Juventus lose at home to Sassuolo

 

Juventus might find themselves out of the race for this season’s Scudetto after another home defeat – this time around, against Sassuolo.

With Federico Chiesa, Paulo Dybala and Matthijs de Ligt back into the starting XI after benching them in the 1-1 draw with Inter, it was expected to see a Juve team with flair.

Juventus were attacking, but the visitors had one thing in mind – counter-attacking and they eventually got the three points through that. A fingertip save from Andrea Consigli stopped Mattia De Sciglio from going in, pushing it over the bar. Unfortunately, the former AC Milan full-back couldn’t complete the game as he limped off with a knee injury.

Despite further efforts at goal from the hosts, it was Sassuolo who took the lead just before half-time through a well-worked team move.

A perfect through ball from Gregoire Defrel to Davide Frattesi was that he had to just sweep it first-time into the far bottom corner from 12 yards

This gave Sassuolo confidence as they continued to impress in Turin.

Juve would have equalised through substitute Juan Cuadrado. The Colombian effort was about to cross the line after it beat Consiglim Kaan Ayhan was there to stop it from going in.

Juve then reacted positively as Consigli later flew to palm away Dybala’s effort and Federico Chiesa turned over on the rebound.

After Gianluca Scamacca tested Mattia Perin and Kaio Jorge attempted an audacious overhead kick, Dybala restored parity from a free-kick he placed perfectly for Weston McKennie header from eight yards. The American midfielder scored the. equalizing goal for Juventus to tie the game at 1-1.

In search of a winner to close the gap on the Serie A leaders, Napoli, Juve poured everyone forward trying to find a winner, but they ended being the loser.

The attack left them wide open at the back, and they conceded in the final moments of the match.

 

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed