JUVENTUS SEASON 2024-2025

[Socrates 8398]

[Socrates 8398]

Same old Juventus draw again after conceding late against Fiorentina

 

 

Juventus played out a 2-2 draw against Fiorentina this evening after conceding a late equaliser from Riccardo Sottil.

 

Fiorentina has had a good season and showed great form at the start of the game. However, Juve demonstrated why they remain unbeaten this term, with Khephren Thuram opening the scoring after 20 minutes.

 

The Old Lady deserved that lead, having enjoyed a dominant spell of possession up to that point. ............

 

Thuram had an impressive game, while Francisco Conceição continued to trouble La Viola’s defence throughout the fixture.

 

However, against the run of play, Fiorentina drew level, with Moise Kean finding the net on his return to Turin.

 

Just three minutes later, Dusan Vlahović had an opportunity to restore Juve’s lead, but David de Gea pulled off a stunning save to deny him.

 

Almost immediately after the break, Juve regained the lead through Thuram, who staked his claim for Man of the Match with his second goal of the evening. ............

 

After making a few changes, Thiago Motta’s team conceded a late leveller from Riccardo Sottil following a shocking mistake by Andrea Cambiaso.

 

Despite their efforts, Juventus couldn’t find another goal to clinch the win.

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/same-old-juventus-draw-again-after-conceding-late-against-fiorentina/

[Socrates 8398]

Juventus vs Fiorentina interrupted as Vlahovic targeted by racist chants

 

 

Sunday’s Serie A game between Juventus and Fiorentina was interrupted for two minutes due to racist chants directed at the Old Lady’s striker, Dusan Vlahovic.

 

Referee Maurizio Mariani was forced to interrupt a Serie A match between Juventus and Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium because racist chants from the away end targeted ex-Viola forward Vlahovic.

 

Play was halted at minute 7 after loud chants targeting Vlahovic were heard in the stadium.

 

The Juventus forward was called ‘gipsy’ by Fiorentina supporters in the away end. ............

 

The stadium announcer urged fans to stop the racist chants.

 

Insults continued, but without racist remarks, as the Juventus striker was branded a ‘piece of s***’ by Fiorentina fans. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-fiorentina-interrupted-racist-vlahovic-chants/

[Socrates 8398]

Thiago Motta identifies what Juventus lacked in 2-2 draw against Fiorentina

 

 

Thiago Motta insists Juventus had to be more clinical and score the third goal against Fiorentina: ‘I don’t believe in bad luck.’

 

Juventus were held to a 2-2 draw by Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Sunday.

 

The Bianconeri remain unbeaten in Serie A this season, but they have now collected 11 draws. ............

 

“We always tried to attack to score the third goal. We had to score the third to kill off the game, but we left them the chance to remain in the game,” he said. ............

 

“I would not focus on that [defensive errors]. We had a few more days to rest, so there was energy, but we didn’t kill off the game. We had to manage the game differently. We conceded too much at the back, but they are a quality team. Ultimately, the result counts, and we could not score an extra goal.

 

“We had many good moments today, and we would have deserved to score the third goal. This is what we lacked today,” continued the former midfielder.

 

“We managed the defensive phase well in other games, including against Manchester City. Today we had to score the third to kill off the game. ............

 

During a post-match press conference, Motta added: “I don’t believe in bad luck. We should have killed off the game and don’t leave a chance to the opponent. I don’t believe in bad luck. I believe in merit.”

 

Juventus are now off to Saudi Arabia, where they will meet Milan in the Supercoppa semifinal on January 3. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/what-juventus-lacked-2-2-draw-fiorentina-motta/

 

Modificato December 30, 2024 da Socrates

[Socrates 8398]

Juventus player ratings v Fiorentina – One player stands out

 

 

Starting XI

Michele Di Gregorio – 6.5
 ............

Nicolo Savona – 6.0
A tough outing for Savona, who struggled to contribute offensively and left too much space for Fiorentina to exploit down his flank.

Federico Gatti – 6.0
He showed his usual enthusiasm to push forward but needs to improve his leadership at the back to help protect a lead.

Pierre Kalulu – 6.5
Arguably Juventus’ best defender on the night, but his performance fell short of ensuring the team kept a clean sheet.

Weston McKennie – 6.0
 ............

Teun Koopmeiners – 7.5
A decent performer, Koopmeiners was instrumental in Juve’s attacking play and involved in key moments that led to the goals.

Manuel Locatelli – 7.5
Juve’s most consistent midfielder all season delivered another strong performance. His absence in the next game will be sorely felt.

Khephren Thuram – 8.5
A sensational display from Thuram, who netted both goals and was a constant threat to Fiorentina’s defence. His stock continues to rise.

Samuel Mbangula – 6.5
 ............

Dusan Vlahovic – 6.0
The Fiorentina defence had him figured out, making it a frustrating game for the striker despite his best efforts to score.

