Back At Work On January 3

As from 5 pm yesterday, Juventus are officially on holiday. After the win against Siena closed 2007 in terms of football, all the Bianconeri were able to start enjoying a period of well-deserved rest.

They'll be back at work in the New Year. The victory against Siena gave the squad one more day of rest. Training commences again on Thursday the 3rd of January in Vinovo, in the afternoon. On the 6th, the day of the Epiphany, the winter camp in Malta will begin; the squad will stay on the island and train there until the day before the first official match of 2008, the evening game at Catania, on Saturday 12.

www.juventus.com - 24 December 2007

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Juve's 2007, Part 1

Juventus.com lets you relive Juve’s year, in four parts. Today the first: from January to March, from the end of the first part of last season to the start of the decisive run towards the return to Serie A

January

2007 began differently than 2006, i.e. with two defeats. The first was harmless, in the Berlusconi Trophy, which had been moved from the summer due to other commitments. The second was more onerous. Juve lost at Mantova (1-0, with Kovac scoring an own goal) and ended their unbeaten run which had lasted for 45 official games. It was a tough period, with several players injured, but the team's character compensated for it.

In four days, between the 16th and the 20th, Juve got six points at home, and they were set for first place after the first part of the season. Cesena were beaten (2-1, goals by Del Piero and Trezeguet) in the match that had originally been postponed on December 15 when Alessio Ferramosca and Riccardo Neri died. Bari were also defeated in what was Alessandro Del Piero's day: the Captain celebrated 500 Juve games by scoring a goal. Nedved (two goals) and Trezeguet did the rest for a final 4-2 result. The end of the month of January coincided with the end of the first part of the season. A great effort by Nedved at the last minute prevented defeat at La Spezia (1-1) and allowed Deschamps' men to be in front of everyone else at that stage of the season: not bad for a team that had started out with 17 points' deduction, later reduced to 9.

February

The month of February began with a very negative episode for Italian football. Police Inspector Filippo Raciti was killed during fighting between Catania and Palermo supporters. The League stopped to allow everyone to mull over the tragedy and the second part of the season started with the second game, Juventus travelling to Vicenza instead of facing Rimini at home, devoid of their own supporters due to a ban that was enforced because of the violence. The Bianconeri dominated on the pitch. Palladino and Del Piero scored two goals and the game seemed won, but it wasn't enough as the Veneto team came back to draw 2-2.

Juventus took out their frustration on Crotone. The team from Calabria were trounced 5-0 at the Olimpico. Del Piero got a hat trick, with Nedved and Balzaretti scoring too. The following match at Modena was more difficult. The score seemed set on 0-0, but then Centurioni's own goal paved the way for three precious points to end February on a high.

March

March saw Juve take the decisive steps toward promotion, with four wins in five matches. First Piacenza were thoroughly beaten 4-0 at the Olimpico, thanks to another Del Piero hat trick and a lighting fast goal by Trezeguet. The Captain stayed in contention for the top scorer position, scoring against Brescia too. But the Martelli Stadium in Mantova – a neutral ground used for the match against the “Rondinelle” – was jinxed for Juve again as a Serafini hat trick gave them their second defeat (3-1).

The defeat was compensated in the best possible way however. Just like in the first part of the season, the two games against teams from Triveneto were favourable and earned Juventus six points. Del Piero and Palladino's cunning move won the game against Treviso. Triestina were beaten much more comprehensively: they went one up but then Juve scored five. Palladino shone again with three great goals; Camoranesi and Bojinov scored the other two. After an international friendly in Liege against Standard (with Trezeguet scoring two goals, but the Belgians prevailed 3-2), there was time for another joy at the end of the month. At Pescara, against a team that were almost doomed, Juve suffered a great deal. Polito saved a Del Piero penalty but then another player of the old guard decided the match: Birindelli, who scored a close range tap-in from a Palladino corner.

After the first three months of 2007, Juve's return to Serie A was getting closer and closer.

