Game 22, Serie A
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Stadio Olimpico, Turin
Juventus Lazio 1-1
Juventus go ahead with non-existent penalty but a Mauri volley gives Lazio good point
Lazio had started well winning the first two games of the season but then things went downhill. Their next win came in the 16th fixture, a 1-0 home win against Genoa. Two more defeats followed, a win and two draws (including previous week's 1-1 home draw to Chievo).
Things were looking grim. Lazio were currently 17th on 21 points, only two points ahead of Catania in the last relegation slot.
Juventus were far from the top of their game but were still favourites against struggling Lazio. They also had a new manager, even if it was Alberto Zaccheroni who Lazio fans did not have fond memories of.
The match
A cold Sunday evening saw about 20,000 spectators in the Turin Olympic stadium.
Lazio were not welcomed particularly warmly either as their bus was hit by a bottle, which cracked a window, when approaching the ground.
Juventus were without goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, defender Fabio Grosso, midfielders Claudio Marchisio, Christian Poulsen and Mauro Camoranesi plus striker David Trezeguet while Lazio had newly arrived defenders André Dias, Giuseppe Biava out and midfielders Cristian Brocchi, Pasquale Foggia unavailable plus forward Sergio Floccari was not ready. Cristian Ledesma was still out of favour over contact issues.
The pattern of the game was clear from the early stages. Juventus constantly forward and Lazio concentrating on defensive solidity.
The first chance was for Brazilian midfielder Diego but the former Werder Bremen player's strike was too central to worry Fernando Muslera.
In the 11th minute Alessandro Del Piero had a powerful shot from a difficult angle, perfect stylistically but off target.
Lazio defended well and were rarely flustered. They occasionally ventured into the Juventus' half with Mauro Zarate's speed and trying to find big Julio Cruz in the air.
It was however predominantly Juventus. In the 20th minute an inspired Diego turned and shot, Muslera parried and Modibo Diakité just anticipated Mohamed Sissoko's potential tap-in.
Lazio put their noses out again in the 38th minute but after an excellent Zarate move a low Stefano Mauri effort was well saved by Alex Manninger into corner.
The last chance was for future Lazio Antonio Candreva but his long-range shot had the power but not the precision. Half time Juventus 0 Lazio 0.
Lazio were relatively pleased with the proceedings so far. They were tight and concentrated at the back and had not run excessive risks on the Zebras' constant attacks.
The second half started at a slower pace. Juventus still attacked and Muslera denied another Candreva bullet but Diego however was the real danger man and he hit the post in the 54th minute with a low left foot.
Lazio then defended reasonably comfortably from Juventus' pressure and the game went a bit flat.
It woke with a bang in the 70th minute. Del Piero went around Diakité and then shot way off target before slipping. The referee and possibly only the referee in the whole stadium had seen a foul by the French defender. A highly doubtful (in all fairness invented) and generous penalty to say the least. Del Piero, nicknamed "Pinturicchio" (after the extremely talented Umbrian painter) by Gianni Agnelli, stepped up and sent the ball one way and Muslera the other. Juventus 1 Lazio 0.
Lazio immediately threw on a forward Tommaso Rocchi and took off a midfielder Ousmane Dabo. In the 76th minute the Biancocelesti also put on a more offensive minded Stephen Lichtsteiner in place of Fabio Firmani and Juventus covered up slightly more with defender Martín Cáceres for midfielder Felipe Melo.
Lazio's more attacking mindset paid off and they equalised in the 77th minute. Zarate put a good, precise, floating ball into the middle where Mauri pounced and volleyed past Manninger. Juventus 1 Lazio 1.
In their celebrations, Mauri and Rocchi accidentally clashed heads and the Lombard midfielder was forced off a few minutes later, replaced by defender Sebastiano Siviglia.
The game went quiet after Lazio's leveller. There was one more substitution in the 89th minute with Michele Pascucci coming on for Del Piero but Juventus had nothing more to give and Lazio were pleased with a point. Final score Juventus 1 Lazio 1.
The Juventus fans were certainly not pleased with the point or the current situation. At the end of the contest there were burnt banners in the curva plus whistles and hostile chants against the players and the directors.
For Lazio it was a welcomed away point. A solid defensive performance albeit against a Juventus in difficulty.
Lazio's table had not changed, they were still joint 17th with Livorno and two points above Catania but hopefully today's result would boost their morale.
Juventus caught up with Palermo, in joint 5th place on 34 points.
Who played for Juventus
Manninger, Grygera, Cannavaro, Chiellini, De Ceglie, Candreva, Felipe Melo (76' Cáceres), Sissoko, Diego, Amauri, Del Piero (89' Pascucci)
Substitutes: Chimenti, Legrottaglie, Zebina, Marrone, Giovinco
Manager: Zaccheroni
Who played for Lazio
Muslera, Stendardo, Diakité, Radu, Firmani (76' Lichtsteiner), Dabo (71' Rocchi), Baronio, Kolarov, Mauri (81' Siviglia), Cruz, Zarate
Manager: Ballardini
Referee: Saccani
Goals: 70' Del Piero (pen), 77' Mauri
Sources
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