Juventus Season 2014-2015

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus-Napoli Betting: Benitez's men to keep
their Champions League dreams alive with a big win

With a place at Europe's top table still up for grabs, Al Hain-Cole expects the fired-up
Partenopei to take advantage of Massimiliano Allegri's distracted team by coming out on top.

May 21, 2015
 
Napoli will attempt to keep their fading Champions League dream alive when they travel to Turin to take on Juventus in Saturday’s Serie A clash.

Three points off third-placed Lazio with just two games to go, Rafa Benitez’s men are available at with William Hill to maintain the pressure until the final day of the season by coming out on top here.

However, the champions added the Coppa Italia trophy to Scudetto in midweek, and are on offer at to take all three points in this one.

The Bianconeri have now drawn three of their last four matches in all competitions, and you can get odds of on them settling for a point once again.

Although six points may seem like an unrealistically large gap with just two games left to play, the remaining fixture list does offer the Partenopei some hope of making a late surge into the top four.

With the Rome derby between second-placed Roma and third-placed Lazio also taking place this weekend, a victory here could well put Benitez’s side within touching distance of the top three as they head into the final match day to take on none other than the Biancocelesti themselves.

The guests should, therefore, have no shortage of motivation as they travel to the Juventus Stadium to take on a side that could be forgiven for having their concentration fixed elsewhere.

Having already lifted the league title and no doubt jaded from Wednesday’s extra-time cup final victory, Massimiliano Allegri’s side are unlikely to be at full throttle on Saturday, particularly with their upcoming Champions League final on the horizon.

With this in mind, those odds could represent strong value on a fired-up Napoli taking advantage of Juventus’ lethargy by emerging victorious here.

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Preview: Juventus vs. Napoli

May 21, 2015
 
Two of Italian football's biggest clubs will meet on Saturday evening when Juventus take on Napoli in Turin.

The Bianconeri have wrapped up a league and cup double and can extend their unbeaten home run to a second straight season, but their opponents will be on the hunt for three vital points as they bid to reach the Champions League.


Juventus

This season just keeps getting better with each passing week for Juventus and they are now on the verge of landing a historic treble for the first time in their 117-year history.

Having already won the Serie A title earlier this month, they added the Coppa Italia to their growing list of honours by claiming a 2-1 victory over Lazio on Wednesday evening.

They got off to the worst possible start by conceding inside of four minutes, but Giorgio Chiellini flicked in a quick equaliser and Alessandro Matri completed the comeback with an extra-time winner to seal a domestic double and their first victory in the cup for 20 years.

Their next target is to win the Champions League final against Barcelona in two weeks, and if the La Liga giants manage to win the Copa del Rey final next weekend, then it will be a straight shootout to decide which club lands a treble.

Massimiliano Allegri's side still have two games left until that European clash and their first order of business will be to finish their league campaign with an unbeaten home record for the second straight season.

Their last defeat in Serie A in front of their own supporters came in a 2-1 reverse against Sampdoria over two years ago and they have gone 46 games since without a loss. They actually won every single home game in the league last time around and have dropped points just three times this season.

The Bianconeri will be expected to rest a number of players this weekend following their cup success, but even without some of their key squad members, they are still a formidable foe and last weekend they were victorious against Inter Milan with a second-string lineup.

Recent form in Serie A: W L W W D W 
Recent form (all competitions): W W D D W W 


Napoli

While everything has been going perfectly for Juventus, the exact opposite can be said of Napoli, who have seen their season crumble around them in the past month.

They seemed to have recovered from a bad run of form in March, by claiming three wins on the spin that saw them edge closer to the top three. However, a damaging 4-2 defeat against Empoli three weeks ago stopped them in their tracks.

The Azzurri bounced back a few days later with a 3-0 win over AC Milan, but their inconsistency came back to haunt them in their next match, with already-relegated Parma holding them to a 2-2 draw.

It seemed as if they would falter again on Monday evening after falling behind early on against Cesena, but they fought back to earn a 3-2 victory that has moved them to within three points of third-placed Lazio. That result means that they would move level with Lazio with a win against Juventus and crucially ahead of the Rome club based on their head-to-head record.

Anything other than a win this weekend would seriously damage their Champions League chances and would leave them hoping for a Roma victory in the Derby della Capitale next Monday. That would ensure that they can still pip Lazio to third spot when they meet on the final day of the season.

It is not just in the league where they have been poor, as they were dumped out of the Europa League by underdogs Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk last Thursday at the semi-final stage.

Their cause has not been helped by the constant speculation surrounding manager Rafael Benitez and the Spaniard has recently been linked with a move to Real Madrid when his contract expires in the summer. Gonzalo Higuain has also been tipped to leave Naples, so the club could be in for a difficult time ahead trying to convince them to stay if they fail to land a Champions League spot.

Recent form in Serie A: W W L W D W 
Recent form (all competitions): L W D D L W  


Team News

Juventus will have to make do without Stephan Lichtsteiner, who sits the game out with a ban.

He is expected to be replaced by Simone Padoin at right-back, while there could be a number of other changes to the team that started the cup final.

Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Chiellini could all be rested, but Claudio Marchisio and Alvaro Morata are likely to start after being banned in midweek.

 

Meanwhile, Kalidou Koulibaly is suspended for Napoli, so Miguel Britos should come into the defence to partner Raul Albiol.

Higuain will come back into the starting lineup and Dries Mertens could keep his spot in the attack after scoring twice against Cesena, but Lorenzo Insigne may be chosen ahead of him.


Juventus possible starting lineup:

Storari, Padoin, Barzagli, Bonucci, De Ceglie, Sturaro, Marchisio, Vidal, Pereyra, Morata, Matri


Napoli possible starting lineup:

Andujar, Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam, Lopez, Inler, Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens, Higuain


Head To Head

In this season's reverse fixture Juventus came out on top with a 3-1 victory over Napoli at the ​Stadio San Paolo.

However, Napoli prevailed in the final of this season's Super Cup by beating the Old Lady in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw in Doha.

The Azzurri don't have the worst record against their opponents, but they have not beaten Juventus away from home in Serie A since October 2009.


We say: Juventus 1-1 Napoli

Juventus will be regarded as the favourites heading into the match, but it remains to be seen what team Allegri will play just days after their cup win. Napoli are sure to be at full strength and know that anything other than a win could spell the end of their Champions League hopes. It is sure to be a competitive and hard-fought game in Turin and we believe that it will end all square.

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juve must compensate Napoli fan

May 21, 2015
 
In a bizarre legal precedent, a court has ordered Juventus to pay €3,000 damages to a Napoli fan offended by crowd chants.

The ruling was made by a justice of the peace from Torre Annunziata, near Naples, called Francesco Buonocore.

Lawyer Giovanni De Angelis must be compensated €305 for the cost of the ticket, his train fare and stay in Turin, plus €1,000 for moral damage and legal fees for the first and second trials.

In total, the club must shell out €3,000 to De Angelis, who was offended by chants during the Serie A game at the Juventus Stadium on November 10 2013.

The court ruled he was forced to leave the stadium early, as the atmosphere in the stadium had become “unbearable” due to repeated insults aimed at Neapolitans.

“During the first half, Juventus fans unveiled a banner calling for the eruption of Vesuvius and the death of the Neapolitan population.

“The banner remained initially at the centre of the Curva, then moved lower down the stands, without the stewards removing it.

“Juventus must bear responsibility because employees of the club did not take any steps to avoid or stop the shameful behaviour of their fans, even failing to invite them to cease via the tannoy system.

“This action would’ve given a clear show of dissent and condemnation towards this behaviour.”