Francisco Conceição – 7.5
An exciting player to watch, Conceição repeatedly tested Fiorentina’s defence with his direct dribbling and flair.

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Substitutes

Andrea Cambiaso – 4.5
Tasked with shoring up the defence, Cambiaso instead made a costly mistake that allowed Fiorentina to equalise.

Kenan Yildiz – 6.0
He couldn’t replicate his heroics from the Inter Milan game but still showed flashes of his talent after coming on.

Nicolas Gonzalez – N/A
 ............

Douglas Luiz – N/A
 ............

Nicolo Fagioli – N/A
 ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-v-fiorentina-one-player-stands-out/

[Socrates 8398]

Juventus 2 - Fiorentina 2: Initial reaction and random observations

 

 

Folks, I had things all perfectly planned out. For the first time this season, we would get the chance to indulge ourselves in the fact that one Thuram brother scored goals and the other one didn’t, and it was the one who wears bianconero who was on the good side of it.

 

But the thing that comes with writing about this Juventus team is that you can’t really bet on anything anymore just because of how they’ve been with closing out games this season. ............

 

Was there some pure dumb luck involved in Riccardo Sottil’s 87th-minute thunderbolt that tied things up and allowed Fiorentina to claim a 2-2 draw against Juventus? Absolutely. In what looked like a relatively routine attempted clearance by one of Juve’s best players, Andrea Cambiaso, turned into a 10-second moment in time in which every bit of luck that Fiorentina could have go their way actually did. That Cambiaso slip turned into scoring chance at the top of the box that was blocked by Manuel Locatelli and Teun Koopmeiners, only to deflect right into the path of an unmarked Sottil, who hammered it past Michele Di Gregorio on the volley to send Juventus to their latest draw in a season full of them.

 

And that’s why a game-tying goal that came out of a simple fluke occurrence feels more than just a singular result of dropped points. It’s because Juve’s season to date has now had 11 draws in the first 18 league games — and seven of those draws have come in front of the home crowd at the Allianz.

 

Plus, to add a little more salt in the wound, it’s a draw just like Venezia and Lecce before it, that Juventus had the lead in the closing moments (or even stoppage time) and just couldn’t close the door fully on the opposition.

 

So instead of going into 2025 with back-to-back wins for just the third time this season, Juventus will now prepare for the Supercoppa mini-tournament in Saudi Arabia coming off a result that is becoming all too familiar to coaches, players and supporters alike. ............

 

Nearly two-thirds of the time against Serie A opposition this season, Juventus have gotten a single point. ............

 

Projects take time and will usually provide some rocky moments in which your mettle is tested, but I don’t think anybody could have seen Juventus approaching the final game of the official midway point — which will technically be the first game of the ritorno and second Derby della Mole of the season because of the Supercoppa — with so many draws and dropped points. Heck, if Juve had won even half of the games they’ve drawn this season they would right up there with Atalanta, Napoli and Inter rather than sitting in the same sixth-place spot that they’ve had ever since the first Derby della Mole back in early November. ............

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• Honestly, after a game like this that Juventus very much should have won, all I really want to do is write “this is stupid” and just sign off for the day. Seriously. That’s all I want. ............
• Sottil’s goal had an xG of 0.06. I mean ... come on. He hit it absolutely perfectly just when he needed it to. ............
• Imagine making the trip from Florence to Turin as a Fiorentina supporter and proving that your sole reason for buying a ticket was to hurl racist crap at a former player who hasn’t played for your club in essentially two years. Hopefully all those cameras at the Allianz that Juve like to boast about come in handy once again and they’re all banned into the ether.
• Pierre Kalulu has proven to be a very good signing for Juventus, but no matter how good he has been doesn’t mean he is able to mark two guys at the back post. That was just another of bad defending from a Juventus side that is very much not the defense that they were during the first six weeks of the season.
• Also, a couple of questions: What was Federico Gatti doing and just marking nobody? Why didn’t anybody close down Yacine Adli with any sort of serious nature and just give him all the time he wanted to put in a quality cross to Kean at the back post?
• Good on Moise for not celebrating that goal as much as his teammates wanted him to. ............
• That save from David de Gea on Dusan Vlahovic in the first half ... my goodness. ............
• Thuram was just so good against Fiorentina. Didn’t really matter what he was doing — driving runs forward, ground duels, whatever — he was arguably the best player on the field and you get the sense that he’s really starting to hit a nice run of form.
• Locatelli’s heat map might as well be the enter center part of the field because he was just about everywhere. So many important blocks, interceptions, tackles. The guy is a workhorse.
• Douglas Luiz came on in the 89 minute. I hope you all cherished it.
• We saw the good of Francisco Conceição against Fiorentina, but also some of the bad in which he just tried to put his head down and make it happen himself rather potentially seeing a teammate making a run or open for a short-range pass. While it sure was nice to see Conceição having more of an impact defensively, there’s still a few things Chico needs to knock out of his system in the attacking third. ............

Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2024/12/29/24331460/juventus-fiorentina-2024-serie-a-matchday-18-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

[Socrates 8398]

Thuram not happy about Juventus draw despite scoring twice

 

 

Khephren Thuram has expressed his frustration following Juventus’ 2-2 draw against Fiorentina, despite delivering an exceptional performance that saw him score twice for the Bianconeri. The French midfielder was in inspired form throughout the match, showcasing his skill and composure in front of goal, but the result left him deeply disappointed. ............

 

Thuram, who joined Juventus earlier this season, was hoping his brace would secure all three points for the Turin giants. However, the late setback cast a shadow over what was arguably his best performance since arriving at the club. Thuram shared his mixed emotions, emphasising that the team’s result mattered far more than his individual achievement.

 

“I’m more angry about the draw,” he admitted. “They are the first two goals for this shirt, but I would have preferred not to score and win this match.”

 

Thuram’s comments reflect the frustration that many Juventus players and fans are feeling this season. While his personal contribution was a highlight, the inability to close out games remains a glaring issue for Thiago Motta’s side. Dropping points in such a manner not only hampers their league ambitions but also underscores the need for greater focus and discipline, particularly in the latter stages of matches. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/thuram-not-happy-about-juventus-draw-despite-scoring-twice/

[Socrates 8398]

Juventus extend shocking record & the standout stats from Fiorentina draw

 

 

On Sunday evening, Juventus squandered their lead yet again, as Fiorentina escaped the Allianz Stadium with a precious point.

 

Khephren Thuram put the Bianconeri ahead twice, only to see his team’s advantage evaporate on both occasions, largely due to Moise Kean who scored the first for the Viola and created the second for his teammate Riccardo Sottil. ............

 

The Bianconeri have now registered their 11th draw after 18 rounds. Hence, Juve have now finished the year with a shocking 21 draws in Serie A, thus extending this undesired club record shared by Max Allegri (9), Paolo Montero (1) and Thiago Motta (11). ............

 

Nevertheless, Juventus remain undefeated in Serie A since the start of the season. Hence, they have become the first team to do avoid a defeat after 18 Serie A rounds since the 2018/19 campaign when Max Allegri led the Bianconeri towards their last Scudetto triumph together. ............

 

On another note, Thuram has now scored his first brace in Europe’s Top 5 leagues. He is also the first Juventus midfielder to score more than a single goal against Fiorentina since Angelo Alessio’s brace in December 1990. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-extend-shocking-record-the-standout-stats-from-fiorentina-draw/

[Socrates 8398]

Adani: “With Kean in place of Vlahovic it would have ended 3-0 to Juventus”

 

 

Former defender and current TV and social media commentator Lele Adani has shared his thoughts on Juventus’ current situation following their 2-2 draw against Fiorentina. ............

 

“What is Juventus today?” Adani began, acknowledging that he had initially supported the team’s new direction under Motta.  ............

 

“The latest draws are more disappointing and put everything into question. I’m not talking about draws in terms of points, but about the lack of skill and productivity in both penalty areas.”

 

Adani pointed out a shift in the team’s performance. Previously, he saw a solid team playing 70 meters of the pitch well, in line with the new project. The concern then was mainly about the final third of the field. Now, however, he sees a more significant problem:

 

“Now Juventus is conceding goals that they shouldn’t, and while they manage to score sometimes, they’re too vulnerable.” ............

 

“Juventus got nothing from the substitutions. Juventus in its history is a team with grit, aggression, and focus. It’s not a team that, when leading twice, allows itself to be caught up so naively. Today, Cambiaso and Yildiz, who own the left flank, came on poorly, and it needs to be said, considering I’ve praised them other times.” ............

 

“I say this with the utmost respect for the truth: in my opinion, if you had changed the two center forwards, this match could have ended 3-0.” ............

 

“Vlahovic is very behind in terms of his position on the field, the number he wears, and the colors he’s wearing. I say this while appreciating his aggression and seriousness in his work. I like him from this point of view, but he makes too many mistakes and gets the timing wrong.”

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Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/adani-with-kean-in-place-of-vlahovic-it-would-have-ended-3-0-to-juventus/

[Socrates 8398]

Bergomi reveals one thing he didn’t like about Motta’s choices against Fiorentina

 

 

Legendary Inter defender Giuseppe Bergomi praised Juve’s display against Fiorentina, despite the disappointing outcome. However, he still doesn’t agree with one of Thiago Motta’s choices. ............

 

“I liked what I saw from Juventus,” said the 1982 World Cup winner. “We saw Thuram and Conceicao with his flashes. They were decent at the back even if there were some mistakes. I still see progress.

 

“But I don’t like Koopmeiners’ position as an attacking midfielder,” concluded Bergomi. ............

