06 April 2018
JUVE LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK
After Juve fell 0-3 to Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek, Massimiliano Allegri’s men look to get things back on track when they face Benevento away from home in Serie A.
The Bianconeri’s last game in the league saw them claim an impressive 3-1 home victory over Milan at the Allianz Stadium. Paulo Dybala put Juve in front when his shot from distance caught Gianluigi Donnarumma cold in the Milan goal after eight minutes. The Rossoneri responded as former Juventus defender, Leonardo Bonucci headed in a corner to ensure both sides would go into the half level.
In the second half, substitute, Juan Cuadrado restored Juve’s advantage as he scored a bullet diving header with just over 10 minutes remaining on the clock. Sami Khedira then ensured that the game was sealed with a low angled drive into the corner of the goal. La Vecchia Signora’s win meant that they moved four points clear in first place after Napoli had earlier drawn 1-1 away at Sassuolo.
BENEVENTO CONTINUE TO FIGHT
Despite having been bottom of the Serie A table all season, the Stregoni are still mathematically capable of survival, having been able to pick up a few key wins. Infact, last time out Benevento were 3-0 winners at home against fellow strugglers, Hellas Verona. Defender, Gaetano Letizia got the home side off the mark in the 25th minute, before two second half goals from Mali striker, Cheick Diabate sealed Benevento’s fourth win of the season.
The Campania-based side were able to make a few reinforcements this year to aid their battle against the drop, with two high profile arrivals in the form of ex- Tottenham midfielder midfielder, Sandro and former Manchester City and Arsenal full-back, Bacary Sagna.
LAST TIME VS BENEVENTO
In the Bianconeri’s only ever game against Benevento to date, Juve ran out 2-1 winners at the Allianz Stadium earlier in the season.
Midfielder, Amato Ciciretti gave the visitors a surprise half-time lead when he curled in a free-kick past Wojciech Szczesny in the Juve goal. Allegri’s side rallied in the second half and got the equaliser just before the hour mark, when Gonzalo Higuain volleyed home Blaise Matuidi’s downward header. Just eight minutes later and the Bianconeri grabbed the goal that would seal all three points, as Cuadrado got on the end of an Alex Sandro cross from the left to put a diving header past the Juve-owned Alberto Brignoli.
#BENEVENTOJUVE MATCH STATS
- Juventus are unbeaten in 28 matches against newly promoted sides (23 wins, five draws).
- The Bianconeri have only conceded once in seven away trips to newly promoted teams.
- Before defeating Hellas Verona 3-0 in their last game, Benevento had never previously won a Serie A match by more than one goal.
- Juventus and Benevento have the biggest point gap between two teams in all five major European leagues (65 points).
- Juventus have scored the most goals in the last half hour of play (29), whilst Benevento have conceded the most in the last half hour (30).
- Dybala is only one goal away from equalling his best overall league goals tally set in 2015-16 (19 goals).
- In the 10 Serie A matches that Cuadrado has found the net, Juventus have always won.
- Khedira equalled his best ever goalscoring season last time out, as his strike against Milan was his seventh so far.
- Gianluigi Buffon and Szczesny have an equal split between them of Juve’s 20 cleansheets with 10-a-piece.
- Miralem Pjanic has recovered the most balls in Serie this campaign (188).
