Serie A 2018-19, Juventus 1-0 Roma: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis

#1 Juventus continue to dominate Italy but still have chinks in their armour

Allegri has a few flaws to iron out

Juventus went eight points clear at the perch of the table courtesy their 1-0 win over Roma. The win made it 16 victories out of a possible 17, with their only blip coming against Genoa in October.

Against the side from the Eternal City as well, Juventus barely broke into a sweat and were at their professional best. Having gone a goal ahead in the first half, they maintained their composure, kept Roma at an arm’s length and ensured the points stayed in Turin.

However, despite such a commanding display, there were a few frailties that came to light. On several occasions, Juventus shot themselves in the foot trying to play out from the back.

Bentancur was culpable for one moment of lackadaisicalness in the first period while the trend continued in the second half as well.

Under Allegri, the Black and White are inclined to play out from the back. Though they weren’t punished by Roma, better teams, especially in Europe could capitalise on their loose passing. Though playing out from the back is an extremely useful tactic, a failure to do so perfectly would result in inviting pressure.

Hence, moving forward, Juventus need to play out from the back with more conviction and not let the opposition have a sniff of the ball anywhere near their defensive third.

Additionally, Juventus looked a little exposed on the quick turnovers. Pjanic is a smashing ball-player but he doesn’t possess the adequate pace or tactical nous to stop counter-attacks.

Hence, a player like Can could come into the picture. After the German’s introduction, the Old Lady looked less susceptible to the counter.

In Europe, towards the latter stages of the Champions League, games are often decided by minuscule margins. Thus, it is imperative that Juventus iron out these flaws if they are to avenge their European heartbreak over the years.

With Atletico waiting in the wings in Europe, Juventus might not be accorded too many opportunities to make mistakes.