On Saturday, Juventus travelled south to take on Lecce at the Via del Mare Stadium in the hopes of keeping their recent domestic resurgence alive and putting their midweek European woes behind. Following a dull first half, the Bianconeri hit second gear after the break, with Nicolò Fagioli’s introduction improving the team’s rhythm. But few would have thought that the midfielder would snatch the encounter’s lone goal with a splendid curler. So here are our players ratings for the slim yet vital Juventus victory over their hosts Lecce.
Lecce (4-3-3)
Wladimiro Falcone – 5.5
The Sampdoria loanee made a couple of important saves to deny Rabiot’s header and Milik’s shot, but his exits from goal were at times shaky. He was left stranded while watching Fagioli’s shot sailing into his goal.
Valentin Gendrey – 6.5
It was a positive outing from the French right-back who provided support for the wingers with his relentless runs while also limiting Kostic’s danger.
Marin Pongracic – 5.5
The Croatian started on the right foot before committing some blunders in the second period and giving the ball away cheaply.
Federico Baschirotto – 6
A solid performance from the Italian defender who guarded Milik with confidence while making important interventions at the back. Was lucky to avoid a serious neck injury after landing awkwardly with his head first to the ground.
Antonio Gallo – 5
The left-back had a tough outing against Cuadrado and Soulè, and he put his goalkeeper in trouble with a bizarre back-pass.
Alexis Blin – 5.5
The Frenchman was less influential than his teammates in midfield, but wasn’t at fault in anything in particular.
Morten Hjulmand – 6
The Lecce captain put a convincing shift in the middle of the park, with his main mission being shielding the defense. He had his side’s most dangerous chance as he saw his shot hit the post.
Joan Gonzalez – 6
The young Spaniard was full of energy, and forced the Juventus players to commit some nasty fouls to stop his runs in the first period. However, his level dropped after the break.
Remi Oudin – 5.5
What started as a bright outing ended on a low note for the winger. His danger dwindled as the match progressed.
Assan Ceesay – 5.5
A frustrating evening for the Gambian striker who was left starving for service. Tried to get something going on the rare counter attacks, but often found himself facing two Juventus defenders.
Gabriel Strefezza – 6.5
The Brazilian is simply the star of the show at Lecce. Changed position from one wing to another while also tracking back to make life difficult for Cuadrado. He was the one to provide the spark for the Giallorossi, but it just wasn’t enough.
Lecce Substitutes
Kristoffer Askildsen – 5.5
The Dane tried to add some flow to the middle of the park, but Lecce was already struggling to hold the ball at that point.
Lameck Banda – 5.5
The young Gambian had some positive contributions on the right wing, but never truly put the Juventus defenses in trouble.
Federico Di Francesco – 5.5
The former Bologna man replaced the lively Strefezza, and he was always going to struggle in imitating his teammate’s impact.
Lorenzo Colombo – N/A
Pablo Rodriguez – N/A
1 – Nicolò #Fagioli is the 1st player born after 2001 to score a goal for #Juventus in #SerieA; Samuel #Iling has delivered the assist, just 41 seconds after his entry into the field. Freshness.#LecceJuve
— OptaPaolo ? (@OptaPaolo) October 29, 2022
Juventus (4-2-3-1)
Wojciech Szczesny – 6
The Pole had very little to do throughout the match. Lecce only threatened his goal once, and he was bailed out by the post.
Juan Cuadrado – 6
A mixed bag from the veteran Colombian. At first, he struggled against the Strefezza’s pace, but his performance grew with the match. Provided Kean with a lovely cross.
Federico Gatti – 6.5
An encouraging outing from the former Frosinone man. He displayed his no-nonsense approach while repeatedly clearing balls into the stands, but also proved that he can contribute with some decent passing and runs.
Danilo – 6.5
The Brazilian looked sharp at the back, and was always ready to cover for his teammates.
Alex Sandro – 6.5
The former Porto man isn’t enjoying his finest period, but he displayed glimpses of his glory years with occasional dangerous runs. He also kept his nerve at the back.
Weston McKennie – 5.5
The American played in more central position than usual. While he did well to brake Lecce’s plays, his passing – and technical touch in general – remains a major and intolerable weakness in his game.
Adrien Rabiot – 6
The France international ran his socks off while winning back the ball the ball on several occasions. But reminiscently to McKennie, he needs to improve his passing.
Matias Soulè – 6
The Argentine displayed some flashes of his brilliant talent, especially early in the match. But appeared a bit lost in the shuffle as the minutes went by.
Fabio Miretti – 6
The Italy U-21 international obviously has a strong character, and is never afraid to take risks. Nonetheless, his final touch abandoned him, whether in his shots or while playing the all-important pass.
Filip Kostic – 5.5
The Serbian didn’t enjoy his best outing. His most significant attribute remains his crossing, but at times he saw his attempts blocked, and on other occasions they lacked precision.
Arkadiusz Milik – 5.5
The former Napoli man suffered in the absence of another striker by his side. But his performance improved following the introduction of Kean who eased some of the pressure off his shoulders. Had one decent attempt, but the shot wasn’t powerful enough to derange Falcone.
Juventus Substitutes
Nicolò Fagioli – 7.5
Simply a match-winning introduction. The young midfielder entered at the halftime break and immediately brought his side to life in the middle of the park. However, it was his stunning winner that eventually made all the difference. What a way to open your Serie A account!
Moise Kean – 6
Not a bad cameo from the former PSG striker, even though he wasted an important chance with his head. Combined well with Milik and earned several fouls.
Samuel Iling-Junior – 7
What a week this teenager is having! Following his memorable Champions League debut against Benfica, the English winger once again delivered the goods, providing the assist for Fagioli following some neat footwork.
Leonardo Bonucci – N/A
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