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Serie A Preview: Bottom four go head-to-head, Chievo meet slumping Fiorentina
13 March 2014
A nail-biting weekend is in store in Serie A as the division's bottom four teams face off in two crucial survival clashes.
Just five points separate the struggling quartet, with Sassuolo bottom of the pile following a dismal season that has seen them claim just 18 points from 28 games.
Sassuolo made their second coaching change of the campaign last week, restoring Eusebio Di Francesco as boss after he was sacked and replaced by Alberto Malesani in late January.
Malesani lost all of his five games in charge of Sassuolo, and Di Francesco was able to stop the rot following his reinstatement as his side played out a 0-0 draw with 17th-placed Bologna.
And Di Francesco will hope to go one better on Sunday versus second-bottom Catania, who were left to settle for a frustrating 1-1 stalemate with 10-man Cagliari last weekend.
Both sides will be desperate for a win to gain ground on the sides immediately above them, who do battle in Tuscany as Bologna visit Livorno.
Like Sassuolo, Livorno and Bologna have each undergone coaching upheaval, appointing Attilio Perotti and Davide Ballardini respectively.
But those appointments have barely made a difference to either club's fortunes, although Bologna - who are two points ahead of Livorno - can give themselves breathing room with a rare victory.
Chievo's survival prospects have been boosted with a run of two wins in their last three, and Eugenio Corini's men will look to continue that revival with success against a slumping Fiorentina side.
Fiorentina are winless in the previous four league outings, a run that has left their UEFA Champions League hopes in tatters.
Juventus should be confident of maintaining an already healthy advantage at the top by beating mid-table Genoa, a side they have not lost to in nearly five years.
The race for the Scudetto may be all-but over, however the fight for second is finely poised following Roma's 1-0 defeat at Napoli, who are now only three points behind the capital club.
Rafael Benitez's Napoli will aim to erase that deficit against a Torino side trying to avoid a fifth defeat in six, and Roma meet Coppa Italia finalists Udinese.
Two UEFA Europa League hopefuls square off as Inter visit Verona, while Parma's European credentials are to be put to the test by a Milan team that seems to lurch from one crisis to the next.
Milan were eliminated from the Champions League in midweek by Atletico Madrid, and it is unlikely to get any easier for Clarence Seedorf's side against a Parma side unbeaten in 16 league games.
Elsewhere, Cagliari meet Lazio and Atalanta take on Sampdoria.
Inter will be looking to capitalise on Verona's poor recent home form when they visit Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi on Saturday.
Having impressed in front of their own fans during the first half of the season, Verona are without a win in five Serie A matches on home soil, although they have hosted leading trio Juventus, Roma and Napoli during that time
Inter, meanwhile, recently brought an end to their dismal run of one win in 10 on the road in all competitions, emerging victorious at Fiorentina, and will want to continue their turnaround and make a late push for an unlikely UEFA Champions League qualifying berth.
Walter Mazzarri's men held Roma to a creditable goalless draw at the Stadio Olimpico in their last away fixture, before triumphing 1-0 over Torino at home thanks to a header from Rodrigo Palacio.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina have started to falter and Inter - one point behind in fifth - will be keen to take an opportunity to pull away from Verona, who sit seventh, and enhance their own European ambitions.
The reverse fixture should give this weekend's visitors confidence, with Inter having picked up a 4-2 win over Verona at San Siro earlier this season.
In an eventful encounter, a Vangelis Moras own goal gave Inter the lead in the ninth minute before Palacio swiftly doubled the advantage.
Esteban Cambiasso and Rolando found the net prior to Romulo scoring a consolation for Verona, and the teams both ended the match a man down after Moras and Ishak Belfodil were involved in a scuffle.
Cambiasso feels Saturday's clash is vital in helping Inter to build a good run of form.
"The Verona match is important because we're on the back of two tricky away trips where we've come away with a win and a draw, and winning in Verona would be a good way of consolidating our recent form," he said.
"We mustn't look too far ahead, just take things one game at a time.
"It's important Inter get into Europe because that's where the club belongs and history means you always look to achieve that: some times you manage it, sometimes you don't."
Inter will be without Juan Jesus, who remains sidelined through suspension, while Verona have no fresh injury concerns following a 2-0 defeat to Parma last time out.
