[SERIE A] JUVENTUS vs Roma (11/01/08) (15 Viewers)
- Thread starter Mark
- Start date
OK, I get the Menez thing now. 
Channel 4
Juventus 2 - 0 Roma
Del Piero 38 (J), Marchionni 48 (J)
Stadio Olimpico
An Alessandro Del Piero jewel and Marco Marchionni strike gave Juventus a 2-0 win over crisis-hit Roma. It's their sixth defeat of the season and maintains their 100 per cent negative away record.
The Bianconeri came into this clash with confidence restored after a crisis, but the Giallorossi were still right in the thick of it, having lost more games than throughout all of last season. Their midweek fixture with Sampdoria was rained off, so they have a game in hand.
To make matters worse, Francesco Totti was injured, but Philippe Mexes returned from a three-match ban for insulting the referee and Julio Baptista recovered. Alex Del Piero was back, but the injury list still included Gigi Buffon, David Trezeguet, Cristiano Zanetti and Claudio Marchisio.
Juve were aggressive from the start and Amauri just failed to get on the end of Del Piero's cross at full stretch. David Pizarro was booked for blocking a Christian Molinaro shot with his hands just outside the box, but Del Piero's free kick was charged down.
At the other end Rodrigo Taddei's smart pass to the unmarked Mirko Vucinic was intercepted at the last moment by Zdenek Grygera in a move sparked by Baptista. Moments later Taddei nodded a Daniele De Rossi cross over the bar.
Del Piero and Nedved combined passes several times for a sweeping move through the centre, but the captain was closed down in the area.
Roma went closer than ever on 20 minutes, as only the woodwork denied them. A low Christian Panucci cross from the right seemed to take everyone from surprise, including Baptista, so it ended its journey on the inside of the far post with Alex Manninger stranded.
Baptista had another great chance moments later, nodding a long De Rossi free kick over the bar. Nicola Legrottaglie used his strength to get the header and prevent Vucinic going clear on goal, while De Rossi intercepted on Marco Marchionni in a similar situation.
A long sweeping move with many first-touch passes concluded when Amauri cut back for Grygera from eight yards, but Juan came sliding in to clear the danger.
Del Piero's free kick found Giorgio Chiellini in the six-yard box for a header downwards, but somehow Alexander Doni managed to parry from point-blank range with a fantastic reaction save.
Christian Molinaro's taut cross was flicked on by Amauri, but this put Marchionni off balance and he ballooned over from close range.
The deadlock was finally broken with a Del Piero special. He curled a magnificent free kick into the near top corner from 30 metres, similar in style to the gem he scored against Zenit in the Champions League. He hit it with both curl and pace, meaning Doni simply could not reach the ball.
Del Piero almost netted a spectacular second with a volley from six yards, but it only shook the side-netting and for a moment convinced everyone at the Olimpico that it was in!
Amauri wanted a penalty in the final move of the first half, but the referee waved play on and then had to pull back a furious De Rossi, who was accusing the Brazilian of simulation. Roma threw on Jeremy Menez for Taddei.
Straight after the restart Amauri risked scoring the goal of the season as his acrobatic overhead kick was on target, but Doni parried with a stunning save.
Juve were far more aggressive in this second half and went 2-0 up with a great team move. Del Piero stroked the ball across for Marchionni, who skipped past a sluggish John Arne Riise and chipped the onrushing Doni.
Amauri's towering header was over the bar and Juan deflected a Grygera cross out for a corner before Del Piero could get the header.
Doni required another fine save to parry Amauri's angled drive, while Vucinic couldn't keep his lob on target. Luciano Spalletti went all-out for the final 20 minutes with Stefano Okaka in place of Pizarro. It didn't work, as Roma failed to muster much of a fightback.
Amauri made way for Vincenzo Iaquinta and was visibly unhappy, but was being rested for the upcoming Champions League trip to Real Madrid. Molinaro did well to cut off Vucinic when the Montenegrin had sprung the offside trap in stoppages.
