Forza Juve Forever

Serie B Tim - 09 Dec 2006 - 5:48 PM

Juventus - Verona 1-0

Lying just a point off top spot in the 2006/07 Serie B championship, the Bianconeri came into this afternoon’s game looking to extend their unbeaten record with a seventh straight home win. Deschamps welcomed back Del Piero, Piccolo, Zebina and Zalayeta to the squad after injury lay-offs, pairing the latter up front with Palladino in a dangerous looking attack. The suspended Nedved was replaced by Bojinov on the left wing, while Chiellini and Zebina took their places in the left and right fullback positions.

True to form Juventus set off in a high gear, looking to supply Zalayeta with ammunition in the Verona penalty area, but it was the away side who caused an early scare, Iunco sneaking into the box with a late run in the 8th minute and blasting his effort just wide of the left post. It took the Bianconeri quarter of an hour before they took the game by the scruff of the neck, with Bojinov coming agonisingly close to opening the scoring on the 15 minute mark. The Bulgarian showed good strength and balance to work his way past three defenders and into the box, but he couldn’t direct his effort the right side of Pegolo’s bar. The home side continued to apply the pressure but Verona were closing down well and there was little room to manoeuvre in final third. Palladino almost broke the deadlock on 26 minutes, thumping the bar with a right-footed pile driver from twenty-five yards out and five minutes later Zalayeta came close, blasting a powerful shot across the face of goal from a tight angle, but the scores remained level. Camoranesi continued probing with angled balls from deep but the Gialloblù kept their cool at the back, answering the questions posed by the insistent Bianconeri. In added time at the end of the half, it was Camoranesi who came inches within setting the game alight, smashing a tremendous volley just wide of the left post from inside the box, but the half ended all square.

The Bianconeri started the second half with their tails up, Zalayeta racing into the box and forcing Pegolo to save with his legs with a tricky grass-cutter from just inside the box. The Uruguayan headed over from the resulting corner, and a minute later Zebina suffered the same fate, sending his effort a foot wide of the right post from another set-piece. Juventus were relentless as they went in search of the opener and in the 54th minute, their efforts were rewarded, Camoranesi latching onto a floated Palladino cut-back and heading in from ten yards out (1-0). It was exactly what the game needed and as the Bianconeri faithful breathed a collective sigh of relief, the players quickly set about chasing a second. On 63 minutes Del Piero relieved Bojinov in the Juventus attack and the captain’s impact was almost immediate, supplying Camoranesi with a perfectly weighted cross a minute later and watching as his fellow international headed just over the bar. On 68 minutes it was Del Piero himself who threatened to double the lead, forcing Pegolo into a diving save with a curling effort from the edge of the box. The captain was in the thick of it once more in the 75th minute, forcing another save from the Verona number with an angled header. Pegolo palmed the ball back into danger and it took a crucial tackle from the Verona defender to stop Zebina side-footing into the back of the empty net. De Ceglie replaced Zalayeta in the 79th minute and seconds later, Del Piero smashed a powerful first time effort a hair’s breadth wide of the busy Pegolo’s right post. Juventus were in full command of the game with the Gialloblù pegged back into their own half in a brave attempt at damage limitation. With the game as good as won, Deschamps handed a debut to Piccolo, taking off Marchisio with three minutes to go. As the game drew to a close, Buffon wowed the crowd with some showboating, dribbling past Nieto in his own box and launching the ball clear. It was one of very few occasions he actually touched the ball and the one-sided affair was brought to an end moments later with the Bianconeri victorious by a solid goal to nil.

GOALS: Camoranesi 54’

BOOKED: Zebina 58’, Cossu 62’

JUVENTUS: Buffon; Zebina, Boumsong, Kovac, Chiellini; Camoranesi, Marchisio (Piccolo 88’), Paro, Palladino; Zalayeta (De Ceglie 79’), Bojinov (Del Piero 63’)
Subs: Mirante, Urbano, Venitucci, Guzman
Coach: Deschamps

VERONA: Pegolo; Pedrelli, Perticone, Turati (Comazzi 77’); Mancinelli, Italiano Mazzola (Nieto 53’), Guarente (Greco 63’), Pulzetti; Iunco, Cossu
Subs: Loschi, Cutolo, Dianda, Magliocchetti
Coach: Ficcadenti

REFEREE: Pierpaoli
ASSISTANTS: Altomare, Sacco
4TH OFFICIAL: Nicodano

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