17 February 2024
Juventus came from behind twice to share the points with Hellas Verona in a four-goal thriller at the Bentegodi.
Dusan Vlahovic converted a penalty on 28 minutes to cancel out Michael Folorunsho’s opening wonder goal.
After the interval, the hosts again took the lead, through Tijjani Noslin on 52 minutes. Three minutes later Adrien Rabiot steered home the Bianconeri’s second equaliser.
A reflex save inside stoppage time by Lorenzo Montipò frustrated Federico Chiesa’s attempt to complete the turnaround and the Biaconeri had to settle for a single point.
THE MATCH
The intense atmosphere inside the Bentegodi stadium encouraged both teams to play open football from kick-off.
The first chances were created by the home side, and they took the lead with a goal of a lifetime from Michael Folorunsho on 11 minutes.
Adrien Rabiot headed clearance from a corner was met on the volley at the edge of the area by Folorunsho, who dispatched an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Two minutes later Wojciech Szczesny was called on to keep out Tijjani Noslin when the Verona striker was sent through on goal.
Andrea Cambiaso was the first to worry Lorenzo Montipò in the Verona goal with a shot from distance, which whistled just wide of the keeper’s left-hand post.
Folorunsho was also involved in the action that led to the Bianconeri’s equaliser. Filip Kostic’s shot struck the arm of the Verona midfielder and the referee, perfectly positioned, immediately indicated to the penalty spot.
Dusan Vlahovic stepped up from 12 yards to bury his shot beyond Montipò for his seventh goal of 2024.
The game continued to flow from end to end and although there was no further scoring in the opening half, it appeared unlikely that the match would finish 1-1.
In fact, at the start of the second period, Giangiacomo Magnani hit the top of the crossbar with a header from a corner, although Szczesny had it covered.
The Juve keeper made an excellent stop to deny a powerful drive from Noslin on 51’, but was powerless a minute later when the Verona striker completed a one-touch move through midfield to hit a shot low under Szczesny.
The Bianconeri’s response was immediate and within three minutes were level again. Pressure from Federico Gatti forced a poor clearance from Juan Cabal down near the Verona corner flag. Manuel Locatelli quickly played a pass to the feet of Adrien Rabiot, who steered his shot into the far corner.
Cambiaso almost completed the turnaround soon after but blasted over from an excellent position inside the opposition penalty area.
Juve were pinning Verona inside their own half and substitute Carlos Alcaraz was in the thick of the action as the visitors sought the game’s fifth goal. The January arrival fed Rabiot on the run. His cross with the outside of the boot was a fraction too high for Vlahovic, who threw himself at the ball but could not keep his header down.
It was another substitute, Federico Chiesa, who came closest to snatching victory for the Bianconeri. First on 83 minutes he made space for the shot, but his curling effort went just over. In setting up the chance, Danilo landed awkwardly and despite having his ankle heavily strapped, the captain valiantly played on.
Then in the first minute of stoppage time, Chiesa and Alcaraz exchanged passes deep into the Verona penalty box. This time winger’s shot was on target but was somehow kept out by the feet of Montipò.
There was to be no fifth goal of the game and come the final whistle the pointes were shared.
HELLAS VERONA 2-2 JUVENTUS (HT: 1-1)
Scorers: 11′ Folorunsho. 28′ Vlahovic (pen), 52′ Noslin, 55′ Rabiot
HELLAS VERONA: Montipò, Tchatchoua (84′ Coppola), Magnani, Dawidowicz, Cabal, Duda, Suslov; Dani Silva (84′ Henry); Folorunsho (73′ Belahyane), Lazovic (73′ Vinagre); Noslin (64′ Swiderski). Subs not used: Chiesa, Perilli, Tavsan, Mitrovic, Centonze, Charlys, Bonazzoli. Coach: Baroni.
JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti (55′ Alex Sandro), Rugani, Danilo; Cambiaso (80′ Weah), McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic (55′ Chiesa); Vlahovic (80′ Milik), Yildiz (65′ Alcaraz). Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Scaglia, Iling Jr, Miretti, Djaló, Nicolussi Caviglia, Nonge Boende Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Di Bello
