Juventus regains the victory in Monza that was missing in Serie A since the derby against Torino, almost a month and a half ago.
The goals from Weston McKennie and Nico Gonzalez decided the match, interspersed with a momentary equalizer from Samuele Birindelli: three points which allowed the Bianconeri to interrupt the series of four consecutive draws and keep pace in the race for a place in the Champions League. Thiago Motta can smile as, despite a full infirmary, he finds success again in a delicate moment of the season, with the Italian Super Cup now upon us.
Instead, another internal defeat arrives for Monza, which this time earns the last place in the standings alone. Salvation is only 5 points away, but the situation is now more difficult than ever in the red and white home: the Brianza have not won within friendly walls since March 16th. Alessandro Nesta, dealing with problems in the attacking department due to the disqualification of Daniel Maldini and the injury of Milan Djuric, lines up with the 3-5-2, giving up the attacking midfielders. Thiago Motta responds by relying on the 4-2-3-1, but the injury emergency imposes forced choices with McKennie acting as left-back. It was the American who broke the deadlock after 14 minutes, passing Turati following a corner kick. It was a cold shower for Monza who had approached the match well in the first quarter of an hour, but the reaction of pride was not long in coming: the red and whites found the equalizer after 8 minutes with a volley on the entry into the penalty area Birindelli, deployed this evening as a midfielder. The hosts return to the game and make it clear that they intend to stay there, but once again the bianconeri take the lead, close to the end of the first half, with Nico Gonzalez taking advantage of a lack of attention in the defensive phase of the red and whites and two steps from the line puts in the ball of the over. It's a cynical Juve, who don't create much, but who are good at capitalizing as best as possible, when necessary, on the opportunities granted by Monza.
A good first half is followed by a sporadic recovery: Monza starts aggressively, without however finding the goal of former player Di Gregorio, but in the central phase the pace slows down and Juventus' quality comes out more. Nesta then increases the pressure on his team in the final twenty minutes, Monza remains alive and capable of frightening the Bianconeri. Not enough, however, to bring the match back to parity, thus sanctioning Juventus' 1,700th success in its history in Serie A.
ANSA Agency Serie A: Atalanta-Empoli 3-2 – Football – Ansa.it The goals: brace from De Ketelaere and Lookman for Gasperini's team, for the Tuscans Colombo and Esposito on a penalty (ANSA)Reproduction reserved © -
