Primavera League (under 20) : Torino - Juventus 1-3

Primavera: three goals after a comeback in the derby

Bruni’s team also have the satisfaction of winning the derby against Torino. At the Agnelli stadium the match ended with a 3-1 result with two goals by Simone Esposito and a goal by Giuseppe Giovinco. On Wednesday the Coppa Italia returns.

In order to win the fourth match in the championship, the Primavera chose the most awaited appointment: the derby against Torino. Away to the granata, Bruni’s team registered their fourth consecutive victory allowing it to maintain the head of the table.

On the field of the Agnelli, the bianconeri won 3-1 after a comeback. After the opener scored by the hosts, Simone Esposito equalized from the penalty spot.

The result at the end of the first half was 1-1 but this changed in the second half first thanks to Giuseppe Giovinco and then Esposito who scored his second extending the series of Juventus victories in the derby, repeating that last Sunday by Domenico Maggiora’s Giovanissimi Professionisti.

Having maintained the top of the table, now the Primavera must think of the Coppa Italia. On Wednesday afternoon, in Vinovo, they will be playing the return match in the final 16 against Atalanta. They in fact have to recover from the 1-0 defeat in the first leg and for this reason a high level performance

Credits Juventus.com

Ferrara and Giovinco post match interviews

Ferrara: «I am very angry by this loss – we should have controlled the result»

When trying to measure his anger from 1 till 10 after the disappointing loss against Napoli, the Juventus coach had no doubt – his anger was at 11!

«I am very angry because this result could have an important effect on our league position. At this phase of the season, we should be stepping on the accelerator and improving our results. Instead, on the 2-0 for us we seem to have let go of the game – and this is not possible in Serie A against a team like Napoli. We suffered their speed because obviously something was not working in our game. We were not tight enough on the pitch and left too much space to our opponents.»

Even when things started looking difficult for his team, Ciro Ferrara had only one result on his mind: «I didn’t want to even draw this game. I wanted to win but we ended up losing. It is unexplainable how on the 2-0 for us we suffered our opponents’ game so much. You cannot leave so much space to players like Lavezzi and Hamsik. When you do leave so much space for opponents like that to play, our team ends up needing to run even more.»

Ferrara feels that the team needs to forget this result and move on: «I had the impression that things were going badly when Napoli scored the 2-1, but in the future we need to be good enough to remain focused and determined even when in difficulty. Despite this loss, in the coming games we need to maintain our concentration and determination just as we needed to remain with our feet on the ground after the victory against Sampdoria.»

Giovinco: «I cannot explain what happened to us»

This should have been a memorable week for Sebastian Giovinco. He has been playing regularly and well. Today he even scored a goal. Nevertheless, the joy of scoring a goal was not enough for Juventus’ young star. His main feeling after the game against Napoli was far from one of happiness.

«There is anger because we lost in a silly way. I cannot explain how we managed to suffer 3 goals in 20 minutes. We hope not to repeat such a situation again. We knew Napoli had made some good comebacks in their last games, but still we did not pay enough attention. Obviously, one of our main problems was losing concentration during the game - but we must gather ourselves together as soon as possible since we have an important game on Tuesday in the Champions League. At the moment, though, we are still too nervous to talk about today’s game.»

Despite the defeat, Giovinco played a good game: «With regards my performance, I saw a lot of the ball since we tried to play in the part of the pitch were we could be more dangerous and this happened on my side of the pitch on a number of occasions.»

Credits Juventus.com

Serie A: Juventus - Napoli 2-3

Napoli comeback to beat Juve 2-3

Ferrara once again chose to field a 4-2-3-1 formation after the success against Sampdoria. The only two differences (conditioned by injury and fever respectively) are those of Poulsen for Sissoko and Trezeguet for Amauri (on the bench).

Juve once again seem well determined to bring home the three points. Twenty seconds from kick-off Juventus are close to scoring as Giovinco's shot from inside the area goes millimetres wide. A few seconds later, a Camoranesi cross into the area is blocked by the defence.

On the 3rd minute, a Denis header goes well wide. One minute later, there is a free-kick for Juve after a foul on Giovinco: Diego puts the ball into the area but the defence heads it away. On the 5th minute, the ball is put into the area by Grygera but a defender heads away. Two minutes later, Maggio scares the Juve supporters as his shot went wide.