MONTH BY MONTH, ALL THE GAMES PLAYED

JANUARY

06/01 Berlusconi Trophy
Milan-Juventus 3-2
Nedved, Del Piero

14/01 Serie B – Day 19
Mantova-Juventus 1-0

16/01 Serie B - rec. Day 16
Juventus-Cesena 2-1
Del Piero, Trezeguet

20/01 Serie B – Day 20
Juventus-Bari 4-2
2 Nedved, Trezeguet, Del Piero

27/01 Serie B – Day 21
Spezia-Juventus 1-1
Nedved

FEBRUARY

10/02 Serie B – Day 23
Vicenza-Juventus 2-2
Palladino, Del Piero

17/02 Serie B – Day 24
Juventus-Crotone 5-0
3 Del Piero, Nedved, Balzaretti

26/02 Serie B – Day 25
Modena-Juventus 0-1
Centurioni (aut.)

MARCH

04/03 Serie B – Day 26
Juventus-Piacenza 4-0
3 Del Piero, Trezeguet

10/03 Serie B – Day 27
Brescia-Juventus 3-1
Del Piero

13/03 Serie B – Day 28
Juventus-Treviso 1-0
Palladino

19/03 Serie B – Day 29
Juventus-Triestina 5-1
3 Palladino, Camoranesi, Bojinov

24/03 Friendly match
Standard Liegi-Juventus 3-2
2 Trezeguet

31/03 Serie B – Day 32
Pescara-Juventus 0-1
Birindelli


www.juventus.com - 27 December 2007

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Juve's 2007, Part 2

Juventus.com lets you relive Juve’s year, in four parts. Today the second part: from April to June, the end of the run, the return to Serie A, the end of Deschamps' tenure and the beginning of the Ranieri era.

April

Juventus were on a roll and took a decisive leap forward in April, thanks to a series of wins against promotion rivals, which confirmed the Bianconeri's predominance.

After an unexpected draw at home against Albinoleffe – coming from behind thanks to a great Balzaretti goal -, the Olimpico’s law applied again to Napoli, who were beaten 2-0 just after Easter, with goals by Camoranesi and Del Piero. A few days later, Juve won again, away at Lecce. Camoranesi was one of the stars of the match once more with a superb goal. Marchionni and Zalayeta scored the others in a 3-1 win.

Another home draw came against Rimini (0-0 despite several chances), but Juve made the decisive step before the end of the month, with two convincing wins: the first at home against rivals Genoa, 3-1 with goals by Nedved, Chiellini and Trezeguet, the second an away win at Verona, with the only goal scored by Boumsong with a header.

May

Juve made it three wins in a row at the beginning of May - on the 1st, Juve fans celebrating alongside the world’s workers. The 2-0 win at Frosinone (with two Zalayeta goals) was another important step toward promotion, just like the point earned in the insidious away game at Cesena. It ended 2-2 after an exciting match, Juve scoring with big names Trezeguet and Nedved within seconds of each other. Promotion was near and Juve got even closer by winning against Bologna at home. Four players were the stars of that match: Del Piero, who got two goals, Trezeguet, who scored the third, Buffon, who made two miracle saves when the result was still in doubt, and young talent Giovinco, immediately proving a favourite with Juve fans.

Juventus were almost there. They only needed one more win to return to the top division, and win they did on Day 19. There was no contest against Arezzo, managed by former Juventus player Antonio Conte, as Juve were too determined to get the result they needed: in the end they won 5-1 with Del Piero and Chiellini scoring two each, and Trezeguet getting the other one. Celebrations could finally begin. Didier Deschamps completed his 10-month mission but surprised everyone by quitting right after the following match, a home win against Mantova (2-0, with goals by Trezeguet and Nedved).

June

It was up to Giancarlo Corradini, deputy Manager for many years, to guide the team through the remaining two matches, which were stripped of any meaning. And they were certainly unmemorable, as they were both defeats, but with promotion already secured. First at Bari (1-0), and then at home against Spezia, who were battling to avoid relegation. The guests won 3-2 in the end (Trezeguet and youngster Bianco scoring) but didn't ruin the celebrations for Juventus’ return to Serie A, with the team receiving the Serie B trophy on the pitch, and Del Piero winning the top scorer award.

