Juventus fought back from 2-0 down with a Paulo Dybala brace, but Alessandro Murgia’s dramatic stoppage-time winner gave Lazio the Italian Super Cup.
See how the action unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
Juventus fought back from 2-0 down with a Paulo Dybala brace, but Alessandro Murgia’s dramatic stoppage-time winner gave Lazio the Italian Super Cup.
See how the action unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
As the Bianconeri won both the Scudetto and Coppa Italia last season, they faced beaten Coppa Finalists Lazio in the Super Cup. The Aquile had lost their previous 10 competitive meetings with Juve, managing one draw since their most recent victory, the Coppa Italia semi-final in January 2013.
Bastos was suspended at the Stadio Olimpico, Felipe Anderson only fit for the bench and Keita Balde Diao frozen out amid transfer speculation linking him to the Bianconeri. Max Allegri didn’t pick any of the summer signings and opted for Andrea Barzagli in a semi-full-back role.
Within the opening three minutes Juve had a great chance, as Alex Sandro flew down the left and rolled across for Juan Cuadrado to tap in from a couple of yards, but Thomas Strakosha incredibly parried with an outstretched leg at the near post.
Moments later, the goalkeeper also beat away a Gonzalo Higuain effort, but Lazio eventually settled and Medhi Benatia charged down a Sergei Milinkovic-Savic overhead kick with his face.
Ciro Immobile had timid penalty appeals for a Giorgio Chiellini shoulder-to-shoulder situation, then Milinkovic-Savic fired over after intercepting a poor pass out of defence.
The Bianconeri made a very similar error and were punished for it, as Immobile ran through a huge gap in the middle of the Juve defence after a Cuadrado turnover and was brought down as he tried to dribble around Gigi Buffon. Immobile converted the penalty himself, low into the near bottom corner.
The Juve defence was an uncharacteristic shambles, as Buffon had to make two saves in five seconds, beating away a Dusan Basta angled drive and tipping the Lucas Leiva scorcher over the bar.
Another dangerous counter was ruined by Basta getting in the way of a Luis Alberto finish when he’d wandered into an offside position. Lucas Leiva was booked on his competitive Lazio debut for cutting down Cuadrado on a counter.
After the restart, Stefan de Vrij needed a decisive tackle just as Paulo Dybala – making his debut in the Number 10 jersey – was about to pull the trigger from seven yards.
However, Lazio doubled their lead when Marco Parolo whipped in a cross that Immobile looped into the far top corner after hanging in the air for what seemed like an eternity.
Allegri took action, introducing new signings Douglas Costa and Mattia De Sciglio, but Buffon had to smother at Immobile’s feet to prevent a hat-trick.
Miralem Pjanic curled a free kick over the bar and Douglas Costa fired straight at Strakosha, then the Brazilian’s sweeping cross wasn’t steered in by Higuain at the back stick.
Pjanic should’ve been booked in the first half for a tactical foul and did get carded on 74 minutes for a blatant kick on Immobile’s ankle that seemed like a reaction foul.
Buffon had his gloves stung by a Luis Alberto scorcher and Lucas Leiva went off with cramp, while Stefan Radu and Immobile had to stay on despite visibly hobbling.
Juventus did get back into the game with five minutes to go thanks to a magnificent Dybala free kick that dipped over the wall and past Strakosha’s outstretched hand. It was a set play worthy of the Number 10 jersey.
Lazio were absolutely exhausted and Juve took advantage, as Adam Marusic tripped Alex Sandro in the box and Dybala kept his cool to convert the resulting penalty for 2-2.
Just as Juve were pushing to avoid extra time and finish Lazio off, Jordan Lukaku dribbled past Mattia De Sciglio and pulled back from the by-line for youth academy product Alessandro Murgia to tap in from seven yards and restore their advantage.
Juventus 2-3 Lazio
Immobile pen 32, 54 (L), Dybala 85, pen 91 (J), Murgia 94 (L)
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Benatia (De Sciglio 56), Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Pjanic; Cuadrado (Douglas Costa 56), Dybala, Mandzukic (Bernardeschi 72); Higuain
Lazio: Strakosha; Wallace, De Vrij, Radu; Basta (Marusic 74), Parolo, Lucas Leiva (Murgia 79), Luis Alberto, Lulic (Basta 74); Milinkovic-Savic, Immobile
Ref: Massa