on the brilliant Allan.

37 R. Pereyra - Making his return to Udinese, the Argentinian almost gave Juve the lead as he struck the crossbar just before the hour mark, but he generally struggled to make an impact and he was disappointing.

21 A. Pirlo - Not one of his finest displays. His passing was typically on-point, though he did not really dictate the play and he offered little to counter Udinese's dynamism in the middle.

6 P. Pogba - The French star saw plenty of the ball in midfield, but Allan followed him like a shadow and came out on top in their duel, ensuring a frustrating day for Pogba.

33 P. Evra - Made an effort down the left, but ultimately he had a quiet day before being substituted, with Widmer allowing him little space in attack.

10 C. Tévez - Had to contend with Piris hassling him continuously and was guilty of wasting a couple of fine chances, with his finishing seemingly a little off on the day.

14 F. Llorente - The Spaniard looked completely out of place in the Juve team, with his team-mates rarely looking to play to his strengths. Eventually replaced by Morata after an anonymous display.


Substitutes

20 S. Padoin - Relieved Evra in the 74th minute but did nothing of note in the final quarter-of-an-hour.

9 Álvaro Morata - Introduced for the ineffective Llorente with 23 minutes to go and had a lively cameo, as he stretched the Udinese defence on multiple occasions.

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

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

Udinese 0-0 Juventus: Bianconeri miss
the chance to extend their Serie A lead

Juventus were held to a boring and dire 0-0 away at Stadio Friuli in Udine,
as Max Allegri couldn't find a response to Andrea Stramaccioni's defensive tactics.

Feb 2, 2015
 
It is frightening how little positives are there to take out of the poor performance of Juventus. You would run out of negative adjectives before finishing describing the dreadful display, so the way to do it is to give credit where it’s due, namely Andrea Stramaccioni. Despite being the most horrible result in football, the 0-0 draw is probably the only weapon a small team, which also finds itself in a certain crisis, has against the reigning champions. Had Stramaccioni been given the point before the game, he would have taken it with both hands.

This, however, is no excuse for the lack of reaction from Max Allegri. With Arturo Vidal injured and Claudio Marchisio suspended, Allegri decided to switch to 3-5-2 to accommodate his best three available centre midfielders, Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Pereyra. Despite also starting — and playing awfully — in the Coppa game against Parma, Fernando Llorente replaced Alvaro Morata in the first XI. Being unable to find a response to the opponent’s defensive tactics was rather disappointing for Allegri, especially with Kingsley Coman, Morata and even Simone Pepe on the bench.

Stramaccioni had a good start of the season with Udinese but lately, his team didn’t quite perform, winning just three of the last 15 Serie A games and just one on home soil. Juventus won the last six meetings between the two bianconero sides, so prior to the match, things were looking good in the quest to extending the gap at the top of the table to nine points, as Roma were earlier held to a 1-1 home draw by Empoli.

But the former Inter manager had other thoughts, as he did his homework brilliantly, leading his team to an almost flawless defensive display, with some huge help from Allan, the best men on the pitch by far, who man-marked Pogba throughout the game. So there it was — another stubborn defence in front of Juventus’ attacking lines and the result was the same old and increasingly annoying one.

Players were way too static in attack. With Pogba and Pirlo marked, there was no inspiration or a clear idea for a breakthrough, as Pereyra seemed unable to find his place in midfield. Two chances wasted by Carlos Tévez and Llorente, together with the crossbar hit by Pereyra, ensured Stramaccioni would get his point. And in all fairness, it would have been harsh for Udinese to lose the game, as they fought for every single ball, containing Juventus’ attacks comfortably for the majority of the time.


MATCH SUMMARY

Just over the 10 minute mark, Juventus were caught completely unaware at the back as Antonio Di Natale played a great ball for Bruno Fernandes who was through on goal, but made a horrendous first touch, allowing Leonardo Bonucci and Martin Caceres to double back. Fernandes had to go for the goal then but his shot was weak and off target.

Juventus were lacking pace in attack, being unable to break down the opposite defence. Pogba tried a couple of long shots but gave goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis no problems, while Tévez was quick to recover a lost ball outside Udinese’s box in the 17th minute, only to blast his shot off target.

First big chance of the game was missed in the 23rd minute by Cyril Thereau who found lots of space on Caceres’ side, with the Uruguayan out of position, but his shot was straight at Buffon. The goalkeeper denied the Frenchman but the ball bounced to Fernandes outside the box, whose shot went over the crossbar.

Llorente missed a huge chance just before the 30 minute mark. For once, Pirlo delivered a great cross from a corner-kick, finding Llorente unmarked in front of goal but the Spaniard somehow missed the target, putting his header wide. Buffon denied Fernandes again one minute later, making a good save at Portuguese’s long shot, sending the ball behind for a corner kick.

It wasn’t much of spectacle until the half time whistle, as Juventus looked very slow and predictable in the build-up. No real ideas in the last third and Udinese were defending rather comfortably, also being a threat on the counter.

The second half started in pretty much the same way the first one ended and Juventus only created the first big chance in the 58th minute when Pereyra struck the crossbar right on the corner with a powerful volley from just outside the 6-yard box.

In the 65th minute, Tevez and Pereyra linked-up nicely inside Udinese’s penalty area, but the former’s shot from a good position went way over the crossbar.

Di Natale had a good chance to put Udinese upfront in the 84th minute after a poor headed clearance from Pereyra. The ball reached the diminutive striker inside Juventus’ box but his volley went over.

Tévez missed a glorious chance to win the game for Juventus just a minute later. Morata found lots of spaces down the left flank and then played a low cross inside the box for Pogba, who laid the ball for Tévez. The Argentine uncharacteristically failed to hit the target.

It was the last chance of the game and Juventus had to settle for a point, wasting the chance to move 9 points clear ahead of Roma.


PLAYER RATINGS

Buffon: 6.5 Made a couple of good saves in the first half, denying Thereau and Fernandes a goal which could have proved costly for Juventus

Caceres: 5 Was at fault for Udinese’s big chances in the first half, as he was caught completely out of position twice

Bonucci: 5.5 Tried his best in helping the team’s build-up play, delivering a few good long balls. A bit shaky in the first part, but defended well in the second

Chiellini: 6 Made a few good clearances but wasn’t very involved in the game, making none of his usual attacking rushes.

Lichtsteiner: 5 Was of no use in attack, delivering poor crosses. Didn’t help Caceres defensively either

Pereyra: 6 Despite the fact he played in a three-man midfield before, it is clearly not his best position. Was too predictable and clumsy at times on possession

Pirlo: 6 Horrendous deliveries from several free-kicks and corners, failing to make an impact in attacking moves.

Pogba: 6 Had some hard time in being man-marked by Alan, as his attacking contribution was reduced to zero. Made some good interceptions and tackles, however.

Evra: 5.5 Despite being a constant presence in attack, couldn’t influence the game enough. Not much defending to do.

Tévez: 6 Missed a huge chance that could’ve gave Juve the victory. Far from his best again, but was continually – and maybe too much – on the move to find and create spaces.

