05 January 2018
JUVE KEEPING ON THE PRESSURE
The Bianconeri are closing in on the summit of Serie A, still one point behind leaders Napoli but in good form. Juve are unbeaten in their last six league matches, winning five while conceding just one goal in their last 10 in all competitions.
Last time out in the league, Juve beat Hellas Verona away in what was their final outing in 2017. The Old Lady took the lead after just six minutes of play when Blaise Matuidi was quickest to react after Gonzalo Higuain’s shot was palmed onto the crossbar and into the path of the Frenchman, who volleyed a shot down into the ground and into the back of the net.
Verona restored parity in the second half when former Bianconero, Martin Caceres, equalised with a shot from distance to beat Wojciech Szczesny. However, the home side were only on level terms for just over 10 minutes as Paulo Dybala restored Juve’s advantage with an incisive finish from Stephan Lichtsteiner’s excellent cross. La Joya made the game safe five minutes later after capping off a great individual run with a well-taken goal to hand Juve a 3-1 win.
La Vecchia Signora also enjoyed a midweek TIM Cup quarter-final Derby della Mole victory at Allianz Stadium. Juventus opened the scoring in the 16th minute as Douglas Costa volleyed the Bianconeri in front when Dybala’s shot was poorly cleared by the Torino defence.
Juve doubled their lead in the second half when Mario Mandzukic was quickest to react to a loose ball, the Croatian dinking over the onrushing keeper to put Juventus 2-0 up and seal the match.
CAGLIARI SECURE CRUCIAL WIN
After a five-match winless streak that saw them lose three and draw two, Cagliari pulled off an impressive victory away to Atalanta on matchday 19 of the season. After taking an early shock lead through Leonardo Pavoletti, the visitors doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute when former Juventus player, Simone Padoin, struck.
Atalanta’s talisman, Papu Gomez pulled a goal back in the 92nd minute to ensure a nervy finish for the Sardinians, and despite also seeing left-back, Senna Miangue dismissed late on for a second yellow, Cagliari managed to hold on for all three points.
The result meant that Cagliari moved up to 15th place in the table, pulling themselves five points clear of the relegation zone.
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST CAGLIARI
Juventus took on Cagliari back on 19 August 2017 in the first game of the season, with the Old Lady triumphing 3-0. Mario Mandzukic scored in the 12th minute to give Juve the lead, as he hooked home Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross from the right.
Paulo Dybala made it two in second-half stoppage time, latching on to Miralem Pjanic’s excellent pass to place a shot beyond the Cagliari keeper, and Gonzalo Higuain wrapped up the points in the 66th minute with a precise drive.
#CAGLIARIJUVE MATCH STATS
- In 74 matches in Serie A, Juve have won 36, drawn 26 and lost 11.
- The Bianconeri are unbeaten in 14 against the Isolani.
- In their last seven games against the Rossoblu, Juve have scored at least one goal in the first half.
- Juve have won their last six in Sardinia, scoring at least two goals.
- The Old Lady have scored more times away from home so far this season (26 out of 48 total strikes).
- Four out of five of Pavoletti’s goals have been scored with his head: the joint most headed goals scored in Serie A.
- Higuain has been involved in at least one goal in each of the six Serie A games he has played in against Cagliari.
- Dybala leads the way with the most goals scored away from home this year (nine).
- Massimiliano Allegri previously managed Cagliari between 2008 and 2010.
- Only Genoa (314) have committed more fouls than Cagliari’s 313 this campaign.
