Juventus 1-3 AS Roma
Champions Juventus lost their unbeaten home record tonight as an in-form Roma side took the Old Lady apart on the final day of the Serie A season.
Man of the match Diego Perotti scored twice and made an assist as Paulo Fonseca’s side finished the season with a win, but a much changed Juventus side lacked spark throughout the game. In normal circumstances Serie A: Juventus vs Roma under the floodlights, is a big, big match but with neither team under pressure for points, this was the best chance Roma had to beat Juventus in years.
And they took it in style!
Highlights of the game
Roma came into this game on a fine run of form but they made a shocking start when Gonzalo Higuain put the hosts ahead with just five minutes on the clock. It was a well worked set-piece as Adrien Rabot, back in the side after suspension, fired in a corner and Higuain poked home from close range.
Juve’s unbeaten home record looked safe, but Roma had other plans and they were back in the game on 23 minutes. Perotti swung over a corner and Nikola Kalinic rose highest to plant a firm header down and into the bottom right corner. And I Bianconeri went behind on the cusp of half time when former Manchester City defender Danilo fouled Riccardo Calafiori in the penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Perotti stepped up and slammed the ball into the bottom right corner to give the Romans a half time lead.
Nicolo Zaniolo had a lively first half and the 21 year old attacking midfielder was in the thick of the action early in the second period, making an assist in the 53rd minute. He found Perotti in space in the penalty area and the Argentine winger bagged his second with a low strike into the bottom right corner.
Juve came close to finding a way back into the game, on the hour, but midfielder Aaron Ramsay’s snap shot crashed back off the crossbar. But that was as near as the Old Lady came as Perotti searched for his hat-trick at the other end.
Key statistics
The pre-match Juventus vs Roma betting odds, here at SBOBET, had Roma as favourites at odds of 2.20 and once Perotti had slotted home his penalty to put the visitors in the lead, the result was never in doubt.
Roma won the shot count by 12 to 11 and six to three on target and thoroughly deserved their win.
A run of six wins and a draw from the last six games cemented Roma in fifth place in the La Liga table and they broke some sequences tonight.
This was I Bianconeri’s first home defeat in 28 games and the first time Roma has won here in nine years.
What’s next?
Fonseca’s men are in action again on Thursday in a Europa League clash against La Liga giants Sevilla. It’s a single leg tie to be held in the Schauinsland-Reisen Arena in Germany and Roma come up against a side in good form. Los Palanganas won five and drew one of their last six La Liga games to qualify for the 2020/21 Champions League.
I Bianconeri’s recent Serie A 2020 results haven’t been so impressive since they won their ninth consecutive Scudetto at a canter, but Maurizio Sarri needs his side to be on top form next week. They have a tricky task in the Champions League, with a Round of 16 second leg against Lyon to play. The French arrived with a one goal lead after Lucas Tousart struck at the Stade des Lumieres way back in February.
In the latter stages of a disappointing campaign Lyon were in seventh place, and ten points behind a Champions League place, when the COVID pandemic struck. And with Ligue 1 cancelled there is a danger that Rudi Garcia’s players may be a little undercooked when they arrive in Turin next Friday. Maurizio Sarri’s side is at odds of 1.79 to overturn the deficit and proceed to the quarter finals.
It’s been a disappointing evening for Juve but a good week off the pitch. One legend is returning to the Allianz Arena as part of next season’s management team. Former midfield ace Andrea Pirlo is back with Juventus as head of the club’s U23 team. It’s his first job in coaching and he’ll be a popular addition to the Old Lady’s top team, having had a successful stint as a player in Turin, winning four league titles and a Coppa Italia.
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