Juventus Season 2015-2016

Socrates · January 10, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Juventus up to second with
ninth win in a row

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/result/result-juve-make-it-nine-wins-in-a-row_263965.html

Jan 10, 2016

Juventus have extended their Serie A winning streak to nine matches with a 2-1 victory over Sampdoria at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris this evening.

Massimiliano Allegri's men netted either side of half time before holding on for a victory that takes them up to second in the table, just two points behind leaders Napoli.

The defending champions took the lead after just 17 minutes when Paul Pogba chested a high ball down inside the area and, while he didn't connect perfectly with his volley on the turn, he got enough on it to steer it into the bottom corner.

That proved to be a rare highlight of a largely uneventful first half, but the second began in much more promising style as Juventus gave themselves a cushion within a minute of the restart.

It was all too easy for the visitors as Paulo Dybala slid the ball through to Sami Khedira, who found himself in an unfamiliar centre-forward role but finished with aplomb by poking the ball into the bottom corner with the outside of his boot.

Dybala almost got his own name on the scoresheet shortly after the hour mark as Juve looked to well and truly put the game to bed, but Emiliano Viviano was equal to the striker's powerful low effort from the edge of the box.

Hernanes swung in the resulting corner, but Alvaro Morata's header went just wide and Sampdoria immediately made the Old Lady pay for those missed chances.

The hosts stormed straight down the other end and the in-form Antonio Cassano managed to collect Carlos Carbonero's low pass and steer it into the bottom corner despite having little room to work with inside the box.

Suddenly Juve's winning streak looked under threat and Sampdoria almost grabbed an equaliser just three minutes later when Fernando flashed an effort just wide of the target from the edge of the box.

There was little more for the visitors to worry about in the closing stages, though, and any hope of a Sampdoria equaliser evaporated when Nikolas Moisander was given his marching orders deep into stoppage time.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 10, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Sampdoria 1-2 Juventus: The Old Lady
Survive Blucerchiati Fightback

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/sampdoria-1-2-juventus-the-old-lady-survive-blucerchiati-fightback/?

Jan 10, 2016

Juventus beat Sampdoria 2-1 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday night to move into second place in the table.

The Bianconeri opened the scoring in the 16th minute through a volley from Paul Pogba, before they doubled their lead in the 46th minute through Sami Khedira; however, Antonio Cassano managed to give the game life as he scored in the 64th minute.

The game started in a tentative fashion but Juventus still managed to take the lead in the 16th minute.

A free-kick was whipped into Pogba, who chested the ball up into the air setting it on a plate for himself to fire a scuffed volley beyond Emiliano Viviano.

Yet, despite dominating the game, The Old Lady were unable to really test Viviano for much of the half. However, they were given a nice little advantage when Il Doria key-man Roberto Soriano, was replaced by David Ivan, after complaining of dizziness.

Vincenzo Montella’s side looked toothless upfront as Juventus went into half-time leading 1-0.

With alarming urgency the Bianconeri doubled their lead in the second-half. Khedira burst forward and was found by an incisive pass by Paulo Dybala.

The German international took the ball in his stride before he stabbed it beyond the onrushing Viviano.

Sampdoria were showing some signs of life and Eder almost pulled a goal back for La Samp fans. Cassano produced a wonderful cross which found an unmarked Eder, but the Italian international put his header just beyond the post.

Alvaro Morata was the next player to miss a guilt-edged chance after he beat Sampdoria’s offside trap, yet like Eder, he put his header wide.

Morata was made to regret that miss as Cassano pulled a goal back for Montella’s side. Carlos Carbonero slid a pass to the Italian who, on the stretch, instinctively shot past Gianluigi Buffon in the penalty box.

Sampdoria piled on the pressure but in stoppage time Nicklas Moisander was sent-off for a rash challenge on Simone Zaza.

La Samp couldn’t find the equaliser as Juventus saw the 2-1 win out. The result leaves the Bianconeri in second place, whilst Il Doria find themselves in the 13th place.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 11, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Juventus go second with win over
Sampdoria, Khedira and Pogba score

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/match/432083/sampdoria-juventus/report

Jan 10, 2016

Juventus assumed second place behind new Serie A leaders Napoli after beating 10-man Sampdoria 2-1 to rack up a ninth straight victory.

Paul Pogba's classy first-half opener gave the reigning champions the upper hand and Sami Khedira doubled their advantage shortly after half-time.

Antonio Cassano spread late fear among the travelling Bianconeri with his goal for Samp but Niklas Moisander's dismissal confirmed defeat for the Ligurians.

One-time Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano could do little to deny Pogba in the 17th minute.

With his back to goal, the Frenchman controlled the ball on his chest before twisting his body to pick out the inside of the far post on the half-volley.

Summer signing Paulo Dybala began pulling the strings for Juve when play resumed -- within 60 seconds he had found Khedira for a second goal.

An illuminating through-ball swept into the German's path and he took one touch before beating Viviano with the outside of his right boot.

The Bianconeri almost went 3-0 up on the hour mark, with Hernanes missing the mark by mere inches, but instead it was Samp who grabbed the next goal.

Well-travelled striker Cassano reignited the contest after a one-two with Carlos Carbonero gave him the drop on Gianluigi Buffon in the 64th minute.

That moment inspired Samp to rally for an equaliser which never came -- Ervin Zukanovic came closest to levelling with an 89th-minute header over the bar -- and Moisander's late departure for fouling Juve substitute Simone Zaza added insult to injury.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 11, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

RATINGS: Sampdoria 1-2 Juventus

http://www.goal.com/en/match/sampdoria-vs-juventus/2120564/ratings

Jan 10, 2016

Sampdoria

2 E. Viviano - He probably could have gotten down earlier to save Pogba's opener.

5 M. Cassani - He was muscled off the ball too easily by Pogba, who scored the opener.

4 N. Moisander - Was having a solid game until the depths of stoppage time, when he slid in on Zaza and was shown a red card.

87 E. Zukanović - Generally did his job in the centre as he cleared most aerial deliveries.

19 V. Regini - At times, he struggled to prevent crosses from coming into the area.

21 R. Soriano - He didn't last too long in this one, succumbing to an injury in the first half.

7 Fernando - Had a hard time repelling the dominance of his Juventus counterparts at times in the match.

8 É. Barreto - Hit and mostly miss throughout as he was successfully stymied.

77 C. Carbonero - Started to register more in the second half as he made a series of intelligent plays, including the assist for Cassano's goal.

99 A. Cassano - Gave hope to his side with an opportunistic finish from just inside the area.

23 Eder - Missed his one chance when left in space - otherwise, he was marked out of the game.

Substitutes

95 D. Ivan - Involved in breaking up a few attacks after replacing the stricken Soriano.

24 L. Muriel - Didn't register as a goal threat.

9 Alejandro Rodriguez - Could have connected better on the end of a free-kick.

Juventus

1 G. Buffon - Hard to blame him for the goal and was otherwise comfortable.

24 D. Rugani - Got his head to a number of crosses into the area, and read the game well on the floor.

19 L. Bonucci - Set up the opener for Pogba with a cross, but left too much space for Cassano to score Sampdoria's goal.

3 G. Chiellini - Dealt with everything thrown his way in another accomplished display.

26 S. Lichtsteiner - A rather pedestrian game for him as he didn't provide much offensive thrust.

6 S. Khedira - Smartly finished off Dybala's pass to give Juventus a two-goal advantage early in the second half.

11 Hernanes - Could have helped to close down Cassano in the buildup to the goal, but was otherwise solid.

10 P. Pogba - The midfielder was his usual dominant self, finishing after a powerful move, and showing dexterity and athleticism throughout.

33 P. Evra - Linked well with Pogba out on the left, but was more effective in the first half.

9 Álvaro Morata - Can't buy a goal, as he missed a header badly from point-blank range.

21 P. Dybala - Squeezed in the assist for Khedira in another decisive display for the Argentine.

Substitutes

16 J. Cuadrado - Provided some pace down the flank to test the opposition.

7 S. Zaza - Felled by Moisander, earning the Sampdoria man a sending off.

20 S. Padoin - Late appearance.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 11, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Buffon: 'I knew we'd come back'

http://www.football-italia.net/78183/buffon-i-knew-wed-come-back?

Jan 10, 2016

Gigi Buffon admits he “didn’t think we’d put together nine straight wins, but I knew Juventus would be protagonists again.”

The Bianconeri had a dire start to the season, but their 2-1 victory at Sampdoria put them joint second with Inter, just two points off Winter Champions Napoli.

“I didn’t think we’d put together nine straight wins, but I knew we were a team with a lot of quality who still had to find their balance and recover some figures from the treatment room.

“In that case, I am not surprised by this comeback,” the captain told Sky Sport Italia.

