Paulo Dybala, Maniel Locatelli, Dejan Kulusevski and Mattia De Sciglio got on the scoresheet for Juventus to take all three points against Roma.
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Juventus came from behind to beat AS Roma in a seven goal thriller in the Serie A fixture at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. Pellegrini had a penalty saved and Matthijs de Ligt received a red card. Juventus captain Paulo Dybala canceled out Tammy Abraham’s opener in the first half. After the break, Henrikh Mkhitaryan put Roma’s nose in front before Lorenzo Pellegrini extended the lead with a superbly taken free-kick. However, goals from Maniel Locatelli, Dejan Kulusevski and Mattia De Sciglio secured all three points for Massimiliano Allegri’s side.
What a match and what a comeback! @juventusfcen wins at the Olimpico ??#RomaJuve #SerieA? #WeAreCalcio pic.twitter.com/ZE4YjiZuEE
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) January 9, 2022
Roma started the game brightly and opened the scoring inside eleven minutes. Jordan Veretout’s corner from the left flank was headed home by Tammy Abraham. The English striker was totally unmarked from four yards out.
Few moments later, Roma had a penalty appeal as Pellegrini’s shot bounced off De Ligt’s foot and onto his hand, which made it unintentional. Meanwhile at the other end, Juventus equalised from their first genuine attack. Federico Chiesa cut inside from the left and played the ball to Dybala on the edge of the box.
The Argentine playmaker controlled the ball with his right foot and curled in a left-footed shot that went past Rui Patricio and into the bottom corner. Meanwhile Chiesa injured his knee during a desperate and well-timed Chris Smalling tackle and after several minutes of hobbling, eventually had to be replaced with Dejan Kulusevski.
Roma had a huge chance to take the lead going into the break. A corner found Smalling’s header and this time Abraham redirected it over the crossbar from point-blank range with his knee.
Three minute after the break, Roma restored the lead. Mkhitaryan’s strike from outside the box, took a massive deflection off De Sciglio and looped over Juventus custodian Wojciech Szczesny and into the goal.
Roma’s third goal was a piece of brilliance from Pellegrini in the 52rd minute. The Italian midfielders magnificent set-piece ended up in the top corner, giving Szczesny no chance. Alvaro Morata came off the bench and immediately had an impact for Juventus.
The Spanish striker beat Roger Ibanez on the right flank and delivered a perfect cross for Locatelli inside the box to head home with 20 minutes left. Two minutes later, Kulusevski leveled the score. Locatelli played an overhead ball to Juan Cuadrado on the right side of the penalty area.
The Colombian nodded it down for Morata, whose shot was blocked, but Kulusevski slotted home from the rebound to make the score 3-3. With 13 minutes left, a poor defensive header from Smalling fell kindly of De Sciglio, who chested it down and drilled into the near bottom corner from eight yards out.
The Drama in the game wasn’t over as De Ligt received a second yellow card as he blocked an Abraham volley with his arm. The VAR was involved and a penalty was awarded to Jose Mourinho’s side. Pellegrini stepped up to take the penalty, but his weak spot kick was well saved by Szczesny.
The win helped Juventus to 38 points from 21 games at the fifth spot while Roma are six points behind them at seventh spot.
