Spezia 0-2 Juventus: Juventus has done good business in Serie A. With goals from Ángel Di María and Moise Kean, the club from Turin dealt with low-flyer Spezia.
Last Thursday, Juventus drew 1-1 against French side Nantes in the Europa League. Before that, it had just won three games in a row. Two in the league and in the cup of Lazio Roma. Juve wanted to pick up that good feeling against Spezia again.
Partly due to the point penalty of the Old Lady, European football is far away next season. As it stands, sixth place in the Italian league entitles you to the preliminary round of the Conference League, but the gap to that place was twelve points prior to the game, with one game in hand. Juventus played a difficult match against Spezia, but took the lead after more than half an hour.
After Chelsea loanee Ethan Ampadu missed a cross from Filip Kostic, Moise Kean scored the opening goal. Spezia offered a nice match, but had to allow another goal after the break. Di María was able to open up about twenty yards from goal and saw his long shot bounce into the far corner.
Juventus, for example, reduces the gap with number six Atalanta to nine points. Torino will come into action against Cremonese on Monday and can still get over the fellow townsman. The following week, Juventus and Torino play the Derby della Mole. Juventus could also get a ticket for European football through the cup tournament or through the Europa League.
AS Roma 1-0 Hellas Verona
Rick Karsdorp made his comeback for AS Roma on Sunday evening after an absence of more than three months. The Giallorossi were too strong for Hellas Verona at home and did good business.
On November 9, Karsdorp played its last official game. He came in on a visit to Sassuolo and then lost a 0-1 win with Roma. Afterwards, the Dutchman got out of the pocket of José Mourinho, who even called him a traitor.
Karsdorp did not take action after that, but a reconciliation took place in recent weeks. Mourinho admitted publicly on Friday that he had used too strong a word and that he was happy to have the right full-back back.
On Thursday, Karsdorp was still on the bench at the Europa League match against Red Bull Salzburg, so on Sunday he was allowed to participate against Hellas from the start. As right wingback in Roma’s 3-4-3 formation, Karsdorp did not play a leading role.
Ola Solbakken, who made his debut in the base, did. He scored just before half-time with a fine shot in the far corner: 1-0. Karsdorp was taken aside after seventy minutes. At Hellas, Jayden Braaf had just joined the team, while Georginio Wijnaldum got a third Dutchman minutes in the final phase.
There were no more goals. Hellas thus remains below the relegation line. Roma rose to third place with the victory. It was such a nice comeback for Karsdorp with three points and a clean sheet.