But the future had already begun. Three important announcements had been made on the eve of the last game: Claudio Ranieri signing on as the new Manager, and Zebina and Buffon renewing their contracts. In January three new signings had already been announced: Grygera, Salihamidzic and Criscito - and then in late June other players were signed up: Iaquinta, Tiago, Almiron, Nocerino and Molinaro. Plus vital player Trezeguet also renewed his contract. But more excellent news would arrive in the next few days.

2007: the first part

MONTH BY MONTH, ALL THE GAMES PLAYED

APRIL

06/04 Serie B – Day 33
Juventus-AlbinoLeffe 1-1
Balzaretti

10/04 Serie B – Day 31
Juventus-Napoli 2-0
Camoranesi, Del Piero

14/04 Serie B – Day 34
Lecce-Juventus 1-3
Marchionni, Zalayeta, Camoranesi

17/04 Serie B – rec. Day 22
Juventus-Rimini 0-0

21/04 Serie B – Day 35
Juventus-Genoa 3-1
Nedved, Chiellini, Trezeguet

27/04 Serie B – Day 36
Verona-Juventus 0-1
Boumsong

MAY

01/05 Serie B – Day 30
Frosinone-Juventus 0-2
2 Zalayeta

06/05 Serie B – Day 37
Cesena-Juventus 2-2
Trezeguet, Nedved

12/05 Serie B – Day 38
Juventus-Bologna 3-1
2 Del Piero, Trezeguet

16/05 Friendly match
Cuneo-Juventus 2-3
Bojinov, Del Piero, Lanzafame

19/05 Serie B – Day 39
Arezzo-Juventus 1-5
2 Del Piero, 2 Chiellini, Trezeguet

26/05 Serie B – Day 40
Juventus-Mantova 2-0
Trezeguet, Nedved

JUNE

04/06 Serie B – Day 41
Bari-Juventus 1-0

10/06 Serie B – Day 42
Juventus-Spezia 2-3
Trezeguet, Bianco


www.juventus.com - 28 December 2007

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Italian Media: Huntelaar To Join Juventus In The Summer

Besides Edgar Davids, who was a huge success in Turin from 1997 to 2004, Juventus have in general not linked up with Dutch footballers throughout their illustrious history. But it seems that things are about to change.

As La Gazzetta Dello Sport reports today, Rafael Van Der Vaart is not the only Dutch star packing his bags for a summer move to the capital of Piedmont, since Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is expected to keep him company.

Club president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli had openly admitted that La Vecchia Signora were negotiating with Ajax for the 24-year-old prolific striker, talking to Il Corriere Dello Sport back on December 7.

Done deal

And La Gazzetta Dello Sport reveals today that the Italian giants struck a deal with the player’s agent, Arnold Oosterveen, as early as last August to sign him at the end of this season.

The sports daily with a readership that exceeds the three-million mark insists that the Amsterdam-based club are prepared to let their star striker go for an amount between 15 and 18 million euros.

A former PSV Eindhoven, De Graafschap and Heerenveen man, Huntelaar joined Ajax in January 2006 for a fee of nine million plus future player incentives.

Needless to say he’s been an instant hit, scoring a breathtaking 74 goals in just 92 appearances!

www.goal.com - 28/12/2007 18:56

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Ever Banega To Join Juve In January

Talented Boca Juniors midfielder Ever Banega is on the verge of joining Juventus in a deal worth over 15 million euros.

Banega will arrive in Turin in early January if his club Boca Juniors accept an offer of more than 15 million euros made by Juventus for the youngster.

"Banega will leave Boca in January because the offer made by Juventus is excellent," affirmed an unidentified Boca source.

"As well as this, Carlos Ischia, Boca's new coach, won't get in the way of any possible departure, after advice from Carlos Bianchi," he added.

When the deal in finalised, Boca will recover the large sum of money they invested in Juan Roman Riquelme, who returned to the club from Villarreal.

Banega, who became one of Boca's key players last season is a highly rated midfielder - solid defensively but with also possessing great passing skills - who is likely to take Italian football by storm.

Many have compared the youngster to AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, but insist that he is faster, smarter, and has a much higher level of technique.

So it was no surprise that Milan have also been after his signature, but seem to have already lost the race to bitter rivals Juventus.

www.goal.com - 28/12/2007 16:03

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