Massimilano Allegri’s second stint at the helm of Juventus started with a whimper rather than a bang. The Bianconeri turned a comfortable 2-0 half-time lead into a dismal 2-2 draw at Udinese in their opening 2021/22 Serie A fixture on Sunday.
Much of the blame for Juventus’ disappointing league start has to be pinned on Wojciech Szczesny, who single-handedly ruined his team’s first-half efforts.
Dybala timed his run perfectly to latch onto Rodrigo Bentancur’s low cross and put Juventus in front three minutes into the match. The Argentine went on to set Juan Cuadrado up for what looked to be a match-winner in the 23rd minute. Dybala unleashed an inch-perfect long ball towards the Colombian, who danced past his marker and slotted the ball home.
However, Szczesny’s underwhelming intervention at the beginning of the second half turned the tide. After dropping the ball inside the box, the Pole tackled Tolgay Arslan down to the ground to give away a cheap penalty. Roberto Pereyra was ice cold from the spot to bring Udinese back into the game.
A truly horrible evening for Szczesny culminated in the 83rd minute as the under-fire goalkeeper made an epic blunder that cost his side two points. Instead of clearing the ball away, he shot his team in the foot, surrendering possession to Gerard Deulofeu, who had no problems finding an empty net.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined the fray in the 60th minute, came close to rescuing his goalkeeper from facing a wave of criticism. The 36-year-old smashed the ball past Udinese shot-stopper Marco Silvestri four minutes into the stoppage time. Unfortunately for Szczesny, his relief was short-lived as the VAR disallowed the goal for offside.
“We had a good game, but that’s football. We were in control, but we had to do better in the second half,” Allegri said after the match, as relayed by TUTTOmercatoWEB. “It will serve as a lesson,” he added.
Allegri also commented on a controversial decision to leave Ronaldo on the bench.
“Cristiano is fine, I talked to him. I told him to start from the bench, and he made himself available. He came on and did well.“