Strategic Thoughts Before The Bernabeu

Yeah Juve Bob, that is kind of surprising. But as far as I know, there's no regulations on player nationality.

67' del secondo tempo, real-juve 0-1:
-Sissoko, prende palla, contropiede, salta cannavaro che lo mette giù. E attenzione perché siamo proprio li, è quella la mattonella di del piero. Da lì la può tirare sia di collo che a giro. Secondo te Massimo?
-Fabio, secondo me va a giro, andrà come con la Roma..
-Del piero si sistema il pallone.. tutto è pronto per il calcio di punizione: va Del Piero...

AAAAAAAAAALLEEEEEEEEEEXXXXXXX DDEEEEEELLLL PIIEEEEEEEROOOOOOOOOO!!!
DUEEEE AAAA ZZEEROOOOO!!!!

Wasn't it weird that the ref and linesmen of our match were Dutch? Considering Real Madrid have five Dutch players that I know of(VdV, Drenthe, Van Gol, Robben and Sneijder) it was quite unfair. Was it the case or am I going wrong somewhere?

"I had money on Juve at 5/1 crazy odds "

My thoughts exactly and with odds (+450 on the money line) like that I couldn't resist a little sprinkle. It was definitely worth it, especially since I thought Juventus could win. I had to leave my heart out of this decision.

It seems that everything Del Piero touches is gold right now and it makes me sick ;)

ok van der sar is recognised! boruc is excellent. petr cech has shit his pants though he has fallen off the top spot although all the english claim he is the best still because they dont watch any other league

Roberto and Alessio, you think it is safe to say that no one is playing better than ADP right now in all of Europe, man is on fire!

So I guess it's not just me who thinks Sissoko is a diver. Lol. Anyway, comparing those 2 keepers, I think Buffon is better than Casillas in terms of marshalling his men. He has better command within the box than the latter and I think this is why he doesn't look as flashy as Casillas cause he prevents shots from even taking place. When they do, he can handle it because of the defensive pressure. Also, you won't see him making that same mistake as Casillas in last night's ADP goal. On the other hand, I think Casillas' advantage over Buffon is his reach. I know Buffon is taller than Casillas but it looks like when the Spaniard dives, he stretches his body more and covers more space than Buffon.

But taking everything in consideration though, I know (or maybe I'm blinded with bias) that Buffon is better.

PS. Alessandro, I think Van der Sar is out of your list cause he's pretty popular and well-established. That's why he's in Manchester. How about Artur Boruc? :D

well done ADP! although the goal wasn't a patch on the one against Roma he did see how badly casillas had judged the wall and his own position. (I had money on Juve at 5/1 crazy odds for a team that were blatantly better than their hosts)...unfortunately i also had fiorentina and fenerbahce backed so not as much profit as hoped. I like to support the italian teams in europe...

Justin provided video evidence! haha getting to the casillas debate though he is not even half as good as gigi buffon he is in a league of his own! but living in england and watching premier league there are world class keepers in this league that never get recognition like van der sar, shay given and brad friedel who i think is american they are all amazing! even middlesbroughs ross turnbull looks quality!

roberto he dived to get the free kick!!! how did you miss that?! the madrid defender didnt make any contact. and he dives all the time either that or he is seriously weak because people are knocking him off the ball. marchisio on the other hand is truly going to be a great if he stacks on a bit more muscle he can become juves midfield general

For supposedly being the best GK Casillas sure has trouble setting up a wall . . . The first goal was class though

Beautifully done, guys. Grazie mille.

ADP won't be able to buy a drink in Barcelona for the next ten years.

Roberto, I've seen Sissoko dive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

This may not be a clear video of it but I've seen another one but I can't seem to find it anymore. Although I'm not so sure, last night's Del Piero freekick was from a Momo dive as well. I'm really not sure of this but I think he does have a knack of exaggerating tackles. He puts his hands up in the air like a buffoon whenever he does. Funny stuff actually.

But before you guys start berating me, FYI, I'm a Juventus fan. I do appreciate what he does for the team, covering up tons of area and breaking up fluency of other teams. I just wish he could just pass just as well though. I think he should be more like a Yaya Toure but right now, considering out situation, I can't complain about his contributions and effort.

I just really know that he dives.

Samson and LaMagica are both parasites, i've come to the Juve to hear the Juve fans thoughts on the game today and all i see are mindless spams by bored Roma fans with no lives. You guys got a nice little win this week, stay in your forum and celebrate, why do you always feel it is neccessary to spam other teams sections?

Alessio- Thanks for considering me a reasonable person; however, I still think are very much a prick. ;)

If your job is being a prick then you are a master of your trade. haha

Royal encounter...Royal victory!!!!

As opposed to the starting line-ups announced prior to the game, Drenthe is on the field from the first minute instead of Robben who injured himself during the warm-up. The match immediately picks up the rythm and the first few minutes see Real Madrid taking the initiative. Real Madrid’s last defeat at home dates back to March 2008.

