Lazio 2 Juve 3

[BAGGIO 15]

Lazio 2 - 3 Juventus
Trezeguet 29 (J), Pandev 36, 92 (L), Del Piero 48, 70 (J)
Stadio Olimpico

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Alessandro Del Piero's brace and some career-best saves from Gigi Buffon saw Juventus conquer Lazio 3-2 at the Olimpico in a highly entertaining clash.

The Bianconeri were hoping to take advantage of Lazio's crisis to stay in the Scudetto race, but Delio Rossi's men could finally focus after their midweek Champions League exit. Juve were unbeaten here since 2003 and fielded Alessandro Del Piero from the start after Vincenzo Iaquinta and Mauro Camoranesi were ruled out with injury. The home side had Mobido Diakhite, Simone Del Nero, Valon Behrami and Fabio Firmani sidelined, but welcomed back Stefano Mauri.

There was a minute's silence before kick-off as it is one year since Juventus youth players Alessio Ferramosca and Riccardo Neri, who drowned at the Vinovo training ground in a tragic accident.

Hasan Salihamidzic drilled over the bar, but at the other end Mauri took a great chance off the foot of teammate Tommaso Rocchi. Juventus had a fantastic opportunity after 14 minutes when Del Piero's free kick was nodded inches over the bar by Giorgio Chiellini.

Moments later Gianluigi Buffon had to punch away a fierce swerving Goran Pandev strike. The resulting corner was not dealt with effectively and Mauri pounced on a deflected Cristian Ledesma cross off Cristian Molinaro at the back post only to incredibly balloon over the bar from point-blank range!

Juventus broke through in chaotic fashion. A corner kick was headed into the path of Salihamidzic and the shot ricocheted off Trezeguet's ankle from five yards to leave the Lazio defenders stranded. It was a fast-paced move and it seems from the replays that when Salihamidzic touched the ball he was just onside.

Former Lazio hero Pavel Nedved suffered a nasty cut to his forehead in a clash with Scaloni and blood was pouring down his face. He was able to continue after several minutes of treatment.

Lazio equalised soon after with a well-worked team move, although the Juve defence was rather static. Massimo Mutarelli ran on to Rocchi's assist and volleyed the pass to the back post for Pandev's cushioned header.

Buffon smothered a Rocchi strike from the edge of the box, then Rocchi missed Pandev's cut-back inside the box and there were timid penalty appeals for a challenge on Aleksander Kolarov.

Claudio Ranieri introduced Tiago Mendes for Nedved, as the deep cut to the Czech midfielder's head had not fully closed. Within three minutes of the restart Del Piero ran from the centre circle to restore Juve's advantage. A Lazio set-piece was cleared to the captain, who sprung the offside trap, sprinted all the way into the box and kept his cool to place a precise left-foot angled drive into the far corner of the net.

Tiago placed a pass to much the same position where Del Piero shot from, but the Frenchman saw his effort parried as Marco Ballotta came tearing out.

The Biancocelesti had penalty appeals for a tug on Giorgio Chiellini tug on Pandev, but Buffon proved why he is the Number One in the world with one of the best saves of his entire career. Ledesma's free kick over the top was volleyed by Rocchi from six yards and Buffon batted it off the line with one strong hand and extraordinary reflexes.

Moments later Buffon was again decisive to pluck Rocchi's diving header out of the air.

Not to be out-done, 43-year-old Ballotta performed a fine save on Del Piero's header, although it wouldn't have counted anyway as it was offside. Lazio were pouring forward in waves, but once again this left space at the back for the counter.

Del Piero scored an almost identical goal to his first, trapping a long Cristiano Zanetti ball with the outside of his right foot and thumping the left-foot finish high into the far top corner this time.

Lazio did not give in and Rocchi combined with Pandev for another header captured by Buffon, but Del Piero almost got a hat-trick when he nodded over from Trezeguet's cross, although he may have been shoved in the back.

Mauri's scissor-kick volley was well held by Buffon, while Sebastiano Siviglia turned a free header from a corner over the bar following Jonathan Zebina's error.

With just 20 seconds left on the clock, Lazio pulled one back with Pandev completing his brace. Rocchi sprung the offside trap down the left and crossed for the Macedonian's header from point-blank range.


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Lazio: Ballotta; Scaloni (De Silvestri 75), Cribari, Siviglia, Kolarov; Mudingayi (Meghni 86), Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri; Pandev, Rocchi

Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic, Nocerino, Zanetti, Nedved (Tiago 46); Del Piero, Trezeguet

Ref: Brighi

[BAGGIO 15]

Goals
0-1 Trezeguet (Min 29)
Click Here for Video
http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=1610044

1-1 Pandev (Min 35)
Click Here for Video
http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=1610058

1-2 Del Piero (Min 47)
Click Here for Video
http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=1610123

1-3 Del Piero (Min 70)
Click Here for Video
http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=1610157

2-3 Pandev (Min 92)
Click Here for Video
http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=1610213

[the lorax]

thanks for the vids and report. looked like a great game.

[Juventino]

Very good win at the Olimpico. Generally the games vs Lazio there are close affairs and although our first goal did look offside, we were value for that win. Two great goals by Del Piero.

[BAGGIO 15]

Very good win at the Olimpico. Generally the games vs Lazio there are close affairs and although our first goal did look offside, we were value for that win. Two great goals by Del Piero.

Replay showed just on, but I wasn't sue at first.Buffon was in great form and Alex really could of had another 2, on side when through was called back and the push in the back when he went up for a header. Lazio still had afew good chances and really seem to be good enough to higher up the table.

[Trezegoal #17]

we lacked creativity in the first half, zanetti and nocerino together really dont create much and nedved was off form. as soon as tiago came on we looked sharper and found ourselves in good offensive positions thanks to his slick passing. ranieri really needs to give him more time as he posesses the ability to create with great passing, especially without camoranesi and with nedved in eratic form we need a creative midfielder in the mix and tiago provides this....i just hope ranieri wakes up soon.