Juventus-Siena: Amauri's Late Header Sees Juve Get Back to Its Winning Ways

(Photo by Massimo Cebrelli/Getty Images)

The last time Juventus claimed three points in Serie A was five weeks ago.

Three draws, one depressing loss to Palermo, and a whole lot of people wondering what happened to the squad that got out of the blocks so quickly. Over that time, injuries have come and gone, strikers have struggled to find the back of the net, and Ciro Ferrara's tactics have been questioned.

While it wasn't a genuinely dominating performance when you see a big club go up against one that likely to be fighting to not be relegated, Juve's 1-0 win against Siena saw the Old Lady get back to the winning ways while the rest of the league was beating up on each other.

Ferrara reverted back to his base 4-3-1-2 formation after changing things up in the midweek Champions League fixture against Maccaibi Haifa. Sebastian Giovinco was back on the bench and the two Fabio's, Cannavaro and Grosso, along with Mauro Camoranesi were rested  (although Camoranesi did come on midway through the second half).

From the start, Juve dominated possession. There wasn't much being created in terms of offense, but Siena saw very little of the ball throughout the first half.

It took 15 minutes for the first opportunity of the match to come. Paolo De Ceglie, who started the game on the left in Ferrara's three-man midfield behind Diego, combined nicely with David Trezeguet. The shaggy-haired youngster saw his right-footed shot blocked and go out for a corner.

But the opportunities were not as plentiful as you would've thought when you saw how much Juve were dominating the possession. At times, the percentage number was 75-25 in favor of the Turin giants. Ten minutes after De Ceglie's effort, Diego blasted one well over the goal.

Siena then came back quickly with a chance of their own just a minute later. Mato Jajalo weaved his way through the Juve defense but saw his shot go just wide of Gigi Buffon's goal.

An otherwise drab first half could've ended with fireworks for the home Bianconeros as midfielder Albin Ekdal, who is on loan from Juventus, almost flicked one over an onrushing Buffon in stoppages.

However, Superman was up to the task like he has been so many times this season and got a paw to it before it went over his head.

The second began much like the first with Juve dominating the possession. The Old Lady got a quick corner and almost opened the scoring. Amauri got his head to the ball, but then it hit off of Giorgio Chiellini and then the post, but with Chillieni being offsides, it wouldn't of counted anyways.

Siena had their own corner minutes later, but Jajalo's shot was straight at Buffon.

The chances were few and far between until the deadlock was finally broken when Amauri got his head on a Diego free kick. After snapping his incredibly long scoring drought last weekend, Amauri got his second goal in as many games.

However, that would be Juve's only shot on frame the entire day. It's a telling sign that the strikers are still lacking a killer punch to put the ball in the back of the net.

Siena had their opportunities in the second half, but either saw them go wide or saw them shut down by the Juve defense before they developed into anything potent. Chiellini and subsistute Martin Caceres were two of the best players on the pitch in the second half.

Another midweek fixture is on the docket for Ferrara's men, this time against a surging Sampdoria side at the Olimpico.

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