Sunday, October 5, 2008
Juventus - Palermo 1-2
Claudio Ranieri may now face the sack after his ten-man Juventus side put in another dismal performance, going down 2-1 at home to Palermo, with substitute Levan Mchedlidze grabbing the winner for the Sicilians.
Team News
Juventus, who had had three consecutive draws, had big injury problems coming into this game as they were without Andrade, Zanetti, Zebina, Trezeguet, Legrottaglie, and Iaquinta. Giorgio Chiellini also wasn't risked in defence and his place went to Dario Knezevic. Claudio Ranieri fielded Sebastian Giovinco as a trequartista behind Alessandro Del Piero and Amauri, while Gianluigi Buffon returned in goal.
Palermo were only minus the services of three players in the form of Budan, Fontana, and Succi. Fabrizio Miccoli led the line again alongside Edison Cavani, and was hoping to continue his outstanding recent form against his old club.
First Half
Juventus had the first attempt of the game, as Del Piero curled a free kick over the wall but it was straight at Marco Amelia. Giovinco also saw a shot blocked by Moris Carrozzieri, while Zdenek Grygera headed over the bar from a corner.
Palermo's first effort of the match came on 15 minutes as Fabio Simplicio unleashed a half volley from 25 yards but it finished well over. There was danger soon after as Mattia Cassani raced down the right and cut the ball back into the six yard box, but the Juve defence escaped any serious damage.
Giovinco was looking lively in the early stages, and some good work down the left eventually led to a cross for Amauri but his header was weak.
However, it was Palermo who took the lead on 23 minutes. A free kick was chipped over the defence for Cavani's volley that was superbly saved by Buffon, but Miccoli reacted fastest to the rebound to turn the ball home.
Miccoli threatened a second as he lost Knezevic, but his volley from a promising position was screwed wide. This was Miccoli's last action of the game as he was forced off injured, and had to be replaced by Giulio Migliaccio.
Juventus had been very poor so far, and there was no direction to their play at all. Giovinco tested Amelia from a free kick but it was straight at the ex-Livorno man. Things got even worse for the home side on 33 minutes as Olof Mellberg sustained an injury, meaning that Hasan Salihamidzic was summoned to replace him.
The Bianconeri were barely threatening but on 38 minutes they levelled the scores with a trademark Del Piero free kick. Amauri was felled on the edge of the box by Migliaccio, and Del Piero curled the ball over the wall and past the diving Amelia.
Juventus' joy soon turned to despair as just minutes later they were reduced to ten men. The red card recipient was Momo Sissoko, who having already been booked, was yellow carded again for a late and dangerous tackle in the middle-of-the-field.
Palermo controlled the remainder of the first half, with Migliaccio shooting over the bar, but the first half ended level, with the Sicilians certainly the happier of the two sides.
Second Half
Palermo raced out of the blocks the fastest in the second half, and Antonio Nocerino tested Buffon with a long range shot. Cesare Bovo then saw two efforts charged down, the first a free kick, and the second the rebound.
Juve's best player on the pitch until now had been Marchisio, and he produced a delightful piece of skill before volleying wide from the edge of the area. Amauri then chested the ball down and thrashed over as the Bianconeri tried to impose themselves on the game.
Giovinco went on a delightful solo run to win a free kick 25 yards out, but Del Piero could not repeat his earlier trick and curled the ball wide of the post.
On 59 minutes Palermo suffered another injury blow as Bresciano, who had been excellent, was forced off, with Mchedlidze coming on in his place. Simplicio now looked to take on more responsibility and his goalbound piledriver was blocked by a defender.
Claudio Ranieri knew that Juve needed more midfield creativity, and he sacrificed Poulsen and brought on Mauro Camoranesi. Del Piero then tried his luck from long range, but Amelia watched the ball fly over.
On 75 minutes Palermo put together a wonderful one-touch move, but Cavani was wrongly flagged offside as he threatened Buffon, even if the goalkeeper had already beaten him to the ball. Carrozzieri then tried to lob Buffon from his own half, but miracles such as these just don't happen.
Ranieri made his final change, strangely introducing Nedved for Giovinco, who had been one of Juve's only bright players. Just seconds later Palermo were back in-front. Simplicio slipped through substitute Mchedlidze, who easily slotted the ball past Buffon.
Juventus tried to react, and Del Piero saw his bicycle kick deflected into the arms of Amelia. In the penultimate minute Del Piero had his umpteenth free kick off the afternoon but he shot over.
In injury time, Palermo should have made it three. Cavani did brilliantly down the right, and cut the ball back for Simplicio, but the Brazilian somehow skied the ball over when it would have been easier to score.
Palermo held on comfortably for a 2-1 win, meaning Juventus have now gone four games without a win, and fall down to 11th in the Serie A table. Claudio Ranieri for the sack?
Teams
Juventus: Buffon, Grygera, Mellberg (Salihamidzic 33), Knezevic, De Ceglie, Marchisio, Poulsen (Camoranesi 64), Sissoko, Giovinco (Nedved 79), Amauri, Del Piero
Palermo: Amelia, Cassani, Carrozzieri, Bovo, Balzaretti, Nocerino (Tedesco 78), Liverani, Simplicio, Bresciano (Mchedlidze 59), Cavani, Miccoli (Migliaccio 29)
Carlo Garganese
Goal.com
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