Juventus paid the price for two penalty kicks in the Coppa Italia final. The loss against Inter ensures that they will finish the season without silverware for the first time in ten years. Sloppy defending has contributed to their woes despite the old-school style of coach Massimiliano Allegri.
The departure of Giorgio Chiellini will open up a significant void in terms of leadership in the back. The veteran has been in and out of the lineup due to physical problems. Leonardo Bonucci has also sat out key fixtures due to a calf injury. Matthijs De Ligt has been the linchpin of the rearguard, but he has often dropped the ball.
Juventus have had nine penalty kicks awarded against them this season, Goal indicates. Only Spezia, Venezia, and Norwich have done worse in Europe in 2021-2022. Almost half of them, four, have come in the clashes with Inter. The two clubs also met in the Supercoppa.
De Ligt was involved in two fouls in the box Wednesday. He was especially ill-advised on a tackle on Stefan De Vrij in overtime. The Dutch center-back has caused seven PKs since joining Juventus. The only defender who has been productive, negatively speaking, in the last triennium is Sevilla’s Diego Carlos with 11, Opta points out. Bonucci is not far behind, with six in the three most recent seasons. Despite his physical style, Chiellini has had just three. The 22-year-old is officiated very strictly in Serie A, and just one of his penalty kicks was in the Champions League.