Juventus Season 2015-2016

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

EDF: 'Decimated, but still Sassuolo'

http://www.football-italia.net/81149/edf-decimated-still-sassuolo?

Mar 11, 2016
 
Eusebio Di Francesco was impressed with Sassuolo’s performance against Juventus, despite missing key figures.

Only a Paulo Dybala stunner made the difference in the 1-0 result, though Domenico Berardi, Gregoire Defrel, Simone Missiroli, Karim Laribi and Paolo Cannavaro were all absent.

“The team retained the same basic shape and approach despite missing some very important players. I had few options in attack and in the end gave the Serie A debut to a 17-year-old,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.

“We had some good chances to get back into the game, but didn’t finish them off. We had several promising counter-attacks and I wanted more pressure from wide especially down Matteo Politano’s side.

“I liked the attitude towards the end and we spent the last 25 minutes in Juve’s half, which is not an easy thing to do in Turin.

“I don’t like grasping for alibis, but obviously a Coach is happier when he has options at his disposal to choose from.

“I am very relaxed when I see my team play with this mentality and this style of football. This too is part of the growth process, as we are learning that we can play like this in any arena.

“I was surprised by Juve playing with three at the back and in my view they feared us. They are a very strong side, both mentally and tactically, while Gigi Buffon is a guarantee back there. The club’s strength also helps give young players remarkable self-belief.”

Di Francesco has been linked to some big clubs for next season, including Milan.

“I have only Sassuolo in my mind and the club seems happy to continue with me too. Has anyone called me to meet for coffee? Just my wife.

“I am a Coach trying to give my best to this club. I am much more focused on the team than myself, but obviously I am a Coach and therefore want to test myself at the highest levels.

“I think the most important issue if I were to think of changing club is that many sides need to really carefully consider choosing their Coach.”

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Player Ratings: Juventus 1-0 Sassuolo

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/03/player-ratings-juventus-1-0-sassuolo/?

Mar 11, 2016
 
Juventus won 1-0 against Sassuolo at the Juventus Stadium on Friday night, currently extending their lead on top of the Serie A table to six points.

A solitary goal from Paulo Dybala was enough to give the Bianconeri the three points as the Neroverdi struggled to play the ball out of their own half. Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli kept the scoreline respectable for the visitors.

 

Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon – 6 – Record-breaker - Barely tested throughout the game but he broke Dino Zoff’s Juve record of not conceding a goal for 903 minutes in Serie A.

Daniele Rugani – 6.5 – Comfortable - The young defender was given another chance to start for the Bianconeri. He was very comfortable in defence and he also showed composure when crossing the halfway line.

Leonardo Bonucci – 6.5 – Easy - He was usually left unchallenged in defence and he also made a few dashes forward.

Andrea Barzagli – 6 – Solid - Rarely troubled in defence and barely joined the attack.

Juan Cuadrado – 6.5 – Speedy - Played a great part in the winning with his pace and dribbling. Did not play in a flamboyant manner but controlled the right flank rather well and had a scoring shot blocked in the second half.

Sami Khedira – 6.5 – Handy - Squandered a chance to make it 2-0 but he was useful throughout the game, helping his team out defensively. His sombrero (a flick over a defender’s head) in the first half was something to add to the highlights reel.

Claudio Marchisio – 7 – Metronome - He dictated the play well as he normally does and he was capable of winning the ball back for team as well.

Kwadwo Asamoah – 6 – Decent - He was not the most influential play for Juventus by any stretch of the imagination but his passes were usually effective.

Alex Sandro – 6.5 – Patrolling - The Brazilian left-back was the Bianconeri’s main attacking outlet in the first half, doing as he pleased on the left-wing. His influence waned slightly in the second half but he still had the best of the Sassuolo defence.

Paulo Dybala – 7 – Energetic - Curled the opening goal into the net with an effort Del Piero or Baggio would have been proud of. Offered lots of movement and dragged defenders out of position.

Mario Mandzukic – 6 – Statuesque - A largely anonymous figure during the game and he hardly had a shot worthy of note.


Substitutes

Paul Pogba (72 minutes) – 6 – Flashy - He had a great chance to make it 2-0 with a powerful shot in the penalty area and then had a tame long-range effort saved by Andrea Consigli.

Alvaro Morata (79 minutes) – No vote - He had a chance to score near the end albeit from a tight angle.

Stephan Lichtsteiner (88 minutes) – No vote - Came on to tighten things up in defence.


 

Sassuolo

Andrea Consigli – 6.5 – Alert - Made a few quality saves to keep the deficit to just one goal.

Sime Vrsaljko – 5 – Lacklustre - Struggled to deal with Alex Sandro’s dashing runs and Dybala’s energetic movement.

Francesco Acerbi – 5.5 – Adequate - He was hardly beaten but he was in a similar situation to his sidekick Antei; Manzdukic was less troublesome than Dybala.

Luca Antei – 5.5 – Average - He kept things tight at the back but he had more problems with Dybala than with Mandzukic.

Federico Peluso – 5.5 – Mixed - At fault for the first goal. Cuadrado turned him inside out and although the left-back tracked back, he gave Dybala time and space to curl the ball into the net. Atoned by blocking a Cuadrado shot in the second half.

Alfred Duncan – 5 – Mediocre - Not an overly influential presence in the game. Won the ball occasionally and did some things on the ball but he could have made a greater contribution.

Francesco Magnanelli – 5.5 – Assured - He kept the things tight at the back and made sure his fellow midfielders helped out defensively.

Davide Biondini – 5 – Limited - Pegged back in his own half largely due to the defensive tactics of his team.

Matteo Politano – 4 – Woeful - Lost the ball regularly, struggled to track back and ruined a chance to score a potential equaliser. Rugani and Alex Sandro had an easy time on the left flank playing against the Sassuolo right-winger.

Diego Falcinelli – 4.5 – Static - Hardly received any service from his midfielders but he offered little in terms of movement off the ball.

Nicola Sansone – 6 – Lively - The only attacking outlet the Neroverdi had for 90 minutes. Made a neat dribble which Politano failed to finish off and then he forced a save from Buffon near the end of the game.


Substitutes

Lorenzo Pellegrini (68 minutes) – 5 – Simple - He offered more on the ball than Biondini but he did not possess the creativity to break down the Juve rear guard.

Marcello Trotta (76 minutes) – No vote - Hardly an improvement on Falcinelli. Made no impact on the game.

Claud Adjapong (88 minutes) – No vote - The Ghanaian right-back from the youth team was given the opportunity to play a few minutes to experience some Serie A action.

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Allegri: 'Mandzukic too generous'

http://www.football-italia.net/81150/allegri-mandzukic-too-generous?

Mar 11, 2016
 
Max Allegri gave Mario Mandzukic advice after Juventus beat Sassuolo and outlined his Bayern Munich approach.

The Bianconeri surprisingly opted for a 3-5-2 formation in their 1-0 victory over Sassuolo.

“We played with three at the back to have a different development going forward. We started well, but Sassuolo play some beautiful football and naturally created chances,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia.

“We really wanted to win and when we didn’t take the opportunities to make it 2-0, we started to struggle a little and the fear set in we wouldn’t get the victory.”

Gigi Buffon surpassed Dino Zoff’s tally of 903 minutes and is now only four minutes away from beating Sebastiano Rossi’s all-time Serie A unbeaten record.

“I think Gigi deserves this record, of course he needs another four minutes in the derby. It’d be wonderful if the game stopped for a round of applause, but it’s the derby and we need to play it first.

“We have to stay sharp and wide awake. The lads are doing well, I can only compliment them on their attitude, though we have to improve a lot in terms of performance.”

Mandzukic tracked back constantly, but this affected his ability to finish chances and he limped off exhausted in the final minutes.

“This generosity unfortunately means he can find himself in areas of the pitch where we can’t find him going forward. He needs to measure out the effort so he can be sharper when it comes to finishing.

“Daniele Rugani did well and after the Coppa Italia game against Inter he was attacked by the media, so risked falling into the background, but I saw this was the right match for him to make his mark.”

Juve visit Bayern Munich on Wednesday, having drawn the first leg of the Champions League tie 2-2.

“When facing Bayern you know that it’s difficult to pressure them for 90 minutes. So you must be sharp defending when necessary and then hit them in their weak spots.

“We saw this week Borussia Dortmund had a great game for an hour, then got pinned back by Bayern.

“We want to reach the next round, it won’t be easy, but we’ll need a very balanced match.”

Will they start 3-5-2 in Germany and defend before pouring forward at the end?

“We could do it the other way round, pour forward in the first half and then defend the result after. I think if we can control the ball and hit their weak points, we can do real damage.

“If Bayern have the ball, we need to defend well and have a great mental strength to stay in the game to the end.

“Will Giorgio Chiellini make it for Munich? I don’t know. He hasn’t trained with the team yet and if he doesn’t start soon then he won’t be ready.”

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Juventus 1-0 Sassuolo:
TEAM RATINGS

http://www.goal.com/en/match/juventus-vs-sassuolo/2120664/ratings?ICID=MP_MS_6

Mar 11, 2016
 

Juventus

1 G. Buffon - Another strong defensive performance from his side made it an relatively comfortable evening for the veteran goalkeeper, who nonetheless pulled off two great saves to pick up a record-breaking 10th consecutive clean sheet.