Max Allegri was again enraged on the touchline, as after the 3-2 at Carpi Juve threatened to throw away a comfortable lead.

“It’s true we risked at the end. As long as we win, we smile and hope that we can learn from these incidents. It becomes difficult to overcome if it ends up costing us points, especially at this stage of the season.

“Are the opposition more scared of us? I have no idea, I just look at what my team does. I don’t know if we can win, but we are back to being protagonists.”

Buffon was congratulated, as he became a father for the third time this week.

“I have to be honest, it has been a very happy week for me. The two victories are great, but what happened on Wednesday night was unique.”

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 11, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Allegri: 'Title fight to the end'

http://www.football-italia.net/78184/allegri-title-fight-end?

Jan 10, 2016

Max Allegri “believed in the comeback” from Juventus, but expects Napoli and Inter “to fight to the end for the Scudetto.”

The Coach was raging on the touchline at his players during the 2-1 win over Sampdoria.

“We should’ve controlled the ball better after the second goal and created too many risky situations. Serie A is extremely difficult, it’s not that I have a demon inside me, but we could’ve gone 3-0 up and instead conceded the 2-1,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset Premium.

“We keep doing this and it’s not as if in Serie A you can expect to never concede a shot on target, but we mustn’t force the situation when there’s no need to.

“I compliment Antonio Cassano, as he had an extraordinary performance tonight, proving he’s immensely talented and still one of the most technically gifted players in Italy.”

In the last nine rounds, Juve have climbed nine places in the Serie A table with nine consecutive victories.

“I believed in the comeback because the team simply had to improve. We now have completely different players to when we started the season, as many had just arrived and were settling in. It’s only normal that when the individuals improve, so does the team.”

Claudio Marchisio and Mario Mandzukic were unavailable today, so Allegri picked Hernanes and Alvaro Morata.

“The midfielders and Paulo Dybala like to rotate, so one goes deeper and the other pushes up so Paul Pogba acts as a striker sometimes. Giving reference points to your opponents is the last thing you want to do.

“I made choices, I told if Hernanes settles into this role in front of the defence then he can really make an impact there throughout the rest of his career.”

The title race remains extremely tight, as Napoli are Winter Champions with Juve and Inter two points behind in second place.

“Inter had one of their best performances today and still lost. That’s football. It is a very balanced League, considering the statistics the Scudetto will be decided on 82 points and I am sure Inter and Napoli will fight to the end for the Scudetto.”

Juventus managed only one point from the opening three rounds, so which game would they like to do all over again?

“The first one with Udinese, because we were too frenetic and played well for 77 minutes, then conceded the decisive goal on their only attempt.”

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 11, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Juventus 2 - Sampdoria 1: Initial
reaction and random observations

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/11/10745962/juventus-sampdoria-2016-serie-a-round-19-final-score-result-initial-reaction

Jan 11, 2016

It wasn't close to pretty in pink, but Juventus' defense certainly rose to the occasion when it was needed.

Juve needed every bit of its two-goal lead after 50 or so minutes. Not only did Sampdoria make it a game, but came within inches of tying the game milliseconds before the final second blew. But, thankfully for us, Daniele Rugani and Giorgio Chiellini are Juventus players, with the two defenders making huge plays in stoppage time to keep their team in front and allow them to win their ninth consecutive game in Serie A.

Was it Juventus' best performance after they got up 2-0 thanks to goals from Paul Pogba and Sami Khedira? Nah.

Should Juventus have put the game away when they had the chance in the second half? Yes, absolutely.

But guess what? Juventus is now in second place and just two points off the pace behind new league leaders and winter champions Napoli. Did you think that was possible at the end of the first half the way Juventus started the season? Man, this has been quite the eventful season already. And we still have five more months to go.

This is how Juventus' season has gone, though. Those grim and gloomy early-season moments are far, far, far into the past by now. Even though they only happened four or so months ago, that Juventus team isn't even close to being on the same level as this Juventus team. That one wasn't able to close out games, or even get the lead very often for that matter. This one,

JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen
.@OfficialAllegri: "It was a good win, we had to dig deep. Earning nine straight wins isn't easy, so full credit to the boys."

It isn't easy, and they're winning games different kinds of ways, too. They've blown teams out, they've had to grind out wins and they've held on for dear life like they did against Sampdoria. That's how they did it last season in Max Allegri's first season, and they're doing again now. The cast of characters may be a little different, but Juventus is still being Juventus — and now that they've shaken they're early-season struggles, that's all we can ask of them.

Random thoughts and observations

You want Álvaro Morata's season in a nutshell? That's what his missed header was early in the second half. It's just that kind of run for Morata. He's struggling on the field, he's struggling with confidence.

What were we all worried about? Simone Padoin played, Juventus won. These two things go hand-in-hand. It's simple, simple science, folks.

It's crazy how routine Paulo Dybala makes the incredible look sometimes. He made that assist to Khedira look so easy, but it wasn't easy at all. If you want the definition of threading the needle to pick out a teammate, then watch Dybala's fifth Serie A assist of the season over and over and over again. The importance of this 22-year-old striker nicknamed 'La Joya' can't be understated at this point of the season.

Gigi Buffon made one save. It was important. Water is also wet.

You need to look no further than the muck and dirt and who knows what all over Khedira's uniform to see the kind of effort he put in against Sampdoria. It might not have been the prettiest of games, but he certainly earned his paycheck Sunday night. And Juventus needed that with Claudio Marchisio watching the game back in Turin.

It's not a surprise to some considering how highly he is rated, but Rugani has proven he can hang with the big boys. He's not going to rack up huge tackle totals because that's not his game. But man, his positioning and instincts are already so good and so smooth. And to see him doing this in a three-man defense, too, that's impressive.

It's fun watching Chiellini when he's not doing stupid things. I mean, whenever he goes bumbling forward into the attacking third is kinda funny, but when he's the hard-nosed and badass defender who is preventing teams from doing much of anything on his side of the field, that's fun.

Hernanes ... meh. That's all I gotta say about that.

One more thing before we sign off for the day, I just want to say this: Hi there, Inter. There just seems to be a little company in second place as we hit the second half of the season next week. Good times.

POLL

Who is your Juventus Man of the Match against Sampdoria?

31% Paulo Dybala (114 votes)

29% Paul Pogba (109 votes)
29% Sami Khedira (108 votes)
11% Giorgio Chiellini (40 votes)
0% Patrice Evra (1 vote)

372 votes total

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 11, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Montella: Sampdoria Showed
Belief In Juventus Defeat

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/montella-sampdoria-showed-belief-in-juventus-defeat/?

Jan 11, 2016

Sampdoria coach Vincenzo Montella praised his side’s desire after they lost 2-1 to Juventus on Sunday night.

Despite Juventus going 2-0 up within the first 46 minutes, Il Doria managed to produce a fightback through the excellent Antonio Cassano, however they couldn’t find the equaliser.

“It seemed to me a good performance and we showed real belief,” said Montella after the match.

“We tried to sit deeper to restrict the space in behind our defensive line. We must continue to work and improve.

“The team is always getting better, today we produced a good performance against an excellent opponent.

“We still have huge room for improvement and this is very positive.”

Montella also praised the performance of Cassano after he scored his first goal since returning to Sampdoria.

“He is a good player who is working hard,” added Montella.

“The players have to work when he’s in the team, so we can make the most out of his style and attributes.

“Will I ever play a trident of forwards? Today Eder, Cassano and Muriel did play together for a bit of the match.

“It depends on the game, but it would mean they would have to work very hard and sacrifice a lot for the team.”

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 12, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Sampdoria vs. Juventus: Winners
and Losers from Serie A

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2606673-sampdoria-vs-juventus-winners-and-losers-from-serie-a?

Jan 11, 2016

Juventus made it nine Serie A wins in a row with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph away at Sampdoria.

The reigning champions in Italy broke the deadlock at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa when Paul Pogba's volley found the corner of the goal after 17 minutes.

They doubled their lead straight after half-time, with Paulo Dybala's beautiful pass down the middle gifting Sami Khedira the chance to poke the ball beyond Sampdoria goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano.

However, the hosts gave themselves hope when Antonio Cassano scored 64 minutes.

Sampdoria pushed hard to find an equaliser, but the only thing they picked up in the closing stages was a red card. Niklas Moisander was dismissed in injury time for a late tackle on Juventus substitute Simone Zaza.

Here, Bleacher Report picks out the winners and losers from the game.

Winner: Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba produced a moment of real quality to break the deadlock in Genoa.

The France international didn’t quite catch his volleyed finish from the left side of the area, but he still directed it far enough away from the diving Viviano to find the bottom corner of the goal.

What made the strike special, however, was the touch that set it up. Pogba controlled a long ball from Leonardo Bonucci on his chest before spinning in the air to allow him to strike a volley with his left foot.

