Post by Salem6 on Jan 26, 2009 12:35:14 GMT
Serie A Week 20 - 24/1/09 (19.30 UK)
Juventus 1 - 0 Fiorentina
Marchisio 20 (J)
Stadio Olimpico
Claudio Marchisio's debut Serie A goal puts Juventus temporarily top, but Fiorentina are furious with the referee. The visitors had penalty appeals, a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside and they hit the bar.
The Bianconeri were just three points off the top of the table going into this weekend. Gianluigi Buffon recovered from a flu virus to make his comeback four months after a back problem, but Momo Sissoko and Cristian Molinaro were suspended. This added to the usual injury list of David Trezeguet, Hasan Salihamidzic, Mauro Camoranesi, Tiago Mendes, Giorgio Chiellini, Jonathan Zebina and Dario Knezevic. The Viola also had absentees, as Adrian Mutu dislocated his elbow and Gianluca Comotto sat out a ban.
The rivalry between these clubs goes way back and last season Fiorentina earned a spectacular 3-2 victory in Turin, but that was their first win here since May 15, 1988. The Tuscans had lost two on the trot against Lecce and Milan, while the pressure was on Juve to catch Inter. It was the sixth anniversary of Juventus patron Gianni Agnelli's death, so his images were on the giant screens around the stadium before kick-off.
Claudio Marchisio had to clear a dangerous Luciano Zauri cross off Alberto Gilardino's head four minutes in, while Marco Marchionni went on a slalom only for his shot to be deflected over. Alessandro Del Piero attempted a spectacular chip with the outside of his right foot from just inside the box, but it was over the bar.
Stevan Jovetic was livid after he went down in the penalty area under pressure from Olof Mellberg, but the referee had a clear view and waved play on. There appeared to be contact between their toes and the Fiorentina man did little to stay on his feet, but it could easily have been a spot-kick.
Juventus took the lead soon after. Claudio Marchisio celebrated his debut Serie A goal by keeping his cool to delicately lift the angled drive over Sebastien Frey, but much of the credit goes to Del Piero for an extraordinary through ball. The disguised pass with the outside of his right foot slipped through four Fiorentina players for the on-rushing Marchisio.
Moments later Del Piero created another that Pavel Nedved flashed across the face of goal. Felipe Melo's pass over the defence allowed Gilardino to spring the offside trap, but Buffon rushed out to clear as he was lining up the shot. Mario Alberto Santana then blasted over from a promising position after a poor clearance.
Fiorentina were unlucky on 32 minutes, as Santana's towering header cracked against the crossbar. As the move continued, Buffon saved a Riccardo Montolivo follow-up and Gilardino tapped in from seven yards, but it was ruled out for an incorrect offside call. There was one Juve player - Marchionni - keeping Gila in play, but was not spotted by the linesman.
Nedved's powerful free kick whipped just past the post with Frey rooted to the spot. Del Piero set up a good chance that Cristiano Zanetti just failed to get on the end of.
On the stroke of half-time another fantastic Del Piero assist sent Marchionni clear on goal, rolling it into his path as he ran on to it, but Frey twice managed to parry the finish with an outstretched foot.
However, in stoppages a Fiorentina free kick found Per Kroldrup at the far post for a diving header, but Alessandro Gamberini got in his way and the chance went begging!
The more attack-minded Zdravko Kuzmanovic replaced Massimo Gobbi and their attitude changed, pinning Juve back with an acrobatic Gilardino overhead kick off target. Buffon had his palms stung by a Manuel Pasqual cross-shot and Jovetic ballooned the follow-up wide, as it bobbled just in front of him.
Zdenek Grygera's clumsy clearance almost wreaked havoc, but Del Piero was inspired. His surprise pass over the defence was cut back by Marchionni for Grygera, whose rocket Frey palmed over the bar.
Gilardino twice didn't get enough power to crosses and Frey smothered a dipping Del Piero free kick that almost squirmed through his legs. Marchionni cut back from the byline for Del Piero to fire over from close range after excellent build-up play from Marchisio.
Buffon showed he is back, as he performed a stunning point-blank reaction save to deny Gilardino. Santana burst down the left and crossed low for Gila to come sliding in from five yards, but Buffon parried with an outstretched foot.
Emiliano Bonazzoli replaced Santana, moving Jovetic to a trequartista role. Luciano Zauri's cross almost reached Gilardino, forcing Nicola Legottaglie into a crucial clearance. From the corner Zdenek Grygera anticipated Jovetic's shot.
The fans jeered Claudio Ranieri when Del Piero was replaced by Sebastian Giovinco and the Juventus captain looked far from happy with the decision, throwing his coat on to the ground.
Giovinco was sent clear on the counter practically from the centre-circle, but his second touch let him down and he fired at Frey. Moments later Marchionni crossed low for Amauri, who came sliding in and missed the ball by inches.
Christian Poulsen made his comeback in the final minutes and Fiorentina poured forward in stoppages, Buffon punching away a Jovetic strike after a prolonged period of pressure.
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Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, De Ceglie; Marchionni, Marchisio, Zanetti (Poulsen 88), Nedved; Amauri, Del Piero (Giovinco 77)
Fiorentina: Frey; Zauri, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Felipe Melo, Gobbi (Kuzmanovic 46), Montolivo; Santana (Bonazzoli 72), Gilardino, Jovetic
Ref: Saccani
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