24 D. Rugani - Thoroughly impressed on what was a rare start for the youngster, who had very few problems defensively thanks to a strong performance from start to finish.

19 L. Bonucci - Had very few problems in the middle of an impressive Juventus back three and was always on hand to cause problems at set-pieces.

15 A. Barzagli - Defended resolutely, particularly against Sansone, who was arguably Sassuolo’s biggest attacking threat, and looked bright with the ball at his feet.

16 J. Cuadrado - The Colombian thoroughly enjoyed himself down the right wing. Constantly got forward to put Peluso under pressure and beat Acerbi with ease before teeing up Dybala for Juventus’ first goal of the game.

6 S. Khedira - Always looked determined with the ball at his feet. Often wasn’t closed down quick enough by the Sassuolo midfield, which gifted him with the space to plough forward on several occasions.

8 C. Marchisio - Sat deep and protected the Juventus defence well, which continually frustrated Sassuolo and denied them the opportunity to break away on quick counter-attacks.

22 K. Asamoah - Put in a strong defensive performance in the middle of the pitch, where he was sometimes slightly heavy-handed with his defending, but his passing left much to be desired.

12 Alex Sandro - Had a wonderful time down the left wing, where he was a constant nuisance for Vrsaljko and whipped several great crosses into the penalty area.

21 Paulo Dybala - The Argentine ended his mini goal drought in the most spectacular fashion with a beautiful curling strike that left Consigli with no chance whatsoever. Either side of that, he was a constant thorn in the side of the Sassuolo defence.

17 M. Mandžukić - The Croatian striker tried his best to carve out chances on goal and put in a strong performance inside the final third of the pitch. Battled hard for the ball but saw his influence wane as the game wore on.


Substitutes

10 P. Pogba - Came on for the final 20 minutes and put in a determined display in the middle of the pitch, where he was always looking to get forward.

9 Álvaro Morata - Looked bright in his short time on the pitch and forced Consigli into making a good save with a smart shot.

26 S. Lichtsteiner - Featured late on but failed to make much of an impact in his short on the pitch, despite some good defending.


 

Sassuolo

47 A. Consigli - The Italian goalkeeper was left with no chance by Dybala’s strike for Juventus’ opening goal, but either side of that he pulled off several good saves to keep his side in the game.

11 Š. Vrsaljko - It was a miserable night for the right-back, who constantly found himself out of position defensively and offered very little when pushing forward.

15 F. Acerbi - Failed to deal with Cuadrado in the build-up to the hosts’ first goal and slipped at the worst moment, but either side of that it was a decent performance from the centre-back.

5 L. Antei - Arguably Sassuolo’s best defender, bar a few nervy moments. Constantly threw his body in the way of shots and was there to clean up his teammates’ mistakes.

13 F. Peluso - The left-back largely struggled against Cuadrado, who made it a difficult night for the Sassuolo number 13 due to his impressive pace and skill, but looked far better going forward.

32 A. Duncan - Did well to get back and defend when Juventus tried to break away quickly, but on several occasions he caused problems for his team with his errant passing.

4 F. Magnanelli - Really impressed at the base of the Sassuolo midfield, where he was one of their better players with his passing and often got back to help out his defensively.

8 D. Biondini - Put in a tidy performance in the middle of the pitch, where he made sure that he pressed the Juventus midfield and was accurate with his passing.

16 M. Politano - Showed good understanding with Sansone as the two moved the ball around with purpose deep inside the Juventus half of the pitch, and he tried his hardest to carve out chances on goal as the game neared its conclusion.

9 D. Falcinelli - On a night that was won by the Juventus back line, it was a very tough evening for the striker, who had one or two chances on goal but, overall, was largely anonymous.

17 N. Sansone - Arguably Sassuolo’s best player. Always looked dangerous with the ball at his feet and his pace caused a few problems for the Juventus defence, not to mention two thumping shots that forced Buffon into making strong diving saves.


Substitutes

6 L. Pellegrini - Came on for Biondini and continued the midfielder's good work in the centre of the pitch, where he often drove forward on determined runs.

29 M. Trotta - Featured for the final quarter of an hour and offered a new attacking threat for Sassuolo, which caused Juventus problems.

98 C. Adjapong - Made his first-team debut late on but failed to make much of an impact in his short time on the pitch.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Dybala: Any score will do if Juve win

The Old Lady moved six points clear of Napoli at the summit of the Serie A table
thanks to a narrow home victory and the match-winner was satisfied with his contribution.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/03/12/21236252/dybala-any-score-will-do-if-juve-win?ICID=TP_HN_HP_RI_1_2

Mar 12, 2016
 
Paulo Dybala was delighted with his match-winning goal for Juventus as they defeated Sassuolo 1-0 on Friday.

The Argentine hit man struck a wonder goal to put the Serie A leaders ahead and the solitary goal proved enough as his side set a new record for clean sheets in the league.

Juventus moved six points clear of closest challengers Napoli at the top of the Serie A table with their win and Dybala was happy to pick up another maximum total.

"These are difficult matches," he said.

"We are near the end of the championship and we have to win with any score, whether it is 1-0 or 10-0 does not change anything.

"I am happy that my goal is worth three points. I had not stopped the ball well but luckily it snuck in."

And Dybala is not ruling out progression in the Champions League either.

Juventus drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich in Turin and, ahead of their second-leg clash on Wednesday in Munich, Dybala believes his team are good enough to get a result.

"Nothing is impossible in life, let alone in football," he said.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Juventus 1 - Sassuolo 0: Initial
reaction and random observations

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/3/11/11207270/juventus-sassuolo-2016-serie-a-round-29-final-score-result-initial-reaction

Mar 12, 2016
 
There will come a point in time where whatever Paulo Dybala does in a Juventus shirt won't surprise us. The goals, the flicks, the tricks, the everything in between will become even more of a regularity than they already are. But, for now, we can't help but wonder how good this little gem of a striker will end up being.

He reminded all of us about his world-class ability in the first half of Friday's 1-0 win over Sassuolo, bending in an absolutely beautiful goal past Andrea Consigli. It ended Dybala's four-game goal-scoring drought in Serie A, and was the perfect exclamation point between a great series of build-up interchanges between himself and Juan Cuadrado on the right wing.

You combine that goal with the fact that Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon was brilliant AGAIN and extended his shutout streak to 926 minutes, and you've got the definition of what has helped Juve turn its season around in quick fashion.

There was some Dybala brilliance. There was some Buffon brilliance. And there was a Juventus clean sheet.

I mean, if that's not a trifecta for success, I don't really know what is.

Infostrada Sports ‎@InfostradaLive
#Juve win 1-0 and become the first team in history to keep 10 consecutive Serie A clean sheets.

Everything came full circle at Juventus Stadium on Friday night. Juventus' last loss, back on Oct. 28, was to Sassuolo. Now, nearly five months later, Juve are still on the same amount of losses as they were as they headed back from the Mapei to Turin. If you thought that was possible with the way Juve were playing 18 Serie A games ago, then you're some kind of freaking genius. That team was searching for answers everywhere it looked.

But this time, it's a little different this time around.

There were moments where Buffon had to bail his defense out, but there were also plenty of spells in the game where Juventus looked in complete control. You compare that to when Juventus last played Sassuolo and it was a completely different story. It could have been much more than a 1-0 Juventus win, and that's pretty good considering what happened back in late-October.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: I used to get frustrated with this Juventus side for not being able to do much of anything right. These days, I'm getting "frustrated" with Juve when it doesn't extend its lead.

There could be much worse problems to have, ya know.

JuventusFC ✔ ‎@juventusfcen
.@PauDybala_JR: "We’re top of @SerieA_TIM and in the Coppa Italia final. Wednesday it's time for @FCBayernEN."

Amen, Paulo. A-freaking-men to all of that.


Random thoughts and observations

Paulo Dybala is good. But you probably knew that by now.

Buffon, whose shutout streak surpassed Dino Zoff's club record midway through the second half, needs all of four scoreless minutes to set a new Serie A record, which is currently owned by former Milan keeper Sebastiano Rossi. And if it comes in the Turin derby, then that will just be the icing on the cake for Buffon and Juventus.

Color me surprised that Max Allegri went with the 3-5-2 when all of the media speculation involved some form of a four-man defense. And, honestly, this is the formation Juve needs to use as long as personnel available to the second-year manager allows it. Look at the way they attacked compared to when he used a 4-4-2 over the last month. This team is so much more comfortable in a 3-5-2, and that's the best recipe for success going forward.

I was also somewhat surprised that with the 3-5-2 came the decent amount of rotation within the starting lineup. It allowed Kwadwo Asamoah and Dainiele Rugani to get some much-needed minutes. And it allowed Paul Pogba and Stephan Lichtsteiner — who both made second-half cameos — to get some much-needed rest. Well managed, Max. No complaints here.

Rugani, especially, played pretty darn well against Sassuolo. There were a couple of somewhat shaky moments in the first half, but how he played after halftime might have been his best 45-minute stretch in a Juventus jersey. He had a couple of huge tackles, and this was coming with him pressing so high up the field that he was either close to or completely out of Juve's side of the field.

