18 December 2017
Three goals. Three big points!
Following last weekend’s goalless draw against Inter, the Bianconeri returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion on Sunday, scoring three goals, incidentally with their first three shots on target.
The victory enables Juve to leapfrog Inter into second place after the Nerazzurri lost to Udinese on Saturday. Massimiliano Allegri’s men now sit just one point adrift of league-leaders, Napoli.
Bianconeri netbusters
This was the ninth time of the season that Juve have scored three goals or more in a Serie A match and the Bianconeri have now taken their 2017/18 league tally to 44 strikes.
The last team to score more after 17 matches in Italy’s top tier was Juventus back in 1959/60.
Six straight shutouts
Barcelona, Crotone, Napoli, Olympiacos, Inter, Bologna. Nobody seems able to break down the Bianconeri’s backline at present. Juve’s defensive solidity has undoubtedly laid the foundations for their recent upturn in fortunes.
Pjanic sets new standards
Miralem Pjanic’s phenomenal free-kick after 27 minutes not only paved the way to Juve’s victory in Bologna, but it saw him set an impressive new record in Serie A:
No player in the last decade has scored more free-kicks in Italy’s top flight than Pjanic, who now has 14 set-piece goals to his name.
The Bosnian midfielder capped off an impeccable performance with an assist for Mario Mandzukic, while he also played his part in defence, regaining possession 11 times on the afternoon: a match-high shared with the imperious Medhi Benatia.
Blaise opens Bianconeri account!
It was also a day to remember for fellow midfielder, Blaise Matuidi. The Frenchman put in a typically solid showing in the centre of the park, completing four tackles, and his 21st appearance in the black and white of Juventus would also yield his first goal at the club he joined from PSG in the summer.
What a strike it was too, as he unleashed a venomous volley from the edge of the area into the bottom corner: a sure contender for December’s Goal of the Month competition!