In Italy the anti-Neapolitan chants are often treated the same way as racist insults, with full or partial bans on supporters for future games.

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus - Napoli Preview: Double winners
looking to maintain bright form

Just days after winning the Coppa Italia, the Bianconeri are hoping
to keep the momentum going with a Champions League final looming.

May 22, 2015
 
Double winners Juventus will bid to keep the celebrations going on Saturday when they host a Napoli side still harbouring hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Having wrapped up the Serie A title at the start of this month, Massimiliano Allegri's men completed a domestic double on Wednesday with a 2-1 victory over Lazio in the Coppa Italia final.

A final home game of the season gives Juve the chance to enjoy the moment with their fans, albeit with little to play for in the remaining two league matches.

With the Champions League final against Barcelona still a fortnight away, Allegri may use this weekend's clash to rotate his squad, a move that paid dividends in the Coppa Italia final.

Allegri introduced Alessandro Matri from the bench against Lazio and the striker netted the decisive goal to end Juve's 20-year wait to lift the trophy.

"The characteristics of this team is that everyone has to be ready, even if they play five or 10 minutes," Matri told Rai Sport.

"The Coppa Italia trophy was deserved for the whole squad that worked so hard to get here. Now we prepare for the next challenge.

"The coach knows how to press the right buttons and the motivation comes by itself."

Napoli will hope to face an under-strength side to boost their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Rafael Benitez's team trail Lazio – currently third – by three points and will hope to apply some pressure ahead of the Rome derby on Monday.

Turin is not a happy hunting ground for them, though, with no league win at Juventus since 2009 and they have failed to score on their previous three Serie A visits.

Speculation around Benitez's future has clouded the build-up for the visitors, the Spaniard linked with a move to Real Madrid as a potential replacement for Carlo Ancelotti.

Benitez's agent has denied those rumours and insists he is fully focused on returning Napoli to continental competition.


OPTA FACTS

This will be the 138th Serie A meeting between Juventus and Napoli: the Bianconeri have won 62 times so far, the Partenopei only 29 (46 draws).

The Serie A 2014/15 champions have lost only one of their last eight league matches against Napoli (W4 D3).

Napoli have won only once in their last 17 Serie A outings away to Juventus (3-2 in October 2009), losing 11 times in the process.

Juventus have conceded goals in four of their last five Serie A matches.

Napoli, on the other hand, have scored in each of their last seven league fixtures: 20 goals in total at an average of 2.9 per game.

At home, Juventus are unbeaten in their last 46 Serie A games (41 wins, five draws).

Napoli have won only one of their last seven league games away from home, losing five of these.

Juventus and Napoli boast the joint-best Serie A attacks: 67 goals scored by both teams.


LAST FIVE MATCHES

Juventus W W D D W

5/20/15 - Juventus 2 - 1 Lazio
5/16/15 - Internazionale 1 - 2 Juventus
5/13/15 - Real Madrid 1 - 1 Juventus
5/9/15 - Juventus 1 - 1 Cagliari
5/5/15 - Juventus 2 - 1 Real Madrid


Napoli W L D D W

5/18/15 - Napoli 3 - 2 Cesena
5/14/15 - Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 1 - 0 Napoli
5/10/15 - Parma 2 - 2 Napoli
5/7/15 - Napoli 1 - 1 Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
5/3/15 - Napoli 3 - 0 Milan


HEAD TO HEAD

1/11/15 - Napoli 1 - 3 Juventus
12/22/14 - Juventus 2 - 2 Napoli
3/30/14 - Napoli 2 - 0 Juventus
11/10/13 - Juventus 3 - 0 Napoli
3/1/13 - Napoli 1 - 1 Juventus

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus V Napoli – Preview: Partenopei
Need Victory Over Double Winners

May 22, 2015
 
Napoli travel to Turin to face double winners Juventus on Saturday evening with the knowledge that only a victory would be enough to exert pressure on their Roman rivals for the Champions League spots.

The Partenopei currently sit fourth, just three points behind Lazio and four behind Roma ahead of their derby meeting on Monday. However, with this clash coming a couple of days before, Napoli would be able to climb up to third with a victory.

Both sides will enter the game in impressive form having won four of their last six Serie A matches, though Rafael Benitez’s best results have generally come at the Stadio San Paolo.

This will be the 138th meeting between the two and the Bianconeri hold a heavy lead in the overall victories, with 62 to Napoli’s 29; a difference that is even more pronounced in games in Turin. The Partenopei have only won seven away games against Juventus – most recently in 2009, but more than half of those victories came before 1960.

Indeed, Massimiliano Allegri’s side have lost just once in the last eight games against Napoli, who have yet to register a goal in their three visits to the Juventus Stadium to date, though have conceded eight.

Leonardo Bonucci enters the game on the verge of a personal landmark, needing just one more Serie A appearance to reach 200; 160 of those games have been for the Bianconeri, along with 38 for Bari and a single game – and single minute – for Inter at the start of his career.

With Carlos Tevez likely to sit this game out in order to ensure he is primed and ready for the Champions League final, Allegri may well look to Alessandro Matri for goals; he has yet to net in Serie A since his return from Genoa, though his next goal will be his 80th in Serie A. Kingsley Coman is also an option.

Stephan Lichtsteiner suspended for the hosts, and with Allegri set to name a much changed line-up that could see Luca Marrone make his first Serie A appearance of the season. Simone Pepe, Paolo De Ceglie and Angelo Ogbonna are also expected to start.

Kalidou Koulibaly will be absent for Benitez’s side through suspension, who will also be without Michu, Camilo Zuniga and Jonathan De Guzman, all of who will miss the last couple of games through injury.


Form Guide: Juventus (W-D-W-W-L-W), Napoli (W-D-W-L-W-W)


Expected Starting XIs

Juventus: Storari; Padoin, Marrone, Ogbonna, De Ceglie; Sturaro, Marchisio, Pereyra; Pepe; Morata, Coman.

Napoli: Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; David Lopez, Inler; Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens; Higuain.

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Allegri: ‘Stay cool, Juventus’

May 22, 2015
 
Max Allegri stresses the importance of Juventus staying free of 'stress and anxiety' in the season's finale.

The Bianconeri play the first of two remaining Serie A games this Saturday against Napoli. While the Scudetto is already theirs, their boss has refused to see the games as meaningless.

“As in everything else, you've got to strike the right balance between training and giving playing time to those who need it,” said Allegri in today's Press conference.

“Our game against Napoli tomorrow doesn't mean anything in terms of the Scudetto, but it counts towards the streak of undefeated games at home.

“And it's important because we must play a good game from the technical point of view.

“We still have to improve on that, as well as on intensity and character. We need to pull off some excellent performances that will let us achieve our results.

“These two championship games are useful, along with the training sessions, to keep up the physical and mental condition.

“We can't think about resting until June 6, otherwise we should unplug everything and stay in bed until that date, because we'd be worried about getting hurt.

“In life you've got to have some fatalism. We must keep working with a cool mind and prepare these two remaining games in the best possible way.

“After Saturday we can rest for three days, especially because this team hasn't been given half a day off since the end of February, especially when we had the international break.

“Much like there's a need to work, there's also a need to rest. Besides, we also need to prepare ourselves for this [Champions League] Final.

“But we must do so with serenity, with no excessive stress. We can't go to Berlin riddled with anxieties or we won't even be able to run.

“Slowly, one step at a time, one day at a time, we'll prepare ourselves for the games we've got left.”

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Allegri: 'Winning never bores me'

May 22, 2015
 
Max Allegri speaks of the 'dream' of the Juventus triplete and says winning all the time is a 'nice monotony'.

