The old guard's heart
Ranieri relied on the old guard and the old guard repaid him. League leaders Inter Milan couldn't win at the Olimpico and had to settle for a 1-1 draw. After Inter went one up with Cruz at the end of the first half, Buffon kept the Bianconeri in the game with his saves and then Camoranesi equalized after 78 minutes, thanks to a Iaquinta pass. It's the first home draw of the season for Juventus, but this point allows them to stay in the running, still four points behind the Nerazzurri. After a year and a half plus 15 minutes' wait (the Nerazzurri arrived late at the Olimpico and obtained a short postponement), at last it was time for Juventus vs. Inter Milan.
The big match, so full of meaning in itself, also had an important role in terms of the League standings. A great feat was asked of Ranieri's men, to stop the League leaders and shorten the gaps in the table, with things having become even more exciting after Fiorentina's victory and Roma stopped by Empoli thanks to a great Giovinco goal. Juventus' Manager relied in great part on the whole guard. Nedved was back, Del Piero and Trezeguet played up front, and duos confirmed in defence (Legrottaglie-Chiellini) and in midfield (former Inter Milan player Cristiano Zanetti and Nocerino); Camoranesi started from the bench, Palladino on from the start. For Inter Milan, Ibrahimovic played next to Cruz. The beginning was explosive. Inter Milan earned a corner and a dangerous free kick but Buffon only had to punch the ball away. Juventus had a much more dangerous chance thanks to former Inter player Cristiano Zanetti, who received the ball inside the box and shot at goal, but the ball was deflected by an opponent who put himself in front of the midfielder.
The Bianconeri were determined on every ball and after 9 minutes referee Rocchi booked the first player, Nocerino, who had fouled twice in the space of a few seconds. After 16 minutes, Legrottaglie did well to stop a shot by Cruz. One minute later, Nedved chested the ball down and then shot wide with his right foot. The Bianconeri also went for long-range shots; both Cristiano Zanetti and Nedved again tried, but the ball went high in both cases. Del Piero's free kick after 24 minutes was a lot more dangerous, forcing a deflection from Julio Cesar. The middle part of the half was favourable to Juve, who controlled the game and had more possession. When Inter Milan went on the attack they found Buffon and the defenders closing down every time. But then they found a way through with Cruz who entered in from the middle and scored with a right-footer. The end of the half saw the Nerazzurri dominating and Chiellini and Legrottaglie had to struggle to stop Ibrahimovic: so ended the first half. There were no changes during the break and the Bianconeri went on the attack from the kick off, but it was hard to find a way through Inter's defence. Trezeguet tried to get the ball to Del Piero but the defenders closed on them. After 53 minutes, Palladino tried a run on the left and crossed for Trezeguet, who shot high over the bar. Inter Milan scored the second, but Cambiasso was offside when he slotted in picking up Buffon's parry, so the goal was disallowed. Ranieri played the Iaquinta card: he replaced Nedved, not at his best tonight and also booked. Mancini replied by putting Burdisso on for Figo, who had physical problems. The newly entered player was immediately booked for a foul on Cristiano Zanetti.
After 68 minutes Ibrahimovic had a great ball but Buffon saved miraculously. Ranieri then replaced Del Piero with Camoranesi too. The Italian-Argentinean was immediately in the thick of things; he went past a couple of defenders and passed to Iaquinta, who crossed for Trezeguet: Julio Cesar saved. Buffon had to make a much more difficult save on a Suazo tap-in from five yards out soon afterwards. Nocerino tried a shot after 77 minutes: Julio Cesar saved on the ground. This was the prelude to the goal. Ranieri's substitutions proved to be inspired when Palladino crossed for Iaquinta to head down towards Camoranesi, whose deflected shot ended in the back of the net. Juventus' Manager then tried Zebina too, in place of Grygera. Mancini then had to replace Maicon with Dacourt. But the draw satisfied both teams at that point and nothing else happened before the final whistle. The final result was 1-1. The title race is still open and the Bianconeri are more than ever in the running.
