Juan Cuadrado scored a dramatic stoppage time winner for Juventus while Mario Pasalic and Duvan Zapata's first half goals helped Atalanta secure three points.
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Juventus edged past Fiorentina 1-0 in the Serie A fixture in Turin on Saturday. Juan Cuadrado scored a dramatic stoppage time winner to secure three points for Bianconeri. Juventus came into the match on the back of two consecutive Serie A defeats against Sassuolo and Verona. However in the midweek, Massimiliano Allegri’s side defeated Zenit 4-2 to ensure qualification to the champions League knockout stage. Allegri had a number of injury problems as Wojciech Szczesny, Mattia De Sciglio and Moise Kean were not available.
Meanwhile central defenders Leonardo Bonucci wasn’t fully fit and Giorgio Chiellini pulled out in the warm-up with a muscle problem. Therefore Daniele Rugani stepped in.
Early in the match Alvaro Morato closed down Pietro Terracciano and blocked his kick but the deflection fell harmlessly and the 31-year-old collected the ball. Few minutes later. Morata was involved once again as he went around Terraciano, but was too wide and his cut back was ballooned by Paulo Dybala.
Similarly at the other end, Alvaro Odriozola displayed a brilliant skill to get past two Juventus defenders before pulling back from the by-line for Riccardo Saponaro to Volley over the crossbar from 12 yards.
Jose Callejon’s deep cross from the right was tipped away by Mattia Perin from Dusan Vlahovic, who was lurking at the far post. Meanwhile on the stroke of half-time, the referee went to blow for the break, but got a call from the VAR, to check a potential Danilo Handball inside the box from a free-kick. After a long wait, the check was over and the play resumed or rather end of the half.
Morata was probably the busiest player for Juventus on the night. The Spain international flicked the ball over Nikola Milenkovic and turned to volley inches wide. In the 73rd minute, Milenkovic received his second yellow card and marching orders for a foul on Federico Chiesa.
A member of the Fiorentina staff was also sent off from the touchline. Chiesa then almost broke the deadlock with a sensational move at the other end. The Italian forward, despite the ball’s awkward bounce, brilliantly turned away from the defender to unleash a powerful half volley that rattled the crossbar and went away.
Morata had the ball in the back of the net, nine minutes from time, but was clearly in an offside position. Moments later, Chiesa got on the end of Cuadrado’s cross but his attempt didn’t have enough venom to test the goalkeeper.
Just when it looked like the points would be shared and Juventus’s woes would continue, Cuadrado scored the winner from the unlikeliest of situations. The Colombian went past Cristiano Biraghi with a couple of step-overs before drilling home from the by-line. It was a very tight angle and it seemed like he was crossing it for Kaio Jorge but the ball went in between Terraciano’s knee and near post and into the goal.
Chiesa could have doubled the lead just before the final whistle but was denied by Terracciano’s foot.
The win helped Juventus to 13th spot, level on points with 12th placed Fiorentina who have 18 points from 12 games.
Elsewhere, Atalanta continued their good run as they beat Cagliari 2-1 at Sardegna Arena on Saturday. It took just six minutes for the visitors to break the deadlock. Duvan Zapata spread the ball down the right for Davide Zappacosta whose low cross was tucked in by Mario Pasalic at the far post.
In the 27th minute, the hosts equalized through Joao Pedro. Diego Godin’s long ball over the top found the run of Pedro who slotted the ball past an on-rushing Juan Musso with a fortunate deflection from Merih Demiral.
Atalanta restored the lead two minutes from break. Teun Koopmeiners pass from the right found Zapata inside the box. The Colombian used his physical prowess to hold on to the ball and spun Godin before shooting on the turn. Cragno got a hand to it but it wasn’t enough.
Atalanta held onto the lead and secured all three points. After the win, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are placed fourth in the table with 22 points from 12 games. Meanwhile Cagliari are languishing at the bottom with just 6 points.