The Bianconeri already conquered the Coppa Italia and the Scudetto, and the Champions League final against Barcelona on June 6 gives them an opportunity to pick up the coveted treble.

“What can I say? I'm pleased,” said Allegri in today's Press conference. “I'm just happy about what we've done so far, and what we're doing with this campaign.

“We must enjoy this extraordinary moment. As I've often said, seasons like this occur very rarely in one's career.

“Making it to the final sprint in three different competitions, two of which we have already bagged, is a dream. So we'll have to be skilled and lucky against an extraordinary team.

“That said, it's normal that someone should be pleased and satisfied upon attaining results of such importance.”

Allegri was also asked whether Italy CT Antonio Conte, who sent him a message to congratulate him after winning the Scudetto, had contacted him again.

“You mustn't be monotonous in life, sometimes you must invent something. But I received a very beautiful message from President [Massimo] Cellino. I still have an extraordinary bond with him.

“Winning isn't something that should be taken for granted. But that does make for a nice monotony, if you can call it that, because there are many different ways of winning and it's never easy.

“Today people talk as though winning the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia had been a given. A few days from now they might just be saying that of reaching the Champions League final.

“Me, I believe this is an important year for the club and for the players. It's proof that this is an extraordinary group.

“I'm delighted and privileged to have them with me. And I'm happy for the supporters too.

“I perceive a lot of enthusiasm. I felt that in Rome when we played the final, and I feel it in the city, in the air. It will make tomorrow evening a beautiful one to remember.”

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus vs. Napoli: Team News

May 22, 2015
 
There will be a strange juxtaposition in play at Juventus Stadium on Saturday, with the two teams set to face each other viewing the game from very different perspectives. For the visitors—currently chasing Champions League qualification—it presents an opportunity to close the gap on Lazio and AS Roma above them.

The two capital clubs meet in the derby on Monday, with Rafael Benitez’s side three points behind them in fourth place. They will be desperate for victory, which will provide a stark contrast to their hosts, who will likely be in celebratory mood as they play their final home game of the season.

Having already clinched the Serie A title, the Bianconeri added the Coppa Italia on Wednesday—in a match reviewed at length here—securing a wonderful domestic double. It will be interesting to see the lineup chosen by Massimiliano Allegri for this encounter, with just two matches before the Champions League final against Barcelona.

Giorgio Chiellini admitted the team will not be focussing on that, however, telling RAI Sport that they will instead relish this latest triumph. “Berlin is a way off,” said the defender (h/t Football Italia), “now we deserve to enjoy this Coppa Italia with our fans all over the country.”

Napoli should remain cautious however, as the Old Lady proved last week against Inter that she remains dangerous even with a rotated side. Making seven changes from the side that faced Real Madrid, Juventus won 2-1 and the Partenopei cannot afford to do the same, with the three points at stake crucial to their hopes.


Predicted Lineups

Juventus: (4-3-2-1): Buffon; Padoin, Bonucci, Barzagli, De Ceglie; Vidal, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pereyra, Matri; Morata

Napoli: (4-2-3-1): Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; Lopez, Inler; Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens; Higuain


Player to Watch

While he may not be chosen to start this clash, Manolo Gabbiadini could well emerge as the man to watch on Saturday. The 23-year-old began the season with Sampdoria, netting nine goals before moving to Napoli in January, continuing his excellent form under the tutelage of Rafael Benitez.

What makes him so interesting here is that he was previously co-owned by Juventus, and while he never played a game for the club their decision to sell him was not an easy one. It is difficult to blame them when looking at the attacking talent already in Turin, but his tally of 20 goals in all competitions is difficult to ignore.

He scored against the Bianconeri in December and will be looking to do so again as his current club seek to snatch third place. The €13 million signing is hoping for his first taste of Champions League football, knowing they must win here to keep that dream alive.


Key Battle

Napoli’s hopes of victory, as they so often have this term, will likely come to rest with Gonzalo Higuain, the striker so crucial to everything about the way the Partenopei approach matches. Their 4-2-3-1 formation hinges on his ability to stretch defences and create space either for himself or the trio behind him, and they will hope he can find gaps in Italy’s toughest back line once again.

The Super Cup clash between these two sides ended 2-2 in normal time, with the Argentinian netting both goals for Napoli, and he has constantly caused the Bianconeri problems since arriving in Italy.

The task of stopping Higuain will be the responsibility of a makeshift defence, with perhaps Andrea Barzagli the most prominent name to feature for the home side. The former Palermo man has been in excellent form since returning from a lengthy injury layoff, and Juventus will need him at his best here.


Odds (via Odds Shark)

Away win: 19/10

Home win: 36/25

Draw: 57/25

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus v Napoli: Preview

May 22, 2015
 
Napoli coach Rafael Benitez will have to come up with a brilliant strategy if his team is to end Juventus' unbeaten run at home in Serie A when the two sides meet on Saturday.

Benitez's side travel to Turin needing a win to remain in the race to finish third and qualify for the Champions League.

With two games remaining, Napoli are fourth in the standings, three points adrift of third-placed Lazio.

Roma are one point clear of Lazio in second place.

If results go Napoli's way, they could also finish as high as second in the standings.

Lazio and Roma face each other on Monday while Napoli host Lazio in their season finale on May 31.

``We can still qualify for the Champions League and we must do the best we can in our final games,'' Benitez told the Italian media at a press conference.

Napoli have won just seven of their 77 games at Juventus in all competitions, their last a 3-2 triumph in October 2009.

However, the Azzurri have won five and lost just one of their last seven league games.

Serie A champions Juve go into the contest in a celebratory mood.

The Bianconeri followed their 2-1 triumph at Inter Milan in last weekend's 'derby d'Italia' with Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Lazio in Rome to clinch their 10th Coppa Italia.

Alessandro Matri struck an extra-time winner to hand Juve their first domestic double since 1995.

Juve will win a treble if they beat Barcelona in next month's Champions League final.

``Going all the way in three competitions as we have done is no simple task,'' Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri said.

``We put in a magnificent performance against Lazio. The players were fantastic. It's never easy to win the double.

``Now we'll see what the next final has in store for us.''

Juve have won 15 of their 18 games at home this season.

Alvaro Morata, who missed the Coppa final through suspension, is expected to start and play alongside Kingsley Coman in Juve's attack, with Serie A's top scorer Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente set to start on the bench.

Juve defender Stephan Lichtsteiner must serve a one-match ban.

Napoli are without the services of suspended defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

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Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus Curva open for Napoli

May 22, 2015
 
A full-house will see Juventus presented the Serie A trophy, as the closure of the Curva Sud has again been suspended.

Following violence in the Derby della Mole with Torino, the Lega Serie A ruled that the Curva Sud at Juventus Stadium would be closed for two games.

The punishment was suspended for the draw with Cagliari to allow time for further investigation, and the same course of action has been taken for tomorrow’s clash with Napoli.

“Juventus Stadium’s south stand will remain open as normal to all supporters for this Saturday’s Serie A clash with Napoli,” the Bianconeri announced on their official website, following confirmation from the FIGC.

“After the derby meeting with Torino on 26 April, the sporting body had ordered the stand to be closed for two games.

“The original decision was then suspended pending an additional investigation for the match against Cagliari and now, following this afternoon’s FIGC statement, the suspension will again apply for tomorrow’s visit of the Partenopei.”

The Old Lady will be presented with the Serie A trophy after the match, which is their last home game of the season.

