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Serie A Week 3 - 12/9/09 (19.45 UK)
Lazio 0 - 2 Juventus
Caceres 72 (J), Trezeguet 94 (J)
Stadio Olimpico

Lazio had a goal controversially disallowed, but capitulated to Martin Caceres and David Trezeguet as Juventus keep their 100 per cent record.

The Bianconeri already conquered Roma in this arena 3-1 a fortnight ago and hoped to make it a double. Alessandro Del Piero, Momo Sissoko and Hasan Salihamidzic were out, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Fabio Cannavaro rested after international duty, so David Trezeguet made his first official appearance since the Coppa Italia on April 22, which was also against Lazio. Martin Caceres and Fabio Grosso made their debuts. Mauro Zarate and Tommaso Rocchi both had niggling injuries, so the Biancocelesti fielded an all-new front line with Julio Cruz and Pasquale Foggia.

Both these sides had a 100 per cent record going in to the game and led the table alongside Genoa and Sampdoria.

Cruz has scored 10 goals against Juve in his career, but it was Trezeguet who had the first chance when Amauri chested down for the Frenchman's volley outside the box, stinging Nando Muslera's palms.

Muslera then had to backpedal furiously to fingertip a looping Mauro Camoranesi cross-shot out from under the bar, while he smothered Trezeguet's follow-up.

Gigi Buffon rather bravely dribbled the ball away from Cruz, but was forced into a desperate point-blank one-handed save on Aleksandr Kolarov's screamer after nutmegging Caceres.

Buffon was also called into action on a Roberto Baronio blockbuster from 20 metres, then a bizarre free kick from Baronio was sneaking in at the near post, but the goalkeeper got his foot to it!

Foggia blazed over from an impossible angle, but there was bad news for Juve just before half-time when Diego was stretchered off with a thigh problem. He had been struggling on for several minutes before eventually pulling out and making way for Sebastian Giovinco. It remains to be seen if he'll be fit for Tuesday's Champions League match.

There was absolute chaos in stoppages when a Kolarov free kick ping-ponged around the six-yard box with the ball eventually bundled over the line, but play had been stopped for a dubious Cruz push on Nicola Legrottaglie.

After the restart Giovinco took a free kick quickly and Grosso's ball flashed across the face of goal with Amauri's desperate diving header missing contact by inches.

Camoranesi curled over with his left foot, though there was a fine team move on 63 minutes. With quick passing down the left flank Grosso, Giovinco and Trezeguet combined for the Frenchman to spin round and fire straight at Muslera from eight yards.

A sliding Giorgio Chiellini intervention prevented Foggia from completing a rapid counter-attack. From the corner Matuzalem put in the low cross for Cruz that Buffon fumbled, but the defence was able to clear. That move turned into a counter for Juventus that Amauri wasted horribly with a weak finish into Muslera's arms.

Juventus finally broke the deadlock in a fiery match with Martin Caceres' debut Serie A goal. He started the move spreading for Claudio Marchisio on the right, whose cross was headed to the edge of the box where the former Barcelona defender smashed in a right-foot angled drive.

Lazio threw on striker Simone Inzaghi and Eliseu, but Buffon smothered Cruz's low shot. Free kick specialist Kolarov hit a set-piece against the defensive wall in stoppages, but Juve struck on the counter deep into stoppages!

Rather than winding down the clock, the Bianconeri pushed forward en masse. Giovinco's cross and an acrobatic Amauri volley with his heel were beaten away, but Trezeguet netted at the third time of asking from close-range.


Lazio: Muslera; Lichtsteiner, Diakhite, Siviglia, Kolarov; Dabo (Inzaghi 76), Baronio, Mauri; Matuzalem; Foggia (Eliseu 79), Cruz

Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso (Molinaro 86); Camoranesi (Tiago 69), Felipe Melo, Marchisio; Diego (Giovinco 44); Amauri, Trezeguet

Ref: Gervasoni


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Pictures: Richiardi (Milan)


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