From the papers

January 10, 2000
Juventus Official Site

Quite some match at the Tardini yesterday - Juventus had the upper hand for almost the entire game with Alex Del Piero scoring what looked likely to be the winner. But in time added on a nine-man Parma managed to find an equaliser courtesy of top scorer Hernan Crespo. So the Bianconeri have been knocked off their perch just four days after they reached the top of Serie A.

Gazzetta dello Sport underlines Juventus' stranglehold on the game and how Parma sneaked an equaliser in the dying moments. Although clearly on top, Gazzetta suggests that only Pippo Inzaghi's mistakes and Del Piero's off day left the door ajar for Parma.

Tuttosport is full of praise for the Bianconeri, who "are the top team in terms of top-of-the-table clashes." The Turin paper talks up Juventus' chances of winning the Scudetto and carries the disappointed comments of Carlo Ancelotti.

Confronted by a group of hard-core supporters at the end of the match, Ancelotti comes out in defence of his players: "We gifted Parma a point, but, what annoyed me more was that we have lost two points. Vent your anger on me," he said, "but leave the lads alone - they played a great match. We lost concentration at times and that cost us dear but I don't feel I can blame anyone."

But Del Piero, who converted the penalty to give Juve the lead, was more inclined to share the blame with the rest of the side. "Worse than a defeat," he said to Corriere dello Sport, "the forwards missed their chances, but things didn't go well in defence either. You can't let in a goal like that. The Scudetto can be lost in any number of ways and points thrown away like this could be crucial.” However, the young Bianconero playmaker tries to get over his disappointment, stating: "The only consolation is that we played well. With this performance our rivals at the top of the league will probably fear us more."
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