The 8th minute sees a cross into the Napoli area but Gargano clears. It is six minutes later when Giovinco shoots high over the bar from outside the area and seconds pass before there is a great cross by Grosso to Trezeguet who is anticipated. The Juve action continues and Grosso tries a shot but De Sanctis cradles the ball.

Juventus are showing great play and movement in the attack but Napoli are defending well. On the 17th minute, Lavezzi slips as the ball reaches him in the Juve area. One minute later, a Giovinco cross for Trezguet sees the Frenchman being anticipated in time. The 19th minute sees a free-kick for Napoli: Cigarini puts the ball into the area but Trezeguet heads away.

Napoli react and on the 20th minute a long distance shot by Aronica is saved by Buffon who puts the ball into corner. From the flag the ball reaches Contini who heads inches wide. Napoli are again close to scoring on the 22nd minute as Denis heads inches wide after receiving from a corner.

On the 23rd minute, Diego tries a shot from outside the area but the ball goes well high over the bar. One minute later there is a corner for Napoli: Poulsen heads away from the area. On the 25th minute, there is a corner for Juve: the ball is too high for Trezeguet.

Juve are once again on the move and on the 26th minute, an excellent Diego pass in the area reaches Melo who shoots inches wide. One minute later there is a corner for Juve as the bianconeri pile up the pressure: Diego curlle the ball towards goal but De Sanctis punches away.

It is the half hour when a Trezeguet shot is deviated into the keeper's hands by Napoli's Cannavaro. One minute later, Tiago comes on for Camoranesi who is forced to leave the field following a blow to his face by Contini. On the 33rd minute there is a corner for Juve: Diego's cross is headed away.
On the 34th minute, a great Grygera cross into the area sees Trezeguet in an aerial elevation to head home beautifully for the opener: 1-0. Trezeguet has once again proved himself to be amongst the greatest strikers ever.

It is the 40th minute when there is a free-kick for Napoli from a dangerous position: Gargano's shot is saved beautifully by Buffon. Two minutes later, a Giovinco cross is waved out by De Sanctis.

On the 43rd minute there is a free-kick for Juve: Diego puts the ball into the area but Denis heads away. Two minutes later, Giovinco nearly anticipates De Sanctis as he sprints into the area. The first half with Juve once again on the attack as there is a free-kick for Juve but Grosso's shot is well over the bar.

The Second half sees a good start by Juve. On the 47th minute Giovinco is grounded as he is about to enter the area but the referee signals to play on. Two minutes later, Giovinco passes to Tiago in the area but Paolo Cannavro manages to blcok his shot from a very good position.

On the 50th minute there is a beautiful heel by Felipe Melo to serve Grygera in the area who's shot is weak and easy for De Sanctis. One minute later, there is a corner for Napoli: Juve are forced to free the area twice.
On the 53rd minute, a cross into the Napoli area is headed erroneously by Contini to Giovinco who shoots home for the 2-0.

Juve react and on the 58th minute there is a ball put into the area and Hamsik shoots home for the 2-1. One minute later, a good cross by Grygera into the area sees Giovinco being anticipated into corner. On the 61st minute, Trezeguet stops for a second as he thinks he is off-side before his shot is held by De Sanctis.

On the 62nd minute a Datolo shot goes slightly wide. One minute later, a Cigarini cross is put into corner by Chiellini. From the corner the ball reaches Datolo who shoots home. 2-2.

On the 66th minute, a Lavezzi cross is deviated into corner by Chiellini: Melo heads away. Three minutes later, a Giovinco cross is headed away. Six minutes later, a foul on Giovinco upon entering the area is not sanctioned by the referee. Three minutes later there is a free-kick for Juve: Diego's parabola goes slightly wide.

The 75th minutes sees Amauri coming on for Poulsen. Two minutes later, there is a free-kick for Juve: the ball is directed to Chiellini but De Sanctis guards well. Another corner is awarded on the 80th minute: the corner is cleared by the defence.

Juve are shocked as on the 83rd minute Juve defence caught open as a rebound from a clearance reaches Hamsik who shoots into the net for the 2-3. One minute later, De Ceglie comes on for Giovinco.