 

Motta has been deploying the club’s big summer signing as an attacking midfielder behind Dusan Vlahovic, but he hasn’t been able to impact the game the way he used to during his time at Atalanta, Moreover, his scoring stats remain mediocre (only one goal since joining the club).

 

The Juventus manager has recently tried to play Koopmeiners alongside Manuel Locatelli in the double pivot in the contest against Monza, but the experiment was cut short when the Netherlands international suffered a slight knock that forced him out at the interval. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/inter-legend-reveals-one-thing-he-didnt-like-about-mottas-choices-against-fiorentina/

[Socrates 8398]

Juventus vs Milan Super Cup to feature family reunion after shocking Fonseca sacking

 

 

The Italian Super Cup showdown between Juventus and Milan will be headlined by a surprising family reunion between Francisco Conceicao and his father Sergio.

 

Both clubs have been enduring a disappointing start to the season, training behind in the race for the Scudetto title while also finding themselves outside of the Top Four.

 

But while Thiago Motta still holds a firm position at Juventus and is expected to remain in his post at least until the end of the season, Milan have decided to wield the axe on Paulo Fonseca’s tenure, making the shocking decision last night following their 1-1 draw against Roma at San Siro. ............

 

But as fate would have it, the 50-year-old’s first match in charge will pit him against his son Francisco who has now cemented himself as a bonafide star and a fan favourite among Juventus supporters.

 

The two Serie A giants will clash heads in Riyadh on Friday in the semi-final of the Italian Super Cup. The winner will progress to the final to take one either Inter or Atalanta the following Monday. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-vs-milan-super-cup-to-feature-family-reunion-after-shocking-fonseca-sacking/

[Socrates 8398]

Preview: Juventus vs. AC Milan - prediction, team news, lineups

 

 

Two Calcio giants clash in Friday's second Supercoppa Italiana semi-final, as Juventus meet AC Milan in Riyadh.

 

The Coppa Italia holders will take on last season's Serie A runners-up, with new Milan manager Sergio Conceicao aiming to defeat his son's side.

 

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Match preview

Juve boast the best overall record in the competition's history, having lifted the trophy nine times to date - in addition to losing the decider on eight occasions - and they qualified for this year's edition by claiming the Coppa Italia.

 

Now, they will aim to book an encounter with either their victims in last term's Coppa final, Atalanta BC, or Scudetto holders Inter Milan in Monday's final.

 

Set to meet Milan in the league later this month, Thiago Motta's men have endured a frustrating Serie A campaign so far. Last week's 2-2 draw with Fiorentina - featuring a Khephren Thuram brace - may have made it 18 league games unbeaten but left them trailing behind Italy's top four. ............

 

Throughout 2024, the Bianconeri drew 21 top-flight matches - just one shy of the all-time Serie A record held by Perugia - and they are at risk of missing out on a return to the Champions League.

 

While Juve are well-placed to progress to the knockout phase of UEFA's top competition and have already secured a spot in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, Motta will be aware that winning one trophy is a minimum requirement. ............

Team News

Juventus enter 2025 with an improved injury list, as only Arkadiusz Milik, Bremer and Juan Cabal are still sidelined; Jonas Rouhi and Timothy Weah have both resumed training and Douglas Luiz recently returned from his latest layoff.

 

However, former captain Danilo has been left out of Thiago Motta's squad for the Supercoppa Italiana, as the Brazilian defender closes in on a mid-season switch to Napoli.

 

Leading Juve's attack, top scorer Dusan Vlahovic could link up with winger Francisco Conceicao, who will come face to face with his father on Friday - the Porto loanee was previously managed by Milan's new boss in Portugal.

 

Meanwhile, ex-Milan midfielder Manuel Locatelli and defender Pierre Kalulu are set to meet their old club at Al-Awwal Park, where the Rossoneri's latest new era will begin. ............

Juventus possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic

 

AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Jimenez; Abraham

 

We say: Juventus 1-0 AC Milan

Although a 'new-manager bounce' cannot be counted out, Milan remain an enigma, equally capable of keeping clean sheets or shipping silly goals.

 

Still a work in progress, Juventus are tougher to beat. Therefore, the Bianconeri can grind out a grim victory and proceed to Monday's final.

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Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/preview/preview-juventus-vs-ac-milan-prediction-team-news-lineups_561812.html

[Socrates 8398]

[Socrates 8398]

“I want to beat him” – Sergio Conceicao not interested in family reunion with ‘irreverent’ Francisco

 

 

New Milan head coach Sergio Coneicao insists his reunion with his son Francisco won’t be an emotional family affair, but strictly business. ............

 

“I am not excited at all, you can see my strange eyes because I had a fever last night,” explained the new Milan boss in his press conference in Riyadh.

 

“At home, I’m his father, but tomorrow, he is my opponent. He knows it as this is how he was raised. I want to beat him, just as he wants to beat me. I hope to be happier than him tomorrow.” ............

