JUVENTUS kept their slim Serie A title challenge alive with a comeback victory over Lazio.
- Final score: Juventus 3-1 Lazio
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THAT’S ALL FROM TURIN
Juventus picked up an important 3-1 victory over Lazio at home largely without star man Cristiano Ronaldo.
Juve struggled throughout the first half and saw Dejan Kulusevski’s careless error leading to the visitors’ opener.
Kulusevski gave the ball away in midfield and Joaquin Correa picked it up to drive it all the way to the hosts’ box and beat Wojciech Szczesny with ease after just 14 minutes.
The Bianconeri were in tatters throughout the first 45 minutes but still managed to equalise with Adrien Rabiot’s beautiful finish from a tight angle just six minutes before half-time.
Juventus improved in the second half and turned things around in just three minutes thanks to a brace by Alvaro Morata, who also set Rabiot’s goal up.
Morata beat Lazio goalkeeper Pepe Reina with a magnificent shot in the 57th minute and sealed the big win from the penalty spot at the hour-mark
PIRLO REACTS
Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo praised his players’ spirit following a dramatic comeback in the second half.
Pirlo told DAZN: “We started badly and conceded with our poor backpass, but then there was a strong reaction from the whole team, despite missing so many players.
“We didn’t let our heads drop, we started to step up the tempo and that was the most important thing.
“We thought about Tuesday’s game, we have some players who have barely trained, like Cuadrado and Arthur. We knew tonight was like a final, some had to play in new positions and showed great professionalism and spirit of sacrifice.”
“The most important thing was the three points. Danilo was ready to work in central midfield, while Bernardeschi deserves all the compliments for playing as a left-back.
“What I liked the most was the reaction of the team, as we didn’t accept being behind in such a delicate and important game, so it was that spirit I appreciated.
“We started the game 20 minutes late tonight… It can happen, because some players were returning, others were in new positions, and it’s tough to get back into it after going behind to a Lazio side who have been together for years and had all week to prepare.”
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INZAGHI REACTS
Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi believes his team deserved more and shouldn’t have wasted so many chances when they had the lead in the first half.
Inzaghi told DAZN: “It’s difficult to comment on a 3-1 result after that game, but evidently what we do isn’t enough and we have to do more.
“This defeat hurts, as we were 1-0 up, doing very well, hit the bar when it was 1-1, then conceded a counter-attack in the Juventus Stadium from our own move.
“We deserved far more, I think we controlled much of the game, but we need to do more. We mustn’t give up, we have to keep believing in what we do and start to get players back, because there’s a long way to go.
“Clearly, we are running behind schedule, but we had sprinted to make up lost ground, then missed some important players. We have to keep going and not lose our confidence.”
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LONG WAY FROM HOME
Juventus’ dominance over Lazio continues at home.
Juve have won a staggering seven out of their last eight home fixtures against the Romans in the Serie A.
The Olimpico outfit have still managed to beat them once.
But the aggregate is just shocking
UPDATED TABLE
Juventus beat Lazio 3-1 at home to boost their hopes of a successful title defence.
Juve remain third in the Serie A table with a game in hand as they still need to play with Napoli.
The Bianconeri are currently seven points away from the top but will have to wait for tomorrow’s fixtures as well.
Lazio remain seventh with one point keeping them away from the European qualification spots but will also have to see what transpires on Sunday’s fixtures
STATS
Juventus dominated 52.2 per cent of possession, mainly thanks to their successful second half.
Lazio produced 15 shots, only four of which were on target, compared to Juve’s seven, five of which were on target.
The visitors were much more clinical in defence as they enjoyed a 76.9 per cent succession rate on tackles.
Simone Inzaghi’s men also dominated in the air having won 64.3 per cent of aerial duels
FT: JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
Juventus picked up an important victory over Lazio in their bid to successfully defend their Serie A title.
And Andrea Pirlo’s men did so largely without their star man Cristiano Ronaldo.
Juve got off on the wrong foot in the first half as Lazio opened the scoring after just 14 minutes when Dejan Kulusevski carelessly gave the ball away to Joaquin Correa, who drove it all the way down to the hosts’ box and beat Wojciech Szcesny with ease.
But the Bianconeri fought back and equalised with a beautiful shot from Adrien Rabiot, who beat Pepe Reina at a tight angle from the left just six minutes before half-time.
Juventus showed immense improvement in the second half and turned things around with Alvaro Morata, who netted a brace within a mere three minutes.
Morata beat Reina with a wonderful shot on 57 minutes and sealed the big win from the penalty spot within the hour-mark
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PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT’S FULL-TIME IN TURIN!!!!!!
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
90+2 SUBSTITUTION
Juventus manager Pirlo brings on Di Pardo in Kulusevski’s place
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
90 Three more minutes of added time to go.
Fair to say, this is Juventus’ match!
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
90 WHAT A CHANCE!
Fares gets the ball at the edge of the box following a botched corner kick.
The Lazio ace produces a shot that ends up on Szczesny’s side netting
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
88 Juventus are close to a big win, which they largely achieved without their best player Ronaldo.
That is exactly what they need ahead of the big match with Porto as it will certainly boost their confidence
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
85 Ronaldo has been largely anonymous ever since his introduction in the first half.
But then again, nothing more was needed from him as he came on after Morata had turned thing around for the hosts
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JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
82 SUBSTITUTION
Juventus boss Pirlo makes a change of his own as Bonucci replaces Chiesa, who was very impressive tonight
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
81 SUBSTITUTION
Lazio manager Inzaghi goes for a triple change!
Andreas Pereira replaces Marusic, Muriqi takes Immobile’s place and Caicedo comes on for Luis Alberto
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
80 YELLOW CARD
Acerbi becomes the first player to be booked in the match due to a rough challenge
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
79 CHANCE!
Correa breaks into the Juventus’ box and targets Szczesny’s right corner but sends it wide.
The Lazio star had passing options there!
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
79 Time is running out for Lazio but a goal from the visitors would still light this match up.
However, Juventus are doing a great job pushing them away from their box
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
76 CHANCE!
Immobile finally makes his presence felt!
The Lazio star delivers a powerful shot off the edge of the box and forces a lunge from Szczesny, who makes the save
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
75 Ronaldo has been quite quiet ever since his introduction.
The whole point for Juventus is to protect their lead at the moment.
Time is totally working against Lazio
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
72 The likes of Luis Alberto, Correa and Milinkovic-Savic were sensational in the first half.
But they’ve all faded away in the second half, Juventus have completely turned the tables on Lazio thanks to some solid work in midfield who are working in absolute harmony with the frontline
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
69 SUBTITUTION
And here comes Ronaldo!
The Juventus superstar replaces Morata, who won’t be scoring a hat-trick!
Arthur also takes Cuadrado’s place and McKennie comes on for Ramsey
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
68 The roles have been reversed as Juventus are now the ones to sit deep and wait for a counter-attack.
Lazio need a goal soon if they want to hope for a result!
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
66 CHANCE
Chiesa showing some good footwork again as he tries a shot from the edge of the box but Reina falls on his right to deny him.
Juventus are on the driving seat now, completely different to what we saw in the first half
JUVENTUS 3-1 LAZIO
65 Morata has been in incredible form this season and is now chasing a hat-trick.
Here’s how important he truly is for Juventus
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
