UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)
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NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS
Parken Stadium - Copenhagen
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)
HT: Juve run risks in Denmark
Oct 23, 2012
Juventus are still goalless at half-time against Nordsjaelland as both sides ran huge risks and tested the goalkeepers in a wide open game.
The pressure was on the Bianconeri after two stalemates left their chances of qualifying in the balance. Gigi Buffon returned from a thigh injury, joined by Lucio and Mauricio Isla, but Mirko Vucinic was only fit for the bench while Kwadwo Asamoah and Stephan Lichtsteiner were rested. Angelo Alessio made his Champions League touchline debut after the expiration of his ban, though Antonio Conte was still suspended.
Nordsjaelland were in their first ever Champions League group phase participation and had lost both games, but the 4-0 against Chelsea here was an extremely flattering scoreline for Roberto Di Matteo’s men. Ivan Runje and Mikkel Beckmann shook off knocks to start, while Andreas Laudrup is the son of 1983-89 Juve star Michael. They are known as ‘Denmark’s Barcelona’ due to their fondness for keeping possession.
Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo aimed long-range shots just off target in the opening minutes, while Sebastian Giovinco hooked a wonderful Pirlo pass over the top and Jores Okore crucially intervened as he was pulling the trigger from 10 yards.
Nordsjaelland had their first chance after 16 minutes when Kasper Lorentzen burst forward on the counter from a lost ball and stung Buffon’s palms.
Giovinco mistimed his volley to scuff it into the goalkeeper’s hands and Leonardo Bonucci’s glancing header whistled just wide. A Nicolai Stokholm shot was charged down and Juve went on the counter, but Alessandro Matri went down after a shoulder to shoulder with Okore on the edge of the box and the referee waved play on. It was a very risky challenge and could easily have resulted in a red card if the official had read it differently.
Giovinco volleyed straight at the goalkeeper, but there was a massive risk for Juventus on the half-hour mark!
A long ball over the top took the defence by surprise and Joshua John tried to chip it over the on-rushing Buffon, but the goalkeeper beat it away with his chest well outside the penalty area. The officials considered their decision carefully and replays show they were right, as it did not strike his arm.
Moments later Juve should’ve scored when Giovinco sprung the offside trap to go round the ‘keeper, but narrowed the angle too much and could only hit the side-netting of an open goal.
Buffon again timed his intervention perfectly to take the ball off John’s foot from six yards after a fine passing move.
It was a wide open first half and Matri’s header from a corner flashed across the face of goal. The ex-Cagliari striker then nutmegged Michael Parkhurst and rolled across for Giovinco in front of an open goal, but Okore was in the right place to intercept.
Giovinco got away from his marker with some fine footwork and his fierce finish stung Jesper Hansen’s gloves while Matri was unable to turn in the rebound. Claudio Marchisio was crucially blocked by a sliding tackle as he was pulling the trigger, leading to a heavy knock on the ankle.
Nordsjaelland 0-0 Juventus (Half-Time)
Nordsjaelland: J Hansen; Parkhurst, Okore, Runje, Mtiliga; Adu, Stokholm; Laudrup, Lorentzen, John; Beckmann
Juventus: Buffon; Lucio, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Matri, Giovinco
Ref: Aytekin (GER)
