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Juventus-Atalanta in 2020, at the height of the pandemic

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Juventus-Atalanta in 2020, at the height of the pandemic
Juventus-Atalanta in 2020, at the height of the pandemic
Juventus-Atalanta in 2020, at the height of the pandemic

Following on from the 2018 game postponed and then played at a later date due to crazy snowfall in Turin, there's another game between Juventus and Atalanta in recent years that had to be played later than scheduled, but for very different reasons.

Originally due to take place on 19 April, the game in 2019/20 was delayed due to the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, which led to Serie A being played throughout the summer. Those summer fixtures saw Juventus play their first-ever game on July 11, which was the very one against Atalanta, and of course Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as the sides played out a 2-2 draw.

That result let Maurizio Sarri's side stay top of the table before going on to win the Scudetto that summer.

2020's behind-closed-doors matches

Pandemic football offered many an escape from the reality of the world around them during what was a scary period for many, but the images of empty stadiums for top-flight matches will never not be striking as time goes on. Having averaged 40,000 supporters in the Allianz Stadium then, Juventus then, like everybody, had to step out into an empty stadium for their home games in an eerie atmosphere.

Two Cristiano Ronaldo penalties

On the pitch, the two sides really went for one another in a game that kicked off at the late time of 21:45 CEST due to the heat in Italy in July. 

The game presented Juventus with a real challenge, and that was complicated early on when Duvan Zapata opened the scoring, but Cristiano Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot at the beginning of the second half. 

Things then appeared to be turning the Bianconeri's way, but Ruslan Malinovskyi stepped up to put the visitors in front again, and the Ukrainian came close to scoring his second and their third a couple of times after.

But Juventus were awarded another penalty and Cristiano stepped up once again to dispatch.

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