Fiorentina - Juventus 1-1

# 90°+5OH!!!! Del Piero smashes a free kick that flashes past the post!!!! Oh my that was close!! Morganti blows his whistle to end an enthralling encounter with both teams sharing the spoils in Florence.
# Action 90°+3We are in for a real grandstand finish here in Florence as Vargas gives the ball away to Amauri whose drive is parried away by Frey!!!!
# Action 90°+1Pazzini is hacked down by Legrottaglie near the corner flag and wins his side a free kick. Vargas is in no hurry to take it and his delivery is cleared out.
# Action 89°GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!! Can you believe it?? Gilardino brings la Viola back onto level terms as he chests the ball down, turns Mellberg and sends a low drive into the bottom corner!!!!
# Goal 89°GoalAlberto Gilardino
# Substitution 88°SubstitutionMauro German CamoranesiVincenzo Iaquinta
# Action 86°Fiorentina are really up against it now as they try to find a late equaliser with only ten men. Kuzmanovic tries his luck from 20 yards but his shot is blocked by Poulsen.
# Action 84°OUCH!!!! Fiipe Melo is shown a straight red as he goes in late on Poulson!!! The supporters give him a warm round of applause as he leaves the field of play.
# Yellow/Red 83°Yellow/RedFelipe Melo de Carvalho
# Action 82°Time is running out for the Viola if they are to take anything out of this match. OH!!!! Gilardino turns his marker and lets a shot go that is wide of the target!
# Action 80°Play is halted as Marchisio receives some treatment from the medical staff after falling awkwardly on his shoulder. Vargas curls a ball into the penalty area that is met by Filipe Melo but his header sails over the crossbar.
# Substitution 78°SubstitutionMarco DonadelZdravko Kuzmanovic
# Action 77°Juventus are enjoying a good spell right now as it looks like Fiorentina have run out of gas as they are showing no sense of urgency.
# Action 75°Camoranesi makes it to the byline and sends in a cross that deflects off Kroldrup and out for a corner kick. Camoranesi's delivery is met by Vargas who concedes another corner.
# Substitution 74°SubstitutionCristian MolinaroPaolo De Ceglie
# Action 73°OH!!!!! Gilardino beats Mellberg, rounds Buffon and kicks the ground instead of the ball with a gaping goal at his mercy!!!!
# Action 72°Donadel gives the ball away deep in his own territory and is forced to take Amauri down. It's Del Piero time as he stands over the ball and curls an effort wide of the goal!
# Action 70°Nedved receives the ball, turns and unleashes a curling shot that sails high and wide! The match is halted as Pazzini is treated for a gash above his eye after clashing with Mellberg.
# Action 68°Nedved commits a foul right on the edge of the penalty area. OH!!!!! Vargas stands over the ball and unleashes a drive that whizzes past the far post!!!!
# Action 66°Camoranesi barely catches Donadel and is shown a yellow card! Jovetic's delivery is straight into the Juventus wall and the chance goes begging.
# Action 64°Legrottaglie sends the ball into the stands with Gilardino breathing down his neck. Pazzini comes in for Osvaldo as Prandelli rolls the dice once more.
# Yellow Card 64°Yellow CardMauro German Camoranesi
# Substitution 63°SubstitutionPablo Daniel OsvaldoGiampaolo Pazzini
# Action 62°Juventus have ten men behind the ball at the moment as la Viola attack in waves. Vargas sends in a ball to the back post but it's too far for Santana to play across the face of goal and the chance is wasted.
# Action 60°Gilardino is caught offside as he tries to jumps with Legrottaglie to win the ball. OH!!! Jovetic finds some space on the left flank and sends in a tantalizing cross that Santana heads down to the ground but Buffon makes the save.
