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The first forty-five minutes were rather tactical nonetheless however producing two goals: one for each side. On the 4th minute Molinaro wins a good ball and passes to Nedved but the ball is too long.
Most of the action is taking place in the midfield with the two teams seeming to be in a study phase, however in the 8th minute Lazio attack and enter the area but the Juventus defence manages to defend well. Three minutes later there is a dangerous cross into the Juventus area but Molinaro manages to head the ball to corner. In the action that follows
Legrottaglie clears a dangerous ball in the area.
The first quarter of an hour sees Lazio taking most of the initiative but in the 13th minute Juventus are awarded a free-kick. The ball reaches Amauri in the area but the Lazio defence manages to clear. Two minutes later Zarate enters dangerously into the Juventus area but the defence manages to clear with some difficulty. On the 19th minute Ledesma tries his luck from a rather long distance but the shot is rather slow and central and Manninger has no difficulty in cradling the ball.
On the 22nd minute Del Piero puts a good ball into the area but Nedved is not fast enough and the ball goes beyond the line. One minute later Legrottaglie clears a very dangerous ball in the Juventus area.
The home team is dictating its game and in the 24th the biancocelesti are awarded a free-kick. Ledesma takes the kick and puts the ball behind Manninger making the score 1-0. Juventus are still trying to digest the goal conceded when barely a minute later Lazio go close to scoring their second goal but Manninger manages to save.
The bianconeri have shown their determination before and begin to react. On the 26th minute there is a free-kick for Juventus from a rather long distance. Alex Del Piero puts the ball into the area but the Lazio defence clears. Three minutes later however Juventus win a corner. The ball enters the area and Mellberg heads home to equalize. This is the first goal of the Swedish defender in the Serie A since his arrival at the beginning of the season.
The minutes which follow see a number of actions in mid-field but on the 35th minute Nedved enters the area and is fouled but does not fall. This could have been a penalty. One minute later there is a good cross into the Lazio area: Marchionni enters but the ball goes high.
In the 39th minute Marchionni puts a dangerous ball into the area with the Lazio defence resorting to a corner. The rest of the half does not see much happening and the referee sends the teams to rest after two minutes of stoppage time.
The second half is a totally different story with both teams fighting hard for possession and trying to have their say. Juventus however, take most of the initiative. On the 4th minute Sissoko with a great run, enters the Lazio area and shoots with the goalkeeper saving with some difficulty. One minute later Marchionni shoots at goal from outside the area but the goalkeeper cradles the ball.
Juventus are piling up the pressure and on the 8th minute Amauri is grounded inside the area but the referee says to play on. Seconds later it is once again Amauri who heads high following a good cross into the area.
Lazio react and in the 10th minute Zarate fires a powerful shot from outside the area with the ball going wide. Four minutes later there is a free-kick for Juventus taken by Marchionni. The ball is put into the area with Mellberg trying to repeat his feat but the ball goes wide. In the 18th minute there is a dangerous movement by Rocchi in the Juve area but the defence manages to clear.
The match is much more interesting now with both teams playing much better football then in the first half. On the 20th minute Zanetti tries a shot from outside the area. The ball is deviated and ends up in a corner. From the corner the ball is headed wide by Legrottaglie. Three minutes later Nedved puts a good ball through for Del Piero but the captain is anticipated.
The 25th minute sees the first substitution for Juventus with Marchisio coming on for Zanetti. Three minutes later Amauri is stopped just outside the area by an obstruction but the referee does not order a foul. Seconds later the freshest man on the pitch, Marchisio,
tries a shot from some distance but the ball goes high.
The 30th minute sees Zarate in a dangerous run with Molinaro managing to win some time before the Lazio player luckily slips. Two minutes later its Manninger who saves a dangerous ball.
On the 35th minute Giovinco comes on for Del Piero and two minutes later it is the atomic ant who on the run passes to Marchionni who puts the ball into the area for Amauri who in turn sees his header being deviated by a defender. On the 40th minute Juventus have perhaps the best chance to go ahead: Legrottaglie hits the post after a great shot at goal from outside the area.
On the 42nd minute De Silvestri puts a dangerous ball into the area but Mellberg clears. Two minutes later there is a free-kick for Juventus taken by Giovinco. The ball is in the area but the Lazio defence puts the ball into corner. The last chance of the match is for Lazio with Rocchi missing a golden opportunity.
Serie A 2008/09 19th Day
Rome, Stadio Olimpico
Sunday 18th January 2009
LAZIO – JUVENTUS: 1-1
Scorers: Ledesma (25th), Mellberg (30th),
LAZIO: Carrizo; Lichtsteiner, Diakite, Rozenhal, Radu; Dabo (De Silvestri 70th), Ledesma, Meghni (Brocchi 62nd); Pandev, Rocchi, Zarate (Foggia 77th). Reserves: Muslera, Cribari, De Silvestri, Firmani, Mauri, Brocchi, Foggia. Coach: Rossi.
JUVENTUS: Manninger; Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Ariaudo, Molinaro; Marchionni, Sissoko, Zanetti (Marchisio 70th), Nedved; Del Piero (Giovinco 80th), Amauri. Reserves: Chimenti, De Ceglie, Marchisio, Poulsen, Tiago, Ekdal, Giovinco. Coach: Ranieri.
Referee: Morganti
Yellow Card: Dabo (41st), Del Piero (57th), Molinaro (66th), (Radu 75th), Sissoko (81st), Ledesma (84th), Brocchi (88th),
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