Manninger is kept busy, and in the 9th minute its the Austrian goalkeeper who saves after a powerful shoy by Sneijder, avoiding an up-hill start to the match. The Juve defence is put under pressure by the on-coming Real attacks but shows its class by a series of great interventions by all of its components.

Like in the best of thrillers a twist is round the corner. The author is none other but Juventus captain Alex Del Piero who shifted the equilibrium of the match by scoring a beauty of a goal from just outside the penalty area following a ball won by Marchionni in the 17th minute.

The match begins to heat up with Juventus, energy-injected by the goal beginning to insist. A good attacking initiative sees the ball lost betwen Nedved and Del Piero in the 20th minute and one minute later the ball crosses the whole Real area after a great through-pass by Molinaro but nobody is there to kick it in.

Antagonism has the upper hand for some time and the Dutch referee is seen handing out 4 yellow cards in 6 minutes, 2 for each side with Sissoko, Drenthe, Guti and Legrottaglie on the receiving side.

In the 36th minute Van Nistelrooy sends shivers down Juve spines as a great shot goes high. Real seem to be taking the initiative in their hands once again in the last 10 minutes with Juve slightly on the defensive, however two minutes later a great move by Del Piero unmarks Nedved but Cannavaro puts ball into corner. An error in midfield sees Real dangerously on the attack with Molinaro intervening with class.

The match is alive and the ball shifts from one side to another. Its the 40th minute, Amauri escapes dangerously but does not see Del Piero who is in a favourable position and passes to Tiago who follows through but the pass is unprecise. Three minutes later dangerous escape by Drenthe on the left but Mellberg intervenes divinely, injuring himself. However the Swedish defender is back on the field after being medicated. Two more attacks by Real and as many great intervention by the defence of the team in gold brings the first half to an end.

The second half starts at a very high tempo with both teams trying to have their way. On the 50th minute its Van Nistelrooy who is shown the yellow card .The equilibrium of the match shifts continuously with initiatives from both sides but the best is yet to come. Its the 65th minute when Sissoko is fouled at around 25 metres from the area defended by Casillas. Del Piero takes the freekick...and what a frekick. Just like 4 days ago against Roma the Juventus ever-young captain sends the ball into the back of the net with Casillas helpless. It’s 2-0 and the Real supporters at the Bernabeu are dead silent.

Real Madrid try to react and three minutes after the Del Piero double, a very active Drenthe on a dangerous incursion who passes to Higuain who is late on the ball. Real Madrid substitute Van Nistlerooy with Van der Vaart and Saviola for Heinze in the 81st minute and three minutes later Iaquinta comes on for Amauri who worked hard throughout the match.

Del Piero is in top form and this is even more evident when he is close to making his hat-trick in the 86th minute following great game-play. Real try desperately to reduce the damages with Manninger saving on Diarra in the first minute of injury time. Standing ovation for Del Piero by all those present at the Bernabeu as he is substituted in the second of three minutes of injury time by De Ceglie. The match ends. It was 1962 when Juventus beat Real Madrid last at the important stadium thanks to a goal by Sivori and 46 years later Del Piero is the hero.

Champions League 2008/09 – Group Stage
Group H – 4th day
Madrid, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Wednesday 5th November

REAL MADRID – JUVENTUS 0-2

Scorers : Del Piero 17th, 66th

REAL MADRID: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Cannavaro, Heinze (81st Saviola); Diarra, Robben, Sneijder (63rd Higuain), Guti, Raul; Van Nistelrooy (81st Van der Vaart) . Reserves: Dudek, Michel Salgado, Gago, Drenthe, Van der Vaart, Higuain, Saviola. Coach : Schuster.

JUVENTUS: Manninger; Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molianro; Marchionni, Sissoko, Tiago, Nedved; Del Piero (91st De Ceglie), Amauri (83rd Iaquinta). Reserves: Chimenti, Ariaudo, De Ceglie, Rossi, Camoranesi, Giovinco; Iaquinta Coach : Ranieri.

REFEREE : Vink (Netherlands)

Yellow Cards : Sissoko (27th), Drenthe (30th), Guti (35th), Legrottaglie (33rd), Van Nistelrooy (50th), Mellberg (77th)

alessandro d'agostino "the biggest problem i have with sissoko is everyone says he is a monster but he gets muscled off the ball very easily and his DIVING is disgusting."

Come on ale... your way off about Sissoko. Your making this stuff up now lol. He never dives, he gets yellow cards. I don't think I've ever seen him dive once.

