Adrien Rabiot, thanks to his third double of the season, largely contributed to getting Juventus Turin out of a bad situation (4-2) against Sampdoria Genoa, Serie A red lantern, Sunday during the 26th day.
The Bianconeri (7th), launched into a wild comeback since their penalty of fifteen points for alleged accounting fraud, come back to four points from sixth place occupied by Atalanta Bergamo.
Despite their absences (Di Maria, Chiesa, Kean, Alex Sandro, to whom Paul Pogba was added on Sunday morning for a problem with an adductor), Juve got off to a perfect start by making the break thanks to headers from Gleison Bremer (11th) and Adrien Rabiot (26th).
But this lead evaporated in 70 seconds, on two killer counterattacks from Samp, concluded by Tommaso Augello (31st) then Filip Djuricic (32nd).
It was not until the hour mark to see Juve regain their senses and Rabiot once again turn into a providential scorer with a dry strike (64th). The Blucerchiati claimed a hand from the French on his very limited control, but no image convinced the referee to cancel the second goal of the ex-Parisian, author of his third double of the season (9 goals in total , all competitions combined).
“It’s an important goal for the victory, I’m happy, a little less for the first period: we conceded two goals that we shouldn’t have,” commented Rabiot on DAZN.
“He has a different engine from the others,” praised his coach, Massimiliano Allegri, relieved that the midfielder also escaped a warning which would have deprived him of the next crucial match against Inter Milan.
Dusan Vlahovic, out of confidence, spoiled him again, in particular a penalty sent on the post (69th). Even if the fourth goal came from his head, returned by the bar and taken over by the young Argentinian Matias Soulé (90 + 4th).
AS Roma, ten throughout the second half, for its part missed the opportunity to join Inter Milan in second place by losing at home against Sassuolo (4-3) in a game with twists and turns.