Juventus have ended their 2021/22 Serie A campaign with their lowest points tally in 11 years after losing 2-0 to Fiorentina on the final day of the season.
The decisive goals came in the 45th minute via Alfred Duncan and in the 90th via Nico Gonzalez, with the result meaning Fiorentina will play European football next season.
Fiorentina looked the much more likely to score in the opening stages, and so nearly did in the 19th minute when the ball fell kindly to Giacomo Bonaventura on the edge of the penalty area. The former AC Milan man’s slightly mis-cued effort on goal was well blocked by Matthijs de Ligt however, and ricocheted just wide of the post.
The next chance proved to be a carbon copy of the first, with another Bonaventura shot from around the penalty area being deflected wide – this time by Giorgio Chiellini.
Having been the better team, La Viola deservedly took the lead on the stoke of half-time. The goal would come after some, well, Sunday League level football inside the Juve penalty box, with the ball bobbling around following miss-kick, after miss-kick, after miss-kick. Eventually the ball would fall to Alfred Duncan on the left of the box, who coolly planted the ball in the bottom corner of the net.
The second half proved to be fairly terrible.
With Juve having absolutely nothing to play for and Fiorentina happy with their one goal lead the game never really threatened to get going until the 77th minute, when Krzysztof Piątek was denied what a goal by a wonderful save from Carlos Pinsoglio.
Juve’s third choice goalkeeper got down to his left brilliantly to palm away Piatek’s header, before making another save from Bonaventura immediately after.
The second goal for La Viola did eventually come in the 90th minute. Leonardo Bonucci brought down Lucas Torreira in the box, which allowed Nicolas Gonzalez to score from the spot.
GK – Mattia Perrin – 5/10 – Didn’t have much hope for the goal. Subbed off at half-time.
CB – Matthijs de Ligt – 5/10 – He did ok on the night.
CB – Leonardo Bonucci – 3/10 – Juventus’ new captain, Bonucci gave away a penalty. Nice.
CB – Giorgio Chiellini – 5/10 – He was covered in blood by the end of the first half. That’s the send off he would have wanted.
RWB – Federico Bernardeschi – 3/10 – Looks set to leave the club this summer. Hardly surprising considering his performance on Saturday.
CM – Fabio Miretti – 4/10 – Worked hard in the middle of the park. Clearly talented, but a hard game for him on Saturday.
CM – Manuel Locatelli – 4/10 – Played as the deepest midfielder. He’s a much better player when given license to get forward.
CM – Adrien Rabiot – N/A – Booked so will miss the first game of next season. Juventus fans will be hoping he misses the other 37 as well.
LWB – Alex Sandro – 3/10 – Likely to be replaced this summer, and you can see why.
ST – Moise Kean – 2/10 – He just hasn’t been very good this season. Didn’t do much tonight, as per.
ST – Paulo Dybala – 3/10 – A meek end to a very good career at Juventus.
SUB – Daniele Rugani – 6/10 – A few decent clearances when he came on.
SUB – Carlos Pinsoglio – 8/10 – A cult hero at the club. His fifth ever appearance for Juve. Made two great saves late on.
SUB – Marley Ake – 5/10 – Lively following his introduction.
SUB – Weston McKennie – 5/10 – Juve fans will be delighted to see him back in action.
SUB – Dusan Vlahovic – N/A.