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus name 24 for Napoli

May 22, 2015
 
Juventus have named a 24-man squad for the visit of Napoli tomorrow, with Claudio Marchisio and Alvaro Morata returning.

The pair missed the Bianconeri’s Coppa Italia triumph on Wednesday through suspension, but have returned to Massimiliano Allegri’s squad.

The Old Lady will be presented with the Serie A trophy after the match on Saturday evening, as the match is their last home game of the season.

Allegri has already confirmed that Gigi Buffon will return in goal, having been deputised by Marco Storari in the last two matches, but Juve aren’t expected to field a full-strength side.


Juventus squad to face Napoli:

 

Buffon, Chiellini, Ogbonna, Pogba, Pepe, Marchision, Morata, Tevez, Coman, Llorente, Barzagli, De Ceglie, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Asamoah, Vidal, Sturaro, Storari, Matri, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra, Marrone.

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

JUVENTUS V NAPOLI MATCH PREVIEW

May 22, 2015
 
Juventus

As Massimiliano Allegri said in the pre-game presser, Juventus are now in the middle of a two-week long training sessions to get ready to the Champions League final that incidentally involves two Serie A games. The ultimate goal is to have everybody at peak condition on June 6. The fact that Napoli, and not just a random team, are visiting Turin won’t change the plan one bit. The stars won’t be overplayed just because a tough opponent is in town.

The coach hasn’t announced who will be ruled out, but we can expect that the ones who have played the full 120 minutes on Wednesday to sit out. Therefore it’s unlikely that Carlos Tevez, Giorgio Chiellini, Patrice Evra, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal will be risked. Stephan Lichtsteiner is suspended. On the other hand, Gianluigi Buffon will return on goal and Alvaro Morata and Claudio Marchisio skipped the midweek game and are primed to headline the starting XI.

Paul Pogba is back, he has scored, but he hasn’t look as smooth, powerful and dominant as usual. It’s understandable and he needs playing time to get it going. He and Roberto Pereyra didn’t play the whole game at Stadio Olimpico so we can expect at least a cameo, but they are probably going to start, making the lineup pretty competitive. In addition, Kwadwo Asamoah is primed to make his return, five months after a knee procedure.

Somebody between Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli (or both) will have to start alongside Angelo Ogbonna in the back, unless Luca Marrone is given a chance. Simply considering the guys that are fresh and available, 4-3-1-2 seems to have an edge on 3-5-2: the presence/absence of Pogba will dictate the scheme. In the attack, the Coppa Italia final hero Alessandro Matri and Kingsley Coman are battling to pair with Morata, while the 4-3-3 with Simone Pepe (as you know, you can use 4-3-3 only when Pepe is available) is a more distant option.

It’s the last home game of the season, so it’s celebration time: Juventus will lift the Scudetto trophy after the final whistle, but there will be no parade this time as we’re saving it for a different time. The ban of the Curva Sud has been suspended once again and it will probably be enforced next season. Juventus are undefeated at home and they certainly would like to keep it that way, even if the game is meaningless.


Probable lineup:

4-3-1-2: Buffon; Padoin, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Asamoah; Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Matri, Morata.

Injured players:
Romulo (thigh), Caceres (ankle).

Suspended players:
Lichtsteiner.



Napoli

Napoli need to win this game at all costs to keep their Champions League hopes alive, as they’ll face Lazio in the final match day of the season: they are three points behind Biancocelesti. They also have to kick themselves because in the last two road games they have drawn against Parma and lost against Empoli. They are just an ok team away from San Paolo with seven wins, four ties and seven losses.

Rafa Benitez is a goner and this certainly hasn’t helped an environment that is historically quite moody. Some performances have legitimately raised the question whether the squad had quitted on the coach as they have been so inexplicably bad. They showed good fighting spirit against Cesena, but it was still an opponent that had already bid farewell to Seria A.

The firepower is undeniable: they have several good offensive players, but the roster is unbalanced because there is little quality in the midfield and in the defense. 4-2-3-1 is a fine tactic, but you need to be strong in the trenches to back it up. The stats tell the whole story: they are tied with Juventus for most goal scored during the season (67), but they have also conceded 47 goals, which is as much as Empoli: nine teams have done better and that’s not good at all if you want to be an elite team.

Despite the shortcomings, they have a solid chance to qualify to the Champions League playoff at the buzzer. Gonzalo Higuain hasn’t scored a lot (or at all) lately, but he remains a threat. Dries Mertens has showed incredible form and Manolo Gabbiadini is in a good period. Probably the Italian striker will come off the bench as Marek Hamsik and Josè Callejon are the favorites to start.

Against tougher opponents, Benitez like to field Walter Gargano for a more defensive outlook, however it’s possible that this time Gokhan Inler will get the call alongside David Lopez, who have started most of the games this year. In the back, Kalidou Koulibaly is suspended, but that’s not necessarily bad news for them, so Miguel Britos and Raul Albiol will play in the heart of the defense, with Christian Maggio and Faouzi Ghoulam (or Ivan Strinic) on the flanks. Mariano Andujar has won the starting job at goalkeeper over Rafael a while back.

When they are on point, they are a pretty entertaining team to watch. The four attackers combine well, they use interesting backdoor cuts, they have many players who can pass and finish in a variety of ways, they like to use a proactive style of possession football. The only knock on them is that they are fragile and concede a lot, but it’s a big one, especially in tight games.

Motivations make all the difference in these late season games and there’s cleary more on the line for Napoli, but it was the same for Inter and Cagliari in the two previous games.


Probable lineup:

4-2-3-1: Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; Gargano, David Lopez; Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens; Higuain.

Injured players:
Zapata (thigh), Mesto (leg), De Guzman (back), Michu (ankle), Zuniga (thigh).

Suspended players:
Koulibaly.

 

Formation

 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus vs. Napoli Preview: Round 37 —
Curtain comes down at Juventus Stadium

May 22, 2015
 
Welcome to another edition of "Juventus games that don't mean much anything," boys and girls. Or is it...? Juventus have already won the Scudetto weeks ago, they've recently been crowned Coppa Italia winners for the 10th time, the most of any club to ever play the sport in Italy.

There are reasons why Saturday's final home game of the season actually matters. We can try and guess, or we could just sit here and remember what is to be played in exactly two weeks from tomorrow and know that Juventus is going to try and build up to their first Champions League final in 12 years.

Yes, Juventus has something to play for when Napoli comes to Turin for the final game Juventus Stadium will host this season. There might not be anything related to the Serie A table or Juventus having to keep the competition from nipping at their heels with a couple games to play. But there is something, at least when it comes to a big-picture aspect of looking at things, that will benefit Juventus.

So, in order, here's a few things that I am looking have happen when Juve takes the field against Napoli.

Nobody gets hurt.
Nobody gets hurt.
Scudetto presentation.
SImone Pepe doing Simone Pepe things on the sideline or on the field.
Nobody gets hurt.
See? All is not lost. There are things to pay attention to instead of watching just to say you watched.

Sure, first place playing fourth place with two games in the season remaining might get a lot more hype compared to what is going down in the lead up to this one. That's mainly a byproduct of Juventus wrapping up the Scudetto with plenty of room to spare yet again this season. If there is any pressure on Juventus, it's for the simple fact that they want to go into the Champions League final playing well.

JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen
.@OfficialAllegri: "#JuveNapoli? A night to remember. We'll be presented with the Scudetto and parade the Coppa Italia in front of our fans"

I'm sure a win would be a nice little addition to that. I don't think Max would disagree with me there.


