Trofeo TIM 2012 – Internazionale 1-0 JUVENTUS + JUVENTUS 1-0 AC Milan … Bianconeri Still Missing a TOP STRIKER

Created in 2001 by the TIM company (Telecom Italia Mobile), the Trofeo TIM reunites every year the three most decorated football clubs of Serie A, Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter Milan, in a three-way 45-minute match tournament (or as it’s commonly known in the peninsula: the triangolare).

The TIM Trophy has become a regular feature of pre-season soccer in Italy, giving us a tasty appetizer of upcoming big Serie A clashes, as well as the opportunity for these three Italian soccer giants to playtest their latest Summer mercato signings.

The tournament format is as follows: each team plays each other once, in a 45-minute mini-match. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the match will proceed to a penalty shootout. Points in the standings are allotted as follows:

     • Win within regular time = 3 pts.
     • Win after penalty shootout = 2 pts.
     • Loss after penalty shootout = 1 pt.
     • Loss within regular time = 0 pts.

Point tie-breakers are (in order): head-to-head record, goal differential, and goals scored.

 

★ ★ ★

 

Internazionale 1-0 JUVENTUS

 

Storari
Masi, Lúcio, Cáceres
Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marrone, Asamoah, De Ceglie
Quagliarella, Matri

 

The tournament’s opener saw Inter and Juventus square up in a real game with some good football on display. The 45 minutes were played at a decent tempo, at the end of which the Nerazzurri emerged as 1-0 victors thanks to a lone tally by Coutinho.

Up front for the Bianconeri, Quagliarella was by far the most dangerous player on the pitch and regardless of the final scoreline, the whole Juve team confirmed to be well ahead in pre-season preparation. Indeed, the opening spell had “Juve” stamped all over it, perhaps partly because – having retained the same basic blueprint as last season – the team is already in “automatic” mode and partly because, thanks to their industrious leader Antonio Conte, the Bianconeri still very much look hungry for trophies.

As mentioned, Quagliarella was all over the pitch, missing a glorious chance for a shot first, then sending the first effort of the match on target but straight at Handanovic. The Nerazzurri’s backline (Jonathan, Samuel, Chivu, M’Baye) struggled to find their tempo and balance and Juve were seemingly able to take advantage at will, but for all their enterprise the Bianconeri couldn’t get much on target

 

 
Conversely, Inter scored from their second attack of the match. Many are pointing the finger towards Lúcio for misjudging his jump and allowing Coutinho to fire a close-range shot undisturbed past Storari, but in truth the Brazilian defender has little blame in what was undoubtedly a freak-bounce from Diego Milito’s headed pass. The goal nonetheless put a swagger in Inter’s step for a few minutes, and Milito almost made it two when he arrived at the end of a cross only half a second too late at the far post.

Juve’s reaction didn’t take too long to manifest itself, and the team’s monologue promptly started up again, with Lichtsteiner and De Ceglie pushing up and down the flanks, Asamoah looking to have settled nicely into the Old Lady’s game, and Matri perhaps the only player slightly out of sync with the team’s plays.

Vidal tried his luck from a free kick then fed Quagliarella a delightful ball on 26 minutes, but Handanovic stood up to deny the frontman. Three minutes later Eta Beta again found himself in the right place at the right time but his aim was poor, while not long afterwards he failed to connect when presented with yet another chance in a crowded box.

Inter reappeared (Coutinho in the 33rd) as Stramaccioni carried out tactical experiments from the bench with new team manager Iván Córdoba at his side. Juve sharpened their attack, Inter tried out defensive alternatives (switching to three at the back), but ultimately it was the Nerazzurri who took home the three points, perhaps slightly fortuitously given the way the game went.

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	INTER-JUVENTUS 1-0
GOALSCORERS: 11′ Coutinho (I)
INTER (4-2-3-1): Handanovic – Jonathan, Ranocchia, Chivu, Mbaye (39′ Silvestre) – Guarín, Cambiasso – J.Zanetti, Palacio (39′ Longo), Coutinho (34′ Nagatomo) – D.Milito. COACH: Stramaccioni. UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Castellazzi, Benassi, Pasa, Bianchetti, Forte, Y.Del Piero.
JUVENTUS (3-5-2): Storari – Masi, Lúcio, Cáceres – Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marrone, Asamoah, De Ceglie – Quagliarella, Matri. COACH: Conte. UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Leali, Branescu, Untersee, Rugani, Ziegler, Pazienza, Pepe, Padoin, Schiavone, Gab.Appelt, Bouy, Vucinic, Boakye. UNAVAILABLE: Buffon (on holiday), Chiellini (on holiday), Bonucci (on holiday), Barzagli (on holiday), Pirlo (on holiday), Marchisio (on holiday), Giaccherini (on holiday), Isla (injd), Giovinco (on holiday). REMAINED IN TURIN: Motta, Melo, Krasic, Iaquinta.

