Sassuolo 1-2 Juventus: 3 takeaways as Bianconeri all but secure Champions League berth

Boy, did Moise need that!

Once again, Juventus clinched three points from thin air. Sassuolo were dominant in the first half and controlled much of the second period without creating a killer chance.

Thus, the Neroverdi, who haven’t kept a clean sheet at the Mapei since late September, were always susceptible to late Bianconeri magic. And low and behold, it was Moise Kean who delivered the decisive blow.

Kean has come up with a clutch goal or two this season, but he’s been nothing short of an afterthought since Dusan Vlahovic arrived from Fiorentina. The 22-year-old had scored just once in Serie A in 2022 before Monday’s game.

So I’m sure he was treated to a few Juventino eye rolls when his services were called upon with just over 20 minutes remaining in this one, with supporters desperate to see youngsters Fabio Miretti and Matias Soule earn minutes at a senior level.

Kean has been an infuriating figure this season. His technical insecurity and inability to play with his back to goal have seen him struggle on his return to the club, but his goal on Monday was brilliantly worked. The Italian smartly used his body to secure possession before bursting away from Vlad Chiriches with a rapid change of direction. His left-footed strike was straight at Andrea Consigli, but the venom with which it was struck meant the ball squeezed through Consigli’s legs and into the back of the net.

The game-winning sequence was surely Kean’s highlight of the season, and it was one he desperately needed to potentially rejuvenate his stagnating Juve career.