Juventus stretched their unbeaten run to 11 consecutive matches in Serie A but the Bianconeri left it very late after an intense match in Bergamo. Massimiliano Allegri continued with a three-man frontline of Dusan Vlahovic flanked by Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata but it was Atalanta forward Ruslan Malinovskyi who opened the scoring on 76 minutes. Danilo powered home a stoppage time header for Juventus to claim a point that keeps the Lady’s two-point advantage in fourth place.
HIGH INTENSITY
The first sight of goal for Vlahovic came three minutes into the game. His curler from the edge of the penalty area called on Marco Sportiello to make an acrobatic finger-tip save to stop the ball from flying into the top corner. The centre forward was again in the thick of the action when Weston McKennie crossed after a strong run to the bye-line. The Serbian striker’s header drifted wide off target. McKennie was the orchestrator of Juve’s next chance. The midfielder found Dybala on the run, who cut in on his left foot but curled his effort narrowly wide of the far post.
Atalanta grew in confidence as the first half progressed. The hosts’ first chance fell to Martin De Roon, who scooped a flick-on from a corner over from the six-yard line. The home side again caused the Juventus defence problems. Teun Koopmeiners was played through and when Wojciech Szczęsny came racing off his line, the midfielder’s touch fell to Luis Muriel, with the goal gaping. Leonardo Bonucci raced back and slid in to clear to deny the Colombian his first goal against the Bianconeri. Bonucci’s central defensive partner, Matthijs De Ligt then twice blocked Jeremie Boga shots in the space of a minute as the first half drew to a close.
Two bookings per side highlighted the intensity of the opening half, which continued after the restart.
MALINOVSKYI STRIKES FIRST
The team from Bergamo started the second half strongly with de Roon testing Szczesny with a low drive. Morata and Dybala linked up to find Vlahovic, whose goal bound effort was spectacularly turned over the crossbar by Sportiello. The Bianconeri were moving the ball around well, and another attack found Adrien Rabiot inside the penalty area, but his shot hit the side-netting.
With the ebb and flow first favouring one side then the other, Atalanta also created chances. Boga’s cross was inches away from being tapped in by Koopmeiners. The hosts made the breakthrough on 76 minutes. Substitute Malinovskyi’s powerful long-range effort from a free-kick he had earned thundered beyond Szczesny.
DANILO KEEPS IT LATE
Allegri brought on Juan Cuadrado and Moise Kean for Bonucci and McKennie, but Atalanta almost doubled their lead. Malinovskyi flighted in a cross, which was met by Hans Hateboer, who from close range crashed his shot off the crossbar. Arthur and Marely Aké were introduced to add more attacking impetus, and Juventus continued to press despite the deep defence employed by the home team. Cuadrado earned a corner, taken by Dybala. The inswinging cross was met imperiously by Danilo, whose header flew past Sportiello. Juventus had found the equaliser in the 92nd minute – a goal that kept the unbeaten run intact.
ATALANTA 1-1 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Malinovskyi (A) 76′, Danilo (J) 90+2′
Sportiello; Djmsiti, Demiral, Toloi; Zappacosta (60′ Maehle), Freuler, Koopmeiners, de Roon, Hateboer; Boga (90+1′ Pasalic), Muriel (60′ Malinovskyi)
Subs not used: Rossi, Dajcar, Scalvini, Pezzella, Pessina, Mihaila
Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci (79′ Cuadrado), de Ligt, De Sciglio; McKennie (81′ Kean), Locatelli, Rabiot (86′ Arthur); Dybala, Vlahovic, Morata (86′ Aké)
Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, Rugani, Alex Sandro, Pellegrini, Zakaria, Kaio Jorge
ASSISTANTS: Meli, Imperiale
BOOKINGS: 35′ Djmsiti, 36′ Hateboer, 38′ Danilo, 42′ Vlahovic, De Ligt 75′
Source juventus/Football Reporting
