JUVENTUS SEASON 2016-2017

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUVENTUS - INTER

 

 

1-0

 

 

Juan Cuadrado 45'

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 23

 

Sunday, February 5th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

 

 

 

 

Allegri: What counts is the attitude

 

 

Manager’s post-match comments after tough win for Juventus

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2017/2/6/14516950/allegri-

what-counts-is-the-attitude-juventus-1-inter-0-post-match-comments

 

 

Feb 6, 2017

 

Juventus beat Inter Milan 1-0 in a bad-tempered but evenly-contested Derby d’Italia at J Stadium early today. After the game, Bianconeri manager Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the media, and complimented their opponents on the day.

“It was a match of a very high quality, worthy of the Champions League semi-final both in terms of individual talent and overall performance.

“At times we weren’t very organised and got caught on the counter, but we created several chances to take the lead and then finish it off. We hardly allowed Inter any opportunities at all.

“Fortunately for us, Inter had a rough start to the season, otherwise they’d be up there challenging for the Scudetto.

“Joao Mario was moving around on our right and it became three against two. We had prepared to press high on Antonio Candreva, but Alex Sandro was going down there both when he was and wasn’t there. We corrected it in the second half and did better.

“We have to tip our hats to Inter, as they play very good football and there were moments in which they could’ve scored.”

This weekend Paulo Dybala hugged Allegri after he was substituted, in a change from last week when he refused to shake the manager’s hand. However, Stephan Lichtsteiner was less than pleased about being taken off in an intense game.

“Lichtsteiner had already come off upset. I can have one grumpy player per weekend, not two! I interpreted his expression badly. I saw Stephan fall and thought he was injured, but he was telling me that he felt fine to continue.”

Allegri stuck with his aggressive 4-2-3-1 system today.

“What counts is the attitude you take on the pitch, not the specific systems. I hear talk of systems, but if I have players with these characteristics, we can play this way, otherwise we can’t. I think reducing it to numbers isn’t very accurate.

“By the end of the season we’ll have the real Claudio Marchisio back, as don’t forget he recovered from a very serious knee injury.”

Inter’s manager Stefano Pioli was not as magnanimous as Allegri after the game, blaming the referee Nicola Rizzoli for his loss.

“I got angry on the goal, before the corner, because we didn’t take the positions that we should’ve done and Cuadrado had been threatening to do that for a while.

“In the first half there were some decisions in the Juventus area that penalised us. We created the right opportunities, there were two penalties for us in the first half, with the additional referee just 23 centimetres away.

“There was some tension at the final whistle, certainly, because of the Perisic red card, but also the two penalties in the first half.

“We played on level terms with Juventus and created the chances, but the incidents did not favour us. The images are clear, Mandzukic’s tackle was a penalty and it should’ve been awarded.

“I used to be a defender, so I can tell Chiellini lost his man and lifted his elbow on Icardi. That’s the regret, that we lost because of a distraction on their goal and for mistakes that were not our own. These were important incidents and all those decisions went one way.

“It was an entertaining game with two teams who fought hard and gave their all. It’s not easy to score against Juventus and we had situations where we didn’t make the right decisions.

“We respected Juventus in every area. I moved D’Ambrosio from one flank to the other, as he seemed in the best shape to counter Cuadrado, while I put Murillo in Mandzukic’s zone because of their physical strength.

“Brozovic got irritated after a tackle and Juve were gaining a certain advantage in that position, so I preferred Kondogbia to Ever Banega. Marcelo is very passionate and instinctive, so I know what he’s like, it’s not an issue.”

Inter had won nine consecutive matches in all competition, but lost twice this week, as they also fell 2-1 at home to Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarter-final on Tuesday.

“To become a really great team we need to take care of all the little details. This performance proved to us that we are a good side and we’re on the right track.”

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUVENTUS - INTER

 

 

1-0

 

 

Juan Cuadrado 45'

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 23

 

Sunday, February 5th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

 

 

 

 

C&C Shade Inter

 

 

Billed as a head-to-head clash between Argentinian strikers, Adam Digby

explains how the Derby d’Italia was instead decided by less glamorous figures.

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/97987/cc-shade-inter

 

 

Feb 6, 2017

 

As this weekend’s biggest match approached, the talk centred around how Gonzalo Higuain and Mauro Icardi were the men to watch. After 22 rounds, the duo sat alongside Edin Dzeko atop the Serie A Capocannoniere chart with 15 goals, their form even prompting Argentina national team boss Edgardo Bauza to make the trip to Turin for Juventus v Inter.

While their goals have been crucial, those looking closer at the recent form of the bitter rivals would also have noted the impact of the men on the sidelines. Stefano Pioli has inspired a remarkable turnaround for the Nerazzurri, his team arriving after seven consecutive league wins and looking much more cohesive, threatening and dangerous than they ever had under his predecessor Frank de Boer.

The same could also be said of Max Allegri. Following the comprehensive defeat at the hands of Fiorentina, the Juve boss has received much praise for his decision to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw the Bianconeri adopt the confident attacking mindset that was so clearly absent at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Pioli blinked first here, altering his own tactical set-up to deploy a three-man defence, but that unit had coped well and Inter were proving they were as good as their results had indicated. However, as half-time approached it would be another South American who stepped up to put the highly-touted Argentinians into the shade. The Nerazzurri half-cleared a corner, only to see the ball fall to Juan Cuadrado and the Colombian delivered a genuine masterpiece.

He despatched a perfectly struck volley into the back of the net, a goal that deserves to be in the conversation when the Goal of the Season is eventually decided. Clearly delighted, the on-loan Chelsea man danced with joy in celebration, but when action resumed after the break it was another player in black and white who came to the fore.

Substitutions came and went, prompting subtle tactical changes for Allegri and Pioli as each Coach sought a solution to the problems they faced, but this Derby d’Italia was not decided by their constant tinkering. Indeed, Juventus would not have secured their 28th consecutive home victory and further stretched their lead at the top of the table without the outstanding performance of Giorgio Chiellini.

Time and again Inter drove the Bianconeri backwards, often maintaining possession for long periods, but occasionally breaking at speed when the opportunity presented itself, only to find the Juve No.3 standing firmly in their way. He repelled every attack in his usual robust and uncompromising style, booked for an overly aggressive challenge on Roberto Gagliardini, but otherwise timing each intervention perfectly as he repeatedly took the ball away at crucial moments.

“The opposition hate me because I am well aware that at times I can be an irritating player,” Chiellini said in the days leading up to the game, and a number of Inter players almost certainly did despise him as they left Turin. 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUVENTUS - INTER

 

 

1-0

 

 

Juan Cuadrado 45'

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 23

 

Sunday, February 5th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

 

 

 

 

Max Allegri: Juventus' win over Inter

'worthy of a Champions League semi'

 

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/3054939/max-allegri-cals-

juventus-win-over-inter-worthy-of-a-champions-league-semifinal

 

 

Feb 6, 2017

 

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri said the Derby d'Italia was "worthy of a Champions League semifinal" after his side secured a 1-0 win over Inter Milan on Sunday.

Juan Cuadrado scored the only goal of the game at the end of the first half, though Juventus also hit the bar twice, and Inter were aggrieved to be denied two penalty decisions.

"It was a match of a very high quality, worthy of the Champions League semifinal both in terms of individual talent and overall performance," Allegri told Sky Sport Italia.

"At times we weren't very organised and got caught on the counter, but we created several chances to take the lead and then finish it off. We hardly allowed Inter any opportunities at all."

Paulo Dybala ended reports of a feud with his manager -- the forward refused to shake hands last week -- by embracing Allegri after the final whistle.

"[Stephan] Lichtsteiner had already come off upset. I can have one grumpy player per weekend, not two!," Allegri joked, adding that the defender's substitution occurred because "I interpreted his expression badly."

"I saw Stephan fall and thought he was injured, but he was telling me that he felt fine to continue," the coach added.

Juventus maintained their six-point lead atop the Serie A table, while Inter missed a chance to move into the top four.

"Fortunately for us, Inter had a rough start to the season, otherwise they'd be up there challenging for the Scudetto," Allegri said.

Miralem Pjanic was happy to put some distance between Juventus and Inter after the Nerazzurri's recent strong run of form.

"It was a good game against a strong side. We wanted this victory and we're happy," he told Mediaset Premium.

"We've opened up a bigger gap from one of the favourites, so we're happy and will carry on like this. It's a long road, but we are doing very well.

"We can all score in this system, as there is so much quality. Cuadrado scored a wonderful goal, we kept a clean sheet and are therefore doubly content.

"Napoli play beautiful football and deserve compliments, but we have to focus on ourselves. We are top of the table and, if we win them all, we will certainly be champions."

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUVENTUS - INTER

 

 

1-0

 

 

Juan Cuadrado 45'

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 23

 

Sunday, February 5th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

 

 

 

 

Cuadrado gifts Juventus spectacular

Derby d'Italia winner from distance

 

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/3054940/juan-cuadrado

-gifts-juventus-spectacular-derby-ditalia-winner-from-distance

 

 

Feb 6, 2017

 

It took a sensational Juan Cuadrado goal to decide an open Derby d'Italia between two talented teams, as Juventus defeated Inter 1-0 to secure their 28th consecutive home win.

Boasting two of the finest squads in Serie A, the game started in an electrifying manner, with both sides creating opportunities. Inter opted to change their formation, flooding the penalty area to leave Juve's fortified attack with no space to exploit. However, Paulo Dybala still found a way to penetrate and came close to opening the scoring with a sensational bicycle kick, but it was Juan Cuadrado's missile from distance that put Juve ahead.

Inter saw the referee turn down two penalty appeals, but they never stopped believing in the win, applying more and more pressure on the home side, who switched to a 4-4-2 formation to ensure greater balance.