You want a Rugani display where you can't help be think what he will be like when he gets consistent playing time, then you have that second-half showing. Kid's good. Really, really good.

I can watch Mario Mandzukic work his tail off to contribute on defense all day long. His value is so much more than just scoring goals and providing assists. He's such a great piece to this Juventus puzzle, and I am so happy that Beppe Marotta decided to sign him this past summer.

This was a classic Cuadrado kind of game. There were some really good moments, like the run he made on Dybala's goal. There were some frustrating moments, like when he had plenty of room to cross yet drove the ball right into the defender's legs. This isn't new to any of us, but it remains that the hot-cold nature of Cuadrado — even within the game itself — is never going to go away. This is who he is.

Six points clear of Napoli at the top of the table for the next two days at the very least. That has a pretty nice ring to it, doesn't it?

Now we switch to Champions League mode, where we will hear for the next four days about how Bayern Munich will eliminate Juventus. Ah, the underdog role is a fun one sometimes.


POLL

Who was your Juventus Man of the Match against Sassuolo?

54% Paulo Dybala (171 votes)

21% Gianluigi Buffon (67 votes)
11% Juan Cuadrado (34 votes)
5% Alex Sandro (16 votes)
5% Daniele Rugani (15 votes)
4% Claudio Marchisio (12 votes)
1% Leonardo Bonucci (3 votes)

318 votes total
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Unbeatable: The stats behind Juve's
record-breaking defensive record

The Italian giants have been breached just 15 times in Serie A this season, have not
conceded for 10 games and have a goalkeeper on the verge of making league history.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/03/11/21233912/-?

Mar 12, 2016
 
Juventus currently top Serie A by six points, and have a near-unbeatable defence to thank.

The Old Lady have conceded a mere 15 goals in 29 games in 2015-16, broke another record in their 1-0 victory over Sassuolo and boast a goalkeeper on the verge of more Serie A history.

Juventus have now shut out 10 consecutive opponents - a new league record - and Gianluigi Buffon has not seen his net ripple for 926 minutes.

The legendary stopper need only keep a Torino out for three minutes next week to break Sebastiano Rossi's record for the longest stretch without conceding, which has stood since 1994.

Check out some of the best stats behind Juve's brilliant defensive record below...

 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Paulo Dybala and Gigi Buffon inspire
Juventus to another Serie A victory

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/12/blog/post/2827398/paulo-dybala-and-gigi-buffon-inspire-juventus-serie-a-win

Mar 12, 2016
 
Now on 10 consecutive clean sheets, it took the mother of all beautiful goals from Paulo Dybala to ensure victory for Juventus, and earn their 18th win in their past 19 league games.

Sassuolo and the Bianconeri share a special relationship. While one club is a giant and the other a minnow, both are extremely well-run teams, both believe in Italian players (the Neroverdi boast 23 Italians within their ranks) and both own their respective stadiums. These teams are friends and partners when it comes to scouting future Italian stars, but on Friday night, both played for victory.

A dynamic and direct team, it was obvious Sassuolo missed Domenico Berardi, a player with the skill and efficiency to make the difference, to convert the chances the team created. With so many absences, the Neroverdi were limited in their ability but they did provoke many errors from Juventus, a side that has suffered with accuracy in recent weeks.

Without ingenuity coming from midfield and missing the forward thrusts provided by Paul Pogba, Dybala was forced to retreat often in order to gain possession. With Mario Mandzukic busy tracking back to help defensively, the team was left with few options to deliver the ball up top.

Struggling to penetrate Sassuolo's high line, the Bianconeri's efficiency is such that they needed only one real opportunity to exploit an error and score a sensational goal to secure maximum points. Dybala yet again was the man to demonstrate quality and score.

With a well-deserved lead in hand, Juventus somewhat dropped off in the second half and it seemed panic eventually set in. Desperate to not concede a goal and ensure Gianluigi Buffon remains with a chance of setting a new record for consecutive minutes without allowing a goal, several mistakes were made, allowing the Neroverdi to believe in their offensive ability even if they lacked the quality to truly make the impact.

Far from convincing, the very fact Juve can grind out difficult wins sets them apart from all other Serie A clubs.


Player ratings

Gianluigi Buffon, 7 -- Reliable, authoritative and always attentive, he made the desired saves to keep Juventus on this remarkable run of form. Unbeaten in Serie A for 926 minutes, he needs to keep a clean sheet for four more minutes to guarantee the record.

Daniele Rugani, 6 -- A good performance from the youngster, who looked more comfortable on the other side of Bonucci. His aerial ability came in handy while he looked more composed under pressure.

Leonardo Bonucci, 7 -- When he panics, the whole team feels anxious but he's one of the best in the world and always on hand to halt the opponent.

Andrea Barzagli, 6 -- Out on the left, he pushed forward well, offering a tactical solution to ball carriers and capable of covering for Juan Cuadrado when the Colombian charged high. Reliable and solid.

Juan Cuadrado, 7 -- A player who provokes a rollercoaster of emotion, his inaccurate passing and poor decision-making are so frustrating to watch but then he manages a moment of extraordinary excellence to make us forget. Running at pace and delivering a perfect assist, he may not always be the best of players but always capable of a moment of magic.

Sami Khedira, 6 -- A hard worker who is doing better in covering ground and making the right runs. A wonderful thinker, he always occupies the right spaces but he regularly loses his feet, getting himself in a muddle to waste good opportunities.

Claudio Marchisio, 7 -- A fighter, he covered the ground well, retrieving possession and distributing play. Impossible to get past, he is crucial in aiding the defence and wonderful at keeping the game flowing.

Kwadwo Asamoah, 6 -- Poor in possession in the early part of the match, he eventually grew into the game, producing a combative performance and occupying the right spaces to keep momentum.

Alex Sandro, 6 -- Well defended against yet still offered options going forward.

PAULO DYBALA, 8 -- His talent is inspiring. The goal he produced was a thing of beauty and one that will be watched again and again. Allowed a moment on the ball and he rarely disappoints. Without enough help from midfield, he dropped too deep on occasion to leave the team with fewer references.

Mario Mandzukic, 7 -- He fights for every ball and is always desperate for the win, but in the words of Allegri, he contributes too much in all areas of the pitch, limiting his ability to remain fresh up top.


Substitutes:

Paul Pogba, N/A -- Good positioning, injected some creativity.

Alvaro Morata, N/A -- Used his energy to pin back Sassuolo and stop them from attacking.

Stephan Lichtsteiner, N/A -- No time to make a difference.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Max Allegri: Gianluigi Buffon deserves unbeaten record

Manager's comments after Juventus narrowly beat Sassuolo.

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/3/12/11210144/max-allegri-says-gianluigi-buffon-deserves-unbeaten-record-juventus

Mar 12, 2016
 
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri was in a grateful mood after today's win against Sassuolo. Despite the Bianconeri dominating the first half, the Neroverdi were full of fight and did all they could to find the equalizer.

"I thank the fans for the affection they made me feel tonight. Tonight was an important win against a strong team.

"At the end we were in a bit of trouble but I'm glad with what the boys did. Now we have to focus on Wednesday. We have to do something extraordinary, but if we can't we'll do our best to win the Scudetto again.

"This was a good win because Napoli and Roma will not drop many points for the rest of this season. I asked my boys to let me enjoy Saturday and Sunday and they've done this. "

He was pleased that goalkeeper and club captain Gigi Buffon beat Dino Zoff's record of 903 minutes, and is just four minutes from beating the all-time Serie A shutout record set by Sebastiano Rossi.

"I think Gigi deserves this record, of course he needs another four minutes in the derby. It'd be wonderful if the game stopped for a round of applause, but it's the derby and we need to play it first.

"We have to stay sharp and wide awake. The lads are doing well, I can only compliment them on their attitude, though we have to improve a lot in terms of performance."

Allegri also commented on the 3-5-2 formation he chose on the day -

"We played with three at the back to have a different development going forward. We started well, but Sassuolo play some beautiful football and naturally created chances.

"We really wanted to win and when we didn't take the opportunities to make it 2-0, we started to struggle a little and the fear set in we wouldn't get the victory."

On the hard work displayed by players like Mario Mandzukic and Daniele Rugani -

"This generosity unfortunately means he (Mandzukic) can find himself in areas of the pitch where we can't find him going forward. He needs to measure out the effort so he can be sharper when it comes to finishing.

"Daniele Rugani did well and after the Coppa Italia game against Inter he was attacked by the media, so risked falling into the background, but I saw this was the right match for him to make his mark."

Juve played today as they travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the second leg of a Champions League tie that is poised at 2-2.

"When facing Bayern you know that it's difficult to pressure them for 90 minutes. So you must be sharp defending when necessary and then hit them in their weak spots.

"We saw this week Borussia Dortmund had a great game for an hour, then got pinned back by Bayern.

"We want to reach the next round, it won't be easy, but we'll need a very balanced match."

When asked about if he would choose to defend and use the counter attack for the game in Munich -

"We could do it the other way round, pour forward in the first half and then defend the result after. I think if we can control the ball and hit their weak points, we can do real damage.

"If Bayern have the ball, we need to defend well and have a great mental strength to stay in the game to the end."

