21 January 2024
Juventus clocked up a second consecutive win by three goals without reply to move one point clear at the top of Serie A.
The breakthrough against Lecce came close to the hour mark - again Dusan Vlahovic found the target, scoring for his third game in succession. The centre forward added a second in poacher’s style nine minutes later before Bremer wrapped up the victory with five minutes to play.
The Bianconeri extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches in Serie A and have now scored 18 games in the five matches played between league and cup in 2024.
THE MATCH
Despite the two teams experiencing opposing runs of form the first half between Lecce and Juventus was a tightly-fought contest, just as it was the first time the sides met in September.
However, the Bianconeri almost got off to a flying start, inside the opening 15 seconds to be precise, after a powerful run by Federico Gatti, back from suspension, set up Dusan Vlahovic, who stabbed his shot wide.
It was Juve’s other player that was absent last week against Sassuolo because of a one-match ban, Weston McKennie that came closest to breaking the deadlock, on 10 minutes. A Fabio Miretti corner reached McKennie, whose goal-bound header was cleared off the line by home striker Nikola Krstovic.
Two minutes later Filip Kostic blasted over from a tight angle from inside the penalty area.
On 19’ Andrea Cambiaso produced a tantalising cross which Vlahovic threw himself at but could not find the contact to divert the ball into the net.
As the opening period progressed, Lecce pressed hard to reduce the space for Juve to manoeuvre. Chances were few and far between at both ends of the pitch, with neither goalkeeper ever seriously tested.
The Bianconeri signalled their intent after the restart when Miretti burst into the penalty area only to see his shot deflected for a corner. A couple of minutes later a Vlahovic diving header spun wide of the far post - but the striker was just finding his aim.
Vlahovic started the counter attack that he eventually finished for the game's opening goal.
The number 9 touched a pass on for McKennie who in turn found Kenan Yildiz. The teenager’s control on the run allowed him the opportunity to hit from distance. The shot stung the gloves of Wladimiro Falcone, who could only parry the ball into the path of Cambiaso, whose inch-perfect cross was sweetly met on the volley by Dusan.
Not even 10 minutes later and the Bianconeri were two goals to the good with Vlahovic’s second consecutive double.
A cross from Kostic was met at the far edge of the six-yard box by McKennie, whose header again appeared to be goal bound. Not wanting to take any risks, Dusan applied the finishing touch to tap home his 11th of the campaign.
Although Patrick Dorgu curled a shot off target from a useful position, Lecce were not creating much to upset the Juve defence. Instead it was a defender that grabbed the team’s third goal on the night.
With five minutes to play Samuel Iling Jr flighted in a free-kick which was met perfectly by Bremer, who gave Falcone no chance from close range.
Wojciech Szczesny was called on to make his first important stop of the evening deep into stoppage time to keep out a Nicola Sansone snap shot. A crucial save in that it meant back-to-back clean sheets on top of back-to-back Vlahovic doubles.
LECCE 0-3 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: 59′ & 68′ Vlahovic, 85′ Bremer
LECCE: Falcone; Gendrey, Pongracic, Baschirotto, Gallo (65′ Dorgu); Gonzalez (60′ Blin), Ramadani, Kaba; Oudin (65′ Pierotti), Krstovic (71′ Piccoli), Almqvist (71′ Sansone). Subs not used: Brancolini, Samooja, Venuti, Berisha, Strefezza. Coach: D’Aversa.
JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiaso (80′ Alex Sandro), McKennie, Locatelli, Miretti (56′ Weah), Kostic (74′ Iling Jr); Vlahovic, Yildiz (74′ Milik). Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Perin, Alex Sandro, Rugani, Nicolussi Caviglia, Nonge. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Doveri
Bookings: McKennie, Kaba
