26 July 2020
Juventus claimed an unprecedented ninth successive Serie A title when they defeated Sampdoria 2-0 on Sunday evening at Allianz Stadium. Ronaldo scored at the end of the first half to hand the Bianconeri the lead, while Bernardeschi wrapped up the victory as Ranieri’s side finished the game with 10 men.
JUVE LOSE DANILO & DYBALA
The game didn’t see many chances occur in the opening 20 minutes, and it was the home side to threaten first at goal when Bonucci played a long ball up field, Matuidi then crossed it into the box for Ronaldo, who jumped up to nod it towards goal only to be blown for a foul on Chabot. Danilo was forced into being substituted at the half hour mark, after a clash of heads with Ramirez left him dizzy, and it meant that he was taken off in place of Bernardeschi, with Cuadrado moving to right-back. Sampdoria were starting to put on the pressure, and Quagliarella had two efforts at goal in quick succession which Tek was equal to. Five minutes before the break, Sarri was forced into making a second change as Dybala came off for Higuain.
RONALDO BREAKS THE DEADLOCK
Ronaldo unleashed a flying effort that sailed just high of the target, before a Bernardeschi effort stung the palms of Audero. Six minutes of stoppage time where added at the end of the half, and Juve took advantage of the extra time as they went into the break with the lead after Ronaldo got onto the end of a Pjanic cross and fired it home into the bottom of the corner.
BERNA SEALS SCUDETTO
The start of the second half saw both teams threaten at goal: Higuain and Ronaldo couldn’t turn Pjanic’s long free-kick into the back of the net, while Leris prodded Ramirez’s cross just inches wide of the upright. Szczesny was then called into making a fingertip save on Yoshida’s free-kick, while Audero did the exact same when he parried away Ronaldo’s effort from close range. Juventus made it 2-0 and moved one step closer to securing the Scudetto when Audero spilled Ronaldo’s effort: Bernardeschi pounced on the loose ball and it poked it into the back of the net.
RONALDO MISSES PENALTY
Quagliarella nearly responded with a goal of his own, when he sent in a glancing header off Leris cross and saw his effort palmed away by Szczesny. Samp were then reduced to 10 men when Thorsby, who was already on a yellow, was shown a second for a late challenge on Pjanic. De Ligt and Pjanic were then replaced by Rugani and Bentancur, while Juventus were awarded a penalty in the 88th minute after Alex Sandro was brought down inside the box. Ronaldo stood up to take the penalty, but he, unusually, didn’t convert it, as he blasted it against the crossbar. It didn’t end there though, as the Bianconeri were denied from making it 3-0, this time with a dramatic goalline clearance by Yoshida on Bonucci inside stoppages.
Juventus: Szczesny; Danilo (Bernardeschi 29’), De Ligt (Rugani 78’), Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Rabiot, Pjanic (Bentancur 78’), Matuidi; Cuadrado, Dybala (Higuain 39’), Ronaldo
Subs: Buffon, Pinsoglio, Rugani, Demiral, Ramsey, Bentancur, Muratore, Higuain, Bernardeschi, Olivieri, Zanimacchia
Sampdoria: Audero; Tonelli, Yoshida, Chabot, Augello; Depaoli, Linetty, Thorsby, Jankto; Ramirez, Quagliarella
