26 October 2019
Juve had to settle for a point in Lecce as the home side held on to claim a 1-1 draw. The Bianconeri bossed the game for long spells and fashioned numerous chances but couldn't break the deadlock until the second half, when Paulo Dybala converted from the spot. Shortly afterwards Marco Mancosu levelled matters from 12 yards to inflict a second draw of the season on Maurizio Sarri's men.
JUVE MISFIRING
Maurizio Sarri brought Danilo into the starting line-up at right-back while Emre Can and Rodrigo Bentancur began either side of Miralem Pjanic in midfield. Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuian formed the front two with Federico Bernadeschi in the hole behind them.
Lecce made a lively start to the encounter and theirs was the first shot on goal as Jacopo Petriccione struck a powerful effort down the middle, which Wojciech Szczesny beat away.
The hosts maintained a high tempo while Juve seemed slightly distracted initially but the game was enjoyable to watch and Juve were afforded space to attack. Bernardeschi and Dybala were denied by a series of ricochets then Higuain turned in from close range, only for VAR to spot an offside position.
Once Sarri's side got into their rhythm, it was all one-way traffic. Dybala picked out Higuain but El Pipita couldn't get the right angle on his shot. Dybala then lifted an effort of his own over the bar and when he did get one on target Gabriel turned it behind for a corner.
After 30 minutes of fast-paced attacking play, the tempo inevitably dropped and the teams headed in for the break with the game still goalless.
TIT FOR TAT FROM 12 YARDS
When play resumed, Juve upped the pace and took the lead after just five minutes. Petriccione slid in hard on Pjanic on the edge of the box and Paolo Valeri awarded a penalty after checking with VAR. La Joya stepped up and placed the ball just inside the post.
Lecce responded with a fierce effort by Mancosu which forced Szczesny into a save at the near post and moments later the Lecce skipper was handed a golden opportunity to tie the scores when a cross deflected off Fabio Lucioni onto Matthijs de Ligt's arm. Valeri pointed to the spot and Mancosu made no mistake.
JUVE GO FOR IT, LECCE HOLD ON
Sarri brought on Juan Cuadrado for Danilo and soon after Juve had a great chance to restore their lead. Alex Sandro picked out Bernardeschi's run, the Italian showed a superb first touch to bring the ball under control, then rounded the keeper only to rattle the outside of the post with his finish.
Pjanic was forced off with a muscle injury and Sami Khedira came on in his place, while Adrien Rabiot took over from Emre Can.
By this point Juve were the only side attacking but it just wasn't going for them. Leonardo Bonucci lifted his shot high over the bar from a few yards out, Dybala curled a delightful finish just wide and De Ligt was unable to direct his header properly from Bernardeschi's cross.
Juve thus left Puglia with a single point knowing that with a touch more accuracy it could have been all three.
LECCE 1-1 JUVENTUS (HT 0-0) SCORERS: Dybala 50 (pen), Mancosu 56 (pen)
LECCE Gabriel; Meccariello (Rispoli 71), Lucioni, Rossettini, Calderoni; Majer (Tabanelli 59), Petriccione, Tachtsidis; Mancosu; Farias, Babacar Subs not used: Vigorito, Benzar, Riccardi, Dell'Orco, Vera, Shakhov, Lo Faso, La Mantia, Falco, Lapadula Coach: Liverani
JUVENTUS
Szczesny; Danilo (Cuadrado 59), Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Emre Can (Rabiot 66), Pjanic (Khedira 67), Bentancur; Bernardeschi; Dybala, Higuain Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Buffon, De Sciglio, Rugani, Demiral, Matuidi, Olivieri, Han Coach: Sarri REFEREE: Valeri ASSISTANTS: Alassio, Paganessi FOURTH OFFICIAL: Massimi VAR: Pasqua, Di Volo BOOKED: Calderoni 13, Rossettini 18, Mancosu 73, Bernardeschi 79, Lapadula 87