Working as a unit and determined to ensure a clean sheet, Juventus sealed the win to push them one step closer to their sixth consecutive league title.

Positives

For some time, Juventus seemed to have lost their ability to close matches with authority, but despite Inter's relentless pushing toward the end of the game, the home team played with intelligence and confidence to seal the result. Accurate, determined and united, their attack might have put them ahead, but their defending secured the win.

Negatives

At times, Juventus still take too many risks, leaving ample space at the back for Inter to exploit and counter-attack. They must always remain organised and alert to potential danger, ready to halt the opponents, should they lose possession.

Manager rating

7 (out of 10)-- Massimiliano Allegri started the match with a set idea but was happy to adjust and switch to a 4-4-2 when he recognised Juve's need for greater balance. The team's authoritative play in the second half and united defending sealed the win.

Player ratings (1-10, with 10 the best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):

GK Gianluigi Buffon, 6 -- He read every situation perfectly and remained alert and concentrated, anticipating the shots to ensure a clean sheet. He had little to do in the second half.

DF Stephan Lichtsteiner, 6 -- He had some good moves, but this was not his best performance, as he suffered against Ivan Perisic. He still caused the opponents concern with his runs.

DF Leonardo Bonucci, 6 -- He delivered some delectable balls forward, read the game well at the back and successfully managed to keep Mauro Icardi at bay.

DF Giorgio Chiellini, 7 -- This was a spectacular performance from the warrior. He irritated the opponents to disrupt their game, made excellent last-ditch tackles, pushed forward effectively and utilised his physicality to thwart Icardi & Co. He was the best at the back.

Giorgio Chiellini (left) was the best at the back for Juventus in their 1-0 derby win over Inter on Sunday.

DF Alex Sandro, 6 -- He put in a mature performance. He has created an excellent partnership with Mario Mandzukic on the left. He was cautious defensively and good at reducing Antonio Candreva's impact.

MF Sami Khedira, 6 -- He performed well. He delivered perfect crosses, made timely runs, intercepted the ball and produced a well-rounded performance.

MF Miralem Pjanic, 6 -- He was twice denied a chance for a goal by Samir Handanovic. Pjanic always kept the ball moving and distributed play well, but he is not as precise as needed to make a big impact. He is capable of more.

MF Juan Cuadrado, 7 -- He started the game with a few poor decisions but redeemed himself with a spectacular goal from distance. His technique made the difference in a big match once again.

MF Paulo Dybala, 6 -- Dybala started the match in sensational fashion, nearly scoring two goals almost instantly. His movement created problems going forward, but he disappeared toward the end as his presence was barely visible.

MF Mario Mandzukic, 6 -- There's nothing quite like his determination on the pitch. He defends and attacks with confidence and aggression, creating chances and blocking opponents. His energy ensures he's anywhere and everyone, contributing all over the pitch, but he did nearly give a penalty away with his tackle on Icardi.

FW Gonzalo Higuain, 6 -- He was stifled by Gary Medel and Miranda but worked relentlessly to aid and create for his teammates.

Substitutes

MF Claudio Marchisio, N/A -- He was the perfect player to introduce to keep possession and ensure fluency. He helped secure the result.

DF Dani Alves, N/A -- He had too little time to impact the game.

DF Daniele Rugani, N/A -- He came on to secure the defence and was offered only a few minutes.

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUVENTUS - INTER

 

 

1-0

 

 

Juan Cuadrado 45'

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 23

 

Sunday, February 5th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

 

 

 

 

Juventus vs. Inter Milan 2017: Final score 1-0,

Juan Cuadrado screamer settles thrilling Derby D’Italia

 

 

A magical Juan Cuadrado goal gave Juventus bragging

rights in Sunday’s magnificent blockbuster match.

 

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2017/2/6/14516946/juventus

-inter-milan-2017-serie-a-round-22-final-score-recap-result

 

 

Feb 6, 2017

 

Ah, the Derby D’Italia. There’s really little introduction needed for a game of such historical magnitude. Juventus were looking to stretch their barely-believable home record of 27 consecutive victories even further while their bitter rivals came into the game on the back of seven league wins on the bounce. Nevertheless, we all know that form goes out the window for massive games like these, so both teams had their eyes firmly set on the match at hand. It was a game well worthy of the lofty reputation it holds as it was full of end-to-end play, big chances for both sides, and entertaining football for the fans. A Juan Cuadrado wondergoal on the stroke of halftime won the game in Juventus’ favor, thus extending the Bianconeri’s phenomenal home record to 28 consecutive games and securing the 1-0 victory at the Juventus Stadium.

The intensity of the game matched the amazing atmosphere in the stadium as Paulo Dybala almost opened the scoring within three minutes of play. A Stephan Lichtsteiner cross resulted in a looping ball dropping to the Argentine, who lashed a bicycle kick at goal but Samir Handanovic produced an outstanding save to prevent the goal. The opening stages of the game continued at an electrifying pace and lived up to the billing of being one of the best fixtures in the league. There was little time to breath as that little wonderkid Dybala was in the thick of things again: Pjanic played a ball slightly behind the striker but that didn’t stop him from curling an extraordinary left-footed strike off the top of the crossbar with Handanovic beaten. Inter weren’t going to let the game pass them by, though. and retaliated with a chance of their own. A corner created havoc (and two decent penalty shouts) in the Juventus box and the loose ball dropped to the recently-signed Roberto Gagliardini, whose shot went just inches over the target.

João Mário joined the feast of near-misses a few minutes later as an Inter counter-attack led to a shot that skimmed the base of the post, giving Gigi Buffon a mighty scare. Stefano Pioli’s men were growing in the ascendancy after weathering that early storm of Juventus pressure. The visitors produced another big chance through an Ivan Perisic header that Buffon matched with a smart save to play the ball out for the corner kick despite another penalty shout for Inter after Mario Mandzukic’s risky tackle on Icardi from the rebound.

I could barely keep up with my notes — and, coincidentally, my internet apparently had the same problems — as the chances kept flying in from both sides: Mandzukic and Icardi going close with decent shots from range. The very busy Handanovic then palmed a fantastic Pjanic free-kick onto the crossbar a few minutes later. It was remarkable that neither side had found the back of the net yet up to this point, so Cuadrado took matters into his own hands to change this fact. A loose ball from the corner kick bounced into the Colombian’s path and, while many of us probably cursed the fact that he, of all people, got a chance like that fall to him, he proved all of us wrong by unleashing a thunderbolt of a shot crashing into the back of the net, beating Handanovic with sheer velocity alone: 1-0!

The man of the hour (accompanied by a stray Inter leg that made it into the picture)

 Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

The second half picked up right where both teams left us: intensity, strong battles, and end-to-end football. Juventus almost scored the second goal quickly after the restart through Pjanic. After some good work by magic-man Cuadrado, the ball came to Higuaín who played a perfectly-weighted through ball for the onrushing Pjanic. The Bosnian, however, couldn’t quite make clean contact with the sliding strike, which allowed Handanovic to make the save at the near post for the corner kick.

Juventus had a strong grip on the game now as Inter struggled to get some momentum going in the second half. As the clock went ticking, Inter threw more and more men forward and tried to test the Juventus defense with this offensive pressure, but the Bianconeri weren’t flustered by the threat. The latter stages of the game were as fascinating as they were tense as a Mandzukic header forced another extraordinary save from Handanovic after a sharp Alex Sandro cross.

Despite some serious pressure from Inter in the last 10 minutes — and a peculiar sending off for Perisic — Juventus held on to secure a hard-fought three points in front of a boisterous home crowd in Sunday’s blockbuster match!

Le Pagelle

BUFFON 6.5 – Didn’t have too much too do as most of Inter’s big chances were off target. Another clean sheet, though!

SANDRO 6.5 – He was surprisingly nervous and subdued all game, with a few unforced errors that thankfully went unpunished. He didn’t really have much to do defensively though, because almost all the action came from the other side.

BONUCCI 7.5 – Elegant game by Bonucci. Aside from one or two mistakes, he kept the center of defense slam-shut.

CHIELLINI 8 – Big game, big occasion, and an even bigger performance tonight. Icardi was a complete non-presence all night thanks to the ever-improving central defensive partnership between Chiellini and Bonucci. Phenomenal performance.

LICHTSTEINER 7.5 – Once again showed how his relationship with Cuadrado continues to improve game by game. João Mário and Perisic were overloading his flank but he stood his ground very well.

KHEDIRA 7 – Solid performance, but man his first touch is heavier than a ton of bricks sometimes. Got out of jail most of the time that his touch deserted him though, but definitely me a few unpleasant scares!

Yes Gigi, you madman, celebrate that victory!

 Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

PJANIC 7.5 – Quiet but assured performance by Pjanic. Lofted a few cheeky balls over the top for the attacking quartet and protected the back four well.

CUADRADO 8 – Wondergoal for the wonderman. He’s in a fantastic run of form and, after scoring the game clinching goal and busting some groovy moves, he continues to solidify an integral part in Allegri’s starting XI.

MANDZUKIC 7.5 – Crunching game for the Croatian hardman. Had one big opportunity to nick a goal after a difficult, but well-executed header in the first half. Overall, he stood his ground and outmuscled Candreva on the left wing.

HIGUAÍN 7 – A bit quieter than usual as he had to fend off three central defenders to make space for his colleagues. Nevertheless, a selfless and hard-fought performance by the Argentine.

DYBALA 7.5 – Busy performance and is probably left wondering how on earth he didn’t get a goal tonight. Hit the crossbar on one occasion and almost scored a golazo on the bicycle kick on another chance. Played very well though.

Subs

MARCHISIO 6.5 – A solid 20-minute substitute appearance. Nice haircut too. It makes him look so… ominous.

ALVES N/A – Good to see him back from injury, especially given that Lichtsteiner hasn’t had much of a rest for the last few weeks.

RUGANI N/A – A short cameo to shut up shop at the end of the game.

