Sunday, August 2, 2009

Barcelona's Martin Caceres 'Happy' With Juventus Loan

Jose Martin Caceres - Barcelona

Martin Caceres is poised to sign for Juventus on a season-long loan deal, after falling out of favour at the Camp Nou.

The 22-year-old Uruguayan is already in Turin, where he passed a medical with Juventus this morning, and the only pending issue now is the announcement from both clubs.

Upon arriving in the Italian city, Caceres told AS: "I am really happy to be here at Juventus, I cannot wait to start."

Caceres, who has 15 international caps to his name, will train with Juventus for the first time when they return from Spain, where they are currently competing in the Peace Cup.

He will hope to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countryman Paolo Montero who spent nine very successful seasons in Turin.

Luís Mira, Goal.com
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Del Piero And Tiago, Once Again Protagonists Against Real


The last time, at the Santiago Bernabeu, one had left the field with a standing ovation from all the Madrid public, while the other saw himself earning the best match ratings. Alessandro Del Piero and Tiago have a particular feeling against Real and even in Seville they were amongst the best.

The captain once again left his mark with two perfect crosses for Cannavaro and Salihamidzic and once again he was accompanied off the field by the applause of those present:

"They are feelings which always make you happy and which you never get accustomed to. Today we did well, closing up well and being compact while giving the impression that we are more of a team then them. These victories are important and charge us up but they must be treated accordingly. We have not done anything yet but tonight we showed we can play at high levels against anyone".

Even Tiago is satisfied. The Portuguese hit his second post after the one against Nancy in Joeuf but most of all he confirmed himself as being a new signing compared to the past years.

"I am happy because we won playing well and because of the way things are going for me. With the change in scheme I feel better. Before I was sacrificed on the defence while now I am more free and I can express myself better participating more in the attacks and proposing play. Besides, a feel more faith in me".

Juventus.com
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Cannavaro: "We Are More Of A Team Then Real"


For once, even Fabio Cannavaro can smile after a match between Juventus and Real Madrid and he can do so even more. The victory against his former mates is also thanks to his goal at the beginning of the match. The first goal by the defender after his return home is a beautiful present to the fans who welcomed him enthusiastically from the first day in Pinzolo.

"It is always nice to score. I did not celebrate only out of respect to my former team-mates. Today’s match was a challenging one, difficult as it always is against Real. The field of play did not help us but we managed to give a good performance and we’re happy to have reached the final. Juve more of a team? I think so. Real has always been like that, even when I was there. In difficult matches like this it counts on the individual moves of the single players".

Juventus.com
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Ferrara: "These Victories Help The Winning Mentality To Grow"


Ciro Ferrara said so from the first day in Andalusia that Juventus wanted to win the Peace Cup and the results are proving him right. After having beaten Seville and Seongnam, his team also gave him the joy of a victory against Real.

Besides feeling happy with the access to the final, the coach is also pleased with another step forward made by the group:

"Such victories definitely help to create a winning mentality and we are working mostly for this. I am happy with the result and with th performance. Everybody was charged-up ever since this morning’s training session and I could not have asked the boys for more. Now we are in the final and we are already thinking of Sunday’s match".

Juventus.com
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Juve Win The Battle Of The Titans


Ciro Ferrara’s team have lived up to the coach’s words fielding a great match and cruising to the final of the Peace Cup after beating the merengues featuring Cristiano Ronaldo.

The bianconeri had a fiery start immediately scoring the lead on the 4th minute. A free-kick by Del Piero is headed home by former-galactico Cannavaro with a helpless Dudek sent to the other side of the post. Four minutes later, it was Torres who cleared a dangerous cross destined to Amauri.

On the 9th minute the Brazilian goes close tos coring after receiving from Del Piero with the ball going inches or rather millmetres wide. Another absolute protagonist is Buffon who on the 16th minute saves greatly on a Guti shot.

Real try to react and on the 21st minute it is Raul who sees the ball go slightly high over the post. Juventus however continue to have the upper hand and on the 24th minute a defensive error by Real sees Amauri shooting at goal and Metzelder saving on the line with the ball destined for the net.

Amauri wins the ball again and dribbles even the goalkeeper but finds Pepe in opposition. On the half hour mark it is Chiellini who saves on Cristiano Ronaldo after a good run by the Portuguese ace.

Nine minutes later Chiellini fouls Raul in the area and the referee orders a penalty for the merengues. Cristiano Ronaldo scores from the eleven metres. The last chance of the half is for Real with Benzema left unguarded by the defence but the ball goes slightly high over the bar.

The second half sees Legrottaglie coming on for Cannavaro and also a substitution of the referee. Juventus continue wither agressive and brilliant approach to the game and exactly on the same minute another cross by Del Piero, this time finds Salihamidzic who heads behind Dudek into the net.

Two minutes before Giovinco shows great footwork to enter the area and cross towards Amauri who forces the keeper to a difficult save. One minute after the second Juve goal, Ronaldo enters the area and shoots but finds Buffon in great shape who saves. From the rebound the ball reaches Raul who shoots hitting the post. The best keeper in the world saves again 3 minutes later following a powerful free-kick by Metzelder.

On the 60th minute Giovinco makes way for Zanetti. Four minutes later Raul sends the ball very high over the bar in what seemed a dangerous opportunity and two minutes later it is Benzema who is not precise enough on the shot.

The 68th minute sees Del Piero being replaced by Iaquinta and four minutes later Marrone comes on for Felipe Melo. Juventus administer the match with great personality and go extremely close to scoring a thrid goal when a brilliant shot by Tiago hits the post in what seemed a sure goal.

On the 89th minute Camoranesi dances the samba with the ball as he goes past two defnders with a magnificent move worthy of Nureyev and shoots with Dudek saving with some difficulty. The dying minutes see Real in a desperate attempt to equalize and the galacticos go close twice.

First on the 90th minute with a Benzema header going high over the post and then on the on the 93rd with Buffon finding some difficulty to hold the ball after a cross from the right but blocking Cristiano Ronaldo from shooting at goal.

The match ends in a well deserved victory for Ciro Ferrara’s bianconeri who on Sunday will play against Aston Villa in the final of the Peace Cup.

Juventus.com
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