Juventus defeated Spezia 4-1 on the road, and Cristiano Ronaldo needed only 35 minutes to score a brace in his return.
After two straight draws in Serie A to Crotone and Verona and then an embarrassing Champions League loss to Barcelona, Juventus needed a win on Sunday afternoon against newly-promoted Spezia. Nothing less than a thorough demolition would do.
The game looked in doubt after the first half when Spezia equalized, but once Juventus subbed in Cristiano Ronaldo, they never looked back. Ronaldo scored twice and Adrien Rabiot added another to seal the game at 4-1 for the Bianconeri.
Let’s take a look at the player ratings for Juve’s starters at Spezia.
GK Gianluigi Buffon
Wojciech Szczesny got some well-deserved rest, as Gianluigi Buffon stepped into goal. The defense was entirely to blame for the goal Spezia scored, so Buffon cannot be faulted there.
Rating: 6.0 out of 10
CB Danilo
Danilo continues to be a quality contributor to Juventus defensively. Per WhoScored.com, the experienced Brazilian had two tackles and two interceptions. Between Danilo and Leonardo Bonucci, the former center back looks like the more steady of the two players. He has been a revelation this season in Juve’s back three under Andrea Pirlo.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
CB Leonardo Bonucci
Leonardo Bonucci attempted the second-most passes on the Bianconeri in this Serie A match, yet he completed fewer than 87 percent of them. Defensively, Bonucci looked shaky and made few interventions. He is the weak link for this team in the starting XI, and Juve look porous at times when he’s on the pitch. Bonucci’s reading of the game must improve.
Rating: 5.0 out of 10
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- Leonardo Bonucci may be leaving Juventus soon
CB Merih Demiral
Young center back Merih Demiral bounced back from an off game, providing composed passing and defending, including a blocked shot to recover from Juan Cuadrado’s error in letting the ball run on a cross. Demiral had three interceptions and always works hard for the team.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
CM Rodrigo Bentancur
Center midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur led Juventus with four interceptions against Spezia, and he is the best defensive presence for the Bianconeri in midfield.
But offensively, Bentancur provides nothing. He completed one dribble and was accurate on fewer than 85 percent of is passes, which are usually sideways. If he does not improve offensively, Juve should replace him with Adrien Rabiot as a regular starter.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
CM Arthur Melo
Arthur is perhaps Juve’s most exciting passer in midfield, and he looks even better than he did at Barcelona last season. The 24-year-old was masterful on Sunday afternoon, and he looks like a big star for Juventus for years to come. Arthur completed nearly 95 percent of his passes with the most attempts on the team at 97. He also drew four fouls.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
CM Weston McKennie
Weston McKennie did brilliantly for Juve’s first goal, making a great run off the ball and then having the presence of mind to put the striker first by squaring off for Alvaro Morata. The American midfielder should be a Juventus player for a long time. He has all the tools you want to see in a midfielder. He’s smart, he works hard, and he gets the job done in the final third.
Rating: 7.0 out of 10
RWB Juan Cuadrado
One of the best right wing backs in European football, Juan Cuadrado had another all-action performance, with his only blemish, of course, being an off decision in the penalty box. Otherwise, Cuadrado was excellent. His on-the-ball defending is always underrated, and he led the team with five tackles. He also won two dribbles and completed about 93 percent of his passes.
Rating: 7.0 out of 10
LWB Federico Chiesa
Federico Chiesa is another incredibly promising young player for Juventus, and he can become a fan favorite for many years to come. His work rate on and off the ball are fantastic, and he’s added so much to Juve’s attacks with his running and deliveries from the left. Chiesa did so well to win Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty, drawing two fouls along the way.
FW Paulo Dybala
That was another horrible performance from Paulo Dybala. After his woeful match against Lionel Messi and Barcelona, the pressure was on La Joya to start November on the right foot against Serie A’s worst team. Instead, Dybala was the worst player on the pitch again, offering absolutely nothing to the team. His Juventus future is in danger if he doesn’t step up, because the other forwards are playing much better.
Rating: 4.0 out of 10
FW Alvaro Morata
The best player on the pitch for Juventus, not including Ronaldo. He scored the opener and assisted Ronaldo’s first. Alvaro Morata looks like a regular starter for the Bianconeri and has been a revelation in his return. Right now, the former Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, and Chelsea No. 9 is playing the best football of his career. He was meant for Turin.
Rating: 8.0 out of 10
FW Cristiano Ronaldo
I only rate substitutes if they were able to make a profound impact on the match, and Cristiano Ronaldo did exactly that. The Portuguese superstar scored within minutes of his return from COVID-19, rounding the keeper. And he added a second with a perfect Panenka penalty. He means so much to Juventus.
Rating: 9.0 out of 10
CM Adrien Rabiot
The last substitute deserving a shoutout is French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who has proved so many people wrong since rumors of his departure surfaced earlier this year. He scored a brilliant goal off the bench against Spezia, making a run into space off the ball and finishing off the move himself with confidence. Rabiot literally does it all in midfield as a passer, defensive presence, and goal-scoring option.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10