WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL FREE-KICK! 3-1 LAZIO! Oh my word what a stunning effort from Cataldi, who steps up for the free-kick and puts his right-footed effort underneath the crossbar at the right corner - smashing the woodwork before nestling comfortably into the back of the net! It’s a stunning effort - and one worthy of a cup victory!
90' +3
R. Bentancur gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
BENTANCUR SENT OFF! Correa is sent through on goal thanks to a rapid counter-attack following the Juve free-kick, but Szczesny rushes off his line to make the save. The ball rolls to the edge of the penalty area where Bentancur steps in and catches Parolo - who would’ve attempted a shot at the open net. It’s only a yellow, but the Juve midfielder was already booked and therefore he’s given his marching orders!
90' +2
Dybala again is chosen to take it, but he smashes his left-foot curler into the wall! He claims there was a handball during the block - but the referee is having none of it!
90' +1
D. Cataldi gets yellow.
The fourth official indicates three additional minutes at the end of the match for stoppages.
Milinkovic-Savic brings Cuadrado down right outside the Lazio penalty area! Juventus have one more chance to level the match from this set-piece!
Cataldi is shown a yellow card for protesting the decision to award Juventus a set-piece.
87'
Costa’s cross from the right is put dangerously close to the six-yard box - inviting Ronaldo to power forward in order to get a touch. Strakosha rushes off his line though, preventing Juve’s attackers from getting the required redirection.
85'
Ronaldo gets into the penalty area but Luiz Felipe is somehow able to smother the shot, despite having gone to ground far too early. It’s getting frantic around the Lazio 18-yard box as time expires.
82'
F. Caicedo enters the game and replaces C. Immobile.
Caicedo is brought on to give Immobile a rest, as Lazio can see out the remainder of the match.
78'
Alex Sandro fires a cross into the box from the left, but Acerbi is in the correct spot to put the ball far from his own 18. With just over 10 minutes remaining, look for Juventus to throw everything forward.
76'
Douglas Costa enters the game and replaces B. Matuidi.
Costa replaces Matuidi as Juventus are in need of a second goal.
Minute
Description
73'
S. Lulić has scored a goal for Lazio! Assist by M. Parolo.
Parolo couldn't have known too much about where he was putting the ball - but he gets a little bit of fortune as it finds an unmarked Lulic for the assist.
LAZIO GET THEMSELVES BACK IN FRONT! Lazzari cuts onto his left and fires a cross from the right wing, which is met with a flick-on by the head of Parolo. The service finds an open Lulic at the far post, who pushes the ball past Szczesny with the inside of his right foot! 2-1 Lazio!
71'
Ronaldo lets fly with a dangerous snapshot, but it flies just over the top-left corner of the goal! Strakosha was in full-flight, but his strong hand wasn’t required.
69'
Cataldi whips a dangerous corner into the penalty area, but Correa’s flicked header is sent just wide of the goal from just outside the six-yard box.
68'
The changes have broken up play, resulting in a choppy last 10 minutes. Both sets of substitutes will be looking to make an early and immediate impact as the match still hangs in the balance.
66'
M. Parolo enters the game and replaces Luis Alberto.
A. Ramsey enters the game and replaces G. Higuaín.
Luis Alberto has had a fantastic match, though he won’t feature for the final 25 minutes and extra time if it’s required. Parolo takes over in midfield.
Juventus make their first switch of the game, as Higuain is recalled for Ramsey.
64'
D. Cataldi enters the game and replaces Lucas Leiva.
Leiva was cautioned in the first half, and he won’t be risked any further as Cataldi enters in his place.
62'
Luis Alberto takes a Lazio corner-kick from the right, but a backwards header from Demiral is enough to get the ball out of the penalty area, though Lulic is able to recollect the loose ball and continue to pile on the pressure.
60'
Radu’s left-footed delivery to the far post is hit just inches too far ahead of a sliding Milinkovic-Savic, who is unable to turn the delivery past Szczesny.
58'
Luis Alberto gets yellow.
Cuadrado looks to break away from Luis Alberto on a counter-attack, but he isn’t allowed to get into a full-sprint as the Lazio playmaker brings him down - earning a yellow card in the process.
