In the Champions League and in Copa Italia, Juventus Turin said goodbye early – the more important was the late victory against Hellas Verona.
The encounter reflected a lot from the season that the “old lady” currently plays. Nothing is easy, everything is hard work. It rarely looks nice what Juve delivers, this 2-0 (0: 0) against the table-14. Series A was not a product of a playful class, but a defensive discipline paired with patience and persistence into the final phase.
Redemption only in the 90th minute by Koopmeiners
Until the 72nd minute, Hellas was allowed to dream of landing a real liberation in the KapMF to stay in the league. Then Khéphren Thuram scored the lead goal, but it stayed tight until the last few minutes, but the Juve bulwark kept close to Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.
In the 90th minute, Teun Koopmeiners redeemed the fans in Turin with the goal to 2-0, who meant the leap to fourth place: With 52 points, Juventus passed Lazio Rome (50) and can even dream of more than the new Champions League participation: Inter Milan is six points away, Naples five, Atalanta Bergamo four.
Double off in February
The situation at Juve would have tightened anything but this compulsory victory, because last month was bad for the club. On February 19, the second leg in the royal class CO round at PSV Eindhoven was lost 1: 3 after extension, so the 2-1 from the first leg was not enough. Juve was also eliminated seven days later in the Copa: In the penalty shootout, the Serie-A cellar child SC Empoli prevailed in penalty shooting in Turin-and with only 31 percent possession of the ball.
After this thoroughbredge, Thiago Motta again found very clear words about his team. Already after the end in the premier class, he judged: “We just missed everything.” After Empolis Triumph he admitted: “I am ashamed, we have arrived at the low point. We can make mistakes, but the attitude in the first half was shameful. Empoli had even spared a few players, we didn’t deserve to enter the semi -finals in terms of sport.”
Victory against Verona brings some time
Motta had only come to Juventus for the fired Massimo Allegri this summer, after the double-end in the trophy and Champions League, his replacement was again debated. The victory over Hellas Verona has now given him some time. How sustainable the upswing is, will show the signposts against Atalanta Bergamo and at AC Florence in the next two weeks-anything but a place in the top four at the end of the season would definitely endanger his job.