Juventus Season 2015-2016

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Mission Impossible gives way to
Operation Comeback - Juventus' season so far

The Bianconeri have recovered from a shockingly poor start and are now targeting five
successive Serie A wins before Christmas to propel themselves back into title contention.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/11/19/17486352/-?

 
Nov 19, 2015
 
Six weeks ago, Gianluigi Buffon forbid all talk of winning a fifth successive Serie A title within the Juventus dressing room. "The distance between us and the top of the league is so great that we can't allow ourselves to get carried away by flights of fancy," the skipper stated.

Buffon's stance was understandable: by that point the Bianconeri had lost three of their opening six league fixtures and were 10 points behind co-leaders Fiorentina and Inter. Six games on and the gap has only been reduced by a solitary point - and yet the atmosphere at Corso Galileo Ferraris has changed dramatically.

"The fifth title is within our reach," Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini said last week. "True, we started in the wrong gear but we can make up the gap. If we correct certain mistakes and we can be more clear-headed, we can do it."

Juve certainily seem to be thinking clearly again, after a muddled summer recruitment plan and shocking start to the 2015-16 season.

There is never any point in retaining the services of players who want out but allowing Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez to all depart at the same time now looks careless.

While €37million was arguably too high a fee to turn down for Vidal, an ill-disciplined character on and off the field, and Tevez was clearly on intent on returning to his native Buenos Aires, there was always the sense that Pirlo could have been persuaded to see out the final year of his contract with the club. Certainly, the Italy international's absence has been most keenly felt. Without their playmaker, Massimiliano Allegri's men have been utterly rudderless, devoid of direction in the middle of the pitch. Hence, Paul Pogba often playing like the proverbial headless chicken.

Of course, Claudio Marchisio was meant to fill the void left by Pirlo and the 29-year-old's injury problems could be considered unfortunate. However, there is a feeling that Juve are partly responsible for their own injury crisis, having rushed their players through their pre-season programme in order to be ready for the Supercoppa Italiana - a trophy to which the champions attached an unnecessary level of importance.

Still, the good news now is that Juve are finally in a position to field their first-choice midfield, with Sam Khedira having recovered from his own injury problems and quickly establishing himself as one of the team's leaders. It's just as well, really, as Pogba, whether he wants to admit it or not, seems to have been burdened by the pressure of taking on the iconic No.10 jersey. Hopefully, Khedira and Marchisio will now lighten the load and free Pogba up to produce the kind of performances that made him the most coveted midfielder in Europe. Recent outings have certainly been encouraging.

While Khedira was a wonderfully shrewd signing, acquired on a free transfer from Real Madrid, the decision to sign Hernanes from Inter remains as baffling now as it was on deadline day. 'The Prophet' was never going to be the answer to Allegri's prayers for a trequartista. Consequently, Allegri has had to reluctantly abandon his intention of playing 4-3-1-2 as the Bianconeri remain devoid of a world-class No.10.

Speculation is now rife that Juve will sound Chelsea out about allowing Oscar to leave London for Turin during an upcoming meeting with the Blues about making Juan Cuadrado's loan stay permanent, while the Italian champions will attempt to land Ezequiel Lavezzi during the winter break. The Argentine international will be out of contract at the end of the season and is intent on a return to Italy sooner rather than later, with Inter and AC Milan also interested. Lavezzi would enable Allegri to select what would be, on paper at least, a formidable 4-3-3, with the ex-Napoli winger and Cuadrado supporting Alvaro Morata in attack.

Of course, summer signing Mario Mandzukic might have something to say about that. The Croatia international has endured a difficult start to his Juve career but his goal against Empoli just before the international break - only his second of the Serie A season - could spark an upturn in his fortunes.

Then there's Paulo Dybala, who has been rather strangely treated by Allegri - despite scoring five times in 11 appearances, only seven of which were as a starter. Juve committed to a €40 million deal for the 21-year-old yet his coach seems inexplicably reluctant to start the Argentine on a weekly basis.

The feeling is, though, that Dybala and Morata could yet develop a lethal attacking partnership - at least once the latter's future is finally resolved. As things stand, Real Madrid retain the right to re-sign their academy product, who has looked uncomfortable playing on the left-hand side of the Juve attack this term, at the end of the season. However, Juve are working on a contract extension and the sooner the issue is resolved the better, as the Bianconeri can ill afford any further distractions at what is a critical stage of the season for them.

With Juve on the cusp of qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, the primary focus now is on the next five Serie A games, which will see the titleholders take on AC Milan, Palermo, Lazio, Fiorentina and Carpi. Director General Beppe Marotta has made it clear that third place is the very least expected of Allegri, who is, rightly or wrongly, under pressure just five months after coming within one game of a historic treble. Indeed, the Bianconeri's top brass are demanding five successive Serie A wins before the winter break to propel the team back into title contention.

Still, Allegri will approach the challenge with confidence restored. Six weeks ago, a fifth successive Scudetto looked like 'Mission Impossible' - but 'Operation Comeback', as the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport called it last week, is about to get under way.

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

5 Key Questions Ahead of Juventus'
Serie A Clash with AC Milan

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2590679-5-key-questions-ahead-of-juventus-serie-a-clash-with-ac-milan?

 
Nov 19, 2015
 
On Saturday night, AC Milan travel to face Juventus in a clash of Italy’s most prestigious football clubs. However, while both have gleaming trophy cabinets, both find themselves in below-average league positions at present.

Milan occupy sixth place in Serie A on 20 points, while Juventus sit one spot and two points beneath them. Both teams are a fair distance away from where they expected to be at the start of this season.

As reigning champions having won four successive Scudetti, Juventus’ current state is out of the ordinary. Milan have languished in mid-table for two years, so their current position is less shocking, but after heavy summer investment, they remain well off their initial target of the top three.

With both giants looking to galvanise their seasons, their meeting this weekend offers the perfect opportunity for salvation. Here, we consider five key questions ahead of the crucial match.


Which Team Will Be More Affected by Injuries?

For the past few weeks, Milan have had to make do without several key players.

Mario Balotelli has been out since late September with a groin problem and, after having surgery on the injury, per BBC Sport, he is set to miss the next four weeks of action.

Brazilian centre-back Alex and creative midfielder Andrea Bertolacci missed Milan’s 0-0 draw with Atalanta prior to the international break, and it is unknown if they will be back in time for this weekend.

Balotelli’s absence is something Milan have adapted to in recent weeks, but both Alex and Bertolacci’s presences will be missed in the centre of defence and midfield, respectively.

Juventus could also be missing important first-team members on Saturday night.

The Bianconeri’s biggest concern regards Gianluigi Buffon, who was taken off during Italy’s 2-2 draw with Romania. According to the club’s official website (h/t Football Italia), “his availability against Milan will be evaluated.”

Other notable potential absentees for Juventus include Martin Caceres, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Mario Mandzukic.

While Milan would benefit from being able to select Alex, Bertolacci and Balotelli when picking their matchday squad, none of those players are anywhere near as influential to the Rossoneri as Buffon is to Juventus.

The iconic goalkeeper has been one of his club’s steadying influences in a turbulent season, and Juventus would seriously miss his assured leadership from the back.


How Will Juventus Line Up?

Should Buffon miss out through injury, his guidance will be missed, but this will not be Juventus’ greatest tactical quandary.

Massimiliano Allegri has chopped and changed this season, utilising a multitude of different systems to varying degrees of success.

The 4-3-1-2 that worked so well for Juventus last season has been used. So too has a slightly more defensive 4-5-1 formation, which Allegri implemented successfully away to Manchester City in the Champions League in a bid to congest space.

A rough version of the 3-5-2 system has been used as well, though Allegri has yet to decide on which of these shapes works best for his team.

Milan are almost certainly going to line up in the 4-3-3 system that has brought them mildly improved form of late, which may influence Allegri to go with the 4-3-1-2.

Up against only one striker in Bacca, Juventus could afford to sacrifice one defender and go with a back four. However, instead of mirroring Milan, they may opt for four in midfield and two up front to achieve numerical overloads.

A strike pairing of Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza or Alvaro Morata would be a test for Milan’s two chosen centre-backs, while a midfield diamond would allow Juventus to match up with Milan’s three and give their own deep-lying midfielder—probably Claudio Marchisio—space to dictate.


Have Milan Found Their Ideal System?

Following a humiliating 4-0 home loss to Napoli, Sinisa Mihajlovic brought further tactical change to Milan. The 4-3-1-2 system he initially favoured wasn’t working; it left the team defensively vulnerable, so he brought in a 4-3-3.

In the new system, Milan have been undefeated, winning three and drawing two of their five games since the tactical switch. In the process, they have conceded three goals in five matches, whereas previously they had conceded 13 in seven.

Alongside the defensive improvements, Milan look slightly more cohesive going forward. Within the 4-3-3, Giacomo Bonaventura and Alessio Cerci play on the left and right wing respectively, while Carlos Bacca operates as the lone striker.

As inverted wingers, Bonaventura and Cerci tend to cut in onto their favoured foot to supply Bacca, whose intelligent movement off the last line of defence can create clear opportunities for through balls from his team-mates in wider positions.

Undoubtedly, Milan’s individual compartments of defence and attack have worked better since the change in formation. Ultimately, this is due to the greater width and structural balance achieved in the 4-3-3 system.

Mihajlovic has spoken previously of his wish to install a 4-4-2 system at some stage in the future, meaning the 4-3-3 may merely be a placeholder. However, it has worked well for Milan so far, and this is almost certainly how they will line up against Juventus.


Which Team Benefited More from the International Break?

Unsurprisingly for a club whose players have the highest overall market value in Serie A, per Transfermarkt, a lot of Juventus’ talent featured for their countries during the international break.

While this speaks positively of the quality within the champions’ squad, it is not necessarily a positive thing ahead of a crucial league match.

As aforementioned, key players such as Buffon and Lichtsteiner sustained injuries that make them doubts for this weekend’s match, while others such as Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Paul Pogba, Patrice Evra, Sami Khedira and Dybala featured in action for their respective national teams.

Milan also saw several first-team players called up for international duty though nowhere near as many of them played such influential roles.

Luca Antonelli didn’t start either of Italy’s friendlies against Belgium or Romania, while Milan captain Riccardo Montolivo played around half an hour of the latter match.

Energetic midfielder Juraj Kucka featured for Slovakia and Bacca started one of Colombia’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers and came off the bench in the other.

Simply put, almost the entirety of Juventus’ usual starting line-up played multiple times in the past two weeks, meaning the international "break" wasn’t much of a break at all.