Manager

ALLEGRI 8 – Another day for the tactical experiment to bear dividends for the side. The main threat to deal with was João Mário’s movement across the pitch and the Portuguese midfielder was largely dealt with throughout the match. The battle of the game was down the right wing and it seems like Allegri’s men won that fight while also being flexible enough to maintain a threat on the counter attack.

Tactical Analysis – Hybrid

Usually, Juventus versus Inter means that there’s only one man everybody thinks about: Mauro Icardi. Sunday’s game, however, wasn’t about the morally-questionable superstar striker. The most interesting tactical snippet of the game came from his teammate in midfield: João Mário.

Here Mário is in his expected role on the right wing.

The Portuguese midfielder played a curious role: on paper, it was a right wing role, but in practice it was a hybrid trequartista/winger role. Without the ball, he would stay relatively centrally and leave the entire right flank to Candreva but in attack he would shuttle to the right side in a relatively wide position. Or so I thought...

This blurry figure (circled) is João Mário, all the way on the left wing now. He occasionally chose to overload the left wing to link up with Perisic.

Once in a while, João Mário chose to navigate the left wing with Perisic too, thus neglecting his duties on the right side. Just look at how much space the upcoming Candreva has on the far side of the above picture. This hybrid, roaming role meant that his marking duties were often passed on between Khedira, Pjanic, and the wide players depending on whose zone he was occupying. Cuadrado, for instance, had to play a bit more centrally in defense to mitigate the occasional overload in central zones. This was a potentially tricky situation but the lads communicated well and contained the danger excellently.

And now he’s in a central, trequartista-ish position. The man was damn hard to follow, you know.

This roaming did isolate Candreva and D’Ambrosio on the wings though, forcing Miranda and Murillo to occasionally step forward out of defense to help their teammates with the double-trouble threat down the wings from Sandro-Mandzukic and Lichtsteiner-Cuadrado. In principle this wasn’t too bad because they had a spare man or two in defense given that Dybala often dropped deep and out of their zone.

Now Perisic is roaming centrally instead of wide left

Inter’s front three were clearly very fluid as Ivan Perisic also roamed the pitch in order to link up with Icardi and João Mário. Clearly, the primary purpose of this roaming was to encourage quick passing exchanges between the aforementioned trio and, to be fair, it did produce some danger throughout the match. It was difficult for me to keep track of where the attacking trio was at various points during the game but it did tend to leave space in midfield on the counter attack. Curiously, this made for a reasonably subdued Antonio Candreva, who couldn’t really show off his offensive flair due to his defensive obligations. Sacrifice for the team, right Antonio?

Living up to expectations

Nowadays, the majority of the “mouthwatering” clashes in European end up being dull and uninspiring affairs. Sunday’s Derby D’Italia at the Juventus Stadium, however, was an absolutely terrific game to watch and full of entertainment for the full 90 minutes. Chances at both ends, a fantastic winning goal, a wonderful flow to the game, and impressive performances by both sides. This really, really was a phenomenal game of football and credit to both sides for their respective displays on the night. It just goes to show that you don’t need a ludicrous avalanche of goals (insert Napoli link) for a game to be entertaining.

I expect to see some rotation for the midweek game against Crotone given the upcoming crunch fixtures in the Champions League and Coppa Italia, so there is a chance that the formation will be rejigged a little. Nevertheless, the players are enjoying themselves and playing for each other and the team is thus in a swaggering run of form lately: long may it continue!

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUVENTUS - INTER

 

 

1-0

 

 

Juan Cuadrado 45'

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 23

 

Sunday, February 5th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

 

 

 

 

Juventus 1-0 Inter Milan Match

Review and Player Ratings

 

 

 

http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-1-0-inter-milan-serie-5217/

 

 

Feb 6, 2017

 

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

 

 

 

Player Ratings

Buffon – Was kept fairly busy, especially in the first half and late on in the second. Yet had no major saves to make, for he was in the right place at the right time to comfortably thwart the best efforts of our opponents. Composed and alert throughout. 7

Bonucci – Relatively quiet, yet stood firm to face a vibrant, effective offensive phalanx of players and slung a few quality balls forward. 6.5

A club legend…Kaiser Chiellini was a Titan against our hated enemy.

Chiellini – Outstanding performance from the reborn centurion in our ranks. He was ubiquitous at the back, full blooded in too many challenges to count, cunning with the officials and a natural born warrior and leader throughout the tie. This is the kind of game which brings out his best and he was simply indomitable, never offering the nerazzuri an inch. Crunching, marking, maiming, complete and total commitment in every single tackle, great pace, sensational reading of the game…A true masterclass of defending from start to finish. Close to perfect! 9

Lichsteiner – Fresh from signing a welcome extension to his contract, the Swiss locomotive held the flank down well, got forward to support the attack and used all his experience to avoid any space deep for Perisic and D’Ambrosio. Was angry to come off, yet it turns out Allegri thought he was injured! 7

Sandro – Showed some gorgeous touches on the ball, he can be superb in tight situations. Still yet to return to full sharpness but this was a gutsy showing from the Brazilian. He proved he is far more than merely an offensive talent. 7

Khedira – Perhaps his finest showing in our colours. Big Sami was immense on the night, constantly shifting between screening the defence and making inroads up top. Unlucky not to see his attacking endeavour lead to a goal. He is really coming into top form in this new formation and was one of the most technically potent players on a field littered with talent.8.5

Pjanic – Miralem is learning to scrap, to fight fang and claw in the middle of the park and to launch attacks from deep. He fared well enough and is finally showing some grit to augment his marvellous technique on the ball. 7

Cuadrado – Put in a couple of decent crosses, made some terrible decisions with the ball at his feet, was booked for an amusingly wretched hack and yet…his goal was world class. A strike worthy of winning any game at any level. Credit to the speedy fiend where it is due. I can forgive him everything when he produces a moment of magic such as this one, which even two keepers combined would have had no chance to save – (the dance at the end summed him up…a brilliant freak of the highest order…and my Colombian housemate tells me, which came as no surprise, that unlike the born with the silver spoon in the mouth Falcao, Juan comes from the same poverty stricken realm as none other than Asprilla…which explains why like Fausto, Juan often appears to still be playing on dirt or concrete with his mates after work!) 9

 

 

Dybala – Was unlucky with two great efforts in the first half, almost succeeded in supplying Higuain with an assist in the second and fought hard throughout, often dropping deep to give the defence an outlet. He continues to mature. And added a hug to the handshake when he came off for good measure. 7

Mandzukic – Came close with two headers, other than which his game was mainly defensive in the midfield. Used his strength intelligently, played many smart balls to on-running colleagues and kept running and fighting till the death. It will be interesting what happens when Pjaca appears and carves the opposition apart. One offers defensive zeal and decent offensive threat, the other huge potency in the final third. 7

Higuain – Once again showed his game is far more expansive than merely a top drawer finisher, by running between the lines, leading the attack, displaying great technique and invention when faced with numerous opponents blocking his way to goal. Came close in the second half to adding to his impressive tally for the season. 7.5

Make no mistake, Inter were in top form. They pushed us relentlessly in the opening 45 and came back strongly late on. They also created 5 presentable chances to our 9. Well organised, full of confidence and technically powerful. No team has managed to conjure as many chances against us of late. We knew they would come to Turin all guns blazing, and in the end we outgunned them and deserved our victory.

For some, myself included, this game means as much as any game will throughout the campaign. And I feel wonderful, for part of my heart is beating loudly and proudly and I will assuredly bore scores of people on the morrow, and make them watch not just Cuadrado’s goal, but also his dance as I try to mimic his alien moves on the impromptu dance floor. Juve are once again, bringing me so much joy. Thanks Max!

Slender as the scoreline may seem, we undoubtedly created the better of the chances, hit the bar twice and Handanovic was far the busier keeper. His saves from Higuain and Mandzukic late on were classy and kept the result respectable.

Of the two moments which Pioli referred to as penalties…

The first seemed a tussle (one of many) between Icardi and Chiellini and Lichsteiner pulling the shirt of a player who was pulling his shirt. The Inter players made no case to the referee, yet Pioli knows better eh!

The second appeared a risky but legitimate challenge by Mario which took the ball in the box.

Neither seemed anywhere close to a stone wall penalty in my eyes, or those of the ref and his fellow officials.

It was a very entertaining game, of arguably the top two sides of the league. As Allegri said during the post match press conference. We are lucky Inter had a slow start to the season, for they do look solid in every area of the field. No obvious weaknesses and boundless strength throughout. Pioli has done exceptional work since appearing at the helm in November. And whilst I deeply despise many of the Inter hierarchy, I am content to see them regain their mettle and become a formidable outfit. When they qualify for the champions league and strengthen in the Summer they will perhaps become our closest challengers for the 7th scudetto next term. Would be even more welcome if AC upped their game in turn.

We need games like this one. Which further cements the new system and equally importantly inspires the grinta from within the ranks. It is something which has been missing for much of the season, and perhaps part of the reason why – alongside the steady injury woes – is the lack of finding ourselves truly pushed, forced to react and to fight for victory.

I was impressed with both sides. The game was a startling spectacle throughout, with only the first twenty minutes of the second half showing one side fully in control. And as the match wore on the tackles became a touch more menacing yet Rizzoli stood fairly firm and offered both sides the same allowances.

At one stage with an hour gone we had a line of yellow cards across the field from left to right – Mandzukic, Khedira, Pjanic, Cuadrado – and I was roaring for Allegri to make some changes. Yet when they came, I was left shaking my head.

Claudio has barely played of late, Alves had been out for aeons and Rugani, the only match sharp player was brought on very late in the day. It was risky from Il Mister, and by my reckoning close to bizarre. Asamoah? Rincon? Sturaro? Pjaca? Why not bring on those presently up to speed to add impetus? Yet no…too obvious. too simple. Instead he decided to throw two players into the deep end who were at best rusty. Neither impressed.

