Juve hit Lazio for three without reply

Six wins on the spin.

That is how Juve have seen out 2022 with a 3-0 win over Lazio before Serie A makes way for the World Cup.

Again Moise Kean was on the scoresheet, with time with a double, while fellow striker Arek Milik completed the night's goals with a third in the final minute.

Worth noting, not only six wins in a row, but six wins in a row obtained without one goal conceded, and the Bianconeri sit third in the table.

THE MATCH

Boosted by his winner against Verona on Thursday, Moise Kean was given the nod again by Massimiliano Allegri and appeared in the mood to repay the faith shown in him by the coach. 

As early as the sixth minute Kean ran at the Lazio defence as Juve hit on the counterattack. Taking on his marker, Kean fired his shot wide.

Five minutes later it was Nicolò Fagioli who tried his luck. Again Filip Kostić was involved in the build up, picking out the midfielder inside the penalty area. Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel frustrated the midfielder’s hopes of the third goal in four matches with an outstretched hand.

The visitors were seeing plenty of the ball but were unable to test Wojciech Szczęsny. Juve, meanwhile, looked dangerous again on 19 minutes. A long ball from Danilo was excellently controlled by Arek Milik, who then took a touch to tee up his shot, which whistled just wide of the post.

The Biancocelesti did create one danger to the Juve defence. Inside the final five minutes of the first half, Pedro cut in from the left and struck a vicious shot, which deflected off Manuel Locatelli and dipped only just over the bar.

Two minutes later, the deadlock was broken. Adrien Rabiot stole possession from the toes of Sergej Milinković- Savić and quickly launched a pass into the path of Kean. The striker understood that Provedel had come racing off his line, reaching the ball first, lofting it over the advancing keeper. Those inside the Allianz Stadium held their breath before the ball bounced under the bar and into the net.

The stadium then erupted as Juve took a crucial lead just before the break.

Juventus came out after the interval intent on doubling their advantage. First, Arek Milik brought out a clever reflex save from Provedel before Locatelli followed up with a drive from the edge of the area, which again the Lazio keeper got behind.

Just before the 10 minute mark of the second period, however, Juve did find their second goal. Milik won possession inside the Lazio half, Locatelli quickly spun the ball into the path of Kostić, who took a touch before releasing his shot. There was too much power in the winger’s effort for Provedel to hold. Kean was on hand to tap home his and the Bianconeri’s second of the game.

Kean sensed a hat-trick was in the air and on 62’ he almost grabbed his third of the match after another run at the Lazio defence. This time his drive was saved by Provedel and it was to be his last involvement in the game as he came off to a standing ovation, replaced by Ángel Di María.

Lazio made all five of their substitutions but it was the Juve subs that left their mark in the final minute of normal time. Di María played an inviting pass into the path of Federico Chiesa, whose first time cross was met by Milik for goal number three.

Although the three points were never in doubt, there was the matter of keeping a sixth clean sheet in as many matches and in stoppage time Szczęsny pulled off a great save to deny Felipe Anderson a consolation goal for the visitors.

Juve made it six wins out of six, leaping ahead of Lazio in the standings to climb into third place going into 2023.

JUVENTUS 3-0 LAZIO (HT: 1-0)

Scorer: 43′ Kean (J), 54′ Kean (J), 90′ Milik (J).

JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cuadrado, Locatelli (84′ Paredes), Rabiot, Fagioli, Kostic (64′ Chiesa); Kean (62′ Di Maria), Milik. Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Scaglia, Bonucci, Rugani, Barbieri, Miretti, Soulé. Coach: Allegri.

LAZIO: Provedel; Hysaj (68′ Gila), Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic (77′ Marcos Antonio), Cataldi (58′ Vecino), Basic (58′ Luis Alberto); Romero (68′ Cancellieri), Felipe Anderson, Pedro. Subs not used: Maximiliano, Adamonis, Kamenovic, Radu, Bertini. Coach: Sarri.

Referee: Massa.

BOOKINGS: 25′ Gatti (J), 27′ Bremer (J), 28′ Milinković-Savić (L).