New Delhi: Ciro Ferrara's first game in charge of Juventus ended in a 3-0 win at Siena, as Alessandro Del Piero scored twice, including a wonder-goal.
Following Claudio Ranieri's sacking on Monday, interim coach Ciro Ferrara was hoping for an immediate victory to hold off Fiorentina, who had closed to within one point of Juventus' third place. The Bianconeri were without the injured Sissoko, Knezevic, Ekdal, Molinaro, and Grygera. Alex Del Piero partnered Vincenzo Iaquinta in attack.
Siena were safe and had little to play, but they were minus the services of strikers Nicola Amoruso and Mario Frick, who were injured.
First Half
There was a minute's silence before the game in respect of Vicenza fan Eugenio Bortolon, who died tragically yesterday after falling from the stands in the game at Parma.
The first flashpoint was on 12 minutes as Emanuele Calaio raced through and was held back by Paolo De Ceglie. Some referees may have given De Ceglie a red card, but he escaped with yellow. Calaio curled the free kick just over.
Juventus missed the first glorious chance of the game, as Iaquinta found himself clean through from Claudio Marchisio's pass, but was denied by the feet of Gianluca Curci.
Three minutes later Juve were ahead thanks to a wonder-strike from Del Piero. The Golden Boy curled home a magnificent 30-yard free kick into the top corner, with Curci not even moving.
Del Piero had a half-chance for a second soon after, but lashed over from 10 yards. On 32 minutes, the Juve captain squandered a fantastic opening as he latched onto Nedved's pass, but got his feet tangled and allowed Portnaova to rob him.
A second goal seemed only a matter of time, and it arrived on 37 minutes. Marchisio began and finished the move, exchanging passes with Del Piero, bursting through and delicately flicking the ball over the onrushing Curci.
Second Half
The beginning of the second half saw a far more passive Juventus, who were happy to control the game without over-exerting themselves.
The next effort of note came just shy of the hour mark as Del Piero let fly with a long-range volley that was smothered by Curci.
The tempo was painfully slow at times, but Del Piero perhaps should have made it three as he attempted to round Curci, but was denied by the diving former Roma man.
Del Piero did eventually grab his second, and Juventus' third in the penultimate minute, as he raced through on goal, and rounded Curci to slot home.
With Milan losing at home to Roma, the Bianconeri move up to second in the league.
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