# Action 58°OH!!!!! Buffon beats Gilardino to the ball by punching it away after some good work by Santana on the left flank! It's all Fiorentina at the moment and for the first time tonight Juventus are on the back foot.
# Action 56°Santana does not give up on the play and wins his side a corner kick. Vargas' delivery is poor and comes to nothing as la Viola still search for an equaliser.
# Action 54°Filipe Melo chips the ball over the top of the Juventus defence but it's just out of Zauri's reach and runs out of play. Prandelli makes the first substitution of the match taking off Almiron in favour of the Serbian starlet Jovetic.
# Substitution 54°SubstitutionSergio Bernardo AlmironStevan Jovetic
# Action 52°Fiorentina have started the better side in the second half and only time will tell if they will be rewarded for their efforts.
# Action 50°Zauri finds Almiron who flicks the ball to Gilardini but once again Legrottaglie beats him to the ball and clears the danger. Legrottaglie is having a monster game at the back so far tonight!
# Action 48°OH!!!! Almiron chips the ball forward to Gilardino but he is muscled off the ball by Legrottaglie just as he was about to test Buffon from close range!
# Action 46°Morganti gets the second half underway with Juventus holding a one goal lead over their hosts. Lets see if Prandelli makes any adjustments to get his team back into the game.
# Action 45°OH!!!!!!! Del Piero misses a glorious opportunity as he beats the offside trap and side foots the ball against the body of Frey!!! He should have scored from there!!! Morganti blows his whistle to end the first half festivities with Juventus taking a well deserved 1-0 lead courtesy of a Pavel Nedved goal in the 39th minute.
# Action 44°Juventus push forward looking to extend their lead before the halftime break but Fiorentina hit on the counterattack through Santana who cannot beat Molinaro who has been steady tonight.
# Action 42°The Artemio Franchi is rocking right now and it's the traveling Juventus fans that are making all of the noise!! OH!!!! Del Piero lays the ball off for Camoranesi whose cross is met by Amauri but his header flashes wide of the post!!!!
# Action 40°GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!!!! Grygera powers past two defenders on his way to the byline and sends a low cross that Nedved taps into an empty net!!!!!
# Goal 39°GoalPavel Nedved
# Action 38°Amauri tries to chest the ball forward to Del Piero but Donadel steps up and clears the ball away. Amauri is having a tough time so far tonight.
# Action 37°Vargas stands over the ball and whips in a curling delivery to the back post that Buffon punches out for a corner kick. The ensuing corner is too close to Buffon who makes an easy catch.
# Action 35°OH!!!! Del Piero tries his luck from 25 yards but it's straight at Frey who makes a comfortable save. Santana nutmegs Molinaro who is forced to take him down and is lucky to escape a booking.
# Action 33°Kroldrup hoists a long ball forward looking for Gilardino but Legrotaggle stands tall once more. Filipe Melo is shown a yellow card for following through on Marchisio as the intensity in the match picks up.
# Yellow Card 33°Yellow CardFelipe Melo de Carvalho
# Action 31°Sloppy play by both teams as they take turns giving the ball away cheaply. Vargas scampers up the right flank and finds Gilardino but his acrobatic overhead kick fails to trouble Buffon.
# Action 29°Another free kick for la Viola and lets see if they can improve on their set pieces. No they cannot as Santana slides the ball across the eighteen yard box for Osvaldo but Nedved easily intercepts the pass and clears the danger.
