Juventus Season 2015-2016

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

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MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus' depth to be put to
the test in Empoli encounter

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2841256/juventus-depth-to-be-put-to-the-test-in-empoli-encounter

Apr 1, 2016
 
With the international break now over, normality resumes and Juventus face Empoli on Saturday night in a must win clash. While it was hoped this would be an easy home fixture against a side that has not managed a win since Jan. 10, the many injuries and absences the Bianconeri are suffering from will ensure a tough test against a team eager to right their wrongs.

Winless against the Old Lady since April 1999, Marco Giampaolo's current side boast balance and skill but perhaps lack the opportunistic nature of a truly successful side, as well as the maturity required to beat a top club. However, they are not facing the best XI that Juve have to offer. With Leonardo Bonucci, Sami Khedira and Alex Sandro suspended, Juventus are missing three extraordinarily intelligent players who give a lot to the team. Additionally, Paulo Dybala is injured, Andrea Barzagli is a doubt and it's unlikely Claudio Marchisio will be deployed from the start as he's yet to fully recover from his injury.

The beauty of this Juve side and the reason many believe they will win their fifth successive Scudetto is their strength in depth. Daniele Rugani will start at the back against his former side and he is likely to be accompanied by Giorgio Chiellini, who is thought to have fully recovered. Set to play a 4-3-1-2 shape, Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata will most likely start while Roberto Pereyra is due to be deployed behind them to allow for creativity -- a great forward line considering Empoli's defensive problems.

The Tuscans have conceded the most headed goals this season and if Mandzukic is offered the service he requires, he should be able to punish a backline that has conceded 18 goals in their last 10 matches. The Croatian has yet to score a goal for his club in 2016 and has struggled to make an impact since returning from injury. A player who prioritises a sacrificial game up top, acting as the first line of defence to ensure security, manager Massimiliano Allegri is right when he says Mandzukic must learn to be a little less generous. He has always worked tirelessly to win back possession and fight hard to help his teammates, but he must also learn how to adapt his game at times and act accordingly.

Had Mandzukic helped to push Juventus forward against Bayern Munich when he was introduced perhaps he would have encouraged them to not fall so deep to defend. Of course, he cannot be blamed for what occurred after the 70th minute of the second leg Champions League clash against the Bavarians, but as Juve's most experienced forward, he must read game situations better and at times, change his priorities for the sake of the team.

Against Empoli, the Bianconeri don't need the forward to defend as much so it's vital Mandzukic acts as a reference point and helps penetrate what is likely to be an organised defence. Having scored while on international duty, the hope is Mandzukic has recovered the confidence required to return to scoring in the Bianconeri jersey.

While Giampaolo's side have struggled to score the goals they need to seal maximum points, they have proved to be better when playing away from home, with Massimo Maccarone scoring the goals to drive the team forward.

Empoli may not be the toughest fixture in Juve's calendar but these are the games to be feared the most. The Bianconeri have at times underestimated their opponent, playing a nonchalant game that has resulted in embarrassing performances. Napoli, only three points behind, are determined to play each game at their maximum level in hopes Juve will slip up. Allegri will be hoping his players will show the same intensity in this match as they would in a big game against a better opponent.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

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MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus - Empoli
MATCH PREVIEW

http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/preview/70120

Apr 1, 2016
 
A mighty task awaits off-form Empoli as they travel to Turin on Saturday night to face decimated leaders Juventus.

Juve will be looking to notch up their fifth consecutive Serie A victory and extend their unbeaten run to 21 following on from derby victory last time out.

However, Leonardo Bonucci is suspended along with teammates Alex Sandro and Sami Khedira, while Claudio Marchisio is still sidelined, plus Giorgio Chiellini and Paulo Dybala are not 100 per cent fit. Max Allegri will be looking to Mario Mandzukic to arrest his goal drought, a run which now stands at 10 games in all club competition, though he did find the net for Croatia over the break.

Looking to stamp his authority in the first team will be Daniele Rugani, the 20-year-old who did so well on loan at Empoli last season. Rugani will be looking for only his third start of this term, having played every minute under Maurizio Sarri last season without a booking.

It’s been a topsy turvy season for Empoli. Two wins from the opening nine games was followed by eight in the next 13 before the Azzurri’s current run of no wins in 11, including six defeats. Empoli have kept just one clean sheet in that run, a goalless draw at Atalanta, coinciding with key defenders Mario Rui and Lorenzo Tonelli having suffered a dip in form.

Coupled with key talisman Riccardo Saponara having not scored or assisted in four games and leading scorer Massimo Maccarone failing to find the net in that time either, and these are troubled times for Marco Giampaolo’s men. Goals haven’t been hard to come by, though, with 11 different scorers so far this season, the highest outside the top 10.

Unsurprisingly it’s Juve who dominate the head to head in this fixture, with 14 victories to Empoli’s two. Can Sarri’s former club do the Napoli Coach a massive favour in the Scudetto race?


Keep an eye on: Paul Pogba (Juventus) - Outstanding in the Derby della Mole, key for France twice, the gifted midfielder is truly starting to live up to his potential.


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

Last season: Juventus 2-0 Empoli

Stat fact: Marco Giampaolo’s record against Juve is hopeless with seven defeats from seven meetings. However, his tally against Max Allegri gives slightly more hope with two wins, one draw and three losses.


Juventus (probable):
Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Rugani, Barzagli, Evra; Pogba, Hernanes, Asamoah; Cuadrado; Mandzukic, Morata

Suspended: Bonucci, Alex Sandro, Khedira


Empoli (probable):
Skorupski; Laurini, Costa, Tonelli, Rui; Zielinski, Paredes, Croce; Saponara; Pucciarelli, Maccarone

Suspended: None

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

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MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus vs. Empoli match preview

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/4/2/11274976/juventus-empoli-2016-serie-a-round-31-preview-team-news-schedule

Apr 2, 2016
 
Understandably, there has been a lot of attention given in regard to Gigi Buffon's recently-completed shutout streak. All 973 minutes worth of it has been talked about, written about, even made the subject of a YouTube video by the Juventus social media team of the same length of time. (Tell me if you've watched the whole thing because that's dedication.)

I bring this up not just because of what San Gigi just accomplished, but it puts thing in perspective, too. That's mainly because when Juventus and Empoli kickoff on Saturday, there will be fewer minutes remaining in the Serie A season than how long Buffon's streak ended up going.

Eight games is all that's left between now and the end of the 2015-16 season. A lot can happen over the next six weeks, but that's certainly something we don't simply take lightly because of where Juventus are when it comes to the league standings.

JuventusFC ✔ ‎@juventusfcen
.@OfficialAllegri: "#JuveEmpoli marks the beginning of a mini eight-game championship. Our job is to maintain our lead at the top."

Eight games. That's it. That's all the separates Juventus from making even more history — a fifth straight Serie A title and another party at Juventus Stadium to close out the season. Juventus have the slightest of room for error because of the three-point lead over Napoli. But I can safely say that one misstep, a Napoli win, and things are back on even terms with only a handful of games remaining.

Of course, as we've outlined, nothing is going to be a cakewalk from here on out. Even with Empoli cooling off and entering Saturday night's game without a win in its last six games, they've proven to be a tough out for plenty of teams this season. Until the recent slide, finishing in the top third of the table was a conceivable possibility.

But now that Empoli are in the situation it finds itself in form-wise, it's another chance for Juve to solidify their three-point lead atop the standings at the very least. Taking care of business, right? That's what we like to call it sometimes.

Fernando Llorente is confident Juventus can close things out and win a fifth consecutive Scudetto. If they get things done against Empoli, then they'd be one step closer to making Nando look like a freakin' genius.


GOOD NEWS

JUVENTUS BACK JUVENTUS BACK


BAD NEWS

Leonardo Bonucci is suspended. Alex Sandro is suspended. Claudio Marchisio is injured. Paulo Dybala is injured. Sami Khedira is injured. Andrea Barzagli is called up by Max Allegri, but not expected to start after picking up a muscle injury at the start of the international break. Hey, if you didn't notice, that's nearly 50 percent of Juventus' usual starting lineup. This stinks.


WHAT TO WATCH FOR

1. What formation does Allegri go with?

In all likelihood, the limited options in the center of defense rules out the 3-5-2. Does the limited options in the center of the midfield mean that a 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-3 is out of the equation, too? Look at the list of the 21 players called up for Empoli's visit to Juventus Stadium, and you'll see that options are limited for Allegri. And when options have been limited either in defense or midfield lately, it's been a 4-4-2 formation with Paul Pogba on quasi left winger but not totally a left winger. Or, in shorter terms, Pogba has played as a mezzala while Juan Cuadrado has bombed up and down the right wing. Is that the right move? I guess with all things considered it's not like Allegri can really do a lot. The way Juve have played when Allegri fields the 4-4-2 hasn't exactly been completely inspiring, but they've continued to win, so I guess I can't complain too much.

Or, you know, we can just see what Max said about his starting lineup at his latest pre-match press conference...

