Juve tear up the Tardini
Claudio Ranieri made a triumphant return to the Tardini, as Juventus knocked Parma out of the Coppa Italia 3-1.
The Coach, who saved the Gialloblu from almost certain relegation last season, took the opportunity to test out the new midfield partnership of Sergio Almiron and Tiago Mendes.
The former Chelsea man set up a good chance that Vincenzo Iaquinta turned over the bar and Nicola Pavarini parried a David Trezeguet strike.
Nicola Legrottaglie went off injured at the break and substitute Jean-Alain Boumsong nodded a free kick off target.
The deadlock was finally broken on 62 minutes and the scorer Christian Molinaro had been on the field for just 120 seconds!
Molinaro took the left-wing position and thumped in another of his trademark long-range strikes.
Parma fought back, forcing Gigi Buffon to save from Francesco Parravicini with an outstretched leg.
However, Almiron curled in a free kick to double Juve’s advantage at the Stadio Tardini.
Moments later the referee pointed to the spot for Jonathan Zebina’s foul on Igor Budan and Castellini converted to keep the game open.
It remained so until eight minutes from time, when Hasan Salihamidzic’s shot from the edge of the area took a vicious deflection to leave Pavarini stranded.
Juventus go through to the last 16 with a 3-1 victory, where they will face Empoli. The Tuscans have in their squad two Bianconeri-owned youngsters, Sebastian Giovinco and Claudio Marchisio.
Parma 1-3 Juventus
Scorers: Molinaro 61 (J), Almiron 72 (J), Castellini pen 74 (P), Salihamidzic 85 (J)
Parma: Pavarini; Coly, Paci, Couto, Castellini; Dessena, Parravicini, Morrone, Tombesi (Budan 68); Reginaldo, Paponi (Morfeo 68)
Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Andrade, Legrottaglie (Boumsong 46), Chiellini; Nocerino (Molinaro 59), Almiron, Tiago, Salihamidzic; Iaquinta (Palladino 79), Trezeguet
Ref: Bergonzi
channel 4
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