Max was also asked if defender Giorgio Chiellini would be fit for the return leg -

"Will Giorgio Chiellini make it for Munich? I don't know. He hasn't trained with the team yet and if he doesn't start soon then he won't be ready."
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Juventus vs. Sassuolo: Winners
and Losers from Serie A

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2624004-juventus-vs-sassuolo-winners-and-losers-from-serie-a?

Mar 12, 2016
 
Having returned to winning ways with a victory over Atalanta last weekend, Juventus welcomed Sassuolo to Turin Friday night as they embarked on a 10-day spell that is likely to ultimately decide their chances of success this season.

The Neroverdi were the last domestic opponent to beat the reigning Serie A champions back in October, but coach Massimiliano Allegri’s men avoided that same fate here, eventually emerging 1-0 winners thanks to Paulo Dybala’s first-half strike.

Earlier in the week, Sassuolo boss Eusebio Di Francesco had warned his players not to expect the Bianconeri to have one eye on their upcoming fixture with Bayern Munich, praising the professional approach of their forthcoming opponents to reporters at his pre-match press conference.

“I don’t think they’ll be distracted by the Champions League, I’ve faced Juve a lot—as a player too—and they’re always focused on every game, as it should be,” the coach of the Emilia-Romagna side said.

“We know it’s difficult, we’re facing the form team in Serie A, but the lads have to play openly and try to hurt an opponent who haven’t conceded in a long time,” Di Francesco continued, and it proved to be just as tough as he expected.

What follows here is a look at the individual winners and losers from this latest Juventus victory, highlighting the best and worst performances from the Serie A clash.


Winner: Gigi Buffon (Juventus)

Perhaps the biggest story heading into this clash was the fact Juventus had kept nine consecutive clean sheets in Serie A, a remarkable string of shut-outs that had brought Gigi Buffon close to yet another club record.

In the 67th minute, the captain passed legendary predecessor Dino Zoff as the goalkeeper with the longest unbeaten streak for the Bianconeri, per this tweet from Opta. Indeed, by the end of the match, Buffon was just four minutes short of the all-time league record of 929, which is currently held by Sebastiano Rossi of AC Milan.


Loser: Paul Pogba (Juventus)

While veteran stopper Buffon was once again thriving, Paul Pogba was left on the bench by Mr Allegri, giving a rare starting berth in midfield instead to Kwadwo Asamoah at the expense of the former Manchester United man.

It was perhaps deserved after the string of poor performances discussed in detail in this previous post, but Pogba should return against Bayern Munich next week with a chance to prove his quality to the coach.


Winner: Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

Juventus won here thanks to the individual brilliance of Paulo Dybala, as the striker pulled out yet another excellent finish to snatch all three points.

Without that moment of skill, it was difficult to recall another clear-cut chance from the Bianconeri, who were made to earn the result by a resilient Sassuolo side.


Loser: Patrice Evra (Juventus)

The superb displays of Alex Sandro should not be used as criticism of Patrice Evra, but there is little doubt that the former is slowly surpassing the latter as the best and most viable option at left-back for the Bianconeri.

Since arriving in the summer, the dynamism, energy and overall quality provided by the Brazilian has added an extra dimension to the Juventus attack, while he never neglects his defensive duties.

Over time, that is likely to see Evra’s playing time decrease, regardless of the fact that he too has played at a consistently high level throughout 2015/16.


Winner: Nicola Sansone (Sassuolo)

Despite finishing on the losing side, Nicola Sansone deserves much credit for his performance here.

Having scored against Milan last week, the forward ploughed a lonely furrow against the excellent Juventus defence, particularly with both Gregoire Defrel and Domenico Berardi absent from the starting XI.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Juventus vs. Sassuolo 1-0, Brilliance from Dybala
and Buffon push undefeated streak to 19 games

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/3/12/11209294/juventus-sassuolo-2016-serie-a-round-29-final-score-recap-result

Mar 12, 2016
 
This was a tricky game. With the Bayern Munich match only a few days away, it was conceivable that Juventus players would get distracted, or that some would run a little less to conserve energy, or that others may tackle with less conviction to avoid an injury. With Napoli having an "easier" game this week against Palermo, it was essential to play a focused game and come out with the three points. And then there was Gigi Buffon's record — a clean sheet this game would leave him within striking distance of Rossi's goalless record of 1990.

As we have gotten used to now, the team did not hold anything back, playing with conviction and pressing so much it reminded me of Antonio Conte's Juve of a couple of years ago.

The game started with an unexpected intensity. Juventus players were everywhere, pressing Sassuolo all over the pitch and trying to transition from defense to attack with unseen speed. At times, it seemed that Juve's speed was too fast for their own players and they would lose to ball to have to get it back shortly. This was partly because Sassuolo was also trying to press the Old Lady. This made for an exciting yet chaotic match at the beginning.

With time, Juventus started to settle and dominate with confidence. The first chance came after 17 minutes when a fre kick from Paulo Dybala found Alex Sandro's head, forcing Andrea Consigli to save what could have been the first goal. A few minutes later, Sami Khedira couldn't convert from a chance Dybala created out of nowhere. Juventus dominance continued and, after 36 minutes, Dybala scored the only goal of the match. Juan Cuadrado and the Argentine combined well to release the Colombian, who beat Federico Peluso for pace. Cuadrado returned the ball to Dybala, who curled a shot from the edge of the box. As someone said in the comments section, it was like watching a mirror image of a Alessandro Del Piero goal.

The second half started with Juventus taking their foot off the gas and letting Sassuolo have more of the ball. With that being said, the neroverdi didn't really look threatening. In fact, it was Juventus who came close to scoring after 69 minutes, but Claudio Marchisio, Khedira and Cuadrado failed to shoot on target with Consigli beaten. Max Allegri and Eusebio Di Francesco changed players, but nothing came out of it. Sassuolo threatened Gigi's goal in the dying minutes, but Buffon earned his record as the 2nd keeper with less goals allowed in Serie A.


Pagelle

Buffon 7.0 As usual, Buffon didn't have much to do for much of the game, but when he had to he was immense. He had to deal with a poor back pass (from Bonucci or Rugani, I couldn't tell) showing his focus on the game. I loved when the camera's focused on him after 68 minutes (when he beat Zoff's record) and Gigi looked so focused it just showed his professionalism.

Barzagli 7.0 Usual performance from The Wall. He ventured forward a couple of times which I really enjoyed seeing.

Bonucci 6.5 Sufficient performance, minus 0.5 in case it was his poor back pass to Gigi.

Rugani 6.5 If I was grading his second half performance, his score would be much higher. During the second half he made a few mistakes and was caught in no man's land in one of Sassuolo's attacks. The second half was a different story. He was clean, but ruthless and also ventured forward responsibly. There are performances that kill confidence (Inter) and others that give confidence (Sassuolo). This should be a starting point for our young defender.

Cuadrado 7.5 He destroyed Peluso, beating him technically, tactically and physically throughout the match. His decision making has improved leaps and bounds, but his scoring ability is still lacking. Let's hope he is saving it for Munich.

Khedira 7.0 He did very well today, but could have scored at least twice. I know that is not his job but he could have done better going forward, specially during the first 30 minutes of the match.

Marchisio 7.5 He was one of my favorite players of the game. His four tackles (game high) plus some good passing throughout the match helping Juventus keep a clean sheet and go forward with organization.

Asamoah 7.0 I thought the Ghanian he did well. I give him an extra 0.5 because of his performance after such limited playing time. His WhoScored statistics show that he has played a grand total of 303 minutes all season. If Juventus progress, he will be an asset to keep us fighting on all fronts.

ALEX SANDRO 8.0 Man of the Match performance from our new left back. He is such a complete player. Passing accuracy? Check. Defending? Check. Aerial ability? Check. Allegri should put him in bubble wrap until next Wednesday. If Juventus are going to make it through in Germany, we need Sandro.

Mandzukic 7.0 Mario is not scoring, but his contributions to the team are still immense. His pressing of the defense is second-to-none and his physicality is such a challenge for defenders.

Dybala 7.5 I really wanted to see our forwards get goals to gain confidence. Mandzukic didn't score, but Dybala had a goal that would absolutely help his confidence going forward.


Things I think I think

- I don't want to take anything away from Gigi, he totally deserves this record, but this record belongs to the team. Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, and even Rugani have helped keep clean sheets for over 10 matches. How insane is that? Marchisio's defensive duties have also been fundamental in keeping this record. Even Mandzukic and Dybala have contributed to this. Let's celebrate Gigi, he should be the one associated with the record, but let's not forget what everyone else has done to get us here.

- Take that, Napoli. Ball is on your court. Juventus have temporarily gone 6 points ahead. Pressure is on and I personally don't think they have the psychological strength to withstand Juventus constant winning and Roma's increased pressure.

- I wanted to see Domenico Berardi in action. Berardi vs. Sandro would have shown where the youngster is really in his development. I still wish we will get to see him in black and white next season.

- Kudos to Sassuolo and Di Francesco. In three years in Serie A they have built a team that plays with discipline and identity. I have nothing but respect.

- Rugani was so good in the second half. I really want to see him being given more time as the season progresses.

- Now to Munich. We will have to play an extraordinary game and hope Munich make mistakes. No matter what, I want to see a team fighting for every ball until the end.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

JUVENTUS 1-0 SASSUOLO MATCH REPORT

http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-1-0-sassuolo/?

