31 August 2019
A dramatic and entertaining match at Allianz Stadium saw Juventus claim all three crucial points against Napoli, securing a 4-3 win. It was goals galore in Turin as Danilo, Gonzalo Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo, along with an own goal from Kalidou Koulibaly, meant that the reigning Italian Champions were able to celebrate a crucial victory.
The Bianconeri took to the field for the first time on home soil this evening without their skipper, Giorgio Chiellini, who suffered a knee injury on the eve of the match. In his place, Matthijs de Ligt was given his Serie A debut. Also absent from the bench was Maurizio Sarri, who is still recovering from pneumonia, but he was present at the stadium with Giovanni Martusciello standing in for him.
The atmosphere was electric from the first minute of the game, and it seemed only fitting that the first chance of the game fell to the hosts. Cristiano Ronaldo made a pacey run into the box before unleashing a powerful drive which forced Meret to parry it away, after just four minutes. Napoli then had an excellent chance of their won 10 minutes later, but where denied brilliantly by the outstretched arm of Szczesny, who beat away Allan’s effort.
FIRST DANILO, THEN PIPITA!
Danilo was then introduced into the game in place of Mattia de Sciglio, in the 12th minute, and he immediately made an impact by finding the back of the net on his debut, following a great run and assist by Douglas Costa. Two minutes later, Juventus doubled their lead when Gonzalo Higuain was served the ball inside the box. The Argentine did brilliantly well to feint his defender, turn on the ball and direct the ball over Meret to send the stadium into joyous eruption.
KHEDIRA DENIED TWICE
The Bianconeri were simply firing on all cylinders with their pacey attacking movements, and they came close to going 3-0 up when Higuain pulled the ball back for the onrushing Khedira in the box. But as the German took aim, Meret rushed out and denied him! Khedira saw another effort of his denied on the stroke of the half hour, when he turned on the edge of the box and fired straight at goal. Meret was beaten but he was denied by the crossbar.
DETERMINED NAPOLI AFTER THE BREAK
Carlo Ancelotti introduced Mario Rui and Lozano after the interval, and they immediately looked more settled and determined in their approach. This allowed them to have two shots on goal in quick succession through Di Lorenzo and Mertens: the first was saved by Tek, the second went wide. The Bianconero shot-stopper was then called into action again in the 55th minute when he palmed Dries Mertens’ effort over the post.
RONALDO MAKES IT 3-0
Emre Can was introduced into the game on the hour mark, after replacing Khedira, who came off with a standing ovation. The Bianconeri then went three goals clear when Cristiano Ronaldo added the third goal of the game. Douglas Costa pulled the ball back from the byline, and directed it to Ronaldo, who then pulled away from his marker and fired in!
NAPOLI FIGHT BACK FOR 3-3
Napoli thought they had secured themselves a point when they scored three goals in the space of 20 odd minutes. Manolas nodded home an effort into the back of the net, before Lozano converted his effort after a Zielinski assist, to turn the scoreline to 3-2. Dybala was then introduced into the game in place of Higuain, but that didn’t stop Napoli from fighting their way back into the game. The scoreline then changed to 3-3 in the 81st minute of the game when Di Lorenzo got onto the end of Zielinski’s cross and pushed it over the line.
KOULIBALY HANDS JUVE ALL THREE POINTS
That strike looked as if it was to be the final goal of the game, but if this game had proven anything, is that it was unpredictable and that was surely the case when Kalidou Koulibaly turned the ball into the back of his own net deep into stoppage time to hand the Bianconeri a 4-3 win!
Juventus: Szczesny; De Sciglio (Danilo 12’), Bonucci, de Ligt, Alex Sandro; Khedira (Emre Can 60’), Pjanic, Matuidi; Douglas Costa, Higuain (Dybala 75’), Ronaldo
Substitutes: Pinsoglio, Buffon, Rugani, Demiral, Danilo, Emre Can, Rabiot, Bentancur, Cuadrado, Bernardeschi, Dybala, Mandzukic
Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly, Ghoulam (Mario Rui 46’), Allan (Elmas 73’), Zielinski, Callejon, Fabian, Insigne (Lozano 46’), Mertens
Substitutes: Ospina, Karnezis, Hysaj, Luperto, Maksimovic, Malcuit, Mario Rui, Elmas, Gaetano, Verdi, Lozano, Younes
