Juventus held by modest Benevento after resting Ronaldo

Serie A titleholders Juventus have been held to a 1-1 draw away to promoted aspect Benevento on Saturday, their fifth attract 9 league video games this season, after resting their talismanic ahead Cristiano Ronaldo. Alvaro Morata gave Juventus a 21st-minute lead however was despatched off as tempers flared on the finish of a niggly second half. Gaetano Letizia rifled in Benevento’s equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

Juve’s efficiency raised extra questions concerning the group’s dependence on 35-year-old Ronaldo who’s their main scorer in Serie A with eight objectives regardless of having performed solely 5 matches. Although they’re nonetheless unbeaten in Serie A, Juve have but to win a league sport this season with out Ronaldo and their performances have been laboured.

The Turin aspect are fifth with 17 factors, three behind leaders AC Milan who’re at dwelling to Fiorentina on Sunday. Benevento are in midtable with 10 factors. Former Italy and AC Milan group mates Filippo Inzaghi and Andrea Pirlo, coaches of Benevento and Juventus respectively, confronted one another on the touchline for the primary time.

As with all the opposite Serie A video games on the weekend, there was a minute’s silence for Diego Maradona, who died aged 60 on Wednesday, and play was stopped for a tribute to the good Argentine within the tenth minute. Federico Chiesa arrange Juve’s objective with an imposing cross-field cross to launch Morata and the Spaniard glided previous his mark and scored with an angled shot which went in off the publish.

Paulo Dybala ought to have added a second however curled his shot vast earlier than Benevento grabbed their shock equaliser three minutes into first-half stoppage time. Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made an excellent save to disclaim Pasquale Schiattarella however the ensuing nook was poorly cleared by Arthur and the ball fell completely for Letizia to rifle into the online.

Juventus had extra possession within the second half however did little with it, whereas Benevento seemed harmful after they broke ahead. Benevento had six gamers booked and Juventus one within the second half earlier than Morata misplaced his cool and was dismissed.