Juventus Win Ugly Game vs. Milan Thanks to Beautiful Paulo Dybala Goal

As the international break came to an end, Serie A offered two recovering sides the chance to make a real statement of intent on Saturday evening. Milan went up against reigning champions Juventus in a match the Bianconeri would win 1-0 thanks to a moment of magic from Paulo Dybala.

Both had endured miserable starts to 2015/16, but the previous few weeks had seen each begin to improve. The visitors were on a four-match unbeaten run, while Juve themselves had won back-to-back league games for the first time this season in their previous outings against Torino and Empoli.

Always a prestigious fixture, the timing meant it would perhaps serve as an indicator of which club might be best-placed to make a run to the top of standings in the coming months. Milan were without Mario Balotelli, Jeremy Menez, Nigel De Jong and Andrea Bertolacci, which robbed them of an important midfield presence.

Despite Sami Khedira being absent for Juventus, the depth of their squad meant they could cover for the Germany international, and they dominated possession in the first half. Hernanes and Claudio Marchiso both tested Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the 16-year-old goalkeeper denied them with excellent stops.

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However, the Brazilian was poor once again, his display merely the latest in a string of disappointing performances following his move from Inter. Indeed, according to statistics from WhoScored.com, he lost the ball no fewer than six times and completed only 14 passes in the opening 45 minutes.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri rightly removed him at half-time, sending on Leonardo Bonucci in his place and slightly changing his tactical approach. A weak header from Juraj Kucka and a penalty appeal for a foul on Giacomo Bonaventura were Milan’s best efforts, but the Bianconeri began to look more dangerous.

With Alex Sandro and Stephan Lichtsteiner on the flanks, the home side started to take the game to their opponents, Paul Pogba seeing one effort again thwarted by Donnarumma. Soon after, the French midfielder would turn provider, his wonderful pass in turn volleyed into the box by an overlapping Sandro.

His cross was taken superbly by Dybala, the Argentinian striker controlling the ball and lashing it beyond the helpless goalkeeper in one swift movement, an unstoppable effort that ultimately decided the final outcome.

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Dybala's goal. https://t.co/xBQBjL978S

— Khaled Al Nouss (@KhaledAlNouss) November 21, 2015"

It was a clear moment of quality in a game which lacked any sustained evidence of it, but Allegri would rightly call the result “another step in the right direction” at his post-match press conference.

Recording a clean sheet, Juve’s defence looked much improved and deserve praise for the way they carefully marshaled Carlos Bacca. The Colombian striker had scored or created a goal in each of his last four outings, but Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli prevented him from taking a single shot this time out.

Yet while Bacca toiled, there is little doubt that without Dybala, this game would have ended scoreless, his incision proving to be the difference between the two sides by the end of the match.

As the graphic above shows, he completed 23 of his 29 pass attempts and an impressive four successful take-ons, but the man himself was quick to deflect credit to the whole team after the full-time whistle.

“It was a victory of the team today and we just did what the Coach asked us to,” Dybala told Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia). “Leaving the field to a standing ovation from the fans was an unforgettable moment.”

“I know that I can do much more,” he added, and given that the goal took his tally to seven in all competitions, the prospect of Paulo Dybala and Juventus improving further bodes well for the future.