Turin: Juventus finished 1-1 against Atalanta in Turin on Wednesday (December 16). Cristiano Ronaldo had a penalty saved and Alvaro Morata missed an easy chance in the match in which Juve had to settle with one point.
Juve started brightly and should have scored at least twice inside the opening 15 minutes, two very close chances were wasted when Ronaldo blazed one over from close range and Alvaro Morata raced clear through on goal and instead of firing he put played it squarely at the last second.
However, a stunning strike from Federico Chiesa made up for the profligacy of the earlier chances and put the reigning Italian champions in front in the first half on 29 minutes. He picked up a Rodrigo Bentancur’s pass and whipped a sublime strike finishing into the top-left corner of the goal from 22 yards.
Immediately after the restart Morata yet again fired a shot directly at Pierluigi Gollini. Remo Freuler thundered his first goal of the season and scored the equaliser on 57 minutes, from 25 yards.
Juve were given a penalty after Chiesa had been fouled inside the box, Ronaldo missed a golden chance to put the hosts back in front, as his tame spot-kick was comfortably held by Gollini.
Andrea Pirlo’s side are third with 24 points, six ahead of Atalanta in eighth, with this draw. Wojciech Szczesny pawed away Cristian Romero’s header and Gollini saved Weston McKennie’s powerful drive late into the play as both sides had to settle for a draw.
