PLAYER RATINGS: SASSUOLO 1-3 JUVENTUS

In what feels like an exercise in futility the Juventus squad pulled out a victory on the road against a Sassuolo side that has not lost since April 7th against Inter. This is fine and well, but if Juventus does not get help from another Serie A side to deliver a loss or a draw to one of Milan, Napoli, or Atalanta while simultaneously winning out the club will remain resigned to a fate outside of the Champions League. Next up, a penultimate showdown with Inter that may decide the final fate of the season.

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

Starters

Gianluigi Buffon - 7

Following the news that these last few matches would be the last of Gigi Buffon to ever play in a Juventus shirt, many emotions flowed from fans. I, for one, was flooded with feelings of sadness to see this moment come (again), but understand when it is time it is time, but I would more than likely not be a Bianconeri fan today if it were not for Gianluigi Buffon and the impact he has made on the sport. Grazzie, Gigi! The legend provided exactly what he established his name with in the early minutes on a penalty kick in the 15’, blocking the shot taken by Sassuolo’s Berardi. Buffon made a big time stop on an Obiang shot in the 39’, blocking the shot on goal. The Juventus defense allowed Raspadori to cut the deficit in half in the 59’ when the striker was delivered the ball inside the box past the likes of Bonucci, Rabiot, De Ligt, and Arthur to tuck the shot past Buffon. Buffon contributed two saves, one save from inside the box, one penalty saved, and nine accurate long balls.

Danilo Luiz da Silva - 6

Danilo delivered a solid block on a Raspadori shot in the 28’ that would have led to a score by the home squad. Danilo contributed three clearances, two blocked shots, one interception, three tackles, three ground duels won, and two aerial duels won. Danilo was penalized with a yellow card in the 23’.

Matthijs De Ligt - 6.5

Potentially Juventus’ only reliable player. In the 13’, Sassuolo’s Boga brought the opposing attack into a threatening position for the Juve defense, but as he does so often, the Dutchman shut down the advance and was able to clear it away with ease. De Ligt came up huge again in the 25’ when a perfectly delivered long ball to Berardi looked assuredly to set up a shot on goal, but the defender reached in and shut down the assault. De Ligt contributed six clearances, three blocked shots, one interception, two tackles, three ground duels won, two aerial duels won, two accurate long balls, one shot blocked, and one successful dribble.

Leonardo Bonucci - 5

The captain looked to be in as poor form as the rest of the team as he gave up a penalty in the 15’, due to a lazy defensive effort in taking out Sassuolo’s Raspadori with a haphazard tackle. Bonucci made the saving clearance on a dangerous Sassuolo attack in the 72’. Bonucci contributed four clearances, one penalty committed, and one aerial duel won

Alex Sandro - 5.5

Alex Sandro cleared a dangerous cross into the box in the 29’ to slow a continually threatening Sassuolo attack. Following a timespan where it appeared the Brazilian had Sandro delivered a huge clearance in the 65’ to save an automatic goal from Berardi. Sandro contributed four clearances, one interception, two tackles, three ground duels won, five aerial duels won, one key pass, and two accurate long balls.

Federico Chiesa - 6

Following a quiet first half of play, Chiesa turned up the heat in the first minutes of the second with a solid shot on goal in the 47’ that was stopped by the Sassuolo keeper. Chiesa took another shot off of a pass delivered by Arthur in the 57’, but the shot soared high above the target. Chiesa missed another curving shot in the 63’. Chiesa contributed one assist, one key pass, two accurate long balls, one shot on target, two shots off target, one shot blocked, four ground duels won, and one tackle. Federico Chiesa was substituted off for Juan Cuadrado in the 81’. Chiesa was penalized with a