Juventus 3-0 Lazio, instant reactions from Allianz Stadium, tops and flops

Juventus beat Lazio 3-0 in the final match of the year, here are Lorenzo Bettoni’s instant reactions from the Allianz Stadium.

A brace from Moise Kean inspired a deserved 3-0 for Juventus against their former coach Maurizio Sarri at the Allianz Stadium. But what did we learn from the last Serie A game of 2022?

Rabiot beat Milinkovic-Savic

The Serbia international didn’t have his best day at the office and was nullified by Adrien Rabiot. Sarri had claimed before the match that supremacy in the middle of the park would have been crucial to getting a result, but Juventus won most of the duels in central midfield, with both goals coming from a ball recovery in the middle. Neither Juventus nor Lazio moved the ball quickly but the Old Lady managed to recover the ball many times in the middle of the park, playing vertically to hurt the Biancocelesti. Milinkovic-Savic was subbed off in the second half and was applauded by Juventus fans who hope to see him wear the Bianconeri shirt next season.

Lazio lack unpredictability

Lazio struggled to find a way through in the final third and dearly missed their star men up front, Ciro Immobile and Mattia Zaccagni, their main sources of goals in attack. Sarri started 17-year-old Luka Romero after the Argentinean had scored the winner in Thursday’s home game with Monza. He is an exciting prospect but struggled to cope with the experienced Juventus defence and was always a step behind Danilo or Bremer. Felipe Anderson played as a false 9 but never created trouble for the Bianconeri.

Juventus solid without Bonucci

That’s not something new, considering that the Old Lady has the less-beaten defence in the league and hasn’t conceded in the last six Serie A matches. However, the meeting with Lazio confirms the Bianconeri no longer need their captain Leonardo Bonucci to have solidity at the back. The Italy international hadn’t started against Inter last week and was again relegated to the bench tonight. Gleison Bremer put in another strong performance playing in the middle of a three-man defence, completed by the ever-reliable Danilo and Federico Gatti. Bonucci still has a key role in the team and in the dressing room, but is no longer one of Allegri’s ‘untouchables.’

Top

Moise Kean – Man Of The Match. His brace inspired Juventus’ victory, but the Italy international offered much more than that. He didn’t waste possession and was always able to stretch Lazio’s defence when carrying the ball or with his late runs. Allegri had claimed Kean would have been a crucial tactical key against Sarri’e men and was eventually proved right.

Adrien Rabiot – The France midfielder is in the form of his life at the moment. As mentioned above, he nullified Milinkovic-Savic and even stole the ball from his feet, delivering the assist for Kean’s opener in the first half. Overall, the best Juventus midfielder in the first part of the season.

Manuel Locatelli – His performances keep improving. The Italy international added quality and quantity to Juventus’ midfield against Lazio. He always knew what to do with the ball at his feet and was instrumental to Juventus’ second goal.

Flop

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Probably his worst performance this season. The Serbia international had a decent start but lost the plot after Rabiot stole the ball leading to Juventus’ opener.

Ivan Provedel – Another solid Lazio performer this term who failed to impress at the Allianz Stadium. The Italy international was caught in no man’s land when Kean put Juventus ahead and was as guilty as Milinkovic-Savic.

Danilo Cataldi – Just like SMS, he lost possession in the middle of the park in the second half, leading to Kean’s second goal. Lazio were too static in the middle of the park, the ball didn’t move quickly, so it was easier for Juventus to win duels and eventually take all three points home, climbing to third place.