Alessio relieved to beat Torino

2 December 2012 18:16

Angelo Alessio has paid tribute to a tough Torino outfit, who made his Juventus team worked hard for their 3-0 win in Serie A on Friday.

Assistant coach Alessio, who has stood in for the banned Antonio Conte since the start of the season, cut a nervous figure before a second-half double from Claudio Marchisio and Sebastian Giovinco's strike settled the contest.

The derby victory was Alessio's last match in charge before Conte returns to matchday duties.

"It wasn't easy to play against such a well organised side," he told the club's official website.

"We had a few difficulties in the first 20 minutes and the game changed following the sending off, which was an unquestionable decision.

"Thank goodness (Emanuele) Giaccherini didn't have his foot on the ground, otherwise he would have hurt himself."

Juve tinkered with their usual 3-5-2 system and Alessio was happy to see the changes reap the rewards he had sought.

"The change in formation? We didn't feel it was worth risking (Giorgio) Chiellini and preferred to go with the 4-3-3 used on many occasions last year," he said.

"But our system is 3-5-2 and we'll use that in Donetsk, where Chiellini will come back into the fold. Antonio will be back on Sunday, I can't wait for him to return and take his place on the bench."

Juventus response pleases Marchisio

2 December 2012 03:26

Claudio Marchisio believes Juventus will take plenty of confidence from their convincing 3-0 Serie A derby victory over Torino on Saturday.

The Italy midfielder scored twice while Sebastian Giovinco added a third as the Bianconeri coasted past their rivals, and the 26-year-old was delighted two club academy products netted the goals which handed bragging rights to the Scudetto champions.

"It's important that we got back to winning ways after a bad performance against Milan," Marchisio told Football Italia.

"It's good for our confidence to win so convincingly.

"It's a great sign that Giovinco and I both scored, as we grew up in the Juve youth academy.

"Now we have notched up important points that ensure we stay top of the table, we have to turn our attention to the Champions League."

The win moves Juventus five points clear of Napoli at the top of Serie A, with the second-placed side set to play on Sunday against Pescara.

Barzagli welcomes Conte return

30 November 2012 17:05

Juventus centre-back Andrea Barzagli believes Antonio Conte's return in a week is going to be a great boost for his team.

The 43-year-old was handed a 10-month ban at the start of the season due to failure to report alleged match-fixing during his time in charge of Siena.

The punishment was subsequently reduced to four months, and Conte is set to return on the Juventus bench in a week.

"Massimo Carrera and Angelo Alessio are good, but Conte is something completely different," Barzagli told Corriere dello Sport.

"It is not easy to face so many games without a coach with his temperament, someone who knows how to drag us along."

Juventus have lost two out of their past four domestic matches, but remain two points clear atop the Serie A table.

Barzagli said Juve had recognised the areas in which they went wrong, with his side focused on returning to winning ways against Torino on Saturday.

"We played poorly, we know that. We've looked at the errors and we're ready to start again," he said.

"Tomorrow’s opponents Torino are a tough side, well organised and they have suffered in very few games."

Chiellini keen to settle Turin derby again

30 November 2012 02:46

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini wants to be the match-winner again when the Italian champions take on Torino in the Derby della Mole.

The Italian has been on the sidelines with an injury issue but is back in training with the squad ahead the weekend Serie A clash.

"I have recovered from the calf problem I felt towards the end of the match with Chelsea. It wasn't too serious and after a week I am back training with the team," he told Mediaset.

The last Turin derby was played three years ago and it was Chiellini who claimed the winning goal that night, and he has not hidden his intention to do the same again.

"Will I score the winner again? I hope so! It would be a dream, though I imagine the Torino fans wouldn't see it that way," he said.

"It is wonderful to score in a game like this, because people do care about it so much. Some say that it matters more to Toro than to Juve, but I think that's underestimating how much people want to win.

"Even if we are fighting for different targets, once the derby begins it wipes out any differences. I am happy to be facing Torino again, as it’s good for the city to have two Serie A sides, and I hope they can strengthen to go for ever stronger objectives as the years go on.

"The derby of the past had always been in the same stadium, but this team it really will be a derby in an 'away' stadium. That’ll make it even better, as winning on your opponents’ own turf always feels special."

Last weekend against AC Milan, Juventus lost their second game within a month after suffering a 3-1 reverse to Inter a couple of weeks back, but Chiellini has refuted the suggestion that his side are feeling the strain of success.

"We do not feel pressure, as it's far too early to look at the table and there will be numerous changes of position. I hope we can stay on top, of course," the Italy international said.

Serie A preview: Juve look to bounce back

29 November 2012 12:08

Juventus will be hoping they can bounce back to winning ways in Serie A, as the league leaders host local rivals Torino at the weekend.

The Italian champions have now gone two games without a league win, failing to score at home to Lazio before slumping to a 1-0 loss away to AC Milan.

In their promotion season, Torino have been more than impressive in the top flight, losing just one of seven away games - their trip to Roma earlier in November.

But away score draws to Lazio and Napoli - both sides that occupy the top-six - will give Giampiero Ventura's men confidence of matching it with Juve in Turin on Saturday.

What won't give the visitors confidence is the fact they have not toppled their rivals since 1995 - with the powerhouses failing to lose their past 12 head-to-head clashes - and making matters worse for Torino, they haven't scored against Juve in six matches dating back to 2002.

Either way, the two sides' first clash since 2009 is sure to pack plenty of fire as bragging rights are on the line once again.

AC Milan can climb above Catania with a win over their mid-table rivals on Friday, when they do battle at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

Massimiliano Allegri's side have won back-to-back matches for the first time since May, with a Champions League win over Anderlecht and a momentous victory over Juventus in the league at their last start.

All three points would take Milan to eighth in the table ahead of the weekend's action, while if Catania can avoid defeat, they will go equal on points with seventh-placed Parma.

In Sunday's fixtures, second-placed Napoli can continue to heap pressure on Juve when they take on bottom side Pescara in the early kick-off.

Inter Milan are under the microscope having lost two of their past three, and they will need to rally at home to an in-form Palermo on Sunday if they are to consolidate their standing in the top four.

Fiorentina - level on points with Inter, but above them on goal difference - will host Sampdoria, who have won their past two.

Siena will have a tough challenge to maintain their run of four games unbeaten, as the 19th-placed outfit host the sixth-placed Roma.

Roma have won three of their past four, but Siena boast an unusual form line for a side sitting in the relegation zone, with eight points from their past four.

In other Sunday fixtures, Bologna will welcome Atalanta, Chievo are on the road at Genoa, Parma will travel to Rome to take on Lazio, and Udinese play host to Cagliari.