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Juventus hosted Sporting CP in the champions league today and the side was desperate for a win. This was after Juventus failed to pick up three points in their first three games. This was due to two draws with Villarreal and Dortmund, to go along with a loss to Madrid. This left Juventus sitting outside the top 24 qualifying places.

Juventus didn’t manage to pick up the three points that they desperately needed today. Luciano Spalleti first game in charge of Juventus in Europe saw the side conceded after just twelve minutes. Left back, Maximiliano Arajuo gave, Sporting the lead however they wouldn’t to manage to hold on to it.

Juventus equalised in the 30th minute through Dusan Vlahovic. Vlahovic failed to make the most of some half chances before the goal, but Thuram run down the left and cross it in to find Dusan. Juventus could have scored after this with the team going full pelt to find an equaliser.

The team took their foot of the gas after the goal, choosing to play balanced to not put themselves behind. Even with this though, Juventus were still likely the better side until the end of the game, they failed to find a goal. Yildiz, Vlahovic and Conciecao worked to find some chances with Juventus having eighteen shots on goal to Sporting’s four, yet they still couldn’t find the net.

Player ratings 

Michele Di Gregorio – 4.5: Michele Di Gregorio failed to have a major impact on the game as Juventus spent a lot of it attacking. Maybe he could have done better for Sporting’s goal but he won’t lose sleep over it. He wasn’t used in build up and had very little saves to make.

Teun Koopmeiners – 5: Teun Koopmeiners played as a centre back for the second time under Spalleti, and he looked like he was still trying to figure out the role. Which is understandable considering Spallti has been in the job for only a week and Koopmeiners has been hugely shifted. He did his defensive duties very well, he just wasn’t sure when to make moves up the pitch to help the attack.

Federico Gatti – 4.5: Federico Gatti had a very similar game to Michele Di Gregorio as he failed to stamp his foot on the game. Spalleti looked to build up wide which left Gatti useless at the centre of the park, and Juventus played the game on the front foot so a lot of his defensive skills weren’t needed.

Pierre Kalulu – 6.5: Kalulu was the best of the defenders as he managed to understand his role well. He defended and attacked at right as his former postion at fullback made him fit for this role. He had a strong connection with Chico on the right.

Andrea Cambiaso – 6: Andrea Cambiaso is improving his form under Spaletti as he clearly understands his tactically duties better, as the role fits him more than Tudor system. He was confident on both sides on the ball and was very reliable. However, it is hard to score him higher as he didn’t have a huge impact on the game like some others.

Khepren Thuram – 6: Khepren Thuram was vital to Juventus going ahead creating the goal with his attacking of the left channel. Other than that his game was still very solid but his decision making lacked some times because Juventus needed the goal and three points. He was urgent to shoot at times when he needed to take a touch or two and then asses, this is why he has to be marked down.

Manuel Locatelli – 6.5: Manuel Locatelli made up the midfield with Thuram and it was clear to see his experience in close games over Thuram helped him to keep his head and dictate the game. While I admit he didnt have the attacking power of Thuram he was more balanced of both ends and made better decisions bumping him ahead of Khepren.

Weston Mckennie – 5.5: Weston Mckennie was vital to Spaletti’s system today, as he worked hard on both ends of the ball using his running to put him a step ahead of his competition. However, even with all this running he failed to find much of the ball for his efforts so struggled to have a huge impact, lowering his rating.

Kenan Yildiz – 6: Kenan Yildiz came back from a minor injury which mean’t he missed the Cremonese game, Spalletis first. You could tell as he looked rusty and unaware of Spalletis system for most of the first half. In the second half he showed more life to his play but still failed to have a huge impact as he failed to bring the rest of the attack with him at times, isolating himself.

Francisco Conciecao – 6.5: Francisco Conceicao earned his first start under Spalleti after coming off the bench against Cremonese. Chico had everything that Yildiz didn’t settling into the game well, understanding the system and working with the team. However, he lacked some of Yildiz explosiveness, so he couldn’t find a goal or assist.

Dusan Vlahovic – 7: Dusan Vlahovic showed some of his class that he failed to have at the start of this season under Tudor. Before his goal he had some good chances which he could have put away if not for defensive intervention. His goal was well taken but after that the whole team slowed down and he didn/t have a huge impact after that.

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Match Coverage

Inter Milan 2-0 Genoa: Match Report and Player Ratings

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Inter Milan faced Genoa today, as they look to put the loss to Bodo Glimt behind them. They would start off doing so by dominating the early stretch of the game. But they struggled to score, coming so close with Justin Bijlow making some great saves to keep them out.

It looked like Inter would lose their heads, especially coming off a loss. Instead they pushed through and managed to find a goal thanks to Federico Dimarco. Henrik Mkhitaryan chipped the ball over the defensive line, who found Dimarco who hit it first time on the volley across the goal into the bottom left.

Inter would slow down in the second half as they look to control the game. However in doing so they slowly let Genoa back into. But Genoa struggled to create any real chances during the game to find an equaliser to the game.

Inter would look to pounce on this poor play from Genoa taking small chances when they could. This led to Inter being awarded a penalty in the 68th minute for a handball from Amorim. Of course Hakan Çalhanoglu would step up and slot it home into the bottom right corner. Inter would then see the game out with ease with a two goal advantage.

Player Ratings

The Best

Federico Dimarco – 7.5: Dimarco had another stellar performance for Inter Milan at home in the San Siro. His goal was a magical finish with a low volley across the goal finding the bottom right corner.