JUVENTUS-INTER MILAN 1-1 (0-1)
GOALS: Cruz 41 mins, Camoranesi 78 mins
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Grygera (Zebina 78 mins), Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Palladino, Nocerino, Cristiano Zanetti, Nedved (Iaquinta 61 mins); Del Piero (Camoranesi 70 mins), Trezeguet.
Subs not used: Belardi, Birindelli, Salihamidzic, Tiago.
Manager: Ranieri.
INTER MILAN: Julio Cesar; Maicon (Dacourt 85 mins), Cordoba, Samuel, Chivu; Figo (Burdisso 62 mins), Javier Zanetti, Cambiasso, Cesar; Ibrahimovic, Cruz (Suazo 65 mins).
Subs not used: Orlandoni, Maxwell, Solari, Crespo.
Manager: Mancini.
REFEREE: Rocchi from Florence.
YELLOW CARDS: Nocerino 9 mins, Figo 18 mins, Nedved 56 mins, Burdisso 66 mins.
NOTES: attendance 22,722 (€ 689,582.28 takings).
Ranieri: “The lads were wonderful”
The match everybody was talking about from day one of summer camp in Pinzolo is now over. Claudio Ranieri can add this draw against Inter Milan to his archives. And this is how he commented it with Juventus Channel: “It's a shame we let a goal in during our best patch. The lads were wonderful, they never gave up, they were forced to take risks and allow Inter Milan to go on the counter-attack, but they played well and deserved to draw. In the end we believed we could win it and Inter even feared us. I'm pleased because we stopped a team that are able to do anything at the moment. Zanetti and Palladino were outstanding. Camoranesi? He has music in his feet”.
Cobolli Gigli: “Determination and pride”
After such a long wait, Juventus vs. Inter Milan is now over. A lively match, played at full blast by both teams. In the end it was a draw, which satisfies everyone at Juventus. Giovanni Cobolli Gigli confirmed as much speaking with Juventus Channel: “I'm very happy with how the team played, the lads played in the way the Manager had explained to them. I saw determination and pride and the important thing is that there are still margins to improve. Camoranesi was exceptional; sometimes he was like Sivori at his peak. And then, we're lucky we have Buffon”.
juventus.com/uk
Ranieri relied on the old guard and the old guard repaid him. League leaders Inter Milan couldn't win at the Olimpico and had to settle for a 1-1 draw. After Inter went one up with Cruz at the end of the first half, Buffon kept the Bianconeri in the game with his saves and then Camoranesi equalized after 78 minutes, thanks to a Iaquinta pass. It's the first home draw of the season for Juventus, but this point allows them to stay in the running, still four points behind the Nerazzurri. After a year and a half plus 15 minutes' wait (the Nerazzurri arrived late at the Olimpico and obtained a short postponement), at last it was time for Juventus vs. Inter Milan.
The big match, so full of meaning in itself, also had an important role in terms of the League standings. A great feat was asked of Ranieri's men, to stop the League leaders and shorten the gaps in the table, with things having become even more exciting after Fiorentina's victory and Roma stopped by Empoli thanks to a great Giovinco goal. Juventus' Manager relied in great part on the whole guard. Nedved was back, Del Piero and Trezeguet played up front, and duos confirmed in defence (Legrottaglie-Chiellini) and in midfield (former Inter Milan player Cristiano Zanetti and Nocerino); Camoranesi started from the bench, Palladino on from the start. For Inter Milan, Ibrahimovic played next to Cruz. The beginning was explosive. Inter Milan earned a corner and a dangerous free kick but Buffon only had to punch the ball away. Juventus had a much more dangerous chance thanks to former Inter player Cristiano Zanetti, who received the ball inside the box and shot at goal, but the ball was deflected by an opponent who put himself in front of the midfielder.
