Ferrara fields a 4-4-1-1 formation with Diego behind Amauri as sole striker. The first few minutes see Juventus on the offensive. The players are highly concentrated and determined, conscious of the importance of the match.
On the first minute there is a good long ball towards Amauri but Abate manages to clear. Four minutes later, there is a free-kick for Juve: Diego puts a dangerous ball into the area but the defence in some way manages to clear. On the 6th minute a Grygera cross into the area is cleared.
It is the 8th minute when there is a bad foul on Brazzo by Ronaldinho who goes unpunished. Free-kick for Juve cleared into corner: ball into the area but the referee sees a foul in attack.
The 12th minute sees Diego attempting a powerful shot from outside the area but Dida manages to block. Beautiful footwork and conclusion by Diego one minute later, who sees the ball go slightly wide with Dida beaten.
On the 14th minute there is a corner for Milan following a Chiellini clearance: Poulsen frees the area. Six minutes later it is Juve who benefit from a corner: ball into the area but the defence clears, Diego wins the ball back but he puts it out as he sees Gattuso on the ground.
The 24th minute sees good work by Diego who passes to Grygera whose cross is beyond the touchline. Two minutes later, Cheillini clears into corner: Beckham puts the ball into the area with Amauri heading away a first time but the Milan shot from the re-bound is collected easily by Manninger.
The 28th minute marks a turning point in the match: there is a corner for Milan. The ball is put into the area, Melo does not manage to stop and Nesta deposits at the back of the net for the opener: 0-1.
On the half-hour mark, Diego is denied a foul just outside the area and five minutes later Juve have a corner but Diego's ball is headed away by Pirlo. On the 38th minute, Diego puts a ball into the area with Amauri trying an overhead kick but he does not manage to hit the ball.
It is the 39th minute when there is a corner for Juve: ball cleared a first time from the area, from the rebound the ball reaches Chiellini who shoots but Dida in some way manages to stop.
The last bit of action for the first half is on the 45th minute. There is a free-kick for Milan: Manninger with a great save puts the ball into corner. From the flag Beckham puts the ball into the area and Ronaldinho heads towards goal with Grygera saving into corner what looked like a sure goal.
The second half starts with Juve on the attack. On the 1st minute a Poulsen shot is deviated into corner: from the flag Diego's cross is headed by Amauri with the ball going just wide. Unlucky!
Two minutes later there is a free-kick for Juve from a great distance: Diego puts the ball into the area and Chiellini heads well with Dida managing to cradle the ball. On the 4th minute, Grosso misses a ball in the Juve area but Beckham's shot goes high.
It is the 7th minute when there is a free-kick for Juve: Diego puts a good ball into the area, Cannavaro's overhead kick goes wide and Chiellini from the re-bound sees his attempt being cleared. Seven minutes later, there is a corner for Juve: Diego puts the ball into the area after exchanging with Marchisio but his cross goes wide.
The 15th minute sees Del Piero coming on for Salihamidzic. Luck has long left Juventus and seconds later Poulsen suffers a cut close to his ankle and is forced to leave the field. One minute later, a Marchisio shot is deviated into corner: ball into the area by Diego is cleared by the defence, it reaches Del Piero who shoots high over the bar.
Three minutes later De Ceglie comes on for Poulsen. On the 20th minute, there is a free-kick for Juve: Del Piero's attempt goes well high over the bar. Two minutes later, Manninger and Chiellini in a misunderstanding see Juve risk with the ball finally in corner: the defence clears.
It is the 23rd minute when a series of Milan shots are cleared by the defence. Manninger waves a way a dangerous ball which is cleared by the defence after reaching Beckham who shoots. Corner for Milan: ball reaches Ronaldinho who beats Manninger with a slight deviation: 0-2.
On the 33rd minute a cross into the Milan area by Diego is cleared by the defence. Five minutes later there is a free-kick for Juve: Del Piero from 32 metres sees his ball go slightly high.
The 41st minute sees a corner for Milan which is cleared by the defence but from the second flag from the shot, the ball is put into the area and Ronaldinho who shoots home for the 0-3.
On the 45th minute Manninger leaves the area to clear from Huntelaar and two minutes later, on the second out of 3 minutes of stoppage time given, Del Piero's shot from a free-kick is saved by Dida into corner.
The end result is one which seems to be exaggerated but as the old saying goes “when it rains it pours” and Juve have definitely been down for luck in the recent past.
Serie A 2009/10 - 19th match day
Turin, Olympic Stadium
Sunday 10th January, 2010
JUVENTUS – MILAN: 0-3
Scorers : Nesta (28th), Ronaldinho (71st), Ronaldinho (88th),
JUVENTUS: Manninger; Grygera, Chiellini, Cannavaro, Grosso; Melo, Poulsen (De Ceglie 63rd), Salihamidzic (Del Piero 60th), Marchisio; Diego; Amauri. Reserves: Chimenti, De Ceglie, Legrottaglie, Zebina, Tiago, Del Piero, Immobile. Coach: Ferrara.
MILAN: Dida; Abate, Nesta, T. Silva, Antonini; Gattuso (Flamini 65th), Pirlo, Ambrosini, Beckham, Borriello (Huntelaar 85th), Ronaldinho. Reserves: Storari, Favalli, Kaladze, Flamini, Inzaghi, Huntelaar. Coach: Leonardo.
REFEREE: Damato
Yellow Cards: Poulsen (30th), Ambrosini (73rd), Amauri (79th)
