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ATALANTA 0 - 2 JUVENTUS
In the second game of the season Juventus clearly confirm the qualities that were on display in the first match. Just as in the the game two weeks ago in Turin, the principal characters were the two Juve strikers: Del Piero opened the scoring, Trezeguet finished it and Lippi's team leave the testing encounter in Bergamo with a two nil victory.Juventus played some attractive football and kept the game well under control, being in difficulty on only one occasion, when Buffon charged down an attempt from Damiano Zenoni. The squad of Lippi is sure and determined, in the face of which, the opponents cannot produce anything of merit. Atalanta make a game attempt at the beginning of the contest but have to give way to the suprmacy of Juventus after only eight minutes. The move for the first goal starts from the Juve midfield. Zenoni and then Zambrotta move forward down the right wing, Del Piero plays a one-two with Tacchinardi and Alex, from a good position, buries the ball in the back of the net.
At this point a reaction from Atalanta was expected, but the pairing of Montero Thuram is a difficult obstacle to overcome and the only chances for Atalanta come from shots from long distance: Doni with a free kick (11) and Dabo (30) both efforts too weak to trouble Buffon. Lippi's team control their advantage and try to extend it, first with Del Piero, but his shot finishes too high and then Nedved whose shot from a good position just misses the angle of post and bar. Vavassori's team starts to become dangerous towards the end of the first half with a good run from Saudati, but Thuram intervenes and the ball finishes over the bar.
The second period begins without any changes and Atalanta push forward in the first few minutes looking for the equaliser, but to no effect. Juve try again through Tudor but his shot from distance is too high. Then two similar moves in as many minutes: Zambrotta crosses from the right to Del Piero who tries first with his feet then with his head to beat Taibi, but both attempts go wide. Vavassori makes changes:off Dabo and Saudati, substituted by Pinardi and Rossini. On 20 there is a one on one between Buffon and Zenoni of Atalanta, with the Juve goalkeeper having the better of the situation. One minute later Lippi sends on ONeill, now recovered from a muscular strain that had kept him out of training for more than a month. He replaces Pessotto. The Uruguayan takes a position in midfield and Tudor goes back into defence. Juve try again through Zenoni, Nedved and Tudor. Lippi substitutes Del Piero for Salas. From a move started by the Cilean, comes the goal that closes the match: pass back to Tacchinardi who crosses for Trezeguet. The touch of the Frenchman is conclusive (0-2).
1st HALF:
8: Juve in the lead: the move starts on the right wing with
Zenoni and Zambrotta. Perfect one-two between Del Piero and
Tacchinardi and Alex finishes the move off (0-1)
11: free kick from Doni over
18: Nedved serves Del Piero who tries a shot from distance
(over)
23: corner from Del Piero played short to Zambrotta who
plays it to Nedved. The Czeck puts the ball just over
30: shot from Dabo easily taken by Buffon
41: shot from Saudati deflected over the bar by Thuram
2nd HALF:
11: long range shot from Tudor over
14: Zambrotta crosses for Del Piero wide
15: Zambrotta crosses for Del Piero who heads wide
20: one on one Buffon - D. Zenoni, the Juve goalkeeper saves
24: shot from C. Zenoni wide
25: Carrera blocks a shot from Nedved
26: Taibi blocks Tudor
37: Salas plays the ball back to Tacchinardi, cross for
Trezeguet who scores the second goal (0-2)