13 April 2019
Mister Allegri opted for a new-look team but giving full debuts to the 17-year-old Gozzi and Kastanos, while several players remained in Turin in order to be rested ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League game.
CORAGEOUS SPAL
There was some great energy in the opening 20 minutes of the game, with both teams moving the ball across the park. Murgia tried his hand at striking a bicycle kick inside the box, but it didn’t test Perin in goal, as he failed to strike it properly. SPAL were being very courageous in their play, and in the 24th minute, Schiattarella attempted a powerful effort at goal, but he saw it sail it high of goal.
KEEN ON KEAN
Just before the hour mark, Juventus broke the deadlock through none other than Moise Kean. Cancelo cut inside from the right, and filtered in a cross, which seemed as if it was going wide, but Kean stuck out a foot and redirected into the back of the net. The teenager’s strike meant that he became the third youngest player in the history of the club to score more than six goals in Serie A after Bruno Nicolè and Felice Borel.
SPAL RESPOND
SPAL put themselves back in the game minutes after the break when Bonifazi, who got in front of Bentancur, nodded home the equaliser from an inswinging corner kick. The hosts then started to grow confident, and they asserted themselves in the final third by winning corner kicks and set-pieces.
In the 58th minute, Perin made a save off of Murgia’s header, while Massiliano Allegri introduced Nicolussi Caviglia in place of Kastanos as his first change of the game. The youngster immediately made his presence known, when he forced Viviano into making a brilliant save off his powerful effort – taken from the edge of the box – that stung the palms of the goalkeeper.
Kean was then taken off in place of Mavididi, who was handed his debut. Cuadrado then saw his effort hit the face of Bonifazi, before Dybala’s rebound was smothered by SPAL’s shot-stopper.
FLOCCARI POUNCES
SPAL were confident when pushing forward, and they grabbed a second goal when Murgia came charging forward and laid off the ball to Floccari, who put the ball past Perin. There was a silent check for a potential hand ball on Murgia, but VAR let the goal stand.
Allegri then opted to bring on another attacking option, by bringing Bernardeschi in place of Barzagli, with 10 minutes to go. There was, however, no breakthrough for the Bianconeri, with the game ending 2-1 in favour of SPAL.
SPAL: Viviano; Bonifazi, Cionek, Vicari, Fares; Lazzari, Missiroli, Schiattarella (Valdifiori 70’), Murgia; Petagna, Floccari (Regini 83’)
SPAL substitutes: Gomis, Fulignati, Simic, Antenucci, Regini, Valdifiori, Dickmann, Felipe, Costa, Paloschi, Nikolic, Rizzo Pinna
Juventus: Perin; De Sciglio, Barzagli (Bernardeschi 80’), Gozzi, Spinazzola; Cuadrado, Bentancur, Kastanos (Nicolussi Caviglia 60’), Cancelo; Dybala, Kean (Mavididi 68’)
Juventus substitutes: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Khedira, Alex Sandro, Bonucci, Bernardeschi, Mavididi, Nicolussi-Caviglia
