It was no clasico, but there was certainly plenty of fire on display in Catania. Before five minutes were out, Juventus had a goal disallowed, and everything but the football exploded from there.
Catania vs. Juventus, final score 0-1: Surprise! Juventus win
In case your attention was focused upon the goalfest in Spain, here’s what you missed in Sicily.
A couple minutes later, handbags were thrown when Giorgio Chiellini caught Pablo Barrientos with his elbow. To avenge his strike partner, Catania forward Gonzalo Bergessio caught Chiellini with his own elbow. So when, just a few minutes before the break, Bergessio elbowed Leonardo Bonucci yet avoided getting a second yellow, tensions were already high. The result? Both Antonio Conte and Rolando Maran were sent off.
It was just too bad the performance couldn’t match the passion. At halftime, both sides had managed just five shots.
Catania managed to hold out an hour before Carlos Tévez broke the deadlock. Dani Osvaldo flicked his header into the Argentine’s path, with Tévez sending his low shot into the bottom corner.
That would’ve likely been enough to kill off the elefanti, but once Bergessio got his marching orders in the 67th minute, the match was well and truly buried. That red was the fourth from Bergessio in his last five league games against Juventus. And yes, it was for another foul on Chiellini.
With just a few minutes remaining, Stephan Lichtsteiner missed a great chance to double the bianconeri lead. Mariano Andújar was off his line, but Lichtsteiner sent his shot well high.
Catania: Andújar, Gyomber, Rolin, Bellusci, Monzon, Lodi, Plasil, Rinaudo, Izco, Barrientos, Bergessio
Juventus: Storari, Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Padoin, Isla, Tévez, Osvaldo
Goals: Tévez (59’)
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