Of course, there was only one way for Pogba to celebrate scoring—break out the Dab dance move he loves so much he's had it shaved into his head.

Loser: Niklas Moisander

Defeat was a disappointing outcome for Sampdoria, but Niklas Moisander's dismissal in the closing minutes only rubbed salt into the wound.

The Finland international was shown a straight red after launching himself at Juventus forward Simone Zaza right in front of the visiting team’s bench.

The challenge was undoubtedly late, but referee Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni also deemed it dangerous.

Moisander—who moved to Serie A from Dutch club Ajax in July 2015 on a free transfer, per Transfermarkt.co.uk—was given his marching orders to leave the hosts to finish the game with only 10 men.

Winner: Juventus

Juventus' defence of their Serie A title got off to a shaky start this season.

They won just once in their first six league outings, leaving them languishing in the table's bottom half. It was a worrying time, but the club did not panic.

Now, after the 2-1 triumph at Sampdoria, Massimiliano Allegri's squad have won nine on the spin. Per OptaPaolo on Twitter: "Juventus have recovered nine league position in the last nine Serie A games."

They find themselves sitting second in the table at the campaign's halfway stage, with Napoli two points above them in the standings.

Only three points separate the top four teams, but Juventus know better than any side that is a marathon, not a sprint. They also know how to reach the finish line at the front of the pack.

Loser: Alvaro Morata

Alvaro Morata's goal drought continues after he drew a blank against Sampdoria. The Spanish striker has still not found the net since the 3-1 win over Bologna on Oct 4.

Given the chance to start in Mario Mandzukic's absence, the former Real Madrid player worked tirelessly for the team.

However, he missed a golden opportunity to not only get back on the scoresheet but also to put the visitors 3-0 up just after the hour-mark.

Hernanes' superb cross from the right picked out Morata, who had broken clear of the home side's offside trap. But, with only Viviano to beat, he planted his header inches wide.

Winner: Antonio Cassano

Antonio Cassano scored his first goal since rejoining Sampdoria when he found the net after 64 minutes.

It was a crumb of comfort for Vincenzo Montella's side as they came up short in their bid to claw back a two-goal deficit.

The veteran striker exchanged passes with Carlos Carbonero before steering an instinctive low shot beyond Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

He certainly impressed Juventus manager Allegri, who told Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset Premium (h/t Football-Italia.net): "I compliment Antonio Cassano, as he had an extraordinary performance tonight, proving he’s immensely talented and still one of the most technically gifted players in Italy."

Loser: Roberto Soriano

Sampdoria captain Roberto Soriano was his side's hero in the 3-2 win over rivals Genoa on Jan. 5.

The midfielder scored twice in the midweek derby triumph, taking his tally for the Serie A season to six. That is already his most productive league campaign in terms of goals, per OptaPaolo on Twitter.

However, Soriano saw his involvement against Juventus cut short by injury.

Suffering from dizziness after an aerial collision, David Ivan replaced him after 37 minutes of the game at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 12, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Player Ratings: Sampdoria 1-2 Juventus

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/player-ratings-sampdoria-1-2-juventus/?

Jan 11, 2016

Juventus claimed their ninth consecutive Serie A win with a 2-1 victory over Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday night.

Paul Pogba put the reigning champions ahead before Sami Khedira doubled their lead, while Antonio Cassano got one back for the hosts. Things got a bit fiery towards the end of the game and as a result Niklas Moisander was shown a red card deep in stoppage time.

Sampdoria

Emiliano Viviano – 6 – Normal - The goalkeeper experienced yet another difficult encounter against Juventus, although the saves he did make were of good quality and he was ultimately outclassed by his impressive opposition attack.

Mattia Cassani – 5 – Sloppy - His designated job was to man-mark Pogba but he failed at the most crucial time and thus Juventus took the lead.

Niklas Moisander – 4 – Poor - The Finnish international was regularly out of position and lost out in some crucial battles with his adversaries. A poor display culminated in a late red card which wasted valuable time for the Blucerchiati.

Ervin Zukanovic – 5 – Distracted - After some failed attempts at marking Khedira and stopping general Juventus attacks, it seemed that the Bosnian’s attention was away from the pitch as he was either out of position or unsuccessful in tackles too often.

Vasco Regini – 5 – Uncomfortable - The left-back was eager to get involved and was often seen in the attacking third to help out his team. However, this resulted in him being out of position which put his side under threat.

Roberto Soriano – 6 – Unlucky - The Italian was only involved for just under 40 minutes meaning he couldn’t make an impact on the match when Sampdoria really needed him.

Fernando – 5 – Disorganised - Fernando tried to control a below-par midfield and failed in doing so, which often paved the way for the Bianconeri to charge through with threatening attacks.

Edgar Barreto – 5 – Unsure - Some of his actions in midfield could be questioned as they were either not needed or unsuccessful, which made for a tough time in the middle of the park for Barreto.

Carlos Carbonero – 5.5 – Delayed - Carbonero was relatively quiet in the hole between midfield and attack for the majority of the game, before getting involved more after Cassano was subbed on. However, it was much too little too late and he couldn’t help his team prevent a defeat.

Antonio Cassano – 7 – Revived - Despite his team losing, the veteran striker can take positives from the game after he got his first goal in a Sampdoria shirt since rejoining them and continued to trouble the Bianconeri defence after that.

Eder – 6 – Limited - The Italian usually brings positivity when he plays but he didn’t have the opportunity to showcase his talent when entrapped in the solid Juve defence.

Substitutions

David Ivan – 6 – Promising - After coming on, the youngster went into every tough tackle with great optimism, although his game clearly still needs some improvement

Luis Muriel – 6 – Unfortunate - Vincenzo Montella had hope Muriel would start a comeback for the hosts but he couldn’t repay the coach’s trust.

Alejandro Rodriguez – N/A

Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon – 6 – Experienced - After being a spectator for the majority of the match, the captain can be forgiven for losing his clean sheet due to his defence blocking his view, but the most important thing was that he didn’t let in any more.

Daniele Rugani – 6 – Positive - Young Rugani got a taste of a real defence with both Chiellini and Bonucci accompanying him on the backline, although he did do well individually and put in several good challenges.

Leonardo Bonucci – 6.5 – Patroller - The Italian led the back line of Juventus perfectly and also produced several long balls to start attacks for his side, one of which resulted in Pogba’s goal.

Giorgio Chiellini – 6 – Warrior - The 31-year-old was his typical self, going into every tackle only thinking about a positive outcome for him and his team.

Stephan Lichtsteiner – 6.5 – Intelligent - The Swiss international was clever and had good vision to prevent Sampdoria attacks when they could have posed a serious threat.

Sami Khedira – 7 – Strong - The German got his team’s all important second and looks to be back to full fitness after a stuttering start to his first season in Serie A.

Hernanes – 5.5 – Disappointing - The Brazilian was brought in during the summer to fill the gaps in midfield and he just about managed to do his job against the Blucerchiati. He had some good efforts towards goal but did nothing to spark hope of a return to form.

Paul Pogba – 7 – Unstoppable - The Frenchman often got away from his man with ease and had several threatening shots on target, one of which went in. Pogba arguably deserved another due to his constant threat on the Doria goal and the skill he showed throughout.

Patrice Evra – 6.5 – Knowledgable - The Frenchman’s experience showed on Sunday, as his choices often benefited his team. He kept it simple whenever necessary in defence, but also played some intelligent passes to set-up his vibrant attack.

Alvaro Morata – 5.5 – Drought - The Spaniard had the perfect opportunity to end his goal drought but he scuffed a header and rarely had much more of an impact.

Paulo Dybala – 7.5 – Starlet - Before coming off late on, the Argentine was certainly the man of the match for Juventus. He set up plenty of chances for his teammates and put his all into every tackle and shot.

Substitutions

Juan Cuadrado – 6 – Average - The Colombian was brought on to freshen things up a bit for the Bianconeri but didn’t have much of an impact.

Simone Zaza – N/A

Simone Padoin – N/A

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 12, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Juventus demonstrate mental strength
in Sampdoria win, near Serie A summit

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2784333/juventus-demonstrate-mental-strength-in-sampdoria-win

Jan 11, 2016

It was a difficult victory, but Juventus' demonstration of mental strength earned them all three points on Sunday against a plucky Sampdoria side 2-1. Securing their ninth consecutive victory, the Bianconeri are now level on points with Inter in second place, only two points behind league leaders Napoli.

Facing Vincenzo Montella's Sampdoria was always going to be a challenge, especially as they have mastered the art of scoring and seem to have discovered the perfect strategy to exploit the strengths of the side. A side that relies on the counter-attack, the team hoped that by sitting back and defending they could spring a surprise when possession was won back.

