It was a battle between the reigning Serie A champions and their Serie B counterparts, as Benevento hosted Juventus in the mourning Campania region. The Bianconeri thought they were on their way for a comfortable win after Alvaro Morata’s opener, but Gaetano Letizia’s equalizer late in the first half earned the Witches a hard fought draw leaving Andrea Pirlo to regret his decision to rest Cristiano Ronaldo.
Home manager Filippo Inzaghi started with an adventurous 4-3-2-1 formation with lone striker Gianluca Lapadula supported by Gianluca Caprari and Riccardo Improta, while Serie A veterans Përparim Hetemaj and Artur Ioniță join captain Pasquale Schiattarella in midfield.
On the other hand, Inzaghi’s former Milan teammate, Andrea Pirlo, maintained his 4-4-2 formation with Alvaro Morata and captain Paulo Dybala in attack, flanked by the returning Aaron Ramsey and Federico Chiesa. Youngster Gianluca Frabotta was given the opportunity as Alex Sandro was being rested.
The first 20 minutes saw multiple half chances for Benevento as Juventus had a slow start to the match. But out of nowhere, a sublime diagonal cross from Chiesa reached Morata on the edge of the box. The Spaniard rounded the ball with his right foot just enough to create space for the shot. He unleashed a low drive with his left that ended into Lorenzo Montipò’s net after hitting the far post.
⚽️ STARTING XI
— Benevento Calcio (@bncalcio) November 28, 2020
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??♀️ #ForzaStrega pic.twitter.com/InmcOXBDb7
The Bianconeri almost doubled their lead few minutes later. Morata brought the ball down with his chest to Dybala, and the Argentine star played a quick one-two with Arthur before hitting a beautiful curling shot which went just wide of the witches’ goal.
Juventus had yet another chance, when Frabotta found himself inside the Benevento penalty box, and played a back-pass to Ramsey, but his shot was saved by Montipò.
The first half’s end saw a sudden Benevento revival, as Schiattarella almost scored after dribbling his way around the traffic inside the Juventus box, but was denied by a brilliant Wojciech Szczęsny save.
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— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) November 28, 2020
However, the following corner was badly cleared by Arthur, and a wonderful Gaetano Letizia volley brought an unlikely equalizer for the home side, as the first half ended 1-1.
Juventus were expected to unleash their anger after the break, but it was Benevento who had the first goal-scoring opportunity of the second half, when Importa’s low drive went just wide of Szczęsny’s goal.
Pirlo’s men tried to restore their lead in the 52th minute when Frabotta released Chiesa on the left side. The former Fiorentina man crossed the ball towards Morata who headed it off-target.
The former Real Madrid and Chelsea striker continued to hunt for a personal brace as he took a shot from the outside, but was once again wide of the Montipò’s goal.
Andrea Pirlo made three substitutions in the second half, bringing on Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur and then Federico Bernardeschi. None of them were able to add much to the side, as the champions couldn’t break down Inzaghi’s tight defensive lines, and Arthur’s exit had its negative effect on Juve’s passing.
The last real chance for Juventus came in the 86th minute when Bernardeschi played a pass from the left wing into the Benevento box. Kulusevski dummied it and Dybala’s shot was saved by Montipò.
After the final whistle, Alvaro Morata managed to make the situation even worse for Pirlo, when he earned a straight red card for apparently mouthing some bad words towards the referee, as Juventus once again failed to beat a newly promoted side, in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo.
5 – Juventus have drawn at least five of the first nine league games of the season for the first time since 2001/02 (3 wins, 5 draws and 1 defeat in that case). Slow.#BeneventoJuve pic.twitter.com/0aAV0MAe2W
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) November 28, 2020
MATCH REPORT
November 28, 2020 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 9
BENEVENTO-JUVENTUS 1-1
SCORERS: 21′ Morata (J), 45’+3 Letizia (B)
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BENEVENTO (4-3-2-1): Montipò; Letizia, Glik, Caldirola (33′ Maggio, 61′ R. Insigne), Barba; Hetemaj, Schiattarella, Improta; Ionita (71′ Tello), Caprari (72′ Tuia); Lapadula (73′ Sau) (Manfredini, Lucatelli, Basit, Di Serio, Sanogo, Masella, Pastina) Coach: F. Inzaghi |
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JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Szczesny; Cuadrado, Danilo, De Ligt, Frabotta; Chiesa (69′ Bernardeschi), Arthur (63′ Bentancur), Rabiot, Ramsey (64′ Kulusevski); Dybala, Morata (Pinsoglio, Garofani, Alex Sandro, McKennie, Bonucci, Dragusin, Portanova) Coach: Pirlo |
REFEREE: Mr. Pasqua from Tivoli
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Maggio, Schiattarella, Barba, Improta (B), Cuadrado (J); Extra Time: 1st Half 3′; 2nd Half 6′
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