GOOD NEWS

Next season's Juventus jerseys is about to be damn crowded with patches and stars. It's going to be awesome. And like Max said, they get to celebrate with their Scudetto and parade around with the Coppa Italia at the same time. So if you're looking for a time to tell your friends to tune in and tell them "Kiss the trophies!" then Saturday would be a pretty good chance to do so.


BAD NEWS

Last home game of the season.


WHAT TO WATCH FOR

1. Just how strong of a team will Max Allegri field?

Juventus are coming off a game on Wednesday and will have a whole week off before their Serie A finale against Hellas Verona next weekend. That's a lot of time to take advantage of if Allegri so desires. He has already announced that the squad will have three straight days off without training following the Napoli game, so Juventus will be as fresh as they've been in weeks no matter who takes the field against Hellas next weekend. I would like to think Allegri would rest at least a few players who logged heavy minutes against Lazio midweek because of this chance to do so. He's been great at rotating the squad this season, and it's not like he's going to suddenly stop doing so just because Juve has a week in between games to close out the season. If that means the likes of Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo aren't playing against Napoli, consider me not shocked at all.


2. Is this the game we finally get to see Kwadwo Asamoah?

The most we have seen of Kwadwo Asamoah in 2015 has been him warming up on the sidelines during the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday or in pictures celebrating Juventus winning trophies. Other than that, it's been a lot of waiting for Juve's No. 22 to finally make his presence be known and get some game action after such a long injury layoff. So consider me one of the folks who was a little surprised when he saw the giornalaccio rosa roll out this predicted lineup on Friday afternoon:
 

Yep, that's Kwadwo Asamoah playing left back in a 4-3-1-2, ladies and gentlemen. Am I opposed to it? Not one bit. Even if he won't be figuring into the Champions League final at all, I want Asamoah to make a comeback appearance or two before the season is over. And it's interesting that it comes as an all-out left back and not a wingback considering Asamoah has basically made two or three appearances as a full-on defender since coming to Juventus. Maybe Allegri will throw Asamoah out there at left back to see how he handles it. Either way, Asamoah may very well make his return to the lineup on Saturday — and that's good regardless of what position he is playing.


3. Which Napoli team actually shows up.

There is plenty going around Napoli these days — and that's not even counting how they're on the outside looking in when it comes to a Champions League spot. Secret Agent Rafa Benitez has been rumored to be getting a four-year contract, and then a few days later he's being linked to take over for Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid. That's just how things are these days around the city of Naples. Will it affect them on the field? That's the million dollar question. They're obviously fighting for the third and final Champions League spot Serie A has to offer. And knowing that the Rome derby is being played two days later, there's the chance for Napoli to get help from one of their closest competitors for that European spot. That's just kinda stating the obvious, though, since no matter whatever happens in the Roma-Lazio game will be a moot point if Napoli don't get any points against Juventus on Saturday.


4. Alvaro Morata vs. the sometimes suspect Napoli defense.

Napoli enter the 37th round of Serie A fixtures with a plus-20 goal differential, one of the best in Italy's top flight. But that's not thanks to the way their defense has played this season. Napoli has scored 67 goals this season, tied for the most along with some club called "Juventus." However, Napoli has allowed 47 goals this season, which is the same amount as Serie A's 16th-placed team (Empoli) and more than twice as many as the team they're playing on Saturday. So, with that being said, how do you feel about Morata facing a defense like that? Pretty confident, right? The young Spaniard is easily one of Juve's most in-form players right now, having scored in his last three games (Real Madrid x 2 and Inter).

My starting XI (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Padoin, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Morata, Coman
 
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus V Napoli – Team News, Tactics,
Lineups And Predictions

May 23, 2015
 
Napoli travel to Turin to face double winners Juventus on Saturday evening with the knowledge that only a victory would be enough to exert pressure on their Roman rivals for the Champions League spots. The Partenopei currently sit fourth, just three points behind Lazio and four behind Roma ahead of their derby meeting on Monday. However, with this clash coming a couple of days before, Napoli would be able to climb up to third with a victory.

Both sides will enter the game in impressive form having won four of their last six Serie A matches, though Rafael Benitez’s best results have generally come at the Stadio San Paolo.

This will be the 138th meeting between the two and the Bianconeri hold a heavy lead in the overall victories, with 62 to Napoli’s 29; a difference that is even more pronounced in games in Turin. The Partenopei have only won seven away games against Juventus – most recently in 2009, but more than half of those victories came before 1960.


Team news and tactical brief

Juventus

This season just keeps getting better with each passing week for Juventus and they are now on the verge of landing a historic treble for the first time in their 117-year history. Having already won the Serie A title earlier this month, they added the Coppa Italia to their growing list of honours by claiming a 2-1 victory over Lazio on Wednesday evening. They got off to the worst possible start by conceding inside of four minutes, but Giorgio Chiellini flicked in a quick equaliser and Alessandro Matri completed the comeback with an extra-time winner to seal a domestic double and their first victory in the cup for 20 years. Their next target is to win the Champions League final against Barcelona in two weeks, and if the La Liga giants manage to win the Copa del Rey final next weekend, then it will be a straight shootout to decide which club lands a treble.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side still have two games left until that European clash and their first order of business will be to finish their league campaign with an unbeaten home record for the second straight season. Their last defeat in Serie A in front of their own supporters came in a 2-1 reverse against Sampdoria over two years ago and they have gone 46 games since without a loss. They actually won every single home game in the league last time around and have dropped points just three times this season. The Bianconeri will be expected to rest a number of players this weekend following their cup success, but even without some of their key squad members, they are still a formidable foe and last weekend they were victorious against Inter Milan with a second-string lineup. Juventus will have to make do without Stephan Lichtsteiner, who sits the game out with a ban. He is expected to be replaced by Simone Padoin at right-back, while there could be a number of other changes to the team that started the cup final. Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Chiellini could all be rested, but Claudio Marchisio and Alvaro Morata are likely to start after being banned in midweek.

Probable Starting Line-up (4-3-1-2):Buffon; Padoin, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Asamoah; Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Matri, Morata

 

Napoli

While everything has been going perfectly for Juventus, the exact opposite can be said of Napoli, who have seen their season crumble around them in the past month. They seemed to have recovered from a bad run of form in March, by claiming three wins on the spin that saw them edge closer to the top three. However, a damaging 4-2 defeat against Empoli three weeks ago stopped them in their tracks. The Azzurri bounced back a few days later with a 3-0 win over AC Milan, but their inconsistency came back to haunt them in their next match, with already-relegated Parma holding them to a 2-2 draw. It seemed as if they would falter again on Monday evening after falling behind early on against Cesena, but they fought back to earn a 3-2 victory that has moved them to within three points of third-placed Lazio. That result means that they would move level with Lazio with a win against Juventus and crucially ahead of the Rome club based on their head-to-head record. Anything other than a win this weekend would seriously damage their Champions League chances and would leave them hoping for a Roma victory in the Derby della Capitale next Monday. That would ensure that they can still pip Lazio to third spot when they meet on the final day of the season.

It is not just in the league where they have been poor, as they were dumped out of the Europa League by underdogs Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk last Thursday at the semi-final stage. Their cause has not been helped by the constant speculation surrounding manager Rafael Benitez and the Spaniard has recently been linked with a move to Real Madrid when his contract expires in the summer. Gonzalo Higuain has also been tipped to leave Naples, so the club could be in for a difficult time ahead trying to convince them to stay if they fail to land a Champions League spot. Kalidou Koulibaly is suspended for Napoli, so Miguel Britos should come into the defence to partner Raul Albiol. Higuain will come back into the starting lineup and Dries Mertens could keep his spot in the attack after scoring twice against Cesena, but Lorenzo Insigne may be chosen ahead of him.

