MD7: Fiorentina - Juventus 7/10/07

[Jager]

No Juve fans in Florence Tuesday 2 October, 2007

Juventus fans have been forbidden from attending this weekend’s game against Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

The decision was taken after scenes of violence at last weekend’s Derby della Mole between the Old Lady and Torino.

Fiorentina and Juventus share one of the most bitter rivalries in calcio and have a long history of animosity, prompting fears that the friction may spill over to the terraces.

Napoli supporters have already been told that they cannot travel to the San Siro for the Partenopei’s game against Inter on Saturday.

The ban was put in place after Vesuviani fans threw bottles at Napoli’s win over Livorno and last weekend’s fixture against Genoa was played behind closed doors at the Stadio San Paolo.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Pathetic.

[Jager]

channel4.com - Football Italia

Serie A Week 7 - 7/10/07 (14.00 UK)
Fiorentina - Juventus

Stadio Franchi


One of Serie A’s bitterest rivalries resumes this weekend when Juventus travel to Tuscany to take on Fiorentina.

The hatred goes back all the way to the Viola’s founding year of 1926, but it wasn’t until the 1981-82 season until things got really heated. The Gigliati were denied a Scudetto on the final day due to some controversial decisions in both their game with Cagliari and Juve’s clash with Catanzaro. Suffice to say, the Old Lady emerged as champions. Things got even worse in 1990 though, when Roberto Baggio traded his purple shirt for the black and white stripes of the Turin outfit.

What all that means is that a game which was already shaping up to be a cracker has a bit of added spice. Unfortunately, Bianconeri fans won’t be able to cheer their boys on though, as they have been forbidden from attending the Stadio Artemio Franchi. The decision was taken after scenes of violence at last weekend’s Derby della Mole between the Old Lady and Torino, which was settled by David Trezeguet deep into stoppage time.

The French hitman has been in stunning form this term, netting seven goals already in Serie A to help Juve up to second place. He might offer little else to the team, but that doesn’t matter when he’s banging them in at this rate. With Vincenzo Iaquinta likely to be absent through injury it means that Trez and Alessandro Del Piero will once again lead the line, although the latter has been struggling for form of late as his contract talks continue to drag on.

That doesn’t mean that Claudio Ranieri won’t be living up to his ‘Tinkerman’ nickname though, as he looks set to ring the changes. Jonathan Zebina is back from suspension after slapping a cameraman following his dismissal against Cagliari in Week 2 so Zdenek Grygera is likely to make way for him. Domenico Criscito is also likely to return to the side despite a difficult start to the campaign, with Cristian Molinaro missing out and Giorgio Chiellini reverting to left-back. Changes aren’t restricted to just the backline though, as the suspended Cristiano Zanetti sees his place go to Sergio Almiron, while summer signing Hasan Salihamidzic offers more on the right-hand side of the pitch than Raffaele Palladino.

Fiorentina’s unbeaten start to the season will be under major threat by one of Italy’s top clubs for a third time, having already faced Milan and Roma. Both of those matches finished all square to leave the Viola in third place, just a point shy of their Week 7 opponents. Adrian Mutu was a scorer against both the Rossoneri and Giallorossi and he will be keen to repeat the trick this time out against the club he left in 2006 after Calciopoli.

The former Chelsea forward is one of a number of players returning to the starting XI after missing out on the win over local rivals Livorno. Two-goal hero Pablo Daniel Osvaldo is the man to make way for the Romanian forward as Mario Santana and Giampaolo Pazzini make up the attacking trident.

Unlike Mutu, Federico Balzaretti is unlikely to be given an opportunity against his old club as he is set to drop to the bench, with Manuel Pasqual taking his spot at left-back. A double change in midfield is likely to see Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Massimo Gobbi make way for Marco Donadel, who returns from suspension, and Riccardo Montolivo.

Recent meetings between the sides have certainly gone Juventus’ way, as you have to go back to December 1998 for the Viola’s last success. It’s also usually a game for the neutrals, as these clashes tend to see plenty of goals. There have been a couple of 3-3 draws since the turn of the century, while you have to go back to the days before Channel 4 started covering Italian football to find a goalless draw in Serie A.

Keep an eye on: Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina) – The Romanian ace reckons he’s better than Francesco Totti and he’ll be doing everything in his power to prove that to his former employers.

Last season: Not played

Form guide: Fiorentina (D D W D W) Juventus (W L D W W)


Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Donadel, Liverani, Montolivo; Santana, Pazzini, Mutu

Juventus (probable): Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Criscito, Chiellini; Salihamidzic, Nocerino, Almiron, Nedved; Trezeguet, Del Piero

Ref: To follow...

