01 December 2023
The club’s never-say-die spirit came to the fore once again as Juventus claimed a first league victory over Monza thanks to a stoppage-time winner.
Federico Gatti pounced on an Adrien Rabiot cut-back after the home side had equalised two minutes into added time.
Gatti restored Juve’s lead, first established by Adrien Rabiot on 12 minutes from a corner following a Dusan Vlahovic penalty saved by the home goalkeeper.
The three points allowed Juve to leapfrog Inter at the top of the table once again.
THE MATCH
Juventus, hunting their first league goal against Monza, started in determined fashion. After the initial opening minutes in which the two teams studied one another, it was the Bianconeri that created the first hint of danger.
Alex Sandro signalled his intent on his first start since matchday 2 with a long ball over the home defence on nine minutes. Andrea Cambiaso managed to get goalside of Giorgio Kyriakoplous inside the penalty area, forcing the full-back into a foul.
The referee did not hesitate as he pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Dusan Vlahovic, whose spot kick was saved by Michele Di Gregorio. Not satisfied, the Monza goalkeeper also somehow managed to keep out the rebound to doubly deny Dusan.
However, from the resulting corner, delivered by Hans Nicolussi Cavgilia, Adrien Rabiot powered a header beyond Di Gregorio.
Juve’s early pressure had paid off.
Without a recognised striker, Monza seldom threatened the Bianconeri backline, and the visitors should have doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark. Another corner kick caused concern, this time delivered by Filip Kostic. Alex Sandro’s flick reached Federico Gatti one metre out, who to his own disbelief put his effort over the bar.
Juve continued to press and two minutes later Rabiot drilled a low shot from the edge of the area, which required quick reflexes from Di Gregorio to keep the ball out of his net.
Monza reverted to a more classic approach after the interval with the introduction of strikers Lorenzo Colombo and Dany Mota. The extra presence in attack allowed the hosts to maintain possession higher up the field, but still Wojciech Szczesny remained an onlooker for most of the second period.
Matteo Pessina and Dany Mota hit shots wide of target, while a Danilo D’Ambrosio header was blocked by Bremer inside his own six-yard box.
But just as the Bianconeri were contemplating another clean sheet, another substitute, Valentin Carboni, delivered a ball into the Juve area, which spun beyond both forwards and defenders, deceiving Szczesny in turn. For the teenager, it was his first goal in Serie A.
Juve were not to be denied a precious victory, however. The Bianconeri regrouped and immediately set about restoring their lead, which they did through a well-worked move on the right. Rabiot’s determination and strength took him to the deadball line, where his cross was met by Gatti.
The defender’s first attempt was blocked by D’Ambrosio but there was denying his second effort. The number 4 thrashed the ball into the net. A goal that gave Juve a first win over Monza at the third time of asking for three huge points.
MONZA 1-2 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: 12′ Rabiot, 90’+2′ Carboni V., 90’+4′ Gatti
MONZA: Di Gregorio; D’Ambrosio, Pablo Marì (65′ Carboni A.), Caldirola; Birindelli (46′ Colombo), Machin (46′ Mota Carvalho), Pessina, Gagliardini, Kyriakopoulos (65′ Pedro Pereira); Ciurria, Colpani (76′ Carboni V.). Subs not used: Lamanna, Sorrentino, Gori, Akpa Akpro, Carboni F., Bettella, Maric, Bondo, Cittadini. Coach: Palladino.
JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Alex Sandro; Cambiaso (86′ Locatelli), McKennie, Nicolussi Caviglia (69′ Danilo), Rabiot, Kostic; Vlahovic (69′ Milik), Chiesa (75′ Kean). Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, Huijsen, Rugani, Miretti, Nonge, Yildiz, Iling-Junior. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Fabbri
Bookings: 9′ Kyriakopoulos, 29′ Bremer, 81′ Milik
