Pedro Rodríguez is timeless. He proved once again this Sunday against Juventus that he's a true legend (2-2), netting the first of Lazio's two away goals in a match that the Vecchia Signora equalised in stoppage time. This marks the second consecutive matchday with Maurizio Sarri calling the Tenerife-born attacker for the starting lineup, so he responded with a goal that translated into points for the Biancocelesti.
Pedro shouldered the team's attacking burden alongside the newly arrived Daniel Maldini, son of Paolo and grandson of Cesare, two legends of AC Milan and the Italian national team. It was Maldini who started the action that led to Pedro's goal just before halftime, in stoppage time. He stole the ball from Locatelli in midfield, who had become overconfident. And after driving forward, splitting defences, and perfectly managing the tempo, he passed to his left, where Pedro awaited with a powerful shot ready to beat Di Gregorio, who was undone by a slight touch on Bremer's foot as he tried to deflect the effort.
A goal at a crucial moment in the match. Another mark on his tally this season, so he has grabbed three. Sarri manages his key player, capable of turning a league around, as he demonstrated last season in the penultimate matchday with a brace against Inter that handed the Scudetto to Napoli when the Nerazzurri were almost already tasting it.
The Biancocelesti increased their lead at the start of the second half. It was Isaksen who unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot, his weaker foot, which found the only gap that Di Gregorio couldn't close down. The lead fueled Lazio's dreams of conquering the Allianz Stadium, where Sarri won a Scudetto with Juventus.
But Juventus rallied, and the final score was a draw when all seemed lost. Juve poured forward in attack and equalised against Lazio in stoppage time. Lazio could have scored a third, but Noslin blasted a shot high and wide from close range. A point that could have been three in one of the biggest matches of the season.
- Match stats:
JUVENTUS (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Koopmeiners (76' Kelly), Cabal (46' Zhegrova); Locatelli (83' Miretti), Thuram; Cambiaso (76' Boga), McKennie (83' Openda), Yildiz; David.
LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Gila (77' Romagnoli), Provstgaard (83' Patric), Tavares; Basic (46' Dele-Bashiru), Cataldi, Taylor; Isaksen (64' Cancellieri), Maldini, Pedro (64' Noslin).
Bookings: Marco Guida (sez. Torre Annunziata) booked 33' Taylor (L), 81' and Romagnoli (L).
Goals: 45'+2' Pedro (L), 47' Isaksen (L), 59' McKennie (J), 90'+6' Kalulu (J)
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