The problem was that they looked overwhelmed, and with their midfield struggling to impose itself, it didn't take long for Massimiliano Allegri's men to score the opener. Sampdoria were then offered the opportunity to attack but they lacked a clear strategy, and while they exploited the full width of the pitch, controlling possession, they failed to construct clear goal-scoring opportunities.

Relying on the 3-5-2 formation, the Old Lady felt the absence of a certain few. Andrea Barzagli's leadership would have been useful in preventing Sampdoria's goal, Claudio Marchisio would have controlled the game better and Mario Mandzukic may well have contributed a goal; yet those who replaced them did admirably well to demonstrate the club's strength in depth. Yet while Juve boast a great bench and plenty of options, it was their experience and mental fortitude that secured them another victory.

Montella's men were a force going forward and seemed to recover their attacking panache in the second half, but while they may boast talent, they lack the experience required to earn the necessary points, committing various fouls to interrupt their momentum. A better opponent may have well drawn level, but the difference between this Old Lady and all her rivals in Serie A is that she knows how to win.

Player ratings

Gianluigi Buffon, 7 -- Looked exasperated at certain moments, Juve's captain is always marvelous at calming fears and making the right decisions to deny the opponent.

Daniele Rugani, 6 -- Some excellent moments of defending from the youngster, blocking the likes of Eder from running riot. An elegant performance.

Leonardo Bonucci, 7 -- What a wonderful pass forward to allow Paul Pogba to score the first goal, Bonucci was composed throughout and fiery when required.

Giorgio Chiellini, 8 -- One of his best performances, Chiellini was a monster at the back, giving all he had to halt the opponent. A warrior who made the right decisions.

Stephan Lichtsteiner, 6 -- Not his liveliest performance, the Swiss did his job but was barely noticed.

Sami Khedira, 8 -- Back to his best, Khedira not only scored a goal but offered a well-balanced performance, acting as a filter in midfield to aid the defence. Intelligent enough to know where he should always be, the German performed well to ensure Marchisio's absence was not too keenly felt.

Hernanes, 7 -- Well tracked by Antonio Cassano and ignored by his teammates, Hernanes struggled initially but then gradually grew into his game. Still guilty of losing possession cheaply and committing needless fouls, the Brazilian did manage some wonderful passes forward and some excellent interceptions.

Paul Pogba, 7 -- His control for the first goal was a wonderful demonstration of skill while he is still the player who inspires the team forward, working well to open play and serve the forwards ahead of him. Yet it must be said, he is still capable of much, much more.

Patrice Evra, 6 -- Committing more errors than usual, Evra offered tactical solutions but his performance was not as polished as usual.

Alvaro Morata, 6 -- There is no denying the player's desire to prove himself, working for the team and showing off his excellent footwork. He positioned himself well on several occasions but just can't seem to score the goal he needs to relieve the pressure.

Paulo Dybala, 8 -- Another exquisite performance form the Argentine, he may not be scoring but the positions the forward takes up not to mention the manner in which he overcomes defenders is a delight to watch. Managing another assist and always playing for the team, he is the side's best player. Substitutes:

Juan Cuadrado, 7 -- The Colombian prioritised defence and only attacked when he felt safe to do so. Acting with caution and helping his defenders, he played a mature game.

Simone Zaza, NR -- Offered little time to battle it out at the top, Zaza was unable to make the impact he's capable of against a side determined to find an equaliser.

Simone Padoin, NR -- His arrival on the pitch was barely noticed, Padoin had no time to make an impact.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 12, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Buffon: This is the Juventus
we want to see

The Bianconeri goalkeeper was pleased with his side's performance
in Sunday's win over Sampdoria and says he is hungry to keep their run going.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/01/11/19191902/-?

Jan 11, 2016

Gianluigi Buffon has voiced his delight with Juventus' 2-1 win over Sampdoria and is desperate to continue their winning streak.

Goals from Paul Pogba and Sami Khedira helped the reigning champions to their ninth Serie A win in a row, with Antonio Cassano's second-half strike nothing more than a consolation goal for the hosts.

And Buffon is happy with the progress his side have made and hopes to see their incredible form continue.

"This is the Juventus we all want to see," he told Mediaset Premium.

"We are now second in the table, but we must keep improving.

"Juventus are never competing to finish second. We want the title again.

"We are definitely on a great winning streak and are going through a good spell, which has been going for a while and I hope it will continue to last a lot longer.

"We thought we had already won the game after we went 2-0 up, but Sampdoria then got back into it because they really are a team with a lot of quality."

Sunday's win saw Juve move into second in the table after both Fiorentina and Inter suffered defeats earlier in the weekend. Massimiliano Allegri's men are now sit two points behind leaders Napoli.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 12, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Allegri delighted with unrecognisable Juventus

The Bianconeri boss feels a hard-fought 2-1 win away to Sampdoria is further
proof his players and team are improving after a poor start to the season.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/01/11/19192742/allegri-delighted-with-unrecognisable-juventus?ICID=TP_TNM_ART_5

Jan 11, 2016

Massimiliano Allegri believes Juventus have developed into a completely different team over the course of the season as they picked up a ninth straight Serie A win on Sunday.

The reigning champions appeared to be on their way to a comfortable win over Sampdoria after goals from Paul Pogba and Sami Khedira, but things got complicated when Antonio Cassano pulled one back.

Juventus would eventually hold firm for their ninth consecutive league win, though, and Allegri feels it shows just how much his side have improved after a poor start to the campaign.

"It was a good win, we had to dig deep. Earning nine straight wins isn't easy, so full credit to the boys," Allegri told reporters.

"Our performance against Sampdoria was nothing like the Juventus from the start of the season. When individuals are growing, it is only logical that the team grows as well.

"We could have decided the game before, but conceded a goal instead after fine move from Antonio Cassano. I have to compliment him because he put in an extraordinary performance."

Juventus have moved to second spot in the table following this weekend's results, trailing leaders Napoli by two points, and Allegri has urged his players to keep going as their challenge for the Scudetto gathers momentum.

"Napoli are enjoying a fine season. They have spirit and quality and will be fighting for the Scudetto right until the end of the season.

"We need to keep producing consistent results. With Napoli on 41 points halfway through, I think we need 82 points to win the title.

"It was not easy to get back in the race and we now have to keep this up."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 13, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Sampdoria vs. Juventus 1-2, Bianconeri make it nine
victories in a row with hard-fought away win

Goals from Paul Pogba and Sami Khedira give Juventus the win, despite a late comeback from the home team.

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/11/10746784/sampdoria-juventus-2016-serie-a-round-19-final-score-recap-result

Jan 11, 2016

By the time Juve's game away to Sampdoria rolled around, it was well known that a ninth straight win would put the Bianconeri tied for second place with Inter, who started the day in first place but lost earlier in the day to Sassuolo — thanks to a stoppage time penalty by (future Juventus player) Domenico Berardi.

Coach Max Allegri took the chance to make a few changes after the midweek win at home to Verona. Martin Caceres and Alex Sandro, who both started against on Wednesday, were moved to the bench in favor of Daniele Rugani — receiving his first Serie A start for Juve — and Patrice Evra. With Mario Mandzukic still missing, Alvaro Morata continued his run in the starting lineup, hoping to end his goal-scoring drought. The Spaniard has not scored in any competition since Oct. 4 of last year. The much-maligned Hernanes stepped into the regista role for the suspended Claudio Marchisio.

Sampdoria were improving under new coach Vincenzo Montella, winning their last two games, including the Genoa derby last Tuesday. However, they were well aware that facing the resurgent Juventus would be an altogether proposition. Antonio Cassano, starting again for Samp, has eight career goals against the Bianconeri.

MATCH SUMMARY

Juventus started the game on the front foot, dominating possession, though there were not many clear cut chances created.

On nine minutes, Paul Pogba got the first shot on the Sampdoria goal, with a long range effort that went straight at Emiliano Viviano, making for a comfortable save. A few minutes later, Hernanes picked up a Paulo Dybala pass and also tried his luck with a long range left-footed shot; again, this was straight at the Sampdoria goalkeeper.

It took until the seventeenth minute for Juve to break the deadlock. Leonardo Bonucci played a brilliant scooped pass into the box where Pogba outmuscled the Samp right back Mattia Cassani to control on his chest, swivel and get a left footed shot off. It was more of a scuffed effort, but it had just enough on it to creep past the outstretched Viviano. 1-0 to Juve!

After the goal, Juve continued to control the game, not facing much from Sampdoria. A free kick was whipped into the box by Dybala, which forced Viviano to push away from inside his far post.

So far this season, Juve are yet to lose a game from a winning position, and based on the first half that trend looked like continuing. Sampdoria created their first — and only — threat on Juve's goal in the first half on the fortieth minute. A free kick on the edge of the box was slammed into the defensive wall by Brazilian midfielder Fernando.

