Juventus 5 - 0 Palermo

[Salem6]

Serie A Week 13 - 25/11/07 (19.30 UK)
Juventus 5 - 0 Palermo
Trezeguet 29 (J), Iaquinta 41 (J), Del Piero 71, pen 92 (J), Marchionni 75 (J)
Stadio Olimpico

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alessandro Del Piero came off the bench to score two and create another as Juventus crushed Palermo 5-0.

The Bianconeri were hoping to make up for their disappointing draw with Parma and keep up with the leaders, but the Rosanero were unbeaten in six. Claudio Ranieri had to reshuffle his defence as Giorgio Chiellini was suspended with Zdenek Grygera and Jean-Alain Boumsong injured. Unfortunately former Juve star Fabrizio Miccoli missed the return to Turin with injury alongside Mark Bresciano.

Vincenzo Iaquinta was surprisingly picked instead of Alessandro Del Piero and had the first chance after three minutes, his low free kick palmed round the post by Federico Agliardi. David Trezeguet pulled away from his marker for a right-foot volley off target.

Agliardi got down well to push away another Trezeguet snapshot and Nicola Legrottaglie's header from a corner kick was deflected past the near post with the goalkeeper stranded. However, it seemed to come off his own arm. Nonetheless, the resulting corner allowed Juventus to take the lead with an acrobatic Trezeguet overhead kick at the back post from Legrottaglie holding up the ball.

Agliardi mistimed his run to close down Iaquinta and Giuseppe Biava's clearance went straight to Pavel Nedved, but Andrea Barzagli was ready for a decisive goalline clearance.

Cristian Molinaro went on a blistering run down the left and Agliardi bravely rushed out to close him down, getting a knock to the ribs as he did so. Palermo were totally ineffective in attack, but improved slightly after switching to a 4-4-2 system.

However, Juventus doubled their tally just before half-time. Iaquinta and Barzagli both went for Mauro Camoranesi's cross and the ball remained in the six-yard box, though the striker was quickest to react and tap in when he was still on the ground.

Stefano Colantuono made a half-time change, introducing forward Edison Cavani for midfielder Fabio Caserta. Nevded nodded a deflected Trezeguet cross over the bar, then the Czech had a shot charged down.

The Rosanero finally had a chance from a corner kick with Cristian Zaccardo's volley into the ground well smothered by Gigi Buffon. There were also timid penalty appeals, but Molinaro's arm appeared to be right across his torso. Iaquinta's header was over from a set play, but Amauri also threatened at the other end with a looping effort that clipped the edge of the upright.

Iaquinta used his strength to hold off Barzagli and a deflection almost caused an own goal, then Molinaro's low cross went all the way past the goal with no Juventus shirts able to get the final touch.

Iaquinta went down with cramp and made way for Del Piero, who was only introduced for the final 25 minutes, but he made an immediate impact. Within moments he had curled in one of his trademark free kicks, leaving Alberto Fontana rooted to the spot. He placed it over the defensive wall and in off the inside of the near post.

Del Piero continued to impress as he started his counter from the centre-circle after Palermo's corner kick and rolled past Trezeguet for the unmarked Marco Marchionni to drill an angled drive at the back post. The substitute had been on the pitch for just three minutes.

In stoppages Biava brought down Nedved on the counter with a clumsy sliding tackle and Del Piero coolly converted for 5-0.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Criscito, Molinaro; Camoranesi (Marchionni 72), Zanetti, Nocerino, Nedved; Trezeguet (Palladino 77), Iaquinta (Del Piero 68)

Palermo: Fontana; Zaccardo, Barzagli, Biava; Diana, Simplicio, Guana (Migliaccio 76), Caserta (Cavani 46), Pisano; Brienza (Bresciano 61), Amauri

Ref: Saccani



www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/juv-pal.html

[Salem6]

Super poker at high altitude

Juventus had to win, and they did; completely dominating Palermo, who were never in the match. The result says it all: a 5-0 score that doesn't leave any doubts. The match was already almost over in the first half after Trezeguet and Iaquinta scored. In the second half Del Piero and Marchionni came on and the score just kept increasing. The captain scored twice (a great free kick and a penalty) and the former Parma player once.

These three points push Ranieri's team back in second place, three points behind Inter Milan and on level points with Roma and Udinese. This was the best possible way to prepare the next game: the big match on Saturday night at AC Milan. This was the last match Juventus will play at night at the Olimpico in 2007. Against Palermo, Juventus wanted all three points to keep up with their opponents. Inter Milan, Roma and Udinese had all won, Fiorentina had drawn, and Ranieri's team had one and only objective: to win.

To try and win, Juventus' Manager chose Iaquinta as Trezeguet's partner up front, replaced suspended Chiellini with Criscito, and recovered Molinaro from injury. Zebina was back in the first team due to Grygera's injury. Nedved was also back, and Nocerino and Camoranesi were confirmed in midfield.

Palermo didn’t have former Juve player Miccoli in their line-up. The Amauri-Brienza partnership played up front, behind them the two World Cup winners Zaccardo and Barzagli.

After one minute of silence to honour the memory of marshal Paladini, who died in Afghanistan, the Bianconeri began going on the attack, and were immediately dangerous. Already after 4 minutes Iaquinta shot a great free kick with his right foot, and Agliardi saved very well. A minute later, Zanetti passed to Trezeguet, who volleyed wide.

Iaquinta's power was an important weapon, especially from free kicks. After 22 minutes, another long-range missile was saved by Agliardi. Set pieces proved decisive again for the first goal. Camoranesi took a corner kick, and Legrottaglie headed towards Trezeguet to volley home. Juventus insisted and after 33 minutes the second goal looked a dead cert but on Nedved's shot, Barzagli intercepted the ball before it entered the net, left empty by Agliardi who had come out recklessly.

The second goal was well deserved and it came just before the break, thanks to Iaquinta's determination: he received the ball from Camoranesi, tried a first shot and did very well to stand up and beat Agliardi from five yards on the rebound. The first half ended 2-0, a half dominated by the Bianconeri.

Second half: Colantuono's move was to replace Caserta with Cavani, but the first chance was for Juventus, with Nedved who headed high from a Trezeguet cross. The Czech midfielder was very lively at the beginning of the second half: he stole the ball at the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was intercepted by defenders. The Bianconeri took advantage of the gaps that were opening up and both Iaquinta and Molinaro had chances.

Bresciano replaced Brienza for the guests, while Iaquinta left his place to Del Piero. The Juventus Captain was immediately the star of the match. Nedved got a free kick from the edge of the box, and the Captain converted it beautifully. Ranieri put on Marchionni too, for Camoranesi. And the Rome-born midfielder left his mark right away: on a perfect counterattack, Del Piero gave him a great ball, his feint put Agliardi on the ground and it was 4-0.

Palladino also came on (for Trezeguet), but it was Nedved who went close to scoring the fifth, with Agliardi stopping his right-foot volley. The game was virtually over but the score changed again. Right at the last minute tireless Nedved was brought down by Biava. It was a penalty. The whole Olimpico called Pavel to take it. But the Czech player left it to Del Piero, who scored and closed the match on 5-0, a wide but well-deserved win.


www.juventus.com/uk/news/detail.aspx?lml_language_id=0&trs_id=1607000&ID=12852