Luca Mazzitelli’s 65th-minute strike delivered a stunning blow to Juventus, as Cagliari secured a remarkable 1-0 victory despite surrendering nearly 80% possession at the Unipol Domus on Sunday.
The statistics painted a picture of total Juventus dominance—18 corners to one, 21 shots to three, and 78.1% possession—yet Cagliari’s ruthless efficiency and defensive resilience proved the ultimate difference. Goalkeeper Elia Caprile was instrumental, making five crucial saves to preserve the hosts’ clean sheet against relentless pressure.
Juventus thought they’d earned a breakthrough when awarded a 16th-minute penalty, only for VAR to cruelly cancel Fabio Miretti’s opportunity. Kenan Yıldız picked up a yellow card in the 31st minute as frustrations began mounting for the visitors.
The decisive moment arrived 20 minutes after the restart. Gianluca Gaetano threaded a perfectly weighted assist to Mazzitelli, who finished clinically for Cagliari’s only shot on target—a devastating display of clinical finishing that earned him an 8.5 match rating.
Defensively, Yerry Mina (7.6) and Sebastiano Luperto (7.2) marshaled the backline superbly, while Michel Adopo, Marco Palestra, and Adam Obert all earned 7.0 ratings in a disciplined midfield performance that stifled Juventus’s creativity.
Despite Manuel Locatelli’s four key passes and strong performances from Bremer, Lloyd Kelly, and Teun Koopmeiners, Juventus couldn’t break through. Manager Max Allegri emptied his bench, introducing five substitutes including late introductions for Andrea Cambiaso, Weston McKennie, and Jonathan David, but Cagliari held firm.
The victory showcased football’s beautiful unpredictability—sometimes possession means nothing when facing unwavering defensive organization and ice-cold finishing. For Juventus, questions will persist about converting overwhelming dominance into goals.
