COPPA ITALIA – Juventus 2-1 Bologna – Into Extra Time With An Extra(ordinary) Man!! Sempre PRINCIPINO!!

Juventus vs. Bologna started like most Coppa matches. Neither team looked particularly sharp out there, as both squads had underwent heavy rotation. The Bianconeri struggled to carve open good opportunities, and when they did, they were met by a superb goalkeeping display from Federico Agliardi. The second half opened up significantly as the Old Lady stretched play and laid siege to Bologna’s goal. When in the 90th minute, Conte and his men at long last thought they’d grabbed the winner, Raggi’s equalizer silenced the Juventus Stadium and pushed the game into extra time. At which point, who other or better than Claudio Marchisio to score Juve’s match-winner? ALWAYS PRINCIPINO!!
 

MATCH ANALYSIS      (by Aaron Giambattista)

Juventus B took on Bologna B in a what started as a fairly boring encounter. Due to heavy rotation, both teams were clearly playing a bit disjointed as the players were rusty and not exactly used to playing with each other. Both teams were playing with a rather heavy touch, making it difficult to string a series of passes together.

Again, Antonio Conte’s influence changed the match significantly. As the manager had hinted in his press conference, Giaccherini had started out playing in a 3-man midfield but it simply was not working. So Conte switched from a 4-3-3 to more of a 4-4-2, with Giaccherini wider and Del Piero more narrow and this improved the team’s play. At half-time, whatever our manager said or did, it worked. Again. The players looked much more aggressive in the second half, cutting Bologna open and forcing Agliardi into several superb saves.

With about 20 minutes left the game was still tied 0-0, and Juventus had only one striker (Luca Toni) left on the bench. Yet what did Conte do? He sent in Marchisio. Giaccherini scored a wonderful goal in the 90th minute, but his name isn’t Claudio. In some ways, it felt appropriate for Raggi score that late equalizer and send the game into extra time. Because after the 90th minute it was all Juve, and the domination was capped with wondergoal from, once again, Claudio Marchisio.

HEART OF JUVENTUS

This was a game for Juve’s reserves to prove themselves. Not the easiest thing in the world, most of them being short of match form and playing with teammates note exactly oozing with confidence. For example, Fabio Quagliarella had not had a start in a competitive match in nearly a year: very natural for him to be rusty. The same went for Eljero Elia, who had played less than 90 minutes this entire season. In midfield, a player like Michele Pazienza will usually have a difficult time playing a superb game, if playing alongside a Primavera like Luca Marrone and an out-of-role Emanuele Giaccherini. That said, this was their chance to impress. So who seized their opportunity?

PROVED THEIR VALUE

• Marco Storari – The best #2 in the world had a very good game. While he did commit a big error, handing the ball straight to Gimenez off a goal kick (something I do in FIFA all the time) he more than made up for it with a string of excellent saves.
• Luca Marrone – As stated above, the center midfield wasn’t the strongest with an out-of-position Giaccherini, yet young Marrone made a good debut. He proved why Conte believes in him, however. Ran around the pitch alla Vidal and was omnipresent in play.
• Emanuele Giaccherini – Was anonymous for much of the first half (the “Giaccherini interno”-experiment didn’t go so well). The second half he was one of the most animated members of the squad, oozing creativity and hard work. Scored a golazo (two actually, but the the referee wrongfully disallowed the second one).
• Alessandro Del Piero – The Captain’s shooting and eye for goal is a bit rusty for sure, but his control, dribbling, and vision is still there 100%. 120 minutes will hopefully push him back into form and in contention to play.
• Fabio Quagliarella – It was a decent game from Quagliagol, who led the line and had a few good shots on net. Slowly but surely, Quags is coming back from injury.

