This weekend is the 33rd game of the season only six more to go before they call a day, after Lyon Juve travel to Udine and face Udinese.
Udinese are a team whom are struggling this season, they are on the road of rebuilding, for them the season is over as they are a mid-table team whom have enough points to stay in the top league. Last season it ended 4-1forthe guests goals from Vidal (p) Vucinic and a double from Giovinco, the hosts a late strike from Lazzari, at the Stadio Friuli hold great happy memories for Juve, Udinese at home out of 15 games they have won 8 and lost 5 times, their top scorer is Di Natale with 10 and Muriel with 4, they have Pinzi and Lazzari in infirmary with Badu setting this one out, as for Juve they have to do without Vidal who is in recovery. Juve will have to wait till Monday night for the game closing the weekend.
Juventus to scrape this one just 1-0 another free kick by Pirlo.
Second place Roma host Atalanta Saturday night, but for the hosts who have won their last six games played in the league will not find this one easy on two fronts as firstly the guests are playing for that European spot, but worst of all Roma are depleted as they are without Pjanic, Florenti and Destro, whiles in recovery are Balzaretti and Strootman, with Atalanta Del Grosso out that’s there only miss.
Last two home meeting Roma have won them, but this one at best could end up in a draw.
Sunday afternoon Napoli host Lazio in the big Sunday game, Napoli want to win this after the last bad result and Lazio want to win for the Europa league position as they are only two points of the position, but unfortunately for Lazio they have a number of players in infirmary and Napoli are at full strength. Home win by 3-1.
The other team in the mix is Parma as they travel to Bologna for the Emiglia derby. Parma need a win to stay with the group whiles Bologna need a win to try to secure Seria A football next season, Parma have to do without Parolo disqualified, been a derby a good draw here.
Verona host Fiorentina the hosts want to keep in touch whiles Fiorentina want to secure that Europa place, here we see Verona at full strength whiles Fiorentina are decimated having 5 players out, home advantage 2-1.
Sampdoria host Inter, the guests want that fifth place, but their last few games should have won but after three draws and one defeat has left them in trouble with Sampdoria not fighting for any position they could actually get a win here, and as much as it pains me I have to give them the win 2-1, but maybe just maybe Sampdoria could up their game and force a home win.
Other games Milan host Catania home win 3-0 Livorno host Chievo 2-2 Torino host Genoa 2-1
Juventus next Europa league opponents Benfica, are currently also running away with the league, they have four games left with seven points lead, this week they are hosted by Auroca hovering just above the drop zone, Benfica have not lost a league game for at least 27 games this weekend make it 28 with a 2-0 win, to secure the league and take it easy for the run in to the game against Juventus.
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A last-gasp goal from Milos Krasic was enough to secure a draw for Juventus against Benfica at Stade de Geneve on Wednesday night. 1st August 2012. There was late drama as Oscar Cardozo thought he had won the game for Jorge Jesus’ side with an 88th header, but the Serbian tapped in with the last kick of the game to level the score. With Antonio Conte’s side welcoming back some of the Italian internationals that starred at Euro 2012, it was perhaps no surprise that due to their extended summer break, the Portuguese runners-up dominated the Serie A champions during the opening exchanges. Axel Witsel was in commanding form and from his deep-lying position in midfield, dictated the tempo of the game and dominated possession. It wasn’t however, until the 10thminute that the Lisbon giants crafted a clear opening on goal. Bruno Cesar pulled away from Claudio Marchisio inside the centre circle, and curled a delicious ball into the path of Michel. The Brazil-born forward couldn’t quite make a good enough contact though, and Gianluigi Buffon saved comfortably. Still Benfica stormed forward, and it was that man Cesar again who was causing all the trouble. This time, wandering unmarked to within 25 meters of the Juventus goal, he fired a rasping shot that was fumbled by Buffon, only for the veteran goalkeeper to dive on it at the second attempt. The Encarnados maintained their domination of the contest well into the half, but with the classy figure of Andrea Pirlo on the pitch, it wasn’t long before the Bianconeri started to create chances.
The Euro 2012 star released Sebastian Giovinco on 40 minutes, who cut in from the left-hand side to strike from the edge of the area. Goalkeeper Artur made a smart save, but the 31-year-old shot-stopper completed an even better one however, just minutes later. Alessandro Matri received the ball inside the six yard box, but the former Cesena No.1 blocked his attempt at goal and made sure the teams were level going into the break.
With surprisingly few changes being made at half time, the game continued in much the same vein: Jorge Jesus’ side had a monopoly on possession, but did little going forward. And the Old Lady should have made them pay for their lack of goal scoring impetus on 49 minutes. Matri raced through after a ball from Arturo Vidal, before being brought down by Maxi Pereira inside the area. The 27-year-old forward dusted himself off to take the spot kick, but saw his effort saved by the keeper low to his left-hand side. The introduction of Cardozo added more invention to the Portuguese side in the final third, and it was his header that almost opened the scoring midway through the half. A corner from Bruno Cesar was clipped towards goal by the Paraguayan, but substitute Marco Storari was more than equal to it in the Juve goal.
More chances went the way of the Primeira Liga side, as Rodrigo Mora saw a low, angled drive saved well by Storari, but it wasn’t until the 88th minute that the deadlock was finally broken. A cross from the left-hand side by Luisinho went all the way to the far post, and Cardozo was there to nod in back across goal. The drama was not over however, as Juve were to equalise with the very last kick of the game. A cross from Joel Untersee from the right-hand side went all the way across the six yard box, and Krasic tapped it home to secure a 1-1 draw.
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