05 May 2024
A pulsating match ended in a share of the points at the Olimpico as Juventus came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Roma.
Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour but the Bianconeri went into the break all square after Bremer headed home a Federico Chiesa cross.
In the second half Chiesa hit the post while Mile Svilar produced two outstanding saves late on to deny Manuel Locatelli and Moise Kean.
However, Wojciech Szczesny made the last save of the game, thwarting Tammy Abraham in the final minute of stoppage time to help the Bianconeri edge towards Champions League qualification next season.
THE MATCH
Juventus set off undaunted by the vocal home support at a sell-out Olimpico. The front two of Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic linked up with intent inside the opening 10 minutes to create the game’s first chance. Bremer stole possession inside the Roma half before Chiesa took over at the edge of the area, sliding a filtered pass into the path of Vlahovic.
From the height of the penalty spot, the number nine swept his shot inches wide of the far post.
The let-off for the Roma defence gave the home side a boost of confidence and on 11 minutes they threatened to take the lead when a header from Rasmus Kristensen clipped the top of the crossbar.
The Giallorossi did find the breakthrough on 15 minutes. Tommaso Baldanzi sprinted clear of the defensive line. His cross was retrieved by Paulo Dybala, who set up Bryan Cristante. The midfielder’s shot was blocked on the line by Federico Gatti but Romelu Lukaka was on hand to drive the rebound into the net.
Juventus responded well, forcing a series of corners. And it was from one of those corners that the equaliser sprung from. From an inviting Chiesa cross, Bremer rose majestically to place his header beyond Mile Svilar, rooted to his goal line.
At the start of the second half Chiesa came close to going from assistman to scorer. The number seven turned Kristensen inside out before unleashing an unstoppable shot, which crashed off the inside of the post.
A similar move 15 minutes later saw Chiesa test Svilar at his near post. It would be one of four important saves in the second half by the Roma goalkeeper. Rabiot also tested Svilar with a shot from outside the penalty area as Juve looked to take advantage of their territorial supremacy.
Instead, Roma came back into the contest, again inspired by a Baldanzi run. Bremer threw himself in front of Lorenzo Pellegrini to deflect the shot wide. From the resulting home pressure, Danilo cleared off his own line as Kristensen’s volley had Szczesny beaten.
Momentum swung back in Juve’s favour but the Bianconeri were to be frustrated by two extraordinary saves. The first arrived on 79’ when Manuel Locatelli latched onto a Filip Kostic cross. The midfielder’s sliding shot appeared destined for the top corner until Svilar tipped the ball over the crossbar.
The keeper produced a similar act of aerial acrobatics to deny Moise Kean in the 88th minute. The substitute striker powerfully met a Kostic corner but was denied his first goal of the campaign by Roma’s inspired goalkeeper.
It was Szczesny that was last called into action, however, with a crucial block to charge down Tammy Abraham’s stoppage time effort.
The match finished all square as Juve collected a fourth draw in succession for the first time since 2012.
ROMA 1-1 JUVENTUS (HT: 1-1)
Scorers: 15′ Lukaku, 31′ Bremer
ROMA: Svilar; Kristensen, Llorente, N’Dicka, Angelino; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini (78′ Bove); Baldanzi (68′ Azmoun), Lukaku (68′ Abraham), Dybala (46′ Zalewski). Subs not used: Rui Patricio, Boer, Huijsen, Karsdorp, Mancini, Smalling, Celik, Spinazzola, Sanches, Aouar, Joao Costa. Coach: De Rossi.
JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Weah (60′ Kostic), McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Cambiaso (85′ Alcaraz); Vlahovic (76′ Milik), Chiesa (76′ Kean). Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, De Sciglio, Iling Jr, Miretti, Rugani, Djalo, Nicolussi Caviglia. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Colombo
Bookings: 4′ Weah, 71′ Rabiot, 84’ Abraham