 

“His characteristics make him an irreverent player, but for me, that doesn’t mean anything. There are many qualities to keep in mind, physical and technical ones, understanding the game. He knows that a player who only has one good characteristic won’t play with me.

 

“I knew he was an irreverent player and he also has other qualities for high-level football, whether here in Italy or anywhere else.” ............

 

“Juve has many quality players, young ones, who work hard and understand the game. They have conceded the fewest goals in Serie A, so they are compact.

 

“So we have to understand how to dismantle this defence. I don’t want to castrate talent or quality, we have to be compact and aggressive and work as a team. That’s the only way football works. Beauty alone isn’t sufficient.”

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/i-want-to-beat-him-sergio-conceicao-not-interested-in-family-reunion-with-irreverent-francisco/

[Socrates 8398]

“He can leave” – Motta opens up on Danilo, previews Juventus vs Milan clash

 

 

Juventus coach Thiago Motta confirmed Danilo is free to leave the club in January after being omitted from the Italian Super Cup squad. ............

 

“Danilo can leave, we have been clear,” said the manager. “It is a decision taken for the good of everyone including his own.”

 

Motta also discussed Francisco Conceicao who will be up against his father Sergio, now in charge of Milan.

 

“Francisco is motivated as always. He is a serious and responsible professional. He always tries to give his best for the team. He is in a good moment and must put into practice everything we have inside us.” ............

 

“Milan are a team with good players and a new coach who did very well at Porto. We’ll give our all, these are good games to play, and there will be a great desire to be on the pitch. We’ll be ready to face the best Milan side possible, who are a team used to playing important competitions: we know what we have to do and what we have to avoid.” ............

 

“We respect our opponent but we want to implement our style of play. Personally, I want to win as a coach, but it’s not an obsession. I am calm and convinced of our strength and I want to do everything I can to get the boys on the pitch in the best possible condition. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/he-can-leave-motta-opens-up-on-danilo-previews-juventus-vs-milan-clash/

[Socrates 8398]

“I can’t even describe” – Juventus star honoured to wear the captain’s armband

 

 

Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli explains how much it means for him to wear the prestigious captain’s armband. ............

 

On Thursday, the 26-year-old joined Motta in the post-match press conference ahead of Friday’s Super Cup Semi-final clash against Milan, and revealed how he considers the captaincy a true privilege.

 

“I’m comfortable in all positions on the pitch, wherever the coach asks me to play,” said the Italy international as published by the official Juventus website.

 

“Wearing the captain’s armband is an honour for me, it’s something I can’t even describe.” ............

 

“Milan are a strong team, but we have to think about playing our own game and giving our all. It can’t end in a draw, this is a match we have to win, playing with desire and intensity in every duel, because we are here to win the trophy.

 

“Challenges like these will be decided by the small details, so we have to be extremely precise. We are on a path of growth, which we must follow one step at a time, and this can be an important step: we feel excited and motivated, we live one step at a time.”

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Rea more -> https://www.juvefc.com/i-cant-even-describe-juventus-star-honoured-to-wear-the-captains-armband/

[Socrates 8398]

Juventus vs AC Milan: Preview and Prediction

 

 

Juventus’ run of disappointing results continued at the weekend when they could not get past UEFA Champions League hopeful Fiorentina as they get set to face AC Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana. ............

 

Motta will welcome this distraction from the league pressures to focus solely on the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia. The level of competition will help Juventus gain some much-needed momentum ahead of their return to Italy, as the Bianconeri take on AC Milan in the second semi-final.

 

Motta would want the trophy sealed this time out and add to their record tally of nine in this mini-tournament. Juventus are, in fact, in the tournament courtesy of their Coppa Italia victory last season, and Motta could have a chance to lay his hands on his first piece of silverware as Bianconeri boss.

 

Meanwhile, this game will be the first real test for new AC Milan manager Sergio Conceicao. He will be facing his son Francisco Conceicao, who is expected to start for Juventus. The former FC Porto boss was appointed last week after Milan’s disappointing draw at home to Roma, which cost Paulo Fonseca his job at San Siro. ............

Team News & Tactics

Juventus

The big news in the period leading to the Supercoppa Italiana for Juventus is the situation with Danilo. The Brazilian defender has been left out of Motta’s plans as rumours of a swift departure to Napoli pick up steam. The veteran star misses out and probably won’t play for the club anymore.

 

There is good news regarding players returning from injuries, as Jonas Rouhi and Timothy Weah are close to returning, having resumed training recently. Douglas Luiz recently made a comeback and could be in line for another appearance, albeit from the bench for Juventus against AC Milan.

 

The big focus will be on Francisco Conceicao, who will face his father and opposition manager, Sergio Conceicao. The youngster will start on the right wing, while Teun Koppmeiners and Kenan Yildiz will support Dusan Vlahovic in the attacking third.

