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12/01/2001. Juventus easily defeated Perugia on Saturday evening to join AS Roma in the Serie A table’s third spot, three behind leaders Chievo Verona, who face AC Milan tomorrow afternoon.

The Bianconeri coached by Marcello Lippi came into this match looking for their second Serie A win in eight matches and after 25 minutes of play their mission was rendered extremely simple by the severity of referee Gabriele and especially by the hot temper of Perugia midfielder Blasi who unnecessarily fouled Del Piero from behind to get his second yellow card of the evening and leave his side a man down for the remaining 75 minutes of play.

Blasi’s early exit wasn’t’ immediately taken advantage of by the Bianconeri, as only a Del Piero volley that skimmed the post of the Perugia net had come close to opening the scoring during the first half.

It was only in the second one, when Lippi inserted Edgar Davids onto the pitch in the place of Birindelli, were the home side able to seriously crush Perugia inside their own box.

In the 52nd minute Juve went ahead as Pavel Nedved rose to head home a Del Piero corner kick to clinch his first league goal since arriving on the black and white side of Turin last July.

Perugia were totally unable to react, while Juve calmly controlled the pitch. The only shivers that came down the Juve fan’s spines were caused by a Vryzas volley off a Bazzani cross that Buffon easily saved on 23 mintues.

Ten minutes later Juve found their second of the night through a David Trezeguet header, but the game would have been sealed off earlier in the half if the referee hadn’t changed his mind by first awarding a penalty to Juve for a Di Loreto foul on Zambrotta only to turn his decision into a freekick after consulting with the linesman.


The much needed three points come at the right time for Juve who are set to face Arsenal on Tuesday and AC Milan next Sunday.