Mar 12, 2016
 

Match Analysis

Sassuolo, even absent of Berardi and Defrel, were always going to provide stern opposition. They are a carefully and successfully run club, with a strong focus on youth and maintaining an overwhelmingly Italian nature to their side. Di Francesco has overseen their development into a team deservedly challenging for a top six position through steering the ship towards an entertaining blend of attacking, fluid and intelligent football.

Other than the brilliantly created chance for Dybala within 45 seconds of the start, the first half was quite an even affair. We were in control, yet conceded a half chance or two before the typically inconsistent Cuadrado linked up perfectly with Dybala who produced a moment of breath-taking genius to score what proved the winner.

Admittedly we ran a few risks with the score at 1-0, yet Buffon stood firm with the two shots which could have troubled him, and our opponents were afforded perhaps three decent chances for the entirety of the match. The second half was fairly open, yet it was apparent that we were intent on dominating possession, and probing for an opening whilst ensuring we remained solid at the back.

Sansone caused a problem sporadically, Duncan scuffed a shot thankfully wide when found free in the box, other than which, our makeshift defence, with Rugani operating in the Chellini role at LCB, proved robust and tenacious enough to hold firm.

Marchisio shone in midfield, kept the ball moving in both defensive and attacking phases, yet Khedira and Asamoah were disappointing. Both require games to gain match sharpness, and we must accept that they must toil and falter before we see their very best. The Ghanaian especially was off the pace, until the latter stages. As for the German…he is great when finding the ball, and made some useful jaunts forward, yet is often absent for large swathes of the game, which I do not like to see of any midfielder. Is this fitness? Or something else?

Up top Dybala was superb, well marshalled, yet found two great opportunities, and took one beautifully. Yet it was his partner, Big Mario, who truly impressed, with his hard running, never say die attitude, assistance in defence and berserker determination. He ended more attacks of our opponents than any other in our ranks.

Returning to the rearguard…Leo was indomitable, Barzagli has regained his sharpness and I felt Rugani did well enough in an unfamiliar role. The youngster made no errors, stuck to his duties and was growing in confidence as the game wore on. He has come to the club with such promise that I feel that many assume he will step into the side and be immense in every tackle, every pass, every moment, yet he is 21 years old, working his way through his second season in the top flight and has made a major step up in terms of responsibilities and expectations after moving from Empoli. He is facing three of the finest defenders on the planet – all top ten players in their respective roles on a global stage – and must continue to learn from them, make the most of any minutes he is afforded, keep his head down and hope to get through this season unscathed psychologically by any glaring mistakes. So far, so good on such measures.

Great to see Sandro, as always, for he offers so much going forward and appears able to recover in timely fashion when we lose possession to make up the numbers in defence. However, it must be noted that he is far more offensively minded than Evra, which made Rugani’s job all the more tricky.

I could nitpick and add concern of our inability to create, to find that second goal which would have put the game to bed long before the final whistle. Yet I must take a wider view of proceedings. We have our toughest game of the season to date in a few days time. Yes yes! Sassuolo are a solid side, who seem to perform at their best against the top sides. And the league is by no means sewn up, far from it. The aim was to win, keep a clean sheet, avoid any further injuries and offer both a rest to several key players before the Munchen tie and a chance for others to work on their match finesse. On every one of those scores, we succeeded. I raise my glass of russian fire water to Allegri and doff my virtual hat.


Flash-flood observations

The contrast between Morata and the two starting strikers, in terms of work rate and focus was stark. For both Dybala and Mandzukic are constantly seeking the ball, chasing the ball or hunting space near the ball as well as assisting in midfield and in Mario’s case, also defence. Whereas the Spaniard waits for the ball, has zero interest in any semblance of defensive duties, has only goals and the path to finding them in his mind. Which is a double edged sword. For strikers need to be selfish, yet its also welcome and required to see them helping out with the dirty work.

Cuadrado was brilliant for the goal, other than which very average. His passing, shooting and crossing was too often abject. The jury remains out on how potent he can be against top class opposition. Clearly his pace and acceleration can create goals against lesser teams, but considering the singular nature of his attacking prowess, I am of the opinion that classy opposing managers and defenders will quite easily nullify his quick feet. He has nowhere near the dribbling ability of Pogba or Dybala, and Sandro appears consistently more valuable in the wider scope of the wing-back role. As others have mentioned and with which I agree, Cuadrado can be a good weapon, if deployed correctly in order to make best use of his strengths. If Allegri was of a different opinion, he would have been rested for this game. The conclusion must be that Il Mister has decided that we are more solid with Lichsteiner in that role.

I was mightily impressed with Acerbi. In the possible scenario of Conte demanding Chelsea sign Bonucci, we could do far worse than investing in the 28 year old. For he is not just formidable in defence, capable on the ball; he offers intelligent runs forward to support the attack. His partner at the back, Luca Antei, was also in fine fettle, and at 23, he has plenty of time to further mature.

Only a handful of minutes in the derby with cross town rivals Torino is now required for Buffon to break Rossi’s clean sheet minutes record. I am surprised it has taken this long!


Man of the Match

I have mentioned, albeit intermittently, the worrisome absence of players with the zeal of Nedved, Torricelli, Di Livio and Nedved. Players who refuse to allow a second to pass to catch breath. Fight for every ball, every blade of grass is there to be won, and simply never stop, until they are hauled off to the shower, awarded a red card or the ref signals the end of the warfare. Lichsteiner has hints of this, yet his petulance lessens its value. Mandzukic however, has this special and rare kind of zeal in spades. He was ubiquitous, and is clearly approaching peak fitness. I lost count of how many times I found him tracking opponents, making superb challenges, breaking up any effort to construct counter-attacks. He also offered the Sassuolo defence not a moment of peace. His work-rate is under-appreciated by many, yet is much of the reason as to why Morata is spending so much time on the bench. The ability of such warriors of ferocious grit can never be under-estimated, though is often lost in the analysis of those who focus on statistics. His swashbuckling menace opens avenues for other players to exploit as well as instilling fear into his foes when going into any 50/50! Outstanding performance.


Player Ratings

Buffon 6.5 – Two decent saves, distribution was fine, got away with a handball inches outside the box, other than which, plane sailing towards breaking the record for total minutes of consecutive clean sheets.

Rugani 7 – Still learning his trade, and deployed in a role he has no experience in performing, made more tricky by Sandro’s adventurous nature and the absence of Pogba. His covering was noteworthy, as was his physicality. Played his part in the clean sheet, and grew in confidence as Sassuolo tired late on.

Big Leo 6.5 – Much brighter in the first half than second. Played several intelligent passes, defended brutally and smartly. Yet rarely, if at all, moved forward to support the attack.

Barzagli 7 – Always a busy man when Cuadrado is playing. Showed remarkable pace on occasion for a man of his station in life, kept things strong and simple and looks to have regained sharpness, just in time for Munich.

Cuadrado 7 - Misplaced passes, singular efforts one on one, little offered defensively, yet…it was his endeavour, of trying the same trick time and time again, which led to the goal, in which he played a major role. I am yet to be convinced of his value as a first XI starter, yet am thankful to have him in the squad to help us earn victories against problematic sides a few strides short of the upper echelons.

Khedira 6 – Drifted in and out the game. His technical ability on the ball is top drawer, as is his muscle, for his physical stature makes him very hard indeed to knock off the ball when in full flight. Yet his lack of pace can be an issue. I would like to see him deployed in the regista role, where I believe his talents could best prosper, as the fulcrum of the side.

Marchisio 7 - Battled damn hard. Linked the play, and recycled the ball always astutely. I was a little worried when he went down injured yet he recovered to continue screening the defence and seeking out offensive forages.

Asamoah 6 - After so many months out injured, it is to be expected that the Ghanian will be rusty. Several poor passes, let down by slothful control, yet he battled hard. Clearly the stamina is there and only games will return him to his best. It is marvellous to have him finally fit and he will assuredly prove a wonderful addition to our weaponry for the tail-end of a season with so much still to play for.

Sandro 7 – A constant thorn in the Sassuolo flank. He should really take some time to teach Cuadrado how to cross, and also how to vary the manner in which he takes a man on, for he has far more tricks up his sleeve, and works very well indeed in close, tight quarters. He has yet to have a poor game in our colours, and our future on the left, appears bright and of great potential.

Dybala 8 - Worked exceptionally hard. Scored a gorgeous goal, which I doubt any keeper would have saved. Had one other opportunity early doors. Other than which, got stuck in, delved deep to fight for the ball and link the play. He has come on in leaps and bounds in terms of his ability to scrap. And continues to prove sublime anywhere near goal with the ball at his left boot. 16 goals and 8 assists in his first season at an elite club, with plenty of games left to to play is an outstanding start to his Juve career. Destined for greatness.

Mandzukic 8.5 - Barely a half chance for a strike on goal befell the burly front man, yet his contribution to the victory was worthy of a Spartan. Tackling, hustling, chasing down every lost cause, Mario has regained his rhythm, and is a brutal siege machine. Worked harder than any other for this victory.