JuventusFC ✔ ‎@juventusfcen
.@OfficialAllegri: "If we played as a three in defence, who would take @bonucci_leo19's place? How about @gianluigibuffon!"

Hey, that's funny! Max made a funny!


2. Can Álvaro Morata keep his good run of form going?

Fun with small sample sizes: Who has been Juventus' best player the last two games going into the international break? If Morata isn't the No. 1 option, then he's certainly up there. He has certainly taken advantage of playing time in recent games — and that's even if he's not scheduled to start, too. Much like his national team as a whole, Morata didn't do much of anything during the international break. Not that it means much of anything mainly because Spain were pretty meh as a whole. Morata has been explosive while wearing a Juve jersey over the last couple of weeks. That run against Bayern Munich will be something that will never leave my brain. And to come on for Dybala in the Turin derby and deliver the last two nails to Torino's coffin, that's two very good performances to build off of. So with no Dybala in the lineup, it's going to be interesting to see how Morata and Mario Mandzukic play off one another. If anything, we know that Morata's got some confidence going again. And knowing how streaky of a striker he can be doesn't hurt, either.


3. Daniele Rugani against his former club.

Rugani is expected to get the start with Bonucci suspended and Barzagli likely starting on the bench after being in a race to be healthy for the weekend, and it will undoubtedly be a special kind of game for the 21-year-old defender if that is the case. It was at Empoli where Rugani truly broke onto the calcio scene and established himself as one of the brightest prospects in all of Italy. And after not playing in the first Juve-Empoli game, Rugani will now get to play against his former team on his home turf. We know this because Allegri all but guaranteed Rugani will start against Empoli at Friday's pre-match press conference. Based on the way Rugani has played lately, he fully deserves a little boost in playing time. What better way to show that you're playing like the guy from last season while playing against the team you were with last season? Only makes sense to me.


My starting lineup

Juventus XI (4-4-2-ish):

Gianluigi Buffon; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Daniele Rugani, Giorgio Chiellini, Patrice Evra; Juan Cuadrado, Stefano Sturaro, Hernanes, Paul Pogba; Mario Mandzukic, Álvaro Morata

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Corsi: 'Napoli called about Juve!'

http://www.football-italia.net/82196/corsi-napoli-called-about-juve?

Apr 2, 2016
 
Empoli President Fabrizio Corsi joked he’s getting “thousands of calls from Napoli” ahead of tonight’s game with Juventus.

It kicks off in Turin at 20.45 CET - 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

Only three points separate Juve from Napoli at the top of the Serie A table and ex-Empoli Coach Maurizio Sarri will be hoping his old club do him a favour.

“We are receiving thousands of phone calls from Naples ahead of the Juve match,” laughed President Corsi on Radio Marte.

“The friendship with Sarri does count for a lot. We’ll go there to play our game and I hope to see the Empoli of a few months back.

“We have lost our way a little in terms of identity and style of football, while the team also felt the effects of Lorenzo Tonelli and Riccardo Saponara not being fully fit.

“We hope to rediscover the right energy and motivation. We’re four points away from securing safety and we can’t wait to get there.”

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Line-ups: Juventus-Empoli

http://www.football-italia.net/82231/line-ups-juventus-empoli?

Apr 2, 2016
 
Juventus are forced to reshuffle with Daniele Rugani, Roberto Pereyra and Claudio Marchisio against Riccardo Saponara’s Empoli.

It kicks off at 20.45 CET, 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

The Bianconeri are top of the Serie A table, but return from international duty with a decimated squad.

Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro and Sami Khedira are all suspended, while Paulo Dybala and Martin Caceres are injured.

The good news for Max Allegri is that Giorgio Chiellini and Marchisio are back in action following muscular problems.

Rugani is given the chance to shine against his old club alongside Andrea Barzagli – who also pulled out of international duty with an injury.

Pereyra is chosen to bolster the midfield, while Alvaro Morata partners Mario Mandzukic in an unusually bulky attack.

Empoli have been in poor form recently, without a win in the last 11 rounds, including six defeats, keeping just one clean sheet in that run.

Manuel Pucciarelli partners veteran Massimo Maccarone, who opened the scoring when Juve beat Empoli 3-1 in November.

Vincent Laurini and Marko Livaja are ruled out by injury, so Luca Bittante starts at right-back.

Empoli have defeated Juve only once in their last 13 competitive meetings, a 2-1 Coppa Italia result in December 2007.

There was a 0-0 stalemate in 2008 and a spectacular 3-3 draw in 2004, but the most recent Serie A victory was 1-0 in April 1999.

The Tuscans do not have a good record in Turin, managing one point from nine Serie A visits, scoring four goals and conceding 25.


Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Rugani, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Morata, Mandzukic

Juventus bench: Neto, Rubinho, Romagna, Padoin, Lemina, Sturaro, Hernanes, Asamoah, Cuadrado, Zaza


Empoli: Skorupski; Bittante, Tonelli, Costa, Mario Rui; Zielinski, Paredes, Buchel; Saponara; Pucciarelli, Maccarone

Empoli bench: Pugliesi, Pelagotti, Zambelli, Croce, Maiello, Diousse, Piu, Cosic, Camporese, Krunic

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

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MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

HT 1-0: Mandzukic breaks Empoli down

http://www.football-italia.net/82237/ht-mandzukic-breaks-empoli-down?

Apr 2, 2016
 
Mario Mandzukic has given Juventus the half-time lead, but Empoli have had their fair share of chances too.

The Bianconeri had a decimated squad, as Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro and Sami Khedira were suspended, plus Paulo Dybala and Martin Caceres injured, but Claudio Marchisio, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli were thrown in from the start after muscular problems. The visitors were without a win in 11 rounds and missed Vincent Laurini and Marko Livaja.

Alvaro Morata was sparky from the start, having a couple of shots charged down and a back-heel flick from a corner whistling just wide.

However, Empoli wasted a golden opportunity to go in front after 13 minutes when Lorenzo Tonelli’s diving header from a corner was deflected and Riccardo Saponara ballooned over from six yards.

Mario Mandzukic was sent clear by an inspired Paul Pogba through ball, but fired straight at Lukasz Skorupski one-on-one.

Morata was unlucky not to open the scoring when his fantastic right-foot curler smacked against the the crossbar at the far top corner.

Moments later Gigi Buffon had to palm a Manuel Pucciarelli strike round the post and Massimo Maccarone’s glancing header was deflected wide off teammate Saponara.

There was controversy on the half-hour mark when Morata was clearly brought down by Luca Bittante, but the penalty was not given because the offside flag was already up. However, replays of the moment Stephan Lichtsteiner hit his shot – parried by Skorupski – confirm the Spaniard was marginally offside.

Juve found the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time when Pogba’s chipped pass met a Mandzukic cushioned header from six yards, as Mario Rui was keeping everyone in play.


Juventus 1-0 Empoli (Half-Time)

Scorers: Mandzukic 44 (J)

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Rugani, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pereyra, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Morata, Mandzukic

Empoli: Skorupski; Bittante, Tonelli, Costa, Mario Rui; Zielinski, Paredes, Buchel; Saponara; Pucciarelli, Maccarone

Ref: Calvarese

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')
 
 

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus 1-0 Empoli: Mandzukic
bags decisive goal for leaders

The Croatian popped up with a diving header right before half time to seal
another vital three points for the Bianconeri in the Serie A title race.

http://www.goal.com/en/match/juventus-vs-empoli/2120676/report

Apr 2, 2016
 
Juventus squeezed past Empoli 1-0 on Saturday night thanks to Mario Manzdukic's winner as they extended their run of unbeaten games to 21 in Serie A.

The Italian champions extended their lead at the top of the Serie A table to six points but were made to work hard by the minnows.

Massimiliano Allegri's men had Mandzukic to thank for the winner and another three points, after he turned Paul Pogba's delivery past Lorenzo Skorupski.

The Bianconeri had multiple chances to double their lead after finding the breakthrough but were thwarted each time by the visitors' custodian.

Despite that, the Turin giants still picked straight up from where they left off before the international break, recording a seventh successive home win and 12th straight clean sheet in Serie A.

They barely missed a beat despite being without Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro and Sami Khedira through suspension, while forward Paulo Dybala was missing from the squad due to a muscular injury.

The champions now sit six points clear at the summit, although nearest rivals Napoli can cut the gap in half with victory away at Udinese on Sunday.

Empoli, meanwhile, have now failed to register a win in their last 12 league outings, a worrying run that has seen them slip into the bottom half of the table.

They had their opportunities to strike first in a lively opening half that could easily have contained more than one goal.

Mandzukic had fired a left-footed drive too close to goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski after being set free by a beautifully disguised reverse pass from Pogba, but the same duo combined again to break the deadlock just before the break.

Pogba’s clever footwork on the left created enough space for him to drift over a teasing cross that Mandzukic gratefully steered into the net.

Alvaro Morata also hit the woodwork with a curling attempt from outside the area, but Empoli were not without opportunities at the other end.

