BY OUR MAN IN TURIN
THE ALLIANZ STADIUM was once again transformed into an impenetrable fortress as Juventus ground out a clinical 2-1 victory over AS Roma to keep their home record flawless.
While the stars on the pitch shone bright, it was the atmosphere inside Juve’s high-tech Turin home that truly stole the show.
From the first whistle, the 41,000-strong crowd created a cauldron of noise that seemed to suffocate a Roma side desperate to reclaim their spot at the top of the table.
The Old Lady’s home ground has become a graveyard for visiting teams this season, and despite a late scare, the Bianconeri’s dominance in Piedmont remains the talk of Serie A.
After a cagey opening half-hour where both sides felt the weight of the occasion, the stadium erupted in the 44th minute.
Francisco Conceicao—proving to be the bargain of the season—danced through the Roma backline before drilling a low, left-footed strike into the bottom corner.
The roar from the Curva Sud could likely be heard as far as the Alps as the Portuguese winger sprinted toward the corner flag, basking in the adoration of the home faithful.
Juventus didn’t let up after the break. With the Allianz faithful sensing blood, the hosts doubled their lead in the 70th minute.
Lois Openda, who has found the Turin turf very much to his liking, was in the right place at the right time. After Weston McKennie’s header was parried by Roma keeper Mile Svilar, Openda pounced on the rebound to tap into an empty net, sending the home fans into a state of delirium.
Roma did manage to find a lifeline five minutes later when Tommaso Baldanzi reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box, setting up a frantic finale.
The tension in the stands was palpable as the Giallorossi threw everything forward.
However, the Allianz isn’t just a place for goals; it’s a place where Juventus’ defensive resolve is forged. Even when Kenan Yildiz rattled the post with a curling effort that would have raised the roof, the Juve backline held firm.
By the time the final whistle blew, the stadium was a sea of black and white flags.
This wasn’t just three points; it was a statement that if you want to win the Scudetto, you have to survive the Allianz Stadium first. And so far this season, nobody has.
