Juventus - Bordeaux 1 - 1

Juventus and Bordeaux are both determined to start-off on the right footing on the debut match of this season’s Champions League. The initial minutes see the French team showing a certain aggressiveness both when it comes to fouls and actions.

On the 3rd minute Buffon saves on a dangerous Bordeaux initiative. The referee stops play for a foul in attack. One minute later Bordeaux are still on the attack but the shot is easily saved by Buffon.

The 6th minute sees a hard challenge on Iaquinta just outside the area but the referee signals to play on. Two minutes later there is a free-kick for Bordeaux but the ball sails straight into the hands of Buffon. On the 9th minute a Marchisio shots sails high over the bar. Seconds later, Bordeaux seem to be pressing on the accelerator in these initial stages of the match.

It is the 10th minute when Felipe Melo frees the Juve area from a dangerous ball. Juve are trying to create some action on the right flank first with Giovinco and then with Caceres. On the 13th minute Felipe Melo is fouled in midfield after winning a good ball. One minute later there is a good cross into the Bordeaux area deviated into corner by the defence. From the flag the ball reaches Tiago who shoots high.

On the 16th minute a Bordeaux shot from outside the area goes wide. Two minutes later Giovinco is fouled in midfield after winning a great ball. On the 20th minute Tremoulinas tries across into the Juve area but Buffon cradles the ball and seconds later a Iaquinta shot goes high.

The 22nd minute sees a good exchange with the ball reaching Iaquinta with the keeper forced to save. Three minutes later there is a free-kick for Juventus: Iaquinta takes it but the ball hits Amauri and is easily held by the keeper. Five minutes later it is Buffon who punches away following a French free-kick. On the 31st minute a good Giovinco shot is held by the keeper.

On the 33rd minute there is a corner for Bordeaux: ball reaches Diarra who shoots wide. Two minutes later, a good Caceres cross into the area sees Amauri heading but the keeper saves. There is another corner on the 37th minute: Giovinco puts the ball into the area. The ball seems about to cross the line but is cleared by Fernando.

The 44th minute sees a corner for the French side: ball headed wide by Gorcuff. The first half ends after one minute of stoppage time on 0-0.

The second half turns out to be a very exciting part of the match with Juve dominating for most of the 49 minutes. On the 2nd minute, Legrottaglie clears a dangerous ball in the area. One minute later there is a Bordeaux free-kick: Buffon first and Caceres after clear a dangerous ball.

On the 3rd minute, A Juve counter-attack sees Iaquinta losing the ball before entering the area. One minute later Buffon saves incredibly on a Gourcuff shot and a few seconds after, Bordeaux corner sees Iaquinta heading again for a flag kick. The 6th minute sees Iaquinta going past the keeper after receiving from Tiago and shoots wide from a difficult angle. A good opportunity for Juve.

The 7th minute there is a corner for Juve after a good Grosso run: Giovinco puts the ball into the area with Grosso heading wide. Two minutes later, Grosso clears on a dangerous Plasil initiative.  On the 11th minute Bordeaux are forced to change the keeper: Rame on for Carrasso.

On the 12th minute, there is a corner for Juve: Giovinco puts a low ball into the area which is cleared by the defence. Juve are showing much more initiative in this part of the match, acting very much on the flanks. One minute later, a Giovinco shot is too weak to worry the keeper. On the 14th minute there is a free-kick for Juve after a foul on Tiago: Grosso dishes out a great shot forcing the keeper to a great save. From the corner Amauri does not manage to head a good Giovinco cross.

It is the 17th minute when a powerful Marchisio shot is deviated by Iaquinta who is off-side. Two minutes later, Iaquinta receives from Cannavaro, runs entering the area and shoots straight into the net: 1-0. On the 21st minute Zebina comes on for Cannavaro. Caceres moves to the centre of the defence.

On the 22nd minute, Buffon performs a miracle on a dangerous shot. Two minutes later, Melo forces the keeper to save into corner after a fiery shot. Seconds later, Marchisio passes to Zebina whose shot is deviated into corner: Rame removes it from Amauri's head. On the 25th minute there is a corner for Juve: ball into the area but the defence clears. Seconds later, Zebina makes a good save on a dangerous counter-attack.

On the 26th minute, an Amauri shot is deviated by the defence. One minute later, there is a corner for Juve: Giovinco puts the ball into the area, Amauri heads perfectly but the keeper performs a volleyball save for a corner. The 28th minutes sees Giovinco coming off to be replaced by Camoranesi.

Juventus are struck on their best moment: on the 29th minute, Bordeaux benefit of a free-kick: ball reaches Plasil who deposits into the net from a dubious position. 1-1. Four minutes later, Caceres loses a dangerous ball forcing Buffon to save . On the 35th minute an excellent Tiago is forced to leave the field due to injury. Poulsen comes on.

On the 36th minute there is a free-kick for Juve following a foul on Amauri: ball hits the wall. Another free-kick for Juventus on the 39th minute: ball into the area cleared by the defence. One minute later, Buffon is forced to leave the area to save on Gouffran and seconds later Gourcuff from a dangerous position inside the area puts the ball high.

The 41st minute sees a good shot by Poulsen goes inches high following a cross by Zebina. Two minutes later, a Marchisio shot after a Caceres cross hits the under side of the bar. From the rebound, Poulsen shoots high.

The 43rd minute sees a free-kick for Bordeaux: Poulsen who has had a good impact on the match clears well. Two minutes later, there is a free-kick for Juve after a foul outside the area on Zebina: the Grosso shot is headed away.

The match ends in a 1-1 draw but Juventus definitely deserved more. However, considering the fact that Bordeaux are the French champions and that Juve were missing a number of important players the result can be considered satisfactory.

Champions League, Group A – 1st match day 
Turin, Stadio Olimpico
Tuesday 15th September 2009

JUVENTUS – BORDEAUX: 1-1

Goals: Iaquinta (63rd ), Plasil (76th),

JUVENTUS: Buffon; Caceres, Cannavaro (Zebina 65th), Legrottaglie, Grosso; Felipe Melo, Tiago (Poulsen 80th), Marchisio; Giovinco (Camoranesi 73rd); Iaquinta, Amauri. Reserves: Manninger, De Ceglie, Zebina, Molinaro, Poulsen, Camoranesi, Trezeguet. Coach: Ferrara.

BORDEAUX: Carrasso (Rame 56th), Chalme’, Planus, Ciani, Tremoulinas, Plasil (Gouffran 77th), Diarra, Fernando, Gourcuff, Wendel; Chamakh. Reserves: Rame, Henrique, Placente, Jussie, Gouffran, Cavenaghi, Bellion. Coach: Blanc.

Referee: Tom Henning Ovrebo
 
Yellow Cards: Ciani (65th), Giovinco (67th)