Category: <b>Match Reports</b><br><br>Juventus are back in Champions League and for the first-leg match of the first knockout round, taking place at the Weserstadion against Werder Bremen, Capello chooses Blasi to replace the unavailable Zambrotta and lines up the Ibrahimovic-Trezeguet partnership in attack. The match is much struggled from the very first minutes, particularly in the midfield; after 5 minutes, Micoud lunges in the midfield and passes to Borowski who drives a right-footed kick too high. After 8 minutes, Klasnic aims at goal from a short range but his low left-footed kick is saved by Buffon. On the counterattack, Vieira tries to set Ibrahimovic on the go but he’s anticipated by Weise. A little later, the Swede gets a good ball in the box but he’s blocked in the corner before being able to shoot at goal. On 13’ minutes, a good action on Werder’s side: a header from Klose and a volley from Klasnic, which ends high over the crossbar, while one minute later Buffon is alert and can easily save Frings’s right footed shot. The German midfielder is very active and after 19 minutes he shoots a low drive into the penalty box which Klasnic misses by a whisker. On 23’ minutes, Buffon outdoes himself in a couple of occasions: the first on a right-footed kick from a short-range by Frings, then on Fahrenorst header, saved by a great rush. Juventus get close to scoring a goal on 25’ minutes when Ibrahimovic finds himself face to face with Weise but he sends the ball out, while on the other side Klasnic tries a right-footed drive from a short-range without hitting the target. There’s no time of rest: on 26’ minutes, Weise replies to Buffon deflecting Trezeguet’s finish, and four minutes later Klose volleys Klasnic’s pass but he can’t find the goal. On 40’ minutes, Werder break the tie: Klasnic serves for Schluz with a fine heel pass, the defender gets into the penalty area and he can’t beat Buffon at first, however the defence is late in clearing and after a long struggle in the box the ball gets to Schulz’s feet again and he taps it in. On the last minute of the first half, Juventus may get a draw but Vieira, unmarked by Trezeguet, gets the last pass wrong and allows Weise to save. Werder react and earn the draw on 42’ minutes with Borowski who deflects Frings’ cross pass from the right behind Buffon’s back.
The second half starts with a very aggressive Juventus: on the first minute, Ibrahimovic drives down the left flank but he cannot feed Trezeguet who’s in the box and after 3 minutes Camoranesi puts the ball in from the right, Vieira passes to Trezeguet and the latter’s finish ends narrowly out. On 14’ minutes, Capello replaces Ibrahimovic with Del Piero. On 19’ minutes, Schulz aims at goal from the short range but Buffon clears, while one minute later, Borowski deflects Frings’ inviting cross pass out. On 22’ minutes, Vieira sets Trezeguet on the go but the Frenchman’s powerful drive from the edge of the box misses the target. Seven minutes later, however, Juventus find the draw: Del Piero beautifully dribbles on the left, passes to Vieira who sees Nedved and feeds him; the Czech finds himself alone in front of the goalkeeper and scores the 1-1 goal.
Ten minutes later, the Bianconeri score again: Del Piero accelerates and tries to serve for Trezeguet, and the ball, hit by a defender, soars but David is faster and his header finds the goal. Two minutes later, the Germans get dangerous again with Frings who threats Buffon and then, in the middle of the added time, they score with Micoud who gets a corner shot from the right and hits the target for the winning 3-2 goal.
WERDER BREMEN vs JUVENTUS 3-2
GOALS: 40’ f.h. Schulz, 29’ s.h. Nedved, 37’ s.h. Trezeguet, 42’ s.t Borowski, 48’ Micoud
WERDER BREMEN: Weise; Owomoyela, Fahrenhorst, Naldo, Schulz; Frings, Baumann, Borowski; Micoud; Klasnic, Klose (22’ s.h. Valdez).
Substitutes: Vander, Pasanen, Vranjes, Andreasen, Jensen, Van Damme
Coach: Schaaf
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Blasi, Thuram, Cannavaro, Balzaretti; Camoranesi (29’ s.h. Zalayeta), Emerson, Vieira, Nedved; Ibrahimovic (14’ s.h. Del Piero), Trezeguet.
Substitutes: Abbiati, Kovac, Pessotto, Giannichedda, Olivera.
Coach: Capello
REFEREE: Mejuto Gonzales
YELLOW CARDS: 37’ f.h. Nedved, 40’ f.h. Schulz, 12’ s.h. Trezeguet, 24’ s.h. Balzaretti, 37’ s.h. Vieira<br><br>Source: Juventus.com
The second half starts with a very aggressive Juventus: on the first minute, Ibrahimovic drives down the left flank but he cannot feed Trezeguet who’s in the box and after 3 minutes Camoranesi puts the ball in from the right, Vieira passes to Trezeguet and the latter’s finish ends narrowly out. On 14’ minutes, Capello replaces Ibrahimovic with Del Piero. On 19’ minutes, Schulz aims at goal from the short range but Buffon clears, while one minute later, Borowski deflects Frings’ inviting cross pass out. On 22’ minutes, Vieira sets Trezeguet on the go but the Frenchman’s powerful drive from the edge of the box misses the target. Seven minutes later, however, Juventus find the draw: Del Piero beautifully dribbles on the left, passes to Vieira who sees Nedved and feeds him; the Czech finds himself alone in front of the goalkeeper and scores the 1-1 goal.
Ten minutes later, the Bianconeri score again: Del Piero accelerates and tries to serve for Trezeguet, and the ball, hit by a defender, soars but David is faster and his header finds the goal. Two minutes later, the Germans get dangerous again with Frings who threats Buffon and then, in the middle of the added time, they score with Micoud who gets a corner shot from the right and hits the target for the winning 3-2 goal.
WERDER BREMEN vs JUVENTUS 3-2
GOALS: 40’ f.h. Schulz, 29’ s.h. Nedved, 37’ s.h. Trezeguet, 42’ s.t Borowski, 48’ Micoud
WERDER BREMEN: Weise; Owomoyela, Fahrenhorst, Naldo, Schulz; Frings, Baumann, Borowski; Micoud; Klasnic, Klose (22’ s.h. Valdez).
Substitutes: Vander, Pasanen, Vranjes, Andreasen, Jensen, Van Damme
Coach: Schaaf
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Blasi, Thuram, Cannavaro, Balzaretti; Camoranesi (29’ s.h. Zalayeta), Emerson, Vieira, Nedved; Ibrahimovic (14’ s.h. Del Piero), Trezeguet.
Substitutes: Abbiati, Kovac, Pessotto, Giannichedda, Olivera.
Coach: Capello
REFEREE: Mejuto Gonzales
YELLOW CARDS: 37’ f.h. Nedved, 40’ f.h. Schulz, 12’ s.h. Trezeguet, 24’ s.h. Balzaretti, 37’ s.h. Vieira<br><br>Source: Juventus.com