Milan, on the other hand, had far less direct involvement. Key players such as Alessio Romagnoli and Giacomo Bonaventura didn't play any part in Italy’s friendlies—though the latter was called up.

Essentially, the international period had much less impact upon Milan’s first team in terms of fitness and injury concerns. As such, they may be the fresher—if not better—side come Saturday night.


Who Is Under More Pressure?

Juventus coach Allegri enjoyed a remarkable first season at the helm. Taking over from Antonio Conte, he had big shoes to fill but did an exceptional job, guiding the Bianconeri to a domestic double and a Champions League final.

However, the start to his second year in charge has been unexpectedly poor. After failing to win any of their first three league games, Juventus have since improved, but the upturn has been punctuated by inconsistency.

There is uncertainty as to what formation is Juventus’ best, while more specific questions have been fired at Allegri regarding his team selections, particularly his occasional omission of Dybala from the starting lineup.

Sinisa Mihajlovic has had problems of his own at the beginning of his maiden year as Milan coach. He has had to integrate many new signings and tweak tactics but, on the whole, his Milan team looks better than last season’s version.

Considering this, as well as the fact that Milan are above Juventus in the league table and are the away side, Allegri’s Juventus will be more under pressure to deliver a positive result on Saturday night.

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

From brilliant Buffon to Marotta's mediocre market -

Juventus' best and worst of the season so far

The Bianconeri endured a shockingly poor start to their bid for a fifth successive
Scudetto but their have been some positives for Massimiliano Allegri's resurgent side.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/11/19/17487272/-?

 
Nov 19, 2015
 
After a summer of so many comings and goings in Turin, a period of re-adjustment was always anticipated at Juventus. However, few expected the transition would prove so difficult and take quite so long, particularly as the Bianconeri cruised past Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana in August.

However, the reigning Italian champions then lost their opening two Serie A fixtures for the first time ever. A further two defeats followed by the sixth round of the season as Juve appeared to lose all hope of a fifth successive Scudetto.

However, Massimiliano Allegri's men are on the comeback trail. They're within one victory of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League, while back-to-back wins for the first time this season have hauled them up to seventh place in the Serie A standings, nine points off co-leaders Fiorentina and Inter ahead of the resumption of play following the international break.

There is still much work to do but Juve seem to have recovered from what was a traumatic transfer window. Here, we take a look at the Old Lady's campaign and her most influential performers so far...


KEY PLAYER SO FAR

Long-time transfer target Juan Cuadrado has proven well worth the wait, with the Chelsea-owned winger quickly becoming an integral member of Massimiliano Allegri's attacking arsenal and Juve now determined to turn the Colombian's loan deal into a permanent transfer in January.

Sam Khedira, meanwhile, has been an incredibly influential character, an on-field leader, since belatedly making his injury-delayed debut after his summer arrival on a free transfer from Real Madrid.

However, Juve's key man during what has been a difficult start to the season has undoubtedly been their captain, Gianluigi Buffon. The 37-year-old has been the Bianconeri's consistent performer, underlining his enduring class with a number of brilliant performances, with his stunning, game-changing double-save in the Champions League win at Manchester City one of the highlights of Juve's campaign so far.

More importantly, though, Buffon has once again underlined his status as a real leader of men, providing his team-mates the kick up the backside they needed after the dismal defeat at Sassuolo. "It's very simple, if you don't win any of your 50-50s or aerial battles and you can't string together three passes, then that's no recipe for success."

That very public put-down promptly sparked a gradual improvement in Juve's performances and it is largely thanks to Buffon that the Old Lady is still in with a shout of retaining the Scudetto.


THE PLAYER WHO HAS SURPRISED US ALL

When Juventus paid €26 million to prise Alex Sandro away from Porto, Patrice Evra's days as a first-team regular in Turin appeared numbered. However, the former Manchester United captain has responded magnificently to the Brazilian's eagerly awaited arrival at Corso Galileo Ferraris.

Alex Sandro has actually performed reasonably well when he has been called upon but the left-back has been restricted to just five starts in Serie A due to the sensational form of a man 10 years his senior.

Evra has been a fantastically reliable presence in a defence that has been plagued by individiual errors so far this term and even popped up with the crucial second goal in the vital 3-1 victory at Empoli just before the international break.


BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

It is quite difficult to single anyone out for specific scorn, given how poorly so many players have performed. As Giorgio Chiellini recently outlined, Juve have had problems all over the park. "We concede too many goals, but also don’t score enough," the Italy international admitted.

Paul Pogba's form has dipped dramatically since taking on Carlos Tevez's No.10 jersey, Mario Mandzukic, Alvaro Morata and Simone Zaza have contributed just four Serie A goals between them and Juve's central defenders have proven unusually prone to unforced errors, making Allegri's distrust of Daniele Rugani all the more surprising and disappointing.

However, the biggest disappointment has undoubtedly been Juve's summer recruitment plan. Selling Arturo Vidal, Alessandro Pirlo and Carlos Tevez all at once always looked ill-advised - and so it has proven.

Of course, if Juve had bought well, the blow of losing three key men could have been softened. Juve, though, have squandered millions. A combined €37m was spent on Simone Zaza and Mario Mandzukic - and yet they have provided just three Serie A goals between them after 12 rounds of action. Alex Sandro still has time on his side to prove himself but the 30-year-old Hernanes never looked anything but a colossal waste of €11m.

Several signings have underperformed; there is no doubt about that. However, general director Beppe Marotta and sporting director Fabio Paratici must take a huge amount of blame for making a mess of their bid to sate Allegri's desire for a world-class trequartista and leaving the coach with a squad that now needs serious strengthening in January.


KEY RESULT

There have already been a couple of vital victories for Juventus, who have struggled to build up any momentum to date. The 2-0 defeat of Sevilla was hugely significant, as it came on the back of a dismal defeat at Napoli, while Cuadrado's last-minute winner in the Turin derby could yet prove the turning point of Juve's season.

However, the most important game so far from the Old Lady's perspective was arguably the stunning 2-1 triumph at the Etihad. Juventus had arrived in Manchester having picked up one point from their opening three Serie A games. Worse still, their hosts were sweeping all before them, with City having kicked off their Premier League campaign with five successive wins.

Many Juve fans feared a rout. Certainly, a defeat looked inevitable when Chiellini put through his own net just before the hour mark to give City the lead. However, Buffon then kept the visitors in the game with his wonderful reaction saves from Raheem Sterling and David Silva before the Bianconeri pulled off a hugely important morale-boosting win thanks to goals from Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata in the final 20 minutes.


ONE TO WATCH

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini remains convinced that Juventus are not getting the best out of Paulo Dybala. "He’s the new Messi. He can do it all. He’s world class." Whether Dybala is really the heir to the Barcelona No.10's throne is very much open to debate, but the 21-year-old striker is undeniably a player of enormous potential; one that is wasted on the bench.

Allegri has been criticised for refusing to entrust the Argentine with too much responsibility. "He has excellent qualities and will have a great future and last season he was a leader at Palermo, but he cannot have that same role at Juve yet."

However, Dybala has proving Juve's most reliable source of goals - he has notched five times in Serie A already. Whether Allegri likes it or not, this is a player who looks eminently capable of establishing himself as a major player in Turin before the season is out.

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

JUVENTUS V MILAN – Q & A

http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-v-milan-q-a/?

 
Nov 19, 2015
 
We put your questions to blogger Peter Acquaviva for a special Q&A ahead of this weekend’s Juve v Milan clash at J Stadium.


What are your thoughts on Miha’s Milan ?

It’s really tough to break bad habits down. Mentally this Milan team is still miles away from where they need to be. The summer’s acquisitions provide a bit more talent for Mihajlovic to work with, but considering you’re always building on the work of your predecessors, it’s really a total culture shift that Mihajlovic is trying to oversee. This squad needs an exorcism, and unlike in the movies, the only way to do it is to win. This team isn’t capable of winning beautifully, or with class, or any of the things that great Milan sides would. You have to start somewhere, and it’s not enough, but a result for them against Juventus would be a step in the right direction.



What are your hopes/objectives for the season ?

I hope they don’t fire Mihajlovic before the end of the season. I hope they give up on players that should probably be given up on (Montolivo, Poli, Mexes etc) and give opportunities to those that haven’t gotten time but we need to know more about (Jose Mauri, Niang, Rodrigo Ely) so the club can actually forecast a coherent plan to build a squad. That’s been missing for so long, I think more than where do they finish (they’ll say third, a champions league spot) more importantly I think my objective for Milan this season is to just get it together and emerge with a plan with how you’re going to move forward.



Are there any players you would you take from this Juventus squad and place into your current squad ?

Bonnucci for the defense, Marchisio or Asamoah for the midfield (Mino shopped Pogba to Milan and Juve at the same time a few years ago, and the ship sailed), and Dybala in attack. Before a few weeks ago I would have said Buffon, but Donnarumma is very intriguing, and I want to see what the kid is capable of.



If Trapattoni’s Juve faced off against Sacchi’s Milan, who would win?

What are the rules of offside? Are we allowing passive offside? That is always the key factor to me in any comparison with Sacchi’s Milan because that rule is the basis of the entire strategy. The coordinated offside trap, the narrowing of the playing space, it all comes from the basis of that rule that catching one catches them all. I don’t think any team could beat them at their own game, but if the passive offside is allowed, I think the game would be much more competitive.



Do you think sacking Allegri was a wrong decision ?

Sacking Max – It was the right decision. It wasn’t done in the right manner – Barbara Berlusconi virtually fired him on the air, or at least he was informed on the air. In retrospect, it’s clear how much more the sky was falling than Milan themselves thought, although if they were being honest about the way things were, it was pretty obvious (but this is Milan, and this is Silvio – so obviously they weren’t being honest). Max was never going to make the situation better, and it was time for both parties to move on. The contract extension Allegri got probably was a poor idea in retrospect, but then again so was throwing Seedorf in mid-stream and not even giving him a year to work with because he asked for structural reform and clashed with a clique of under-performing players.



How far off do you think you are from becoming regulars in the Champions League again?

Phew – a ways. Two seasons, I’d say. Of course, mentality really means a lot in sport, and let’s say they get it together, could it be next season? Possibly – although they’re still two or three key pieces away from any meaningful challenge to a Scudetto / sustained top 3.



Which midfielders have had an impact, and what to expect going forward ?

