Monday 2 November 2015

Juventus 2-1 Torino

For the second year in succession, Torino suffered Derby Della Mole heartbreak at the Juventus Stadium after Juan Cuadrado's injury time winner.

Maxi Lopez and Afriyie Acquah started in favour of Andrea Belotti and Marco Benassi, whilst as expected, Fabio Quagliarella came back into the starting eleven.

Toro had the first opportunity in the game, but former Juventus striker Quagliarella could only hit the side netting from a well-worked free kick routine. And they were made to the pay the price, as the home side went straight down the other end and opened the scoring through Paul Pogba's long range volley, although Daniele Padelli's positioning surely needs to be questioned.

Torino reacted well to that setback and Daniele Baselli's excellent pass found Fabio Quagliarella whose effort went narrowly wide of the post.

Six minutes into the second half the Granata found their equaliser via an unlikely source - central defender Cesare Bovo. Toro were awarded a free kick 25 yards out and Bovo played an excellent one-two with team mate Daniele Baselli before firing the ball past Gigi Buffon with his left foot.*

The Granata had chances to win it, and Kamil Glik twice tested Buffon with headers, whilst Giuseppe Vives also forced the Juve captain into a save after a long range shot.

However, just as had happened twelve months previously, Juventus denied Toro a deserved point with an injury time winner. Paul Pogba capitalised on slight hesitation in the Torino defence and found substitute Alex Sandro whose low cross was converted by Juan Cuadrado.

This was another heartbreaking derby defeat by the Granata, whose fans will at least be encouraged by the performance. However, the fact they conceded an injury time goal for a second game in a row will certainly be a worry.

Forza Toro

*there is a slight chance that this was not a deliberate training ground routine, and the ball inadvertently hit Baselli.

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