[D-Kin]

Juve tumble to Piacenza defeat Tuesday 15 July, 2008

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Juventus lost 1-0 to Piacenza on Olof Mellberg's debut, while the Amauri-David Trezeguet partnership failed to shine.

New signings Amauri and Mellberg - in a central defensive position - started the match in Trento, while Tiago Mendes was in charge of the midfield.

Vincenzo Iaquinta, Hasan Salihamidzic and Momo Sissoko were out with minor injuries, so Cristiano Zanetti and Marco Marchionni were in the initial line-up.

Goalkeeper Mario Cassano performed saves to deny Pavel Nedved, Amauri and a Trezeguet header early on, but they quickly ran out of steam.

Piacenza took a surprise lead through Argentine Simon, who got in front of Nicola Legrottaglie to volley in Anaclerio's cross from the left.

Trezeguet thought he had equalised, but the goal was disallowed for an offside position.

Claudio Ranieri made six changes at the break and Serie B side Piacenza made 10, but the performance remained below par.

Among the highlights for Juve fans were teenage Swedish midfielder Albin Ekdal and Zdenek Grygera's seasonal debut.

Juventus First Half: Belardi; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Mellberg, Molinaro; Marchionni, Zanetti, Tiago, Nedved; Amauri, Trezeguet
Juventus Second Half: Nocchi; Zebina (Grygera), Legrottaglie, Ariaudo, Molinaro; Esposito, Zanetti, Ekdal, Rossi; Amauri (Castiglia), Pasquato

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