TURIN (ITALPRESS) – Juventus overcame Hellas Verona 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin in the last match of the 27th day. It was the fifth consecutive success for the Bianconeri, who reclaimed fourth place ahead of Lazio and further shortened the distance from the top of the league, bringing them to within six points of leaders Inter. For Verona, a second away defeat in a row and 14th place in the standings with a four-point lead over the relegation zone.
In the first half, Juventus’ attitude was not lacking. A reaction was expected after the elimination from the Coppa Italia, and the team coached by Thiago Motta put effort into it. With asphyxiating pressure in Verona’s half of the field, Juventus lacked only the goal: many chances for the home team that played the first 45 minutes in the “deafening” silence of the Allianz Stadium. The organized fans had protested outside the facility, but inside the stadium they opted for silent protest. In an almost one-sided first half, two goals were nullified: in 36′ McKennie’s header for a foul by Kelly on goalkeeper Montipò, and in the midst of the recovery a conclusion-masterpiece from 25 yards by Suslov who was denied personal joy for an earlier offside by Faraoni.
The second half was along the lines of the first with Juventus under pressure from the very first bars and attacking the goal defended by Montipò with a white hand. At the umpteenth attempt, when by then it was 27′ into the second half, Juventus managed to take the lead with a beautiful choral action started by Locatelli and continued by Cambiaso, who from the left put in a low ball on which Thuram arrived in tow and powerfully pierced the Scaliger goalkeeper. Instead, Koopmeiners, who entered amid booing during the second half, put an end to the Stadium challenge: at 45′, on a wrong disengagement by Verona, it was Alberto Costa who recovered the ball and touched for Mbangula, who fed the Dutchman who with a diagonal right-footed shot pierced Montipò, on this occasion not up to the standard of his previous saves.
– photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