Juve made the best possible start to the second half. Dybala, continuing his brilliant current form, threaded a lovely through ball for Khedira, who made a darting run into the box from midfield. The German midfielder controlled well before toe-poking past Viviano for Juve's second. Juve were 2-0 up and looking in full control.

On the hour mark, Eder almost pulled one back for the home team; Cassano supplying a terrific cross from the right, and the Brazilian-born Italian international rose highest to get his head to the ball but his attempt floated just wide with Gigi Buffon stuck to his spot.

Viviano had to get down low to palm a low Dybala shot away from goal. Just one minute later, Juve had the chance to make it 3-0 and effectively wrap up all three points. A corner came to Hernanes out on the right, and the Brazilian put in a beautiful cross which found the wide open Morata just outside the six yard box, but somehow the Spaniard put his diving header wide of the goal. This miss was reminiscent of his crucial miss against Sevilla in the Champions League, where he put a tap-in wide from similarly close to goal.

That miss proved to be crucial, as one minute later Sampdoria pulled one back. And nice one-two between Cassano and Carlos Carbonero ended with FantAntonio placing an angled shot passed Buffon. Some slack marking in the Juve defence — particularly from Hernanes, who lost Cassano — allowed the veteran to get free for the shot.

Just a couple minutes later, Sampdoria almost made it 2-2! Fernando was allowed too much time and space to drill just wide with Buffon stranded. This was almost unthinkable just mere minutes earlier, as Juve seemed in complete control of this game.

In stoppage time, Sampdoria defender Niklas Moisander was shown a straight red card for his late sliding tackle on Simone Zaza, getting nowhere near the ball. This seemed a harsh decision, and sparked some tension on the sidelines.

Giorgio Chiellini had to produce a goal line clearance with pretty much the last kick of the game, salvaging what turned out to be a hard fought draw for Juve. Despite the late scare, Juve racked up their ninth win in a row, and moved up to second place in the Serie A table, tied with Inter.

LE PAGELLE

Buffon 7 He couldn't really be blamed for the goal, and was left rooted to the spot on a couple of occasions. Still a solid performance from Super Gigi.

Rugani 7.5 The young defender showed us the reason why he played every minute of every game for Empoli last season. Given his first league start this season, Rugani showed no nerves, and displayed almost impeccable positioning and a maturity beyond his twenty-one years. Well done and I hope he continues to get more such opportunities.

Bonucci 6.5 Solid game by Leo. He was a bit slow to closing down Cassano on the goal, but a solid game otherwise.

Chiellini 7.5 Typical Chiellini game, showing all his experience, toughness and cynicism at key times to help bring the win home. Performed an important clearance at the end of the game as well.

Lichtsteiner 6.5 Solid game by Stephan. Seemed to be tiring and was subbed off for Cuadrado in the second half.

Khedira 8 An all-action performance from the experienced German, showing us what we know he's capable of once he's fully fit. Scored a lovely "striker's" goal, which turned out to be the winner. Let's hope the injuries subside for some time and we can get the best out of him in the second half of the season.

Hernanes 6 One of his better performances for Juve, though there still leaves a lot to be desired — like his defending, for one. Lost Cassano on the Sampdoria goal, and got beat by Fernando way too easily on his close shave minutes later. He did play some decent passes though and had one lovely cross (the header that Morata missed).

Pogba 8 Pogba continues his great form. The shot on his goal wasn't the cleanest but his work to control the ball, spin and shoot — all while holding off a defender — deserves praise. Worked tirelessly on both ends of the ball.

Evra 6 There was a point in the game that I literally forgot that Evra was on the pitch. This isn't necessarily a bad thing for a defender, but considering he's playing as a wingback and is to attack as well, that isn't a good thing either. I won't say he had a bad game, rather he was just quiet.

Dybala 7.5 Dybala just did what Dybala does. He played a top notch pass on Khedira's goal, and only some nifty goalkeeping from Viviano kept him off the scoresheet. With nine goals and five assists so far this season in the league, Dybala is well on course to do (much) better than his breakout season last year with Palermo.

Morata 6 Sigh, another game, another goalless return and another missed sitter. You keep thinking that he just needs one to go in to regain his confidence and then regain his form, but then he keeps missing great chances like he did today. We can only hope that he shakes off this funk as soon as possible. For the time being, let's comfort ourselves by remembering that it was in the second half of last season that he really kicked on (around February) and hope that lightning strikes twice.

Subs

Cuadrado 6 Came on for the tiring Lichtsteiner to run at the Sampdoria defence and relieve some pressure. He did what was needed, even drawing key fouls to swing momentum.

Zaza s/v - Got Moisander sent off, but other than that did not have much impact.

Padoin s/v

Coach

Allegri 7.5 What a ride it's been under Max this season. Some were calling for his head after Juve's poor start to the season, but Allegri stuck to his word and has turned things around. What continues to trouble Allegri, as well as most fans, is this propensity to lose focus and take the foot off the gas when leading. It happened against Carpi — which famously saw Allegri hulk out — and it happened again tonight. No doubt Allegri will continue to work on this mental lapse.

Next week marks the start of the second half of the league season, and Juve travel to play Udinese; the patient zero, if you will, of Juve's terrible start to the season. After nine wins in a row and climbing the table all the way to second place and two points out of first, who would bet against the Bianconeri making it ten out of ten?

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 13, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Juventus Win Against Sampdoria Despite
Struggles of Alvaro Morata and Hernanes

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2606693-juventus-win-against-sampdoria-despite-struggles-of-alvaro-morata-and-hernanes?

Jan 11, 2016

Juventus travelled to Genoa on Sunday night to face Sampdoria, the visitors armed with the knowledge a win would see them climb into second place in the Serie A table. Losses for Inter and Fiorentina meant that the weekend's results had fallen perfectly for the Bianconeri, and a 2-1 victory saw them capitalise.

It was far from a straightforward result, however, with Sampdoria looking particularly dangerous after Antonio Cassano scored with a little over 25 minutes remaining. It also saw the away side begin nervously, with Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri forced to make some changes that were ultimately to blame for their stuttering display.

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
The coach went into the game without a number of key figures, with Andrea Barzagli and Mario Mandzukic injured while Claudio Marchisio sat out because of a one-game suspension for his accumulation of yellow cards.

Having seen Martin Caceres given the nod against Hellas Verona in midweek, it was a relief to see promising young defender Daniele Rugani take his place in the starting XI here. The 21-year-old showed why he is so highly regarded, turning in a solid performance as part of the visitors' three-man back line.

According to statistics on WhoScored.com, Rugani made five clearances and blocked one shot, completing a respectable of his 92.5 per cent of his 40 pass attempts while not committing a single foul.

Yet while the former Empoli man deputised admirably for Barzagli in defence, the same cannot be said of Morata's contribution to the attack. Chosen over the in-form Simone Zaza, the Spain international continued to look devoid of confidence and nowhere near the high standard he set for himself last term.

With only three goals to his name in 2015/16, he last found the net in the win over Bologna on October 4 and never looked like ending that barren spell at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Having made little impact on the game in the first half, a cross from Hernanes picked out an unmarked Morata in the 63rd minute, the striker inexplicably heading wide when it seemed easier to score.

But if that miss added to his woes, it did the same for the chance's creator, the Brazilian playmaker also yet to discover anything close to his best form since joining the club from Inter back in August.

Juventus paid their rivals an initial €11 million for the 30-year-old, per their official website, but he has yet to begin to repay that investment, putting in a string of poor displays.

His inclusion against Sampdoria marked Hernanes’ 13th appearance since completing that deal, and his first-half display left much to be desired. Yet after the break, he found more space, with the graphic in the tweet below fully highlighting the much-improved performance of the former Sao Paulo and Lazio star.

Adam Digby @Adz77
Hernanes #SampJuve 2 shots, 47/56 passes, 1 chance created, 4/4 take-ons, 1 tackle, 4 interceptions (via @StatsZone)

Guilty of giving the ball away cheaply on a few occasions, his two shots tested Sampdoria goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano. His display was praised by Allegri as he spoke to reporters after the match.

“If [Hernanes] continues to improve in that position in front of the defence, then he will be a very important player for us,” the Juve boss said, per the club’s official website. “I thought he was very good both offensively and defensively tonight.”

There is still much room for improvement for both him and Morata, with a return to their respective peaks likely to help the Bianconeri make significant progress over the rest of the season. Rugani’s outing was hugely positive, and the decision to start that trio ultimately mattered little as the reigning champions secured yet another victory.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 13, 2016

SAMPDORIA - JUVENTUS

1 - 2

Paul Pogba (17')
Sami Khedira (46')

Antonio Cassano (64')

MATCHDAY 19
Sunday, January 10th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) Stadium, Genoa
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

North and South mix
fantasy with reality

Napoli smash Frosinone to go top, Juventus continue to climb
and Inter fall in an incredible game at San Siro, writes Richard Hall.

http://www.football-italia.net/78203/north-and-south-mix-fantasy-reality?

