13 August 2017
The 2017 Italian Super Cup showed the fighting spirit of the Bianconeri, but it would end in heartbreak as Juventus fell 3-2 to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome by way of a stoppage-time winner from Alessandro Murgia.
A pair of goals from Paulo Dybala in the last five minutes dramatically brought Juve back on level terms from a 2-0 deficit, but La Joya's brace ultimately would not be enough on the night.
The Turin side came flying out of the traps from the very first whistle and forced three quick saves out of Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha. In the 3rd minute, Alex Sandro found plenty of space down the left side cutting into the box and sliding a cross to Juan Cuadrado. The Colombian sent his effort on goal from close range, but Strakosha was there to deny an early opener.
Just seconds later, Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain would also force the Albanian stopper into smart saves to keep Juve off the scoresheet.
Lazio found the opening goal just after the half-hour mark when Ciro Immobile was played through and taken down by Gianluigi Buffon in the box. Buffon was shown a yellow card and Immobile converted from the spot to give the Roman outfit a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute.
Just minutes later, Buffon was forced into a brilliant double-save as the Italian denied Dusan Basta and Lucas Leiva in quick succession to keep the match 1-0 as the sides entered the half-time break.
In the second half, Immobile doubled Lazio's lead by brilliantly heading in a cross from Marco Parolo in the 54th minute.
However, Juventus would stage a scintillating comeback with Douglas Costa, Mattia De Sciglio and Federico Bernardeschi entering the match, though it was the new #10 that would change everything.
In the 85th minute, Dybala stepped up to a free-kick from about 25 yards from goal, brilliantly curling his shot past Strakosha to pull the Bianconeri within one.
Just minutes later, Juve would reach parity as Alex Sandro was tripped up in the box to earn his side a penalty kick that Dybala coolly slotted away to level the match at 2-2.
There would be a sting in the tail, however, as Lazio won the Super Cup with what was nearly the final kick of the match. Jordan Lukaku was able to find space down the left and his cross was prodded into the net by Murgia.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side will now turn their sights to the beginning of the 2017/18 Serie A campaign, which begins on Saturday 19 August at the Allianz Stadium against Cagliari.