Minutes tick by fast and the only other occasion for the bianconeri comes on the 92nd minute when there is a free-kick for Juve: ball into the area but De Sanctis saves. Amauri is sent-off for an apparently inexistent foul on the keeper.

The match ends with a defeat for the bianconeri as Napoli once again manage to come back from 2-0.

Serie A 2009/10 – 11th match day
Turin, Olympic Stadium
Saturday 31st October October, 2009

JUVENTUS-NAPOLI:

Goals: Trezeguet (34th), Giovinco (53rd), Hamsik (58th), Datolo (64th), Hamsik (81st),

JUVENTUS: Buffon; Grygera, Fabio Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso; Poulsen (Amauri 76th), Felipe Melo; Camoranesi (Tiago 31st), Diego, Giovinco (De Ceglie 85th); Trezeguet. Reserves: Manninger, Legrottaglie, Molinaro, De Ceglie, Tiago, Amauri, Immobile. Coach: Ferrara.

NAPOLI: De Sanctis; Campagnaro (Datolo 57th), Paolo Cannavaro, Contini; Maggio, Montervino, Aronica; Hamsik, Lavezzi (Pazienza 86th); Denis (Quagliarella 68th). Reserves: Iezzo, Rinaudo, Grava, Pazienza, Datolo, Pià, Quagliarella. Coach: Mazzarri.

REFEREE: Damato di Barletta

Yellow Cards: Contini (45th), Campagnaro (57th), Cannavaro (74th),

Red Card: Amauri (93rd)

Credits Juventus.com

Ferrara: «Determination makes the difference»

Juventus has lost Momo Sissoko for 25 days and the news is far from good. Ciro Ferrara, however does not give up because he knows he has an ample and a high quality squad available: «It is that sort of time. Clearly I am sorry but we are convinced we can do well, notwithstanding the absentees.
Changing tactics? I think I have players that allow me to use whatever solution I think best and I don’t think that Momo’s absence will condition me. Tiago? He has characteristics which adapt batter to a three-strong midfield but he can still be useful in case of emergency».

More than tactics, it is the approach that counts and Ferrara has asked his players to enter the field against Napoli with the same conviction shown against Samp: «The formation and the tactical approach are of secondary importance compared to the will and the agonistic determination that the players managed to field against Sampdoria.

It is the attitude that made the difference and it is in this that we must be consistent».

The match against Napoli will be fundamental for consistency.

It is an appointment which for Ciro Ferrara and also for Fabio Cannavaro will have a particular taste due to their past.

After many matches as a former player on the field, this will be the first for Ferrara on the bench: «As a player it was a problem to play such a match due to my bond with the city and the team. Tomorrow, however, the three points count and I hope to beat them in Naples. We know we will be facing a team which is getting back on its feet after the change of coach and that in the forward line it can count on unpredictable players».

The bianconeri will be the first to enter the field and will start another duel with Inter, after the five goals each scored by the two teams in the mid-week round. More than of the nerazzurri however, Ferrara however is think of something else: «The direct encounter is on the 5th of December and we have enough time to prepare for it. Now we have closer objectives like the match against Maccabi which will be fundamental for us. Before however there is Napoli and at the moment this is what we’re thinking of.

I think the championship is not a race between two teams. Milan is there too».

Credits Juventus.com

Players called-up for match against Napoli

Sissoko is out but Tiago returns

Two days after the great victory against Sampdoria it is already time to think of the next match. It is in fact the eve of the championship match against Napoli and Ciro Ferrara has announced the list of players called-up.

The match against the liguri, apart from nay smiles, also brought with it a piece of bad news. During the match, Sissoko complained of a muscular problem. The tests carried out showed the presence of a first degree distraction to the long muscle of the left thigh. The prognosis for complete recovery is of approximately 25 days. Starting from today, the Mali midfielder began medical treatment and physiotherapy to treat the injury.

For a Sissoko that is injured, there is a Tiago who returns and is at the complete disposal of the coach. In all, 21 players have been called-up including Primavera players Fausto Rossi and Ciro Immobile.