Jan 11, 2016

“I was delighted to find out the Napoli result and I am so pleased that they are winter champions,” These were the words of Diego Maradona according to Sky Sport Italia, he was speaking of his admiration and hope for his former team after their result against Frosinone this weekend. Whilst the former Napoli star has openly said that he misjudged Maurizio Sarri, he also will be aware that, with the best will in the world, the looming shadow of Juventus cannot be ignored.

The Neapolitans have been the neutrals dream this season and the reason why was exhibited with style against Frosinone on Sunday. It was Maurizio Sarri’s birthday and what better present could there have been other than the 1-5 thrashing they handed out? This made them winter champions for the first time in 26 years. Gonzaolo Higuain got a brace and Marek Hamsik got on the score sheet but the goal of the game came from Manolo Gabbiadini with a fantastic curling strike. Sarri’s men are now two points clear at the top of Serie A.

As far as comebacks go, the story of Juventus is simply incredible. The fact that only had one point after the first three games left many predicting at best that this would be a year of transition. Not so it seems as the win on Sunday night in Genoa against Sampdoria was their ninth in a row. Despite taking a 2-0 lead through Paul Pogba and Sami Khedira, the home side fought back through Antonio Cassano and could have levelled had Fernando been more composed. The Turin giants are now into second and are seemingly coming for the Neapolitans.

All of Milan was talking about Andrea Consigli after the game had ended between Inter and Sassuolo at San Siro. His seemingly endless battle with Adem Ljajic captivated all who watched Sunday’s early kick off as Sassuolo beat the Nerazzurri in an incredible match. Samir Handanovic must also go away with tremendous credit as this ‘game of the goalkeepers’ saw both custodians excel. The match was won with a late penalty, converted by Domenico Berardi, that leaves Inter shell shocked and down to third.

Saturday night through up a clash between two of Serie A’s Jekyll and Hyde clubs at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The Giallorossi had taken an early lead but this did prompt Milan into fighting back with some character. The equaliser came courtesy of Juraj Kucka but the draw does little to help either coach and both their jobs still hang in the balance.

Fiorentina had hoped to keep their Scudetto hopes alive and kicking as they welcomed an erratic Lazio to the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Keita Balde Diao put the visitors ahead on the stroke of half time and this score line would remain until the 92nd minute when Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scored Lazio’s second and seemingly put the game to bed. Not so however, as moments later Fiorentina pulled a goal back before the Aquile finally put the last nail in the Viola’s coffin on the 96th minute of the match, 1-3 the final score.

Late goals were also in fashion in Bergamo as Atalanta conceded two in the last 11 minutes but add to their woes. The home side have lost three on the rot but the Grifone eventually have something to celebrate as they put an end to their five straight defeats. Roberto Donadoni’s Bologna could not follow up on their victory against Milan last when they faced a resolute Chievo. Simone Pepe’s goal gave the away team the victory but the Rossoblu will rue missing a penalty.

Elsewhere Udinese’s good run of form ended as they fell to an aggressive display from Carpi. The hosts won the game 2-1 but in truth they could have won by more had their finishing been up to scratch. Torino fans were unhappy with Fabio Quagliarella before the game against Empoli for his ‘apology’ celebration the week before against Napoli. This negativity seemed to transfer onto the pitch as they went down 0-1 thanks to a goal from Massimo Maccarone.

Finally a winless Hellas welcomed a troubled Palermo to Verona in what seemed to be a game of the damned. Palermo captain Stefano Sorrentino confirmed the team is at war with Coach Davide Ballardini and said simply “He isn’t speaking to us.” Despite this the Sicilians managed to heap more misery on Hellas as they recorded a win thanks to a goal from Franco Vazquez.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 14, 2016

REASONS FOR OPTIMISM IN BAYERN PAIRING

http://www.juvefc.com/reasons-optimism-bayern-pairing/?

Jan 11, 2016

On December 15, in the exhilarating aftermath of the Champions League round of 16 draw, we wrote a piece explaining that playing Bayern Munich may just be a blessing in disguise—not a curse or condemnation, but rather an opportunity. I stand energetically by this outlook. Juve is a top European club, perhaps the slightest tier below Barcelona and Bayern (but then, so is everybody else). We should relish the chance to prove our strength against a club expected by many to wind up in the final. This is the chance the make a statement.

I’m also supremely confident that the team will adopt a similar outlook. The 2015-16 edition of Juve has already shown some resilience and pride in battling back from a very rough start in Serie A, and now there’s every expectation we’ll be competing once again for the domestic title. Because of the slow start, one can argue we have an unusual capacity for improvement among top clubs, whereas the likes of Barca, Bayern, and even teams like Real Madrid, PSG, and the top Premier League contenders may already be flashing their best form of the campaign.

But I also believe there are a few more specific reasons for optimism heading into the Bayern matches (the first of which is in Turin on February 23). For one thing, as noted in the aforementioned article, competitive energy is worth considering, and in that sense it may truly be a bit of good fortune that we’ll be playing Bayern so soon as opposed to in a deeper round. Presumably Bayern will still be at least partially focused on keeping Borussia Dortmund off their back come February, which means they won’t be coasting in domestic play and focusing their energies entirely on Juve. That’s not to say they’ll be at a disadvantage, of course, but logically speaking it’s better to play a great team that has to divide its energy than one squarely focused on a single task. Any club that hopes to win the UCL in 2016 is going to have to beat Bayern, Barca, or both along the way, so I’d say it’s better to get the job done now.

Looking for other signs of optimism (hey, I’ve had a month to turn the draw over in my head and scour the depths of the Internet in search of interesting facts and trends), I’ve also come across an intriguing little bit of trivia that may interest the superstitious among Juve supporters. According to an overview on Champions League betting methods, every UCL winner since 2012 finished as a runner-up in the previous domestic campaign. Now, the unsettling thing is that this would count both Bayern and Juve out of contention, as they’re defending domestic champions (look out for Wolfsburg and Roma though!). But more interestingly, the trend seems to indicate that it’s the hungrier teams among contenders that have been finding success of late in UCL play. And given their relative places in European football, it’s hard to envision Bayern being hungrier or more motivated than Juve.

For perhaps a more relevant take on the coming matches, I also took some comfort in the German side’s reaction to the pairing. Here I’ll point out to anybody that might have missed it that Barcelona’s star players were reportedly laughing and crying with joy when the round of 16 draw revealed that they’d be playing Arsenal. I honestly can’t imagine a more disrespectful reaction to a draw. While the argument can be made that Barca provided the Gunners with some strong motivation, the clearer take on the report is that Barcelona knows it can handle Arsenal. These are professionals, and they’ve all been through upsets and stunning outcomes. They’re not going to be that condescending unless they’re damn sure they can back it up.

By contrast, Bayern’s stars as well as manager Pep Guardiola reacted with caution and respect toward Juve when the pairing was announced. Guardiola suggested it might be a “50/50” match-up, and Philipp Lamm and Thomas Muller praised Juve as a top European club and a clever side. Now, I’m certainly not writing to tell you that a few Bayern players confirmed that Juventus is in fact a good football team so we can all relax and take pride. But there’s a clear tone on the Bayern side suggesting they’re a little bit wary of this pairing. It’s by no means a sign of weakness, but personally I’d rather see these types of reactions than the mockery of Barcelona.

But more than any of these factors, I see one primary reason for optimism, and it’s entirely to do with the future of Bayern Munich. Recently, Pep Guardiola confirmed his desire to coach in England, which means he’ll be leaving Bayern this summer when his contract expires. I’m just not sure how you deal with that if you play for the man. It would be one thing if he were simply retiring; players could band together and play inspired football to help send him out on a high note. But Guardiola’s desire to coach in the Premier League sounds more like abandonment and could even signal the end of an era at Bayern (not that the club doesn’t have the talent to remain among the best in Europe).

I don’t mean to suggest that things will get nasty in Munich. By most indications, there remains mutual respect between Guardiola and his players. Furthermore, European footballers tend to understand the business side of things and the high turnover rate for both players and managers. There won’t be any sort of collapse or lack of ambition on the Bayern side due to this news. But I still have to believe it’s a great challenge for a team to retain the same levels of unity and cohesion in the face of such a monumental change.

Ultimately, this is all just a call to optimism. Take each of these ideas and suggestions lightly, because not one of them is a decisive stone slamming the scale down in support of Juve. But I do believe each is a small pebble tilting things toward the “50/50” status Guardiola alluded to, and with that mindset our club has the ability to make it work on the field.

Socrates · January 14, 2016

Rummenigge: 'Juve found form'

http://www.football-italia.net/78270/rummenigge-juve-found-form?