57'
Lazzari gets involved for the first time today, cutting inside from the right and looking to shoot - but Matuidi is on the scene to block it. Lulic makes the most of the loose ball, however, winning his side a corner after his mishit shot is deflected.
55'
J. Cuadrado enters the game and replaces M. De Sciglio.
After a bit of a poor first half, De Sciglio is taken off in favour of Cuadrado. The switch is very attacking; it looks as though Sarri is really wanting his side to take the game to Lazio.
52'
A switch of play from right to left finds Lulic, but the shot at the end of the chance is disappointing.
50'
Pjanic changes the tempo with a quickfire pass from midfield into Ronaldo. His immediate interchange with Higuain isn’t read by the striker, who allows Luiz Felipe to clear.
Luis Alberto curls a cross into the penalty area from the left for Correa, but his flick-on doesn’t change its trajectory enough to catch Szczesny off-guard.
48'
R. Bentancur gets yellow.
Bentancur is booked for a very dangerous two-footed tackle in midfield just minutes after the restart.
46'
Lazio get the second half underway from the kick-off!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: JUVENTUS 1-1 LAZIO.
45'
P. Dybala has scored a goal for Juventus!
JUVENTUS SCORE IN THE LAST MINUTE! 1-1! Ronaldo manages to fire a shot from just outside the penalty area - putting it through the legs of Luiz Felipe in the process. Strakosha is unable to do anything more than push the ball to the right of his goal - where Dybala follows up and smashes the rebound past the goalkeeper!
42'
Bentancur continues a Juventus attack down the right, but Radu and Luis Alberto swarm to crowd out the Bianconeri midfielder - and they win a throw-in for their efforts.
40'
A cross is lofted in from the far right in search of Lulic, but it fails to come down - floating well over the head of the Lazio captain.
37'
Luis Alberto manages to get a cross off before it rolls out for a goal-kick, inviting Lulic to attack the floated ball - but he skews his header, sending it wide.
34'
Lucas Leiva gets yellow.
Lucas is the first player booked in the Supercup, as his sliding challenge in midfield doesn't go unnoticed.
33'
Some wonderful defensive work from Luiz Felipe relieves the pressure on his side, as he goes to ground and makes a crucial block on Matuidi’s cross, before keeping possession and winning a free-kick after some overzealous pressing from the France international.
29'
Ronaldo wins a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area after taking a Dybala pass in-stride and going over under the weight of a Milinkovic-Savic challenge. With Dybala, Ronaldo, and Pjanic all on the pitch - Juventus certainly have options.
26'
Juventus manage to get it out of their penalty area despite a high press from Milinkovic-Savic which no doubt disrupted Alex Sandro in possession. The ball filters through to Dybala in midfield, who buys his side time after winning a free-kick from Acerbi.
24'
Pjanic takes a corner from the right, no doubt looking for the run of Ronaldo, but he fails to beat the second man as Correa leaps up and nods it away.
22'
Juventus fashion a chance out of nowhere! A long pass hit right down the centre of the pitch is latched onto by Higuain, who brings it down before laying it off to Ronaldo. He feints to his right and has a powerful shot, but it fails to bring Strakosha into action as it misses the goal.
20'
After another fantastic move down the left - the second in quick succession in which Lulic has gotten the better of De Sciglio - gets Luis Alberto free in the penalty area, but his curler was anticipated well by Szczesny.
18'
Juventus go right down the other end after conceding and look to attack down the right, but a lovely passing triangle isn’t closed by Bentancur, who gives away possession before being forced to chase down the Lazio centre-back.
16'
Luis Alberto has scored a goal for Lazio! Assist by S. Milinković-Savić.
A BEAUTIFUL TEAM MOVE PUTS LAZIO AHEAD! Lulic takes on De Sciglio down the left, sending the full-back to the ground before keeping the ball in and switching play to the far post for Milinkovic-Savic. The midfielder centres a pass to an oncoming Luis Alberto, who smashes the ball high into the goal! 1-0!
