JUVENTUS SEASON 2016-2017

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

 

 

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 

 

0-1- 

 

 Sami Khedira (66')

 

 

MATCHDAY 2
Saturday, August 27th, 2016 - 6:00 PM
Olimpico Stadium, Rome
Referee: Marco Guida

 

Khedira stars again as Juventus earn a hard-fought win at Lazio

 

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2939107/

sami-khedira-stars-again-as-juventus-earn-a-hard-fought-win-at-lazio

 

 

Aug 27, 2016

 

With temperatures in excess of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, both Lazio and Juventus struggled early before the Serie A champions emerged in the second half with greater desire and more energy, creating scoring opportunities and dominating the game. Ultimately they also found a goal, with Sami Khedira scoring for the second straight game.

 

Positives

As a team that struggled defensively in preseason, it was reassuring to see Juve keep a clean sheet and play with confidence and composure at the back, despite the absence of Leonardo Bonucci. Mehdi Benatia made his league debut and integrated well, demonstrating his physicality and excellent reading of the game, which render him a perfect addition to the side.

Negatives

With Paul Pogba sold, Claudio Marchisio injured and Miralem Pjanic on the bench, Juve's midfield lacked creativity and the spark that usually ignites forwards. Paulo Dybala was forced to drop back too often, stripping him of the support he needs from those behind him to provide magic going forward.

Manager rating out of 10

8 -- Massimiliano Allegri has always been a patient man, both with formations and new recruits, and is keen to stick with those who provide stability and security before he introduces star talent bought over the summer. Once Allegri feels everyone is in shape, he will look to find the perfect balance to ensure attacking panache and defensive security.

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

GK Gianluigi Buffon, 6 -- On hand to act quickly when called upon but wasn't required to rescue his team from any truly dangerous situations.

DF Mehdi Benatia, 7 -- An excellent debut from the Moroccan, who timed his tackles well, nearly scored a goal and rescued Juve from a Felipe Anderson cross into the box.

DF Andrea Barzagli, 6 -- Did well in Bonucci's central role by ensuring the defensive line never dropped too deep. Read the game well as usual.

DF Giorgio Chiellini, 7 -- Always there at the right time and in the right place to make the right block. Reliable and concentrated, he is also excellent and pushing forward with the ball to help contribute to the attack.

MF Dani Alves, 6 -- Combined well with Dybala, though he dropped off as the game progressed until he was subbed off.

MF Sami Khedira, 8 -- The best player on the pitch, Khedira timed his runs to perfection. Always available to secure the defence and in the right position when Juve were in possession, he scored the winner and was the most intelligent and tactically-aware player on show.

MF Mario Lemina, 6 -- Too hasty in his actions, Lemina must know how to deal with his physical stature and understand how to remain composed under pressure. Too often he shoots when he needs to think a before he acts, but the talent is there to see.

MF Kwadwo Asamoah, 6 -- Consistently fouled but he knew how to keep the team moving forward. However, he doesn't boast the creativity or technical skill to aid a midfield that lacks spark.

MF Alex Sandro, 6 -- Excellent at getting forward and producing chances for his teammates. When surrounded by defenders, he has the feet to get out of tricky situations while remaining calm.

FW Paulo Dybala, 7 -- The impressive forward never stops playing for the team, creating space for his teammates and demonstrating his intelligence, though he did struggle with Juve's lack of creativity in midfield.

FW Mario Mandzukic, 5 -- He was unable to truly affect the game. Lazio defended well against him and Croatian lacked support from his teammates.

Substitutes:

FW Gonzalo Higuain, 6 -- Tried to create opportunities for himself but was thwarted by a determined Lazio side. Did well to hold up play and create space for the others.

DF Stephan Lichtsteiner, NR -- Energetic and dynamic, Lichtsteiner came on and commanded the right side with confidence.

FW Marko Pjaca, NR -- Was only given a few minutes but still managed to produce a shot on goal.

 

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

 

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

 

 

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 

 

0-1- 

 

 Sami Khedira (66')

 

 

MATCHDAY 2
Saturday, August 27th, 2016 - 6:00 PM
Olimpico Stadium, Rome
Referee: Marco Guida

 

Inzaghi: 'One fatal error'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/90502/inzaghi-one-fatal-error?

 

 

Aug 27, 2016

 

Simone Inzaghi felt Lazio only lost to Juventus due to “a single fatal error,” but urged the club to reinforce his squad.

 

Sami Khedira got the only goal of the game at the Stadio Olimpico when pouncing on Paulo Dybala’s assist.

 

“I don’t really like changing system, but I thought we could make an exception for Juventus,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia after moving to a 3-4-3 shape.

 

“We should’ve made more of the many balls we got in the box. We’ll analyse this defeat, but I am satisfied with the performance, not the result.

 

“We made a single fatal error, but overall I think my team played a very good game. It was an unfair result.

 

“Felipe Anderson only got back from the Olympics four days ago and was very generous. He wants to improve every day.”

 

Inzaghi was asked about the transfer activity on the final few days before Wednesday’s deadline.

 

“The club is working to improve the squad. We still need to replace Antonio Candreva. The club is moving to get what I want.”

 

 

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

 

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

 

 

 

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 

 

0-1- 

 

 Sami Khedira (66')

 

 

MATCHDAY 2
Saturday, August 27th, 2016 - 6:00 PM
Olimpico Stadium, Rome
Referee: Marco Guida

 

Khedira and Allegri pleased after Juventus claim victory at Lazio

 

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2939188/sami-khedira-

and-max-allegri-pleased-after-juventus-claim-victory-at-lazio

 

 

Aug 27, 2016

 

After scoring the winning goal in his side's 1-0 victory at Lazio, Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira said that the Italian champions are learning a lesson from the slow start they made in last season's title race.

Juve lost each of their opening two league matches in 2016-17 but, thanks in no small part to Khedira scoring in each game, have taken all six points on offer so far this campaign, with Saturday's win following a 2-1 opening-day triumph against Fiorentina.

"I think especially in the first half we had not so much movement, but after the break we had better situations and more opportunities to score," the German told Sky Sport Italia. "In the end, I think it was a good result for us. This year we know, as we learned from last year. Of course we lost Paul Pogba, but we had the same team and some great new players this summer."

Meanwhile, Juve manager Max Allegri acknowledged that his side struggled initially to cope with high temperatures in Rome but was pleased with the result.

"It was so hot today and we made a lot of mistakes in the first half," Allegri told Sky Sport Italia. "After the break we did well, but I remember the first six touches from Kwadwo Asamoah, for example, were all bad."

Allegri was also asked whether his current squad is the strongest he has worked with.

"It's different from the others," he said. "We introduced many new players compared to last year. It would be a mistake to seek players similar to the ones we've already got."

 

 

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

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

 

 

 

LAZIO - JUVENTUS 

 

0-1- 

 

 Sami Khedira (66')

 

 

MATCHDAY 2
Saturday, August 27th, 2016 - 6:00 PM
Olimpico Stadium, Rome
Referee: Marco Guida

 

Juventus vs. Lazio 2016: Final score 1-0, Sami Khedira

makes the difference at the Olimpico

 

 

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/8/28/12679882/

juventus-lazio-2016-serie-a-round-2-final-score-recap-result

 

 

Aug 28, 2016

 

Two games in, and in stark contrast to last season, Juventus has a whopping six more points than we had then! HIGUAIN A BETTER SIGNING THAN DYBALA CONFIRMED!However, where the bulk of the game against Fiorentina was high-intensity fluidity just missing ruthlessness in front of goal, this game was much more of a labored cagey affair in the scorching Roman sun.

Saturday’s game began very slowly as neither side looked keen on taking too much initiative and expending much energy in the early stages. Lazio, however, were pressing much higher than Juve, and we struggled to get out of our own half for the first few minutes. There appeared to be a lack of chemistry in the middle, as our midfielders kept getting crowded off the ball and we struggled to bring Mario Mandzukic or Paulo Dybala into the game.

A Dybala header off a deflected Alex Sandro cross that Federico Marchetti dived to his left to keep out at the eighth minute was the first real chance of the game. Lazio continued to enjoy the more productive possession, and despite not really getting a sniff of goal, the wide players, Felipe Anderson and Senad Lulic were keeping our BBC defense (2^nd iteration) on their toes.

