Livorno give a good account of themselves but some stunning finishing at one end and a failure to take chances at the other give Juventus a less than stellar three points.    

 

Stadio Armando Picchi was vocal in the late Sunday fixture.  Livorno's proximity to Turin allowed plenty of Bianconeri tifosi to add their vocals to a good atmosphere despite the chilly night. 

 

Amaranto manager Camolese picks an attack minded side to take on Juventus.  Amelia keeps goal.  Grandoni, Knezevic and Galante operated in the three man back line with a midfield of Balleri, Vidigal De Vezze, the Filippini twins and Pasquale.  Up front Tavano and Tristan provide the firepower. 

 

Ranierii has to dig deep into his squad due to injuries but has a formidable line up nonetheless.  Belardi keeps goal with a back four of Salihamidzic, Legrottaglie, Grygera and Molinaro.  Palladino gets his chance on the right of midfield alongside Nocerino, Zanetti and Nedved.  Del Piero and Trezeguet provide a dangerous front two. 

 

Livorno hold up well under the initial Juventus onslaught.  The home side's direct approach creates the best of the early opportunities.  Three dangerous corner kicks in quick succession provides half chances which Livorno don't take. 

The Amaranto are strong in the tackle, Trezeguet gets a double whammy and no foul as Livrono close him down. 

Another Livrono opportunity comes from a well worked training ground free kick, the ball is fizzed to the back post where it sails over the head of the unmarked Tavano.  A better delivery would have opened the scoring. 

Livorno defend stoutly and provide little opportunity for Juventus.  The home side create another opportunity but the free kick' almost a carbon copy of the first' is poorly delivered and doesn't pick out the unmarked Livorno player at the back post. 

Pasquale springs the offside and runs at Belardi, the second string 'keeper does well to parry the shot and Tavano's follow up is blocked, a glorious chance spurned with a poor finish. 

Juventus fire a warning shot of their own moments later when a sublime Trezeguet ball finds Del Piero, the shot fizzes just wide though. 

Another Livorno break only leads to a corner kick, something has to give soon. 

Molinaro gets forward a couple of times in quick succession, the first cross finds Nedved and the second Del Piero, neither Bianconeri veteran generates much power allowing two easy saves for Amelia. 

Just on the half hour it all goes pear shaped for the home side.  A poor headed clearance falls to Zanetti who lobs the ball back in, Trezeguet's run is perfect and he has time and space in the area to lash the ball ferociously past Amelia for the opener. 

Tristan and Tavano combine to embarrass the Juventus defence with brilliantly timed runs; with the final third of the pitch devoid of any Bianconeri save for Belardi the referee's assistant becomes a Juventus Assistant and ludicrously flags for offside. 

The next good Livorno attack sees Molinaro cover his centrebacks with a strong challenge to shrug Tristan off the ball.  Guess who wanted it more?

 

After the half Juventus get the first opportunity but Del Piero chooses to cut back inside onto his left foot rather than testing Amelia, he is closed down and Livorno come away with the ball. 

He gets it right soon after with a well timed run to latch onto Zanetti's through ball, his finish delivers a goal and a neat Amelia nutmeg. 

Soon after it all goes horribly wrong for Livorno. De Vezze gets booked twice in quick succession; the second for a silly handball and Livorno are out of the game with only ten men. 

Trezeguet does bolster his cappcannoniere chances with a stunning volley of the great running of Palladino and sublime Del Piero pass. 

The home side get a consolation late on after Tavano saw his free kick hit the post and roll out, Pulzetti's shot left Belardi with no chance. 

Too little too late. 

 

cappcannoniere in waiting?

Livorno will watch the game and winder how they didn't score early, several opportunities went begging early on.  Better finishing would have made the game much closer.  They Amaranto played well throughout the entire game but lacked the finishing.  More performances similar to this one should see them steer clear of the drop. 
 

Ranierii will be pleased that he won emphatically with a less than full strength side, Palladino showed particulalry well although the defence should have been punished more often and earlier. 

The referee had a good game and his assistant made one tremendously pro Juventus error. 

 

Juventus:-

Belardi

Salihamidzic

Legrottaglie

Molinaro

Palladino

Nocerino

Zanetti

Nedved (Castiglia 90)

Trezeguet

Del Piero Iaquinta 74)

 

Goals:-

Trezeguet 30, 53

Del Piero 59

 

Bookings:-

Zanetti

Grygera

Nocerino

 

 

Livorno:-

Amelia

Grandoni

Knezevic

Galante

Balleri

Vidigal

Filippini (Pulzetti 59)

Filippini

Pasquale

Tavano

Tristan (Bogdani 59)

 

Goals:-

Pulzetti 80

 

Bookings:-

de Vezze (R)

Balleri

 

Referee:-

Morganti

 

PICTURE COURTESY OF CHANNEL4.COM