22 August 2022
An opponent that Juventus had managed to score at least two goals against in all of the previous six meetings managed to hold back the Bianconeri attack over 90+7 minutes as Samp held Juve to a goalless draw for the first time since January 2011. Restored to the starting line-up, Adrien Rabiot thought he had scored his first goal in Serie A since May 2021 but the French midfielder’s frustration at the VAR decision to rule out his effort reflected the overall frustration of the team at their inability to break down a stubborn Samp defence.
PERIN TO THE RESCUE
The Sampdoria fans had built up an intense atmosphere in the cauldron that is the Luigi Ferraris, and the home side almost got off to a flying start. However, after his seven saves last week Mattia Perin proved up to the task once again. The goalkeeper raced out to the edge of his six-yard area to close down Mehdi Leris who had been picked out by a defence splitting pass from Abdelhamid Sabiri. Perin deflected the shot on to the crossbar and gratefully clutched the rebound.
GOALKEEPERS ON TOP
Juve responded with a gilt-edged chance of their own. Juan Cuadrado caught Tommaso Augello napping and bore down on goal. The number 11 chose to go it alone, but his fierce drive was hit straight at Emil Audero, who at the second attempt smothered the danger.
The Bianconeri tried to release Filip Kostić on the left flank but the 4-1-4-1 formation set out by Marco Giampaolo was keeping the Serbian winger under careful observation. However, he did find space to hit a shot, with his right foot, which after a deflection was looping in under the crossbar until Audero tipped it over for a corner. Again Kostić provided the danger with under 10 minutes remaining of the opening half. His run to the byeline sowed panic in the Samp defence. The cutback was met on the volley by Adrien Rabiot, who forced another save from Audero.
To make the breakthrough, Juve needed a spark of invention.
FRUSTRATION FOR RABIOT AND FOR JUVE
Five minutes after the restart Dušan Vlahović found some space in the Samp box, but fired his shot wide. Still, it demonstrated that Juve had increased the tempo and set siege to the home goal. 10 minutes later, Vlahović was again involved in what appeared to be the breakthrough. The striker’s cross was met by Rabiot who steered the ball into the net. The players celebrated, the fans celebrated, but VAR intervened to curb the enthusiasm. Vlahović had received the pass in an offside position - the goal was chalked off.
Perin had become a spectator as the Bianconeri continued to drive forward, but Samp’s covering play was effective.
As the game headed into the six minutes of time added on, Nicolò Rovella pulled the trigger from the edge of the area, but his effort dipped over the bar. Then, deep into stoppages a cross from Moise Kean was met at the far post by Kostić but his volley was parried to safety by Audero.
There was to be no way through for Juventus, who headed back to Turin with two clean sheets from two matches, but two points dropped at the Ferraris.
SAMPDORIA 0-0 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-0)
SAMPDORIA: Audero; Bereszynski, Ferrari, Colley, Augello (72′ Murru); Vieira (78′ Depaoli); Leris, Rincon (67′ Verre), Sabiri, Djuricic (72′ Villar); Caputo (78′ Quagliarella).
Subs not used: Contini, Ravaglia, Murillo, Gabbiadini, Yepes, Malagrida.
Coach: Giampaolo.
JUVENTUS: Perin; Danilo, Rugani, Bremer, Alex Sandro (46′ De Sciglio); McKennie (62′ Miretti), Locatelli (84′ Rovella), Rabiot; Cuadrado (76′ Kean), Vlahovic, Kostic.
Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Garofani, Gatti, Bonucci, Zakaria, Soulè, Fagioli.
Coach: Allegri.
REFEREE: Abisso.
ASSISTANTS: Palermo, Zingarelli.
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Cosso.
VAR: Banti, Lo Cicero.
BOOKINGS: 41’ Djuricic (S), 44’ Alex Sandro (J), 61’ Leris (S), 87’ Verre (S), 90+1’ Rovella (J)
