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Lazio logo
Serie A
Jan 25, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Juventus logo

1-1

Candreva (27' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-0)
Llorente (60')

Live Commentary: Lazio 1-1 Juventus - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's text commentary of the Serie A match between Lazio and Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
2

Lazio hosted Juventus in their Serie A clash at the Stadio Olimpico.

The home side took the lead in the first half, through a Antonio Candreva penalty, after Gianluigi Buffon was sent off.

On the hour-mark, the visitors eqaulised, as Fernando Llorente headed in Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross to earn his side a point.

Read how the action unfolded below.


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Good evening and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the Serie A match between Lazio and Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico.

Juventus have been in stunning form this season, and are on a club record run of 12 consecutive wins in Serie A. They hold an eight point lead over Roma at the top of the table, and can increase their lead even further with three points this evening.

The hosts have had a shaky start to the season in the league, but since Edoardo Reja has taken charge as manager, they have won three of their past four games, and will be confident of causing an upset against Juve.

LAZIO XI: Berisha, Biava, Cana, Dias, Cavanda, Ledesma, Biglia, Konko, Candreva, Hernanes, Klose

JUVENTUS XI: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba, Asamoah, Tevez, Llorente

LAZIO SUBS: Marchetti, Strakosha, Pereirinha, Novaretti, Ciani, Crecco, Vinìcius, Gonzalez, Felipe Anderson, Floccari, Keita, Perea

Storari, Rubinho, Isla, Caceres, Peluso, Padoin, Pepe, Pirlo, Giovinco, Quagliarella

TEAM NEWS: Andrea Pirlo is rested for the visitors, while Angelo Ogbonna comes in for the suspended Giorgio Chiellini. Gianluigi Buffon, Paul Pogba, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente, and Kwadwo Asamoah all return to the side after being rested in midweek. Hernanes returns to the starting lineup after his winning goal against Udinese last weekend, while Etrit Berisha continues in goal for the ill Federico Marchetti.

Juventus have not lost to Lazio in the league since 2003 and have won six of the last eight meetings between the sides. When they met earlier this season at the Juventus Stadium, the home side ran out 4-1 winners, with a double from Arturo Vidal and further strikes from Mirko Vucinic and Carlos Tevez sealing the victory.

Lazio will take hope from the fact that Juve lost in midweek to their city rivals at the Stadio Olimpico. A late goal from Gervinho was enough to send Roma through to the last four of the Coppa Italia at the Bianconeri's expense, and end their hopes of a trophy treble.

PREDICTION: Juventus were understrength during their defeat against Roma and should return to winning ways with a strong lineup selected tonight. Their form in Serie A has been incredible, and while a rejuvenated Lazio side will be optimistic of their chances in this match, I feel the visitors will have far too much going forward to be kept out. I think the away team will edge this match 2-1.

We are just a few minutes away from kick off in Rome.

The players make their way out onto the pitch and the pre-match formalities are taking place.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadio Olimpico!

We haven't seen much in the way of goalscoring opportunities so far this evening. Both teams are yet to settle into a rhythm, while the first strike on goal from Marchisio goes high over the bar.

The two sides have been poor in possession, and are giving the ball away cheaply in midfield. We have also seen some poor touches from players of a very high technical calibre.

Vidal tries to get his side going, by attempting an audacious half volley from the left hand side of the box, but his strike heads over the bar.

Juventus are beginning to keep hold of the ball better and are starting to see a lot of possession. They don't seem to be in much of a hurry to get forward, as they look to play the ball around in the centre of the pitch.

CHANCE! Buffon has almost gifted the hosts the lead! The ball is played back to the keeper, and as he tries to take it past Klose, the striker gets a tackle in and sees his attempt go just wide of the post. That was a big escape for Juventus, and Buffon will be the most relived man on the pitch.

The visitors have started to push Lazio further and further back as they aim to put them under pressure in the final third.