Milinkovic-Savic’s unselfish square pass allowed Luis Alberto - who had continued his run into the penalty area - to finish easily with much of the goal to aim at.
15'
Dybala’s far-post cross looks for Demiral’s run, but Radu comes across to relieve the pressure on his team.
13'
Milinkovic-Savic is deemed to have gone through the back of Matuidi to win the ball in the Lazio half, giving Juventus a chance to cross the ball in from a set-piece on the left.
12'
De Sciglio sweeps an early cross into the area looking for the run of Higuain, but it’s clipped too far over the striker, rolling instead safely to the far post.
9'
B. Matuidi gets yellow.
Yellow card Blaise Matuidi
6'
Dybala takes a dangerous outswinging corner which forces Strakosha off his line to punch. The goalkeeper does well to get the ball out of his area, but he clatters into the head of Radu in the process, knocking him to the ground. Both the defender and goalkeeper require treatment, but it looks as though they’ll be okay to continue.
4'
Luis Alberto takes the free-kick very short to Lulic, who delivers it back to the playmaker. He cuts inside and floats a lofted ball into the area for Milinkovic-Savic to attack, but it’s no trouble for Szczesny.
3'
Bentancur gets to the edge of the Lazio area, but his intended one-two pass is intercepted immediately by Radu and sent upfield for Luis Alberto - who wins a free-kick inside Juventus’ half.
1'
Juventus get the Supercup underway from the kick-off!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Italian Supercup between Juventus and Lazio!
The 32nd edition of the Italian Supercup - this year hosted at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - will be the fifth meeting between Juventus and Lazio in this competition; both sides having won twice. Juventus represent the winners of last years’ Serie A, while Lazio are here thanks to a win in the Coppa Italia.
Juventus enter this match on the back of three straight victories, having won in their final Champions League group stage match before two Serie A wins against Udinese and Sampdoria. The Bianconeri finish 2019 level with Inter at the top of the league, while eagerly anticipating a Champions League round of 16 tie with Lyon.
Lazio’s calendar year comes to a close with a 2-1 victory over Cagliari, which sees Simone Inzaghi’s side in third - six points off the top. It’s been an impressive domestic campaign from the Biancocelesti who have strung eight wins in a row together - though they did crash out of the Europa League; finishing behind Celtic and Cluj in the group.
LAZIO SUBS: Bastos, Danilo Cataldi, Felipe Caicedo, Guido Guerrieri, Andre Anderson, Valon Berisha, Patric, Adam Marusic, Bobby Adekanye, Jony, Marco Parolo, Silvio Proto.
LAZIO XI (3-5-2): Thomas Strakosha; Luiz Felipe, Francesco Acerbi, Stefan Radu; Manuel Lazzari, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto, Senad Lulic; Joaquin Correa, Ciro Immobile
JUVENTUS SUBS: Danilo, Federico Bernardeschi, Daniele Rugani, Matthijs de Ligt, Gianluigi Buffon, Emre Can, Carlo Pinsoglio, Douglas Costa, Adrien Rabiot, Juan Cuadrado, Aaron Ramsey, Marko Pjaca.
JUVENTUS XI (4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny; Alex Sandro, Merih Demiral, Leonardo Bonucci, Mattia De Sciglio; Blaise Matuidi, Miralem Pjanic, Rodrigo Bentancur; Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala.
With 10 minutes remaining before kick-off, the team news has been confirmed! Let's start with Juventus!
Juventus are being punished down their right-hand side, where the combination of Luis Alberto and Lulic are causing havoc for De Sciglio. Lazio are looking to stretch wide before narrowing at the point of attack, which is really testing Juve’s midfield defensively. In order to be effective, Sarri must look to expose the gaps left on the flanks - especially with Alex Sandro who is wonderful going forward. As far as the Bianconeri are concerned, however, as long as the supply to Ronaldo remains constant - a result is always a possibility.
That concludes our commentary of the Italian Supercup between Juventus and Lazio! We hope you enjoyed it!
The Serie A gets back in action in 2020 after a brief winter pause. Juventus’ season recommences on January 6 against Cagliari, while Lazio travel to face Brescia on January 5.
Commentary
More…