Juventus squad for Shakhtar

Juventus boss Antonio Conte has named a 21-man squad for this week’s crucial Champions League game at Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Old Lady need at least a point to qualify for the last 16, while a win would actually see them top the group.

Claudio Marchisio is not included as he is suspended, while Lucio and Nicklas Bendtner are missing with injuries.

Martin Caceres returns after injury, while Giorgio Chiellini is also in the squad although it is unclear whether he will start because of fitness issues.

Squad: 1 Buffon, 3 Chiellini, 4 Caceres, 6 Pogba, 9 Vucinic, 11 De Ceglie, 12 Giovinco, 15 Barzagli, 19 Bonucci, 20 Padoin, 21 Pirlo, 22 Asamoah, 23 Vidal, 24 Giaccherini, 26 Lichtsteiner, 27 Quagliarella, 30 Storari, 32 Matri, 33 Isla, 34 Rubinho, 39 Marrone.

Serie A Team of Week 15

After a goal-packed Week 15, Dave Taylor puts together his best XI from the latest round of games.

Jean-Francois Gillet [Torino]

Held out for almost an hour and could do nothing about any of the goals. It certainly could have been a lot worse if not for several superb saves. The most outstanding saw him defy Paul Pogba’s 25-yard screamer. Ameliorative.

Marco Motta [Bologna]

The former Juventus defender pushed down the right flank throughout, putting in several dangerous crosses. Never gave the Orobici defenders a break and operated almost as a winger at times. Autocratic.

Ezequiel Munoz [Palermo]

The Argentine defender was a rock at the back and kept Diego Milito quiet for long spells, ultimately forcing him to be subbed. Always well positioned and anticipated almost all of Inter’s offensive action. Reciprocitic.

Danilo [Udinese]

The 28-year-old Brazilian was a man on a mission in defence and never put a foot wrong. It seemed his motto was they shall not pass and no-one did. Capped an outstanding performance with a fine headed goal. Magisterial.

Giovanni Pasquale [Udinese]

Controlled the left flank and got forward to worry Cagliari on numerous occasions, while never neglecting his defensive duties. Closed the game off when he collected the ball a few yards out and coolly tapped it home. Synergetic.

Claudio Marchisio [Juventus]

Scored a fabulous brace and gave a Man of the Match performance. Didn’t start in top gear but once motoring was unstoppable. Intoxicating.

Gokhan Inler [Napoli]

Embarrassed the opposition midfield and scored twice with absolute missiles from the edge of the box. Also put through several killer passes and could have had a hat-trick if not for Mattia Perin palming away another fierce shot. Antiphonic.

Marek Hamsik [Napoli]

Played some really magic football. His clever footwork along with Lorenzo Insigne’s also played a massive part in Edinson Cavani’s goal. Elucidatic.

Sebastian Giovinco [Juventus]

Showed why Juve paid out so much to bring him back. Despite his limited stature he was a giant throughout, first assisting Marchisio’s opener then scoring the second himself with a well-struck right-footer. Vindicationary.

Stephan El Shaarawy [Milan]

Another brilliant performance saw Il Faraone turn the game around with the Rossoneri’s equaliser. Following several more menacing attempts, he got his just rewards with another stunner that went in off the far post. Analepitical.

Alberto Paloschi [Chievo]

Only on for an hour but produced a performance of the highest calibre and scored a well-deserved hat-trick, following his return from injury. The pick of the bunch was his third as he headed home at the back post. Red-hot.

Special mentions: Simone Perrotta [Roma], Mattia Destro [Roma], Edinson Cavani [Napoli], Roberto Pereyra [Udinese], Francesco Totti [Roma], Stefan Savic [Fiorentina], Alessandro Diamanti [Bologna], Miroslav Klose [Lazio], Albano Bizzarri [Lazio].

Mario Gotze has Borussia Dortmund release clause

The German international is wanted by many top clubs

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze has a release clause of £30million.

The Germany international, 20, has excelled in the Champions League this season.

The clause is set to expire in July and a written offer needs to be submitted to the Bundesliga champions by April. Gotze is a long-term Arsenal target who came through the youth system at Dortmund.

The German international playmaker is wanted by a host of top clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid.