Roberto Donadoni will aim to compound his former club Milan's misery when Parma visit Milan hoping to extend their Serie A unbeaten run.
Clarence Seedorf's Milan were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in midweek as they slipped to a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Spanish side Atletico Madrid in the last 16 second leg, resulting in a 5-1 aggregate scoreline.
That humbling loss effectively ends Milan's season, the 18-time Italian champions are mired in mid-table, nine points adrift of a European place, and appear to have little to play for in the remaining months of the campaign.
And Seedorf's men now meet the challenge of one their former heroes in Donadoni, who is overseeing a remarkable transformation at Parma.
Former Italy boss Donadoni won six league titles and three European Cups in his two spells with Milan but finally looks to be restoring his reputation as a coach with his current club.
Parma finished 10th last term but are now in the running for a return to European competition following a superb run of form.
Donadoni's men have not tasted defeat in the league since November and are just one point behind Milan's arch rivals Inter in the race for a place in next season's UEFA Europa League.
The visitors' form is in stark contrast to that of Milan, who approach the game on a run of four defeats in their last five games in all competitions.
Former Napoli boss Donadoni will have little regard for his former side's struggles at the weekend, however, as Parma seek to replicate the 3-2 win they earned in the reverse fixture last October.
But history is very much on Milan's side given Parma's miserable record against them at San Siro.
Parma have not beaten Milan at San Siro since the 1999 Supercoppa Italiana, when goals from Hernan Crespo and Alain Boghossian gave the Emilia-Romagna club a 2-1 success.
Milan's last league home defeat to Parma came in 1996, but that 18-year run will likely come to an end if Donadoni's side can continue to produce the form that has seen them emerge as European contenders.
The in-form visitors will have almost a full complement of players to choose form in their quest to end the long wait for an away win at Milan, with Italy international Gabriel Paletta Parma's only absentee due to suspension.
Mattia De Sciglio is banned for Milan, while forward Stephan El Shaarawy is still on the sidelines as he recovers from a foot injury.
SSC Napoli's coach Spanish Rafael Benitez (L) and Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain give a press conference at the Dragao stadium in Porto on March 12, 2014, on the eve of the UEFA Europe League round of 16 football match FC Porto vs Napoli. (AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL RIOPA)
MILAN: Juventus visit Genoa Sunday night looking to maintain their charge to a third successive Serie A title. They have a 14-point advantage over second-placed Roma. Roma host Udinese Monday, a couple of hours after Napoli’s trip to Torino. At the other end of the table, the bottom four clubs all play each other with 19th-placed Catania visiting bottom club Sassuolo and Livorno hosting Bologna.
Here are five things to know about the Serie A this weekend:
MILAN MISERY AC Milan have to move swiftly to recover from their Champions League disappointment if they want to qualify for Europe next season.
Milan lost 4-1 at Atletico Madrid Tuesday as they became the last Italian team to be eliminated from Europe’s elite competition. Clarence Seedorf’s men can now only aim for next season’s Europa League.
Languishing 10th in Serie A, Milan are eight points behind Parma, the team who currently hold the last qualifying spot and their opponents Saturday.
“It’s not true at all that Milan doesn’t want to go to the Europa League,” Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said. “This will be the club’s target from now until the end of the season.
“Sunday we have to win against Parma and so get to within five points of them. Milan has always been in Europe in the past few years and so wants to continue being there.”
JUVE HEADING FOR HAT-TRICK Juventus beat Fiorentina 1-0 Sunday to move 14 points clear at the top of the standings, after second-placed Roma lost 1-0 at Napoli.
However, Roma have a game in hand and Juventus coach Antonio Conte refuses to acknowledge – publically at least – that his team have one hand on a third straight league title.
“Nothing’s changed, the battle for the title isn’t over,” Conte said. “There’s still 11 matches, which is 33 points.”
Juventus, who are in the midst of a Europa League tie with Fiorentina, travel to Genoa Sunday looking for a fifth straight victory.
PERSONNEL PROBLEMS FOR ROMA Juventus may not be admitting the title fight is over, but Roma have all but thrown in the towel.
Coach Rudi Garcia has said that now his team must aim for second spot after the weekend’s defeat left them looking over their shoulder.
Roma are now only three points ahead of Napoli and have a weakened team for Monday’s match against Udinese.
Daniele De Rossi has two more matches to sit out following his three-match ban for punching Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi. Another key midfielder is also out after Kevin Strootman seriously injured his knee against Napoli.
