It’s not over ’till the Old Lady sings.
Lazio denied Juventus centreback Bremer his third goal in his last two Serie A matches, but the Bianconere still fought back to a 2-2 draw against the Biancocelesti, rescuing a late point at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
A neatly-threaded one-two between Canada striker Jonathan David and French midfielder Khéphren Thuram put David clean in on goal in the 70th minute. David unselfishly squared the ball to an open Bremer, but Lazio left-back Nuno Tavares stuck a foot in to clear the danger, yards from the goal line.
The would-be equalizer would have been David’s fifth assist in Serie A this season, and his seventh goal contribution in his last six games in the league, capping off a frustrating afternoon for David.
He lasted the full 90′, but recorded the fewest number of touches, 34, by any outfield player to play at least 65 minutes. Only six of those touches came inside the Lazio 18-yard box and only one, a header in the 43rd minute which cruised over the bar, resulted in a shot.
Lazio’s low block stifled many of Juventus’ frequent attacks, with eight of the Bianconere’s 34 shots, less than a quarter, on target. The suffocating effect saw David drop deep relatively often to receive the ball, or otherwise risk being marked and boxed out of potential service, even though Juventus had nearly all the momentum.
Juve also failed to put the big chances they did have — four, in total — in the back of the net. Despite generating more than double the expected goals of Lazio, 2.77 versus 1.06, it was the latter that came less than a minute away from three points.
Lazio took the lead moments before half-time through winger Pedro Rodríguez, after Daniel Maldini caught Juventus centreback Lloyd Kelly in possession.
The Biancocelesti doubled their lead on the other side of half-time via Gustav Isaksen. The Danish winger beat Andrea Cambiaso for pace down the right before thumping a shot into the roof of Michele Di Gregorio’s goal.
As the saying partially goes, however, that wasn’t the end of the story for the afternoon.
American midfielder Weston McKennie ignited the first sparks on the hour mark by nodding home the third cross of a long sequence, continuing his reinvigorated form under under manager Luciano Spalletti.
Then, in the dying embers, substitute Jérémie Boga floated a cross into the Lazio box, met by the head of an unmarked Pierre Kalulu, sending the Bianconere faithful into a frenzy.
At the end of the day, while the stats may disagree, one point is better than none for Juventus, who remain in a tight top-four race for the final Champions League qualification spot.
Behind Juve, both Roma and Como, in fifth and sixth respectively, are within striking distance and have games-in-hand to be played on Monday and Tuesday.
The Bianconere’s next fixture is a Valentine’s Day date against leaders Inter Milan.