Turin, Italy: Talismanic goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon bid a tearful farewell to Juventus after 17 seasons at the club when he played his last match for them in a 2-1 win over relegated Verona here Saturday.
Juventus, who clinched their seventh consecutive Serie A title a week ago, were leading 2-0 when Buffon was substituted in the 17th minute of the second half in his 656th appearance for the club in all competitions.
Amid the emotion, embraces and tears, the 40-year-old, also lifted the Serie A trophy as it was presented to Juventus on the pitch after the match.
The 2006 World Cup winner, arguably one of the greatest goalkeepers the game has seen, handed his captain’s armband to midfielder Claudio Marchisio before hugging several team mates and rival players as he left the field in tears to a standing ovation.
Buffon, who won nine Serie A and four Coppa Italia titles with Juventus and had kept 300 clean sheets heading into Saturday’s match and was replaced by third-choice goalkeeper Carlo Pinsoglio, who made his first appearance for the club.
Daniele Rugani put Juventus ahead four minutes after halftime from a rebound when Douglas Costa’s shot was parried by Verona goalkeeper Nicolas and Miralem Pjanic added a second from a free kick three minutes later. Alessio Cerci scored a consolation for Verona in the 76th minute.
The scoreline could have been different had Stephan Lichtsteiner’s penalty shot not saved by Nicolas in the 85th minute. Lichtsteiner was also playing his final match for Juventus after seven seasons at the club.
6 injured in title parade
Turin: Six Juventus fans were injured, out of them two are in critical condition when a truck they were travelling in during the Italian champions’ victory parade struck the electric cables of the city’s tramway. Juventus were celebrating winning their seventh straight Serie A title and fourth Italian Cup in a row with an open top bus parade through the streets here Saturday night.
