Morata spearheads Juve’s comeback win over Lazio
MILAN: Alvaro Morata scored twice and set up another as Juventus warmed up for this week’s Champions League game against FC Porto with a 3-1 comeback win over Lazio on Saturday to close the gap on the Milan teams in Serie A.
Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench before tomorrow’s key last 16, second leg game against the Portuguese in Turin with Juventus trailing 2-1.
Champions Juventus fell behind to an early Joaquin Correa goal following a Dejan Kulusevski passing error midfield.
But Morata set up Adrien Rabiot to pull the hosts level before the break with the Spaniard scoring twice in a three-minute spell before the hour mark.
Andrea Pirlo’s side are third, seven points behind leaders Inter who host Atalanta today, and one point adrift of AC Milan who were to play Hellas Verona last night (Thai time).
“Today we started the game 20 minutes late but it was normal because many were out of position and many returned [from injury],” said Pirlo. “But there was a great reaction, we didn’t get down and despite the many absences we played an excellent match.”
Correa pounced after quarter of an hour after Kulusevski gave the ball away, shaking off Merih Demiral to beat Wojciech Szczesny in the Juventus goal.
Rabiot pulled level six minutes before the break, picking up a Morata through ball to fire in a powerful left footed angled drive over Pepe Reina.
Federico Chiesa set up Morata for the second after 57 minutes with the Spaniard completing a brace from the penalty spot three minutes later after Milinkovic-Savic brought down Aaron Ramsey in the box.
RESULTS
Spezia 1 (Verde 71) Benevento 1 (Gaich 24); Udinese 2 (Llorente 42, Pereyra 90+3) Sassuolo 0; Juventus 3 (Rabiot 39, Morata 57, 60-pen) Lazio 1 (Correa 14)
FIXTURE
(kick-off Thai time)
Today
Inter Milan v Atalanta (2.45am, Tue)