'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Incredible scenes at the Stadio Olimpico as Lazio came from behind to end Juventus' unbeaten run this season.
It all started as a normal day at the office for the Italian champions, as Cristiano Ronaldo put the visitors ahead in the 25th minute, however, the hosts clawed their way level just before half time, thanks to a Luis Filipe header.
In the 69th minute, Juan Cuadrado was given a red card for a cynical foul, and Juventus were left to rue their inferior numbers in the minutes that followed. Mere moments after the sending off, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic received an exquisite pass from Luis Alberto to put the home side ahead, as the Serbian drilled a low shot past Wojciech Szczesny.
Juventus frantically tried to rally back, however, they were blindsided late on when Lazio broke away on the counter and Felipe Caicedo was on hand to blast the ball well beyond the reach of the defiant Juve goalkeeper.
The loss leaves Juventus 2 points behind current leaders Inter Milan. In this article, we discuss a few talking points from the encounter.
#3 Juventus' unbeaten run broken
Let's get the obvious bit out of the way first. The Italian champions have been living on the edge lately, because, despite their unbeaten run under Maurizio Sarri, they have sneaked narrow wins more often than not.
The Turin giants have not been at their very best, as Sarri hasn't managed to impose his famous Sarriball system yet. The majority of their wins so far have been by single-goal margins, and they have scored fewer goals than they did at this stage last term.
It was only a matter of time before their feeble unbeaten run was to come to an end, and before the encounter, many believed Lazio could make the champions fall. Simone Inzaghi's side has been on a run of great form, winning 6 consecutive games before this game, scoring a mammoth 33 goals in 14 games on their way to 3rd spot.
The Italian capital club proved their run of form isn't a fluke, as they shattered Juventus' unbeaten record efficiently and impressively.
#2 Defiant Wojciech Szczesny
The Polish international goalkeeper was perhaps the brightest spot for Juventus in the encounter.
Despite conceding 3 goals in the match, the former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny was in imperial form, as he stood in the way of a potential wider margin. He made some impressive saves, including penalty blocks and a futile attempt to keep Juve in the game late on.
The Polish international keeper brought Jaoquin Correa down inside the box in the 76th minute, and Lazio was awarded a penalty kick. Serie A's top scorer Ciro Immobile stepped up to take the penalty, and Szczesny produced not one, but two incredible saves to keep Maurizio Sarri's side in the game.
Late on, the former Arsenal goalie thwarted a Lazio counterattack, however, Felipe Caicedo was on hand to heap more misery on the defending champions.
#1 VAR steps in
The Video Assistant Referee system has come under a fair bit of criticism for inconsistency, however, in this encounter, the system was spot on with its decision with regards the Juan Cuadrado foul on Manuel Lazzari, and the red card marked a turning point in the encounter.
In the 67th minute, Lazzari dribbled past Cuadrado, however, the Colombian international deliberately brought down the wingback 30 yards from goal, and the referee awarded a foul and brandished a yellow card.
Nevertheless, the referee carefully watched the replay and returned to rescind the yellow card. He brandished a red card instead, as the foul was deemed a deliberate professional foul. The decision exemplified the need for VAR, and it certainly was the point the tide turned firmly in favour of the home side.
