This Week's juve News

It’s back to the Olimpico on Friday night

After making it seven on the trot against Hellas Verona this weekend, Juventus now have their sights set on an eighth consecutive home win.

Friday night sees the Bianconeri play host to Cesena, one of the championship’s most consistent performers. It will be the teams’ second meeting of the season after their second round Coppa Italia tie at the “Dino Manuzzi” stadium back in August. Juvetus ran out 2-1 winners that day, with goals from Bojinov and Del Piero, but since then, the Bianconeri aren’t the only ones to have made significant progress.

Fully fit and tactically well-versed, both sides are blazing similarly illustrious trails in the championship this year. Just as the Bianconeri’s exemplary season can be attributed to the hard work of Monsieur Deschamps, Fabrizio Castori can be credited with Cesena’s excellent results so far, getting the very best out of the players he has available. There is an almost perfect understanding between the various elements and rarely does one see any changes in key personnel.

Castori favours a 4-3-3 featuring high-calibre players such as goalkeeper Turci (formerly of Udinese and Sampdoria), all-action holding midfielder Pestrin and Salvetti, the team’s captain and resident of the left side of midfield. Complementing the physical presence of classic centre-forward and Italian Under-21 Pellè in attack are the pacey duo of Senegalese, Papa Waigo, and former Atalanta man, Lazzari.

JUVE
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at the top
where they
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It was a satisfied Didier Deschamps who commented on the victory against Lecce: “I was really pleased with the team’s attitude. It’s great to see De Ceglie score, Venitucci play with personality and character… The youngsters and the champions together form a formidable group.
Apart from Bojinov and Palladino, who have already played in Serie A, you need to let the youngsters grow with patience”. And speaking of Bojinov: “The first goal gave him confidence, seeing as he’d had a few problems in the first half. He’s young though, he just needs to improve his build-up play”.
An analysis of the game: “We had a couple of chances in the first half. Lecce showed they are a quality side which likes to keep possession. We had the right mentality out there and after going a goal down, we believed in ourselves and turned things round”. Deschamps looked forward to the trip to Genoa. The journalists asked whether he’d have any players back in time: “I don’t think so, I’d say we’ll have to wait another week”. Then a run-down of the Bianconeri’s next opponents: Genoa create a lot of play, they conceded three goals from three shots last night but they dominated the game. Even if they haven’t had positive results of late, it’s a technical side that plays well”.
Tribute to Romeo the Kit Man
And finally a thought for Romeo, our kit-man who passed away two days ago: “All the players that knew him, including myself, will remember him with great affection. He’s someone who dedicated their life to Juventus, and as a person, he was extraordinary”.