Jan 12, 2016

Bayern Munich President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge “would’ve preferred to face Juventus a few months ago.”

The two giants face off in the Champions League Round of 16 and Juve are on a run of nine consecutive Serie A victories.

“It will be a difficult test, we know that, and we’ve been following their progress since the draw,” Rummenigge told reporters at an event in Milan.

“Now they are on the right track. We have a lot of respect for Juventus, but no fear. The draw was bad for both teams and it’s a shame to see one go out so early.

“Seeing the table and how they have climbed back up, I can’t help but think I would’ve preferred to face Juventus a few months ago. It could’ve been quite different.

“Paulo Dybala is a great buy, and the same goes for Mario Mandzukic.”

Former Inter midfielder Rummenigge always keeps a close eye on Serie A.

“Inter can still win the Scudetto. There are three sides challenging for the title, Napoli, Juventus and Inter. The Nerazzurri have done quite well, it’s a shame they lost to Sassuolo, but these things can happen.”

Socrates · January 14, 2016

Rummenigge rekindles talk of European super league

The Bayern Munich president insists that top clubs from Europe's elite divisions could
unite to form a super league, comprising the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/725/bundesliga/2016/01/13/19308192/-?

Jan 13, 2016

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has rekindled the idea of creating a European super league involving the elite teams from the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1.

Such a competition was previously put forward by the now-disbanded G14 group of Europe's top clubs, and Rummenigge, chairman of its replacement the European Club Association, has raised the proposal once again.

The Bayern executive believes the growing superiority of a handful of sides in their respective countries means such a proposition is a distinct possibility in the future.

"You can't rule out that, in the future, we could create a European league with the major clubs from Italy, Germany, England, Spain and France, under the umbrella of UEFA or a private organisation," Rummenigge said.

"It would be a competition with 20 teams and perhaps we would play some matches in America and Asia.

"The best teams are becoming stronger and stronger in relation to others in the main leagues and another league is in fact already being born beyond the Champions League."

And Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has backed Rummenigge, citing the possibility to increase revenue as a motivating factor.

"The Champions League is worth €1.5billion in television rights compared to almost €7billion for the NFL. However, market studies show that of the two billion sports fans worldwide, 1.6billion are football fans with American football accounting for just 150million fans," he said.

"This must make people think about the untapped potential regarding the format of current football competitions."

Socrates · January 15, 2016

A Black and White Resurgence: How
Juventus got back into the Scudetto race

This is how Juve joined the Scudetto race.

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/13/10763250/juventus-serie-a-scudetto-race

Jan 13, 2016

It’s amazing how things can change in the span of a few short months. Juve went from Champions League finalists to possibly missing out on Champions League football altogether after a disastrous start to the season in which Juve collected 5 points out of a possible 18 to start the season.

Many diehard fans will tell you that they always believed the ship would be steered to safety, and the skill and "grinta" of the players would eventually burst out. But, deep down, we were all worried that our reign as the class of Italy was coming to an end and the dark days — see Delneri, Luigi & Ferrara, Ciro Juventus coaching tenures — had returned.

Flash forward to Jan. 10, Juve have just won their ninth straight game and sit in second place trailing Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli by only two points. Since the 10th round of the season, Juve have recuperated 10 points on Fiorentina, ninepoints on Inter, seven on Napoli, and 16 — yes, 16! — on Roma. Allegri’s men now find themselves in the midst of a Scudetto race that hasn’t been this exciting since the 2011-12 season.

It is definitely a change in mindset for Gigi Buffon & Co., who have shifted from being the hunted to the hunter.

There is no doubt the remaining months of the 2015-16 season will be exciting. If Juventus does manage to win the Serie A title for a fifth consecutive time, it will not be with the relative ease that the past few years have seen fans become comfortable with. When all is done and dusted on this enthralling season a few key moments from this current streak will stand out as colossal turning points:

1. 1-0 loss to Sassuolo

Okay, so this isn't part of the nine-game winning streak, but it definitely sparked something in the Bianconeri. Giorgio Chiellini’s red card, Nicola Sansone’s free kick (continuing the trend of conceding one goal on one shot per game) ... it all seemed to be a carbon copy of other abysmal Juventus performances. Following the game, Juventus decided to enter a "Ritiro" or Retreat in which the players spent the days leading up to the derby against Torino in intensive training. This was when the Old Guard really showed its mettle, and who other than our captain to dig deep and spark what was needed from this team:

"We should begin to complain a bit less with the referees…because even if referees make mistakes, they do so in good faith, as calls go equally against and for. So you cannot use the referee as an alibi or a wrong whistle. Juventus have never been accustomed to this. The first half today was completely wrong and I am shocked because first of all I am the captain of this team and this is something that really hurts my soul to see the team dominated by opponents for an entire half and more than anything else it shows we do not understand the importance of the game with this type of approach." — Gianluigi Buffon

2. Juan Cuadrado’s 93rd-minute Derby della Mole goal

I am still celebrating this goal to this day and I might have re-injured my knee jumping out of my seat when Cuadrado scored. Although we will always hold Andrea Pirlo’s 93rd-minute screamer against Torino in our hearts, Cuadrado’s was much more important to a team that needed a jolt of energy. It helped pave the way for the nine-game winning streak.

3. Paulo Dybala's goal against Milan

This was Juventus’ first victory against the "big" teams of Serie A, and although Milan are in the midst of a lacklustre season, they should still be treated as such. The game lacked any form of flare and tenacity excluding Dybala's, with the help of Alex Sandro, clinical finish. The win moved Juventus into sixth place leapfrogging Milan in the table as we finally saw evidence of a team starting to believe in itself.

4. Giorgio Chiellini's header to prevent late-game Sampdoria equalizer

Prior to this current resurgence, the defence had been under extreme pressure and scrutiny from the public. Quite the difficult situation for four players who are used to being the point of reference for this team and its locker room. The header itself is more than just a defining moment for this Juventus team during its current hot streak, but more importantly, it is a metaphor for the rebirth of this squad and the efficacy of its defence. After such a horrible first quarter to the season, Juventus finds itself second in goals against trailing only Inter in this regard.

There will undoubtedly be more defining moments during the second half of the season but hopefully it will include more ups than downs because frankly, my heart and my knee cannot afford it.

POLL

Which moment do you consider most crucial to Juventus' resurgence?

77% 1. Cuadrado's Derby Goal (273 votes)

17% 2. Dybala Downs Milan (60 votes)

6% 3. Chiellini clears header for 9th straight win (23 votes)

356 votes total

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 15, 2016

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

-

MATCHDAY 20
Sunday, January 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi

Di Natale: 'Juve gift for Udinese'

http://www.football-italia.net/78325/di-natale-juve-gift-udinese?

Jan 13, 2016

Antonio Di Natale is fired up for Udinese v Juventus on Sunday. “I still feel like a player and want to give the fans a gift.”

The 38-year-old striker is still going strong, but has kept tight-lipped as to when he’ll hang up his boots.

“I still feel like a player and on Sunday I’d like to do something good against Juve,” he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

“I worked very hard with my fitness coach and I am feeling much better now. We want to put in a great performance for our fans and give a gift to our President, who more than anyone wanted this stadium and achieved it.”

This will be the first match since the Nuovo Stadio Friuli was restructured with every area of the stands finally open to the public.

“At the end of the season we’ll see what to do, but the club knows my thoughts. I have received so much and given so much to this club. We will all decide together in a calm fashion.

“Will it be my last game against Juventus? It could well be. They are a very strong side, accustomed to winning and it’s hard to find a weak spot. They are full of experienced champions, but if Udinese play like Udinese, then we can cause them problems.”

Udinese did beat Juventus 1-0 in Turin for the opening game of the Serie A season.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 15, 2016

Keys to Juve success in 2016

Following a stellar run of victories which has propelled Juventus into
Scudetto contention, Luca Cetta picks out four factors which can aid their charge.

http://www.football-italia.net/78342/keys-juve-success-2016?

Jan 14, 2016

Massimiliano Allegri always believed in the comeback. Seemingly out of contention following an abject start to their title defence, Juventus have piled on nine consecutive victories, beginning with that dramatic Turin Derby success.

After the Round 10 loss at Sassuolo the Bianconeri were 11 points behind leaders Roma. Nine triumphant outings later they have leapfrogged the Giallorossi, Inter and Fiorentina, sitting only two points adrift of Napoli at the halfway point of the campaign.

It’s shaping up to be one of Serie A’s tightest Scudetto battles in years, with Juve in the thick of the action. So what can help propel the Turin giants to an historic fifth successive Scudetto?

Alvaro Morata started the campaign by equalling club history. Strikes against Manchester City and Sevilla saw the Spaniard match Alessandro Del Piero by netting in five consecutive Champions League fixtures. He has scored just one goal since. That came in October, meaning Morata has gone 17 games without striking gold.