Llorente: 5 Another poor game. Was ineffective in front of goal, again struggling to find his form.

 

Subs

Morata: 6.5 Replaced Llorente in the 67th minute. Injected some pace into the attack, being more involved than his Spaniard compatriot.

Padoin: 6 Replaced Evra in the 75th minute, but added nothing new

 

Coach

Allegri: 5.5 Despite the fact he couldn’t rely on Vidal and Marchisio, he was completely outplayed by his opponent counterpart and had no response to the tactics. Might have also been probably satisfied with a point, knowing Roma drew earlier and decided not to risk

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

0 - 0

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

Juventus Waste Chance To Extend
Serie A Lead With Goal Less Draw

Feb 2, 2015
 
Juventus missed the chance to go 9 points clear at the top of the Serie A table as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Stadio Comunale Friuli by Udinese. With Roma failing to pick up the three points against Empoli last night, Massimiliano Allegri’s side had the chance to extend their lead but failed to take any advantage and looked really average this afternoon.

Both Max Allegri and Andrea Pirlo felt that the seven point lead over Roma at this stage meant nothing so the Bianconeri were expected to push on and grab the chance to move even further ahead in the table. An Udinese team depleted from injuries and African Cup of Nations was expected to cause Juventus few problems but an organized defensive display combined with dangerous counter attacks made for a totally different outcome. Juventus were slow out of the blocks, spending much of the time maintaining possession but failed to penetrate the stout defence to create anything noteworthy. The champions looked jaded following their midweek win over Parma in the Coppa Italia and could have gone behind if Bruno Fernandes and Cyril Thereau were a bit more clinical in front of goal. Allegri faced a selection dilemma with Claudio Marchisio’s suspension and an injury to Arturo Vidal robbing him of two major players in midfield. To cover the absence of these midfielders, Juventus reverted to a 3-5-2 with Andrea Stramaccioni also fielding his side in a similar tactical module ultimately cancelling each other out. Fernando Llorente may well be left to rue another missed opportunity as he squandered another chance to make a decisive impact this season. The Spaniard seemed to offer a new dimension in his first year at the club but there have been very few examples of what he can truly deliver in this campaign so far.

Roberto Pereyra came very close to opening the scoring against his former side but was denied by the crossbar in the second half. Allan had a fantastic game in the midfield for Udinese nullifying Frenchman Paul Pogba and preventing him from making an impact on the game. Llorente was once again replaced midway through the second half which has become a consistent stat of Juve’s season so far. He has netted just five times in 25 games in all competitions and has played only 3 full games since March 2014. He seems to lack the cutting edge and squandered a gilt-edged chance tonight from a corner. He is no longer the focal point and opposition defences are coping with him quite easily. Juventus might have been complacent due to the fact that they had a six-point advantage and one game in hand as they lacked any urgency failing to raise the tempo of the game even as the game was dying out. Danilo forced Buffon into a smart save from Di Natale’s corner but it was Carlos Tevez who had the best chance of the game to seal all the three points at the death. The Argentine somehow failed to score on a Morata counter that was set up perfectly for him by Pogba, but blasted wide from 12 yards.


Talking Points

Allan won 6 fouls today against Juventus, more than any other Udinese player in a Serie A game this season

Juventus have failed to score for the 3rd time in this Serie A season something they managed just once last season

It took Álvaro Morata all of about two minutes to show why he should have started ahead of Fernando Llorente. This signals that it is 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.

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

Looking at the performance tonight, the Juventus defence did fairly well and restricted Udinese to half chances on the break which they might not have got had the midfield been at full strength. At the other end of the pitch Tevez looked blunt while Llorente continues to labor. Udinese dominated the midfield thanks to the Brazilian Allan who racked up tackles left and right, and he was basically involved in everything positive that Udinese did. He ended the match with seven tackles and two interceptions. Allan showed tonight that Pogba still remains a work in progress and the Old Lady will be disappointed with this showing in a game that was a great opportunity to put a massive gap in between themselves and their closest competition in Serie A.

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

Juventus penalised by lack of competition - Thuram

The former Bianconeri defender has claimed the club's dominance in Italy is hampering their efforts in Europe.

Feb 2, 2015
 
Lilian Thuram believes Juventus are being punished by the lack of real competition on offer in Serie A.

The Bianconeri are seven points clear at the top of the table with 17 fixtures remaining, making them odds-on favourites to clinch a fourth straight Scudetto.

But the former France international believes the annual stroll to the league crown is causing Juve problems in Europe.

“It is a matter of time in Serie A, but the Champions League is more difficult and there are some great teams to beat,” Thuram told Radio Anch’io Sport.

“There is a big difference between the Italian championship and the Spanish and English leagues, and I hope that Juve can do well in Europe.

“But without true rivals domestically, Juve are penalised in Europe.”

Thuram spent five years in Turin and also made 142 appearances for France, who now have another Juve player in their ranks in Paul Pogba.

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

Juventus to face Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia semifinals

Feb 3, 2014

Last year we got a couple of extra games against Fiorentina thanks to the Europa League. This season, there will once again be two more chances to play against those crazy kids in the purple jerseys. But this time it's domestically, not in that other European competition.

Thanks to La Viola's Mario Gomez-inspired 2-0 win over Roma on Tuesday night, Juventus' next opponent in the Coppa Italia has officially been determined. It will be Fiorentina and Juventus in a two-legged semifinal with a spot in the final in Rome at stake. The first leg will be on Wednesday, March 4, with the return leg will take place on Wednesday, April 8. Where each fixture will be played has not been announced.

(On a side note: Seriously, what the hell has happened to Roma over the last couple of weeks? The last six games in all competitions — draw, draw, win, draw, draw, loss. And it's not like some of those draws should be draws. Their last month has been a complete tumble from how they played to open the season.)

All of this means Juve's quest for a silver star on their jersey is still alive, while Roma's, well, it's time to wait another year, guys. Good to see the chance for the domestic double is still going strong. That'd be a nice development with no Supercoppa victory this season.

Juventus and Fiorentina have already played once before, with both teams seeing out a scoreless draw at the Franchi in Florence back in early December. If you don't remember much of it, don't worry, you're not the only one. It was the first of three consecutive draws to close the 2014 calendar year, which is included the advancement in the Champions League.

Let's just hope these games against Fiorentina go a little better than that last one. And maybe a little less heart attack-worthy like the ones in Europe last season. That would be great.

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Alex: AC Milan Can Beat Juventus

Feb 4, 2015
 
AC Milan defender Alex is adamant his side are capable of defeating Serie A leaders Juventus, when they travel to the Juventus Stadium on Saturday evening.

The 32-year-old has seen his season interrupted by injury, forcing him to miss several Serie A matches through muscular injuries during November and December, but has consistently featured since.

Speaking to the Milan Channel, Alex explained it was an honour to wear the captain’s armband against Parma for the injured Riccardo Montolivo and discussed the attributes of the Bianconeri.

“The coach gave it to me just before the game, but the most important thing was to perform well and win the match against Parma,” Alex said.

“We know the difficulties of Juventus. They are the best team in the league and boast quality players all over the park.

