Atalanta 0-3 Juventus
Tevez 35, 59 (J)
Morata 83 (J)
Serie A – Week 5 [27th September 2014] – Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia
It seems that Max Allegri’s Juventus tenure only gets better. Shutout victory has followed shutout victory, and in addition to their Serie A perfection the side has also notched a Champions League win. Today’s match, away at Bergamo versus Atalanta, was the end of the beginning of Juve’s season. Now the very hard work begins, as the hear to the Champions League group stage pops up alongside Serie A. Juventus face a baptism by fire with consecutive matches versus Atletico Madrid (Wednesday) and Roma on the weekend. Luckily, they left Bergamo with all three points, so they are perfectly set for this next stretch of games.
To be fair to Atalanta, they did not immediately wilt under Juve’s quality. In fact, Atalanta seemed to frustrate Juventus at first, with Daniele Baselli having a very early effort on goal that was close, but ended up going wide right. Atalanta would have a few more semi-dangerous chances, usually started with a German Denis pass, but eventually Juventus would take control.
Though Juventus more or less shut down Atalanta’s initial flurry within twenty minutes, they were still frustrated in attack for a little longer. There were close calls, nearly great ideas, and of course the customary audacious efforts borne out of frustration. Finally though, a Stephan Lichsteiner cross found Carlos Tevez, who beat his marker in the box and slammed the chance into the back of the net. Once again, Tevez scores to give Juventus the lead.
From there Juventus more or less had Atalanta at her will with one exception. Giorgio Chiellini fouled Salvatore Molina, earning Atalanta a penalty kick. German Denis took the kick, but his effort was quite poor and Gianluigi Buffon easily saved it. This led to a Juventus counter, which ended in a second Carlos Tevez goal, this time coming from a Patrice Evra assist. In about a minute, it went from possibly a 1-1 draw to a 2-0 Juventus lead.
From there, Allegri loosened the reins a bit and attempted to rest a few players ahead of the big match versus Atletico. Alvaro Morata came on for Fernando Llorente. Llorente had a good game in terms of contributing to build up play, but continued to struggle to in front of the net. Morata, on the other hand, filled in admirably for Llorente as a target man of sorts, and scored his first ever Juventus goal after firmly heading in a Roberto Pereyra cross. Pereyra had come on for Vidal moments after the initial Llorente-Morata substitution. Finally, Kingsley Coman got in a few minutes of garbage time after Carlos Tevez came off.
It was another superb match from Juventus, but there is no time to revel in the glory, as a very important game versus Atletico Madrid lurks ahead midweek, and perhaps even more importantly, the showdown versus Roma next weekend. It should be a fun week, to say the least.
Statistics
Man of the Match: | Carlos Tevez |
Corners | 3 | Total Shots: | 16 | |||
Flop of the Match: | N/A |
Pass Accuracy: | 81% | Ball Possession: | 60% | |||
Fouls: | 15 | Shots on Target: | 7 | Formation: | 3-5-2 |
Formation:
Lineups:
Atalanta: Sportiello; Zappacosta, Biava, Benalouane, Drame; Estigarribia (Molina 49), Baselli (Cigarini 64), Carmona, Gomez (Bianchi 75); Denis, Boakye
Juventus: Buffon; Ogbonna, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal (Pereyra 70), Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Tevez (Coman 85), Llorente (Morata 67)
Ref: Orsato
Video Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FfUPrvimqY
Now off to the hardest week of the season, so far! HERE WE COME ATLETICO AND ROMA
massive,truly massive.
I’m already hyped up for those games! Will be tough, first time ever facing Atletico and they are so much stronger than they used to be
i know…..massive test for us.
INTEEEEEEEEEEER You guys amuse me!!!!!! 😀
INTER MERDA ALE INTER MERDA ALE
Wow Ekdal, seems like he still has Juve in his blood
I could get used to results like these!
Thought again we was outstanding last night.We look unstoppable.we will find out this week.
It hasnt been 16 years since a team started with 5 consecutive clean sheets. Parma was the last to do so and the keeper guarding their goal was non other than Gigi Buffon himself.
Makes one wonder, do we really miss Barzagli right now? Or even Pirlo?
No disrespect to them in any way, just wondering out loud. I do miss Barzagli, we seem to have no options in our CB’s, we nearly had only 3 available for every game so far. But Marchisio has done well to replace Pirlo, I’m not sure he will automatically get his spot back now. Especially with Allegri..
