Post by Salem6 on Nov 20, 2007 13:31:37 GMT
Serie A Week 10 - 31/10/07 (19.30 UK)
Juventus 3 - 0 Empoli
Trezeguet pen 51, 62, 70 (J)
Stadio Olimpico
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David Trezeguet bagged a hat-trick in the space of 19 minutes to see off Empoli, but Tiago Mendes also impressed.
The Old Lady of Italian football was feeling decidedly angry after two controversial penalties saw them lose 3-1 at Napoli on Saturday. A win was needed to close the gap on rivals Inter ahead of this weekend's top of the table clash, but Claudio Ranieri was without the suspended quartet of Pavel Nedved, Nicola Legrottaglie, Antonio Nocerino and Giorgio Chiellini. Former Empoli star Sergio Almiron faced his old teammates.
Empoli had Antonio Busce' sidelined, but Sebastian Giovinco and Claudio Marchisio were eager to impress, as they are on loan from Juve, having come up through their youth academy. However, the Tuscan side had just one point from seven Serie A visits to Turin, a 0-0 in November 1998.
In the opening minutes Luca Saudati failed to make the most of a good opportunity set up by Igli Vannucchi, while at the other end Daniele Balli parried a Domenico Criscito snapshot.
Vincenzo Iaquinta's free kick pierced the defensive wall, but did not surprise Balli. Juve seemed uninspired in the first half and struggled to find a way through the organised Tuscan outfit.
Straight after the restart David Trezeguet turned a header over the bar and the Frenchman earned a penalty for Balli's unco-ordinated rush out that scythed down his legs as he ran on to Tiago Mendes' through ball. Trezeguet took the kick himself and buried it centrally despite Balli getting a touch to it with a trailing foot.
Trezeguet completed his brace with a precise header under the bar from six yards, redirecting a Tiago free kick.
Tiago has barely featured this season, but he provided another assist for Trezeguet's hat-trick. Del Piero set up the Portuguese midfielder for a strike that Balli parried into the path of the Frenchman.
Balli picked up an injury, so as Empoli had already completed all their substitutions, striker Saudati had to go in goal for the final 13 minutes.
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Juventus: Buffon; Birindelli, Grygera, Criscito; Molinaro; Salihamidzic (Marchionni 85), Zanetti, Tiago, Palladino (Camoranesi 73); Iaquinta (Del Piero 59), Trezeguet
Empoli: Balli; Raggi, Piccolo, Marzoratti; Antonini (Abate 64), Marianini (Giovinco 55), Marchisio, Moro, Tosto; Vannucchi (Volpato 65); Saudati
Ref: Celi
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/juv-emp.html