Riccardo Saponara wasted their best opening, the midfielder blazing over from close range after the ball had dropped perfectly into his path at a corner.

Massimo Maccarone – who scored his side's goal in the 3-1 loss in the reverse fixture – also failed to get a header on target against a Juventus defence that included Empoli old boy Daniele Rugani.

Morata was denied early in the second half by Skorupski, although the goalkeeper nearly gifted Juventus a second goal with an air shot when trying to make a clearance outside his area. He was fortunate no opposing player was close enough to seize on the mistake.

Juventus should have made sure of the win in injury time, only for Skorupski to somehow block substitute Kwadwo Asamoah's point-blank effort after Morata's low drive had been parried.

Pogba and Simone Zaza also went close to settling any late nerves for the home side, yet one goal proved enough for Allegri's shorthanded squad to clinch the points.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')
 

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Mandzukic keeps Juve on top

Mario Mandzukic broke his three-month Serie A goal
drought as Juventus squeezed past Empoli 1-0.

http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/70120

Apr 2, 2016
 
The Bianconeri had a decimated squad, as Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro and Sami Khedira were suspended, plus Paulo Dybala and Martin Caceres injured, but Claudio Marchisio, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli were thrown in from the start after muscular problems. The visitors were without a win in 11 rounds and missed Vincent Laurini and Marko Livaja.

Alvaro Morata was sparky from the start, having a couple of shots charged down and a back-heel flick from a corner whistling just wide.

However, Empoli wasted a golden opportunity to go in front after 13 minutes when Lorenzo Tonelli’s diving header from a corner was deflected and Riccardo Saponara ballooned over from six yards.

Mario Mandzukic was sent clear by an inspired Paul Pogba through ball, but fired straight at Lukasz Skorupski one-on-one.

Morata was unlucky not to open the scoring when his fantastic right-foot curler smacked against the the crossbar at the far top corner.

Moments later Gigi Buffon had to palm a Manuel Pucciarelli strike round the post and Massimo Maccarone’s glancing header was deflected wide off teammate Saponara.

There was controversy on the half-hour mark when Morata was clearly brought down by Luca Bittante, but the penalty was not given because the offside flag was already up. However, replays of the moment Stephan Lichtsteiner hit his shot – parried by Skorupski – confirm the Spaniard was marginally offside.

Juve found the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time when Pogba’s chipped pass met a Mandzukic cushioned header from six yards, as Mario Rui was keeping everyone in play. That was the Croatian’s first Serie A goal since December 20 against Carpi.

Morata tested Skorupski from the tightest of angles, but Chiellini aggravated the same old calf injury again and Juve moved to 4-4-2.

Skorupski got away with a howler of a fresh-air clearance, able to scramble back before Juan Cuadrado could pounce, but Empoli lost Saponara to a calf injury too.

Simone Zaza came off the bench and within seconds was booked for a double foul, while Rugani smartly prevented his former teammate Maccarone from turning in the box and Piotr Zielinski fired straight at Buffon.

Kwadwo Asamoah volleyed wide from a corner and in the final minute Pogba spun on the edge of the box for a curler that skimmed the woodwork.

Skorupski kept the scoreline down with a triple save in stoppages. He got down to beat away a Morata daisy-cutter, scrambled the loose ball off the foot of Asamoah and got back up to deny Zaza’s acrobatic volley.

Skorupski was again decisive, flying to palm a Zaza strike out from under the bar.


Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Rugani, Chiellini (Cuadrado 53); Lichtsteiner, Pereyra (Asamoah 81), Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Morata, Mandzukic (Zaza 66)

Empoli: Skorupski; Bittante, Tonelli, Costa, Mario Rui; Zielinski, Paredes, Buchel (Croce 53); Saponara (Piu 59); Pucciarelli, Maccarone (Krunic 74)

Ref: Calvarese

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')
 

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus 1-0 Empoli: Bianconeri
Squeeze Past Defiant Azzurri

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/04/juventus-1-0-empoli-bianconeri-squeeze-past-defiant-azzurri/?

Apr 2, 2016
 
Despite a valiant effort from Empoli, the Azzurri came up just short, falling 1-0 to Juventus at Juventus Stadium.

Mario Mandzukic scored the lone goal of the match just before the break and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was called to make a couple of important saves to preserve the victory for the Bianconeri.

This first chance of the match fell to Juve’s Claudio Marchisio five minutes in, but the Italian was seemingly still shaking off the cobwebs after his spell on the treatment table, scuffing his effort harmlessly wide of the goal.

An Empoli corner kick after 14 minutes fell to Riccardo Saponara who somehow managed to balloon over from close range.

Two minutes later, and intelligent pass by Paul Pogba played Mandzukic through on goal but the Croatian’s first-time effort was too close to goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.

In the 23rd minute a swerving Alvaro Morata wonder-strike crashed against the frame of the goal.

A few seconds later, Manuel Pucciarelli forced Buffon into a quality save before Massimo Maccarone and Stephan Liechtensteiner exchanged efforts in quick succession.

Juve took the lead just before the interval when Mandzukic nodded home a Pogba cross into the far corner of the net, concluding an open and absorbing first half.

Five minutes after the restart, Morata failed to poke home a Lichtsteiner cross from an acute angle.

Maccarone and Piotr Zielinski saw efforts finish straight at Buffon while Pogba nearly treated the Juve faithful to another brilliant individual goal but couldn’t direct his effort on goal.

Juventus should have added an insurance goal in stoppages but Skorupski managed to pull off a miraculous triple save before denying Simone Zaza once more in the dying embers of the match.

Empoli pressured the reigning champions throughout the second half but were unable to punish a Bianconeri side who were far from their best.

The victory temporarily brings the Bianconeri six points clear at the top of the table, with second-place Napoli visiting Udinese on Sunday. Empoli remain comfortably in 11th place despite stretching their winless streak to an even dozen matches.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Marchisio: 'Juve final push'

http://www.football-italia.net/82239/marchisio-juve-final-push?

Apr 2, 2016
 
Claudio Marchisio wants Juventus to maintain the intensity after a 1-0 win over Empoli, “as this is the final push for the Scudetto.”

Mario Mandzukic scored the only goal this evening to keep the Bianconeri at least three points clear at the top of the table.

“I really wanted to play, but I am certainly not at 100 per cent yet. I reached the 90th minute with a lot of intensity, so that’s good,” the midfielder told Sky Sport Italia.

“It is important tonight that we got some players back from injury and earned three precious points.”

Empoli actually had more possession at the Juventus Stadium, but Marchisio assured it was part of the plan.

“In the second half we sat a bit deeper, but Empoli didn’t create a huge amount. Empoli play good football and always take the game to their opponents, no matter who it is.

“The key is to always have this energy and determination to fight for the result to the last minute, which wasn’t easy with so many players returning from international duty.

“This is the final push, there are no more breaks or distractions, so we need to power through for the Scudetto.”

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Morata the man for Juve

Alvaro Morata showed his class in a hard-fought victory for Juventus
over Empoli, a win that George Rinaldi feels could be vital.

http://www.football-italia.net/82241/morata-man-juve?

Apr 2, 2016
 
Despite not scoring the decisive goal, Alvaro Morata was the shining star for Juventus in their victory against Empoli.

In what proved to be a tough opening 45 minutes, it was Mario Mandzukic who handed the Bianconeri the lead with a well-placed header.

The Croatian had been a mixed bag for the opening half, contributing successfully with a number of knockdowns to his teammates, but when he was sent through by Paul Pogba in a one-on-one situation he couldn't finish off the move.

What 23-year-old Morata managed to accomplish was numerous driving runs, ending with a sharp turn into the box before applying the shooting touch to his own attack. Lorenzo Tonelli was constantly pushed back by the forward, allowing Alvaro to also send in a variety of crosses into the box, although Mandzukic was unable to connect with any of them.

When crosses weren't on the agenda, Morata opted to go it alone and a sumptuous strike spanked the post, which nearly gave him a deserved goal. If he was to continue in such a vein for the remainder of this Serie A season, he will be pivotal to their success.

Another boost came from the ever-present and attacking full-backs - Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner. The latter was the more prominent in the final third, always on the edge of the box to collect the second ball, and had more than one shot saved in the first 45 minutes.

The main area of weakness was Juventus' inability to hold their line when closing in on Empoli's goal, registering no less than seven offsides. The three-man defence remained strong at the back, although a couple of occasions saw Manuel Pucciarelli turn and shoot, but Gianluigi Buffon mopped up the lapse in concentration.

Disappointment arose when Giorgio Chiellini picked up yet another injury, something Allegri was have been hoping would not occur yet again. His constant relapses are becoming a worry for Juventus and Italy.

Juve looked at their best when Pogba had close control of the ball in Empoli's half in the second period, allowing the onrushing movement from the full-backs to add more depth to their attacking intent. The Frenchman was at the centre of the play through the midfield alongside Claudio Marchisio, considering Roberto Pereyra was bypassed for most the game.

