Serie A - Juve back on top after draw at Roma
Juventus returned to the top of Serie A on goal difference after a 1-1 draw with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico put them level on points with Udinese.
Daniele De Rossi opened the scoring in the fifth minute for the home side, but Giorgio Chiellini levelled matters for Juventus just after the hour, while Roma skipper Francesco Totti missed a penalty a minute later.
De Rossi started at centre-back for Roma, who had Juan, Fernando Gago and Bojan Krkic all suspended after getting red cards in the 3-0 defeat at Fiorentina.
Totti, Erik Lamela and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo were all handed starts, whilst youth team player Federico Viviani made his full Serie A debut in midfield, at the age of 19.
Marco Cassetti, David Pizarro, Simon Kjaer, Fabio Borini and Nicolas Burdisso all missed out with injuries in a defensive crisis for Luis Enrique’s Roma.
For Juve, ex-Roma striker Mirko Vucinic was replaced by Marcelo Estigarribia.
Roma took the lead in the fifth minute, and through the unlikely source of De Rossi, the makeshift centre-half.
Totti took a short corner and looped the ball to the back post. De Rossi rather mis-hit the speculative volley towards goal, but Arturo Vidal completely mis-kicked on the line and the ball dribbled into the Juventus goal.
Antonio Conte’s men hit back immediately, with Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg needing to beat out a swerving Alessandro Matri shot, though the Dutchman was then rooted to the spot as Leonardo Bonucci’s free header whistled wide.
In the 34th minute, Stekelenburg needed a strong arm to keep out Estigarribia's left-footed shot across goal, but it was proof that the visitors were definitely in the driving seat.
And perhaps they should have levelled eight minutes before half-time when Vidal set up Simone Pepe in the box with a lovely reverse pass, but the winger shot straight and weakly at Stekelenburg.
However, the chance came as Roma gave the ball away in midfield, the home side’s possessional profligacy a feature of the first half.
Juve playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who had been well marshalled by the man-marking of Miralem Pjanic, finally got a sight of goal in the 39th minute with a free-kick awarded after Viviani fouled Marchisio 25 yards from goal.
His shot through the wall was well saved by Stekelenburg low to his left, though.
Five minutes into the second half, Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli cleared from Osvaldo as he prepared to shoot home Totti's cross from the right.
And it was Barzagli’s defensive colleague Chiellini who levelled matters with a close-range header on 61 minutes. Vidal poked the ball wide to the left for Estigarribia and - though the Paraguayan miskicked his effort - the Italy defender got between De Rossi and Gabriel Heinze to head the loose ball home.
Roma came right back up the other end, and were awarded a penalty after Vidal tripped Lamela in the box.
However, Totti’s penalty was beaten away by Gianluigi Buffon in the Juventus goal.
The game was end-to-end now, with Chiellini for Juve and De Rossi for Roma both magnificent as they attempted to thwart the opposition.
Roma’s Pablo Osvaldo got himself a glimpse of goal on 79 minutes when he cut inside Marchisio on the edge of the box and tried to chip Buffon, but the ball floated over the crossbar.
In the final five minutes, both sides had chances to win the game. First, Juventus substitute Fabio Quagliarella was denied by the shoulder of Stekelenburg after he had been set through on goal by fellow substitute Eljero Elia.
Then, at the other end, Totti over-elaborated after being set up by Lamela, by cutting back to shoot left-footed rather than relying on his right, and ended up shooting straight at a Juventus defender.
Juve now have 30 points, with Roma 12 back in ninth.
Comment 1 - 17 of 17
Great match. Really nail-biting action throughout, a brilliant advert for Serie A in general. It's good for Juve because after Man City lost to Chelsea, Juventus are now the only team in all of Serie A, the Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga AND Ligue 1 to still be unbeaten in the league! A monumental acheivement when you consider the calamity that was last season.
But it's also a good thing for Roma because, if I'm being fair, they probably played just a bit better than Juve did, and they are clearly recovered from the Fiorentina match - and a strong Roma is never a bad thing for the league.
W, were you reading only Juve fans' comments? I did not see you quoting any AS Roma fan's comments.
Should Qualiagrela be in form, it would be otherwise, let me tell you that.
Poor fighter for justice.
juve really should be in champions league right now. would easily be thru to the knockouts
Look at that, an amicably settled argument, nice to see their are still a few people who don't resort to childish name calling when confronted with a differing opinion.
fair enough... peace man..
Roma is a rubbish team. Since the early 80's it has only been rubbish. Totti overrated player with some skills and a lot of drama (negative drama of course).
W, I agree with you, and I apologize for my earlier post. I jumped to conclusions without really thinking. I've been a die-hard Juve fan all my life, but I have tons of respect for AC, Roma and other clubs. That respect does not extend to Inter, however. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing Italian about them.
I'm a Serie A fan in general... Juve are one of my fave teams of all time... i have nothing against any team in the world, except maybe Moratti/Inter for what he did during Calciopoli..
but one thing i cannot stand is arrogant fans, regardless of the team.
W, fair enough, those guys definitely sound arrogant. Personally, I am just glad that we're not suffering through another season of hell. You've got to admit that Juve are looking quite entertaining these days. The tie was probably fair, although I thought that Juve showed a bit more, especially in the second half.
how is any of what i said, arrogant?? do you even know the meaning of the word?? not to mention there's nothing to be arrogant ABOUT, seeing as i;m a fan of neither team.
"Another defeat in Enrique's bag, bahhhhhh"
" I am not referring to AS Roma. They are rubbish :-)"
"anything less than 2 goals difference 4 juve i will consider it a loss"
" Rome how will be able to defeat Juve, it is impossible"
"roma's defeat against juve is a fact....u should just hope u dont get humuliated"
THAT is arrogant.... and those Juve fans have their feet in their mouths right now.
Roma were the better team on the night, and Totti should've scored/assisted at least 3... simple.
truth hurts, suck it up.
W, arrogant? You may want to look in the mirror after what you just wrote.
Sure, Donney, is that why England hired an "Italian" manager? At last count, Italian football had 4 WC trophies, English football only 1.
if Totti was match fit, Roma could've easily won by 3 or 4 goals... lucky on the night, and a bit of "foot-in-mouth" action for all the arrogant Juve fans before the game.
Vidal almost gave this game away, but another strong showing for Juve. We can't win them all, but it is nice to see that Juve are dominating most games. With a few reinforcements in January, the scudetto is definitely possible. Forza Juve!
Roma will beat Juve.
Juveeeeeeeeeeeeeee, top juve, unbeaten juve
Another defeat in Enrique's bag, bahhhhhh !!!
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