Kucka has had an impact for Milan, but not really in a positive way. He can’t pass. Milan can’t pass. I think they’ve actually gotten worse in that department from before, and 2/3 of the midfield in best case scenarios are under-performing. De Jong / Montolivo in the center are both not good enough. Sure Montolivo has a great ball recovery statistic, but his passing is inconsistent at medium range, and his initial instinct is either home run ball or short pass. De Jong is far from a risk taker, but lacks even the moderate creative output that Montolivo has this season. Poli has heart but really lacks skill, guile and any semblance of creativity. The combination play is terrible. Bertolacci and Bonaventura are the bright spots in the midfield when they play there, but both are diminutive enough to lack the physical edge the Milan midfield needs, and at the moment none of the options in there cover enough of the holes to create a cohesive midfield. Going forward, we’ll find out if Mihajlovic really does play the best man for the job (so far the results are mixed) or if the guys upstairs are still calling the shots.



How do you see Juve v Milan going ?

This will probably be an ugly game, first of all. It’s about the result, and I think the football will be scrappy to match. If Milan do indeed go with a very offensive lineup as rumored, they’ll have to play deep on the counter, with Juve possessing the ball and controlling the middle of the park due to their extra man. Whoever scores first won’t hold the lead the whole game, as I don’t think either side can handle the pressure right now.



Predictions ?

Predictions – 1-1 I actually got the last prediction right almost to the minute the game would be over… this one is more contentious. Juve could make a statement of intent under Allegri, but I feel like if that was coming this season we would have had more hints about it. I don’t see either team really “turning the corner” on anything, but a win would be huge for morale of either team. I’m thinking both know that, and it ends locked up.



Possible starting Milan XI for the game ?

Donnarumma; Abate, Alex, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Kucka, Montolivo, Bonaventura; Niang, Bacca, Cerci



JuveMilan XI – 5-3-2/3-5-2

Buffon

Lichtsteiner, Bonnucci, Barzagli, Romagnoli, Antonelli

Pogba, Marchisio, Bonaventura

Dybala, Bacca

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Galderisi: Juventus And Milan Lack Consistency

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/galderisi-juventus-and-milan-lack-consistency/?

 
Nov 19, 2015
 
Former Juventus and AC Milan striker Giuseppe Galderisi has described Saturday’s clash between his two former clubs as a major challenge for both teams.

Following the international break, the 52-year-old spoke of both clubs need for consistency ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated clash at the Juventus Stadium in Turin.

“Both teams are trying to build after a faltering start to the season,” Galderisi told Tuttomercatoweb.com.

“Juve and Milan seem to have brushed up but we need continuity.”

The former Italian international further commented on the potential for 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma to replace Gianluigi Buffon in the Azzurri goal.

“We’ve known for twenty years what Gigi can give to the group both technically and on a human level,’ he said.

“There is a need for someone to one day take up the legacy of Buffon and Donnarumma is on the right track.

“I have great memories of both worlds and will follow the game closely. The two clubs, in particular Juve, have given me so much.

“I’ll be cheering for a beautiful game.”

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Juventus v AC Milan: We must respond - Montolivo

Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has ironed out AC Milan's weaknesses
ahead of the trip to Juventus, according to the club captain.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/juventus-vs-milan/2120503?ICID=AR_FS_3

 
Nov 19, 2015
 
AC Milan captain Riccardo Montolivo says his side must make amends for their disappointing performance against Atalanta when they meet Juventus in Serie A.

A run of three consecutive victories came to a grinding halt as Atalanta held Milan to a 0-0 draw at San Siro last time out, and Montolivo is keen to get back to winning ways against the defending champions.

Milan are sixth in the table after recovering from a poor start to the season and Montolivo credits coach Sinisa Mihajlovic for the turnaround in fortunes.

He told La Repubblica: "There will always be criticism. Perhaps we are lacking something in terms of determination, but Mihajlovic has improved a lot of areas in which we struggled last season.

"He has ironed out a lot of our weaknesses. It’s not easy to resolve a lot of things right away, but he has already done a great deal.

"We made a bad start and we are playing catch up. But in between the two international breaks, the results and performances have started to arrive, with the exception of the Atalanta match.

"Unfortunately, that is the match stuck in people’s minds. We are going through a positive period and it will be a great match versus Juventus."

Milan are just two points above Juventus in the Serie A standings, with Massimiliano Allegri's side having started to recover their form following an underwhelming start to the campaign.

After registering just one win in their opening six matches, Juve have won four of their last six, losing just once - a 1-0 defeat to Sassuolo at the end of October.

And Alvaro Morata hopes the Turin outfit can maintain their momentum and leapfrog Milan in the Serie A table.

He told JTV: “Historically it’s the biggest match in Italian football. We’re looking to win it and to continue our climb up the table."

Milan will be without Mario Balotelli for the trip to Juventus, as the striker continues his recovery from a groin injury, and Nigel de Jong misses out due to a thigh problem. Midfielder Andrea Bertolacci is unlikely to be fit for the game following a muscle strain.

Juventus could be without goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who picked up a thigh complaint playing for Italy against Romania, and coach Allegri is awaiting the results of fitness tests on Stephan Lichtsteiner, Martin Caceres (both thigh) and Mario Mandzukic (ankle) ahead of the game.


Key Opta stats

- Juventus have suffered four defeats (4W, 1D).These two sides have met 160 times in Serie A: the Bianconeri lead by 58 wins to 48, with 54 draws.

- Juventus have won five Serie A clashes in a row against AC Milan for the second time in their history (first time between 1980 and 1984) – they have never enjoyed six consecutive wins so far.

- These two teams have not drawn in Serie A at Juventus’ ground since 2006: six wins for Juventus and two for AC Milan.

- Juve have won their last two Serie A games – they have not managed three wins in a row since last April.

- Juventus have lost none of the eight games played this season in all competitions with Claudio Marchisio in the starting XI (4W, 4D) – in the other nine matches Juventus have suffered four defeats (4W, 1D).


OPTA FACTS

These two sides have met 160 times in Serie A: the Bianconeri lead by 58 wins to 48, with 54 draws.

Juventus have won five Serie A clashes in a row against AC Milan for the second time in their history (first time between 1980 and 1984) – they have never enjoyed six consecutive wins so far.

These two teams have not drawn in Serie A at Juventus’ ground since 2006: six wins for Juventus and two for AC Milan.

Juve have won their last two Serie A games – they have not managed three wins in a row since last April.

The Bianconeri are on a run of three consecutive home wins – they had taken only two points from their first three home games in the league this season.

AC Milan are unbeaten in five games (3W, 2D) – the last time they stayed unbeaten in six matches in a row was in October 2014 (2W, 4D).

Juventus have conceded the joint-most goals from outside the box in Serie A this season – they shipped only four last season.

Juventus have attempted the most shots (168, excluding blocked) in Serie A this term, recording the fourth worst conversion rate (9.5%) – only three teams have done worse.


LAST FIVE MATCHES

Juventus  W D W L W

08/11/2015 - Empoli 1 - 3 Juventus
03/11/2015 - Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 - 1 Juventus
31/10/2015 - Juventus 2 - 1 Torino
28/10/2015 - Sassuolo 1 - 0 Juventus
25/10/2015 - Juventus 2 - 0 Atalanta


Milan  D W W W L

07/11/2015 - Milan 0 - 0 Atalanta
01/11/2015 - Lazio 1 - 3 Milan
28/10/2015 - Milan 1 - 0 Chievo
25/10/2015 - Milan 2 - 1 Sassuolo
21/10/2015 - Milan 0 - 1 Internazionale


HEAD TO HEAD

07/02/2015 - Juventus 3 - 1 Milan
20/09/2014 - Milan 0 - 1 Juventus
02/03/2014 - Milan 0 - 2 Juventus
06/10/2013 - Juventus 3 - 2 Milan
21/04/2013 - Juventus 1 - 0 Milan

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Gianluigi Buffon leading Juventus'
charge back up Serie A table

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2718562/gianluigi-buffon-leading-juventus-charge-up-serie-a-table?

 
Nov 19, 2015
 
Twenty long years ago Gianluigi Buffon made his Serie A debut for Parma in a match against Milan. This coming Saturday, after having climbed to the summit of excellence, the world's greatest goalkeeper since Lev Yashin will likely take his place against Milan again while wearing the jersey of Juventus, a club that has brought him so much success.

A man who once enjoyed scoring the goals but who was fated to act as Superman between the posts, Buffon was only 17 years old when then-Parma coach Nevio Scala realised the phenomenon he boasted within his ranks. Watching the youngster's technical skills, nothing impressed him more than the inner strength that the young Buffon had. Calm, mature and composed, the pressure of the occasion did nothing to scare Buffon, allowing him to keep a clean sheet against a Rossoneri side that had Roberto Baggio and George Weah at the time. With three decisive saves, the young Buffon not only demonstrated fascinating ability but the confidence of a veteran, aware that a mesmeric performance against the footballing giant trained by Fabio Capello that would go on to win the Scudetto that year would fast track his career.

Indeed it did and Buffon became the world's most expensive goalkeeper when he was sold to Juventus. He not only regularly rescued the Old Lady, helping her collect vital points to climb the ladder of success, he stayed loyal to her despite her demotion to Serie B during the 2006-07 season, believing in her ability to come back and reclaim her place at the helm of Italian football.

A gentleman, Juve's captain and the world's greatest goalkeeper, Buffon still regularly comes to the rescue of his beloved club, managing to pull off outstanding saves during the current season to help the stuttering Bianconeri move along. More than on-pitch brilliance, it's Buffon's words of wisdom that has helped the new arrivals understand the meaning of donning the Juve jersey. A man who leads by example, the captain has demanded intensity and ambition from the youngsters within the squad, helping them to improve their mentality. After all, it was his mental fortitude that led to such a glittering career.

Set to face Milan again, Buffon is desperate to be available for the match. Not only will the upcoming match against Italy's greatest European representative bring back great memories for the shot stopper, but his presence alone will help fulfil another young goalkeeper's dream.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is the youngest goalkeeper of all-time to play in Serie A and for him, like many great young shot stoppers his age, Buffon is his greatest idol and his inspiration. "My idol is Buffon and my dream is to become first choice goalkeeper for the Nazionale, following in his footsteps. Everyone would love to have a career like his."

Managing to keep the Rossoneri's first clean sheet of the season, Donnarumma boasts the same mental strength as his icon. Mature, grounded and professional, Milan's young goalie is not only a man willing to sacrifice all he has for the honour of representing his club and country, but a player who has thrilled with his technical ability. Unlike Buffon, there are still a few wrinkles to iron out, such as his positioning in certain instances, his impatience and defending crosses, but being so young, one only imagines that in the next few years he will improve leaps and bounds.

