26 September 2021
Juve wrapped up a second 3-2 league win this week to build on the success away to Spezia on Wednesday, but it was far from plain sailing against Sampdoria.
DYBALA’S DESIRE
Captain Paulo Dybala was clearly intent on running the show and started the game with real drive. His efforts were rewarded with ten minutes on the clock after Manuel Locatelli’s shot was blocked and the midfielder laid the rebound off to the Argentine, who steered a delicious low left-footed effort into the corner from the edge of the box.The hosts looked to extend their lead and had two glorious chances to do so within three minutes of going ahead, with Federico Chiesa firing wide from the right and Alvaro Morata unable to score a one-on-one as Emil Audero rushed out of his goal to deny him.With 20 minutes on the clock, Dybala was visibly distressed as he was forced off with an injury, and Dejan Kulusevski replaced him to join Alvaro Morata in attack.
BONUCCI AND YOSHIDA TRADE BLOWS
Samp worked hard, but did not threaten to grab an equaliser, with Juve going close to scoring the next goal when Kulusevski’s header went off target. Chiesa then sent a ball into the box that struck Nicola Murru on the arm and a penalty was given. Up stepped Leonardo Bonucci to convert and seemingly send Juve in at the break two goals to the good. The visitors did respond this time, however, with Mattia Perin getting down low to deny Fabio Quagliarella before Maya Yoshida got on the end of Antonio Candreva’s cross from the left to halve the deficit.
LOCATELLI’S FIRST JUVE GOAL
As the rain got heavier, Juve found it harder to play their usual passing game, but made up for it with increased aggression, resulting in Kulusevski dispossessing Omar Colley in the box, reaching the byline and setting up Locatelli for his maiden goal for the club just before the hour-mark.
Allegri made changes in terms of personnel and formation in the last 20 minutes, sending on Giorgio Chiellini and Aaron Ramsey for Chiesa and Federico Bernardeschi, to see out the game with a back three. Rodrigo Bentancur went close to a fourth, but Audero turned the shot behind for a corner.
CANDREVA CUTS THE ARREARS, JUVE HOLD FIRM
Samp did not give up the ghost and got back into the contest when Adrien Silva broke down the left and set up Antonio Candreva for a first-time shot with seven minutes of regulation time left. There were four minutes added on, in which Chiellini showcased his vast experience to ensure stoppage time was relatively painless and the visitors were not allowed to carve out any opportunities to potentially equalise.
Allegri’s charges had to dig in to hold on to what could well prove to be three key points come the end of the season.
JUVENTUS 3-2 SAMPDORIA (HT: 2-1)
Scorers: Dybala 10, Bonucci 43, Yoshida 44, Locatelli 57, Candreva 83.
JUVENTUS
Perin; Cuadrado, Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Chiesa (Chiellini 70), Bentancur (MckKennie 82), Locatelli, Bernardeschi (Ramsey 70); Dybala (Kulusevski 67), Morata (Kean 82).
Subs not used: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, De Sciglio, Danilo, Rugani, Pellegrini.
Coach: Allegri.
SAMPDORIA
Audero; Bereszynski; Yoshida, Colley, Murru (Augello 59); Depaoli (Damsgaard 59), Thorsby (Askildsen 87), Ekdal (Silva 59), Candreva; Caputo (Torregrossa 70), Quagliarella.
Subs not used: Ravagli, Falcone, Chabot, Ciervo, Dragusin, Ferrari, Trimboli.
Coach: D’Aversa.
Referee: Ayroldi.
Assistants: Di Vuolo, Lombardi.
Fourth official: Camplone.
VAR: Orsato, Tegoni.
Booked: Thorsby 28, Murro 41, Ekdal 45+2, Bentancur 53, Cuadrado 66, Bonucci 84, Kean 86.