# Action 27°The pace of the match has slowed down considerably after a rash of fouls in the midfield. Still no score in Florence as Santana spins past Nedved who is forced to take him down and receives a yellow card for his troubles.
# Yellow Card 27°Yellow CardPavel Nedved
# Action 25°Osvaldo finds Zauri who in turn slips the ball to Almiron on the left flank but he cannot direct his cross past Molinaro. Fiorentina are enjoying a good spell right now but have failed to test Buffon.
# Action 23°Del Piero slips past Melo and spots Amauri who finds Nedved but his shot is blocked by Gamberini with Del Piero screaming for the ball at the far post. Osvaldo is chopped down by Grygera who is shown the first yellow card of the match.
# Yellow Card 23°Yellow CardZdenek Grygera
# Action 21°Juventus play the ball around the pitch and Amauri goes down on the edge of the area but Morganti waves for the play to continue much to the strikers dismay.
# Action 19°Legrotagglie leans all over Gilardino and concedes a free kick in a dangerous area. Vargas stands over the ball and rolls it to Donadel but he doesn't break for the ball and Juventus hit on the counterattack!
# Action 17°OH!!!! Camoranesi hits a first time ball into the area that Del Piero meets but his deflected shot falls into Frey's waiting arms. It has been a good start to the match devoid of any rash fouls that usually occur when fierce rivals clash.
# Action 15°Santana is caught offside as he tries to sneak behind the Juventus defence. Del Piero is called for a foul as he pushes Kroldrup from behind as he was chasing down the Danish defender.
# Action 13°Del Piero takes the ball down and spots Marchisio on the edge of the area and his shot fails to trouble Frey. It's end to end stuff here in Florence as Almiron unleashes a low drive that whizzes past the post!!
# Action 11°Santana runs at Molinaro and sends a cross into the area that Legrotagglie heads out but it falls to Vargas whose long distance effort sails over the crossbar.
# Action 9°OH!!!! Poulsen chips a ball over the top of the Fiorentina defence looking for Amauri and that forces Frey to scamper off his line and take the ball from Amauri's feet!
# Action 7°Both teams are showing some nerves in the early going as you would expect in a match of this magnitude. OH!!! Santana runs at the Juventus defence and sends a through ball that finds Almiron but Legrotagglie makes a vital sliding tackle!!
# Action 5°It is a sold out affair tonight with the crowd in full voice giving the match an electric atmosphere. Del Piero takes on Gamberini and sends a cross into the penalty area that finds Amauri but his header sails high and wide.
# Action 3°La Viola win an early free kick as Vargas stands over the ball but his delivery is poor and fails to trouble the Juventus defence. Nedved finds Camoranesi in space but he cannot dribble past Osvaldo who muscled him off the ball.
# Action 1°Morganti get us underway at the Artemio Franchi will Prandelli starting Osvaldo, Santana and Gilardino upfront while Ranieri counters with Amauri and Del Piero. Montolivo, Mutu and Semioli are unavailable for la Viola and same goes for Trezeguet, Chiellini and Sissoko for the Bianconeri.
# Action 0°Welcome to Goal.com’s live coverage of Serie A football. Tonight’s match comes to you from Florence where Fiorentina will lock horns with their bitter rivals Juventus in what promises to be an enthralling affair. This match should provide plenty of fireworks as it’s one of the fiercest rivalries in Italian football. Both teams harbour legitimate dreams of winning the Scudetto and the quest will begin tonight at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. This has the makings of a classic, so sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
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Artmedia - Juve 1 - 1

