31 March 2018
It was three huge goals and three huge points for the Bianconeri on the return of Serie A as Juventus secured a pulsating 3-1 win over Milan at Allianz Stadium.
After Napoli’s 1-1 draw away to Sassuolo, Juve knew they’d have a chance to move four points clear at the top of the Serie A table with a win and they came out flying from the off. The Bianconeri first tested Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Milan goal when Gonzalo Higuain hit a snapshot from outside the box that the Milan keeper pushed away with a dive to his left.
Just a minute later and Juve would be in the lead on eight minutes as Paulo Dybala picked up the ball in 25 yards from goal before turning and letting fly an unstoppable strike low into the corner giving Donnarummma no chance.
Milan went close to equalising soon after as Portuguese striker, Andre Silva headed just wide on two different occasions. The Rossoneri would eventually get their equaliser when former Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci rose highest from a corner to nod past Gianluigi Buffon and put an end to the Bianconeri’s 959 minutes without conceding.
In the second half, it was the visitors who went closest to taking the lead early on when Turkish midfielder, Hakan Calhanoglu saw a strike from distance rattle the Bianconeri crossbar, as Suso followed up with a strike that Buffon had to be alert to pushing it behind.
Juve survived Milan’s pressure and re-took the lead in dramatic fashion when Sami Khedira found himself in space on the left-hand side of the visitor’s box. His excellent cross to the back post found second-half substitute Juan Cuadrado, as the Colombian unleashed a bullet diving header to put Juve 2-1 up on his return to the pitch.
The Bianconeri made the game safe in the 87th minute as some neat footwork from Douglas Costa found Dybala in the box. La Joya laid the ball off to Khedira, who hit an a low-drive first time that left Donnarumma rooted to the spot! Khedira celebrated a goal and an assist in the final 15 minutes of the match and Juventus celebrated three points gained and a four-point advantage at the top of the Serie A leaderboard.
The win provides just the shot in the arm that the Bianconeri need ahead of the visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night at Allianz Stadium!
