Juventus thanked their youth players for the three points in Lecce, as Nicolò Fagioli scored a magnificent Alex Del Piero-style debut Serie A goal on Samuel Iling Junior’s assist.
The Bianconeri were in crisis mode after their Champions League elimination and made this trip without 10 players, including Dusan Vlahovic, Manuel Locatelli, Gleison Bremer, Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes, Mattia De Sciglio, Paul Pogba and Federico Chiesa. The Salentini had lost only once at the Via del Mare this season, the opener with Inter decided in stoppages, drawing the other four.
Fabio Miretti was booked early for a high tackle on Oudin, while Juan Cuadrado’s angled drive flashed across the face of goal.
It was certainly an aggressive, physical match, with four Juventus players booked in the opening half-hour. Adrien Rabiot had the first shot on target on 32 minutes, straight at Wladimiro Falcone from distance, while Miretti’s attempt was deflected wide.
Just before half-time, Rabiot’s header from a corner was beaten off the line by Falcone, while the goalkeeper smothered at the feet of Juan Cuadrado on the line after a Milik back-heel flick, but it was offside anyway.
Milik’s low drive was parried from the edge of the area and substitute Moise Kean’s header into the ground went wide.
The deadlock was broken within a minute of Samuel Iling Junior coming off the bench and it was his assist, although Fagioli did all the work with a truly magnificent right-foot curler into the far top corner from just inside the box. It was unstoppable for Falcone and the 21-year-old burst into tears at this debut Serie A goal, a finish that Alessandro Del Piero would’ve been proud of.
Lecce were unlucky not to score an equaliser in the final minute, Morten Hjulmand’s low drive bouncing off the base of the far post.
They were also furious at not being allowed to take a final corner after the five minutes of stoppages were up.
Lecce 0-1 Juventus
Fagioli 73 (J)
number 12, 8 25 17 11 20 for us were san marino level.
well done to only 43 and 44
allegri and his typical super anti fast hexygon
Miretti is quick..but it was Fagioli who broke the deadlock…that is why you need this youngsters. Do not give too much for those so called 1st team
PhD Max is the 007 of coaches. An expert in going toe to toe with other bush leaguers. CALMAAA!!! Full horse whipping to come next Sunday.
00 doofus will make sure everyone is packed behind the ball with his Rainbow Six 10-0-0 when a certain team travels to the home of the bush leaguers. Lecce hit the post and any half decent team that can half shoot will do a number on them.