# 90 +2It's over. It finishes 1-1 and Juventus qualify for the Champions League group stage, while Artmedia Bratislava will continue in the Uefa Cup. The goals were scored by Fodrek with a bicycle kick and Amauri with a header, both in the first half. Thank you for following this match here on Goal.com!
90 There will be two minutes of stoppage time.
88 Ooohhh!! Great save by Buffon, who saves the result with a great reflex.
86 Juve are playing the ball around in midfield without risking anything.
# Substitution 84 SubstitutionAnderson Gonc,alves Pedro Juraj Halenar
# Substitution 83 SubstitutionNicola LegrottaglieLorenzo Ariaudo
83 Both sides make a change: Juve bring in Ariaudo for Legrottaglie, while Artmedia replace Pedro with Halenar.
82 Giovinco tries to score with a back-heel, but it's off target.
80 Second change by Artmedia: Kleber replaces Pospech.
# Substitution 80 SubstitutionZbyne(k Pospe(chKle'ber Silva do Nascimento
78 Iaquinta tries to find Amauri with a long pass, but it's inaccurate.
73 Legrottaglie tries a shot but it's a forgettable effort.
70 Double substitution by Ranieri: Giovinco replaces Nedved and Sissoko comes in for Camoranesi.
# Substitution 70 SubstitutionMauro German CamoranesiMohamed lamine Sissoko
# Substitution 70 SubstitutionPavel NedvedSebastian Giovinco
67 Kosak wins a corner kick for Artmedia, Buffon comes out confidently to grab it.
# Substitution 65 SubstitutionStanislav Velicky'Juraj Piros(ka
65 First change of the match: Piroska comes in for Obzera.
61 Now Artmedia waste an even bigger chance as Velicky puts it wide close from close on a free kick move.
60 Nedved comes close to scoring with a shot that goes just past the post!
59 Artmedia make themselves dangerous with a counterattack led by Obzera, but Velicky's shot is poor and goes well wide.
56 Dangerous header by Pospech, it goes wide of the goal.
52 Oooohhh, what a great save from Kamenar! The keeper makes a great lunge to keep out a header by Amauri.
51 Now Salata gets booked as well. The match is turning nasty.
# Yellow Card 51 Yellow CardKornel Sala'ta
# Yellow Card 49 Yellow CardClaudio Marchisio
49 Marchisio tries a left footed shot, it's dangerous but Kamenar keeps it out.
49 Marchisio gets booked for a foul.
46 The second half has started. No changes in either side.
45 Fodrek takes a curling free kick, but it's an easy save for Buffon.
45 The first half finishes 1-1. It's been an interesting first half, in which Artmedia opened the score following a strong start by Juventus. However, it did not take long for the visitors to equalise, and the outcome of this tie cannot be in doubt. See you back in 15 minutes for the second half...
43 Camoranesi gets booked for foul play.
# Yellow Card 43 Yellow CardMauro German Camoranesi
40 It's a very balanced match at the moment, and both teams are struggling to enter the opposition's penalty area.
37 Pospech finds space for a left-footed shot, but it's wide.
34 The rhythm has slowed down a bit after Juve's equaliser.
31 Kamenar rushes off his goal to take the ball away from Amauri.
29 Marchisio sends in a good low cross, Amauri can't quite get to it from close range.
28 Juve are continuing to pour forward after the equaliser.
25 GOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! And Juve have their equaliser!! Any doubts on this tie are canceled out as Amauri heads in a cross by Nedved. Artmedia would now need to win 6-1 to go through.
# Goal 25 GoalCarvalho de Oliveira Amauri
23 Another fine clearence by Legrottaglie, who back-heels away a cross from the right.
20 Nice move by Pedro, his final shot is off target though.
17 Camoranesi finds Iaquinta with a fine long pass, but the striker can't convert. The Argentinean has started the game very well.
15 And now Amauri hits the post with a header! What a start to this match! Juve almost found an immediate equaliser.
13 GOOOAAAALLLL!!! Artmedia open the score with an incredible goal! Fodrek finds the net with a brilliant bicycle kick!
# Goal 13 GoalBranislav Fodrek
11 Another dangerous free kick from Camoranesi, Legrottaglie's header goes over the bar though.
8 Dangerous chance for Juve on the counterattack, but Iaquinta's control is poor and the ball is lost.
5 Legrottaglie makes an excellent sliding clearence on Pospech.
4 You wouldn't say Juve have a 4-0 lead in this start of the match. The Bianconeri have started very aggressively.
3 Camoranesi sends in a free kick from the right, Iaquinta doesn't get to it with his head.
1 The match has started, Artmedia have the first touch.
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Falque Silva Yago signs 4 year-contract with Juventus

