With a goal and a performance of the level that has always been required of him and has not been exhibited so many times, the Serbian Dusan Vlahovic crowned Juve this Wednesday as champion of the Italian Cup against Atalanta (0-1), in what is the fifteenth in Juventus’ extensive record of achievements and the first title in the last three seasons.
The Italian Cup final match that was played at the Olympic Stadium in Rome between Atalanta and Juventus brought together two completely opposite dynamics in recent months. Atalanta was facing its first final of the year, as it will play the Europa League final against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, and before the third Cup final in the last 5 years; while the ‘Vecchia Signora’ had accumulated 6 games in a row without winning and the rumors of a change on the bench for the next season were stronger than ever.
But a final is a final. And Juve’s pulse did not tremble as it did for Atalanta to make up for their bad season. Because since the referee whistled the start, the Juventinos believed they could win, they lost respect for the game while the ‘Dea’ was perhaps somewhat overwhelmed by the situation, thinking that they were facing the golden opportunity to win the second title of its history after that 1963 Cup, 61 years ago.
A drought that weighed too much in the first minutes, in which poor organization in a tilting of the Bergamasca defense led to the ball into the gap for Vlahovic, who fought with Hien hand to hand, looked for space and defined with his right hand to overcome to Carnesecchi in the 4th minute. A painful blow just after the start of the game.
Atalanta managed to recover, but Juventus was a rock and, taking advantage of the fact that Scamacca was not due to suspension, they focused on canceling out De Ketelaere, one of the most in-form players of the Bergamo team, who completely disappeared in the 45 minutes he played.
Allegri’s were superior in the first half, with skill, with maturity, with poise; The ‘Dea’ moment arrived in the second half, with a much more recognizable start than in the first half, with a shot from Lookman that passed very close to Perin’s goal and a header from Koopmeiners, a controversial play because there was Iling Junior was on the ground due to a hit by a ball and Atalanta did not stop the game.
But even with those, it was Juventus that had the big chances. Especially clear was a counterattack led by Chiesa, which Vlahovic defined and which did not enter due to the great intervention at the last moment by De Roon, who was injured in that same action.
They even increased the lead with another goal from Vlahovic, finally disallowed for offside before beginning a final few minutes of total chaos. Because the ‘Dea’ did not lower her arms and Lookman was very close to tying things up with a shot that hit the post; and because Juventus did not lock themselves back and the crossbar prevented Miretti from scoring.
But Allegri was especially nervous, in what may have been his last title with Juventus. He did not finish the game, expelled due to protests. He didn’t end up dressed the same as he did when he started, either, because he defiantly took off his jacket and tie as he was expelled and shouted “where’s Rocchi?” (chief referee).
Gasperini didn’t want to watch from the other bench, too thoughtful watching another Cup final slip through his fingers. Although he touched the cup at the press conference, a gesture highly criticized by some of his fans.
The result did not change. There were no more chances and Juventus broke a drought of 2 seasons without a title. Vlahovic crowned his team with a great game and saved the ‘Signora’s’ flagging season. Atalanta was destroyed, but they still have the Europa League.
