Dusan Vlahovic and Chris Smalling were among the best players in Juventus–Roma, while Filip Kostic and Leonardo Spinazzola disappointed, according to Italian sports papers.
Juventus and Roma picked up a point each in their meeting at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
The Serbia international scored from a free-kick after barely two minutes, but it was cancelled out by Abraham’s first goal of the season in the second half, assisted by former local hero Paulo Dybala.
José Mourinho claimed Abraham played a ‘horrible game’ despite his goal, but Italian sports papers don’t seem to agree with the Special One and rated the ex-Chelsea man 6.5 (Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport) and 7 (Tuttuosport).
Paulo Dybala assisted Abraham but played an average game and was rated 6/10 by all Italian sports papers.
Mourinho, on the other hand, said that he was ‘very happy’ with La Joya’s performance.
However, according to Italian sports papers, Chris Smalling was the best Roma player yesterday.
The England international was involved in several duels with Vlahovic and often emerged victorious: “Smalling could not prevent Vlahovic from taking the free-kick, but he denied all the rest. In the first half, he was the only Roma player up to the task for strength and personality.” wrote Gazzetta.
Rick Karsdorp, Leonardo Spinazzola, Gianluca Mancini, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante and Nemanja Matic were not entirely convincing and not all of them got a passing grade (6/10) in this morning’s pagelle.
As for Juventus, Dusan Vlahovic was the best player on the pitch, as per Gazzetta and Il Corriere dello Sport.
The Serbia international fought against the “‘gladiator’ Smalling and the whole Roma defence. He created space and earned free-kicks, scoring his third goal in three games,” wrote Gazzetta.
According to Tuttosport, Manuel Locatelli and Fabio Miretti were slightly better than the Serbian striker (7.5 to 7).
The 19-year-old got high grades also on Gazzetta and Il Corriere dello Sport (7) and was the best Juventus player after Vlahovic.
Alex Sandro and Filip Kostic failed to impress with the Brazilian who was responsible for the Giallorossi’s equaliser. However, according to Gazzetta, the former Eintracht Frankfurt man was the worst Juventus man yesterday. “For now, he is a foreign body in the team that has yet to absorb him,” wrote the pink paper.
kostic was poor, he delivery even frm corners were poor and so was de sciglio – mans cant even get the ball off the ground
Kostic is you running with little flair and skills. Few decent crosses.
So good watching the Serbian Andy carroll supported by the new Milos krasic. even better when the Swiss momo sissoko came on. Throw in De Sciglio and you’ve got pure artistry on a football pitch.