Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Juventus In 2008: 6th 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 sixth episode: November and December.
NOVEMBER
The last two weeks of the year see Juventus ready to take-off. After the success against Real, the team became more conscious of its strength. The 111th birthday is celebrated with another victory. This team Roma is beaten 2-0. Del Piero scores one of the most beautiful free-kicks of his career and passes the ball to Marchionni for the second goal.
It is the best way by which to approach the return match against Real. This time ot is to be played at the legendary Bernabeu where the last victory by the bianconeri dates back to 1962. Del Piero writes his name close to that of Sivori ( who scored the match-winner that time). The captain scores with his left foot in the first half and from a free-kick in the second. Del Piero is the absolute protagonist and leaves the pitch – near to th end – accompanied by a standing ovation from all those present at the stadium. This is the second time after the one received at the Old Trafford in August. This is not enough however: the team goes through to the next round with two matches still to be played.
The two goals scored at the Bernabeu are a sort of early present for his 34th birthday, but Del Piero is not happy. Sunday 9th, the day of his birthday, the captain is once again in the headlines after scoring against Chievo with a great execution from a free-kick. In the second half Iaquinta made it 2-0 and signed the fourth consecutive win in the championship.
The victories become five. On an unusual Thursday evening, due to a rugby match between Italy and Argentina, Ranieri’s team scores 4 against Genoa. Grygera confirms himself as the “griffin hunter” scoring the first goal and passing to Amauri for the second. Iaquinta and an own-goal by Papastathopoulos make the final score 4-1.
The real test against Inter is drawing close but before this Juventus must write another page in its histroy. On Friday the 20th in the Giovanni Agnelli auditorium of the Lingotto, the new stadium is presented to the public. The black and white club is once again the first.
At the Meazza things don’t go as they should. Ranieri’s team does not play its best match but keeps up with the nerazzurri. In the first half Marchionni is denied a penalty while a weird Muntari goal decides the match. The top-spot is postponed but the tournament is till long.
In the meantime there is the Champions League to think about. With the team already qualified, the bianconeri are closer to winning the group after drawing 0-0 in St. Petersburg against Zenit. Two posts deny Mellberg and Iaquinta a well-deserved goal.
DECEMBER
The action is served also in the championship. Upon returning from cold Russia, Juventus find the snow even in Turin. A whitened Olimpico is the stage for the second consecutive poker at home. Reggina is sweeped away by Camoranesi, Amauri, Chiellini and Del Piero. For the captain his goal is historic: it is infact his 250th goal for Juventus.
With the opera written the maestro can leave space to the apprentice. At lecce, Del Piero does not play and Giovinco is an excellent substitute both because of his performance and also because of his great goal from a free-kick. The bianconeri emerge from the Via del Mare stadium with a 2-1 win thanks to the great character shown and also the second goal scored by Amauri after the equaliser scored by Lecce.
With the championship back on tarck, Juventus return to the Champions League with a 0-0 at home against Bate. The draw means the top spot in the table of Group H.
With the Champions League tucked away until February, the bianconeri think of the last two matches before the Christmas break. In the meantime the urn in Nyon draws Chelsea as the next opponents in the Champions League. Back to the championship the first match is the big encounter against Milan. Another important victory, another poker (the thrid in a row) thanks to two goals scored by Amauri and those by Del Piero and Chiellini. Great performances also by Marchisio and De Ceglie , symbols of the youth nursery, on the day which marks the second anniversary from the tragic death of Alessio Ferramosca e Riccardo Neri.
The chase continues and passes through Bergamo where Juventus bring 2008 to a close with a 3-1 victory and the return to the scoring sheet by Legrottaglie, the confrmation of Amauri who scored once again and that of Del Piero who wins himself the title of top-scorer of 2008 with 20 goals scored.
Juventus.com
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