The first 15 minutes were extremely cagey, and for any Premier League fans either interested in watching Serie A — yup, all seven of them worldwide — or who just got lost while navigating their sports channels (far more likely), this must have served the dual purpose of being a visual lullaby, and a clear justification for Paul Pogba returning to United. I mean, they ARE the club who made him who he is today after all amiright?

The Juventus midfield, so impressive a week ago, continued to struggle to keep a hold of possession. Kwado Asamoah, in particular, was looking thoroughly lost on the ball, and lost possession no less than four times in the first 10 minutes — a fact that clearly didn’t escape Max Allegri’s scrutinizing gaze, judging by his post match comments. Mario Lemina also needlessly gave the ball away at the 23^rd minute mark, and this presented Lazio with their first chance of the game, as Dusan Basta broke away down the right flank, and fired in a vicious low cross, that Gigi Buffon could only get his fingertips too. Thankfully, Medhi Benatia was present to clear the ball off the line while under pressure.

Eventually, we began to maintain a better hold of possession, but were still playing quite far away from the Lazio goal. Lazio in turn, began to cede possession and attempt to his us on the break through Anderson and ex-Juventus youth product and Carlos Tevez leg bruiser, Ciro Immobile. The heat was taking a toll on the players, and a water break at the 28 minute mark was deemed necessary. If you thought that would lend the game a new lease of excitement however, as I was, you were sadly mistaken.

A long Sami Khedira pass upfield that Asamoah managed to slice at, looped not too menacingly towards the top corner, but Marchetti comfortably managed to keep it out. This was about all for the first half action, as the rest of the half proved to be about as exciting as watching the groundsmen tend to the turf before the game I imagine.

Asamoah and Dani Alves, in particular, had really poor first halves, and I found myself hoping Allegri would change things for the second half by taking a defender off for Miralem Pjanic or Marko Pjaca to support the attack and give us an extra body in midfield to pass too. Lazio were playing with Immobile on the counter for the most part anyway.

The second half however started slightly more brightly. Allegri seemed to have gotten his instructions across better, as finally there seemed to be some flow breaking forward, as Khedira and Asamoah began to grow into the match, and better support Dybala and the until then anonymous, Mandzukic. Sandro began to see much more of the ball, as finally the wide players started to get into the game and stretch the Lazio defense.

One such move lead to the best chance of the game thus far, as a brilliant deep cross from Sandro on the left, found Mandzukic break away from his man in the box, and fire a fierce volley straight at Marchetti, who managed to save it well, only for the rebound to fall at Dybala’s feet. La Joya managed to wiggle his way past his man and fire a low shot that just trickled agonizingly past the far post.

Juve looked much sharper this half, and at the 62th minute, Dybala broke away after intercepting a short Lazio corner. He played the ball through to Alves on the right, who brilliantly played a long ball over the top back to Dybala. The Argentinean got to the byline and played a gorgeous backheel into the path of Khedira inside the box, but the German opted to try to square the ball to Mandzukic instead of going for goal, and the Lazio defense managed to sneak a touch in before it reached its target, giving us a corner. From the ensuing set piece, Giorgio Chiellini fired a rocket header just over the bar.

On the 65 minute mark, Mandzukic came off after a pretty luckless evening, for Juve’s record signing, Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentine offers a much more varied and larger (gettit? wink wink) threat than the Croatian, with his deadly off the ball movement, and the effect was almost instantaneous, as Juve took the lead.

Dybala broke forward towards the final third, and Higuain’s forward run dragged both defenders Bastos and Stefan de Vrij with him. Dybala’s lovely ball over the top was completely missed by Lucas Biglia, and this found Khedira completely free inside the box after one of his trademark late runs, and he made no mistake in firing a wonderful angled drive past Marchetti into the bottom corner.

Finally, the game began to open up slightly, as Lazio began to pour forward in numbers, and this offered us more space on the counter. Despite their increased possession, Lazio struggled to fashion any real openings. Substitute Patric fired over from inside the box following some fine work from Immobile, and the Romans finally had a shot on target a few minutes later, as Parolo’s drive from outside the box was comfortably saved by Gigi.

Juve were content to see the game out and try and hit Lazio on the break, and in such a flow, the game drew towards its close. The only other chance of note came deep into stoppage time, as Sandro broke forward with pace down the left. Once again, Higuain’s forward run drew two defenders with him, and Sandro squared the ball across to substitute Pjaca just outside the box. Juve’s latest attacking prospect brilliantly used his trickery to completely bamboozle Stefan Radu, but he ended up hurrying his shot, and hit it straight at Marchetti. Juve held on for the win, the clean sheet, and the three points.

 

TACTICS

I must say that Simone Inzaghi seemed to have won the tactical battle of the first half. He set Lazio up to completely nullify our offensive structure, and he succeeded, albeit, at the cost of giving up on most of their offensive threat. Lazio’s 3-4-3 structure utilized the somewhat defensive Lulic at left forward, with the sole intention of keeping Alves in check. Playing with wide midfielders and wide forwards, resulted in a very neat overlap occurring on either flank, and this pegged both our wingbacks back for the entire first half. Had it not been for Benatia and Chiellini’s brilliance in not giving this overlap any space to exploit down the flanks, they might have had far more joy going forward.

While defending, wide forwards Lulic and Felipe Anderson took up much more central positions. This resulted in Lazio having four men in the middle, which completely crowded out the middle of the park, and gave our midfield trio absolutely no space to work with and maintain possession with. This had the domino effect of Dybala dropping absurdly deep just to get the ball at all, leaving poor Mandzukic thoroughly isolated against three center backs and starved of any service. The two men on their left flank, also meant Alves got no space to play hugging the flank, and he wandered far too central into Khedira’s position far too often, further crowding the midfield and causing positional confusion.

Still, seeing the potential that Dybala and Alves had in playing quick one-two’s down the right, Inzaghi moved Felipe Anderson to the left for the second half. The Brazilian Olympic gold winner is far more talented and offensive than Lulic, and his teamwork with Jordan Lukaku kept Alves completely away from the action for the second half. Lulic was tasked with marking Sandro down the left, and struggled a little on his weaker side, as Sandro found far more joy breaking forward without the threat of Anderson to deal with. Everything considered, I can’t really look at Inzaghi’s tactics and deduce that he played for anything but a draw, while maybe hoping for a suckerpunch goal on the counter.

I have to say, I can see a number of positional weaknesses with this version of the 3-5-2, most primarily, without the threat of Pogba able to single-handedly carry the ball forward, Dybala is being forced to play extremely deep to get the ball. Two games in a row now, he has been too far away from goal for my liking, and Mandzukic has had a torrid time in complete isolation. Especially considering Khedira and Asamoah’s proclivity for late runs into the box, I’m hoping to see us play with a TQ soon, either Pjaca or Pjanic, as we desperately need a link for the midfield and attack. Dybala’s best position is as a second striker, playing off either Mandzukic or Higuain, not as a trequartista.

 

PLAYER RATINGS

Buffon: 6.5 – For the second game running, Gigi had absolutely nothing to do, with only one real shot on goal to face for the whole game. A nice clean sheet for him this time though, and I take heart in seeing him have so little to do. It means our defense is back to their best. He showed his usual brilliant command of the box in the second half as Lazio broke forward more though.

Benatia: 8.5 – MotM. For all intents and purposes, Benatia looked like a younger and more modern version of Barzagli today. Next level reading of the game, and a wonderful ability to read the flow of the game too, as the moment Lazio began to double up on Alves, he took a slightly wider position to ensure they never had any joy down that flank. Five clearances, six tackles and seven interceptions speak of his total dominance today. He is a serious threat on set pieces too.

Barzagli: 7 – The "Bonucci" role doesn’t utilize his strengths well, and he had a quiet game by his usual standards, as all he really had to do was keep an eye on the not-so-immobile Ciro Immobile. He looked a little like someone playing in an unfamiliar position, but otherwise he was quite solid.

Chiellini: 7.5 – Its been a strong start to the season for King Kong. Like Benatia, he handled Lazio’s overlap down the flanks very well, and never left Sandro by himself. Made many a crucial interception or clearance, and was rock solid and focused as ever, one foolish loss of possession aside.

