[Serie A] Juventus - Fiorentina (22 Viewers)
- Thread starter Brixity
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Juventus 1 - 1 Fiorentina
Toni 47 (F), Del Piero 63 (J)
Stadio Delle Alpi
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Christian Abbiati saved a penalty and Luca Toni set a new record, but returning Juventus hero Alex Del Piero earned a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina.
The rivalry goes back a long way between these two sides and this was their fourth meeting of the season - with two Juve victories and a 2-2 draw in the Coppa Italia preceding it. The Viola last conquered Turin in 1988 and Luca Toni was chasing a new club record after equalling Kurt Hamrin and Gabriel Batistuta's best of 26 goals in a single season.
Alessandro Del Piero has recovered from the thigh injury that kept him out of both ill-fated Champions League quarter-finals with Arsenal, while Robert Kovac stepped in for the suspended Fabio Cannavaro. There was an ankle problem in the warm-up for Gigi Buffon, so Christian Abbiati started in goal. Giampaolo Pazzini was injured for the Viola and Luis Jimenez retained his place in support of Toni.
Cristian Brocchi had to clear a Jonathan Zebina header before it could cause problems at the back post, while Toni felt he deserved a free kick on the edge of the area for a Kovac foul, but the referee waved play on.
After 15 minutes Toni went away between Lilian Thuram and Zebina, but the ex-Roma man blatantly kicked him on the knee for a stonewall penalty. Toni no longer takes the spot-kicks after missing three this season, so Jimenez stepped up, but he also failed to convert as Abbiati caught the ball under his legs! The goalkeeper pointed to Buffon on the bench and dedicated this save to him.
The Viola really should've scored moments later, but this time it was the woodwork that stood in their path. Stefano Fiore cut in for Martin Jorgensen, but Giuliano Giannichedda got there first and his sliding challenge pushed the ball on to the upright.
Jimenez hit the back of the net with a stop and volley, but it was disallowed for a very tight offside decision.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic went past Dario Dainelli and flicked the ball back for Del Piero, but he put it wide with the outside of his right foot.
At the other end, Ibrahimovic interrupted a Jimenez free kick, then Toni incredibly prodded a Jorgensen assist past the near post with only Abbiati to beat.
Toni dribbled between three players only to fire straight at Abbiati, while Ibrahimovic had a solo effort charged down. Fiore's volley was over the bar as he lost his balance just inside the area.
Del Piero had two headers before the break, one off target and the other charged down for a corner by Gamberini.
Juve had a bright start to the second half with Ibrahimovic trying to push his way through a crowd of defenders, but it was Fiorentina who deservedly took the lead within two minutes.
Zebina was again at fault, this time keeping Toni on side, so the Capocannoniere had free reign to thump his finish past Abbiati. It was his first ever goal against Juventus and set a new club record with his 27th of the season.
Toni was too far away to make the most of a Thuram error, then Juventus had a great chance to equalise. Mauro Camoranesi pushed a free kick to the edge of the area where Gianluca Zambrotta unleashed a rocket that stung the palms of Bogdan Lobont.
Juve were being torn apart, as Jimenez threatened to take advantage of another defensive slip-up by flicking the ball over Kovac, but Thuram's sliding challenge closed him down at the last moment.
Fabio Capello made his first substitution, introducing Adrian Mutu for the very quiet Camoranesi, then Manuele Blasi replaced Giannichedda.
But it was the returning hero, Del Piero, who managed to draw Juventus level. Mutu cut into the centre and Patrick Vieira's through ball allowed Pinturicchio to spring the offside trap for a smart finish at the near post.
Del Piero made way for Marcelo Zalayeta, prompting further insults towards Capello from the hardline Juve Ultra in the stands.
An Ibrahimovic strike was well wide after combining with Nedved, then Thuram got in front of Toni as he prepared to nod in Tomas Ujfalusi's cross.
Thuram completely scuffed his clearance on a Fiore cross, but was fortunate that Abbiati was right behind him.
Valeri Bojinov replaced Jimenez for the final stages, as Fiorentina went for the victory that would keep them in fourth place.
Dainelli deflected a Vieira strike over the bar, then from the resulting corner kick the former Arsenal midfielder's header thumped the frame of the goal.
Zalayeta cut back for a weak Ibrahimovic finish straight at the goalkeeper, but the Swede is on truly appalling form at the moment and wasted a golden opportunity in the final minute. He was totally unmarked on the six-yard line on Zalayeta's assist, only to handle the ball and then balloon it well over the bar.
The Viola also had a glorious opportunity on the counter-attack, but Abbiati was able to smother Toni's shot.
It still wasn't over, as Zalayata's point-blank effort was charged down and Ibrahimovic at full stretch couldn't redirect a wayward follow-up.
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Juventus: Abbiati; Zebina, Thuram, Kovac, Zambrotta; Camoranesi (Mutu 55), Giannichedda (Blasi 62), Vieira, Nedved; Del Piero (Zalayeta 70), Ibrahimovic
Fiorentina: Lobont; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini (Kroldrup 84), Pasqual; Fiore, Brocchi, Donadel, Jorgensen; Jimenez (Bojinov 79); Toni
Ref: Pieri
Missed penalty: Jimenez 17 (F)
Toni 47 (F), Del Piero 63 (J)
Stadio Delle Alpi
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Christian Abbiati saved a penalty and Luca Toni set a new record, but returning Juventus hero Alex Del Piero earned a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina.
