29 December 2007

Juve's year, part 3

Juventus.com lets you relive Juve’s year, in four parts. Today the third part: from July to September, from Ranieri's men's first steps to the victory in the derby game.

July

Juventus officially began the new season on the 1st of July, and the squad at that point was mostly made. There was still time to make the final adjustments before playing the first games. Camoranesi and Nedved also renewed their contracts and Juve signed Andrade and two young keepers: Vanstrattan and Novembre. Ranieri and his staff had practically the whole squad at their disposal when the summer camp in Pinzolo started, on the 11th. This was a good group of players and Juve wouldn't make any more new signings before the League debut, only selling or sending a few players away on loan.

From the first training sessions it was clear what the new Manager had in mind: ball on the ground, quick passing and one-twos, and the utmost importance given to the group. The first games of the season were encouraging too: Juve were trying to refine their strategy and soon began showing progress, regardless of the results and the opponents they faced. The games against Mezzocorona and the Chinese Olympic team were showcases for fans. The tour of England and Germany, with the matches against Newcastle United, Hamburg and Sunderland, gave them the chance to taste the atmosphere of Europe again.
 
August

Having returned from England with good feelings - and the bad news of Marchionni's injury - the team started facing opponents which would be their rivals in the League: Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma and Napoli. These tournaments and friendlies confirmed Juventus' constant progress and sent out signals to everybody else, especially after trouncing Roma 5-2 in Cesena.

This was the best preparation for the official League debut, scheduled for August 25 at the Olimpico against Livorno. The return to Serie A proved explosive: the Tuscans were beaten 5-1, with a Trezeguet hat trick and two goals by Iaquinta; a clear victory that was repeated a few days later in the Italian Cup. Juve authoritatively won 3-1 at the Tardini in Parma thanks to goals by newcomers Molinaro, Almiron and Salihamidzic.

September

September started at full speed too. The Bianconeri won at Cagliari despite two penalties awarded against them; Camoranesi created the chances, Del Piero, Trezeguet and Chiellini scored the goals, and Buffon did the rest in a 3-2 win. After two games, the League went on a break for the National teams’ qualifiers with Juventus firmly in first place.

After the break, during which Juve played in Saragossa (an unlucky game due to the bad injury suffered by Boumsong), Ranieri's men lost their unbeaten record, defeated at home by Udinese and plenty of bad luck (they hit the woodwork twice and there were a couple of dubious incidents in the guests' penalty area). But the team promptly redeemed themselves one week later. Againt Spalletti's Roma, then at their peak, Juventus played with three up front and showed a lot of character. They scored first with Trezeguet, then conceded two from Totti, lost Andrade too (for a long-term injury), but near the end they equalized with Iaquinta. The 2-2 result was worth a lot more than the single point won.

The team confirmed their strength during the following seven days. The month ended with two games in Turin that earned them six points. The first three came against Reggina, crushed by goals from Legrottaglie, Salihamidzic, Trezeguet and Palladino. The other three came in the way preferred by fans: winning the local derby against Torino in the last minute, thanks to a cracking Trezeguet goal right under the Scirea sector.

Part 1
Part 2

MONTH BY MONTH, ALL THE GAMES PLAYED

JULY
 
18/07 Friendly match
Juventus-Mezzocorona 5-0
Boumsong, Trezeguet, Salihamidzic, Palladino, Marchionni

22/07 Friendly match  
Juventus-Cina Olimpica 4-0
Trezeguet, Nedved, Del Piero, Palladino

29/07 Friendly match  
Newcastle-Juventus 2-0

AUGUST

01/08 Friendly match
Amburgo-Juventus 1-0

04/08 Friendly match  
Sunderland-Juventus 1-1
Molinaro

08/08 Birra Moretti Trophy
Napoli-Juventus 0-1
Del Piero
Inter-Juventus 1-0

11/08 Friendly match  
Juventus-Roma  5-2
2 Trezeguet, Iaquinta, Del Piero, Zalayeta

14/08 TIM  Trophy
Inter-Juventus 0-0 (5-4 dcr)
Milan-Juventus 1-0

17/08 Berlusconi Trophy
Milan-Juventus 2-0

22/08 Friendly match  
Juventus-Biellese 4-0
Palladino, Nedved, Legrottaglie, Bottone

25/08 Serie A – Day 1
Juventus-Livorno 5-1
3 Trezeguet , 2 Iaquinta

29/08 TIM Cup – Third round
Parma-Juventus 1-3
Molinaro, Almiron, Salihamidzic

SEPTEMBER

02/09 Serie A – Day 2
Cagliari-Juventus 2-3
Trezeguet, Del Piero, Chiellini

07/09 Friendly match  
Real Saragozza-Juventus 2-1
Iaquinta

16/09 Serie A – Day 3
Juventus-Udinese 0-1

23/09 Serie A – Day 4  
Roma-Juventus 2-2
Trezeguet, Iaquinta

26/09 Serie A – Day 5 
Juventus-Reggina 4-0
Legrottaglie, Salihamidzic, Trezeguet, Palladino

30/09 Serie A – Day 6
Torino-Juventus 0-1
Trezeguet

 

 

Bologna	Catania	3 - 1
Fiorentina	Milan	0 - 2
Genoa	Lecce	4 - 1
Inter	Atalanta	4 - 3
Juventus	Lazio	2 - 0
Napoli	Chievo	3 - 0
Palermo	Sampdoria	2 - 2
Reggina	Siena	1 - 1
Roma	Torino	3 - 1
Udinese	Cagliari	6 - 2