Alves: 6.5 – The skill is there for all to see, but I think, like Patrice Evra in his first season, we will see the best of him in a back four. The more offensive wingback position is affording him a little too much freedom for my liking, and he has to work on his positioning. Hardly got into any positions to cross from all game. His chemistry with Dybala is worth keeping an eye on however.

Khedira: 7.5 – Had a pretty anonymous first half, but was absolutely everywhere as the game opened up in the second. His first half can be attributed to our midfield as a whole being given no space to work with. His positioning on the defensive side was top notch throughout, however. He found far more space to work with in the second half, and was a constant menace going forward. Took his goal very well, and his fitness and form could be a major defining point for our season.

Lemina: 7 – Not an easy day at the office by any means, but continues to impress as the midfield pivot. His physicality and game sense serve as an excellent shield for the defense, and he was particularly impressive at the back today. Guilty of giving away possession cheaply a few times, but did his best to try and rotate possession efficiently. Has the potential to become an important cog for this midfield.

Asamoah: 6 – Poor game from the Ghanian. While it is true that he was starved of space by a determined Lazio midfield, he did himself no favours by persistently trying to dribble his way out of trouble. His positioning as a midfielder is still a question mark to me, and all the improvement he showed in his chemistry with Sandro last week, was completely absent today. Not writing him off of course, but he still needs to prove himself as a central midfielder.

Sandro: 7.5 – Much improved performance from the Brazilian, who was solid as a rock defending against both Lulic and Felipe Anderson, and put in a very productive shift up and down the left flank. He delivered some beautiful crosses, and his dribbling was vital in helping us break forward and relieve the pressure on the defense at the end of the game. He’s really making the left flank his own, and I expect great things from him.

Dybala: 7 – His dribbling is a joy to watch, but he’s playing just too far away from goal for my liking right now. He needs to be playing between the lines of their centerbacks and midfield, not facing their midfield head on. He deserves a goal for his efforts though, and I hope he gets one soon. Showed some excellent link-up with Alves and Khedira yet again, but his very effective partnership with Mandzukic from last year isn’t firing as of now.

Mandzukic : 6.5 – I feel for the Croat, I really do. Two games in a row now he’s been pretty isolated against multiple defenders. Today he got absolutely no service at all until the second half. It isn’t his fault, but his style of play isn’t tallying with the system we’re running at the moment. Without Claudio Marchisio, Bonucci and Pjanic, his hold-up play becomes a non-factor because he’s not getting anything to hold up.

Higuain: 7 – His biggest impact at the moment seems to be what he does without the ball, rather than with it. I’ll attribute this too to the system we’re running right now, and his fitness, which is steadily improving. It wasn’t an easy game to come into, as we scored right after he came on, and were content to sit back and let him lead the line alone. Bastos did have his number though, and he’ll be disappointed he couldn’t make more of his few break away opportunities.

Just as the exciting new season gets underway, we’re forced to break for the international break.Sigh... when football becomes a tease... This is a good opportunity for players like Pjanic and Higuain to build on their fitness and sharpness, however, and it gives players like Lemina, Asamoah and Sandro more time to develop some chemistry, which are both good things. I feel like Lemina and Higuain have some bonding to do, too. The look Gonzalo gave him after the Gabonese fired a long shot right into his back, screamed "Even ignoring the pass you didn’t give me, if you do that again I’ll eat you,” doesn’t really bode well for team spirit.. Or his "50 days to a new you!" weight loss program.

 

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

 

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

Serie A kick-off changes confirmed

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/90610/serie-kick-changes-confirmed

 

Aug 29, 2016

 

The Lega Serie A has announced the fixture rescheduling for Weeks 3 to 18 of the season.

 

When the fixtures are drawn up, every match is scheduled for 14.00 UK time on a Sunday, but throughout the season matches are rescheduled for television and other commitments.

 

Today those changes have been confirmed up until December 21, with the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus now on Sunday September 18 at 17.00 UK time.

 

The Milan derby will now take place on Sunday night on November 20 at 19.45, with Juventus-Pescara now 24 hours earlier.

 

 

Serie A fixture changes:

Week 3

Saturday September 10

17.00 - Juventus-Sassuolo
19.45 - Palermo-Napoli

Sunday September 11

11.30 - Bologna-Cagliari
19.45 - Pescara-Inter

Monday September 12

19.45 - Empoli-Crotone

Week 4

Friday September 16

19.45 - Sampdoria-Milan

Saturday September 17

17.00 - Lazio-Pescara
19.45 - Napoli-Bologna

Sunday September 18

11.30 - Udinese-Chievo
17.00 - Inter-Juventus
19.45 - Fiorentina-Roma

Week 5

Tuesday September 20

19.45 - Milan-Lazio

Wednesday September 21

17.30 - Bologna-Sampdoria

Week 6

Saturday September 24

17.00 - Palermo-Juventus
19.45 - Napoli-Chievo

Sunday September 25

11.30 - Torino-Roma
19.45 - Fiorentina-Milan

Monday September 26

19.45 - Cagliari-Sampdoria

Week 7

Saturday October 1

17.00 - Pescara-Chievo
19.45 - Udinese-Lazio

Sunday October 2

11.30 - Empoli-Juventus
17.00 - Torino-Fiorentina
17.00 - Milan-Sassuolo
19.45 - Roma-Inter

Week 8

Saturday October 15

14.00 - Napoli-Roma
17.00 - Pescara-Sampdoria
19.45 - Juventus-Udinese

Sunday October 16

11.30 - Fiorentina-Atalanta
19.45 - Chievo-Milan

Monday October 17

Palermo-Torino

Week 9

Saturday October 22

17.00 Sampdoria-Genoa
19.45 Milan-Juventus

Sunday October 23

11.30 - Udinese-Pescara
17.00 - Bologna-Sassuolo
19.45 - Roma-Palermo

Week 10

Tuesday October 25

19.45 - Genoa-Milan

Thursday October 27

19.45 - Palermo-Udinese

Week 11

Saturday October 29

17.00 - Bologna-Fiorentina
19.45 - Juventus-Napoli

Sunday October 30

11.30 - Atalanta-Genoa
19.45 - Sampdoria-Inter

Monday October 31

18.00 - Udinese-Torino
20.00 - Cagliari-Palermo

Week 12

Saturday November 5

17.00 - Torino-Cagliari
19.45 - Napoli-Lazio

Sunday November 6

11.30 - Pescara-Empoli
17.00 - Fiorentina-Sampdoria
17.00 - Inter-Crotone
19.45 - Roma-Bologna

Week 13

Saturday November 19

14.00 - Chievo-Cagliari
17.00 - Udinese-Napoli
19.45 - Juventus-Pescara

Sunday November 20

11.30 - Sampdoria-Sassuolo
19.45 - Milan-Inter

Week 14

Saturday November 26

17.00 - Torino-Chievo
19.45 - Empoli-Milan

Sunday November 27

11.30 - Palermo-Lazio
19.45 - Roma-Pescara

Monday November 28

18.00 - Napoli-Sassuolo
20.00 - Inter-Fiorentina

Week 15

Friday December 2

19.45 - Napoli-Inter

Saturday December 3

19.45 - Juventus-Atalanta

Sunday December 4

11.30 - Milan-Crotone
19.45 - Fiorentina-Palermo

Monday December 5

18.00 - Chievo-Genoa
20.00 - Udinese-Bologna

Week 16

Saturday December 10

17.00 - Crotone-Pescara
19.45 - Sampdoria-Lazio

Sunday December 11

11.30 - Cagliari-Napoli
19.45 - Inter-Genoa

Monday December 12

18.00 - Fiorentina-Sassuolo
20.00 - Roma-Milan

Week 17

Saturday December 17

14.00 - Empoli-Cagliari
17.00 - Milan-Atalanta
19.45 - Juventus-Roma

Sunday December 18

11.30 - Sassuolo-Inter
19.45 - Napoli-Torino

Week 18

Tuesday December 20

19.45 - Atalanta-Empoli

Wednesday December 21

19.45 - Inter-Lazio

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

Sir Alex: ‘Juventus can win CL’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/90789/sir-alex-‘juventus-can-win-cl’?