His current plight was highlighted at Sampdoria as the 23-year-old inexplicably headed wide with the goal at his mercy. Allegri has given Morata opportunities to play his way out of the slump, with three starts in four matches. In the absence of Mario Mandzukic he has been preferred to Simone Zaza, who is finding the net despite limited minutes.

Both the Croat and Paulo Dybala have excelled to lead the scoring charts. Can Morata also make a significant contribution? At this stage last term he had only four goals to his name in all competition and finished with 15, so it’s not beyond him. But Morata needs a breakthrough strike to rebuild his shattered confidence.

It’s no secret Allegri prefers a four man defensive shape. It has been prevalent throughout his coaching career and its introduction last term helped Juventus through their European adventure. It was the formation of choice until injury struck Roberto Pereyra and, coupled with Hernanes’ struggles, the Livorno native felt he didn’t have a viable contributor behind the strikers.

Juve reverted to the tried and tested 3-5-2. In Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli they possess one of Europe’s best backlines. Depth wasn’t seriously tested last term despite the latter missing for the majority. It could be different now should one go down with an injury.

Daniele Rugani is slowly but surely making the contribution fans, the media and his agent have craved. He made his second Bianconeri start last weekend. Rugani was secure against Sampdoria and, as Allegri has repeatedly stated, is a player Juventus will rely upon for the next decade.

Then there’s Martin Caceres. The Uruguayan’s appearance against Verona was his first since September. Banished from the first team following a drink-driving incident and recently linked with a move away from Turin, Caceres can still play a part. If rumours of a January departure come true it could leave the Bianconeri light through the business end of the campaign.

Sami Khedira’s arrival continued the Giuseppe Marotta tradition of bargain transfers. While Juve’s success over the last four seasons owed much to the midfield contributions of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, combining the German with the two remaining members of the successful tetrarch, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba, allows for continued domination.

However, both he and Marchisio have spent time on the sidelines. The trio have played together just nine times. And in one, the Turin Derby, Khedira lasted only 11 minutes. Yet Juventus haven’t lost in that time, recording seven wins and two draws. With Khedira seemingly over his physical concerns, Pogba growing in stature as the season progresses and Marchisio offering stability in the centre, expect better things from the trio in 2016.

Allegri’s side are some way short of Juve’s all-time consecutive Serie A winning run, which sits at 13. However, with nine under their belt Juventus have all but eradicated the deficit at the top of the table. That’s important as they fight on three fronts.

The Bianconeri face a difficult Champions League assignment next month in the form of Bayern Munich. But beforehand are some critical Serie A showdowns. They face Roma next weekend and Napoli soon after. Immediately after the first leg is the clash against Inter. Crucially, all three are at home. If Juventus can build on their current position, then come March a Scudetto tilt will be on the cards.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 15, 2016

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

-

MATCHDAY 20
Sunday, January 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi

Rocchi to ref Udinese-Juventus

http://www.football-italia.net/78354/doveri-ref-milan-fiorentina?

Jan 14, 2016

Daniele Doveri will referee Fiorentina’s trip to face Milan this weekend, while Gianluca Rocchi is given Udinese-Juventus.

The 38-year-old Doveri has been refereeing Serie A matches since 2011 and will officiate this weekend’s showcase Serie A clash.

Experienced official Rocchi will take charge of Juve’s trip to the Stadio Friuli as they aim to record their tenth consecutive league win.

Referees for Week 20

Atalanta-Inter: Rizzoli

Torino-Frosinone: Irrati

Napoli-Sassuolo: Giacomelli

Genoa-Palermo: Celi

Bologna-Lazio: Di Bello

Carpi-Sampdoria: Mariani

Chievo-Empoli: Abisso

Roma-Verona: Massa

Udinese-Juventus: Rocchi

Milan-Fiorentina: Doveri

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 15, 2016

UDINESE - JUVENTUS

-

MATCHDAY 20
Sunday, January 17th, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Friuli Stadium, Udine
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi

Allegri: ‘Scudetto on last day’

http://www.football-italia.net/78360/allegri-‘scudetto-last-day’?

Jan 14, 2016

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri believes the Scudetto race “will be decided on the final day”.

The Bianconeri are right back in the title fight after a poor start to the season, sitting in joint-second place with Inter, two points behind leaders Napoli.

“The League is very balanced, and it’ll be balanced until the end,” Allegri told JTV.

“I’m sure it will be decided on the final day, because it’s a question of maths. A team which has a great second half to the season, getting lots of wins, will take around 46 to 48 points, then the second will get 40 points.

“Consequently, that means the title race will go down to the last days, and I think the last.

“We have a lot of work to do, especially because we didn’t start this season in the best way, we’re still chasing and have to overcome two teams in the table.

“The ultimate goal is to finish top, and we’ll need a very good second half of the season to do so.”

Allegri then looked ahead to this weekend’s clash with Udinese, with the Old Lady looking to win their 10th game in a row.

“The match against Udinese will be very difficult, because they’re going through a good period, even if they lost to Carpi.

“They’re opening their new stadium, so it’ll be a special Sunday for them, but it has to be an important one for us.

“It marks the start of the second half of the season, and we have 19 games to get the fifth-consecutive Scudetto, which would enter into the history of Juventus.

“So it’ll be a very difficult game.”

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Socrates · January 15, 2016

Areas Where Juventus Are Worse Than Last Season

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2606782-areas-where-juventus-are-worse-than-last-season?

Jan 15, 2016

The 2015/16 campaign has undoubtedly been a tumultuous one for Juventus, the reigning Serie A champions initially struggling to string positive results together before finally launching into a genuine defence of their title.

Aside from some dreadfully bad luck in the opening rounds of the season, it is easy to look at the losses of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez as the reason for those early woes, but their former heroes must be forgotten and attention be focused on the other issues hindering their progress.

Foremost among them is the number of problems in defence, where, despite conceding fewer times (15) than any side other than Inter (12), the Bianconeri have looked surprisingly vulnerable.

Indeed, their tendency to concede soft goals this term has infuriated Massimiliano Allegri, the anger of the coach often fully on display during matches whenever he feels his side have been guilty of lapses in concentration.

As the information in the tweet below highlights, Juventus have regularly seen their opponents hit the back of the net from their first sight of goal, the previously resolute back line leaving goalkeeper Gigi Buffon exposed all too often.

OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo
1 - Juventus have conceded with the 1st shot on target they faced tonight, like on 6 other occasions also in Serie A this term. Handicap.

Andrea Barzagli lost his man to allow Frosinone to score at Juventus Stadium in September, Giorgio Chiellini gifted Borussia Monchengladbach their chance in Germany in November and, in that same month, a rare Leonardo Bonucci mistake led to Empoli’s surprise opener at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.

Bonucci also looked poor against Carpi just before the winter break, and after Antonio Cassano netted for Sampdoria last time out, Allegri discussed the matter with Sky Italia and Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia):

We should’ve controlled the ball better after the second goal and created too many risky situations. Serie A is extremely difficult, it’s not that I have a demon inside me, but we could’ve gone 3-0 up and instead conceded the 2-1.

We keep doing this and it’s not as if in Serie A you can expect to never concede a shot on target, but we mustn’t force the situation when there’s no need to.

Furthermore, the team is making a higher number of fouls than last term, statistics on WhoScored.com showing only seven teams have committed more than Juve’s 16.3 infringements per game.

Last season, that figure was just 13.8, according to the same source, the third-lowest tally in the league. That dip has certainly cost Juventus, with Sassuolo, Frosinone and AS Roma all taking points from the Turin giants after they gave away free-kicks in dangerous areas.

It is somewhat surprising to note that number has risen given the side has actually made fewer tackles than last term’s 17.5 per game, the tally for 2015/16 dropping to 16.3. The Bianconeri have also enjoyed less possession of the ball and made fewer passes than a year ago.

Figures show they retained the ball 55.7 percent of the time and made 536.9 passes per game in 2014/15, the corresponding numbers this term sitting at 54.7 percent and 512.3 passes per outing.

OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo
9 - Juventus have recovered nine league position in the last nine Serie A games (W9). Return.

Yet despite those downward trends, it is clear Allegri has his team focused and heading in the right direction, the graphic in the tweet above showing just how quickly they have risen up the Serie A standings as a result of their ongoing nine-game winning run.

“I didn’t think we’d put together nine straight wins, but I knew we were a team with a lot of quality who still had to find their balance and recover some figures from the treatment room,” Buffon told Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia) after the Sampdoria game. “In that case, I am not surprised by this comeback.”

Given the quality and depth of their squad, it should indeed not be a shock to see Juventus once again be protagonists in the title race, and if they improve in the aforementioned areas, a fifth consecutive triumph is almost certainly possible.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

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