Makes me wish we could play with 12 players, I don’t want to see Pirlo on the bench
I should rotate between the 5 CM’s (Vidal, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Pereyra). When the opponent is playing hard on defence, I”l go for Pirlo, and when it is a close encounter (the topgames) I’d play Marchisio (because he can cover more ground)
Rotation will definitely be important, its one of the few mistakes Conte never properly corrected. I agree with your view here, Marchisio runs more and helps in defence, also doesn’t need protection the way Pirlo does. Which makes him more suitable to play against attacking teams. While Pirlo can unlock a closed up game with just one touch of class, something only he can do. He can deliver a win just like Tevez has been doing this season, scoring a free kick or delivering a superb assist so someone else can score a winning goal
Barzagli is definitely gonna have to work for his starting spot. Caceres has stepped up a level immensely and not only defensively, also offensively. When we re attacking, he supports the right side so well and acts almost as a Rb.
As for Pirlo, im sure he and Principino are gonna be rotated often. I still wanna see a 4-2-3-1 where Marchisio and Pirlo take the deeper positions. They cant possibly man mark both and if they somehow do, its Pogba/Tevez/Vidal to the rescue.
Amen!
So for Atletico, what formation and selection would you guys use?
3-5-2 or 4-3-3? Something different?
Warning: I’m going all creative here
———————-Buffon
Lichtsteiner Bonucci Chiellini Caceres(if fit, otherwise Evra)
———–Pogba Marchisio Vidal
———————–Tevez
—————-Llorente Morata
This looks like a good mixture of youth(thus speed), technical/physical players and experience, with excellent subs: Asamoah, Coman, Giovinco
I’m only bothered by the lack of a second player on each flank. 3-5-2 has proven to be unsuccessful in Europe. 4-3-3 isn’t ideal since it doesn’t allow Tevez to play in his best position and I consider him our main threat, so I want him in his best position. He likes to pick up the ball in midfield, so I’d give him the trequartista role behind Llorente and Morata, who both know the Spanish competition really well.
Seems like a great attack to me.
Now hit me with your ideas and lets create a Juvefc.com approved line-up to face the Champions League runner up!
we didn’t once played 4-3-3, so I wouldn’t suddenly change and stick to our 3-5-2 with asamoah on the left instead of evra and Tevez and Llorente up front.
It’s a 4-3-1-2 but I get your point 😛 I just doubt the efficiency of 3-5-2 in Europe, I’m pretty convinced pace and the ability to beat a player 1vs1 will be key to win this game. Also ofcourse determination and hunger for the win, but those things we have in abundancy, this is Juve after all.
I think wih Marchisio in superb form the 3-5-2 stands stronger than last year
Wasn’t really a lack of fitness or form anything imo, it is just too one dimensional. Opponents know how to counter it and I’m pretty sure Atletico will exploit it if we use 3-5-2 again.
Changing formation can be risky, 100% agreed, but it’s a risk I’d be willing to take
okay, but with Marchisio on the pitch, we have more movement. I’ll just hope Llorente can improve his form. And Caceres as LB ?? A right footed defender on the left is never a good idea, IMO.
I don’t know why people blame Llorente so much, his hold-up play is phenomenal. Only lacks goals, he should be more selfish sometimes and just shoot the damn bal instead of always trying to give others tap-in goals.
Yeah the reason I put Caceres there is because he’s far more agile and pacey than Evra is. Atletico have fast players who will try to duel our defenders 1 on 1 and our defenders will have to deal with that speed, its the reason I would go for Caceres since there is no real LB besides Evra. Maybe Asamoah would do well there, but I haven’t really seen him play there, so I kept him on the bench to be subbed in when necessary
Asamoah played during the WC as a LB, pretty good as well. Chiellini can play there as well…. Maybe I’m too tuff on Llorente. My apologies
I know he did, but I have to be honest here, I hardly watched Ghana play. I hear he did well but I don’t like to base opinions on hearsay 😛 Chiellini can do it too, but he’s too clumsy for it imo. Prefer his physique in the centre, speed isn’t exactly his thing 😀
Haha no need for apologies mate, it’s just my view on things. Obviously I want more goals from him too, he hasn’t really delivered in that area, but a striker is more than just goals! He was involved in a lot/most of our goals this season, I wouldn’t say he’s underperforming, that’s all
i wouldn’t go 4-3-1-2. same width problems as 3-5-2. 4-3-3 would be nice with asamoah-llorente-tevez with tevez drifting more centrally. but i don’t think allegri will do that. he won’t switch from 3-5-2 until we start playing poorly.