The Bianconeri were determined on every ball and after 9 minutes referee Rocchi booked the first player, Nocerino, who had fouled twice in the space of a few seconds. After 16 minutes, Legrottaglie did well to stop a shot by Cruz. One minute later, Nedved chested the ball down and then shot wide with his right foot. The Bianconeri also went for long-range shots; both Cristiano Zanetti and Nedved again tried, but the ball went high in both cases. Del Piero's free kick after 24 minutes was a lot more dangerous, forcing a deflection from Julio Cesar. The middle part of the half was favourable to Juve, who controlled the game and had more possession. When Inter Milan went on the attack they found Buffon and the defenders closing down every time. But then they found a way through with Cruz who entered in from the middle and scored with a right-footer. The end of the half saw the Nerazzurri dominating and Chiellini and Legrottaglie had to struggle to stop Ibrahimovic: so ended the first half. There were no changes during the break and the Bianconeri went on the attack from the kick off, but it was hard to find a way through Inter's defence. Trezeguet tried to get the ball to Del Piero but the defenders closed on them. After 53 minutes, Palladino tried a run on the left and crossed for Trezeguet, who shot high over the bar. Inter Milan scored the second, but Cambiasso was offside when he slotted in picking up Buffon's parry, so the goal was disallowed. Ranieri played the Iaquinta card: he replaced Nedved, not at his best tonight and also booked. Mancini replied by putting Burdisso on for Figo, who had physical problems. The newly entered player was immediately booked for a foul on Cristiano Zanetti.
After 68 minutes Ibrahimovic had a great ball but Buffon saved miraculously. Ranieri then replaced Del Piero with Camoranesi too. The Italian-Argentinean was immediately in the thick of things; he went past a couple of defenders and passed to Iaquinta, who crossed for Trezeguet: Julio Cesar saved. Buffon had to make a much more difficult save on a Suazo tap-in from five yards out soon afterwards. Nocerino tried a shot after 77 minutes: Julio Cesar saved on the ground. This was the prelude to the goal. Ranieri's substitutions proved to be inspired when Palladino crossed for Iaquinta to head down towards Camoranesi, whose deflected shot ended in the back of the net. Juventus' Manager then tried Zebina too, in place of Grygera. Mancini then had to replace Maicon with Dacourt. But the draw satisfied both teams at that point and nothing else happened before the final whistle. The final result was 1-1. The title race is still open and the Bianconeri are more than ever in the running.
JUVENTUS-INTER MILAN 1-1 (0-1)
GOALS: Cruz 41 mins, Camoranesi 78 mins
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Grygera (Zebina 78 mins), Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Palladino, Nocerino, Cristiano Zanetti, Nedved (Iaquinta 61 mins); Del Piero (Camoranesi 70 mins), Trezeguet.
Subs not used: Belardi, Birindelli, Salihamidzic, Tiago.
Manager: Ranieri.
INTER MILAN: Julio Cesar; Maicon (Dacourt 85 mins), Cordoba, Samuel, Chivu; Figo (Burdisso 62 mins), Javier Zanetti, Cambiasso, Cesar; Ibrahimovic, Cruz (Suazo 65 mins).
Subs not used: Orlandoni, Maxwell, Solari, Crespo.
Manager: Mancini.
REFEREE: Rocchi from Florence.
YELLOW CARDS: Nocerino 9 mins, Figo 18 mins, Nedved 56 mins, Burdisso 66 mins.
NOTES: attendance 22,722 (€ 689,582.28 takings).
Ranieri: “The lads were wonderful”
The match everybody was talking about from day one of summer camp in Pinzolo is now over. Claudio Ranieri can add this draw against Inter Milan to his archives. And this is how he commented it with Juventus Channel: “It's a shame we let a goal in during our best patch. The lads were wonderful, they never gave up, they were forced to take risks and allow Inter Milan to go on the counter-attack, but they played well and deserved to draw. In the end we believed we could win it and Inter even feared us. I'm pleased because we stopped a team that are able to do anything at the moment. Zanetti and Palladino were outstanding. Camoranesi? He has music in his feet”.
Cobolli Gigli: “Determination and pride”
After such a long wait, Juventus vs. Inter Milan is now over. A lively match, played at full blast by both teams. In the end it was a draw, which satisfies everyone at Juventus. Giovanni Cobolli Gigli confirmed as much speaking with Juventus Channel: “I'm very happy with how the team played, the lads played in the way the Manager had explained to them. I saw determination and pride and the important thing is that there are still margins to improve. Camoranesi was exceptional; sometimes he was like Sivori at his peak. And then, we're lucky we have Buffon”.
juventus.com/uk