The Argentinian never seemed to get going during this clash, leaving Morata to drop back more and collect the ball to help out. It came as no surprise to see him withdrawn for Kwadwo Asamoah, albeit probably too late in the match.

Thankfully for Juventus, despite the nervy ending that should have never occurred had they buried their chances in the first-half, they held out for three massive points in the quest for another Scudetto.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus edge out Empoli to
move closer to Serie A title

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/match/431960/juventus-empoli/report

Apr 2, 2016
 
Juventus took another step towards the Serie A title with a 1-0 home defeat of Empoli.

Mario Mandzukic's goal on the stroke of half-time was enough to secure victory and send them six points clear of second-placed Napoli, who visit relegation-threatened Udinese on Sunday.

Juve's goal came after a period of growing pressure, in which both Alvaro Morata and Stephan Lichtsteiner were caught offside while chasing through-balls.

Mandzukic scored in the 44th minute, heading Paul Pogba's cross into the bottom right corner beyond Lukasz Skorupski. It was Manzukic's first goal in three months.

Morata threatened to double Juve's lead in the second half when forcing a fine save from Skorupski, before Massimo Maccarone tested Gianluigi Buffon with a shot in the 69th minute.

Simone Zaza, twice, Morata and Kwadwo Asamoah all went close again late on, but Juve could not build on their advantage.

Their win means they equalled a club record of winning seven successive Serie A home matches without conceding.

Massimiliano Allegri's team have seven league fixtures remaining in addition to their Coppa Italia final against AC Milan, also their next league opponents.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Allegri: 'Juve contract signed soon'

http://www.football-italia.net/82242/allegri-juve-contract-signed-soon?

Apr 2, 2016
 
Max Allegri praised the “mental strength” of Juventus to beat Empoli and hinted his contract renewal is imminent.

Mario Mandzukic got the only goal of the game in Turin, but Empoli ended up with more possession overall.

“Winning games is absolutely not easy and it becomes even tougher towards the end of the season, especially as Empoli are a side that play good football,” the Coach told Mediaset Premium.

“At this stage of the season the results count for even more and I have to compliment the lads, because winning 20 out of the last 21 rounds is no mean feat.

“The first half was a little more disorganised, but we did better after the break. We need that mental strength that the lads showed this evening.

“There was a moment when Alvaro Morata and Paul Pogba were playing as individuals and at this stage any little error can be costly. We have to play simple and improve in controlling the ball.”

Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Barzagli returned from injury, but Giorgio Chiellini aggravated his calf problem yet again.

“Chiellini was fine beforehand and we’ll evaluate this latest development, but hope it’s nothing serious.”

The setbacks did give Daniele Rugani a rare start against his former club.

“He did well, like the others, but young players must be given the time to gain experience without pressure.”

This result ensures Juventus have at least a three-point lead at the top of the table, though it could be more depending on Napoli’s trip to Udinese tomorrow.

“Napoli are right there and if they don’t slip up then we have to maintain this average to stay on top. We must try to win the fifth consecutive Scudetto and then we’ve also got the Coppa Italia Final with Milan.”

Allegri was asked about reports a contract extension with Juventus is already agreed and hinted this was true.

“When we have a free afternoon I’ll meet with the club and talk. I have another year left on my contract anyway, they are happy and so am I. When we meet up, we’ll sign the paperwork.”

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus 1 - Empoli 0: Initial
reaction and random observations

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/4/2/11353162/juventus-empoli-2016-serie-a-round-31-final-score-result-initial-reaction

Apr 2, 2016
 
As we headed into the international break, the mentions on the BWRAO Twitter account had a few folks who weren't so happy with Mario Mandzukic. It was probably the by product of not only Álvaro Morata playing absolutely brilliantly in back-to-back games, but also the fact that simply looking at the stats showed us that Mandzukic hadn't found the back of the net in weeks.

Well, we can squash that talk. Again.

It was Mandzukic's goal that was the difference in Juventus' 1-0 win over Empoli as the Serie A leaders stretched their advantage over second-place Napoli to six points. And not only was it a classic kind of Mandzukic goal where he muscled his way into the six-yard box and headed home a cross, but it came just before the whistle blew for halftime, giving Juve exactly what it needed against an Empoli side that made things more than just a little tough on one of Italy's most in-form teams.

Luca Cetta ‎@l_cetta
First goal for Mandzukic since December 20 vs Carpi. Been involved heavily of late, good to see him back on the scoresheet.

Good, indeed.

More importantly, it gave Juventus the lead, and they defended it for the next 50 or so minutes to clinch Serie A win No. 23 on the season. As much as they probably could have used a second goal considering Empoli were more than willing to push forward in an attempt to tie the game in the second half, nothing was to come of it. (Props to Empoli for playing with that kind of attitude, by the way. That's how it should be done no matter how good your opponent is. The rest of Serie A's smaller teams should take note.)

Was it an easy win? No, but it was a good win. Empoli certainly made Juventus earn everything they did. And if it wasn't for Mandzukic getting his first goal in three and a half months, then maybe we're sitting here feeling frustrated as hell rather than applauding Juve for picking up a hard-earned three points. Funny how that works out sometimes.

You wanted decisive, you got it in the form of Manduzkic on Saturday night.


Random thoughts and observations

With the way he played, the chatter in the papers surrounding Roberto Pereyra's future in Turin isn't going to be quieting down any time soon. All those "Pereyra has failed to impress" things are about to become even that much more frequent, I would think.

Side note to Pereyra: Kwadwo Asamoah did more in about 15 minutes than Pereyra did in the 75 minutes he was on the field. That says something about both players' performances.

This is the part of the post-game thread where I rave about Daniele Rugani. Prepare yourself. (Although I don't think many people will be objecting to it.)

Rugani gets my pick for Man of the Match. You can scream at me all you want, but to see this kid play as well as he has the last couple of weeks is just proof of how far he's come this season. He obviously has an incredible base to build off of, but you can see now that he's got that sense of belonging, he is playing with a ton of confidence — and the results show it. You knew this game would mean a lot to Rugani, and he was as calm and collected as ever against his former team. That's the sign of a 21-year-old kid who is certainly mature and wise beyond his years. Watching him develop and become a bigger part of this team is going to be fun the next couple of years. And it's not like he isn't playing like a big role the last month or so, either.

With the way Rugani is playing and how Chiellini seems to get hurt every single time he steps onto the field in recent months, should Juve consider shutting the latter down for the rest of the season? I mean, the guy is clearly not 100 percent even when we are told he's 100 percent. Chiellini can't stay fit to save his life right now, and the best thing for him right now may be a simple matter of a huge chunk of time to get his body healthy again.

It's the 94th minute and Morata is still busting his ass on end-to-end runs. The end result may be a little perplexing sometimes, but you can't say he doesn't run himself into the ground for the betterment of the team. I like that guy.

Speaking of strikers, it took all of about 30 seconds for Simone Zaza to step onto the field, foul a couple of dudes and pick up a yellow card. Hey, if Zaza isn't gonna go full Zaza, what's the point of Zaza, right?

Pogba's assist was great, and set a new single-season career high for him. But what caught my eye was seeing him literally throw his body in front of a cross in the closing stages of the game.

It's nice to have Claudio Marchisio back in the starting lineup. That's all I am going to say about that because it's all that needs to be said.

Six points. Your move, Napoli.


POLL

Who is your Juventus Man of the Match against Empoli?

43% Daniele Rugani (74 votes)

33% Álvaro Morata (58 votes)
14% Mario Mandzukic (24 votes)
6% Claudio Marchisio (11 votes)
2% Stephan Lichtsteiner (4 votes)
2% Andrea Barzagli (3 votes)

174 votes total

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Giampaolo: 'Juve surprised me'

http://www.football-italia.net/82243/giampaolo-juve-surprised-me?

Apr 2, 2016
 
Empoli Coach Marco Giampaolo admits Juventus surprised him with their more negative approach. “They preserved energy.”

The Tuscans were defeated 1-0 by a Mario Mandzukic header, but had more possession in Turin.

“We lost and therefore I am not satisfied,” Giampaolo told Mediaset Premium.

“We started out waiting for events to unfold, then did better and took the initiative. I liked the way the team built up pressure as the game wore on.

“Unfortunately the deadlock was broken by the quality of the Juventus players, even if we could’ve done better on the goal.

“I expected Juve to come and attack us high up the field, but instead they tried to control us and preserved energy. We were lacking something and should’ve made them run harder.”

Empoli also lost Riccardo Saponara to a calf injury in the second half.

“He went off as a precaution, but I don’t believe it’s anything particularly serious. We have to earn more self-belief and the run of 12 games without a win means worry starts to set in. We need a win to just shake that off.”

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')
 
 

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus 1-0 Empoli: TEAM RATINGS

http://www.goal.com/en/match/juventus-vs-empoli/2120676/ratings?ICID=MP_MS_6

Apr 2, 2016
 
 

Juventus

1 G. Buffon - Didn’t have a great amount to deal with due to strong defending from the hosts, but he was nonetheless constantly on hand to deal with everything that was thrown his way.

