11 December 2021
Alvaro Morata’s first-half strike gave the Bianconeri the lead, but Mattia Aramu’s leveller ensured the points were shared as Venezia and Juventus played out a 1-1 draw in their Serie A encounter on Saturday evening.
It took Juventus a few minutes to get going in the compact but picturesque Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, Venezia packing numbers behind the ball to block a number of early Bianconeri efforts on goal.
Massimiliano Allegri was forced to shuffle the pack as early as the 12th minute as captain on the night, Paulo Dybala, limped off with an injury, young Kaio Jorge introduced into the action early on. The Brazilian had an almost-immediate impact, Matthijs De Ligt heading a corner down to the young forward who stuck out a boot, as the ball ballooned over the bar.
Juan Cuadrado watched his shot from outside the box whizz wide moments later. While on the opposite flank, Luca Pellegrini was growing into the game, advancing into threatening positions down the left as he fed in Alvaro Morata, who from a tight angle got his shot away to force Romero into a sharp save at his near post.
The very same combination would link up with success in the 32nd minute, Morata getting in front of his man to connect with Pellegrini’s cross and steer the ball in at the near post, his second consecutive away goal giving the visitors the lead.
The Spaniard had a shot saved moments later, firing a grass-cutter straight at Romero who gratefully collected the arrowed strike.
Venezia’s attempts were few and far between, Thomas Henry, Domen Crnigoj and Marco Modolo all letting fly from range, but failing to threaten Wojciech Szczesny in the Juve goal, with Bianconeri doing well to contain Venezia’s advancements in the closing stages of the half.
In first-half additional time, the Bianconeri almost doubled their lead through Cuadrado, who found space to drive towards goal, lashing his effort across the face of goal and narrowly wide.
Venezia began the second stanza on the front foot, Gianluca Busio warming the hands of Szczesny six minutes in as I Lagurani continued to probe, their efforts paying off on 55 minutes as Ridgeciano Haps found teammate Mattia Aramu on the edge of the box, his first-time shot squeezing past Tek to bring the hosts level.
With their tails up, the Bianconeri backline was put under further pressure, Henry dragging his shot wide on 61 minutes as Venezia ventured forward I search of a second.
Juve were denied a golden chance to take the lead on 65 minutes, the ball falling kindly to Federico Bernardeschi in the box, his fierce volley from close range bringing out a fine reflexive save from Romero. Intelligent play from Morata saw the Spaniard intercept a poor clearance from Romero soon after as he put in a low cross which the Venezia defence hastily took off Kaio Jorge.
A triple substitution with 15 minutes to go saw Rodrigo Bentancur, Alex Sandro and Moise Kean enter the fray, the fresh legs adding impetus to the Juve attack who, try as they might, could not break down the resilient Venezia rearguard.
Youngster Matias Soulé joined the mix in the closing stages, the Argentine hitting his free-kick straight into the wall before blasting a long range strike wide as the clock ran down.
In the end, neither side could find a winner, the final score reading 1-1 as the two teams shared a point apiece.
VENEZIA 1-1 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-1)
SCORERS: Morata 32’; Aramu 55’
JUVENTUS
Line-up: Szczesny, De Sciglio, de Ligt, Pellegrini (Alex Sandro 76’) Bonucci, Cuadrado, Bernardeschi (Bentancur 76’), Rabiot, Locatelli (Soulé 87’), Morata, Dybala (Kaio Jorge 12’, Kean 76’)
Unused substitutes: Perin, Pinsoglio, Chiellini, Rugani, De Winter, Miretti.
VENEZIA
Line-up: Romero, Ebuehi (Mazzocchi 79’), Modolo, Caldara, Haps, Crnigoj (Peretz 80’) , Ampadu (Tessmann 64’), Busio, Aramu, Henry (Forte 79’), Johnsen (Kiyine 57’)
Unused substitutes: Lezzerini, Svoboda, Molinaro, Schnegg, Heymans, Bjarkason, Sigurðsson.
