Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 1, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Empoli - Juventus Match Preview http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/preview/87889 Sep 30, 2016 After an impressive midweek Champions League victory in Croatia, Juventus look to keep the good times rolling domestically in Empoli. It's been a rough start to the season for Giovanni Martusciello's men, having earned just four points from their opening six matches. Unquestionably, the biggest issue for Empoli has been their struggles in front of goal. The only game the Azzurri scored in was the victory they earned against Crotone. They couldn't have asked for a worse match on the weekend to solve the issue though, as they take on a Juventus side with the stingiest defence in the league. No team has conceded less than Massimiliano Allegri's men, with Gianluigi Buffon only having to pick the ball out of his net four times so far. They haven't allowed a goal in any competition since their loss to Inter in the Derby d'Italia, going 282 consecutive minutes without conceding. With 12 goals scored in Serie A already, Allegri has his team firing on all cylinders offensively as well. Only Roma and Napoli have been more prolific, but expect the Bianconeri attack to continue to improve as Gonzalo Higuain, Miralem Pjanic and Marko Pjaca, adapt to life with their new club. The match-up against Juventus doesn't bode well for Empoli's chances of breaking out of their slump, but games are played on the field and the Old Lady hasn’t exactly been invincible. Keep an eye on: Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus) - With four goals in his first six league matches of the season, the Argentine hasn't needed very much time at all to adjust to life in Turin. He is currently their Capocannoniere and could cause all kinds of problems for Empoli's back four. Form Guide: Empoli (L L D W L) Juventus (W W L W W) Last season: Empoli 1-3 Juventus Stat Fact: The last time Empoli beat Juventus in a league match was on April 3 1999, followed by two draws and 10 defeats, home and away. Top tip: Clean sheet for Max Allegri's men. Empoli (probable): Skorupski; Zambelli, Bellusci, Barba, Pasqual; Tello, Mauri, Croce; Saponara; Pucciarelli, Maccarone Suspended: None Juventus (probable): Buffon; Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Khedira, Lemina, Pjanic, Alex Sandro; Higuain, Dybala Suspended: None http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 1, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Allegri: 'Juve, don't you dare...' http://www.football-italia.net/92307/allegri-juve-dont-you-dare? Oct 1, 2016 Max Allegri warned Juventus “cannot get it wrong” against Empoli, “or they will ruin my break. Trust me, they don’t want to do that!” It kicks off at the Stadio Castellani on Sunday at 12.30 CET - 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT). “I’ll be happy if at the end of the game Juventus have picked up three points. To do that, we need a performance of quality in both attack and defence,” he said in his Press conference. “It is an unusual kick-off time against an Empoli side that lost to Inter and Lazio, but played well and didn’t deserve defeat, especially last weekend. “I am glad that in the Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb we played with much more quality and pace than at Palermo, so there were improvements.” The Coach was asked if he would continue his tactical experiments after using Hernanes and Sami Khedira together in midfield, while Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain were attacking partners at Palermo. “More than different systems, I am using players with different characteristics in the same roles, so some are 10 metres further forward, some 10 metres further back. “I wanted to see how the lads would move on the field and it was decent. I think it’s wrong to change everything from the start, but we can perform a few experiments as the match goes on. Hopefully it won’t be necessary, as that’ll mean we need to turn the game around. “Hernanes also did well in midfield as the playmaker last season, but was always murdered in the Press by critics, so it makes me smile that suddenly the same people see him as indispensable for Juventus. “Right now those who are on the bench are more important almost than those who start, as they keep up the competitiveness of the squad. We need to improve the quality of our football, but in any case our aim is to continue improving from here to the end of the season, regardless of results.” Leonardo Bonucci said yesterday that the Champions League was the main objective for Juventus. “We are taking part in every competition with the objective to win it, not putting them in a certain order. The important thing is tomorrow that we cannot have the wrong attitude and the players know full well if they get it wrong with Empoli, they will ruin their own break for international duty and above all ruin that of the Coach. Trust me, they don’t want to do that! “This game reminds of the one we had at Carpi last season and it ended with some heart flutters, because we risked throwing everything away and ruining the comeback. The lads know this is a very important match and they cannot underestimate it.” That 3-2 victory over Carpi famously saw Allegri pull off his coat in a rage and throw it at the pitch, creating numerous Hulk memes. “We had an extra day of rest this week, so everyone is fresh, sharp and eager to be in good shape ahead of the break for international duty. “The clubs buy players for millions of pounds because they bring a certain quality and have moves in their DNA that cannot be taught. A Coach can point to various directions for runs and positions, but can only do so much. “I have not yet decided the line-up, specifically who to play and where.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 1, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Juventus squad for Empoli hhttp://www.football-italia.net/92311/juventus-squad-empoli? Oct 1, 2016 Juventus named the squad travelling to Empoli for tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off. It kicks off at 12.30 CET - 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT). Daniele Rugani, Kwadwo Asamoah, Medhi Benatia and Claudio Marchisio are still absent due to injury. Juventus squad for Empoli: Buffon, Chiellini, Pjanic, Khedira, Cuadrado, Higuain, Hernanes, Alex Sandro, Barzagli, Mandzukic, Lemina, Bonucci, Pjaca, Dybala, Dani Alves, Neto, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Audero, Evra http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 1, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Allegri: Three points the priority tomorrow Manager’s pre-match press conference http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/10/1/13130392/allegri-three-points- the-priority-tomorrow-juventus-empoli-pre-match-comments Oct 1, 2016 Juventus are away to Empoli tomorrow and manager Massimiliano Allegri has warned of a tricky lunchtime fixture. “I’ll be happy if at the end of the game Juventus have picked up three points. To do that, we need a performance of quality in both attack and defence. “It is an unusual kick-off time against an Empoli side that lost to Inter and Lazio, but played well and didn’t deserve defeat, especially last weekend. “I am glad that in the Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb we played with much more quality and pace than at Palermo, so there were improvements.” Allegri is often asked during his press conferences whether he will continue with his tinkering with the squad, like using Hernanes and Sami Khedira together in the middle, or Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain lining up together. “More than different systems, I am using players with different characteristics in the same roles, so some are 10 metres further forward, some 10 metres further back. “I wanted to see how the lads would move on the field and it was decent. I think it’s wrong to change everything from the start, but we can perform a few experiments as the match goes on. Hopefully it won’t be necessary, as that’ll mean we need to turn the game around. “Hernanes also did well in midfield as the playmaker last season, but was always murdered in the Press by critics, so it makes me smile that suddenly the same people see him as indispensable for Juventus. “Right now those who are on the bench are more important almost than those who start, as they keep up the competitiveness of the squad. We need to improve the quality of our football, but in any case our aim is to continue