Juventus’ strong form continued on Wednesday night when the club beat Zenit 1-0. The Bianconeri defense turned in a fine performance even as its offense struggled, and the match seemed destined to end in a goalless draw. However, Dejan Kulusevski’s 87th-minute goal rescued the visitors, turning an ugly match into a stunning victory.
Juventus
Wojciech Szczesny – 6.5
The Pole did not have much to do in this match thanks to Juventus’ outstanding backline. Szczesny was solid on the rare occasions when he was asked to distribute the ball.
Matthijs De Ligt – 8
The Dutch centre-back played very well against Zenit’s front three. He was mobile and spatially aware throughout the match, making a number of successful tackles and aerial challenges.
Leonardo Bonucci – 6.5
Bonucci was another defender who played decently, though the 34-year-old did have a number of miscues.
Mattia De Sciglio – 8
De Sciglio had another brilliant game. The usually reserved outside-back has done a fine job of contributing to the offense lately, and his distribution was top notch against Zenit. His 87th-minute cross created the game-winning goal for the visitors.
Alex Sandro – 7.5
The Brazilian was heavily involved in play, often supporting the attack and helping halt counter attacks. He did well against Zenit’s right wing in conjunction with Manuel Locatelli in the defensive midfield.
Manuel Locatelli – 5.5
Like his midfield counterparts, Locatelli helped the visitors retain possession, but he failed to provide his typical creative passes. For the majority of his time on the pitch, Locatelli played deep, disrupting Zenit’s attacking midfield.
4 – #Juventus have won the joint-most matches (four, level with Real Sociedad) with the score 1-0 among Big-5 European Leagues this season in all competitions. Target.#ChampionsLeague
— OptaPaolo ? (@OptaPaolo) October 20, 2021
Rodrigo Bentancur – 6
Despite being frequently involved in build-up play, Bentancur did not create many chances. He played a functional role supporting the forwards from the midfield.
Weston McKennie – 6
McKennie’s form was noticeably improved. The American was by far the most dynamic midfield presence for the Bianconeri, but he did miss a free header with 18 minutes left.
Federico Chiesa – 7
The striker played well between the lines and managed several shots. He played a versatile role in the match and often drifted into the midfield or out wide, but he was fairly silent in the second half.
Alvaro Morata – 5
Morata was extraordinarily quiet in his return from injury and struggled to become involved with play. Chiesa often had to operate in Morata’s zone to create chances, leaving the Spaniard without a well-defined role.
Federico Bernadeschi – 6
Bernadeschi attempted to make plays in the right channel, but Zenit’s defense held strong and shut down the winger. The normally dynamic Italian international was unable to penetrate the hosts’ backline, and his struggles were a key reason why Juventus’ offense lacked its usual punch.
Substitutes
Arthur – 6
Coming on with 30 minutes remaining, Arthur took over Locatelli’s deep role and played his part decently.
Juan Cuadrado – 5
The Brazilian’s entrance made an instant impact on Juventus’ offense, greatly strengthening the left wing’s attacking prowess. However, he was poor defensively and gave away a ball in the defensive third that nearly gave Zenit the go-ahead goal.
Dejan Kulusevski – 7
Coming on as a substitute, Kulusevski managed the dramatic winning goal. The Swedish forward just connected with De Sciglio’s cross, saving the match for Juventus.