3 things we learned from Juventus’ pulsating 3-2 win over AS Roma
Juventus saw off Roma in a fantastic game in Turin on Sunday.
The game got off to a tentative opening, and the only time either defence was bypassed in the first quarter came when a raking Leonardo Bonucci pass was met by a surging Claudio Marchisio in the Roma box, though the midfielder volleyed wide of the far post. Juventus just about edged the first few minutes, but genuine goalscoring opportunities were few and far between.
However, it didn’t stay that way for long, with Juve awarded a penalty in the 26th minute. Initially the referee awarded a free-kick when Andrea Pirlo’s shot rebounded off the arm of Roma defender Maicon, only to rightly award a penalty after much protesting from the hosts. Carlos Tevez stepped up and rolled Juve ahead, and Roma boss Rudi García was promptly sent to the stands for playing an imaginary violin at the officials.
Amazingly, Juve's lead lasted only four minutes, with the referee evening things up by awarding a penalty at the other end when Stephan Lichtsteiner hauled Francesco Totti down in the penalty area. The Roma captain took the spot-kick himself, and levelled the game at 1-1.
The controversial officiating had turned the game into a very tense, scrappy affair, with players coming to blows all over the field. But Roma managed to emerge from the chaos with the lead in the 44th minute, when some brilliant invention from Gervinho sent Juan Iturbe through to score his first league goal for the giallorossi.
Unfortunately for the visitors, however, their lead was as short-lived as their hosts' had been. Some kindly officiating in stoppage time at the end of the half saw Juve given their second penalty of the match, with Miralem Pjanić adjudged to have tripped Paul Pogba in the box. Tevez swiftly dispatched his second penalty of the evening, and a breathless half came to a close with the teams all square.
Juve almost retook the lead within five minutes of the restart, though after breaking forward into the box, Pogba’s touch was too heavy and Roma keeper Łukasz Skorupski was able to dive to sweep the ball from his feet. Roma responded with a good chance of their own 10 minutes later, though Pjanić dragged his shot wide after some tremendous play down the left from Gervinho.
After the initial flurry of chances, the heated contest finally began to cool as the final whistle grew ever closer. However, inside the final 10 minutes Juve started to crank up the pressure, once more and went close when Álvaro Morata headed a Lichtsteiner cross off the Roma crossbar.
They were rewarded for their late pressure inside the final five minutes of normal time, when a brilliant volley from Bonucci on the edge of the penalty area arrowed into the bottom corner of Skorupski’s goal. Roma had no response, save for a Kostas Manolas headbutt on Morata with just a minute of normal time. Both players received red cards, despite Morata looking like a completely innocent party.
Juventus: Buffon; Chiellini, Bonucci, Cáceres (Ogbonna 46’); Asamoah, Pogba, Pirlo (Vidal 79’), Marchisio, Lichtsteiner; Tevez, Llorente (Morata 59’).
Goals: Tevez (pen. 27, pen. 45+3’), Bonucci (86’).
Red cards: Morata (89’).
AS Roma: Skorupski; Holebas, Yanga-Mbiwa, Manolas, Maicon; Nainggolan, Keita, Pjanić (Paredes 85’); Gervinho, Totti, Iturbe (Florenzi 66’).
Goals: Totti (pen. 32’), Iturbe (44’).
Red cards: Manolas (89’).
3 Things
1. This game was important, and both teams knew it
With three penalties, seven yellow cards, two red cards, an imaginary violin and a managerial sending-off, this game wasn’t exactly played with a gentlemanly spirit (it was, of course, all the better viewing for it). The intensity of the two sides was a manifestation of the importance of this encounter, which has title race significance even at this early stage in the season. Both teams knew that with the margins so tight at the top of the league, they couldn’t afford to miss a pass or shirk a challenge. It was a brilliant contest, and hopefully symbolised a title battle that will go down to the wire.
2. Roma had the energy to handle Juventus
Before the game, the big fear for Roma was how they'd cope with Juventus' physicality through the middle of the pitch -- particularly in the absence of their best defensive midfielder, Daniele De Rossi. However, for the most part, they made up for their comparative lack of strength with brilliant industry in the centre of the pitch. Radja Nainggolan and Miralem Pjanić both dropping in to support Seydou Keita, and save for a couple of bursting Pogba runs, Juve looked pretty impotent. Roma will be very aggrieved to have lost.
3. Fernando Llorente failed to impress again
Juventus striker Fernando Llorente did almost nothing in this match before being replaced by youngster Álvaro Morata on the hour. It marked the continuation of his long barren goalscoring run, with the Spaniard yet to open his account this season. While he's in such a poor run of form, it surely can't be long before coach Massimiliano Allegri opts to give the more dynamic Morata a run of league starts. Not only would it be beneficial for his development, but it could also ease the pressure on his compatriot's shoulders. However, it'll have to wait until after Morata completes a suspension for being harshly sent off for coming to blows with Kostas Manolas near the end of the game.
