Juventus, in the ugliest soccer jersey known to man, sawed off Sampdoria at the Luigi Ferraris stadium on Saturday night to stay within easy reach of AC Milan at the top of Serie A.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 20th minute, with Federico Chiesa crowning a wonderful team movement.
FT | ⏱ | THREE BIGGEST POINTS !!! ???#SampJuve #FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/2FIJajNxIk
– JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) January 30, 2021
Following the opening of the game, Juve took complete control of the game, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing some half chances to double his side’s advantage before the break.
Sampdoria decided to make it a bit more of a fight in the second half, forcing Juve to do something they didn’t do in the first half: defend themselves a bit. Giorgio Chiellini was even forced into a miraculous block to prevent Fabio Quagliarella from leveling the game.
La Vecchia Signora were however able to weather the storm – it was actually rather a light drizzle – and score a second goal in the stoppage time to seal the victory.
Here are our player ratings.
Wojciech Szczesny (GK) – 6/10 – I had, without exaggeration, absolutely nothing to do in the first half. Nothing. However, business picked up a bit in the second half and the great Woj was forced to a few ‘you expect him to save this‘Safe.
Juan Cuadrado (RB) – 7/10 – Another solid performance and another superb assist from Cuadrado. Juventus are watching the squad with him twice in their starting lineup.
Leonardo Bonucci (CB) – 6/10 – Putting on a clinic passing through the lines (ooh tactical talk), and well defended in the second half.
Giorgio Chiellini (CB) – 8/10 – I did not leave Fabio Quagliarella out of his sight all evening. Made a surprisingly good block to deny Quags an almost certain goal early in the second half. Back to its driving best.
Danilo (LB) – 6/10 – Such a reliable player for Andrea Pirlo, Danilo has been as good as ever in this one.
Federico Chiesa (RM) – 7/10 – The signing of the summer? Probably. Scored yet another goal this weekend to bring his season tally to seven at his new club.
Arthur Melo (CM) – 6/10 – He’s so much better than Adrien Rabiot… most people are… but still.
Rodrigo Bentancur (CM) – 7/10 – Carried the defensive workload in midfield and used the ball effectively in possession.
Weston McKennie (LM) – 6/10 – The little man is always – and I mean ALWAYS – on your TV screen when he’s playing. A good grafter.
Alvaro Morata (ST) – 6/10 – Nice assistance for the opener and relentlessly ran the chains.
Cristiano Ronaldo (ST) – 6/10 – Saw a great long-range effort saved by Emil Audero in the first half, but faded into darkness in the second.
Adrien Rabiot – N / A – Always N / A. Always.
Federico Bernardeschi – N / A.
Aaron Ramsey – 7/10 – Entered and marked. Pretty.
Alex Sandro – N / A.