[D-Kin]

Juventus squad: 1 Buffon, 2 Birindelli, 3 Chiellini, 4 Almiron, 5 Zebina, 7 Salihamidzic, 9 Iaquinta, 10 Del Piero, 11 Nedved, 12 Belardi, 17 Trezeguet, 19 Criscito, 20 Palladino, 21 Grygera, 22 Vanstrattan, 23 Nocerino, 24 Olivera, 28 Molinaro, 30 Tiago, 33 Legrottaglie

[azzurri]

Toro fans arent banned though, despite over 90% of the arrests being Granata. The league once again make an idiotic decision. Lets kill the atmosphere of 1 of serie a's most heated rivalry's.

Zanetti is suspended, which is a huge loss. Only player in midfield who has played consistently well.

[D-Kin]

Nocerino to fill in then, I'm not too concerned about that.

[D-Kin]

Fiorentina squad: Balzaretti, Dainelli, Donadel, Frey, Gamberini, Gobbi, Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Lupatelli, Lupoli, Montoilvo, Mutu, Pasqual, Pazienza, Pazzini, Potenza, Semioli, Ujfalusi, Vanden Borre, Vieri.

[D-Kin]

FT 1-1.

Mutu's last minute penalty saved Fiorentina.

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 7 - 7/10/07 (14.00 UK)
Fiorentina 1 - 1 Juventus
Iaquinta 23 (J), Mutu pen 88 (F)
Stadio Franchi

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Adrian Mutu's late penalty stopped his former club from conquering the Stadio Franchi in a tense but entertaining encounter.

One of Serie A's most bitter rivalries resumed after a year's absence for the Calciopoli scandal and found both clubs battling for second place. The Viola were still feeling the strain of Thursday's UEFA Cup victory on penalties against Groningen, while the Bianconeri were fresh from the 1-0 Turin derby win and welcomed back Jonathan Zebina from his ban, but Cristiano Zanetti was suspended. Surprisingly, Alessandro Del Piero was left on the bench in favour of Vincenzo Iaquinta.

Fiorentina had not won this fixture since a 1-0 result in December 1998. Gianluigi Buffon rushed out to clear an Adrian Mutu pass off Franco Semioli's feet, but Mutu went for glor himself soon after with an absolutely sensational volley from 25 metres that skimmed the crossbar.

Mutu had a free header over from a corner, but it was Juventus who took the lead with their first real opportunity. Dario Dainelli and Alessandro Gamberini collided as they tried to close down David Trezeguet, leaving Iaquinta unmarked to thump home the loose ball with the inside of his right foot. However, there were suspicions of offside, as Trezeguet impaired Sebastien Frey's view.

Buffon needed quick reactions to kick away a deflected Riccardo Montolivo strike with his trailing foot, as the ball changed direction at the last moment. As Fiorentina poured forward, Juve almost struck on the counter with Frey flying to push a Pavel Nedved rocket over the bar.

Cesare Prandelli introduced Christian Vieri for Kuzmanovic, making Fiorentina an extremely attacking line-up. It was now a very open game with Buffon blocking Mutu's quickly-taken free kick and Frey sticking out a leg to parry Trezeguet's angled drive.

Dainelli soared above the crowd to meet a Semioli cross from the left, but the header was over the bar.

Juventus had three chances to score in one move. Nedved's cross missed Trezeguet, Frey used his feet to deny Hasan Salihamidzic and Trezeguet turned the loose ball wide.

Prandelli gave Antony Vanden Borre his Serie A debut and Del Piero was givn the final 13 minutes to make an impact. Mutu had another free kick charged down and turned a header from the resulting corner over the bar.

Just 120 seconds from time Nicola Legrottaglie's arm blocked a Vieri header and the referee pointed to the spot. Mutu faced his former Juve teammate and, although Buffon got the right angle, the shot went in at the near post.

The tension was at breaking point and Vieri's scuffle with Giorgio Chiellini saw both go into the book.

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Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Dainelli, Balzaretti; Kuzmanovic (Vieri 46), Donadel, Montolivo; Semioli (Vanden Borre 67), Pazzini (Gobbi 67), Mutu

Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic, Nocerino, Almiron, Nedved (Palladino 71); Iaquinta (Del Piero 77), Trezeguet

Ref: Rizzoli

channel4.com - Football Italia

[LAF]

I've mixed views on this game. It's probably one of our better displays this season but Fiorentina were better than us.