“I think we are ready to fight and can win the game. We will have to be compact in defence and counterattack quickly to create scoring chances.”

The Brazilian then went on to praise two of the Rossoneri’s recent January acquisitions in Gabriel Paletta and Luca Antonelli.

“They are two good players, who arrived to help us improve our position in the [league] standings.”

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Inzaghi To Revert To 4-3-3 With AC Milan

Feb 4, 2015
 
Filippo Inzaghi looks set to revert to his preferred 4-3-3 formation as AC Milan face Serie A leaders Juventus this weekend.

The Rossoneri had opted away from the frequently used formation in the recent victory over Parma in order to accommodate Mattia Destro and Jeremy Menez, but look set to deploy the familiar tactic once more.

According to Sky Sport Italia, Milan will line up in a 4-3-3 formation in the absence of new signing Destro.

The victory over Parma marked Milan’s first win since mid-December, and will be eager to avoid defeat as they make the trip to Juventus Stadium on Saturday evening.

Juventus ran out as 1-0 winners when the sides met at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza back in September courtesy of a Carlos Tevez goal, a result which, at the time ended Milan’s 100% record at the start of the season.

The San Siro side have been disappointing so far this season, and are currently languishing in 8th place, a shocking 21 points behind Saturday’s opponents.

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Tevez: ‘Juve-Milan a Clasico’

Feb 4, 2015
 
Juventus’ Carlos Tevez looks forward to next Saturday's game against Milan, and considers the responsibility of his No 10 shirt.

The Old Lady comes up against a debilitated Rossoneri contingent, but the Argentine has warned against lowering their guard.

“It's true that this isn't going to be the best Milan side, but it's a Clasico, in Italy it's always a game,” said Tevez in an interview with JTV.

“I think this game is different from the other, it's an Italian 'Clasico' and we can't let go of it.

“We know they're going through a particular moment but we've got to do our job. In the first round I scored, let's hope I can repeat myself on Saturday.

“This year's championship is tough. We know that every game is going to be hard. But we have fun in every game. We are very close-knit and every time you can see a real team coming on to the field.”

The forward discussed taking on Alex Del Piero’s famous shirt number in Turin.

“I never asked for the No 10 shirt, they gave it to me for my personality. I think the club wanted to give me this responsibility because they knew I could wear it and do well with it.

“But as I always say, the responsibility comes when you wear the Juventus shirt with its emblem. The No 10 shirt is important for the tifosi, for the people and for the club.

“For me, personally, when I wear the Juventus emblem I'm filled with a positive feeling, a drive to defend the emblem.”

A number of topics were discussed in Tevez’s interview, including the Ballon d’Or award.

“It would be hard to win the Ballon d'Or because there are great players like [Leo] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo], every Sunday they score two or three goals and it's hard to keep up.

“In Italian football scoring isn't easy, it's a different type of football. I see the prospect of a Ballon d'Or for me as very distant.

“The passion for football is always the same in South America. As for the Italians, everyone has their own way of living football, but I think in South American they have a stronger passion. We're always on our feet and jumping.”

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Tevez: Juventus-AC Milan Still
An Italian Football Classic

Feb 4, 2015
 
Juventus striker Carlos Tevez insists that his side’s forthcoming match against AC Milan remains a classic of Italian football, despite the Rossoneri’s form in recent seasons.

Juventus currently top the Serie A table, whilst Milan are currently in eighth, the same position they finished in last season.

“Milan are perhaps not at their best but it is a game that remains a classic of Italian football,” the Argentine told Juventus’ official channel.

“It is important for us to continue the way we are going.”

Recalling memories of his spell in Turin so far, Tevez picked out a strike against Milan at the San Siro last season as the most thrilling.

“The goal that excited me most in black and white? The first against Milan at the San Siro,” he said.

Tevez has scored 13 goals in 20 Serie A appearances for the Bianconeri thus far.

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Damato to ref Juve-Milan

Feb 5, 2015
 
Antonio Damato will run the rule over Saturday’s clash between Juventus and Milan as the week 22 referees are announced.

The Italian referees association has announced the officials for this week’s fixtures, and Damato will take charge of Saturday’s match.

The 42-year-old last took charge of a Bianconeri fixture when they defeated Lazio 3-0 at Olimpico, and showed a red card to Simone Padoin.

The Diavolo also won the last time Damato took charge of their fixture, beating Napoli 2-0 at home.


Week 22 referees

Verona-Torino - Michael Fabbri
Juventus-Milan - Antonio Damato
Fiorentina-Atalanta - Dino Tommasi
Cagliari-Roma - Paolo Tagliavento
Empoli-Cesena - Daniele Orsato
Napoli-Udinese - Paolo Mazzoleni
Parma-Chievo - Gianluca Rocchi
Sampdoria-Sassuolo - Massimiliano Irrati
Inter-Palermo - Marco Guida
Lazio-Genoa - Andrea Gervasoni

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Preview: Juventus vs. AC Milan

Feb 5, 2015
 
Juventus could extend their lead at the top of Serie A to 10 points for a day at least when they welcome AC Milan to Turin on Saturday.

The champions' quest for a fourth consecutive title has been strengthened in recent weeks, with their good form being coupled with a slump for nearest challengers Roma.

Four consecutive draws for the capital club have seen Juve edge further clear and gain a cushion that makes results like their goalless draw against Udinese last time out a minor blip rather than a handing over of initiative.

That draw was only the sixth time this season that Massimiliano Allegri's side have failed to take maximum points from a league match, with their solitary defeat now coming 12 games ago.

They have kept four clean sheets in a row in all competitions and their meagre tally of just nine league goals conceded all season is the joint best record in the top five leagues across Europe, matched only by Bayern Munich. Their record of 13 clean sheets, meanwhile, is the best in the top five divisions.

Unsurprisingly, their home record is also very impressive, with no league defeats and only four dropped points in front of their own fans all season. Indeed, they have amassed more points, scored more goals and conceded fewer goals at home than any other side in the league.

Allegri is unlikely to make many changes to his starting lineup, although Claudio Marchisio could be recalled in midfield. Arturo Vidal remains a doubt through injury, however.

Milan make the trip to one of their great rivals sitting a full 21 points behind them in the table down in eighth place, only one point closer to the Champions League places than they are to the relegation zone.

However, they did end a five-match winless streak in the league last time out as a Jeremy Menez brace helped Filippo Inzaghi's fallen giants to a 3-1 victory over bottom-of-the-table Parma.

That victory came at San Siro, however, and it is away from home where their major problems have arisen so far this season. The Rossoneri have failed to win any of their last six games on their travels, while they have only picked up maximum away points twice all season.

What's more, they have lost more games (37) and conceded more goals (124) away to Juventus in Serie A than any other side in the league's history.

New arrivals Salvatore Bocchetti and Mattia Destro both started in the victory over Parma and are likely to keep their places again this weekend.


