Post by Salem6 on Nov 4, 2006 0:29:16 GMT
The Stadio Olimpico was awash with black and white this afternoon as Juventus celebrated the anniversary of its foundation in style. After the special ceremony honouring the champions of the past, it was time for the action to begin. Deschamps recalled Del Piero to the starting line-up and gave Marchisio a full debut in the centre of midfield. Chiellini returned to the left of the Bianconeri defence as Deschamps’ men looked to make it eight wins in a row. Three points tonight would take the birthday boys into the play-off zone while Brescia were looking to get their promotion campaign back on track.
Juventus could not have asked for a better start. After Trezeguet had placed a header just wide of the goal in the 2nd minute, rising highest to meet Chiellini’s out-swinger from the left wing, Del Piero opened the scoring with 6 minutes gone. The captain stepped up to take a set-piece twenty-five yards out and duly curled the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal. Viviano got a hand to it but it wasn’t enough to deny the captain a trade-mark goal (1-0). Juventus were dominating possession but Buffon had to be alert on the 10 minute mark as Del Nero attempted to beat him at his near post. The shot lacked power and the Juve keeper was able to collect down low and launch another Bianconeri attack. After a period of intense pressure the home side doubled their lead. It was Del Piero again who supplied the finish, but in rather more bizarre circumstances.
In the 22nd minute the captain curled one in from the left wing. The ball made its way through a sea of players, brushing past Colombo before ending up in the back of the net. Viviano looked nonplussed as Del Piero wheeled away to celebrate his second goal of the night (2-0).
The Brescia keeper made amends in the 32nd minute, denying Nedved from close range after the Czech had exchanged a neat one-two with Trezeguet, but he was beaten again three minutes later. The same pair combined to send through the Frenchman who, after taking the ball away from the defenders, dinked the ball over Viviano’s head with the deftest of touches. It didn’t count though, Tagliavento ruled the goal out for off-side. On 41 minutes, the Brescia defenders backed off and let Nedved shoot from just outside the box. The Czech’s effort had plenty of power but it skimmed just wide of the left post. On the stroke of half-time Marchionni was replaced by Camoranesi through injury, and seconds later, Tagliavento sent the players into the tunnel for the half-time break.
Brescia made two changes at the break but the substitutions couldn’t stop the Bianconeri from picking up where they had left off. Trezeguet raced into the box with just three minutes gone in the second period, cutting the ball back to Del Piero on the edge of the box. The captain opted not to shoot, but he couldn’t squeeze his attempted return pass through the defenders and Brescia cleared. With 50 minutes gone the injued Kovac was replaced by Balzaretti and four minutes later, Birindelli saw his right-footed thunderbolt from thirty yards tipped over the bar by the busy Viviano. In the 55th minute, Nedved tried his luck again from the edge of the box. Viviano made the save but he couldn’t gather and Trezeguet raced in to supply the finish. The Brescia number one narrowed the angle though, and the Frenchman was unable to get his shot away. On the hour mark Deschamps was forced into making another change, Boumsong hobbling off injured and replaced by Nicola Legrottaglie. Juventus looked content with their two goal lead and the pace of the game slowed significantly as it entered the final quarter. Brescia rallied and Mannini and Cortellini peppered Buffon’s goal from distance but the Juventus number one never looked troubled. In the 77th minute Del Piero sent a free-kick into the box from thirty yards out. The ball dropped at the feet of Trezeguet but the stiker’s first time effort fell into the arms of the well-positioned Viviano. On 82 minutes, Cortellini sent a dipping effort in from long range. The ball bounced menacingly just in front of Buffon but the Juve keeper got his fingers to it and Chiellini cleared the ball from danger. Three minutes from time the game took an unexpected twist with the substitute Zambellin given a straight red for a foul on Nedved. Brescia were forced to play out the remaining minutes with ten men but by then the result was beyond doubt and Juventus held on to secure the three points.
GOALS: Del Piero 6’, 22’
BOOKED: Dallamano 20’, Kovac 39’, Jadid 83’
SENT-OFF: Zambelli 87’
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Birindelli, Kovac (Balzaretti 50’), Boumsong (Legrottaglie 60’), Chiellini; Marchionni (Camoranesi 45’), Paro, Marchisio, Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet
Subs: Mirante, Guzman, Zalayeta, Bojinov
Coach: Deschamps
BRESCIA: Viviano; Cortellini, Stankevicius, Mareco, Dallamano (Zimbelli 46’); Hamsik, Serafini (Piangerelli 67’); Del Nero, Jadid, Possanzini; Colombo (Mannini 46’).
Subs: Ambrosio, Alfageme, Cerci, De Maio
Coach: Somma
REFEREE: Tagliavento
ASSISTANTS: Lion, Lanciani
4TH OFFICIAL: Bo
www.juventus.com/uk/news/detail.aspx?lml_language_id=0&trs_id=1573000&ID=9162