ラ・ヴェッキア・シニョーラ、ビダルのリゴーレでミランに勝利！！ スクデットへ前進！！

Serie A Matchday 33 Juventus 1-0 Milan @ Juventus Stadium Juventus:Arturo Erasmo Vidal 57(r) Vidal penalty seals Juve triumph(Juventus Official Website)

Arturo Vidal’s emphatic second-half penalty was enough to settle a hotly-contested clash with Milan and edge the Bianconeri even closer to Scudetto glory. Clear cut chances were few and far between in an absorbing tactical battle of the Italian giants but Juventus made their golden opportunity count after Kwadwo Asamoah was sent tumbling in the box by Marco Amelia on 56 minutes. And having maintained his composure to convert in the lion’s den of Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Monday night, Vidal made it two penalties in the space of six days with an unstoppable strike that gave Amelia no chance. Talk of revenge surrounded the pre-match build-up after the Rossoneri emerged victorious from this season’s first meeting of the sides at the San Siro. And the Bianconeri showed their determination to right the wrongs of November’s off-key display in Milan with an aggressive start to proceedings. The first noteworthy attempt on goal, however, fell to Stephan El Shaarawy, recalled to Allegri’s starting line-up after sitting out last week’s 1-1 draw with Napoli. The Azzurri forward pulled the trigger on five minutes, but found Gigi Buffon equal to his well-struck drive from outside the area. With the battle beginning to heat up, the next chance fell in favour of the hosts. Andrea Pirlo drew a fine stop from Christian Abbiati after his dipping free-kick clipped off the wall and careered menacingly towards the bottom corner. The Bianconeri, operating in the same 3-5-1-1 formation pioneered against Lazio, grew in confidence and began to stream forward with intent. Paul Pogba shot over from 30 yards on 11 minutes and was again in the thick of the action moments later, drawing appreciation from the crowd for an audacious bicycle kick which passed wide of the mark. Milan edged back into proceedings as the first half wore on but were largely restricted to speculative attempts from range. Massimo Ambrosini dragged a low shot wide of the target, while El Shaarawy’s effort on the half volley was comfortably gathered by Buffon. Their best opportunity of a combative first 45 minutes fell to the feet of Robinho, but the Brazilian forward could only find the side netting as he hooked Ignazio Abate’s low cross goalwards from an acute angle. In search of their sixth consecutive Serie A success, Juventus went back on the offensive and Mirko Vucinic will feel he should have done better after failing to trouble Amelia, on in place of the injured Abbiati, with a headed effort from just outside the six-yard box. The hosts emerged refreshed from the half-time break and almost broke the deadlock when Giorgio Chiellini rose highest in the box to meet Pirlo’s outswinging corner on 47 minutes, only for the recalled defender to see his bullet header flash fractionally over the crossbar. Ten minutes later, Juventus were ahead. Asamoah’s tenacity to retrieve a loose ball in the area resulted in the midfielder being sent to ground by Amelia’s clumsy challenge. Luca Banti pointed to the spot, and Vidal did the rest with an inch-perfect strike that arrowed into the top corner. The Bianconeri now had the bit between their teeth and pressed for a two-goal cushion. A flowing move involving Claudio Marchisio, Pirlo and Pogba crafted an inviting opportunity for Vucinic, with the Montenegrin frontman only prevented from extending the lead by Phillipe Mexes‘s impeccably timed last-ditch block. Allegri’s men, approaching the encounter off the back of a 14-match unbeaten run, upped the tempo in their quest for an equaliser. Half-time substitute Sulley Muntari, introduced to proceedings in place of Ambrosini, let fly with a vicious attempt from the edge of the box which Buffon succeeded in taking the sting out of. But Juventus drew on all their determination to ride out a late Milan surge and make their dreams of back-to-back title wins an ever increasing reality. The result sees Conte’s men regain their 11-point advantage at the top after Napoli momentarily reduced the gap with a stoppage time winner in this afternoon’s clash with Cagliari. And with inter-city rivals Torino next up, Juventus will be hoping to crown a magnificent season in style with a derby day win at the Stadio Olimpico. JUVENTUS 1-0 MILAN GOAL: Vidal 57 JUVENTUS Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner (Padoin 81), Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah (Peluso 90+2); Marchisio; Vucinic (Quagliarella 90). Substitutes not used: Storari, Rubinho, Caceres, Marrone, De Ceglie, Isla, Giaccherini, Matri, Bendtner. Manager: Conte. MILAN Abbiati (Amelia 14); Abate, Zapata, Mexes, Constant; Montolivo, Ambrosini (Muntari 46), Boateng; Robinho (Bojan 71), Pazzini, El Shaarawy. Substitutes not used: Narduzzo, De Sciglio, Yepes, Antonini, Bonera, Zaccardo, Traoré, Nocerino, Niang. Manager: Allegri. REFEREE: Banti ASSISTANTS: Vuoto, Giallatini FOURTH OFFICIAL: Cariolato BOOKINGS: Amelia 56, Zapata 66, Mexes 71

