Juventus 1 – Lazio 1: Initial reaction and random observations

As I sit here in the minutes following Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, I really don’t know where to begin. I don’t tend to make these post-game threads all about me and use the first person all that often, but I feel like the general feeling of both frustration and general confusion is one shared by plenty of folks.

Why?

Because, like me, many are wondering what exactly Pierre Kalulu did to get sent off less than 10 minutes after Randal Kolo Muani scored to put Juventus in front Saturday night. Like, has anybody seen a decent replay of it? Because I haven’t. Show me a decent replay! I beg you — show me one and then I’ll be able to actually have a genuine opinion rather than relying on extremely blurry photos and thinking that Kalulu was just as naive as Kenan Yildiz was a couple of weeks ago when he was shown a red for violent conduct. (And maybe Kalulu was just that no matter what, but because we haven’t seen a quality replay, I don’t know what to think!)

But playing the final half-hour and the seven minutes of stoppage time down a man and clearly trying to hold on for dear life against a Lazio side that had their fair share of late-game antics the last time they played on their home field, it was always going to be a risk. And they were up to their late tricks again, with Matias Vecino putting away the rebound off a great initial save from Michele Di Gregorio to level the score at 1-all with one minute of stoppage time remaining and send Juve to yet another draw and one that is a serious hinderance to their Champions League qualification hopes.

Depending on what happens Monday night, Juve could either somehow end Matchday 36 still in fourth place or see Roma jump into the final Champions League spot if they claim a win over Atalanta in Bergamo. (Which, considering how Claudio Ranieri keeps grinding out wins no matter who Roma play, who is to say he can’t at this point?)

So this is the situation that we were hoping Juventus could avoid. The one where they need help from others to ensure that they’re in fourth place. Instead of controlling their own destiny, they are now needing Atalanta to get some sort of result against Roma so that they can go into the final two weeks of the 2024-25 season still in fourth place.

Fun, ain’t it?

It’s pretty on brand for this season that Juventus only get two points from a possible six in their two biggest games remaining on the schedule. There were obviously a whole lot of things that went into it — and, honestly, I feel like I’ll miss plenty of them because of all the frustration coursing through my veins as I write this — but this was a Lazio side that had just one win in their last 10 home games in Serie A. Lazio had drawn five straight home games. That’s a lot of draws in a row and a lot of games to go without a win on your home field.

Yet after the opening 60 minutes in which Di Gregorio really had virtually nothing to do, it all turned on a red card most of us are still questioning and meant Igor Tudor suddenly had to set up shop and hope Juve could hold on.

For much of the time before Vecino’s equalizer, it was looking like they could actually do it. Of course, that involved a decent amount of luck, with a VAR call actually going Juve’s way rather than a penalty call against Di Gregorio being upheld because of an offside call just a split second before. But Juve were, for the most part, holding their own as Lazio sent in cross after cross after cross.

But then the dam broke, and with it a serious hit to Juve’s Champions League chances.

This was always going to be a cagey and tight matchup because both teams are fighting for the same thing. That’s why the first 45 minutes were what they were — not a whole hell of a lot of action with Juve holding Lazio to just two shots. The craziness — and not in a good way — of the second half changed all that, eventually sending Juventus to their 16th draw in 36 league games.

Maybe it’s just a microcosm of Juventus’ season as a whole. Considering they are back to having as many draws (16) as wins, it feels somewhat appropriate. This level of frustration has certainly been present plenty of times before this day, too. Same goes for the level of poor officiating from a country previously known for having some of the best in the business.

It’s all just tiresome, man. It’s why Juve will be rooting for Atalanta 24 hours from now. It’s just been that kind of season — and one that still has 180 minutes to go even though plenty of us want it to just come to an end already.

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• This man Davide Massa based Kalulu getting sent off on one replay angle? ONE? Game’s gone, folks. This is the level of Serie A refereeing. They are about as frustrating to deal with as we’ve ever seen — and they’re not getting any better. That’s worrying as all hell.
• That being said, regardless of how you feel about Kalulu getting sent off, you gotta admit that he can’t put himself in that kind of situation, right? When Kalulu was sent off, Lazio had twice as many fouls as Juventus yet the Bianconeri were shown three yellows — including two players who will now be suspended for next week’s game against Udinese — compared to none for the home side. Massa was already showing that he wasn’t up for it, so basically putting your fate in his hands just felt like such a wrong
• All that said, give Taty Castellanos an Oscar. That was some serious acting to sell all that.
• Feel bad for Di Gregorio. Really, really bad. That’s not a goalkeeper bias coming out, either. He was able to put that close call on the penalty to the side and make two massive saves in the minutes after that and could have been the hero if Juve held onto the win. Instead, it’s another shutout ruined and a goal allowed in stoppage time. This game was so stupid.
• Seriously, though … I have no idea how Di Gregorio got a hand onto the shot that he redirected onto the post. It ended up being a save that kept Juventus from potentially losing, and that save right before the goal was in that late as well. It’s just unfortunate that two great reflection saves from close range within a couple of minutes left him absolutely gutted more than anything.
• I also have no idea how Federico Gatti was even able to play a few minutes despite having not trained with the group at all, clearly limping and just having come back from a broken bone in his heel. That dude is a crazy man and you gotta appreciate the effort to even try and get out there to help his team in the dying minutes as they’re trying to defend their lead while down a man.
• Of course, Gatti was part of the two-player sub that also saw two players who were previously subbed on in the second half. Tudor said it was to bring on more height and experience. And considering the two players who came on and how they’re both just back from injuries, I don’t really have much of an issue. We have no idea how fit Vlahovic and Gatti actually are, so who am I to judge, right?
• No Khephren Thuram against Udinese next weekend. Not great.
• No Kalulu against Udinese next weekend, too. Not great.
• No Nicolo Savona against Udinese next weekend as well. No matter how feel about how he’s played the last two weeks, that’s not great, either.
• I think the free kick from Renato Veiga is flying somewhere near the Vatican at the moment. Maybe Pope Leo XIV can help us find the ball or something. He does seem nice, so maybe he’s willing to help.
• But really, why is Veiga taking a free kick in that kind of area?I get the limited options, but there’s gotta be something better than whatever the hell he ended up doing.
• Veiga didn’t lead Juventus in defensive actions against Lazio. Same!
• Letting Vecino get goal side of him for the goal was not Veiga’s greatest moment of the day. Maybe even worse than that free kick.
• We got a Weston McKennie assist and Juventus trying to hold onto a 1-0 lead with lots of defending. It’s like the 2023-24 season all over again, my friends.
• Alberto Costa, in his first Juve start, nearly scored for the second straight week. If only …
• Not a good day for Nico González. That hook at the half was totally deserved.
• Still wondering if Juventus will ever score on a corner kick again this season. It’s such a waste these days.
• Time to turn into somebody who supports Atalanta for the next 24 hours or so. It’s come to this. Come on, Gasp, let’s make some good things happen in one of the final home games of the season! Y’all can do this. Or lose 1-0 to Roma like so many others have lately.
• In conclusion, pass the bourbon. Serie A refereeing made me do it.