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Serie A Team of the Week: Pogba the top dog
Jan 21, 2013 12:00:00 PM
Goal.com looks at the star performers from the latest round of action from the Italian top flight
| Bet: | Returns: | Roma £26.00 | Draw £33.00 | Lazio £28.75 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Roma £25.00 | Draw £32.00 | Lazio £28.80 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Roma £26.00 | Draw £32.50 | Lazio £27.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Roma £25.00 | Draw £33.00 | Lazio £28.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Roma £23.70 | Draw £34.00 | Lazio £28.70 |
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Fiorentina goalkeeper Neto did a good job of showing up opposite number Morgan De Sanctis as the Viola drew with Napoli. A couple of excellent saves helped to preserve the home side's point and also ensured that the Brazilian remains ahead of Emiliano Viviano in the pecking order at the Franchi.
It might not have been the most memorable afternoon for poor Michele Canini, as his own goal put Atalanta behind against his former club Cagliari, but team-mate Guglielmo Stendardo capped off a great personal performance with a second-half equaliser to let his colleague off the hook. On the other side of the pitch, Davide Astori was excelling, earning him a call-up too. Ignazio Abate rounds off our back line after his great effort down the right for Milan kept Bologna out and also helped M'Baye Niang to cause the visitors a problem or two.
Paul Pogba was indeed the star of the weekend with two goals and a masterful shift at the base of midfield for Juve against Udinese, but Alessio Cerci also inspired his side to three points. The winger set up one and scored the other as Torino won in Pescara. Mariano Izco showed fantastic vision to send in Pablo Barrientos for the game-clinching second goal in Catania's away-day win against Genoa. Fredy Guarin's latest excellent performance sees him earn a mention for the second week running, with his assist for Rodrigo Palacio ensuring Inter a point from the clash with Roma.
Mirko Vucinic added to Pogba's double with a goal and a fine display for the Old Lady, and Paulo Dybala made a superb impact on struggling Palermo as they came within five minutes of defeating high-flying Lazio. And finally, Giampaolo Pazzini is in our XI for the second time of the season, and again the recognition comes for a multi-goal display against Bologna. This time though, it included a 'Pele-esque' finish that has everyone talking.
| NETO |
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| FIORENTINA |
| vs Napoli (H) |
Rating:   |
| TOTW Apps: 1 |
| ABATE |
STENDARDO | ASTORI |
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| MILAN | ATALANTA | CAGLIARI |
| vs Bologna (H) | vs Cagliari (H) | vs Atalanta (A) |
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| TOTW Apps: 1 |
TOTW Apps: 3 |
TOTW Apps: 3 |
| IZCO | GUARIN | POGBA | CERCI |
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| CATANIA | INTER | JUVENTUS | TORINO |
| vs Genoa (A) | vs Roma (A) | vs Udinese (H) | vs Pescara (A) |
| Rating: |
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| TOTW Apps: 1 |
TOTW Apps: 4 |
TOTW Apps: 3 |
TOTW Apps: 3 |
| VUCINIC |
PAZZINI | DYBALA |
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| JUVENTUS | MILAN | PALERMO |
| vs Udinese (H) | vs Bologna (H) | vs Lazio (H) |
| Rating: |
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| TOTW Apps: 2 |
TOTW Apps: 2 |
TOTW Apps: 2 |
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
5:34 PM BST
The aforementioned Gotze deal, and the way in which it was leaked to the press on the eve of Dortmund’s Champions League semi-final, first-leg clash with Madrid, has only intensified the antipathy between the two clubs, while, as you can see from the photo below, the man at the centre of the transfer has inevitably been caught in the crossfire. This is all nothing new, of course. Bayern may have loaned a cash-strapped Dortmund money a decade ago but the pair have been locked in a vicious – but entertaining – war of words in the wake of die Schwarzgelben’s subsequent re-emergence as a major force, and Daniel Buse and Enis Koylu have catalogued the best quotes here.
5:23 PM BST
Right, still plenty of time to go until kick-off, so why not get involved in our Champions League quiz on Twitter? Here's one to start you off:
After tonight, how many Champions League/European Cup finals will Bayern Munich have played in?
After tonight, how many Champions League/European Cup finals will Bayern Munich have played in?
5:18 PM BST
Bayern, as already alluded to, are desperate to atone for defeat against Chelsea 12 months ago and one man who knows all about the agony and ecstasy of Champions League finals is former die Roten defender Samuel Kuffour. The Ghanaian beating the ground in fury after seeing his side concede twice in injury time at the end of the 1999 tournament decider against Manchester United remains one of the most memorable images in the competition’s history, so check out our exclusive interview with Kuffour, who would achieve redemption just two years later when Bayern edged out Valencia on penalties.
5:14 PM BST
However, who doesn't feel anything by admiration for Jupp Heynckes? The Bayern coach learned earlier this year that he would be replaced by former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola earlier this summer but did he let it affect him? Not a bit, with Heynckes now on the verge of a historic treble. Worth noting, too, that Heynckes, who led Madrid to the title in 1998 before being replaced by Fabio Capello, has never failed to reach the final of any Champions League in which he has taken part.
5:07 PM BST
Klopp, of course, is the new darling of the football media. It’s pretty damn impossible not to love a man who speaks so passionately - and amusingly - about the game. This week alone he admitted that so distraught was he by the news of Gotze’s imminent departure for Bayern, whom he views as the villain in a James Bond movie, that he had to cancel plans with his wife to attend a movie premiere because he didn’t want to have to talk to anyone. Seriously, how could any real football fan not be a 'Klopptomist'?!
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