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JUVENTUS 1-0 AC Milan

 

Storari (25′ Leali)
Masi, Lúcio, Cáceres (46′ Lichtsteiner)
Pepe (38′ Untersee), Padoin, Vidal (26′ Pazienza), Asamoah, Ziegler
Vucinic (44′ Matri), Boakye

 

In the second tie, one would have expected the Bianconeri to maintain the same fierce approach to the match against Milan as they did vs. Inter, but in reality it was the Rossoneri who came out looking more fired up. Taye Taiwo was the stand-out performer for the Devil, at both ends of the pitch (in his natural defensive position and as the extra man in attack). In the middle, Antonini’s cool-headedness and Emanuelson’s initiative kept Juve pegged back during the game’s opening salvos, and Storari was called to make his first save after only 5 minutes from Taiwo’s shot.

Juve tried to edge their way into it as the minutes passed but Milan’s high pressing game was clearly causing problems for Conte’s men, six of whom were unchanged from the first match and perhaps feeling a little groggy for it. The five newcomers in Juve ranks included Pepe and Ziegler on the wings, Padoin (who had Juve’s best chance, fizzing an effort just wide after 15 minutes) and Vucinic alongside Boakye.

 

 
The Rossoneri, with Bonera and Yepes forming the central defensive pair, looked in good mental and physical shape, though neither El Shaaraway nor Robinho bore any great influence on the game. Juve on their part were more “hit & miss”: up front Vucinic seems to have found form early, but Boakye was more about personality & good intentions than efficiency while in defence, Lúcio was again caught off-guard by a looping pass to El Sharaawy (unable to exploit the CB’s mistake).

The Bianconeri were awarded a penalty in the 31st minute when Bakaye Traoré was punished for trailing a leg inside the box on Mirko Vucinic, and the Montenegrin sent Amelia the wrong way from the spot. It was 1-0 Juventus through their talented forward, but despite all of Mirko & Quagliarella’s prowess this evening, one still has the feeling the Bianconeri are truly missing that 30-goals-per-season striker.

The game then took a bit of a nasty turn, a reminder that the TIM Trophy is more than just another pre-season friendly. Pepe left the field with a suspected thigh strain after 39 minutes (he was replaced by Primavera right-back Untersee), and there was still time for Leali (who had come on for Storari) to deny Boateng and watch Robinho in one of his characteristic fluffy finishes.

Juve’s win culminated with further injury woes: besides Pepe, Martín Cáceres was also forced off the pitch in the latter stages, and suspicions are running in the Juve camp it could be a twisted knee with ligament damage (i.e. a 2-month stop minimum).

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	JUVENTUS-MILAN 2-1
GOALSCORERS: 31′ pen. Vucinic (J)
JUVENTUS (3-5-2): Storari (25′ Leali) – Masi, Lúcio, Cáceres (46′ Lichtsteiner) – Pepe (38′ Untersee), Padoin, Vidal (26′ Pazienza), Asamoah, Ziegler – Vucinic (44′ Matri), Boakye. COACH: Conte. UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Branescu, Rugani, De Ceglie, Marrone, Bouy, Schiavone, Gab.Appelt, Quagliarella, Boakye. UNAVAILABLE: Buffon (on holiday), Chiellini (on holiday), Bonucci (on holiday), Barzagli (on holiday), Pirlo (on holiday), Marchisio (on holiday), Giaccherini (on holiday), Isla (injd), Giovinco (on holiday). REMAINED IN TURIN: Motta, Melo, Krasic, Iaquinta.
MILAN (4-3-1-2): Amelia – De Sciglio, Bonera, Yepes, Taiwo – B.Traoré, Ambrosini, Emanuelson – K.P.Boateng – El Shaarawy, Robinho. COACH: Allegri. UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Narduzzi, Pazzagli, Albertazzi, Mesbah, Iotti, Acerbi, Cristante, Valoti, Carmona, Ganz, Prosenik.

Internazionale 2-1 AC Milan

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	INTER-AC MILAN 1-0
GOALSCORERS: 16′ El Shaarawy (M), 25′ Guarín (I), 34′ Palacio (I)
INTER (4-2-3-1): Belec – Mbaye (22′ Jonathan), Silvestre, Chivu, Nagatomo (38′ Bianchetti) – Guarín (35′ Ranocchia), Cambiasso – J.Zanetti, Palacio (43′ Pasa), Coutinho (43′ Benassi) – D.Milito (28′ Longo). COACH: Stramaccioni. UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Castellazzi, Handanovic, Forte, Y.Del Piero.
MILAN (4-3-1-2): Amelia (22′ Pazzagli) – Antonini, Acerbi, Albertazzi (43′ Iotti), Mesbah – B.Traoré (40′ Prosenik), Cristante, Valoti – K.P.Boateng (20′ Carmona) – El Shaarawy (32′ Emanuelson), Ganz. COACH: Allegri UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: De Sciglio, Yepes, Bonera, Emanuelson, Taiwo, Ambrosini, Narduzzo, Robinho.

 

[Match Reports adapted from Gazzetta.it]