How “Courage” Helped Juventus Overcome Setbacks To Beat RB Leipzig

Juventus marks their victory against RB Leipzig (Image by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images, obtained through Getty Images)

It was one of those nights when everything that could possibly go wrong for Juventus actually did. Just four minutes into the match in Germany, Lois Openda managed to shake off Gleison Bremer, creating a big opportunity for RB Leipzig.

Pierre Kalulu made a very tense clearance, but things were even worse for his Brazilian teammate. Bremer appeared to injure both his ankle and knee during the tackle and eventually had to be substituted for Federico Gatti.

Moments later, Nico Gonzalez started having trouble with his thigh and had to leave the field as well. Francisco Conceicao came in to replace him, but despite Juventus facing two injuries and exhausting two of their substitution opportunities in just 12 minutes, their troubles were only beginning.

Loïs Openda sent a stunning pass over the defense to Benjamin Sesko, who fired a powerful shot that hit the crossbar and went in. This marked just the second goal the Bianconeri have allowed this season.

A challenge involving Castello Lukeba and Dusan Vlahovic was examined by VAR, but Juventus trailed at halftime. They returned to the pitch with a fresh burst of energy, and Teun Koopmeiners struck the post shortly after the second half began as Thiago Motta's team pressed forward against their rivals.

Juventus Faces Red Card And Penalty Challenge

Shortly after, a fresh assault led to a fantastic cross from Andrea Cambiaso, which Vlahovic successfully converted, suggesting that the Italian team was regaining their momentum. However, Leipzig quickly countered, allowing Openda to break free. When Michele Di Gregorio rushed out of his box to make a play on the ball, it was deemed that it brushed off his gloves.

The goalkeeper received a red card, and the unfortunate events didn't stop there. Shortly after he was substituted in, Douglas Luiz’s first action on the field resulted in conceding a penalty for handling the ball while trying to shield his face.

Sesko calmly converted the penalty, and it looked like the Bundesliga team would easily secure the win with over thirty minutes remaining, taking advantage of a Juventus side that was struggling and down a player.

Bianconeri Show Courage In New Look

However, Juventus has a distinct character under Motta, and they were the next to score when Vlahovic delivered a stunning shot that found the top corner. The match was a back-and-forth contest, and in the 83rd minute, Conceicao scored a brilliant goal that put his team in the lead.

At times, it was difficult to notice they were playing with one less person, as they maintained the same style since the halftime break despite the red card. After the match, Motta expressed admiration for his players when speaking to the press.

“We aimed to move ahead, taking initiative and playing quality football both offensively and defensively, while also looking to get our wide players involved in attacking positions,” the Coach stated. “Ultimately, we earned the outcome; we had the bravery to stick to our style of play even when faced with the challenge of being down to 10 players.”

"The main theme was bravery. The boys showed great determination to press on and create challenges for the other team. Even though we were one player short, that spirit remained strong. We kept advancing and executed our game plan effectively until the final whistle."

Nicolo Fagioli's Top Performance For Juventus

One player who truly stood out was Nicolo Fagioli. He built on his strong showing against Genoa, which we discussed in a previous article, putting in an excellent performance in this match.

He played the entire match, and the stats show that the 23-year-old was a standout performer in every aspect. As per SofaScore data, Fagioli won 7 battles (six on the ground and one in the air), successfully completed 62 out of 63 passes (a remarkable 98%) and received an assist for Conceicao’s goal.

"In the second half, the coach encouraged us to have faith after we played well in the first half. We performed admirably and demonstrated a lot of determination," he shared with reporters. "It might not have been flawless, but it was definitely a fantastic game—possibly the best I've experienced since joining this team. From here on out, I'm fully committed to improving and pushing myself to do even better."

Although it wasn't the best night for them, Juventus managed to secure an important three points, thanks to Fagioli and Vlahovic. This performance is a glimpse of the kind of momentum they'll need to maintain as they aim to keep up with Serie A leaders Napoli when they get back to league play this weekend.