Italian giants Juventus failed to reach their peak after a 2-0 midweek win over Manchester City in the Champions League following a 2-2 draw with bottom city Venezia at the ‘Allianz Arena.
Scorers: Gatti 19′, Vlahović 90+5′ (pen); Ellertsson 61′, Idzes 83′
While it may not be the season many Juventus fans would have hoped for, tonight’s home clash against Venice was undoubtedly seen as a must-win game, with the opening goal expected in the 19th minute thanks to a strike from the center. return Federico Gatti.
Juventus seemed almost to take their foot off the gas completely despite the one-goal advantage and wealth of possession, however, as half-time approached, still ahead thanks to Gatti’s strike and Venezia pushing for the lead. ‘equalization.
Although Kenan Yıldız scored a goal ruled out by VAR four minutes after the restart, early signs in the second half showed that Thiago Motta La Vecchia Signora looked comfortable up front. But Venezia had other ideas.
The visitors highlighted Juve’s lack of killer instinct that evening when Iceland international Mikael Egill Ellertsson leveled things in the 61st minute after heading home a Francesco Zampano cross into the box.
It would go from bad to worse for Motta and Juventus seven minutes before the end of normal time when Venezia took the lead thanks to a header from Indonesian defender Jay Idzes.
But it was Juventus who finally escaped thanks to a penalty shot from Dušan Vlahović in stoppage time. The Serbian star thus increased his record to four from four from 12 meters for the season.
The result sees Juve nine points behind Gian Piero Gasperini’s men, while Venezia boss Eusebio Di Francesco remains bottom of the Serie A table in terms of goal difference.
📸 Valerio Pennicino – 2024 Getty Images