A potential face-off between the Azzurri's captain and his potential heir, Juventus vs. Milan is almost always a match of great football and even greater drama. With only two points separating the two in the table, this will be Juventus' chance to leapfrog their rivals in the standings and initiate their comeback in the league.

Deemed as favourites in this tie, the Bianconeri have not only conceded fewer goals than the Rossoneri, but they have scored more. In fact, Juventus boast better stats in most categories in Serie A. Third-best at keeping possession and second-highest in passing accuracy, Massimiliano Allegri's men not only take more shots on goal than any other team in Serie A but they concede the second fewest. Improving day by day, Juventus are slowing recovering their fluidity and their cohesion, the only thing that they must demonstrate now is the appetite for more success.

Set to play in a 4-3-3 formation, Juan Cuadrado could well be the key to winning this particular match. Milan have shown their fondness for playing with width and could well decide to show off their pace and ability by standing firm at the back and then hitting the Juve on the counterattack.

Cuadrado will not only work the channels well, utilising the space between the lines by exploiting his pace and dribbling abilities, but he will have to stop the Milan from attacking down the wings, forcing them inwards as much as possible. With Claudio Marchisio, Paul Pogba and Sami Khedira available in midfield, Allegri will have the delicate balance required in the middle to help the attack as well as secure the defence.

However, Milan have a point to prove. Having never won a Serie A match against Juve in the Turin club's new stadium which opened in 2011, Sinisa Mihajlovic's men want to replicate their performance against Lazio and show that while they have struggled in away matches this season, Juventus are simply another big club that can be defeated. It's up to Allegri to find the right potion to overcome his former team.

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Tone of AC Milan's season could be set in Juventus clash

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/ac-milan/103/blog/post/2718566/ac-milan-season-tone-could-be-set-in-juventus-clash?

 
Nov 19, 2015
 
After the 4-0 defeat to Napoli at the start of October, things looked desperate for both AC Milan and coach Sinisa Mihajlovic. The Rossoneri continued to languish in the bottom half of the Serie A table, and it was unclear as to whether or not the Serbian tactician would survive their poor run of form.

Since that encounter at the San Siro, Milan have gone on a five-game unbeaten run, winning three and picking up two draws, and have in turn climbed up to sixth place in the league and to within six points of Roma, who occupy the third and final Champions League qualification spot.

While Mihajlovic hasn't quite turned the corner as of yet, it is certainly a boost for all concerned that Milan have seemingly found some stability and are moving in the right direction. A switch to a 4-3-3 system has undoubtedly had a significant influence on their success, while the confidence is visibly flowing through the players as they continue to depart from the losing mentality that has dogged them in recent years.

The change in tactical set-up has shored things up defensively, with Milan conceding just three goals in their last five games It allows the side to play with direction and purpose as each individual knows their specific roles, both to profit individually and as a collective.

In those last five games, the win away at Lazio undoubtedly stands out as the key result. At the time it felt as though it could be a turning point in Milan's season, but a disappointing draw with Atalanta prior to the international break played down those hopes, and now the Rossoneri are faced with another important fixture that could effectively set the tone for the rest of the campaign.

Naturally, many will play down the significance of facing Juventus this weekend, particularly given that both clubs have struggled so far this season and are still in the process of fighting their way back into contention. Furthermore, it is still far too early in the season to be making overall judgments, and so this ultimately comes down to securing a morale-boosting victory that will act as a foundation for continued success.

Both Milan and Juve are unaccustomed to such a fixture in which neither side are competing at the top of the table. The former hold a slender two-point gap over their rivals ahead of this weekend's encounter, but looking ahead this could be a pivotal moment for Mihajlovic and his players.

Following Saturday's meeting, Milan will take on Sampdoria, Carpi, Verona and Frosinone prior to the break over the festive period. While Sampdoria have only just appointed a new coach in Vincenzo Montella, the other three teams currently occupy the bottom three positions in Serie A.

As a result, Mihajlovic couldn't possibly ask for a "better" run of fixtures heading into the halfway point of the season, and it certainly presents Milan with a huge opportunity to close the gap on those above them and put real pressure on their rivals for a top-three finish.

Suggestions that the game with Juventus isn't decisive are correct. Defeating Massimiliano Allegri's side would be a huge lift, given that Milan haven't won in Turin since March 2011, and it would give them the belief and confidence required to get back to competing at the top of the table.

However, with such a long way to go this season and with such a favourable fixture list in the coming weeks, this is the ideal time for Mihajlovic's influence and philosophy to be put into practice, as Milan look to push on and prove that they are no longer the fragile side that their results in recent years would suggest.

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Betting Preview: Juventus v AC Milan

Neither side have looked convincing defensively this season, which means
we should see a more open game than usual at the Juventus Stadium.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/2994/betting/2015/11/19/17472402/betting-preview-juventus-v-ac-milan?ICID=TP_TNM_ART_3

 
Nov 19, 2015
 
Saturday's meeting between Italy's two biggest clubs has more riding on it than usual given the sides' disappointing starts to the season.

Milan have rallied in the last month recording three wins and two draws in their last five matches to move up to sixth in the table. They are a place and two points above Juventus, the defending champions who have dominated the Scudetto race for the last five years, but who this season have struggled in a way few thought possible.

The side that reached the Champions League final in May was broken up in the summer, with Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo both moving on, but perhaps the most significant absence this season has been that of Carlos Tevez.

Now back in his home country, the Argentine netted 20 goals in Serie A last season and his contribution in front of goal has been sorely missed although the side have shown brief flashes of excellence in the final third.

It is worth remembering that Juve remain extremely hard to beat at home where they have lost just one league game in their last 53 encounters and Betway make them the clear favourites at 8/13 (1.62). The visitors meanwhile are offered at 9/2 (5.50) and in their last match on the road Milan recorded an impressive 3-1 win at Lazio.

In the past these two sides have been home to some of the world's best defensive players, yet this season neither team has convinced at the back. Juve and Milan have played 12 matches in Serie A this term during which time both teams have kept just two clean sheets each, a surprising record.

To that end, backing both teams to score at 11/10 (2.10) may well therefore be of interest, especially when considering that this bet has paid out in four of the last five meetings between the sides in Turin. Juve have only failed to score once in their last 56 home Serie A matches, while Milan have a decent scoring record at the Juventus Stadium, meaning goals at both ends looks like a shrewd option.

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Buffon to undergo fitness test ahead of Milan clash

The Italian goalkeeper remains doubtful for Juventus'
match against AC Milan, but Paulo Dybala is ready to go.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/11/20/17521872/buffon-to-undergo-fitness-test?ICID=TP_HN_HP_RI_1_2

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has revealed Gianluigi Buffon will undergo a fitness test on Friday before a decision is made on whether he will start Saturday's Serie A encounter with AC Milan.

The 37-year-old goalkeeper was being plagued by a hip injury earlier this week, but Juventus are hopeful he will be able to feature this weekend.

"We'll look over Buffon before confirming whether he'll definitely play on Saturday," said Allegri at a media conference on Friday.

Meanwhile, Allegri also had good news about Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic, Martin Caceres and Stephan Lichtsteiner ahead of the clash in Turin.

"Dybala is in decent shape, he underwent a full session with the team and I'll look over him Friday," he added.

"Caceres returned this morning [Friday], while Lichtsteiner and Mandzukic are already back training with the group."

Juve will have to make do without the services of Kwadwo Asamoah and Simone Padoin.

Allegri said: "Asamoah will miss out with an inflamed knee, while Padoin returns towards the end of next week."

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Donnarumma can learn from Juventus legend Buffon - Mihajlovic

The 16-year-old Rossoneri goalkeeper will go head-to-head with
the Italy icon when their respective clubs clash in Turin this weekend.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/11/20/17521902/donnarumma-can-learn-from-buffon?ICID=TP_HN_HP_RI_0_2

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
AC Milan boss Sinisa Mihajlovic says teenage sensation Gianluigi Donnarumma can learn a lot from going up against Juventus "legend" Gianluigi Buffon on Saturday.

The 16-year-old Donnarumma recently dethroned Diego Lopez as Rossoneri's No.1 and is set to start the crunch Serie A clash in Turin, with the sixth-placed visitors just two points about the reigning Italian champions in the table.

"Donnarumma will be going up against a legend on Saturday. He can learn from Buffon," Mihajlovic said at a news conference on Friday.

"His greatness comes from his professionalism and enthusiasm. Buffon has been the world's best for the past 20 years.

"Donnarumma is bright and talented. I hope he can have the same career as Buffon. Knowing Buffon, he would be happy to have an heir like him."

After a shaky start under their new coach, Milan have begun to turn their season around thanks to three wins and two draws from their last five league outings.

The Rossoneri are six points off the top three and Mihajlovic knows that a victory at Juventus Stadium would edge the San Siro side ever close to the Champions League places before the winter break.

"We have picked up 11 points and conceded just three goals in the past five matches," Mihajlovic said at a news conference. "Only Napoli and Roma have done better. I am certain we can keep this up.

"Our aim is to finish in the top three positions come the end of the season. Let's wait and see however what position we're in come the half-way point of the season and take it from there. I don't think the result will be decisive. The season ahead is still long.

"It's a prestigious match and it means a lot. It's a classic fixture in Italian football and we will do our all to honour it. Juventus are on the up, but we will give our best to try and win. It's a big match versus a great side and a direct rival.

"We prepare for every match in the best manner possible whether it be versus Juve or any other side.

"We know our strengths and if we play like we know how we can make it hard for anyone. We're fully aware of the dangers Juve pose, but we are going there with everything to play for. We have the abilities to match them."

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

'Juve better odds than Milan'

http://www.football-italia.net/76005/juve-better-odds-milan?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Fabio Capello says he has 'greater belief' in Juventus for a Scudetto comeback than in their next rivals Milan.

The veteran Serie A and international Coach held the reins of both clubs, and will be among those watching intently their clash tomorrow night at 19:45.

“It has the appeal of a comeback, and that's a lot to say,” he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Juve have to find themselves, taking back the characteristics they have always possessed: hunger and determination.

“Milan are developing one game at a time. I can imagine how [Coach Sinisa] Mihajlovic must be feeling.

“He'd like to see the attitude and the results of his trainings being reproduced in a game.

“The problem is that sometimes the players are unable to perform the way they showed during the week.

