Category: <b>Match Reports</b><br><br>Juventus travelled to fortress Bergamo looking to extend their eleven game unbeaten run, but with an unblemished home record to defend Albinoleffe were not going to be intimidated by the flying Bianconeri. Although Deschamps’ men were just two points off the top of the table coming into the game, a series of high-profile injuries forced the Frenchman to play rather a different hand than usual. With the absences of Del Piero, Trezeguet, Zalayeta and Guzman, Bojinov and Palladino were called upon in attack to take the challenge to Albinoleffe. No changes in midfield from the victory over Pescara but Boumsong made his return to the heart of the Bianconeri defence after a fortnight’s injury lay-off.
Both sides looked to take control of possession early on but things were tight in the centre of the park. Camoranesi was industrious for the Bianconeri, asking questions of the home defence with his tricky runs and clever passes, but there was no way through. The Albinoleffe midfield was soaking up the pressure well and it took Juventus 16 minutes to carve out their first half chance, Birindelli finding Camoranesi with a slick pass between the defenders and Acerbis saving down the low as the winger let go from a tight angle. The Bianconeri began to raise the tempo but in the 24th minute the match took an unexpected turn. Garlini burst into the box and was brought down by Buffon. The referee pointed to the spot, the Juventus keeper was shown a red card and Deschamps hauled off the unlucky Bojinov to bring on Mirante between the sticks. Joelson stepped up to take the spot kick and he made no mistake, coolly slotting the ball past the newly introduced keeper (1-0). The goal was a wake-up call for the Bianconeri and they looked to make amends straight away. In the 32nd minute, Palladino found himself in space on the left hand side of the box, cut inside and tried to curl the ball into the far corner with his right boot. His effort was a few inches too high but Juventus were growing in confidence as they began to turn the screw. The home side flooded their own half with numbers, denying space for the ten-man Bianconeri and threatening on the counter, but Deschamps’ men did not give up. Zanetti sprayed passes left and right and Palladino was covering serious ground as he looked to pull the Albinoleffe defence apart and create space for Nedved and Camoranesi. On the stroke of half-time Ferrari burst into the Juventus area on the counter attack but his final product was poor, firing into the arms of Mirante from outside the area. That was only the home side’s second chance of the game, but while the Bianconeri’s domination of possession was unquestionable, they were unable to find a way through as referee Brighi brought the half to an end.
The Bianconeri picked where they left off at the end of the first period, playing with intensity and searching for the break through. Paro sat back, leaving space for Zanetti to roam and forcing Albinoleffe to retreat deep into their own half, and in the 52nd minute the Juventus pressure paid off. Balzaretti curled a low cross in from the left wing which evaded three defenders and the grasp of Acerbis, falling at the feet of the unmarked Palladino at the back post. The striker made no mistake from three yards out, levelling the scores for the Bianconeri (1-1). Albinoleffe were rattled, making two changes in ten minutes up front, and the game began to have a more even look about it. Juventus were working hard to make up for their one man disadvantage and in the 71st minute Palladino dribbled his way past two men out on the right touch line and found Camoranesi in space with a ball to feet. The winger controlled the pass but was blocked-off as he tried to jink round his man. Balzaretti and Nedved were waging their own personal war on the left wing, combining well as they looked to break the stale mate. Albinoleffe kept their cool though, defending well and hitting Juventus on the break. The substitute Cellini was their brightest attacking player, causing problems for the Bianconeri defence with pace and tricks, but there was no final product. The game drew to a close with neither side able to break the dead lock and in the 87th minute, Marchisio was brought on to relieve Zanetti and sure up the midfield with fresh legs. The game ended 1-1 but Deschamps could be content with the draw as his team had shown enormous character to fight their way back and equalise.
