Well, match report time...
Grazie mille, Didi. You took on the challenge of coaching this club in its darkest hours and lead us back to where we belonged. Then our board rewarded you by treating you like dirt. :frown:
Juve put together one of their most solid defensive performances this season. While Mantova didn't do too much to threaten us, everything at the backline today seemed calm, cool, collected, and deliberate... none of that panic attack stuff we've seen in the past few matches. I like Didi's choice of making Marchisio play as the focal point for ball distribution in midfield. He still has a bit to grow, but IMO, he seems quite effective at it -- particularly given his experience levels.
The team didn't risk much defensively, but we also didn't create too many good chances for the first half. But in due time, they came. Overall, a match that didn't have that drive to win at all costs -- but one where the team played for respect. They achieved that.
Buffon - 6.5 - Is there anybody in the entire stadium that Gigi did
not wink at today? Not tested much, thanks to the backline. But handled any dicier situations well.
Balzaretti - 7 - Beautiful cross in to Trez for the first goal. He blew defensive coverage a couple times late in the match, but nothing that turned out to be too risky.
Boumsong - 7 - He was a rock. Didn't even flinch at making a single mistake all match. Great pursuit, great placement, and good, aggressive tackles when needed. I'd have given him a 7.5 if he was challenged just a little more.
Chiellini - 6.5 - Generally pretty solid.
Zebina - 7 - One of the best matches I've seen him play for us in a while -- particularly offensively. Runs up the pitch, good crosses, threatening play. It's awesome to see the fans responding to him now after all the grief he received (and deserved) earlier. And I had to laugh at his mini-tirade after the ref forced him to take a free kick further back.

It was entertaining and somewhat childish, but didn't earn a card.
Nedved - 7 - Great pursuit and pace as always. Played more on the left side of the pitch this time, instead of behind the forwards. Still managed to be effective. And the pursuit on the corner kick that lead to the second goal was a freight train that wasn't going to be stopped -- and yet he showed subtlety in tapping it over the goalie when it was needed.
Marchisio - 6.5 - These days I have to judge him on his role -- and that seems to be a pivot point at midfield for possession ... not unlike Del Piero often serves as right outside of the opponent's box. Most of his passes were smart, quick, and accurate. Really got us moving the ball around a lot. A careless tackle here and there, but he added at both ends of the pitch. I want to keep watching this guy in A.
Zanetti - 6.5 - Generally solid. Not as many touches as Marchisio, but that wasn't his role.
Marchionni - 6.5 - I am not as enamored with his play today as some have been. I was a huge fan of him at Parma last season and was excited to see him come to Juve. But he's lacked something ever since. Today, I finally figured out what it was. His crosses are blocked and deflected far too often. Balzaretti, nedved, DP, even Zebina all seem to have better success rates at serving good crosses through defenders. Either he misjudges the defenders, miskicks his crosses, or doesn't have the speed to turn the corner on the defense -- but he fails to connect on too many crosses. To his credit, though, he was very effective at upfield passes. Which makes me wonder: could he be more effective as a straight ahead midfielder for us instead of a winger?
Trezeguet - 7 Made the most out of his few touches. Can't expect much more from him than that.
Del Piero - 6.5 - His free kicks left something to be desired, but he contributed to some great ball movement. Particularly springing Balzaretti on the left for the cross that lead to the first goal.
MOM is a tough one. I'm split between Zebina and Nedved.
Subs:
Palladino - 6 - Didn't do a whole lot.
Birindelli - 6 - Same here.
Zalayeta - NR - Barely on.
Deschamps - 6.5 - While the club didn't look hungry on offense to start (save for a period where we pressed and almost scored very early on), the defense was in very sound shape. Marchisio ensured good ball distribution in midfield, Del Piero upfield. No one really had a weak game today. We stuck to the strategy and patience was rewarded.