September 18, (THEWILL) – Angel Di Maria was sent off as struggling Juventus lost 1-0 to Monza in Serie A, with Christian Gytkjaer scoring the game-winning goal in the 74th minute.
The Bianconeri performed poorly because of Massimiliano Allegri’s absence from the bench due to suspension from their previous fixture, as Di Maria was dismissed for elbowing Armando Izzo just before the interval.
The visitors were penalised for their careless play and profligacy in front of goal when, 16 minutes from time, Gytkjaer headed in a cross from Patrick Ciurria for what turned out to be the difference between both sides.
Allegri’s team’s first league loss of the year causes them to fall further behind Serie A’s early pacesetters, dropping to 8th place after seven matches, raising further questions about the manager’s capacity to deliver.
Even though Allegri will have the momentary reprieve of the international break before they visit Verona on October 2, this, along with two losses from their first two UEFA Champions League group games, implies that his job will soon be under some serious strain.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
