PLAYER RATINGS: JUVENTUS 3 - 1 SASSUOLO

Following this afternoon’s 2-2 draw between Roma and Inter and Wednesday’s takedown of table leader AC Milan, the match against Sassuolo was a game of opportunity for the Bianconeri. An opportunity to catch the two teams standing between The Old Lady and the Rossoneri at the top. Following a similar trend to the match we witnessed in July an initial goal by Danilo put the Bianconeri up 1-0 on the Neroverdi, before an equalizer was allowed by the De Ligt-less defensive front. Fortunately a Frabotta-assisted goal scored by Aaron Ramsey and a last second score from Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the match and points for the Torino squad in Allianz Stadium. The victory brings Juventus within one point of 3rd place Roma, four points off 2nd place Inter, and seven points off Milan.

Notice: All ratings are calculated through a stringent process utilizing statistics and the eye test called My Opinion and are most certainly incorrect.

Starters

Wojciech Szczesny - 5

What appeared to be a fairly restful night for the goalkeeper came crashing down at the 58’ when the Polish keeper, Bonucci, and Demiral all failed to close in on a pass to Defrel who easily struck for the equalizing score to put the match at 1-1. Tek contributed one save, one save from inside of the box, one accurate long ball, and conceded one goal.

Danilo Luiz da Silva - 7

For the first fifty minutes of the match the defensive players for Juventus outside of Bonucci remained all but anonymous. That moment changed at the 51’ when Danilo delivered one of the biggest ‘NO...NO.. YES!’ moments of the season delivering a rocket only last seen from the player on his birthday during the July match against.. Sassuolo. Danilo contributed one goal, one assist, one clearance, one interception, six tackles, six ground duels won, one key pass, four accurate long balls, one big chance created, one shot on target, and one shot off target.

Leonardo Bonucci - 6

Bonucci played a beautiful ball on a chance for star Cristiano Ronaldo, who continued on a great run, but Sassuolo defender Chiriches made an even better defensive block at the 25’. Bonucci was a party to the disastrous breakdown by the Juventus defense that allowed the equalizing blow at the 58’ by Defrel. But Bonucci was also guilty of an almost devastating second defensive breakdown that would have allowed the Neroverdi to score a second goal, but Tek made the much needed stop. Bonucci contributed two clearances, two tackles, two ground duels won, one aerial duel won, two key passes, three accurate long balls, one big chance created, one shot on target, and one shot off target. Bonucci was penalized with a yellow card for hauling back Caputo on a flagrant foul at the 12’.

Merih Demiral - 6.5

In place of the COVID positive De Ligt, the Turkish defender stepped in amid recent rumors of a potential desire to be shipped out of Turin for a new team with more playing time. Outside of the defense’s collapse on an early equalizer the Turkish defender played his role and made good on the minutes provided. Demiral contributed two clearances, two blocked shots, two interceptions, two tackles, two ground duels won, one accurate long ball, one shot on target, one shot blocked and one big chance missed.

Gianluca Frabotta - 6

Frabotta was the latest to suffer from a gut wre