Serie A Week 17 - 8-1-2012 (3:00 p.m.)
- Via del Mare Stadium - Lecce
Referee: Mauro Bergonzi
HT: Matri puts Juve in front
Jan 8, 2012
Alessandro Matri came off the bench to give Juventus a hard-fought 1-0 half-time lead in Lecce, but must thank Gigi Buffon.
Antonio Conte returned to face his hometown club and did so as joint Serie A leaders with Milan and still unbeaten this season. Lecce were propping up the table and in dire straits, though Serse Cosmi’s arrival did boost their performances at the end of 2011. Manuel Giandonato and Moris Carrozzieri were unavailable for this difficult test.
Marco Borriello completed his transfer from Roma, but was not yet in the squad. The new fans had a message for him, though, with a large banner that read: ‘Borriello, mercenary without honour or dignity.’
Benassi was at full stretch to palm a Simone Pepe angled drive past the upright, then bad news for Lecce, who lost Rodney Strasser to injury almost immediately.
Lecce still had the first chance, though, as a free kick found Guillermo Giacomazzi from close range to force Gigi Buffon into a reaction save.
Conte also had to make an early substitution, as Fabio Quagliarella got a knock to the cheekbone and made way for Alessandro Matri. The newcomer had a great chance to open the scoring straight away, but aimed a weak angled drive straight into the arms of Benassi.
Matri made up for it moments later, as he was in the right place at the right time to nod in the rebound as Benassi only beat away a Mirko Vucinic screamer.
Lecce were unlucky, as Muriel was stopped for an incorrect offside flag when going clear on goal because Leonardo Bonucci was keeping him in play.
Buffon was again tested, as he got down quickly to palm a dangerously dipping David Di Michele snapshot off the line.
Lecce 0-1 Juventus (Half-Time)
Scorers: Matri 27 (J)
Lecce: Benassi; Oddo, Tomovic, Esposito, Cuadrado; Giacomazzi, Obodo, Strasser (Olivera 5), Mesbah; Muriel, Di Michele
Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio; Pepe, Quagliarella (Matri 23), Vucinic
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