 

 

Sep 1, 2016

 

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Juventus can win the Champions League, and calls Max Allegri “a great Coach”.

 

The former Manchester United manager is regarded by many as the greatest of all time, winning the English Premier League 13 times, the Champions League twice and leading Aberdeen to three Scottish titles and the Cup Winners’ Cup.

 

“I can’t remember, in the 50 years of my career, such big eliminations of Italian clubs,” Ferguson said at the UEFA Coaches Forum in Nyon, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport.

 

“Football goes in cycles, and at the moment Barcelona and Real Madrid have something extra. I think that Juventus though, like Bayern [Munich] are a team who can beat anyone and so they could even win the Champions League.

 

“Allegri? He’s one of Juventus’ strong points. He’s a great Coach. Another important thing is the stadium, it’s really nice and that’s a rarity in Italy.”

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

 

 

Juventus name Champions League squad      

http://www.football-italia.net/90809/juventus-name-champions-league-squad?

 

Sep 1, 2016

 

Juventus named their squad for the Champions League, including new buys Gonzalo Higuain, Dani Alves and Juan Cuadrado, but no Stephan Lichtsteiner.

 

The Swiss international had tried to push for a deadline day transfer to Inter and is in the final year of his contract.

 

The Bianconeri are in the same group as Sevilla, Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb.

 

 

Juventus UEFA list: 

 

Buffon, Chiellini, Benatia, Pjanic, Khedira, Cuadrado, Marchisio, Higuain, Hernanes, Alex Sandro, Barzagli, Mandzukic, Lemina, Bonucci, Pjaca, Dybala, Asamoah, Dani Alves, Rugani, Neto, Sturaro, Audero (B List), Evra

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

 

 

Stephan Lichtsteiner left off Juventus’

Champions League squad list       

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/9/1/12756632/juventus-2016-

uefa-champions-league-group-stage-squad-list-stephan-lichtsteiner-max-allegri

 

Sep 1, 2016

 

The day after transfer deadline day brought the submission of the squad lists for group stage of both of the European competitions that will begin after the current international break. On Juventus’ end of the equation, you figured everything would be routine and nothing would take you by surprise. Nope, nothing with this kind of squad that they have put together.

Juventus had other ideas.

Every player you expected to be on Juve’s Champions League group stage squad list was there — except for one. Stephan Lichtsteiner, who not even 12 hours earlier basically shot down every transfer rumor that was out there on his own, has been excluded from the squad list.

Here is the full list, sans-Lichtsteiner:

1 Buffon

3 Chiellini

4 Benatia

5 Pjanic

6 Khedira

7 Cuadrado

8 Marchisio

9 Higuain

11 Hernanes

12 Alex Sandro

15 Barzagli

17 Mandzukic

18 Lemina

19 Bonucci

20 Pjaca

21 Dybala

22 Asamoah

23 Dani Alves

24 Rugani

25 Neto

27 Sturaro

32 Audero (List B)

33 Evra

 

NEEDS MORE TWENTY-SIX, YOU GUYS.

The exclusion of Lichtsteiner, something nobody expected to have happen, leaves Dani Alves as the only natural right back on Juventus’ Champions League squad list. Is this a sign that Max Allegri will go 3-5-2 full-time in Europe? Maybe, maybe not. But when your other choice on the right wing is Juan Cuadrado, it’s a pretty clear sign that it’s going to be Dani Alves the first time and all the time from thereafter.

Hope this doesn’t come back to bite Juventus in the backside. But when you don’t include arguably your best option at right back, it’s not exactly a good look. There’s obviously more to this than we know right now.

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

Orsi: Napoli Winning Serie A Isn’t Logical

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/09/orsi-napoli-winning-serie-a-isnt-logical/?

 

Sep 2, 2016

 

Former Roma and Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Orsi believes there is no chance that Napoli can outperform Juventus this season to win Serie A.

The Bianconeri have signed the Partenopei’s star man in Gonzalo Higuain and have been busy elsewhere in the market, reinforcing every area of their squad possible in the hopes it will secure a historic sixth-straight Scudetto.

“Napoli winning the Scudetto goes against all odds and logic,” Orsi told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“Juventus have won it five times in a row, they buy players that god only knows and logically they are the strongest.

“The Bianconeri have been reinforced, it is obvious to think that they are better than Napoli.

“Napoli winning Serie A would be nice, but I don’t think it will happen, I don’t think there is the possibility.”

Juventus have started the 2016/17 season in the right way, claiming two victories out of two overFiorentina and Lazio, while Napoli drew with Pescara on the opening day before defeating AC Milanlast week.

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

 

 

  Ancelotti: 'Juve for Champions League'    

http://www.football-italia.net/90871/ancelotti-juve-champions-league

 

Sep 3, 2016

 

Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti said “there are seven teams who can win the Champions League,” including Juventus.

 

The Italian tactician lifted the trophy with Real Madrid, but took a year off after he was sensationally sacked by the Merengues.

 

Now he’s back at the helm of the dominant Bundesliga club and looking forward to a new season.

 

“There are seven teams who can win the Champions League,” Ancelotti told Spanish paper Marca.

 

“They are the three Spanish clubs, Juventus, Manchester City, PSG and Bayern.”

 

The three Spaniards are Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

 

“Experience tells me that every Coach worth his salt should be in charge of Real Madrid once in his life. It’s the best thing in the world, an almost unique experience.

 

“What happens in Madrid doesn’t happen at any other club, as the number of fans all over the world is enormous. It’s a wonderful experience and one that’s worth having.

 

“Real Madrid are still the favourites for the Liga, as they remain a very competitive side. They haven’t won it in four years, so the motivation will be even greater.

 

“Would I return to Real? Certainly, there’s no reason not to. With the Bundesliga I have completed the top five Leagues: Italy, France, England, Spain and Germany.”

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

  Moratti: 'Scudetto piece of cake for Juve'      

hhttp://www.football-italia.net/90884/moratti-scudetto-piece-cake-juve

 

Sep 3, 2016

 

Former Inter president Massimo Moratti believes Frank De Boer was signed too late, whilst 'the Scudetto will be a piece of cake for Juventus'.

 

The Nerazzurri poured some significant investments into reinforcing the team this summer, but one element they were not able to retain was Coach Roberto Mancini.

 

“There was a good dialogue with Mancini, but perhaps the decision [to sack him] was taken too late,” Moratti told Radio Deejay. “It was written that he and the club should part ways, things had gotten a bit complicated.

 

“De Boer is a serious Coach and a professional. It's hard to judge him after a couple of games, the real problem is that he was signed at the last second.”

 

Finally, the former president was asked what he thought about the Milanese teams both being purchased by Chinese business, and who would win Serie A this year.

 

“The sale of the clubs is purely an economical matter. As for the Scudetto, it's going to be a piece of cake for Juventus.”

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

    Hamsik: 'Best is yet to come'    

http://www.football-italia.net/90887/hamsik-best-yet-come

 

Sep 3, 2016

 

Marek Hamsik says 'the greatest joy is yet to come for Napoli' and looks forward to challenging Gonzalo Higuain.

 

The iconic midfielder was linked to a variety of teams for a move this summer, but he ended up renewing his contract until 2020.

 

“My priority was always this team,” Hamsik told Il Corriere della Sera. “I was only waiting for the conclusion of the meetings and now we've found a solution, if rather suddenly.

 

“There are always several rumours surrounding me when the market window opens, but I'm used to that. I think only of Napoli, because they are among the top 15 clubs in the world.

 

“We developed together and probably the greatest joy is yet to come. A Scudetto or a success in Europe, who knows.”

 

Although the Vesuviani reinforced their team substantially over the summer, they also lost star striker Gonzalo Higuain to Juventus.

 

“The disappointment of the fans is understandable. They're passionate and I think it's right that people should express their feelings. The challenge against him and Juventus is going to be interesting.”

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

  Totti: 'Roma close to Juventus'    

http://www.football-italia.net/90904/totti-roma-close-juventus?

 

Sep 3, 2016

 

Francesco Totti warned Roma “will try to stay close to Juventus, even if it won’t be easy” in the Serie A race.

 

The Giallorossi beat San Lorenzo 2-1 in a friendly this evening at the Stadio Olimpico, the proceeds going to earthquake victims in central Italy.

