Serie A: Fiorentina - Juventus [31-08-08]

[azzurri]

Tough away match to start the season.

Zanetti is injured and Sissoko is suspended, so we may see 2 players get their serie a debut for Juventus (Poulsen/Marchisio).

Nedved was injured in training today, so he is a doubt. If he cant make it, hopefully Ranieri starts Giovinco instead of Brazzo.

[azzurri]

Nedved is fit to play.
channel4.com - Football Italia

My guess is...

Del Piero Trez
Nedved Marchisio Poulsen Camo
Molinaro Legro Mellberg Grygera
Buffon

A tough debut for Marchisio, Poulsen and Mellberg.

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Trez is out

David Trezeguet is out of Sunday’s showdown with Fiorentina, joining a growing injury list. “The tests never end,” sighs Claudio Ranieri.

Juventus already had to do without Cristiano Zanetti, Marco Marchionni, Giorgio Chiellini and the suspended Mohamed Sissoko.


Pavel Nedved has recovered from a knock to the ankle to feature on the week of his 36th birthday, but Trezeguet’s right knee problem has flared up again and he won’t even make the trip.


“I had rested him for the second leg of the Champions League preliminary round, but he said he still feels pain, so it’s best to let him recover fully and have him fully prepared in two weeks,” explained the Coach.


“We’re not lacking in alternatives and this is precisely why we signed Amauri over the summer. I’ve always said I have four first choice strikers.”


The Brazilian is a contender to start alongside Alessandro Del Piero in Florence, although Vincenzo Iaquinta has also shown good form.


“The difference between them is that Amauri helps the team to move up the field, whereas Iaquinta is better at attacking the space. Our style remains the same whoever I pick, so I never want to cage the creative talents in the final third.”


Juve are back in Europe and open their Serie A season against old rivals Fiorentina, who also returned to the continental stage this week.


“We are facing a team who went through the Champions League preliminary round and therefore has the same basic fitness levels as we do.


“The Scudetto race will have the same sides as last season, with the added bonus of a reinforced Milan,” continued Ranieri.


“I place Fiorentina among the contenders, who already proved last year they could handle Serie A and the UEFA Cup commitments.


“The Della Valle brothers have revived this club from Serie C2 to a top team. Their philosophy has always been about fair play and respect for opponents. I hope it will be an attractive and entertaining game, that the fans come to cheer on their teams and may the best side win.”


Originally the Juve fans were banned from travelling to Florence for this clash, as the intense rivalry has caused problems in the past, but the authorities decided to put some faith in the supporters for the new season.


The Bianconeri finished third last term after promotion from Serie B and their fans are demanding a return to the top of the table.


“Are we the anti-Inter squad? We’re working on it and building to be on a par with the best teams in Europe.”


They face a tough test to get past the first round of the Champions League, having drawn Real Madrid, European Super Cup winners Zenit and Bate Borisov.


“We already knew Zenit were strong even before seeing them beat Manchester United last night. They have the right quality and determination, playing a 4-3-3 which effectively allows them to defend with five men, as they all move forward and back in unison.”

Juventus squad: Buffon, Mellberg, Salihamidzic, Amauri, Iaquinta, Del Piero, Nedved, Chimenti, Manninger, Knezevic, Camoranesi, Poulsen, Marchisio, Giovinco, Grygera, Ekdal, Molinaro, De Ceglie, Tiago, Legrottaglie

[azzurri]

At Palermo, Amauri played some great games vs Fiorentina. Lets hope he can do the same thing with Juve.

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Gianluigi Buffon trusts Juventus can fight it out for the Scudetto on a par with Inter and Milan. “It’ll be the closest Serie A race in years.”

The Bianconeri finished third last term after the Calciopoli scandal and the spell in Serie B, but have their sights firmly set on regaining the title.


“I am certain this is going to be the most important and closest Serie A race in years, because there are such top clubs and big stars to increase the prestige of the League,” he told Tuttosport.


“The likes of Jose Mourinho, Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko really raise the bar, as do Christian Poulsen and Olof Mellberg at Juve for the experience they bring.”


Juventus make their seasonal debut this evening with a trip to Fiorentina.


This year the real battle seems to be upfront, as Milan, Roma, Inter, Fiorentina and Juve have moved to strengthen their front lines.


“I absolutely agree that Juventus have the strongest strike force in the country. We have a devastating set of players with two certainties like David Trezeguet and Ale Del Piero who guarantee 35 goals per season, if not more. Not a bad start, eh?


“Plus we have a versatile figure like Vincenzo Iaquinta, who can make the difference even when coming off the bench, and Amauri was wanted by everyone, but chose to come to Juve.”


Buffon is also looking forward to their return to the Champions League, even if it means entering the Group of Death with Real Madrid, Zenit and Bate Borisov.


“It’s wonderful to come back with a bang against Madrid! Do you know what my ideal group would be? Juve, Real, Barcelona and Manchester United. That would be tasty! After all, that’s what the Champions League was made for.”

-

[Benfica7]

Free kick not to Fiorentina... Vargas over it... he steps up, but fires wide!

[Benfica7]

Gilardino's through again! He takes it past Mellberg before rounding Buffon! But just as he's about to pull the trigger from a tight angle he loses his balance and the ball goes well wide!

[Benfica7]

Molinaro off and De Ceglie on for Juve.
Time running out for Fiorentina to find an equaliser...

[Benfica7]

Oh dear, Felipe Melo is shown a second yellow for a nasty looking challenge on Poulsen and he's promptly shown a red! Fiorentina down to 10 men for the final moments of the game.

[Benfica7]

GOAL! Incredible! Gilardino levels at the death for Fiorentina! It's a real opportunist goal... he gets the ball with his back to goal... one touch later and he volley's on the turn to find the corner and give the Viola a point!

[Benfica7]

Oooh! What an effort from Amauri! He creates space to let off a shot from a tight angle! And Frey is forced into tipping behind for a corner!

[Benfica7]

There goes the final whistle! And Fiorentina nick a point at the death!

[azzurri]

I would have taken a point b4 the match, but losing the 3 pts right at the end fucking sucks, especially after getting a man advantage a little earlier and thinking the 3 pts were sealed.

No1 to blame but themselves, considering they should have went into HT with a larger lead. U cant afford to miss chances like that in big games.

Camo was MOTM. We always looked more dangerous when he was driving forward, and he continually shook loose players and caused problems.

As for players making their Juve debuts, a mixed bag.

Marchisio was trying to hard to play the perfect ball in the 1st half and gave the ball away a few times. He did better in the 2nd, and overall put in a decent performance. It's something u can build off.

Poulsen was solid. Rarely made any mistakes, and was always in the right place.

Mellberg was poor, and I'm not basing that on the goal. We were lucky to escape a few of his mistakes earlier in the match, and the way Gilardino rolled off him was to easy. Than again, Gila is a diving little shit and after tumbling over the entire 1st half our defense was probably weary of muscling him off the ball inside our box late in the game. Regardless, compared to Legro who didn't lose his concentration all game, Mellberg had a few brain farts.

[LAF]

Mellberg was awful, yes.

We played well but we were poor infront of goal. I'm confident we'll pick up once we play mroe games.

I would have taken a point before this game started anyway.

[BOBOGOL]

Gilardino's goal was simply breath taking...and what a time to score it.

Mellborg should've done better off the ball before Gilardino received the pass.

Buffon couldnt reach it and the expressions on the Prandelli's face said it all