Juventus Player Ratings vs Lecce – Vlahovic Early Strike Saves Bianconeri | OneFootball

Juventus squeezed past relegation-threatened Lecce in a dramatic game at Stadio Via del Mare to strengthen their position in the Serie A top-four race. Dusan Vlahovic inspired the Bianconeri to a narrow 1-0 victory in Apulia, extending their lead over fifth-placed Roma to four points, at least temporarily.

Consecutive draws against Milan and Hellas Verona had put Juventus under pressure ahead of Saturday night’s kickoff. However, the Turin giants couldn’t have hoped for a better start as Vlahovic broke the deadlock in the opening 15 seconds.

Little did anyone at Via del Mare know it would be the final score. Yet, Luciano Spalletti’s side squandered a number of chances on either side of halftime and had two second-half goals disallowed for offside. Nevertheless, a tenth straight league match without a loss has put Juventus in pole position to secure a coveted Champions League qualification.

Without further ado, let’s look at our Juventus player ratings.

Juventus (4-2-3-1)

Michele Di Gregorio (8/10) – Back between the sticks after being benched in favor of Mattia Perin, the Italian goalkeeper made several vital saves to help his side claim a precious win.

Andrea Cambiaso (8/10) – One of his best performances in the second half of the season! The in-demand wingback set up Vlahovic for the winner and had another assist denied by VAR after the break.

Lloyd Kelly (6/10) – Despite some shaky moments in the early stages of the game, the former Bournemouth defender grew into the contest and showed far more composure after the interval.

Gleison Bremer (7/10) – Another commanding display from the Brazilian center-back as he kept Walid Cheddira at bay, dominating his opponent in the air while making numerous no-nonsense clearances.

Pierre Kalulu (7/10) – In addition to a flawless defensive performance, the Frenchman also impressed on the opposite end of the pitch. Unfortunately, Vlahovic’s erratic movement canceled out his second-half strike.

Manuel Locatelli (8/10) – Though he failed to get his name on the board tonight, Juve’s captain dictated the tempo in midfield with authority, breaking up Lecce’s attacks and distributing the ball with trademark composure.

Teun Koopmeiners (6/10) – Far less involved in the build-up play than his midfield comrade, the Dutchman still put in a disciplined shift, covering plenty of ground and helping Juventus maintain balance in the middle of the park.

Kenan Yildiz (6/10) – Not up to his high standard this evening, the Turkish starlet failed to make a meaningful impact on the game and often struggled to find space on the left wing.

Weston McKennie (6/10) – His incisive runs into the channels often caused chaos, but he lacked the final touch to translate his lively movement into a decisive contribution.

Francisco Conceicao (7/10) – Came agonizingly close to doubling Juventus’ lead in the fifth minute, only for the woodwork to fend off his thunderous close-range attempt.

Dusan Vlahovic (8/10) – Scored less than 15 seconds into his first Serie A start since late November and had a goal disallowed for offside at the start of the second half.

Substitutions

Emil Holm – 6/10

Jeremie Boga – 6/10

Edon Zhegrova – 5/10

Jonathan David – 5/10