Strikers shortlisted for FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2012

The best strikers in the world

MUST SEE THIS PICTURE: The new boots from Liverpool’s kit makers

HIT OR SH*T?

Thiago Silva: PSG not yet like Milan

Thiago Silva has admitted that Paris Saint-Germain have some work to do if they are to become as big as former club Milan.

The Brazilian international left San Siro for France in the summer after a deal worth around €40m was agreed.

“Milan’s name is more feared than PSG’s at the moment, because they have won the Champions League seven times,” the South American told Champions Matchday magazine.

“We’re back in the competition after I don’t know how many years, so people don’t have that respect for us yet.

“That will come with victories, with hard work and good football, so that’s what we’re looking to do.

“We’re still growing,” he added. “It isn’t ideal to change a lot of players at the same time, it takes a while to understand each other.”

PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, has hailed the defender as one of the very best on the planet right now.

“No one has the concentration, the speed, the heading or the sense of anticipation he has,” the Italian noted. “He is on track to become the next Paolo Maldini.”

Cannavaro votes for Pirlo & Iniesta

Fabio Cannavaro has backed Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo or Andres Iniesta of Barcelona to win the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or.

The two players are among the 23-man shortlist for the honour whose winner will be announced on January 7.

“Pirlo is a player with extraordinary qualities,” the 2006 victor told France Football. “Not only did he win the Scudetto with Juventus, but he also took Italy to the Final of the European Championship.

“Meanwhile, Iniesta continues to confirm his qualities,” the ex-Italian international captain continued.

“He really is incredible. He is a fundamental player for his club and for Spain.”

The 23-man shortlist in full: Sergio Agüero (Argentina), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Mario Balotelli (Italy), Karim Benzema (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Sergio Busquets (Spain), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Özil (Germany), Gerard Piqué (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire), Robin Van Persie (Netherlands), Xavi (Spain).

January return for Maxi Lopez

Maxi Lopez is hoping to be back in action and scoring goals for Sampdoria by the end of January.

The Argentine recently underwent knee surgery and it is going to take some time for him to get back to full fitness.

“I was told that I would be able to start walking again without crutches a month after the operation, now I’ve been told it will be 40 days,” the summer signing said to Il Secolo XIX.

“There are various stages to my recovery. At this time, it is too soon to give a precise date. I obviously want to be back in action as soon as possible.

“But, in past cases like mine, three months are needed. If all goes well and if there are no complications then we are looking at the end of January.

“How am I 20 days after surgery? I could be better. My knee is a bit swollen, also because I can’t put any weight on it.

“I have clearly lost a bit of muscle tone too.”

Lopez, formerly of Catania and Milan, is currently living in a hotel in Rome near to the Villa Stuart clinic where his rehabilitation is taking place.

Ziegler not following Juventus

Reto Ziegler is not overly concerned with the fact that Juventus – the club who still own him – are top of the League.

“I don’t feel connected to the team,” the Swiss international told Rete Uno. “Juventus wanted to sell me at all costs in the summer.”

The left-back was netted on a free transfer from Sampdoria in the summer of 2011, but he has never played an official game for the club.

He was loaned to Fenerbahce last season and is currently on loan at Lokomotiv Moscow this time around.

“I’m still under contract with the Old Lady, but they never made me feel like part of the project and I therefore don’t follow them too much.

“They wanted to sell me, but they asked for quite a high price and that meant that no agreement could be reached with interested clubs.

“Then Lokomotiv arrived, they have allowed me to play football and express myself. I’m therefore happy.”

Anzhi: ‘We don’t want Sneijder’

Anzhi slammed the door on a January move for unsettled Inter star Wesley Sneijder. “He is not on the list of players who interest us.”

The Russians are the favourites to make a mid-season swoop for the midfielder, who has been told he won’t play again until he accepts a pay cut, although PSG, Manchester City and Manchester United are also options.

“There is a lot of talk about Sneijder, but I can guarantee he is not on the list of players who interest us,” said Anzhi director general Ayvaz Kaziakhmedov told FCInterNews.it.

“The club strategy does not allow for random buys. It all depends on the budget and the objectives we decide along with the Coach.

“We want to build an important squad, but that doesn’t mean we can only do it with headline-grabbing names. Signings have to be thought out. However, I won’t rule out surprises in the transfer window.”