Serie B Tim - 27 Jan 2007 - 6:02 PM

Spezia - Juventus: 1-1

The Bianconeri travelled to La Spezia in search of their third straight championship win and the albeit symbolic crown of ‘winter champions’. Deschamps made just one change to the side which dispatched Bari in the previous round, welcoming back Buffon between the sticks in place of Mirante.

Spezia made an energetic start to the game, chasing down every ball and denying Juventus space in the final third. Zanetti registered the away side’s first effort on goal, blazing an ambitious volley wide of Santoni’s right post in the 4th minute from thirty yards out. The Bianconeri hovered menacingly but it was the Ligurians who threatened first, Guidetti losing his marker in the box on the quarter hour mark and forcing Giannichedda into a last-ditch sliding tackle as he prepared to pull the trigger. Juventus reacted well and began to impose themselves on the game, Birindelli serving up Trezeguet with a swerving cross on 18 minutes; the Frenchman rose highest but couldn’t direct his header either side of Santoni. A Nedved cross in the 29th minute saw Del Piero head inches wide at the far post but Spezia were organised and determined at the back, cheered on by the enthusiastic home crowd. Paro came close in the 37th minute, his powerful effort deflected over the bar by the Spezia defender, but Juventus were unable to carve out any clear cut chances. As the Bianconeri grew frustrated, the home side found their feet, taking the lead on 39 minutes with a textbook goal; Do Prado found the head of Confalone with an inch-perfect cross and the midfielder made no mistake, powering his effort past Buffon from near the penalty spot (0-1). Buffon came out on top of a one-on-one with Guidetti minutes later, keeping the visitors in the game as they prepared for an earful from Deschamps at the break.

Santoni pulled-off a marvellous reflex save to deny Trezeguet on the volley four minutes into the second half; the Frenchman tried his luck on the rebound but his effort was blocked once more. Spezia retaliated with a clever piece of play, opening up the Juventus defence on 52 minutes and forcing Buffon into a fine double save, first from Confalone, then Guidetti. Do Prado picked up an injury shortly after being booked and was replaced by Baù in the 57th minute, the substitute blazing a wayward shot wide of the goal with his first touch. Nedved looked to inject some energy and invention into the Juve attack but the visitors’ link-up play lacked cohesion in the final third. The game grew in tempo and the Bianconeri’s perseverance began to pay dividends as they ground down the home defence. Piccolo headed just over in the 61st minute, latching onto a deep Birindelli free-kick, and moments later Camoranesi had a golden chance to level the scores; the midfielder shed his marker and raced into the penalty area but couldn’t direct his effort past the unflappable Santoni. Padoin replaced Guidetti as Spezia began to retreat but Juventus kept on coming, Nedved and Balzaretti trying their luck as the game entered its final third. Palladino added some pace in attack, taking the field in place of Paro but the Bianconeri’s next substitution was a forced one, De Ceglie entering the fray in place of the injured Birindelli in the 78th minute. The game took an unexpected turn seconds later with Giannichedda sent-off for a second bookable offence. Ten man Juve did well to keep their momentum but their efforts to find an equaliser left them exposed at the back. It took another great save from Buffon to deny Confalone on 84 minutes, and he repeated the trick as the game entered time added on, denying Baù at the near post. Deschamps made his last throw of the dice right at the death, sending on Marchionni in place of Camoranesi, but Juventus looked doomed to their second defeat of the season. But with seconds left on the clock, Nedved did the unthinkable, equalising in dramatic style with a right-footed piledriver from the edge of the box.
The heroic Santoni dived to his left but it wasn’t enough, ten man Juventus had salvaged a point out of the jaws of defeat (1-1).

GOALS: Confalone 39’, Nedved 90+3’

BOOKED: 32' Confalone, 54' Do Prado, 56' Birindelli, 60' Gorzegno, 69' Paro, 70' and 79' Giannichedda
SENT OFF: 79' Giannichedda

SPEZIA: Santoni; Nicola, Giuliano, Addona, Gorzegno; Saverino, Guidetti (Padoin 71’), Confalone, Frara, Do Prado (Caù 57’); Varricchio
Subs: Rotoli, Grieco, Rossi, Ponzo, Alessi
Coach: Soda

JUVENTUS: Buffon; Birindelli (De Ceglie 78’), Piccolo, Giannichedda, Balzaretti; Camoranesi (Marchionni 90+1’), Zanetti, Paro (Palladino 70’), Nedved; Trezeguet, Del Piero
Subs: Mirante, Legrottaglie, Marchisio, Bojinov
Coach: Deschamps

Referee: Rocchi (Florence)
Assistants: Alvino-Angrisani

 B TIM - Table

Pos  Team Pts P W D L F A 1  Juventus 39 21 14 6 1 37 13 2  Bologna 37 21 11 4 6 25 17 3  Mantova 36 21 9 9 3 24 15 4  Napoli 36 20 9 9 2 21 12 5  Genoa 35 20 10 5 5 33 26 6  Piacenza 35 21 10 5 6 24 22 7  Rimini 34 21 9 7 5 34 22 8  Albinoleffe 29 21 5 14 2 19 16 9  Cesena 29 21 7 8 6 30 30 10  Triestina 29 21 7 9 5 15 16 11  Bari 28 21 7 7 7 20 17 12  Frosinone 28 21 7 7 7 23 24 13  Brescia 28 21 7 7 7 23 24 14  Treviso 26 21 6 8 7 25 24 15  Lecce 22 21 6 4 11 26 33 16  Vicenza 21 21 5 6 10 21 23 17  Spezia 21 21 4 9 8 21 29 18  Modena 21 21 5 6 10 12 20 19  Crotone 19 21 3 10 8 16 26 20  Verona 17 21 4 5 12 9 21 21  Pescara 12 21 2 7 12 17 37 22  Arezzo 11 21 3 8 10 15 23 Penalizations: Juventus -9 Arezzo -6 Pescara -1 Triestina -1