 

Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram are the likely choices for central midfield, with Luiz an option off the bench if needed. On loan AC Milan defender Pierre Kalulu will feature against his parent club in Riyadh and partner up with Federico Gatti in the heart of the Juventus defence.

 

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic

AC Milan

 ............

 

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Jimenez; Abraham

Key Stats

• Juventus have won the Supercoppa Italiana a record 9 times in their history.
• Juventus have drawn 21 matches across 2024, which was just a game short of the Serie A all time record.
• Juventus are unbeaten in Serie A this season.
• AC Milan have lifted the Supercoppa Italiana seven times in thier history.

Player to Watch

Francisco Conceicao

For obvious reasons of favouring his father and former FC Porto manager, Francisco Conceicao will want to come out on top in this family drama in Riyadh. He will not focus on the family element here but rather help Juventus get one over AC Milan and reach the Final of the Supercoppa Italiana. ............

Prediction

Juventus 2-0 AC Milan

AC Milan have endured problems breaking down defences, and in Riyadh, they will probably face the best defensive side in Serie A when they take on Juventus. With a new manager bounce a likely factor, there are many unresolved problems in this side, which could play in Juventus’ hands and likely ensure that Milan catch an early flight back to Italy.

 

Juventus are eager to kick-start their season in some way, and get out of their rut that has seen them draw too many games. The distraction of playing this mini-tournament could free up this Bianconeri squad to an extent in their minds and let them put in a stellar performance to reach the Supercoppa Italiana Final.

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Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2025/01/03/juventus-vs-ac-milan-preview-and-prediction-2/

[Socrates 8398]

Supercoppa Italiana Preview: Juventus vs Milan – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction

 

 

A place in the Supercoppa Italiana final is on the line as Juventus and Milan lock horns at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. With both teams adrift of the Serie A title pace, this seems like a perfect opportunity to avoid another trophyless season.

 

Juventus headed to Saudi Arabia as the only team in Italy’s top flight yet to lose a league match this season. However, Thiago Motta’s men have earned the tag ‘stalemate specialists,’ with 11 of their 18 games ending level (W7). That was the case in a 2-2 draw against Fiorentina in their last outing of 2024. ............

Match Preview

Juventus

 

Despite being the most successful club in Supercoppa Italiana history with nine titles, Juventus last appeared in this competition three years ago. Furthermore, they haven’t won this trophy since 2020 but have fond memories of their latest Super Cup showdown against Milan.

 

Juventus squeaked past the Rossoneri 1-0 in January 2019. Another clean sheet is on the cards here, considering they’ve kept a clean sheet across their last three meetings with Milan (W1, D2). However, entertainment was at a premium when the eternal rivals met in Serie A action in November.

 

A scoreless draw at San Siro saw Juventus generate a miserable 0.45 xG. That wasn’t an anomaly, knowing five of the last six encounters between Milan and the Bianconeri have featured under 1.5 goals, with three ending 0-0.

 

Against this backdrop, three of Juventus’ last four matches have contained precisely four goals, suggesting this could be a time for a change of scenery.

 

Milan

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Team News

Juventus arrived in Riyadh without long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal, and Gleison Bremer. Motta had hoped to have Tim Weah back from a thigh injury, but the USMNT forward had to stay in Italy to accelerate his recovery.

 

In addition to Leao, Milan departed for the Middle East without six other first-team stars. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Samuel Chukwueze, Luka Jovic, Alessandro Florenzi, Noah Okafor, and Yunus Musah aren’t at Conceicao’s disposal for this mouth-watering fixture.

Juventus vs Milan Potential Starting Line-ups

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic

Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Jimenez; Abraham.

Juventus vs Milan Prediction

A ‘new manager bounce’ could be a factor. However, Conceicao lacks too many players. It’s worth mentioning that Milan only had one shot on target in the abovementioned duel in November despite having the entire squad fit. One goal could decide the winner, and Juventus seem well-positioned to score it.

 

Prediction: Juventus to Win

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Read more -> https://cultofcalcio.com/supercoppa-italiana-preview-juventus-vs-milan-team-news-line-ups-prediction/

[Socrates 8398]

Juventus vs. AC Milan match preview

 

 

We got a taste of the new-look Italian Super Cup format last season, but that had one very obvious thing missing: Juventus. The first edition of the four-team mini tournament in Saudi Arabia to ring in the new year — which was won by Inter 12 months ago — gave this new format a test run to see just how this whole thing works. ............

 

With this second edition, Juventus will jump into the fray to get their hands on some silverware less than a week into what is expected to be a chaotic month of January. ............

 

 

The winner of Juventus-Milan will face reigning Supercoppa holders — who beat a rather heavily rotated Atalanta 2-0 on Thursday night in the first half of this four-team tournament — in Monday night’s final.

