TURIN, September 17 (Champions League) - A second-half goal from Alessandro Del Piero was enough for Juventus to see off the challenge of Zenit St Petersburg in their Champions League Group H opener.

The veteran striker powered home a free-kick to keep the points in Turin and deny UEFA Cup holders Zenit what would have been a welcome draw against the Italian giants.

It took 10 minutes for the teams to settle at the Stadio Olimpico before Zenit got the first glimpse of goal when Portuguese midfielder Danny pushed his close-range shot past the left post.

David Trezeguet then gave the home crowd hope four minutes later when he got his head to Del Piero's cross but the French striker also steered the final ball wide.

That chance sparked a spell of pressure from Claudio Ranieri's side though with Zenit defender Sebastien Puygrenier twice called upon to clear dangerous-looking shots from Mohamed Sissoko.

And Juve came even closer to taking the lead after 24 minutes when a Del Piero free-kick was headed onto the post by Mauro Camoranesi.

Their rhythm was interrupted on the half-hour mark though when an injury to Camoranesi saw the midfielder replaced by Hasan Salihamidzic.

And with Juve still reorganising, Danny tried his luck with a 20-yard drive for Zenit which dipped over the crossbar.

But that was as good as it got for either side as the interval arrived with no further chances in what was a disappointing end to the half.

The crowd were at least treated to a much livelier start to the second half as first Trezuguet fired narrowly over the crossbar before Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon made his first real save of the match following a teasing cross-shot from Andrei Arshavin.

The chances continued to come and in the 53rd minute a corner from Del Piero allowed Giorgio Chiellini a strike from 12 yards which trickled past the right post.

Buffon was also busy at the other end of the pitch, parrying away Radek Sirl's left-footed drive moments later.

As the match entered the last 20 minutes, Juve began to increase the pressure on their opponents and Zenit goalkeeper Viacheslav Malafeev did well to tip away Christian Poulsen's header from a Del Piero free-kick.

But there was nothing the Russian could do to keep out another Del Piero free-kick after 75 minutes as the Italy international lashed his set-piece into the top right corner.

Zenit tried to produce an immediate response but Igor Denisov wasted an opening for the visitors while substitute Alejandro Dominguez drove another shot straight into the hands of Buffon.

Juve also had chances as the clock ticked down and Malafeev was called upon three minutes from time as Sissoko looked to claim a second goal for the hosts.

And it was the last chance for either side as Juve made a winning start to their Group H campaign.

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