Morata scores double in 4:1 win
Juventus Turin have booked their place in the Champions League after all on the 38th and final matchday of Serie A. Without CR7, Andrea Pirlo’s team beat Bologna 4-1, but that alone would not have been enough to qualify for the top flight, as their rivals from Naples fluffed.
Juventus started the last match of the Serie A season without Cristiano Ronaldo. CR7 felt tired after winning the cup final against Atalanta Bergamo (2:1) and was initially on the bench, although the Bianconeri still had a place in the top flight at stake. With Szczesny, Alex Sandro, Morata and Dybala, Pirlo brought four new players onto the field. Besides Ronaldo, Buffon and the ex-Schalker McKennie were on the bench, Bentancur was absent due to a yellow-red suspension.
Starting fifth in the table, the Italian serial champions of the last few years (nine times in a row, now replaced by Inter) had to do their homework and at the same time watch out for mistakes by their rivals from Milan and Naples. The Old Lady put the other candidates for the Champions League places under pressure early on with a goal from Chiesa, who headed home Rabiot’s shot from the crossbar (6th minute).
Dybala and Juventus work their magic
After the opening goal, Pirlo’s side allowed themselves a few quiet minutes, during which Bologna generated a few chances (Schouten, 23rd). But then the Old Lady picked up the pace again – and promptly added to it: After a fine individual action by Dybala – the Argentine danced a tango with Schouten on the right side of the penalty area and then tipped the ball over keeper Skorupski – Morata played it safe and nodded the ball behind the line from point-blank range for 2-0 (29).
In the meantime, AC Milan had scored the opening goal in Bergamo and overtaken Juventus in the standings, but that did not stop the Bianconeri from scoring the third goal before the end of the second half: At the end of a neat combination that started with Dybala and continued via Chiesa and Kulusevski, Rabiot finally converted for a highly deserved 3:0 for the Old Lady (45.).
