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Juventus player ratings vs Atalanta: Gonzalo Higuain keeps Juve atop Serie A

By John Vaccaro

Gonzalo Higuaín during Serie A match between Atalanta v Juventus, in Bergamo, November 23, 2019 (Photo by Loris Roselli).
Gonzalo Higuaín during Serie A match between Atalanta v Juventus, in Bergamo, November 23, 2019 (Photo by Loris Roselli). /
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Juventus’ Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (R) saves a ball during the Italian Serie A football match Atalanta Bergamo vs Juventus on November 23, 2019 at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia stadium in Bergamo. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
Juventus’ Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (R) saves a ball during the Italian Serie A football match Atalanta Bergamo vs Juventus on November 23, 2019 at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia stadium in Bergamo. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images) /

I don’t know how, but Juventus once again managed to survive being outplayed for the majority of a match.

They did everything they could to lose to Atalanta in this match, but once again survived thanks to some magic from one of their strikers.

It all started with their most ridiculous inclusion in the starting lineup, Sami Khedira, getting hit in his inexplicably outstretched arm with the ball to give Atalanta a penalty. Luckily, Atalanta strangely chose Musa Barrow to take the penalty and he put it off the crossbar. Atalanta also had a great chance from a header that was miraculously saved by Wojciech Szczesny to keep the match scoreless heading into the second half.

It took only 11 minutes for Atalanta to break the deadlock in the second half. Barrow sent a cross into the box and Sami Khedira and Juan Cuadrado left Robin Gosens unmarked at the far post. He headed it in as Szczesny tried to scramble back across his goal and gave Atalanta the lead. It looked like they would hold that lead until Gonzalo Higuain took over.

His first goal came as he collected a Morale Pjanic pass with his back to goal, instantly turned and fired, and got a deflection that gave Atalanta’s keeper no chance to stop it. Just 8 minutes later, Juan Cuadrado would find space on the right wing to send in a cross, which Higuain got on the end of in the middle of the box and smashed past the keeper. Finally, Higuain delivered a beautiful cross-field pass to Paulo Dybala, which set him up to score a goal of his own, sealing a 3-1 win for Juve.

GK: Wojciech Szczesny 8/10

Wojciech Szczesny continues to keep Juventus alive when they don’t play well. His first half save of Mario Pasalic‘s header was absolutely incredible. There was nothing he could do to stop the header that gave Atalanta their goal, so you really can’t blame him for that one. This was yet another match that could have been over early if it weren’t for a great Szczesny performance. I am just in awe of how incredible he has been for Juve this season.

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