12 May 2024
Juventus collected a fifth straight draw in Serie A with a 1-1 stalemate with Salernitana.
Adrien Rabiot snatched the equaliser in stoppage time to reward a Juve onslaught on the visitors’ goal after Niccolò Pierozzi’s first Serie A goal had given Stefano Colantuono’s side a half-time advantage.
After hitting the woodwork three times throughout the match, Juventus eventually found the leveller from a close range finish from Rabiot.
THE MATCH
The Allianz Stadium although bathed in sunlight was also the scene of a heavy downpour just after kick-off. The contradicting weather conditions summed up Juve’s first half against Salernitana - plenty of possession but little to show for it.
The pattern of the game could have been altered early on. On eight minutes Dusan Vlahovic let fly from outside the penalty area. His powerful drive cracked off the underside of the crossbar.
Salernitana earned a corner kick on 25 minutes. Niccolò Pierozzi was left unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box, where he turned his header goalwards. Although Wojciech Szczesny scrambled across his line to put hands on the ball, he couldn’t keep if from creeping in at his near post.
For the third match this season, Juve found themselves trailing to Salernitana.
The situation could have been worse on 36 minutes. The visitors played a swift counter attack with Loum Tchaouna sending Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi through on goal. The striker’s first touch allowed Szczesny the opportunity to block the danger.
Just before the break the Bianconeri displayed their intentions for the remainder of the match. Andrea Cambiaso cut in from the right only for his shot to kiss the outside of the post.
Forward momentum was increased at the start of the second half with the introduction of Samuel Iling, Fabio Miretti and Federico Chiesa. It was Chiesa on the hour that threaded a pass into the path of Vlahovic who pushed his shot agnonisingly wide of the far post.
The same two were at the heart of Juve’s next two attempts to find an equaliser. Chiesa hit a shot from the edge of the area, which took a slight deflection before whistling wide. Vlahovc then flighted in a free-kick which was met by Federico Gatti, whose header from six yards out went over the bar.
Still Juve piled on the pressure and still Salernitana held on to their slender lead. Cambiaso teased in a cross just inches away from Vlahovic in full flight. The number nine was soon replaced by Arkadiusz Milik, who was picked out by fellow sub Kenan Yildiz. The striker was denied by a one-handed save.
As the game ticked into the closing minutes, another shot came crashing off the frame of the goal. Miretti this time was the player frustrated. His piledriver, like Vlahovic’s, rattled the underside of the crossbar.
However, in the first minute of stoppage time, Juve finally pulled level. An Iling corner was flicked across the face of goal and Rabiot pounced at the far post to steer his shot home.
Attention will now switch from Serie A to the Coppa Italia, with the final against Atalanta on Wednesday.
JUVENTUS 1-1 SALERNITANA (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: 26′ Pierozzi, 90+1′ Rabiot
JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Rugani (75′ Yildiz); Cambiaso, McKennie (46′ Miretti), Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic (46′ Iling Jr); Kean (46′ Chiesa), Vlahovic (75′ Milik). Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, Alcaraz, Djalo, Nicolussi Caviglia. Coach: Allegri.
SALERNITANA: Fiorillo; Pierozzi, Fazio (C), Pirola; Sambia (89′ Pellegrino), Coulibaly, Basic, Zanoli (89′ Pasalidis); Tchaouna, Vignato (64′ Legowski); Ikwuemesi (72′ Kastanos). Subs not used: Costil, Salvati, Simy, Weissmann, Sfait, Ferrari, Di Vico. Coach: Colantuono.
Referee: Santoro
Bookings: 21′ Vlahovic, 23′ Rabiot, 67′ Zanoli , 84′ Sambia, 85′ Fiorillo 90+1′ Pasalidis, 90+6′ Basic