improving from here to the end of the season, regardless of results.” While defender Leonardo Bonucci said yesterday that the Champions League was the main priority for the season, Allegri as usual defused that statement - “We are taking part in every competition with the objective to win it, not putting them in a certain order. The important thing is tomorrow that we cannot have the wrong attitude and the players know full well if they get it wrong with Empoli, they will ruin their own break for international duty and above all ruin that of the Coach. Trust me, they don’t want to do that! “This game reminds of the one we had at Carpi last season and it ended with some heart flutters, because we risked throwing everything away and ruining the comeback. The lads know this is a very important match and they cannot underestimate it.” In case you forgot, that Carpi game was where this memorable moment was born - Allegri loses his cool Giphy.com He talked about the team’s focus this week - “We had an extra day of rest this week, so everyone is fresh, sharp and eager to be in good shape ahead of the break for international duty. “The clubs buy players for millions of pounds because they bring a certain quality and have moves in their DNA that cannot be taught. A Coach can point to various directions for runs and positions, but can only do so much. "Everyone here is giving their all to the group. We are together now for 40 days and getting to know each other better. We need to keep improving our style of play throughout the season." On who will play this weekend - “I have not yet decided the line-up, specifically who to play and where. Juan Cuadrado could feature, Miralem Pjanic is in good shape, while Hernanes has been playing well in the deep-lying midfield role. “Our options are increasing in the middle of the park with Sami Khedira, Mario Lemina and Stefano Sturaro vying for berths, while we await the return of Claudio Marchisio.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Martusciello: 'Juve won't snub Empoli' http://www.football-italia.net/92327/martusciello-juve-wont-snub-empoli? Oct 1, 2016 Empoli Coach Giovanni Martusciello can only “hope Juventus do snub this game, even if I doubt they will.” It kicks off on Sunday at 12.30 CET - 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT). “As of today, you could argue Juventus have absolutely no weak points,” said Martusciello in his Press conference. “If they arrive here with the right spirit, the way Inter did, then it will be very difficult for us to get a result and put them under pressure. “We have to hope Juventus do snub this game, even if I doubt they will, despite our current situation.” Empoli have only one victory this season, against bottom of the table Crotone, one draw and four losses. They have injury concerns with Andrea Costa out, while Vincent Laurini, Federico Barba and Jose Mauri are also carrying knocks. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni As Dybala and Higuain learn to coexist, Juventus need goals from elsewhere http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2963954/as-dybala- and-higuain-learn-to-coexist-allegri-must-get-creativity-from-rest-of-juventus Oct 2, 2016 Paulo Dybala scored his first goal of the season when Juventus thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 midweek in their Champions League Group H clash. However, despite the goal, it still seems that the Argentine is not playing like himself. Blessed with quick feet and wonderful movement, Dybala proved a sensation in his debut season with the Bianconeri. Playing with confidence and reliant on his instincts, he was one of the few who always played for the win and seemed to regularly make the right choice. However, this season, he appears shackled by his selflessness, consistently looking to pass the ball rather than take the shot himself. Perhaps his goal midweek will have released the pressure or perhaps the problem has to do with whomever is tasked with playing alongside him. Mario Mandzukic isn't the world's greatest striker, but he is a forward who plays for the team. Consistently sacrificing himself for his teammates, he holds the ball up, brings others into play and acts as the first line of defence. Dybala benefitted from playing alongside him last season, exploiting the strength of the Croatian to create opportunities for himself. Allowed to be a little selfish, the diminutive striker scored twice in Juve's first three games and proved sensational throughout the year. When Gonzalo Higuain arrived in Turin, many salivated over the potential partnership he would strike up alongside Dybala. Both Argentine, both audaciously talented, the little and large combination was set to light up the pitch and, to some degree, it has. The ex-Napoli star has already set about proving why he is considered one of the world's finest strikers, finishing goal-scoring opportunities with aplomb. Hard-working, experienced and famous for his winning mentality, Higuain is truly a €90 million player and as such, asks to be served well by those around him. This has inadvertently affected Dybala's game, as has the lack of creativity in midfield. Consistently retreating deep to collect possession and drive the team forward, Dybala is too far away from Higuain to combine effectively, while the two are yet to understand when to take their chances and when to help the other out, sacrificing themselves for the sake of the team. In midweek, the stats proved that Higuain and Dybala had not exchanged a single pass throughout the game. Dybala loved Mandzukic's ability to hold up play and take defenders away to offer him time and space to operate and finish, while Higuain requires vision and intellect to create opportunities for him. In time, the two will find their way through, learning how to juggle their tasks to serve their own interests and that of the team. In the meantime, Massimiliano Allegri needs to lighten the load by injecting the midfield with players capable of offering vision and technique. By playing Hernanes, the coach unleashed Miralem Pjanic and allowed him to revel in attacking play rather than burden him with defensive duties. This resulted in better passes, greater creativity and a 4-0 score line midweek. It is perhaps why Allegri is likely to depend on the Brazilian again in the match against Napoli on Sunday as he waits on Claudio Marchisio's return. Without Marchisio, Juventus look unbalanced in midfield as they miss his tactical knowledge. One of the few capable of securing the backline and adding value to the team's offensive patterns of play, Marchisio understands how to organise, operate and unleash those ahead him, allowing Allegri tactical versatility. His return should allow the coach a greater chance to experiment with the shape, perhaps allowing Marko Pjaca an opportunity to start. Yet until then, it seems Allegri is unlikely to experiment much in Sunday's match against Empoli and is set to start his usual men in a 3-5-2 formation. On paper, this looks like an easy game, but the Tuscans can be dangerous as they are good at keeping possession, boast an impressive pass success rate and are good in the air. However, they simply cannot score goals and have only managed two this season, both coming from set pieces. Juve have proved a little vulnerable from corners and must ensure they keep concentrated throughout the entirety of the match to secure maximum points and build confidence. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Juventus vs. Empoli: BWRAO starting lineup vote results http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/10/2/13131178/juventus -empoli-2016-serie-a-round-7-starting-lineup-vote-results Oct 2, 2016 To begin, it was pretty clear that many of us here are not a fan of the international break. Seventy-seven percent voted that they’ll miss Juve too much. At least we get to see some of our guys in a good game against Spain. As expected, a majority of BWRAO readers would like to see a 4-man backline tried out for the first time this year, with ~75% voting for a 4 at the back formation. 