 

“This is a special day and not just Roma, but all clubs in the world ought to do these projects,” the captain told Sky Sport Italia.

 

“I think everyone wants to help these people.”

 

Totti was asked about the Scudetto race after a 2-2 draw with Cagliari.

 

“You can say many things after transfer activity, but what matters is what happens on the pitch. We will try to stay close to Juventus, even if it won’t be easy.”

 

Daniele De Rossi was not present at the Stadio Olimpico because his wife Sara gave birth to a son today.

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

Inzaghi: 'Juve have no competitors'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91031/inzaghi-juve-have-no-competitors

 

Sep 5, 2016

 

Former Milan Coach Filippo Inzaghi claims 'there is no Juventus challenger', but wishes luck to Lazio and Milan.

 

Super Pippo only had one year managing the Rossoneri bench, but it was enough to kick-start a career as a Coach and give him a sense of how football tactics work from the sidelines.

 

“I've got an idea of the championship and I follow Serie A,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport, “if only because there's Milan, who are my history and whom I follow with love. I wish [Coach Vincenzo] Montella all the best.

 

“Lazio are trained by my brother, whom I believe is a great Coach. Unfortunately they lost a great player like Candreva, and they can't count on Keita [Balde Diao] right now.

 

“But by winning the first game and playing well against Juve, they are showing their worth.

 

“I follow more or less everyone. I think there is no challenger to Juventus this year, they are on a different level compared to everyone else.

 

“Starting from the three defenders and the goalkeeper, it's almost impossible to score a goal against them, and now they have top-scorer Higuain too.

 

“So I think there's little contest in the championship, although Napoli reinforced their squad and signed many interesting young players.

 

“I think it's going to be a balanced contest for the second place, but the Scudetto is already assigned.

 

“Paul Pogba? At those prices I too would have sold him.”

 

Inzaghi's main focus right now, however, is not on Serie A, but on his own Lega Pro club Venezia.

 

“Those who think this is an easy championship are dead wrong, it's going to be tough.”

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

Five Juventus questions with Italian football writer Luca Cetta

 

The good thing is that Luca roots for the same team we all do, so that

makes him good people. He’s also pretty good at the whole writing thing, too.

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/9/6/12811698/

juventus-2016-serie-a-champions-league-q-and-a-interview

 

 

Sep 6, 2016

 

Come the weekend, Juventus will begin a four-week stretch in which things pick up a couple of levels. It starts with Sassuolo, heads into the Champions League for the group stage opener and sees a three-games-a-week theme return to our lives for the first time during this season.

That means we’re going to have a lot of Juventus-related things to talk about again once this stinkin’ international break is a thing of the past.

The only problem is Juventus plays Saturday. Today isn’t Saturday, it’s Tuesday. That means we’re still scratching off the days before Juve actually play against Sassuolo.

To help us out and deal with our international break blues, I’ve reached out to a friend of the blog, Italian football writer and noted Juventus supporter Luca Cetta. Not only does Luca have a kick-ass beard, but he knows a thing or two about a thing or two. You’ve probably seen his work published all around this here internet, too. Plus, he follows BWRAO on Twitter, so he must be doing something right with his life choices!

Some comments in jest said above aside, Luca was quite cooperative when I asked him if he’d like to collaborate on something. That’s why we’re here, so we thank Luca for that.

And no, Luca is not here to answer questions about Juventus’ last great Australian, Jess Vanstrattan, or talk about all of the kangaroos Max Allegri might have spotted during the preseason tour of his homeland of last month. But what we did ask Mr. Cetta about is a few of the more prominent Juventus-related topics during this time of year. Yes, that involves transfers. Yes, that involves the players Juventus did — or didn’t — sign over the last couple of months.

Without further ado, here is Luca Cetta talking about Juventus. Good times.

BWRAO: Hi, Luca! I could tell some more bad jokes, or I could just come out and start asking questions. I’ll ask this simple question right off the bat: Juventus' transfer campaign, your thoughts?

LC: Juventus had two huge departures to deal with. Alvaro Morata’s second season wasn’t as productive as his first, but his importance to the team was on display in the Champions League. Then there’s Paul Pogba, who was in brilliant form after a slow start.

But consider the players who have come in. Gonzalo Higuain, Miralem Pjanic, Dani Alves, Medhi Benatia, Marko Pjaca and Juan Cuadrado — all in one transfer window. That’s a fantastic list. So while Juve did lose two key players, the squad as a whole is stronger. The work completed off the field sets Juventus up for a big season on the field.

BWRAO: Do you feel like there's one signing that got away over the last couple of months, or are you totally cool with how Juventus' summer transfer window came together?

LC: You can’t help but feel that Axel Witsel is one signing that got away given he was sitting in a Turin hotel all day on deadline day. So close, yet so far. But when deals are left to the final day, that can happen. Overall, I am happy with the transfer campaign yet feel another midfielder would not have gone astray. It won’t surprise me if Juve revisit the Witsel situation in January.

Javier Mascherano is a name I would not have objected to, but understandably it was a difficult deal to close — if it ever got to a serious negotiation phase. There would also have been issues with transitioning the squad in the medium term, when the new breed are to come through. While I’m confident that progression is something under Juve’s control, you don’t want to run the risk of a Milan circa 2011-2012 situation where so many veterans left in such a short period and it ripped a hole in the squad.

BWRAO: There are a lot of established players on the Juventus squad, obviously. But do you think there's a younger player that takes that next step this season?

LC: Daniele Rugani is the player Juventus fans hope can take over the mantle from the BBC defence both in Turin and with the Azzurri. We saw what he can do at Empoli, while last season was a good introduction to life at the Bianconeri. It is difficult to force your way into a defence like Juve’s which has been so good for so many years. However, Max Allegri did well to ease Rugani in and when called upon he hardly put a foot wrong.

It’s also a big season for Stefano Sturaro. His first six months were promising, although that growth was somewhat stunted during 2015-16. He can still play a part long-term, but getting back to his form of early 2015 will be important.

BWRAO: When it's all said and done, who's the more important signing, Gonzalo Higuain or Miralem Pjanic?

LC: Pjanic adds great quality, but I give the nod to Higuain. Juventus are targeting the Champions League and if you look back at say, the last 10 years in that competition, the majority of winners have a prolific attack and/or somebody to score at crucial times.

Juventus in 2014-15 were exceptional defensively and through midfield as the season went on. Pjanic lining up alongside Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira maintains the high midfield standards of recent seasons. But more than that, Juve had two strikers to take them to the Final. Carlos Tevez scored important goals in the earlier stages and then Morata shone in front of goal. They want Higuain to have a similar impact and that’s why he is that bit more important.

BWRAO: The Million Dollar Question: With the way this squad is constructed, how far do you think Juve can go in the Champions League?

LC: As usual you have Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich starting as favourites. Juventus are on that next tier with Atletico and probably Manchester City, but are well equipped to go far. With a tournament like this it’s always hard to name a finishing position, but there’s no reason why Juve cannot be thinking of at least a Semi-final place. Do that, and who knows from there. Injuries, the draw and fine margins within games play such a big role in the Champions League.

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

Mancini: ‘No Inter regrets’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91054/mancini-‘no-inter-regrets’

 

Sep 6, 2016

 

Roberto Mancini has “no regrets” about returning to Inter, but warns “Juventus are on a different planet”.

 

Mancio left his post as Inter Coach this summer, having disagreed with the new Chinese ownership about the direction of the club.

 

“I don’t have any regrets and I won’t say today I was wrong to accept,” Mancini explained to Corriere dello Sport.

 

“It was an important challenge, I’m convinced that I wasn’t wrong to go back to Milan. Unfortunately I didn’t finish he mission, but it remains a positive experience.

 

 

 

“The resolution was consensual, we were unable to take the same path to achieving the goals Inter must always have in front of them: the Scudetto and the Champions League.

 

“Today, Juve are on another planet from every point of view. But if a club had taken Ibra or Yaya, they’ve have fought with the Bianconeri for the title. I’m sure of it.

 

“I’m not just talking about Inter, I mean Milan, Napoli, Roma, Fiorentina… the big clubs, in short.

 

“Paulo Dybala? I tried to take him from Palermo to Inter, but he chose Juve. He’s a champion, one who can approach Messi.

