Posts Tagged ‘Juventus’

Juventus 1-0 Napoli: “Claudio Marchisio” Wipes Stamford Bridge Tears Away (Serie A Matchday 26)

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio, right, celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Napoli, at the Olympic Stadium in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009.  (AP Photo)

It may not be champagne football, but Juventus know just what to do to pick themselves up. I wouldn’t say the “Stamford Bridge scar is healing” (Gazzetta‘s words, personally I wouldn’t even call it a scar – things are still very open for the second leg) but Saturday the Bianconeri demonstrated once again maximum efficiency with minimum effort: very few shots on target, one goal in the first half, preservation of the lead in the second.

As for Napoli, yesterday marked the 8th consecutive away loss for the Azzurri, a team which in their last 8 matches has been able to score only two points. And while Edy Reja’s boys at least tried to muster some kind of a pride reaction in the second half, it looks like the Neapolitan manager’s tenure at the club is hanging by a very thin thread indeed.

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Chelsea 1-0 Juventus: Drogba Draws First Blood, Bianconeri Still Hopeful (UEFA Champions League Round of 16, First Leg)

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

UEFA Champions League 2008-09 - Chelsea vs. Juventus

Usually, even the most skilled of managers are incapable of turning a team upside down in a matter of days. And yet, Chelsea victory over Juventus in the Round of 16′s first leg of UEFA Champions League playoffs bears a big mark from the “Goose”.

His secret in two words? Didier Drogba. A lost soul during the Scolari era, the Ivorian international took inspiration from the Dutchman’s arrival and retrieved a confidence and goalscoring form which seemed to have been lost, carrying the Blues & his new manager to a valuable 1-0 victory at home. For Juve this is a scoreline which gives as much hope as it instills fear, for the second leg may be a tricky affair indeed: qualification is still within reach, but let Chelsea score in Turin and it’s bye bye Europe.

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Champions League Preview: Chelsea vs. Juventus

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

UEFA Champions League 2008-09 - Chelsea vs. Juventus

This should be a great game between two very well organised and efficient sides. Juventus have got back to winning ways after surprise slip ups against Udinese and against Cagliari and I’m expecting a tough battle when these two sides meet at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. It will be the first time Juve boss Claudio Ranieri has come up against his former employers (who sacked him in the most unfair of circumstances) and Ranieri would sure love to get one over Abramovich, adding that little bit of extra spice to this momentous occasion.

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Palermo 0-2 Juventus: Welcome Back David, Chelsea Here We Come (Serie A Matchday 25)

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

David Trezeguet is back!

May 17, 2008. That is the last time one Mr. David Trezeguet had scored in the Italian Serie A: almost an unthinkable waiting period for a goalscorer of his caliber, but which finally came to an end Saturday night as Juventus overcame Palermo.

And it certainly was no easy feat, as the Bianconeri battled with a motivated, tactically disciplined, and physical Rosanero team, who obtained their fair share of scoring chances but in the end were forced to capitulate against an impenetrable Gigi Buffon and the scoring cynicism of their opponents.

And with Juventus, all three Serie A teams with upcoming UCL mid-week action have gathered full points, something which in terms of team morale should make a big contribution in their favor. “Europe here we come“!

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Serie A vs. Premier League: Gazzetta Presents the UEFA Champions League Showdown

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

Premiership vs. Serie A: Let the fight begin!!

Are English clubs still the football Masters of Europe or has something changed compared to last season, which as history has shown was unequivocally and irrevocably dominated by Premier League teams?

Attempting to provide the first part of the answer next week will be three clubs of Serie A. While Scudetto holders and current league leaders Inter Milan prepare to face off against European Champions Manchester United, Ranieri’s Juventus will attempt to surprise Hiddink’s Chelsea and the young guns of Arsenal will face off against the imperial armada of AS Roma. Three very appetizing, but also very difficult encounters for Italian Football’s remaining UCL representatives, and three matches which should tell us once and for all whether the technical gap between EPL and Serie A has finally been filled.

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