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Andrea Pirlo's Juventus faced their first major test this season when his side traveled to Stadio Olimpico to face Paulo Fonseca's AS Roma. Juventus had it easy in the first week but it was tough luck for Roma when a draw against Verona was turned into a 3-0 defeat by the Italian FA.
The game was as good as it promised to be. It started a little slow but the last 15 minutes of the first-half saw 3 goals. Jordan Veretout broke the deadlock from the spot after Rabiot was penalized for a handball inside the box. Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Juventus to equalize but the joy was short-lived as Veretout got his second only a minute later.
Juventus were down to 10 men an hour into the game after Rabiot was shown a second yellow. It looked tough for Juve to get anything from the match but Ronaldo did what he does best. A perfect cross from Danilo followed by a mind-blowing Ronaldo header made sure Juventus won a point from the game. Keeping all that in mind, here are the hits and flops from the game:
#5 Hit - Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Roma)
It seems like the former Manchester United and Arsenal man is loving his time in Italy. After a good 2019/20 season, Mkhitaryan has started well this season too.
He was deadly on the ball and had a crack at the Juve defenders every time he got a chance. He made a brilliant run early in the game and dummied past Bonucci's challenge before shooting hard but straight at the Szczęsny.
He was also the chief creator of Roma's second goal. A good day at the office for Mkhitaryan and a lot is expected from the Armenian star this season.
#4 Flop - Adrien Rabiot (Juventus)
It was a day to forget for Adrien Rabiot. The 25-year-old was having a good game but to give away a penalty in the first half and then getting sent off in the second-half made the night a rough one.
Around the 30 minute mark, Rabiot handled the ball inside the box. The Frenchman was shown a yellow for that and a penalty was given to Roma. In the second half, he turned near haf-line diving after the ball and kicking the back of Mkhitariyan's leg.
Even though Juventus got a point from the game, had they not been a man-down, it could have very easily been a win.
#3 Hit - Jordan Veretout (Roma)
Veretout was Roma's player of the day and maybe even the man of the match. Veretout put in am amazing performance in midfield and managed to score a brace against defending champions Juventus.
In the first-half, it was the Frenchman who took the shot from the edge of the box which led to the penalty. Having won it, Veretout tucked the penalty to his left, that maybe Szczesny should have saved. Just before the half-time, Roma's devastating counter-attack was finished very well by Veretout when he squeezed it past Szczesny.
All in all, one of Veretout's best displays in a Roma shirt.
#2 Flop - Edin Džeko (Roma)
Edin Dzeko had a decent game but twice had the chance to put the game beyond Juventus, which he didn't take. 10 minutes into the second half, Dzeko muscled a defender out of the way to and dummied past another only to hit the outside of the post from a very good position.
He had another chance from close range but his shot was well held by Szczesny. The Bosnian striker gave both Chiellini and Bonucci a run for their money but should have won the game for his team.
#1 Hit - Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Once again it was Cristiano Ronaldo who did just enough to spare his side’s blushes. With Juventus looking for an equalizer, Ronaldo burst into the Roma box but Lorenzo Pellegrini blocked his attempted shot with an extended arm. The Portuguese scored from the penalty spot to level things.
His second goal though was something extraordinary. The 35-year-old appeared to hang in the air, like he so often does, to guide the cross into the bottom corner with the side of his head. The brace wasn't enough for Juventus to get all three points but Ronaldo led from the front and almost turned the tough night into a win.