 

“Who can challenge Juve? Napoli, Roma, Inter, Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio can all cause problems in a one-off game. They have very interesting young talents.

 

“[Napoli President Aurelio] De Laurentiis has invested the €90m [from Juventus] for [Gonzalo] Higuain in major talents - those investments will bear fruit in time.”

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

Serie A salaries revealed

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91056/serie-salaries-revealed

 

Sep 7, 2016

 

Gazzetta dello Sport has revealed its yearly player salary charts, with Juventus’ Gonzalo Higuain the new best-paid player in Serie A.

 

Every season, the newspaper publishes its calculated list of the salaries and budgets in the Italian top-flight.

 

For several seasons, Roma’s Daniele De Rossi has been the highest-paid player in the League, but Higuain’s switch from Napoli to Juventus has brought him a contract of €7.5m net per season to De Rossi’s €6.5m.

 

The Bianconeri have the highest player budget in the League at €145m, but Inter are not far behind on €120m.

 

Roma are third on €92m, with Milan and Napoli spending €80m and €75m on their squads respectively, according to Gazzetta.

 

As the newspaper notes, however, performance-related bonuses cannot be taken into account which in effect means some players will be taking home much higher salaries.

 

As an example, Juventus’ playing squad last season had a base salary of €125m, but club account show staff were paid €220m - most of which would of course be players.

 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Crotone have the lowest budget in the League, reported at just €14m for the season, with Lorenzo Crisetig their top-earner on €400,000 per season.

 

On the bench, Juventus Coach Max Allegri is the top-earner on €5m net per season after Roberto Mancini left Inter and took his €5.3m salary with him.

 

Luciano Spalletti is in second place on €3m, with Roma actually paying out the most to Coaches this season.

 

That is because Rudi Garcia is still under contract for €2.8m net per season, given he has failed to find a new job over the summer.

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

Zac: ‘Scudetto not foregone conclusion’

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91069/zach-‘scudetto-not-foregone-conclusion’

 

Sep 7, 2016

 

Alberto Zaccheroni believes “the Scudetto doesn’t already belong to Juventus”, despite signing Gonzalo Higuain.

 

The Bianconeri finished top of Serie A last season, then bought the striker from second-place Napoli, but the former Juve Coach doesn’t think will kill the Partenopei’s chances.

 

“Portugal won the European Championships without Ronaldo on the pitch,” Zaccheroni told Il Mattino.

 

“The Scudetto doesn’t already belong to Juventus. The Azzurri will want to show that Higuain was lucky to have them, and not vice-versa.”

 

Higuain scored 36 goals in 35 Serie A games last season, but the Old Lady activated his €90m release clause and he moved to Turin.

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

 

- 

 
 

MATCHDAY 3
Saturday, September 10th, 2016 - 6:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Marco Di Bello 

 

Chiellini rested against Sassuolo?

 

 

hhttp://www.football-italia.net/91082/chiellini-rested-against-sassuolo

Sep 7, 2016

 

Giorgio Chiellini’s poor form for Italy could see him rested for Saturday’s Serie A clash between Juventus and Sassuolo.

 

The defender gave away two goals in the 3-1 friendly defeat to France, then his error promoted Israel’s goal before he was sent off in the World Cup qualifier.

 

According to La Repubblica, Coach Max Allegri is concerned that the centre-back needs a break to be at full strength for next week’s Champions League opener with Sevilla.

 

With that in mind, Chiellini could well be rested this weekend against impressive Sassuolo.

 

Leonardo Bonucci is back in action after taking time out to nurse his infant son Matteo, although this season Allegri does have other options like Medhi Benatia and Daniele Rugani.

 

Meanwhile, Juan Cuadrado and Dani Alves were both on international duty for Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia and won’t be back in Turin until Friday.

 

Stephan Lichtsteiner could therefore be thrown into the mix just days after he was frozen out of the Champions League squad list.

 

 

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

 

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

 

- 

 
 

MATCHDAY 3
Saturday, September 10th, 2016 - 6:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Marco Di Bello  

 

Juventus' little brother Sassuolo have

won hearts and minds in Italy

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/12/blog/post/2945364/juventus-

little-brother-sassuolo-have-won-hearts-and-minds-in-italy

Sep 8, 2016

 

May 21, 2016 is a night everyone connected with Sassuolo will never forget: the night of the Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Sassuolo were not playing but they were involved. They had a stake in the result. If Milan lost and Juventus retained the trophy, Sassuolo would qualify for Europe for the first time in their history.

Francesco Magnanelli, the captain, watched the game with fans in the town square. Paolo Cannavaro, Fabio's younger brother, tuned in all the way from Dubai where he was on holiday with teammate Federico Peluso. Other members of the squad, including the team's star Domenico Berardi, found themselves in Spain on Marcello Gazzola's stag-do, while Francesco Acerbi, Cannavaro's centre-back partner, was in a bar in Dresano playing cards with friends.

Although miles apart, the team came together on Whatsapp, united, for one night only, in their support of Juventus. Sassuolo's owner, Giorgio Squinzi, was more conflicted. A Milanista through and through, Squinzi diplomatically revealed he would be rooting for Massimiliano Allegri, the Juventus coach, whose first success as a manager was breaking new ground with Sassuolo and getting them promoted from the third to the second division.

Allegri didn't let Squinzi down. Juventus prevailed in extra-time and Alvaro Morata's winner was celebrated as if Berardi had scored and won the cup for Sassuolo. It stamped their passports for Europe. Comfortable wins against Luzern and Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League qualifiers booked Sassuolo a place in the group stages where they will play Athletic Bilbao, Genk and Rapid Wien.

"We would have liked to face Manchester United," Sassuolo's general managerGiovanni Carnevali told Sky Italia. They still could later in the tournament but just to get this far is an astonishing achievement. The Red Star game in particular served to put things into stark relief: Sassuolo were in the amateur leagues when their opponents were crowned champions of Europe in 1991. A decade ago this summer, they were celebrating their promotion from the fourth tier.

On Saturday, they will play at the Juventus Stadium, a ground that could almost house the entire population [40,884] of Sassuolo. It's a top of the table clash as both are on maximum points (or in Sassuolo's case were until the league overturned their win against Pescara on the basis that new signing and second half substitute Antonio Ragusa was ineligible to play.) Pending the outcome of their appeal, that incident weakens the argument that they are the best run club in Italy after Juventus, but doesn't necessarily make it any less persuasive.

Sassuolo could be considered Juventus' little brother. The pair, alongside Udinese, are the only clubs to own their own stadium in Serie A. One acts almost as a finishing school for the other, although Sassuolo would reject the notion that they are Juventus' feeder club. An option to sign Simone Zaza was called in a year ago and Berardi could have followed this summer. However, he chose to stay. Coach Eusebio Di Francesco also shunned interest from Milan.

The reasons behind their decisions were different. Berardi didn't feel ready to leave after an underwhelming season in black and green and believes another year starting week-in-week-out for Sassuolo is what's best for his development. Di Francesco tellingly said he wouldn't go and work where there is "confusion." Their choice reflects very well on Sassuolo and speaks volumes about the reputation they have established for stability, identity and ambition.

Indeed, Sassuolo are not exactly the minnows they would have you believe. Squinzi is head of Italy's equivalent of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and he has risen to that powerful position because of the success of Mapei, his builders' merchants firm, long associated with cycling, which commanded revenues of €2.6 billion last year. Judging by the wealth of the companies behind them, it makes Sassuolo the fifth best backed club in Serie A. Their shirt deal with Mapei is the most lucrative in the league and, at €22 milllion, it's bigger than Juventus' and Milan's. That gains greater significance when you consider that Roma, Lazio, Genoa and Sampdoria still don't have one.

Sassuolo are not throwing around the same kind of money that Parma (a team to which they are often compared) did in the '90s, however. Sassuolo's net spend over the last three years is €2.7m. Their turnover is €60m, compared with €224m at Milan, and the €27m they pay in wages puts them 12th in Serie A. Until Di Francesco's recent contract extension, he was taking home €900,000 a year, considerably less than the €4m Roberto Mancini was making at Inter.

