TURIN, Italy – On a cold December night where the air at the Allianz Stadium was thick with the scent of roasted chestnuts and the palpable tension of a top-four race, Juventus delivered a festive masterclass.
In the final home fixture of 2025, Luciano Spalletti’s Bianconeri secured a pivotal 2-1 victory over Gian Piero Gasperini’s AS Roma, leapfrogging closer to the Champions League spots and sending a clear message to the rest of the league.
The match, held on Saturday, December 20, was more than just a clash for three points. It was a nostalgic nod to the past, with legendary captains Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti watching from the stands.
Before kickoff, the Juventus squad warmed up in special edition jerseys honoring Del Piero, a gesture that seemed to ignite a spark of "Pinturicchio" magic in the current generation.
From the first whistle, it was clear that Luciano Spalletti and Gian Piero Gasperini had prepared for a tactical grind. Juventus lined up in a fluid 3-4-2-1, with Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceição operating behind Loïs Openda. Roma countered with an identical system, looking to use the creativity of Paulo Dybala and former Juventus starlet Matias Soulé to exploit the wings.
The opening thirty minutes were characterized by heavy pressing and midfield duels. Manuel Locatelli and Khéphren Thuram provided a formidable screen for the Juventus defense, while Bryan Cristante worked tirelessly to orchestrate Roma’s transitions.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 44th minute. After a sustained period of pressure, Kenan Yildiz cut inside from the left flank, drawing two defenders before slipping a clever pass to Andrea Cambiaso. The wing-back’s low cross found Francisco Conceição unmarked in the box. The Portuguese winger took one touch to steady himself and fired a clinical left-footed strike past Mile Svilar, sending the home crowd into a frenzy just before the interval.
The second half began with Roma searching for an immediate response. Gasperini turned to his bench early, introducing Evan Ferguson and Tommaso Baldanzi to inject more directness into the Giallorossi attack.
However, it was Juventus who struck again. In the 70th minute, a surging run from Weston McKennie forced a desperate save from Svilar. The American midfielder was first to the rebound, unselfishly squaring the ball to Loïs Openda. The Belgian international, who had been hunting for his first Serie A goal of the season, made no mistake from close range, tapping into the empty net to make it 2-0.
The two-goal cushion lasted only five minutes. Roma, refusing to go quietly, capitalized on a rare defensive lapse from the Bianconeri. A powerful drive from Evan Ferguson was parried by Michele Di Gregorio, but only as far as the oncoming Tommaso Baldanzi. The young Italian attacker reacted quickest, poking the ball home in the 75th minute to set up a grandstand finish.
The closing ten minutes were a test of Juventus' defensive mettle. Bremer and Pierre Kalulu stood firm against a barrage of Roma crosses, while Yildiz nearly sealed the result on the counter-attack, only for his curling effort to rattle the post.
As the referee blew the final whistle, the Allianz Stadium erupted. The victory moves Juventus to 29 points, just one point behind Roma in the Serie A standings. For Spalletti, the win validates the progress made since his arrival; for Gasperini, it is a reminder of the fine margins that define the race for the Scudetto and European places.
> "We played with the heart of a team that knows its history," Spalletti remarked in the post-match press conference. "Conceição and Openda showed great character, but the defensive solidity in the final minutes was what won us the game. We are growing, and this win against a direct rival is massive."
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On the other side, a frustrated Gasperini noted: "We controlled long periods of the game but weren't clinical enough in the final third. You cannot give Juventus two goals and expect to walk away with points at this stadium."
Juventus will look to carry this momentum into the New Year as they continue their climb up the table. Roma, meanwhile, must regroup quickly to ensure this setback doesn't derail their impressive start to the campaign. With the winter break approaching, the race for Serie A supremacy has never looked more wide open.