This victory meant so much to the players and fans.

Overall it was a hard fought, well merited victory. Which could well provide added wind in our sails, as we approach now three eminently winnable games before the Porto tie.

The highlight of the game for me personally was Chiellini positioning himself for a throw late on, directly next to Pioli, the Inter chief complaining of time wasting, whilst Giorgio placed him as the reason why time was been wasted, with a mocking smile and shrug of those broad shoulders. Comedy at its finest.

We must surely now be growing in confidence. Just as the squad as a whole is moving for the first time this campaign towards full availability. Everything appears to be falling into place. And I see no reason whatsoever to ponder changing the system for Porto. We have nothing to fear of any side and are improving week on week.

A job very well done indeed by Allegri and the lads. And I thank Juan for a wondrous gift for my 38th birthday tomorrow. The haphazard Colombian has made me this happy.

Forza Juve.

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUVENTUS - INTER

 

 

1-0

 

 

Juan Cuadrado 45'

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 23

 

Sunday, February 5th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

 

 

 

 

Two game ban for Perisic, Icardi

 

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/98013/two-game-ban-perisic-icardi

 

 

Feb 6, 2017

 

Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perisic have both been given two-game bans following Inter’s defeat to Juventus last night.

 

The Bianconeri won 1-0 thanks to Juan Cuadrado’s first-half strike, but the visitors were incensed after they were not awarded a late penalty by referee Nicola Rizzoli.

 

Perisic was sent-off in stoppage time, and the Lega Serie A has today announced he’ll face a two-game ban for “repeatedly uttering gravely disrespectful expressions” aimed at the referee.

 

Despite not having been dismissed during the game, Icardi has been given the same punishment for “insulting expressions” aimed at Rizzoli with “accompanying gestures”.

 

In addition, it was determined that the Nerazzurri captain “kicked a ball in the direction of the referee, without hitting him” and a €10,000 fine was handed to the striker.

 

Jose Callejon has been banned for one game and fined €10,000 after the Napoli forward was sent off for kicking Adam Nagy.

 

Also receiving a one game ban for their respective red cards are Bostjan Cesar of Chievo, Milan midfielder Jose Sosa, Crotone's Lorenzo Crisetig and Adam Masina of Bologna.

 

The players who will be sitting out the next round after one booking too many are Mirko Valdifiori and Daniele Baselli of Torino, Empoli's Giuseppe Bellusci, Napoli right-back Elseid Hysaj, Armando Izzo of Genoa and Cagliari's Luca Ceppitelli.

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUVENTUS - INTER

 

 

1-0

 

 

Juan Cuadrado 45'

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 23

 

Sunday, February 5th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

 

 

 

Landmarks of Turin Awards: Juventus vs. Inter Milan Edition  

 

 

 

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2017/2/6/14520498/juventus-inter-

milan-landmarks-of-turin-awards-2017-serie-a-round-22-match-recap

 

 

Feb 6, 2017

 

Here was the situation: The Super Bowl was happening, and I was watching the Juve-Inter game on one of those extremely illegal streams online where you get advertisements from strange, extremely alarming websites* and you wonder what kind of viruses are infecting your computer. I had managed to avoid the score of the Derby d’Italia, and I was of course quite anxious about this calcio affair.

(*This almost-footnote is for those interested in the exact nature of the above-alluded-to “strange, extremely alarming” website. Every now and then while I was watching the game — watching on a laptop, because the cable that makes the compute appear on the television is broken — a portion of the screen would go black, and then a little buffering windmill thing would appear in the center of the blackness, the same windmill-ish image that appears just before you video chat with someone; my wife at this point — who was sitting next time me when this first happened — mildly panicked, because she thought some hacker from Russia was going to start video chatting us and steal our secrets/souls, but in the end the blackness just vanished and that was that.)

Aperitivi

A tantalizing collection of titillating tidbits.

• I am going to go ahead and say it: I am happy that Marko Pjaca didn’t start this game. I know there are seven million commenters who wanted him to start. But, I ask, for whom? Mario Mandžukić? No way. There’s still nobody, at least that I can see, who works harder than Mario on the pitch. And it’s not just one of those “Oh, he works hard so we feel good for him” sorts of things. Mario makes stuff happen, and he was very close to netting a second goal for Juve tonight.
• That said, if we don’t see Pjaca start against Crotone I’m going to be irate.
• At one point the announcers said Juventus were having some nice “interplay.” Ha. Get it? Interplay. Ha.
• Claudio Marchisio’s hair...we need to talk about it. Chuks is a fan. I am not a fan. I think the prince needs a little crown of hair. The buzz cut just doesn’t work for me.
• Unpopular opinion: Suddenly I like the new logo. Don’t get mad just because I’m new.
• Maybe unpopular opinion two: Paulo Dybala is Juve’s best player. I’ll write on this at some point in the future. But there it is right now to make you angry maybe. Two times he nearly scored out of nothing. It’s Messi-like at times.
• Inter changing formations is quite the compliment. Their string of Series A success has been impressive, and that they felt the need to deviate says a lot about the opposition’s mindset when coming into Turin. One does not simply walk into Mordor.
• The Buffon facial expression reminded me for some reason of Han Solo. I think my man-crushes on Buffon and Solo are about equal.
• Your daily reminder that Napoli beat Bologna 7-1.
• Juve play Crotone Wednesday. Let’s not mess that up, ragazzi.

Onto the awards:

Sidewalk of Turin Award

For a weak(ish) performance masked by other factors.

As Danny pointed out in his initial reaction post, it’s really tough to say that anyone played poorly tonight. But remember: the Sidewalk of Turin Award doesn’t go to someone who played terribly. It goes to someone who, like the actual, real sidewalks of Turin, by all accounts is fine and good except for the occasional blemish.

Tonight, for me, that man was Stephan Lichtsteiner. The center of the defense held most of the night, and Alex Sandro gave another strong showing defensively, but Inter’s attacking movement up the left side of the pitch worried me greatly. I thought Lichtsteiner made some overly ambitious attacking decisions. That side of the defense continues to worry me.

(Sidenote: The worry about that side of the defense did not go away when Dani Alves entered. What was he thinking when, in the waning moments of the game, he pushed virtually into the opposing penalty area? I’m glad he’s healthy, but dude!)

Piazza San Carlo Award

For a potentially overlooked yet stellar showing.

The midfield was superb again tonight. Not in a sexy way, but in a work rate way. And that, frankly, is exactly the midfield that the 4-2-3-1 demands: hustle, effort everywhere on the pitch. Miralem Pjanic again was pretty near perfect. He issued a few errant passes, but holy mackerel he was close on the free kick. I did think he could’ve done a bit better on the ball from Gonzalo Higuaín.

But the San Carlo goes today to Sami Khedira. It’s an award named for the understated yet powerful piazza in Turin. If you walk from Porta Nuova along Via Roma to Piazza Castello and then along Via Po to Piazza Vittorio Veneto — best walk in the city — you might not immediately remember San Carlo. But it’s everything a piazza should be: contained space for the mind to wander and the body to roam. Piazzas are all about freedom with constraint.

Khedira, like Pjanic, wasn’t perfect. But he was very, very good. His defensive pressure, holding ability, and willingness to move forward and back on the pitch again and again is what allows this formation to work.

Juve have now run the 4-2-3-1 enough for it to feel comfortable — for both the players and, I think, for us. But let’s not forget this fact about it: It puts Dybala, Higuaín, and Mandžukić on the field at the same time. Three strikers, even with Mr. No Good playing a winger role. Three very different strikers. The sheer finishing force of Higuaín, the unquenchable thirst and activity of Mandžukić, the tactical magic and shooting prowess of Dybala. Without a hell of a solid, dependable midfield, this doesn’t work.

Lingotto Award

For a notable demonstration in both grit and flair.

You know who was two chances away from being the shining star in a Derby full of stars? Gonzalo Higuaín.

Alex Sandro, in one of his few movements forward, sent a pinpoint perfect cross to Higuaín, who made shoddy contact with the ball and sent it wide. Very close. We’ve been quite spoiled this year to see number 9 finish those again and again. We’ve come to expect it.

In the 54th minute, Higuaín received the ball with a fractional amount of space, somehow descried Pjanic’s run into the right side of the penalty area, and then sent the perfect pass to our Bosnian free-kick specialist, who made a so-so effort. That pass though. It was like in cartoons when a fancy meal is cooked and some butler-type person brings it in a giant silver platter and makes a very showy presentation about it. That was how Higuaín set it up for Pjanic.

Once again, the Argentine’s defensive effort was present, too. He’s big and strong and those attributes are quite helpful not only in holding and finishing, things we know he does so well, but also in his retreats to keep the opposition in front of Juventus.

Higuaín was two moments away from taking center stage.

Parco Valentino Award

For an urbane demeanor distributed amongst the squad.

Number 3.

The defense tonight was almost perfect — especially the center. The only qualm I’d have is whatever the hell we’re doing on corner kicks. Inter had an open header sent straight at Gigi Buffon, and before that sequence there was some Lichtsteiner jersey-pulling that was maybe getting to the realm of penalty-worthy. Inter certainly opened the game with a torrent of attacks, but the two center backs held firm through the first half, bending but not breaking.

But holy goodness in heaven, Giorgio Chiellini was good in that second half. He was man of the match good, and it’s essentially a tie between him and the fellow to whom I handed the award, but the Parco Valentino Award is perfect for our wily old defender. Duping attackers, smashing into bodies, pushing forward — Chiellini was everywhere, doing everything. When he plays like that, Juve are a hell of a team to deal with.

Giuseppe Garibaldi Award

For the man of the match.

