11 September 2022
Two goals down at the break, just like in midweek in the Champions League - however, against Salernitana, Juve rallied to draw level in stoppage time and appeared to have completed the turnaround when in the 95th Arek Milik glanced a header into the far corner. But the game’s fifth goal did not stand because of an offside position from Leonardo Bonucci, the player that had slammed home the equaliser on the rebound from his own penalty just minutes earlier.
EARLY PRESSURE, NO REWARD
Late call offs from Manuel Locatelli and Adrien Rabiot forced Massimiliano Allegri’s hand in his team selection as midweek Champions League scorer in Paris, Weston McKennie was given another Serie A start in midfield, this time alongside Fabio Miretti and Leandro Paredes, finally making his debut at the Allianz Stadium.
It was Miretti that burst forward on 7 minutes and his low drive was blocked by Luigi Sepe. The goalkeeper then reacted quickly to smother the ball from the advancing Bremer. Two minutes later, Sepe spilled a fierce Filip Kostić shot, and again blocked the rebound, although Moise Kean had been flagged for offside.
Then the visitors came into the game.
TWO DOWN AT THE BREAK
On 18’ Juan Cuadrado miss-time his jump, which allowed the ball to reach the feet of Pasquale Mazzocchi. The Salernitana winger ran at the Juve defence. His cross was tapped in at the far post by Antonio Candreva. The match official confirmed the goal only after conferring with the VAR - a theme that would be repeated for every major incident in the match.
That goal knocked Juve off their stride, so much so that the home team did not threaten Sepe’s goal for the remainder of the first half. Not so at the other end. In stoppage time, the visitors broke down the right only for Krzysztof Piątek’s shot to strike the outstretched arm of Bremer. After consulting VAR, the match official confirmed the penalty award. Piątek sent Mattia Perin the wrong way to double Salernitana’s advantage.
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE
Arek Milik came on at the restart, when Juve got the immediate boost they needed. A minute after a spectacular overhead kick attempt from Weston McKennie went wide, the Bianconeri recycled possession in midfield for Kostić to lay up a teasing cross. Bremer charged forward to smash his header in off the ground and into the net.
A minute later Federico Fazio turned the ball off his own post, but Dušan Vlahović had stepped into an offside position in the build up.
Still, the remainder of the second half saw Juve push on in search of the equaliser, which seemed destined to elude them. Milik and Vlahović curled shots agonisingly close to Sepe’s goal.
STOPPAGE TIME JOY AND AGONY
Just as time seemed to be ticking away Juve won a penalty. Alex Sandro was quick to react to a loose ball in the Salernitana area and was tripped up as he made his way to the bye-line. After VAR confirmed the decision, it was captain Leonardo Bonucci who stepped up to the spot. His penalty was saved by Sepe but Bonucci reacted quickest on the rebound to slam the ball home.
Everyone raced back to the half way line - there was a winner to be found. And it seemed as if it had. Nicolò Fagili forced a reflex save from Sepe in the 94th minute. From the resulting corner, Milik rose majestically to place his header into the far corner. The Allianz Stadium erupted in joy. Milik was shown a second yellow card for removing his shirt in the celebration that followed.
But…again VAR intervened. As the referee attempted to watch the events on the monitor, emotions spilled over. Juan Cuadrado and Fazio were red carded before the match official ruled out Milik’s effort.
The final whistle blew 12 minutes into stoppage time, with the scoreline tied at 2-2, the fourth stalemate in Serie A for Juventus in the six matches played so far.
JUVENTUS 2-2 SALERNITANA (HT: 0-2)
SCORERS: 18’ Candreva (S), 45’+5 Piątek (S), 51’ Bremer (J), 90’+1 Bonucci (J).
BOOKINGS: 27’ Paredes (J), 32’ Kean (J), 38 Maggiore (S), 45’+4 Bremer (J), 72’ Sepe (S), 83’ & 90’+5 Milik (J),
SENDINGS OFF: 90’+5 Milik (J), 90’+9 Cuadrado (J), 90’+9 Fazio (S).