Sassuolo are going against the grain. In a league where foreign players are almost as big a majority as they are in England, Sassuolo count only four in their ranks. Forty of their 49 goals last season were scored by Italians.

They are a club that believes and invests in homegrown talent like no other club in Italy's top flight, as demonstrated by the signings of promising players like Stefano Sensi, Luca Mazzitelli and Ragusa from Serie B. This approach has won hearts and minds. Sassuolo aren't so much a hipster club as a romantic one and the backstories of their protagonists only consolidate this image.

Di Francesco waited tables at the family restaurant before becoming a footballer. After his playing days were over, he could be found raking the beaches near Pescara on the Adriatic coast. He's now one of the most promising managers in the game.

Magnanelli has been with the club in all four divisions and now finds himself playing in Europe. Berardi was discovered playing five-a-side on a visit to see his brother, a student at Modena University. Acerbi has twice come back from testicular cancer. There is a spirit in this team that goes a long way to explaining why Claudio Ranieri name-checked Sassuolo when he was asked who he believes is the Italian Leicester.

Squinzi, incidentally, hasn't shied away from talking about winning theScudetto. "It was a joke," Di Francesco insists. However, the aim ever since Di Francesco has been at the club has been to improve each season by 10 points. The question is: can Sassuolo really do better than last year? "If everyone took me seriously [when I said we could win the league]," Squinzi told Di Francesco last year. "Maybe I should take myself seriously too."

One person who will be taking them very seriously is Allegri. A shock defeat to Sassuolo two-and-a-half years ago got him the sack at Milan, while another defeat at the end of October last year had people believing Juventus' dominance was finally coming to an end. Juventus are now stronger than ever but, relatively speaking, so are Sassuolo. Saturday's game should be a classic.

 

 

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

 

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

 

- 

 
 

MATCHDAY 3
Saturday, September 10th, 2016 - 6:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Marco Di Bello 

 

Lirola: 'My Sassuolo objectives'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91162/lirola-my-sassuolo-objectives?

Sep 9, 2016

 

Baby full-back Pol Lirola celebrates his loan move: 'I chose Juventus and Serie A, now I choose Sassuolo'.

 

The 19-year-old is but the latest open exchange between the Bianconeri and the Neroverdi, who have been operating in a fruitful synergy for several years now.

 

“In 2014 I played my first game with Espanyol's third category and after the shower I found my agent together with Juve's chief scout,” Lirola recounted to the Gazzetta dello Sport. “They told me that the Bianconeri wanted me and I had no doubts.

 

“I chose Juve [over the likes of Manchester City and Barcelona] because I love Italian football. It's the most complete and formative championship.

 

“I thought Juve would be the best place to grow and develop my value.”

 

The Spaniard then discussed the features that he believes to be important in a modern full-back.

 

“He's above all else a defender, and he must keep his concentration levels high for the entire game. That's one of the very first things that [Coach Eusebio] Di Francesco taught me.

 

“But the best full-backs are those who can also give something when attacking. I started as a winger, so I've got a greater inclination to push forward.

 

“I grew up with the legend of [Philipp] Lahm, but I rather see myself in Dani Alves, allowing for the correct proportions. It's a shame I couldn't train with him, I left before he joined us.

 

“[Stephan] Lichtsteiner gave me a lot of advice on how to improve. In Spain there's less of an exchange with the senior squad, whilst [Max] Allegri often called us to train with the adults. Every session is a university lesson.

 

“The first three months were the hardest. I couldn't play because I was waiting to complete the bureaucratic practices to be registered. Thankfully, in Italy it's easy to get integrated, although I do miss the sea.”

 

At Sassuolo, Lirola managed an assist for Domenico Berardi in his first Europa League game against Red Star.

 

“As soon as I arrived, Di Francesco told me: 'I don't care about your age, if you're humble, willing to learn and you deserve to play, then you'll get a shirt'.

 

“Passing from the juniors to Serie A is a big leap but together with my father and Juve we decided this was the right moment to go on loan, and we chose Sassuolo as the best environment.

 

“Allegri and Di Francesco are both knowledgeable Coaches, who help you but who can also be very direct. Allegri, who coached Sassuolo, was the first to suggest this choice to me.

 

“Do young players struggle in Italy? It's certainly easier to give a striker his debut over a defender, because players at the back have a lot of responsibility and Coaches prefer to rely on experience.

 

“But I see no skepticism against youngsters. Take Berardi, he's young but he's exceptional, and here he's been given the opportunity to prove that.

 

“Knowing that my club considers me an investment for the future is something that fills me with pride. My objective is to develop here over two years so that I can be worthy of them. Playing with Juve is my dream.”

 

 

 

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

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

 

- 

 
 

MATCHDAY 3
Saturday, September 10th, 2016 - 6:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Marco Di Bello 

 

Juventus v Sassuolo –

Serie A Match Preview

 

 

http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-v-sassuolo-serie-match-preview/?

Sep 9, 2016

 

 

Juventus

After the first international break, the season now really kicks into gear with seven games in less than a month. After dispatching two sizeable hurdles like Fiorentina and Lazio, the guys square off against another good team: Sassuolo. The pause rendered the last game almost forgettable and there should be some noticeable improvement, especially from the physical standpoint, but it was really an impressive win in a tough road game.

The squad earned a clean sheet against a team that scored four goals just a week before and the defensive plan was flawless and took away their biggest weapon, the counter-attacks. Obviously the Bianconeri were not as incisive upfront as needed to spend a serene afternoon, but still did enough to come home with three points. The coach almost reversed the script compared to the seasonal debut against Fiorentina: Juventus were passive, almost lethargic in the first half and then picked up the intensity in the second 45^th minutes. A strategy that was certainly linked to the management of energies, which are scarce at the beginning of the football year. However, two weeks are a very long period and, if everything has gone according to plan, the team should be close to being able to play a complete game.

As we know, Juventus tried to close the deals for Blaise Matuidi and Axel Witsel in the final days of the transfer market, but neither joined, even though the latter really went down to the wire. Until January, when Kwadwo Asamoah and Mario Lemina leave for AFCON, the midfield will stay as is. Numerically we would be fine if nobody got hurt, but unfortunately Sami Khedira, Asamoah and Lemina have spent considerable time in the infirmary last year and Claudio Marchisio and Stefano Sturaro are currently hurt. An addition would have spared Massimiliano Allegri some headaches down the line and of course would have improved the overall quality.

On the other hand, the push to return made by Juan Cuadrado was successful as Giuseppe Marotta and Chelsea managed to put together a very clever deal that basically makes sure that the future of the Colombian winger will be in Turin and that the English club will receive a fair, but not excessive, compensation. Besides his basic use in 3-5-2, Cuadrado will allow the coach to field a proper 4-4-2 if too many midfielders are absent and to unleash a 4-3-3 if there is a shortage of strikers. The ex-Fiorentina man was very effective in the Champions League last season and is a devastating weapon off the bench, so it is a purchase that makes a lot of sense, more so if you take into consideration that he unlocks some line-ups where Marko Pjaca could thrive playing in his favourite position as left winger.

The other big story coming for the end of the transfer market window was the exclusion from the UCL list of Stephan Lichsteiner. Ultimately Hernanes was chosen over him to have more depth in the midfield, which will be numbered in the first phase. Even if I understand the reasoning, it is disappointing to not be able to count on a soldier like Lichtsteiner, even if he may or may not have asked for a last-minute move to Inter and may not be on the team next season. Dani Alves’ defensive shortcomings were exposed in the Lazio game and I do worry about what will happen against more potent opponents.

As for the Sassuolo game, the absentees are the usual ones: Marchisio, Sturaro and Rolando Mandragora. Sturaro’s agent said that he should come back in a couple of weeks, so it will take a little longer than the projected return after this break.

Miralem Pjanic played with his national team so we know he is fully healthy after an ill-timed hip pointer in the last preseason friendly. He is expected to start in front of the defence, replacing Lemina. At least this was the initial plan, we will see if Allegri decides to tweak it after the management failed to land another box-to-box midfielder. After all, the French youngster has been good there, Marchisio has mastered the role and might not be as effective in his past position as he once was and Pjanic had a ton of reps on the left-hand side of the midfield at Roma.

