02 April 2019
Goals in each half by Leonardo Bonucci and Moise Kean was enough to hand the Bianconeri three points over Massimiliano Allegri’s former side on Tuesday evening at Sardegna Arena.
With so many injuries having plagued the team, the tactician had to move away from his usual formation and line-up and opted for a three-man defence with Moise Kean leading the attack alongside Federico Bernardeschi.
The first chance of the game fell to Juventus in the 10th minute, when Miralem Pjanic (who is celebrating his birthday) delivered a brilliant ball into the box from his free-kick. Martin Caceres got onto the end of it at the far post and tried to knock it past Cragno, who brilliantly pushed it out for a corner kick.
A GOAL ON 250 APPEARANCES
The game head a great ebb and flow to it, with both teams taking the game to the opposition. It was the Bianconeri who would have the first pickings, when they took the lead in the 22nd minute. Federico Bernardeschi delivered in a corner into the box and Leonardo Bonucci, who was left unmarked in the box, rose up and fired in an unstoppable header into the back of the net. A great goal to mark his 250th Serie A appearance for the Bianconeri!
A second goal nearly followed suite a few minutes later when Mattia de Sciglio sent in a perfect cross towards goal. Blaise Matuidi was rose up to get onto the end of it, but his header sailed just high of the goal frame.
When Cagliari attacked, they proved quick and versatile and their best chance half of the came in the 38th minute when Pavoletti started an attack for the Isolani. Barella then fed the ball through to Joao Pedro, who rushed into the box and saw his strike sale high of goal.
The second half started in the same manner as the first, with good flowing football on either end of the field. Cagliari were the first to really threaten at goal when Srna sent in an excellent delivery into the box, only for it to be headed off target by Pavoletti.
CRAGNO DENIES KEAN TWICE…
Lykogiannis, who had previously been booked, was lucky to escape a second booking after he shoved Moise Kean off the ball. The teenager didn’t let that stop him, though, as he bulldozed his way into the box while chasing down a loose ball. After beating two defenders, he then tried to lob the ball over Cragno, but the keeper held strong to make what would be the first of two one-one-one saves on Kean.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men looked content to sit on the ball, hold possession and await their chance for a goalscoring opportunity. Few chances took place, with Pavoletti having one of the better occasions when he connected onto the end of a cross in the 78th minute, but his header didn’t test Szczesny.
On the opposite end of the field, Kean found himself once again chasing down a ball towards goal in the 82nd minute. The striker tried to chip the ball over Cragno, who was off his line and on the edge of the box, but he did well to header the effort out of danger.
BUT NOT A THIRD TIME
Cragno could only hold out for so long, and it was third time a charm for Kean who made the scoreline 2-0 for the visitors when he tapped the ball in from close range from Bentancur’s assist in the 85th minute. Juventus would then go on to see out the remainder of the game by keeping their scoreline intact to bring back three points to Turin.
Cagliari XI: Cragno; Srna, Pisacane, Ceppitelli, Lykogiannis; Faragò (Padoin 75’), Cigarini, Ionita (Birsa 67’); Barella; Pavoletti, Joao Pedro (Cerri 75’)
Substitutes: Aresti, Rafael, Pellegrini, Romagna, Birsa, Bradaric, Deiola, Oliva, Padoin, Cerri, Despodov, Thereau
Juventus XI: Szczesny; Caceres (Bentancur 60’), Bonucci, Chiellini: De Sciglio, Emre Can, Pjanic, Matuidi, Alex Sandro; Bernardeschi, Kean.
Substitutes: Pinsoglio, Del Favero, Cancelo, Rugani, Bentancur, Kastanos, Nicolussi Caviglia, Mavididi.