Yeah its what bothers me most, but it does allow Tevez to play in his best position. Probably will be 3-5-2 but it was a creative line up in the first place xd
Allegri should go with a 4-3-3 to help counter Atletico s energetic overlapping Fbs, but i dont think he will.
Allegri stated that he wont go to 433 unless Barzagli is back and Chielleni is already 100%
Yeah I’m pretty convinced we need to keep the wings under control to win this game, in the centre we’re stronger. But Atletico play with high speed, I hope our defense can handle it
If Chiellini and Ogbonna can stay back and defend, then I dont see a
problem with a 3-5-2, or their FBs. Our problems with the 3-5-2 arise
when our outside CBs drift up the field and leave Bonucci exposed. We also need Evra/Asa and Licht to make less attacking runs, and to be more focused on possession play in defense and midfield. We need to slow the game down as much as possible to keep them from scoring.
I would prefer an attacking game, if we allow teams to dictate play we nearly always concede, Possession yes but slow it down, no. Attack with their own weapons and thats speed, if we pressure them enough and keep our defenders at the back, we should win this game. Its also a reason I want defenders with speed, so I’d deffo field Caceres if he’s fit
I think wed all prefer an attacking game, but if we get too confident, they will make us pay. We do need to slow the game down to an Italian level, so we can dictate the game. Bore them and keep them flat footed, so when we do attack, they arent ready.
Hehe as long as we are the dominating ones it’s good, if we allow Atletico to decide how the game goes, we’ll get a hammering. Even small teams can do that if we just sit back and hope for counter attacks.
We’ll have to see what happens I guess!
Pogba reportedly extended his contract until June 2019. Fuck yeah!
Hes worth more than 4m a season, what a deal. I wonder what his bonuses are?
Ofc he is but its a big raise from his original 1.5m deal. No idea but happy he’s staying longer!
Good news! Good job Marotta!
Thank God news on Agnelli leaving for Ferrari has stopped
lol dude, you are the only person on this site that was freaking out about this. Tell me why you wouldn’t want Agnelli to leave and be replaced by Nedved???
Or even Del Piero, but the latter is most unlikely
Would be awesome, Alex for president!
Agnelli is Agnelli.. Nedved needs more time. Agnelli has the background and capabilities on the business side of Juventus. That’s why im freaking out on this 🙂 Yes, Nedved is a champion and has a winning mentality. For me, Juventus needs Agnelli in the business long term plan.
valid point, but remember that there is still a board of trustees that runs the business side, not just agnelli. I’m sure Agnelli would remain as a consultant if this happens in the future. and hey, we don’t know if Nedved has a PhD in Business administration lol.
Thanks for agreeing.. its just that Agnelli tames the board. Unlike from the previous Juventus presidents, every decisions seems to be questioned by the board. Remember Trezeguet during a Serie B game (I think) when he shouted and lashed some words after scoring a goal?
we have a different board from back then
it wouldn’t be much of a blow if agnelli left. he’s not involved in the clubs day to day affairs. Granted he’s more knowledgeable in running businesses but the rest of the board is great.
Also good luck to Roma tonight, a win over ManCity would be great
Allegri stated that the difference between Conte’s Juve and Max’s Juve is that in his Juve he want to leave more room to “FANTASIA” … Hope to see it this week 🙂
Have to say he’s right there. With Conte the main thing was rigorous teamplay, fall and rise together. More so than individually great performances. Under Allegri our players seem to play with a tad more flair, which is nice to see, especially on the currently top form players
Not going to say one is better than the other, Allegri wouldnt be able to introduce this fantasia without the great work Conte did for this team, not even mentioning the squad he built up in those 3 fantastic years.
You are spot on. Conte made the team play as a team, and you cannot develop the trust with your team mates to play like that, what with all the one-twos and the back heel passes, without having strong team cohesion and understanding which Conte developed. Good from Allegri that he lets the attackers roam around and create space for themselves.
Haha thanks:p Thats exactly what I thought too
Yeah.. Allegri credits Conte for what he did to the players.