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Juve started off with the now traditional 4-2-3-1 formation with Del Piero in the starting line-up. Bordeaux immediately started off with great determination and on the 3rd minute benefited of the first free-kick: Buffon saves incredibly into corner. Three minutes later the French side has another free-kick: Tremoulinas shot hits the wall. Caceres clears.

On the 8th minute, there is a ball into the Juve area. Caceres manages to anticpate the French striker. Four minutes later, there is a corner for Juve: ball dangerously into the area but the defence manages to clear in some way or another.

The 17th minute sees a ball into the Juve area but Melo clears into out. One minute later, there is a good Juve initiative by Diego and Sissoko but the Mali player slips as he is about to score.

On the 22nd minute, there is a free-kick for Juve: ball into the area, Chiellini with a magnificent elevation over Diarra heads the ball off the ground but it goes slightly high. Seconds later there is a great recovery by Chiellini.

It is the 24th minute when there is another corner for Bordeaux: ball cleared by the Juve defence. The French side is awarded another corner one minute laterafter a dangerous deviation in the area: ball into the Juve area but Buffon waves it away before a good clearance by Caceres.

On the 29th minute, a good Sissoko long ball finds Del Piero who passes to Diego who with a good shot sees the keeper saving. Good play by Juve. Two minutes later there is a corner for Bordeaux: the Juve defence clears.

The 35th minute sees a good run by Caceres who crosses to Del Piero but the ball is a bit too long. Three minutes later, Buffon performs a miracle on Chamakh before the ball is cleared by the defence. From the rebound it is a super Chiellini who clears into corner.

Juve continue to defend from the continuous Bordeaux attacks and on the 44th minute there is a free-kick for Bordeaux from outside the area following a foul by Melo: ball goes wide. The first half ends in a deadlock.

The second half sees Juve trying to react but Bordeaux are a hard nut to crack. On the 1st minute Amauri enters the area but he is stopped for off-side. One minute later, there was a great clearance by Chiellini and seconds later, an Amauri cross from the right is intercepted by the defence.

On the 5th minute, there is a free-kick for Bordeaux following dangerous play by Legrottaglie: the Juve comes out well clearing the danger. Three minutes later another free-kick for Bordeaux marks the turning point of the match: ball into the area and Fernando heads home for the opener: 1-0.
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Playmaker Sebastian Giovinco is confident Juventus have put a difficult month behind them after his stirring display helped the Bianconeri overcome a hard-working Maccabi Haifa FC 1-0 in their third UEFA Champions League Group A match on Wednesday.

Hitting back
The 22-year-old was thrown in by Ciro Ferrara after spending the best part of the Bianconeri’s winless month on the sidelines as the Juve coach changed tactics for the crucial match. Forwards Vincenzo Iaquinta and Amauri were dropped and David Trezeguet brought in, with Giovinco and Diego included together for the first time this season to supply and excite.

Yellow daze
A precocious talent who has been compared to Roberto Baggio, Juve have high hopes for Giovinco and, in the first half in particular, he showed why. Dribbling with abandon, his quick feet, body speed and low centre of gravity had Maccabi defenders mesmerised. Unable to stop him within the rules, three were booked for last-ditch tackles early on. “It doesn’t matter if you play with one, two or three fantasistas,” he added. “If you go into the match trying to win, that’s how the game should be played.”

Fantasy pair
Demonstrating their ability to play together, Diego and Giovinco combined to win the free-kick that led to Chiellini’s headed 47th-minute winner, Juve’s first victory in Group A and in all competitions for a month. “We are hoping to continue winning as we have done this evening,” Giovinco continued. “All that is on our minds now is Sunday [at AC Siena]. We’ll think about the next Champions League match three days before it takes place.”

‘Come good’
Giovinco also took the opportunity to vent his frustration after criticism of his early season performances. “You say finally a good performance, that I’ve come good and played a decent match but my own perspective is very different,” argued the midfielder. “I’ve made contributions in important games previously this season. Diego and I have done our bit but because the strikers don’t score you think we’re playing badly. That’s not on. But you’re right, tonight was a good game.”

