What: Serie A, Round 17
Who: Juventus (3rd, 32 points) v Siena (17th, 14 points)
When: Sunday, 23rd December 2007, kick-off 15:00 CET
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Turin
Juve Looking To End 2007 In Style
Juventus will be confident of signing off 2007 in style with a victory over relegation-strugglers Siena. The Bianconeri were expected to labour this season following their post-Calciopoli promotion from Serie B but they have surprised everyone with their consistent level of performance.
Indeed had it not been for some scandalous officiating during the games with Napoli and Parma, as well as the stunning form of Inter, Juve may now be finding themselves even closer to the top of the table. Nevertheless the Old Lady are looking strong in third position and are currently odds-on to qualify for next year’s Champions League.
Juve have won three of their last four Serie A matches, including successive wins against Atalanta and Lazio. Last week at the Olimpico saw the return to the starting line-up of Alessandro Del Piero, who scored two fine goals in a 3-2 victory. However the Bianconeri were indebted to Gianluigi Buffon, who pulled off a string of excellent saves, including one miraculous stop from Tommaso Rocchi.
Siena With Dreadful Record Against Juve
Siena have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks and have picked up a win and two draws from their last three games. Nevertheless they still hover just one place above the relegation zone and the odds of them getting a result in this one are not good.
The Tuscans have won just twice all season, and have scored only four times away from home in seven games. In eight previous meetings between these two teams, Juventus have won all eight. This includes three Serie A matches in Turin, three in Siena, and two Coppa Italia games.
The last time these two squads met in Italy’s top-flight was on April 30, 2006 when Juve roared to a 3-0 win at the Stadio Franchi. The Old Lady scored all three goals within the first eight minutes of the match, with Patrick Vieira, David Trezeguet and Adrian Mutu on target.
FORM GUIDE
Juventus
December 15 v Lazio (A) WON 3-2
December 9 v Atalanta (H) WON 1-0
December 6 v Empoli (A) LOST 1-2 (Coppa Italia)
December 1 v Milan (A) DREW 0-0
November 25 v Palermo (H) WON 5-0
Siena
December 16 v Napoli (H) DREW 1-1
December 9 v Genoa (A) WON 3-1
December 2 v Lazio (H) DREW 1-1
November 25 v Udinese (A) LOST 2-0
November 11 v Livorno (H) LOST 3-2
TEAM NEWS
Juventus
Vincenzo Iaquinta may return from his injury but he will have to make-do with a place on the bench. Mauro Camoranesi is still out injured, as are long-term absentees Jean-Alain Boumsong and Jorge Andrade.
Juventus (probable): Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic, Nocerino, Zanetti, Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet
Siena
Cristian Bucchi may return following an ankle injury, although Alberto and Enrico Chiesa are still sidelined and will remain so for quite some time. The impressive Paolo De Ceglie, seen by some as a star of the future, will line-up against the team who owns his contract.
Siena (probable): Manninger; Bertotto, Portanova, Loria, De Ceglie; Vergassola, Codrea, Galloppa; Locatelli; Frick, Maccarone
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Juventus (Alessandro Del Piero)
The Golden Boy again proved his critics wrong last week with two clinical finishes against Lazio. The 33-year-old has a great scoring record against Siena having contributed to five of Juve’s nine goals against them in Turin in the past.
Mario Frick (Siena)
The Swiss forward is in fine recent form, having scored three times in his last two games. The ex-Verona man will need to have his shooting boots on though if he is to continue this trend against the world’s number one shot-stopper Gianluigi Buffon.
PREDICTION
Juve are in brilliant form at the moment and Siena require a minor-miracle if they are to return to Tuscany with anything other than a severe beating. ......... Juventus 4-0 Siena
www.goal.com - 22/12/2007 07:46
Who: Juventus (3rd, 32 points) v Siena (17th, 14 points)
When: Sunday, 23rd December 2007, kick-off 15:00 CET
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Turin
Juve Looking To End 2007 In Style
Juventus will be confident of signing off 2007 in style with a victory over relegation-strugglers Siena. The Bianconeri were expected to labour this season following their post-Calciopoli promotion from Serie B but they have surprised everyone with their consistent level of performance.
Indeed had it not been for some scandalous officiating during the games with Napoli and Parma, as well as the stunning form of Inter, Juve may now be finding themselves even closer to the top of the table. Nevertheless the Old Lady are looking strong in third position and are currently odds-on to qualify for next year’s Champions League.
Juve have won three of their last four Serie A matches, including successive wins against Atalanta and Lazio. Last week at the Olimpico saw the return to the starting line-up of Alessandro Del Piero, who scored two fine goals in a 3-2 victory. However the Bianconeri were indebted to Gianluigi Buffon, who pulled off a string of excellent saves, including one miraculous stop from Tommaso Rocchi.
Siena With Dreadful Record Against Juve
Siena have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks and have picked up a win and two draws from their last three games. Nevertheless they still hover just one place above the relegation zone and the odds of them getting a result in this one are not good.
The Tuscans have won just twice all season, and have scored only four times away from home in seven games. In eight previous meetings between these two teams, Juventus have won all eight. This includes three Serie A matches in Turin, three in Siena, and two Coppa Italia games.
The last time these two squads met in Italy’s top-flight was on April 30, 2006 when Juve roared to a 3-0 win at the Stadio Franchi. The Old Lady scored all three goals within the first eight minutes of the match, with Patrick Vieira, David Trezeguet and Adrian Mutu on target.
FORM GUIDE
Juventus
December 15 v Lazio (A) WON 3-2
December 9 v Atalanta (H) WON 1-0
December 6 v Empoli (A) LOST 1-2 (Coppa Italia)
December 1 v Milan (A) DREW 0-0
November 25 v Palermo (H) WON 5-0
Siena
December 16 v Napoli (H) DREW 1-1
December 9 v Genoa (A) WON 3-1
December 2 v Lazio (H) DREW 1-1
November 25 v Udinese (A) LOST 2-0
November 11 v Livorno (H) LOST 3-2
TEAM NEWS
Juventus
Vincenzo Iaquinta may return from his injury but he will have to make-do with a place on the bench. Mauro Camoranesi is still out injured, as are long-term absentees Jean-Alain Boumsong and Jorge Andrade.
Juventus (probable): Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic, Nocerino, Zanetti, Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet
Siena
Cristian Bucchi may return following an ankle injury, although Alberto and Enrico Chiesa are still sidelined and will remain so for quite some time. The impressive Paolo De Ceglie, seen by some as a star of the future, will line-up against the team who owns his contract.
Siena (probable): Manninger; Bertotto, Portanova, Loria, De Ceglie; Vergassola, Codrea, Galloppa; Locatelli; Frick, Maccarone
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Juventus (Alessandro Del Piero)
The Golden Boy again proved his critics wrong last week with two clinical finishes against Lazio. The 33-year-old has a great scoring record against Siena having contributed to five of Juve’s nine goals against them in Turin in the past.
Mario Frick (Siena)
The Swiss forward is in fine recent form, having scored three times in his last two games. The ex-Verona man will need to have his shooting boots on though if he is to continue this trend against the world’s number one shot-stopper Gianluigi Buffon.
PREDICTION
Juve are in brilliant form at the moment and Siena require a minor-miracle if they are to return to Tuscany with anything other than a severe beating. ......... Juventus 4-0 Siena
www.goal.com - 22/12/2007 07:46
No comments:
Post a Comment