Juventus: 3 things we learned from 2-2 draw with Atalanta

Juventus were not up to the task against Atalanta on Saturday night at the Allianz Stadium.

The Bianconeri set a high standard as serial Scudetto winners, and they failed to reach that standard in a 2-2 draw with Atalanta on Saturday. Juventus were lucky to get a point, as they were outplayed by the Bergamo-based club, needing two fortunate handball penalty calls to go their way.

Here are three things we learned from Juve’s fortunate draw.

Left back is a problem spot

Danilo started the game at left back and delivered another mediocre performance. There’s nothing necessarily bad about Danilo, but he doesn’t really add anything. At no point do you look at Danilo and think he should be a key player for the best club in Italy. And in all honesty, Alex Sandro wasn’t much better off the bench. Sandro is still an effective player, but Juventus would be wise to keep looking into options like Robin Gosens.

At the very least, Juve would get someone who can compete with Sandro and offer more attacking dynamism, allowing Sandro to have his minutes managed more effectively. Remember, Danilo and the injured Mattia De Sciglio aren’t really left backs, so Sandro is the only competent left back on the roster. That simply isn’t enough.

More from Old Juve

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• Team previews: Will Juventus’ attack fulfill its potential?
• Team Previews: Juventus midfielders need to show growth this year
• Team previews: Juventus defenders look ready to compete for Scudetto
• Leonardo Bonucci may be leaving Juventus soon

Gonzalo Higuain isn’t getting it done

Juve substituted star forward Paulo Dybala in the second half for a true striker in Gonzalo Higuain, who is their only true striker on the team. And Higuain was a major downgrade, as he failed to help bring Cristiano Ronaldo more involved in the game.

Juve’s midfield improved and saw the ball more against Atalanta, but they failed to convert it into anything with Higuain not making anything happen on the ball or clearing out movement for Ronaldo.

Higuain at this stage isn’t good enough to start for a top European club. Juve are eyeing strikers in Serie A, such as Arkadiusz Milik and Edin Dzeko, and they would be wise to make a replacement move this summer. They probably need two strikers, to be honest.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s work rate means everything

Even in games in which Juve aren’t at their best, Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur manages to distinguish himself with his work rate and defense. Miralem Pjanic was a late scratch from the lineup due to a minor injury issue, so Bentancur got a preview of his role in life after Pjanic swaps with Arthur Melo, starting as the regista.

Bentancur rivaled Cristiano Ronaldo as the Bianconeri’s best player on the pitch. Per WhoScored.com, Bentancur posted four tackles and three interceptions to lead the way, performing the work of two men in midfield.

Like against Milan, Bentancur was one of the few players who could hold his head high after a disappointing performance. He did his job in the attack, too, moving the ball forward but was ultimately let down by Federico Bernardeschi’s lack of involvement on the right side.