Juventus defeated Cagliari 1-0 in Sardinia this afternoon. Carlo Garganese rates the players on show...
CAGLIARI
Marchetti: 6.5: Was blameless on Amauri's winner, and made a few good saves to keep the scoreline down, one in particular from Nedved.
Pisano: 5.5: Struggled against Nedved down the left, and was a little slow in reacting inside the area when Amauri struck his first half winner.
Bianco: 6: Battled valiantly against Iaquinta, and made one crucial challenge late on to stop the striker scoring. Didn't disgrace himself.
Lopez: 5.5: Lost everything in the air to Amauri, but he won't be the last defender to have this happen to him. Amauri was a real handful for the Uruguayan veteran.
Agostini: 6: Reasonably steady at left back, although he allowed Marchionni too much space to get a cross in when Amauri scored.
Biondini: 7: Lots of quantity from the red-haired schemer, and indeed he was probably Cagliari's standout player in midfield. Always involved in the action at both ends of the pitch.
Fini: 6: Showed a lot of passion as was proved by his dispute with Sissoko, but was guilty of giving the ball away on occasions.
Parola: 6: The bald-headed schemer was busy in midfield, and his workrate never dropped until he was substituted on 79 minutes.
Cossu: 6.5: Took up some good positions in the hole in the first half, causing Juve some problems. However, he disappeared after the break.
Matri: 8: Outstanding game from the former Milan youth team player, who had at least five efforts on goal. Brought out a superb save from Buffon the first half, and an even better one from Manninger in the closing seconds of the game.
Larrivey: 5: While his strike partner Matri had an excellent game, Larrivey failed to make much of an impact and he was substituted at half time for Acquafresca.
Substitutes
Acquafresca: 6
Jeda: 6.5
Lazzari: N/A
JUVENTUS
Buffon: 7: Was struggling with injury for most of the first half, but still managed to produce a superb save from Matri on the half-hour to keep the scores level. Forced off at the break for Manninger.
Salihamidzic: 6: Not a natural right back, and it showed at times. Was oufoxed by Matri when the striker forced a fine save out of Buffon.
Chiellini: 6.5: Not the all-conquering colossus that he was against Zenit in midweek but still a steady and solid match from the Euro 2008 star.
Mellberg: 7: Mellberg's best game since arriving in Turin in the summer. Made a number of fine interceptions and blocks, and coped comfortably with Acquafresca when he came on at half time.
Molinaro: 5: Had an awful first half, in which he was caught sleeping at a quick throw-in and also played a near-suicidal ball across his box. To his credit Molinaro improved in the second half.
Marchionni: 7: It is a miracle Marchionni lasted the 90 minutes given his injury record, but the winger was involved in many of Juve's best moments. His cross led to Amauri's goal, while another ball almost led to Iaquinta grabbing a second.
Marchisio: 6: Showed some nice touches, and held his own in the middle-of-the-park, but never really imposed himself on the game.
Sissoko: 6.5: Battled well in the middle-of-the-park, and was tough in the tackle. Had a good opening to the second half until he was taken off by Ranieri just shy of the hour mark.
Nedved: 7.5: Three full games in seven days for a 36-year-old was a big ask, but he surprisingly came through with flying colours. Nedved was excellent this afternoon, particularly in the second period where he went close to doubling Juve's lead.
Iaquinta: 6.5: Never stopped running and fighting all game as he usually does, and he was involved in the action for the goal. However, the World Cup winner's finishing needs to improve.
Amauri: 8: Really starting to pay back his hefty summer transfer fee is the Brazilian. This afternoon Amauri was a beast up-front, winning absolutely everything in the air. Took his goal well, meaning that he is Juve's matchwinner for the second Serie A matchday running.
Marchetti: 6.5: Was blameless on Amauri's winner, and made a few good saves to keep the scoreline down, one in particular from Nedved.
Pisano: 5.5: Struggled against Nedved down the left, and was a little slow in reacting inside the area when Amauri struck his first half winner.
Bianco: 6: Battled valiantly against Iaquinta, and made one crucial challenge late on to stop the striker scoring. Didn't disgrace himself.
Lopez: 5.5: Lost everything in the air to Amauri, but he won't be the last defender to have this happen to him. Amauri was a real handful for the Uruguayan veteran.
Agostini: 6: Reasonably steady at left back, although he allowed Marchionni too much space to get a cross in when Amauri scored.
Biondini: 7: Lots of quantity from the red-haired schemer, and indeed he was probably Cagliari's standout player in midfield. Always involved in the action at both ends of the pitch.
Fini: 6: Showed a lot of passion as was proved by his dispute with Sissoko, but was guilty of giving the ball away on occasions.
Parola: 6: The bald-headed schemer was busy in midfield, and his workrate never dropped until he was substituted on 79 minutes.
Cossu: 6.5: Took up some good positions in the hole in the first half, causing Juve some problems. However, he disappeared after the break.
Matri: 8: Outstanding game from the former Milan youth team player, who had at least five efforts on goal. Brought out a superb save from Buffon the first half, and an even better one from Manninger in the closing seconds of the game.
Larrivey: 5: While his strike partner Matri had an excellent game, Larrivey failed to make much of an impact and he was substituted at half time for Acquafresca.
Substitutes
Acquafresca: 6
Jeda: 6.5
Lazzari: N/A
JUVENTUS
Buffon: 7: Was struggling with injury for most of the first half, but still managed to produce a superb save from Matri on the half-hour to keep the scores level. Forced off at the break for Manninger.
Salihamidzic: 6: Not a natural right back, and it showed at times. Was oufoxed by Matri when the striker forced a fine save out of Buffon.
Chiellini: 6.5: Not the all-conquering colossus that he was against Zenit in midweek but still a steady and solid match from the Euro 2008 star.
Mellberg: 7: Mellberg's best game since arriving in Turin in the summer. Made a number of fine interceptions and blocks, and coped comfortably with Acquafresca when he came on at half time.
Molinaro: 5: Had an awful first half, in which he was caught sleeping at a quick throw-in and also played a near-suicidal ball across his box. To his credit Molinaro improved in the second half.
Marchionni: 7: It is a miracle Marchionni lasted the 90 minutes given his injury record, but the winger was involved in many of Juve's best moments. His cross led to Amauri's goal, while another ball almost led to Iaquinta grabbing a second.
Marchisio: 6: Showed some nice touches, and held his own in the middle-of-the-park, but never really imposed himself on the game.
Sissoko: 6.5: Battled well in the middle-of-the-park, and was tough in the tackle. Had a good opening to the second half until he was taken off by Ranieri just shy of the hour mark.
Nedved: 7.5: Three full games in seven days for a 36-year-old was a big ask, but he surprisingly came through with flying colours. Nedved was excellent this afternoon, particularly in the second period where he went close to doubling Juve's lead.
Iaquinta: 6.5: Never stopped running and fighting all game as he usually does, and he was involved in the action for the goal. However, the World Cup winner's finishing needs to improve.
Amauri: 8: Really starting to pay back his hefty summer transfer fee is the Brazilian. This afternoon Amauri was a beast up-front, winning absolutely everything in the air. Took his goal well, meaning that he is Juve's matchwinner for the second Serie A matchday running.
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