27 December 2007

Juve's 2007, part 1

Juventus.com lets you relive Juve’s year, in four parts. Today the first: from January to March, from the end of the first part of last season to the start of the decisive run towards the return to Serie A

January

2007 began differently than 2006, i.e. with two defeats. The first was harmless, in the Berlusconi Trophy, which had been moved from the summer due to other commitments. The second was more onerous. Juve lost at Mantova (1-0, with Kovac scoring an own goal) and ended their unbeaten run which had lasted for 45 official games. It was a tough period, with several players injured, but the team's character compensated for it.

In four days, between the 16th and the 20th, Juve got six points at home, and they were set for first place after the first part of the season. Cesena were beaten (2-1, goals by Del Piero and Trezeguet) in the match that had originally been postponed on December 15 when Alessio Ferramosca and Riccardo Neri died. Bari were also defeated in what was Alessandro Del Piero's day: the Captain celebrated 500 Juve games by scoring a goal. Nedved (two goals) and Trezeguet did the rest for a final 4-2 result. The end of the month of January coincided with the end of the first part of the season. A great effort by Nedved at the last minute prevented defeat at La Spezia (1-1) and allowed Deschamps' men to be in front of everyone else at that stage of the season: not bad for a team that had started out with 17 points' deduction, later reduced to 9.

February

The month of February began with a very negative episode for Italian football. Police Inspector Filippo Raciti was killed during fighting between Catania and Palermo supporters. The League stopped to allow everyone to mull over the tragedy and the second part of the season started with the second game, Juventus travelling to Vicenza instead of facing Rimini at home, devoid of their own supporters due to a ban that was enforced because of the violence. The Bianconeri dominated on the pitch. Palladino and Del Piero scored two goals and the game seemed won, but it wasn't enough as the Veneto team came back to draw 2-2.

Juventus took out their frustration on Crotone. The team from Calabria were trounced 5-0 at the Olimpico. Del Piero got a hat trick, with Nedved and Balzaretti scoring too. The following match at Modena was more difficult. The score seemed set on 0-0, but then Centurioni's own goal paved the way for three precious points to end February on a high.

March

March saw Juve take the decisive steps toward promotion, with four wins in five matches. First Piacenza were thoroughly beaten 4-0 at the Olimpico, thanks to another Del Piero hat trick and a lighting fast goal by Trezeguet. The Captain stayed in contention for the top scorer position, scoring against Brescia too. But the Martelli Stadium in Mantova – a neutral ground used for the match against the “Rondinelle” – was jinxed for Juve again as a Serafini hat trick gave them their second defeat (3-1).

The defeat was compensated in the best possible way however. Just like in the first part of the season, the two games against teams from Triveneto were favourable and earned Juventus six points. Del Piero and Palladino's cunning move won the game against Treviso. Triestina were beaten much more comprehensively: they went one up but then Juve scored five. Palladino shone again with three great goals; Camoranesi and Bojinov scored the other two. After an international friendly in Liege against Standard (with Trezeguet scoring two goals, but the Belgians prevailed 3-2), there was time for another joy at the end of the month. At Pescara, against a team that were almost doomed, Juve suffered a great deal. Polito saved a Del Piero penalty but then another player of the old guard decided the match: Birindelli, who scored a close range tap-in from a Palladino corner.

After the first three months of 2007, Juve's return to Serie A was getting closer and closer.

MONTH BY MONTH, ALL THE GAMES PLAYED

JANUARY

06/01 Berlusconi Trophy
Milan-Juventus 3-2
Nedved, Del Piero

14/01 Serie B – Day 19   
Mantova-Juventus 1-0
 
16/01 Serie B - rec. Day 16
Juventus-Cesena 2-1
Del Piero, Trezeguet

20/01 Serie B – Day 20
Juventus-Bari 4-2
2 Nedved, Trezeguet, Del Piero

27/01  Serie B – Day 21
Spezia-Juventus 1-1
Nedved
 
FEBRUARY

10/02 Serie B – Day 23
Vicenza-Juventus 2-2
Palladino, Del Piero

17/02 Serie B – Day 24
Juventus-Crotone 5-0
3 Del Piero, Nedved, Balzaretti

26/02 Serie B – Day 25
Modena-Juventus 0-1
Centurioni (aut.)

MARCH

04/03 Serie B – Day 26
Juventus-Piacenza 4-0
3 Del Piero, Trezeguet

10/03 Serie B – Day 27
Brescia-Juventus 3-1
Del Piero

13/03 Serie B – Day 28
Juventus-Treviso 1-0
Palladino

19/03 Serie B – Day 29
Juventus-Triestina 5-1
3 Palladino, Camoranesi, Bojinov

24/03 Friendly match  
Standard Liegi-Juventus 3-2
2 Trezeguet

31/03 Serie B – Day 32
Pescara-Juventus 0-1
Birindelli

 

 

Bologna	Sampdoria	1 - 1
Catania	Inter	3 - 1
Genoa	Cagliari	5 - 3
Juventus	Siena	3 - 3
Lazio	Bari	0 - 2
Livorno	Roma	3 - 3
Milan	Chievo	1 - 0
Napoli	Fiorentina	1 - 3
Parma	Atalanta	1 - 0
Udinese	Palermo	3 - 2