Below is the complete list:

1 Buffon
3 Chiellini
4 Felipe Melo
5 Cannavaro
6 Grosso
11 Amauri
12 Chimenti
13 Manninger
16 Camoranesi
17 Trezeguet
18 Poulsen
19 Molinaro
20 Giovinco
21 Grygera
23 Ariaudo
28 Diego
29 De Ceglie
30 Tiago
33 Legrottaglie
37 Rossi
40 Immobile

Credits : Juventus.com

Buffon : "An atomic Juve"

Juventus needed a spark to return to expressing itself at top levels.

This, in short, was the thought expressed by Gigi Buffon before the match against Sampdoria in an attempt to stimulate the squad. The message was received judging from the answer given by the team:

«It was more like a nuclear explosion rather than a spark – smiled Gigi on Sky Sport 24 – Nobody expected such a performance, but on the other hand the qualities of the players were those seen yesterday and we were hoping we would manage to show them. In big matches, like Roma and Lazio and now Sampdoria we always manage to do this.

The fact is that there aren’t many matches of this level in the championship and in the others we must not lose points with which we can fight for important objectives».

Against the blucerchiati the bianconeri fielded a fierce determination: «Yes, the attitude was aggressive as from the initial stages because there was a strong will to put a dull month behind us and so everyone’s attention was optimal».

Apart from the goal by Pazzini, Sampdoria hardly ever approached Buffon.

This is thanks to an excellent defensive performance and also to the Felipe Melo-Sissoko tandem: «I feel really lucky to play with defenders like ours. Cannavaro with his experience, Chiellini is going through a great state of form and Legrottaglie who when he plays gives a sense of security simplify my work. In the same way their job is simplified by Momo and Felipe. If there is always reciprocated help like yesterday no match is impossible to win».

He was not so busy against Samp but was very decisive on other occasions. Gigi is going through a golden period: «There are always periods in which you feel unbeatable and other in which you are less so. This is certainly one of the best moments in my career, also thanks to the stimuli I derived from criticism, sometimes unjustified, which I received last year».

A goalkeeper like Gigi is an example to his colleagues and to youngsters he is a living legend just like Sirigu of Palermo said recently: «It is a bit early to be considered a living legend by a goalkeeper who is still playing in my same championship. I don’t feel that talented.

It is however nice. Sirigu is young and grew up when I went through my golden years and therefore this is understandable. If I augur him to stop Inter? Sure, to confirm himself with Palermo, to do a favour to himself, to his team and also to us…».

Credits: Juventus.com

Ferrara and Amauri post match:

Ferrara: «Today the players played like great champions»

It is hard to fight back the great joy after a 5-1 victory and it is obviously of great satisfaction for a coach to win in such a manner:

«We are very happy. It was a perfect evening due to the result, the match played and the way we handled the match. This is the spirit of Juventus. Clearly, if we see tonight’s match this would seem like the best tactical approach but in an entire championship sometimes you have to change.Today the players played like great champions. They were perfect and I can only thank them and say a big well done.This would be the perfect Juve but I am aware of the fact that it is not easy to maintain this rythm. It is however, the starting point of our team».

Asked who according to him is the man of the match, the Juventus coached said: «It is hard to pick out a single player because today played as a team and in such cases you create more and suffer less. Even the players who came on did really well».

From now on: « This should be the charge that launches us. It is true we came from a series of negative results and this conditioned us but we showed that we can come back and now we have to maintain this».

Amauri: «It was a great performance by the whole team»

A few weeks ago he was being criticized because he was failing to score and now Amauri has scored 4 goals in 3 matches: «I am really happy that I am managing to score and that Juve today played a match up to its standards like we hadn’t played for some time. We must continue like this».

The Brazilian striker however does not try to take all the merit: «It was a great performance by the whole team. This could be seen right from kick-off. We were criticized by people who said that Juve was winning but not convincing. Tonight I think we made our point. Now we must continue in this manner.We must be clever to manage this enthusiam well. Today we knew that we had soemthing to fight for against a Samp that were doing really well».

Asked whether a 4-2-3-1 approach is the best formation for this Juve, Amauri answered: «Today we played using this tactical approach and we did well but I think that even the other formation is good. We must be capable of playing with any formation. When we are two strikers we must be capable of playing like this too».

Credits Juventus.com