Juventus claim an important 3-0 victory over Spezia after a much-improved second half display. The visitors started well in the first half and restricted Juventus to few chances, and they could have even taken the lead themselves when Marchizza hit the side-netting. However, Juventus began to increase the pressure towards the interval, with Ronaldo ominously hitting the post. And the pressure paid off in the second half following the introduction of Bernardeschi and Morata. The two combined for Morata to give Juventus the lead, before Chiesa's improvised finish made it two. There was still time for Ronaldo to get involved though, as the attacker finished off a late counter-attack to make it three. Spezia put in a determined display though and were denied a late consolation goal when Galabinov had a penalty saved by Szczesny.
The result means that Juventus close the gap at the top to seven points, while Spezia drop to 15th.
That's all for now though, goodbye!
Cronaca
Formazioni
Statistiche
90'+6'
FULL TIME: Juventus 3-0 Spezia 22:42
90'+6'
Szczesny did well to guess the right way, but once he'd deduced the direction of the penalty, the save was simple.22:42
90'+6'
Galabinov misses it! The Spezia substitute cautiously steps up and sends a tame spot-kick to the right where Szczesny dives across to tip it away!22:41
90'+6'
Demiral is shown a yellow card for his foul that gave away the penalty.22:41
90'+4'
Penalty to Spezia! Gyasi goes down under a heavy challenge from Demiral and although the referee initially waves play on, VAR checks the incident and awards a penalty!22:40
90'+3'
Ronaldo has now become the first player in the top five European Leagues to score 20 goals in each of the last 12 campaigns.22:37
90'+2'
Chance for Spezia! The visitors keep pushing forward, but they're denied again as Bastoni's close range shot is blocked away by Demiral.22:38
90'+1'
Four minutes of stoppage time are added on.22:36
89'
Bentancur did brilliantly to get Juventus going on the break and then selflessly played Ronaldo clean through to make it three.22:36
89'
RONALDO! 3-0! Bentancur rips possession away from Agoume and leads a counter-attack by slipping Ronaldo through on goal, before the attacker slams a low shot beyond Provedel from 18 yards!
Kulusevski makes way for Di Pardo after an impressive display in attack.22:33
88'
Spezia are showing plenty of spirit as they chase a route back into this game, but their hopes are beginning to fade as Bastoni's corner is nodded clear. 22:31
86'
Sena also departs with Agoume taking his place in midfield.22:30
86'
Marchizza is replaced by Bastoni after an energetic display in defence.22:30
83'
Spezia carefully build a promising attack, but Vignali's eventual cross is punched clear by Szczesny.22:28
81'
Juventus are pouring forward at every opportunity to push for a third goal, but on this occasion, Kulusevski's deft switch is cut out by Vignali.22:25
79'
Marchizza charges forward from defence again and collects a pass from Verde, before having a shot deflected over from 20 yards. 22:24
77'
Great save from Provedel! Ronaldo bends a brilliant free-kick over the wall and towards the top corner, but Provedel gets across to parry it away! It was a great effort from Ronaldo, but it just lacked the pace to beat the goalkeeper.22:22
75'
That should seal the win for Juventus now - they've been a constant threat ever since the introduction of Bernardeschi and Morata.22:20
73'
Farias is replaced by Verde on the wing.05:15
72'
N'Zola is replaced by Galabinov up top.22:19
72'
Spezia make a triple change: first of all, Maggiore comes off for Acampora.22:19
72'
Chiesa departs straight after the goal with Ramsey taking his place.22:18
71'
CHIESA! 2-0! Juventus double their lead as Bernardeschi shimmies into the box and picks out Chiesa who lashes a shot straight at Provedel before instinctively knocking in the rebound from the floor!
Spezia may have had seven shots, but they've yet to test Szczesny with a single shot on target.22:15
66'
Spezia look for a quick response as Erlic cracks off a shot from 30 yards that sails high and wide.22:14
64'
Well, Juventus will be delighted to have the lead. It's been a tough 60 minutes for the hosts but they'll be confident about securing the points now.22:13
62'
Bernardeschi's had an instant impact! The attacker made the perfect run in behind to receive the throughball from Alex Sandro, before supplying Morata with the perfect cross to finish at the front post!22:16
62'
MORATA! 1-0! The double substitution pays off immediately as Bernardeschi beats the offside trap, before crossing it from the byline, allowing Morata to sweep in a neat finish at the near post! The goal is initially ruled out for offside, but a check with VAR reveals that the goal should stand!