15 A. Barzagli - Was beaten on a couple of occasions when he was caught sleeping on the ball, but it was largely impressive display by the centre-back, who performed particularly when in the second half when Empoli were on the front foot.

24 D. Rugani - Had very few problems at the back, where he constantly looked calm and composed and put in a strong performance as a result.

3 G. Chiellini - Marked his return from injury with a solid display at the back, whilst at the other end of the pitch he went close to furthering Juventus’ lead on two occasions.

26 S. Lichtsteiner - Always looked bright down the right wing, where he had very few problems defensively and always looked bright with the ball at his feet.

37 R. Pereyra - Was largely impressive in the middle of the pitch, but on a few occasions he was slightly wayward with his passing, which stopped his side from turning possession into chances on goal.

8 C. Marchisio - Performed well at the base of the Juventus midfield, where he dictated the pace of the game and was on hand to break down Empoli counter-attacks.

10 P. Pogba - Thoroughly enjoyed himself every time he was in possession, and that was evident when he set up Mandzukic’s goal with a lovely chipped cross right onto the head of the Croatian.

33 P. Evra - Had a slightly mixed time down the left wing, where he largely performed well but was sometimes guilty of giving the ball away cheaply.

9 Álvaro Morata - Arguably one Juventus’ best players, despite not getting on the scoresheet. Constantly made a nuisance of himself inside the Empoli half of the pitch and time and time again took advantage of the visitors’ high defensive line.

17 M. Mandžukić - Had very few opportunities in front of goal due to a largely good performance by the Empoli centre-backs, but he did well to take advantage of his one clear-cut opportunity and beat Skorupski with a great close-range header.


Substitutes

16 J. Cuadrado - Came on for Chiellini as Juventus switched to a 4-4-2 formation, and the Colombian operated well down the right wing, particularly when breaking forward quickly.

7 S. Zaza - Replaced Mandzukic and continued the Croatian's good work with a determined display that saw him go close to scoring on two occasions.

22 K. Asamoah - Featured late on and made a big difference, as he constantly found plenty of joy in front of goal.


 

Empoli

28 L. Skorupski - Arguably the man of the match. Could do little about Mandzukic’s well-taken goal but pulled off several excellent saves either side of that to keep Empoli in the game right to the end.

6 L. Bittante - It was always going to be a tough night for the debutant, but he performed wonderfully well and battled hard against Evra all evening long.

26 L. Tonelli - Partnered Costa well in the centre of the Empoli back line and was constantly on hand to throw his body on the line, resulting in his side staying firmly in the game all night long.

15 A. Costa - Put in a strong performance in the middle of a largely impressive Empoli back line, and he did well to frustrate Mandzukic for large portions of the game.

21 Mário Rui - Struggled somewhat in the first half when Juventus were playing with wing-backs, but after the hosts switched to a 4-4-2 he looked far more comfortable and had fewer problems defensively.

17 P. Zielinski - Was unable to have as much impact as he would have liked due to strong defending by Juventus, but he did defend well when required to do so.

32 L. Paredes - Had plenty of difficulties at the base of the Empoli midfield, where he too often left space available for the Juventus front line.

77 M. Büchel - Offered very little at either end of the pitch. Defensively he was too often out of position whilst going forward he lacked the pace and skill needed to cause problems for the hosts.

5 R. Saponara - Had a few bright moments in the first half as he used his pace and skill to good effect to break forward quickly, but his game was brought to a premature end when an injury forced him to make way on the hour mark.

20 M. Pucciarelli - Linked up well with Maccarone on a few occasions but really should have done better with his chances on goal, whilst several of his passes were wayward and poorly hit.

7 M. Maccarone - The veteran striker put in a good shift up front, where he linked up well with Pucciarelli, and he was unlucky not to find the back of the net as a result


Substitutes

11 D. Croce - The replaced the ineffective Buchel and performed much better, despite his chances to get forward being few and far between.

22 A. Piu - Looked good going forward during his half-hour appearance, but on too many occasions he was thwarted by Juventus' strong back line, which limited his chances.

33 R. Krunić - Featured for the final 25 minutes after replacing Maccarone and looked bright on a few occasions but was unable to carve out many chances on goal.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Juventus vs. Empoli 1-0, Another win,
another game closer to the Scudetto

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/4/3/11353650/juventus-empoli-2016-serie-a-round-31-final-score-recap-result

Apr 3, 2016
 
Any game after an international break is a tricky game. Most players are out for days, they come back with knocks, injuries, and exhaustion. The game against Empoli was hardly different. Add to that Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro and Paulo Dybala were ruled out for the match, making things more difficult for Juventus.

Allegri lined up with a 3-5-2, a surprising move given that he had three defenders that were fit. Daniele Rugani started in Bonucci's position, protecting Gigi Buffon alongside Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli. Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra covered the flanks. After a long wait, Claudio Marchisio returned to the center of the field with Paul Pogba and Roberto Pereyra. In Dybala's absence, Álvaro Morata played beside Mario Mandzukic up front.

The game was an entertaining one Empoli did not sit back and try to hold Juventus to a 0-0 draw like most other teams do when they come to Turin. They tried to attack and didn't mind getting caught defending Morata and Mandzukic with three players. The problem for Empoli is that they lack the quality to really challenge our defense and midfield. Instead, they ended up giving many turn overs and risked our quick counter attacks. Nonetheless, the space they gave Bianconeri allowed Pogba to show a repertoire of great ball control, amazing first touch, and incredible passes. Also, the way Empoli played gave Morata to use his speed to great effect.

Unfortunately, despite the fact Juve had most of the ball, they were really ineffective — or unlucky? — going forward. Morata hit the crossbar, Manduzkic had a couple good chances that could have resulted in something more, but they were ultimately left frustrated.

This was the case until the dying minutes of the first half, Evra carried the ball from Juventus' side of the field and gave a rebound away when trying to pass to Pereyra on the right. The rebound fell to Marchisio, who played Pogba on the left. The Frenchman created a beautiful assist out of nowhere for Mandzukic, who hadn't scored for months. The goal came at the best time for Juventus and deflated Empoli.

The second half was more of the same. Empoli, trying to cause Juventus problems, with Juventus holding strong. After 54 minutes, Juan Cuadrado came on for Chiellini, who appeared to have a non-threatening injury. The Colombian's pace made things even more complicated for Empoli — who were getting caught on the break multiple times. Simone Zaza came on for Manduzkic after 68 minutes and was yellow carded almost immediately. Kwadwo Asamoah entered the pitch for a tired and ineffective Pereyra and almost scored off a volley.

Empoli tried hard in the dying minutes, but Juventus were too organized.

Now, with seven matches to go, Juventus have a lead of at least three points depending on Napoli's result Sunday. Ball is on your court, Napoli, let's see what you can do with it.


Pagelle

Buffon 6.5 Typical Serie A-Buffon game. He stands there doing nothing for most of the two hours, but when he is called upon, he has no issue stopping whatever comes his way. He was rushed off a back pass in the second half and it almost looked like it would cause him some grief.

Barzagli 6.5 Solid showing as usual.

Rugani 7.0 He was one of my favorite players of the evening. He was firm, composed, calm, and smart. It is hard to call him the real deal after three games as a starter, but the promise is there. He needs to be patient and wait his turn. I can't wait to see how much he is able to show in the seven games we have left.

Chiellini 6.5 Solid defending as well and he almost had a goal that would have surprised even his biggest fans. Unfortunately, had to be substituted for what appears to be only a minor discomfort.

Lichtsteiner 6.5 As usual, his defensive contribution was impeccable, but going forward he left much to be desired. Although he successfully took on some players, the end product didn't really amount to much.

Pereyra 5.5 He wasn't terrible by any stretch, but he was by far playing at a lower level than the rest of the team.

Marchisio 7.0 Seeing him play again is such a breath of fresh air. He intercepted three passes, was strong in the defense and had a few chances going forward. His shot from out of the box needs to improve. He can probably learn a thing or two from Pogboom and in exchange he can give the Frenchman some hair style advice. e will all win.

Pogba 8.0 Man of the Match performance in my opinion. Defensively, he recorded a game-high of five tackles. And offensively, he won five dribbles and had the assist. You could tell he was having fun. When Pogba is allowed room to operate, he can be devastating.

Evra 7.5 Four tackles, three clearances and two interceptions. His contributions at the back were something to enjoy. Going forward he started the play that would lead to Mandzukic's goal.

Mandzukic 7.5 He did everything he has been doing in the past three months except that he also scored a goal. In the end, scoring goals is what we are paying him to do.

Morata 7.5 He is finding his stride at the end of the season and I don't mind it one bit. He ran Empoli's defense ragged and was unlucky to not score.


Allegri 7.0 We all know that Juventus has the superior team, but it is the coaches job to give them the motivation to take every game seriously, even one against 11th place Empoli. The choice to start Rugani in a three-man backline probably gave the youngster a bit of confidence and he took it from there once Chiellini came off. His choice of playing Pereyra is a little suspect as I think Stefano Sturaro would have been a better option.