Juventus Football Club have acquired from FC Barcelona the multi-year rights to footballer Silva Yago's sporting performances, agreeing to a four-year contract with the player, valid until June 30th 2012.

Yago, a wide left midfielder, was born on January 4th 1990 in Vigo and is a regular in the Spanish Under-19 side.

The player underwent his medical today and then signed the contract at the Club's headquarters. Yago expressed his satisfaction for the deal: «I'm happy to have the chance to join a prestigious Club such as Juventus. I'm excited about the idea of being able to train with huge stars and I can't wait to begin. I hope I can make myself useful and show my skills. I wish to thank Claudio Ranieri for the praise he bestowed on me and I’m committed to honouring his expectations».

Alessio Secco – speaking to Juventus Channel – wanted to express his satisfaction for the transfer: «Yago is a very promising youth; we'd been following him for some time. He will need to get stronger and he'll be playing with the Youth Team. This signing confirms Juventus' regard for younger players».

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UCL Juventus - Artmedia 4-0

Mauro German Camoranesi (16') - Alessandro Del Piero (26') - Giorgio Chiellini (39') - Nicola Legrottaglie (90')
90'+3 Vassaras blows the final whistle and puts Artmedia out of their misery! Juventus return to the Champions League with a bang. A straightforward and convincing win for the Old Lady. Kamenar, who named his dog after Buffon, rushes over to his idol to swap shirts. The Serie A giants take a commanding lead to the second leg in Bratislava and barring a disaster, they should be safely on their way to the group stage. Final score... Juventus-4 Artmedia Petrzalka-0.
90' Goal Legrottaglie N.
90' Three minutes of time will be added on. AMAURI ALMOST MAKES IT FIVE!! Kamenar spills Iaquinta's low drive and Amauri dashes in for the rebound but balloons his shot!
89' LEGROTTAGLIE MAKES IT 4-0!! A simple downward header from a Camoranesi cross and Juventus wrap up the first leg in style!
87' TREZEGUETTTT... MISSES THE TARGET AGAIN!! Poulsen chipped in a gorgeous vertical through ball for the Frenchman, who chested it down deftly but crashes the half volley wide off the mark!
85' Freekick for Artmedia just outside the box. Kozak strikes it but it smacks straight into the wall. Iaquinta can break now!! He plays a one two with Trez but he couldn't hold on to possesion after receiving the return pass!
83' Substitution Pospěch Z. Oravec T.
82' And that will be Pospech's last contirbution as Oravec comes in to replace him. Iaquinta is released quickly down the other end and he dinks a lovely cross to Trezeguet who couldn't quite jump high enough to get a decent purchase on his header!
80' La Vecchia Signora are enjoying 60% of the possession. But Artmedia come forward now. Pospech slips Glever into the box but he is no match for Legrottaglie and Chiellini.
78' Camoranesi finds Trezeguet... TREZ IS IN TO THE BOX... turns his marker Fodrek but hesitates the shot and Fodrek recovers to nip the ball away from the Frenchman's feet!! A little bit of rustiness there by Trez!
77' Substitution Del Piero A. Amauri C.
76' Freekick for Juve. Cisovsky clatters into the back of Iaquinta. Iaquinta will take it himself from 20 yarads out... Iaquinta lashes in a ferocious shot but it fails to clear the wall.
74' Amauri gets a first touch as he tries to nutmeg Kozak, but the Artmedia midfielder held his ground to as Amauri runs into him before he brings the ball clear to the Juve half.
72' Alex gets a standing ovation as Ranieri withdraws him. Amauri will come in to take over his place.
70' The tempo of the game has died down a bit. Juve looking to slow things down now with the first leg sealed in the bag. They'll be looking to save some legs for the return tie next week.
68' Artmedia makes another switch as Weiss sends in Glever to replace Halenar, the Engerau's best player on the night without doubt.
66' The 27,000+ fans are certainly enjoying themselves. Their first glimpse of Champions League football in three years and they are enjoying returning to the big stage.
64' Buffon beats Halenar in a foot race as the veteran custodian charges off his line to clear the ball out! That's the most alert he's had to be all night!
62' IAQUINTAAA... drills in a shot from outside but it shades the wrong side of the post and trickles out!! Seconds later, Trezeguet slams a half volley down to the ground and he watches it sail JUST wide!!
60' Poulsen arrows a sumptuous 30 yard through ball to Molinaro down the left but the young leftback's cross fails to find a teammate in a gold shirt... Juve's new away strip.
57' Iaquinta responses as he darts down his left flank and Obzera is forced into defensive duties as he takes down the Italian cynically! Lucky to escape with only a yellow. That was a tackle from behind and a professional foul!
55' Obzera powers down the left flank... STILL OBZERA... beats Sissoko and Salihadmizic on the run but his last touch was just too heavy as he took it all the way to the byline and his cut back was easily smothered by Buffon.
52' TREZEGUETTTT... pummels the ball into the back of the net from close range but it has been ruled out! It was Camoranesi's cut back but the ball was deemed to have already gone out of play. A very tight call from the linesman.
50' DEL PIEROOOOO.... rifles a fierce left footer from the edge of the box but it flies JUST over this time! It was from the same distance where he scored the second goal but not as accurate with his left foot this time!