SUBS

Pogba 6 - Found one opportunity to strike on goal, other than which was not much involved. Brought on just to maintain his sharpness and improve our control in possession.

Morata 5 - Very little time was afforded the Spaniard, yet he created one chance at the near post, other than which was nondescript. It was telling that Allegri brought on Lichsteiner when realising that Dybala’s absence had not been balanced out by the move to involve Morata…

Lichsteiner – N/A


Allegri 7 - Another vital 3 points, solid performance, no new injuries, nourishment for Asamoah and Khedira on their journey towards top gear. It would be wrong to say that we rode our luck, yet equally misleading to suggest this was a walk in the park, for Sassuolo posed problems. No joy can come from pondering the ifs and buts when this game was well managed and achieved everything we set out to accomplish.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Juventus Wingers See off Sassuolo
Ahead of Bayern Munich Clash

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2624098-juventus-wingers-see-off-sassuolo-and-hint-at-a-way-to-beat-bayern-munich?

Mar 12, 2016
 
While helping to temporarily extend their lead at the top of Serie A to six points, Sassuolo's visit to Juventus Stadium on Friday evening also served as a timely reminder of just how far the hosts had come since the two sides last went head to head.

Running out 1-0 winners courtesy of Paulo Dybala's excellent strike, various members of the Bianconeri setup had reiterated the significance of their loss to the same opponent back in October, as Leonardo Bonucci explained to Mediaset Premium before kick-off.

"The last time we met Sassuolo it was a fundamental match, as from that moment onwards we returned to being the real Juventus," the defender said (h/t Football Italia). "We have to thank that game and that defeat, as it allowed us to become reborn."

While that first meeting saw the Neroverdi run rampant over a struggling and incoherent Bianconeri who were labouring in the bottom half of the table, coach Massimiliano Allegri ensured his team was perfectly prepared for this fixture against one of his former clubs.

The Juve boss won the prestigious Panchina d'Oro earlier this week—the "Golden Bench" that serves as Italy's coach-of-the-season award—and he quickly set about making a case for earning the same honour this term.

JuventusFC ✔ ‎@juventusfcen
Congratulations @OfficialAllegri on winning the 'Panchina d'Oro' award today in Coverciano

Setting out his side in a familiar 3-5-2 formation that has served them so well in the past, there were none of the tactical errors discussed in this previous post. Clearly given instructions to attack from the first whistle, Juventus were unfortunate not to take an early lead as Allegri's choices immediately paid dividends.

"We played with three at the back to have a different development going forward," the coach told Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia), and it was the men chosen at wing-back who would have the most impact.

Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli needed to be alert to deny chances that fell to Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Sami Khedira, while he also made a solid save when Alex Sandro stole in at the far post with a header.

The Brazilian's powerful running ensured Juventus dominated the left flank, with Juan Cuadrado's trickery and pace doing the same on the opposite side of the pitch. It would be the on-loan Chelsea and former Fiorentina flyer who created the decisive opening, easily beating Federico Peluso before setting up Dybala.

Arjun Pradeep ‎@IndianRegista
Grandisssimo giocatore Paulo Dybala... Belissimo.. Capolavoro...

His team-mate would make no mistake as he curled home a beautiful 36th-minute effort, and Cuadrado would continue to trouble Sassuolo for the remainder of the match. According to statistics compiled by WhoScored.com, the 27-year-old created three further scoring chances while completing two dribbles and swinging no fewer than seven crosses into the box.

Yet, as influential as he was, Sandro arguably outshone him as the graphic in the tweet below highlights. Connecting with 32 of his 38 passes (84.2 percent), he also completed three of his four take-on attempts, won both aerial duels he contested and recovered the ball on six occasions.

Adam Digby ‎@Adz77
Alex Sandro #JuveSassuolo 32/38 passes (84.2%), 3/4 take-ons, 4 ints, 1 block, 3 clearances (via @StatsZone)

Also registering four interceptions, one block and three clearances, he showed himself to be an astute defender as well as an attacking threat, an essential balance if he is to replace Patrice Evra as first choice in the role.

Having not represented his country since August 2012, Sandro's performances for Juve have seen him earn a place in the Brazil squad for their forthcoming friendlies, per FourFourTwo, but first he must help the Bianconeri overcome Bayern Munich.

"It’s a huge game for us and we don’t want to leave Germany with anything less than a positive result," Cuadrado told reporters on Friday, per the club's official website. Perhaps this game—and the performance of their two South American flyers—showed Juventus just how that could be achieved.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Juve grinding out the title

Juventus close on a fifth straight Scudetto with victory over Sassuolo.
Livio Caferoglu reviews a record-breaking night.

http://www.football-italia.net/81196/juve-grinding-out-title?

Mar 12, 2016
 
Just who can stop Juventus at the moment? It’s a question that has been repeatedly asked by followers of Serie A since October, when the Bianconeri embarked on their relentless run of 18 wins in 19 League matches, and we can now rule a plucky Sassuolo side out of the running.

Barring their prolific winning streak, Juve had also gone nine games without conceding a goal, but Sassuolo had assembled three consecutive victories of their own and much of the build-up focused on them being the last team to defeat the Old Lady in Serie A.

All the ingredients for an upset, you might say, but Max Allegri and his troops ensured that was never on the cards. From the first whistle, Juve – adopting their tried-and-trusted 3-5-2 system – took control of proceedings, with plenty of width being provided by Alex Sandro and Juan Cuadrado.

In fact, Paulo Dybala needed barely a minute to come a whisker away from firing Juve into the lead, but it was a blessing in disguise for what followed, the Argentine playing a quick one-two with Cuadrado, before curling an unstoppable finish past Andrea Consigli from the edge of the box.

However, Dybala’s wonder strike aside, what drove Juve to victory was a mix of Allegri’s tactical nous and his squad’s siege mentality. The Coach instructed his team to probe patiently and press high when their opponents were in possession of the ball.

And when Sassuolo enjoyed their best spells in the game, Juve made sure they were completely focused on containing any attacks which went their way, before regaining their grip on the ball – and subsequently the result – once Eusebio Di Francesco’s men had run out of ideas.

The match also served as a throwback of sorts to the Antonio Conte era, with the side becoming renowned for such performances in their treble of Scudetti under the Italy CT. As the cliché goes, champions must be able to grind out wins, and Friday was evidence of that.

Despite it hardly being vintage Juve, the club still achieved a Serie A record 10 clean sheets in succession and Gianluigi Buffon came out of the match with Italy’s second longest top-flight shutout of 903 minutes, ousting the legendary Dino Zoff in the process and leaving him just four away from former Milan goalkeeper Sebastiano Rossi.

Of course, with Juve not being at their brilliant best, questions had to be asked after the game. Mario Mandzukic led the line over Alvaro Morata, but his ability to do so was marred by what Allegri labelled “generosity” in running off the ball too much and not directly immersing himself through the middle.

Neither did Allegri’s decision to opt for a 3-5-2 formation avoid scrutiny after the team had sustained such high levels of performance with a four-man backline in recent months, and Sassuolo indeed exploited the flanks on occasions as their wide men eventually learned to double up on Alex Sandro and Cuadrado.

It’s easy to argue what could’ve been had Juve faced a stronger team, such as Bayern Munich – their opponents in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday – or if Sassuolo were able to count on talisman Domenico Berardi, but the truth is Friday night couldn’t have panned out any better for the Turin giants.

Their result has left Napoli under significant pressure to match their exploits against Sassuolo, and with a fifth straight Scudetto seemingly on the way, plus everything else still to play for in the Coppa Italia and, to a lesser extent, Champions League, here's Juve doing what they do best – lifting trophies.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

1 - 0

Paulo Dybala (36')

MATCHDAY 29
Friday, March 11th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Domenico Celi

Is Juventus’ Domination Of
Serie A A Bad Thing For Everyone?

With Juventus looking set for an assault on a fifth straight Scudetto, is their dominance within Italy a bad
thing both for their own chances outside Serie A, and the Italian representatives in European competition?

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/03/is-juventus-domination-of-serie-a-a-bad-thing-for-everyone/?

Mar 12, 2016
 
There are a number of leagues around Europe that have suffered as competition drops off behind one prevailing ‘superteam’; Scottish teams behind Celtic have suffered and, shorn of competition domestically, the Bhoys now struggle to bloody the same noses that once they did.

One has to go back to 1992 to find the last time a Serbian side won a Champions League group game – only a year after Red Star Belgrade won the competition.

Yet, the opposite looks to be happening in France. Paris Saint-Germain are now well ahead of the once-great Ligue 1 sides, the likes of Olympique de Marseille and Saint-Etienne. They remain a force in Europe and are primed to launch a full-on assault on the Champions League, a trophy that only their southern rivals have brought back to l’Hexagone.

It might be impossible to transpose Serie A onto either league, but the rate at which the Bianconeri are running off with domestic trinkets certainly makes it difficult to imagine anybody usurping their position at the fore-front of Italian football.

With Juventus so far ahead – and they have won the league by 17 points in each of the last two years, there is obviously a gap in quality to the rest of Serie A, which has been demonstrated in European competition.

It is a long time since the successes of Inter and Milan and the likes of Napoli, Fiorentina and Roma do not seem able to step up to the plate. This year has been no exception.

