The Report Cards: Juventus vs. Parma

Juve’s Sunday contest in opposition to Parma had all of the hallmarks of a lure recreation. They have been coming off an enormous league win in opposition to Napoli, they usually have been about to face a hellacious month that will see them face three fellow prime six groups (Inter, Como, and Roma), the Coppa Italia quarterfinal in opposition to Atalanta, and the Champions League playoff spherical in opposition to Galatasaray. It might’ve been really easy to miss this match, particularly after their listless affair in midweek in opposition to Monaco, the place they gave the impression to be underneath directions to expend minimal power, and in a constructing the place they hadn’t received the sport since 2020.

However they actually didn’t look previous the Crusaders. As a substitute, they bulldozed them.

Juve’s 4-1 victory carried lots of the hallmarks of the crew’s persevering with evolution underneath Luciano Spalletti. They have been extra composed in possession, way more lively off the ball, and all the time seeking to push for extra objectives, even once they have been up huge. When a colossal mistake gave Parma a route again into the sport early within the second half, they didn’t crumble, as many Juve groups of current instances had achieved prior to now, however instantly slammed the door shut once more.

This was the sort of recreation that provides you confidence that Juve can maintain their very own when the competitors ramps up in a while this month.

How did everybody do? Let’s take a better look.

MICHELE DI GREGORIO – 7. Made a few nice saves, holding his focus regardless of lengthy intervals of getting nothing to do.

PIERRE KALULU – 8. One other incredible efficiency. He had 4 key passes and a number of other others that will’ve been however for defending nicely. His help to Weston McKennie was incredible. He additionally had three tackles and accomplished 92.2 % of his passes. All-around incredible.

BREMER – 8. A brace and a incredible efficiency defensively. His counting numbers weren’t eye-popping, however he saved Mateo Pellegrino out of the sport for prolonged intervals of time, permitting him solely 24 touches in whole. His soar within the first purpose was picturesque. Glorious job.

LLOYD KELLY – 7. Made 4 clearances, blocked two photographs, and received twice as many aerial duels as anybody else on the sphere. Nearly a 12 months from his acquisition, he’s gone from probably considered one of Juve’s greatest ever switch busts to utterly indispensible.

ANDREA CAMBIASO – 5. Why? WHY? WHY? What on earth was he pondering attempting some heel flick 4 yards in entrance of his personal purpose? He’s extremely fortunate that that mistake didn’t lose Juve factors.

MANUEL LOCATELLI – 6.5. Had an insane 132 touches—the following highest was Kelly with 80—and tried 117 passes. He initiated the sequences that led to 2 objectives, and was important in holding the ball in Parma’s half, notching a team-high 4 tackles to associate with 4 clearances.

KHÉPHREN THURAM – 6. Recorded a pair of dribbles in addition to a deal with and two interceptions, however wasn’t fairly the pressure we all know he may be in midfield. Didn’t actually must be, frankly, given the way in which the crew performed as a complete.

FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO – 6.5. Might’ve had a brace inside six minutes. The primary of these photographs was neatly saved by Edoardo Corvi, however the second with the online nearly empty was a little bit of a scuff. He did take the nook that Bremer hammered residence to open the rating, and it was his rebound that David tapped residence for the ultimate purpose of the evening. It was a fairly good efficiency, but it surely additionally felt like there was extra underneath there.

WESTON McKENNIE – 7.5. Completely in every single place on the sphere. His purpose was a splendidly taken volley along with his weight going the opposite approach—an easy shot to get utterly unsuitable however that he managed to get so proper. He added a pair of key passes in addition to three tackles and three clearances defensively. He’s starting to dovetail rather well with Jonathan David.

KENAN YILDIZ – 6. Appeared a bit of subdued, which was shortly defined by the revelation that he’s nursing some type of muscle harm. With such a troublesome month arising, Juve will want their greatest participant. However discuss how good this child actually is? He had three dribbles in 45 minutes whereas he was coping with that knock.

JONATHAN DAVID – 7.5. Might’ve been the one with the brace, as his header on that second-half free kick was in all probability going to go in, however Bremer probably acted on intuition because it got here shut—plus, there have been defenders close to sufficient {that a} clearance off the road wasn’t a complete impossibility. They credited him with an help for it, although, and he did get his purpose with one of many best finishes of his life after discovering place to latch on to it whereas Conceição was taking pictures. His motion and passing have been glorious, making two key passes and much more usually being the one with the hockey help, main his teammates into the locations from which they may ship the ultimate ball.

FABIO MIRETTI – 6. Made a few good passes and usually carried himself nicely by way of the second half.

FEDERICO GATTI – 6. Nice to see him again out on the sphere. He had a key go and accomplished each single try, together with a deal with and two interceptions in solely 27 minutes of labor.

FILIP KOSTIC – 6. Nonetheless seems like he’s getting used to getting used on the proper, however took a few photographs and defended nicely.

JUAN CABAL – 6. Noticed out the sport at left-back solidly and with no errors.

LOÏS OPENDA – NR. Missed an open purpose off an excellent Kalulu cross, however was additionally desperately unfortunate to be IFAB’d out of a purpose in stoppage time when his heel was offside by a sliver.

It’s arduous to explain simply how significantly better Luciano Spalletti has made Juventus. I’m frankly stunned. After his spectacular failure with the Italian nationwide crew, I assumed we have been getting a washed coach on his final hurrah when he changed Igor Tudor. I used to be utterly unsuitable.

What we acquired as a substitute is a person who has achieved one thing that almost all of his predecessors because the finish of the Streak have didn’t handle. He’s made this crew enjoyable once more. They’re enjoyable to observe, and that’s as a result of the gamers themselves are having tons of enjoyable out on the pitch enjoying. And it’s not as if that’s simply because he’s letting them play sandlot ball on the market. He has completely carried out his system, but it surely’s been straightforward to choose up and it’s been pleasant to execute. This squad hasn’t been this free and straightforward because the early days of the 2023-24 season, when Francesco Magnanelli’s extra expansive attacking concepts led to some spectacular offensive performances earlier than a foul recreation noticed Max Allegri panic and revert to his default of teaching to not lose as a substitute of to win. Earlier than that, it was on the finish levels of Andrea Pirlo’s tenure, when the crew actually appeared like they have been coming collectively within the season’s ultimate month.

That change in mentality was on full show proper after halftime, when Cambiaso’s mistake might have been the catalyst for a psychological collapse that allowed Parma to return all the way in which again. As a substitute, the crew carried on and responded with a purpose of their very own in three minutes. That’s a severe change, and it’s indicative of how a lot the gamers have purchased into their new coach.

Now the whole lot Spalletti has managed to realize to this point will likely be examined. The gauntlet the Previous Girl must run in February is daunting, and the whole lot we’ve seen from the crew over the past six to eight weeks will must be executed to a T in the event that they’re going to get out of it the place they need to be.

I’m simply going to listing the remainder of February’s matches in chronological order:

At Atalanta (Coppa Italia quarterfinal), vs Lazio, at Inter, at Galatasaray, vs Como, vs Galatasaray.

Oh, after which a highway recreation in opposition to Roma proper after for good measure.

As soon as extra into the breach, expensive mates!