Juventus

Form in Serie A: W D W W W D 
Form in all competitions: W W W W W D 

Possible starting lineup: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba, Evra; Llorente, Tevez



Milan

Form in Serie A: DLDLLW
Form in all competitions: DWLLLW

Possible starting lineup: Lopez; Zaccardo, Alex, Rami, Bocchetti; Poli, Van Ginkel, Honda, Menez, Cerci; Destro



Sports Mole says: 2-0

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

JUVENTUS V MILAN MATCH PREVIEW

Feb 5, 2015
 

Juventus

Last week’s Udinese draw was, thanks to Roma, ultimately not that impactful on Juve’s league standing. Still, dropped points are dropped points. This upcoming match versus Milan is both an opportunity to make up for those points, and of course another chance for Max Allegri to get revenge on his ex-employers. Obviously, Juventus beat Milan in the fall, but the game was shockingly close and the scoreline was only 1-0. Since then, the two teams’ fortunes have gone in opposite directions.

Unfortunately Allegri does have a few injuries to fret over: Martin Caceres is most likely going to miss the game. Additionally Arturo Vidal is not confirmed to return from his latest knock either. Vidal’s status is questionable, but if he is healthy he will likely start. Caceres’ status, while more doubtful, is also more important in regards to the formation. If Caceres is healthy, the 4-3-1-2 is likely to appear. If not, Max Allegri will probably go with a 3-5-2. As of now, I am going to assume that Allegri is using a 3-5-2. If this were to change, the starting lineup wouldn’t necessarily, with the exception of Caceres and of course a midfielder being swapped – in a sense – for a centerback.

In a 3-5-2, expect to see Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini to start with Angelo Ogbonna. While Ogbonna has seen his playing time a bit limited so far in 2015 – he has still performed consistently. Coincidentally, Ogbonna substituted Martin Caceres in the first game versus Milan, after Caceres came off with an injury.

On the flanks the choices are limited. Stephan Lichsteiner is suspended, and while Roberto Pereyra can sort of play right wing back – as Simone Pepe has a few times, but, not for years – Martin Caceres is really the only available player who is comfortable there. So, if it’s not Caceres and we see a 3-5-2, Roberto Pereyra is expected to be on the right flank. A caveat, as well: Simone Padoin could be picked to start at right back, in a four man backline, But this is the least likely outcome

Now, out left there is finally a new option in addition to Patrice Evra and Simone Padoin: Paolo De Ceglie. Not really an exciting name or great player, but, at least Evra can get some rest once in a while. Versus Milan though, Evra will start. He will probably play the full match, as well.

Due to Vidal’s injury the midfield picture is cloudy. Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, and Paul Pogba should start. Simone Padoin will probably start in place of Vidal if he the Chilean is still hurt. Though again, one could swap Pereyra and Padoin in these scenarios and still have a realistic guess. For now, assume Padoin in the midfield.

Finally the striking corps is another area where it’s not clear who will start. Carlos Tevez is a guarantee, per usual. However it now seems we have a legitimate battle between Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Morata for that other starting striker spot. I think in some ways, for the next match at least, the decision again lies on the formation. If there is a 3-5-2, I expect Llorente. If there is a 4-3-1-2, I expect to see Morata. But that could be wrong! Again, we will need to see who Allegri picks on Saturday.

 

Predicted Lineup

3-5-2: Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Pereyra, Evra, Pirlo, Marchisio, Pogba; Tevez, Llorente

 

Injuries

Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo (Both undergone knee surgery)

 

Doubtful

Arturo Vidal and Martin Caceres

 

Suspended

Stephan Lichtsteiner



Milan

After the winter break, Milan won only one Serie A match out of five, the most recent one against the wrecked Parma. In the other four, they have been defeated by Sassuolo, Atalanta and Lazio and they tied against Torino. In the meantime, they beat Sassuolo in Coppa Italia, but Stefano Pioli’s squad crushed their hopes of winning a title two weeks later. It’s been an awful month for them and the rookie coach Filippo Inzaghi is on the hot seat, with the rumours about his potential replacement at the end of the season gaining more and more steam.

As always, the coach is only part of the problem. Inzaghi prefers an offensive-minded approach, but he probably doesn’t have good enough roster to deliver it as he would like to. The defensive blunders have been countless, especially on set pieces, and the midfield just lacks the needed quality, quick-thinking and sharp passing. The attack is loaded and Jeremy Menez has been a star this season (even though sometimes he holds the ball too long), Keisuke Honda has been very prolific early in the season.,Giacomo Bonaventura has been a useful jack-of-all-trades that allowed them to switch comfortably from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 when they wanted to. We’ll see what kind of contribution Alessio Cerci and Mattia Destro (suspended for this match) will be able to provide. On paper, it looks good, but the problems lie elsewhere.

The defense probably started to tail off when Alex first got injured and then had some small relapses and never quite managed to play as well as he was doing in the very first part of the season. Due the suspensions of Philippe Mexes and the injuries to Ignazio Abate, Mattia De Sciglio, Cristian Zapata and Daniele Bonera, they’ll be forced to field a four-man defensive line composed basically by four centre-backs. They blew the dust off Zaccardo against Parma as they had run out of right-backs (he played fairly well, but, then again, it was just Parma) and Salvatore Bocchetti made his debut as left-back. Alex and Adil Rami will be in the heart of the season. Certainly a very muscular defense, but not very quick and it could easily slip on one of those usual mistakes that happen when the defenders aren’t familiar with each other. The other newcomer Gabriel Paletta has a chance to start (maybe replacing Zaccardo, with Rami on the right), but that wouldn’t change much, while Luca Antonelli would add some pace. We’ll see whether Pippo will trust them already.

With Riccardo Montolivo and Nigel De Jong unlikely to play, Andrea Poli, Micheal Essien and Sulley Muntari (or Marko Van Ginkel) will have the task to hold the fort in the middle of the pitch. It’s blatant that there’s not much creativity there and this is where, in my opinion, Milan have struggled the most (and should have addressed the issue in the January window). The presence of Montolivo doesn’t even remotely solve the issue too. Honda and Bonaventura are slated to flank Menez in the trident, even though it’s possible that Cerci will be able to win the starting spot in the next two days, in place of Bonaventura, who’s nursing a bummed shoulder, or with the former Atalanta player in the midfield.

The numbers of Milan aren’t horrible: 31 goals scored (5th best in Serie A) and 26 conceded (tied-8th), but the last few performances have been frankly disheartening and they inexplicably dropped too many points that would have been very helpful in the race for a Champions League spot (that was wide open until Napoli broke away from the pack). They are in eight position, ten points behind Benitez’s side and five points behind the fifth place occupied by Sampdoria, which guarantees the qualification to Europa League.

Milan have quality, especially up front, but they have been a one-trick pony so far. If you take away the counter-attacking game, the first option, they become predictable due to the lack of a harmonious team play and of a smart distributor in the middle: 52% of ball possession per game is historically abysmal for possession-oriented team like Milan. When they can’t run-and-gun, Menez tends to be too stubborn, Honda disappears, Bonaventura can’t make sneaky cuts and so on. They usually don’t play with a true centre-forward, so they don’t score cheap goals.