I think your totally right about Marchisio though. He's got a ton of raw talent.

birds of a feather.....

yessir. i only care about silverware. i almost became an interista this summer

oh, sorry. wrong dossier. it's bari then. either way, hunting the glory as it were.

nice, kj. one day you'll be able to come out and talk about "manhoods" without that perverted guilt.

for someone who thinks they know all about me, you've missed the city horribly

no, my parents taught me the difference between good and bad and that honesty is a much more dignified trait than cheating. that's why i dont follow juve.

besides, i'm roman by blood so its perfectly alright to be supporting roma. not everyone can be a glory hunter like yourself...suporting a northern team yet being from the depths of the boot. lecce has a serie a team, you know?

lamagica, dont try to take out your 2 inches of manhood on Juve/Palermo fans again. Please

I'm guessing you're a masochist. Parents didn't discipline you so that's why you watch Rioma, get the beatings you never had

just as much time as you, alessio. i know why you like arguing with people that may easily concede to your drivel...it's easy. fortunately i'm not one of them.

Wow, reaching through the archives eh? I guess you've got plenty of time on your hands.

Most people I disagree with here like Daniele, Samson, etc I like arguing with because they can be reasonable people. You're just sheer amusing.

name-calling is also an offense here at the offside. i figured you would have known that:

alessio | November 3rd, 2008 at 8:30 pm

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Posted from United States

now, now, alessio. you should know that 'educated' people dont resort to name-calling. you shouldnt stoop so low when you are fighting an uphill battle.

i have to say, i like the new take you have.....'degrees of cheating'. cheating is cheating. i realise a juve fan cant quite come to grips with that notion.

Oh educated one, eh. I should get my show on IOSS.

a free kick just outside the box can alter the result as well. a booking on the player that was innocent (especially if it results in a red card) can alter a result as well. nice try though.

Yeah, well no shit. So can say, handing a throw-in to the other team for time wasting. Any referee decision can, dumbfuck. But there's degrees of which affects more, a yellow card to a defender isn't as bad as a red-card, and a free kick outside the area isn't as bad as giving away a free penalty which has an 80-90% conversion rate, unlike the much lower free kick rate.

ahhh, i figured that would have been your 'justification', oh 'educated' one. a free kick just outside the box can alter the result as well. a booking on the player that was innocent (especially if it results in a red card) can alter a result as well. nice try though.

Thanks for that stat, Deb. I was kind of wondering the same thing, we usually could put a string of 3 wins together but not too much more. Chievo could be 6.

If you're asking whether I think flopping in the box and altering the result is worse than a free kick, then yes. Very much so. And Samson, thanks, that means I'm doing my job.

btw:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... (1:34)

I’m glad for the win, although it sounds like we can mostly thank Alex’s brilliance plus Madrid’s poor finishing for the points… (I was at work and didn’t get to see the game)

Trivia moment: this is the first time we've won five games in a row since Deschamps delivered 8 during Sept/Oct 2006. Granted, that was serie b. We'd have to go back to Nov 2005 and Capello’s reign to equal this run of five in serie a/CL. That string of five wins was preceded by 9 on the trot (in all competitions) earlier that season on our way to the Scudetto – pretty much the definition of consistency that we need to get back to if we ever want that 3rd star...

Congrats Juve. Except you Alessio, you are a prick my friend.

"Well, I think to be fair to “divers” I find diving in the box a lot more criminal than “diving” to get a free kick."

brilliant! let me paraphrase this: to be fair to cheaters, you find it to be less like cheating when they cheat only a little bit. no surprise its from a rube 'fan'.

maybe i am to harsh on him but i just think hes isnt very good. marchisio is a complete midfielder he can pass, shoot, tackle and has some good skills

I also like players who can dictate the game (in fact, the central midfielder is one of my favorite football positions); and agreed, maybe Sissoko is not the ultimate midfielder (Pavel was and he still kind off is, and I'm glad we have him), but Sissoko has helped us a lot since January and I think we all should be grateful he is playing with us rigth now.

At this time we can't tempt the players you (Alessandro) mentioned before to leave their teams for us. We are still rebuilding our team and the objective is to get better players one season after the other, until we have (again) the strongest squad in the world (and its surroundings). And who knows, maybe by then Sissoko will learn how to pass the ball (and even if not, I think he would be a really valuable player).

Thanks for your words, John. Not a bad week eh, I see Newcastle is even climbing up from the bottom!

Well, I think to be fair to "divers" I find diving in the box a lot more criminal than "diving" to get a free kick. And I think there should be a distinction between diving alla Gilardino and falling down (perhaps easily) while still making contact. I didn't catch the game, but all the ratings and views I've seen said Sissoko had a terrific game.

the modern game needs a midfielder that can do everything no just tackle. im sorry i have grown up watching tardelli, rijkaard, conte and davids etc sissoko is like serie b player compared to the players that should be playing for juve

Well, yeah, he's no Conte. But I tihnk the opposite, in a lot of ways current players specialize a lot more than they did in the past. I think Gianfranco of the Milan Offside first mentioned this, but there are very few "complete" midfielders in the world today, it's not just Sissoko.