11 January 2025
Kenan Yildiz's exquisite opening goal was not enough: Juve were held to a 1-1 draw by Torino at the Stadio Olimpico and, after so many consecutive Bianconeri victories, the Derby della Mole ends in a tie on this occasion.
YILDIZ SETS THE GAME ALIGHT
It was an intense first half at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin. Juve, who started well, were able to take the lead in the 8th minute with a great goal from Kenan Yildiz: the Turkish forward lit up the evening with a fantastic piece of individual brilliance as, after beating two defenders, he finished with a left-footed shot that caught Vanja Milinkovic-Savic off guard at the near post. The goal, an example of extraordinary technique and determination, allowed the Bianconeri to take control of the game in the opening stages.
Torino, however, did not stand idly by, and tried to respond with efforts from Nikola Vlasic and Yann Karamoh, supported by Valentino Lazaro and Borna Sosa’s flurries forward in wide areas. Karol Linetty squandered a chance in the 14th minute, shooting over the crossbar from close range after latching onto a loose ball in the box, while Juventus saw their second goal of tha game in the 20th minute by Nico Gonzalez ruled out for offside, who had done well to dispatch Samuel Mbangula’s pass.
TORINO'S REACTION AND EQUALISER
Torino pushed higher up the pitch as half timed edged closer, increasing the pressure on the Juve defence. A header by Lazaro in the 24th minute and another dangerous run by the Torino wideman served to keep the Bianconeri defence alert. Juve remained a threat however, in the 31st minute, Federico Gatti came close to scoring at the end of a free flowing counter-attack, but his header went just wide.
In the final minutes of the half, however, the Bianconeri were pegged back. In the 46th minute, Karamoh broke through down the left and found Vlasic, who, with a powerful left-footed half-volley, slotted in at the far post, equalising just before the interval. It was the goal that sent the teams into the dressing room at 1-1, leaving it all to play for in the second half.
The second half started with Torino determined to make the most of their momentum following Vlasic's goal at the end of the first half. Paolo Vanoli's team immediately pressed very high and aggressively, causing problems for the Bianconeri defence. Guillermo Maripan had a chance in the 52nd minute, put his effort was saved comfortably by Michele Di Gregorio. The Granata's pressing continued in the first 15 minutes of the second period, with Karamoh dragging his shot wide in the 54th minute, and an energetic Torino earning their eighth corner in just the 51st minute of the game.
After an initial phase of suffering, Juventus found their rhythm again. Yildiz, always one of the brightest sparks, broke free between the lines and came close to scoring in the 63rd minute with a powerful right-footed strike that flew just over the crossbar. Just a few moments later in the 66th minute, Teun Koopmeiners attempted a shot from distance that Milinkovic-Savic was able to prevent thanks to a strong save. The Bianconeri, while creating chances, were unable to find the decisive goal, mainly due to the solid performance from the Granata goalkeeper.
A NERVY ENDING WIHOUT A WINNER
It was Juve’s turn to press in the closing stages as they looked for a winner. Mbangula ran down the left channel in the 75th minute before playing a perfect cross to Nico Gonzalez, whose shot was saved by a very alert Milinkovic-Savic. Again Timothy Weah, who came on in the 76th minute, put the Granata goalkeeper to the test in the 78th minute, but the goalkeeper stood strong.
Torino reacted strongly and responded through dangerous counter-attacks. Alieu Njie attempted a threatening cross-shot in the 89th minute which earned his team a corner, while Juventus’ last attack came through Andrea Cambiaso, whose attempt in the 87th minute was blocked without any problems.
There were no further thrills, as the Derby ended in a draw.
TORINO 1-1 JUVENTUS
Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Saturday 11 January, 2024 at 18:00 (CET)
Serie A – Matchday 20
Goals: 8’ Yildiz (J), 45+1’ Vlasic (T)
Torino: Milinkovic-Savic, Vojvoda, Maripan, Coco, Sosa (90+1’ Walukiewicz), Lazaro (90+1’ Njie), Ricci, Linetty (72’ Tameze), Karamoh (62’ Pedersen), Vlasic, Adams (90+1’ Sanabria)
Unused Substitutes: Paleari, Masina, Donnarumma, Dembele, Perciun, Vecchia.
Coach: Paolo Vanoli.
Juventus: Di Gregorio, Savona (71’ Cambiaso), Gatti, Kalulu, McKennie, Douglas Luiz, Thuram, Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Mbangula (77’ Weah), Nico Gonzalez.
Unused Substitutes: Perim, Adzic, Fagioli, Pinsoglio, Rouhi.
Coach: Thiago Motta.
Referee: Michael Fabri
Assistants: Marcello Rossi, Luigi Rossi
Fourth Official: Giovanni Ayroldi
Bookings: 26’ Vojvoda (T), 48’ Coco (T), 62’ Douglas Luiz (J), 69’ Linetty (T), 90+5’ Walukiewicz (T)
Next Match:
Atalanta-Juventus
Serie A – Matchday 21
Tuesday, 14 January, 2024 at 20:45 (CET)
Gewiss Stadium