Things I think I think

- Allegri has overseen the development of Morata, Dybala, Sturaro, and Rugani. His handling of our young players has been second-to-none. Let's hope he can do the same with Mario Lemina and slowly bring him forward as a suitable first-team player.

- After three starts, Rugani is starting to show why there was so much talk about him. At his young age, he certainly is showing more promise than Bonucci did. if he has the same mental strength as Leo, we have a gem in our hands.

- Pogba is really growing into his own. He is slowly finding the consistency he was lacking at the beginning of the season.

- Juventus would be remiss to let Morata go this summer. Beppe Marotta said that we would do whatever is in our power to keep the Spaniard and I couldn't agree more. As I have said in the past, if Allegri can make Dybala and Morata click, we would be set.

- If Juventus can improve their efficacy in front of goal they can be a team no different than Bayern Munich or Barcelona. Today, Juve missed at least four clear chances and should have finished the game at least 3-0. They need to improve that aspect either by buying better players, or improving our finishing, or more likely both.

- Lastly, I have to comment on the Empoli keeper gaffe that almost cost them the match. If that had gone in, that would have been the blooper of the season.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Daniele Rugani Shows Juventus Have
a Bright Future in Win over Empoli

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2629867-daniele-rugani-shows-juventus-have-a-bright-future-in-win-over-empoli?

Apr 3, 2016
 
Speaking to reporters at his pre-match press conference, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said that his side's meeting with Empoli “marks the beginning of a mini eight-match championship for us.”

Indeed, heading into Saturday's game at the top of the Serie A table but just three points ahead of closest rivals Napoli, the Bianconeri knew a win was vital against the Tuscan visitors led by coach Marco Giampaolo.

A goal from Mario Mandzukic proved to be the difference as Empoli gave an impressive account of themselves, but one of their former players arguably deserved man-of-the-match honours at Juventus Stadium.

Daniele Rugani has been integrated slowly into the team, the presence of so many high-quality defenders both helping and hurting his progress. He made just his fifth start of the league campaign on Saturday.

The Old Lady's success over the last four seasons has undoubtedly been built upon the Italian trio of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, while the club also boasts other international-calibre defenders like Martin Caceres and Stephan Lichtsteiner.

The presence of those five has meant that playing time for Rugani has been hard to find, with his appearance against Empoli just his 14th in all competitions, with half that total coming as a substitute.

Adam Digby ‎@Adz77
.@DanieleRugani v Empoli: 2 tackles, 2 ints, 3 clearances, 11 ball recoveries, 35/39 passes (89.7%) (via @StatsZone)

Yet it was also his third start in Juve's last four Serie A fixtures, and his performance reflected that continuity. As the FourFourTwo StatsZone graphic in the tweet above highlights, Rugani recorded two tackles, two interceptions and three clearances against Empoli, also recovering the ball a game-high 11 times.

His impressive ability in possession was also evident, connecting with 35 of his 39 pass attempts (89.7 percent) while successfully completing both his attempted take-ons to skilfully evade opponents.

“He did well, like the others, but young players must be given the time to gain experience without pressure,” Allegri told Sports Mediaset (h/t Football Italia) shortly after the final whistle, while Rugani was also clearly pleased with his display, per Juventus.com:

Displays such as tonight’s certainly help to boost self-confidence. I feel like I’m becoming more composed all the time and I thank the staff and also my defensive colleagues, who have helped me a great deal. I’ve still so many things to learn both in training and in the matches.

I’m looking to take away whatever I can from every single moment to make sure that I improve with every passing day. The pressures and objectives here are different to elsewhere I’ve been, where there’s less time to grow and you play to win every single match, but I’m gradually getting used to this way of thinking and I hope to keep moving in the right direction.

That patience and maturity should perhaps be expected, given both the names ahead of him and his status at the club. Originally signed from Empoli back in 2012, Rugani was loaned back to the Azzurri a year later and spent two years there before returning this summer and signing a long-term contract.

According to the club's most recent financial statement—released in February, per Football Italia—the defender has already extended that deal by 12 months, meaning he is now tied to the Turin giants until 2021.

“Daniele arrived as a 21-year-old, has come on a great deal and is on the right track for a guy who has 10 to 15 seasons at Juventus ahead of him,” Giorgio Chiellini told Mediaset recently (h/t Goal.com). “When you arrive here you can't expect to play every game in your first season, that's also how it was for me. He's developing steadily, and he just needs to keep on going.”

Evidently doing just that, performances like this one bode well for both Rugani and Juventus, allowing the player to progress while the club is rewarded for finding the talent needed to sustain its success for years to come.

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

Serie A over? Higuain weeps as Napoli implosion
gifts Juventus a free ride to the title

The Argentine had to be forcibly removed from the field after being shown a red card
in Sunday's defeat to Udinese, leaving the Partenopei's title pursuit hanging in the balance.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/04/03/21974062/-?

Apr 3, 2016
 
It was meant to be different this time around. A fresh champion, a new king on the Serie A throne.

Reigning Scudetto holders Juventus endured a torrid start to the season with five league defeats before the beginning of October, enabling Napoli to build an 11-point gap after just 10 matches. Surely the Old Lady would not be able to recover such a hefty deficit to claim a fifth consecutive crown?

But, unbeaten since November, Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve have won 20 of their 21 league fixtures to turn their fortunes around and build a six-point lead over the team from Naples, a quite astonishing swing.

A Valentine’s Day clash between the top two was the turning point - Juve won 1-0 thanks to a Simone Zaza strike two minutes from time - and the Bianconeri haven’t looked back.

Much of Napoli’s success this year has been down to the goalscoring contribution of star striker Gonzalo Higuain. The former Real Madrid frontman has scored an astonishing 30 goals in 31 starts in Serie A to enable Maurizio Sarri’s side to stand alone at the summit of Italian football for the first time in 26 years.

Creative, dynamic and fluid in possession, the Partenopei are a lethal unit on the break. Higuain’s clinical instincts in front of goal steal the headlines - he has been compared to club legend and compatriot Diego Maradona on numerous occasions this term - but he is flanked well in the final third by the likes of Jose Callejon, Marek Hamsik and Lorenzo Insigne.

However, following Sunday’s dramatic, tumultuous clash with Udinese at Stadio Friuli, the Argentine attacker appears to have sealed his team’s fate for the campaign - but not in the manner he would have been planning or dreaming of earlier this season.

Already trailing the champions in the standings, Napoli were beaten 3-1 at home as Higuain was shown a red card before exploding in sensational style.

Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring from the penalty spot for Udine in the 14th minute, striking his spot-kick under the arms of stand-in goalkeeper Gabriel.

A petulant kick out at Felipe gave referee Massimiliano Irrati no choice but to brandish the 28-year-old with a second yellow card of the day. His reaction was unsavoury at best.

Raising his hands to the ref, 'El Pipita' began berating his decision before having to be forcibly pulled away by his own team-mates. A complete lack of composure, the former River Plate man was uncontainable as the red mist hit home hard.

Banished from the field of play in tears, the devastated striker was visibly wrestling with his actions and their impact on the title race in his mind. Higuain may have been ushered down the tunnel kicking and screaming, but Napoli's title hopes faded with a whimper.

Juve have steamrolled their way to the top of the table, overcoming their early season mishaps, and now look on course to lift their 32nd Scudetto come the end of May with a six point advantage in hand.

Napoli will now be forced to play their next league tie without their lethal talisman leading their attack. Already disadvantaged in terms of league points, Higuain’s loss of composure may well have blown his team’s pursuit of a first league title since the Maradona-inspired vintage of 1990.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

Mario Mandzukic makes the difference
as Juventus beat Empoli 1-0

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2843001/mario-mandzukic-makes-the-difference-as-juventus-beat-empoli

Apr 3, 2016
 
Juventus' 1-0 win over Empoli demonstrated the exact reason why they are the undisputed success story of Serie A. They may not always be beautiful and they may not necessarily be better than the opponent they face but they have the experience and the players required to play a practical game, grinding out wins even when they don't merit maximum points.

Empoli were excellent. Terrifying on the counterattack, they were risky yet ambitious as they pushed Juventus and controlled the ball effectively. However, the Old Lady only required one moment of brilliance to turn the game.

Mario Mandzukic hadn't managed a goal for Juve in 2016 but Marco Giampaolo's side were vulnerable to his strengths; for all their mesmeric passing ability, Empoli are fragile against forwards who offer an aerial presence. Sure enough, a perfect Paul Pogba cross in the 44th minute allowed the Croatian to exploit his opportunity and score a goal from which Empoli could not recover.

While unity has been the reason behind Juve's success, their ability to rely on individual brilliance on certain occasions has gifted them the opportunity to remain out in front of the Serie A table. They know how to win and how to deny the most eager of opponents. Despite missing the quality of Paulo Dybala, the intelligence of Sami Khedira and a fully functional defence on Saturday, it seems the Bianconeri always have enough to earn maximum points.