Tevez takes a corner short to Asamoah, and he cuts inside before rifling in a drive across goal, that flashes just wide of the far post.

Asamoah's shot was adjudged to have taken a deflection and from the resulting corner, Berisha in the Lazio goal punches clear. That could be a weak link Juventus will want to exploit, as the keeper seems like he wants to rush out and get his gloves on everything.

Hernanes slides a wonderful pass into the box that Konko tries to get onto, but Buffon is quickly out to claim the ball.

RED CARD AND PENALTY! Buffon has been sent off Juventus! The ball is fed through to Klose, and the German takes a touch, before being clattered by the keeper. Juventus feel that the ball was heading away from goal, but there can be no arguments that Buffon was the last man.

SUBSTITUTION: Asamoah has been sacrificed for Juventus, with Storari coming on to take Buffon's place in goal.

GOAL! Lazio 1-0 Juventus (Candreva)

Candreva makes no mistake from the spot, and slots the ball into the bottom left hand corner, sending the keeper the wrong way. Juventus will have to come from behind with 10 men if they are to keep their winning run going.

Juventus have responded well to going behind, and are keeping the ball well, but they look incredibly exposed at the back when their attacks break down, with Lazio's forwards eager to exploit them on the counter-attack.

Tevez bursts forward and goes down right on the edge of the box, but the referee feels that there was not much in the challenge and waves play on, with the striker furious.

CHANCE! Juventus have their best chance of the match, as the ball is whipped into the middle to Llorente, who takes a touch, before spinning and firing a low strike that Berisha does well to push away. Tevez comes in to follow it in, but the keeper is up quickly to gather in the loose ball.

At first glance, you would think that Lazio are the team with 10 men, as Juve have kept the ball well and are passing it around confidently. If the home side don't manage to take three points this evening they will surely rue the huge chance they have been given.

There haven't been many goalscoring opportunities in the first half, but Lazio look so dangerous when they come forward. The Juventus defence seem to be keeping a high line, which of course led to the opening goal and Buffon's red card.

Lazio are ending the half strongly and are keeping possession of the ball inside the Juventus half.

We are going to have two minutes of added time.

Lazio feel that they should have another penalty as the ball is whipped into the box, and it looks to hit the outstretched arm of Bonucci.

HALF TIME: Lazio 1-0 Juventus

After 45 minutes of this evening's Serie A clash, Lazio have a 1-0 lead over league leaders Juventus. Buffon's sending off has been the crucial turning point, and Candreva's goal is what separates the sides. Despite being down to 10 men the visitors are not out of this game and will fancy their chances of a goal in the second half.

Juventus had the majority of the ball in the first half, having gained 61% of the possession. They haven't done an awful lot with it though and have only managed to have four attempts on goal, with just one of those hitting the target. Aside from the goal Lazio haven't threatened much either, and have had three strikes on the Juventus goal.

Antonio Conte may be thinking of making a change at the break, but has only two substitutions left, having already brought on Storari to play in goal. Andrea Pirlo is one man that can always make the difference, while Quagliarella and Giovinco are forward based players that could be introduced.

The players are out on the pitch and the second half is about to get underway.

Lazio take the kick off and get the second half started.

Juventus have begun the second half how they ended the first, and are seeing plenty of the ball. There is more urgency in their play as they quickly work their way deep into the Lazio half, but are unable to pick out Llorente who is well marked inside the box.

The visitors will have a chance to get a number of players into the box, after Pogba bursts to the touchline and forces a free kick.

Tevez whips in the set piece, but Ledesma holds firm in the box to head behind for a corner.

From the resulting corner, Tevez takes it short before getting the return pass, and then curls the ball into the box, but Berisha does well to come and claim.

There is a real battle going on in the midfield, with Pogba and Cavanda both fighting each other for the ball. While there have been some tough tackles, it has been a clean contest, with the players always going for the ball.

