After 4 consecutive draws in the league, Thiago Motta's Juventus returns to success and does so at the home of last-placed Monza. At the U-Power Stadium, formerly Brianteo, it ends 1-2 for the Bianconeri. Goals all in the first half by Weston McKennie, Samuele Birindelli and Nico Gonzalez. A hard-fought victory, against Alessandro Nesta's never subdued and at times unlucky Monza. Thiago Motta – after the controversy following the disappointing 2-2 home draw against Venezia – is thus following up on the excellent signals collected in the 4-0 Italian Cup win against Cagliari. In the standings, Juventus is close to 31 points – at least momentarily – against Fiorentina (fifth), however two games behind (the postponement against Udinese and the one to recover against Inter). Monza remains sadly last – and alone after Venezia's 2-1 against Cagliari – at 10.
The scoreboard
Monza (4-4-2): Turati; Pedro Pereira (71' Ciurria), D'Ambrosio (83' Izzo), Pablo Marí, A. Carboni; Birindelli (86' Sensi), Bianco, Bondo, Kyriakopoulos; Caprari (86' Maric), Mota. All.: Nesta.
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Gatti, Kalulu, McKennie (90'+1 Fagioli); Koopmeiners (46' K. Thuram), Locatelli; F. Conceição (85' Adzic), Nico Gonzalez (64' Cambiaso), Yildiz; D. Vlahovic (86' Mbangula). Coach: Thiago Motta.
Referee: Davide Massa from Imperia.
Gol: 14' McKennie (J), 22' Birindelli (M), 39' Nico Gonzalez (J).
Assist: Koopmeiners (J, 0-1), A. Carboni (M, 1-1), Locatelli (, 1-2).
Note – Recovery: 2+4. Ammoniti: Pedro Pereira, F. Conceição.
The match report in 15 moments
2' – INCREDIBLE REBALL D'AMBROSIO-YILDIZ! The former Inter player returns the ball towards the Turkish attacker and the ball grazes the crossbar!
10' – CAPRARI ON THE COUNTER-ATTACK Low shot just wide and Monza close to 1-0: it all started with a ball lost by Nico Gonzalez in midfield!
13' – SAVE BY TURATI ON NICO GONZALEZ! Header from the former Fiorentina player ready to overtake everyone: the Monza goalkeeper delivers a corner kick.
14' – JUVENTUS GOAL WITH McKENNIE! Corner by Koopmeiners and a flying shot hits the crossbar of the American, inexplicably free from marking in the small area: 0-1!
22' – MONZA GOAL WITH SAMUELE BIRINDELLI! First goal in Serie A by Alessandro's son and against Juventus! Kyriakopoulos sends Andrea Carboni running down the left, whose cross is sent to the corner by the spectacular left-handed volley from the home side: 2-2!
39' – JUVENTUS GOAL WITH NICO GONZALEZ! Cross from the right by Savona and returned to the center by McKennie, Birindelli raises a bell in the small area with Locatelli who heads the ball in favor of the former Fiorentina player, quick to score from a few steps away. Pablo Marí and Andrea Carboni, here, particularly distracted: 1-2!
42' – DOUBLE BLOCK IN THE JUVE AREA BY KOOPMEINERS, who sacrifices himself on Dany Mota Carvalho's safe shots: Monza very close to 2-2!
48' – WHITE IN THE OPEN FIELD! Angled right from outside which Di Gregorio is forced to stretch!
49' – YILDIZ TRY AT THE OTHER SIDE! Convinced left-footed shot, in the penalty area: Turati raises it over the crossbar.
55' – NICO GONZALEZ! Powerful left foot from outside, almost around the corner: Turati rejects the ball in a not exactly orthodox way.
66' – COMBINATION ON THE LEFT CAMBIASO-YILDIZ! The Turk's low ball in the middle of the area is really tempting, but Vlahovic doesn't get there!
70' – GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR D'AMBROSIO ON THE BALL WORKED IN THE AREA BY CAPRARI! Left foot that ends high: huge opportunity wasted by Monza!
73' – DANY MOTA! Great collective action by Monza, but right on the outside of the net by the Portuguese with a Luxembourg passport.
88' – LONG THRU PASS BY IZZO FOR WHITE! Close right on the outside of the net by the former Fiorentina player.
90'+4 – SLALOM AND RIGHT RIGHT ON THE SHORT CORNER BY YILDIZ! Turati reaches out and pushes her away.
MVP
Nico Gonzalez. On the occasion of the 2-1 he pounced on the loose ball like a feline: a goal that was worth the three points, wanted and sought throughout the match. He also sacrifices himself in defense in the second half.
Fantasy football
PROMOTED. Koopmeiners. His assist from a corner on McKennie's goal was decisive, and at the end of the first half he also disguised himself as a goalkeeper, blocking Monza's shots in the area. He comes out at half-time with an adductor problem.
FAILED. Vlahovic. It moves a lot, but also a lot in vain. He never manages to get to the shot, a frustrating evening for the Serbian.
The social moment
Motta: “Yildiz is a great player: he can play as a striker, behind the striker and as a right winger”
Video credit: Eurosport