Probable Starting Line-up (4-2-3-1): Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; Gargano, David Lopez; Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens; Higuain


Key Facts

This will be the 138th Serie A meeting between Juventus and Napoli: the Bianconeri have won 62 times so far, the Partenopei only 29 (46 draws).

The Serie A 2014/15 champions have lost only one of their last eight league matches against Napoli (W4 D3).

Napoli have won only once in their last 17 Serie A outings away to Juventus (3-2 in October 2009), losing 11 times in the process.


Players to Watch Out For

Alessandro Matri (Juventus)

The Italian scored the crucial winner against Lazio midweek to give Juventus their 10th Coppa Italia crown. With Carlos Tevez likely to sit this game out in order to ensure he is primed and ready for the Champions League final, Allegri may well look to Alessandro Matri for goals; he has yet to net in Serie A since his return from Genoa, though his next goal will be his 80th in Serie A.

Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli)

Argentine striker Higuain has struck 26 times in all competitions, including 16 to sit joint-fourth in this season’s Serie A goalscoring charts. The 27-year-old recently failed to notch from 10 attempts over two legs against Dnipro, which contributed heavily to Napoli’s Europa League downfall. He was denied by a mixture of solid goalkeeping and poor finishing against the Ukrainians, but will be determined to halt an overall four-game goalless streak when facing Juventus.


Prediction

Juventus 2–2 Napoli

Champions of Italy, winners of the Coppa Italia and waiting for the 6th of June, Juventus will play the two remaining matches to maintain their form and recover injured players. Napoli’s season could end with a whimper as they are close to failing in all three competitions they have taken part in this term. However, they have not given up hope of qualifying for the Champions League as Roma and Lazio will take points from each other, while the Partenopei meet the Biancocelesti on the last day of the season. Juventus will be the more relaxed as they have just lifted another trophy and the Champions League final is still two weeks away. Playing at home will probably turn this match into a celebration of their most recent title, while Napoli may struggle to focus. it’s likely that Juventus will honour the match the same way they did against Inter, so Napoli will need to be at their best to keep hot on the heels of Roma and Lazio.


Blast From the Past

Fernando Llorente opened the scoring for the hosts before Andrea Pirlo produced a wonderful free kick to double the hosts advantage. Paul Pogba sealed the points emphatically.
 

 
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

MATCH PREVIEW

May 23, 2015
 
It’s all or nothing for Napoli as their pursuit of Champions League qualification comes to a head at Serie A champions Juventus.

The Bianconeri have already sewn up the Scudetto and subsequently secured the second part of a potential treble with midweek Coppa Italia Final victory over Lazio in extra-time. They’re also unbeaten in four Serie A matches after Derby d’Italia spoils were claimed courtesy of a late Alvaro Morata winner at Inter last Saturday.

Massimiliano Allegri – who has commendably exceeded even the loftiest of expectations as Coach during a stellar season – must continue shuffling his pack with several stars requiring rotation, as they strive for prime condition in preparation for an upcoming Champions League Final date with Barcelona.

Defenders Martin Caceres and Stephan Lichtsteiner are out through injury and suspension respectively. Romulo is also expected to miss the remainder of this campaign due to a thigh problem.

Visitors Napoli have tasted defeat just once throughout their seven most-recent League fixtures, while winning five of them, amid growing uncertainty surrounding the futures of several club figures and the additional fall-out from two hugely disappointing legs of Europa League football, which saw them crash out at the semi-final stage against unfancied Dnipro.

The Partenopei have recovered the joint-most Serie A points – 17 – from trailing positions this term and maintained hopes of a Champions League spot by battling back from one-down to eventually triumph 3-2 at home to Cesena on Monday.

A first League win in Turin over the Old Lady since October 2009 would keep them firmly in the hunt for a top-three finish, with Rafa Benitez’s men currently lying four points adrift of second-placed Roma.

However, they must continue without the services of crocked trio Michu, Juan Zuniga and Jonathan De Guzman.


Keep an eye on: Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli) – Argentine striker Higuain has struck 26 times in all competitions, including 16 to sit joint-fourth in this season’s Serie A goalscoring charts. The 27-year-old recently failed to notch from 10 attempts over two legs against Dnipro, which contributed heavily to Napoli’s Europa League downfall. He was denied by a mixture of solid goalkeeping and poor finishing against the Ukrainians, but will be determined to halt an overall four-game goalless streak when facing Juventus.


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

Last season: Juventus 3-0 Napoli

Stat fact: Juventus have plundered eight unanswered goals in their three previous home Serie A meetings with Napoli, all of which resulted in victories for the hosts.


Juventus (probable): Storari; Padoin, Barzagli, Bonucci, De Ceglie; Sturaro, Marchisio, Vidal; Pereyra; Morata, Matri

Suspended: Lichtsteiner


Napoli (probable): Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; David Lopez, Inler; Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens; Higuain

Suspended: Koulibaly
 
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Line-ups: Juventus-Napoli

May 23, 2015
 
Juventus bring Kwadwo Asamoah back to celebrate the Double, but Napoli aim to spoil the party with Gonzalo Higuain.

It kicks off at 18.00 CET.

Juve are fresh from winning the Scudetto and Coppa Italia, beating Lazio 2-1 in extra time on Wednesday.

They will be presented with the trophies today and parade them to supporters in their final home game of the season.

Several top stars are rested, but Claudio Marchisio and Alvaro Morata return, as they were suspended for the Coppa Italia Final.

Asamoah is in the starting XI, making his first appearance since sustaining a knee tendon problem in early November.

Stephan Lichtsteiner is suspended, plus Martin Caceres and Romulo injured.

Napoli drop Manolo Gabbiadini, Jorginho and Marek Hamsik, giving the reins to Lorenzo Insigne, Jose Maria Callejon and Dries Mertens.

Kalidou Koulibaly sits out a ban with Michu, Jonathan de Guzman and Juan Camilo Zuniga.

Duvan Zapata and Giandomenico Mesto.


Juventus: Buffon; Padoin, Barzagli, Ogbonna, Asamoah; Pogba, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pereyra; Morata, Coman

Napoli: Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; David Lopez, Gargano; Insigne, Callejon, Mertens; Higuain
 
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Morata: 'It's our party'

May 23, 2015
 
Alvaro Morata warned Juventus won’t let Napoli spoil “our party” this afternoon. “We are the champions.”

It kicks off at 18.00 CET.

The entire Juve squad stepped off the team bus wearing special sunglasses with black and white stripes.

“It was a gift to celebrate the fact we are champions. We are home with our fans and it is a day to feel happy,” Morata told Sky Sport Italia.

They will present the Coppa Italia and Scudetto trophies to the crowd today.

“As long as the team wins, it’s a happy day! Now we need to celebrate in our stadium, but after that can focus entirely on Barcelona and the Champions League Final.

“This day was important to thank the fans, as if we managed to do everything we’ve done so far, it is also thanks to them.

“I expect a great game against a team with excellent players, but we too want to win because we are on home turf, it’s our party and we are the champions.”
 
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

-

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

HT 1-0: Napoli trip up in Turin

May 23, 2015
 
Roberto Pereyra has given Juventus the half-time lead over Napoli on a day of celebrations.

The Bianconeri staged their Double Party to celebrate the last home game of the season, the Scudetto and Wednesday’s Coppa Italia triumph in extra time over Lazio. Napoli needed precious points to keep their Champions League qualification dreams alive. Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kalidou Koulibaly were suspended, but Kwadwo Asamoah made his first appearance since sustaining knee tendon damage in November.