Errant crosses, a questionable decision or two, lazy tumbles onto the pitch — Juan Cuadrado was not perfect; that much should be established. But the fact of the matter is the score of this calcio fixture was 1-0, in favor of the good guys beating the worst guys from the worst city**. Without Cuadrado’s blast from the rings of Saturn into the heart of the sun, i.e. the back of their net, this game might have sailed to a draw.

It was a strange 1-0 affair, in that it felt — at least after the first half — that there could have been four or five collective goals, but nobody could capitalize. Cuadrado, in very Cuadrado-like fashion, lined up a monumentally hopeful effort and let it fly; what a laser! So often you see those types of volleys sky into the stands, but our friend from Colombia somehow converted the chance. He even did it in front of Antonio Conte!

Cuadrado was not the best player on the pitch, but his goal was far and away the most influential play of the match. It was the most stunning display of awareness and ambition, the most perfect confluence of Cuadrado doing very Cuadrado-like things and the defenders aligning to leave a sliver of space through which the ball, which I’m almost certain was on fire, found its home.

Juventus win.

(**I wasn’t planning on making these asides a thing, but I felt it was worth saying that my primary experience in Milan was a train strike that kept me from leaving Milano Centrale on my way to Paris, and so I had to book a rather uncomfortable room in a hotel near the station and my room of course had no air conditioning. Trivial complaints, no doubt. Ma forza Torino! Of course Milan really isn’t the worst city but darn it do I love Turin.)

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUVENTUS - INTER

 

 

1-0

 

 

Juan Cuadrado 45'

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 23

 

Sunday, February 5th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli

 

 

 

Juan Cuadrado: Match-winning goal

against Inter Milan was 'a bit lucky'

 

 

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/3055563/juan-cuadrado-

match-winning-goal-against-inter-milan-was-a-bit-lucky

 

 

Feb 7, 2017

 

Juan Cuadrado has said luck played a part in his match-winning strike in the Derby d'Italia against Inter Milan on Sunday.

The Colombian's thunderbolt sealed a 1-0 win which extended the Bianconeri's lead at the top of Serie A to six points over Napoli and brought an end to Inter's seven-game winning streak, but he said it was one of those goals that do not always come off.

"It was a fantastic goal, but then I did get a bit lucky," Cuadrado said in interviews with Sky Italia and Mediaset. "I'm really happy with it -- I just saw the ball coming and thought of hitting it. I was a bit lucky when all is said and done, but we do stay behind at the end of training to practice shooting.

"Maybe you only score a goal like that once in every 10 attempts, but the most important thing is that we won with a great team performance. I personally hope to score even more goals, maybe equally important ones."

It proved to be the only difference between the league leaders and a resurgent Inter side, whose push for a place in the top three this season suffered a setback, but not a killer blow, according to their former president Massimo Moratti.

"Juve showed that their attack is strong, but the gap to the Bianconeri is reducing," he told Mediaset. "[Inter's] morale is sky-high because they've got through so many problems and so they can challenge for a place in the Champions League.

"With just a bit of luck, and without losing hope, they can make it, and then next season they can challenge for the title.

"It was a great game and maybe a draw would have been a fairer result because both sides played good football, even if in a different way."

Juve's win saw them open up a 12-point gap over Inter, who slipped to fifth -- behind Lazio -- at the weekend. Stefano Pioli's men have also played one game more than the league leaders, who can move 15 points clear of their rivals by beating Crotone this Wednesday.

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Pjanic: ‘Crotone won’t be easy’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/98015/pjanic-‘crotone-won’t-be-easy’

 

 

Feb 7, 2017

 

Miralem Pjanic hails Juventus’ “deserved win” over Inter, but warns “it won’t be easy against Crotone”.

 

The Bianconeri triumphed 1-0 in last night’s Derby d’Italia, and can extend their lead at the top of Serie A with a win over the relegation-battlers in midweek.

 

“We earned three important points against a very good opponent,” Pjanic told JTV.

 

“It wasn’t an easy game, and we’re very happy to have won without conceding a goal. I think it was a deserved win, once which we got by fighting until the end.

 

“We’re in good form, we’re playing well and suffering very little. We faced a difficult opponent yesterday, but we’ve always shown our strength at home. We don’t drop many points there and you can see why.

 

“The crowd was fantastic right from when we came out to warm up, it’s nice to feel the backing of our fans and we want to repay them with trophies.

 

“We have a good squad and the Coach [Max Allegri] will always pick the best XI for the opponent.

 

“Now we’re at the most important stage of the season, and we have to be ready, there’s less room for getting things wrong.

 

“The teams behind us aren’t going to give up and we just have to keep going. There’s still a long road to the Scudetto ahead of us, but we’re on the right track.

 

“There’s a new challenge for us coming up, the game against Crotone won’t be easy because it comes straight after the Inter win, but we need the three points to hold off Napoli and Roma.”

 

Pjanic was then asked about his relationship with his teammates, particularly striker Gonzalo Higuain.

 

“I get on well with Gonzalo, both on and off the pitch. Yesterday it was him who played me in on goal, I got it wrong and I definitely could have done better.

 

“Our understanding is improving, it’s the same with all my teammates.

 

“Set pieces? Unlocking a game with a set piece is always a weapon and we’re lucky to have so many players who are good at them.

 

“We often take time at the end of training to practice them, [Paulo] Dybala and I also have challenges. For now we’re at 2-2…”

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Allegri: ‘Scudetto race not over’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/98040/allegri-‘scudetto-race-not-over’

 

 

Feb 7, 2017

 

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri warns the Scudetto race won’t be over if his side goes seven points clear.

 

The Bianconeri currently have a four-point advantage and face relegation-battlers Crotone tomorrow as their game in hand.

 

“We have a tough run-in, we have the derby in the fourth-last game and in the third-last game we have to go to Roma,” Allegri pointed out in his pre-match Press conference.

 

“So there’s still a long way to go in the League. We’re lacking a lot of wins, I repeat: at the moment 86 points won’t be enough to win the League. We have to take it a game at a time.”

 

The Old Lady have won every game since switching to 4-2-3-1, will it be a permanent change.

 

“I expected it, because a change is a novelty and brings something new, then you get good results and that brings certainty.

 

“We have to keep improving in terms of our play. In football it’s not like if you have eight defenders you’ll defend better and concede fewer goals, it’s about having balance and sacrificing for each other.

 

“To win a Scudetto… let’s just say I’ve never seen a team win a title without sacrifice, without being willing to work off the ball, to fight for every ball.

 

“You can win one game, or maybe two [without doing that], but to win consistently you need a certain mentality.”

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Crotone: 'Stop Juve for Napoli'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/98053/crotone-stop-juve-napoli

 

 

Feb 7, 2017

 

Crotone President Raffaele Vrenna will “try to make Napoli fans happy” by halting Juventus tomorrow. “I hope they play the Champions League Final.”

 

The Bianconeri visit the Stadio Scida on Wednesday evening in a rescheduled Serie A game, moved from December 22 due to the Italian Super Cup with Milan.

 

“Juventus are going to have to fight for the Scudetto with Roma and Napoli. We’ll try to make Napoli fans happy tomorrow,” Vrenna told Radio Kiss Kiss.

 

“I think Napoli play the best football in Italy and I wish them all the best against Real Madrid. Hopefully we’ll see Juventus v Napoli in the Champions League Final.”

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Crotone vs Juventus Match Preview

 

 

http://www.juvefc.com/crotone-vs-juventus-match-preview-scouting/

 

 

Feb 7, 2017

 

Crotone v Juventus

Serie A Week 24 –  Wednesday, 8th February – 17:00 GMT – Stadio Ezio Scida

---

Juventus

On Sunday night, it took a little more work than usual against a very worthy opponent, but Juventus managed once again to defend the home turf and gain a massive win in the showdown against Inter. Massimiliano Allegri confirmed his five-star lineup, as they have brilliantly labelled it in Italy, and the squad was once again the aggressor. Nerazzurri, as expected considering their stellar form, stood tall and fought back, but a stunner by Juan Cuadrado took them down. The game was then marred by pointless protests by the opponent, which will cost them going forward.

Basically the whole team played pretty well: Paulo Dybala was magnificent in the early portion of the game, Sami Khedira was very energetic and so on. It is fair to highlight the performance of Giorgio Chiellini, who put together his best match of the season and always seems to get up when he faces Inter, going back to his epic duels with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Cuadrado was of course the MVP with that goal.

Unfortunately, there is little time to rejoice as the wheel keeps spinning and it is time for a little midweek action in Crotone. Finally we play that game that was postponed because of the Supercoppa in Doha, so there will no longer be any asterisks in the standings.

A curious note from the last tilt: it was the first time we fielded the same lineup twice in a row. We will not make it to three, because there will be some changes in the XI, however, as we know, with this tactic we do not have many options to rotate the squad, especially up front. Allegri gave a couple of indications during the pre-game presser. He had already stated that it will take at least a month for Claudio Marchisio to be in good condition after last season’s ACL tear, unfortunately Il Principino will miss this one, where he would have had a good chance to start, due to back pain. Chiellini is off the squad list for resting purposes, so one between Daniele Rugani and Medhi Benatia will take his spot.

Dani Alves played few minutes on Sunday and should get the start against Crotone. It probably will not be the case on Wednesday, but it would be nice to test if the squad could sustain having Alves, Alex Sandro, Khedira, Miralem Pjanic, Mario Mandzukic, Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain, our best offensive players, all together on the pitch at the time, or if it would just be terribly unbalanced.

Khedira is certainly a candidate to be benched after all the heavy lifting he has done in the last few games: the new formation revitalized him as well after he mailed in the last two months. Tomas Rincon has probably a little more experience than Stefano Sturaro in a two-man midfield: the overall tactic was different at Genoa, but he was playing in a similar role. Kwadwo Asamoah could play in the defence but at this stage Sandro is still the favourite. Mario Lemina has not been called up, but it has been reported that he resumed practicing with the rest of the group so his back injury was fortunately not serious.