 

It’s the chance at the first trophy this season, albeit very much the third of three when it comes to power ranking the importance of it when compared to the Coppa Italia and obvious the Scudetto later this year. ............

 

TEAM NEWS

• The big news prior to Juventus’ departure for Saudi Arabia is that club captain Danilo is not with the squad and is expected to leave during the January transfer window. Regarding Danilo’s impending departure, Juve director Cristiano Giuntoli said at the New Year’s Day training session in Riyadh: “We are looking for a solution that works for him and for Juventus. When there is a player on the market, both parties must like it.”
• A pair of players who missed the draw with Fiorentina due to injury are back in the squad for the Supercoppa, with Timothy Weah and Jonas Rouhi making the trip to Saudi Arabia.
• That means — gasp! — Juventus’ injury list is down to the three long-term absentees: Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal and Arek Milik, who is expected back at some point in January.
• Motta didn’t give us any real hints when it comes to his starting lineup choices, although it’s pretty easy to figure out who will play in defense considering the continued limited options.

JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH

 

I told you we were going to be talking more about the Conceição family in this preview.

 

Well, it’s probably pretty easy to figure out who will be the subject over the next couple hundred words. Yes, he’s small in stature and just so happens to have the same last name as Milan’s new manager.

 

So, here we are, folks. In Sergio Conceição’s first game as Milan manager, he just so happens to be trying to put together a plan to try and stop his son, Francisco, from doing major damage to a backline that somehow ranks as one of Serie A’s best despite all of the erratic moments they had under Fonseca. ............

 

 

When asked about facing his son in his Milan managerial debut, Sergio said the following: “At home, I’m his father, but tomorrow, he is my opponent. He knows it as this is how he was raised. I want to beat him, just as he wants to beat me. I hope to be happier than him tomorrow.”

 

Considering the way in which the elder Conceição has a reputation as a no-nonsense kind of manager and person behind the scenes, it’s probably not much of a surprise to see him say something like that when facing Francisco for the first time. For all we know, Francisco is thinking the same. ............

 

 

No matter what we call this — Conceição Derby, Derby della Conceição, whatever you so please — it will be a cool moment between father and son that will take place once again a couple of weeks from now in Turin. Considering their respective positions in the Serie A table and the need for points, that probably offers to be a little more intense than this one.

MATCH INFO

When: Friday, Jan. 3, 2024.

Where: Al -Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Official kickoff time: 10 p.m. local time in Saudi Arabia; 8 p.m. in Italy and the Central European time zone, 7 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 2 p.m. Eastern time, 11 a.m. Pacific time. ............

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Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/1/3/24333683/juventus-ac-milan-2025-italian-super-cup-semifinal-preview-team-news-schedule-how-to-watch

[Socrates 8398]

[Socrates 8398]

[Socrates 8398]

Mistake-prone Juventus lose to AC Milan in the Super Cup

 

 

Juventus were eliminated from the Super Cup at the semi-final stage after costly mistakes allowed AC Milan to claim victory. ............

 

Juventus started the game strongly, dominating possession and probing the Milan defence in search of an opener. Their persistence paid off when Kenan Yildiz scored a stunning goal to give them the lead.

 

It was the perfect start for Juventus, as Milan struggled to break down their defence while the Bianconeri continued pushing for a second goal. Despite controlling the match with confidence, Juventus couldn’t double their lead before halftime, thanks to a brilliant save by Mike Maignan late in the first half. ............

 

However, the tide turned after Thiago Motta replaced Dusan Vlahovic and Samuel Mbangula. The Bianconeri lost their grip on the match, conceding a penalty that Christian Pulisic converted to level the score.

 

Milan gained momentum, and just five minutes later, Federico Gatti accidentally scored an own goal, completing a shocking turnaround.

 

Despite late substitutions, including the introduction of Douglas Luiz, Nicolo Fagioli, and Timothy Weah, Juventus were unable to find an equaliser, leaving AC Milan to advance to the final.

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/mistake-prone-juventus-lose-to-ac-milan-in-the-super-cup/

[Socrates 8398]

Thiago Motta: ‘Juventus lack character, did not react to negative Milan incident’

 

 

Thiago Motta admits Juventus ‘lack character’ after their collapse in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final against Milan. ‘At the first negative incident, we did not react.’

 

The Bianconeri had seemed to be in complete control when Kenan Yildiz – who had not even been in the original starting XI, stepping in at the last minute for injured Francisco Conceicao – had blasted into the near top corner. ............

 

Juve seem simply incapable of holding on to a lead this season, so what is the problem?

 

“We certainly cannot be happy with what we did, especially in the first half, while in the second we also failed to convert chances to kill the game. Milan did very little too, so they should not have been able to win the game by doing just that,” said Motta. ............

 

Thiago Motta will come under fire for some of his choices in this semi-final, for example the fact Kenan Yildiz was originally on the bench until that Conceicao injury, but above all taking Dusan Vlahovic off after just 65 minutes.