GOALS: Joelson 25’ (pen.), Palladino 52’
BOOKED: Innocenti 48’, Santos 53’, Camoranesi 73’, Colombo 86’
SENT OFF: Buffon 24’
ALBINOLEFFE: Acerbis; Innocenti, Donadoni, Santos, Garlini; Belingheri (Gori 53’), Del Prato, Poloni, Colombo; Joelson (Bonazzi 90+2’), Ferrari (Cellini 59’)
Subs: Marchetti, Previtali, Rabito, Cristiano
Coach: Mondonico (suspended)
JUVENTUS: Buffon, Birindelli, Boumsong, Chiellini, Balzaretti; Camoranesi, Paro, Zanetti (Marchisio 87’), Nedved; Bojinov (Mirante 25’), Palladino
Subs: Zebina, Kovac, De Ceglie, Urbano, Maniero
Coach: Deschamps
REFEREE: Brighi
ASSISTANTS: Biasutto, Fiore
4TH OFFICIAL: Zanardo<br><br>Source: Juventus.com
Both sides looked to take control of possession early on but things were tight in the centre of the park. Camoranesi was industrious for the Bianconeri, asking questions of the home defence with his tricky runs and clever passes, but there was no way through. The Albinoleffe midfield was soaking up the pressure well and it took Juventus 16 minutes to carve out their first half chance, Birindelli finding Camoranesi with a slick pass between the defenders and Acerbis saving down the low as the winger let go from a tight angle. The Bianconeri began to raise the tempo but in the 24th minute the match took an unexpected turn. Garlini burst into the box and was brought down by Buffon. The referee pointed to the spot, the Juventus keeper was shown a red card and Deschamps hauled off the unlucky Bojinov to bring on Mirante between the sticks. Joelson stepped up to take the spot kick and he made no mistake, coolly slotting the ball past the newly introduced keeper (1-0). The goal was a wake-up call for the Bianconeri and they looked to make amends straight away. In the 32nd minute, Palladino found himself in space on the left hand side of the box, cut inside and tried to curl the ball into the far corner with his right boot. His effort was a few inches too high but Juventus were growing in confidence as they began to turn the screw. The home side flooded their own half with numbers, denying space for the ten-man Bianconeri and threatening on the counter, but Deschamps’ men did not give up. Zanetti sprayed passes left and right and Palladino was covering serious ground as he looked to pull the Albinoleffe defence apart and create space for Nedved and Camoranesi. On the stroke of half-time Ferrari burst into the Juventus area on the counter attack but his final product was poor, firing into the arms of Mirante from outside the area. That was only the home side’s second chance of the game, but while the Bianconeri’s domination of possession was unquestionable, they were unable to find a way through as referee Brighi brought the half to an end.
The Bianconeri picked where they left off at the end of the first period, playing with intensity and searching for the break through. Paro sat back, leaving space for Zanetti to roam and forcing Albinoleffe to retreat deep into their own half, and in the 52nd minute the Juventus pressure paid off. Balzaretti curled a low cross in from the left wing which evaded three defenders and the grasp of Acerbis, falling at the feet of the unmarked Palladino at the back post. The striker made no mistake from three yards out, levelling the scores for the Bianconeri (1-1). Albinoleffe were rattled, making two changes in ten minutes up front, and the game began to have a more even look about it. Juventus were working hard to make up for their one man disadvantage and in the 71st minute Palladino dribbled his way past two men out on the right touch line and found Camoranesi in space with a ball to feet. The winger controlled the pass but was blocked-off as he tried to jink round his man. Balzaretti and Nedved were waging their own personal war on the left wing, combining well as they looked to break the stale mate. Albinoleffe kept their cool though, defending well and hitting Juventus on the break. The substitute Cellini was their brightest attacking player, causing problems for the Bianconeri defence with pace and tricks, but there was no final product. The game drew to a close with neither side able to break the dead lock and in the 87th minute, Marchisio was brought on to relieve Zanetti and sure up the midfield with fresh legs. The game ended 1-1 but Deschamps could be content with the draw as his team had shown enormous character to fight their way back and equalise.
GOALS: Joelson 25’ (pen.), Palladino 52’
BOOKED: Innocenti 48’, Santos 53’, Camoranesi 73’, Colombo 86’
SENT OFF: Buffon 24’
ALBINOLEFFE: Acerbis; Innocenti, Donadoni, Santos, Garlini; Belingheri (Gori 53’), Del Prato, Poloni, Colombo; Joelson (Bonazzi 90+2’), Ferrari (Cellini 59’)
Subs: Marchetti, Previtali, Rabito, Cristiano
Coach: Mondonico (suspended)
JUVENTUS: Buffon, Birindelli, Boumsong, Chiellini, Balzaretti; Camoranesi, Paro, Zanetti (Marchisio 87’), Nedved; Bojinov (Mirante 25’), Palladino
Subs: Zebina, Kovac, De Ceglie, Urbano, Maniero
Coach: Deschamps
REFEREE: Brighi
ASSISTANTS: Biasutto, Fiore
4TH OFFICIAL: Zanardo<br><br>Source: Juventus.com
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