The rivalry goes back a long way between these two sides and this was their fourth meeting of the season - with two Juve victories and a 2-2 draw in the Coppa Italia preceding it. The Viola last conquered Turin in 1988 and Luca Toni was chasing a new club record after equalling Kurt Hamrin and Gabriel Batistuta's best of 26 goals in a single season.
Alessandro Del Piero has recovered from the thigh injury that kept him out of both ill-fated Champions League quarter-finals with Arsenal, while Robert Kovac stepped in for the suspended Fabio Cannavaro. There was an ankle problem in the warm-up for Gigi Buffon, so Christian Abbiati started in goal. Giampaolo Pazzini was injured for the Viola and Luis Jimenez retained his place in support of Toni.
Cristian Brocchi had to clear a Jonathan Zebina header before it could cause problems at the back post, while Toni felt he deserved a free kick on the edge of the area for a Kovac foul, but the referee waved play on.
After 15 minutes Toni went away between Lilian Thuram and Zebina, but the ex-Roma man blatantly kicked him on the knee for a stonewall penalty. Toni no longer takes the spot-kicks after missing three this season, so Jimenez stepped up, but he also failed to convert as Abbiati caught the ball under his legs! The goalkeeper pointed to Buffon on the bench and dedicated this save to him.
The Viola really should've scored moments later, but this time it was the woodwork that stood in their path. Stefano Fiore cut in for Martin Jorgensen, but Giuliano Giannichedda got there first and his sliding challenge pushed the ball on to the upright.
Jimenez hit the back of the net with a stop and volley, but it was disallowed for a very tight offside decision.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic went past Dario Dainelli and flicked the ball back for Del Piero, but he put it wide with the outside of his right foot.
At the other end, Ibrahimovic interrupted a Jimenez free kick, then Toni incredibly prodded a Jorgensen assist past the near post with only Abbiati to beat.
Toni dribbled between three players only to fire straight at Abbiati, while Ibrahimovic had a solo effort charged down. Fiore's volley was over the bar as he lost his balance just inside the area.
Del Piero had two headers before the break, one off target and the other charged down for a corner by Gamberini.
Juve had a bright start to the second half with Ibrahimovic trying to push his way through a crowd of defenders, but it was Fiorentina who deservedly took the lead within two minutes.
Zebina was again at fault, this time keeping Toni on side, so the Capocannoniere had free reign to thump his finish past Abbiati. It was his first ever goal against Juventus and set a new club record with his 27th of the season.
Toni was too far away to make the most of a Thuram error, then Juventus had a great chance to equalise. Mauro Camoranesi pushed a free kick to the edge of the area where Gianluca Zambrotta unleashed a rocket that stung the palms of Bogdan Lobont.
Juve were being torn apart, as Jimenez threatened to take advantage of another defensive slip-up by flicking the ball over Kovac, but Thuram's sliding challenge closed him down at the last moment.
Fabio Capello made his first substitution, introducing Adrian Mutu for the very quiet Camoranesi, then Manuele Blasi replaced Giannichedda.
But it was the returning hero, Del Piero, who managed to draw Juventus level. Mutu cut into the centre and Patrick Vieira's through ball allowed Pinturicchio to spring the offside trap for a smart finish at the near post.
Del Piero made way for Marcelo Zalayeta, prompting further insults towards Capello from the hardline Juve Ultra in the stands.
An Ibrahimovic strike was well wide after combining with Nedved, then Thuram got in front of Toni as he prepared to nod in Tomas Ujfalusi's cross.
Thuram completely scuffed his clearance on a Fiore cross, but was fortunate that Abbiati was right behind him.
Valeri Bojinov replaced Jimenez for the final stages, as Fiorentina went for the victory that would keep them in fourth place.
Dainelli deflected a Vieira strike over the bar, then from the resulting corner kick the former Arsenal midfielder's header thumped the frame of the goal.
Zalayeta cut back for a weak Ibrahimovic finish straight at the goalkeeper, but the Swede is on truly appalling form at the moment and wasted a golden opportunity in the final minute. He was totally unmarked on the six-yard line on Zalayeta's assist, only to handle the ball and then balloon it well over the bar.
The Viola also had a glorious opportunity on the counter-attack, but Abbiati was able to smother Toni's shot.
It still wasn't over, as Zalayata's point-blank effort was charged down and Ibrahimovic at full stretch couldn't redirect a wayward follow-up.
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Juventus: Abbiati; Zebina, Thuram, Kovac, Zambrotta; Camoranesi (Mutu 55), Giannichedda (Blasi 62), Vieira, Nedved; Del Piero (Zalayeta 70), Ibrahimovic
Fiorentina: Lobont; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini (Kroldrup 84), Pasqual; Fiore, Brocchi, Donadel, Jorgensen; Jimenez (Bojinov 79); Toni
Ref: Pieri
Missed penalty: Jimenez 17 (F)
match to swallow
umpkin:
