20 November 2021
Leo Bonucci's calm finishing from 12 yards combined with a solid defensive display saw Juventus overcome Lazio 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.
It was workmanlike performance by the Bianconeri, who kept things tight and limited the hosts to sterile possession with virtually no threat, while the defender got himself a brace with a spot-kick in each half.
BONUCCI'S PERFECT PENALTY
Lazio started strong with a high pressing game looking win the ball back quickly and initially succeeded in pegging the Bianconeri back in their own half.
Juve had the odd opportunity to counter but one of these forays forward led to Danilo picking up an injury in a collision with Elseid Hysaj. Dejan Kulusevski replaced the Brazilian with just 15 minutes on the clock and Juan Cuadrado slotted back into defence.
The tempo dropped a touch and Juve pushed forward. Luca Pellegrini picked out Alvaro Morata in the box and the Spaniard was floored by Danilo Cataldi. The referee let play continue but after a VAR check there could only be one outcome: penalty. Bonucci stepped up and coolly placed it inside the post to give us the lead.
LAZIO HAVE THE BALL, JUVE THE CHANCES
Lazio started to boss possession again, albeit with less intensity than in the opening stages, channelling most of their play down the right, but Juve managed to quell the threat thanks to the sterling work done by Federico Chiesa and Adrien Rabiot in tracking back.
While the hosts were seeing more of the ball, it was the Bianconeri who went closest to scoring. Cuadrado stood up a cross for Morata, who rose well to connect with it but could only send his finish over.
Soon after, Kulusevski saw a low drive blocked by Francesco Acerbi just yards from goal.
BONUCCI DOES IT AGAIN
Soon after the restart, the Swede had another chance to double our lead but Pepe Reina saved with his feet at the near post. The keeper then thwarted Bonucci from the resulting corner.
After 20 minutes of playing at a frenetic pace, Lazio had to ease off and Juve seized the opportunity to take control of the game. Allegri brought on Moise Kean for Morata looking to make the most of some fresh legs on the break.
Lazio almost threatened when Sergey Milinkovic-Savic played in Vedat Muriqi but Wojciech Szczesny was able to gather.
Juve meanwhile set about calmly and effectively building their own moves. With ten minutes remaining Kulusevksi hit a long pass forward for Chiesa, the Italy man skipped past Reina and Manuel Lazzari and was about to fire into the open net when he was brought down in a desperate attempt by the keeper to win the ball.
Bonucci stepped up once again and produced another ice-cold conversion to seal three thoroughly deserved points from what was possibly Juve's best performance of the season.
LAZIO 0-2 JUVENTUS (HT 0-1)
SCORERS: Bonucci 23 (pen), 83 (pen).
LAZIO
Reina; Lazzari, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Hysaj; Milinkovic, Cataldi, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson (Raul Moro 75), Zaccagni (Muriqi 65), Pedro.
Subs not used: Strakosha, Adamonis, Patric, Radu, Vavro, Akpa Akpro, Escalante, Leiva, Basic, Romero.
Coach: Sarri.
JUVENTUS
Szczesny; Danilo (Kulusevski 15), Bonucci, De Ligt, Pellegrini; Cuadrado, McKennie, Locatelli (Bentancur 89), Rabiot; Chiesa, Morata (Kean 74).
Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, Rugani, Alex Sandro, Arthur, Kaio Jorge.
Coach: Allegri.
REFEREE: Di Bello.
ASSISTANTS: Bercigli, Berti.
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Paterna.
VAR: Banti, Bindoni.
BOOKED: Cuadrado 28, Hysaj 43, Reina 79, Luis Alberto 80, Allegri 90+2, Sarri 90+2.