VAR checks the decision to rule out the goal, with Juventus insistent that Bernardeschi was actually onside during the build-up. After a brief delay, the goal is given!22:11
61'
Morata has a goal ruled out! The striker instantly sweeps in a cross from Bernardeschi, but the linesman has his flag raised for offside!22:10
61'
Frabotta also departs with Bernardeschi taking his place.22:09
61'
Juventus make a double substitution to inject energy into the game: the first change sees McKennie make way for Morata.22:06
60'
That was by far and away the chance of the game for Ronaldo there and he'll be hugely disappointed not to have taken advantage.22:05
58'
Huge chance for Ronaldo! Kulusevski teases Terzi before whipping in the perfect cross for Ronaldo to tap in, but the attacker misjudges the flight of the ball and it flicks off his knee and away to safety! 22:04
55'
Despite looking a little tired today, Juventus have managed seven shots from inside the box. They'll be hoping to find a winner if they can maintain that rate.21:58
53'
Kulusevski angles a precise cross into Ronaldo, but the attacker heads it well wide from 10 yards.21:56
51'
Juventus work a clever short routine from a free-kick, but Ronaldo is caught offside at the final moment.21:54
50'
The hosts have started this half with much more intent as Chiesa flashes a dangerous cross just over Ronaldo and away for a throw-in.21:53
48'
Early chance in the half for Juventus! Vignali hits a weak back pass towards Provedel, and McKennie cuts it out and knocks it around the goalkeeper, only for Terzi to get back and prevent any attacker from latching onto it!21:53
46'
Juventus get the second half underway.21:49
Kulusevski has been the brightest option in attack for the hosts, but they'll need the rest to raise their game if they're to put Spezia under serious pressure. 21:36
It's 0-0 at half time after an impressive display from Spezia. The away side have been energetic and adventurous throughout and they could have taken the lead early on when Marchizza rippled the side-netting. After that, chances were harder to come by, but the visitors continued to frustrate Juventus. Nevertheless, they did tire late on in the half and were fortunate when a carefully placed Ronaldo shot came back off the post. If the away side can maintain this energy in the second half they'll be well placed to shock Juventus though.21:35
45'+1'
HALF TIME: Juventus 0-0 Spezia21:33
45'
Juventus continue to apply pressure before the break, as Kulusevski gets to the byline before drilling it across goal where Terzi is on hand to hack clear. 21:32
44'
Kulusevski robs Erlic but Terzi manages to get across and prevent the attack from developing. 21:31
42'
Ronaldo hits the post! Kulusevski slaloms towards the edge of the box, before laying it off to Ronaldo who cuts inside and places a right-footed shot across Provedel and against the foot of the far post!21:31
40'
Erlic slips and allows Ronaldo to surge towards the edge of the box, where the attacker lays it off to Kulusevski who cuts inside before having his shot blocked away by the recovering run of Erlic.21:28
38'
The corner's worked shot to Chiesa, but his powerful low cross is gathered by Provedel.21:25
36'
Rabiot picks out Chiesa inside the box with a delightful pass, but Marchizza manages to poke it away for a corner.21:24
34'
Demiral heads a free-kick out to Sena who scuffs a 20-yard volley away for a goal kick.21:22
32'
The resulting corner comes to nothing for the visitors.21:20
31'
Maggiore lets fly from just outside the box and it deflects off Demiral before swinging narrowly over the bar. 21:19
29'
Big intervention from Provedel! Alex Sandro picks out the run from Kulusevski and initially it looks as though the striker is clean through! However, Provedel races off his line and gets there just in time to poke it away, before the Spezia defence crowds out Ronaldo to prevent a clean shot on the rebound!21:18
27'
Chiesa clips in a deep free-kick for the hosts but it evades everyone and Spezia regroup with a goal kick.21:15
25'
Farias and Nzola play a smart one-two on the edge of the box, allowing the former to curl a shot that deflects off Alex Sandro and away for a corner that amounts to nothing.21:12
23'
Chiesa's resulting set-piece finds its way to McKennie, but the midfielder can't bring it under control and Spezia clear.21:10
22'
Ronaldo darts ominously into the box, but his cross is headed clear by Marchizza at the back post.21:09
19'
Spezia move the ball around intently inside the Juventus half, but they can't quite find an opening and they're eventually forced all the way back to Provedel in goal.21:07
17'
Another Juventus move stalls as Marchizza energetically picks off Bentancur's diagonal pass.21:05
15'
