Juventus vs Milan 1-1 – Rebic Responds to Morata Early Strike

AC Milan, Juventus, Serie A, Serie A 2021-2022

The big match of Serie A Round 4 between Juventus and Milan ended in a 1-1 stalemate that would be of little help to either team – if we weren’t in the beginning of the season. But since we are just four games into the 2021/22 campaign, both coaches could be happy with salvaging at least one point in the showdown at the Allianz Stadium.

Massimiliano Allegri spotted some glimpses of the cynical Juventus he had shaped during his first five-year stint with the Bianconeri and managed to put to the ropes the most in-form side of the Serie A these days. Stefano Pioli, on the other hand, was more than okay with leaving Turin with a tie, considering that Milan was forced to face Juventus without six of their players.

The match can be summed up in two episodes, a lightning-fast strike from Alvaro Morata and a clinical Ante Rebic header in the second half.  

After going winless in three league games, Allegri could not fail his trial of fire and preferred to count on Giorgio Chiellini’s experience rather than on Matthijs De Ligt at center back. That was the only change versus their winning raid in Malmo last Tuesday. For the first time in their history, Juventus didn’t manage to win any of their first four Serie A games but the progress they showed on Sunday night was encouraging.

The Rossoneri coach had to work hard put up his starting XI. Fikayo Tomori, Alessio Romagnoli and Simon Kjaer played together for the first time, with the former Chelsea man deployed at right back to cover Davide Calabria’s absence. With both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud absent, it was up to Ante Rebic to cover the center forward role.

Juventus were expected to give some answers after their staggering Serie A start and Max Allegri’s band showed that they had done their homework. The Bianconeri opened the scoring after just five minutes with a spectacular fast break. Paulo Dybala served Alvaro Morata on the counter and the Spaniard lobbed the ball past Mike Maignan to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games.

Juventus seemed at ease, they made the ball circulate and left no space to Milan. Ante Rebic appeared isolated on the front, while Rafael Leao seemed to be having one of those bad nights of his. On 15 minutes, Morata tried a close range deflection from a left side cross, testing Maignan’s reflexes. Two minutes later, the French goalkeeper had to dive to the right to deflect a Dybala challenge.

The Bianconeri should have scored the second as they kept following the same pattern, trying to pierce the visitors on the counter. Rodrigo Bentancur picked Adrien Rabiot past the midfield line and Tomori had to use all his defensive skills to prevent the Frenchman from going one-on-one with his friend Maignan.

On 33 minutes, there were more problems for the Rossoneri: Simon Kjaer suffered a muscular injury and had to raise a white flag. He was replaced by Pierre Kalulu, who positioned himself at right back while Tomori switched to the center.

Milan grew towards the end of the first period but Wojciech Szczesny didn’t have to make any miracle to preserve his clean sheet. Rebic could shoot for the first times only on 43 minutes and his challenge was pushed back by the defense.

Juventus continued to put pressure on Milan even after the break. On 49 minutes, Leonardo Bonucci picked Adrien Rabiot with a long range cross but the World Champion chose to try a foot conversion when a header would have likely been more effective.

On 62 minutes, with Milan still struggling to show themselves around Szczesny’s area, Pioli made his first substitutions as he sent in Alessandro Florenzi and Ismael Bennacer. For Juventus, Moise Kean replaced Morata but that was due to the Spaniard picking up an injury.

There were less chances in the second half as both sides started to catch their breath. Allegri tried some new solutions, sending in Dejan Kulusevski and the recovered Federico Chiesa, but it was rather defender Danilo to call Maignan to action again.

It seemed like Juventus could comfortably wrap the game and record their first campaign win, but the Bianconeri were punished from a set piece out of the blue. From a Sandro Tonali corner, Rebic anticipated Manuel Locatelli and headed the ball into the back of the net with perfect timing.

The equalizer galvanized Milan, who came closer than Juventus to make it two in the last quarter of the game, especially with a Kalulu effort from the right channel that found Szczensy’s great opposition.

All in all, it was not the greatest edition of the eternal Juventus – Milan clash. The game offered some good indications to both coaches but left the Bianconeri with only two points out of four games, while the Diavolo risk losing the first place in the table if Napoli win at Udinese on Monday night.

 

MATCH SCORECARD

September 19, 2021 – Serie A 2021-22 Round 4
JUVENTUS – MILAN 1-1

SCORERS: 5′ Morata (J), 76′ Rebic (M)

JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Cuadrado (72′ Chiesa), Bentancur, Locatelli, Rabiot; Dybala (79′ Kulusevski), Morata (66′ Kean) (Perin, Pinsoglio, Bernardeschi, De Ligt, De Sciglio, McKennie, Lu. Pellegrini, Ramsey, Rugani) Coach: Allegri
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Tomori, Kjaer (36′ Kalulu), Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessie (64′ Bennacer), Tonali; Saelemaekers (64′ Florenzi), Brahim Diaz (93′ Maldini), Rafael Leao; Rebic (Tatarusanu, Jungdal, Ballo-Touré, Castillejo, Conti, Gabbia, Pellegri) Coach: Pioli

REFEREE: Mr. Doveri from Rome
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Dybala (J), Tonali (M); Added Time: 1st Half 2′, 2nd Half 3′

Related posts:

  1. Serie A Round 3 Preview and Expected Lineups – Ibrahimovic Is Back!
  2. Juventus vs Milan Tactical Analysis: The Play Out of a Draw
  3. The Best XI of Serie A Round 1: Inter New Boys Impress in Dream Debut
  4. Ronaldo-Less Juventus Shockingly Lose to Newly-Promoted Empoli