NOT IMPRESSING, BUT NOT POOR

• Eljero Elia – If the game had ended at 95′ without Raggi’s equalizer, Elia would surely have ended up in the next category. In the second half, he was completely anonymous, losing the ball, getting frustrated, receiving few passes, and generally looking terrible. Showed flashes of his skill in extra time, some good dribbles, determination to win the ball back, nearly scored, and provided a neat assist to Marchisio.
• Michele Pazienza – He was supposed to be the guarantee in midfield, and did an alright job. Pazienza’s useful to this team, but it’s never good to be overshadowed by a 21-year old Primavera product in a Coppa match. Bit more errant passing than against Cesena.
• Marcelo Estigarribia – Given El Chelo has had a bit more playing time than the rest of the frigne players, I expected a bit more from him. Ran quite a bit, but didn’t play as well as he had in prior games and didn’t cut Bologna open.

FAILING TO STAKE THEIR CLAIM

• Milos Krasic – It wasn’t a terrible game from Milos, who had a few darting runs and looked much improved over the last few months. He had one or two horrible misses in front of net, which could simply be due to rust, but to me, they suggest he is still completely missing confidence.
• Paolo De Ceglie – Had a good opportunity to impress as Barzagli-Bonucci in the middle offered consistency and guarantee. Did alright with Gimenez and got forward, but didn’t look like there was any reason to move Chiellini back to CB to accommodate him. His time to impress at Juve is running out.
• Frederik Sorensen – Like De Ceglie, was next to two great performers. Did better intercepting the ball and passing in the second half, but didn’t offer much offensive output. That’s not his characteristic, of course, but he didn’t show any reason to play him right now.

PLAY-BY-PLAY      (by Marco Pantanella)

•	Classic 4-4-2 for Juventus in this one it seems, which probably will turn into an offensive 4-2-4 at time but at any rate, Conte is veering away from his 4-3-3 for this Coppa match. Unless, we consider Krasic the third “striker”, that is.
•	After receing 8 stitches against Cesena, capitan Del Piero is back on the pitch and will be starting this match alongside Quags, but not without donning some stylish black headgear on his head!
•	On the Juve bench: Manninger, Chiellini, Pepe, Marchisio, Estigarribia, Elia, Toni. With the exception of Primavera goalkeeper Simon Sluga, all 19 players called up by Conte are present either in the dugout or the pitch.
•	For their part, Bologna will line up as a 4-1-4-1 with Gimenez and Vantaggiato out wide.
1′	And we’re off!
3′	Pazienza cross from the right, tries to find Del Piero/Quags but it’s delivered straight to the arms of Agliardi.
4′	Cross-shot by Vantaggiato from the left wing. Storari is attentive and blocks the ball on his first post.
8′	Giaccherini tries a cross from the left to find Quags, deflected by the defense and easily loops upwards for Agliardi to seize.
9′	Krasic acceleration in the middle, gets upended by Loria. Yellow card for the Bologna player.
9′	From the FK, Del Piero tries his luck from long-range! Just a yard wide!!
12′	Juventus ‘B’ have seemed motivated and dynamic so far these first 10 minutes, but a bit disorganized.
14′	Another foul on Krasic, and another FK delivered by Del Piero… this time straight at Agliardi.
15′	Giaccherini-Del Piero exchange on the left wing, Giac attempts a shot and scuffs it quite badly into goal kick.
16′	Brainfart Storari/Bonucci!! The keeper passes it short for Leo, who believing he had space lets the pass slide by. It’s gone straight to Gimenez (!), who gets inside the box and messes up a great Bologna opportunity with a weak shot. Conte cringing on the bench, and rightfully so.
18′	Turnover Bologna after a bad Pazienza pass. Bonucci stops Gimenez well with a slide tackle. The ball is crossed in and eventually cleared, and it’s Juve’s turn to break. Krasic slides it for Quags who gets fouled by Vantaggiato, but the ref waves play on.
21′	Really lovely skill by Marrone, who dribbles in short quarters through two Bologna players, then on the return pass sends a one-time aerial through ball for Giaccherini. The play dies down though.
23′	Del Piero tries to use his dribbling repertoire to penetrate inside the box from the left. He’s blocked by J.A.Crespo.
24′	Ugh so close from Quagliarella/Krasic. Fabio had found a good corridor for the central insertion of Milos, but put too much weight on his pass.
27′	Good skills from Del Piero to create some space for a mid-range shot, but his left-footed effort is way wide.
29′	A long ball finds Marrone on the right, his cross for Del Piero is cleared by Loria.
30′	On the other end, a long Bologna build-up is eventually cleared by the Juve defense. That’s been the story of this match so far.
33′	Foul Pazienza from 30 yards. From the FK, venomous strike by Vantaggiato!! Storari flies to parry it into corner!
36′	At last Juve with a promising break. Giaccherini counters on the left, slides it for Quagliarella who enters the Bologna box and… overhits his cross for Krasic at the 2nd post.
38′	Dangerous build-up by Bologna, neutralized by Bonucci into corner. Storari claims the ball on the ensuing set piece.
39′	On the ensuing turnover Juventus score through Krasic, but it won’t count. Meelosh was at least 3 yards offside on that Giaccherini pass.
40′	Ugh. We see the good stuff followed by the bad stuff here by Juve. Lovely long ball for Pazienza to Giac on the left. Even lovelier step-over to beat his marker and find a cross. The cross itself isn’t the great, and even worse is Krasic’s attempt at redirecting it to the center. GK.
42′	ENORMOUS CHANCE JUVE!!! Krasic, who had drifted to the center, tries to slide it inside for Quags. It hits off a Bologna defender who slips and falls, leaving the ball with a great opportunity for Fabio, but his toe-poke finds Agliardi’s foot. The defense clears, but only as far as Sorensen who then blasts it a yard wide!!
43′	On the other end, scary stuff by Juventus in defense. First De Ceglie scuffs his clearance. Then Marrone, similar to what he had done earlier, tries a dribbling maneuver in very dangerous territory. He somehow succeeds and slides the ball sideways for Sorensen, who uses Swiss gasoline to get to it.
45′	Half-time at Juventus Stadium. Drab match so far.

