Juventus faced off against bottom-placed Venezia on December 15, 2024, but the match ended disappointingly for the home team as they only managed to secure a 2-2 draw. This game marked yet another frustrating result for Juventus, who are struggling to convert draws to wins, currently standing with six victories and nine draws this season.
The match kicked off with Juventus dominating ball possession from the outset. Their eagerness translated to results early on, as they took the lead within the first 20 minutes. Federico Gatti opened the scoring with a header off a corner kick, initiated by Toon Koopmeiners' expertly delivered cross. The early goal gave Juve fans hope for a comfortable victory against a struggling Venezia side.
Despite Juventus’s strong start, Venezia showed resilience. Around the half-hour mark, they threatened to even the score. Magnus Andersen unleashed a powerful mid-range shot after the ball rebounded to him at the edge of the penalty area, but it struck the crossbar and kept Juventus's lead intact.
Juventus went to halftime with their one-goal advantage, yet they knew Venezia was far from out of the match. The second half began with Juve continuing their pressure to extend their lead. Just four minutes after the break, they appeared to have doubled their lead when Kenan Yildiz found the net from close range after another corner. Unfortunately for Juve, the goal was disallowed due to a handball infraction.
Venezia capitalized on the let-off and fought back valiantly. They capitalized on their first big chance when Mikael Egil Eraltson headed home from Francesco Zampano’s cross, leveling the score at 1-1. This goal injected new life and motivation for the visitors, who were eager to escape the relegation zone.
With the match now finely poised, the battle intensified. Juventus pushed hard to regain their lead, with Dusan Vlahovic and substitutes Francisco Conceicao and Douglas Luiz leading the charge. Yet, their efforts were repeatedly thwarted by Venezia’s defense and goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, who kept his side alive with several key saves.
Things took another turn for the worse for the hosts when Venezia took the lead at the 83rd minute. Jay Itzes capitalized on some defensive lapses from Juventus to score, making it 2-1 and sending shockwaves through the Juventus camp.
With time running out, Juventus needed to find their resolve. They increased their offensive efforts once more and were eventually rewarded for their persistence. A handball from Antonio Candela awarded Juve a penalty deep in stoppage time. Vlahovic stepped up to take the pivotal kick and slotted it perfectly to the left of the goalkeeper, thereby equalizing the match at 2-2 just before the final whistle.
Post-match, frustrations were palpable within the Juventus squad. Fans expressed disappointment over not securing the three points, especially against the league's lowest-placed team. Unnamed sources conveyed feelings of frustration, stating, "This was frustrating for us, not being able to secure the win against the last-placed team."
Coaches echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for improved mentality and play awareness during matches to avoid such disappointing outcomes. With this draw, Juventus remains nine points adrift of the league leaders, Atalanta, who maintain their title chase with another win.
Looking forward, Juventus will need to rapidly shift their focus as they prepare for their upcoming Coppa Italia match against Cagliari on December 17 and another Serie A challenge against Monza on December 22. Meanwhile, Venezia will seek to build on their performance and look to pull free from the relegation zone with their next match against Cagliari at home.
