Match Centre: Juventus v AC Milan

Milan dominated throughout the match with Ronaldinho, Pirlo and Beckham igniting the Rossoneri attack. Juve failed to get into a passing rhythm although they stood strong in the midfield. Nesta’s twenty-ninth minute goal put Juventus on the back-foot as Milan searched for a second. Ronaldinho’s first goal looked to have settled the match as Juve supporters started to file out of the Stadio Olimpico in Turin. On eighty-seven minutes, Ronaldinho slotted home his second of the match, putting Milan up 3-0. The remaining Juve fans had seen enough and showed their fury by burning their match programs and flags in the upper-terraces. Milan relished the result after the final whistle parading around the smoke-filled stadium. Milan are in spell of great form as they near the Milan derby on the twenty-forth of January.

Full-Time, Juventus 0, AC Milan 3

92º- Del Piero with his best free-kick of the match, forcing Dida into a good save. Milan clear the subsequent corner.

90º - Three minutes of added time -

87º - Goal!!! Juventus 0 - 3 Milan, Beckham’s corner finds Ronaldinho with space at the back-post. The Brazilian slots the ball across goal into the bottom corner.

85º - Borriello is replaced by Huntelaar.

83º - Thiago Silva fouls Amauri thirty yards out. Del Piero’s free-kick flies high and wide. Del Piero, like most of his teammates, has not had a good outing tonight.

80º - Amauri receives a yellow card for a challenge on Nesta.

77º- Disappointed Juve supporters start to file out of the Stadio Olimpico, whilst other throw their match programs into the growing fire in the upper terraces.

71º - GOAL!!! Juventus 0 - 2 Milan, Andrea Pirlo curls in another near-post corner and Ronaldinho manages to flick the ball past Manninger and into the Juve goal.

68º - Borriello wins a corner. Pirlo’s service is headed away but Milan maintain heavy pressure.

65º - Gattuso fouls Amauri and is then substituted for Flamini. Del Piero’s long-range free-kick is powered well off target, a poor effort.

62º - Marchisio finds a yard of space forty yards out but Nesta manages to deflect the shot out for a corner. Diego’s corner is knocked out to Del Piero at the top of the box, but his volley sails over the crossbar.

60º - Juve with the first substitution of the match as Del Piero replaces Salihamidzic.

56º - The Juve fans jeer as Felipe Melo’s pass rolls out of play, but they soon resume singing as Del Piero warms-up down the touchline.

52º - Diego serves in a free-kick, the ball falls to Chiellini who attempts a overhead kick but he doesn’t get a good connection. Dida collects.

48º - Ronaldinho’s low cross finds Beckham inside the box. The Englishman tries a spectacular twisting volley but he cannot keep his effort down.

45º - The second forty-five is underway. Poulsen with powerful strike that deflects out for a corner. Chiellini nearly latches onto Diego cross from the subsequent corner.

Players start to retake the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin

Half-Time- The match has improved throughout the forty-five. At the offset neither team could manage to create much but after Nesta fortunately latched onto Pirlo’s corner in the twenty-ninth minute the play picked up as Juve searched for an equalizer, and Milan looked to double their lead. Milan was the better side in the first half but the game is wide open at the start of the second half. If Milan can continue to spread the play and utilize the wings through Ronaldinho and Beckham, they will surely have Juve on the back foot in the second half. Juve have done well in the midfield but to get an equalizer we’ll have to see more from Amauri up front. Look for Del Piero’s introduction and creative influence in the second forty-five.

45º- Thiago Silva receives the ball forty yards out. The Brazilian finds himself with time and the centre-back’s powerful effort is tipped wide by Manninger.

42º - Two awkward challenges in a matter of minutes, Nesta ends up on the wrong side of Melo’s tackle and Thiago Silva is the victim of Marchisio’s high boot.

38º - Diego swings in a back-post corner, Melo wins the ball over Ambrosini, the ball ends up at the feet of Chiellini but the big defender’s effort is saved by Manninger.

34º - The game’s tempo has really picked up after the goal as both teams push forward.

31º - Christian Poulsen is yellow-carded for a challenge from behind on Pirlo inside the centre circle.

29º - GOAL!!! Juventus 0 - 1 Milan, Pirlo curls in a near-post corner, which Felipe Melo should have cleared easy but the Brazilian missed the ball and Nesta punishes the mistake, slotting the ball into the Juve net.

28º - Milan are now dominating the play as they utilize the wings through Beckham and Ronaldinho.

25º - Beckham curls the ball in from the right, Borriello nearly latches onto the cross but Chiellini intercepts.

20º - Diego serves in a near-post corner but Nesta heads away. The ball comes back out to the Brazilian who does well to win the ball from Gattuso. The Italian midfielder goes lands hard after the challenge, he will need treatment, Diego puts the ball out of play.

17º - Both teams are struggling to link passes together, somewhat disappointing at the moment.

15º - Thiago Silva goes down as he nearly latches onto Beckham’s first corner of the match, but poor service from the English international nonetheless.

13º - Diego beats two Milan defenders on the left, the Brazilian cuts inside but his shot flies just wide of the goal.

12º Diego curls in a cross for Amauri but far too close to Dida.

9º - Ronaldinho with a late tackle on Diego. The Brazilian only barely escapes a yellow. Thiago Silva does well to head Diego’s free-kick away.

7º - The game is starting to settle a bit as Juve pass the ball around the Milan half although no clear chances materialize.

5º - Diego dribbles through the middle of the park and wins a free-kick. His service is cleared well by the Milan back-line.

3º - A rough start to the match with several tough midfield challenge. No team has been able to start a passing rhythm.

1º - And we’re underway!

Line-ups:

Juventus- -Milan