Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Venezia on Saturday evening was a microcosm of the Bianconeri’s 2021/22 season thus far.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side had shown off a more progressive and dynamic iteration of themselves in their previous two domestic outings, but Saturday felt like an untimely return to the norm. Once again, the Bianconeri ceded too much control to a side they should be dominating and they were made to pay for a drab start to the second half by conceding a fabulous equaliser.
Alvaro Morata had smartly opened the scoring for the visitors in an unconvincing but somewhat comfortable opening 45 minutes.
Juve now sit sixth in the Serie A table after Fiorentina’s victory over Salernitana. They’re eight points adrift of Napoli in fourth, with mid-table Bologna, whom they visit next week, just four points worse off.
It was an infuriating evening in Venice for Juventus, and here are three takeaways from the much-deserved draw.
Allegri is rightfully called into question
As we alluded to in the introduction, Juventus appeared to have made genuine progress in the victories over Salernitana and Genoa. Sure, the opposition was sub-par at best, but the manner in which the Bianconeri approached both contests was refreshingly dynamic.
However, the 4-2-3-1 became a muddled 4-4-2 by the end of last Wednesday’s drab bout with Malmo, but the personnel changes made by the manager made Juve’s drop-off somewhat understandable.
Then, in Venice, Allegri returned to the 4-2-3-1 that facilitates an overload in the build-up phase, the advancement of full-backs high upfield and three reference points between the lines. But, the early injury to Paulo Dybala forced the boss into a rethink and like an alcoholic relapsing with a glass of whisky, he couldn’t help himself but go 4-4-2.
You know, the system that’s made Juventus unwatchable this season. Yes, that.
Kaio Jorge was Dybala’s replacement and he partnered goalscorer Morata up top. The result was predictable: Juve were bereft of any connections in possession, lacked cohesion on and off the ball and were thus unable to sustain any pressure on the hosts.
At the start of the second half, Juventus were content to hold on to their one-goal advantage. They criminally blocked space and attempted to counter-attack against little old Venezia! It was awful to watch and as it has done on many occasions this season, Allegri’s conservatism cost the Old Lady. Mattia Aramu equalised with a splendid strike from distance ten minutes into the second half and for the remainder of the contest, the visitors rarely posed a threat to Sergio Romero’s goal.
The two strikers rarely combined, Federico Bernardeschi tried his utmost to receive possession between the lines but had minimal success, while midfielders Manuel Locatelli and Adrien Rabiot failed to seize back control after Juve’s secession at the start of the second period.
Allegri once again relied upon individuals to salvage three points despite the distinct absence of a match-winner after Dybala’s withdrawal. The manager was rightfully chastised for his coaching of Saturday’s draw as Juventus struggled after his switch to a 4-4-2. His substitutions were questionable as well.
Overall, it feels as if the progress made from the recent domestic wins was undermined by whatever that was in Venice.