4-3-3/4-3-2-1 lead the way with around half the votes. No surprise between the goalposts, Buffon leads the way there. Neto did however get his largest amount of support thus far, because as one reader puts it: Neto needs a game once in a while. At defense, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, and Alex Sandro were a staple in almost any team picked, while Andrea Barzagli featured in 3-5-2 responses and a handful of 4 at the back selections. Stephan Lichtsteiner was also voted back in, after not featuring in the previous two games. In the midfield, Miralem Pjanic was the most picked, followed by Mario Lemina. Sami Khedira got the next amount of votes with 75%, but one reader believes: Khedira looked outta gas vs Zagreb. The German needs a rest badly. Hernanes continues to get some love, which is nice to see because many of us thought this wasn’t even a possibility last year. He got 40% of the votes, slightly edging him out of our starting lineup in favour of Marko Pjaca. Up front, the clear starters were Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain, with Marko Pjaca rounding out the front three. I think a lot of us are excited to see what Marko Pjaca can bring us in an extended period of playing time, seen in comments like: Pjaca should be playing more Start the pjaca With Empoli’s poor start of 4 points in 6 games, this game would be a perfect chance for the young Croatian. It's just a good time to get another piece of experiments continuing after a very dominant game. The confidence of the team now just got so high, and also to take this kind of '4-3-we'll set on our own' is not a reckless decision at all. Pjaca's time before he gets slowed down by the warm bench This pretty much sums up the majority opinion. Personally, I’d like to see how a 4-3-3 with Cuadrado and Marko Pjaca would look in a game where we should be able to rotate and still pick up three points. If it’s not working at half-time, switch it up and get Dybala in there. My Starting XI (4-3-3): Gianluigi Buffon; Alex Sandro, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, Stephan Lichtsteiner; Miralem Pjanic, Mario Lemina, Sami Khedira; Marko Pjaca, Gonzalo Higuain, Juan Cuadrado. Your BWRAO Starting Lineup(4-3-3/4-3-2-1): Gianluigi Buffon; Alex Sandro, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, Stephan Lichtsteiner; Miralem Pjanic, Mario Lemina, Sami Khedira; Marko Pjaca, Paulo Dybala; Gonzalo Higuain. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Dybala: 'Juve don't complain' http://www.football-italia.net/92355/dybala-juve-dont-complain Oct 2, 2016 Paulo Dybala targets Champions League glory, warns Gonzalo Higuain and reveals Juventus banned complaining. “We don’t do that here.” The Bianconeri visit Empoli today. It kicks off at 12.30 - 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT). “Every year I set myself new objectives. This time I’d love to reach the Champions League Final and score one more goal than I did last season,” La Joya told La Stampa newspaper. “Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona are in the running too, but we are on that level with them. A sixth consecutive Scudetto would make us legends, but the Champions League has more meaning.” Dybala was without a goal yet this term until scoring a scorcher from 35 metres out against Dinamo Zagreb. “It is said that we strikers live for goals, and to a degree that is true, as every game that went by became more and more difficult. I tried to relax, especially as I told myself I wasn’t playing that badly. Sooner or later the goal would come.” The Argentine revealed why you won’t find Higuain publicly berating his teammates for not passing the ball. “Last season, in my first few games, I raised my arms once to complain with a teammate for his choice of pass. When I got to the locker room, the club representatives told me: ‘We don’t do that here.’ And I never did again. Maybe they said the same to Higuain.” This week Pipita told the media that he asks Dybala to play closer to him in attack, but the former Palermo man disagrees. “In Zagreb we were too close. The defenders could’ve marked us with a cigarette in their mouths and not had to run at all.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Cuadrado: 'Empoli play good football' http://www.football-italia.net/92362/cuadrado-empoli-play-good-football Oct 2, 2016 Juan Cuadrado is “truly happy to start” for Juventus today and is impressed with Empoli’s style of football. “I am truly happy to start the game and our approach from the very beginning will be important,” the Colombian told Mediaset Premium. “We must get a result, as that is the only thing that counts. We are aware that every match is difficult, especially as Empoli play good football and we must be wary. “We hope to do our job well.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Line-ups: Empoli-Juventus http://www.football-italia.net/92364/line-ups-empoli-juventus Oct 2, 2016 Juventus must win at the Castellani to stay top of Serie A and reunite Gonzalo Higuain with Paulo Dybala against reshuffled Empoli. It kicks off at 12.30 CET - 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT). The Bianconeri have seemingly recovered from the hiccups of a 0-0 Champions League draw with Sevilla and 2-1 defeat to Inter, not to mention last weekend’s dismal performance at Palermo, by crushing Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 on Tuesday. Max Allegri continues to deal with the injury crisis that has ruled out Medhi Benatia, Daniele Rugani, Kwadwo Asamoah and Claudio Marchisio. Hernanes again takes the midfield playmaker role, freeing Miralem Pjanic, while Dybala and Higuain are the front two. Alex Sandro and Juan Cuadrado get rare starts, but there’s no rest for Sami Khedira. Empoli have struggled badly this season, managing just one victory over Crotone, and go into this match without Andrea Costa, Vincent Laurini or Federico Barba. Jose Mauri was also carrying a knock, but is able to play anyway. The big surprise is that Riccardo Saponara is replaced by Rade Krunic, who starts behind Manuel Pucciarelli and veteran Massimo Maccarone. From the latest reports, it seems as if Saponara is not injured and this was a tactical choice. The last time Empoli beat Juve in the league was in April 1999, followed by two draws and 10 defeats, home and away. Empoli: Skorupski; Zambelli, Cosic, Bellusci, Pasqual; Tello, Mauri, Croce; Krunic; Pucciarelli, Maccarone Empoli bench: Pugliesi, Pelagotti, Dimarco, Veseli, Diousse, Saponara, Maiello, Pereira, Buchel, Mchedlidze, Gilardino, Marilungo Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Khedira, Hernanes, Pjanic, Alex Sandro; Higuain, Dybala Juventus bench: Neto, Audero, Lichtsteiner, Dani Alves, Evra, Lemina, Sturaro, Pjaca, Mandzukic http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Carli: 'Saponara tactical decision' http://www.football-italia.net/92366/carli-saponara-tactical-decision Oct 2, 2016 Empoli director general Marcello Carli explains why Riccardo Saponara was surprisingly dropped against Juventus. “This is a wonderful day for us and perhaps it’s the right match for the Empoli strikers against a poor defence!” he laughed on Mediaset Premium. “All joking aside, we created a great deal against Udinese, but when you lose it means the defeat was deserved. It makes us proud to be hosting Juventus in the top flight, so a strong performance here can boost our self-esteem.” There was a huge shock in the starting XI with Rade Krunic picked instead of Saponara in the trequartista role. “Saponara is an important player for us, but the Coach preferred a more physical midfield considering the characteristics of the opposition. “We always accept the line-up chosen by the Coach, so if he made this decision then there must be a good reason. “Empoli need a little more determination and I remain confident we will secure safety this season too.