03 April 2021
Derby della Mole points were shared as Juventus and Torino played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday evening at the Stadio Olimpico. Chiesa opened the scoring, but Torino responded with two goals from Sanabria, before Cristiano Ronaldo drew level.
CHIESA OPENS THE SCORING
It was almost a dream start for the Bianconeri, who saw Morata’s shot in the second minute of play saved by the feet of Sirigu. A second chance followed shortly after when Ronaldo nodded the ball back to an unmarked Chiesa inside the box and he blazed his volley over the target. Torino’s responded with a chance of their own in the sixth minute when Ansaldi blasted his effort just wide of the back post. Chiesa was arguably the most dangerous player for Juventus, and he made it 1-0 in the 13th minute for the Bianconeri. He was involved in a give-and-go with Morata, who played the ball back to him on the edge of the box, as he burst in and slotted the ball between the legs of Sirigu.
SANABRIA PULLS ONE BACK
It was a thrilling half and Torino pulled one back in the 27th minute: Mandragora unleashed a screamer from distance, which Szczesny beat away with a hand, but Sanabria was there on the last man and he beat Alex Sandro to nod in the rebound from a yard out. Juve then forced a save on Sirigu when Morata’s downwards header from Cuadrado’s cross was blocked by the keeper.
SANABRIA POUNCES AGAIN
Torino started the second half with a goal scored just seconds after kick-off: Sanabria intercepted Kulusevski’s misplaced pass and he burst forward into the box, where he unleashed an unstoppable ball that beat Szczesny. Juventus were pushing for an equalizer and Ronaldo was painstakingly denied by Sirigu after he fingertipped his glancing header over the bar. The Portuguese turned another header over the bar, before Pirlo opted for a double change in bringing on Bernardeschi and Ramsey for Kulusevski and Danilo.
RONALDO MAKES IT 2-2
Ronaldo had the ball in the back of the net in the 80th minute after he headed home Bernardeschi’s cross: the offside flag had originally been raised but VAR deemed it to be onside, putting the scoreline equal. It so nearly became 3-2 in favour of Juve after Betancur’s ferocious shot rattled the post after Sirigu got a touch onto it. Sanabria threatened again with a ferocious header, which Tek brilliantly fingertipped over the bar. The final chance of the game ended with a curling Baselli free-kick that looked destined to go into the top corner, but fortunately Szczesny made a great save to ensure the points were shared.
TORINO (3-4-1-2): Sirigu; Izzo, Bremer, Buongiorno; Vojvoda, Mandragora, Rincon, Ansaldi; Verdi; Belotti, Sanabria
JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Szczesny; Cuadrado, De Ligt, Chiellini, Alex Sandro (Rabiot 87’); Kulusevski (Bernardeschi 71’), Danilo (Ramsey 71’), Bentancur, Chiesa; Morata, Ronaldo.
Subs: Pinsoglio, Israel, Dragusin, De Marino, Frabotta, Di Pardo, Rabiot, Fagioli, Bernardeschi, Ramsey, Felix Correia
