Lecce 1-1 Juventus: Last-gasp Rebic leveller thwarts Bianconeri

By Sports Desk December 01, 2024

Juventus were once again frustrated in Serie A after Ante Rebic's last-gasp leveller saw them held to a 1-1 draw by Lecce.

Nikola Krstovic's dazzling run and spectacular cross paved the way for substitute Rebic to equalise in the third minute of stoppage time on Sunday.

Andrea Cambiaso had opened the scoring in the 68th minute as his tame shot fortuitously deflected off Kialonda Gaspar and past helpless goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone.

Thiago Motta's side should have been ahead earlier in the first half, with Khephren Thuram missing a gilt-edged chance just seven minutes into the clash after fine work from Kenan Yildiz.

Timothy Weah also saw a goal disallowed for offside after converting on the rebound when Falcone parried Teun Koopmeiners' long-range effort.

An eighth draw in just 14 league games this season left Juve sixth in the table and six points adrift of leaders Napoli, while Lecce sit 16th, two points clear of the relegation zone.

Data Debrief: Familiar face haunts Juve

Juve are one of only three remaining unbeaten teams in the Europe's top five leagues this season, along with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, but the manner of this draw will frustrate Motta.

Sunday marked an 18th draw for Juve in top-flight action in 2024, their most in club history across a single calendar year, surpassing the 17 way back in 1956.

It was a familiar face that thwarted Juve, too, with Rebic involved in his fifth Serie A goal against the Bianconeri (four goals, one assist), his joint-most versus one opponent in the competition (Torino, also five).

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  • Motta calls for improvement after Juventus held again in Serie A Motta calls for improvement after Juventus held again in Serie A

    Juventus boss Thiago Motta has said that his side should improve collectively and individually after they were held to a late 1-1 draw by Lecce in Serie A. 

    The result was his side's third consecutive draw across all competitions, following on two goalless draws against Milan in the league and Aston Villa in the Champions League. 

    The Old Lady set a new club record for most Serie A draws in a single calendar year with their 18th stalemate of 2024 - surpassing the 17 they recorded in 1956.

    "It's important to understand the moments in the matches," Motta told DAZN after the game.

    "After taking the lead, we can improve certain aspects of the game, both collectively and individually."

    Substitute Ante Rebic scored for Lecce in the 93rd minute, cancelling out an Andrea Cambiaso goal from earlier in the half. 

    Juventus, who are one of three teams still unbeaten in the big five European leagues with six wins and eight draws, are also the side that have drawn the most matches in those leagues. 

    "So far, in the league, we have got what we have deserved," Motta said. 

    "Sometimes we have played better than the opponent, other times the games have been more balanced. We are where we need to be."

    Juventus' season has been hampered by injuries to key players, including Dusan Vlahovic, who has scored six goals this season, Nicolo Savona and Weston McKennie.

    "We saw in the second half that the team was running out of steam, and we knew that was a possibility," the manager said.

    "In the first half, Lecce was waiting for our mistakes, and we made few of them. In the second half, we opened up too much, despite being ahead. We need to improve in reading these moments.

    "We’ve got to improve, learn certain things and keep thinking positive. We need to prepare for the next match both physically and mentally."

    Though undefeated in their last 22 games in the Serie A, Juventus will hope to convert those draws to wins more often, starting with their next match against Bologna on Saturday. 

    They sit sixth in the table with 26 points from 14 matches and trail leaders Napoli by six points. 

  • Motta calls for improvement after Juventus held again in Serie A at Lecce Motta calls for improvement after Juventus held again in Serie A at Lecce

    Juventus boss Thiago Motta has said that his side should improve collectively and individually after they were held to a late 1-1 draw by Lecce in Serie A. 

    The result was his side's third consecutive draw across all competitions, following on two goalless draws against Milan in the league and Aston Villa in the Champions League. 

    The Old Lady set a new club record for most Serie A draws in a single calendar year with their 18th stalemate of 2024 - surpassing the 17 they recorded in 1956.

    "It's important to understand the moments in the matches," Motta told DAZN after the game.

    "After taking the lead, we can improve certain aspects of the game, both collectively and individually."

    Substitute Ante Rebic scored for Lecce in the 93rd minute, cancelling out an Andrea Cambiaso goal from earlier in the half. 

    Juventus, who are one of three teams still unbeaten in the big five European leagues with six wins and eight draws, are also the side that have drawn the most matches in those leagues. 

    "So far, in the league, we have got what we have deserved," Motta said. 

    "Sometimes we have played better than the opponent, other times the games have been more balanced. We are where we need to be."

    Juventus' season has been hampered by injuries to key players, including Dusan Vlahovic, who has scored six goals this season, Nicolo Savona and Weston McKennie.

    "We saw in the second half that the team was running out of steam, and we knew that was a possibility," the manager said.

    "In the first half, Lecce was waiting for our mistakes, and we made few of them. In the second half, we opened up too much, despite being ahead. We need to improve in reading these moments.

    "We’ve got to improve, learn certain things and keep thinking positive. We need to prepare for the next match both physically and mentally."

    Though undefeated in their last 22 games in the Serie A, Juventus will hope to convert those draws to wins more often, starting with their next match against Bologna on Saturday. 

    They sit sixth in the table with 26 points from 14 matches and trail leaders Napoli by six points. 

  • Carragher declares Man City's title bid over after Liverpool defeat Carragher declares Man City's title bid over after Liverpool defeat

    Jamie Carragher declared Manchester City's Premier League title defence as finished following their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday. 

    City were left 11 points behind leaders Liverpool after Pep Guariola's side fell to a fourth consecutive top-flight loss, an unwanted feat they have not suffered since 2008. 

    Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah were on target at Anfield, earning Arne Slot an 18th win from his first 20 games in charge of the Reds in all competitions. 

    Former Liverpool defender Carragher insisted that there is no way back for Guardiola's defending champions in their quest to retain the crown for a fifth consecutive season.

    "This season, Manchester City will not be winning the Premier League," Carragher said on Sky Sports. "I don't think there is any way back.

    "It is almost a mini-crisis for Manchester City, and I think it's reminiscent of Liverpool two years ago. I actually think Man City might have a fight on their hands for the top four.

    "I look at Arsenal and Chelsea and the way they're looking right now, I think it may be difficult for Man City to finish above them if they don't go into the market in January."

    Guardiola was seen holding six fingers up to the home crowd, referencing each top-flight title he has won, after 'you're getting sacked in the morning' chants echoed around Anfield. 

    Carragher backed the former Barcelona boss for his decision to do so, saying: "He's putting the six fingers up and rightly so. 

    "I think he is just hitting home, 'Don't take for granted what we've done'. Maybe just sending a message to the hierarchy above him, to his own supporters there."

    City's defeat dropped them to fifth in the table following Chelsea's win over Aston Villa on Sunday and Arsenal's triumph over West Ham 24 hours earlier. 

    With Guardiola's side continuing to stumble, Carragher believes that Chelsea and the Gunners will be Liverpool's main title challengers until the end of the season. 

    "He [Guardiola] needs to buy players. If he can do that in January who knows, but he may need to wait until the end of the season to fix it," Carragher added.

    "I look at the energy Arsenal have got and the energy the young players at Chelsea have got, and I think it might be difficult for City to finish above them."

    City take on Nottingham Forest at home on Wednesday, hoping to get their season back on track against a side they have not lost to since an FA Cup defeat in January 2009.

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