Juventus: Manninger; Grygera (Mellberg 77), Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Marchionni, Sissoko, Tiago, Nedved (De Ceglie 80); Amauri, Del Piero
Roma: Doni; Panucci (Cicinho 58), Mexes, Juan, Riise; Pizarro (Okaka 70), De Rossi; Taddei (Menez 46), Perrotta, Vucinic; Baptista
Juventus 2 - 0 Roma
Del Piero 38 (J), Marchionni 48 (J)
Stadio Olimpico
An Alessandro Del Piero jewel and Marco Marchionni strike gave Juventus a 2-0 win over crisis-hit Roma. It's their sixth defeat of the season and maintains their 100 per cent negative away record.
The Bianconeri came into this clash with confidence restored after a crisis, but the Giallorossi were still right in the thick of it, having lost more games than throughout all of last season. Their midweek fixture with Sampdoria was rained off, so they have a game in hand.
To make matters worse, Francesco Totti was injured, but Philippe Mexes returned from a three-match ban for insulting the referee and Julio Baptista recovered. Alex Del Piero was back, but the injury list still included Gigi Buffon, David Trezeguet, Cristiano Zanetti and Claudio Marchisio.
Juve were aggressive from the start and Amauri just failed to get on the end of Del Piero's cross at full stretch. David Pizarro was booked for blocking a Christian Molinaro shot with his hands just outside the box, but Del Piero's free kick was charged down.
At the other end Rodrigo Taddei's smart pass to the unmarked Mirko Vucinic was intercepted at the last moment by Zdenek Grygera in a move sparked by Baptista. Moments later Taddei nodded a Daniele De Rossi cross over the bar.
Del Piero and Nedved combined passes several times for a sweeping move through the centre, but the captain was closed down in the area.
Roma went closer than ever on 20 minutes, as only the woodwork denied them. A low Christian Panucci cross from the right seemed to take everyone from surprise, including Baptista, so it ended its journey on the inside of the far post with Alex Manninger stranded.
Baptista had another great chance moments later, nodding a long De Rossi free kick over the bar. Nicola Legrottaglie used his strength to get the header and prevent Vucinic going clear on goal, while De Rossi intercepted on Marco Marchionni in a similar situation.
A long sweeping move with many first-touch passes concluded when Amauri cut back for Grygera from eight yards, but Juan came sliding in to clear the danger.
Del Piero's free kick found Giorgio Chiellini in the six-yard box for a header downwards, but somehow Alexander Doni managed to parry from point-blank range with a fantastic reaction save.
Christian Molinaro's taut cross was flicked on by Amauri, but this put Marchionni off balance and he ballooned over from close range.
The deadlock was finally broken with a Del Piero special. He curled a magnificent free kick into the near top corner from 30 metres, similar in style to the gem he scored against Zenit in the Champions League. He hit it with both curl and pace, meaning Doni simply could not reach the ball.
Del Piero almost netted a spectacular second with a volley from six yards, but it only shook the side-netting and for a moment convinced everyone at the Olimpico that it was in!
Amauri wanted a penalty in the final move of the first half, but the referee waved play on and then had to pull back a furious De Rossi, who was accusing the Brazilian of simulation. Roma threw on Jeremy Menez for Taddei.
Straight after the restart Amauri risked scoring the goal of the season as his acrobatic overhead kick was on target, but Doni parried with a stunning save.
Juve were far more aggressive in this second half and went 2-0 up with a great team move. Del Piero stroked the ball across for Marchionni, who skipped past a sluggish John Arne Riise and chipped the onrushing Doni.
Amauri's towering header was over the bar and Juan deflected a Grygera cross out for a corner before Del Piero could get the header.
Doni required another fine save to parry Amauri's angled drive, while Vucinic couldn't keep his lob on target. Luciano Spalletti went all-out for the final 20 minutes with Stefano Okaka in place of Pizarro. It didn't work, as Roma failed to muster much of a fightback.
Amauri made way for Vincenzo Iaquinta and was visibly unhappy, but was being rested for the upcoming Champions League trip to Real Madrid. Molinaro did well to cut off Vucinic when the Montenegrin had sprung the offside trap in stoppages.
Juventus: Manninger; Grygera (Mellberg 77), Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Marchionni, Sissoko, Tiago, Nedved (De Ceglie 80); Amauri, Del Piero
Roma: Doni; Panucci (Cicinho 58), Mexes, Juan, Riise; Pizarro (Okaka 70), De Rossi; Taddei (Menez 46), Perrotta, Vucinic; Baptista
