Juventus 1 - 0 Messina
Del Piero 23 (J)
Stadio Delle Alpi
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A splendid Alessandro Del Piero individual effort ensured Juventus beat Messina for their seventh consecutive Serie A victory.
The Bianconeri were without the injured Patrick Vieira, while Lilian Thuram and Zlatan Ibrahimovic played despite fitness problems. Del Piero was Man of the Match in Italy's 2-1 win over Moldova midweek and was given a rare start for Juve along with Adrian Mutu, who took a wide midfield role. Messina welcomed back Marco Zanchi after his doping suspension was quashed.
The home end was left empty for the opening 20 minutes, as Juve supporters were protesting against the new security measures implemented in Italian stadiums.
An Ibrahimovic header on Pavel Nedved's free kick fell into the path of Emerson, but a handling offence ruled out the opportunity to score. Ibrahmovic then set up Del Piero and goalkeeper Marco Storari was tested by the Swede's low cross-shot.
Del Piero broke away from Zoro's challenge and his shot towards the near post was deflected on to the side-netting.
The captain's Italian experience certainly boosted him, as he scored a fantastic individual goal to break the deadlock. Del Piero robbed Zoro in midfield, dribbled round a second Messina player and placed a cool finish into the far corner of the net with the inside of his right foot.
Gaetano D'Agostino and Domenico Giampa' combined several times before Massimo Donati's curling attempt was comfortably dealt with by Christian Abbiati.
Messina fought back, as Thuram was booked for bringing down Coppola and Zoro followed up a free kick by drilling over from the edge of the box.
After the break, Riccardo Zampagna was halted in a one-on-one situation with Abbiati for a debatable offside decision as he ran on to D'Agostino's through ball. At the other end, Nedved's snapshot was pushed round the post by Storari.
Ibrahimovic saw Storari off his line and attempted an ambitious strike from over 30 metres, but Messina were increasing the pressure at the Stadio Delle Alpi. Seeing the situation, Fabio Capello strengthened the midfield with the introduction of Mauro Camoranesi for Mutu.
Storari was kept on his toes moments later, parrying Nedved's long-range effort and then keeping out Ibrahimovic's follow-up with his knees before Del Piero's third attempt went out for a corner.
Messina also made a substitution, throwing on the more attacking Arturo Di Napoli for D'Agostino, but Juve's new arrival - Camoranesi - forced Storari to fly in order to palm away a screaming shot from distance.
Ibrahimovic dribbled past his marker moments later and the busy goalkeeper kept out his low finish with an outstretched foot.
Abbiati looked slightly insecure when Di Napoli's cross-shot at the near post was pushed away off his chest and he blocked another effort from the substitute. Giorgio Chiellini received his official Juventus debut when replacing Nedved, while Messina threw on two more attacking players.
Storari continued to frustrate Juve with another fine save on Camoranesi's cheeky volley with the outside of his foot.
David Trezeguet replaced goalscorer Del Piero and within a couple of minutes he had beaten the Messina 'keeper - but not the woodwork. His volley thumped the base of the far upright with Storari left helpless.
However, Messina had a fantastic chance to draw level in the final minutes. Abbiati showed quick reflexes to palm away a point-blank Muslimovic header deflected off Thuram and Di Napoli was somehow unable to get a solid touch on the loose ball from less than six yards.
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Juventus: Abbiati; Pessotto, Thuram, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Nedved (Chiellini 74), Giannichedda, Emerson, Mutu (Camoranesi 57); Del Piero (Trezeguet 82), Ibrahimovic
Messina: Storari; Zoro (Sculli 73), Rezaei, Zanchi, Aronica; Cristante, Coppola, Donati, Giampà; D’Agostino (Di Napoli 63); Zampagna (Muslimovic 63)
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