PAULO DYBALA SCORED in injury time as Juventus extended their winning run in Serie A to 10 matches with a dramatic 1-0 triumph over Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
On his return from injury, Dybala shrugged off the attentions of Marco Parolo to tuck home in stoppage time and make sure the Bianconeri remain right on the coattails of Napoli in a two-horse race for the title.
The much-anticipated battle between third and second in the table seemed set to end in stalemate, with both teams cancelling each other out in a disappointing game devoid of clear-cut opportunities.
Juve had a first-half goal correctly ruled out for a foul – sparing Jordan Lukaku the embarrassment of scoring in his own net – as they seemed set to draw a blank ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Tottenham.
Both sides faded in the second half, hardly a surprise after playing in the Coppa Italia in midweek, as they appeared to settle for a point apiece.
However, Dybala converted Daniele Rugani’s pass to secure three valuable points and make sure Juventus will head to Wembley on a winning note.
The last-gasp strike settled a heavyweight clash that had seen the competitors struggle to land a meaningful blow.
The two teams went toe-to-toe after contrasting results in the cup in midweek. While Juventus reached a fourth successive final thanks to a 1-0 victory over Atalanta in the second leg of their semi-final, Lazio lost out to AC Milan in a penalty shoot-out.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – one of those who missed from the spot in midweek – had a firm header saved by Gianluigi Buffon in the first half, with the veteran goalkeeper also required to tip a low drive from Ciro Immobile around his right post before the break.
Juventus thought they’d gone ahead when Lukaku nodded Dybala’s corner into his own goal just before the half-hour mark, only for referee Luca Banti to correctly spot a push by Mario Mandzukic on the defender.
The official had decided against whistling for a foul in the opening minutes of the second half in the same penalty area, rejecting appeals for a penalty when Dybala theatrically fell under pressure from Lucas Leiva.
Both sides visibly tired in the second half, with Allegri’s decision to send on the attack-minded Douglas Costa – resulting in a switch to a flat-back four –failing to inspire Juventus.
Yet the champions still found a way to triumph in the closing stages, Argentine Dybala demonstrating both skill and strength to land the knockout blow in the closing seconds of an otherwise forgettable contest.
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Sometimes Lovern plays for the loss
@Brian Les: That really made me chuckle and I’m a pool fan!
Bore draw going on recent games between these once good clubs
This clown was a walking joke a few weeks ago, one of the main reasons klopp was being considered as one of the first coaches to lose his job this season and now Lovern is giving interviews ahaha
@AngryDave: What he says is true though. Liverpool were there for the taking at Anfield, Mourinho comes with a team of superstars and sets up like a team battling relegation.
@Let free speech live: Question for ya? What has klopp won compared to Mourinho ??
Some people forget that Ferguson line out with one striker away from home in most games, or he had his team play deep and hit teams on the counter.
In the 90′s people raved about Liverpools style and they won nought.
@AngryDave: 2 point lead after a net expenditure of £260 million more than Klopp over the past few years. You shouldn’t be comparing Mourinho with Klopp.It’s not like for like.You should be comparing him with Guardiola.Mourinho doesn’t look too great then.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/mar/08/jose-mourinho-jurgen-klopp-football-aesthetics-manchester-united-liverpool?CMP=fb_gu
@AngryDave: don’t compare mourinho to fergie, really clutching at straws there.
@AngryDave: Ferguson was committed to playing winning football though, Mourinho is an utter craven for whom decent football can be sacrificed at the altar of his goliath ego. He primarily prefers stopping others from winning in hopes of nicking a fortunate victory himself, and despite continually demanding millions to buy superstars, he lines them up like they’re FA Cup minnows away in the 3rd round and happily accepts bore draws because that’s better, to him, than suffering the mortal wound of going for it and risk allowing his managerial rivals to be able to say they got one over on him. Ferguson was not much more likeable but I’d happily have watched any of his united teams play, irrespective of how many strikers he’d lined up with.
@Erich Butler: Comparing apples and Oranges there, as Uniteds Income is far in excess of Liverpool’s.
@AngryDave: what are you saying? That Jose is comparable to Ferguson? And that klopp is comparable to jose again?? Klopps not been in the game nearly as long. Won a few German league titles with a Dortmund team he bought for shillings too. What’s jose won at united bar a few micky mouse trophies? :^
Mou is clearly on the decline while klopp obviously ,slowly but surely, had Liverpool improving
@AngryDave: Exactly.So why are you asking what Klopp has won compared to Mourinho?
Both at Liverpool and Dortmund he was competing against clubs with much larger budgets.
The question is why Mourinho with the richest club in the world is in a tussle with Liverpool for 2nd place? Surely with his background of success and the funds at his disposal he should be challenging City not Liverpool.
Case of Klopp getting the most of his resources, whilst Mourinho is underachieving.
Apart from Lovren’s own dodgy performance, his central point is to be fair absolutely true. Liverpool are by their nature best when going for the jugular in attack, and don’t adopt a defensive approach. United, against the bigger teams, often do.
That’s not to necessarily suggest Liverpool are better, just that playing for a point isn’t their style. It is unarguably in Jose’s locker.
But how are United ahead of Liverpool if one plays boring defensive football and the other swash buckling, all out attack, glorious, throw your mother under the bus football? Although as a United fan I do believe league positions will change this weekend.
@Andrew Cosgrave: Simply because with United’s approach you’re less likely to lose…
And for what it’s worth I think Liverpool are a good bet to finish ahead of United.
@seancreaven13: United have lost more than Liverpool
No shout out to Bobby, the No.9. Lovern the dirt bird, I wonder will it effect Bob’s performance tomorrow. I imagine he wouldn’t a t0ss like most