Juventus 2 - 0 Siena
Siena may have got better as the game went on, but it was nowhere near enough as Juventus picked up a routine three points. Alessandro Del Piero was entrusted with a starting berth alongside David Trezeguet for the hosts, while the visitors were surprisingly attack-minded themselves, with Frick, Maccarone and Locatelli all starting.
But it was clear from the outset as to who would be doing the attacking. Within mere minutes the hosts had already threatened Manninger, who brilliantly halted a Trezeguet header five minutes in before the Frenchman hit the side-netting with a drive not long after.
The pressure was tangible, with Del Piero looking particularly spry, but eventually Siena began to ease the strain as Loria took a grip of the defence.
Ultimately, though, the home side's class seemed too much for them to bear as Salihamidzic made it 1-0 on the half hour mark.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina international seemed to be very slightly offside as the tireless Nedved drove in a low cross for him, but the goal stood after a neat finish. Siena tried to fight back, but Juve still went in looking more comfortable at the break.
The Robur side, though, did succeed in causing a little pressure as the second half began, but it seemed to be only delaying the inevitable. Thus it proved when Trezeguet made it 2-0 an hour into the game. The Frenchman capitalised on some superb work from Del Piero, who has rediscovered his form of late, to slam past Manninger from close range.
That prompted a bit of relaxation in the hosts, who allowed Siena, who had already shown signs of life, back into the game. Loria came close with a header before, 76 minutes in, a flashing ball across goalmouth went begging.
Gigi Buffon, whose afternoon began quietly, ended the game in a state of excitement as he - and some last-ditch defending - kept a clean sheet in the face of both free kicks and corners.
Siena, then, refused to quit, but were still given a first-half lesson by high-flying Juve.
www.goal.com - 23/12/2007 16:57
But it was clear from the outset as to who would be doing the attacking. Within mere minutes the hosts had already threatened Manninger, who brilliantly halted a Trezeguet header five minutes in before the Frenchman hit the side-netting with a drive not long after.
The pressure was tangible, with Del Piero looking particularly spry, but eventually Siena began to ease the strain as Loria took a grip of the defence.
Ultimately, though, the home side's class seemed too much for them to bear as Salihamidzic made it 1-0 on the half hour mark.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina international seemed to be very slightly offside as the tireless Nedved drove in a low cross for him, but the goal stood after a neat finish. Siena tried to fight back, but Juve still went in looking more comfortable at the break.
The Robur side, though, did succeed in causing a little pressure as the second half began, but it seemed to be only delaying the inevitable. Thus it proved when Trezeguet made it 2-0 an hour into the game. The Frenchman capitalised on some superb work from Del Piero, who has rediscovered his form of late, to slam past Manninger from close range.That prompted a bit of relaxation in the hosts, who allowed Siena, who had already shown signs of life, back into the game. Loria came close with a header before, 76 minutes in, a flashing ball across goalmouth went begging.
Gigi Buffon, whose afternoon began quietly, ended the game in a state of excitement as he - and some last-ditch defending - kept a clean sheet in the face of both free kicks and corners.
Siena, then, refused to quit, but were still given a first-half lesson by high-flying Juve.
www.goal.com - 23/12/2007 16:57
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