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni HT 0-0: Juve waste chances in Empoli http://www.football-italia.net/92369/ht-juve-waste-chances-empoli Oct 2, 2016 It’s all square at half-time, but both Empoli and Juventus had great chances, including Sami Khedira off the bar and a fine save on Juan Cuadrado. The Bianconeri were top of the Serie A table and coming off a midweek 4-0 Champions League victory at Dinamo Zagreb, but missed Medhi Benatia, Daniele Rugani, Kwadwo Asamoah and Claudio Marchisio. Juan Cuadrado was given his first start of the season. The hosts surprisingly dropped star player Riccardo Saponara for Rade Krunic, while Vincent Laurini, Andrea Costa and Federico Barba were injured. The last time Empoli beat Juve in the league was in April 1999, followed by two draws and 10 defeats, home and away, including four losses on the bounce. Sami Khedira had a great chance after nine minutes when he was not flagged offside, so was allowed to chest and volley on the turn, smacking his shot against the crossbar. Lukasz Skorupski smothered a Paulo Dybala free kick and Cuadrado risked scoring by accident, as his horribly mis-kicked cross turned into a shot that the goalkeeper had to palm round the near post. Skorupski also had his gloves stung by a Dybala screamer from distance, but above all performed a stunning reaction save with his foot at the near post when Cuadrado had snuck up behind Manuel Pasqual to go clear on goal with a marvellous Miralem Pjanic ball over the top. Manuel Pucciarelli did test Gigi Buffon from distance and Cuadrado wasted another counter. It became increasingly open and just before half-time Buffon had to punch a Krune strike from the edge of the box out from under the bar. Higuain was almost at the by-line when he tried to flick the ball over Skorupski, but Uros Cosic was back to clear off the line. Empoli 0-0 Juventus (Half-Time) Empoli: Skorupski; Zambelli, Cosic, Bellusci, Pasqual; Tello, Mauri, Croce; Krunic; Pucciarelli, Maccarone Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Khedira, Hernanes, Pjanic, Alex Sandro; Higuain, Dybala Ref: Mazzoleni http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni HT 0-0: Juve waste chances in Empoli http://www.football-italia.net/92369/ht-juve-waste-chances-empoli Oct 2, 2016 It’s all square at half-time, but both Empoli and Juventus had great chances, including Sami Khedira off the bar and a fine save on Juan Cuadrado. The Bianconeri were top of the Serie A table and coming off a midweek 4-0 Champions League victory at Dinamo Zagreb, but missed Medhi Benatia, Daniele Rugani, Kwadwo Asamoah and Claudio Marchisio. Juan Cuadrado was given his first start of the season. The hosts surprisingly dropped star player Riccardo Saponara for Rade Krunic, while Vincent Laurini, Andrea Costa and Federico Barba were injured. The last time Empoli beat Juve in the league was in April 1999, followed by two draws and 10 defeats, home and away, including four losses on the bounce. Sami Khedira had a great chance after nine minutes when he was not flagged offside, so was allowed to chest and volley on the turn, smacking his shot against the crossbar. Lukasz Skorupski smothered a Paulo Dybala free kick and Cuadrado risked scoring by accident, as his horribly mis-kicked cross turned into a shot that the goalkeeper had to palm round the near post. Skorupski also had his gloves stung by a Dybala screamer from distance, but above all performed a stunning reaction save with his foot at the near post when Cuadrado had snuck up behind Manuel Pasqual to go clear on goal with a marvellous Miralem Pjanic ball over the top. Manuel Pucciarelli did test Gigi Buffon from distance and Cuadrado wasted another counter. It became increasingly open and just before half-time Buffon had to punch a Krune strike from the edge of the box out from under the bar. Higuain was almost at the by-line when he tried to flick the ball over Skorupski, but Uros Cosic was back to clear off the line. Empoli 0-0 Juventus (Half-Time) Empoli: Skorupski; Zambelli, Cosic, Bellusci, Pasqual; Tello, Mauri, Croce; Krunic; Pucciarelli, Maccarone Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Khedira, Hernanes, Pjanic, Alex Sandro; Higuain, Dybala Ref: Mazzoleni http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Empoli 0-3 Juventus: Higuain at the double as Juve extend lead at top of Serie A The former Napoli striker bagged two goals in three minutes as the Old Lady further cemented their place at the top of the league. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/empoli-vs-juventus/2305815/report Oct 2, 2016 Gonzalo Higuain was at the double as three goals in the space of five second-half minutes sealed a 3-0 victory for Serie A leaders Juventus against struggling Empoli on Sunday. Massimiliano Allegri's side dominated proceedings throughout at Stadio Carlo Castellani but were not rewarded for their efforts until after the hour-mark, Paulo Dybala drilling in his first Serie A goal of the season. That strike was swiftly followed up by Dybala's compatriot Higuain, the former Real Madrid forward slotting in from the edge of the area before capitalising on Marco Zambelli's error to add a third. It had been a frustrating performance for the champions up until their opener, though – Sami Khedira and Juan Cuadrado both failed to convert golden opportunities in the first-half. But once Juve opened the scoring there was little hope of an Empoli comeback, as Allegri's side cruised to their sixth victory of the campaign. Fresh from their 4-1 thumping of Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, Juve started sharply, with Khedira squandering a gilt-edged chance when he hammered a close-range volley against the crossbar after getting on the end of Miralem Pjanic's sublime pass. Dybala, who netted his maiden 2016-17 goal in the win over Dinamo, was next to go close, curling a free-kick into the gloves of Lukasz Skorupski. Allegri's men continued to dominate, and Cuadrado should have given Juve the lead when he raced onto Pjanic's throughball, but Skorupski stood firm to make a superb stop. Empoli looked to end the first-half on the front foot, Rade Krunic's dipping effort tipped over by Gianlugi Buffon, while at the other end, Higuain's looping attempt was cleared off the line. Juve maintained the pressure after the restart, Khedira threading a neat pass into the feet of Higuain, but the Argentine's hesitation allowed Empoli's defence to recover. Higuain did have the ball in the net just before the hour-mark, Dybala slipping it through to Cuadrado, who in turn set-up Higuain for a tap-in, but the Chelsea loanee had already been flagged offside. However, Juve finally had their lead in the 65th minute when, after Higuain had seen a point-blank shot stopped by Skorupski, Dybala broke the deadlock. The Argentina international did brilliantly to get on the end of Alex Sandro's low cross, duly proceeding to prod a venomous finish into the roof of the net. Empoli quickly crumbled, and Juve had their second two minutes later, Higuain making no mistake on this occasion as he slid a neat left-footed finish into the bottom-left corner. And the ex-Napoli striker added gloss to Juve's win moments after, tucking home from close range following poor play from Zambelli. Unquestionably 19th-placed Empoli's best performer, Skorupski was on form late on to deny both Cuadrado and Mario Lemina, but the misses mattered little as Juve moved four points clear at the top of Serie A. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Juventus flurry stuns Empoli Juventus took a while to break through in Empoli, then scored three in five minutes with Paulo Dybala and double Gonzalo Higuain. http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/87889 Oct 2, 2016 The Bianconeri were top of the Serie A table and coming off a midweek 4-0 Champions League victory at Dinamo Zagreb, but missed Medhi Benatia, Daniele Rugani, Kwadwo Asamoah and Claudio Marchisio. Juan Cuadrado was given his first start of the season. The hosts surprisingly dropped star player Riccardo Saponara for Rade Krunic, while Vincent Laurini, Andrea Costa and Federico Barba were injured. The last time Empoli beat Juve in the league was in April 1999, followed by two draws and 10 defeats, home and away, including four losses on the bounce. Sami Khedira had a great chance after nine minutes when he was not flagged offside, so was allowed to chest and volley on the turn, smacking his shot against the crossbar. Lukasz Skorupski smothered a Paulo Dybala free kick and Cuadrado risked scoring by accident, as his horribly mis-kicked cross turned into a shot that the goalkeeper had to palm round the near post. Skorupski also had his gloves stung by a Dybala screamer from distance, but above all performed a stunning reaction save with his foot at the near post when Cuadrado had snuck up behind Manuel Pasqual to go clear on goal with a marvellous Miralem Pjanic ball over the top. Manuel Pucciarelli did test Gigi Buffon from distance and Cuadrado wasted another counter. It became increasingly open and just before half-time Buffon had to punch a Krune strike from the edge of the box out from under the bar. Higuain was almost at the by-line when he tried to flick the ball over Skorupski, but Uros Cosic was back to clear off the line. Straight after the restart, Higuain hesitated on a through pass and eventually had the finish charged down. Pjanic’s free kick was deflected wide and Krunic almost punished Leonardo Bonucci for a poor first touch in the six-yard box. Higuain had the ball in the net, but Cuadrado was offside when providing the assist. Pipita incredibly also failed to score when a Dybala free kick pinballed around the box, fell kindly for the Argentine and Skorupski parried from point-blank range. The breakthrough did arrive moments later, as Alex Sandro