Their defense, not only their defenders, is pretty sloppy and suffer when put under pressure. They concede more than 14 shots per game, which is worse than Empoli, Parma and Empoli (13th overall). As far as performances on the road are concerned, they are in the middle of the group with two wins, six draws and two losses. In the first match of the season, when both teams were still searching for their identities, Juventus won 1-0 with a Tevez goal in the second half, but the performance of the Allegri boys was convincing.

 

Predicted Lineup

Diego Lopez; Zaccardo, Alex, Rami, Bocchetti; Poli, Essien, Muntari; Honda, Menez, Bonaventura.

 

Injuries

Cristian Zapata (foot), Mattia De Sciglio (foot), Daniele Bonera (thigh), Stephan El Shaarawy (foot), Ignazio Abate (thigh), Ricardo Montolivo (thigh), Nigel De Jong (thigh), Hachim Mastour (knee).

 

Suspended

Phillip Mexes, Mattia Destro.


 

Formation

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Juventus - AC Milan Preview: Inzaghi's side
quietly confident of Serie A shock

Despite the form book suggesting the Scudetto holders will canter
to victory, the Rossoneri are determined to cause a Turin upset.

Feb 6, 2015
 
AC Milan are quietly confident they can claim a surprise win at Serie A champions Juventus and blow this year's title race wide open.

Juve, aiming for a fourth successive Scudetto, lead the league by seven points and have lost just once in the league this season.

Massimiliano Allegri's men missed a chance to extend their advantage to nine points following a 0-0 draw at Udinese on Sunday.

And Milan, buoyed by a 3-1 home win over struggling Parma, are out to spring another shock on Juventus.

That result ended a run of three straight losses for Milan in all competitions, but the mood is evidently high in the camp, with goalkeeper Diego Lopez insisting they would go all-out for victory in Turin.

"The match against Juventus will be brilliant, against the best side in Italy right now," he told the club's official website ahead of Saturday's meeting. "We are going there to play for the win. We can try to win it."

Forward Alessio Cerci also believes his side can pull off an unexpected victory.

The Italian, who joined on an 18-month loan deal from Atletico Madrid in January, said: "Against Juventus, we have to play an open game. We're taking on the league leaders - the strongest team in Italy. We will have our chances."

Milan were busy in the recent transfer window, with the likes of Cerci, Mattia Destro, Suso and Gabriel Paletta all joining the club.

Coach Filippo Inzaghi is out to improve his side's strike force with Jeremy Menez and Keisuke Honda - both midfielders - responsible for 18 of their 31 league goals this season.

And while Destro will give them added firepower, he - along with team-mate Philippe Mexes - is suspended for the clash. Also missing through a ban is Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner after reaching the yellow card limit.

Milan will need to defy recent history if they are to emerge victorious, having lost their last five to Juve.

That includes a 1-0 win that the three-time defending champions claimed at San Siro in September.

Carlos Tevez scored the winner on that occasion and was quick to talk up the importance of the weekend's match - dubbing it as a "classic of Italian football" when speaking to JTV.

Tevez has scored in three of Juventus' last four home matches in all competitions.

Their draw with Udinese ended a five-match winning streak, but they take confidence from an incredible 38-game unbeaten run in home league matches.


OPTA FACTS

This will be the 160th Serie A meeting between Juventus and AC Milan: the Bianconeri lead by 57 wins to 48.

Juventus have won each of their last four league encounters with AC Milan, keeping a clean sheet in three of these.

Juve have won their last three Serie A matches against AC Milan at home, scoring on average two goals per game.

AC Milan have lost 37 games and conceded 124 away to Juventus in Serie A, more than against any other side in the top-flight.

AC Milan won against Parma last Sunday. Prior to that game, they had’t won for five consecutive Serie A games (D2 L3).

The Rossoneri are winless away from home in Serie A since last December (3-1 win away to Hellas Verona). Since then, they have drawn four times and lost twice.

Juventus have kept 13 clean sheets so far, no sides have done better across the top-5 European leagues this season.

AC Milan have conceded 81 shots since January 1st, only Chievo (86) have faced more shots in Serie A over this period.

 

LAST FIVE MATCHES

Juventus  D W W W W

2/1/15 - Udinese 0 - 0 Juventus
1/28/15 - Parma 0 - 1 Juventus
1/25/15 - Juventus 2 - 0 Chievo Verona
1/18/15 - Juventus 4 - 0 Hellas Verona
1/15/15 - Juventus 6 - 1 Hellas Verona


Milan  W L L L W

2/1/15 - Milan 3 - 1 Parma
1/27/15 - Milan 0 - 1 Lazio
1/24/15 - Lazio 3 - 1 Milan
1/18/15 - Milan 0 - 1 Atalanta
1/13/15 - Milan 2 - 1 Sassuolo


HEAD TO HEAD

9/20/14 - Milan 0 - 1 Juventus
3/2/14 - Milan 0 - 2 Juventus
10/6/13 - Juventus 3 - 2 Milan
4/21/13 - Juventus 1 - 0 Milan
1/9/13 - Juventus 2 - 1 Milan

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Juventus cannot afford to underestimate AC Milan, insists Sturaro

The young midfielder has warned that Filippo Inzaghi's men remain
a dangerous opponent and he is looking forward to making his Champions League debut.

Feb 6, 2015
 
New Juventus signing Stefano Sturaro has warned his team-mates not to take this weekend's Serie A game versus AC Milan lightly.

The reigning champions hold a 21-point lead over Saturday's opponents heading into the game, yet Sturaro - who returned to Juventus from Genoa in January - has stressed the Rossoneri remain a force to be reckoned with.

"It will be a tough game, because both sides possess great players, but we’re fired up and focused," Sturaro told Sky Sport, before stressing that their seven-point lead over second-placed Roma should inspire them to keep improving.

"Our seven-point lead over Roma can be viewed as both a positive and negative, because you can’t ever let your guard down.

"Our advantage needs to spur us on to do even better."

The midfielder then went on to discuss the upcoming Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund and says he's looking forward to making his bow in European club football's elite competition.

"I can’t even start to imagine what playing in the Champions League will be like, it will represent a completely new experience for me.

"I’ll look to adapt as quickly as possible and do my bit for the team."

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

The case for Morata

Massimiliano Allegri is reportedly undecided on which Spaniard to start
in attack against Milan. Luca Cetta thinks it should be Alvaro Morata.

Feb 6, 2015
 
There are selection decisions ahead for Massimiliano Allegri as Juventus prepare to face Milan. The right-back position is a cause for concern given Stephan Lichtsteiner’s suspension and an injury to Martin Caceres. Claudio Marchisio is back from a one-match stop, while Arturo Vidal and Patrice Evra are battling fitness concerns.

And there’s another selection worth considering - the identity of Carlos Tevez’s partner in attack. Italy’s three main sporting newspapers suggest Fernando Llorente is favoured to play from the opening whistle. TuttoJuve.com reported earlier in the week though that the tactician is undecided between Llorente and Alvaro Morata. The senior member of Juve’s Spanish force has been handed more starts this term, but it’s debatable whether his current form warrants inclusion.

