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TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 21: Manuel Locatelli of Juventus has a penalty saved during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Allianz Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
A Sassuolo side decimated by a whooping cough outbreak managed to stall Juventus, as Andrea Pinamonti replied to Kenan Yildiz, with Manuel Locatelli’s late penalty saved.
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The Bianconeri were back in the hunt for Champions League spots after a 3-3 draw at Roma and two straight wins, as Jeremie Boga was chosen to lead the attack flanked by Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao from the start. Emil Holm was the only remaining absentee, with Dusan Vlahovic on the bench four months after his serious injury. Sassuolo’s build-up was dominated by an unusual outbreak of whooping cough in the squad, ruling out Nemanja Matic, Kristian Thorstvedt, Woyo Coulibaly and Stefano Turati. On top of that, Fali Candé, Alieu Fadera, Daniel Boloca and Edoardo Pieragnolo were injured, following back-to-back defeats to Lazio and Bologna.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Arijanet Muric had to make a save in the third minute when Manuel Locatelli was allowed a free header on Boga’s corner, then Francisco Conceicao’s volley was charged down by Tarik Muharemovic on the Weston McKennie knockdown.
Juventus broke through with some route one football, as Mattia Perin captured a corner and immediately launched Conceicao down the right with a long ball, the Portuguese talent cut inside and rolled across for Kenan Yildiz to sweep into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. It was his 10th Serie A goal of the season, a new personal best.
Khephren Thuram surged forward to sting Muric’s gloves, the goalkeeper also pushing a Yildiz looping effort over the bar, but Sassuolo threatened too when Andrea Pinamonti nodded over from point-blank range at the back post when Jay Idzes flicked on a corner.
Conceicao dribbled to the by-line and pulled back for Pierre Kalulu to sweep just wide of the far bottom corner from a very promising position.
On the stroke of half-time, only a decisive Lloyd Kelly toe deflection took the Domenico Berardi roll across away from Ulisses Garcia, who was ready to tap in from six yards.
Sassuolo equalised with a similar move after the restart, as Cristian Volpato sent Berardi down the right, and this time Pinamonti was there to meet it from close range, getting in front of Gleison Bremer.
Conceicao rode one tackle, but not the Aster Vranckx challenge inside the area, and Boga tested Muric from distance.
When Boga chipped a ball over the top for Kalulu, the defender decided to knock it back for Teun Koopmeiners and the finish was deflected over.
Conceicao stood up a cross to the far post for a Boga free header, but was denied by the sensational Muric reaction save.
There was a very special moment, as Juventus gave Dusan Vlahovic his first game since November 2025, and Arkadiusz Milik had his first competitive appearance since May 25, 2024.
Vlahovic made an immediate impact, as his header struck Idzes on the arm and it was spotted by VAR for a late Juventus penalty. However, Locatelli stepped up and the weak, central spot-kick was smothered by Muric. It was the third consecutive penalty that Juventus failed to convert in Serie A.
Idzes made up for the error with a crucial clearance to stop Vlahovic tapping in the Kalulu cross, then Muric made a desperate save on the line from the Milik towering header and the attempted Vlahovic follow-up.
Kenan Yildiz fired over from a tricky angle with his left foot deep into stoppages.
Juventus 1-1 Sassuolo
Yildiz 14 (J), Pinamonti 52 (S)
Saved penalty: Locatelli 87 (J)
21-03-2026 19:45
MatchDay 30
Juventus Stadium (Allianz Stadium)JuventusSassuolo
Live1 – 1
Player statistic
| Kenan Yıldız(Assist: Francisco Conceição) | 14' |
| 52' | Andrea Pinamonti(Assist: Domenico Berardi) |
| Bremer | 64' |
| 74' | Ulisses Garcia |
| Manuel Locatelli | 87' |
Juventus
Sassuolo
Starting lineups
1
Mattia Perin
Goalkeeper
27
Andrea Cambiaso
Defender
62′
3
Bremer
Defender
6
Lloyd Kelly
Defender
79′
15
Pierre Kalulu
Defender
19
Khéphren Thuram
Midfielder
62′
5
Manuel Locatelli
Midfielder
22
Weston McKennie
Midfielder
7
Francisco Conceição
Attacker
88′
13
Jeremie Boga
Attacker
79′
10
Kenan Yıldız
Attacker
49
Arijanet Muric
Goalkeeper
21
Jay Idzes
Defender
6
Sebastian Walukiewicz
Defender
80
Tarik Muharemovic
Defender
23
Ulisses Garcia
Defender
40
Aster Vranckx
Midfielder
80′
7
Cristian Volpato
Midfielder
69′
50
Darryl Bakola
Midfielder
69′
90
Ismaël Koné
Midfielder
99
Andrea Pinamonti
Attacker
80′
10
Domenico Berardi
Attacker
90′
Substitutes
23
Carlo Pinsoglio
Goalkeeper
4
Federico Gatti
Defender
16
Michele Di Gregorio
Goalkeeper
20
Loïs Openda
Attacker
18
Filip Kostic
Midfielder
30
Jonathan David
Attacker
32
Juan Cabal
Defender
17
Vasilije Adžić
Midfielder
21
Fabio Miretti
Midfielder
62′
8
Teun Koopmeiners
Midfielder
62′
9
Dusan Vlahovic
Attacker
79′
14
Arkadiusz Milik
Attacker
79′
11
Edon Zhegrova
Attacker
88′
19
Filippo Romagna
Defender
12
Giacomo Satalino
Goalkeeper
16
Gioele Zacchi
Goalkeeper
24
Luca Moro
Attacker
66
Pedro Felipe
Defender
33
Christian Frangella
Midfielder
45
Armand Lauriente
Attacker
69′
35
Luca Lipani
Midfielder
69′
8
M’Bala Nzola
Attacker
80′
44
Edoardo Iannoni
Midfielder
80′
3
Josh Doig
Defender
90′