Mutu was very good today, could have scored a hat-trick if he had luck. Really wish we never sold him.

Almiron had a decent game aswell. He's vital.

Also I'd like to see Palladino start ahead of Nedved next game. Nedved played better but that had alot to do with Fiorentina changing shape and attacking second half, meaning Nedved got more room. Palladino came on for him and looked a better threat, pace and skill.

I thought I would NEVER type this but Ale needs to be dropped until he sorts out his head/form. Iaquinta is by far a bigger threat to opposing teams.

[Jager]

A draw in Fiorentina, is not a bad result, few teams will get a win there.

[dukeofdavinci]

Prandelli: Viola gave their all Sunday 7 October, 2007

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Cesare Prandelli insists he could not have asked for more from his Fiorentina side after they battled to a 1-1 draw with Juventus.

“We were in the thick of the action right from the start and until Vincenzo Iaquinta’s opening goal, Juve did not have a single chance,” said the tactician.


“All we were missing was a little bit of sharpness, but I could not have asked for more from my men. Despite the fitness worries, they overcame that obstacle with sheer heart.”


The Viola had played 120 minutes against Groningen in the UEFA Cup on Thursday and so were understandably tired, but still had the better of the overall play.


“We found a Juventus side who were very careful and then in the second half we only really ran risks on the counter-attack.”


There were some controversial moments, as the Juventus goal could have been disallowed for a David Trezeguet offside position and Christian Vieri had late penalty appeals.


“Some say we don’t complain enough, but we are the ones who must try to calm the tension in football,” warned Prandelli.


“We met with the UEFA delegates this week as well and they asked everyone to be fair, which does not mean being weak. We didn’t put the referee under pressure, but with an incident in our favour perhaps the game would have changed.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Claudio Ranieri rues the chances Juventus missed to secure victory in Florence and explains why Alex Del Piero was dropped.

“It is a shame, as we had several clear-cut opportunities on the counter-attack in the second half,” said the Bianconeri boss after their 1-1 draw with Fiorentina.

Vincenzo Iaquinta had given Juve the lead, but a last-minute spot-kick from Adrian Mutu for Nicola Legrottaglie’s handling offence equalised.

“The penalty was the correct decision, as Legrottaglie had his arms spread pretty wide. It is also true the referee could have disallowed our goal for David Trezeguet’s offside position.”

Ranieri had stated this match would prove whether Juventus were Scudetto material and the answers are inconclusive.

“We want to compete, but we can only do so if the other big clubs give us the opportunity. We did enough to win today, but weren’t sharp enough in those final minutes.”

Tinkerman surprised many by leaving Del Piero on the bench in favour of Iaquinta – who scored their goal.

“I needed Iaquinta as he is a player who attacks space and, knowing we would be under pressure, needed two fast wingers. That is all there is to it.”

Tiago Mendes is reportedly looking at a move to Portugal after he was again left out for Sergio Almiron.

“Almiron is a splendid player and when we put together the squad we tried to form a real team. Almiron can play or not and the same goes for Tiago. I pick players thinking of who can help us win, not who cost more on the transfer market.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Collina speaks out about the goal:

Referee designator Pierluigi Collina defends Nicola Rizzoli’s decision to allow Juventus’ goal against Fiorentina and La Gazzetta dello Sport agrees.

The Viola were outraged as David Trezeguet seemed to block goalkeeper Sebastien Frey’s vision while standing offside as Vincenzo Iaquinta fired home.

Rizzoli allowed the goal to stand claiming that the French striker hadn’t interfered with play and Collina admits that it is a tough rule to apply.

“The only person who could tell us beyond any doubt is Frey as he knows if Trezeguet disturbed him,” Collina explained on Domenica Sportiva.

“It’s a very complicated situation as if the referee’s assistant had flagged nobody would have said anything, but Trezeguet’s position is only punishable when he disturbs Frey.

“It’s all about the way the rules are interpreted,” the Bologna native continued.

“The referee has to make a decision and take responsibility so his discretion plays a vital role.”

Fiorentina boss Cesare Prandelli won plaudits from the calcio community by refusing to question Rizzoli’s verdict.

Meanwhile, La Gazzetta dello Sport has studied images from Frey's point of view and believes that the French shot-stopper's view may have been impeded by teammate Alessandro Gamberini.

Slow motion replays also indicate that Trezeguet arrived in front of Frey after the ball had passed him and therefore couldn't have blocked Frey illegally.

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