El Rey Leon is goalless in 2015 and his performance last Sunday against Udinese highlighted recent concerns. It would rank as one of Llorente’s more listless showings in a Bianconero shirt. He not only failed to trouble Orestis Karnezis, but according to WhoScored.com had just 30 touches in 67 minutes and a team-low 62.5 per cent pass completion rate. It’s a trend which has persisted throughout the opening weeks of 2015.

The same website notes his four Serie A goals have come from 1195 minutes. It’s a regression for Llorente, who at this stage last term had registered nine League strikes. His numbers in other areas such as shots per game and pass success rate have also dropped. It’s clear that where last season Antonio Conte’s utilisation of Llorente and Tevez in close proximity yielded results for both, Allegri’s allowance of Tevez to play with greater freedom often leaves Llorente isolated. Tevez continues to excel, Llorente struggles to get involved.

“Conte played with a formation that he liked, with two strikers close to each other,” Tevez described this week. “I like the current formation best because I can do what I feel like doing in the pitch, I have greater freedom.”

Waiting in the wings is Morata. The 22-year-old has started just seven matches in all competitions and while like Llorente scoring four Serie A goals, he’s done so from nearly half the time – 602 minutes. Morata has been amongst the goals in recent Coppa Italia clashes versus Verona and Parma, while his Udine cameo emphasised the energy and directness he offers from the bench, adding a different dimension to the Bianconeri attack.

The ex-Real Madrid striker has the ability to either come deep and bring others into play or get behind defenders, something Llorente doesn’t. Where the 2010 World Cup winner is usually deployed with his back to goal, Morata is most dangerous when running at defenders. He draws more fouls than his compatriot, which can lead to set-piece opportunities.

What Morata hasn’t done is turn the energetic cameo into a complete 90-minute showing. “He needs to be a little less frenetic and also realise that he has to be in a game for over 90 minutes,” Allegri opined recently. Frustratingly for Morata when he does enough to earn a starting role he has not been able to keep the spot – consecutive starts against Verona and Chievo his only ones in Serie A. Morata is of the opinion both Spaniards can feature, but with Tevez sparkling Allegri is not about to bench him.

It would be tempting for the Coach to unleash the aerial prowess of Llorente against a Rossoneri defence which has struggled to defend high crosses and set-pieces. Yet he is off the pace and not producing what Juventus need from somebody leading the attack. And with Juve’s full-back concerns it’s an avenue which may be problematic on Saturday.

Morata has proven he can do a job as a substitute and now is the time to prove his effectiveness for 90 minutes. Just twice he has netted – against Empoli and Verona in the Coppa – as a starter, but Morata has the tools to torment a side without a clean sheet in seven matches since the winter break.

And with their European tie against Borussia Dortmund rapidly approaching, the Old Lady will want to take some of the scoring burden away from Tevez. As they look for the right combination in attack, it’s time for Morata to show what he can do.

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

JUVENTUS V AC MILAN –
SITTING DOWN WITH THE ENEMY

Feb 6, 2015
 
1. Where is it going wrong for Milan at the moment ?

Things are awry from the top down at Milan. The president isn’t going to continue investing in Milan, and he doesn’t really seem to know what to do with it, with a stalemate at the CEO position. Inzaghi was thrown in the deep end probably too soon, and has had to learn on the job, despite never really being the most tactical of minds. The one thing expected from Inzaghi is motivation, and he’s failed so far to deliver that from his squad, which are collectively the third largest wage bill, yet third would be quite a reach for this group.

 

2. At the moment, what’s the biggest problem: The team or the coach ?

 

Neither fits each other. Inzaghi went from managing a youth team to playing senior players with no room for improvement future at the club such as Muntari and Essien on a regular basis. The biggest issue is the squad, but Inzaghi isn’t exactly cruising through his debut season. Tactically he’s not alert, although his search for a working formation may provide some needed balance. The ceiling is only so high with the squad though.

 

3. Would you like to see inzaghi sacked, and if so, who would be the ideal replacement?

 

No, that won’t really do any good – this season needs to be another “year zero” for Milan. Sacking a coach now makes no sense.

 

4. Do you feel losing a player like Pirlo has had a big impact on Milans fortunes ?

 

Absolutely, I think that more than the massive on the field impact Pirlo had, the psychological impact of losing someone of his calibur who won 2 Champions League trophies with the club and is so engrained in the history is massive.

 

5. How do you view the game and what are Milans chances ahead of the game ?

 

Cynically at this point. Milan aren’t in any sustained form, and are shuffling through formations. It’s possible Inzaghi finds the right combination at the right time, and Milan have tended to perform at their opponents level, but with the amount of shuffling at the back, and Milan’s muddled gameplan, I don’t see Rossoneri taking any points from the fixture.

 

6. Which Juve player would solve Milan’s main problem as you see it?

 

Paul Pogba or Arturo Vidal, as Milan lack presence in the center of the field (not Muntari presence, but quality).

 

7. What are your feelings on the new stadium and do you believe that a new stadium can do what Juventus stadium did for us?

 

I’m cynical for how it’s actually going to be built and financed, but I do think it’s a necessary part of competing in the world of football and challenging in Europe.

 

8. Would getting rid of Berlusconi solve Milan’s problems?

Some of the problems, but far from all of them.

 

9. Scoreline prediction ?

3-1 Juventus, close until the 65th

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Juventus To Persist With 3-5-2 Formation Against AC Milan

Feb 6, 2015
 
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is expected to implement the 3-5-2 formation again when they play against AC Milan on Saturday night.

Allegri used the 3-5-2 in the goalless draw against Udinese on Sunday, and he is likely to stick with it against the Rossoneri.

According to Sky Sport Italia, Allegri will use the three-man defence but he has trouble settling on which wing-backs he will use.

Stephan Lichtsteiner is suspended and Martin Caceres is a doubt for the match so either Simone Padoin or Roberto Pereyra could occupy the right wing-back position.

The report also states that Allegri has not been impressed with Padoin playing in that role in training so the Argentine midfielder is the likely candidate to patrol the right flank against AC Milan, whilst veteran French left-back Patrice Evra is expected to play on the left-hand side.

The Bianconeri occupy top spot in Serie A with 50 points whereas the Rossoneri are 21 points behind in eighth place.

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

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Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Juventus vs. AC Milan: Team News

Feb 6, 2015
 
Two giants going in different directions will meet on Saturday when Juventus takes on AC Milan in Turin.

 

Preamble

Juventus is right where it wants to be at this point in the season—seven points up on their nearest pursuers for the title. The cushion over Roma will allow them to give some critical players rest as the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie with Borussia Dortmund moves closer. Given the fact that Jurgen Klopp will not have the same luxury while battling to keep his team out of the Bundesliga's relegation zone, the gap Juve has opened up in the league could prove a critical advantage indeed.

That advantage could have been nine, but injuries and suspensions forced Massimiliano Allegri back to the 3-5-2 formation on Sunday against Udinese. Allegri has yet to prove that he can make that formation move as effectively as his predecessor Antonio Conte, and Juve looked flat in a scoreless draw. With Claudio Marchisio back from suspension and Arturo Vidal hopefully healthy, Allegri will likely look to return to the 4-3-1-2 that he has installed to great effect since November.