The Dutch international is expected to be sidelined for six months and will miss the World Cup.
Maicon is also suspended but Roma will likely welcome back talismanic captain Francesco Totti
BENITEZ THE MASTER Napoli are enjoying an impressive season and will be looking to draw level with Roma when they visit Torino Monday.
Not only do they have second spot in Serie A in their sights, but they are also in the Italian Cup final and in the Europa League last 16, after being eliminated from the Champions League despite getting 12 points from their group games.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis believes it is down to one man – coach Rafa Benitez.
“Rafa came to a new league, he inherited only half of last season’s squad, as well as having to fit in 12 new players,” he said. “Despite all this, in the first year up until now we are third, we are playing very well in Europe, which has never happened in the past, and we are in the Italian Cup final.
“I have to say that Rafa Benitez is a master of football. He is a unique person, really profound and I am happy to be able to work with him for our future.”
BATTLE FOR EUROPE After losing at Parma last weekend, Hellas Verona now face another direct rival for a European place when they host Inter Milan Saturday.
Verona have dropped off the pace of late and sit four points behind Inter in the standings after just one win in their past five matches.
Following a poor start to 2014, Inter are now unbeaten in their past five games.
“Inter has a squad full of so many champions, who form a strong group,” said Verona’s Juan Manuel Iturbe, who has been linked with a move to Inter in the summer. “But we will try to do our game, taking advantage of the fact that we’re playing at home, hoping that it will be a good night.”
Serie A Wrap: Sassuolo grab vital win, Juve leave it late
16 March 2014
Sassuolo boosted their Serie A survival hopes with a 3-1 win over Catania, while Juventus scraped a last-minute 1-0 win at Genoa on Sunday.
Gonzalo Bergessio had grabbed a first-half lead for Catania, who looked dangerous through Spanish winger Keko, but Sassuolo hit back with three goals after the interval to leapfrog their opponents and leave the Sicilians bottom of the table.
Half-time substitute Simone Zaza levelled the scores before Simone Missiroli and Nicola Sansone made sure of Sassuolo's first win in nine outings, which moves them within three points of safety.
Livorno are the side to catch for the bottom three after they moved out of the drop zone on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Bologna, who dropped into the relegation zone in their place.
Marco Benassi and Paulinho scored on the counter to put Livorno in command, though they were made to sweat for three precious points.
Ibrahima Mbaye was dismissed for a second yellow card with 10 minutes of normal time to play, and Innocent Emeghara's red card five minutes later put the hosts down to nine and gave Bologna a penalty, which Lazaros Christodoulopoulos converted.
Livorno were able to cling on for a victory that moves them to the safe haven of 17th place.
At the top of the table, Andrea Pirlo curled in a stunning 89th-minute free-kick as Juventus claimed a scrappy 1-0 Serie A win at Genoa.
Gianluigi Buffon had earlier saved an Emanuele Calaio penalty, while Pablo Daniel Osvaldo saw two efforts chalked off for offside as Juve struggled in the absence of the league's top scorer, Carlos Tevez.
With Roma playing on Monday, the win puts Juventus 17 points clear at the top of Serie A.
Milan's week of misery continued as fan protests preceded a 4-2 home loss to Parma, who recorded a first Serie A win at San Siro since 1996.
Ex-Milan forward Antonio Cassano scored in both halves for Parma after the hosts had goalkeeper Christian Abbiati sent off for fouling Ezequiel Schelotto in the penalty area in the fifth minute.
However, from 2-0 down with less than 40 minutes to play, Milan fought back as Adil Rami headed in a corner before Mario Balotelli converted from the penalty spot to draw his side level.
Parity lasted less than two minutes though, substitute Amauri flicking in as Parma's bid for a European place gathered pace with their 16th league game without defeat and fifth Serie A away win in a row, sealed by Jonathan Biabiany's late header.
Fiorentina halted their recent slump with a 3-1 home win over struggling Chievo, although they lie seven points behind third-placed Napoli in the table.
Two clubs troubled by off-field unrest, Cagliari and Lazio, met at Stadio Sant'Elia, with the capital club triumphing 2-0.
Lazio boss Edy Reja has overseen a recent upturn in form, and goals in each half from Senad Lulic and Balde Keita saw them rise to seventh place with a third win in four league games.