Chiesa drills a low effort across goal from 20 yards that flashes a few yards wide of the far post. 21:02
13'
Spezia have made a promising start; they've hassled Juventus high up the pitch and it's resulted in an exciting, open beginning to this game. 21:01
11'
Chiesa has it in the net after finishing a one-on-one, but he's called back for a clear offside.20:57
10'
Frabotta is booked after a dangerous high foot against Estevez.20:58
10'
Kulusevski cuts inside and thumps a shot straight into Erlic from 12 yards.20:56
8'
Chance for Spezia! The away side pour forward on the counter and Gyasi angles a clever switch to Farias, who slips Marchizza in behind where the defender fizzes a powerful effort into the side netting from a tight angle!20:56
6'
Getting a result away from home is going to be a difficult mission for Spezia today. Juventus have won their last five Serie A home matches, scoring at least two goals in each of them (14 total in the process) and keeping a clean sheet in the most recent three.20:53
4'
Spezia win a corner after a determined burst from Maggiore into the box, but Demiral heads it clear at the near post. 20:50
2'
The away side settle into the game with a long spell of harmless possession inside their own half.20:49
1'
Spezia get the first half underway.20:47
The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick off is just seconds away!20:43
Ronaldo has scored in nine of his 10 Serie A meetings against promoted sides (13 total goals) – only against Parma in his first such match (September 2018) has he failed to find the net.20:40
Spezia, meanwhile, make four changes: Aguedelo, Ismajli, Bastoni and Riccardo Saponara all drop out.20:34
Juventus make two changes to the side that drew with Verona last time out: McKennie comes in for Bernardeschi and Danilo replaces Ramsey.20:33
SUBS: Daniele Verde, Kevin Agudelo, Ardian Ismajli, Roberto Piccoli, Jeroen Zoet, Andrej Galabinov, Gennaro Acampora, Lucien Agoume, Matteo Ricci, Julian Chabot, Simone Bastoni, Salvador Ferrer.20:29
SPEZIA (4-3-3): Ivan Provedel; Luca Vignali, Claudio Terzi, Martin Erlic, Riccardo Marchizza; Nahuel Estevez, Leo Sena, Giulio Maggiore; Emmanuel Gyasi, M’Bala Nzola, Diego Farias.20:29
SUBS: Aaron Ramsey, Gianluigi Buffon, Radu Dragusin, Alessandro Di Pardo, Nicolo Fagioli, Matthijs de Ligt, Carlo Pinsoglio, Federico Bernardeschi, Daouda Peeters, Marley, Alvaro Morata.20:59
Spezia, meanwhile, are in inconsistent form having lost three and won two in their last six matches. They do sit comfortably above the relegation zone in 14th spot though, and they’ll be hoping to climb further away from danger today.20:16
Hello and welcome to live commentary of this Serie A fixture between Juventus and Spezia. The hosts enter this one 10 points behind leaders Inter in the table and they’ll be desperate to win this game in hand and close the gap. 20:34
Dove si gioca la partita:
Stadio: Allianz Stadium Città: Torino Capienza: 41507 spettatori20:34
Juventus - Spezia is a match of 25 day of the season Serie A 2020/2021. The match will be 2 march at 20:45 in the stadium Allianz Stadium in Torino. Referee of Juventus - Spezia will be Juan Luca Sacchi with the help of Valerio Colarossi e Rodolfo Di Vuolo. At VAR there will be Michael Fabbri.
Currently Juventus is 3° in the standings with 49 points (thanks of 14 wins, 7 draws and 3 defeats); while Spezia is 16° in the standings with 25 points (thanks of 6 wins, 7 pareggi and 12 sconfitte). Juventus scored 48 goals and conceded 20; Spezia scored 32 goals and conceded 46. The first leg Spezia - Juventus was played on 1 november 2020 and it ended on a 1-4 score.
At home Juventus scored 29 points (9 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss). Away Spezia scored 15 points (4 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses). Juventus in the last three matches of the season challenged Crotone, Verona and Spezi obtaining 7 points thanks to 2 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses. Spezia in the last three matches of the season challenged Milan, Fiorentina and Parm obtaining 4 points thanks to 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss. In the last match Juventus was against Spezia winning 3-0 while Spezia was against Parma evening 2-2. The best scorer of the team coached by Andrea Pirlo is Cristiano Ronaldo with 20 goals while the best scorer of the team coached by Vincenzo Italiano is M'Bala Nzola with 9 goals.
Juventus and Spezia is the first time that they face each other in the league.
These are the statistics of the two teams in the matches played in the season:
Where to see Juventus-Spezia You can see the live match Juventus-Spezia here on Virgilio Sport starting 20:45 CET of 2 march. Discover who will broadcast live Juventus - Spezia between Sky and Dazn.
