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Juventus - Fiorentina

02/16/2002. At the end of their least convincing match of the last weeks, Juventus managed to defeat Fiorentina 2-1 and conquered the top of the Serie A ranking, that they could lose only if Roma are able to defeat Brescia tomorrow afternoon. A great match by the whole team and a fantastic performance by Brazilian striker Adriano were not enough for the unlucky Viola, who look closer than ever to the relegation after the umpteenth defeat of their disastrous season. 

Quite surprisingly, Fiorentina started better than Juve, creating the first chance after only three minutes with a nice volley shot by Baronio, well saved by Buffon. In the 10th, the former Parma keeper was once again effective on a header by Ceccarelli.

Despite the Viola's good start, Juve took the lead with a superb goal by David Trezeguet. The French striker took profit of a rebound inside the box and netted the ball with a perfect left-footer. But the Viola reacted with determination and scored the equalizer after only three minutes with Adriano, who took profit of a perfect supply by Morfeo. 

The hosts tried to react, but Fiorentina defended with care and Adriano kept on giving Juve plenty of troubles with his quick and powerful counter-attacks. Despite the Brazilian menace, Lippi's men managed to go ahead again in the 30th when Del Piero was quick to pick up an Amaral rebound of a Nedved shot and strike the ball past Manninger. 

Before the double whistle, Adriano went close to the second equalizer with a right-footer well saved by Buffon, while in the injury time Manninger was reliable as usual on a header by Montero.

There were three substitutions before the beginning of the second half: Juve replaced Zambrotta and Montero with Davids and Paramatti, while Palombo relieved Baronio for Fiorentina. When the game resumed the guest's immediately took control of the match, and were very unlucky in the 49th minute, when Adriano skimmed the bar with a magnificent curler.

In the 58th minute Fiorentina replaced Amaral with Argentinean forward Gonzalez, who forced Buffon to make a fantastic save moments after he made his way onto the pitch.

As the minutes passed, the Viola increased their pressure and Juve looked in deep trouble. Nobody seemed capable of stopping Adriano, while all the Bianconeri managed to produce were a couple of counter-attacks with Nedved.

Precisely when the Viola looked close to the deserved equalizer, Bianchi's men suffered a big blow: in the 27th, following a foul on Nedved, defender Tarozzi was shown the second yellow card. The match suddenly changed, also because the guests were very tired, and Juve had no problems maintaining the lead that allows them to clinch the table's first spot after an almost six month abscence.