Atalanta beat Sampdoria 3-0 in a mid-table clash, a third straight success lifting the victors four places to ninth.
Milan coach Clarence Seedorf has revealed he and several of the club's players met with ultras leaders after Sunday's 4-2 loss to Parma.
Build-up to the San Siro fixture was marred by fan protests in the wake of Milan's disappointing UEFA Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Milan entered the match with four losses in their last five, and banners were displayed outside San Siro while the team bus was jeered as it entered the stadium.
The protests were reportedly targeted at club vice-president Adriano Galliani and striker Mario Balotelli, while another defeat can have done no good for Seedorf's long-term prospects in the job.
Ex-Milan striker Antonio Cassano scored twice for Parma as they beat their 10-man opponents to record their fifth away league win in a row.
Seedorf also said that some of the players who met with the ultras were Balotelli and Kaka.
"These are delicate situations with people who have this club in their heart, both on and off the field," Seedorf told Sky Sport Italia.
"The meeting was very peaceful, they expressed their sentiments, but nothing in particular happened.
"They all want what is best for Milan, so after two years of suffering they felt the need to express their emotions.
"I was there briefly and there were also some positive things said, as everyone has great respect for the jersey.
"Sometimes it helps just to listen and give the fans a voice, so they know we hear them."
Seedorf sets sights on Europe, rubbishes sack rumours
16 March 2014
Milan coach Clarence Seedorf maintained he is aiming for European football next season, while he rubbished suggestions he might be sacked.
After three straight defeats in all competitions, including a 4-1 thumping at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, black clouds of despair again surround Milan with the club's ultras planning a protest before the clash with Parma on Sunday.
While the protest reportedly will target Milan striker Mario Balotelli and CEO Adriano Galliani, Seedorf's future has also been questioned in the Italian media, not that the 37-year-old Dutchman is worried.
"How many times has a coach been at risk after a few months, despite signing a two-year contract? I am not responsible for the situation that was created. I am here to improve the situation," Seedorf, who was appointed coach in January after Massimiliano Allegri was sacked, told Milan's own TV channel.
"I have a contract, the club has faith in me and I am trying to give my best.
"There was a lot of work to do here, so I am certain that with me the club will construct a strong Milan for future seasons.
"It doesn’t matter if you are not optimistic, because I am."
Milan host Parma on Sunday and desperately need a win if they are to bridge a 10-point gap to fifth-placed Fiorentina before the end of the season.
Fiorentina sit in Serie A's final qualification berth for next season's Europa League, which Seedorf considers the minimum acceptable finish for Milan.
"When I got here, I did not find a team in good physical or psychological shape. We can't think everything will improve straight away," Seedorf said.
"The players are improving but results have not been consistent, so that is what we are looking for now.
"We have to turn the page, target European qualification and focus only on what happens on the field."
Many in Italy have blamed Balotelli for Milan's 5-1 aggregate loss to Atletico in the Champions League's round-of-16 but Seedorf denied the 23-year-old striker would be punished.
"Do I use the carrot or the stick? I only use the carrot," the 37-year-old said.
"When there's the need to check on a situation, I do it, but my philosophy is to face everything with a smile.
"Will I punish him (Balotelli)? I want a rapport between adults, not between an adult and a child."
The former Real Madrid player says he is doing everything he can to give the Azzurri boss a selection headache ahead of the tournament in Brazil this year
Parma's Antonio Cassano is hopeful of making Cesare Prandelli's Italy squad for this summer's World Cup.
The 31-year-old striker scored twice in Sunday's 4-2 win over his former side AC Milan, a result that extended the club's record unbeaten run to 16 Serie A matches.
Parma have won their last five league road trips - extending another record - and Cassano has now scored 11 Serie A goals this season for the club, who are right among the battle for European football.
Cassano last appeared for Italy at Euro 2012 but is considered to have an outside chance of featuring in Prandelli's 23-man squad for this year's Brazil showpiece, having missed the 2010 edition after falling out of favour under Marcello Lippi.
"I swear I'd love to go, as I've never been to a World Cup," Cassano told Sky Sport Italia.
"I'm doing everything I can to make the coach's decision difficult.
"I don't know what my chances are, but I really hope [to go] and am keeping my fingers crossed."
Cassano made his Italy debut in November 2003 and has since gone on to score 10 goals in 35 games for his country.
