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You could not ask for a better setting for the top of the table clash between Roma and Juventus with a packed Stadio Olimpico in Rome as the venue. Carlo Ancelotti’s boys went into the match with the intention of trying to close the six-point gap, which separated the two teams at the start of play.

The first real chance fell to the visitors after five minutes with Gianluca Pessotto sending in a perfect cross from the left, which was met by skipper Antonio Conte, his header forcing Roma keeper Cristiano Lupatelli into a flying save. A minute later Marco Delvecchio replied in kind, but his header was effortlessly gathered by Edwin Van Der Sar.

Zinedine Zidane was beginning to pull the strings by now and on 19 minutes he fed his fellow Frenchman David Trezeguet who turned well in the box but his shot did not trouble Lupatelli. Only a minute later and this time Edgar Davids won the ball with his usual determination and then fired in from 20 yards but the shot sailed over the Roma crossbar. Juventus were having the better of it but the home side served a timely reminder of their offensive capabilities on 24 minutes with an electric counter-attack: Midfielder Damiano Tommasi played the ball through to Gabriel Batistuta who shot from the edge of the box but Van Der Sar was not troubled.

The home team then began to play with more confidence and midfield man Tommasi went on a solo run, dribbling past two Juve defenders and unleashing a venomous rasping shot from some 25 yards which did not miss the goal by much. Three minutes later and Roma skipper Francseco Totti set up a great chance for Marco Delvecchio whose header just scraped the outside of Van Der Sar’s post. The half was to end goalless after a fairly even first forty-five minutes with chances at both ends.

There were no changes in the starting line-ups as the two teams came out for the second half. The Bianconeri were the aggressors yet again with David Trezeguet shooting after only ten seconds but his effort was cleared by the Roma defence. Juve’s first real chance came after five minutes with Filippo Inzaghi and Zinedine Zidane involved in a neat exchange of passes culminating in the former’s right-foot drive which just went wide past Lupatelli’s right post.

On the quarter-hour Pessotto and Totti collided in the penalty area with the Roma players claiming a penalty and vehemently protesting to the referee. However, the man in black, Borriello, awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box which resulted in Van Der Sar saving from a Batistuta header.

Halfway through the second half Carlo Ancelotti introduced fresh legs in the shape of Darko Kovacevic, with Filippo Inzaghi making way in a straight swap. He then proceeded to take off skipper Antonio Conte and introduce the attacking impetus of Gianluca Zambrotta. Roma skipper Francesco Totti then had a glorious chance on 83 minutes taking advantage of a Pessotto slip and finding himself one-on-one with Van Der Sar. The Bianconeri keeper did brilliantly, dashing off his line and thwarting the danger with his feet.

Juventus then themselves had a gilt-edged opportunity on 87 minutes. It came from a Zidane corner which was met by an imperious leap from Ciro Ferrara whose header clattered against the post. The ensuing rebound was met by Michele Paramatti who looked certain to score only for Roma’s Uruguayan defender Guigou to miraculously clear with a desperate lunge. Edgar Davids then received his marching orders for a second bookable offence on 91 minutes and the match was to end in a goalless stalemate.

It was a fairly even match all told with chances at both ends. Juventus manager Carlo Ancelotti will see this as a point gained for Juve and importantly did not see Roma’s gap at the top increase, bearing in mind that the Giallorossi have still to visit the Delle Alpi in the New Year.

ROMA 0–0 JUVENTUS (HT 0-0)

Booked: Tacchinardi 20, Aldair 27, Pessotto 45, Davids 68
Sent off: Davids 91 (two yellows)

ROMA (3-4-1-2) Lupatelli; Aldair, Samuel, Cafu; Tommasi, Guigou, Candela; Totti (Montella 84); Batistuta, Delvecchio
Subs not usedAntonioli, Nakata, Lanzaro, Balbo, Rinaldi, Mangone
Manager Capello

JUVENTUS (4-3-1-2) Van der Sar; Paramatti, Ferrara, Iuliano, Pessotto; Conte (Zambrotta 73), Tacchinardi, Davids; Zidane; Inzaghi (Kovacevic 66), Trezeguet (Bachini 92)
Subs not used Rampulla, Zanchi, Brighi, Fonseca
Manager Ancelotti

Referee Borriello