Juventus 1-0 Spezia: Player ratings as Morata goal seals narrow win
Juventus delivered another underwhelming performance but it was just about enough to see off Spezia in Turin on Sunday evening.
Juve had to wait until midway through the first half to create a clear-cut opportunity, and it yielded the only goal of the game. Alvaro Morata finished off a sweeping move involving Dusan Vlahovic and Manuel Locatelli, firing a crisp, low strike into the back of the net - his first Serie A strike of 2022.
Juan Cuadrado forced Ivan Provedel into a good save shortly after the half-hour mark, and Vlahovic was unable to profit when Locatelli lifted a ball over the top for him.
The hosts were almost stung early in the second half, but Emmanuel Gyasi could only direct a free header straight at Wojciech Szczesny in the Juve goal. The Pole was called into action again with a little over ten minutes to go, coming off his line to smother Kevin Agudelo's effort.
Morata spurned an excellent opportunity to double his tally in stoppage time - failing to make proper contact with a low cross.
It finished 1-0. Here's how the Juve players rated...
JUVENTUS PLAYER RATINGS - SERIE A
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Wojciech Szczesny (GK) - 7/10 - Barely tested but was switched on when Spezia finally mustered an effort on target. Good save from Agudel.
Danilo (CB) - 7/10 - Shifted around the backline throughout the match but did well, winning all his duels.
Mattijs de Ligt (CB) - 6/10 - Never looked uncomfortable at the heart of the defence - but was rarely tested.
Daniele Rugani (CB) - 6/10 - Solid if unspectacular. Passed well.
2. Wing-backs & midfielders
Juan Cuadrado (RWB) - 7/10 - Always an attacking outlet. Forced Provedel into a good save with a low effort and saw another sail over.
Manuel Locatelli (CM) - 7/10 - Neat assist for Morata, sliding a pass to his left. Looked in very creative mood.
Arthur Melo (CM) - 6/10 - Industrious but sometimes struggled to keep the ball. Passed well enough.
Luca Pellegrini (LWB) - 6/10 - Combative, winning the majority of his duels in the air and on the ground and making five recoveries. Booked and subbed.
3. Forwards
Dusan Vlahovic (RF) - 5/10 - Played a role in the build-up to Morata's goal. Booked for a barge off the ball. Not his night. Subbed.
Alvaro Morata (ST) - 7/10 - Crisp finish at the end of a sweeping Juve move - alarmingly his first Serie A strike of 2022.
Adrien Rabiot (LF) - 4/10 - Passed accurately but not really able to influence things. Gave away some needless late fouls and lost possession to put his side under pressure.
4. Substitutes
Federico Bernardeschi (RW) - 5/10 - Booked.
Moise Kean (ST) - N/A