The Frenchman says his team deserve to play in the Champions League next season and is delighted to welcome Francesco Totti back into the team for Monday's game
Roma boss Rudi Garcia has urged his side to put together a strong finish to the season in tribute to injured midfielder Kevin Strootman.
The Netherlands international suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in last week's defeat to Napoli, and is certain to miss the remainder of the season, as well as the World Cup in Brazil.
Ahead of Monday's game with Udinese, Garcia called on his side to get back to winning ways as they look to cement a top-two finish and make certain of Champions League football in 2014-15.
"We want to do well for Kevin, as he deserves to play in the Champions League next season," the Frenchman said.
"In order to have a great season, you need to avoid too many injuries.
"Very few of our injuries were muscular, which means the work we did in fitness training was good, but you can’t do anything to protect against traumatic injuries during games."
Garcia welcomed the return of Francesco Totti to the side for the clash in the Stadio Olimpico, saying it will give his side a greater threat going forward that they may have missed in Strootman's absence.
"I also now have more attacking options with Totti's return, so we needed some good news after a series of bad news moments," he said.
"We won't play with Totti the way we do with Mattia Destro or as we did with Marco Borriello. The team has to adapt.
"He's not like Gervinho either, someone who needs the ball played to feet into space.
"I have a choice to make on the left, as Alessio Romagnoli did very well, but now Dodo and Michel Bastos are also available."
Roma and Napoli continued their battle for second in the Serie A by recording victories on Monday.
Roma remained three points clear of the San Paolo side thanks to an 3-2 win over Udinese at Stadio Olimpico.
The capital club took the lead as early as the 22nd minute as captain Francesco Totti scored his sixth league goal of the season.
Totti pounced after Gervinho was played through on goal and had his shot saved, with the veteran expertly tucking away his chance from 15 yards.
Gervinho was involved again as Roma doubled their lead just eight minutes later, with his pass setting Mattia Destro free.
Destro showed good composure to round Udinese goalkeeper Simone Scuffet and tap into the unguarded net on the half-hour mark.
Roma's inspirational captain Totti was perhaps to blame for the visitors' second as he was robbed of the ball in his own half by Giampiero Pinzi, who ran forward and scored an excellent left-footed effort six minutes into the second half.
Roma's response was emphatic though as Greece defender Vasilis Torosidis thrashed past Scuffet from 25 yards to restore their two-goal lead.
Udinese kept fighting and Serbian defender Dusan Basta netted from a corner with 10 minutes to play, but Roma did enough to hang on.
Earlier, Napoli claimed a last-gasp 1-0 win at Torino thanks to Gonzalo Higuain's 90th-minute goal.
Torino looked lively in the first half, with Cesare Bovo hitting the post with a powerful long-range strike.
And the woodwork also denied Torino eight minutes into the second half, as Riccardo Meggiorini – who had tested Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina in the first half – also hitting the post.
Ciro Immobile had a pair of good chances for Torino but failed to take advantage, and although Dries Mertens had a late effort saved, there was still time for Higuain to net a dramatic winner.
The Argentina forward latched onto a long ball and his effort was too hot to handle for Torino goalkeeper Daniele Padelli.
AC Milan will stick with Seedorf, insists Berlusconi
By Myfanwy Garman
Mar 17, 2014 5:26:00 PM
The Rossoneri owner has given his backing to his head coach, arguing that the former midfield ace is not to blame for the situation they currently find themselves in
AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has given Clarence Seedorf a vote of confidence after a poor start to the Dutchman's coaching career at San Siro.
The Rossoneri suffered a sixth consecutive defeat in all competitions when they were beaten 4-2 by Serie A rivals Parma on Sunday, with the latest in a string of setbacks sparking a fan protest outside the ground at full-time.
The pressure is now mounting on Seedorf, even though he only took over in January, but Berlusconi insists that he still has the utmost faith in the rookie boss.
“Seedorf is not up for discussion; he will remain our coach even next year,” Berlusconi said in a statement on ANSA.
The former Italian Prime Minister admitted that his team’s form this season has been unacceptable but argued that Seedorf is not to blame for the current situation.
"Milan is a team built badly,” Berlusconi added.
Sunday's loss to Parma saw the Rossoneri slip to 11th in the Serie A standings, 20 points behind Napoli in Italy's third and final Champions League berth.
