Roma vs. Juventus: Score, Grades, Reaction from Serie A Game

Juventus maintained their commanding lead atop the Serie A table following a 1-1 draw at second-placed AS Roma on Monday evening at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma finished the match with 10 men after defender Vasilis Torosidis saw red in the 62nd minute for his second bookable offence. After a brief delay, Carlos Tevez curled the ensuing free-kick into the top corner to give Juventus the lead.

The hosts improved after Torosidis' dismissal—notably after club legends Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi left the match in favour of substitutes—and equalised via Seydou Keita in the 78th minute. But despite playing their best football in the closing stages, Roma were unable to find a winner.

Following the draw, the gap between the teams remains nine points with 13 matches remaining for each side. With so much of the season left to play, the title race is technically far from finished, but Juventus will have to suffer a massive collapse if they are to relinquish the title this spring.

More likely, the result will only serve to confirm the Bianconeri's domestic dominance after winning the Scudetto each of the past three seasons. Indeed, as journalist Dylan Fahy noted before the match, Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri's side has already shown its superiority in Italy and might be more interested in making an impression in Europe this term:

Up next for Juventus is a home match against Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Thursday. The Bianconeri then host Sassuolo next Monday in the league. Roma play at Chievo in the league on Sunday.

Needing a victory to keep the title race going, Roma signalled their intentions early on to play a committed and physical brand of football. In the opening moments both De Rossi and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa were perhaps fortunate to escape bookings for robust challenges

As the match began to settle, Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal had the first sight of goal in the seventh minute, sending a snap shot wide of the target.

Clear chances were scarce for the rest of the first half as Roma struggled to break down Juventus' crowded midsection despite holding a healthy majority of possession. Perhaps the best chance of the opening period came in the 22nd minute, as Roma's Kostas Manolas placed the ball inches wide of his own goal after trying to clear a Roberto Pereyra cross.

Roma's only shot of the first half came in the 33rd minute, when Seydou Keita hit an effort off target from outside the box.

Juventus created the first chance of the second half as well, nearly punishing Roma on a quick counter in the 50th minute. Pereyra won possession in midfield and immediately bore down on goal. The Argentine laid off for Vidal, who sent a low shot narrowly wide of the far post from a promising position on the left. 

The match took a dramatic shift just past the hour mark as Roma went down to 10 men and Juventus took the lead. In the 62nd minute, Juventus poured forward on another counter, with Tevez trying to slot a pass through to Vidal, who was making an incisive run into the box.

Just before he reached the edge of the area, Vidal crumpled under the challenge of Torosidis. The Greek defender, who had already been booked in the first half, drew a second yellow and was subsequently dismissed.

From the ensuing free-kick, Tevez curled his shot around the wall and into the net past the stranded Morgan De Sanctis to give Juve a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute.

Gregorio Borgia/Associated Press

Juve came close to a second goal just one minute later as Pereyra worked free down the left flank before shooting into the side netting from a tight angle.

At the other end, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved low to his left in the 72nd minute to keep out Manolas' flicked header following an Alessandro Florenzi free-kick. Roma continued to attack, and in the 78th minute, the hosts pulled level.

Florenzi again played the role of creator, lofting a dangerous free-kick from deep on the right flank to the opposite post. The ball found Keita, who headed downward on goal from a tight angle. Claudio Marchisio had a chance to clear off the line, but the Juve midfielder only succeeding in helping the ball into the net. 

Roma were back on level terms, but despite attacking for the rest of the match, the hosts were unable to find a winner. In the 80th minute, Juan Iturbe mishit an effort well off target after accepting a pass in a promising area. Two minutes later, Radja Nainggolan tried his luck with a powerful shot from long distance, but Buffon saved easily.

In the end, it wasn't to be for Roma. And after a sixth successive home draw in league play, Rudi Garcia's men are seeing their slim title hopes become even more faint.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Morgan De Sanctis	6.0
Vasilis Torosidis	5.9
Kostas Manolas	7.6
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa	7.4
Jose Holebas	7.2
Miralem Pjanic	6.4
Daniele De Rossi	6.8
Seydou Keita	7.6
Gervinho	6.2
Francesco Totti	6.1
Adem Ljajic	6.2
Alessandro Florenzi (for Ljajic, 65')	7.8
Juan Iturbe (for Totti, 71')	6.8
Radja Nainggolan (for De Rossi, 73')	6.3

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Gianluigi Buffon	6.4
Stephan Lichtsteiner	6.2
Martin Caceres	6.2
Leonardo Bonucci	6.5
Giorgio Chiellini	6.8
Patrice Evra	6.3
Arturo Vidal	7.3
Claudio Marchisio	6.8
Roberto Pereyra	7.0
Alvaro Morata	6.0
Carlos Tevez	7.5
Kingsley Coman (for Morata, 83')	No rating
Simone Padoin (for Lichtsteiner, 90)	No rating

Reaction

Roma coach Rudi Garcia, via Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia):

"

It was a very tactical game and in these situations they can be decided by set plays. There were few real chances from open play.

I retain Roma’s reaction was exceptional, as playing with 10 men and a goal down to then play at the end the way we did shows this team is alive and has character.

…

This side would never play for a draw on home turf, even against the top team. When 1-0 down we had to take risks, even down to 10 men, and we pressed Juventus with belief to the end. Unfortunately we were unable to get the second goal, which we deserved for our performance in the last half-hour.

"

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, via Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia):

"

It is a step forward, but considering the way the game was going we really should’ve done better. We played badly in the final 20 minutes. I was happy until the 70th minute, as we allowed Roma nothing and improved after the break. Once we took the lead, we played another six or seven minutes well, but then sort of stopped playing.

We leave the field very angry after this draw. It’s true nine points are a good margin, but we have got to start winning away from home, as we haven’t done so in three games now. It’s not easy for Roma, but there are many points still up for grabs. It’s disappointing to only get a draw from this game and we even risked losing it on another free kick.

We need to improve, as sometimes we lose sharpness and focus. We are still a long way off our objective and have conceded too many goals recently. We also have to improve in our control of the game when in front. Once Roma get into gear and have a series of free kicks around the box, that is naturally going to give confidence to the opposition.

The lads did very well to slow Roma’s tempo and stop them going on the counter. However, we need to be less hasty when in the lead and know when to control the match.

"

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