Post by Salem6 on Jan 21, 2008 17:13:31 GMT
Serie A Week 19 - 20/1/08 (14.00 UK)
Juventus 0 - 0 Sampdoria
Stadio Olimpico
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Juventus are held to their second consecutive Serie A draw, as Sampdoria clung on amid repeated goalline clearances for a point.
Antonio Cassano did not even make this trip down to a muscular problem, but Samp came to Turin looking for a repeat of the 2005 away victory, especially as Juve were far from in great shape with a 1-1 draw at Catania and fiery 5-3 Coppa Italia victory against Empoli in the last seven days. Giorgio Chiellini joined Jorge Andrade, Mauro Camoranesi and Jonathan Zebina on the sidelines. Tottenham target Tiago Mendes was dropped to push Hasan Salihamidzic into an unusual central position, suggesting his departure is imminent.
There had not been a draw in the last nine editions of this Serie A fixture. Italy Coach Roberto Donadoni was in the stands of the Olimpico. Alessandro Birindelli's error allowed Claudio Bellucci to fire a free kick over the bar.
Marco Marchionni was tearing his hair out after 12 minutes with the miss of the season. Pavel Nedved did all the hard work to flash the ball across the face of goal, but incredibly Marchionni sidefooted off target from a yard outside an open goal!
Samp lost Paolo Sammarco to a sprained right ankle, making way for Gennaro Delvecchio.
David Trezeguet was unlucky not to score with a delicate flick as he got in front of his marker to turn Christian Molinaro's cross inches past the far post.
There was absolute bedlam in front of the Sampdoria net on 34 minutes with three consecutive goalline clearances! Luca Castellazzi, Hugo Campagnaro and Salvatore Accardi got on the line to block Trezeguet and Marchionni, while the siege continued and Trezeguet's volley rattled the crossbar.
Yet Sampdoria nearly took the lead before half-time, as Christian Maggio was allowed a totally free header from a corner kick that thumped the base of the near post.
Vincenzo Iaquinta replaced Alessandro Del Piero and immediately fired wide, but Sampdoria wasted a good chance with Franceschini's fresh air shot on a corner.
Juventus wanted a penalty on 71 minutes when Franceschini tackled Marchionni, but he appeared to get the ball first. Trezeguet was also told to get up after clashing with Accardi.
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Juventus: Buffon; Birindelli (Almiron 82), Legrottaglie, Grygera, Molinaro; Marchionni (Palladino 73), Salihamidzic, Zanetti, Nedved; Del Piero (Iaquinta 46), Trezeguet
Sampdoria: Castellazzi; Campagnaro, Gastaldello, Accardi, Maggio; Palombo, Sammarco (Delvecchio 22), Franceschini, Pieri; Bellucci, Bonazzoli (Volpi 80)
Ref: Saccani
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/juv-sam.html