Cabal pleased to repay Motta's faith after victorious Juventus return

By Sports Desk October 20, 2024

Juventus left-back Juan Cabal was pleased to repay the faith of coach Thiago Motta after returning from injury to star in their 1-0 win over Lazio.

Cabal joined from Verona in July for €11million but has battled a niggling hamstring issue at the start of his Bianconeri career, missing the last six weeks.

He returned to face Lazio on Saturday, with his cross forcing an own goal from Mario Gila as Juventus avoided a fifth draw in the space of six games.

After the match, the Colombia international revealed Lazio had shown an interest in him previously, but said he only ever had eyes for Juve.

"Lazio looked for me before, but I was only thinking about Juve. I wanted to play for Juve since I was a kid and now I am here," Cabal told reporters.

"We all know Juve's history. We have to give our lives for Juve.

"The coach saw something different and put me out, but he has faith in me. He put me on the pitch at the right time. 

"It is difficult not to play for so long. But we must always be ready. I work all week to play even one minute," 

Saturday's win took unbeaten Juventus to 16 points from eight matches, level on points with leaders Napoli, who possess a game in hand.

"The important thing is to try to win every game. We want to be champions, but I can't tell you now that we will win the championship," Cabal said.

 

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    Jamal Musiala felt "good to celebrate with the Bayern Munich fans" after netting his first Bundesliga home goals of the season in the 4-2 win over Heidenheim.

    The Germany international climbed off the bench to score twice at the Allianz Arena, where he had not found the net in the German top flight since an 8-1 rout of Mainz in March.

    Musiala's 11th Bundesliga appearance of the season was his first as a non-starter.

    However, he said the breather was welcome and made him feel rejuvenated upon entering the contest, before taking his goal tally for the campaign to 12 in all competitions.

    "Recently, I've played a lot of games in a row," he said. "That's why it was good that I got a break and came back energised.

    "I've finally scored here in the [Allianz] Arena again. It feels good to celebrate with the fans."

    Good morning #FCBayern Fans!

    of the log and unbeaten in the #Bundesliga. pic.twitter.com/Ah7XbvVMFV

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    Vincent Kompany's side got back to winning ways following their 1-0 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Pokal on Tuesday, in which Manuel Neuer was sent off early on.

    And the Bayern boss was pleased by the response of his players.

    "We started this week with a tough schedule, played 70 minutes with 10 players against Leverkusen, so it was always a dangerous game for many reasons," he told reporters during his post-match press conference.

    "The first half was very good, possession was fluid. The second half - although we stayed calm when we conceded - the last 15 to 20 minutes, the feeling for Heidenheim is totally justified that they are still in the game.

    "Still, we created a lot of chances. It was a tough week. We scored four goals. It was still a very, very good day."

  • Motta not satisfied as Juve draw again, admits tactical errors Motta not satisfied as Juve draw again, admits tactical errors

    Thiago Motta was far from satisfied with Juventus' performance as they drew 2-2 with Bologna on Saturday, though he did hail the Bianconeri's character as they recovered to remain unbeaten in Serie A.

    Juve fought back from 2-0 down in Turin, with 20-year-old forward Samuel Mbangula scoring a stoppage-time leveller from outside the area.

    The Bianconeri are the only side yet to taste defeat in the Italian top flight this campaign, but with nine of their 15 matches finishing level, they remain seven points adrift of leaders Atalanta.

    "The positive point was the reaction. We pulled back a game which was in a very bad position," Motta said at his post-match press conference.

    "We are not satisfied with the result or even with what we have done. I have to thank the guys for the heart and the courage that they showed."

    Motta refused to criticise his players' attitude, instead acknowledging he made tactical errors as Bologna attempted as many shots as Juve (10) and won the expected goals (xG) battle, 0.93 to 0.87.

    "No player went missing. It was a tactical problem and that's my fault," Motta said. "We were not able to overcome the pressure. Today was complicated and we went into difficulty, then we came back but we can't be satisfied.

    "I repeat, we are not satisfied but this must make us stronger."

    Motta knows the Turin giants need to start turning draws into wins if they are to climb the table, adding: "We have to improve to be in the position where we want to be, which is not the one we have today.

    "We have to deal with this situation by moving forward and improving for the next game on Wednesday."

    Manchester City visit Turin for a Champions League tie on Wednesday, with both sides on eight points and outside the automatic qualification places. 

  • Juventus 2-2 Bologna: Mbangula keeps hosts unbeaten with last-gasp goal Juventus 2-2 Bologna: Mbangula keeps hosts unbeaten with last-gasp goal

    Juventus came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bologna and maintain their unbeaten start to the season in Serie A, as Samuel Mbangula's stoppage-time goal ensured they drew for the ninth time this campaign.

    Juventus had been staring at a first league defeat under Thiago Motta, having entered the final half-hour 2-0 down to their in-form visitors.

    Dan Ndoye gave Bologna a deserved lead on the half-hour mark and they doubled their advantage seven minutes into the second half through Tommaso Pobega.

    Teun Koopmeiners pulled one back for Juventus 10 minutes later and, with time running out, Mbangula struck from outside the area to snatch a last-gasp draw for the hosts.

    Though they remain the only unbeaten side in the Italian top flight this campaign, Juve sit sixth with 27 points from 15 games, their nine draws keeping them seven adrift of leaders Atalanta.

    Bologna, meanwhile, are still eighth but have moved level on 22 points with AC Milan, having played one game fewer than the Bianconeri.

    Data Debrief: The kids are alright for Juve

    Juventus' fans may have been frustrated by watching their side play out yet another stalemate in Turin, but things could have been far worse if not for Mbangula.

    The Belgian forward wrapped his foot around Dusan Vlahovic's pass on the edge of the area, bending a cultured finish beyond the reach of visiting goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski in the second minute of stoppage time.

    In Mbangula (who was born in 2004 and has two goals) and Kenan Yildiz (2005, three goals), Juve are the only team in Serie A to have multiple players born in 2004 or later with at least two goals this season.

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