Juventus and Fiorentina End the Year on a Drawing Note, with Juventus Remaining Undefeated
Juventus and Fiorentina End the Year on a Drawing Note, with Juventus Remaining Undefeated
Juventus faced off against their historic rivals Fiorentina in their Turin home match, aiming to conclude 2024 with a triumph. Despite scoring twice, they failed to safeguard their lead, settling for another draw.
The stakes were high for Fiorentina too, as they had been the Italian league's formidable team up until recently, winning eight consecutive Serie A matches. However, they suffered defeats against Bologna and Udinese, intensifying their need for a victory in this fiery rivalry that's filled with animosity.
This game was a battleground for veterans of both teams, including Raffaele Palladino, who had a stellar career with Juventus' youth sector and made over 50 appearances for the first team, and striker Moise Kean, who scored 10 Serie A goals and was a part of this clash.
Meanwhile, Juventus' selection was limited due to numerous injuries, with Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, Arkadiusz Milik, Jonas Rouhi, and Tim Weah all unavailable.
Juventus' Midfield Duo Shines against Fiorentina
As discussed in our previous piece, these long-term absentees will prompt Juventus to search for reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window. Moreover, minor injuries to Andrea Cambiaso and Douglas Luiz meant Weston McKennie continued at left-back.
With these circumstances in place, Thiago Motta entrusted their midfield to Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram, who proved to be a harmonious pair throughout the game.
Thuram, almost scored with a well-executed header, but it was the two Juventus midfielders who would eventually break the deadlock. After collecting a pass from Locatelli, Thuram drove into the box and fired a low shot beyond David De Gea, finding the bottom corner of the net. But only minutes later, Italy international Locatelli blocked an attempt from Albert Gudmundsson, only to watch Kean equalize with a brilliant header just before halftime.
Once again Swiftly after the interval, Thuram, who had yet to find the net for Juventus, scored again, capitalizing on a fortunate deflection off Danilo Cataldi.
Impressive Performance by Manuel Locatelli
While Thuram's brace drew attention, it is crucial to recognize the remarkable performance from his midfield partner, Locatelli, throughout the 90+ minutes. In addition to his assists, Locatelli created three more clear scoring opportunities and completed a game-leading 79 passes.
According to WhoScored.com, Locatelli made three tackles, an interception, and two clearances, consistently contributing to Juventus' offence and defense.
However, a blocked attempt by Kean in the 88th minute rebounded to Riccardo Sottil, who scored the equalizer, leaving Juventus with yet another draw – their 11th in 18 Serie A matches.
With seven wins, Juventus remained the only undefeated side in Italy's top division, but, seated nine points and five places behind leaders Atalanta, this draw offered little comfort to Coach Thiago Motta.
“We should have managed the game differently,” Motta said to Sky Italia shortly after the match. “We excelled in defense in other games, even against Manchester City. We must become more accurate and improve, as that is where the true difference lies.”
This assessment is undeniably true, and Juventus will hope to improve quickly as they prepare for the Italian SuperCoppa tournament in the New Year.
In the heated contest against Fiorentina, Juventus' midfield duo of Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram showcased their harmony, with Locatelli providing crucial assists and completing the most passes during the match. Locatelli, also known as 'Locatelli juventus', contributed to both defense and offense, making tackles, interceptions, and clearances, as per WhoScored.com. Meanwhile, Thuram, a teammate of Locatelli juventus, scored two goals, including one from a rebound after blocking an attempt from Albert Gudmundsson. Despite their impressive performances, both Locatelli and Thuram juventus were unable to secure a win, settling for a draw, their 11th in 18 Serie A matches.