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Half-time impressions:

• Poor showing by ‘Juventus B’ so far. We are looking rather disorganized out there, failing to find any kind of free-flowing football. It’s of course difficult to demand that, given both the formation and squad aren’t as drilled as our regular starters. Yet, after the initial minutes in which we appeared motivated, even our drive seems to have progressively been lost.
• A few individual comments: De Ceglie appears very rusty and unsure of himself; Marrone is showing character in midfield, perhaps even brazenness (too much), Krasic alas, is being industrious but wasteful, much as he has been the entire season so far; Del Piero/Quagliarella haven’t gotten terribly good service so far.
• Tough to guess if Conte will make any line-up changes at the half, but it is likely he’ll go for the psychological motivation first, roster changes second. But if the scoreline still doesn’t change to Juve’s advantage, I expect to see a few ‘senators’ (Marchisio, Pepe) make their appearance, along with Luca Toni.

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46′	No changes at the half.
47′	Right from the start, BIG CHANCE JUVENTUS!!!. Giaccherini sends it long on the left for Del Piero, who stretches and crosses it low for Quags just at the byline. Quagliarella turns, tries to find a shot, but then slides it for Marrone at the penalty spot!! Instep shot by the Primavera player, parried away by Agliardi!! Krasic gets on the rebound with his rotating half-volley is a yard wide!!!
48′	Giaccherini has picked up knock after that pass to Del Piero. But he seems alright. Meanwhile Conte has asked Toni, Estigarribia, and Elia to begin their warm-ups.
49′	Seems Juve have shifted to a more officially ’4-3-3′ formation, Del Piero on the left and Krasic high up on the right.
50′	De Ceglie crosses it low from the left. Cleared by Raggi.
51′	DEL PIERO!! Krasic puts on the turbo and advances centrally. Manages to find Del Piero, who turns and fires a shot at the first post. It’s saved by Agliardi’s trailing leg!!
52′	On the developments of the corner, Del Piero tries to find Bonucci, who had stayed up. Just a hairbreadth short for Leo!!
52′	Another chance Juve!!! 3v2, Quagliarella moves the ball centrally and with Giaccherini on his left and ADP on his right, Fabio tries his luck himself! Parried away by Agliardi!!!!
53′	Another run forward by Krasic, almost gets a lucky rebound! This match is coming alive!!!
54′	Now Del Piero almost finds Giaccherini on the overlap, intercepted.
55′	Yellow card Bonucci for a cynical challenge on Pulzetti.
56′	Substitution Bologna: Garics comes off for Morleo.
57′	Lovely interchange between Giaccherini and Del Piero to move the ball on the left wing, out of the danger zone.
58′	DEL PIEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Receives the ball in the box, turns, and slides it an inch wide of Agliardi’s right post!!!! OMG what a chance!!
58′	Yellow card Raggi for dissent. He was complaining Del Piero had fouled him while receiving that ball.
60′	DEL PIERO AGAIN!!! MAGICAL stuff by Alex, who twists and turns and makes space, exchanges passes with Quagliarella and arms a shot from 20 yards… straight at Agliardi.
62′	Nice dummy by ADP to leave the ball to Quagliarella. Eta Beta tries the shot, blocked by the defense.
63′	FK Juve from the right. Del Piero takes it, Quagliarella with a difficult header… way wide of target.
64′	Substitution Bologna: Perez comes off for Krhin.
65′	Substitution Juve: Krasic comes off for Elia. Not a terrible game by Krasic, applauded by the public. Now show us what you got, Eljero!!
66′	DANGER BOLOGNA!!! Taider cross from the left. Acquafresca gets to the ball before Bonucci and forces Storari to good reflex save into corner!
67′	What’s funny is that before that chance just now, I had no idea FreshWater was even on the field! Just tells you how many shots on goal Bologna have had…