rolled across from the left for Dybala, who took one touch and smashed it under the bar from 10 yards. It was his second goal of the week after Dinamo Zagreb and his first Serie A strike of the season. This opened the floodgates and Higuain doubled their lead by surging forward into space and unleashing an unstoppable effort from the edge of the penalty area. Higuain added another thanks to an absolute gift from Zambelli, whose terrible backpass was intercepted to dribble round the goalkeeper for the third Juventus goal in five minutes. Skorupski prevented the fourth with a fine save at the near post on Mario Lemina and flew to fingertip a Marko Pjaca curler out from under the bar. Stefano Sturaro made his first appearance of the season after a long injury lay-off. Empoli: Skorupski; Zambelli, Cosic, Bellusci, Pasqual; Tello (Mchedlidze 67), Mauri, Croce; Krunic (Diousse 72); Pucciarelli, Maccarone (Marilungo 59) Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Khedira (Lemina 61), Hernanes, Pjanic (Sturaro 82), Alex Sandro; Higuain, Dybala (Pjaca 73) Ref: Mazzoleni http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 2, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Juventus 3 - Empoli 0: Initial reaction and random observations http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/10/2/13136344/juventus-empoli- 2016-serie-a-round-7-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations Oct 2, 2016 In the 63rd minute, I took to the BWRAO Twitter account and mentioned how wasteful Juventus had been in front of goal pretty much all game long against Empoli on Sunday afternoon. It was hard to avoid, really. Juve probably should have had the lead, but didn’t — and they had nothing but their ineffectiveness in front of goal to thank for that. In the 64th minute, the flood gates officially opened. It was an Argentine-themed goal explosion midway through the second half. Paulo Dybala opened things up and his countryman, Gonzalo Higuain, brought the house down with a pair of goals within a few minutes of one another as Juve’s big second half keyed their 3-0 win over Empoli. Just like that, frustration gone and goal celebrations were prevalent. Dybala and Higuain, Juventus’ two leading men atop Max Allegri’s 3-5-2, proved to be just the kind of explosive tandem we know they can be. So, basically, after 63 minutes of frustrating moments in front of goal, Juventus put the game away in five minutes. That’s what this Juventus team is capable of — and Empoli found out the hard way. Considering how things were looking, I didn’t expect to be using that second gif and feel as good about things as I am right now. Juventus looked a little off-kilter and out of sync following a positive start to the game. Juventus were wasting the good chances they did have, and it’s not like they were inspiring confidence when it came to their finishing in front of goal. I guess we now know that, while it might have been against a team that will certainly be trying to not get relegated this season, this Juventus team has the chance to flip the switch when it needs to and step on a team’s throat. The road to get to the three-goal surge might not have been the prettiest, but when they got there, boy was it fun to watch. One goal, two goal, three goal and it could have been much, much more. For as quick as Juve were to jump on Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night, they did things a little bit differently on Saturday in Tuscany. Still, Juventus’ last four games in all competitions since the Derby d’Italia loss to Inter have resulted in these goal totals: Four, one, four, three. That’s a grand total of 12 goals scored. And over the same period of time, it’s been four consecutive shutouts for Gigi Buffon. But what did Saturday’s win have what the others didn’t? Three goals within five minutes. Seriously, that’s just crazy talk when you really think about it for a few seconds. I love Argentina, and so should you. RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS It’s almost six in the morning as I type this sentence. The things I do to watch this team sometimes, man, the things I do... No, seriously, it’s 5:21 in the morning as i typed this bullet point. Almost — ALMOST — as bad as the lunchtime kickoff was the condition of the field at the Castellani. Not that it looked bad, because it certainly passed the eye test in terms of vibrance. But when you saw Alex Sandro stumble almost every time he tried to cut inside on the left wing, then you knew something was going on. I just hope Empoli replaces some of their divots during the international break. By the way, the run and pass Sandro made on Dybala’s opener...pretty good. The game started to turn when Mario Lemina entered for Sami Khedira. He did exactly what you want out of a sub when the game’s going that kind of way. He brought energy, he brought some force and he got an assist along the way, too. Not bad, kid. Shhhhhhh...don’t tell anybody but Hernanes played pretty well as Juve’s regista again. We’ve joked about the line of “Juventus has lost Pirlo, Tevez and Vidal in the same transfer window...” before. Today I heard a new one from my announcers: “Juventus has seen players of the ilk of Pirlo, Tevez, Vidal, Pogba and Padoin leave in recent summers...” PADOIN! Juventus had eight shots on goal in the first half, not one of them went in. They had just as many shots ring off the frame of the goal as Empoli had total shots in the entire first half. That speaks to how one-sided it was for a period of time, but also how wasteful Juve were of their chances to start things out. For how many chances Miralem Pjanic created with his slick passing, Khedira was pretty much the exact opposite. Don’t get me wrong, I love Sami and think he’s a great player, but man that was not a good first half on his part. Marko Pjaca had three or four legit scoring chances within his first 15 minutes on the field against Empoli. He hasn’t had a ton of minutes, obviously, but he’s impressed just about every time on the field no matter what situation it may be. That first start of his has to be coming soon, you would think. I know Allegri is saying that he wants to take his time when it comes to Pjaca, but if he continues to play like this, Max has no choice other than to just let the kid loose and see what happens. Higuain has six goals in his first seven Serie A games with Juventus. Decent return on that €90 million investment, don’t you think? Paulo Dybala back. And it’s wonderful to see. Good win. I’m going to bed now. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 3, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni PLAYER RATINGS - Higuain clinic guides Juve to victory Massimiliano Allegri's men score three goals in the space of five minutes in the second half to cruise to a comfortable victory at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/empoli-vs-juventus/2305815/ratings?ICID=MP_MS_6 Oct 2, 2016 TEAM RATINGS Empoli 28L. Skorupski Made a couple of good stops, including a fine one with his feet to deny Cuadrado. Kept the scoreline respectable, and could do nothing with three goals he conceded. 3M. Zambelli Held his own on the right flank against Alex Sandro.. However, he faded in the second half and made a costly mistake for the third goal. 24U. Ćosić Caught out of position a number of times at the back and was grateful for the covering skills of Bellusci. Should have closed down Higuain for the second Juve goal. 21M. Pasqual Full of running down the left, but his propensity to push forward left him exposed to the pace of Cuadrado. His set-pieces didn't provide enough of a threat. 6G. Bellusci Gave the ball away on a couple of occasions in the first half which could have been dangerous, but also made a couple of vital blocks. Was beaten by Higuain for the second, but was the best of the Empoli defenders. 11D. Croce Ineffectual bar a brief spell in the first half where he drove his team into a couple of decent positions. Overwhelmed in the second half. 5J. Mauri Provided a decent shield in front of his back four in the first half, but his effect restricted in the second after he was booked. 88A. Tello Had a poor outing against his former club as he lost the ball on a number of occasions and gave away free kicks in dangerous positions. 33R. Krunić Had a couple of neat touches in his advanced midfield role, and saw one effort well saved by Buffon. Isolated by his midfield in the second half. 7M. Maccarone Didn't look interested as he failed to get up to the pace of the game. Could have offered a lot more in the final third. 