**PISA, Italy** — Juventus left it late but eventually broke down a resilient Pisa side with a 2-0 victory on December 27, securing three crucial Serie A points despite facing stiff resistance at the Arena Garibaldi.
The visitors dominated possession (59.3%) and outshotin their hosts 14-8, but Pisa goalkeeper Adrian Šemper stood tall between the posts, making five crucial saves to keep his side in contention for over an hour. The Croatian shot-stopper was Pisa’s best performer with a 7.0 rating, repeatedly denying Juventus’ attackers as the visitors struggled to find the breakthrough.
The match remained goalless through a scrappy first half that saw Samuele Angori pick up an early yellow card in the sixth minute. Pisa’s defensive organization frustrated Juventus, with Antonio Caracciolo (6.9 rating) marshaling the backline effectively while Matteo Tramoni offered attacking threat with three key passes.
The deadlock finally broke in fortuitous circumstances in the 73rd minute when Arturo Calabresi turned the ball into his own net, giving Juventus an undeserved lead. The own goal came against the run of play but proved decisive in breaking Pisa’s spirits.
Kenan Yıldız, Juventus’ standout performer with an 8.3 rating, sealed the victory in the 90th minute with a clinical finish assisted by Jonathan David. The young forward’s goal capped off a dominant display from the Bianconeri, who controlled proceedings through Pierre Kalulu (7.2) and Manuel Locatelli (7.2) in midfield.
Despite registering zero shots on target from their eight attempts, Pisa showed commendable defensive discipline. However, Juventus’ quality ultimately prevailed, extending their winning momentum as they chase the Serie A summit. The visitors’ six shots on target compared to Pisa’s blank illustrated the gulf in attacking efficiency.
