Juve Humiliatingly Held By BATE

Claud · Sep 30, 2008

BATE Borisov 2-2 Juventus

Juventus fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with BATE Borisov in a thrilling Champions League Group H game. However, questions will certainly be asked of coach Claudio Ranieri following a simply dismal performance against the Belarus minnows.

BATE put up a brave fight in their defeat at Real Madrid in matchday one, only losing 2-0. The minnows came into this game without Anri Kahgush, who was suspended after seeing red at the Santiago Bernabeu. They were also without expereinced midfielder Aleksandr Ermakovich.

Juventus' list of absentees is really piling up now, and Jorge Andrade, Cristiano Zanetti, David Trezeguet, Jonathan Zebina, Christian Poulsen, and Gianluigi Buffon were all unavailable for selection. The Bianconeri, who defeated Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 a fortnight ago, fielded the goalscorer from that game Alessandro Del Piero up-front alongside Vincenzo Iaquinta. Sebastian Giovinco was also handed his second start of the season.

First Half
BATE made a strong start and Sergei Krivets raced through on goal in the second minute, but Mauro Camoranesi darted back to make a crucial last gasp tackle.

Juve launched a counter-attack, and Paolo De Ceglie crossed for Del Piero, who headed weakly wide. However, aside from this Juve could barely get out of their own half in the opening stages, as the home side launched wave after wave of attack.

Vitaly Kazantev was looking very lively and he unleashed a 25 yard shot that fizzed over the bar. A goal was on the cards and on 17 minutes it arrived. Kryvets was played through on goal, and he rounded Alex Manninger delightfully, and slotted the ball into the empty net.

The Juve defence had been an absolute shambles in the first 20 minutes, and Claudio Ranieri was forced into a change, bringing on Dario Knezevic for the injured Nicola Legrottaglie.

BATE were absolutely rampant, and after going close with a free kick, they went 2-0 ahead on 23 minutes. A cross from the left found Igor Stasevich completely unmarked at the back post, and he steered his header back past Manninger and into the far corner.

Juve tried to react, and Del Piero shot wide from outside the area, before forcing Veremko into a fine tip over the bar with a free kick from the edge of the box.

On 28 minutes the Old Lady got back into the game, as Iaquinta produced a bullet header into the top corner from a right wing cross from Giovinco.

Juve were now a little more settled, and Del Piero fired over the bar, before Iaquinta forced a save out of Veremko with another header, this time from a Camoranesi cross.

However, Ranieri's men were still terribly disjointed, and only an alert Manninger racing off his line prevented BATE another great chance as Rodionov raced through. Chiellini was then forced into a key intervention as Rodionov prepared to lash the ball home inside the area. BATE then wasted another fantastic opening as Kryvets selfishly opted to shoot in a three-on-two situation.

In the 45th minute though, Juve's only bright player of the first half, Giovinco, went on a fine run, and threaded through an inch perfect through pass to Nedved, who was denied by the goalkeeper.

Giovinco then embarked on another rampaging run in injury time, and put Iaquinta clean on goal with another inspired pass. The striker finished clinically through the legs of Veremko, and Juve were now back on level terms.

Second Half

Juventus' centre midfield had been overrun in the first half, and this prompted Ranieri to make a change, bringing on Claudio Marchisio for Camoranesi.

BATE had the first attempt of the second period as Volodko smashed the ball over the bar from 25 yards. Stasevich then also failed to keep his effort down, this time from a free kick.

On 52 minutes BATE missed a great chance to regain the lead as Stasevic got behind De Ceglie on the right, and cut the ball back for Likhtarovic just 10 yards out, but he got his connection all wrong, and Juve escaped.

A few minutes later BATE were inches away from getting that deserved goal as a cross from the left was met by the head of Volodko, and it flew centimetres wide of the post with Manninger completely beaten.

BATE were dominant once again, but Juve threatened twice on the counter attack, first with Nedved's long shot that was pushed away by Veremko, and then Del Piero who flicked an effort wide.

Sissoko, who was having what can only be described as a shocker, tried his luck from outside the area, but his shot was deflected over the bar.

Juve began to improve midway through the half, and Nedved lashed the ball dangerously wide from outside the area. Giovinco then did some great work in getting the ball to Del Piero, but the captain selfishly snubbed him in order to shoot, when a pass would have put the starlet through.

The two players linked up again on 70 minutes, which ended with Del Piero firing inches wide from 20 yards. BATE then threatened down the other end, and only a poor final ball prevented Rodionov having a chance.

With less than 10 minutes remaining Ranieri played his final hand, as Amauri was brought on for Iaquinta. Amauri immediately got involved and crossed for Nedved, who headed wide.

Juve pushed everyone forward in the closing minutes looking for a winner, and Chiellini attempted a bicycle kick which went straight at Veremko. Down the other end Rodinov tested Manninger from distance.

The game finished at 2-2, and Claudio Ranieri will now face a grilling following a simply dismal performance from his side. BATE meanwhile can celebrate one of the most famous results in their history.

Teams
BATE: Veremko, Yurevic, Sosnovsky, Rzhevski, Kazantzev, Likhtarovic (Sivakov 69), Volodko, Stasevich, Kryvets, Nekhaychik (Mirchev 85), Rodionov (Pecha 90)

Juventus: Manninger, Grygera, Chiellini, Legrottaglie (Knezevic 19), De Ceglie, Nedved, Camoranesi (Marchisio 46), Sissoko, Giovinco, Del Piero, Iaquinta (Amauri 81)
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Juve Humiliatingly Held By BATE

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