AC Milan are destroying their good work, says Maldini
By Enis Koylu
Mar 18, 2014 9:33:00 AM
The Rossoneri legend has slammed the running of the club in recent times and claims their poor form leaves him feeling both angry and disappointed.
Paolo Maldini says that AC Milan's struggles this season have gone a long way towards destroying the good work that they have done over recent years.
The Rossoneri sit 11th in Serie A following a shock 4-2 loss to home to Parma on Sunday, some 12 points off a Europa League spot with 10 game left to play, and were beaten 5-1 over two legs by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16.
And Maldini, who spent 24 years at San Siro, winning six Scudetti and five European Cups, has slammed the running of the club following a second-successive season of disappointment.
"Inside of me there's a mixture of anger and disappointment," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Not so much because of the results, but because I get the impression they're throwing away what was built with hard work over the last 10 years.
"That makes me feel awful. I know how much work there was behind all those glories, what it took to build such a beatufiul story. It makes me crazy to see everything destroyed.
"They cannot compete with Juventus or the top 10 teams in Europe. There isn't a project."
The 45-year-old has confirmed that he did hold talks with Barbara Berlusconi over a potential return to the club, taking away the sporting responsibilities of Adriano Galliani, whose methods he feels are outdated.
"I had two interviews with Barbara. After the division of responsibilities, I have been touted as the successor to Galliani's sporting duties, but I have not heard from anyone.
"I was ready for a role in sports. Milan have many employees but are missing someone from a sporting perspective.
"Galliani is a great leader, but can't understand players. He does everything himself and this is not possible. If you only sign the players of one Fifa agent, sometimes you can make the deal, sometimes you can't.
"At the bottom of it, there must be knowledge. [Former director Ariedo] Braida played a marginal role in recent years, before there was Leonardo, who helped Galliani understand whether a player was suitable to Milan or not.
"I remember when Leo wanted me at all costs to become sports director, Galliani said: 'We don't need him'."
Maldini also believes that coach Clarence Seedorf has been left with an impossible task in turning around the Rossoneri's fortunes.
"It's obvious that he's not an expert, but he has a lot of courage and personality, but not even Pep Guardiola could do anything," he added.
"This isn't Clarence's fault. [Pippo] Inzaghi spent two years with the youth team and this is important."
The operation to repair damage to Kevin Strootman's knee has been "a complete success", according to Roma.
The Netherlands midfielder tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the 1-0 defeat to Napoli earlier this month, an injury that means he will miss the remainder of the Serie A season.
The injury has came as a huge blow to Roma, while the player himself now looks almost certain to miss the FIFA World Cup later this year.
There was, however, some positive news on Tuesday with the club revealing in a statement on their official website: "This morning Kevin Strootman underwent surgery on his left knee at the AMC hospital in Amsterdam.
"The surgery, performed by Professor Van Dijk, Professor Kerkhoff and Dr Heijboer, and in the presence of Roma's head of medical staff Dr Colautti, lasted approximately two hours and was a complete success.
"During the operation a reconstruction of Strootman's anterior cruciate ligament was carried out, and injuries to the medial and lateral meniscus were treated.
"The player will begin his rehabilitation therapy within the next few days in Amsterdam."
Marotta: Champions League exit cost Juve 25million
19 March 2014
Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta has revealed that exiting the UEFA Champions League cost the club €25million.
Antonio Conte's side were knocked out of the competition in December after finishing third in Group B.
Juve's Champions League fate eventually went down to the final group game and a 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray saw the Turkish champions progress at the expense of Conte's men, a result that Marotta admitted has had a significant financial impact on the Turin outfit.
"A football club has to deal with an imponderable factor," he told Corriere dello Sport.
"And that's results on the field. The imponderable is the uncertainty of the game.
"Just one goal can have such a huge meaning. Our exit from the Champions League cost us €25m."
But Marotta is upbeat about Juve's overall financial performance, which he says has been positively impacted by the 2011 move to the 41,000-seater Juventus Stadium.
"Our financial growth compared to the rest of Europe is slow - compared to England for instance," Marotta added.
"In some stadiums we have under 50 per cent attendance. But for us, the new stadium has played a key role in the diversification of our revenues.
"More people through the turnstiles means more opportunities in the market."
Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has vowed to stick with the club amid severe criticism from fans and Paolo Maldini.