20M. Pucciarelli Attempted to make things happen for his team, but was often isolated as he raided forward. Faded in the second half as Juve took control. Juventus 1G. Buffon Untroubled for the majority of the afternoon, making one meaningful save to deny Krunic. 12Alex Sandro Had a tough time down the left in the first half, but produced quality when his side needed it by bursting down the flank and teeing up Dybala for the opener. 15A. Barzagli Flawless display from the defender as he did not give the Empoli forwards an inch in the final third. 19L. Bonucci Made a couple of mistakes that could have been costly, but put aside those issues in the second half to return to his best. 3G. Chiellini Solid presence at the back and dominant in the air. Ensured that his side were not going to concede against the home team. 5M. Pjanić Helped his side retain possession and eventually wear down the home team. Still not at his best in the middle of the park. 6S. Khedira Could have had a goal and a couple of assists on another day, but saw his effort clatter off the bar, while Cuadrado and others missed chances from his passes into the box. Always a threat. 11Hernanes Made a couple of strong challenges, which saw him booked in the first half. Not a huge factor in the game, but did just enough to help his team over the line. 7J. Cuadrado Was always raiding into dangerous positions, but lacked the final product. Seeing two efforts saved and another that he put wide of the post. Just needs to add a clinical edge to become a top player. 9G. Higuaín Had a quiet first half, and missed a good chance to hand his side the lead in the first half. However, once the first goal went in he was brought to life and put on a clinic in the final 25 minutes of the match, notching two goals in the process. 21P. Dybala Not at his best for the majority of the game, but like all good forward players seized the initiative to score his first Serie A goal of the season with a thumping finish. Substitutes 8A. El Hadji Came on in the second half when the game was gone for his team. 89G. Marilungo Anonymous after replacing Maccarone on the hour mark. 9L. Mchedlidze Had a couple of nice touches in the final third, but couldn't provide the threat his team needed. Substitutes 27S. Sturaro On late to help his side see out the victory. 18M. Lemina Offered a spark in the midfield after replacing Khedira in the second half. 20M. Pjaca Made an impact in his time on the pitch and could have had two goals if not for an inspired performance from Skorupski. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 3, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Dybala: 'My drought is over' http://www.football-italia.net/92373/dybala-my-drought-over Oct 2, 2016 Paulo Dybala feels he has “broken through” his goal block and described his friendship with Juventus teammate Gonzalo Higuain. La Joya hadn’t scored at all this season, but now has two in as many matches after the Champions League victory at Dinamo Zagreb and today’s 3-0 success at Empoli. “I needed that goal in Serie A. I think that after Zagreb I’ve broken through and will be fine from now on,” Dybala told Sky Sport Italia. “I am always with Higuain, we talk all the time and not just about football, so it makes sense we get along on the pitch too. “Compared to Zagreb it was a more open game and we had more space to move in. “We must continue to take it one game at a time. We want to win always and not concede goals.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 3, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Allegri: 'Mature Juventus' http://www.football-italia.net/92374/allegri-mature-juventus Oct 2, 2016 Max Allegri saw “maturity” from Juventus in their 3-0 win away to Empoli, “even if we can improve and move the ball better.” It was all square at the Castellani until the 65th minute, sparking a flurry of three goals in a five-minute period. “The lads did very well today in a difficult arena and the pitch was slippery too. We allowed a few too many counter-attacks because we didn’t finalise our moves properly,” the Coach told Mediaset Premium. “It was a different game after the break, as after the opening goal it all became much easier. We need to improve, but in terms of performance this was better. “I liked the maturity shown by the lads in controlling the match after going 3-0 up, even if we can improve and move the ball around better. “We ran a few risks at the back because we were a little stretched out between the lines. In midfield we don’t have strong defensive figures right now, so in some cases it’s important to slow the tempo and control it. “This squad has only been together really for 40 days, what with the various breaks for international duty. Winning games is all that counts and the rest is idle chatter. “I am very happy with Miralem Pjanic’s performance today. He made some important passes, remained concentrated throughout and gave quality to our football.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 3, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Gonzalo Higuain brace sees Juventus beat Empoli and stay top http://www.espnfc.co.uk/report?gameId=461235 Oct 2, 2016 Juventus ensured they would end the weekend in first place in Serie A with a convincing 3-0 victory at Empoli. The three points take the reigning champions four ahead of closest challengers Napoli, whose game in hand at Atalanta was later on Sunday. Struggling Empoli remain second bottom, with a total of four points from seven games. Juve's victory was secured in the space of five second-half minutes, when one goal from Paulo Dybala and two more from the £78 million Gonzalo Higuain built a commanding lead. Both teams threatened during the first half, during which Juve's Sami Khedari sent a ninth-minute volley against the crossbar, and Juan Cuadrado's close-range shot forced Empoli goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski into a fine reaction save. Dybala's goal came in the 65th minute. Controlling a low, left-wing cross from Alex Sandro, from directly in front of goal he powerfully finished with his left foot into the roof of the net. Higuain's first followed only two minutes later. After receiving possession from Mario Lemina in midfield, he ran with the ball to the edge of the area before creating his own space and shooting towards the bottom left corner. He then secured all three points in the 70th minute, when dribbling from the left wing into the area, committing Skorupski, and calmly finishing into an open goal. The result extended Juve's undefeated run against Empoli, who last overcame them in April 1999. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 3, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Subbed Khedira throws tantrum at Allegri The former Real Madrid midfielder expressed anger after being replaced by his coach after 61 minutes during Juve's most recent victory. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2016/10/02/28102692/-? Oct 2, 2016 Despite winning six games from their opening seven Serie A games, it appears not all is well within the Juventus camp after Sami Khedira appeared to throw a tantrum when he was subbed off during Juventus' 3-0 victory over Empoli on Sunday. With the scores locked at 0-0 and Juve struggling to break down the hosts, the off-form midfielder was hauled off, much to his displeasure. The 29-year-old appeared to mouth off at his manager Massimiliano Allegri before throwing a water bottle in temper. Allegri's decision proved to be the correct call as his side scored an amazing three goals in five minutes with the breakthrough coming just moments after the German international's exit. The 29-year-old started the campaign well but his performances have dipped recently and he has drawn some criticism from the Old Lady faithful. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 3, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Allegri: I liked Juventus’ maturity today Manager’s post-match comments http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/10/2/13137100/allegri- liked-juventus-maturity-today-empoli-2016-post-match-comments Oct 2, 2016 Juventus won at Empoli earlier today with a flurry of goals to go four points clear in the Serie A table. Paulo Dybala scored his second of the campaign while record signing Gonzalo Higuain chipped in with another brace. The unfortunate Juan Cuadrado started the game and could have easily had a hattrick if it weren’t for some inspired goalkeeping from Lukasz Skorupski. After the match, manager Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the media. “The lads did very well today in a difficult arena and the pitch was slippery too. We allowed a few too many counter-attacks because we didn’t finalise our moves properly. “It was a different game after the break, as after the opening goal it all became much easier. We need to improve, but in terms of performance this was better. “I liked the maturity shown by the lads in controlling the match after going 3-0 up, even if we can improve and move the ball around better. “We ran a few risks at the back because we were a little stretched out between the lines. In midfield we don’t have strong defensive figures right now, so in some cases it’s important to slow the tempo and control it. “This squad has only been together really for 40 days, what with the various breaks for international duty. Winning games is all that counts and the rest is idle chatter. “I am very happy with Miralem Pjanic’s performance today. He made some important passes, remained concentrated throughout and gave quality to our football.” Allegri didn’t miss a chance to say that he felt there were still improvements that needed to be made. “We could have taken the lead in the first half. Empoli were pressing us hard and there were a couple of times when we lost the ball and afforded them a few three-on-three breaks. “We need to be more focused because it only takes a set piece or a counter-attack for your opponents to score in a match like this.” He was however complimentary about how the side broke the game open in the second half, and looked forward to the international break and beyond. “We broke the deadlock after the break and everything was a lot easier from then on. It was a good performance from the lads. We know we’re improving and we can now enjoy the break before coming back for a big month. “We’ll be able to go a long way towards determining whether or not we qualify for the Champions League knock-out stages, plus we play two head-to-heads in the league against AC Milan and Napoli.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 3, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Sarri: ‘Juve won’t slip up’ http://www.football-italia.net/92381/sarri-‘juve-won’t-slip-up’? Oct 2, 2016 Maurizio Sarri does not believe Juventus will make enough mistakes to allow Napoli to fight for the Scudetto. The Bianconeri already hold a four point lead at the top of Serie A, following their win over Empoli and the Partenopei’s disappointing defeat to Atalanta on Sunday. “We paid for the nervous energy expended in the Champions League,” Sarri said when asked what he believed had led to his team’s downfall against La Dea. “The commitment of the boys was total, but subconsciously we had lost and left behind a lot of energy on Wednesday. “Against such physical teams, on a pitch that isn’t very well suited to us, we have our limits. “The biggest step we have to take is this one – how to come up with solutions in games like this.” Sarri was then asked about the gap already present between Max Allegri’s Juve and the chasing pack. “They [Juventus] are of a different level and they are having a different level season. We have never had the idea that our season should be parallel to theirs. “We are young, we need to develop. These are important days, we are getting to know how important these matches close together are. “If they commit different errors, yes we will be there. But I don’t think they will do that. “I’ll say something else – it’s the last time I will respond to a question about Juventus.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 3, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Gonzalo Higuain Showing Why Juventus Smashed Their Transfer Record to Sign Him http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2667123-gonzalo-higuain-showing -why-juventus-smashed-their-transfer-record-to-sign-him? Oct 2, 2016 Having struggled in their last Serie A outing against Palermo a week ago, the first half of Sunday’s visit to Empoli appeared to be heading much the same way. For the opening 45 minutes at the Stadio Carlo Castellani, the Old Lady were clearly in control but could not find a way past Lukasz Skorupski. Indeed, the Polish goalkeeper was in superb form to deny a string of chances for Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado, with Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri admitting at his post-match press conference that the Bianconeri struggled to break down their resolute Tuscan opponents: We could have taken the lead in the first half. Empoli were pressing us hard and there were a couple of times when we lost the ball and afforded them a few three-on-three breaks. We need to be more focused because it only takes a set piece or a counter-attack for your opponents to score in a match like this. Their own defence held firm, however, and they eventually took the lead after Alex Sandro—who otherwise endured a poor outing—rolled the ball across the box to Dybala. The Argentina international took one touch before launching a powerful shot into the roof of the net, wheeling away in sheer delight at bagging his first league goal of the campaign. Follow Khaledalnouss @khaledalnouss1 Dybala's goal. 1:52 PM - 2 Oct 2016 111111 Retweets 6767 likes “I needed that goal in Serie A. I think that after [Dinamo] Zagreb I’vebroken through and will be fine from now on,” Dybala told Sky Italia(h/t Football Italia) shortly after the final whistle, his goal coming just days after he found the net in the UEFA Champions League clash in Croatia. It was a strike that broke the spirit of Giovanni Martusciello’s Empoli, with Juventus then completely dominating and one man in particular coming to the fore. Following Dybala’s 65th-minute opener, GonzaloHiguain put on a master class of attacking prowess that ended this tie in abrupt and emphatic fashion. Surging forward towards the penalty area just two minutes later, even a plethora of defenders looking to close him down could not deter the 28-year-old, his left-footed effort from outside the area leavingSkorupski with no hope of stopping it. Follow ItalianFootballTV @IFTV_Official GOOOL HIGUAIN!!! What a play from Juventus and what a finish from Pipita! 2-0 Juventus over Empoli! 1:55 PM - 2 Oct 2016 174174 Retweets 131131 likes It was the kind of goal that showcased his ruthless determination, collecting the ball and instantly powering towards the danger zone, his directness already adding another potent weapon to the reigning champions’ packed arsenal. Allied with his incredible accuracy, Higuain’s performances so far in 2016/17 have highlighted just how deadly yet well rounded he has become, while his second goal provided tangible evidence of the fear and panic he instils in opposition defenders. Empoli had possession of the ball with Juventus’ pressing much less intense than it had been earlier in the game when Marco Zambellireceived a pass. Higuain quickly closed him down, and the defender immediately looked flustered, as if he could hear the theme music from Jaws playing in his head. Follow Juvefc.com @juvefcdotcom PIPITA AGAIN ! 3-0 AND IT'S OVER 1:57 PM - 2 Oct 2016 111111 Retweets 7070 likes A woeful back pass came as a result of that anxiousness, Higuainplaying the role of the predatory shark perfectly to intercept the ball, dribble around the goalkeeper and slot home for his side’s third goal in five minutes. While it is easy to pity Zambelli or lambast him for such an error, it is impossible to understate just how much the presence of the JuventusNo. 