49' POULSEN HAMMERS IN A HALF VOLLEY.... but Kamenar does superbly to fist it away one handed!! Great effort by the Dane to even keep it down but an equally stunning save!
47' Obzera has been brought on to replace Piroska, who did not play too badly in the first half it has to be said.
46' We are back for the second period. Ranieri has kept with the same starting eleven for the resumption but Vladimir Weiss has made a change for the visitors. Juventus will kick off the restart!
46' Substitution Piroška J. Obzera B.
15' Substitution Grygera Z. Iaquinta V.
45'+1 One minute of time will be added on... no doubt for the Grygera injury. Artmedia just starting to string a few nice passes together in the Juve half and they will have to resume that in the second period if they are to salvage anything from this tie. Vassaras blows for half time as Juventus lead 3-0 at the break.
44' HALENARRR.... gets in Artmedia's first shot on target! A low drive from the edge of the box but it did not trouble Buffon one bit.
43' Molinaro wins the ball inside his own half, slips it forward to Iaquinta and makes the overlapping run all the way to the other end. He gets it back and whips in a low cross but del Piero's glancing, diving header drifts harmlessly wide.
41' CHIELLINIIIII.... NODS HOME THE THIRD FROM A CAMORANESI FREEKICK!! Horrendous defending by the Slovaks but Chiellini used his height to great advantage to beat his marker and the advancing goalkeeper! 3-0 Juve!
40' Buffon touches the ball for what must only be the second time in the game as he easily picks up a loose ball. Artmedia yet to register a shot... let alone one on target.
39' Goal Chiellini G.
38' Sissoko battles hard to win the ball not once, not twice but three times from one side of the flank to the other. Admirable defending by the Malian.
36' Camoranesi and del Piero try to play a clever one-two but the Argentine's final through ball was just a touch too heavy for the captain. Alex acknowledges the effort, though.
33' Del Piero clips a cheeky ball towards Iaquinta, who brings it down expertly but the defender Cisovsky was there to just nip it off the Juve forward.
30' Del Piero does brilliantly to slip pass two defenders but his low cross from the right is picked up easily by Kamenar. He rushed that a little bit, did Alex.
28' Artmedia were just about starting to settle into a nice rhythm in the Juve half when del Piero struck that cracker. Juve look to be on cruise control now as the Slovaks' body language changes immediately.
26' DEL PIEROOOOOO.... THUMPS ONE RIGHT INTO THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE NET!! What a goal!! Trezeguet it was who laid it off and Alex just curls the ball home from the edge of the box with power! 2-0 Juventus.
26' Goal Del Piero A.
23' Chiellini showed great strength and pace to shrug off Pospech, who was bearing down on goal trying to latch on to a through ball. Excellent defending by the Bianconeri centreback.
20' Poulsen threads a through ball to Salihadmizic, who strikes it first time but Kamenar pushes it out around the bar!! It looked like it was going out anyway but Kamenar had to make sure.
18' Salidhamizic has moved to the right back slot, del Piero drops to a left winger role and Iaquinta will lead the attack with Trez.
16' TREZEGUETTTTT.... slides in to connect with del Piero's teasing cross but his shot just flies inches wide!!
16' Goal Camoranesi M.
15' Grygera will not continue. He looks to have picked up a head injury. Iaquinta will come in to replace the rightback. A bold move from Ranieri, it has to be said.
13' Grygera is down on the pitch injured. He looks to be in some pain as the medics come out to treat him. The ref is asking for the stretcher and a substitute is already warming up.
11' Poulsen angles a lovely throughball to Trez but the Frenchman just drifted offside. The Dane is playing just infront of the back four, Sissoko it is who is actually playing a more advance role in midfield.
9' Juventus show Artmedia just exactly how it is done to launch and score from a counter attack. The Slovaks come pouring forward now looking for an immediate reply. They win a corner.
8' Grygera... still GRYGERA... HE GOES DOWN IN THE BOX... but the ball rolls to CAMORANESIIIII who thumps the ball into the back of the next with authority!!! 1-0 Juve!
7' Artmedia tries to make a quick break down the left but Halenar's through ball for Piroska but the forward is offside.
5' Juventus are working the ball around nicely, forcing their opponents to chase shadows. Camoranesi whips in a decent cross from the right but there's no one at the other end to connect with it.
3' Juve win three corners in succession: the first two were cleared by the Artmedia defence, the third sees del Piero head just over the bar at the near post. Good early pressure from the Old Lady.
1' Referee tonight is Greece's Kyros Vassaras and Artmedia will get us underway!! And the visitors go on the offensive straight away and wins an early freekick off Salidhamizic.
0' Claudio Ranieri will line up with Buffon in goal, Legrottaglie and Chiellini at the heart of defence, Sissoko and Poulsen will from the double pivot in midfield, Camoranesi on the right flank, Salidhamizic on the left and the usual suspect of del Piero and Trezeguet in attack.
0 Welcome to Goal.com’s live coverage of the Champions League. A new season of European club football is upon us as the continent’s big guns take to the field for the third and final qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. We’re in Turin’s Stadio Olimpico this evening as Serie A giants Juventus play host to Slovakian side, Artmedia Petrzalka.

