With only target difference that the two parties separate at the kick -off, an evenly coordinated first half will have surprised few in a tense stadio Olimpico. Apart from the early sighter of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru who was in the side, there was a valuable small goal-mouth action in the first period.
Regarding Igor Tudor, a combative period of seven minutes saw both Khephren Thuram and Nicolo Savona collecting bookings, which means that they are both suspended for the visit to Udinese to Turin next weekend.
Unparalleled, Juventus cut their clearest opening of half shortly thereafter, with Alberto Costa cut back on his left side and fired a low attack that was diverted wide.
The game was there for the taking, Juve ran out of the blocks after the restart and the impasse broke only six minutes later. Weston McKennie was the architect and cut in a dangerous cross for Randal Kolo Muani, who drove a header past Christos Mandas, even though the Scotstopper got two hands to the ball.
With Momentum by their side, an off-the-ball incident threatened to derail the visitors, so that they were reduced to 10 men just after the hour when Pierre Kalulu was rejected.
Three victories of their last three home H2Hs served as a positive omen for Lazio, who wanted to benefit from a long period of persistent pressure on their numerical benefits, but was repeatedly divested by a determined Biancocelesti backguard.
At death, however, Lazio finally hit gold when Pedro's header was spelled in the path of Matias Vecino, who reached close by to steal a potentially crucial point.
Lazio's sixth consecutive Home League-equal game-Hun longest streak since 1991 they have been climbing to the fifth, levels remain on points with today's opponents, after they have played a match than sixth placed as Roma.
Subsequently, a journey to the San Siro will be a daunting prospect of title hunters Inter Milan, even for one side that is now undefeated in seven games (W3, D4). As far as Juventus is concerned, despite climbing to the fourth, it will feel that two points fell, with different sides still on the hunt for UCL qualification.
Flash score Man of the match: Weston McKennie (Juventus)
View all match statistics with flash score.
Comments