Milan have endured a nightmare season so far, and sit a lowly 11th in Serie A following a 4-2 home defeat to Parma on Sunday.
Fan protests preceded the defeat - Milan's fourth in a row - in which fans reportedly directed their anger at Galliani and striker Mario Balotelli.
And Maldini has also moved to blame Galliani for the club's dismal performance this term.
Maldini spent his entire career with Milan, winning seven Serie A titles and five UEFA Champions League crowns, but feels that Galliani's "failure to understand the players" has been a key factor in the club's decline.
Galliani was convinced to stay by club president Silvio Berlusconi in November after tendering his resignation, and is now eager to guide the 18-time Italian champions through this difficult spell.
"I'm not quitting," he told RAI. "I've been with Berlusconi for 35 years and I'll be by his side for as long as he wants.
"I've decided to remain silent, although I'm talking to the president every day."
Milan travel to Lazio on Sunday hoping to earn only their 10th win of the campaign.
Juventus coach Antonio Conte has confirmed Carlos Tevez will start the second leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie with Fiorentina.
The Argentine has missed the last two games since scoring the winner against Thursday's opponents in Serie A earlier this month.
One of those two games was the first leg in Turin, where Mario Gomez's late strike cancelled out Arturo Vidal's early opener and gave Vincenzo Montella's side the advantage ahead of the return encounter in Florence on Thursday.
Perhaps mindful of Juve's need to score at least once to progress, Conte confirmed that Tevez will return to his starting XI before insisting that the Serie A leaders are treating the competition and their opponents with the utmost respect.
"We'll look to honour the Europa League with pride, passion and enthusiasm," he said.
"We'll give it everything we've got. Every game in Italy is full of tension and pressure.
"We're used to this, Juve must always win and the same applies (on Thursday).
"We've got plenty of respect for them (Fiorentina). There isn't one specific player to fear, the team as a whole is full of top individuals."
Thursday will be the third time the two sides have met in less than three weeks and Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is expecting another stern examination.
"(It) will be a different game and another test for us," he said.
"You can't hide the fact that Fiorentina have excellent players. They have the ability to give you a hard time and can also count on a capable coach."
Serie A Preview: Fiorentina out to keep faltering Champions League hopes alive
20 March 2014
Fiorentina know nothing but a win at Napoli will suffice if they are to retain hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League.
Vincenzo Montella's men have experienced a wobble at precisely the wrong time in recent weeks, going four Serie A matches without a win until Sunday's 3-1 home success over Chievo stopped the rot.
That poor run has seen them drop 10 points behind Napoli, who currently occupy the third and final Champions League qualification berth.
With 10 games remaining, Fiorentina know anything other than maximum points in Naples on Sunday will surely leave them with too much to do to break into the top three.
It will be no easy task though, as they face a Napoli outfit that has lost just one home match in the league this season - that coming in November when Parma edged them 1-0.
Since that defeat, Napoli have lost just once in 15 Serie A matches, a surprise 3-0 beating at the hands of Atalanta last month.
The Naples outfit are in equally desperate need of the points as they look to close the three-point gap to the second-placed Roma, who sit in an automatic Champions League spot.
Roma could be six points clear by the time Napoli play, though, as they travel to Chievo 24 hours earlier.
Elsewhere in the race for European football, fifth-placed Inter host Atalanta while Parma, a point and a place below Walter Mazzarri's side, welcome Genoa.
Parma are unbeaten in 16 league fixtures and won 4-2 at Milan on Sunday.
Milan, who have now lost four matches in a row in all competitions, go to the seventh-placed Lazio in search of a much-needed win.
Fan protests preceded Sunday's defeat and pressure is building on manager Clarence Seedorf, who replaced Massimiliano Allegri in January.
At the wrong end of the table, bottom club Catania have the daunting task of taking on runaway leaders Juventus at Stadio Angelo Massimino while Sassuolo, who climbed off the bottom after beating Catania last week, visit Udinese.
Livorno got the better of fellow strugglers Bologna last week and they will be hoping to take that winning momentum into their trip to Torino, and Davide Ballardini's men need to bounce back when they take on Cagliari at home.
Elsewhere, Sinisa Mihajlovic was scathing in his assessment of his Sampdoria players following last week's loss at Atalanta, and he will demand a response when they welcome Verona.