“There are shirts, like that of Milan, that are heavier than others, but this is what makes a player truly great: being able to give his best, without allowing the name of his team to affect him.

“As for the Scudetto comeback, I have greater faith in Juventus.

“I'd say their first response has already been shown and I think they could come back to fight for the title.

“A slow start was predictable after the farewells of Tevez, Vidal and Pirlo.

“Milan changed very much and their Coach needs time. Football unfortunately is impatient.

“When you buy several high-profile players, you think you're over the hump, but that's not how it works.

“In order to win you must have a solid base and sign two excellent players at a time.”

Capello was then asked about two of Juventus' best talents, Paul Pogba and Paulo Dybala.

“For Pogba too an initial decline might have been predictable. The effects of placing him in a position of such great responsibility are considerable.

“Now they gave him the baton of the orchestra conductor and things have changed for him. It's just a matter of patience, as his talent is beyond discussion.

“I like Dybala a lot. He has enormous quality, he is young, and at 22 he must be given the chance to make mistakes or take a break. That's part of the process of growth.”

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

'Milan need Juve win'

http://www.football-italia.net/76008/milan-need-juve-win?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Milan's Riccardo Montolivo stresses that a victory against Juventus 'would give us what we need: confidence and self-esteem'.

The Rossoneri captain will be facing the Old Lady tomorrow evening at 19:45, and he is perfectl aware of how crucial the match will be.

“We're emerging from a positive moment, but that's not enough,” he told Il Giornale. “We started out [our championship] poorly, so we must improve.

“The game against Juve is worth three points, but there's a lot more behind that. It can give us confidence, self-esteem... in brief, just what we need. So we have to win.

“The Bianconeri lost three of their champions [Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo], but their squad is scary. They can get back in the Scudetto race.

“But they'll be facing us tomorrow and it's going to be hard for them, too. This isn't a last chance for either of us, but losing would make things complicated.

“Tomorrow evening we must be focused and aggressive like we were in Rome, against Lazio. As I said, we must remember that game above all else for the attitude we showed.

“Winning in Turin would prove this team's maturity and it would show we've found our value.

“I hope [Alessio] Cerci can be decisive, as he's in the middle of a positive moment, but he still hasn't scored.

“A lot of work has been done on Milan and many mistakes have been corrected, for instance on dead-ball situations, which were our weakness.

“We must improve in terms of our game, but above all in our hardness, in our drive to pick up a result at all costs, even when we're not playing well.”

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Capello: Juventus must be patient with Pogba

The Frenchman's form has dipped dramatically this season but the former
Bianconeri boss says the 22-year-old needs time to adapt to his new responsibilities.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/11/20/17512812/juventus-must-be-patient-with-pogba?ICID=TP_HN_3

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Fabio Capello says Paul Pogba will soon get back to his best, arguing the Juventus midfielder's talent is beyond dispute.

The 22-year-old Pogba has established himself as one of the most exciting young players in world football since arriving in Turin on a free transfer from Manchester United in 2012 and was the subject of an €80 million bid from Barcelona last summer.

Juve managed to hang on to their most prized possession and promptly ceded to the France international's request to wear the prestigious No.10 jersey vacated by Carlos Tevez at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

However, Pogba has struggled so far this term, impressing only sporadically and appearing burdened by the responsibility of filling the void left by the summer departures of fellow midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal.

Capello, though, is adamant that Pogba merely needs more time to come to terms with his new leadership role.

"A slow start was predictable," the former Juve and Milan coach told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

"They have now given him the baton of the conductor of the orchestra and the landscape has changed.

"But he only needs patience. Pogba's talent cannot be questioned."


Juve host AC Milan this weekend in what is a crucial clash for both sides, with the Bianconeri currently seventh in the standings, just two points behind their great rivals.

The reigning champions are on the comeback trail after a sluggish start to their bid for a fifth successive Scudetto and Capello is in no doubt that Massimiliano Allegri's men, who have won their last two league games, can re-enter the title race.

However, the former England boss feels that new Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic will need more time to turn a revamped Rossoneri squad into a major force.

"Juve must find themselves again, recover what have always been their main attributes: hunger and determination," Capello added.

"Milan are growing game by game. I put myself in the place of Mihajlovic and imagine his state of mind; he would like to see the attitude he has seen in training in the game.

"The problem is that the players have not managed to show what they are doing during the week in games at the weekend.

"So, I believe more in Juve. It seems to me that the first answers have already arrived and I think that they can get back in the race for the title.

"A slow start was also to be expected after the departures of Tevez, Vidal and Pirlo.

"Milan have changed a lot and are giving their coach time.

"Football, though, has a defect: it's impatient. When you buy a lot of expensive players, you think that the main part is done, but it's not like this. In order to win, you must have a solid base and sign two great players at a time."

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Juventus clash not decisive for Milan - Bonaventura

The Rossoneri midfielder is optimistic about his side's chances
of getting a good result against the Serie A champions.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/11/20/17531582/juve-clash-not-decisive-bonaventura?ICID=TP_HN_1

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Giacomo Bonaventura has stressed that Saturday's trip to Juventus will not be decisive for AC Milan in the race for Champions League qualification, but warns his side cannot play for a draw.

Sinisa Mihajlovic's men sit sixth in the Serie A table heading into Saturday's encounter, though the Italian champions will leapfrog them in the table if the Scudetto holders emerge victorious in Turin.

Bonaventura is unconcerned about the potential short-term consequences, though, and is hopeful of getting a positive result.

"There is still a long way to go and lots of points up for grabs. It’s not a must-win match," Bonaventura told reporters.

"However, a side like ours that aims to finish in the leading positions cannot slip-up in these type of matches. We will try and prepare as best as possible.

"A draw wouldn’t be a bad result, but we cannot go there to play for a draw. We need to try and play well, put in a good display and win. We can accept any result providing we give a great performance.

"Every match is unique. A lot depends on how you approach the match. Versus Lazio, we were all eager to do well and we were in a great condition.

"Perhaps versus Atalanta [in a 0-0 draw before the international break] we didn’t give our all. Against these teams at the San Siro, we have to win.

"The Atalanta match will serve as a lesson to us for the future."
After a stuttering start, the Rossoneri have strung together an undefeated run of five games.

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Allegri: Juventus determined to beat
and overtake AC Milan

The ex-Rossoneri coach is targeting a victory over his old club,
who currently sit sixth, one place and two points above the Italian champions.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1036/coppa-italia/2015/11/20/17520362/allegri-juve-intent-on-overtaking-milan?ICID=TP_HN_2

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is determined to get one over on his former employers when the Serie A champions host AC Milan on Saturday.

Allegri spent four years at San Siro between 2010 and 2014, guiding the Rossoneri to the Scudetto in his first season in charge.

Juve head into this weekend's encounter in Turin with 18 points from 12 games, trailing sixth-placed Milan by two points, so Allegri is thinking of nothing other than overhauling his old club in the standings.

"Juventus versus Milan is one of the most important games in the Italian football calendar," the Bianconeri boss told reporters on the eve of the game in Turin.

"Sinisa Mihajlovic is doing a good job. Milan will be in fighting for the top three spots alongside us.

"It's important to start stringing together a consistent run of results. Milan will be a tough opponent because they're in good form, but we want to keep climbing the table.

"Juventus have the best defenders in the business in Europe, but we need to improve our defensive play as a team.

"The aim is to beat and overtake Milan. It would give us momentum for the game against Manchester City [next week].

"In the next four days we have the chance to overtake Milan in the Serie A table and reach the Champions League knockout stages."

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

'Milan trail Juve in nothing'

http://www.football-italia.net/76012/milan-trail-juve-nothing?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Giacomo Bonaventura thinks Milan are 'hardly inferior' to Juventus: 'They're the ones looking from below'.

The midfielder will attempt to boost the Rossoneri's confidence and position in the standings with a win against the Old Lady, whom they will be playing tomorrow evening at 19:45.

“It's not an in or out game because there are many matches to be played from here until the end of championship,” he told Tuttosport. “But Milan can not and must not lose certain games.

“We want to win because it would send an important message to the whole championship. They've changed a lot, they lost some of their champions but they still have great players in their squad.

“We've bolstered our team and this gave us a bit more balance. Juventus were a problem when they killed Serie A, but they're not doing that this year and this is good for everyone.

“I'd hardly say we're inferior to Juve in anything, since they've got less points than we do.

“My role doesn't matter as much as the way the team is organised. If everyone knows what they're supposed to be doing, they know the movements to trouble the opponents and help the team, it's not a problem for me to play in the midfield or in the attacking trident, since the difference is only about ten metres.

“When I was at Atalanta, I played behind German Denis in the 4-2-3-1, which I liked because it gave me the liberty to do different things and create attacking play. At Milan, though, we don't have a player behind the striker.”

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Juventus v AC Milan: Preview

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/match/432139/juventus-ac-milan/preview?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Spanish striker Alvaro Morata knows he and his Juventus team-mates must put all thoughts of next week's crunch Champions League game against Manchester City to the side and put all of their focus on Saturday's home game against AC Milan.

The defending Italian champions, who take on City next Wednesday in Turin looking to join the English club in the last 16 of the competition, can not afford to drop points in Serie A.

They are in sixth place, nine points adrift of table-toppers Fiorentina and Inter Milan.

"Considering our current position in the standings, Saturday's game is a final," Morata said to giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "Our only focus is on the game against Milan and only after that game will we turn our attention to Wednesday's match."

Juve endured their worst ever start to a domestic campaign, winning just one of their opening six league games.

The Bianconeri got victories against Torino and Empoli prior to the international break, though, and will be looking to make it three league wins in a row for the first time this season.

"We are playing better and winning," Morata said. "Our fans have been patient when things didn't go well for us and I believe now we will repay that trust with good performances."

Morata is convinced his team will battle for the scudetto this season, provided they keep up their good run of form.

"In a different tournament, a nine-point difference would be considered too much, but in Serie A anything can happen," Morata said. "In Serie A, you can lose against any team and that is why I'm convinced we will return to lead the standings."

"Our aim is to get as many points as possible from here until Christmas."

Juve, coached by former AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri, will not be at full strength.

Defender Martin Caceres is sidelined with a thigh injury he sustained while on international duty with Uruguay.

Moreover, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and defender Stephan Lichsteiner picked up muscular injuries this week while representing Italy and Switzerland, respectively, and are doubtful.

Should Buffon fail to recover, Norberto Neto would play between the posts.

Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic is set to miss the encounter after sustaining a left ankle injury against Russia, leaving Paulo Dybala to partner Morata in Juve's attack.


AC Milan travel to Turin unbeaten since October 4.

The Rossoneri saw their three-match winning run halted in a goalless result against Atalanta last time out and they sit one place and two points clear of Juve.

"This game means just as much as the derby," AC Milan forward Luiz Adriano said to Milan Channel. "It's like a final."

"It's one of the most important games of the season."

"We know we will have to work very hard to win. Juve have a very strong defensive line and they are difficult team to beat."

Carlos Bacca, who is Milan's top scorer with six goals, will lead the Rossoneri's attack.

The visitors are without injured forward Mario Balotelli, who underwent surgery this week to fix a groin problem and will be sidelined until the new year.

Meanwhile, veteran goalkeeper Diego Lopez is unavailable with a knee injury which means 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma will earn his fifth straight start.

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Allegri: 'Juve opportunity'

http://www.football-italia.net/76013/allegri-juve-opportunity?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Coach Max Allegri views Juventus-Milan as 'an opportunity to climb one more step in the standings'.

The two Serie A giants clash tomorrow evening at 19:45, though inevitably Allegri's first comments in his Press conference went to the tragic events in Paris.

“It's a delicate historical moment, but we'll certainly play in total security,” he said. “I thought very much about my players in Paris and the moments they must have passed, along with everyone else there. Tomorrow should be a beautiful day of sport.

“I talked with the lads and they seemed fine. Pogba, Khedira and Evra passed some difficult moments.

“It's good that they returned to Turin and found a more stable atmosphere.”

The Old Lady lost many players to injury, and Allegri went through their conditions on the whole.

“We'll see today about Buffon's physical condition but it seems like he's fine, I just have to evaluate before confirming he can play tomorrow.

“Lichtsteiner and Mandzukic trained with the team, Caceres came in this morning and they'll have to evaluate the entity of his damage, if there was any.

“Asamoah is unavailable due to more trouble with his knee, his doctor in Barcelona estimated his recovery time at seven to ten days.

“Padoin should be available at the end of next week, while Pereyra is recovering well but will have to be evaluated in a week.”

Finally, Allegri discussed the game itself and what it means to him.

“Right now what we have to think of, as Juventus, is that tomorrow we have the opportunity to reach and overtake Milan.

“Juve-Milan is always one of the most important games in Serie A and our objective is to climb another spot in the standings. Tomorrow we have that opportunity.

“Then we'll be aiming to reach the next step in the Champions League, and then the Coppa Italia.

“What matters is making results consecutive. We won two games in a row, we hadn't done that yet this year.

“Tomorrow's game won't be easy, on the contrary. Milan are emerging from three wins and two draws, they're on a good path even though we're both very distant from the top of the standings.”

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Allegri: 'Here's Juve's injury data'

http://www.football-italia.net/76014/allegri-heres-juves-injury-data?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Max Allegri says Juventus are 'not the worst team in terms of injuries', and won't make forecasts ahead of the game against Milan.

It kicks off tomorrow evening at 20:45, and the Bianconeri will be hoping for a fit squad after a difficult year in terms of form.

“There haven't been 20 injuries,” said Allegri in today's Press conference, when presented with such a claim. “There have been 16, including 11 muscular injuries and 5 from overwork, in which the players stopped for 3 to 6 days.

“Last year we had 11 injuries by this point, 10 muscular ones and one from overwork. Last year's injuries that lasted more than 30 days were 5, this year they were 2.

“This is the data on the muscular injuries, showing this year we have only a couple more.

“We're not the worst team in terms of injuries, we're in the middle and we've got some work to do.

“There seems to be a saying that Allegri's teams are always injured, don't work properly and so on, but what matters is results and that's what I'm here for.

“Sometimes you're not as lucky, but things are comparable when you have a few more injuries in September, as we did last year, and a few more in October, as we did this year.

“What matters is resolving it and recovering the player as quickly as possible.”

Having trained both Milan and Juventus, Allegri was asked which player might make a difference.

“It's hard to say which player will be decisive tomorrow. I'm not a wizard, even though sometimes I hazard a prophecy.

“It's impossible to make Scudetto forecasts now because the teams ahead of us are unlikely to drop points now.

“We must do our part and try making more points. There are seven games to the end of the first half of the season and we'll draw conclusions after Christmas.

“These are four days to live with great passion, drive and tremendous enthusiasm, because we can overtake Milan and then move ahead in the Champions League on Wednesday, which can't be taken for granted yet as we still have a direct game in Seville.

“We'll have to be good, and tomorrow evening we'll need the help of every supporter to come and cheer the lads.

“They've always done that of course, but this is the right time to send a positive message, because we've won twice in a row and we had a good draw in Germany.

“We have to see things positively, conscious that our target is to fight for the top spots.

“The highest objective for Juventus is to win the championship and we'll have to give everything for that.

“On May 16 the championship will reward the most deserving team, so we have to get those points back.”

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Miha: ‘Juventus not decisive’

http://www.football-italia.net/76015/miha-%E2%80%98juventus-not-decisive%E2%80%99?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Milan Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic insists tomorrow’s match against Juventus will not be “decisive”.

The match is traditionally one of the biggest in Serie A, but both sides have endured mixed starts to the season, with the Rossoneri currently sixth, one place and two points ahead of their Turin rivals.

“It’s useless to talk about the importance of a match against Juventus,” Mihajlovic admitted in his pre-match Press conference.

“It’s important historically, and for the table. We’ll do our best to honour it to the full. We know that they’re strong and recovering, but I’m convinced we’ll play to their level, and to win.

“It’s an important game against a direct rival. We prepare for every game in the best way, and we know that if we play the way we can that we can cause them problems.

“We know that they’re strong, but we have the physical and mental abilities to play on the same level as them.

“There’s a bit of a strange atmosphere around Milan, it’s a tragedy when we lose, and when we win we could do better.

“This isn’t a game which is a matter of life and death. In the last games we’ve taken an average of 2.2 points, only Roma and Napoli have done better.

“There are seven games until the end of the first round, and I’m convinced we can maintain this average, but our goal is to get ahead in June.

“The draw against Atalanta was portrayed as a disaster, but I don’t think so. Of course, we could have done better.

“At the final whistle, we know that whatever the result will be, it won’t be decisive.”

Despite the difficulties reigning champions Juve have had in defending their title so far, Mihajlovic still believes they’re strong.

“I don’t look at other people’s houses. Max Allegri is a great Coach and I’m sure he’ll solve all the problems.”

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

JUVENTUS V AC MILAN MATCH PREVIEW

http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-v-ac-milan-match-preview-and-scouting/?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 

Juventus

Juventus arrive at this Calcio classic having won two straight Serie A matches in a row for the first time in this season, which is baffling considering that we are almost in December. This tells what kind of year has been so far. There is still a lot of time to recover considering that there is not a clear frontrunner in the Scudetto race and that the competitors are robbing points from each other, but the Old Lady needs to win matches of this magnitude to rekindle her title hopes, after losing to Napoli and Roma and drawing with Inter. This is the first big match the bianconeri play at the Juventus Stadium.

The last two performances were good enough to come away with three points, but the level of play still has to improve a lot. The most worrying aspect to me is that there always moments throughout the game where the team lowers the intensity level, loses all the momentum and allows the opponent to press them and create chance. Considering that the defensive phase has been poor this season, these pauses often lead to conceding. Torino played only 15 good minutes in the Derby della Mole, scored and almost doubled and Juventus were lucky to find the game-winner at the buzzer. Empoli outplayed bianconeri at the beginning of the match, thankfully we had a gutty reaction.

The squad has showed glimpses of his offensive prowess: the roster is loaded with strikers who are good scorers and other weapons, however the continuous schematic switches and, at times, the tactical confusion have not helped them creating much chemistry.

The coach should choose a tactic and stick with it. Considering that Hernanes has been a borderline train wreck and that Juan Cuadrado has been a star, it may as well be 4-3-3 or something very similar to it. It has some downsides: sometimes Alvaro Morata plays too wide and too deep to be effective; there is not any pure winger besides the Colombian ace; we have a sizeable attack built to play with two strikers; Paulo Dybala might not apt to spearhead a trident. But it is still better than the alternative, especially defensively, these issues are fixable and January is right around the corner.

At first, it looked like the international break was about to become a slaughter in terms of injuries, but luckily things got better as the days passed by: it appears that no player got significantly hurt, except for maybe the frail Martin Caceres. Gianluigi Buffon, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Mario Mandzukic were subbed off with various ailments in their respective matches: the goalkeeper and the defender due to hamstring problems, the striker because he rolled an ankle. However, they should all be good to go on Saturday night: the captain seems to be the one most in danger of missing the game, but there is optimism. Roberto Pereyra has not recovered from his hamstring injury, Kwadwo Asamoah is now nursing some knee soreness and Simone Padoin is out too.

4-3-3 is slated to be the choice for this one, even though 4-3-1-2 is reportedly gaining ground: in front of Buffon there will be for sure Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, most likely Patrice Evra and probably Lichtsteiner. Massimiliano Allegri will be able to field his best midfield: Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba. Juan Cuadrado has spent the break in Turin because he was disqualified so he has better chance to start than Dybala: at this point, we have understood that the real doubt is between the two dynamic playmakers and the formation obviously hinges upon that. Mandzukic would start in 4-3-3, Hernanes in 4-3-1-2, unless Allegri ditches his routine of alternating Cuadrado and Dybala in the attack.


Probable lineup 4-3-3

Buffon; Lichsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba; Cuadrado, Mandzukic, Morata.


Injuries:

Pereyra (hamstring), Asamoah (knee), Padoin (hamstring).

Suspended:

None


 

  AC Milan

Milan has been the most scrutinized team in the last few months. First, they have been involved in the sale of almost half of the stocks for a hefty sum to the Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol, a deal that has not been closed yet but should go through at some point in the near future. They hired an up-and-coming (ish) coach in Sinisa Mihajlovic and then conducted a rich reinforcement campaign to try to bring Milan back to its usual levels. Time will tell if they succeeded.

Their transfer windows has had more hits than misses: Carlos Bacca is a fantastic striker, Luiz Adriano was cheap and Alessio Romagnoli was worth the money because he is very young and already very good and could start for 15 years. On the other hand, Andrea Bertolacci is a good player who was coming off a splendid season with Genoa, but he is probably not the foundational piece his price tag suggests.