It was a bright Partenopei start, Dries Mertens stinging Gigi Buffon’s gloves, but their intensity quickly petered out.

Instead, Juve went in front with a well-worked move, as Kingsley Coman chipped the pass over the defence to send Roberto Pereyra clear.

Coman almost provided another assist soon after, but he over-hit the through ball for Alvaro Morata, while Mertens curled over. Paul Pogba’s free kick was just over the bar.

There was a touching moment at the 39th minute when the crowd unveiled a huge banner commemorating the 39 victims of Heysel. Along with all their names held up by fans, it also read: ‘Nobody ever really dies if they live on in the hearts of others: For always.’


Juventus 1-0 Napoli (Half-Time)

Scorers: Pereyra 13 (J)

Juventus: Buffon; Padoin, Barzagli, Ogbonna, Asamoah; Pogba, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pereyra; Morata, Coman

Napoli: Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; David Lopez, Gargano; Insigne, Callejon, Mertens; Higuain

Ref: Banti
 
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

3 - 1

Roberto Pereyra (13')

David López (50')

Stefano Sturaro (77')
Simone Pepe (92' Penalty)

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus 3-1 Napoli: Champions'
unbeaten streak continues

Roberto Pereyra, Stefano Sturaro and Simone Pepe were on target to keep the Serie A
holders in fine form as they prepare for the Champions League final with Barcelona.

May 23, 2015
 
Serie A champions Juventus rounded off their efforts at home for the season with a 3-1 win against Napoli on Saturday.

With the hosts having secured the second trophy of a potential treble by winning the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, the Juventus Stadium was in party mode and Roberto Pereyra set the celebrations in full swing as he scored the opener in the 13th minute.

Napoli needed the points to close the gap to Lazio and Roma - who play each other on Monday - in the Champions League spots.

They were handed a way back into the game as Kwadwo Asamoah blatantly handled inside the penalty area and David Lopez scored on the rebound after the spot kick was saved.

However, Stefano Sturaro's wonderfully composed effort put Juventus back in front and Simone Pepe rounded off the win in stoppage time with a penalty, conceded by Miguel Britos - who savagely headbutted Alvaro Morata after pulling the striker's shirt and was sent off.

The victory was Juve's 16th from 19 home games in Serie A this term, underlining the dominance Massimiliano Allegri's side have held over their rivals this term as they continue to build form for next month's Champions League final against Barcelona.

Juventus paraded the Coppa trophy before the match, having beaten Lazio after extra time in midweek, and all but two players were afforded a rest after the exertions, as Paul Pogba and Andrea Barzagli were the only men to feature again.

One of Allegri's additions saw Asamoah return to Juve's line-up for the first time in six months after a knee injury.

Despite a much-changed line-up, Juve's fearsome home record rarely looked in doubt and Pereyra set them on their way.

Kingsley Coman's chipped throughball beat a static Napoli backline and Pereyra nipped in to finish past a helpless Mariano Andujar.

The game became more notable for the colourful displays in the stands as Juve took control of the contest prior to the interval, with Napoli unable to convert any promising moves into clear-cut chances.

However, the carnival atmosphere was spoiled five minutes into the second half as Asamoah blocked Dries Mertens' attempted pass with his hand, and Lopez spared Insigne's blushes after Gianluigi Buffon had made a fine save to his right.

Buffon was able to keep out Spanish midfielder Lopez's vicious volley and turn substitute Marek Hamsik's header past the post.

And Sturaro backed up the efforts of the veteran goalkeeper, turning sharply past his marker on the edge of the box, before continuing into the penalty area and curling high into Andujar's right-hand corner.

Britos' ugly attack on Morata after fouling the Spaniard left a slightly sour taste, but Pepe was able to convert the spot kick to lighten things up before the post-match trophy parade of the Scudetto.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

3 - 1

Roberto Pereyra (13')

David López (50')

Stefano Sturaro (77')
Simone Pepe (92' Penalty)

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juve sweep Napoli aside

Juventus crowned their Scudetto and Coppa Italia celebrations
by inflicting another disastrous result on Napoli’s Champions League hopes.

May 23, 2015
 
The Bianconeri staged their Double Party to celebrate the last home game of the season, the Scudetto and Wednesday’s Coppa Italia triumph in extra time over Lazio. Napoli needed precious points to keep their Champions League qualification dreams alive. Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kalidou Koulibaly were suspended, but Kwadwo Asamoah made his first appearance since sustaining knee tendon damage in November.

It was a bright Partenopei start, Dries Mertens stinging Gigi Buffon’s gloves, but their intensity quickly petered out.

Instead, Juve went in front with a well-worked move, as Kingsley Coman chipped the pass over the defence to send Roberto Pereyra clear.

Coman almost provided another assist soon after, but he over-hit the through ball for Alvaro Morata, while Mertens curled over. Paul Pogba’s free kick was just over the bar.

There was a touching moment at the 39th minute when the crowd unveiled a huge banner commemorating the 39 victims of Heysel. Along with all their names held up by fans, it also read: ‘Nobody ever really dies if they live on in the hearts of others: For always.’

There was a surprise at half-time, as Rafa Benitez hauled off the disappointing Gonzalo Higuain to make way for Manolo Gabbiadini.

Stefano Sturaro volleyed not far over from a tight angle, but Asamoah was clumsy on his comeback and handled a Mertens cross in the box. Lorenzo Insigne took the penalty and Buffon parried, but David Lopez was quickest to react on the rebound to draw Napoli level.

Sturaro intercepted a dangerous free kick move to stop Gabbiadini tapping in from six yards. Mariano Andujar took the sting out of Pogba and Morata snapshots, but Buffon was forced into a spectacular save on the David Lopez volley that was flying under the bar. From that corner, he also denied Marek Hamsik’s header at the back post.

Just as Napoli were stepping up the pressure, Sturaro scored a sensational goal out of nowhere to restore Juve’s lead. He gathered with his back to goal on the edge of the box, turned brilliantly to lose Raul Albiol and curled the finish into the far top corner. It was the ex-Genoa midfielder’s first goal for Juve.

Moments later Buffon misjudged a corner, but David Lopez nodded wide of the open goal, then Napoli laid siege to the box in a desperate bid to turn this around.

Buffon was again alert with a fine save when Mertens’ cross only skimmed the head of Gabbiadini. Morata went on the counter and was denied a penalty for Maggio’s trip.

However, Miguel Angel Britos completely lost the plot in stoppages. He head-butted Morata for a red card and, as the ball was still in play and it was in the box, Juve also received a penalty. Simone Pepe converted it to say goodbye to the club with his first Serie A goal for three years.


Juventus: Buffon; Padoin, Barzagli (Bonucci 46), Ogbonna, Asamoah; Pogba, Marchisio (Pirlo 71), Sturaro; Pereyra (Pepe 78); Morata, Coman

Napoli: Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; David Lopez, Gargano (Jorginho 78); Insigne (Hamsik 68), Callejon, Mertens; Higuain (Gabbiadini 46)

Ref: Banti

Penalty saved: Insigne 50 (N)

Sent off: Britos 92 (N)
 
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

3 - 1

Roberto Pereyra (13')

David López (50')

Stefano Sturaro (77')
Simone Pepe (92' Penalty)

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus 3-1 Napoli: The Old Lady Put Partenopei’s
Champions League Hopes Beyond Their Control

May 23, 2015
 
Juventus dealt Napoli’s Champions League hopes a near fatal blow with a 3-1 victory in Turin on Saturday evening.

Roberto Pereyra put them ahead at half-time but a David Lopez effort had the visitors level before Stefano Sturaro and Simone Pepe secured the win that now puts Napoli’s hopes of competing in Europe’s premier competition out of their hands.

