Chiellini winner puts Juve back on track

October 22, 2009

Juventus laboured to an unspectacular 1-0 win over 10-man Group A minnows Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League here on Wednesday.

Centre-back Giorgio Chiellini scored the only goal of a disappointing game played in front of a pitifully small crowd of less than 19,000 and in gloomy, rainy conditions.

The win did at least propel the Italian giants into second position in a tough group also containing Bayern Munich and Bordeaux as they now have five points from three games.

That leaves them second and two points behind Bordeaux with three more games to play, a position Juve coach Ciro Ferrara is happy with.

“For us the win was important, not what happened in the other match (Bordeaux beat Bayern),” he said.

“It’s a group that seems to be very close, the Champions League is very tight, we saw that yesterday with some results that no-one expected.

“Of course we could have done better but we have the number of points that we deserve.

“I’m very satisfied with tonight and also the points we have in the standings. Things are looking good.”

Haifa coach Elisha Levi felt his team could have got more out of the game.

“We played well but we can’t get carried away because we haven’t got anything out of it,” he said.

“Of course I’m a bit bitter about the result but I can’t but be satisfied with this young team who played with a lot of commitment.”

Ferrara took a gamble before the game began by changing his formation and playing bit-part Frenchman David Trezeguet as a lone forward with three midfielders behind him.

The idea was to leave Diego free to roam in the centre and hence cause more problems, but that hardly happened in an insipid first half.

Maccabi should have gone in front on two minutes when a cross from Eyal Meshumar found Georgia striker Vladimir Dvalishvili unmarked eight yards out but although his header was well placed, Gianluigi Buffon made a brilliant one-handed save.

Chances were few and far between with Maccabi goalkeeper Nir Davidovitch beating away a Fabio Grosso free-kick on 9min.

Trezeguet should have done better when Grosso’s cross found him seven yards out but the former France forward poked the ball well wide of the far post after Maccabi’s defence had gone wandering on 20 minutes.

Lior Rafaelov lashed a wild shot over the bar for Haifa and Momo Sissoko headed a Mauro Camoranesi free-kick wide while Diego ended the half by sending a direct free-kick wide before the referee mercifully brought a drab period to a close.

The game needed a goal and it got one two minutes after the restart as Diego’s curling free-kick from the left was headed home by Chiellini – although questions will be asked of a Haifa defence and goalkeeper that allowed him a free header from two yards.

Shortly after Diego almost added a second but his delectable chip just cleared the bar with Davidovitch beaten.

Juve started to really boss the game and Davidovitch blocked Trezeguet’s close range shot on the slide from an inviting Grosso cross before he dived full length to stop Sebastian Giovinco’s fierce effort.

Any chance Maccabi had of salvaging something ended in the 69th minute with a very questionable decision by the referee who gave Tiago Dutra a straight red card for a 50-50 challenge with Chiellini.

Even so Dvalishvili stung Buffon’s hands with a late effort that had Juve’s fans holding their breath before Camoranesi hit the post for Juve.

There was still time for Buffon to make another fine save from Mohammad Ghadir deep into time added on.

TURIN, Italy (AFP)

Tags: bit part, Bordeaux, champions league, Chiellini, ciro ferrara, david trezeguet, Diego, elisha, Elisha Levi, Fabio Grosso, five points, France, frenchman, Georgia, gianluigi buffon, giorgio chiellini, haifa, Italy, levi, Lior Rafaelov, man group, mauro camoranesi, midfielders, minnows, Mohammad Ghadir, rainy conditions, sebastian giovinco, striker, three games, turin, vladimir, Vladimir Dvalishvili

Quick Report: Juventus 2-2 Chelsea

March 11, 2009

Premier League side Chelsea secured a spot in the quarter finals of the Champions League, holding Juventus to a 2-2 draw in Turin.

Chelsea had a 1-0 lead to defend from the home leg but their lead vanished on 19 minutes when Vincenzo Iaquinta played a one-two with Trezeguet before striking past Petr Cech.

But the Londoners came back just before the interval. A distance shot from Lampard was deflected onto the bar by Buffon, but Michael Essien came at the right time to score in the rebound.

Juventus went down to 10 when Chiellini conceded a second yellow card on 70 minutes, but the Italians soon reconquered the lead as a Alessandrao Del Piero free kick was handled by a Chelsea defender four minutes later. The striker himself took the penalty and sent Cech the wrong way.

But all doubt was taken away when Ivorian striker Didier Drogba scored from close range in the 83rd minute, handing Chelsea a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Written by: AFP

Tags: aggregate victory, Alessandrao, buffon, CHELSEA, Chiellini, close range, Del Piero, Drogba, English Premier League, four minutes, free kick, home leg, italians, juventus, londoners, Michael Essien, Petr Cech, premier league, quarter finals, right time, Serie A, striker, trezeguet, turin, UEFA Champions League, Vincenzo, wrong way, yellow card

The title is Inter´s to lose, says Ranieri

February 21, 2009

ROME (AFP) – Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri admitted on Friday that the Serie A title was now Inter’s to lose rather than theirs to win.

Juve dropped to nine points behind the reigning champions last weekend after a 1-1 home draw against Sampdoria while Inter beat AC Milan 2-1 in their city derby.

And it has left Ranieri admitting that his team could well be forced to focus on the Champions League – they face Chelsea in the second round in London next week.

"Only Inter can lose it (the title), we have to keep the faith and play a great match against Palermo," he said.

"It will be an important gauge for us ahead of the Champions League. The team is in good shape and we need a good boost ahead of the next seven days, and that means a victory.

"We’re at a key stage of the season and the fact that the treatment room is empty is a good sign."

That means that important players such as former France striker David Trezeguet and Italy internationals Mauro Camoranesi and Giorgio Chiellini are all back in first team contention.

All three will play on Saturday with Trezeguet making his first start of the season.

"Trezeguet will play from the first minute against Palermo in attack with Camoranesi in midfield and Chiellini in defence," said Ranieri.

"I just hope we’re not thinking about Chelsea."

With the title seemingly out of their grasp, the Champions League may provide their best hope of silverware this season.

Ranieri is hoping that his team can go all the way in Europe but admits that the knock-out format is not the true test of a team’s capabilities.

"The league is where the true strength of a team is exposed. The Champions League is a different kettle of fish, it’s not always the best team that wins it," he said.

"In front of us are four or five European battleship destroyers but upsets can happen and we have faith.

"Valencia twice reached the final despite being a little known team. (Italy coach Marcello) Lippi may think it will be a Barcelona-Manchester United final and maybe he has a point but I don’t want to agree with him, I’ll do everything to guide Juventus to the final."

Written by: AFP