14 March 2018
The good vibes continued for the Bianconeri on Wednesday night at Allianz Stadium as strikes in each half from Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi led Juventus to a 2-0 win over Atalanta extending the Bianconeri lead at the top of Serie A to four points.
The Bianconeri went into the break in their re-arragned game 1-0 in front after Pipita cooly finished a fine run from Douglas Costa. Juve then doubled their lead 10 minutes from time, when Blaise Matuidi smartly found himself in space in the box and Higuain played in the Frenchman to finish his first goal at Allianz Stadium.
Juventus started the game on the front foot against La Dea, with the visitors forced into some last-ditch defending to cut out some dangerous attacks. Giorgio Chiellini went closest to breaking the deadlock when he cleverly improvised on a cross into the box with a cheeky backheel that just went wide of Etrit Berisha’s goal.
The visitors eventually conceded after half an hour of play, as Douglas Costa burst forward from inside his own area with his lightning pace too quick for the Atalanta defence to stop. The Brazilian slipped in Higuain with an inch-perfect pass and Pipita cooly finished past the Atalanta keeper to give Juve the advantage going into the half with his 16th goal of the season.
Early in the second half and Paulo Dybala tried to get on the scoresheet but his shot following a silky run was well held by Berisha. At the other end, Atalanta had their closest chance of the match as Gianluca Mancini rose highest to a Josip Ilicic corner, but his header went just wide of Gianluigi Buffon’s goal. Higuain attempted to return the favour to Douglas Costa as he played in the Brazlian with a great through ball, but Costa dragged his shot just wide of the far post. Dybala then teed up Miralem Pjanic on the outside of the box but the Bosnian couldn’t keep his shot down enough to trouble Berisha.
Into the final 10 minutes and Atalanta’s Mancini was shown two yellow cards in quick succession, firstly for tugging back Higuain on the break and then his second for tripping Chiellini outside the box. It would prove costly as the free-kick eventually lead to Juve’s second of the match when Dybala found Higuain with a good pass in the box, who in-turn fed Matuidi in space. The Frenchman lashed home a first-time finish to double the Bianconeri’s advantage.
Juventus are now on top of the Serie A leaderboard by four points, having taken pole position last weekend. The Old Lady will look to further consolidate their position when they travel to SPAL on Saturday in the last match before the start of the international break.