Player ratings

Gianluigi Buffon, 7 -- Decisive on one occasion but largely allowed to take it easy. Honoured by the home fans who celebrated him throughout the match.

Andrea Barzagli, 6 -- Always reliable, he offered a clean performance demonstrating his quality and experience.

Daniele Rugani, 7 -- A mature performance from the young player who continues to develop nicely. Poised and calm under pressure, he made effective clearances and rarely looked troubled.

Giorgio Chiellini, 7 -- An excellent performance from the centre-back who had only just recovered from injury. Surging ahead with confidence and decisive in the aerial duels, it was a shame he had to be substituted off with yet another knock.

Stephan Lichtsteiner, 6 -- Was better in the first half as he pushed forward and offered choices to those looking for the pass but was restricted to a more defensive performance in the second half. Always reliable nonetheless.

Roberto Pereyra, 5 -- The Argentine is one of the few who requires continuity to provide the right assistance to the team. Right now, he's off the pace and struggling to offer what is required of him.

Claudio Marchisio, 7 -- He has only just returned from injury yet was vital to the Juve game, producing crosses and important attacking third passes to apply pressure. Controlled the game exquisitely as only he knows how to do.

Paul Pogba, 7 -- A little bit aggressive on occasion but in matches that force Juventus to be more practical than beautiful, he offers the quality that makes the difference: witness the assist that led to Mandzukic's goal. Effective on the defensive side of the game, recovering the ball nicely, but mesmeric going forward. If only he didn't over complicate certain movements.

Patrice Evra, 5 -- A rather less than spectacular performance from the Frenchman. Did his duty but offered little else.

Alvaro Morata, 7 -- When he runs with the ball, he hypnotises opponents and the audience alike. A player with extraordinary quality, he terrified an Empoli team playing a high line and consistently applied pressure in an attempt to provoke errors that would lead to a goal. He must remain at Juve.

Mario Mandzukic, 6 -- Far from his best performance. While he offers so much in terms of tenacity and ambition, he isn't yet operating at his optimum level yet still managed to find the goal that broke the deadlock against a side that so often concede headers.


Substitutes

Juan Cuadrado, 7 (on for Chiellini, 54") -- Did his duty and sacrificed for the sake of the team but offered little of note.

Simone Zaza, 6 (on for Mandzukic, 66") -- He searched endlessly for the goal, playing with intensity and ambition but was denied. Needs to learn how to remain a little more composed despite the desire to make an impact.

Kwadwo Asamoah, N/A (on for Pereyra, 81")-- Only on for a short while yet did well to spread play.

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

JUVENTUS - EMPOLI

1 - 0

Mario Mandžukić (44')

MATCHDAY 31
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese

JUVENTUS 1-0 EMPOLI...
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-1-0-empoli-room-improvement/?

Apr 4, 2016
 
There is always hesitation vis-a-vis how we will fare after many of our players have been traveling long distance and adopting to different tactics with different players whilst others have been absent of any competitive action. The international break, many of us had hoped, would offer a chance for the side to recover key personnel from various niggles and poor form, yet this was not to be, for our list of those destined for the infirmary increased, leaving a tricky selection routine for Allegri when we faced Empoli.

As is often the case, the Boss surprised me with his starting XI. Whilst I was pleased to see the 3-5-2 absent of Cuadrado, I was very much disheartened to find Pereyra given the role of a central midfielder. That is Khedira’s spot, with Sturaro the natural apprentice. It requires a sturdy focus on defensive duties, getting stuck in, and supporting the attack when possible. These are not the strengths of Pereyra. Whose only run of fine form for the club has come as a link-up man between the midfield and attack, roaming the lines, finding himself in tight spaces up top and creating chances for others. Maybe I am alone in this stance? Yet it seemed a bizarre decision. Yes yes! Pereyra needs games to gather match sharpness, but only in his own role.

We started well enough, enjoyed a fair amount of more potent possession yet Empoli were in fine fettle and deservedly keeping the game level through defensive endeavour and eagerness to attack. Mandzukic had a great chance provided by Pogba yet both Saponara ad Pucciarelli could have done better with their own opportunities. Still, considering the difference in quality of the sides it came as no surprise to find Pogba providing Big Mario with a second chance to make it 1-0 close to half time, which the Croat giant pounced upon clinically.

Other than a wonderful Morata effort which kissed the post on its way to safety, it is fair to conclude that both sides created close to equal gilt-edged chances. Whilst looking the more capable side, we were not proving as much in the final third.

The second period began with a more even balance, with only Morata and Pogba looking capable of providing any serious carnage offensively. Ten minutes after the restart Chiellini was substituted for Cuadrado, which left our formation…

Buffon

Lichsteiner Rugani Barzagli Evra

Cuadrado Pereyra Marchisio Pogba

Mandzukic Morata

This change in formation completely unsettled the side and ended all semblance of flow. Which afforded Empoli the encouragement to attack with more conviction. With momentum moving more towards our opponents Allegri brought on Zaza. Who was booked within minutes of entering the fray. The remainder of the match appeared more defensive, with the result up in the air, never decisive, until the final ten minutes when Asamoah appeared. The Ghanaian turned the tide, adding threat and determination which had been lacking. We closed the game out comfortably and could have added a second through the Asamoah, Pogba and also Zaza before the ref drew a close to not quite a worrying outing, but neither a satisfying victory. All that matters are the three points, especially with so many players unavailable.



Buffon 7 - Was forced into several saves which the veteran dealt with comfortably.

Barzagli 7 - Kept his cool when others were uneasy. Admirable in the tackle, covering and interceptions, also imperious in the air.

Rugani 7.5 - This was the first game where I saw Daniele clearly growing in confidence, feeling less an imposter, more like he deserves to be where he has found himself playing. Yet perhaps this was partly due to lining up against his old chums? Made no mistakes, adjusted commendably to two new roles. His future looks bright.

Chiellini 7 - Seemed back to his old self, and we were far more resolute at the back with his presence. Got forward well, misplaced a few passes and caused trouble within the lines of the law wherever he swashbuckled. He was pulled off for signs of a groin strain, which will be assessed over the coming days. It was more precautionary a measure than due to a definite strain or tear. Great to see the gladiator back in the ranks.

Lichsteiner 7 - Offered constant support high up the field and defended intelligently. His whining bothers me, as its not in line with lo stile juve, and we MUST find a solid alternative for his role in the Summer. Aside from which, a solid showing from the Swiss locomotive.

Pereyra 5 - Asked to perform a service the Argentine is ill-equipped to supply, Pererya was weak, more often absent than involved and showed nothing of any value in the second half before making way for Asamoah. The only mention I found in my notes was of his despicable demand to the ref to award a yellow card to an opponent for a nothing challenge which put him on the turf. Which I found disgusting. I hate to see any player asking the referee to book other players, and when it is one of our own, I begin to think…maybe he is not worthy of the shirt.

Marchisio 6.5 - I wasn’t expecting to see him included. Not match sharp, his set pieces and general distribution were average, nothing special, yet he met his objectives by and large. Screened the defence, put his body on the line to intercept and end Empoli attacks. Nowhere near top form, yet he emerges unscathed and another game under the belt towards returning to his best.

Pogba 8 - Barely put a foot wrong. Created two outstanding chances for his colleagues, one of which proved the winner and had a couple of half chances himself. He barely broke sweat yet was clearly our most powerful player on the ball. Often close to impossible to knock out of his stride, double marked, closed down with always 2-3 players, Paul was in decent form. We are fortunate to have him in our side, especially given his obvious talent and the blossoming worldwide eagerness for his signature from clubs who can pay him – with ease – thrice what we offer to line his pockets. Justifiably spoken of as the best young player in the world.

Evra 7 - Ever dependable defensively and smart on the ball, yet the stronger Sandro becomes the more I see Evra as second fiddle. His experience and drive is wonderful for the squad and I hope he remains for next season, yet the time of Sandro is upon us. Performed as well as can be expected of a 34 year old full-back.

Mandzukic 7 - He dovetails more seamlessly with Dybala, who looks for him as a reference point and brings out the Croatian’s best more readily and consistently. Yet with Morata, who is far more selfish a player than the Argie, he seems unable to find a steady rhythm, let alone any semblance of a partnership. Mario toiled hard, as is always the case, took his goal well enough and should have had another. Yet still, his singular talents were plain for all to see. Immense work-rate, got the winner, so why complain? I am unsure, other than his lack of guile, dribbling, pace. Still…worthy of a 7.

Morata 8 - His pace is lightning. His ability is world class. Back to form and constantly a menace. We really need to keep him, for few other strikers I find on the global stage prove as constantly dangerous against all opposition. Worked damn hard, his sharpness has returned, and was unlucky not to get on the score-sheet.


SUBS

Cuadrado 6.5 - Achieved little, yet did offer some intelligence defensively.

