Post by Taxigirl on Jan 7, 2004 9:28:25 GMT
Stadio Delle Alpi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pavel Nedved's wonder goal earned this hard-fought win and marked the day he picked up the Balon d'Or.
Juventus needed a confident victory to clamber back up the standings following their shock 1-1 draw at Lecce. Mark Iuliano was sent off in that tie and was therefore suspended, while Nicola Legrottaglie was out injured.
This was a particularly special occasion for Fabrizio Miccoli, who was coming face to face with his former club Perugia. However, the promising youngster was not granted a place in the starting eleven.
It was an even more memorable moment for Pavel Nedved, as the Czech international was officially presented with the Balon d'Or award before kick-off. The midfielder was visibly moved and paraded the trophy for European Player of the Year 2003 around the Stadium in a lap of honour.
The Grifoni have already set a new club record by reaching Week 15 without a single Serie A win to their name. The January transfer window has so far seen many departures but no reinforcements, as Zisis Vryzas has joined Fiorentina, while the trio of Jamel Alioui, Emanuele Berrettoni and Gael Genevier have moved to Catania.
Perhaps even more importantly for this tie, influential Italian international Fabio Grosso is suspended. Talks for Inter duo Okan Buruk and Giorgios Karagounis are at an advanced stage, but the moves have yet to be completed.
Juventus were slightly sluggish to begin with and risked conceding an early goal. The defence was caught unawares on a Ze Maria cross-cum-shot that thumped the far post. Both the defenders and Gianluigi Buffon were surprised by the trajectory.
The Bianconeri hit back and Zeljko Kalac performed a desperate reaction save on Igor Tudor's header. The Australian goalkeeper has been out for two months due to a series of thigh problems and was again forced off with an injury after 26 minutes.
However, it was only apt that the man to open the scoring was the new European Player of the Year. It was a true Nedved-style strike, a fearsome rocket from all of 25 metres that slammed in by the near post.
There was a curious moment during the first half, as David Trezeguet was clearly caught on camera bickering with teammate Alessandro Del Piero.
The start of the second period was very eventful indeed, as both sides hit the woodwork within the space of a minute.
First Del Piero's free kick curled on to the outside of the near post, but on the counter-attack Jay Bothroyd's angled drive thumped the upright with Buffon beaten.
It was not a particularly entertaining game, but Perugia always felt that they could perhaps grab a late equaliser. There were penalty appeals when Enzo Maresca appeared to handle the ball as it was floated over the defensive wall, but the referee waved play on.
Miccoli eventually stepped on to the field in the second half and his angled drive was deflected wide.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juventus: Buffon; Birindelli, Ferrara, Tudor, Zambrotta; Conte, Appiah, Maresca (Pessotto 60); Nedved; Del Piero (Miccoli 80), Trezeguet
Perugia: Kalac (Pardini 26); Diamoutene, Di Loreto, Ignoffo; Ze Maria, Tedesco, Obodo, Loumpoutis (Gatti 58), Fusani; Margiotta (Scandurra 88), Bothroyd
Ref: Racalbuto
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pavel Nedved's wonder goal earned this hard-fought win and marked the day he picked up the Balon d'Or.
Juventus needed a confident victory to clamber back up the standings following their shock 1-1 draw at Lecce. Mark Iuliano was sent off in that tie and was therefore suspended, while Nicola Legrottaglie was out injured.
This was a particularly special occasion for Fabrizio Miccoli, who was coming face to face with his former club Perugia. However, the promising youngster was not granted a place in the starting eleven.
It was an even more memorable moment for Pavel Nedved, as the Czech international was officially presented with the Balon d'Or award before kick-off. The midfielder was visibly moved and paraded the trophy for European Player of the Year 2003 around the Stadium in a lap of honour.
The Grifoni have already set a new club record by reaching Week 15 without a single Serie A win to their name. The January transfer window has so far seen many departures but no reinforcements, as Zisis Vryzas has joined Fiorentina, while the trio of Jamel Alioui, Emanuele Berrettoni and Gael Genevier have moved to Catania.
Perhaps even more importantly for this tie, influential Italian international Fabio Grosso is suspended. Talks for Inter duo Okan Buruk and Giorgios Karagounis are at an advanced stage, but the moves have yet to be completed.
Juventus were slightly sluggish to begin with and risked conceding an early goal. The defence was caught unawares on a Ze Maria cross-cum-shot that thumped the far post. Both the defenders and Gianluigi Buffon were surprised by the trajectory.
The Bianconeri hit back and Zeljko Kalac performed a desperate reaction save on Igor Tudor's header. The Australian goalkeeper has been out for two months due to a series of thigh problems and was again forced off with an injury after 26 minutes.
However, it was only apt that the man to open the scoring was the new European Player of the Year. It was a true Nedved-style strike, a fearsome rocket from all of 25 metres that slammed in by the near post.
There was a curious moment during the first half, as David Trezeguet was clearly caught on camera bickering with teammate Alessandro Del Piero.
The start of the second period was very eventful indeed, as both sides hit the woodwork within the space of a minute.
First Del Piero's free kick curled on to the outside of the near post, but on the counter-attack Jay Bothroyd's angled drive thumped the upright with Buffon beaten.
It was not a particularly entertaining game, but Perugia always felt that they could perhaps grab a late equaliser. There were penalty appeals when Enzo Maresca appeared to handle the ball as it was floated over the defensive wall, but the referee waved play on.
Miccoli eventually stepped on to the field in the second half and his angled drive was deflected wide.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juventus: Buffon; Birindelli, Ferrara, Tudor, Zambrotta; Conte, Appiah, Maresca (Pessotto 60); Nedved; Del Piero (Miccoli 80), Trezeguet
Perugia: Kalac (Pardini 26); Diamoutene, Di Loreto, Ignoffo; Ze Maria, Tedesco, Obodo, Loumpoutis (Gatti 58), Fusani; Margiotta (Scandurra 88), Bothroyd
Ref: Racalbuto