Nice ratings, Dominic. Here's my match report...
The match started out fairly even, with Juve having the slight edge. More motion in front of the Bologna goal, but Bologna was getting apparently the better chances with occasional Juve defensive muffs at preventing danger.
Then Bologna scored on a brilliant deep pass that seemed to zip through about 6 defenders without anyone touching it, finally reaching a sprinting Bellucci in front of goal for a nice finish that Gigi did little to slow down. 0-1. Not this again!
But Juve didn't panic and slowly started to build themselves back into the game. Chipping away at the Bologna defense, Zanetti launched a nice ball forward to catch a running Del Piero on the right who just shot the far post out of Antonioli's reach. Great goal. 1-1.
Then Juve suddenly seemed to turn on the firehose. Juve dominated possession and pressed forward for the go-ahead.
After halftime, it continued. But oddly, Del Piero got a little greedy and blew a few open opportunities where he really should have sealed it -- choosing to hold on to it while his nearby teammates ran free, then making a shot that Antonioli had no trouble with.
Then things got weirder. Juve was doing so much to move the ball forward and dominate possession, but yet we couldn't put together even a scrappy shot on goal. Offensive miscommunication was rampant. Players zigged when the other thought they would zag. Turnover, turnover, turnover with nothing to show for it deep in the Bologna end.
Then the Curse of Bologna reared its ugly head again (ugly for the rossoblú, that is): with under 10 minutes left, Marchionni is going up to head a ball in the box and makes subtle contact with a defender on his way down. The ref points to the spot. This ref who basically shorted Juve on most of the calls today (IMO) opted to give the penalty on pretty weak circumstances. Though to his defense, from his angle I could see how he thought the defender gave Marchionni a tumble. Let's just say if the sides were reversed, I would have disagreed -- and so thus I don't think it was a deserved penalty. And neither did a couple of Bologna defenders, who were summarily ejected for protesting the call.
I could only think of the Serie A ghost of Gianluca Pagliuca, yelling, "So that's it,
right?! They just
have to win, ref!"
DP converts the PK twice (once called back for offsides). 2-1. Juve celebrates A, but then gets ridiculously fat, lazy and complacent by apparently trying to backpass away the rest of the game. Are they having pity on Bologna, or are they just fools -- even with the 11-9-man advantage? Answer: fools! On corner kicks, Gigi is forced suddenly out of match retirement to don his Super Gigi garb and make some brilliant, World Cup-level saves just to keep Juve on top.
Then the incredibly young and short Giovinco, who was a dynamo in attack out there after subbing Palladino, feeds an easy tap-in for Trez to finish the match and the clock. 3-1.
Ratings:
Buffon - 7 - Asleep much of the match, and he maybe could have done more to distract Bellucci on the first goal. But his brilliant saves at the end kept Juve on top for promotion and looked like the very reason why he's irreplaceable.
Balzaretti - 6.5 - Some good offensive play in moving the ball around and winning it back upfield. Not too much to do defensively.
Chiellini - 6 - Decent play for the most part, but he got caught on the wrong side of the ball a couple of times.
Boumsong - 7 - Who is this guy? He looked cool and confident, and he won balls and made good challenges. He even pressed forward to help distribute the ball from midfield when needed.
Zebina - 6 - Not a bad match. OK defensively and a nice pass to DP that could have resulted in a score. It was harsh that he received a yellow for diving.
Giannichedda - 5.5 - Generally added little while on the pitch.
Marchisio - 7 - He was making plays on both ends of the field. At first defensively, with some great defensive stops and interference. But then he pressed forward and added some dangerous passes and ball control in the box. And he had seemingly more touches than anyone today. Unfortuantely, he played back more towards the end of the match in more of a ball containment role -- as he was having the kind of game where we could have used his presence in the box more as the draw ran on.
Palladino - 5.5 - Nothing really that notable. He didn't lose the ball as often, but should have contributed more with his crosses. Still, winger isn't his natural position.
Marchionni - 6 - Despite some of his obvious mistakes, he played an OK game -- better than lately. He still needs to clear defenders better when making passes and crosses. But he added to the ball movement in attack.
Del Piero - 6 - Brilliant goal and two solid PKs. But unfortunately he became a ball hog when he really needed to distribute on a few prime chances in the second half. A couple of finishes really should have been better too -- a hattrick should have been in the cards for him today.
Trezeguet - 6 - While he didn't score until the last moments of the game, his finishing was generally pretty good and he made some constructive touches throughout. It was just that Antonioli found ways to be in the right position to thwart him.
Subs:
Zanetti - 6.5 - A nice improvement over Giannichedda. Some good, dangerous passes.
Birindelli - 5.5 - Didn't have to do much defensively, and added little offensively.
Giovinco - 7 - He's short. He's young. But this guy who looks like the neighborhood paperboy sure could play. Some smart and accurate crosses and dangerous play. Where has he been hiding?!
DD - 5 - The starting lineup was good. And I'm kinda glad injury kept Legro out. And the Biri sub for Zebina was smart, because Zebina is always a hair's breadth from a red card out of the game. And Giovinco was a really nice sub. But Marchisio should have been sent forward more in the latter stages of the match, particularly for how well he had been playing there. And the play after the 2-1 lead was inexcusable, requiring Super Gigi to save two points from being completely wasted when we should have gone for the 3-1 jugular with a 11-9-man advantage.
Sure i'll have a go.
Buffon 7 Some keeping, in the final stages of the game.
Zebina 6 Decent
Boumsong 5.5 Not bad, but was caught out at times.
Chiellini 5.5 Ditto
Balzaretti 6.5 Really pushed forward in the second half.
Marchionni 5+ Terrible outting really, but at least he won us a (lucky penalty)..
Giannichedda -
Marchisio 7+ MOM As the commentator said- omnipresente
Palladino 6 Some nice passes and play, but not enough quality.
Del Piero 7- Very good, but missed too many chances.
Trezeguet 6 Was actually present and scored.
Zanetti 7 Good assist and solid performance. Reliable.
Birindelli 6 Typical
Giovinco 7 What a talent! Great assist in a Great debut.