Allegri's former team isn't where they want to be. Milan has a few more points now than they did at this stage a year ago, but so far 2014-15 hasn't been the immediate bounce-back they were hoping for under new coach Filippo Inzaghi.

The Milan legend and rookie coach has faced criticism at times for squad selection, but poor upper management is the real reason Milan has scuffled the last two years. Of particular concern has been the defense, which has been flat-out bad since the sale of Thiago Silva in 2012.

Milan acquired three new defenders during the transfer window and will hope that Salvatore Bocchetti, Luca Antonelli and Gabriel Paletta mesh in time to hold Carlos Tevez and Co. in their tracks and pick up a surprise point.

They fell 3-2 in their last trip to the Juventus Stadium a year ago, but that scoreline is somewhat misleading. Juve didn't fire on all cylinders that night but still dominated much of the game, especially in the second half. Sulley Muntari made the score respectable in the 90th minute, but it was mere window dressing.

Both of Milan's previous trips to Turin since the palatial new ground opened were shutout losses. In 2011 Claudio Marchisio scored two goals within five minutes of the whistle to sink the Rossoneri and announce Antonio Conte's first Juve side as a true challenger. A year later an Arturo Vidal penalty was the difference in a 1-0 game. Milan has also visited Turin in the Coppa Italia two of the last three seasons, both times being eliminated after extra time.


Players to Watch
 

Carlos Tevez has been the engine of Juve's attack all year long. According to WhoScored.com, he leads the league with 13 goals and has chipped in six assists along the way. He's also chipped in three more in the Champions League and scored a brace in the Supercoppa Italiana—although Juve's eventual shootout loss can be attributed to his getting too fancy when given the chance to give his team an early lead.

The Argentine international has been a true wonder to watch this season. Antonio Conte had always given him some freedom to roam sideline to sideline in the attacking third, but Allegri has doubled that leeway. The change in formation has also been a boon to him.

He can either roam the entire field looking to draw defenders to him and find lanes for midfield runners in the form of Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal or stay just above the box to latch onto passes. His dribbling ability—something possessed by no other Juve forward since their title run began—can create goals out of nothing, whether he's in traffic in the box or slaloming his way through half the field.

Of all the players Juve can put on the field, he's become the one all teams must be sure to account for.

On the visiting side, attention must be paid to Alessio Cerci. Cerci was one of the best players on the field on Sunday against Parma. He assisted on Jeremy Menez's second goal, put two shots on target and made three key passes.

Juve's defense is the one of the best in Europe this year, but they have displayed a minor weakness against pacey wing play.

Cerci has the pace and technique to cause problems for Juve's defense. His likely defensive matchup will be Martin Caceres, who has only just returned from a leg injury—an injury he aggravated in similar circumstances against Roma in October.

Cerci won't have a true target man to cross to on Saturday. New acquisition Mattia Destro is suspended for yellow-card accumulation, so Inzaghi may be forced to revert to a 4-3-3 with Jeremy Menez as a false nine.


Key Battle

Expect Gabriel Paletta to make his Milan debut immediately, and expect him to tangle with Carlos Tevez.

The best way to keep Juve out is to stop Tevez and let the rest of the team beat you. There are, of course, a plethora of players on Juve's roster who can do just that, but if Tevez is firing on all cylinders, it makes players like Pogba, Vidal and Marchisio that much more dangerous.

Paletta was probably the best center-back in Serie A last season. He's been out for much of the year with injury, and came to Milan on deadline day from cash-strapped Parma. His return six weeks ago saw the Crusaders' defensive performances improve dramatically. Though he's not anywhere near Thiago Silva's league in terms of talent, he's easily the best center-back the team has had since they sold the Brazilian to PSG three summers ago.

The last time he and Tevez went toe-to-toe, however, the Juve man struck twice and ended a long Parma unbeaten run.

If Paletta manages to neutralize Tevez this time, Milan will have a better chance of catching Juve on the counter. If Tevez manages to best him, Juve could open a big lead very quickly.


Odds (according to Odds Shark)

Juventus win: 4/15

Milan win: 10/1

Draw: 4/1

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

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Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Allegri: Scudetto race not over yet

The Juventus coach has warned that anything can still happen in Serie A
and added that AC Milan will not be pushovers in this weekend's Derby d'Italia.

Feb 6, 2015
 
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has warned that the Serie A title race is not over just yet and is eagerly anticipating Saturday's match versus AC Milan.

The reigning Italian champions hold a seven-point lead over Roma in the table heading into this weekend's games, but Allegri is adamant his side cannot afford to allow their standards to slip - especially against his former side.

"Have we already won the Scudetto? No chance," Allegri said at a press conference.

"There's still a long way to go and Roma are firmly in the hunt.

"We'll require great intensity from a technical standpoint if we want to come away with an important result against Milan.

"Milan may have had a few problems in January but played well in December, beating Napoli and drawing with Roma. They have done well in the January transfer market, bringing in four decent international players. Milan won their last game and can get themselves into a position to fight for a European place."

Allegri is also delighted with Juve's own dealings in the January window, during which they sealed return deals for Stefano Sturaro and Alessandro Matri.

"We've had a fine transfer window," he said. "Matri scored seven goals in the first half of the term and is an important contribution.

"Sturaro possesses important qualities: he still needs to adapt but he's a very level-headed and mature guy. He can play in several positions across the midfield and also just in front of the defence."

The Juventus coach also had his say on Milan boss Filippo Inzaghi, insisting the former striker has a long coaching career ahead of him despite his turbulent time at San Siro so far.

"Inzaghi's got all the right characteristics to enjoy a successful managerial career," he added.

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

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Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Allegri: ‘Milan will be back’

Feb 6, 2015
 
Max Allegri warns tomorrow’s clash with Milan will not be easy, and says the Rossoneri will soon be back to challenge Juventus.

The Diavolo currently lie 21 points adrift of the Bianconeri, and have won just one League game since the turn of the year, but the Juve Coach doesn’t think that matters when it comes to tomorrow’s game.

“First things first, it’s still Juventus-Milan,” Allegri explained in his pre-match Press conference.

“Then you have to remember the game against Inter, where we played well, did things for ourselves and made chances.

“Tomorrow we face a team that won its last game, and ok they had difficulties in January, but they did really well in December, beating Napoli and drawing at Roma.

“So this is always a complicated game because, I repeat, it’s still Juventus-Milan.

“Besides, I think Galliani had a great transfer window, he brought in four big players, four internationals, Cerci, Destro, Antonelli and Paletta.

“So I think that Milan are a team built to fight for a European place, and tomorrow is far from an easy game.

“I think that life is made up of cycles, so I think that while at the moment Juventus are far ahead of Milan - whatever happens tomorrow - I think Milan have the potential to return to being Juventus’ main rivals in the League.”

The former Milan Coach also discussed the fortunes of his opposite number, Pippo Inzaghi, with whom he reportedly had a stormy relationship at San Siro.

“Is he the right man for the job? I’m not in a position to judge.

