Juventus earned a second clean sheet in succession with a goalless draw at Atalanta in Matchday 7 of Serie A.
The Bianconeri had the better of the first half chances, with efforts from Nicolò Fagioli and Moise Kean. Federico Chiesa, a continual thorn in the Atalanta side, forced a spectacular save from Juan Musso at the start of the second half - just as Luis Muriel did from Wojciech Szczesny from a direct free-kick in the closing 15 minutes.
THE MATCH
Perhaps it was to be expected in a match between a side that had held four clean sheets from their opening six league games this campaign and the team that had collected most clean sheets since the start of last season, 23 out of 44 games, that there would not be many chances for either side when Atalanta hosted Juventus.
The few opportunities that did arise in the first half were for the most part created by the Bianconeri despite an early fright when Davide Zappacosta latched onto a deep cross and found himself unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box. His first effort was blocked before his second shot went wide.
On the half hour mark, Federico Chiesa burst into life, getting the better of Rafael Toloi twice in as many minutes. The second show of skill from Chiesa earned Juve a free-kick at the edge of the Atalanta penalty box. Chiesa took the responsibility himself but couldn’t get his shot beyond the wall.
The spark from the number 7 ignited a wave of Juventus attacks. Nicolò Fagioli tried his luck from distance. The midfielder’s swerving shot was watched all the way by Juan Musso. The home goalkeeper was called on again four minutes later. Moise Kean, enjoying his first start of the season, showed strength on the ball to ride a couple of challenges and create space for himself. The striker’s shot was held by Musso.
The game of chess between two grandmasters continued in the second half, with each attacking manoeuvre being outplayed by the opponents’ defensive lines.
It was the only mix-up by the home defence that allowed Juve the first chance in the second period. The ball ricocheted into the path of Chiesa, who let fly from just outside the area. His shot was kept out by a one-handed save from Musso.
Not to be outdone by his opposite number, Wojciech Szczesny produced the save of the match on 74’. Luis Muriel curled a free-kick over the wall but Szczesny managed to get finger-tips to the ball to touch it onto the underside of the crossbar.
The Juve keeper was again called into action to deny Muriel on 88’. Another dipping shot from distance saw Szczesny pull off the save. This time the rebound broke into the path of Teun Koopmeiners, who blasted over from close range. The Atalanta midfielder also failed to hit the target from a promising position inside stoppage time as the two sides earned back-to-back clean sheets for a share of the points.
ATALANTA 0-0 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-0)
ATALANTA: Musso; Scalvini (64′ Kolasinac), Djimsiti, Toloi; Zappacosta (81′ Holm), De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri (85′ Bakker); Koopmeiners; De Ketelaere (81′ Pasalic), Lookman (64′ Muriel). Subs not used: Carnesecchi, Rossi, Palomino, Zortea, Adopo, Hateboer, Miranchuk. Coach: Gasperini.
JUVENTUS: Szczesny, Gatti, Bremer (83′ Rugani), Danilo; McKennie (83′ Weah), Fagioli (67′ Miretti), Locatelli, Rabiot, Cambiaso (67′ Kostic); Kean (75′ Yildiz), Chiesa. Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Perin, Huijsen, Iling-Junior, Mancini, Nicolussi Caviglia. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Chiffi
Bookings: 5′ Rabiot, 53′ Danilo, 90’+2 Holm