Juventus Mount Pressure on Inter Milan After Controversial Win

It was a sold out affair as Juventus entertained Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin on Saturday evening. The Bianconeri are level with Inter Milan in the standings – if somewhat temporarily – thanks to Claudio Marchisio’s debut goal in Serie A.

The game was however, not without controversy as the visiting side had Alberto Gilardino’s equalizer incorrectly ruled out for offside as the Viola collected their third consecutive defeat with the fourth place slipping further away.

First half

The game shot of with pace and intensity and it was the home side that created the first opportunity on goal. Marco Marchionni picked up a loose ball on Fiorentina’s half of the pitch after ten minutes of play and passed it on to Alessandro Del Piero whose elegant chip sailed over the crossbar.

In the following minutes Olof Mellberg brought down Stevan Jovetic in the penalty area but the Viola-forward had his pleas for penalty waved off by referee Saccana.

Claudio Marchisio gave the Bianconeri the lead after 21 minutes after a magnificent through ball from Del Piero. The young midfielder made no mistakes in front of the goal as he slotted in his first Serie A goal just a week after his 23^rd birthday.

Juventus were on a roll and quickly built up another attack. Unfortunately Pavel Nedved’s cross whizzed across the face of the goal with Marchionni missing it by inches.

Ten minutes later it was time for controversy. Mario Santana met Luciano Zauri’s brilliant cross but saw his ferocious header bounce off the crossbar as the rebound landed on Riccardo Montolivo. The midfielder took a shot that Gianluigi Buffon spilled out and quick as a fox Alberto Gilardino was there to tap in what the forward thought was the equalizer.

Gilardino hardly had the time to raise his arms in celebration before the linesman put his flag up and the referee ruled the goal out for offside. An incorrect decision as the replays showed that the forward was kept onside by the Juventus defense – a very rare sight during the course of the game.

Juventus had a golden opportunity to add to their lead during the minute before the half time break was due when Marchionni left Alessandro Gamberini eating dust and was left one-on-one with Frey. The French goalkeeper made no mistake and saved both of the midfielder’s attempts with a brilliant double save from point blank range.

Fiorentina were to receive one last chance on levelling the score before the first half whistle sounded. Unfortunately a perfectly played cross saw both Gamberini and Per Kroldrup tangled as both players simultaneously headed for the ball as it whizzed past the near post.

Second half

Fiorentina stepped up their game after the restart and were piling up the pressure on Juventus in their frenetic search for an equalizer.

Cesare Prandelli’s men created several dangerous chances within a short span of time, one of which was a fine acrobatic bicycle kick from Gilardino who saw his effort sail over the crossbar.

Fifteen minutes into the second half showcased some fine displays by the home side as Marchionni played the ball back to Zdenek Grygera who blasted a shot at goal but was denied by a superb Frey who had to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Marchionni again created a scoring opportunity as he ran free from his markers with twenty minutes to go and passed the ball to Del Piero who once again saw his effort fly over the bar.

Five minutes later Fiorentina had one of their best chances at cancelling out Juventus’ lead. Manuel Pasqual received the ball on the left hand side of the penalty area and directed a low cross towards Gilardino who tried to redirect the ball into the net but Buffon’s brilliant one-legged save saw the forward denied once again – despite the fact that the Viola-man was standing in an offside position.

The Fiorentina players were growing more and more desperate with only ten minutes remaining of the game. The attacking duo of Gilardino and Jovetic had extreme difficulties in trying to pry open Juventus’ offside trap throughout the evening. A fine collaboration between the two still managed to force Buffon to come off his line and pluck the ball out of the air and away from the danger.

With five minutes from full time Sebastian Giovinco ran his marksman ragged and had a one-on-one with Frey as the Atomic Ant forced Buffon’s counterpart to come off his line and make a vital interception in order to keep any form of hope left in the Fiorentina players.

Jovetic had his fierce volley saved by Buffon in the stoppages but had to surrender as Saccana finally put the whistle to his mouth.

Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, De Ceglie; Marchionni, Zanetti (89’ Poulsen), Marchisio, Nedved; Amauri, Del Piero (77’ Giovinco). Coach: Ranieri.

Fiorentina: Frey; Zauri, Gamberini, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Gobbi (46’ Kuzmanovic), Felipe Melo, Montolivo; Santana (72’ Bonazzoli); Gilardino, Jovetic. Coach: Prandelli.