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Manninger joins Juventus

As of today, Juventus have added another keeper to their squad: Alexander Manninger. The Austrian was purchased in full from Udinese and has signed a four-year contract.
Manninger immediately reached London this morning (thanks to Udinese granting him permission to do so before the contract was finalized), where he trained with his new team mates and worked with goalkeeping coach Giorgio Pellizzaro. His first words as a Juventus player were full of enthusiasm: «I'm very happy to be at Juve and this is not just something hackneyed to say, I really mean it. Football matters here. I have played a lot in smaller teams, but years ago I played for Arsenal and I’ve always wanted to play for a big team again».

The fact he'll have a legend in front of him such as Gigi Buffon doesn't bother him, in fact it motivates him: «We all know how good Gigi is and his role inside this team. It's true only one keeper can play at a time, but it's also true that in today's football a squad needs at least twenty-five players and one keeper isn't enough, indeed there are 3 of us at Juve. I'm ready to lend a hand if needed».

Manninger is an experienced goalkeeper (born in 1977), who has played all around Europe. He started out in his own country, Austria: BNZ Salzburg, the team he grew up in, then Vorwarts Steyr, Austria Salzburg and Grazer, where he blossomed. Arsenal were keeping an eye on him and were impressed enough to sign him up thanks also to his performances in the UEFA Cup that year. He stayed four seasons in London (from 1997 to 2001), where he was David Seaman's reserve, but he managed to make around forty appearances.

In 2001 he began his Italian period, when he was signed up by Fiorentina. After a short spell at Espanyol Barcelona, he came back to Italy again, first at Bologna and then Torino.

In 2004 he joined the club where he would leave his mark the most: Siena. Apart from a short spell back at Austria Salzburg (managed by Giovanni Trapattoni at the time), he stayed at Siena until this summer, when he was purchased by Udinese. Manninger has been in the Austrian national team for several years. He was also in the squad at the recent European Championships.

Refer: Juventus.com

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