30 March 2024
Juventus suffered defeat at the Olimpico against Lazio on Serie A Matchday 30.
The deadlock was broken after an intense match in the 93rd minute by Adam Marusic.
It was a fourth game without a win for the Bianconeri, who must pick themselves up for the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final against the same opponents in midweek.
THE MATCH
On his 500th match in charge in Serie A Massimiliano Allegri made a tactical switch, opting for a flat-back four. Making his first appearance of the season as left back was Mattia De Sciglio.
Another element of the defensive line, Bremer, created the first moment of worry in the Lazio rearguard when he met a Federico Chiesa free-kick. The number 3’s header finished just wide of target.
Chiesa’s influence grew as the first half progressed as Juve found a way around Lazio’s high pressing game demanded by new coach Igor Tudor.
Before Chiesa tested Christos Mandas in the Lazio goal in the 42nd minute - the young Greek keeper making an impressive one-handed save - Wojciech Szczesny was called into action by a Felipe Andreson drive in the 26th minute. That was the culmination of a period of intense home pressure, which included a shot into the side netting by Taty Castellanos.
However, the Bianconeri finished the opening spell on the front foot, with Chiesa receiving the ball after a quick exchange between Adrien Rabiot and De Sciglio. The winger’s shot seemed destined to creep in at the far post until the keeper stretched out an arm.
A minute later Chiesa hit the target once more. However, it was a more central effort which Mandas dealt with comfortably.
Two substitutions at the restart injected more forward momentum into the Bianconeri game. Samuel Iling Jr and Weston McKennie replaced De Sciglio and Fabio Miretti. Iling played in an inviting cross six minutes into the second period. Latching on to the end of it was Andrea Cambiaso, whose close-range volley was foiled by Mandas.
Contrary to the first half, as the second progressed Juve dropped deeper and deeper into their own half, without giving Lazio a glimpse of goal. That was until the 73rd minute when a Ciro Immoblie cut-back reached Adam Marusic. Bremer made the important block to ensure the shot finished wide.
However, it was Marusic that ran onto a cross by Matteo Guendozi in the final minute of stoppage time. The defender's unchallenged header gave Szczesny no chance.
There is little time to dwell on the defeat as the teams meet again on Tuesday night at the Allianz Stadium for the first leg of the Italian Cup semi-final.
LAZIO 1-0 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-0)
Scorer: 90+3′ Marusic
LAZIO: Mandas; Gila, Romagnoli, Casale; Felipe Anderson, Kamada (80′ Guendouzi), Cataldi (80′ Vecino), Marusic; Zaccagni (83′ Luis Alberto), Pedro (57′ Isaksen); Castellanos (57′ Immobile). Subs not used: Sepe, Renzetti, Hysaj, Patric, Ruggeri, Coulibaly, Saná Fernandes, Diego Gonzalez. Coach: Tudor.
JUVENTUS: Szczesny; Danilo, Bremer, Rugani, De Sciglio (46′ Iling-Junior); Miretti (46′ McKennie), Locatelli, Rabiot; Cambiaso (62′ Weah), Kean (79′ Sekulov), Chiesa (68′ Yildiz). Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, Gatti, Djalo, Nicolussi Caviglia, Nonge. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Colombo
Bookings: 71’ Iling-Junior, 75’ Weah, 90+1’ Immobile
