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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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A goal by Fabio Grosso early in the second half was enough for Juventus to beat Udinese in a disappointing encounter and move within five points of leaders Inter…

Juventus welcomed Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico hoping to get back within five points of runaway leaders Inter.

The home side started strongly and after just a minute Diego made a good run on the right and fired a cross-shot that hit the outside of the net.

The Brazilian playmaker threatened again in the 5th minute, when he fired a shot from distance that was parried by goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, and as the ball came back down Cristian Zapata did well to clear the ball away from Amauri.

Seven minutes later Mauro Camoranesi sent in a dangerous cross toward the far post which found Sebastian Giovinco, whose left-footed shot was well-saved by Handanovic.

After that there was a long quiet period in the match, as both sides struggled to create chances. At the half hour mark, there was a chance for Camoranesi as he was in a good position to shoot following a corner kick, but his shot was blocked.

Eight minutes later the Italian international found Amauri in the area after a good team move, but the striker couldn’t beat Handanovic with his volleyed shot.

A minute before half time, Udinese saw a goal chalked off for offside as Gaetano D’Agostino’s shot from the edge of the area was turned in by Mauricio Isla, who was judged to be beyond the last Juventus defender when D’Agostino struck his shot.

During the break neither coach opted to make a change.

Five minutes in, Juve finally broke the deadlock, as Christian Poulsen sent the ball forward for Jose Caceres, who played it back into the area to Fabio Grosso, and the Italian international full back had no problems beating Handanovic.

The home side continued to attack after that, and in the 64th minute after a nice one-two on the left between substitute Alessandro Del Piero and Diego, the Brazilian sent in a cross that was parried by Handanovic, and on the rebound Mohamed Sissoko fired a shot that went just over the bar.

A minute later Udinese had their first real chance, with a shot by Antonio Floro Flores from the edge of the area that was parried away by Buffon with his foot.

In the 77th minute, Handanovic had to come up with a great save to prevent an own goal by Dusan Basta, as a Del Piero corner kick accidentally landed on the defender’s head and nearly put Juve 2-0 up.

Five minutes later, the Juventus captain claimed a penalty as he controlled a pass by Fabio Cannavaro and appeared to be brought down by Basta, but the referee waved play on.

In injury time there were a couple more dangerous incidents. In the 93rd minute Zapata forced Buffon into a good save with a low left-footed shot, and a minute later Bernardo Corradi seemed to be brought down by Giorgio Chiellini, but the referee didn’t give a penalty.

In the end the home side held on to their slim lead and earned a priceless victory that allows them to move within five points of leaders Inter. Currently they are second with 27 points, while Udinese are 14th with 15 points.

Juventus starlet Sebastian Giovinco will not be leaving the Stadio Olimpico to join Premier League giants Liverpool in the New Year, according to his agent.

Respected Italian publication Corriere Dello Sport reported on Thursday that Reds boss Rafa Benitez was interested in bringing the 22-year-old to Anfield in the January transfer window.

The Spaniard is believed to be searching for a creative talent to add to his ranks after a disastrous start to the season, and it was believed the man labeled the ‘new Alessandro Del Piero’ was his top target.

With the summer arrival of Brazilian maverick Diego to the Bianconeri, Giovinco has found his first-team opportunities limited under Ciro Ferrara so far this season, and his patience is believed to have reached breaking point.

However, one of the youngster’s agents, Luca Pasqualin, has poured cold water on the reports linking him to Liverpool and is adamant his client will remain in Turin for the time being.

Pasqualin told Goal.com: “I don’t think there is much to read into the reports in the sense that Giovinco will remain at Juventus.

“[As for Liverpool], there are no real comments to make. He will stay at Juve.”

Reds boss Rafael Benitez has reportedly enquired after the ‘Atomic Ant’…

According to a report in the Corriere dello Sport, Premier League giants Liverpool are mulling over a bid to lure out-of-favour Juventus ‘fantasista’ Sebastian Giovinco to Anfield.

The diminutive hitman has only mustered six league appearances so far this term and has slipped further down the pecking order, after the arrival of Brazilian ace Diego over the summer.

The 22-year-old has been frequently linked with a move away from the Stadio Olimpico to boost his chances of proving his worth to Italy boss Marcello Lippi ahead of next year’s World Cup finals.

Premier League sides Arsenal and West Ham have allegedly sounded out Juve directors over his availability, but Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is now believed to have joined the hunt and could make an offer to secure his services during the January transfer window.

Giovinco would link up with fellow Italians Andrea Dossena and Alberto Aquilani on Merseyside, with the latter only making his Premier League debut earlier this month after completing a €20 million move from Roma last summer.