Lois Openda scored his first Serie A goal as Juventus defeated Roma 2-1 at Allianz Stadium to move within one point of the top four in Serie A.
2025/2026 Serie A
2-1
Match Report
The first half was a largely tepid affair, which saw little quality in the final third from both teams. Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli and Roma forward Paulo Dybala both managed a shot on target in the early stages of the match, but neither attempt troubled the goalkeeper in any way.
Khephren Thuram was able to fire a speculative attempt on target from long-range for the hosts, but it merely produced a bread-and-butter save for Mile Svilar around the half-hour mark.
With half-time on the horizon, the crowd finally witnessed a clear-cut opportunity as Francisco Conceicao beautifully turned his marker before going for glory from around 12 yards out, but his shot forced a smart stop from Svilar.
This chance finally injected some momentum in the match, and there was nothing the Roma stopper could do about Conceicao’s next effort in the 44th minute, as he drilled the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot from inside the box to give The Old Lady the lead at the interval.
The Bianconeri started the second half on the front foot and put Roma’s defence under heavy pressure from the off. Turkey international Kenan Yıldız was inches away from doubling Juve’s advantage after 52 minutes, while Andrea Cambiaso’s powerful shot from outside the box forced Svilar into urgent action shortly afterwards.
Juventus deservedly netted a second goal with 20 minutes remaining when Lois Openda tapped the ball home after a smart tee-up from Weston McKennie, when his own close-range effort was clawed away by Svilar.
With the match looking like it was over as a contest, the visitors secured a lifeline after 75 minutes when Tommaso Baldanzi was in the right place at the right time to tuck away the rebound after Evan Ferguson’s firm shot was parried into danger by Michele Di Gregorio.
With the game becoming increasingly stretched, the hosts almost killed the game off in the latter stages when Yıldız’s curling effort cannoned back off the post. Juventus needed to ride out a couple of nervy moments towards the end, but ultimately, they did enough to secure a deserved victory.
Despite securing all three points, the Bianconeri remain in fifth position in the table but are now only four points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan.
Luciano Spalletti’s side face relegation-threatened Pisa away from home in the league next weekend. Meanwhile, Roma stay in fourth place and will aim to return to winning ways in Serie A at home against Genoa on Monday, December 29th.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
0' Highlight from Juventus vs Roma
8' Highlight from Juventus vs Roma
12' Highlight from Juventus vs Roma
24' Highlight from Juventus vs Roma
29' Highlight from Juventus vs Roma
44' GOAL! Juventus 1-0 Roma (Francisco Conceição)
53' Highlight from Juventus vs Roma
55' Highlight from Juventus vs Roma
57' Match Event for Juventus vs Roma
62' Match Event for Juventus vs Roma
70' GOAL! Juventus 2-0 Roma (Loïs Openda)
75' GOAL! Juventus 2-1 Roma (Tommaso Baldanzi)
Line-ups
Juventus XI: Locatelli, Openda, Di Gregorio, Gleison, Lloyd Kelly, McKennie, Khéphren Thuram, Francisco Conceição, Kalulu, Andrea Cambiaso, Yıldız
Subs: Perin, Kostic, Rugani, Milik, Edon Zhegrova, Jonathan David, João Mário, Simone Scaglia, Rouhi, Adzic, Pedro Felipe
Roma XI: Dybala, Cristante, Zeki Çelik, Pellegrini, Mile Svilar, G. Mancini, Manu Koné, Devyne Rensch, Matías Soulé, Wesley Vinícius França Lima, Jan Ziolkowski
Subs: El Shaarawy, Gollini, Angelino, Hermoso, Tsimikas, Bailey, Devis Vásquez, Evan Ferguson, Tommaso Baldanzi, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli, Buba Sangaré, Jacopo Mirra, Muhammed Bah