Zaza 5 - Offered next to nothing, other than in the final minutes when he had a shot saved and thought he won a penalty which was rightfully not given. The manner in which he threw himself into a booking merely minutes after his entrance was unprofessional. I like his swagger, and he can be potent in the box, yet I do not see him as a long term Juve player. For he lacks the class and propriety.

Asamoah 8 - Back to his best. His introduction led to the result becoming instantly more assured, for the Ghanaian was ubiquitous, his work conjuring multiple chances, his defensive prowess a welcome wolf howl. I was very impressed with the cameo and surely he will be given more minutes as we embark on the next 8 games which decide league and cup.


Conclusion

We very much missed Bonucci, Khedira and Dyabala. Marchisio is not fit, neither is Pereyra, who was deployed in an odd position. After missing much of the campaign due to injury, my present inklings of the value of the Argie are somewhat mitigated, yet I must assert that he has been bang out of form since returning to the ranks, and if he cannot improve with the remaining games, I suspect he will be moved on in the Summer. For if we are aspiring to greatness, we need to conjure a squad of greatness.

The same applies to Mandzukic, by a different reckoning. He can be a useful squad player, nothing more. For if we are to aim for the pinnacle, we need Dybala and Morata up top, we need Pogba, Sandro,Chiellini, Barzagli, Bonucci, Buffon, Lichsteiner and then many other new recruits to raise the level of our ideal first XI and second string behind them in the pecking order.

I could add Khedira into that mix, if he stayed fit for more than a handful of matches.

Buffon

Lichsteiner Barzagli Bonucci Chiellini Sandro

Khedira X Pogba

Morata Dybala

When all are fit, we can field 10 world class players. Add in a regista capable of putting his foot on the ball and dictating the tempo against the very best, and I see us as rightfully among the top five sides on the planet.

Cuadrado, Mandzukic, Asamoah and Sturaro/Rugani are worth keeping other than those I mentioned above. The rest need to be improved upon. Other than Lemina, who can be bought for great value at 9.5m and given a chance as a squad player next term.

We struggled to put victory beyond doubt until the final seconds. I won’t add that we were lucky, for we deserved victory on chances created and quality shown on the battle field. Yet…this was no walk in the park. And where are Empoli? Not even challenging for Europe. How heavily the absences of key players can see us struggle – by some measures – to beat lowly Empoli, a few weeks after coming so close to beating one the finest sides the world has ever known, makes me smile, and also ponder the deadwood. We need to be cut-throat if serious ambition resides in our minds, not just our hearts, to become a consistent mega thorn in the side of ANYONE we face, domestically or elsewhere.

We need a defensive midfielder. Marchisio is up to the task sporadically. Which is not enough to succeed at the top level. We need more potent in the final third strikers than Zaza and Mandzukic. We need another centre-back, Tonelli will do. We need to replace Pererya and Hernanes as our trequartista options. And finally, we need a viable alternative to Lichsteiner at RWB.

If we can meet those demands, I feel we will be supreme, an unwelcome tide appearing on any shoreline. We punched above our weight against Munich. Imagine what we could do with that spirit, with a higher calibre of players…

The squad remains solid enough to continue to dominate domestically as well as challenge stronger sides on the continental stage, yet I feel our hand will be forced in terms of squad renovation sooner than we would choose. Pogba will be joined by Dybala and Morata this Summer as targets for sides with bottomless pockets who are also able to offer a potentially more fierce assault on major honours alongside the opportunity to sample new cultures. Who can say? Perhaps all three will stay and we will strengthen elsewhere. I would happily see Pereyra join Caceres in leaving the club in the Summer and Saponara and Tonelli replace them in our ranks.

With Napoli self destructing in Udine and the possible loss of their most powerful offensive weapon for a handful of games (one of which is away to Inter) the gap between 1st and 2nd could well increase over the coming weeks. Regardless of which, we must continue to strive for our own excellence and will need to improve for the battle against a faltering, yet perennial rival of AC Milan next weekend. By which time we should be able to call upon several more first XI players. All of whom will be required if we are to retain the scudetto and repeat the double.

Other than Mario Rui, whose diving and theatrics were by far the worst I have seen in Serie A this season, I was very impressed with Empoli. Who played some lovely football, passed intricately and swiftly and were undaunted and confident despite their woeful run of results since December. Saponara was lively until a knock saw him replaced and the team as a whole seemed very well knit together and keen on adopting an adventurous passing game. Sarri obviously performed a fine job there and Gimapaolo has continued to build on the foundations laid before. Great football, an Italian heart to the side and well run off the pitch.

The scudetto is by no means already won. Anything can happen against Milan, a match where I believe form is of less meaning, for the fixture stirs the hearts of all players involved, given the illustrious history of both clubs and their historical positions as the twin pillars of Italian football’s elite. We must also visit Florence and host Lazio.

Exciting, tense times ahead!

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

Tacchinardi: ‘League not over’

http://www.football-italia.net/82312/tacchinardi-%E2%80%98league-not-over%E2%80%99?

Apr 4, 2016
 
Ex-Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi warns that ‘the league isn’t over until its mathematical conclusion’.

The Bianconeri opened up a six-point gap over Scudetto rivals Napoli at the weekend, following the Partenopei’s collapse at Udinese.

“The league is never over until its mathematical conclusion,” Tacchinardi told Radio 1 Rai.

“You have to be used to playing at a high level for the entire season, regardless of whether you play before or after your rival.

“Juve know that it’s not over, now we’ll see how many rounds Higuain will miss. Without him, Napoli struggle to score goals.

“Juve have a complete squad, Conte didn’t have a team like this, of a very high level for the Italian league. In the Juve dressing room a draw is taken like a defeat.

“Despite being an ex-Juventus player, I’d say that the Napoli fans are right about many things. For example, on what Bonucci did 15 days ago, Sarri is right: what he did can’t be allowed and he should’ve been sent off.”


Tacchinardi also spoke about Cesare Maldini, who he played under for Italy’s victorious Under-21 team at the 1996 European Championships, after the Milan legend passed away on Saturday evening.

“It was a fantastic team, with Cannavaro, Nesta, Totti and it was guided by a father, not a Coach,” said Tacchinardi.

“He was a very compassionate person, calm but also ambitious.”

 

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

Lippi: ‘Scudetto almost certain’

http://www.football-italia.net/82320/lippi-%E2%80%98scudetto-almost-certain%E2%80%99?

Apr 4, 2016
 
Former Italy CT Marcello Lippi believes ‘a Juventus Scudetto is almost certain now’ after extending their lead to six points.

The 67-year-old, who was in charge of the Bianconeri between 1994 and 1999, doesn’t believe Napoli can make up the difference after collapsing to Udinese on Sunday.

“I don’t believe that the Bianconeri will let them make up seven points,” Lippi told Corriere dello Sport.

“The Scudetto is almost certain now. They’ve achieved a feat that only a great team could accomplish.

“After the ugly start to the season I didn’t think they would give up but I neither did I think they’d manage to win all those games.”

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

Trap: ‘Difficult for Napoli’

http://www.football-italia.net/82331/trap-%E2%80%98difficult-napoli%E2%80%99?

Apr 4, 2016
 
Giovanni Trapattoni says “it’s difficult to believe” that Juventus will lose the Scudetto to Napoli now.

The Bianconeri stretched their lead at the top of Serie A to six points this weekend, as they beat Empoli on Saturday night before the Vesuviani were defeated at Udinese.

“Napoli won’t give up on the Scudetto,” Trapattoni noted on Radio TMW.

“They’re behind their Coach [Maurizio Sarri] but Juventus have it in their DNA to fight against everyone. It’s hard to believe they’ll let it slip.”

Trapattoni is a former is a former Italy CT, and gave his opinion on Antonio Conte, who will leave the position to join Chelsea after Euro 2016.

“I can’t give advice to Antonio Conte, it happened to me too, you just want to have experiences abroad after doing a lot in Italy. I understand his choice.

“There’s danger in choosing the national team, it’s very different from the League.”

SERIE A TABLE

[Socrates 8522]

MILAN - JUVENTUS

-

 
 

MATCHDAY 32
Saturday, April 9th, 2016 - 8:45 PM
Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, Milan
Referee: Daniele Orsato

Miha future on Milan-Juve

http://www.football-italia.net/82347/miha-future-milan-juve?

Apr 5, 2016
 
Reports say a poor Milan showing against Juventus on Saturday could see Sinisa Mihajlovic lose his job.

The Rossoneri have gone on a training retreat since a shock 2-1 defeat against Atalanta on Sunday and face the league leaders next.

giornalaccio rosa dello Sport reports today that strong words were used by Vice-President Adriano Galliani in a confrontation with the squad yesterday as he expressed the club’s disappointment in recent performances.

Milan haven’t won since the end of February now and the newspaper says that Mihajlovic also questioned the team’s form.

The outlet believes that the Serbian Coach should finish the season with the Rossoneri, but warns that a heavy or embarrassing defeat against Juve could see him face an immediate sacking.

 

SERIE A TABLE