Having taken a two-goal lead on two occasions against Parma on Saturday evening, Juventus will be wondering how they managed to pick up just a solitary point from the game. With the home side leading 1-0 at the start of the second half, a strike from Daniele Rugani and Cristiano Ronaldo’s second goal of the game, interspersed by an Antonino Barilla header, left Juve with a 3-1 advantage going into the final 20 minutes of the contest. However, Gervinho scored twice, including an effort in added time, to secure his team a draw.
JUVE IN CONTROL
The hosts were in control from the off, with the majority of play taking place in Parma’s half of the pitch and leaving the away side with counter attacks as their only true weapon. That said, players with Gervinho’s pace are always a threat and an early drive forward could have earned a surprise opener, but his shot from the edge of the area was diverted out for a corner by Martin Caceres, who made the first start of his third spell with the Bianconeri. At the other end Ronaldo forced Luigi Sepe to block with a powerful drive from 20 yards.
RONALDO REWARDS DOMINANCE
It was the Portuguese forward who eventually gave Juventus the lead, after a dominant first half hour. With Parma having done well to repel numerous attacks from the hosts, getting plenty of bodies back behind the ball, they fell victim to some slight misfortune. Blaise Matuidi collected the ball just inside the box and quickly offloaded the ball to Ronaldo, who slipped as he got his shot away but still managed to get his effort on target, with a deflection helping the ball on its way past Sepe. It appeared Juve would get a chance to double their lead from the penalty spot, after the referee blew for a foul on Caceres; however, after a quick VAR check the decision was overturned.
THREE GOALS IN FOUR MINUTES
Juve started the second half with Federico Bernardeschi on in place of Douglas Costa and faced a more forward-thinking Parma, leaving space for the home side on the break as their opponents sought to draw level. The Bianconeri duly capitalised on 62 minutes. Mario Mandzukic hooked a cross in from the left which Ronaldo tried to meet at the far post. He failed to connect with the ball cleanly but inadvertently flicked the ball perfectly into the path of Rugani, who smashed home a left-foot volley from close range. It did not take long for Parma to respond, however. The Gialloblu pulled a goal back after Juraj Kucka’s swinging cross from the right found Barilla unmarked to fire an accurate header past a stationary Mattia Perin. Juventus regained their two-goal league just two minutes later, with Mandzukic playing a key role once again. This time the Croat found himself wide on the right and sent another teasing ball into the box which Ronaldo met to send a downward header into the net, making it 3-1 to the hosts.
GERVINHO AT THE DOUBLE
After Ronaldo almost sealed his hat-trick with another header, Parma cut the deficit with just over 15 minutes to play. Kucka provided another assist, this time a low cross for Gervinho, who produced a clever back-heeled finish to beat Perin from within the six-yard box. Massimiliano Allegri replaced Sami Khedira with Rodrigo Bentancur and was forced to send on Emre Can in place of Bernardeschi, who picked up a knock, but Juve were unable to hold on to their slender advantage. In the third minute of stoppage time, Roberto Inglese worked his way to the by-line before cutting the ball back to Gervinho, who had the space to fire side-footed into the net and condemn Juventus to a third draw of the season.
JUVENTUS 3-3 PARMA (HT: 1-0)
SCORERS: Ronaldo 36, 66, Rugani 62 , Barillà 64, Gervinho 74, 90+3
JUVENTUS
Perin; Cancelo, Rugani, Caceres, Spinazzola; Khedira (Bentancur 79), Pjanic, Matuidi; Douglas Costa (Bernardeschi 46, Emre Can 87), Mandzukic, Ronaldo.
Subs not used: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, De Sciglio, Alex Sandro, Dybala, Kean.
Coach: Allegri.
PARMA
Sepe; Iacoponi, Bruno Alves, Bastoni, Gagliolo; Kucka (Sprocati 86), Scozzarella (Stulac 76), Barillà; Gervinho, Inglese, Biabiany (Siligardi 56).
Subs not used: Frattali, Bagheria, Gobbi, Dimarco, Gazzola, Machin, Dezi, Davordzie, Ceravolo.
Coach: D'Aversa.
REFEREE: Giacomelli
ASSISTANTS: Paganessi, Gori
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Piscopo
VAR: Chiffi, Di Iorio
YELLOW CARDS: Barillà 26, Scozzarella 73, Emre Can 90+1.