Chapter 188: The Last Battle of 2014

Chapter 188: The Last Battle of 2014

The long league season is always full of ups and downs and uncertainties. No team can sail smoothly through it, and they all encounter various problems. For Juventus, the recent busy schedule has brought not only three consecutive draws in Serie A and the Champions League but also the significant loss of their key central defender, Barzagli, to injury. This has been a major setback for Juventus.

With the continuous battles in the Champions League and Serie A, Juventus players have been heavily fatigued. In the 16th round of Serie A, Juventus achieved a 3-1 away victory over Cagliari. This win seemed to indicate a full revival for Juventus, especially considering that coach Allegri rested Pirlo to better prepare for the upcoming Italian Super Cup. However, this victory came at a cost, as key midfielder Marchisio accumulated yellow cards and was suspended for one match.

Adding to their woes, just before departing for Qatar, central defender Chiellini developed a high fever and couldn't travel with the team to face Udinese. This was a significant blow for Juventus. With both Barzagli and Chiellini out, and Marchisio suspended, Juventus found themselves in a tough spot.

The 2014 Italian Super Cup was not held in Italy but in Doha, Qatar, a decision made back in early October. In an interview, the president of the Italian Professional League, Beretta, said, "We are delighted to showcase our Italian Super Cup in a fascinating and respected country like Qatar. We are grateful for this opportunity."

This marked the seventh time the Italian Super Cup was held overseas. The first was in 1993 in Washington, D.C. It has also been hosted in Tripoli, Libya, and New York City, USA. Beijing, China, hosted the event three times in 2009, 2011, and 2012. The winter scheduling of the Super Cup is not unprecedented; the second edition in 1989 took place on November 29, with Inter defeating Sampdoria 2-0 to win the cup.

In the history of the Italian Super Cup, AC Milan holds the record for the most titles with six, followed by Inter and Juventus with five each. A win for Juventus would see them tie AC Milan's record. For Udinese, this was their first appearance in the competition.

Before the match, Guidolin and Allegri shared a cordial handshake on the sidelines. Today's game saw Juventus aiming to overpower Udinese with relentless attacking, while Guidolin, having decided to compete with Juventus for the Serie A title, also commanded his team to attack and win.

From the very first second, the match was intense and fiercely contested. Guidolin fielded Udinese's strongest lineup, while Allegri did the same for Juventus. The game was gripping, and within fifteen minutes, despite a 0-0 scoreline, the teams had combined for nine shots (Juventus 5, Udinese 4) and committed eleven fouls (Udinese 6, Juventus 5), highlighting the match's intensity.

Diletta Leotta, the commentator, expressed her astonishment, saying, "Oh my, this is undoubtedly one of the most exciting Super Cup matches in recent years. With 27 shots and four goals in the first half alone, it's incredibly thrilling."

She continued, "I'm amazed by Udinese. I thought I knew them and Coach Guidolin well, but their performance today against Juventus, going toe-to-toe without falling behind, has been impressive. I'm now eagerly looking forward to how this promoted team will fare in Serie A after the winter break."

As the commentators discussed, the first half ended with a 2-2 scoreline. Juventus scored first in the 25th minute through Tevez. Danilo and Maguire's attempted clearances led the ball to Tevez, who entered the box and shot low past Rafael, making it 1-0.

However, just a few minutes later, Udinese equalized with a header from Thereau following a set-piece. Ten minutes later, Bruno assisted Guilherme, who dribbled past Pirlo to score, turning the score to 2-1 in Udinese's favor. Pirlo's struggle against the younger players was evident.

Yet, Udinese's lead didn't last until halftime. In the 44th minute, Juventus equalized with Pogba assisting Tevez, who skillfully bypassed Maguire to score in the bottom left corner, making it 2-2.

Media discussions buzzed with Udinese's performance surprising everyone. Despite leading Juventus by four points in the Serie A standings, many believed the two teams were on different levels. But this Super Cup final, with a 2-2 halftime score and a 12 to 15 shot ratio, proved otherwise. Udinese matched Juventus blow for blow.

Additionally, French midfielder N'Golo Kante's performance stunned many. The 24-year-old acted as a defensive barrier in front of Udinese's penalty area. Without Kante's sweeping interceptions, Juventus might have scored more than two goals.

During the halftime break, Guidolin praised his players' performance. Despite conceding two goals, their aggressive play against Juventus pleased him. As the second half began, Udinese maintained their aggressive stance, continuing to engage in an intense back-and-forth with Juventus.

The fast-paced game, full of turnovers and intense duels, thrilled the fans. Udinese's quick tempo and aggressive play were evident, with their younger squad more suited to such a high-energy game compared to the older Juventus team. When Udinese lost the ball, their young players aggressively pressed to disrupt Juventus' counterattacks. In contrast, Juventus' players seemed less committed to immediate ball recovery.

In the 61st minute, Guidolin made a substitution, replacing the tiring captain Di Natale with Muriel. Guidolin, animated on the sidelines, understood the importance of this match. A successful showdown against Juventus would significantly boost Udinese's morale and spirit.

Muriel's introduction brought vitality. His speed troubled Pirlo, who, at 35, struggled against Udinese's young attackers. Guidolin's strategy was clear: relentlessly target Pirlo with fresh legs. First, Muriel used his speed to force Pirlo into a pulling foul, earning a free-kick for Udinese. Bruno's subsequent free-kick narrowly missed the crossbar.

Bruno then drove forward, bypassing Pogba to pass to Guilherme. Advancing the ball, Guilherme drew Bonucci before abruptly stopping and feinting a shot, luring Pirlo. With a deft move, he sidestepped Pirlo and accelerated past him, leaving Pirlo unable to foul. Guilherme continued, evading two more Juventus players before back-heeling the ball past Vidal.

"Beautiful!"

A blue-clad figure rushed forward—Bruno Fernandes. Without hesitation, Bruno struck the ball. Pogba, caught off guard, couldn't react to Bruno's decisive run and Guilherme's skillful pass. Despite Buffon's quick reflexes, Bruno's powerful shot deflected off Buffon's hand, slowed but continued into the net, striking the right post.

Udinese and Juventus continued their fierce battle, but Udinese's youthful energy gave them an edge in the fast-paced game. This match proved that Udinese could compete with the best, further solidifying their position as a rising force in Italian football.

(End of Chapter)