Gonzalo Higuain was not called up by Argentina and therefore he is on track to make his first start with Juventus, pairing up with Paulo Dybala. Juan Cuadrado and Dani Alves will return late due to international duties in South America, so Lichsteiner will start on the right, likely with Alex Sandro on the other flank. Leonardo Bonucci has played with Azzurri and so he is available after taking care of some familiar issues. Considering that Champions League football is just around the corner, Andrea Barzagli will be spared after featuring in two full games with Italy: Medhi Benatia had an impeccable game with Lazio so there is not anything to worry about.

Probable lineup: 

3-5-2: Buffon; Benatia, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichsteiner, Khedira, Pjanic, Asamoah, Sandro; Higuain, Dybala. 

Injuries:

Marchisio (knee), Sturaro (knee), Mandragora (foot)

Suspensions:

None. 

 

Sassuolo

Sassuolo had an impressive start to the season, convincingly breezing through the oft-dangerous Europa League playoffs and winning the first two games against Palermo and Pescara with relative ease, riding the red-hot Domenico Berardi. But things went South really quickly: first the Italian starlet sprained his knee in the final minutes of the last game, the injury is not particularly severe but he will miss the Juventus clash, then the sports judge found out that the team had screwed up the registration of Antonino Ragusa so it awarded the victory to Pescara. The Neroverdi will appeal, but if it turned out that they really forgot to notify the modification of the 25-man list, or did that after the deadline, it would be a really bad look for the franchise.

On the pitch, they looked really good, sustained by great physical condition because of the early start, they have been playing official games since late July, and they did not even have a full squad since two core elements like Simone Missiroli and Lorenzo Pellegrini were sidelined with injuries. Also, they were trotting out Diego Falcinelli and Marcello Trotta, who are not really ready to contribute for a team that has established itself in the upper echelon of Serie A. They were both loaned to Crotone, with another prolific youngster in the lower leagues, Pietro Iemmello, taking their spot in the roster.

They did not directly replace Nicola Sansone, the move will be to either have Alessandro Matri as a regular starter, with Gregoire Defrel on the left; continue to trust the growth of Matteo Politano, who has made strides in two years; or hope that long-time Serie B star Antonino Ragusa will have the same impact in the top league. Federico Ricci is more of a right winger: he is certainly talented and we will see how he will worked into the rotation. Therefore, they have a wide array of weapons that gives Eusebio Di Francesco a lot of flexibility.

Berardi is out and Defrel is a little banged up and will miss the game as well. Matri is set to spearhead the attack, with Politano and either Ragusa or Ricci on the flanks. The other doubt is in the midfield: Missiroli and Pellegrini are good to go and they are challenging Davide Biondini, who has started almost every game so far, but is pretty average. Pellegrini has a little more chances because he is more stout and that would help in a very demanding game.

Stefano Sensi is out with a hamstring injury and he is part of the fresh group of newcomers that the management, always keen on youth development, has decided to bring to Serie A, alongside Luca Mazzitelli, Juventus loanee Pol Lirola and centre-back Timo Letschert. Lirola will eventually take over at right back and replace Sime Vrsaljko, who left for Atletico Madrid, but so far Marcello Gazzola has hanged on his spot in the XI thanks to solid performances. They play in Europa League in five days, so there might be a little rotation: Paolo Cannavaro is a candidate to be given the day off.

At this point, their proactive style is well-known and in the past season they have managed to bolster the defensive phase, albeit without adding any top-rated player. Playing without their go-to-guy Berardi will be a challenge, especially because Sansone used to take the reins in these situations in the past two seasons, but he is no longer there. So there might a void in leadership on the pitch, someone will have to step up and this could lead to some unusual choices: Missiroli as left winger to have a playmaker upfront, for instance.

Probable lineup: 

4-3-3: Consigli; Gazzola, Cannavaro, Acerbi, Peluso; Duncan, Magnanelli, Biondini; Politano, Matri, Ragusa. 

Injuries:

Berardi (knee), Sensi (hamstring). 

Suspensions:

None.

 

Formation

 

 

 

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

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

Official: Italian Supercup in Qatar

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91168/official-italian-supercup-qatar?

 

 

Sep 9, 2016

 

This December's Italian Supercup game between Juventus and Milan will be played in Doha, Qatar.

 

The trophy is normally disputed between the winner of the Serie A championship and that of the Coppa Italia. As both those titles were taken by the Bianconeri last year, their opponents will be the Coppa finalists from the past season, and that would be Milan.

 

The game that will decide the Supercup will be played on December 23, in Doha.

 

This is the second time the capital of the state of Qatar is selected for this trophy, as it was played for between Napoli and Juventus in 2014, when the former team won on penalties.

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

 

- 

 
 

MATCHDAY 3
Saturday, September 10th, 2016 - 6:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Marco Di Bello 

 

'Youngsters drive oldies at Sassuolo!'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91170/youngsters-drive-oldies-sassuolo?

Sep 9, 2016

 

Full-back Federico Peluso looks forward to playing Juventus again: 'But at Sassuolo, the youngsters lead us!'

 

The veteran counts two Scudetti in his roster thanks to the 18 months he spent with the Bianconeri. Going into tomorrow's 17:00 (UK time) game against his former team, he looked back on what he misses the most to this day.

 

“The Juventus Stadium and the extra value that it gives you,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport. “It's a very European stadium that plants fear in the hearts of your opponents.

 

“We have a property stadium too and we're proud of it. We're trying to fill it up more and more.

 

“I knew there was an ambitious project here and that's what convinced me to join them. The directors told me right away that the objective was to reach Europe, and quickly.

 

“It surprised many people, including us, who live this environment every day and know how much work and planning went behind it. Results like these never come by chance.”

 

Peluso also confessed that Sassuolo's famous youngsters were the ones most eager to play the first Europa League game.

 

“They were super-excited, they were the ones who drove us forward. Sassuolo has the most promising youngsters and [Coach Eusebio] Di Francesco knows how to motivate them.”

 

Domenico Berardi, the Neroverdi's star striker, turned down Juventus in order to play another year with his club.

 

“When Juve call you, it's hard to say no. But he didn't really do that, he just decided to stay with Sassuolo, and we're making the most of him.

 

“He is extraordinary. When he'll feel ready for the big leap forwards, he'll take it. He preferred another year here because he needed continuity.

 

“Our victory against Juventus last year was a tale unto itself. It was a nice spark, that's where Juventus found themselves again and went straight for the Scudetto.

 

“This year they had an important market campaign, it'll take the perfect game to defeat them. Scoring against [Gianluigi] Buffon at the Stadium is never easy, but we can make it.”

 

 

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

[Socrates 8328]

 

 

JUVENTUS - SASSUOLO

 

- 

 
 

MATCHDAY 3
Saturday, September 10th, 2016 - 6:00 PM
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Marco Di Bello 

 

Allegri: 'Sassuolo always difficult'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/91172/allegri-sassuolo-always-difficult

Sep 9, 2016

 

Max Allegri admits 'Sassuolo are always difficult for Juventus, but my great squad lets me rest players'.

 

The two teams face off tomorrow at 17:00 UK time, and the Bianconeri will remember the defeat they suffered last year in the first half of the season.

 

“Sassuolo always made things difficult for Juventus in the past few years,” Allegri told the Press. “The games have always been closely contested, they're a reality of Italian football.

 

“This year they have the opportunity of giving it a shot in Europe, and I wish them all the best because they are a team I'm very fond of, as I am of president Squinzi.

 

“It's an important contest for us, we need three points now because we're about to step into a seven-game cycle inclusive of two Champions League matches.

 

“Everyone has a possibility of playing because we'll need to keep a high level of intensity, and you can't do that with the same players every three days. Everyone's in a good condition and I have a squad of great quality. We'll see who's going to play tomorrow.

 

“In football everything is possible, and we changed five-six players per game at times last season. Of course the team must find its balance.

 

“Let's not forget that we met up on August 2, then everybody left again on the 28 for the national teams and we only came back together yesterday.

 

“Dani Alves only came yesterday afternoon and [Juan] Cuadrado isn't here yet. Or perhaps he landed this morning. He's doing what he must and we're hoping to have him for tomorrow.

 

“Of course with a squad like this I can give more resting time and let players recover their physical and mental energies, which are so important in such a long season.”

 

 

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