Could we finally see Marko Pjaca from the start? I will believe it when I see it, but the coach said that it is possible. It would make the most sense for him to replace Mandzukic, who has been great in the last four games and cramped up in the final minutes of the Inter game. But he could play on the right replacing Cuadrado.

Hernanes is about to join Hebei Fortune: a welcomed and unexpected profit for Juventus for a player that had some decent runs as a backup but was never able to win the fans’ trust and completely fell out of favour with 4-2-3-1, where there is simply not a position for him.

Probable lineup: 

4-2-3-1: Buffon; Alves, Rugani, Bonucci, Sandro; Rincon, Pjanic; Pjaca, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain. 

Injuries:

Chiellini, Marchisio (back), Lemina (back), Mandragora (foot).

Suspensions:

None.

 

 

Crotone

Crotone are trying to scratch and claw to stay alive: they were a good story last season but it looks like they will a one-and-done in Serie A as they are in penultimate position and nine points behind Empoli. The main challenge for Juventus will be to play on the road, at the Ezio Scida stadium, where the Sharks have lost only once in their last four games, gaining seven total points. In this stretch they faced Sampdoria, Pescara, Bologna and Empoli, not exactly battleships, but if they want to have a shot at competing concretely to avoid the drop they will have to make points at home. Calabria is also a hotbed for Juventus fans, so the atmosphere should not be too hostile. Here they say “Juve in trasferta, Calabria deserta,” which translates, sadly without rhyme, as “Juventus on the road, Calabria deserted.”

They come off a costly defeat against a direct opponent like Palermo, where they lost 1-0, and their hopes took a big hit. They try to put up a fight and they have few gritty players, but the talent just is not there. Davide Nicola has used a couple of different systems, settling on a simple 4-4-2 in recent weeks. They will be without Lorenzo Crisetig because of a suspension. Marcus Rohden missed the last game because of knee sprain and will remain out, so they are a little thin both on the flanks, due also to the recent departure of Raffaele Palladino, and in the midfield, as the Swedish player can cover both positions.

Andrea Nalini got the start as right winger in the last game and that could very well be the case on Wednesday. The other options are Maxwell Acosty, who just arrived from Latina, and Aleksandar Tonev, who barely played this year because of persisting knee problems. A tactical switch is always possible when Juventus come to town, but they just do not have the alternatives to go to a three-man midfield, but the youngster Cazim Suljic, who has yet to debut. They could also easily go to a three-man defence adding Claiton Dos Santos and advancing their fullbacks, who are very offensive-minded. It kind of worked for Inter, as Jeison Murillo did a good job on Mandzukic, while in the previous games Juventus had greatly exploited the mismatch between the Croatian striker and the right back. However, Nicola would have to come up with a sort of 3-4-2-1 to make it work considering the shortage of midfielders.

Their best players are Diego Falcinelli, who has scored eight goal so far and is relentless in his search for the ball and the goal, and Adrian Stoian, who usually plays wide on the left. Leonardo Capezzi and Andrea Barberis will play in the midfield with Crisetig sidelined. They have a very young squad and that shows sometimes, with evitable blunders. They play a classic low-table team style, with long passes towards the center-forwards. They are usually dangerous from distance but especially on set pieces, as also their defenders have had luck attacking the box.

Probable lineup: 

4-4-2: Cordaz; Rosi, Ceccherini, Ferrari, Mesbah; Nalini, Capezzi, Barberis, Stoian; Falcinelli, Trotta. 

Injuries:

Rohden (knee).

Suspensions:

Crisetig.

 

Formation

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Allegri may give Pjaca chance to shine for Juventus against Crotone

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/3056103/max-allegri

-may-give-marko-pjaca-chance-to-shine-for-juventus-against-crotone

 

 

Feb 7, 2017

 

It is almost a novelty when Juventus arrive for an away match and are greeted with love and adoration as opposed to insults and anger. Set to face Crotone on Wednesday evening, the Bianconeri bus arrived in the Calabrian city to much fanfare with supporters, donning replica shirts, clamouring to see the likes of Gianluigi Buffon and Paulo Dybala in the flesh.

Miralem Pjanic has insisted the match against the newly-promoted side "will not be easy" but it's difficult to believe that statement considering Crotone's woes. They may be organised and difficult to penetrate but they commit too many mistakes, often undoing their hard work. However, the three matches they have won all season have come at home and for them, this will be the game of the season which almost always guarantees a motivated performance.

The last time these two sides met was in Serie B, the one and only season Juventus did not play top flight football in the 2006-07 campaign. Two games played that season, the Bianconeri scored eight and conceded none. It will be difficult to predict anything other than an easy win for Juventus, even if Massimiliano Allegri will be resting a few players to rely on fresh legs.

This means that a certain Marko Pjaca may finally start his first match of the season. The Croatian has yet to be offered ample time to demonstrate his technique and intelligence on the ball. Always determined in those few minutes he has come on as a substitute, he has demonstrated great skill on the ball even if he's yet to show the type of composure required to ensure efficiency.

Should Allegri persist with the 4-2-3-1 formation, then it's vital Pjaca understands the sacrifice required to ensure balance in such a formation. While he will be primarily judged on what he can provide going forward, tracking runners and contributing to the defence is what secures wins and Pjaca must provide in both phases of the game.

Marko Pjaca has yet to show his full potential since joining Juventus from Dinamo Zagreb.

The Croatian may be skilled at dribbling as evidenced by his wonderful performance at Euro 2016 against Spain but as Allegri has reiterated on several occasions, Juventus is a step up for the player. In Turin, he will be required to stay concentrated for the entirety of the match and provide defensive cover when needed, something he has suffered with previously. Moreover, in his new team he is merely considered a player with potential and not a superstar and therefore will not be offered the support he enjoyed in Dinamo Zagreb, a club that built the team around him and allowed him to indulge in attacking play. Here he will be required to sacrifice for the sake of a unit.

However, the difficulty with Pjaca is that his skills can only truly be admired with continuity and that can prove a problem at Juventus. A direct player who loves nothing more than show off his change of pace and ability to overcome his opponent, he will need time to understand the rhythm of Juve's game and find ways of making an impact. The player has on occasion struggled with his positioning when played in more central roles, such as a No. 10 and such weaknesses can only be improved upon with continuity.

Thankfully, Juventus partake in several competitions and if can exploit the opportunity he's bound to be offered against Crotone then he will be relied upon more going forward. More than anything, this is Pjaca's time to show his willingness to do what his compatriot Mario Mandzukic has become famous for, running anywhere and everywhere to ensure the win including making last ditch tackles and perfect interceptions.

Speaking of the will to sacrifice, Stephan Lichtsteiner is likely to be rested to allow Dani Alves a return to the scene and while the Brazilian has proved mesmeric going forward, offering width and penetration, he can appear overwhelmed at the back. Those played ahead of him and alongside him must be prepared to plug holes when the full-back indulges in attacking play to ensure balance. A 4-2-3-1 with Alves could be a little too offensive but the Brazilian offers too much to be ignored.

The game against Crotone will also be another chance for Juventus to prove they can stay concentrated and alert for the entirety of the game and not just seal all three points at the beginning to take a rest thereafter. The newly promoted side tend to lose concentration only towards the end of the game and perhaps on this occasion, Juve's goals will arrive after the first 15 minutes of the match.

A win here and Juventus are closer to clinching the coveted sixth consecutive league title in a row. The match is worth as many points as that thriller against Inter so hopefully the team will continue to appease their demanding coach.

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Crotone v Juventus Betting: League leaders can ease to another victory

 

 

Having looked out of their depth for most of their debut Serie A season,

Al Hain-Cole doesn't expect the Pitagorici to trouble Allegri's side.

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2995/betting/2017/02/08/32449332/-

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

After overcoming in-form Inter 1-0 at the weekend, Serie A leaders Juventus will be expected to collect another three points when they travel to the Stadio Ezio Scida to take on struggling Crotone on Wednesday.

 

The Bianconeri have actually lost three of their last six league games on the road but are clear favourites with Betfair Sportsbook to come out on top against their relegation-threatened opposition.

 

Nine points adrift of safety after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Palermo, Davide Nicola’s team are hefty underdogs to pull off one of the upsets of the season with a surprise victory here.

 

Yet to draw a single of their 22 league matches so far this campaign, the guests are priced at to settle for a single point on this occasion.

 

Having overcome one of their most established rivals in Sunday’s Derby d’Italia victory, Massimiliano Allegri’s men will face a very different challenge when they make the long trip south to Calabria.

 

Promoted against all odds, despite being tipped for relegation from Serie B last season, the Pitagorici have unsurprisingly looked out of their depth in their first ever season in the top flight of Italian football.

 

 

Having seen inspirational manager Ivan Juric leave for Genoa before the season began, the minnows have struggled to implement the attacking style that proved so successful en route to promotion, scoring just 20 goals in 22 games this season.

 

Considering they scored six of those goals in two games against fellow strugglers Pescara and Empoli, the home attack are unlikely to trouble a backline that has conceded a mere 16 times in 22 fixtures so far.

 

With five clean sheets to their name in the last six matches, Juventus must surely be backed at to brush aside their modest opponents without conceding a goal in Crotone.

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Line-ups: Crotone-Juventus

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/98094/line-ups-crotone-juventus

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

Juventus make changes for their trip to Serie A newcomers Crotone, giving Marko Pjaca his first start for the club and Dani Alves a full comeback.

 

It kicks off at the Stadio Scida at 18.00 CET - 17.00 GMT.

 

The Bianconeri have the opportunity to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table after disposing of Inter in the contentious Derby d’Italia.

 

Max Allegri sticks with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has been working so well lately, but with a few adjustments.

