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HEYSEL STADIUM DISASTER

JUVENTUS

Allegri marks ‘darkest day in world sport’

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri on Friday paid tribute to the 39 victims of Heysel, calling the football stadium disaster the "darkest page in the history of world sport and of Juventus".

Published: 29 May 2015 13:54 CEST
Allegri marks 'darkest day in world sport'
Supporters flee the scene of riots in Heysel football stadium on May 29th 1985. Photo: Dominique Faget/AFP

The Heysel Stadium disaster saw 39, mostly Juventus fans perish when they were crushed against a collapsing wall as they tried to escape rampaging Liverpool fans prior to the European Cup final on May 29th 1985.

Juventus won the final 1-0, although their victory has long been overshadowed by the widespread belief the final should never have been played.

By a twist of fate, Juventus will appear in the final of Europe's premier club competition this year when they face Barcelona to decide the destination of the Champions League trophy next week in Berlin.

Allegri will lead his side into their final game of the season, away to Verona on Saturday, hoping to finish on a high having already secured their first league and Cup double in 20 years.

But the coach said: “Today all we should be thinking about is commemorating the victims.

“We have to make sure something like this never happens again. Football, as a sport, is a show and the show should never be hijacked by violence and vandalism.”

AFP Photo/Dominique Faget

SEE ALSO: Families still waiting on Juve: Heysel victim's son

Allegri and Juventus staff are set to participate in a remembrance mass in Turin on Friday evening at the Gran Madre di Dio church before leaving for Verona.

Although Juventus could finish with a 16-point cushion on league runners-up Roma, Allegri said he is not taking their last game of the season lightly.    

“It will be an important game for us as it's our last outing before we play the Champions League final,” added Allegri.    

“We're in good physical shape. We need to go to Verona with our heads completely focused on this game so we can finish the league season the best way possible.”

Mid-table Verona have escaped relegation and failed to qualify for Europe, but the season is far from over for Verona's evergreen striker Luca Toni.    

He sits top of the Serie A scoring charts on 21 goals, one ahead of both Juve striker Carlos Tevez, and Mauro Icardi, whose Inter Milan side host Empoli on Sunday.

If 38-year-old Toni finishes top of the pile, he will become the oldest winner of the league's 'Capocannoniere' (top scorer) award since Piacenza striker Dario Hubner, then aged 35, shared the prize with Juve's David Trezeguet in 2002.

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JUVENTUS

Five reasons why Juventus have won their eighth straight Serie A title

Italian giants Juventus claimed an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday after a 2-1 win at home against Fiorentina.Here are five factors that helped the Turin giants lift a 35th Scudetto with five matches to spare, equalling the record for the earliest any team has won Serie A:

Published: 21 April 2019 16:33 CEST
Five reasons why Juventus have won their eighth straight Serie A title
Photos: AFP

Ronaldo effect

Cristiano Ronaldo was signed from Real Madrid for 100 million euros ($112 million) before the start of the season, in a bid to end the Turin giants' 23-year wait for the Champions League trophy.

The 34-year-old left Real as their all-time top scorer, a record he also holds in the Champions League where he is the only player to have won five titles.

Despite their European exit to Ajax, the Portuguese superstar was a key player throughout the campaign with 19 league goals.

Both Juventus' Serie A defeats came in his absence — 2-0 to Genoa on March 17 and 2-1 to SPAL on April 13 — the latter frustrating their bid to wrap up the title with a record six games to spare.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who was defended by Juve last year after being accused of rape, was slow off the mark, having to wait until their fourth game against Sassuolo before scoring a double in a 2-1 win.

“Cristiano is the future of Juventus, he has had an extraordinary season,” said coach Massimiliano Allegri after the Champions League loss.

Rising star Kean

Teenage sensation Moise Kean burst through during Ronaldo's absence through injury, scoring six goals in the last seven matches for Juventus, having played just nine this season.

The 19-year-old, who provides an alternative to Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala up front, admitted: “I learn from Cristiano Ronaldo in training, I steal his secrets.”

Born in Italy to Ivorian parents, his first league appearance this season was just four minutes away against Fiorentina on December 1, with his first goals a double in a 4-1 win over Udinese on March 3.

Controversy overshadowed his only full match for the champions when he was subjected to racist abuse against Cagliari on April 2.

The youngster hit back by scoring in Sardinia and again in the following game against SPAL.

Bonucci back

Leonardo Bonucci returned to Turin after an unhappy season at AC Milan to recreate the so-called 'BBC' defensive partnership alongside veterans Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli.

The absence of the trio through injury was felt when Juventus conceded six goals in two games including a 3-3 draw with Parma on February 2 — days after being eliminated from the Coppa Italia.

“Mr Bonucci and Mr Chiellini could teach lessons at Harvard University about how to be a central defender,” said Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho.

Juventus have conceded only 23 goals in 33 games, the best record in the division.

Safe hands

Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has proven to be a worthy successor to Juventus and Italy icon Gianluigi Buffon, who left for Paris Saint-Germain.

The ex-Arsenal player arrived in Turin in 2017 after falling down the pecking order at the Premier league club.

The 28-year-old got off to a stuttering start in the season opener, conceding two goals in a 3-2 win at Chievo, but has conceded only 15 goals in the 24 times he has played so far this season.

New arrival Mattia Perin, who joined from Genoa last summer, has proved less effective with eight conceded in nine games, and was between the posts for both their league defeats.

Winning ugly

Massimiliano Allegri doesn't mind winning ugly as he claimed his fifth league title in as many years with Juventus, and sixth in Serie A after leading AC Milan to their last title in 2011.

Allegri — who has now won 11 trophies with Juventus — has strenuously defended his team's often-criticised style of play, despite Juve leading the way in the Italian top flight with 67 goals scored.

“Beautiful football doesn't pay off, at the end of the day you've got to just kick it away from your goal,” the 51-year-old fumed after the draw with Parma.

“They need to realise there is no shame in hoofing the ball into the stands if needs be.”

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