Analysis: Juventus

Juventus changed systems at various points during the game, asking different questions of Manchester United’s defensive block. They converted into a 4-3-3 structure in the first half, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado forming a consistently rotating front three. With Ronaldo mostly attacking inside from the left, Juve looked to left-back Alex Sandro to provide attacking width and crosses from that flank.

Movements from Cuadrado and Dybala were intriguing – particularly in the first half, with United managing to block Juventus’ forward access. The pair filled the wide areas, but also dropped very deep when their back line had the ball. Ronaldo would stay central, occupying both central defenders, while Cuadrado and Dybala horizontally stretched the visitors’ back line, as both Ashley Young and Luke Shaw tracked them no matter how deep they fell. From here, huge spaces appeared for forward runs from advanced central midfielders Sami Khedira and Rodrigo Bentancur. If the back line couldn’t access these runners directly, they would first use Ronaldo, who would then play the ball around the corner for his midfield runners.

Despite initially finding play on their right side restricted – Mattia De Sciglio’s overlaps were well tracked by Anthony Martial – Juventus did eventually manage to penetrate as the full-back combined with Cuadrado. From here, the latter found the late run of Khedira, but the German’s low effort hit the post.

Penetrative runs forward from Juventus’ central midfielders continued into the second half, creating additional space for Cuadrado and Dybala, who moved behind these runs and thus the ball. The latter soon became the second Juventus player to hit the woodwork, as his dipping effort crashed back off the crossbar. The Juventus right soon became the main source of creation; Ronaldo joined the play from the left, allowing Dybala or Cuadrado to attack the central lane. With United so occupied with Ronaldo, De Sciglio finally had space to overlap.

Juventus eventually took the lead after a simple long ball forward from Leonardo Bonucci was outrageously volleyed home first time by Ronaldo. The former United man’s movements towards the wide areas continued to create central space for Dybala to collect passes between the lines. De Gea then saved well from Pjanic’s low effort, while Cuadrado also fired over from close range. Had either of these excellent chances been taken, it’s unlikely the visitors could have pulled off the comeback they did.

Out of possession, the hosts converted into a 4-4-2 mid-block. Bentancur would move from a left-sided central midfield role in the 4-3-3 to a wide left position in defence, tracking any potential forward runs from Ashley Young. Dybala and Ronaldo formed a central front two, with the latter on the left. Should the hosts create a quick counter-attack, Ronaldo could then pull away from his central marker and attack the goal on the angle.

Juventus’ two blocks of four remained incredibly compact. Encouraging wide play from the visitors ensured central penetrations were minimal, as Juve had aerially dominant central defenders who comfortably dealt with crosses right until the closing moments.

As United increased the directness of their play with the late introductions of Marouane Fellaini and Marcus Rashford, Juve head coach Massimiliano Allegri switched his defensive set-up into a 3-5-2. Despite adding another defender in the form of Andrea Barzagli, United now had easier access into the wide areas – from where both of their late goals originated.