Juve got themselves three points for Christmas with victory over Cagliari in their final game of 2021. The 2-0 success marked further progress for the Bianconeri following their win against Bologna at the weekend – another careful, determined display with some nice flowing football to boot.
Federico Bernardeschi set up the opener for Moise Kean then bagged the second himself with a fine finish late on, while Wojciech Szczesny and the backline earned themselves another clean sheet, underlining the team's defensive solidity.
KEAN BREAKS THE DEADLOCK
A headed pass by Matthijs de Ligt to Kean for a headed effort sent shivers down the spine of the Cagliari defence after just a few minutes. Another huge chance came soon after following pressure from Juventus: Juan Cuadrado swung the ball in from the right and Kean rose with magnificent timing to power a header towards goal, only for it to strike the post.
Walter Mazzarri’s team set up with a 4-5-1 to put up a wall, which over time looked stronger and was able to limit the Bianconeri, who were no longer able to play the passing game with which they started the match. However, the crosses kept raining into the area and one of these - sent in by Federico Bernardeschi – was met by the head of Kean, who put the ball into the corner of the net for a more than deserved advantage.
BERNARDESCHI SEALS IT
Juve continued attacking after the break and almost got their second with an Alex Sandro header set up by Juan Cuadrado. The energy of Weston McKennie, who came on to replace Adrien Rabiot, and the speed of Kean and Alvaro Morata kept the visitors under pressure and they seemed less compact in defence compared to the first half of the game.
However, they were also more dangerous: first came Dalbert, skimming the post after shooting too far right from a good position, then Joao Pedro, whose header forced Szczesny to push the ball over the bar with an outstretched save.
Allegri brought off Kean and Arthur replacing them with Dejan Kulusevski and Manuel Locatelli and it was the Swede who started a counter-attack on the right before switching the ball to Federico Bernardeschi. The Italy man took the ball down and hit a powerful, accurate left-footed shot across goal leaving Alessio Cragno with no chance.
Bernardeschi was applauded off the field when substituted, as were the rest of the team at the final whistle, to say goodbye to 2021 in the best possible way.
JUVENTUS 2-0 CAGLIARI (HT 1-0)
SCORERS: Kean 40, Bernardeschi 83
JUVENTUS
Szczesny; Cuadrado, Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Bentancur, Arthur (Locatelli 83), Rabiot (McKennie 46); Bernardeschi (De Sciglio 89), Morata (Kaio Jorge 89), Kean (Kulusevski 72).
Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, Rugani, Pellegrini, De Winter, Locatelli, Soule.
Coach: Allegri.
CAGLIARI
Cragno; Zappa, Ceppo, Carboni, Lykogiannis; Bellanova, Deiola (Oliva 71), Grassi, Dalbert (Keita 84); Joao Pedro, Pereiro (Pavoletti 64).
Subs not used: Aresti, Radunovic, Altare, Faragò, Obert, Ceter.
Coach: Mazzarri.
REFEREE: Dionisi.
ASSISTANTS: Rossi, Scarpa.
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Colombo.
VAR: Orsato, Carbone.
BOOKED: Carboni 24, Dalbert 35, Pavoletti 85.