The problem lays more with what they were not able to do, rather than with the players they signed: they have not found the right partner for Romagnoli; the coach has rotated in and out Rodrigo Ely, Zapata, Alex and Philippe Mexes but neither has been good enough. Furthermore, they are one midfielder short: they needed a commander, somebody with charisma who could run the team and make everyone around him better. While you can understand why they did not go for a pure deep-lying playmaker that would have been difficult to use if the coach changed his mind about the tactic, which has happened, they should have acquired a difference maker. Juraj Kucka is a stopgap, he has been solid, but they needed much more.

So far, they had mixed results but things have gotten better over the last month, after the disastrous performance against Napoli. Mihajlovic first opted for a 4-3-1-2 lineup, trying to exploit the terrific offensive duo formed by Carlos Bacca and Luiz Adriano, with various, mostly unsuccessful, attempts to find the right no.10 and Nigel De Jong as pivot. He then switched to 4-3-3 reintroducing both Riccardo Montolivo and Alessio Cerci, who had both seen limited playing time up to that point, and the performances improved. The coach plans to use 4-4-2 in the future, which should be a good fit.

They have won three of their last five matches: just as it looked like they were picking up some serious steam after a stellar game at Olimpico against Lazio, which was previously unbeaten at home, they stumbled at San Siro against Atalanta, a match where a poor road team outperformed them. You do not know what you will get from Milan on any given game: they can either play at high level, with great intensity and grit or they can have a bland showing, where they let the opponents have the better of them and they are lucky to come away with points.

They are pretty depleted: Mario Balotelli underwent sports hernia surgery and will be out for a while, De Jong picked up an hamstring injury in the last few days, Diego Lopez is dealing with patellar tendinopathy, Jeremy Menez has been out all season with a back problem and Bertolacci is not all the way back from an hamstring ailment he suffered few weeks ago.

In front of Gianluigi Donnarumma, the 16-year-old goalkeeper who had supplanted a struggling Diego Lopez even before the injury, there should be Ignazio Abate, Mexes, Romagnoli and Luca Antonelli, even though Mattia De Sciglio and Alex definitely have a shot. The recent return of Mbaye Niang from a foot fracture allows them to slot Giacomo Bonaventura in the midfield in the Bertolacci spot, alongside Kucka and Montolivo. If they decide to be a little more defensive, Bonaventura will play in the trident and Andrea Poli in the midfield.

After the last international break, in the match against Torino, Mihajlovic decided to rest Bacca who had just returned from Colombia. The striker then entered the game and scored. It will be an interesting decision, but probably this game is too big to sideline your best player. In any case, Luiz Adriano is not a bad choice either.

Their main strength is that they can sting you at any moment: Bacca is always dangerous and can create for both himself and his teammates, Luiz Adriano is very physical and has scored some big goals. Bonaventura is having a nice season and Cerci, even though he is not back at his peak Torino form, adds some creativity and pace. The key will be to prevent them from feeding their forwards. They have improved defensively as of late, but they still tend to suffer under pressure.


Probable lineup 4-3-3

Donnarumma; Abate, Mexes, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Kucka, Montolivo, Bonaventura; Cerci, Bacca, Niang.


Injuries:

Balotelli (groin), Diego Lopez (knee), Bertolacci (hamstring), Menez (back), De Jong (hamstring).

Suspended:

None

 

Formation

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Juventus vs. AC Milan: Complete
Player-by-Player Comparison

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2591171-juventus-vs-ac-milan-complete-player-by-player-comparison?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
On Saturday, for the first time since 2012, AC Milan and Juventus will meet in a truly significant game.

It's not quite how the two storied clubs are used to doing it. Rather than battling for the top spot, the Bianconeri and Rossoneri are fighting it out closer to the middle of the table, just below the European qualification zone. Going into the game, Milan are in sixth place with 20 points—two ahead of seventh-placed Juve and two behind Sassuolo for fifth.

The meaning of this game cannot be understated. If Milan win, they can consolidate the momentum from a run that has seen them claim eight points from four games and get themselves back into the conversation for the top five. If Juve take the points, it will vault them ahead of Milan, potentially kick-starting a run to the top three and even, if things go their way, back into the conversation for defending their title.

One thing Juventus have going for them is home field advantage—a rarity this year, as almost all their big games in the first half of the season have been on the road. This could be especially good against Milan.

The Rossoneri have lost all four of their league visits to Turin since the Juventus Stadium opened and have been outscored 9-3. They were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia semifinals in 2011-12 despite drawing 2-2 at the new ground.

As this big matchup looms, Bleacher Report will delve into the projected starting XI's and compare them head-to-head, giving each unit a score out of 100 and seeing where the edge lies in each phase of the game. Our prediction is that both teams will line up in 4-3-3 sets.

Who has the upper hand—on paper anyway—going into Saturday's showdown? Let's look and find out.


Goalkeepers

Gianluigi Buffon vs. Gianluigi Donnarumma

The goalkeeping matchup could not see two more different opposing players.

Gianluigi Buffon is heading toward end of his career—though he is by no means finished—and will go down in history as one of, if not the greatest goalkeeper of all time. Gianluigi Donnarumma is a teenager, only four games into his professional career but with a ceiling that is perhaps higher than any Italian stopper since Buffon himself.

The youngster has turned in some truly impressive performances since Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic installed him as the starter over Diego Lopez after the Spaniard struggled to begin the year. It's entirely possible—probable even—that those struggles stemmed from the knee injury that has forced him to the sidelines for the time being.

With lightning-quick reflexes and surprising agility for such a tall young man, Donnarumma is still a raw product. He throws himself at every ball that comes his way, whether they're on target or not. Experience will allow him to judge just how much energy to expend in a given moment.

Experience is something Buffon has in spades. Thursday was the 20th anniversary of his Serie A debut for Parma, which ironically came against Milan. He kept a clean sheet that day, and he remained the youngest goalkeeper to ever play in Serie A—at least until Donnarumma broke his record.

He may not be the shot-stopper he was in his World Cup 2006-era prime, but the difference isn't all that much, and he remains as superior as ever in the other aspects of goalkeeping, particularly when it comes to marshaling his defense.

Donnarumma is hugely talented and his potential is off the charts, but even at 37, you can count the goalkeepers better than Buffon on one hand. The veteran has a clear edge here.


Scoring

BUFFON: 90

Donnarumma: 70



Full-Backs

Stephan Lichtsteiner vs. Ignazio Abate

Both right-backs will have busy days ahead of them. Stephan Lichtsteiner, who has been passed fit after leaving Switzerland's friendly on Tuesday with an apparent leg injury, as reported by Football Italia, will likely go up against Giacomo Bonaventura on Milan's left wing.

The fact that the former is playing at all so soon after heart surgery is astounding. The fact that he's played so well, even scoring against Borussia Monchengladbach, is even more impressive.

His score is downgraded slightly because of the potential for rust and the danger of aggravating his injury, which may be one of the few reasons he would slow down on the field. But if he can go full-bore, he'll be the same two-way pest on the flank that he always is.

Milan's right will likely be manned by Ignazio Abate—a good thing, because Mattia De Sciglio could've proved disastrous here. The younger man has been more disappointing by the game, and the promise he showed three years ago is almost all gone now.

Abate, on the other hand, has had a rough season. Injury has limited him to five games so far during the campaign, and he's been booked in two of them. He hasn't played since Milan's win against Chievo on October 28.

That said, he's going to have something of an easier matchup simply because the man who will likely play opposite him, Alvaro Morata, will be out of position on the wing. If Abate can suppress the young Spaniard and give himself a chance to get forward, it will be a boon to Milan's attack. Unfortunately for him, the answer to that question may rely on factors elsewhere—as we'll soon see.


Scoring

LICHTSTEINER: 79

Abate: 72



Patrice Evra vs. Luca Antonelli

The roles are reversed on the other side of the field. Patrice Evra gets a fairly good matchup in Alessio Cerci, who hasn't exactly been a world-beater since leaving Torino two summers ago.

Hit or miss from the right side in Milan's new-look 4-3-3, he could prove easy for the Frenchman to subdue, allowing him to get forward and combine with Paul Pogba in attack.

On Milan's side, Luca Antonelli will have to deal with Juan Cuadrado down his flank. Installed on the right wing as the season has progressed, the Colombian has been one of Juve's biggest offensive threats, despite his tendency to stop ball movement in favor of something fancy.

The way Juve have been playing this year, if Cuadrado is stifled, the Bianconeri could have a hard time getting quality looks at goal.

Evra gets the edge here, but only by virtue of experience.


Scoring

EVRA: 80

Antonelli: 78



Center Backs

Leonardo Bonucci vs. Alessio Romagnoli

Like the Buffon/Donnarumma matchup, this little mini-battle shows us a young player and the player he may eventually become.

Both Leonardo Bonucci and Alessio Romagnoli are great ball-playing center backs. While Romagnoli's career is only just getting started, the 28-year-old Bonucci is probably the best in the world at that category and has been for several years.

According to WhoScored.com, he has completed 85.5 percent of his passes in the league this season—up to 89.3 in the UEFA Champions League—and completes 8.3 long balls per match. With Andrea Pirlo gone, there may actually not be a better long passer in the team.

What stands out about Bonucci, though, is how much he's improved over the last four years. Going into the 2011-12 season, he was singled out as one of the main culprits in the failure of the '10-11 campaign under Luigi Del Neri. Since then, he has evolved, improving defensively every year while cultivating that passing skill. Now he's probably one of the 10 or 15 best center backs in the world, period.

Romagnoli, on the other hand, is just starting his career. He got his first taste of regular playing time last year on loan from Roma at Sampdoria, and followed Mihajlovic, his coach there, to Milan this summer for €25 million—a staggering fee for a 20-year-old defender.

More of a positional defender than a tackler, Romagnoli has played well this season, although there have been the occasional bouts of immaturity you expect from someone who wouldn't be old enough to buy a beer in the United States. He gave away a foolish penalty in the opening match against Fiorentina and was booked twice in 42 minutes against Genoa last month.

Even though the fault of that second booking lies more with Cristian Zapata, whose errant pass put him in an extremely awkward position, it's still clear there are wrinkles to be ironed out of his game. His passing, though, is excellent, with WhoScored clocking him at 85.9 percent completion. He may not be the long-ball artist Bonucci is yet, but he still averages four connections a game.

Bonucci is absolutely the better defender here, but Romagnoli is no slouch. In a few years, this could be a drastically different conversation.


