Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Juventus In 2008: 1st Episode
2008 is on its way out. A very positive year for Juventus who returned with the great European teams through the qualification for the Champions League. Juventus.com relives the long voyage by Ranieri’s team in six episodes. Here is the first episode: January and February.
JANUARY
2008 for Juventus began with the snow covering Turin in white, but the bianconeri already have a destination: Malta. On the 6th of January the team left for the winter training camp characterised by the warmth: that of the climate but most of all of the love of the Maltese.
Criscito was not part of the squad since he had just been transferred to Genoa while Olivera was transferred to Penarol soon after. These were to be the first moves of what was a very active transfer market.
From Malta to Catania the trip is short. The championship returns under the Etna volcano with a Del Piero penalty avoiding a defeat at the end of the match.
Back in Turin, the bianconeri must think of the Coppa Italia and the 2-1 defeat in the first leg against Empoli. The bianconeri went through by winning with a final score of 5-3 (two goals by Iaquinta, and a goal each by Marchionni, Nedved and Del Piero) and saw themselves up to meet Inter in the next round.
The league presents a series of draws: 0-0 against Sampdoria at home and another draw at the Meazza in the Tim Cup. Ranieri;s men are under by 2-0 but with great determination and character manage to equalise thanks to Del Piero and Boumsong. The goal scored by the Frenchman is a great farewell present: he played and acored with his bags already prepared for Lyon. Almiron also bids farewell with Monaco as his destination.
However the market is not only active on the selling side but also on the buying one. The club announces the arrival of Mellberg in June, loans Stendardo from Lazio but most of all signs Sissoko. The impact of the player from Mali is the same as that of a cyclone!
In the meantime the second round is underway and Juventus start-off brilliantly. Livorno once again beaten: not by the 5-1 score of the first round but by a nonetheless authoritarian one of 3-1. Trezeguet and Buffon confirm themselves as a couple worthy of screams while Belardi who is called to replace Buffon has his fair share in the success.
It’s a time for debuts. Momo makes his at the beginning of February after returning from the African Nations Cup. Stendardo is immediately a protagonist playing his part against Inter. This is not enough however, and the cup tie ends in a 3-2 defeat notwithstanding the great goals scored by Del Piero and Iaquinta. This sees the end to the adventure in the national cup but the team will have its revenge on Mancini’s team later on.
FEBRUARY
2008 is a leap year and February holds 5 matches on schedule. All league matches, the only competition to which the team will dedicate all body and soul. The beginning is not the one hoped for.
Cagliari arrives in Turin under the care of Ballardini and returns home with a point. The rossoblu also manage to go ahead but Pavel Nedved put things back in place thanks to one of his special bits of play.
For Juventus, who continue seeking to return to European football, the matches against Udinese and Roma came at the right moment with the team taking advantage of the occasion.
The Friuli confirmed the tradition: a stadium in which Juventus suffer but most of the times with the bianconeri emerging with the 3 points. The hosts started off well and managed to open the score. The come-back is reserved for the second half. Camoranesi, who was absent for a number of weeks, leaves his mark thanks to a perfect header while to complete the works it is the player with most ties in the city of the Friuli region: Iaquinta comes on and scores the first ball he touches giving the team 3 golden points.
The points soon become six. After having drawn in the big match during the first round, the team changes route and starts to find satisfaction one match after another. The first opponent to fall under the great want for a comeback by the bianconeri is Roma. Spalletti’s team continues in its run after Inter but in Turin it is halted suddenly. Del Piero wins the personal duel with Totti and gives Juventus a victory thanks to a great free-kick. Now, even the second place is not so much of a taboo anymore.
However, when it is time to try and win the best league positions comes the most difficult patch. This moment all began from a match which will leave its mark for quite some time. Away to Reggina, the bianconeri succumb to an unexpected defeat. This is not really there fault but that of referee Dondarini who denies the bianconeri at least three penalties awarding one to the Calbrian team at the end of the match. To make things worse Zanetti is sent of and will miss the derby.
The second match of the season against the granata does not present the emotions of the first. David Trezeguet who had a great match in the first round finds himself in the spectator’s seat due to injury. Ranieri’s team try but this time does not manage to win. It is a match without particular sensations and the 0-0 result at the end is a logical consequence. The first two months come to an end with Juventus determined to qualify for the Champions League as soon as possible.
Juventus.com
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