Posts Tagged ‘Chievo’

Juventus 3-3 Chievo: Harbinger of B&W Death, Thy Name is Sergio Pellissier (Serie A Matchday 30)

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Chievo's Sergio Pellissier reacts after scoring the equalizer in the final minutes of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Chievo in Turin's Olympic Stadium, northern Italy, Sunday, April 5, 2009. The match ended 3-3. (AP Photo)

Bye bye Scudetto. Yet again.

There’s no point in denying it: seeing Juventus dig themselves out of their 2nd-place pit, and overtake Inter in a feat of extraordinary sporting grandeur, will not happen. I have ceased to believe in it. As illusory as that concept might have been for the past 2-3 months, I had continued to keep the faith: it was my duty as a Juventino. But after Sunday’s match vs. Chievo I just feel that fate is against us, and that the Serie A standings yo-yo has been going on for long enough. With 8 matches left to the end, Inter only need only 15 points to clinch their title. That’s 5 wins out of 8… you think the Nerazzurri can’t pull that off?

On the upside for Juve, the infirmary ward is slowly emptying itself: Zebina, C.Zanetti, and De Ceglie have all resumed full training and oh yes, there’s that little Ita-Argie guy. One Mr. Mauro German Camoranesi, the player the Bianconeri so crucially missed during their UCL campaign and who can change the face of a match in a flash: three (well, two and a half) assists Sunday, and 70 minutes of healthy playing time. It’s small potatoes, but a good way to recover from Sergio Pellissier’s hat-trick (bravo to him).

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Serie A Matchday 29 Preview: Roma and Juventus Set for Stadio Olimpico Showdown

Saturday, March 21st, 2009

Serie A Matchday 29 Preview: Roma and Juventus Set for Stadio Olimpico Showdown

It is getting close to crunch time for a few Serie A sides and if anyone wants to catch Inter Milan they’re going to have to get a run together now. Inter won’t be dropping any points this weekend unless something drastic happens though, they face bottom club Reggina at the Giuseppe Meazza and I don’t think anyone would predict anything other than a victory for the Nerazzurri. I’ve had a run through some of the key fixtures to see if I can offer any betting tips and advice along the way.

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Chievo 0-1 Roma: And Then Came the Day of Jérémy Menez… (Serie A Matchday 15)

Saturday, December 6th, 2008

They had tagged him as the next big hope of Les Bleus, the player destined to solve all of Roma’s offensive problems this season. But instead of becoming a master on the Stadio Olimpico grass, Jeremy Menez‘s expertise extended to far more humble topics, such as the type of wood on the Giallorossi bench or the colour of Francesco Totti’s favorite water bottle. So much so the player had lamentedIf I am not playing regularly, then I would rather leave the club” earlier this week, something which strongly suggested the possibility of a move during the Christmas break.

Until today.

After Chievo vs. Roma, there’s a good chance Menez revised his travel plans for January. The ex-Monaco player’s stroke of genius, which decided a contest dominated by Roma but for which the Giallorossi struggled more than they should have (due in particular, to a boatload of missed chances from close range and a Super-Sorrentino on the other end), promotes the French midfielder with full marks. Not only for his beautiful goal, but also because he was Roma’s constant source of danger and finally showcased the stuff for which the Sensi family paid good money for. Time to step into the spotlight…

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Free-Kick School is in Session, Del Piero Presiding

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008

Since the season started (and that’s not very long mind you, only a couple of months), Alessandro Del Piero captain has not scored one, or two, or even three… but five goals on set-pieces, and one more beautiful than the next. Such deadly free-kick scoring efficiency has been the trademark of very few players in football history, a rare breed in the lines of Zico, Sinisa Mihaijlovic and Juninho Pernambucano.

So, to summarize just how good ADP has been so far, here’s a nice little video I found online.

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Alessandro Del Piero, Juventus & Azzurri Legend, Turns 34

Monday, November 10th, 2008

34 years ago, on the 9th of November 1974, in a little town called Conegliano in the province of Treviso, one of the beautiful game’s greatest legends saw the light. Born of Gino and Bruna Del Piero, three decades later this wonderful footballing genius is still running on the fields of Serie A and of Europe, surprising us with his astonishing fitness level and never-empty gas tank, and delighting us many fans with his touches of magic. The delicate ball controls, the pinpoint passes, the inswinging goals (alla Del Piero), and free-kicks… these are but only a fraction of the immense repertoire of tricks this man is capable of, the true embodiment of where skills become genius, and where genius becomes legend.

And oh yes… those free-kicks. What better way to celebrate your 34th birthday than with a victory and with a goal this week-end, the set-pieces home special the Chievo supporters had to learn the hard way. Yet another masterpiece in a year that only keeps getting better.

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