The home side underwent a pre-match lap of honour, parading their newly won Coppa Italia, accompanied by their children as a party atmosphere enveloped the ground and on 13 minutes, it turned into carnival season when Kinglsey Coman’s lofted pass picked out the perfectly timed run of Pereyra and left all alone in front of goal, ‘El Tucumano’ confidently turned the ball to the net.

After that, it turned into something of an exhibition from the champions – the following minutes filled with nutmegs, quick flicks and other forms of trickery that delighted the home support.

They almost had another goal to cheer 10 minutes before the half time whistle when Paul Pogba curled a free kick just over Mariano Andujar’s crossbar – aiming to prove the man who wears 21 is not the only dead ball expert in the dressing room.

Mertens and Faouzi Ghoulam blazed off target in frustration as their hosts toyed with them but the real star of the show in the first half was the home support who, on 39 minutes, paid a spine-tingling tribute to the 39 victims of the Heysel disaster upon the 30th anniversary.

A giant ’39 Rispetto’ banner was unfurled and around it on the curva, supporters held up small placards with the names of the victims – a truly touching show of respect to one of the darkest days in the club’s history.

In the second half, Sturaro went close to replicating Marco van Basten’s famous volleyed heroics for Holland at the 1988 European Championships with a thundering effort from a Pogba cross – similar in its attempt but just lacking in the execution as it zipped over the top.

Five minutes later, the Partenopei were on level terms. Having struggled in the way of clearcut chances, they were offered the easiest route to goal when awarded a penalty after the ball struck the arm of Kwadwo Asamoah – a decision that appeared harsh on the 26-year-old.

His goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon did his best to make amends for it – with a good save to his right to deny Lorenzo Insigne’s spot kick (Higuain having been substituted at the interval) but could not keep out Lopez who slammed in the rebound.

Encouraged by their leveller, there was more intensity about the southern side afterwards although they could have did without speculative shots like that attempted by Manolo Gabbiadini in trying to lob Buffon from 45 yards – and could have been punished but both Pogba and Alvaro Morata struck straight at Andujar.

After that, it was Napoli who thought they were in front, but for a jaw-dropping stop from Buffon whose agility could not be called into question despite his advancing years by producing a magnificent reflex save to tip over a blistering volley via Lopez – a save that became all the more important when a Sturaro stunner put them ahead again with little under 15 minutes left.

The former Genoa man showed an electric turn of pace to leave Britos for dead and then sent a calm finish to the corner of the net with the help of a slight deflection off Christian Maggio and Napoli had their abject evening compounded in injury time when a frustrated Britos was shown a red card for a vicious headbutt on Morata and substitute Pepe tucked away his first goal in over three years.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

3 - 1

Roberto Pereyra (13')

David López (50')

Stefano Sturaro (77')
Simone Pepe (92' Penalty)

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus ease past Napoli

May 23, 2015
 
Napoli's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League have been dealt a severe blow with a 3-1 defeat at champions Juventus in Serie A.

With two thirds of an historic treble already completed, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri made nine changes to his starting lineup for the match.

The visitors did most of the pressing during the opening stages as Dries Mertens was denied by Gianluigi Buffon before David Lopez's header from the resulting corner was kept out by the veteran goalkeeper.

Napoli were made to pay for those early misses with 13 minutes played when Roberto Pereyra slotted in confidently after being played in by Kingsley Coman.

Despite going behind, Napoli responded positively as Lopez flashed a shot wide of goal moments after Mertens had curled an effort high and wide.

Rafael Benitez's side continued to put pressure on the champions, but a lack of composure in the final third proved to be their downfall. At the other end of the pitch Paul Pogba came close to doubling Juventus' advantage when he blazed a drive inches over the crossbar.

Napoli had a chance to get level with five minutes left in the half, only for Faouzi Ghoulam to shoot off target when he had plenty of support alongside him in the Juventus half.

The away team had to wait just five minutes to get level after the restart as Lopez fired in the rebound after Lorenzo Insigne's penalty had been saved by Buffon following Kwadwo Asamoah's handball.

Juventus came alive after being pegged back, with Claudio Marchisio missing before Pogba and Alvaro Morata were both kept at bay by goalkeeper Mariano Andujar.

An entertaining encounter saw Napoli go on the offensive as the game reached the 70-minute mark, but Buffon came to Juventus' rescue when he blocked Christian Maggio's shot at the back post after tipped Lopez's powerful effort away from danger.

While it looked as if the visitors were going to be the next team to find the net, Juventus got themselves in front with 13 minutes remaining through Stefano Sturaro, who showed neat footwork on the edge of the box before finding the top corner.

Napoli had a good chance to earn themselves a share of the spoils late on, but Lopez could only head narrowly wide after Buffon had missed a catch from a corner.

The away side's night got worse in stoppage time when Miguel Britos was sent off for headbutting Morata, while Simone Pepe sealed the points for Juventus in the dying seconds when he converted the resulting penalty.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

3 - 1

Roberto Pereyra (13')

David López (50')

Stefano Sturaro (77')
Simone Pepe (92' Penalty)

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Miguel Britos Delivers a Vicious
Headbutt to Alvaro Morata

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2474150-miguel-britos-delivers-a-vicious-headbutt-to-juventus-alvaro-morata?

May 23, 2015

Napoli's frustrations came to a boil during their 3-1 loss at Juventus that sealed their fate to play in the Europa League.

Miguel Britos gave Juve striker Alvaro Morata a proper headbutt late on in the match to rightfully earn his marching orders.

It's even more brutal in slow-motion.
 
Peter Galindo @GalindoPW
Miguel Britos better get a lengthy ban for that headbutt. That was vicious.
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

3 - 1

Roberto Pereyra (13')

David López (50')

Stefano Sturaro (77')
Simone Pepe (92' Penalty)

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Sturaro Hails ‘Perfect’
Juventus Outing

May 23, 2015

Stefano Sturaro spoke after Juventus’ 3-1 win over Napoli, ecstatic at his teammates’ performance at the Juventus stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Sturaro scored Juventus’ second goal against Napoli, after Roberto Pereyra opened the scoring and before Pepe sealed the tie with a late penalty.

Sturaro expressed his joy at his team’s commanding victory, stressing that it is their fighting spirit which has led them to success this season.

“A win like this and playing in front of fans like ours, it was the perfect day,” Sturaro said to Sky Sport Italia.

“We always give our best [even though we already won the Scudetto] and that’s where our strength comes from. Even when we cannot win, we give it everything.

“Winning always helps you win the next match, and we do it to best prepare ourselves for Berlin.”
 

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

[Socrates 8515]

JUVENTUS - NAPOLI

3 - 1

Roberto Pereyra (13')

David López (50')

Stefano Sturaro (77')
Simone Pepe (92' Penalty)

Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Luca Banti

Juventus Pay Tribute
To Heysel Victims

May 23, 2015

Juventus defeated Napoli 3-1 in Serie A on Saturday afternoon, with the Bianconeri fans paying tribute to the victims of Heysel during the game.

The tragic May 29 date of the Heysel disaster approaches, and Juventus fans paid homage to the fans who lost their lives on that day, amidst a bittersweet European Cup victory for the Bianconeri in 1985.

The Bianconeri fans unfurled a tifo on the 39th minute, with a message saying: “no one really dies if they live in the hearts of those who remember, forever.”

JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen
A tribute to the Heysel victims on the 39th minute: "Nessuno muore veramente se vive nel cuore di chi resta, per sempre"
 
 

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