29 January 2023
The news before kick-off was positive with call-ups for Paul Pogba and Dušan Vlahović. However, the former would not set foot on the pitch, while the latter, as the team's fifth substitute, failed to find a way through the visitors' defence.
Juve were undone by Monza in the first half. Goals from Patrick Ciurria and Dany Mota gave the side from Brianza a two-goal lead at the interval, from which the Bianconer, try as they might, were unable to reduce after the break.
THE MATCH
Juventus set out to rediscover their winning touch in the league against the team they had defeated just 11 days ago in Coppa Italia.
Instead it was the visitors that looked more at home and found the net on 10 minutes through Gianluca Caprari. The Bianconeri were grateful for the introduction of the semi-automatic offside as the VAR signalled the slightest advantage of Caprari over Bremer. The goal was disallowed but Monza’s lead was only postponed.
On 13 minutes Juve showed some of the link-up play that has been a feature lately when Nicolò Fagioli burst from midfield, leaving three Monza players in his wake. His cross picked out Moise Kean, who shot wide.
Five minutes later Monza broke the deadlock. José Macìn played a pass in behind the Bianconeri rearguard for Patrick Ciurria to chase. Ciurria accepted the invitation and drilled a shot low past Szczęsny.
The Biancorossi continued to see more of the ball and doubled their lead with five minutes of the first half to play. Carlos Augusto won back possession on the half way line and sprinted forward undisturbed. The wing back fed a pass into the penalty area for Dany Motta. The striker rounded Szczęsny and placed the ball into an unguarded net.
In the second half, Juve had it all to do.
Massimiliano Allegri made three changes during the interval. Samuel Iling, Matias Soulé and Manuel Locatelli were quickly joined by Arek Milik as the Bianconeri made a fourth substitution before the hour mark.
The changes provided the needed impetus and Juventus finally built up pressure on the visitors’ defence. Locatelli unleashed a drive from the edge of the area, punched away by Michele De Gregori at full stretch.
The Monza keeper would thwart Juve four minutes later when Milik hit another effort from distance, and again with a one-handed save after Ángel Di María’s long-range effort seemed goal bound.
Juve eventually found a way beyond the Monza keeper but Bremer was in a clear offside position when he tapped the ball into the net after Rabiot had forced yet another save. In stretching for the ball Milik picked up an injury, which would see him limp off and Juve finish with 10 on the pitch.
Monza saw out the final minutes to collect home and away wins and become only the second side to win their first two matches in Serie A over Juve since Inter in 1930.
JUVENTUS 0-2 MONZA (HT: 0-2)
Scorers: 18’ Ciurria, 39’ Mota Carvalho.
JUVENTUS: Szczesny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; De Sciglio (64' Vlahovic), Fagioli (46' Soulé), Paredes (46' Locatelli), Rabiot, Kostic (46' Iling-Junior); Di Maria, Kean (58' Milik). Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, Pogba, Alex Sandro, Miretti, Rugani. Coach: Allegri.
MONZA: Di Gregorio; Izzo, Pablo Marì, Caldirola (24' st Marlon); Ciurria (32' st Birindelli), Machin, (32' st Ranocchia) Rovella (14' st Sensi), Carlos Augusto; Pessina, Caprari (25' st Petagna); Mota Carvalho. Subs not used: Cragno, Sorrentino, Donati, Barberis, Gytkjaer, Valoti, Antov, Colpani, Carboni, D'Alessandro. Coach: Palladino.
Referee: Aureliano
BOOKINGS: 69' Caprari (M), 78' Sensi (M).