 

Pjaca gets his first Serie A start in place of Juan Cuadrado, while Dani Alves can make his full comeback after a fracture.

 

Daniele Rugani and Kwadwo Asamoah complete the defence, resting Andrea Barzagli, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Giorgio Chiellini.

 

Tomas Rincon steps into midfield alongside Sami Khedira, as it’s surprisingly Miralem Pjanic who makes way.

 

Gonzalo Higuain has scored in each of the last three Serie A away games and is hoping to make it four in a row.

 

Crotone had been on impressive form and smashed Empoli 4-1 in their most recent home fixture, but it all fell apart in a 1-0 defeat to fellow relegation strugglers Palermo at the weekend.

 

Marcus Rohden is still out injured in midfield, but Marcello Trotta is sent to the bench in favour of Aleksandar Tonev alongside ex-Sassuolo hitman Diego Falcinelli.

 

These sides have met only twice before, both in the 2006-07 Serie B season. Juventus won 3-0 in Calabria and 5-0 in Turin post-Calciopoli.

 

 

Crotone: Cordaz; Rosi, Ceccherini, Ferrari, Mesbah; Sampirisi, Barberis, Capezzi, Stoian; Tonev, Falcinelli

Crotone bench: Festa, Viscovo, Claiton, Cuomo, Dussenne, Martella, Trotta, Suljic, Acosty, Nalini, Kotnik, Simy

 

Juventus: Buffon; Dani Alves, Bonucci, Rugani, Asamoah; Rincon, Khedira; Pjaca, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain

Juventus bench: Neto, Audero, Benatia, Barzagli, Lichtsteiner, Alex Sandro, Mattiello, Sturaro, Pjanic, Cuadrado

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Rincon: ‘Juventus must be humble’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/98096/rincon-‘juventus-must-be-humble’

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

Tomas Rincón warns Juventus to be “humble” against Crotone, as he makes his first Serie A start.

 

The midfielder joined the Bianconeri from Genoa in January, and has so far made four substitute appearances for Max Allegri’s side.

 

However, he is in the starting XI for today’s match, as the champions look to take advantage of their game in hand.

 

“I’m happy, it’s an important game with which to get closer to the Scudetto,” Rincón told SportMediaset ahead of the match.

 

“We can’t underestimate them, we have to show the right commitment. We can’t go in with the wrong approach, we need to play this game to win, but with humility and the correct attitude.

 

“It will be a tough match, but we want to take this bonus.”

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Marotta: 'Inter culture of alibis'

 

hhttp://www.football-italia.net/98098/marotta-inter-culture-alibis

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

Juventus director Beppe Marotta locked down Max Allegri and urged Inter to “accept defeat rather than the culture of alibis.”

 

The Bianconeri visit Crotone at the Stadio Scida at 18.00 CET - 17.00 GMT.

 

“When one is considered the favourites, it’s important not to underestimate the opposition. A lot depends on our attitude and motivation in this game, as we still remember the defeat to Parma and again today face a team with nothing to lose,” Marotta told Mediaset Premium.

 

Naturally, he was asked about the on-going controversy after the Derby d’Italia, as Inter continue to accuse the referee of favouring Juventus and publishing unseen video footage of incidents.

 

“I am slightly embarrassed to reply to questions about the Inter controversy. I didn’t think that after such a wonderful match they would go to analyse incidents that never happened.

 

“I think we should incentivise the culture of accepting defeat rather than the culture of alibis. I could list incidents that went against us, but it would be inopportune.”

 

Arsenal continue to be linked with a summer swoop for Juve Coach Allegri.

 

“Aside from the fact we have a contract with Allegri, I think there are still great targets we need to achieve together and our rapport is very good.

 

“There is no reason for him to leave Juventus, as there is great mutual admiration and affection.”

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

HT 0-0: Crotone keep Juventus out

 

http://www.football-italia.net/98100/ht-crotone-keep-juventus-out

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

Juventus had penalty appeals and were denied by a desperate goal-line clearance, but can’t break Crotone down.

 

The Bianconeri could open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table by winning this Week 18 fixture, rescheduled from December 22 so they could face Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana in Doha.

 

Marko Pjaca was given his first Serie A start, while Dani Alves made his full comeback a fracture, as Miralem Pjanic, Giorgio Chiellini and Stephan Lichtsteiner were rested. Crotone missed Marcus Rohden and needed to reboot following a defeat to Palermo at the weekend.

 

These sides had met only twice before, both in the 2006-07 Serie B season. Juventus won 3-0 in Calabria and 5-0 in Turin post-Calciopoli.

 

Gonzalo Higuain drilled wide, then there was a splendid Pipita flick for Paulo Dybala’s volley, smothered by Alex Cordaz. The Squali had the bus well and truly parked early on.

 

Higuain scuffed another attempt wide from 10 yards after a Dybala pull-back with the weaker right foot. Dybala went down under a clumsy Djamel Mesbah challenge on 33 minutes, but the referee waved away penalty appeals, as the Argentine stumbled.

 

Another Higuain finish wasn’t clean enough to trouble Cordaz and Leonardo Capezzi fired off target on the counter.

 

On the stroke of half-time there was chaos in the box, as first Pjaca’s downward header was parried by Cordaz’s legs from point-blank range, then Dybala’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Gian Marco Ferrari.

 

 

Crotone 0-0 Juventus (Half-Time)

 

Crotone: Cordaz; Rosi, Ceccherini, Ferrari, Mesbah; Sampirisi, Barberis, Capezzi, Stoian; Tonev, Falcinelli

 

Juventus: Buffon; Dani Alves, Bonucci, Rugani, Asamoah; Rincon, Khedira; Pjaca, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain

 

Ref: Valeri

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

0-2

 

 

 

Mario Mandzukic 60'

Gonzalo Higuaín 74' 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Crotone 0-2 Juventus: Mandzukic and

Higuain stretch Serie A leaders' advantage

 

The Italian champions are now seven points ahead of second-place

Roma following their win over struggling Crotone on Wednesday.

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/match/crotone-vs-juventus/2305925/report

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain were on target as Juventus beat Crotone 2-0 on Wednesday to stretch their lead at the top of the Serie A table to seven points.

 

The first ever Serie A meeting between the sides was a tight battle before Mandzukic scrambled home the opener to set up a fourth straight victory for Massimiliano Allegri's men.

 

A Paulo Dybala effort was cleared off the line by Gianmarco Ferrari in the last minute of the first half as the champions found Crotone's defence difficult to break down for long passages of play.

 

But the breakthrough finally came on the hour-mark, Croatia international Mandzukic finishing well from a tight angle after goalkeeper Alex Cordaz saved Kwadwo Asamoah's header.

 

With Crotone committing more players forward, Miralem Pjanic slid Higuain through on goal and the prolific Argentine scored his fifth goal in four away Serie A matches to wrap up the win.

 

Juventus were rarely threatened at the back and the champions held out to record their sixth clean sheet in seven Serie A matches, leaving second-bottom Crotone remaining nine points from safety.

 

Crotone's defence was set determinedly deep in the opening stages and a mishit Dybala shot, a hopeful Sami Khedira effort and a Higuain strike pulled wide were the only shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Sublime one-touch build-up play from Juve then created a volleyed chance for Dybala on the edge of the area, Cordaz saving low to his right.
 
Higuain poked Dybala's low cross wide after 31 minutes and the latter had a strong penalty appeal rejected when he went down under a clumsy Djamel Mesbah challenge.
 
Juventus were struggling to find their rhythm on a bobbly pitch and Higuain picked out Cordaz after again linking up with Dybala, before Leonardo Capezzi fired wide on a rare Crotone break.
 
Ferrari cleared Dybala's shot off the line in a chaotic closing minute of the first half after Cordaz saved Marko Pjaca's header with his legs.

 

Crotone continued to frustrate Juve after the restart and Higuain nodded tamely at Cordaz after 56 minutes but the hosts' resistance was finally broken on the hour-mark.

 

Cordaz got down well to save Asamoah's powerful header, but Mandzukic reacted quickest to squeeze in the opening goal from a narrow angle.

 

Gianluigi Buffon made his first save of the game moments later as Crotone responded strongly, but Diego Falcinelli's header was comfortable for the veteran goalkeeper.

 

Higuain made the points safe with 16 minutes to go, rounding Cordaz to slot home after substitute Pjanic sent the striker through on goal.

 

Buffon had to save a sweet Capezzi volley but Pjanic almost added a third with six minutes to go, his shot thudding against the crossbar, as Juventus held on with ease to edge closer to a sixth straight Scudetto.

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

0-2

 

 

 

Mario Mandzukic 60'

Gonzalo Higuaín 74' 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Crotone 0-2 Juventus: Team Ratings 

Rincon tenacious and timely for Juve

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/match/crotone-vs-juventus/2305925/ratings

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

TEAM RATINGS

Crotone

• 1A. Cordaz

  Hard to blame him for the goal as it came off a rebound of one of the many saves he made in this game.

• 31M. Sampirisi

  Offered nothing of note in midfield and was withdrawn.

• 17F. Ceccherini

  He could not keep tabs on Higuain, who burst through to score the second.

• 15D. Mesbah

  Did well to run the likes of Alves off the byline in the opening half, but could not stop the Brazilian's cross for the opener.

• 13G. Ferrari

  Made an important clearance off the line, but was tested later on as his teammates were fatigued.

• 22A. Rosi

  Juventus were able to exploit some noticeable gaps on his side of the field in the second half.

• 18A. Barberis

  He battled hard with Rincon, but eventually lost out to the Venezuelan's tenacity.

• 28L. Capezzi

  Cracked one or two long-range efforts harmlessly wide.

• 24A. Tonev

  He sent a wayward cross right back into Juventus' hands in an ineffective game.

• 12A. Stoian

  Like the rest of his attacking team-mates, he could not muster up anything to trouble Juve.

