New Delhi: Juventus were held by Sampdoria in Turin, despite the lion's share of chances and possession.
Pre-Match News
The Bianconeri as usual, were suffering from a whole host of injuries. Momo Sissoko and David Trezeguet were ruled out and Giorgio Chiellini started from the bench. Meanwhile, Vincenzo Iaquinta was suspended after picking up a red car last weekend in the victory over Catania.
Sampdora coach Walter Mazzarri stuck with Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini upfront as Claudio Bellucci had been ruled out due to a knock.
First Half
The home side started more brightly on five minutes, as veteran war horse Pavel Nedved dribbled through the centre and struck from long range, but Luca Castellazzi saved well with his fingertips and Olof Mellberg could not direct his header on the following cross.
Seconds later, Alessandro Del Piero nearly completed a cheeky backheel, but the ball bobbled wide across the face of goal.
However, Sampdoria scored against the run of play on ten minutes! Antonio Cassano played an incisive through-ball and re-born Giampaolo Pazzini slotted the ball past Gianluigi Buffon at the near post.
Claudio Ranieri's men nearly leveled things when Del Piero hit a smart pass with the outside of his foot, but Andrea Raggi just nicked the ball away from Amauri, who would have had a tap-in. The match has become much more even following the Blucerchiati goal, as both sides were finding it difficult to break through and create real chances.
Mauro Camoranesi and Amauri shared some good build-up play, before the midfielder's low cross-shot was deflected out for a corner. Nedved tried another try from long distance, but the ex-Lazio's players volley swerved wide of the diving Sampdora goalkeeper.
Thirty-eight minutes in, Camoranesi's high-cross was beautifully chested down by Amauri, but his shot was smothered by Castellazzi as Claudio Ranieri's men were starting to control the proceedings.
Juventus had their best chance five minutes from half, Del Piero's played a fine one-time pass for Nedved, but the former Czech international prodded the ball off the post.
Incredibly, just before the half-time whistle, Nedved hit the post again! His header cannoning back off the cross-bar as the score remained 1-0 for the visitors going into the half.
Second Half
The 'Tinkerman' added some extra offence by replacing Christian Poulsen with Italian Under-21 international Sebastian Giovinco.
The second period started in exciting fashion, Cassano nearly doubled Sampdoria's lead when his deflected cross from the right left Buffon stranded and hit the far post!
The Genoa-based side were much improved in holding the ball in possession at the outset of the second half and Cassano found himself in space on the left, dribbled into the area, but shanked the ball wide! On the other end, Giovinco's cutback was blocked right in front of an open goal.
Finally, Juventus managed to equalize after being frustrated for large portions of the match. The gamble paid off as Giovinco played in a dangerous cross and Amauri's diving header left Castellazzi with no chance on 62 minutes!
La Vecchia Signora hit the post for the third time on the evening! Del Piero's long-range freekick cracking against the cross-bar, and then the post, as Sampdoria were being pinned back.
Sampdoria eventually created a chance of their own, but Palombo's effort from the edge of the area was weak and central, an easy save for Buffon. With 15 minutes left, Mazzarri surprisingly took off the talismanic Cassano, perhaps in anticipation of the UEFA Cup match in midweek.
On 82' Giovinco passed two defenders with a mazy run, but Castellazzi got down well to parry the young player's daisy cutter, as time was running out. Pazzini hit back on the counter, finding himself in loads of space, but his shot was blocked and Buffon caught the floating ball.
Del Piero's reverse ball was too far ahead of Amauri and Marchisio tried his luck from long range, but the match ended in a draw as Juventus could not break through despite all their pressure.
Juventus 1-1 Sampdoria
Goals: 10' Pazzini, 62' Amauri
Booked: 47' Nedved, 64' Gastaldello, 65' Legrottaglie
Juventus: Buffon - Grygera, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Molinaro - Camoranesi (68' Marchionni), Poulsen (46' Giovinco), Tiago (89' Marchisio), Nedved - Del Piero, Amauri
Sampdoria: Castellazzi - Gastaldello (71' Ferri), Raggi (57' Da Costa), Stankevicius - Padalino, Palombo, Sammarco, Francheschini, Pieri - Pazzini, Cassano (75' Ziegler)
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