Juventus have signed off the 2011/12 campaign with their heads held high despite missing out on a third league and cup double after Napoli emerged victorious from the Stadio Olimpico.
The Bianconeri, punished by Cavani’s penalty and Hamsik’s strike on the counter, will have every reason to feel hard done by, but will ultimately reflect on the giant strides made this season under the stewardship of Antonio Conte.
Defensive injuries were Conte’s only selection headache for his team’s last fixtures of the season. Chiellini and De Ceglie remained on the sidelines, with Caceres stepping in alongside Barzagli and Bonucci to form a three-man rearguard. Estigarribia was deployed on the left-hand side of midfield, while Borriello got the nod to partner Del Piero in attack.
Napoli fired the opening warning shot by calling Storari into action with just two minutes on the clock. Campagnaro bundled his way past Marchisio on the right-hand side and picked out Zuniga arriving on the blind side of Lichtsteiner. The goalkeeper, however, remained alert to the wing-back’s late arrival, blocking his header at the near post.
The Partenopei - who were seeking to salvage something from their season after missing out on qualification for next year’s Champions League - represented a combative, purposeful outfit who pegged the buoyant Bianconeri back during the opening stages.
But as the half wore on Juventus grew considerably in stature, backed by a vociferous sea of black and white making their presence felt in the capital.
And these fans were soon on their feet when Marchisio’s fiercely struck tested De Sanctis from range on 25 minutes, before Borriello tried his luck with a shot that whistled just wide of the goalkeeper’s despairing dive.
As the heat continued to rise in the cauldron of the Stadio Olimpico, the Bianconeri were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty shortly before the interval. Marchisio, sent in by Del Piero’s intricate backheel, raced through on goal only to be brought down by Aronica’s crude challenge. Brighi took one look before waving the subsequent appeals away.
An evenly balanced game tipped in the Partenopei’s favour fifteen minutes after the restart. Cavani’s flick on from a long throw set Lavezzi darting through behind the Juve defence. The striker was then brought down by Storari, with Brighi subsequently pointing to the spot. Cavani stepped up to break the deadlock, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from twelve yards.
Conte reacted instantly by making three substitutions. On came Pepe, Vucinic and Quagliarella in place of Lichtsteiner, Del Piero and Borriello. These changes provided an added impetus going forward and put Napoli immediately on the back foot.
Bonucci went close with a drilled effort which was kept out by De Sanctis before Pepe somehow saw his left-footed shot blocked by a combination of the goalkeeper and the Partenopei rearguard.
But, as Juventus continued to pile on the pressure, their ambitions were dealt a final blow when Pandev spotted Hamsik peeling away on the counter. The frontman held off the attentions of Bonucci and kept his cool to slot a low strike across Storari into the bottom corner with seven minutes remaining.
An already tough task was made even more improbable when Quagliarella was given his marching orders after tangling with Aronica in the closing stages.
Brighi’s final whistle saw the cup awarded to Napoli and the Bianconeri receive applause from their adoring public for all their fine efforts throughout an unforgettable campaign.
JUVENTUS-NAPOLI 0-2
GOALS: Cavani (pen) 64, Hamsik 83
JUVENTUS
Storari; Barzagli, Bonucci, Caceres; Lichtsteiner (Pepe 68), Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Estigarribia; Del Piero (Vucinic 68), Borriello (Quagliarella 73)
Substitutes not used: Manninger, Giaccherini, Marrone, Matri
Manager: Conte
NAPOLI
De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Inler, Dzemaili, Hamsik (Dossena 85), Zuniga; Lavezzi (Pandev 72), Cavani (Britos 88)
Substitutes not used: Rosati, Grava, Fernandez, Vargas
Manager: Mazzarri
REFEREE: Brighi
ASSISTANTS: Niccolai, Copelli
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Bergonzi
BOOKINGS: Marchisio 40, Dzemaili 54, Cannavaro 55, Borriello 63, De Sanctis 80
SENT OFF: Quagliarella 90
Source: Juventus.com
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