Juventus beat Verona with late Thuram, Koopmeiners goals
Juventus vs Verona
Late goals from Khephren Thuram and Teun Koopmeiners earned Juventus a hard-fought 2-0 home victory against Hellas Verona in Serie A on Monday, allowing Thiago Motta’s side to extend their impressive winning streak to five consecutive games. The match, played in front of an expectant crowd at the Allianz Stadium, showcased Juventus’ relentless attacking intent, though it was far from a straightforward triumph. The home side dominated possession throughout the encounter, controlling the ball for extended periods and creating an astonishing tally of nearly 30 scoring opportunities. However, for much of the game, they were stymied by a combination of their own inaccuracy and the brilliance of Verona’s goalkeeper, Lorenzo Montipo, who stood as an impenetrable barrier between Juventus and the back of the net. Shot after shot either sailed wide or was met by Montipo’s quick reflexes, leaving Juventus fans increasingly anxious as the minutes ticked by without a breakthrough. It wasn’t until the 72nd minute that Thuram finally unlocked Verona’s stubborn defense, converting with his first touch from close range near the penalty spot to send the home supporters into raptures. Then, in the 90th minute, Koopmeiners sealed the result with a cleverly executed low shot from a tight angle, ensuring that Juventus walked away with all three points and further solidified their position among Serie A’s elite. This victory was a testament to Juventus’ persistence and ability to capitalize on late opportunities, qualities that have defined their recent run of form under Motta’s guidance.
Juventus held a lion’s share of possession from the opening whistle, dictating the tempo of the match and pinning Verona deep into their own half for long stretches. Their dominance in the statistical categories was overwhelming—nearly 30 chances created is a figure that reflects not only their attacking ambition but also the sheer volume of pressure they exerted on their opponents. Yet, despite this barrage of opportunities, breaking the deadlock proved to be an elusive task. Many of Juventus’ efforts were wayward, with shots flying over the bar or wide of the posts, betraying a lack of clinical finishing that might have made the evening far less tense for the Bianconeri faithful. When their attempts did find the target, they were met by the heroics of Lorenzo Montipo, who delivered a goalkeeping masterclass that kept Verona in the game far longer than their overall performance might have warranted. Montipo’s string of saves included several standout moments—reflex stops, diving interventions, and commanding presence in his area—that frustrated Juventus’ star-studded lineup. Players like Weston McKennie, Manuel Locatelli, and Kenan Yildiz all found themselves denied by the Verona keeper’s brilliance, while the woodwork and off-target efforts accounted for the rest of Juventus’ squandered chances. It was a performance that highlighted both Juventus’ attacking potential and the fine margins that often define football matches at this level, as Verona’s resistance threatened to hold firm until Thuram’s late intervention shifted the narrative decisively in the hosts’ favor.
The turning point of the match arrived in the 72nd minute when Khephren Thuram finally breached Verona’s defenses, scoring with his first touch from a well-positioned spot around the penalty area. The goal was a moment of relief and jubilation for Juventus, who had seen chance after chance go begging throughout the evening. Thuram’s strike was clinical, a sharp contrast to the earlier profligacy that had characterized Juventus’ play, and it underscored his growing importance to Thiago Motta’s squad. The 22-year-old midfielder, who has been a revelation since joining Juventus, demonstrated composure and precision to slot the ball past Montipo, who had no chance to react despite his earlier heroics. Then, as the game neared its conclusion, Teun Koopmeiners put the result beyond doubt with a moment of individual brilliance in the 90th minute. Positioned on the edge of the penalty area, the Dutch midfielder received the ball, assessed his options, and unleashed a low, angled shot that outfoxed Verona’s tiring defense and nestled into the near post. It was a goal that capped a dominant Juventus performance and highlighted Koopmeiners’ knack for delivering in crucial moments. These late strikes not only secured the victory but also reinforced Juventus’ reputation as a team capable of grinding out results even when not at their free-flowing best, a trait that could prove invaluable as they chase the Serie A title.
In the broader context of the Serie A standings, this win keeps Juventus firmly in the hunt for the top spots. With 52 points, they sit fourth in the table, six points behind leaders Inter Milan and two points ahead of fifth-placed Lazio. The result comes at a critical juncture, following their disappointing elimination from the Coppa Italia quarterfinals by relegation-threatened Empoli the previous week—a defeat that had raised questions about their consistency. However, their league form tells a different story, as Juventus remain the only Italian side to win all of their Serie A matches in February, a run that has now stretched into early March. This latest victory allowed them to capitalize on slip-ups from their rivals: Inter Milan’s draw against second-placed Napoli and Atalanta’s goalless stalemate at home to struggling Venezia opened the door for Juventus to close the gap at the top. Meanwhile, Hellas Verona, who find themselves in 14th place with four points separating them from the relegation zone, will rue their inability to hold out for a result despite Montipo’s inspired performance. For Juventus, the focus now shifts to maintaining this momentum as they navigate a congested fixture list and aim to challenge Inter Milan’s lead at the summit of the table.
The match itself unfolded as a tale of two halves, with Juventus asserting their dominance early on but struggling to convert their pressure into goals. Verona, to their credit, managed the first attempts on target through Tomás Suslov and Amin Sarr, both of whom tested Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio with long-range efforts inside the opening seven minutes. Di Gregorio, however, was equal to the task, comfortably saving both shots and ensuring that Verona’s early forays didn’t disrupt Juventus’ rhythm. From that point onward, Verona rarely ventured out of their defensive third, as Juventus laid siege to their goal with wave after wave of attacks. Thuram had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the first half when he received a precise pass inside the area, but his tame effort from the penalty spot was easily gathered by Montipo. Similarly, Weston McKennie thought he had broken the deadlock just before halftime with a close-range header from a free kick, only for the goal to be disallowed due to a foul on the Verona keeper—a decision that sparked frustration among the Juventus players and supporters alike. Manuel Locatelli also saw two brilliant chances thwarted by Montipo’s agility, adding to the growing sense of exasperation in the stands as the first half ended goalless.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Juventus continuing to press and Verona clinging to their clean sheet with grim determination. Kenan Yildiz came agonizingly close to scoring when he struck the side netting shortly after the restart, yet another near miss in a game full of them. Verona nearly stole the lead against the run of play in first-half stoppage time when Suslov unleashed a stunning long-range effort that rippled the net, only for the goal to be chalked off for an offside call—a moment that could have shifted the match’s momentum entirely. However, Juventus’ persistence eventually paid off with Thuram’s 72nd-minute strike, followed by Koopmeiners’ late dagger, ensuring that Verona’s resistance was ultimately in vain. The victory marked a historic milestone for Juventus, who have now won each of their first four home league games in a single calendar year for the first time since 2021, a statistic that underscores their growing fortress-like reputation at the Allianz Stadium. As Thiago Motta’s project continues to take shape, this result serves as both a reward for their attacking ambition and a reminder of the fine margins that will define their season.