“If Berlusconi and Galliani have chosen Inzaghi, it’s because they believe he can be a Coach.

“And I think he has all the qualities to be a Coach, over a season or a career there will be difficult times, but I think Inzaghi has all the attributes to be a success.

"Is there any bitterness? I'm thinking about Juventus, and trying to take Juventus to first place. After that, if second place goes to Roma, Milan, Fiorentina or Napoli or someone else I don't care.

"Everything else is in the past, so many things happen in life that I don't think about things which have happened to me in the past. I always try to look ahead, and that's the right thing to do"

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

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Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Juventus V AC Milan – Preview:
Big Test For Struggling Rossoneri

Feb 6, 2015
 
AC Milan travel to Juventus stadium on Saturday evening to try and bag one more for the road before the Rossonero shuffle off a dying campaign and derail the Bianconeri train steamrolling toward its fourth consecutive scudetto.

Filippo Inzaghi’s men have spent months in full-on crisis mode but temporarily stopped the rot this past Sunday, earning their first victory in six matches, at the expense of bottom-dwellers Parma 3-1 at the San Siro.

Meanwhile, Juventus have only lost a single Serie A match all season and have taken advantage of Roma’s poor form to stretch their league advantage to seven points.

The lead atop the standings and Juve’s unbeaten run belies the fact the Old Lady have won despite the offense not functioning on all cylinders. Most recently, a last minute Alvaro Morata goal in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals against Parma rescued Juve’s blushes and was followed by a listless scoreless draw against Udinese.

The collective defensive work of Massimiliano Allegri’s side and the inimitable Gianluigi Buffon have powered Juve to four straight clean sheets in all competitions.

Arturo Vidal’s return should help unlock the club’s difficulty in creating opportunities for whichever strike tandem Allegri features as Roberto Pereyra hasn’t performed nearly as well as the Chilean sitting in the hole behind behind the front line.

Allegri will have nearly his full compliment of players as, outside of long term injuries to Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo, only Stephan Lichsteiner will miss the match due to suspension and a muscle strain to Martin Caceres may force the Uruguayan to the sidelines.

Milan have suffered through a season which began brightly enough for Inzaghi, Milan’s fourth coach in a year, with the San Siro side losing only a single match in their opening nine fixtures, a 1-0 loss to Juventus. However, the old wounds quickly resurfaced as Milan currently sit in eighth place earning a meager 13 points over the last 12 matches.

Additionally, a 3-1 thumping at the hands of Lazio dropped the side out of the Coppa Italia, the simplest path back to European football for the five-time Champions League winners.

A rash of injuries across the midfield have crippled Inzaghi and the latest news of Stephan El Shaarawy’s broken foot along with suspensions to Philippe Mexes and Mattia Destro will further limit Inzaghi’s options.

Recent history favors the Bianconeri as Milan has only won a single match in the last seven between the clubs including three consecutive losses at Juventus Stadium.

 

Form Guide: Juventus (D-W-W-W-D-W) AC Milan (W-L-L-D-L-D)


Expected Starting XIs

Juventus: Buffon; Padoin, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio; Vidal; Tevez, Llorente

Milan: Lopez; Zaccardo, Alex, Rami, Bocchetti; Poli, Essien, Muntari; Honda, Menez, Bonaventura

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Juventus - AC Milan Betting: Inconsistent Rossoneri
to play their part in a high-scoring clash

With Filippo Inzaghi's side as weak at the back as they are dangerous going forward
away from home, Al Hain-Cole expects plenty of action when they face their former coach.

Feb 6, 2015
 
AC Milan will be hoping to kick-start their ailing season when they travel to Turin to take on Juventus in Saturday's high-profile Serie A clash.

Having recorded a first win in six matches at home to Parma last weekend, the Rossoneri are available at with bet365 to secure a morale-boosting victory at the home of the champions.

However, after winning 27 and losing none of their previous 29 league fixtures on home soil, the hosts are clear favourites to come out on top for the fifth consecutive encounter between the sides.

Inter were the last team to leave the Juventus Stadium with something to show for their efforts following last month's 1-1 draw, and you can get odds of on their city rivals also earning a point here.

After being shown the door at San Siro in January after almost four seasons in charge, Massimiliano Allegri will be keen to get one over on his former club.

The 47-year-old has certainly landed on his feet since replacing Antonio Conte in the summer, maintaining his predecessor's high standards in suffering just one league defeat so far to open up a seven-point gap at the top of the table.

In contrast, his ex-employers have been the antithesis of stability since his departure, with current coach Filippo Inzaghi having replaced Clarence Seedorf in the summer after the Dutchman survived just six months at the helm.

This uncertainty seems to have been translated onto the pitch, where Inzaghi's men have struggled all season for consistency, particularly on the road.

While their record of 16 goals scored away from home is the joint-second best in the division, the guests' goals against tally of the same figure is worse than that of relegation-battling Atalanta and Empoli.

Considering the Bianconeri have scored 33 times in 11 domestic matches on home soil so far, entertainment appears guaranteed against a mercurial Milan team, meaning odds of are not to be missed on over 2.5 goals going in.

 

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

[Socrates 8518]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

.-

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Antonio Damato

Juventus v AC Milan: Preview

Feb 6, 2015
 
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri expects his former club AC Milan to provide his title-chasing team with a stern test in Turin on Saturday.

The Rossoneri have won just one of their last six Serie A games and are eighth in the standings, 21 points adrift of league leaders Juve.

``This is always a tough game because it's still Juve versus Milan,'' Allegri told the Italian media on Friday. ``We face a team that won its last game.

``Although they struggled in January, Milan did really well in December, beating Napoli and holding Roma a to a draw.

``Milan have also made good signings during the winter transfer market, bringing in four international players, (Alessio) Cerci, (Mattia) Destro, (Luca) Antonelli and (Gabriel) Paletta.

``I think that Milan is a team built to fight for a European place and tomorrow it will be far from easy.''

Juve have enjoyed a strong campaign under Allegri, who was sacked by Milan just 13 months ago.

The Turin giants are unbeaten at home in Serie A and last weekend's goalless draw at Udinese left the Bianconeri firmly on course for their fourth-straight scudetto.

Juve are seven points clear of nearest rivals Roma.

``The season is still very long and I expect Roma to fight until the end for the scudetto,'' Allegri said. ``We haven't achieved anything yet and we need to understand that.''


Last weekend's 3-1 triumph against Parma halted a five-match winless streak for Milan and eased the pressure on coach Filippo Inzaghi.

``From now on, we must show the same determination we displayed against Parma,'' Inzaghi said. ``I want to thank our club president (Silvio Berlusconi) for the new reinforcements.

``They are all talented and are hungry to succeed.

``It''s up to us now to deliver.''

The Rossoneri are still without eight injured players while defender Philippe Mexes and Italian striker Destro are both suspended.

Serie A's top scorer Carlos Tevez will lead Juve's attack alongside Fernando Llorente.

Juve are without defender Stephan Lichtsteiner, who must serve a one-match ban, while recent signing Alessandro Matri is out with a muscular problem.

 

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