68′	Looks like next on the subs list for Juve is El Chelo. Probably for Giac.
68′	Substitution Juve: It’ll actually be Quagliarella. Seems like his leg is bothering him. Estigarribia comes on.
69′	Looks like Del Piero will now occupy the lone striker position, surrounded by Esti/Elia on the sides.
70′	Del Piero FK from 30 yards. Low to Agliardi’s left post. Saved into corner!
73′	GIACCHERINI!!!!!!!!!!! Estigarribia with the cross from the left, Del Piero hooks and relays it back for Giac, whose absolute howitzer of a shot is turned over the bar by Agliardi!!!!
76′	Pazienza with two back-to-back mistakes. First he lets Vantaggiato get away on the left, who almost connects with a through ball. Then when Juve retrieve it, he passes it straight to Krhin for another turnover!
77′	Giaccherini again!! Twisting and turning just outside the box, finding space for a shot (this time with his left) and missing the target by only a few yards.
78′	Marchisio is going to come on. Meanwhile Juve FK from the right. Punched away by Agliardi.
79′	Low cross by Elia from the right. Deflected and smothered by Agliardi on his first post.
79′	Giaccherini wins a FK much closer to Bologna’s box this time. Del Piero territory…
80′	Substitution Juve: Marchisio comes on for Marrone.
80′	Del Piero off the FK, deflected two yards over the bar! Corner Juventus!
81′	Dangerous cross from the left by De Ceglie!!! Somehow the Bologna defense gets it out of danger.
83′	Poor show for Elia so far. He seems a lost soul on the field and on top of that, is wasting almost every ball coming his way.
84′	Substitution Bologna: Paponi comes on for Gimenez, visibly exhausted.
85′	ELIA!!!! FK Del Piero, loops in their air after a Bologna deflection, lands to the Dutch winger who slams the ball straight at Agliardi’s protruding hands!!! Corner.
86′	Elia again, flicks the ball to himself and gets to the byline for a cross. He’s tackled by a Bologna defender and doesn’t even earn a corner.
87′	On the other end, Acquafresca controls the ball outside the box and slams it at goal. Storari parries it away!!
88′	Groan… Del Piero goes down after an aerial challenge with Taider. He seems hurt. Our captain cannot get a break…
88′	ADP’s fine. Fortunately. He gets back on the field.
89′	Through ball by Sorensen for Marchisio. He tries to find space, but runs out of real estate. Goal kick Bologna.
90′	Possession stats: Juventus 54-46% Bologna.
90′	GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL JUVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! Emanuele Giaccherini!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
90′	The Goal: At the death, Juventus finally take the lead!!! A Loria bad pass gifts the ball to Giaccherini near midfield. The ex-Cesena player moves forward and skips past one, then two Bologna players, into the box on the right. He powers a hard shot to the far post that at long last, beats Agliardi!! 1-0 Juventus!!!
91′	Hahaha on the bench Antonio Conte is miming Luca Toni’s “twisting ear” celebration.
91′	FIVE MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME.
93′	Barzagli clears the ball into corner to break down a potentially dangerous play. Meanwhile Pulzetti stays on the ground, Giaccherini landed on his knee after an aerial challenge.
93′	Things are getting heated on the field. Bologna’s coach Pioli is vehemently arguing with Conte on the sideline, while a mini-scuffle is breaking out on the pitch as well. Can’t seem to understand the reasons though.
95′	Yellow card for Acquafresca and Pazienza for the aforementioned scuffle. Meanwhile Agliardi has come up the field for that Bologna corner.
96′	Goal Bologna. Raggi. Unbelievable. 1-1
96′	The Goal: Completely unmarked, Raggi powers the header in off the CK. Man-marking fail by Juve (De Ceglie the culprit it seems), just at the dying seconds.
97′	Full-time. There will be 30 minutes of extra time.

