First Half
Juventus came into game full of confidence following last week's win in Bergamo. The Bianconeri were hoping to close the gap on second placed Roma, while Lazio were looking to move closer towards the UEFA Cup places. The Biancolcelesti got the game underway but it was the home side who threatened straightaway but Alessandro Del Piero was caught offside following Mauro Camoranesi’s long ball. The Italo-Argentine then played Pavel Nedved in but the Czech Republic international was slow to react. It was a good start by both teams as they looked for the early goal.
Lazio were then awarded a corner and Roberto Baronio tried to beat Gianluigi Buffon from the touchline with an audacious and cheeky attempt on goal but the Azzurri number one was on hand to gather comfortably. Juventus enjoyed a lot of possession as they tried the patience build up the visitors were forced to defend and soak up the pressure as the Bianconeri began to up the ante. David Trezeguet should have given his side the lead following Camoranesi’s pin-point cross from the right but the Frenchman headed the ball just wide.
Following an excellent start, Juventus took a well deserved lead through Giorgio Chiellini who headed home a set piece from Camoranesi on the right. It was a text book move as Chiellini beat his man to nod the ball into the bottom corner. The Bianconeri did fire the warning shots early on and they were rewarded for their efforts. Lazio were always being pegged back as the home side created chance after chance. It was long before Juventus doubled the lead as Camoranesi went from being provider to scorer as he tucked away the ball after being put through by Cristiano Zanetti. The Old Lady was at her brilliant best in the first half and Lazio were being taught a football lesson.
Delio Rossi’s men were really struggling as they missed Tomasso Rocchi’s presence up front. The away side were mere spectators as they watched Juventus pass the ball around with graceful touches of magic which delighted the sold out stadium. Lazio began to crumble as Del Piero fired in a third when he cut back and smashed his left foot finish past Ballotta. A few minutes later Trezeguet got on the score sheet to make it four with barely half an hour played. Camoranesi set up the big striker who made no mistake following Camoranesi’s assist. It was big trouble for Lazio as the game threatened to turn into a humiliating rout for the away side. Juventus were simply unstoppable as Lazio offered no resistance to the Bianconeri’s charge.
Second Half
Juve got the second half underway and they looked a little shaky as Buffon almost gifted Vignaroli a goal but the shotstopper made up for his slight error and he was lucky there were no consequences. The Bianconeri had two consecutive penalty claims waved away after Legrottaglie seemed to bring down Siviglia but the referee waved play on. Siviglia took his protest too far and was booked. Lazio pulled one back through Rolandi Bianchi after he was set up by Mauri. Juventus seemed to have taken their foot off the pedal and they were punished by Lazio who came out from the break fighting, whatever Rossi said at half time must have worked.
Bianchi then came close again but his header on goal flashed wide as the Juventus players looked on. The away side then grabbed another goal through Siviglia who dived to head the ball past Buffon. It was nail biting stuff as Juventus could only watch Lazio slowly bring themselves back into contention. Ranieri was certainly worried as his side looked vulnerable to conceding more. Nedved responded for Juve but his effort could only rattle the cross bar. Following Lazio’s goals, the home side began to pick up the rhythm as they began to dominate once again.
Siviglia turned from hero to villain after he was sent off for a second yellow as Lazio’s poor afternoon ended with further woes. The game settled down and Juventus were just happy to hold onto the ball, sit back and run the clock down as ten man Lazio watched on in frustration. Chuiellini then sealed a well deserved win by scoring Juve’s fifth just before full time and his second of the game after getting on the end of a corner.
It was an accomplished and well deserved victory for the Bianconeri who dominated from start to finish as they maintain their recent stunning form.
Teams
Juventus 4-4-2: Buffon, Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro, Camoranesi, Zanetti, Sissoko, Nedved, Trezeguet, Del Piero.
Lazio: 4-3-1-2: Ballotta, De Silvestri, Siviglia, Cribari, Radu, Mudingayi, Baronio(Vigniaroli), Mutarelli, Mauri(Kolarov), Bianchi(Tare), Pandev.
Cards: Del Piero(Yellow/Juventus), Siviglia(Yellow x 2/Lazio)
Goals: 15’, 42’ Chiellini(Juventus), 21’ Camoranesi(Juventus), 32’ Del Piero(Juventus), 34’ Trezeguet(Juventus,) Bianchi(Lazio) Siviglia(Lazio)
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