Juventus Turin completed a routine task against US Lecce with a 2-1 win and advanced to a Champions League spot. After a dominant first half, however, Igor Tudor’s team clearly weakened and faltered late on.
After the 1-0 win over Genoa to get off to a winning start, Igor Tudor and Juventus Turin drew 1-1 at AS Roma, thus keeping them in contention for a place in the Champions League. On Saturday evening, they faced an absolute must-win game against Marco Giampaolo’s US Lecce during their mission to reach the Champions League. The 17th-placed team had not won eight times in a row before.
Tudor’s golden touch
The Turin coach made just one change after the draw at the Olimpico – and it proved to be a masterstroke. Koopmeiners, who had replaced Weah (bench) in the starting XI, was sent into the box by Vlahovic in the second minute, and he finished from a semi-left position to put Juve in the lead.
Vlahovic missed the 2-0 from close range (6th) before Lecce had to take the next setback. Jean, one of three newcomers alongside Pierret and Danilo Veiga after the 1-1 draw with Venice, injured his knee and had to be carried off the pitch. Tiago Gabriel came on to replace the Frenchman (11th minute) for his first Serie A appearance.
When play resumed, Renato Veiga (20th minute) after a corner and Koopmeiners, who was blocked by 20-year-old Tiago Gabriel (24th minute), came close to making it 2-0. Yildiz then managed it after a fine combination: Thuram passed to the Turkish international, got the ball back with his first touch and also passed directly from the left into the penalty area to Vlahovic. The striker shone again as an assist provider, joined the one-touch combination and allowed himself to be tackled by Yildiz. The former Munich player scored from 15 meters out, rolling the ball low and right into the bottom-right corner (33′).
The half-time lead could have been even higher, Gonzalez failed with a scissor kick (36th), Kelly tested Falcone, who was also on hand for Vlahovic’s follow-up (37th), and again Vlahovic directed a cross from Yildiz just wide (38th).
Juve eases off, Baschirotto misses
After the break, Juve noticeably took it easy and were much less purposeful than before the break. Lecce came close to scoring: Danilo Veiga’s cross was blocked by Renato Veiga, but Tete Morente was able to finish from eleven meters out, but Locatelli threw himself in between. On the corner that was awarded, Baschirotto headed over from five meters (62′).
Tudor reacted by making three changes, bringing on Cambiaso, Weah and Kolo Muani for McKennie, Koopmeiners and Vlahovic, who was visibly annoyed about being substituted (67′). This at least provided a little more momentum and a dangerous shot on goal. Cambiaso forced Falcone to make a save from 18 meters (76′).
Baschirotto lets Juve tremble after all
But the changes didn’t achieve much more. Juve remained too passive, hardly purposeful – and Lecce took advantage of that to ensure an exciting final phase. Captain Baschirotto headed a free-kick from Tiago Gabriel in from eleven meters flat into the lower left corner to make it 1-0 (85′). Late Helgason (90.) and Kialonda Gaspar, who was blocked by teammate Rebic (90. + 4) even approached the equalizer, but the hosts brought the lead over time.
This move sees Juventus Turin jump to 3rd place and they are sure to finish the 32nd matchday in a Champions League place, as their two closest pursuers, Atalanta and Bologna, face each other in a direct duel on Sunday (12:30 p.m.) and will consequently take points away from each other. Juve themselves don’t play again until next Sunday (3pm) in Parma, while Lecce host Como on Easter Saturday (3pm).
