Juventus 2-0 Lazio: Juve get back on track with comprehensive win over Lazio

Coming into Saturday night's game on the back of eight straight league victories, Lazio was supposed to pose a stiff challenge. In reality, the game turned out similar to the win over Lazio at the Olimpico this season. Granted, it was not as easy, but it still felt fairly standard.

Lazio, who has more scorers with seven or more goals than any other team in the top five European leagues, enjoyed more possession and had more attempts on goal, but were only sporadically dangerous. Felipe Anderson didn't have his best, most influential game — also a result of our stifling midfield. Their other in-form player at the moment, Antonio Candreva, strangely started on the bench in this key game. This latter move, I believe, took something away from Lazio, as despite having more possession they struggled to be consistently incisive — which Candreva's presence would have helped, with his crossing and his ability to take on and beat defenders.

As was the case last week, one can't help but look past this game towards the big European game midweek. Although Max Allegri and the players will (rightfully) talk about the importance of this game, losing this game would not have stopped Juve's march to the title. Juve would have had to lose three more times in the remaining seven games for either Lazio and Roma to get close (and Roma can't win games, so...).

Regardless, Juventus won and now have a fifteen point lead; surely insurmountable. Now it's officially time to think about Monaco on Wednesday. But first, a recap of the game on Saturday.

MATCH SUMMARY

Juventus took a while to get going in this one. The first chance for the Bianconeri came from Claudio Marchisio's long range shot, which was comfortably wrapped up by Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, on twelve minutes. Chances came sparingly in the early stages of the game, but Tevez broke the deadlock on sixteen minutes; a defensive clearance was headed on in midfield by Arturo Vidal, which released Tevez to beat the offside trap and slot home one on one with Marchetti. It was possibly his first touch of the game. One-nil to Juventus.

Lazio had their first clear chance on twenty-four minutes, after a poor clearance by Giorgio Chiellini went straight to Miroslav Klose, whose finish took a deflection off of Bonucci to balloon over for a corner. This proved an important intervention by Bonucci, who would go on to be important a couple plays later. The ball was won in midfield and Bonucci made an unexpected run forward, who was then found by Andrea Pirlo. Bonucci continued forward, and with the forwards (Tevez and Alessandro Matri) making brilliant runs off the ball and drawing defenders away and creating space, Bonucci fired a drive low and hard under Marchetti in goal. The keeper could arguably have done better, but it was still a great run and finish by the defender.

The first chance did not see many clear cut chances, with Lazio being restricted mainly to midfield play. In-form talisman Felipe Anderson was kept in check, only showing a few flashes of brilliance which in the end led to nothing. Danilo Cataldi had a shot from long range, which went wide, and was the last real chance for Lazio in the first half. Juve's last chance came via a Pirlo free kick, which disappointingly went straight into Marchetti's arms. Two-nil to Juve at the half.

Much like the first, clear cut chances were few and far between. Juventus' first came on sixty-two minutes, with Vidal curling an effort wide of the far post. Soon after the referee blew for a handball by Chiellini on the edge of the box, which also saw the defender pick up a yellow card. The resulting free kick was blasted on goal by Antonio Candreva and pushed over by Gigi Buffon. Lazio were playing well, despite not getting the breakthrough. Lucas Biglia fired a shot on goal which Buffon required an uncomfortable looking save from Buffon between the sticks.

The second half petered out, with Juventus seemingly comfortable with the 2-0 win and Lazio accepting of their fate. There were still a few incidents of note though. Cataldi — who otherwise had a solid game for Lazio - saw red for a late foul on Tevez. A few minutes later, another error by Chiellini teed up Felipe Anderson for a chance just inside the box, but Buffon was equal to the Brazilians shot and the danger was cleared.

PLAYER RATINGS

Buffon: 6.5 Looked uncomfortable making some of the few saves that he had to make, but was solid and didn't look like conceding.

Barzagli: 6.5 Good game by Andrea as he continues to make his way back from his lengthy injury. Inadvertently help set up the first goal.

Bonucci: 7.5 Great performance by Leo. A top-notch defensive performance was capped off by a splendid solo goal. Man of the match.

Chiellini: 5 Another shaky performance by a player that used to be our most dependable defender. Two big mistakes that led to clear chances for Lazio — bailed out both times by Bonucci and Buffon respectively - and also had a handball, giving up a free kick for Lazio which forced a save from the keeper. If we are to have any chance at an unprecedented treble, we need the old Giorgio back.

Padoin: 6 Solid game from Simone, typically unspectacular. Nothing more to say, really.

Marchisio: 6 Not his best, most involved game, but did not do much wrong other than picking up a silly yellow card which will see him sit out the derby next week through suspension.

Pirlo: 6 Decent performance by Pirlo, also working his way back from a lengthy layoff. Hopefully he does better midweek against Monaco.

Vidal: 6 With every game recently, he's playing more like his old self (sans the goal scoring). Here's hoping it continues, as we'll need him at his best for this final run-in.

Evra: 6 Picked up a yellow for a poor tackle on a Lazio player; other than that, another solid game by the French veteran.

Matri: 5.5 Not a great performance, but not a terrible one either. Didn't have any chances of his own in dangerous positions. His run drew defenders on Bonucci's goal.

Tevez: 6 Got the first goal and his run off the ball created space for Bonucci on the second. Not an overall great performance, but still did enough to help bring home the three points.

Subs

Morata: 5 Came on for Matri, but did not add much more than the man he replaced.

Pereyra: 5 Came on to give Pirlo a rest; today was not much more than making sure he stays sharp for the big midweek game.

Sturaro: N/A Meh.

Coach

Allegri: 6.5 In what was supposed to be a difficult match - and there were some tricky moments — Juve came away with a standard 2-0 victory. Reverting to 3-5-2 from the start, Juve controlled the game from start to finish without always having more possession. The credit for this goes to Allegri, who ensured that Juve played a calm, measured game and running few risks - outside of the odd mistake from Chiellini. Sure to win the Scudetto, his good work has Juventus on course for a possible domestic double and as an outside bet for the Champions League.