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Maccabi Haifa v Juventus [ 0 - 1 ]
UEFA Champions League 2009/10 Game 4 - 03/11/09 (19.45 UK)
[Report by Football Italia] [Highlights at bottom of page]

Scorers: Camoranesi 45 (J)

 

Mauro Camoranesi's lone strike gave Juventus a second consecutive Champions League victory away to Maccabi Haifa. Bordeaux have already qualified, so it's a battle between Juve and Bayern Munich.

The Bianconeri hoped to repeat their 1-0 win in Turin over this side, but made big changes after a 3-2 home defeat to Napoli at the weekend. Fabio Cannavaro was rested and Sebastian Giovinco a late addition to the injury list with a muscular problems, so Tiago Mendes took the left flank in the 4-2-3-1 system. Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alessandro Del Piero, Momo Sissoko, Jonathan Zebina, Claudio Marchisio and Hasan Salihamidzic are sidelined. Maccabi Haifa have Tiago Dutra and Baram Kayal suspended, plus Eyal Golasa injured, but Yaniv Katan returned.

Diego forced Nir Davidovitch into a save after five minutes at the near post when he skipped past two defenders to the edge of the box. Moments later Amauri sprung the offside trap on a Felipe Melo ball over the top to go clear, but fired straight at the goalkeeper from point-blank range.

Diego's free kick was palmed round the upright, but there was a risk when Nicola Legrottaglie's backpass was almost intercepted.

Juventus had the initiative, but struggled to create chances. In fact, Gigi Buffon needed an absolutely spectacular save on 29 minutes to deny Maccabi the opener. It was a defensive howler, as Dvalishvili knocked down a corner for the totally unmarked Keinan from five yards, but somehow Buffon stuck up a hand to block the chip when it was already behind him!

Davidovich pushed an Amauri effort round the near post after Diego's assist, but Felipe Melo and Culma were both booked for an unseemly scuffle when the ball was still in play.

Martin Caceres came sliding in to block a Dvalishvili strike from the edge of the box.

Camoranesi finally broke the deadlock in first half stoppages. A ball ver the top found Caceres and he pulled back to the penalty spot for Camo to come sliding in with the volley, but it beat the goalkeeper thanks to a decisive deflection. The World Cup winner was playing with a large bandage after needing four stitches to his forehead on Saturday. It was his first Champions League goal in five years since beating another Israeli side, Maccabi Tel Aviv, on September 28 2004.

Amauri thought he had made it 2-0 when he was at full stretch to flick a Diego free kick into the net, but it was correctly ruled offside nine minutes into the second half.

Paolo De Ceglie replaced Tiago to take the left flank of the supporting trident, even though he is usually a left-back. Diego slalomed past Osman to drill inches wide of the target.

Refaelov went close on 77 minutes when a cross-shot was whipped past the near post with Maccabi players Arbeitman and Ghadir unable to make the final contact. A touch would've been enough to steer it into the net.

Maccabi haven't scored yet in the Champions League, but Buffon had to rush off his line to clear a through ball for Ghadir. David Trezeguet came on for Amauri in the closing stages.

Bordeaux have already qualified for the next phase, having beaten Bayern Munich 2-0 in Germany, so only one spot remains.

 

Maccabi Haifa: Davidovitch, Meshumar, Keinan, Teixeira, Masilela; Culma (Ghadir 46), Arbeitman, Boccoli (Zaguri 71); Katan, Dvalishvili (Refaelov 56), Osman

Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso; Felipe Melo, Poulsen; Camoranesi, Diego, Tiago (De Ceglie 60); Amauri (Trezeguet 83)

Ref: Hauge (Nor)

 
Match Highlights
 
 
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