Can Juve Defend Their Scudetto?
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Juve turn focus from scandal to 'scudetto'
MILAN, May 12 (Reuters) - After a week dominated by a scandal surrounding tapped telephone conversations, Juventus turn their focus back to the pitch on Sunday and the securing of their 29th title on the final day of the season.
The entire board of the defending champions resigned on Thursday as investigations and accusations mounted up against Juve general manager Luciano Moggi and CEO Antonio Giraudo but on Sunday the club will be hoping for a break from the scandal.
Fabio Capello's Juventus have a three-point lead over AC Milan and anything but a defeat by Reggina will secure a second successive 'scudetto'.
Milan can win the title only if they beat AS Roma at the San Siro and Juventus lose to Reggina.
Juve's fixture is an 'away' game but is being played at the neutral venue of Bari after sanctions were imposed on Reggina after crowd trouble.
Should the two teams finish level on points the title would go to Milan who have the better of the head-to-head record against Juventus. The two games between the clubs ended in a 0-0 draw and a 3-1 victory for Milan.
Normally, in the event of a tie for top spot the clubs would play off over two legs. With the World Cup starting in June, the Football League ruled at the start of the season that there would be no play-offs this season.
Few expected the title race would go down to the wire given that Juve led Milan by 14 points at one stage and had a 10-point lead in March before a run of five straight draws.
But Capello's side have won their last two games and given they are unbeaten in their last 27 league outings it is hard to imagine them stumbling in Bari.
French midfielder Patrick Vieira is suspended and his compatriot, fullback Jonathan Zebina, is struggling for fitness.
Federico Balzaretti could step in at right back with Giuliano Giannichedda taking Vieira's slot in the centre of midfield.
Juve's preparations have been overshadowed by the scandal surrounding their general manager Moggi and on Thursday the entire board of the club resigned en masse.
The publication of Moggi's conversations with senior soccer federation officials about refereeing appointments along with two magistrates' investigations looking at his son's management agency as well as an investigation into Juve CEO Giraudo who is suspected by magistrates of false accounting, led the entire board to hand in their resignation.
Milan are without Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko who has a knee injury so Alberto Gilardino will partner Filippo Inzaghi against Roma who could feature Francesco Totti.
Totti made his return to action, after almost three months out with a broken ankle, when he came on as a substitute in Roma's Italian Cup final defeat to Inter Milan on Thursday.
Milan's Brazilian defender Cafu, who won the title with Roma and Totti five years ago, believes there is a chance of an upset on the final day.
'We still believe we can do it because anything can happen in football. Nothing is decided yet and we have to believe in ourselves until the end.
'It will be a tough game for us - we have to win it and then hope for good news from Reggina,' he said.
Unlike Reggina, Roma have plenty to play for on the final day because they can still catch Fiorentina and take fourth place which brings a spot in the qualifying round for next season's Champions League.
Fiorentina, who are away to Chievo, have a two-point lead over Roma. All three of the relegation spots have been decided with Lecce, Treviso and Messina going down. -
why this serie A always full of scandals sia?
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Juve is the best representative in terms of scandals.Originally posted by stellazio:why this serie A always full of scandals sia?
It has been known for years around the world that Juve is a cheat team, except for the federation.
JUVE for SERIE C2!!
Buffon playing in C2!! Great! -
Lets not see things on the surface...Originally posted by Jader:Juve is the best representative in terms of scandals.
It has been known for years around the world that Juve is a cheat team, except for the federation.
JUVE for SERIE C2!!
Buffon playing in C2!! Great! 
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No choice. I'm very biased against Juve after what had happened when they play against my Parma all these years.Originally posted by JusStatic:Lets not see things on the surface... 
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Forza Milan
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Juventus is a mafia controlled team.
The players looked like prisoners...
but but I like Juventus...
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They should get stripped of the titles won in the mid 90s coz the players were on dope that time.
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Originally posted by Marco_Simone:
I'm with Milan as well for the scudetto.
[b]Forza Milan[/b] -
Parma used to be one of the teams I like most in the Serie AOriginally posted by Jader:No choice. I'm very biased against Juve after what had happened when they play against my Parma all these years. -
Parma used to be one of the "Seven Sisters" of Serie A. And it used to be a bogey team for my Milan.Originally posted by JusStatic:Parma used to be one of the teams I like most in the Serie A
I like the Parma when Veron and Crespo were there. -
Yeah and I liked the Milan team consisting of Marco Simone as well.Originally posted by Marco_Simone:Parma used to be one of the "Seven Sisters" of Serie A. And it used to be a bogey team for my Milan.
I like the Parma when Veron and Crespo were there.
Where is Simone now? Is he considering coming back to the football scene? -
i still think most of Italian football is kelong...
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the mafias what..Originally posted by the Bear:i still think most of Italian football is kelong... -
Originally posted by stellazio:the mafias what..
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Juventus win 29th title as investigations go on
MILAN, May 14 (Reuters) - Juventus won their 29th Italian league title with a 2-0 final day victory over Reggina on Sunday, assuring the club of a second successive `scudetto'.
Fabio Capello's side finished the season three points ahead of second-placed AC Milan who won 2-1 at home to AS Roma.
Fiorentina's 2-0 win over Chievo assured the Florence club of fourth place and a spot in the qualifying round of next season's Champions League along with third-placed Inter Milan.
Juve and Milan will go straight into the group stage of the Champions League -- unless ongoing match-fixing investigations result in a change to the final league table.
Champions Juve are facing a series of investigations into allegations of match-fixing and, if found guilty, could be stripped of their last two titles and demoted to Serie B.
The scandal which has rocked Italian football has focused on telephone intercepts from last season featuring discussions about refereeing appointments between Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi and football federation officials.
Fans made their feelings on the affair known on Sunday with sarcastic slogans and attacks on Juventus and the federation displayed on banners at stadiums across Italy.
Just before kick-off, Milan owner and outgoing Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called for his club, who have finished second to Juve in the last two seasons, to be awarded the two titles.
A 23rd minute goal from French forward David Trezeguet put Juventus on their way and Alessandro Del Piero made sure of the win in injury time.
Milan's only hope of winning the title depended on Juve losing but Carlo Ancelotti's side at least ended the season with a win.
Brazilian Kaka put Milan ahead from the penalty spot in the fifth minute before Roma drew level with a header from French defender Philippe Mexes in the 33rd minute.
Brazilian substitute Marcio Amoroso gave Milan the win from the penalty spot after Cesare Bovo had pulled down Alberto Gilardino. Bovo was sent off for the foul.
All three relegation spots had already been decided before the final day with Treviso, Lecce and Messina heading into Serie B.
Roma, Lazio and Chievo will be Italy's representatives in the UEFA Cup next season. -
You are new to other leagues or you only watch the EPL?Originally posted by the Bear:i still think most of Italian football is kelong...