This Week In, Erm Blue??

Due to the International Break I was going to skip this weeks installment, but then I watched Italy's two games and thought, "Hey, same team different kit", so figured I'd write my usual column anyways. A story of heads, shoulders, knees, and erm...wasps.

The first "story" to break this week basically ended before it began.

Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro reportedly failed a drugs test. As more and more details emerged, it basically became a non-story. Everyone knew he'd fail the test, as he was given a cortisone-based shot to treat a wasp sting.

With the substance being banned, the club's doctors lodged the incident with the National Team medical staff. This was an error as they should have reported it to the FIGC. This resulted in the FA clearing the player, but expect the club to be punished financially sometime soon.

The next story was far more important to fans of the Bianconeri.

Claudio Marchisio has undergone surgery to repair a small tear in his right meniscus. This will leave him sidelined until around the middle of November. With must-win games against Fiorentina in the league and two vital Champions League games, Juve must hope that they can gain positive results without a player who has fast become the heart-beat of the side.

Just as fans came to terms with this latest injury, Gigi Buffon revealed a similar issue with his own knees. The talismanic keeper seemed confident, however, of managing the injury until after the Inter game in December.

This would give him the winter break to recover, meaning no important games would be missed. Many Bianconeri, myself included, pray he is right. That's not to say Alex Manninger isn't a very good keeper in his own right, just that he, like most, isn't Buffon.

Finally, after the longest of weeks, a game took place. The team fielded by Lippi in Ireland contained six Juventus players: Buffon, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso, Camoranesi, and Iaquinta. Their experience and familiarity being vital in the deciding game.

Buffon, Chiellini, and Grosso played in the same form as they have done for Juventus recently. Buffon was excellent and shoulders no blame for either goal. Chiellini was solid as ever, and Grosso was assured in defence while providing an outlet going forward.

Sadly, Legrottaglie was lacking the same form, conceding too many needless fouls including the one leading to the first goal. If Cannavaro cements his place alongside Chiellini in domestic football, Lippi will have no option but to look elsewhere when selecting his squads in future.

Camoranesi will have done his chances of going to South Africa no harm with a great display of attacking football. One of Italy's better players on the night, he took his chance well, powering a header past Given for the first equaliser.

Vincenzo Iaquinta also played well, despite a pretty poor first half.

After the break, he was unlucky to have a goal ruled out for off-side, but he worked away, finally coming up with the pass to set up the equaliser for Gilardino.

With those goals securing the Azzurri's place at the top of the group and guaranteeing qualification, it was no surprise Lippi chose to rotate the team for the Cyprus game. What was a surprise was how far that rotation went, and the crowds reaction to the performance.

The team selection was a completely different XI, meaning only Gila kept his place, and scored a remarkable hat-trick to secure victory, and worry Juve fans when they face his Fiorentina this weekend.

The only Juve player to feature was Cannavaro, who was returning from suspension. He put in a below-par performance, which showed the lack of games he's played this season. This too is a worry for Juventus, as Legrottaglie's poor form means a difficult choice for Ferrara come Saturday evening.

Another interesting aspect to Saturday's huge matchup is Felipe Melo and the money la Viola got for him.

The player was vital to Fiorentina's run to fourth last season, his form tempting Juve to part with almost £20 million for him. The intrigue comes with the fact that a large part of the money was given back to Juve for Zanetti and Marchionni. Add in returns to former clubs for Mutu, Chiellini and Prandelli, and a storied rivalry grows ever deeper.

All eyes will be on this game, with Juve winless in four games.

Let's hope Ferrara can restore some of the early season magic and provide another night to remember in Turin.