07 April 2021
Juventus bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Napoli on Wednesday evening at the Allianz Stadium. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opening goal in the first half, while Dybala added the second after coming on as a substitute.
SIIII! RONALDO SCORES, CHIESA WITH SUBLIME ASSIST
The opening three minutes of the game saw chances arrive on both sides of the field: Danilo sent in a cross to Ronaldo, who just had to nod it into the back of the net, but it glanced just wide of goal. Napoli followed up with an attack of their own, which saw Zielinski blast a good chance over the target. Juventus took the lead in the 13th minute after a superb move by Chiesa, who dribbled past his defenders, crossed low for Ronaldo, who then fired it home from 11 yards! Many chances didn’t follow but the game was equally tightknit: Insigne shot over the bar from range, while Chiesa also directed his effort over the target.
BUFFON SAVES, DYBALA MAKES IT 2-0
Into the second half and it was Napoli who had the first chance at goal when Di Lorenzo found himself in acres of space and he unleashed a powerful effort that Buffon parried away. Cuadrado then struck a good effort wide after Juve burst down the field on a counter, Dybala and McKennie were introduced into the game in place of Morata and Cuadrado in the 68th minute. Buffon pulled off yet another solid save when he denied Fabian Ruiz’ snapshot round the post, as Juventus added a second goal to their tally courtesy of Dybala. Bentancur fed him the ball onto the edge of the box, and he struck a low left-footed curler into the bottom far corner.
INSIGNE SCORES LATE PENALTY
Napoli were handed a penalty in the 89th minute after Chiellini bodychecked Osimhem in the box: Insigne took to the spot and he converted by sending Buffon in the wrong direction. Juventus held on for the four minutes of extra time to claim all three points.
Juventus XI: Buffon; Danilo, de Ligt, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Cuadrado (McKennie 68’), Bentancur, Rabiot, Chiesa (Arthur 80’); Morata (Dybala 68’), Ronaldo
Subs: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Demiral, Frabotta, Dragusin, Di Pardo, Arthur, McKennie, Fagioli, Ramsey, Kulusevski, Dybala
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Hysaj; Fabian Ruiz, Demme; Lozano, Zielinski, L Insigne; Mertens
Napoli bench: Contini, Ospina, Bakayoko, Mario Rui, Elmas, Osimhen, Maksimovic, Politano, Petagna, Manolas, Cioffi, Lobotka
