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Tag: JUVENTUS

  • Ronaldo hits 760th career goal in Juve Super Cup victory

    Ronaldo hits 760th career goal in Juve Super Cup victory

    Cristiano Ronaldo hit the 760th goal of his career – earning a possible world record – as Juventus beat Napoli to win the Italian Super Cup and give Andrea Pirlo his first trophy as manager.

    The Portugal forward volleyed a close-range opener, and substitute Alvaro Morata sealed victory in injury time seconds after a brilliant save from Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

    Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne missed a penalty with 10 minutes left, before Italian champions Juve – who are fifth in Serie A after Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Inter Milan – confirmed their ninth Super Cup win.

    “It is a great joy to win a trophy,” Pirlo told Rai Sport.

    “It is even more beautiful than winning as a player. It is difficult to see beautiful finals. It was important to win above all after the defeat against Inter. We had to show our pride.”

    Pirlo’s side controlled much of the game, but had their Polish keeper to thank for keeping Napoli at bay with two outstanding saves.

    Szczesny’s quick reactions saw him parry away Andrea Petagna’s header from close range before half-time, and he was alert enough to extend his left foot out when diving the other way to stop Matteo Politano’s shot in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

    Ronaldo was Juve’s main threat, scoring his 32nd goal in 32 games for his club when a corner fell perfectly for him in the six yard area after deflecting off Tiemoue Bakayoko.

    Napoli, managed by Pirlo’s former Milan team-mate Gennaro Gattuso, struggled to threaten an equaliser until Weston McKennie caught substitute Dries Mertens as he cleared in his own area.

    Referee Paolo Valeri consulted with the pitchside monitor before awarding the penalty to Napoli, but Insigne sent his spot-kick wide.

    Juve broke away after Szczesny’s injury time save, with Juan Cuadrado’s pass giving Morata a simple chance to seal the win.

  • Serie A: Juve ends AC Milan unbeaten run

    Serie A: Juve ends AC Milan unbeaten run

    Juventus inflicted a first Serie A defeat of the season on league leaders AC Milan on Wednesday.

    A Federico Chiesa double led the Italian champions to an exhilarating 3-1 win at San Siro.

    Chiesa fired home a superb opener before makeshift midfielder Davide Calabria equalised for AC Milan at the end of an eventful, end-to-end first half.

    But the visitors pulled away after the break as Chiesa curled in his second.

    Substitute Weston McKennie swept in from close range to consign Milan to their first league defeat since March 8 of 2020, a run of 27 games lasting 304 days.

    Stefano Pioli’s side remain top of the table on 37 points, one ahead of second-placed Inter Milan, who lost to Sampdoria earlier on Wednesday.

    Juventus rise to fourth place on 30 points, but have a game in hand over the three teams above them.

    AC Milan coach Pioli was forced to play right-back Calabria in midfield after Rade Krunic and Ante Rebic were ruled out on matchday following positive COVID-19 tests.

    This had added to an absentee list which included Sandro Tonali, Ismael Bennacer, Alexis Saelemaekers and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    Juventus had issues of their own, with Juan Cuadrado and Alex Sandro in isolation and Alvaro Morata injured.

    But the selection problems did not impact the quality of an action-packed opening period.

    Chiesa blasted a powerful half-volley off the post before finding the breakthrough in the 18th minute.

    A clever backheeled pass from Paulo Dybala sent the Italy international through on goal to finish.

    Rafael Leao curled a shot narrowly wide and Chiesa had another effort saved before Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny’s diving save stopped an Aaron Ramsey clearance from flying into his own net.

    AC Milan hit back four minutes before the break when Leao picked out Calabria in the penalty box and he fired into the top corner.

    The tempo dropped slightly in the second half and Juventus took control on 62 minutes when Chiesa curled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

    The winger was forced off after hurting himself in the process, but the strength of the Juve bench showed when two replacements combined for their third.

    Dejan Kulusevski weaved into the box from the wing and laid off a pass to McKennie, who was left with a simple finish from six yards.

  • Giroud dismisses Juve January transfer talk

    Giroud dismisses Juve January transfer talk

    Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has again declared his commitment to remain at Stamford Bridge.

    The veteran striker was talked up as a potential signing this month by Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo on Sunday.

    But speaking with Le Dauphiné Libéré, Giroud stated: “The rest of my career in the short term, I see here at Chelsea. Now we know that things are going very quickly in football, for the good and the bad. I want to keep a cool head and focus on the pitch.

    “I’m coming to the end of my contract at Chelsea next June, even though we still have one year with options. We will do the accounts at the end of the year. But once again, I have the ambition to win something with Chelsea this season because I have high hopes linked to the quality of our squad.”

  • EPL move would be icing on cake – Khedira

    EPL move would be icing on cake – Khedira

    Departing Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira admits he’s eager to move to England.

    Khedira has been linked with Everton ahead of the winter market.

    He still feels he has plenty to offer having won five Serie A titles since joining Juventus from Real Madrid in 2015.

    He told the Athletic: “The Premier League is still missing in my collection, to play there would be the icing on the cake. I’ve done extra sessions with fitness coaches to get myself ready for the pace and intensity.”

    On Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, who he worked with at Real Madrid Khedira added: “We’ve kept in contact over the years. Him and Jose (Mourinho) are both amazing personalities from whom I’ve learned so much, about the game and about myself.

    “They’re both at clubs that play an important role in the league. So let’s see what happens.”