Scoring

BONUCCI: 86

Romagnoli: 77



Giorgio Chiellini vs. Philippe Mexes

Giorgio Chiellini has been having problems. Much like the beginning of last season, he has been making some simple mistakes that have seen Gigi Buffon get dangerously exposed.

A good example came against Monchengladbach on November 3, when he reached behind himself to try to block a pass but only succeeded in tapping the ball to an onrushing attacker, who neatly slipped the ball to Fabian Johnson, who scored the opening goal.

It's been little mistakes like that that have marred Chiellini's season. Juve fans can take solace in the fact that he started the season in the same way last year and came back with a vengeance after the winter break. Fans will be hoping for the start of a similar resurgence as soon as possible.

Even with all the mistakes, his score is quite high, but it could be much, much higher if he were playing in good form.

Fortunately for him, it doesn't take much to overtake a player like Philippe Mexes, who has emerged as the fourth man Sinisa Mihajlovic has attempted to pair with Romagnoli. Injuries, suspensions and ineffectiveness have prevented a true center back duo from forming, and now it's Mexes' turn to answer the call.

While he is capable of the spectacular—his incredible volley against Inter in the pre-season International Champions Cup is a finalist for the Puskas Award this year—he is just as capable of making bone-headed mistakes. Or losing his mind and trying to choke someone.

A capable defender when in top form, if he's anything less, he's a red card waiting to happen. Chiellini has a clear edge over him.


Scoring

CHIELLINI: 81

Mexes: 68



Midfielders

Claudio Marchisio vs. Riccardo Montolivo

Now we get into where the game will likely be decided. The old adage is win the midfield, win the game, and this could be where injuries come out to doom Milan.

The regista position for both teams will be manned by men who have the distinction of replacing Andrea Pirlo in the role for their respective teams. Montolivo was brought in in 2012 to do so after Pirlo moved to Juve and so brilliantly proved to Milan that he wasn't done after all.

Marchisio, who has played the position several times over the last few years if Pirlo missed time due to injury, is now the full-time occupant of the spot.

Neither one is Pirlo—but, of course, no one ever will be again. Marchisio in particular plays the position in a very different way, with more speed and power. Montolivo plays as more of a traditional regista, graceful and more deliberate.

What sets the two apart is form and their defensive abilities. Marchisio is coming off two excellent games for Italy over the international break and may finally be finding his sea legs after injuries kept him off the field for an extended period of time at the beginning of the year.

Montolivo, who wasn't even a starter for Mihajlovic until three games into the season, has been playing OK, but not dazzling.

Look for Marchisio to have an edge here.


Scoring

MARCHISIO: 83

Montolivo: 78



Sami Khedira vs. Juraj Kucka

Here is where Milan's weakness in midfield will start to take its toll. Juraj Kucka has been a pleasant surprise so far this season, offering a surprising amount of attacking flair when he was first inserted into the starting lineup. He's more of a physical mid, though, and that flair has receded of late.

Kucka is a good player, but he's not in Sami Khedira's league. The impact Khedira has had on Juventus has been extraordinary. Kept out until the end of September after suffering a thigh injury in preseason, he made his Juve debut in the Champions League against Sevilla and was immediately a key factor in stifling the UEFA Europa League champions. Five days later he scored his first goal for the team against Bologna.

Even more impactful than anything he's done on the field is what his presence has done for the rest of the team, particularly Paul Pogba. When thrust into the role of midfield leader while Khedira and Marchisio were out, the young Frenchman clearly tried to do too much. With Khedira back, he immediately calmed down and began playing his game better.

His experience is also a valuable asset. He spent five years at Real Madrid, advancing to the semifinal of the Champions League or better every time. There's also that little matter of the World Cup two summers ago.

There's a clear advantage for Juve here, as Khedira's two-way contributions as a box-to-box midfielder clearly outstrip Kucka's more one-dimensional game.


Scoring

KHEDIRA: 83

Kucka: 75



Paul Pogba vs. Andrea Poli

This is the real clincher of the midfield matchup. If Andrea Bertolacci were healthy, it would still be advantage Juve—few players can match Pogba when he's in form—but the gulf between Andrea Poli and Pogba is quite a bit wider.

As said before, the return of Marchisio and Khedira to the team has done wonders for Pogba, who is now much more in control of himself. His divine assist to Stephan Lichtsteiner against Monchengladbach was a sign that he's finally settled in and that the pressures of the team's turnover, his new No. 10 shirt and the potential of a big-money move away from the team are finally being overcome.

Poli is a limited player. He runs hard and can be an asset defensively, but he offers little going forward. That's the key theme of Milan's entire midfield in the absence of Bertolacci. Against Atalanta before the international break, Milan's midfield was overrun and played almost the whole game on the back foot.

Unless Mihajlovic surprises everyone and throws Jose Mauri into the game, there will be very little in the way of attacking impetus in this trio. He could move Giacomo Bonaventura back into a box-to-box role, but while he has been Milan's best player this year, his defensive weaknesses could be exposed in that spot—especially against a midfield as talented as Juve's.

Pogba and Co. can smother this midfield going forward—and that could make it a very long night for Milan.


Scoring

POGBA: 85

Poli: 68



Wingers

Alvaro Morata vs. Giacomo Bonaventura

Finally, we come to an area where Milan has an advantage.

It comes somewhat by default, as Alvaro Morata is not a natural on the left wing and his best attributes have been stifled by playing there. But with Hernanes untrustworthy as a trequartista and Roberto Pereyra injured, the 4-3-3 is really the best option available to Massimiliano Allegri, and putting Morata on the wing is the best way to get one of his better players on the field.

Bonaventura, on the other hand, has played very well from the wing. A natural trequartista, he has adapted to the role much better than Morata, even if he does drift back inside quite a bit. He assisted on two of the three goals Milan scored against Lazio two weeks ago and has generally been Milan's most dangerous man, scoring twice and notching five assists so far this season.

Morata would be rated much higher here if he were playing in his natural striker position, but he's not, and Jack has him beat as a head-to-head comparison.


Scoring

Morata: 77

BONAVENTURA: 82



Juan Cuadrado vs. Alessio Cerci

Two players coming off bad experiences abroad and then returning to Serie A to better their fortunes, Juan Cuadrado and Alessio Cerci will be testing the right wing for their respective teams.

Cuadrado has wowed fans with his pace and dribbling skills—even if there hasn't been all that much to show for it in the end. He's notched three assists this year and scored a miracle last-second goal in the Derby della Mole, but all too often, a fast attacking move has ended at Cuadrado's feet. Rather than keep the ball going, he stops it and gets fancy—oftentimes too fancy.

Still, there's no denying that he's been a much-needed boost for a team that had been struggling to get the ball from the midfield to the attacking third. There's also no denying he's been better than Cerci, who barely played at all until Milan's switch to the 4-3-3 formation.

Cerci hasn't scored or assisted this year, and WhoScored's stats show he isn't creating chances, averaging 0.9 key passes per match as opposed to Cuadrado's 2.3.

Cuadrado has been the more productive player between the two, and he gets the edge here.


Scoring

CUADRADO: 79

Cerci: 72



Strikers

Simone Zaza vs. Carlos Bacca

Why is Simone Zaza projected as a starter here? Because Mario Mandzukic might not be fit enough to start after suffering an injury on international duty, and Paulo Dybala only returned to Turin from CONMEBOL qualifying with Argentina on Thursday.

Given that lack of option—and the tendencies of Max Allegri—it's logical to assume that Zaza would get the call here. If that's the case, Milan has a huge edge in one of the most important areas of the field.

Zaza runs hard and can unleash some powerful shots if he gets into the right spots with the ball. But his first touch lets him down far too often, and he's been giving the ball away much more than he's been menacing the opposing goal. He has the talent to be a very good player, but he's not putting it all together right now.

A man who is putting it all together right now is Carlos Bacca. The Colombia international has scored six times in 12 appearances this year and is finding the target at a record clip. Squawka.com lists his shot accuracy at 64 percent.

He's needed to be accurate, because his teammates have struggled to get him good service. According to WhoScored, he averages only 1.6 shots per game, a comically low number for such a good striker. Even Zaza is averaging 2.2 in limited minutes.

Why would Bacca be starting after coming home from qualifiers when Dybala wouldn't? Because Milan have no Champions League game to look ahead to this week—and because the last time he was a substitute after the international break Luiz Adriano had a terrible game.

Bacca will be going up against one of Europe's best defensive units and could find service as hard to come by as usual, but if he does get through, Buffon is going to have to be on his toes. If everything comes out right, he could help Milan steal one.


Scoring

Zaza: 68

BACCA: 87

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Bertolacci to miss Juventus

http://www.football-italia.net/76028/bertolacci-miss-juventus?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Andrea Bertolacci will miss Milan’s trip to Juventus, as he’s not named in Sinisa Mihajlovic’s squad.

The midfielder has been struggling with injury, and has not been deemed fit enough to make the trip to Turin for tomorrow’s match.

Ignazio Abate and Giacomo Bonaventura have been named in the 24-man squad, along with Carlos Bacca.

The Rossoneri can put five points between themselves and the defending champions with a win at Juventus Stadium.


Milan squad to face Juventus:

Abbiati, Donnarumma, Livieri, Antonelli, Alex, Abate, Calabria, De Sciglio, Ely, Mexes, Romagnoli, Zapata, Bonaventura, Nocerino, Mauri, Kucka, Montolivo, Poli, Suso, Bacca, Cerci, Honda, Luiz Adriano, Niang

 

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

[Socrates 8524]

JUVENTUS - MILAN

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 13
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni

Mandzukic, Buffon in Juventus squad

http://www.football-italia.net/76029/mandzukic-buffon-juventus-squad?

 
Nov 20, 2015
 
Mario Mandzukic and Gianluigi Buffon are both fit enough to be in the Juventus squad to face Milan.

The pair, along with full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner were in doubt for tomorrow’s match, after picking up injuries on international duty.

Goalkeeper Buffon declared yesterday that he was likely to be fit, while Mandzukic and Lichtsteiner both trained with the rest of the squad.

All three have been included in Coach Massimiliano Allegri’s 22-man squad, but Martin Careers and Kwadwo Asamoah are not yet deemed ready.


Juventus squad to face Milan:

Buffon, Chiellini, Khedira, Zaza, Marchisio, Morata, Pogba, Hernanes, Alex Sandro, Barzagli, Cuadrado, Mandzukic, Lemina, Bonucci, Dybala, Rugani, Neto, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Evra, Rubinho, Vitale

 

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