Looking ahead
With five points from three matches – two fewer than FC Girondins de Bordeaux and one more of FC Bayern München – another win in Israel in the return against Maccabi on 3 November will go a long way to securing Juve’s qualification to the knockout rounds and answering La Vecchia Signora’s demanding critics.

The two stars of the show against Maccabi have reflected on a difficult night, but are both pleased the job got done…

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, and midfielder Sebastian Giovinco are satisfied with the side’s performance against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League, despite suffering for various spells of the game.

The Bianconeri picked up their first win in Group A thanks to Giorgio Chiellini’s second half header from close range. Juventus had several chances to make the score comfortable but then stepped off the gas. Gianluigi Buffon was largely to thank for keeping his side in the game. The goalkeeper was voted man of the match and he believes it’s onwards and upwards from now on.

“I am always ready for the team to make saves. We wanted the three points at all costs to come out from the spell. Winning was the only thing that mattered, that’s all we were interested in,” Buffon told Sky Sport Italia.

“We played well and we created plenty of chances to score. Of course it’s not always easy in Europe. And they had some chances too.

“Juventus tried a different approach tonight and we had more guarantees in defence. It’s normal that we have to try and find the best way going forwards. Though we did create plenty tonight.”

Sebastian Giovinco was also sublime on the night as he linked up brilliantly with Diego. The ‘Formica Atomica’ was unlucky not to have scored as he reflects on the win.

“We played differently today and we saw that. We deserved the win today. We showed that we can play well together with Diego,” added the Italian starlet.

“They fouled us plenty. They had five players on a yellow at half time. It was a tough game, but we did really well and that’s what counts.”

