Cagliari 1 vs 4 Juventus
The Spain international helped himself to two goals, with Claudio
Marchisio and Stephan Lichsteiner the other goalscorers for the
Bianconeri
Fernando Llorente struck twice as Juventus
came from behind to beat 10-man Cagliari 4-1 and record their 11th
successive Serie A victory.
Mauricio Pinilla put Cagliari in front midway through the first half
with a powerful finish before Llorente's precise header levelled matters
before the break.
But three goals in seven second-half minutes sunk Cagliari.
Claudio Marchisio scored Juve's second in front of Manchester United
manager David Moyes, in attendance as he reportedly mulls over a move
for the Italy international, while Llorente and Stephan Lichtsteiner
tapped in from close range to guarantee the points and ended Cagliari's
seven-match unbeaten run, who saw Pinilla sent off late on.
Both sides each made one enforced change from last week. Antonio
Conte replaced the suspended Andrea Barzagli with Martin Caceres, while
Cagliari drafted in Daniele Dessena in place of Radja Nainggolan, who
departed for Roma on Wednesday.
Juve went into the game in phenomenal form on a run of 10 straight
wins and created the first chance early on when Lichtsteiner swung a
cross onto the head of Llorente, but the effort was straight down the
throat of Antonio Adan.
But it was Cagliari who drew first blood after 20 minutes. Andrea
Cossu's cross was flicked on and found Pinilla in space 12 yards out,
and he lashed past the helpless Gianluigi Buffon.
The home side went into the game with the champions unbeaten in seven
and Pinilla unleashed a 25-yard drive that forced Buffon into a
sprawling save.
But Juventus had dropped just four points away from home all season
and drew level after 31 minutes when Llorente met Lichtsteiner's superb
cross, 12 yards out, and powered a header into the top corner.
They were indebted to Buffon moments later when he made a miraculous
save to keep the scores level. Nicola Murru's left wing cross found
Dessena six yards out but his low header was somehow repelled by the
Italian goalkeeper, with Lichtsteiner wasting a golden chance to put
Juve ahead just before the break.
Conte's men started to take control, with Carlos Tevez forcing Adan
into a fine low save, but their pressure finally told after 72 minutes
when Marchisio rifled home a 30-yard stunner.
The win was secured three minutes later when Lichtsteiner's low cross
was tapped in from close range by Llorente for his seventh league goal
this season.
And the Switzerland international got on the scoresheet himself, 10
minutes from time, when Adan fumbled a weak Llorente shot and he bundled
in the rebound.
Cagliari's misery was compounded late on when Pinilla was shown a red card for dissent.
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