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Juve share points with Sassuolo

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Juve share points with Sassuolo
Juve share points with Sassuolo
Juve share points with Sassuolo

Juventus and Sassuolo played to a 2-2 draw at Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon in what was a lunch-time kick-off match. Leonardo Bonucci opened the scoring, before Boga responded almost immediately. Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty then cancelled out Caputo’s second half goal to ensure all spoils were shared.

Having played in the midweek, Sarri opted for a different looking XI by introducing Gianluigi Buffon in goal and Emre Can in the midfield. Federico Bernardeschi was introduced as a playmaker behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain, while Alex Sandro made his return to the starting XI following an injury sustained with the national team.

CHANCES, CHANCES, CHANCES

The Bianconeri’s first attack came in the sixth minute of the fixture, when Bernardeschi broke down the middle of the park, he then played it wide to Higuain, who directed a cross into the box, but Can scuffed a freshie and couldn’t turn it into the back of the net. Two minutes later the German then struck an effort from range, which forced Turati to drop down and push it around his post. The visitors then responded with a dangerous effort of their own when Kyriakopoulos hit a free-kick over the wall and into the path of Buffon, who punched it out of play. Juve’s attacking play was fluid and entertaining, and they were left bewildered as to how they didn’t take the lead in the 16th minute of play. Pjanic chipped it into the path of Higuaín, who hit it on the turn, but Ronaldo couldn’t reach to direct it home at the far post.

LEO STRIKES, BOGA RESPONDS

The deadlock was broken for each team in the space of two minutes: Bonucci handed the hosts the lead with 20 minutes on the clock when he sliced an excellent daisy-cutter into the bottom far corner. Juventus’ lead would last just two minutes before Sassuolo found the equalizer through a cheeky chip by Boga, who started and ended the move after breaking through the offside trap. Few chances fell to either side for the remainder of the half, but the start of the second half would see Juve left to chase the result.

SASSUOLO TAKES THE LEAD

Sassuolo made it 1-2 in their favour with just a minute on the clock after the break. Matthijs de Ligt made the initial clearance from Cuadrado’s cross, but it fell into the path of Caputo, who struck at goal. Buffon fumbled the effort and it squirmed under his body and into the back of the net. That goal certainly sparked a string of firey attacks by Juventus, who then saw Ronaldo’s free-kick turned over the crossbar by the young goalkeeper. The 18-year-old then dropped down and denied Higuain’s scuffed shot from five-yards out. Maurizio Sarri then introduced to changes to the game, bringing on Dybala and Matuidi in place of Bernardeschi and Can respectively.

RONALDO CONVERTS, 2-2

Juventus were on the hunt to grab an equalizer, and it arrived through Cristiano Ronaldo, who made the scoreline 2-2 in the 67th minute of play. Dybala was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Ronaldo stood up to take the penalty, and he converted with precision down the left-hand side of the goal. Moments later an excellent chance fell to Dybala, when he turned on Higuain’s assist but he connected it poorly and it hits the shin of Ronaldo. The final change of the game saw Ramsey come on in place of Higuain with 11 minutes to go, and he nearly nabbed the match winner three minutes from time. The Welshman struck straight at Turati, who made the save but it bumbled over him and he managed to grab it before seeing it cross the line.

Juventus: Buffon; Cuadrado, Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Emre Can (Matuidi 54’), Pjanic, Bentancur; Bernardeschi (Dybala 53’); Higuain (Ramsey 79’), Ronaldo

Subsitutes: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, De Sciglio, Danilo, Rugani, Demiral, Ramsey, Matuidi, Dybala

Sassuolo: Turati; Toljan, Marlon, Romagna, Kyriakopoulos; Magnanelli, Traore (Duncan 62’), Locatelli; Djuricic (Muldur 72’), Caputo, Boga (Peluso 89’)

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