Juventus dominate in the first half showing that they mean business right from kick-off. On the 1st minute a good ball is put into the area for Trezguet, the ball is cleared by the defence and put back in by Camoranesi but the keeper cradles the ball. Maccabi reacts Dvalishvili heads a ball in the Juve area and Buffon is forced to a great save. On the 2nd minute there is a good incursion by Diego after a through ball into the area. Four minutes later there is a free-kick for Juve from the edge of the area in what seemed like a foul in the area: Grosso shoots but the keeper saves the central conclusion. Five minutes later a Diego free-kick is saved by the keeper. The 12th minute sees a good ball into the area by Camoranesi but it is slightly too long for Trezeguet. One minute later, a cross into the area goes out as Camo slips. Juve are very organized in midfield. On the 16th minute, a perfect Diego ball is passed to Giovinco who puts the ball in the area and Trezeguet misses the deflection by a millimetre. The 17th minute sees a free-kick for Maccabi: the shot is weak and Buffon cradles the ball easily. One minute later it’s a minute of magic: corner for Juve following a good cross into the area by Camoranesi: ball into the area, Chiellini tries to head the ball in the area but the defence clears. The ball is once again put into the Camoranesi but the defence clears a second tme. Grosso picks up the lose ball and passes to trezeguet who with a spectacular shot sees the ball go inches wide.
Three minutes later, there is a great incursion by Grosso but the defence manage to clear in some way. On the 21st minute there is a great move by Giovinco who passes to Sissoko who’s shot from outside the area goes wide hindered by the wet field.
On the 29th minute, Chiellini liberates the Juve area but seconds after Maccabi shoot high over the bar. One minute later, there is a great tackle by Chiellini to free the area. On the 31st minute, there is a good run by Giovinco who is fouled from behind before entering the area. Seconds later, there is yet another free-kick for Juve: Diego’s shot is not strong enough to worry the keeper. Three minutes later, there is a free-kick for Juve for a foul on Camoranesi. Caceres comes on for Zebina. Melo’s free-kick is high over the bar. On the 38th minute, there is another bad foul from behind on Giovinco. Two minutes later, there is another free-kick for Juve: Camoranesi puts the ball into the area and Sissoko heads wide. On the 41st minute, a beautiful long distance shot by Grosso goes slightly high. Seconds later, a good Giovinco ball finds Trezeguet off-side. Two minutes later, a great shot by Grosso in the area is cleared by a defender but Diego is fouled as he gathers the lsoe ball for a free-kick: Diego’s shot goes inches wide. The last two bits of action of the first half are by Maccabi. On the 45th minute Maccabi enter the area but the shot is saved easily by Buffon after a deviation. Seconds later, Buffon saves easily on a Maccabi shot. The score remains 0-0 at the end of the first half.
Juventus’ great play in the first half leads to satisfaction at the beginning of the second. It is the 2nd minute when there is a free-kick for Juve: Diego puts a perfect ball into the area and Chiellini heads home for the opener: 1-0. Four minutes later, Giovinco is about to enter the area but he loses the ball. On the 7th minute, Giovinco with a great run enters the area and the defence is forced to put the ball into corner. From the flag the ball reaches Giovinco who is unlucky. One minute later, a Diego shot goes high grazing the bar. On the 9th minute, a great low ball into the area by Grosso reaches Trezeguet who slides to shoot and is unlucky to see the keeper save. One minute later, a great Giovinco shot forces the keeper to save. On the 15th minute, Melo is forced to leave the field after a bad foul on his ankle. Poulsen to come on. Maccabi committed a number of nasty fouls. Four minutes later, Free-kick for Juve: Camoranesi puts the ball into the area and Chiellini heads wide.
On the 23rd minute, Dutra is sent-off after a serious of nasty fouls. He should have been off earlier. One minute later, Trezeguet enters the area but is anticipated by the keeper. It is the 28th minute when a beautiful Diego long ball finds Giovinco in an off-side position. On the 35th minute Amauri comes on for Trezeguet. Juve fall back and on the 36th minute Buffon performs a brilliant save on Dvalishvili in what could have been a chance of goal. One minute later there is a free-kick for Maccabi: ball into the area, Buffon grabs safely. On the 38th minute there is a corner for Juve: Amauri tries to head following the Grosso cross but the defence clears. One minute later, Camoranesi hits the post with a first timer after a beautiful pass by Diego. On the 42nd minute a Caceres cross into the area is too long. Two minutes later a bad foul on Diego outside the area sees a free-kick for Juve: The Giovinco shot is saved by the keeper as it seems destined to enter the net. On
The 45th minute there is a corner for Juve: the ball is put into the area but the defence clears. The last chance of the match is for Maccabi and it makes Juve fans tremble as Buffon makes a great save on Ghadir to save the result. After 3 minutes of stoppage time, the team leave the field with Juve back to victory and after a beautiful match played by the bianconeri.
Champions League, Group A – 3rd match day
Turin, Stadio Olimpico

Wednesday 21st October 2009
JUVENTUS – MACCABI HAIFA: 1-0 Goals: Chiellini (47th). JUVENTUS: Buffon; Zebina (Caceres 34th), Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso; Felipe Melo (Poulsen 61st), Sissoko; Camoranesi, Diego, Giovinco; Trezeguet (Amauri 80th). Reserves: Manninger, Caceres, Legrottaglie, De Ceglie, Poulsen, Amauri, Iaquinta. Coach: Ferrara. MACCABI HAIFA: Davidovitch; Meshumar, Teixeira, Keinan, Masilela (Zaguri 45th); Osman, Boccoli, Culma, Refaelov (Dutra 56th); Dvalishvili, Arbeitman (Ghadir 45th). Reserves: Edri, Harazi, Maymon, Strahman, Dutra, Ghadir, Zaguri. Coach: Levi. Referee: O. Benquerenca Yellow Cards: Culma (10th), Texeira (31st), Osman (39th), Zaguri (48th), Boccoli (89th), Red Card: Dutra (68th)