Napoli’s elimination by Villarreal was no great surprise, and Spanish opposition the shape of in Real Madrid disposed of the Giallorossi, too. Fiorentina, meanwhile, fell victim to a Tottenham Hotspur side they eliminated in the 2014-15 season. Juventus might have made a comeback to draw with Bayern Munich, but they are no means certain to qualify in Germany.

By that measure, Italy’s sides are as a rule, lagging behind their continental neighbours. Only Lazio reached the Last 16 of the Europa League compared to five sides last season. In this context, it looks as though, while they fight over the scraps Juventus leave behind, Serie A’s clubs are barely even registering on the European stage.

However, taking this season in isolation is a dangerous thing and each team has adequate reasons for their failure. Napoli had to face a team who sit nine points, domestically, ahead of the twice Europa League winners. It was a tough draw.

The Viola’s task was to beat, over two legs, a team who are likely to finish in the top two in the Premier League.

In Real Madrid, Roma were always likely to be overmatched and, while they did not play badly in the first leg, there are few sides in the world that can compete with Cristiano Ronaldo and company.

It is less than a year since Massimiliano Allegri’s side knocked out Real Madrid in the semi-final; one of the greatest recent achievements in Serie A’s continental history. They sat at the top table of European Football and were unfortunate that one of their fellow diners came calling in the earlier rounds this time.

The only danger for Juventus would come if winning the Scudetto became not just expected, but routine. Every year the Bianconeri have to work harder to win Serie A as the challenges in their become more difficult. This year, it has taken a record winning run to get to the top of the table, and success is not yet guaranteed.

In all, the current campaign seems to be the polar opposite of the one before. It would be foolhardy to think that last season was an indication that Serie A was making a charge on La Liga and the Bundesliga. It would be equally misguided to think that this year’s travails mean Italy should be ranked along with Belgium and Serbia.

The truth, as ever, is somewhere in between.

There is an obvious top-tier of teams in Europe that, recently, have added Juventus to their number.

Below that, things become more difficult to ascertain; a great phalanx of teams who are around the same level, striving to reach the higher plane.

It might seem a long way or the likes of Napoli or Roma to reach that point, but the only way they can even hope to do so is by continuing to earn Champions League football by performing well enough domestically. Will it ever be enough? Only time will tell.

All that is certain is that, if Serie A sides continue to strive to reach the Bianconeri’s level, they will generally perform better in Europe too. There is too much competition within the league to think anything else.
 
 

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

[Socrates 8524]

[Socrates 8524]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Marchisio: 'Juve and Bayern formidable'

http://www.football-italia.net/81175/marchisio-juve-and-bayern-formidable?

Mar 12, 2016

Claudio Marchisio warned Bayern Munich “are a formidable team, but so are Juventus” and hails captain Gigi Buffon.

The Bianconeri have won 18 of their last 19 Serie A games, but their Champions League dreams rest on Wednesday’s trip to the Allianz Arena.

“Bayern are a formidable team, but so are Juventus,” the midfielder told Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset Premium.

“We are formidable for what we’ve done in recent years and also this season. We have to look back over the first leg, as we saw and felt their strength, but also showed what we could do in fighting back from 2-0 down for 2-2.

“A match like this will never be lacking emotion, motivation and drive, but the margins of error really are tiny, as champions can make the most of the slightest error.

“We have what it takes to play there without fear. Bayern have great stars in attack and defence, but so do we. It’ll be a battle between the two best goalkeepers in the world. These are two complete teams fighting for their domestic titles.

“The first leg result is an advantage for them, so we cannot afford to sit back or hesitate in Munich. It’ll be difficult, but not impossible.”

Buffon is about to become the greatest goalkeeper in Serie A history, as he is four minutes away from beating Sebastiano Rossi’s 929-minute unbeaten record.

“He deserves it and even without the extra four minutes, what he’s achieved is already incredible,” insisted Marchisio.

“We are proud of him and also happy to have contributed a little one per cent to this record by giving him a hand and protecting him in goal.

“Gigi is very important in the locker room as well as on the pitch, both as captain and a man. He proves his professionalism and desire to improve every single day.

“The strength of this squad and club is that we never stop aiming higher. We didn’t start this season well, but overcoming that hurdle made us even more confident of our capabilities going forward.

“We know there’s a long road ahead to get the fifth consecutive Scudetto and remain very concentrated.”

[Socrates 8524]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Bayern Munich 5-0 Werder Bremen: Thiago and Muller
doubles help Guardiola's men get back to winning ways

The German champions had picked up just one point from their last two games,
but had no trouble in a dominant display ahead of their Champions League tie with Juventus.

http://www.goal.com/en/match/bayern-m%C3%BCnchen-vs-werder-bremen/2054416/report

Mar 12, 2016

Bayern Munich put further pressure on Borussia Dortmund ahead of their tricky clash with Mainz by opening up an eight-point gap at the top of the Bundesliga with a 5-0 win over strugglers Werder Bremen.

Pep Guardiola's men went into Saturday's encounter at the Allianz Arena having preserved a five-point lead over Dortmund with a 0-0 draw at Signal Iduna Park last time out.

And they had little trouble in swatting aside a Bremen team minus the services of the suspended Zlatko Junozovic and Clemens Fritz, who both received fines for deliberate bookings against Hannover last time out.

France winger Kingsley Coman had a hand in Bayern's opening two goals, setting up the impressive Thiago Alcantara for the first just nine minutes into proceedings in Bavaria.

Juventus loanee Coman then teed up Thomas Muller to double the lead in the 31st minute as Bremen struggled to cope with Bayern going forward.

Bremen goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald helped keep the score respectable for a time but could do nothing to prevent Muller volleying in for 3-0 in the 65th minute, before Robert Lewandowski and Thiago added late gloss to the scoreline.

Bayern started brightly and, after Coman and Jannik Vestergaard traded chances at either end, Thiago struck to break the deadlock.

The former Barcelona playmaker met a superb right-wing cross from Coman with a low, close-range finish.

Franck Ribery and Mario Gotze both went close as Bayern continued to pile on the pressure, with the second arriving just after the half-hour mark.

Again it was Coman with the assist as he surged down the right, beating Santiago Garcia for pace before his delivery was turned in by Muller, whose volley proved too hot for Wiedwald to handle despite the Bremen goalkeeper getting two hands on the shot.

Wiedwald was called upon again late in the first half to keep out Thiago's deflected strike as Bayern finished the first 45 minutes well on top.

The onslaught continued shortly after the restart - Thiago thundered a volley against the crossbar and Gotze was thwarted by Wiedwald after combining superbly with Philipp Lahm.

Sebastian Rode then curled narrowly over the crossbar, but the third arrived soon after as Wiedwald could only parry a fierce Ribery strike and Muller was there to lash in the rebound.

Lewandowski pounced on a defensive error four minutes from time to extend the lead and, after David Alaba struck the post from range, Thiago tapped in a fifth as attention turns to Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel's return to Mainz on Sunday.

[Socrates 8524]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Neuer: 'Well done Buffon'

http://www.football-italia.net/81211/neuer-well-done-buffon?

Mar 13, 2016

Manuel Neuer claims Bayern Munich are 'not the favourites' against Juventus whilst complimenting Gianluigi Buffon on his record.

The two sides face each other for a Champions League return leg this Wednesday, and they go into the game with a 2-2 result from the first game.

Bayern Munich played yesterday against Werder Bremen and won 5-0, while Juventus edged past Sassuolo by a narrow 1-0, in a game which saw Buffon setting a new personal record for the longest unbeaten run in Serie A.

“Congratulations!” said Neuer to the Italian goalkeeper, as reported by La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “I haven't seen the game against Sassuolo, but the result confirms Juve's quality.

“We're not the favourites, even though we managed not to lose in the first leg. It's going to be an open game, but don't think that our success against Werder was just a training practice.

“After two games without winning, we still have our usual self-confidence. Starting from tomorrow we'll focus on Juve. We're not playing for [Pep] Guardiola, we're playing for Bayern.”

[Socrates 8524]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman Comes
of Age Ahead of Meeting with Juventus

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2624193-bayern-munichs-kinglsey-coman-comes-of-age-ahead-of-meeting-with-juventus?

Mar 13, 2016

Pep Guardiola opted to rest many of his star players on Saturday as Bayern Munich faced Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. The reason for the decision was obvious, with the league leaders set to take on Juventus in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

And yet, Bayern hardly looked to have a team of reserves on the pitch as they were 5-0 winners against a Bremen side that were simply outclassed.

A big reason for the Bavarians' success was Kingsley Coman, who put on a master class on the wing, providing three assists. He was the best player on the pitch and dared to play a leading role. This was despite the fact that he appeared alongside former European Footballer of the Year Franck Ribery and World Cup winner Mario Gotze in the Bayern attacking midfield.

Coman's productivity wasn't just the typical example of a player coming to life and nabbing man of the match honors with a late hat-trick after the game was over. He played a perfect cross to Thiago Alcantara for the opener then set up Thomas Muller for Bayern's second after showing a quick turn of pace to run to the byline before crossing. Only his final assist, another example of great pace and control, came after the result was decided; it was for Thiago's late strike to make it 5-0.