  • I told Wenger to sign ‘killer’ Chiellini for Arsenal – Van Persie

    I told Wenger to sign ‘killer’ Chiellini for Arsenal – Van Persie

    Robin van Persie has recalled urging his former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to sign Giorgio Chiellini.

    Van Persie admits he remains a big fan of the Juventus captain.

    He is quoted by Voetbalzone: “I played against him a few times and he is really a winner. You saw that a few weeks ago against the Dutch national team.

    “He’s 36, but gives 9 elbows, laughing. He keeps on smiling and doesn’t even get a yellow card. You need those kind of winners, killers, I thought we should have him.

    “I came up with suggestions and names based on him, my own experiences. We were very good at the front and scored a lot, but your goalkeeper and your last line are the foundation of your team.”

  • Juve willing to offer Ronaldo to Man Utd for Pogba

    Juve willing to offer Ronaldo to Man Utd for Pogba

    Juventus are willing to offer Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United in a swap for Paul Pogba.

    Pogba has made no secret of his desires to leave United, and now it has emerged that a return to Juventus may be on the cards, in a switch which would bring about the emotional comeback of Ronaldo.

    According to the Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney, Juve are serious about capitalising upon Pogba’s unrest and a swap deal for Ronaldo is not entirely out of the question.

    Speaking on the Football Ramble show, he said: “Talking to people during the week because I’ve been doing something on the Paul Pogba situation, which is connected to Ronaldo, and the fact that Juventus might actually be interested in a swap.

    “It’s not impossible. Connected to all that was the view that ultimately, Juventus are trying to install this collective idea of football.”

  • Ronaldo shines as Juventus humble Messi’s Barca 3-0

    Ronaldo shines as Juventus humble Messi’s Barca 3-0

    Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties at Nou Camp as Juventus thrash Barcelona 3-0 to top Group G of the Champions League.

    He won the battle of supremacy against his fierce rival, Messi, who failed to score at home against the visitors.

    Ronaldo put Juventus in the lead on 13 minutes through a penalty.

    He sent Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way and fired the penalty into the middle of the goal.

    On 20 minutes, Juan Cuadrado doubled the visitors’ lead, making it 2-0.

    He played a terrific cross over to Weston McKennie, who found some space inside the box and puts the ball into the back of the net.

    On first half added time, Lionel Messi went down under a challenge in the box, but the referee immediately waved away the appeals from all players.

    Ronaldo compounded Barcelona’s misery with a third goal for the visitor on 52 minutes.

    He won the battle of wills and sent an unstoppable penalty past Marc-Andre ter Stegen into left side of the goal.

    Juventus made it 4-0 on 75 minutes, but the goal was ruled offside by VAR.

    Leonardo Bonucci scored the disallowed goal after an assist by Cristiano Ronaldo that allowed him to tap in the ball into an empty net.

  • UCL: Ronaldo scores 750th career goal in Juve win

    UCL: Ronaldo scores 750th career goal in Juve win

    Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 750th career goal as Juventus eased to victory against Dynamo Kyiv in a match refereed by Stephanie Frappart, who became the first woman to take charge of a men’s Champions League fixture.

    The Portuguese forward scored the second for the Italian champions, already through to the last 16, when he tapped in after Georgi Bushchan’s attempted block rebounded off Juve striker Alvaro Morata.

    Ronaldo was a made to wait a few seconds before the VAR team signalled to the French referee the goal would stand.

    That was the only major contentious issue Frappart had to deal with, although Kyiv might point to an incident in the first half when penalty appeals were waved away after defender Leonardo Bonucci had his arms around forward Benjamin Verbic.

    Juve took the lead in the 21st minute when loan signing Federico Chiesa scored his first for the club, with a header from Alex Sandro’s cross.

    After Ronaldo added a second, Morata made it 3-0 when he slotted home his sixth Champions League goal of the season following good work from Weston McKennie and Chiesa on the right.

    Kyiv, who have now taken only a point from five group games, impressed in patches and were twice thwarted by former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny, who denied winger Viktor Tsygankov with two great reflex saves.

    Juventus are at Barcelona in their final Group G match next week, with both sides vying to finish top of the pool.

    BBC

  • Juve plan double January raid on Chelsea

    Juve plan double January raid on Chelsea

    Serie A champion Juventus are lining up a double January raid on Chelsea.

    Il Bianco Nero says Juve coach Andrea Pirlo wants to bring in Olivier Giroud and Emerson Palmiero to help kick-start his campaign while he is also eyeing up moves for Sassuolo star Manuel Locatelli and Udinese ace Rodrigo De Paul.

    Giroud has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge for the last year as he continues to search for more first-team minutes in order to secure his spot in France’s Euro 2020 squad.

    Italian left back Emerson has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge behind Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso and has been reduced to cameo appearances this season.

  • Man Utd in talks with Ronaldo about sensational return

    Man Utd in talks with Ronaldo about sensational return

    Manchester United are making a sensational move for Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Juve are believed to be keen to offload the former Real Madrid star next summer.

    United are claimed to be in talks with Ronaldo, according to well-respected FOX America journalist Christian Martin.

    Ronaldo is claimed to be ‘considering’ the offer, with Juventus ‘willing to negotiate’ with United.

    Martin tweeted his 400,000 followers: “Our sources in Manchester and Porto confirm that Manchester United tempted Cristiano Ronaldo with a return to the club for next season.

    “The Portuguese star is considering it.

    “Juventus will negotiate a deal it if Ronaldo asks for it.”