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91′	We’re back on the pitch, and Bologna are down to 10 men. Pulzetti can’t continue due to his injury, and the Rossoblu have used up all their substitutions. They’ll play 4-4-1 and hope for PKs, surely.
91′	Another ball lost by Elia. ANd Vantaggiato goes down, for receiving a hit by the Dutch player.
93′	Terrible crosses from the right… first by Bonucci, then Sorensen.
94′	Elia tries to get past Paponi, but pushes his ball too far. Then commits a foul. Paponi goes down as if he had been shot. Disgraceful (not to mention transparent) play-acting by Bologna here, who are clearly intent to hold out for penalties.
95′	Corner Bologna. Cleared. Crespo goes at it from long-range and skies it.
96′	Wasted ball by Juve, with Marchisio trying to find ADP over the Bologna D-line but sending it straight to Agliardi.
98′	Agghhhhh.. good play build-up wasted again by Elia with a poor cross. I’m shaking my head… :/
99′	Good God. Juve allowing J.A.Crespo to get in on the right, and even undisturbingly pass it low for a Vantaggiato shot just outside the box. Inadequate stuff here, as Bologna win a corner. Come on lads!!
101′	AAAAAAAAAAAAGHHH. Referee ignores a possible handball inside the Bologna box, after a Pazienza pass/shot. Play continues with the ball landing to Elia, who can’t get it under control to fire at Agliardi!!!
102′	Replay showing those handball claims were justified, though the foul might have been outside the box.
103′	GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL JUVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! Claudio Marchisio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
103′	The Goal: SEMPRE LUI!!! ALWAYS Il Principino. What skills by Marchisio, who receives inside the box from Elia, flicks the ball from his right to his left to turn Khrin, and arms a low shot into Agliardi’s left-bottom corner!! 2-1 Juventus!!!
104′	And an assist for Elia to boot, who at least will have done something right today.
105′	AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHH!! SO CLOSE FOR JUVE!!! Perfect Sorensen through ball for Elia, who returns onside just in time. Low cross to the middle for Del Piero, SOMEHOW deflected by Crespo into corner with the net wide open!!!!
106′	Ugh. Del Piero scores from an Elia pass, but he was a yard offside.
106′	The first half of extra time comes to an end.

