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JUVENTUS - PORTO 0-0
One half each, 0-0 the final result. This is how it finished at Porto. Bianconeri were fairly poor in the first half, but they improved in the second half, giving Porto pratictically nothing. Marcello Lippi settled on the familiar 4-4-2 formation, with the attacking partnership Del Piero-Salas. In defence Birindelli and Pessotto were the fullbacks, Thuram and Montero the centre-backs. Tudor returned to midfield, alongside Tacchinardi with Davids and Zambrotta out wide. Juve were without five players; the attackers Amoruso and Trezeguet, injured as were Athirson and Conte, and the suspended Nedved. Porto didn't select Jorge Costa, who has had a bust up with the coach, and ex-juve player Esnaider, out injured.The first player to threaten Buffon's goal was Capucho, who played alongside Deco and Costinha behind the lone attacker Pena, first with a shot that finished off target, then with a header that was closer. After 10 minutes Lippi lost Birindelli who fell awkwardly after a clash with Mario Silva, and was forced to go off on a stretcher. The medical staff immediatly made it known that he had taken a blow to the temple: fortunantly nothing serious. He was substituted by Paramatti, who wasmoved to the left side, whilst Pessotto passed to the right. Porto continued to put the bianconeri in difficulty: Pessotto, in the 25th minute, cleared off the line a shot by Andrade, whilst Buffon, in the 36th minute, deflected a shot by Deco, conceding a corner. It was only at the end of the half that Juventus started to give some positive signals.
At halftime, Lippi repositioned some of his players: Tudor went to right back, Davids to centre midfield alongside Tacchinardi, whilst Pessotto was shifted to the left side of midfield. Those positive signs seen at the end of the first half, were then built on in the second period. The bianconeri were immediatly dangerous, with a second minute shot by Salas being scrambled off the line by the goalkeeper. A minute later Del Piero tried with a free kick that looked like it had gone in, but instead it hit the side-netting. The defence meanwhile, with Thuram precise as ever, stopped the Porto attackers, less incisive and insistent than in the first half. Davids and Tacchinardi tried from distance, but the Dutchman's shot was parried, whilst his teammate's effort finished over the bar. Lippi replaced Pessotto with Zenoni, whilst Machado swapped Pena for Helder. The bianconeri continued to attack: Tudor had a header, which went wide. Only in the 26th minute of the half did Porto make an impression in the bianconeri penalty area, with the substitute Helder sending an effort near the right hand post of Buffon. Six minutes from the end, Salas was substituted for O'Neill. Celtic beat Rosenborg (1-0) and now are first in the group , Juve second.
FIRST HALF:
6': Capucho passes Montero on the right, but pulls his shot wide
8': Capucho sends a header off target
10': Birindelli falls awkwardly after a challenge, and leaves on a
stretcher, substituted by Paramatti
25': From Clayton's corner, Andrade shoots, Pessotto salva clears almost
from off the line
36': Long range shot by Deco ,that Buffon turns away for a corner
SECOND HALF:
2': shot by Salas, the keeper saves on the line
3': freekick by Del Piero finishes off target
12': long range effort by Pessotto is wide
18': Davids shot is parried for a corner
19': Tacchinardi shot goes over the bar
21': Tudor header finishes wide
26': Helder tries from the left, finishing off target