Juventus lost 2-3 away to Sassuolo. After Eden Žeglova scored twice to help the Bianconeri equalize the score, Vasily Adzic scored the winning goal with the last kick of the game. Pre-match expectations of a tough test at the Estadio Mapei-Tricolore proved accurate in the most dramatic way.
Sebastiano Esposito broke the deadlock for the home side in the 65th minute, finishing coolly after Pierre Kalulu was blocked in an offside trap set up by Nemanja Matic’s pass. Substitute Zheglova equalized the score in the 82nd minute with a shot that beat two defenders. This was his first Juventus goal in an official game since November 2024.
Sassuolo responded almost immediately through Kieron Bowie, who swept in Daryl Bakola’s backpass in the 89th minute. In the first minute of stoppage time, Zheglova struck again, scoring the first time with a low shot assisted by Randall Kolo Muani, to make it 2-2, but Adzic had the final say in the 94th minute, firing a right-footed shot past a tired Juventus defense for the winner.
Adjic punishes home team, injury crisis intensifies
The result comes in what is already a difficult week for Luciano Spalletti, who is without midfielder Manuel Locatelli after he underwent meniscus surgery, as well as a long list of absences that include Jeremy Boga, Weston McKennie, Andrea Cambiaso, Kenan Yeldi Héctor, Kefren Juan Bavran Juan and Ektolan. Sassuolo were equally stretched, missing Christian Volpato, Farley Kander, Daniel Borocca, Eduardo Platiriolo and Ismael Cone, while Bowie himself only earned a spot on the bench before coming on to score.
Juventus started without an Italian outfield player for the first time in Serie A history, a detail that highlighted the extent of Spalletti’s draft problems. Adzic, who is on loan at Sassuolo from Juventus, scored the decisive goal against his parent club.
Juventus ended the game with 55% possession and 18 shots, while Sassuolo had only 10 shots, eight of which were on target, while the home side had only six on target, a figure that offered little consolation after conceding two goals in the final quarter of an hour.
