Serie A Week 5 - 3/10/04 (15.00)
Udinese 0 - 1 Juventus
Zalayeta 60 (J)
Stadio Friuli
Marcelo Zalayeta took Juventus to a crucial away victory that keeps them out in front of the chasing pack.
Juve seemed to be an unstoppable juggernaut, but last week's surprise 1-1 home draw with new boys Palermo highlighted some problems. Alessandro Del Piero has been ruled out for a fortnight with a tendon problem, while Fabio Cannavaro recovered in time to start, so Zlatan Ibrahimovic is now David Trezeguet's regular partner. Stephen Appiah replaced Manuele Blasi in midfield.
Udinese are still fuming from a week of controversy, as refereeing errors characterised both their 2-1 defeat to Brescia and the UEFA Cup exit to Panionios. Marek Jankulovski is suspended following his red card for dissent and David Pizarro pulled out during the warm-up, so Alberto and Stefano Mauri stepped in.
There was a scare for Juve within the first 50 seconds, as a Vincenzo Iaquinta cross was pulled back for Mauri only for him to drag it wide of the near post from less than six yards.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic managed to get past his marker inside the box, but his finishing was not equal to the build-up. Pavel Nedved burst into the box and his shot could only shake the side-netting.
The Czech was on fine form and a powerful snapshot from distance almost took Morgan De Sanctis by surprise.
Just as the Bianconeri were putting the pressure on, Iaquinta combined with Mauri and saw his strike deflected over the bar. At the other end Nedved set up Appiah and the Ghana international's screamer stung the palms of ex-Juve goalkeeper De Sanctis.
It was an open game and Iaquinta fired just wide of the near post, but there was controversy just before the break when Emilson Sanchez Cribari fell under what replays suggest was a headbutt from Ibrahimovic. The incident was not seen by the referee or his assistants, so in theory it could go to TV evidence.
The Swede showed the better side of his game soon after when he spun round two defenders, but he was offside at the time.
Trezeguet was substituted at half-time after falling heavily on to his shoulder, a problem he has suffered with for the last year, and made way for Marcelo Zalayeta.
Nedved was inspirational and set up Zalayeta at the far post, but De Sanctis was ready for his close-range finish.
Jonathan Zebina has only ever scored one goal in his career, but went very close on the hour mark when his stunning left-foot drive thumped the upright with De Sanctis stranded.
The Bianconeri finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark with their substitute, as Zalayeta rose to nod in a Mauro German Camoranesi corner kick.
There was panic in the Juve area soon after, as Iaquinta sprung the offside trap and flicked the ball over Buffon, but Fabio Cannavaro sprinted back for an acrobatic goalline clearance.
There was bad news for Pavel Nedved, who limped off after a particularly crunching tackle from Muntari.
Ibrahimovic entertained the fans with a series of flicks and backheel touches, but rarely managed to make them effective against a solid Udinese defence.
Valerio Bertotto was unfortunate enough to charge down Ruben Olivera's strike with his face and was stretchered off. The captain managed to come back on, but evidently the damage was done and he later collapsed without further contact. As Udinese had already completed their substitutions, they were forced to continue in ten men.
Appiah sprung the offside trap only for De Sanctis to stand his ground and close him down at the near post, then Buffon pounced on David Di Michele's cutback before Dino Fava could reach it.
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Udinese: De Sanctis; Bertotto, Cribari, Kroldrup; Alberto (Pieri 72), Pinzi, Mauri (Di Michele 62), Muntari, Felipe; Iaquinta (Fava 75), Di Natale
Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Thuram, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Camoranesi, Emerson, Appiah, Nedved (Olivera 67); Trezeguet (Zalayeta 46), Ibrahimovic
Ref: Farina