Douglas Luiz caused a penalty kick for the second game in a row at Juventus, while Dusan Vlahvic scored his fifth goal in a week but missed an incredible chance in the second half, minutes before Cagliari‘s equaliser.
Thiago Motta’s Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw by strugglers Cagliari at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
They had taken the lead in the first half with Vlahovic’s fifth goal in three games, but the Serbian could have made it six in the second half when he pounced on a rebound but sent the ball wide with Simone Scuffet unable to get on the ball.
Cagliari left the ball to Juventus, finishing the match with 26% possession, but Davide Nicola’s tactics made sense as the Sardinians became increasingly dangerous in the second half, ultimately scoring the equaliser from the spot with Razvan Marin.
Juventus 1-1 Cagliari – player ratings
Juventus: Di Gregorio 6; Savona 6 (70′ Danilo 5.5), Kalulu 6.5, Gatti 6.5, Cambiaso 5.5; Locatelli 6 (62′ McKennie 5.5), Thuram 5.5 (62′ Douglas Luiz 4.5); Conceicao 5, Koopmeiners 6 (46′ Fagioli 6), Mbangula 5 (77′ Yildiz 5.5); Vlahovic 5.5. Coach: Motta 5.5.
Best Juventus players: Kalulu and Gatti 6.5 – Juventus can still rely on a solid defensive partnership despite Gleison Bremer’s injury. However, it wasn’t enough to keep a seventh consecutive clean sheet in Serie A.
Lowest Juventus rating – Douglas Luiz 4.5 – Another appearance as a substitute and another penalty kick caused. This time, it was clear as he came steaming into Roberto Piccoli. A €50m signing in the summer. A disaster, for now.
Coach: Thiago Motta 5.5 – Juventus were a bit tired after Wednesday’s victory in Leipzig. Kenan Yildiz rested, Teun Koopmeiners was not fully fit and was replaced at the break. Despite Vlahovic’s big chance in the second half, Juventus didn’t create much more.
Cagliari: Scuffet 6.5; Zappa 6.5, Mina 7, Luperto 7, Obert 6.5; Makoumbou 6.5 (65′ Marin 7), Adopo 6.5 (77′ Deiola); Zortea 6 (77′ Mutandwa 6), Viola 5.5 (57′ Gaetano 6), Augello 6 (57′ Luvumbo 6.6); Piccoli 7 Coach: All. Nicola 6.5.
Best Cagliari players – Mina, Luperto and Marin 7 – The first two fought hard against Vlahovic & Co. and eventually won most duels thanks to their experience. Marin scored from the spot and was Lega Serie A’s Official MOTM. A day to remember in Cagliari.
Lowest Cagliari rating: Viola 5.5 – With Cagliari sitting so deep, it was hard to see his quality emerge. It’s not entirely his fault.
Cagliari coach: Nicola 6.5 – Cagliari did what everyone expected. Sit deep and counter-attack. This time, the plan worked well.