 

They struggled to create any real scoring opportunities after that, with Nico Gonzalez as a makeshift centre-forward.

 

“All the choices I make during the match are for the good of the team, it is up to you to judge whether I did it right or not,” continued the coach. ............

 

“This is an important defeat, yes, because it was a game where we had a very big opportunity to reach the Final. It is disappointing, I feel that we had a big, big chance to beat Milan and we were unable to do it.

 

“We need to improve our character, because we were in control, we created chances to kill the game and didn’t do it. Character comes into play when a negative incident happens and you must be able to react. At the first negative incident today, we did not react and wasted the opportunity to play in the Final, which for 70 minutes was entirely in our hands.” ............

 

“Today we took the lead, were better than our opponents in many ways, but with very little effort, our opponents managed to turn it around. Negative incidents happen, but we did not react the right way.” ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/thiago-motta-juventus-lack-character-milan/

Modificato Venerdì alle 23:03 da Socrates

[Socrates 8398]

Juventus Player Ratings vs Milan: Superb Yildiz not Enough in Riyadh

 

 

Juventus (4-2-3-1)

Michele Di Gregorio – 5

The Italian goalkeeper produced a couple of important saves, but could have done better on the spot-kick. He was also the main culprit on the winner after being caught away from his goal for no apparent reason.

Nicolò Savona – 6.5

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Federico Gatti – 5.5

The former Frosinone man was unlucky to have the ball deflect off his back for the bizarre winner, but squandered an opportunity to avenge himself on the volley with the last kick of the match.

Pierre Kalulu – 6.5

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Weston McKennie – 6

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Manuel Locatelli – 5.5

The Italian didn’t put a foot wrong on the pitch, except when giving away a needless spot-kick which proved to be the most significant incident of the whole match. He was impeded by his relatively slow pace on that occasion.

Khephren Thuram – 6

The Frenchman was lively in the middle of the park and had the upper hand over fellow Frenchman Youssouf Fofana for most of the contest.

Kenan Yildiz – 7.5

The Turkish teenager wasn’t even supposed to start if it wasn’t for Francisco Conceicao’s injury in the warm-ups. But despite playing in an unusual position on the right wing, he managed to stun Mike Maignan with a sensational strike to open the scoring. He wasn’t only influential upfront, but also tracked back to support Savona in the defensive phase.

Teun Koopmeiners – 6

The Dutchman started the contest on a positive note, dropping back to help his teammates bring the ball forward and linking the lines together. However, he faded when his team needed him the most.

Samuel Mbangula – 7

The young winger was electrical on the left wing, and provided Yildiz with a sensational assist for the opener. Perhaps Thiago Motta regretted taking him off so soon.

Dusan Vlahovic – 5

The Serbian was often clumsy in possession, and wasted a golden opportunity to give Juventus a two-goal cushion early in the second half by scuffing his shot wide.

Substitutes

Nicolas Gonzalez – 5.5

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Andrea Cambiaso – 5.5

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Douglas Luiz – N/A

Nicolò Fagioli – N/A

Timothy Weah – N/A

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Read more -> https://cultofcalcio.com/juventus-player-ratings-vs-milan-superb-yildiz-not-enough-in-riyadh/

[Socrates 8398]

Juventus player ratings v AC Milan – Several low marks handed out

 

 

Starting XI

Michele di Gregorio – 4.5
He was helpless against the penalty, but his decision to rush off his line for the second goal was questionable and costly.

Nicolo Savona – 6.0
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Federico Gatti – 5.0
An unfortunate own goal in a high-stakes match. Gatti needs to sharpen his decision-making in such crucial games.

Pierre Kalulu – 6.0
He was solid for most of the game, but his composure and leadership faltered after Juventus conceded the penalty.

Weston McKennie – 5.0
Left the left flank exposed too often, and Milan exploited it to great effect for their second goal.

Khephren Thuram – 6.0
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Manuel Locatelli – 6.0
Was performing well until he conceded the penalty. The error seemed to rattle him for the rest of the game.

Samuel Mbangula – 7.0
The Belgian youngster was good, showing great energy and creativity. Juventus struggled after he was substituted.

Teun Koopmeiners – 6.5
A key figure in Juventus’ midfield control, but like others, he couldn’t prevent the late collapse.

Kenan Yildiz – 7.5
Undoubtedly Juventus’ best player on the night. His goal was superb, and he posed a constant threat.

Dusan Vlahovic – 4.5
A disappointing performance. Vlahovic failed to make an impact in a game where his presence was sorely needed.

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Substitutions

Andrea Cambiaso – 5.0
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Nicolas Gonzalez – 5.0
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Douglas Luiz – N/A
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Timothy Weah – N/A
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Nicolo Fagioli – N/A

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-v-ac-milan-several-low-marks-handed-out/