Roma vs. Juventus: Massimiliano Allegri Outcoaches Rudi Garcia in Stalemate

Serie A’s top two clubs went head-to-head on Monday night, with Juventus heading to the Stadio Olimpico holding a comfortable nine-point advantage over AS Roma. The Giallorossi, having drawn their previous five home matches, knew that a win was vital if they were to close the gap on the reigning champions and mount a genuine title challenge.

Roma boss Rudi Garcia made his position clear at his pre-match press conference, telling reporters that his side would “go for the three points,” per the league’s official website. Those hopes were boosted in the buildup to the clash, with Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba ruled out through injury, with the former expected to miss around 20 days with a calf problem, according to the Turin club’s own website.

Meanwhile the approach taken with his team-mate was the first hint at Juve’s mindset; the Frenchman only took a place on the bench after suffering a slight thigh strain in training. That precautionary move showed that the game was perhaps slightly less significant for the Bianconeri, and their starting lineup only served to reinforce that notion.

Having impressed with an attacking 4-3-2-1 formation in recent months, Massimiliano Allegri reverted back to the 3-5-2 framework that has served Juventus so well over the last three seasons. The additional defender—in this case Martin Caceres—provided the side with extra solidity, and given their lead atop the Serie A standings that approach was understandable.

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The Uruguayan lined up alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, with wing-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra often playing so deep as to create a five-man back line. With Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio providing protection ahead of them, and with the three forwards all working hard to close down the Giallorossi, the league’s best defence looked even more impenetrable.

Juve have kept 14 clean sheets and conceded just 13 goals in the opening 24 rounds of 2014-15, and they appeared determined to add to that record in the Italian capital. Their reluctance to attack frustrated Roma in the opening exchanges; no fewer than four players found their way in the book before an hour had been played.

Just as they had against Borussia Dortmund last week, the Bianconeri were content to sit deep, absorb pressure and then counter-attack using the pace of Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez. Argentinian midfielder Roberto Pereyra added to that, with his speed in possession leading to a number of chances for the visitors.

Indeed, Allegri’s tactical decisions and team selection were almost perfect, while the same cannot be said of those made by Garcia. Once again sticking to his 4-3-3 formation, Roma were guilty of large amounts of sterile possession, passing the ball around neatly but always kept at arm’s length by Juventus and rarely threatening Gigi Buffon’s goal.

As the above graphic shows, neither side registered an effort on target in the first half, a situation the Bianconeri were more than happy with but one Roma needed to quickly change. Yet half-time brought no alterations from the home side, who would fall behind to a Tevez free-kick after Vasilis Torosidis was sent off for tripping Vidal.

With the lead and a man advantage, it seemed Juventus would go on to win the game, but the removal of both Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi appeared to revitalise Roma. A well-taken set piece from Alessandro Florenzi was headed goalwards by Seydou Keita, and Claudio Marchisio was unable to keep it out.

Juan Iturbe looked sharp after his introduction, as both he and Radja Nainggolan caused problems for Juventus, but it would be too little too late. Speaking to Sky Italia immediately after the game (h/t Football Italia), Garcia lamented the fact that his side “didn’t do enough down the flanks and should’ve taken more risks.”

Yet those factors are almost solely down to him, the French coach failing to make changes early enough and finding himself thoroughly out-coached by his opposite number. For his part, the Juve boss was actually still disappointed, telling reporters “it’s a pity to leave here with a point,” per the club’s official website.

That relentless approach is a major reason why his side opened up such a gap between themselves and Roma, but on Monday evening, Massimiliano Allegri is undoubtedly the reason they maintained it.