9 influenced his fluffed back pass. Even those defenders already with the Bianconeri have been stunned by the quality of their new arrival, with Leonardo Bonucci telling reporters this week that Higuain “amazed me, he has the humility of a great champion.” MARCO BERTORELLO/Getty Images Bonucci was impressed by former foe Higuain. The striker broke a 65-year-old record last term by netting 36 goals in 35 appearances, the biggest single-season haul ever amassed in SerieA, yet has arguably begun the new campaign in even deadlier form. According to statistics from WhoScored.com, he has taken just 3.1 shots per game in 2016/17, a substantial drop from his league-high average of 5.2 a year earlier. At the same time his accuracy has vastly increased, with Squawka.com showing that he has hit the target with 64 percent of his shots this term, up from 58 percent in 2015/16. Yet despite scoring once every 66 minutes in Serie A so far this season, there is much more to his play than simply his scoring prowess.WhoScored show that Higuain has connected with over 80 percent of his pass attempts since joining Juventus and created an average of one clear scoring chance per game for those around him. View image on Twitter Follow Adam Digby ✔@Adz77 Gonzalo Higuain vs Empoli: 2 goals, 8 shots, 4/4 take-ons, 18/24 passes (75%), 1 tackle. (via @StatsZone) 5:50 PM - 2 Oct 2016 44 Retweets 88 likes The match against Empoli highlighted all those qualities in abundance, as the FourFourTwo Stats Zone graphic in the tweet above demonstrates. In his 90-minute display, he took eight shots, laid on three clear chances for his team-mates and connected with 18 of his 24 pass attempts and all four of his take-ons. Despite winning just one tackle, he also ensured that the Azzurridefence were not allowed to settle in possession, continually harassing him just as he did before netting Juve’s third goal of the game. Frighteningly for the rest of the division, the man himself believes there is much more to come from both his own play and theBianconeri as a team, explaining his opinion to Mediaset Premium (h/tJuve’s official website) after the win against Dinamo Zagreb: We’re all improving. I understand my team-mates and they understand me, even though I’ve only been here two months. We’re working hard all the time and us new signings are becoming more and more comfortable with the playing system. We have lots of room for improvement, though – we’re still at the start of the season. Darko Bandic/Associated Press Higuain continued his deadly form in Zagreb. Perhaps that is something to be expected, given that the officialBianconeri website revealed that they handed Napoli €90 million to sign him back in July. Clearly the performances Higuain has delivered since the Old Lady handed over that club-record fee show it was money well spent. Club director Gianluca Pessotto has been impressed by the impact of the former Real Madrid star, telling Calciomercato (h/t Football Italia) that he believes Higuain is “one of the best five or six forwards in the world.” With Juventus having already won the Serie A title for five consecutive seasons without him, it is arguably only in Europe where Higuain can truly show that he can make the difference. The club have made no secret of their desire for Champions League glory, and it is in that competition’s latter stages where he must now prove his value. There are many matches to come before those prestigious and important fixtures roll around, but with displays like this one against Empoli, Juventus fans will undoubtedly be keen to see what Higuain can do once they begin. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
Socrates 8526 Joined: 04-Apr-2006 134632 messaggi Inviato October 3, 2016 EMPOLI - JUVENTUS 0-3 Paulo Dybala 65' Gonzalo Higuaín 67' Gonzalo Higuaín 70' MATCHDAY 7 Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 - 12:30 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Higuain, Dybala on the mark as Juve pull away from Empoli http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2964572/gonzalo- higuain-paulo-dybala-on-the-mark-as-juve-pull-away-from-empoli Oct 2, 2016 Three goals in five minutes secured another win for Juventus who defeated Empoli 3-0 away from home. Giovanni Martusciello's men created interesting patterns of play and were both intelligent and entertaining when constructing opportunities. Their only problem lied in their inability to finish their chances, lacking that final pass to make a difference. Juventus, reliant on Juan Cuadrado's pace and Miralem Pjanic's vision created opportunities but only really looked like a force to be reckoned with in the second half. Empoli raised their lines and began to concede space, allowing Juve to exploit their opportunities and score three goals in quick succession in the second half. A game played at a slow pace, the match proved tactically interesting if not all that entertaining. Positives With Paulo Dybala scoring in his second consecutive game and Gonzalo Higuain grabbing a brace, Juventus once again showed that they do not need to play their very best to ensure goals, but can just rely on their Argentines. The duo are still struggling to find their feet in this partnership but boast enough skill and talent to always secure the points. Negatives Another first half of cumbersome play will be remembered for the number of squandered opportunities and lack of dynamism and flair. Juventus can afford to play such a slow tempo in matches such as these but must learn to play with more pace and bite now so that they are prepared when they play the more dangerous opponents in both Serie A and the Champions League. Juan Cuadrado and Miralem Pjanic offered the side avenues to exploit going forward but Pjanic should move closer to goal while Cuadrado must learn how to make the most of all the opportunities he creates. At the moment he lacks composure. Manager rating out of 10 6 -- Massimiliano Allegri sought to balance the midfield, bringing in Hernanes to release those ahead of him. As a result, his Juve played with greater creativity and offensive brilliance even if the performance in the first half left a lot to be desired. Allowing Marko Pjaca more minutes and gifting Mario Lemina the opportunity to play in a more suitable role made for an interesting end to the game. In time, this side will produce better and more fluid performances. Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating): GK Gianluigi Buffon, 6 -- Alert and concentrated when called upon but faced a side that lacked the final pass when allowed to attack, allowing for a relaxing afternoon for the veteran. DF Andrea Barzagli, 7 -- Anticipated movements, Barzagli read the game so well to ensure he always made the right decisions. DF Leonardo Bonucci, 6 -- Excellent in the air, the defender made the vital clearances and interceptions to keep Juventus safe at the back. If only he didn't commit so many fouls. DF Giorgio Chiellini, 6 -- Regularly won his defensive battles to ensure solidity, Chiellini was allowed a quieter game. WB Juan Cuadrado, 7 -- Blessed with cunning ability and tonnes of pace, Cuadrado makes the difference but rarely exploits it well. His finishing must improve and he is still guilty of picking the wrong option far too often. Still too raw, he must learn to refine his talent to add real value to the side. Must be careful when tackling. It took a while but Juventus finally broke through with three goals in quick succession in the second half against Empoli. MF Sami Khedira, 6 -- Once again found himself in an excellent position only to squander another goal scoring opportunity. Made the right runs forward but lacked dynamism. MF Hernanes, 6 -- Played an excellent passing game and recovered possession so often for the team. Strong on the ball and concentrated in his efforts, Hernanes' hard work allowed the forwards/creators to play with freedom. MF Miralem Pjanic, 7 -- While the player demonstrated great vision, delivering perfectly weighted passes forward, he needs to play closer to goal to truly affect the game. Far too often he held himself back, not proactively running into the final third to offer an option. However, the chances he created made the difference for Juve's attacking game. WB Alex Sandro, 6 -- Not his best performance. Some of his passes were wayward, putting the team in danger at the back but he did provide the assist for Dybala's goal. Always effective when going forward, he takes on players well and regularly produces the vital passes in the attacking third. FW Paulo Dybala, 7 -- Another excellent goal, Dybala finally broke his duck in Serie A but still is not playing at his usual level. Lacked composure and still is not playing with confidence. Needs to play with more serenity and instinct. FW Gonzalo Higuain, 7 -- Lethal and determined, Higuain scored two and demonstrated why he is so highly rated. At times, he could make life easier for Dybala by making swift runs forward to penetrate the backline but his strength, anticipation and experience make him a valuable player. Substitutes: MF Mario Lemina, 7 -- Wonderful when played inside right. Allowed to run free and contribute to the attack, his vision, physique and technique are allowed to shine. Far too dynamic of a player to be played as a director of midfield. Made the wrong choice when he chose to strike rather than pass to Piaca. FW Marko Pjaca, N/A -- Excellent as a substitute. Won back possession, charged forward, created opportunities and combined well with his teammates. Impressive when accelerating. FW Stefano Sturaro, N/A -- Made good timely runs forward to contribute to the attack. Not on long enough to affect the match. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110 Condividi questo messaggio Link di questo messaggio Condividi su altri siti
