22 November 2014
A Paul Pogba double and solitary Carlos Tevez strike enabled Juventus to ease past Lazio with this evening’s magnificent 3-0 win over Stefano Pioli’s in-form outfit at the Stadio Olimpico.
Approaching the game with three consecutive home victories under their belts, the Biancocelesti, despite threatening in the early stages, ultimately had no answer to the visitors’ ruthless killer instinct in the final third, with two devastating counter attacks either side of half-time putting the Bianconeri firmly in the driving seat with 51 minutes elapsed.
Pogba rounded off the first of these midway through the first half, tucking Tevez’s precise pass beyond Federico Marchetti, before the Argentine helped himself to a slice of the goalscoring glory by emphatically smashing home Claudio Marchisio’s pass moments after the restart.
The final outcome was put beyond any doubt on 63 minutes when Pogba slotted home after a fine move involving Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Pereyra, enabling the visitors to reestablish their three-point supremacy over nearest challengers Roma.
Lazio began immediately on the front foot, looking to pin the Bianconeri deep into their own territory with aggressive pressing from the first whistle. This spirited start yielded a couple of opportunities inside a combative opening 20 minutes, but neither Stefan de Vrij’s header nor Antonio Candreva’s curling strike from the edge of the area were able to trouble Gigi Buffon between the sticks.
While the Biancocelesti remained in the ascendency, Juventus refused to let their feathers be ruffled and when the opportunity to break forward with pace and intent eventually arrived, they snatched it with both hands.
Played into space on the left-hand side, Tevez picked out the purposeful dash of Paul Pogba with an exquisite pass, with the Frenchman showing great control before tucking a cool finish inside Marchetti’s near post with 24 minutes played.
The opener immediately altered the flow of the game, with the Bianconeri now looking the most likely to score next. A second almost arrived moments later on 29 minutes when an inspired Pogba caught sight of goal before sending a phenomenal curling strike towards the target, Marchetti remaining motionless as the ball cannoned back off the upright.
At the interval, the Frenchman underlined the importance of the Bianconeri keeping their foot on the accelerator in his half-time interview, and his words rang true as he and his team-mates emerged fired up for the restart.
Their determination was typified by Marchisio’s lung-busting break on the counter, with the midfielder squaring for Tevez to double Juventus’ advantage on 51 minutes.
After having an attempted comeback mission foiled when Buffon beat out Candreva’s strike from the edge of the area, Lazio saw their evening go from bad to worse as a fine move involving Pirlo, Pereyra and Pogba enabled the latter to grab his second of the night on 63 minutes.
A red card for Simone Padoin on 70 minutes could have raised Biancocelesti hopes of finding a way back into the game, but the introduction of Federico Mattiello in place of Pereyra ensured the left flank remained suitably protected.
The youngster, now part of the first-team squad after making the step up from Fabio Grosso’s Primavera at the start of the season, almost put the icing on the cake within minutes of coming on, only to see Marchetti prove equal to his rasping left-footed effort.
A solitary Anderson strike aside, pushed clear by Buffon, the Bianconeri saw out the final stages with ease to restore their three-point lead over Roma, who kept the heat on earlier today with a 2-1 victory over Atalanta.
