Post by Salem6 on Sept 6, 2007 9:20:45 GMT
Serie A Week 1 - 25/8/07 (19.30 UK)
Juventus 5 - 1 Livorno
Trezeguet 29, 86, 92 (J), Iaquinta pen 71, 85 (J), Loviso 94 (L)
Stadio Olimpico
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David Trezeguet had a hat-trick and Vincenzo Iaquinta a brace as Juventus demolished Livorno 5-1 on their top flight comeback.
The Old Lady returned to Serie A with a new face after their Calciopoli-imposed exile. For their debut they were without the injured Alessandro Birindelli, Marco Marchionni and Zdenek Grygera, so Domenico Criscito fought fitness concerns to start. After some poor pre-season performances, Tiago Mendes was dropped in favour of Under-21 international Antonio Nocerino.
This was also a debut of sorts for Livorno, who faced their first season without Cristiano Lucarelli. Vikash Dhorasoo and former Juve midfielder Giuliano Giannichedda were injured.
David Trezeguet had a good early chance charged down and Jorge Andrade just failed to get the final touch from close range in another opportunity.
The first real chance came on 25 minutes, as Giorgio Chiellini went on a solo run and Trezeguet turned his marker inside the area, but Marco Amelia turned the shot over the bar with an outstretched foot.
Moments later Amelia parried another snapshot from Chiellini and Alessandro Del Piero had a penalty shout, but instead the referee awarded the free kick to Fabio Galante.
Juventus finally broke through on 29 minutes, as a corner kick was manoeuvered for Del Piero's swinging cross from the left and Trezeguet was allowed a free header from six yards.
Criscito closed down a dangerous Emanuele Filippini move inside the area, but Juve were dominating and Cristiano Zanetti smashed a fine strike just over the bar.
Amelia flew to palm a Del Piero free kick out of the near top corner, but after the break Sergio Almiron failed to make the most of two promising opportunities.
Livorno removed the disappointing Francesco Tavano and gave Spaniard Diego Tristan his Serie A debut. Emanuele Filippini also made way for Volpe and Vincenzo Iaquinta took over from Del Piero.
Galante had a penalty appeal for a shirt-tug from Andrade and the former Inter defender also nodded a corner kick over.
Juve ran a major risk on 69 minutes, as Grandoni's cross from the right found Fausto Rossini totally unmarked from seven yards, but his free header was off target.
They were made to pay for that error, as moments later Juventus were awarded a penalty. Pavel Nedved chipped a cross back for Iaquinta, who was hauled back by Grandoni. With Del Piero off the field, Iaquinta took the spot-kick himself and just squeezed the ball under Amelia's hand. The goalkeeper got a touch, but not enough to keep it out. It was Iaquinta's first official goal in a Juventus jersey.
Amaranto substitute Diamanti had an effort deflected out for a corner, while at the other end Trezeguet swung wildly at a Nedved cross on the penalty spot.
Juve made it 3-0 in curious circumstances. Nedved found space on the edge of the area and unleashed a right-foot shot that took a decisive deflection off teammate Iaquinta. The former Udinese striker knew little about it, but took the credit anyway.
Livorno fell to pieces and 60 seconds later Iaquinta threaded through for Trezeguet to stroke the ball past Amelia with the inside of his left foot.
In stoppages Trez completed his hat-trick tapping in at the end of a fine individual move by Nocerino.
Livorno got a consolation goal with the last kick of the game. Former Bologna midfielder Massimo Loviso smacked a long-range right-foot drive in at the near post.
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Juventus: Buffon; Salihamidzic (Zebina 73), Andrade, Criscito, Chiellini; Nocerino, Zanetti, Almiron (Tiago 79), Nedved; Del Piero (Iaquinta 60), Trezeguet
Livorno: Amelia; Grandoni, Knezevic, Galante, Pasquale; A Filippini, Loviso, Pulzetti, E Filippini (Volpe 56); Rossini (Diamanti 73), Tavano (Tristan 53)
Ref: Gava
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/juv-liv.html