Skip to content

The Old Lady falls again: Roma inflicts 2nd straight defeat on Juventus

Alberto Lingria / Reuters

For the first time ever, Juventus has opened its Serie A campaign with a pair of losses.

In a fixture between last season's top two clubs that was described by the BT Sport commentator as "tactically fascinating," Roma defeated the Old Lady 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, leaving Massimiliano Allegri's side with zero points through its first two matches of the season.

Rudi Garcia asked Roma to play at a higher tempo ahead of the fixture, and, sure enough, it took one minute for his call to be answered, as a trailing Mario Mandzukic committed a clumsy foul in his side's penalty area, resulting in penalty appeals from the Giallorossi faithful.

However, referee Nicola Rizzoli, officiating his 200th Serie A match, wasn't having it.

(Courtesy: Gazzetta World)

As the first half wore on, the game became more and more of a one-sided affair. Roma barely allowed Juventus to touch the ball, and its pressure was nearly rewarded in the 24th minute when Miralem Pjanic one-timed a 20-yard shot off the upright.

By the time the interval arrived, Juventus had produced one of its most abysmal first halves in over 10 years.

It took Roma about a quarter-hour to rediscover its relentlessness in the second half, but it resulted in an absolutely beauty of a goal when it arrived, as Pjanic, a genius when it comes to dead balls, thumped a phenomenal free-kick into the back of the net in the 61st minute.

Not often is Gianluigi Buffon left flat-footed, watching a free-kick float past his very eyes.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL !MIRALEM PJANIC ! #ROMAJUVE #SERIEA

Immediately after Pjanic's opener, Juventus' frustrations were on full display.

And not just on the pitch.

Rubinho, the club's backup 'keeper, sitting on the bench, was comically issued a red card in the 66th minute for having a go at the fourth official, and Patrice Evra followed suit in the 78th minute, receiving his second yellow card for a needless challenge on Juan Iturbe and paving the way for Roma's second goal.

One minute after Evra's sending off, Edin Dzeko outmuscled Giorgio Chiellini like it was nothing and headed his first competitive goal for Roma past Buffon, sending the Stadio Olimpico into a frenzy as he celebrated alongside the club's ultras.

Just when it looked like Juventus was down and out, however, Paulo Dybala, from seemingly out of nowhere, scored the club's first goal of the season in the 88th minute, giving a late glimmer of hope to a side that really didn't deserve it.

Then, in second-half stoppage time, the unthinkable nearly happened. Dybala, at the back post, connected beautifully with a corner kick, sending the ball toward the opposite side of goal and appearing to have found a surreal equaliser.

Unfortunately for Juventus, Wojciech Szczesny, intent on ensuring that Arsenal supporters catch him on the highlight reels, produced what will likely be reflected upon as one of the top saves of the Serie A season, deflecting the ball inches wide of the post and rescuing the full three points for Roma.

Szczesny saves for Roma in the dying minutes. #Roma #AFC

With the international break just around the corner, Juventus must wait two weeks for its next chance to snatch its first victory of the season, when the club hosts Chievo Verona on Sept. 13.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox