In terms of strength, Juventus is definitely stronger than Espanyol.
But the common problem of Italian teams is that they are strong in defense and weak in attack. They are not weak when they are strong and weak when they are weak.
The Spanish team scored and wanted to expand the score while the iron was hot. Juventus used counterattacks to get several shooting opportunities.
When Espanyol's offensive momentum was knocked down and it was Juventus' turn to attack, Juventus was unable to create any shooting opportunities.
Thirty minutes later, Allegri on the sidelines was not in a hurry, as if the team had not conceded the ball.
Espanyol head coach Sergio is certainly not in a hurry.
It was an unexpected surprise to lead Juventus by accident, and the opponent's offense did not put much pressure on the Espanyol team. Sergio naturally hopes to play like this until the end of the game.
After thirty minutes, the Juventus players seemed to be slowly entering the state.
In the 32nd minute, Alves took the ball from the wing, Mandzukic headed the ball over, Higuain picked up the ball from the left side of the penalty area and volleyed directly.
Espanyol defender Duterte sacrificed himself to block the ball and put it at the bottom line.
In the 36th minute, Asamoah dribbled the ball from the left and cut inside, swayed away from the Spanish central defender in the penalty area, and shot a low shot with his right foot that was saved by Spanish goalkeeper Roberto.
With these two shots, the atmosphere of the game gradually became tense.
The confrontation has become increasingly fierce.
In the 40th minute of the game, Mandzukic and Higuain cooperated in front of the penalty area. Due to the lack of tacit understanding between the two, Mandzukic passed the ball and Diop suddenly stepped forward and stole the ball.
After Zhao Yang scored, the Espanyol team didn't have many offensive opportunities. This time they had a chance to counterattack. Diop quickly dribbled the ball forward and tried to drive straight into the opponent's half from the center.
After Mandzukic lost the ball, he was annoyed and anxious. He chased for a few steps but failed to catch up, and tackled Diop from behind.
The referee saw clearly and immediately blew the whistle and took out the yellow card to warn Mandzukic.
The Spaniard won a free kick.
This free kick was thirty meters away from the goal, almost thirty-five meters away. It was not suitable for a direct shot. Zhao Yang passed the ball into the penalty area and looked for Baptista.
This was a tactic designed by the Espanyol team during training, but Mandzukic accurately judged the landing point and cleared the ball before Baptista, which made up for it.
Perez on the outside grabbed the spot, took a step forward, and shot from long range, but the ball went over the crossbar.
Seeing that the first half of the game is coming to an end, Juventus's offense is still unhurried.
And the Juventus fans in the stands were not in a hurry, chatting and eating snacks, as if the Espanyol team was lagging behind.
The players of the Espanyol team didn't know whether their opponents were used to this or if they were smart, but they didn't dare to be careless. They actively fought for every ball and tried to maintain their lead in the first half.
Juventus's style of play is indeed different from other teams. They seem to be unhurried and unhurried, but sometimes they are lightning fast. This change of pace makes it difficult for opponents to adapt.
In the 44th minute of the game, Mandzukic suddenly advanced. Pjanic passed a kick to the center, looking for Mandzukic to advance forward.
Perez was in a hurry to make a clearance and collided with Duterte, who was also only looking at the ball.
Duterte was strong, but he covered his forehead and felt a little blurry.
Perez was hit on the brow bone by Duterte, which cracked and bled.
The referee was not far away, so he quickly stopped the game and called the team doctor and a stretcher to come on.
Perez was carried off, and team doctors treated his wounds off the court.
Originally, Sergio was only going to let Perez play half the game, but when he was injured, Jurado was replaced and took over his position.
After Jurado came on, the regular time of the first half was over. Due to Perez's injury, which delayed some time, the referee gave three minutes of stoppage time.
Juventus has rich experience and a strong ability to seize opportunities. Taking advantage of the injury and substitution of Espanyol players, they immediately launched a fierce attack.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Chiellini assisted to the frontcourt and passed Mandzukic diagonally. Mandzukic passed it back to Asamoah. Asamoah followed up with a volley, and the ball was saved by goalkeeper Roberto.
Juventus full-back Benatia grabbed a cross pass, and Mandzukic inserted his head into the left rib of the small penalty area and hit the post.
This wave of fierce attacks confused the Espanyol team. They were not just old women, they were just macho men.
After the ball hit the goal post and bounced out, midfielder Pjanic followed up with another kick, but this long shot was too direct and goalkeeper Roberto fell to the ground and hugged him.
Roberto played very smartly and did not get up immediately. He lay on the turf for a while before getting up.
Seeing the Juventus army pressing forward, Roberto did not dare to pass to the defender and directly drove towards the frontcourt with a big kick.
Juventus still pressed hard in their own backcourt. Baptista and Reyes did not grab the opponent's defender, and the ball was kicked by Barzagli to the right side of the Espanyol penalty area.
Higuain grabbed the spot and passed it back, Pjanic passed the ball diagonally to the opposite side, and Asamoah sank in front of the door and knocked on the door. Mandzukic followed up at high speed, fell to the ground and stabbed the goal.
1-1.
At the end of first half stoppage time, Juventus equalized the score.
There were thunderous cheers in the stands, and the lazy Juventus fans finally got excited and put down their food and drinks to applaud Mandzukic.
Allegri didn't smile at all, he just clapped.
Obviously, the player's performance of equalizing the score at the last moment can only be regarded as passing in Allegri's mind.
Espanyol head coach Sergio shook his head regretfully. The players' experience was still a bit lacking. It would be much easier if they could lead into the second half.
In the warm-up match, winning or losing is definitely not the first priority. After the halftime break, both Juventus and Espanyol made substitution adjustments.
Allegri replaced all three defenders.
3-Chiellini was replaced by 24-Rugani; Bonucci replaced Barzagli; 4-Benatia, who performed well, was also replaced by No. 24 Lichtsteiner.
In addition to the defender, Juventus also changed a midfielder, Argentine genius Dybala replaced Pereira.
Juventus changed four players at once, but Espanyol did not make more changes. They replaced Reyes with Moreno on the front line and replaced Arlaguis as the goalkeeper.
In the second half, the score returned to the starting line and the pace of the game slowed down again.
This is the rhythm that Juventus likes. They pass the ball slowly in the midfield and backfield until the Espanyol team is so angry that they lose their sense and come to press. They immediately pass the ball forward and use the frontcourt's
Personal ability to attack the Spanish goal.
When the Spaniard attacks, Juventus adopts area and man-marking defense, forcing the ball-carrying player to the side or a crowded place, forming a double attack and then stealing the ball.
The Espanyol team seemed to be stuck in a swamp, unable to exert any force. They could only pass the ball to Zhao Yang and Moreno, allowing them to use their personal abilities to attack the opponent's defense.