Battle in Reggio Emilia: in the first half back and forth between Kulusevski and Malinovskyi, in the second half Chiesa decides
REGGIO EMILIA. Buffon who plays the last match in Juventus, Chiesa who scores the winning goal and the redemption. Between past and future, these are the frames of the Juve redemption evening. Pirlo celebrates in Reggio Emilia for Juve’s 14th Italian Cup, won 2-1 in a very tight final with Atalanta. After the Super Cup it is the second success of the season for the coach, an absolute rookie, but winning is not important for Juve, it is the only thing that matters. And so the Cup consoles the 900 Juventus fans present out of a total of 4,300 spectators – a real novelty of the evening – and makes the year less bitter but slightly changes the balance of Pirlo management, for the future. Juve.
Atalanta started very strong, but fell in their key men (Zapata in the lead), Pirlo relied on Buffon’s enormous experience, on final greetings, on De Ligt’s defense and on Kulusevski’s verve. So Juve withstood what was needed, hit with cynicism and once reached it changed pace in the second half, deserving the victory. Pirlo is left with the regret of having only now seen the Juve he would have liked for the whole season Gasperini keeps Muriel on the bench, struggling with some muscle problems, on the other hand Pirlo chooses Kulusevski for the attack, with Ronaldo and Chiesa.
Buffon in goal is preparing for his very last in the black and white jersey. A start in a studio attitude is not from Atalanta, and in fact Gasperini’s team immediately sets a very high pace, which Juve partly softens and partly rebounds. Only 5 ‘and the Bergamo players, aggressive as in the best evenings, already create two chances; the first result of a Palomino-Zapata combination, with the defender widening the plate rejected by Buffon’s foot, the second with a showdown in the area of the center forward, whose left sill touches the post. Juve find difficult outlets, Kulusevski (9 ‘) takes care of it with a serpentine in the area to offer McKennie the good ball, but Romero anticipates In a few minutes they demand penalties first Chiesa then Pessina, unheard by Massa and the Var, then De Ligt risks the mess on Zapata but Buffon puts his hand out on the Colombian, and it is only 18 ‘.
It is always Atalanta, the pressure often forces Cuadrado to make a mistake, while on the other side and Freuler to touch the opposite post outlined on the bottom (24 ‘). THEThe good minute is 31 ‘, but he is Juventus: Kulusevski unlocks with a left footed shot from inside the area on Juve restart, Atalanta protests for Cuadrado’s advance on Goosens call the Var who confirm the goal. Unexpectedly, 1-0.
Disadvantage and recriminations have the effect of charging Atalanta, instead of knocking them down, and in fact the draw arrives ten minutes later with a blow from outside by Malinovskiy on a photocopy of the first goal. This time the Juventus players are protesting about Freuler’s advance on Rabiot, but the 1-1 is confirmed.
Upon returning to the field another strong start from Atalanta, at 6 ‘De Ligt anticipates Romero’s sideline saving the goal but remedies a stomp, but Juve is not there to take slaps and remains high to steal the ball and hurt. So between 12 ‘and 18’ three chances arrive: Chiesa hits from the left for Kulusevski and Gollini has the right reflex, then Cristiano Ronaldo heads a cross from the right but soft, and finally it is the post that stops Chiesa’s right a sure shot, on the best combination with Ronaldo of the evening.
Gasperini tries the acceleration with Muriel for Malinovskiy and Pasalic for Pessina, Pirlo prepares the answer with Dybala for Chiesa but before the change a pinch of good luck and it is precisely the blue who signs the 2-1 Juve, at 28 ‘: percussion from the left, triangle with Kulusevski and inside the area all alone left is impregnable. For Chiesa, goal ovation and return to the bench are one and the same. Ilicic also enters, but Juve has turned the bar of the evening and the Atalanta outlets are now few. Muriel tries from the edge but the shot is uncoordinated (32 ‘). Nothing can be done to the Goddess, who gets nervous until Toloi turns red when he’s already back on the bench. Juve freezes the game, waits for the final whistle and brings Buffon in triumph before lifting the Cup. And now he supports Atalanta, on Sunday against Milan, to snatch a place in the Champions League.
ATALANTA (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Toloi (31 ‘st Djimsiti), Romero, Palomino; Hateboer (31 ‘st Ilicic), De Roon, Freluer, Gosens (38’ st Miranchuk); Malinovskyi (23 ‘st Muriel), Pessina (23’ st Pasalic); Zapata. Coach: Gasperini
JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Buffon, Cuadrado, De Ligt, Chiellini, Danilo, McKennie, Bentancur, Rabiot, Chiesa (29 ‘st Dybala), Kulusevski (37’ st Bonucci), Cristiano Ronaldo. Herds Pirlo
Referee: Massa
Networks: in pt 31 ‘Kulusevski, 41’ Malinovskyi, in st 28 ‘Chiesa
Note. Corners: 2 to 1 for Atalanta Recovery: 0 and 4 ‘Booked: Chiellini for dangerous play, Malinovskyi, De Ligt, Romero, Freuler, De Roon and Ilicic for foul play. Expelled: Toloi from the bench