Juventus show a glimpse of what they can do, as they break at pace, with Vidal leading the attack. He tries to slide it into Llorente on the edge of the box, but Lazio manage to get enough players back and cut out the danger.

YELLOW CARD! Biava picks up the first booking for the home side after a foul on Tevez.

Lazio try to increase the pressure and win the ball in midfield, before finding Candreva, who lashes a strike just over the bar from the right hand side of the box.

GOAL! Lazio 1-1 Juventus (Llorente)

You can't keep a good team down! The visitors are level, and it's a wonderful finish. Tevez slides Lichtsteiner in down the right, and his cross is met by the head of Llorente, who brilliantly loops it over the keeper and into the back of the net. That was a moment of class from the Spaniard, who has got his team right back into this game.

CHANCE! Juventus come close to grabbing a quick second! Vidal slips the ball to Tevez on the edge of the box, and he takes it in his stride, before firing in an effort, that Berisha pushes wide at his near post.

CHANCE! Almost immediately Lazio come down the other end, and Hernanes sees his low effort from the edge of the box curl just wide of the goal, with Klose inches away from latching onto it.

SUBSTITUTION: Lazio make their first change of the night, with Gonzalez replacing Cavanda.

There is concern for Lazio, as Dias is down on the pitch and receiving treatment. He appeared to catch his knee after a challenge and they will hope it is nothing too serious.

Juve look dangerous every time they come forward, and the ball is worked to Vidal, who is 25 yards out from goal. He takes a touch to set himself, but ends up firing his effort high over the bar.

CHANCE! Hernanes shows great skill to work his way into the Juventus half, before finding Candreva. The winger takes a touch and gets the ball onto his left foot, but drags his shot wide of the goal from just outside the box. If Lazio are going to win this game, they will have to do better in those positions.

The visitors launch a long ball forward that Llorente does well to bring under his control. He can't get a shot away, but manages to find Tevez, who sees his fierce effort blocked before it can trouble the keeper.

SAVE! What a save! Lazio have a free kick on the right, that Ledesma whips into middle. Klose meets it with a thumping header, that looks destined for the net, but Berisha somehow manages to push it onto the bar. That was some stop from the replacement keeper.

YELLOW CARD! Bonucci is booked for Juventus, after dragging down Candreva, with the winger running through down the right hand side.

CHANCE! Lazio win a free kick in the same position as they did just minutes ago. Again, Ledesma takes it, and Klose wins it in the air, but this time he heads his effort straight into the hands of the keeper.

SUBSTITUTION: Lazio make a change, with Candreva heading off to be replaced by Keita Balde.

OFF THE POST! The home side come within inches of retaking the lead. Keita Balde has only just come on, but picks up the ball on the left, before cutting in, and curling a brilliant strike that cannons back of the post. What a moment that was for Lazio to possibly win this game!

Vidal almost has a chance to get a shot away, as the ball drops to him kindly just inside the box, however his attempt is quickly blocked by the defence.

Both teams are still trying to win this game, and Lazio come forward again, with Biava picking up the ball 25 yards out from goal. He tries his luck with a low effort, which is well hit, but does not have enough on it to beat the keeper.

We are going to have two minutes of stoppage time.

FULL TIME: Lazio 1-1 Juventus

The referee has blown the final whistle, and the game finishes level. Juventus came from behind to claim a point after Buffon's first-half red card. The win moves them nine points clear at the top of the league, but Roma can close the gap to six points when they meet Hellas Verona tomorrow afternoon.

It was a fine response from Juventus who played most of the game with 10 men, and despite not being able to win their 13th game in a row, Conte will see a point as a good result. Lazio may feel they could have taken all three points, but they are still unbeaten under Reja and are now four points away from fifth-placed Inter Milan.

That's all we've got time for here. Please stay with us for all of this weekend's results and breaking news. Until next time, goodbye!

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Juventus' Arturo Vidal celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Bologna during their Serie A match on December 6, 2013
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