Bayern Central ‎@bayerncentral
Kingsley Coman: “I’d like to play against Juventus but it’s up to the coach to decide”

That a 19-year-old took on such a leadership role amid a slew of other qualified playmakers speaks well for his confidence. And Guardiola made a good point in highlighting how Coman was able to immediately turn on a switch and perform. After the match, the trainer said (via Deutsche Welle): "He [Coman] is a great guy. He was in the stands against Dortmund and now 3 assists today. It just shows his quality."

The three assists were Coman's eighth, ninth and 10th of the campaign in all competitions, to go along with his five goals. Saturday marked the first time he's directly been involved in more than two goals in a single game, and just the fourth time he played a hand in more than one.

OptaJean ✔ ‎@OptaJean
3 - K. Coman is the first @FCBayernEN player to have delivered 3+ assists in a Bundesliga game since F. Ribéry in October 2012. Gifts.

For Coman, his hat trick of assists could not have come at a better time. Juventus are still his parent club, although the fact that he is on loan now looks to be a formality: Bayern revealed with his signing in August that they had negotiated an option to sign the player on a full transfer after his loan ends next summer. And with Tancredi Palmeri having reported on his Twitter account that the transfer fee will be €20 million, it's hard to see the Bavarians not paying to sign the player on a permanent basis.

FC Bayern English ✔ ‎@FCBayernEN
Take a bow, Kingsley #Coman! What a performance from the Frenchman! #FCBSVW 5-0

Juve, it seems, underestimated Coman before letting him leave. And the player will be keen to show the Italian giants exactly what they're missing out on. He was benched for the full 90 minutes in the first leg, and perhaps Guardiola had intended to have him sit out the second leg as well. It will be a tough test for Bayern, who despite having earned a favorable, 2-2 draw in Turin will enter the return leg knowing the tie rests on a knife's edge.

Yet following his match-winning performance on Saturday, it will be hard to ignore Coman. He's shown that in spite of his age and relative inexperience, he's willing to rise above even established superstars and deliver as his team needs. Maybe Guardiola thought he'd sit out on Wednesday, but after his performance against Bremen, Coman surely has earned the right to play a part in the match against his parent club.

[Socrates 8524]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Benatia: 'Juve unbeatable, but...'

http://www.football-italia.net/81247/benatia-juve-unbeatable?

Mar 13, 2016

Defender Mehdi Benatia says Juventus are 'unbeatable', but Bayern Munich will qualify for the next Champions League round.

The Bianconeri won't have an easy task when visiting the German giants, as the 2-2 result in the first game means a low-scoring draw won't be enough.

“Back when I played in Serie A, Juventus were the team to beat,” Benatia told Rai Sport. “They've always been unbeatable.

“I remember a game with Roma. It looked like we were the stronger team, but we ended up losing 3-0. Juve are capable of winning even when they play so-so.

“Bayern Munich lost focus in the last few minutes. In the return leg we absolutely have to convert our chances, that's where we came short in the first game.

“Bayern will be the one qualifying. We must go as far as we can, winning the Champions League.”

[Socrates 8524]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Bonucci: 'Hit Bayern's weak spots'

http://www.football-italia.net/81251/bonucci-hit-bayerns-weak-spots?

Mar 13, 2016

Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci discusses their upcoming rivals Bayern Munich: 'We'll hit them in their weak spots'.

The Bianconeri will fight for their Champions League qualification on Wednesday evening, going into the Last Sixteen round with a 2-2 score in the first leg.

“It's going to be a brilliant match,” the defender told JTV. “We're going to Munich with enthusiasm and the drive to qualify.

“We know they're strong, but they also have some weak spots, and we'll try to hit them there.

“After our defeat to Sassuolo in the first half of the season, things turned around for all of us, in our group and in our heads.

“That team was too ugly to be true. We took our responsibilities for a poor start.

“The problem was not the formation. We knew we had to give more. We got together, we said all of these things to each other's faces, and from that moment onwards the great Juve was back.

“You'll often see our strikers take the ball back from the edge of our box. It shows that everyone in the team is willing to defend.”

Bonucci then discussed Gianluigi Buffon, who could set a new all-time record for undefeated goalkeeping in the next Serie A game.

“It's an objective we hope we can meet on Sunday against Torino. It makes us proud and it confirms that Gigi is the number one goalkeeper in the history of football.

“Daniele Rugani? He must stay calm because he has the potential to become a fixed point in the backline of the future.

“He was criticised a little bit after the Coppa Italia game against Inter, but really it was the whole team that failed to show up. We were lucky to go to penalties and win.

“Now we must go to Rome and conquer the Coppa Italia, because there's still plenty of space in our museum.

“As for the championship, this year it's more competitive, and this drives us to give our best.

“The teams behind us are playing some great football, in particular Napoli and Fiorentina. Roma are coming back too now that they signed [new Coach Luciano] Spalletti. They have greater self-confidence.”

[Socrates 8524]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Evra: 'Bayern must respect Juve'

http://www.football-italia.net/81274/evra-bayern-must-respect-juve?

Mar 14, 2016

Patrice Evra says Juventus were at fault for conceding two goals against Bayern Munich, but expects a different game on Wednesday.

The Champions League return leg for the two teams kicks off at 19:45. The Bianconeri will have to work from a 2-2 result in the first leg, meaning they cannot afford a low-scoring draw.

“After that first game, we're now aware that we can hurt Bayern,” Evra told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “But we were too timid in the first 20 minutes.

“If we have players who believe it'll end 1-0 then we'll win, but if anyone plays expecting a 5-0, then we'll certainly lose.

“It's all psychological, because we're conscious now that Bayern are vulnerable. It's not arrogance, we respect our opponents but let's not forget that we were in the Champions League final last year.

“Everybody thinks that Juventus are done for, but we believe in it. If we didn't, I'd ask the Coach to bench me.

“Going down by 2-0 after 50 minutes was our fault alone. At first, we lacked confidence. We mustn't be ashamed to admit that we didn't play with much character.

“We were a bit anxious, but when we found ourselves trailing by two goals, we went back onto the pitch to earn a draw.

“But in football you're supposed to act, not react. What happened must be a lesson for us. In the return leg, we have to be the ones to act.

“I don't think that Bayern are scared of us, but they'll certainly be more respectful on Wednesday and they'll play differently. We must take advantage of that.”

[Socrates 8524]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Evra: 'Pogba? Too much quality'

http://www.football-italia.net/81275/evra-pogba-too-much-quality?

Mar 14, 2016

Patrice Evra says Paul Pogba has 'too much quality' for his own good and explains Juventus' strategy against Bayern Munich.

The Bianconeri are first in the league, but they have a tough game ahead as they face the German giants on Wednesday evening.

“Juventus' weapon against Bayern will be the team,” Evra told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “That's what Allegri always says, and that's Juve's strength.

“We can always draw new resources out. Take [Mario] Lemina, for instance. He'd gone a long time without playing, then in Bergamo he was subbed on in the second half and he scored.

“I'm really happy for him, because his injury had interrupted a strong start. He's very talented. Other people see him only in matches, but we can see that every day in training.

“When you're young and you don't play very much it's easy to give up, but I pushed him not to do that. I always told him that sooner or later he'd be decisive.

“He can make the difference, the way that the whole team does. When you're at Juventus you immediately understand that every game has to be played as though it were a final.

“Playing well, so-so or poorly doesn't matter very much. We have to win.

“This spirit doesn't surprise me, any more than I'm surprised when I see [Mario] Mandzukic playing as a central defender or a full-back.

“Our string of victories gives us fuel for the European games. I laugh when people say that our victories are 'a response' to Napoli.

“I don't think about Napoli at all, I don't even watch their results. All I think of is Juventus. Every victory is an incentive for the following game.”

Finally, Evra was asked about his fellow Frenchman Paul Pogba.

“Pogba's problem is that he has too much quality. When he makes mistakes he gets frustrated, because everyone thinks that a player like that can't make certain errors.

“I always repeat to him that he has to stay calm, work hard and listen to Allegri. He must play like he knows. Sure, losing the ball is annoying, but it happens because he's someone who always goes for it and does not hold himself back.

“Against Bayern, for instance, he always asked for the ball in the most difficult moments. We need people like that, but when they make a mistake that's all everyone talks about.

“Let him work in peace, because Paul wants to run, score and make assists for us. I'm perfectly content with that.”

[Socrates 8524]

 

BAYERN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

Round of 16 - Second leg
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 - 08:45 P.M.
Allianz Arena, Munich
Referee:‬ Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Chiellini unlikely for Bayern

http://www.football-italia.net/81276/chiellini-unlikely-bayern?

Mar 14, 2016

Giorgio Chiellini looks unlikely to recover in time for Bayern Munich, forcing Juventus to set up a new Champions League defence.

The central defender of the Bianconeri suffered yet another thigh injury at the end of February and is recovering very slowly.

Yesterday he did not take part in the team's training, and according to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport the odds of seeing him against the German team are very slim.

Coach Max Allegri hasn't completely given up hope of having him back in time for the match on Wednesday evening, but he is considering alternative solutions.

Juventus may field a four-man defence the way they did in the first game against Bayern, with Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci as central defenders, and Stephen Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra on the flanks.

Alternatively he may stick with a three-man defence and add Daniele Rugani to the centre, but that solution seems unlikely.