残り６試合、ミランをトリノに迎えてのビッグマッチ。勝てばスクデットへぐっと近づく試合。 ７分、ユベントスはピルロのプニツィオーネがいいコースに飛ぶがＧＫアッビアーティがリフレクトで逆を突かれながらも驚異的な反射で弾き出されてアンゴロに。ユベントスにローンでいたころはイージーミスでゴールを許していた信頼性の置けないＧＫからすっかり様変わり。本当に今季限りで引退なのかなあ。 といっていたら、ＧＫアッビアーティが怪我でＧＫアメリアに後退。運が悪いＧＫというイメージがすっかりついてしまっているけれどもどうなのだろう。 ゲームはミランがポゼッションで優勢、ユーベがプレスをかけて奪ってのショートカウンターに構えているが、ユベントスはボールを奪う位置がかなり低く、つないでもミランに簡単にとられてしまう。ミランのハイプレスにロングキックを使わざるを得ない場面も多く、ＧＫブッフォンのゴールキックがラインを割る場面も目立つ。 それ以上に目立つのは主審のバンティさんにパスが引っかかるところ。プリマ・テンポだけで３回はあったか。 ユベントスは新システムがなじんでいないのか、ミスパスばかりが目立ち、ミランは決定機を作れないまま、ゴールレスでプリマ・テンポは終了。 セコンド・テンポ。ミランはアンブロジーニに代えてムンタリを投入。アンブロジーニは足首の怪我だろうなあ。ムンタリは昨シーズンの幻のゴールもあるし、ユーベにとって相性はよくない。 ユーベは前線のヴチニッチのところでボールを失うことが多く、そこから反撃を許している。エリア付近だけではなく、ピッチ中央で失ってメクセスにゴール前まで持ち込まれるなど、ミスが目立つ。ゴール前の難しい場面が多いのは事実だが。 ５７分、ユーベはアサモアをＧＫアサモアを倒して得たリゴーレをビダルが右足で豪快に決めてレッテ。アメリアは抜け出したボールへ行ったのだがアサモアが一瞬早く触り、結果リゴーレでジャッロとやっぱりついていない。 先制後にミランのゴール裏で爆竹を鳴らしたバカがいる。新スタジアムになって物騒な音を聞くこともなくなっていたのに、セキュリティが低下したのか、チェックが甘くなったのか。即刻退場にしなければ観客のクオリティはあがっていかない。とはいえ、追い出されたバカは他のところであばれるんだろうけれども。イタリアはまだまだマナーでは赤点以下だ。 ユーベは残り１０分を切って疲れの見えたリヒトシュタイナーに代えてパドインを投入。パドインはウイングバックあるいはフルバックになるだけの守備力を身に着ける練習をしていたのだろうか。攻撃はもともと得意としていたが、総合力はどうだろう。 ８９分、ヴチニッチに代えてクアリャレッラを投入。ユーベはヴチニッチがチーム最多の９ゴールなので相変わらず二桁ゴールの選手がいないまま。残り時間を考えてもクアリャレッラもビダルも２ゴールは難しい。 アディショナルタイムに入ってアサモアに代えてペルーゾを投入。ホームグロウンのデ・チェリエは移籍志願を出したあと出番はないし、このまま移籍なのかなあ。 ゲームはこのまま終了。１－０でビダルのリゴーレを守り切ったユーベが勝利。ナポリとの勝ち点１１を保ったまま残り５試合となった。