BRESCIA - JUVENTUS 0-0

Saturday 16 Sep 2000, kick-off 5:00PM CET

However, it was referee Stefano Braschi who cast the longer shadow over the evening. The Prato official dismissed four players as tempers flared towards the final whistle, and also sent off Brescia coach Carlo Mazzone for protesting too much.

A first-half downpour of Perugia proportions ought really to have doused the passions. But when the two sides emerged from the comfort of the dressing-rooms after a 12-minute delay, they set about each another with an intensity seldom found in the Cup’s preliminary rounds.

For the Serie A newcomers, Baggio impressed after his surprise transfer from Inter. Only his successor in the Bianconeri number 10 shirt, Alessandro Del Piero, was even better. The Italy forward was at the heart of all that was good about Juventus.

As early as the third minute, he drew a fine save from Pavel Srnicek in the home goal. And it was from a Del Piero free-kick that Darko Kovacevic rattled the crossbar on 28 minutes.

But despite a flurry of first-half chances that fell the way of Del Piero, Alessio Tacchinardi and David Trezeguet, it was Edwin Van der Sar who took the goalkeeping plaudits. Twice the Holland international denied Aimo Diana in the second period as Brescia upped a gear.

Visiting fans to the Rigamonti stadium might have expected their side to have an easier time of it – but the only procession here was the one to the changing rooms. Ferrara got first use of the Radox after being red-carded for a scything tackle on Simone Del Nero, who later followed for a second bookable offence.

However, the trouble really started seven minutes from time, when Pierpaolo Bisoli went down under a challenge from Kovacevic. This provoked manager Mazzone into a tirade against the match officials that saw him sent to a seat in the stands.

And the ill-feeling spilled over as Edgar Davids and Andres Yllana were given their marching orders for fighting.

Brescia 0-0 Juventus

Brescia (3-4-1-2) Srnicek; Petruzzi, Calori, Mero; Diana, Yllana, Bisoli (Filippini 81), Kozminski; Baggio (Javorcic 67); Gonzales; Hubner (Del Nero 64)
Subs not used Castellazzi, Marino, A Filippini, Javorcic, Galli, Del Nero, Orlandini

Juventus (3-4-1-2) Van der Sar; Tudor, Ferrara, Paramatti; Pessotto (Davids 65), Conte, Tacchinardi, Bachini; Del Piero; Kovacevic, Trezeguet (Zidane 81)
Subs not used Rampulla, Birindelli, Maresca, Brighi, Zidane, Davids, Fonseca

Referee Stefano Braschi (Prato)
Bookings Gonzales 63
Sendings-off Mazzone 83, Yllana 88, Del Nero 94; Ferrara 85, Davids 88