A well-organised, motivated and mature Sassuolo side overcame Juve at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday by taking advantage of the space left by the hosts in the closing stages. The result did not flatter the visitors, who performed with character throughout and were not fazed by Weston McKennie’s equaliser with 75 minutes on the clock. Juve may have deserved a point given the team’s endeavour in the central channel in the second half, but the desperate hunt for a winner proved costly for Max Allegri’s side.
FRATTESI’S OPENER FOR SASSUOLO
The Bianconeri did make a decent start to the game and showed aggression, with Leonardo Bonucci and Alvaro Morata getting into good positions, only to be thwarted by the offside flag. Allegri was forced into an early change when Mattia De Sciglio suffered an injury and was replaced by Alex Sandro. Domenico Berardi showed his intent in the first half by unleashing a powerful strike on his left foot that Mattia Perin did well to push around the post. Adrien Rabiot’s header went straight at the goalkeeper, but the flag was up for offside. The ball dropped to Federico Chiesa in the box in the 40th minute, but the Italian failed to connect well and his shot flew over the bar. Davide Frattesi fired Sassuolo into the lead just moments later with a low right-footed shot after Gregoire Drefel slotted him in on the stroke of half time.
MCKENNIE EQUALISES
Juve piled on the pressure in the second half after sending Juan Cuadrado on in place of Rabiot and shifting Chiesa to the left. The Colombian went close to an equaliser when his shot beat Andrea Consigli, but Kaan Ayhan was in the right place on the line to clear. The lively Kaio Jorge was sent on for Morata in the 63rd minute and showed his spark without any clear-cut chances coming his way. Sassuolo passed the ball around well and went close to doubling their advantage when Gianluca Scamacca’s shot nearly beat Perin. The hosts’ efforts to draw level were eventually rewarded when McKennie popped up in the 76th minute to head home a pinpoint Paulo Dybala free kick.
LOPEZ STRIKES LATE
Dejan Kulusevski and Arthur were introduced for the final ten minutes in place of Danilo and Manuel Locatelli in a bid to add attacking impetus to Juve’s attack, but it did not go to plan. Sassuolo defended resolutely, remained organised and were able to put together a lethal counter-attack in the final seconds with practically the last play of the game. Berardi played a crossfield pass to pick out Lopez, who burst into the box at pace and lifted the ball over the onrushing Perin to ensure the Neroverdi left Allianz Stadium with all three points.
JUVENTUS 1-2 SASSUOLO
SCORERS: Frattesi 44, McKennie 76, Lopez 90+5.
JUVENTUS
Perin; Danilo (Kulusevski 80), Bonucci, De Ligt, De Sciglio (Alex Sandro 58); Rabiot (Cuadrado 46), Locatelli (Arthur 80), McKennie, Chiesa; Dybala, Morata (Kaio Jorge 63).
Subs not used: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Chiellini, Pellegrini, Rugani, Ramsey, Bentancur.
Coach: Allegri.
SASSUOLO
Consigli; Muldur (Henrique 86), Ayhan, Ferrari, Rogerio; Frattesi (Toljan 72), Lopez; Berardi, Raspadori (Scamacca 62), Traore (Chiriches 86); Defrel (Harroui 72).
Subs not used: Satalino, Pegolo, Goldaniga, Magnanelli, Peluso, Toljan, Samele.
Coach: Dionisi.
REFEREE: Sacchi.
ASSISTANTS: Bottegoni, Rossi.
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Marcenaro.
VAR: Ghersini, Giua.
BOOKED: Defrel 30, Berardi 58, Rogerio 61, Cuadrado 63, Traore 72, Muldur 86.