Henrik Mkhitaryan- 6.5:  Mkhitaryan controlled the midfield for Inter Milan while he was on the pitch. He broke the line well for Inter multiple times including the goal while also moving the ball from defence.

Justin Bijlow – 6.5: Bijlow had a stellar performance for Inter in between the sticks. The first goal was also impossible to save, and the second was a penalty where he went the wrong way. However, he made some big saves during the game to stop it from getting to three or four nil.

The Worst

Marcus Thuram – 5: Marcus Thuram failed to have a strong input on today’s game. This come as it seems his head has been outside of Milan for a while as he struggled again.

Tommaso Baldanzi – 5: Baldanzi failed to have a big impact on today’s game as most of attack came through Genoa’s strikers. He failed to be the link from the midfield to the attack which hurt Genoa.

Amorim – 4: Amorim came on to start the second half and had a terrible half. He failed to get a hold of the game seeming a second behind most the time, and given away the penalty to Inter Milan.

 

 

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Match Coverage

Hellas Verona 1-2 Napoli: Match Report and Player Ratings

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Hellas Verona hosted Napoli today in the third game of match week 27. Verona were chasing an upset result against Napoli. This came as they were winless in their last five games with only one draw. However, their hopes of going so were dashed quickly. It would take Napoli only two minutes to break the dreadlock.

They did so on their first chance of the game through a header with Rasmus Hojlund. This came as he held play up to allow Matteo Politano to cross it in to Antonio Vergara. Vergara then played the ball to Hojlund who put the ball over the keeper to the left post to give Napoli the lead.

Napoli would continue the attacking pressure on for the rest of the first half. However, they failed to create any real big chances to score from. Meanwhile Verona slowly worked themselves into the game at home, having some minor attacks, but not creating any big chances. The second half would be much of the same with Napoli having the better of the chances.

However, Hellas Verona slowly and slowly worked themselves more into this game. This came to a head in the 64th minute when Verona won a corner. Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro would find the ball at the edge of the box after a headed clearance. He would hit the ball first time on the half volley and after a deflection he would find the back of the net to equalise for Verona.

But, the game was not over there as Napoli went back on the attack to look for a winner. It seemed that they weren’t going to find one getting locked out of Verona’s goal until the 94th minute. Then, Napoli took a corner short, which led to a low cross from Giovane Nascimento which Romelu Lukaku tucked away with the last kick of the game.

Player Ratings:

The Best

Rasmus Hojlund -7.5: Rasmus Hojlund was a standout player for Napoli today from kickoff. Hojlund scored in the second minute and was key in buildup holding up the play for the full 90.

Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro – 7: Akpa Akpro was key in the midfield for Verona today as he looked to control play through the middle. His goal was a well taken bonus to an already great performance.

Antonio Vergara – 6.5: Vergara started off the game well for Napoli assisting their goal in the second minute. He wouldn’t stop there however creating plenty of half chances but not being able to score.

The Worst

Kieron Bowie – 4.5: Bowie created very little in terms of offensive production for Verona today. Even when they where on the attack he did very little and he couldn’t hold up or create play as well as Amin Sarr did.

Stanislav Lobotka – 4: Lobotka looked invisible today in Napolis midfield as Elmas picked up most of the work. He had a couple of good moments but nothing to write home about, likely due to tired legs as he has played heavily for Napoli due to squad injuries.

Domagoj Bradaric – 4: Bradaric similar to Lobotka struggled to have a real effect on the game for Verona today. He started well but failed to build on it for the rest of the game, losing a hold of play and being dominated on the flank by Politano.

 

 

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Match Coverage

Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus: Match Report

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Juventus traveled to Turkey today to face Galatasaray in the first leg of the Champions League round of 32. Galatasaray started the game with the fair share of the ball, as they looked to score at home. However, they wouldn’t be able to do so not being able to create a lot of real chances.

This was until the 15th minute, when Juventus turned the ball over deep in their own half from in the 15th minute. This led to Gabriel Sara being found open in the box to finish it away to the bottom corner. Juventus would respond straight away however, as a Andrea Cambiaso cross, found Pierre Kalulu who gave Koopmeiners an empty net to finish.

Juventus wouldn’t stop there however, as they looked to give themselves the lead away from home. Koopmeiners was able to find a second goal for Juventus. This came after Weston Mckennie freed him up with a 1-2 which gave him room to finish at the edge of the box.

Galatasaray would look to respond, before the end of the half but would fail to find a goal. This is despite Glieson Bremer coming off due to injury in the 33rd minute. However, they would be able to in the second half as Noa Lang would finish a rebound from Michele Di Gregorio in the six yard box to equalise in the 49th minute.

But, Galatasaray didn’t just want a draw at home instead wanted to win before travelling to Turin. This led to them pressing for a third goal, which they would find. Juan Cabal gave away a free kick at the edge of the Galatasary box, which was sent in and headed home by Davison Sanchez.

Juventus would push to equalise after the goal, creating a few quick chances, and a couple of corners as they aimed to tie the game ahead of the second leg. However, Juventus would only make it harder for themselves as in the 66th minute Juan Cabal would receive his second yellow card and be sent off, after coming on at halftime.

Juventus would struggle down to 10 men as Galatasaray kept on pushing in the second half. There high press found another goal for Noa Lang in the 74th minute, after Khepren Thuram turned over the ball in his own box, and the goal was an easy finish. Galatasaray wouldn’t stop there as Sacha Boey would find a fifth after coming off the bench in the 83rd minute. This would see the game end with Juventus needing to win by three goals in Turin to advance.

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