<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/juventus-del-piero/image/9496875?term=Del+Piero" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright" style="border: 0px initial initial" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9496875/juventus-del-piero/juventus-del-piero.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9496875" border="0" alt="Juventus&apos; Alessandro Del Piero (L) celebrates with team mates after scoring against Shamrock Rovers during their Europa league third qualifying round soccer match in Modena, northern Italy, August 5, 2010. REUTERS/Paolo Bona (ITALY - Tags: SPORT SOCCER)" width="300" height="204"></figure></div></a></div>
<p>Juventus have passed their first test, they’ve qualified for the next round of the Europa League defeating Shamrock Rovers 2-0 away from home and 1-0 in the return leg at home. Now Juventus will play a play-off against Austrian side Sturm Graz, and if they win that playoff, then they will play in the Europa League group stages.</p>
<p>The return leg was a nasty affair, heavy rain slowed down the pace of the game and reduced the field to a barely playable condition, but the stats show that Juve was dominant throughout the match. Juventus had 7 shots on goal, while Shamrock Rovers had one, and the bianconeri were able to keep 67% of the possession leaving the Irish team with 33%. But the match wasn’t an easy affair, Juve needed Del Piero to break the deadlock in the 74th minute with a magnificent free kick from 35 yards out, which Ale tucked into the top left hand corner, scraping the bottom of the bar.</p>
<p>A moment of genius which Delneri orchestrated by replacing a disappointing Diego for Del Piero at the beginning of the second half. Juventus started with a 4-4-2 or a 4-4-1-1 with Storari in goal and a back-line (from right to left) of Motta, Bonucci, Chiellini, and De Ceglie; a midfield (from right to left) of Pepe, Sissoko, Marchisio and Lanzafame; and in attack Delneri stuck with Diego and Amauri. But this time only half of the attacking duo was effective, Amauri used his physicality to fight for high balls and battle with the Irish defense, but Diego was ineffective, unable to tame the ball with the extremely watered field.</p>
<p>But as for the rest of the team, players sacrificed themselves to play a disciplined 4-4-2, Sissoko and Marchisio didn’t play the ball well, but they held the midfield. Motta at right-back was among the best, along with Bonucci and Chiellini in defense and Amauri and Del Piero in attack, who were both constant threats to the Irish defense.</p>
<p>But now Del Piero has made Delneri’s job a lot harder, a wonderful goal and a great performance which eclipses the Brazilian Diego. Who will Delneri put in his starting 11 now? It will be interesting to see what will happen in the future, whether Diego remains a starter, or whether Del Piero is just too good to stay out. Be sure to share your thoughts below by commenting!</p>


Juventus beats Shamrock Rovers 1-0 in return leg

Juventus beats Shamrock Rovers 1-0 in return leg - World Soccer Talk

<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-july-2010/image/9421500?term=Juventus" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright" style="border: 0px initial initial" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9421500/sports-news-july-2010/sports-news-july-2010.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9421500" border="0" alt="July 25, 2010 - 06220155 date 24 07 2010 Copyright imago Gribaudi ImagePhoto CI Cosenza 24 07 2010 Amichevole Juventus Olympique Lione Photo Carmelo Imbesi Image Sports Nella Photo Esultanza Gol Simone Pepe PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITA Football men try out 2010 2011 Action shot Vdig 2010 horizontal Highlight premiumd." width="300" height="200"></figure></div></a></div>
<p>Juventus have been preparing for their Europa League qualifier which will be played against Shamrock Rovers with friendlies against Hamburg (0-0) and Lyon (2-1 for Juventus). Juventus will play the Irish club over two legs, and the team with the best results over the two legs will go through. The first leg will be played July 29<sup>th</sup> in Ireland at the Tallaght Stadium, and the return leg will be played at the Braglia stadium of Modena. But first here’s what happened against Lyon, what went wrong, and what went right.</p>
<p>Juventus played with a 4-4-1-1 starting with Storari in goal, and a backline (right to left) of Motta, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, and De Ceglie. In front of the back line there was Martinez on the right wing, Lanzafame on the left wing, and Sissoko and Marchisio in the middle of the midfield. Delneri decided to start with Del Piero behind Amauri instead of Diego and Trezeguet who replaced the Italian attacking duo at the beginning of the second half.</p>
<p>Lyon went in front in the 22<sup>nd</sup> minute thanks to Chiellini fouling Ishak in the penalty area, giving the French club a penalty for Storari to face. Ederson had little trouble with the penalty as he scored to put Lyon in front. But Lyon’s fortune took a change for the worse in the 26<sup>th</sup> minute, Martinez was giving Cissokho trouble down Lyon’s left side, and Cissokho went in hard with the ball far away from the tackle. This resulted in Cissokho’s expulsion with a direct red card, leaving Lyon in 10 men ahead by a goal.</p>
<p>After the goal Juventus attacked more, Lanzafame pushed forward on the left wing, and he was able to filter through a pass for Amauri, and in the penalty box there was contact between the Brazilian/Italian and Lovren, earning Juventus a penalty. Del Piero took the penalty, scoring the equalizer for Juventus in the 38<sup>th</sup> minute of the first half.</p>
<p>In the second half Juventus was solid, Motta was a wall on the right side as he also provided Martinez with support on the wing. The defense was compact and organized, and the midfield also began to click with Pepe and Diego combining for the winning goal. It was a triangle outside the box closed by Diego’s chip which is finished off by Pepe who scores the final goal of the 2-1 scoreline.</p>
<p>Diego was a dangerous presence for the Lyon defense, and the Brazilian’s creativity and technical skill are beginning to show as he gains more confidence with his team-mates. And as Diego and Trezeguet’s attacking partnership grows, Del Piero and Amauri’s doesn’t shine as brightly. It seems like Delneri has already chosen that it will be Diego and Trezeguet who will start against Shamrock Rovers, but Delneri would like more from the Brazilian. Here’s what the Juventus coach said regarding Diego’s performance,</p>
<blockquote><p>“He’s doing very well, from him I expect performances like this, even if I would like more consistency.  I’d definitely say that I’m very satisfied with everybody.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Now there are no friendlies left before Juventus plays Shamrock Rovers on the 29<sup>th</sup> of July, while Juve will be favored, they shouldn’t underestimate the Irish champions. It will be interesting to see whether Juventus will be able to defeat Shamrock Rovers, or whether they’ll have trouble in their first seasonal competition. What do you think? Share your thoughts below by commenting!</p>


Juventus defeat Lyon 2-1 in friendly

Juventus defeat Lyon 2-1 in friendly - World Soccer Talk

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Juventus beats Shamrock Rovers 1-0 in return leg

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Juventus defeat Lyon 2-1 in friendly