• 11D. Falcinelli

  Starved of service and hounded by the defence at every opportunity.

Juventus

• 1G. Buffon

  Saved down low on Falcinelli's header in a quiet game.

• 24D. Rugani

  Given the benefit of the doubt in a tussle with Falcinelli inside the area.

• 19L. Bonucci

  Although he was carded for tugging back Falcinelli, he was his usual sound self.

• 23Dani Alves

  Never stopped driving to the byline, and it was his cross that set up the opener.

• 6S. Khedira

  He did a little bit of everything, breaking up play, winning headers and linking with his team-mates.

• 28T. Rincón

  His tenacity and drive helped Juventus keep the ball pinned in the opposition half, and he also set up Higuain's goal.

• 22K. Asamoah

  The Ghanaian popped up on both sides of the field, and it was his header that created the rebound for Mandzukic to score from.

• 20M. Pjaca

  Saw a lot of the ball on the right flank, but his execution and decision making were a little rusty.

• 17M. Mandžukić

  More effective when he moved centrally from the right, and he reacted quickest to a rebound to open the scoring.

• 21P. Dybala

  Some great energy in the final third, willing back a few balls he had no right to.

• 9G. Higuaín

  After a series of near misses in the opening half, he converted his own rebound to put Juve in the clear.

Substitutes

• 42C. Suljic
• 27B. Acosty

  Simply another body to provide defensive cover.

• 29M. Trotta

  Barely had a touch since coming on.

Substitutes

• 15A. Barzagli

  Won the ball back effectively on a late attack out wide.

• 5M. Pjanić

  Rattled the crossbar with a terrific shot in a comfortable showing.

• 27S. Sturaro

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

0-2

 

 

 

Mario Mandzukic 60'

Gonzalo Higuaín 74' 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Juve eventually conquer Crotone

 

Juventus found it tough going, but eventually broke Crotone down

at the Stadio Scida with Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain.

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/87999

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

The Bianconeri could open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table by winning this Week 18 fixture, rescheduled from December 22 so they could face Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana in Doha.

 

Marko Pjaca was given his first Serie A start, while Dani Alves made his full comeback following a fracture, as Miralem Pjanic, Giorgio Chiellini and Stephan Lichtsteiner were rested. Crotone missed Marcus Rohden and needed to reboot following a defeat to Palermo at the weekend.

 

These sides had met only twice before, both in the 2006-07 Serie B season. Juventus won 3-0 in Calabria and 5-0 in Turin post-Calciopoli.

 

Gonzalo Higuain drilled wide, then there was a splendid Pipita flick for Paulo Dybala’s volley, smothered by Alex Cordaz. The Squali had the bus well and truly parked early on.

 

Higuain scuffed another attempt wide from 10 yards after a Dybala pull-back with the weaker right foot. Dybala went down under a clumsy Djamel Mesbah challenge on 33 minutes, but the referee waved away penalty appeals, as the Argentine stumbled.

 

Another Higuain finish wasn’t clean enough to trouble Cordaz and Leonardo Capezzi fired off target on the counter.

 

On the stroke of half-time there was chaos in the box, as first Pjaca’s downward header was parried by Cordaz’s legs from point-blank range, then Dybala’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Gian Marco Ferrari.

 

Juve finally broke through when Cordaz used his legs to parry a downwards Pjaca header from close range, but Mandzukic turned in the rebound from the tightest of angles.

 

Moments later Crotone had their best chance of the game so far, Gigi Buffon smothering a Falcinelli header from a free kick.

 

Tomas Rincon capped off an impressive performance with his inspired through ball, allowing Higuain to dribble round the goalkeeper and sore the second goal. Pipita scored in each of the last four Serie A away fixtures for a total five goals.

 

Crotone had penalty appeals for a Daniele Rugani shirt-tug, but Falcinelli seemed to let himself fall once he got into the box.

 

Miralem Pjanic came off the bench and almost added a third, his ferocious volley rattling the crossbar from an Andrea Barzagli assist.

 

---

 

Crotone: Cordaz; Rosi, Ceccherini, Ferrari, Mesbah; Sampirisi (Acosty 70), Barberis, Capezzi, Stoian; Tonev (Trotta 78), Falcinelli (Suljic 84)

Juventus: Buffon; Dani Alves (Barzagli 78), Bonucci, Rugani, Asamoah; Rincon, Khedira (Pjanic 69); Pjaca (Sturaro 89), Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain

Ref: Valeri

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

0-2

 

 

 

Mario Mandzukic 60'

Gonzalo Higuaín 74' 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Bonucci: 'Juve showed patience'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/98104/bonucci-juve-showed-patience

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

Leonardo Bonucci praised the Juventus “patience” to unlock both Inter and Crotone after a 2-0 victory at the Stadio Scida.

 

Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain eventually got the goals in this rescheduled Week 18 match, but Gigi Buffon was practically undisturbed throughout.

 

“This is how Crotone play, we knew they’d wait for us behind the ball and we needed patience to find spaces between the lines,” Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia.

 

“In the first half we played a little below our usual tempo, but the determination after the restart pushed us on to three very important points as we go towards a sixth consecutive Scudetto.

 

“People said Juventus were in crisis, but criticism only motivates us to do better and prove them wrong.

 

“Before the Inter game, we had broken through early on in the opening 20 minutes and that made it easier. Against Inter and today we took a while longer and had to show great patience to find the key.”

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

0-2

 

 

 

Mario Mandzukic 60'

Gonzalo Higuaín 74' 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Allegri: 'Expected Crotone struggle'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/98105/allegri-expected-crotone-struggle

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

Max Allegri “knew it was going to be difficult” against Crotone, but the Juventus Coach "won't confirm or deny" Arsenal links.

 

Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain scored the goals in a 2-0 victory at the Stadio Scida.

 

“Crotone have often conceded goals late on, for example against Fiorentina, Milan and Lazio, so we knew this was going to be difficult and they’d block off all the spaces,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.

 

“We could’ve done better in the speed of our passing in the first half, but we allowed nothing at the back, maintaining sharpness and organisation.

 

“We didn’t have enough width down the right, so I tried to introduce strikers who could go one-on-one and it went much better in the second half.

 

“I did ask Mario Mandzukic if he needed rest and he said no. Marko Pjaca did well today and is young, so he will be an important player for the second half of the season. I think he can really improve once he gets to understand Italian football.

 

“In two or three years, I think Miralem Pjanic will play in front of the defence. He’s not ready yet, as he’s accustomed to splitting the pitch in two with another midfielder. The roles also require different running and work-rate, so after 50-60 minutes he loses sharpness.”

 

At the final whistle, Andrea Barzagli went off the pitch visibly irritated and it’s reported he had a muscular problem.

 

“Barzagli felt this pain in his thigh, I hope it’s just some scar tissue that got stretched, but he’ll have tests tomorrow.”

 

Napoli beat Bologna 7-1 and Roma crushed Fiorentina 4-0 last night, but Juventus are less spectacular.

 

“Roma are an important club, as are Napoli, but the crucial thing is to get the most points. They will make it tough for us to the end, we have to focus on our own results.”

 

When speaking to Mediaset Premium, Allegri was asked about the rumours his future is in the Premier League.

 

“I won’t deny or confirm anything. I am in sync with the club, now we have to focus on winning. At this time of the season the media always says I’m leaving, even when things are going really well.”

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

[Socrates 8526]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROTONE - JUVENTUS

 

 

0-2

 

 

 

Mario Mandzukic 60'

Gonzalo Higuaín 74' 

 

 

 

 

MATCHDAY 18

 

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Ezio Scida Stadium, Crotone
Referee: Paolo Valeri

 

 

 

Higuain and Mandzukic score

in Juventus' win vs. Crotone

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/report?gameId=461124

 

 

Feb 8, 2017

 

Juventus moved seven points clear at the top of Serie A following a comfortable 2-0 victory against Crotone on Wednesday evening.

Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring for the visitors on the hour mark before Gonzalo Higuain doubled their advantage with 16 minutes remaining.

Crotone, who remain nine points away from safety, put up an able resistance against the champions but after Mandzukic broke the deadlock the victory never appeared in doubt.

The win marked a fourth consecutive triumph for Massimiliano Allegri's side who have now established clear breathing space between themselves and their rivals as they battle to defend their league crown.

Juventus manager Allegri made five changes to the team that secured a 1-0 victory against Inter Milan on Sunday with on-loan Chelsea forward Juan Cuadrado, who scored the spectacular winner, dropping to the bench.

For Crotone, facing the Old Lady for the first time in the top flight, they also made five changes with key midfielder Lorenzo Crisetig suspended after he was sent off in their 1-0 defeat at Palermo.

While Juventus predictably dominated the opening exchanges at the Stadio Ezio Scida, they created few chances.

Indeed their best opportunity of a tepid opening half came in the closing seconds. Marko Pjaca's header was dealt with by Crotone goalkeeper Alex Cordaz before Paulo Dybala's follow-up was cleared off the line.

After the interval the champions continued to press and with 15 minutes of the second period gone, Mandzukic struck with his fifth league goal of the season.

Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves' cross was met by the head of Kwadwo Asamoah whose effort was parried by Cordaz only for Mandzukic to pounce from close range to and break Crotone's hearts.

Juventus pushed for a second and it arrived after 74 minutes. Tomas Rincon, a January signing from Genoa, slid a fine ball into the path of Higuain and the Argentinian showed even better composure to round Cordaz before tapping the ball into an empty net and claim his 16th league goal.

The champions came close to securing a spectacular third after Miralem Pjanic struck the crossbar with just five minutes remaining. But it did not matter as Juventus closed out the victory and recorded their fourth consecutive clean sheet in as many wins.

Juventus will travel to Cagliari on Sunday while Crotone, now with five defeats from their last seven, host second-placed Roma.

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110