Game 4, Serie A
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Allianz Stadium
Juventus Lazio 3-1
Lazio lose too easily against Juventus, but big controversy on the Bianconeri’s first goal
The team
Maurizio Sarri decided to play the same team that had played brilliantly against Napoli a fortnight ago, so no changes.
First half
The game was relatively monotonous for the first ten minutes. Juventus had control of play, the Biancocelesti just waited for an opportunity to go forward. All of this changed in the 10th minute. After a probable foul on Ciro Immobile by Bremer, Manuel Locatelli passed the ball to Weston McKennie on the right wing ,very, very close to the line. He ran past Luis Alberto (who had his hands in the air trying to attract the ref’s attention), and left the ball to Bremer who gave it back to Locatelli. Quick cross in the box and Dusan Vlahovic volleyed the ball in behind Ivan Provedel.
I said very, very close to the line, but de facto the ball was out, as clearly demonstrated by the scarce TV footage on the episode. So VAR disallowed the goal then? It didn’t. Juve 1 Lazio 0.
As a consequence Juventus were right where they wanted to be. Lazio were forced to attack and the Bianconeri could do damage on the counter attack.
In the 14th minute Juve took a quick corner, ball to the edge of the area, big shot by Filip Kostic, great save from Provedel.
In the 25th minute, Danilo Cataldi interrupted a Juve defensive play, ball to Immobile who left it to Luis Alberto who advanced to the edge of the box. He tried an external pass to Felipe Anderson which was not perfect but Felipetto managed to get to the ball and pass it back to the Spaniard who was a little too far but he was able to pass to Daichi Kamada. Massive volley, great save from Wojciech Szczesny.
In the 26th minute Juventus made it two. McKennie again on the right. One-two with Fabio Miretti but the American could not control the ball, however Adrien Rabiot was ready. As he made room to shoot in came Federico Chiesa, a sudden whack on the front post and the Bianconeri doubled their lead.
Lazio tried to attack but literally hit the Juve defensive wall. They could not find any gaps and the one-two attempts at the limit of the box always failed.
Second half
During the interval, Sarri took off Elseid Hysaj and Cataldi and threw in Luca Pellegrini and Nicolò Rovella for his Lazio debut.
In the 48th Chiesa crossed into the box and Provedel parried Rabiot’s header. On the subsequent corner Federico Gatti headed towards the Frenchman, another header, a great save from Provedel.
In the 59th minute Massimiliano Allegri substituted Kostic and Miretti with Andrea Cambiaso and Nicolò Fagioli
In the 64th minute Bremer passed to Locatelli but the ball arrived in no man's land. Kamada anticipated Fagioli and passed to Luis Alberto who advanced and curled a fantastic shot past the Juve goalkeeper.
Game reopened? Yes but just for a few minutes. In the 67th minute a long ball from McKennie to Vlahovic, stop and shot, 3-1 for Juventus.
The game was practically over. Sarri substituted Immobile, Felipe Anderson and Kamada with Taty Castellanos, Pedro and Matteo Guendouzi, Allergi replaced McKennie, Chiesa and Vlahovic with Timothy Weah, Arkadiusz Milik and Moise Kean.
In the 90th minute Weah volleyed the ball over the crossbar from close range, missing an easy chance.
Easy win for Juventus who were able to score immediately and control the game. Lazio too static in defence and not dangerous enough in attack. A similar match to the one against Genoa.
Fabio Maresca
At the end of the game, nobody from Lazio spoke to the journalists, in open polemic against the referee, who has a very negative history with the Biancocelesti.
A Lazio supporter on twitter stated during the week that “everyday I wake up knowing it is one day less to Maresca’s retirement”. ‘Nuff said
Who played for Juventus
Szczęsny, Gatti, Bremer, Danilo, McKennie (71' Weah), Miretti (59' Fagioli), Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic (59' Cambiaso), Chiesa (83' Milik), Vlahovic (83' Kean).
Substitutes: Pinsoglio, Perin, Alex Sandro, Rugani, Yildiz, Iling-Junior, Nicolussi.
Manager: Allegri.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj (46' Pellegrini), Kamada (78' Guendouzi), Cataldi (46' Rovella), Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson (69' Pedro), Immobile (69' Castellanos), Zaccagni.
Substitutes: Sepe, Mandas, Lazzari, Patric, Gila, Vecino, Isaksen.
Manager: Sarri
Referee: Maresca
Goals: 10' Vlahovic, 26' Chiesa, 65' Luis Alberto, 67' Vlahovic
Bookings: Miretti, Bremer, Gatti, Cambiaso, Vlahovic, Pellegrini
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