Juventus, despite dominating much of the match, was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against struggling Cagliari in a surprising Serie A encounter on Sunday. While Dusan Vlahovic’s penalty put Juventus in the driver’s seat, they failed to capitalize on their early lead, allowing Cagliari to claw their way back into the game. This result left Juventus two points behind leaders Napoli, a missed opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table.
The draw also marked Juventus’ first goal conceded in the league this season, highlighting their previously impenetrable defense. After three scoreless draws and three resounding 3-0 wins in their first six matches, the failure to build on their early goal allowed Cagliari to maintain hope and ultimately earn a valuable point.
Juventus manager Thiago Motta expressed his disappointment with his side’s inability to finish the game. “Already in the first half, after the goal, we were content to control the game. It’s no good,” Motta said, emphasizing the need for constant attacking pressure. “We have to keep attacking. In the second half, we created chances but we didn’t exploit them. There was always the feeling that Cagliari could come back into the game,” he added.
Despite missing a golden opportunity to extend Juventus’ lead, Vlahovic escaped criticism from his manager. “You can’t say anything, it’s a match situation. It happens and will happen,” Motta defended his striker. However, he stressed the need for improvement in other areas. “But there are other things that we can certainly do better in order to compete, to be able to continue to grow.”
Francisco Conceicao, making his first start of the season, was shown a red card late in the game for simulation in the penalty area. Motta, while acknowledging the referee’s decision, expressed concern about the precedent it sets. “I haven’t seen the images, if it’s simulation, it’s the correct decision. It’s something we’ve been talking about for a long time, simulations are not good for the game,” Motta said during the press conference. “I trust the referee, but now a precedent opens up and it must always be like this. It must always be done, not every now and then.”
The draw serves as a wake-up call for Juventus, highlighting the need to maintain their attacking intensity throughout the match and avoid complacency. The Bianconeri will be looking to bounce back and regain their winning momentum as they continue their pursuit of the Serie A title.
