Juventus concluded 2021 with a 2-0 victory over Cagliari to rise up to fifth in Serie A for the time being.
The Bianconeri started brightly but Moise Kean wasted a flurry of opportunities to ensure the deadlock wasn’t broken. The Italian forward swiftly atoned, however, and he gave Juve the lead at the fourth time of asking with a smart header.
43 - Federico #Bernardeschi has found the net in Serie A for the first time since 26/07/2020 vs Sampdoria, 513 days ago. Waken.#JuveCagliari
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) December 21, 2021
Cagliari were resolute and they failed to concede the contest to the hosts. They created two superb opportunities in the second half, but Dalbert and Joao Pedro failed to find the back of the net from close range. Juve then made the visitors pay through Federico Bernardeschi, who ended his 513-day goal-drought by drilling a left-footed effort beyond Alessio Cragno.
2-0 was how it would end, and here are the Juventus player ratings from their victory.
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Wojciech Szczesny (GK) – 7/10 – Szczesny saved the Bianconeri at 1-0 as he saved superbly from Joao Pedro. It was his only major test of the night, but Juve’s number one passed with flying colours. He’s found his best form once more.
Juan Cuadrado (RB) – 6.5/10 – The Colombian’s definitely let that corner goal against Genoa get to his head (ego). He now tries to score from every inswinger he delivers! Anyway, his performance in open play was sharp and he was a useful outlet in the second half as Allegri instructed him to get higher up the pitch. Cuadrado’s crossing was majestic throughout, and he should’ve had an assist early on.
Leonardo Bonucci (CB) – 6.5/10 – Bonucci saw plenty of Cagliari’s star man, Joao Pedro, in this one but he managed him well – even if he had to foul him one or two times.
Matthijs de Ligt (CB) – 6.5/10 – The Dutchman was in the wars tonight, but a bloody nose courtesy of Leonardo Pavoletti failed to deter him. De Ligt wasn’t tested much, and Pedro did escape his clutches for the Brazilian’s headed chance. Otherwise, the 22-year-old was comfortable alongside Bonucci.
Alex Sandro (LB) – 4/10 – The declining Brazilian looked miles off the pace and was completely stifled by the physically superior Raoul Bellanova down Juve’s left. He didn’t cover himself in glory for Cagliari’s first big chance of the night either.