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A few games ago, one of the ESPN Deportes announcers mentioned that Juventus did not look like Juventus from a few years ago. They didn’t look like a team that won out over their opponents, that could go to any pitch and make their presence felt.
“The fear is gone nowWas the exact phrase he used, and I remember agreeing with him on that point.
However, Wednesday’s 3-1 win over AC Milan was decidedly a vintage performance for Juve. It was a performance to save the season and one that they needed.
I’m not sure if the fear is quite back, but it was a fist statement on the table by the still defending champions. We are not leaving.
Let’s cook.
MVP: Federico Chiesa
KEEP CHIESA ON GOOD FOREVER.
Talk about a night out for the season’s brightest signing. While it’s been far from awful so far, I think it’s fair to say that the Chiesa experience had been quite disappointing with some positive flashes here and there. Kind of like going to see a band you sort of knew at a big festival – remember that? – and the couple of songs that got you pissed off and then just a bunch of nothing.
Much of this had to do with the former Fiorentina player lining up on the left wing – a position he didn’t fully know but wasn’t his bread and butter – mostly because of the start. season by Juan Cuadrado. However, due to Cuadrado’s suspension and then being diagnosed with COVID-19, Chiesa received more hits on the right and it paid off.
He beat Theo Hernandez in 1v1 battles, used his speed and athleticism to prowl down the right flank, and had two superb scores to give Juventus the victory. He was clearly upset that he was replaced, but something tells me that he will find himself playing more and more. Do not you worry Child.
Runner-up: Wojciech Szczęsny – was huge in the sticks on a big game. I had nothing to do in the opening game of AC Milan, but other than that nothing escaped him. Huge performance when the team needed him the most.
Leader of the season: Cristiano Ronaldo (7 points)
Winner: Paulo Dybala
I was in conflict to give him or Woj second place and that is a testament to how well these two guys played in Milan.
The stats sheet will show he had two assists, but it was bigger than the two assists. Coming back to the last game and this one, this is the first time this season that we’ve seen Dybala have some confidence, a bit of boastfulness in his game and it was noticeable.
At the end of 2020, Dybala does not even attempt this back pass. At the end of 2020, Dybala doesn’t give his passing as much rhythm and precision and he’s sure hell doesn’t have as much of an impact on the game as he does. It has a lot to do with recovering his strength and form – something Andrea Pirlo has mentioned about 3,256 times at his press conferences – after facing a litany of injuries, illnesses and illnesses. COVID-19.
I love Paulo Dybala 2021, let’s have more of that please.
VAR / Ref controversy of the week
I have to give Massimiliano Irrati props – his performance in refereeing this match was so horrible that it made me tweak that section of the Grab Bag a little bit because this time it wasn’t a VAR controversy, it was was just an institutional failure.
What I love about what happened on Wednesday night is that both teams can be just as pissed off by the refereeing shenanigans that have taken place.
In fact, let’s review them:
How Juventus got watered by Massimiliano Irrati
- Adrien Rabiot suffered a foul on the game which led directly to AC Milan’s only goal of the game.
- Danilo, the GOAT, made a perfectly timed tackle to stop a Hernandez counter but was awarded a yellow card instead.
- Hernandez does his best to defeat Chiesa early in the first half with two fouls that should have been whistled and possibly booked.
How AC Milan got watered by Massimiliano Irrati
- Rodrigo Bentancur should have seen his second yellow card of the game after clearing Samu Castillejo with a slipped tackle during a block.
- Rabiot knocked Brahim Diaz into the box in the dying minutes of the game which probably should have been a PK.
Still, despite the mistakes, I think the result was probably fair considering what we saw on the pitch. But, twist my arm right, if all the right calls are made Davide Calabria’s goal is barred and Milan get a PK in the final minutes which we’ll assume he converts. Final score, 3-1.
My guy, Irrati, was here playing chess, not checkers. Speaking of …
Winner: Andrea Pirlo
Chiesa had his face in his shirt out of sheer disgust, he was upset like all hell and while he wasn’t showing it as much I bet Dybala wasn’t happy to be replaced at the start of the second either. half to bring in Weston McKennie and Dejan Kulusevski.
And I don’t blame them! They were playing, they had just scored the second goal of the night – what’s up, Pirlo?
Sure TwitterI argued that I liked the guys they brought in, but thought they should have replaced Cristiano Ronaldo and Aaron Ramsey instead. Well that’s why I don’t run a super European club I guess.
Kulusevski and McKennie immediately teamed up for the third and decisive score of the evening and made Pirlo a genius. that’s why The teacher made a lot of money and i’m still an internet guy.
Speaking of making Pirlo beautiful …
Winner: Gianluca Frabotta
Frabotta has been unspectacular overall during his time with the senior Juventus team. The former U-23 standout had chances to grab the left-winger position, but while he wasn’t that great, he didn’t force Pirlo to play him as a consistent starter.
Yet due to force majeure, he must have started in the biggest domestic game of the season and he’s been pretty good too. He missed a few assists and was by no means perfect, but for a guy we were talking about getting on loan a few hours before kick-off he stepped up and delivered a good performance when the team needed it most. from him.
The COVID-19 situation
A major point of discussion of this game by fans on both sides was how players who tested positive for the coronavirus affected the outcome of the game.
AC Milan have lost pretty much their entire midfield and Juventus have lost their starting full-backs. You obviously never want to see infected men and we hope everyone makes a quick and full recovery. But it’s worth talking about the fact that it will continue and most likely happen before a big game for one of the teams currently in contention for the Serie A title.
This is apparently part of the current reality that we simply have to accept that at any time, without prior warning, key players of championship-winning caliber teams will miss indefinite periods that could significantly affect the title race.
I don’t like it, but these are the breaks.
Starting shot of the week
* Haughty and arrogant Juve fan cap on
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT SMACK, HUH?
3-1 in your own garden, what about that? Feed me with all your tears.
* Haughty, Arrogant Juve fan cap off *
So, yeah, it was a really good game I would say. As far as we have doubted and guessed the era of Andrea Pirlo, it’s worth pointing out that in their two biggest games of the year, they pulled out blazing weapons and got the results they needed in the competition. European and now at national level. It’s still a long season and a long way to go, but one has to imagine that this result will not only make a difference in the standings, but also for the mentality and mood of the locker room in general.
Juventus are still seven points off the lead, but with a game in one hand and a decisive win over the league leaders in their pocket, those seven points seem a lot more manageable than before.
See you on Sunday.
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