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106′	Back on the field right away. Elia tries to get around a Bologna defender, pushes the ball too far yet again. At least now that we’re in the lead, he’s playing with a bit more confidence it seems.
108′	Giaccherini!!! Sends it inches wide from 20 yards, after a good build-up involving Sorensen, Elia, and Del Piero!
109′	Good Juve break on the left with Estigarribia, tries to send it low for ADP. Offensive foul, FK Bologna.
110′	Out of the ordinary: referee Sebastiano Peruzzo needs treatment. Rolled his ankle a bit maybe?
112′	AARGHHH!!! Linesman FAIL!! Giaccherini goal disallowed for a Del Piero offside, who seemingly was not. Del Piero had beautifully relayed a header back for Giaccherini, whose one-time effort had slipped under Agliardi’s body.
113′	Another big chance Juve!! Vertical ADP pass for Marchisio inside the box, who tries to go low towards the far post. Agliardi gets down well.
114′	Elia sprints back to retrieve that lost ball. Well done there.
115′	Marchisio from mid-range!!! Deflected!! CK Juventus! You get the sense the third goal’s just around the corner…
116′	Goddamnit Elia. You just can’t do two consecutive things right. He tries to beat Morleo one-on-one, but each time the Bologna defender reads him well. Smarts continuously winning over speed today.
118′	Unbelievable. A GENIUS aerial backheel by ADP puts Elia one-on-one with Agliardi (!!!) … but once again the Dutchman fails! Poor attempt at a chip straight into the keeper’s arms. You won’t fool him with that my friend, not this Agliardi today.
119′	ADP from long range. Miles over the bar.
120′	Sorensen stays down after a challenge with Paponi. Juve’s turn to waste some time.
121′	All over. JUVENTUS BEAT BOLOGNA 2-1 AT THE JUVENTUS STADIUM. The Bianconeri move on to the Quarter-finals, where they will play the winner of Roma vs. Fiorentina.

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ANALYSIS WRAP-UP      (by Aaron Giambattista)

Bologna didn’t simply roll over this game. While they played their B team, like Juventus, Stefano Pioli had them well drilled tactically. Bologna pressed hard and made sure that this game was not simply a walk in the park. Juventus outplayed Bologna, but it took a long time due to Agliardi’s heroics to break open the match.

At the very worst, this match was a useful 120 minutes for several players to get in their legs. Paolo De Ceglie, Giaccherini, Del Piero, Pazienza, and Marrone all got a good amount of playing time to attempt to get into some kind of match fitness and form. Hopefully this will allow them to shake off the rust.

It was a good match for Antonio Conte to evaluate his players, and an impressive match for Conte’s leadership. He cobbled together a handful of “outcasts” and after 30-45 minutes, got the team playing aggressive and cohesive. Il Mister has clearly shown that he’s not just a great motivator, but can instill tactical shape into his side as well, even among substitutes.

Lastly, there was little mention of him the entire post, but one word for our Principino: FENOMENO.

In Conte We Trust!

 
 
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	JUVENTUS-BOLOGNA 2-1
GOALSCORERS:90′ Giaccherini (J), 90+6′ Raggi (B), 102′ Marchisio (J)
JUVENTUS (4-3-3): Storari – Sorensen, Bonucci, Barzagli, De Ceglie – Marrone (79′ Marchisio), Pazienza, Giaccherini – Krasic (65′ Elia), Quagliarella (68′ Estigarribia), Del Piero. COACH: Conte. (UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Manninger, Chiellini, Pepe, Toni).
BOLOGNA (4-3-2-1): Agliardi – Crespo, Raggi, Loria, Garics (56′ Morleo) – Pulzetti, Perez (64′ Khrin), Taider – Gimenez (84′ Paponi), Vantaggiato – Acquafresca. COACH: Pioli. (UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Lombardi, Portanova, Casini, Coda).