Juventus ran out easy winners in a 3-0 demolition of Bologna with goals from Miralem Pjanic, Mario Mandzukic and Blaise Matuidi.
Player Ratings
Defence
Bob Szczesny: Another confident display where he did all the simple things really well. Seldom troubled in the first half and made some easy claims with no fuss. Steadily growing in stature as he plays more often. A safe set of hands. 6.0/10
Andrea Barzagli: Some good tackles and was able to venture out of the defence a little more due to the presence of Benatia alongside him. 6.0/10
Medhi Benatia: Made a great interception in the first half and looked assured throughout. Finding his feet at the right time and developing into something of a dependable leader at the back. Really strong in the air, great clearances, good judgement shown every time he plays. Superb. 7.0/10
Mattia De Sciglio: Quietly going about his work without any fuss – Most importantly, he looked focused throughout without switching off. Good awareness to make an excellent interception in the first half. Good linkup with Costa and some great dribbles out from the back. Excellent. 6.5/10
Alex Sandro: Better than in recent weeks but still has a way to go. Good pressing and some nice runs into the Bologna half but not decisive in the final third, often losing the ball and giving away possession. Stepped things up in the second half and played in some good crosses from the left. 6.0/10
Midfield
Sami Khedira: Good passing here and there but he offered little in the final third and looked slow once again. 5.5/10
Blaise Matuidi: A player who does exactly what is asked of him – Won most of his tackles, his passing was good and despite some poor decision making in the Bologna half, he took his goal with a brilliant finish. 6.5/10
Miralem Pjanic: A sluggish start with some misplaced passes but he only improved as the game developed and Juve pressure mounted. Took the opening goal with a beautiful curled effort and provided a perfect cross for Mandzukic to double the scoreline. Maestro. 7.5/10
Attack
Douglas Costa: Really great runs from deep and he had the measure of Masina all through the game. Lacked the end product but his attacking contribution can’t be faulted . 6.0/10
Mario Mandzukic: Started the game in typically strong fashion, hunting down the ball and fighting to keep possession. A perfectly timed run into the box and a lovely finish to double Juve’s lead. A tireless worker throughout. 6.5/10
Gonzalo Higuain: Anonymous again, largely due to a lack of service. Had to track back to pick up the ball and try and create chances for himself. Looked more and more frustrated as the game went on but had a good effort saved. 5.5/10
Substitutes
Federico Bernardeschi: Bought on late for Costa with the result already guaranteed but didn’t really get on the ball enough to make a contribution . 5.5/10
Paulo Dybala: Another late cameo for La Joya – Should have done better when played in by Higuain and looked a little off the mark as the game came to a close. 5.5/10
Not agreeing with ratings. All the team deserves 6.5plus.Khedira there is a reason he plays every match. His positioning is superb. De Sciglio wonderful match a it does show that Juventus not Bonucci make the players.Alex Sandro v good match.
Benatia all the time anticipating with success. Douglas Costa wonderful when he accelerates. Higuain worked for the team.
And when I see these matches I find myself disturbed inside. We spend two months watching slow motion football then today…….
Every year under Allegri we start to accelerate this time of the year. He is a true tactician and mentor no doubt.
Agree to your points, but still concerning Khedira, the issue is that we have Marchisio on the bench who we need back in the team
As with Benatia Allegri knows better. I think Khedira positioning in midfield is most needed. He does what he needs to do. Allegri knows better. This was the best match since Atalanta.
It was Bologna – If it had been against a team like Atalanta or Lazio, i would have rated them higher. The Roma game will be a benchmark amico
The fact that we are starting to recover balls higher up the pitch is a significant improvement compared to previous years. It helps our senior forwards to have to trackback less and helps to find opportunities in the cracks of a disjointed opposition defense.
This was not Khediras best fixture, but I like him. However, Sami had a slow day along with Higuain. Pjanic and Matuidi had a feast and so did Mandzukic and Costa. Also I found Sandro play very well on a day when all in the defense did really great. Bob was cool as always.
Sandro is still only giving 60% of his best. I so much hope he will find his spirit and desire again so we won’t lose him in January
A old fashion autopilot game from our team, with great performances from especially Costa, De Sciglio and Matuidi.
However, with a game like this it always leaves a me with a unsettle feeling of unhappiness. For example, why are the three subs not made prior to 25. min? to give the players time to enjoy the game and find their feet, just look at Marchisio.
Why don’t we “risk” and start at least one player who needs a game like this? Bernardeschi, Bentancur or Rugani…even Pjaca?
Another point is our dreadful attack. The positive aspect of this issue is however that our goals arrive from all positions. But if our attacking players don’t gel better soon, then we are going to have problems especially in CHL. Look at the chance where Higuin plays Dybala completely free, then sprints to be in a free position only to see Dybala try to make a wonder goal. Both players are suffering from having to “work for the team”, but if this issue needs to be addressed.
By following the old Lady for more than two decades I know that it might be wishful thinking, but imagine we had such a machine that a game like today would easily be 4-5 goals. We have all the potential, but Allegri really needs to do some work, in my opinion.
Oh, at last point, so happy to see how Benatia has made Bonucci’s departure almost irrelevant.
Re Benatia, isn’t it humbling to see how many who wanted him gone have been proved wrong. Perhaps the boss does know more than we fans after all 😉
Mehdi is totaly different player now, what a turn around.It’s basicly like a new signing lol
Allegri always make subs from 70th min onwards. That is a part of his tactical thinking and he will not change it. Dybala was stopped by a very good safe from Mirante hence it would have been a wonderful goal. Higuain kept quite as he was on a yellow and did not risk Roma in a match were we were doing so well. Yesterday we dominated from start to finish and that’s important.
Benatia was simply fantastic today, his positioning was top notch.Sandro is slowly getting better, thats great, but Khedira is such a lazy shit.We almost played with 2 men midfield .Hope he will be sold soon.Marchisio has to start over this german fuck.
Lol how is pjanic a 7? He scored a hell of a goal and had an assist with laser percision.. the most important player on the team in my opinion. We can do without dybala per recent results but not without pjanic.
7.5. I made a typo. He was supposed to be MOM
Why is no one panicking about the Dybala situation?
i think he’s having some off the pitch issues that have affected his performance. He needs to get focused again. i read that he is back with his long term girlfriend so hopefully he blows Roma away this weekend 😉
I hope the problem is indeed personal, and not something having to do with transfers. I always had suspicion that Dybala will leave us sooner than later, so I find the mildest drama surrounding him unsettling.