For the better part of the match, Juventus labored. The carefully organized defense established by Pisa proved resilient, absorbing pressure and neutralizing attempts by the Bianconeri`s starting forwards. The game was flat, characterized by technical errors and a frustrating lack of incision. Had the match ended after the first hour, the discussion would have centered on Juve`s title credentials collapsing under the weight of expectation.
But football, unlike geometry, is not always decided by the initial coordinates. It is decided by timely adjustments. And in this instance, the intervention was purely managerial. Luciano Spalletti, perhaps for the first time this season, executed a series of substitutions that didn`t just refresh the legs, but fundamentally fractured the opponent’s tactical structure. The Juventus bench, a treasure trove containing attacking talent that had collectively amassed 33 goals and 14 assists in the previous season alone, was finally deployed with surgical precision.
The Explosive Catalyst: Edon Zhegrova
If the first 60 minutes were characterized by a damp fuse, Edon Zhegrova was the man Spalletti sent out with a matchbox. Though he did not register a goal, his immediate impact was profound. Upon entering the pitch, the Kosovan international instantly staked his claim to the right flank, transforming what had been a static area into a launchpad for offensive maneuvers.
In just over half an hour, Zhegrova delivered three critical crosses—nearly 20% of the team`s total crosses for the entire game—and produced two shots directly on target against the formidable Pisa keeper, Semper. His effectiveness confirmed his reputation as a potent game-closer. Furthermore, he exhibited what Spalletti admiringly called «three-dimensional glasses,» possessing the vision to see movement behind the defensive line.
This vision materialized spectacularly when Zhegrova threaded a deep pass into the area for Cambiaso, a sequence that directly led to Kalulu`s opportunistic tap-in for the opening goal. Zhegrova didn`t just participate; he created spatial dilemmas that Pisa’s defenders could not resolve.
The Link and Disruptor: Jonathan David
The sequence for the first goal was initiated not just by Zhegrova`s vision, but by the work of another recent introduction: Jonathan David. The Canadian striker, a highly anticipated summer signing from Lille, had recently slipped down the pecking order. However, his performance demonstrated his invaluable utility coming off the bench—a role he previously executed effectively in European and league fixtures.
David’s primary contribution was injecting quality into the final third through crucial link-up play. Operating under the watchful eye of Canadian national team coach Jesse Marsch (a self-proclaimed sympathizer of Pisa), David disrupted the otherwise disciplined Gilardino defense. His clever interaction with Kalulu and McKennie drew Caracciolo out of position, destabilizing the defensive block and paving the way for the opening score.
Later, his confident forward drive helped set the stage for the second goal. David`s willingness to engage defenders face-on was the prerequisite for the final piece of the puzzle.
The Precision Engineer: Fabio Miretti
If two clues make a suspicion, the third confirms the evidence. Fabio Miretti’s brief appearance was a masterclass in compressed performance. In just four minutes plus stoppage time, the young midfielder achieved a quantitative and qualitative output that belied his short tenure.
Miretti completed seven positive passes, won both of his duels, recovered a crucial ball, and executed two clean dribbles. This rapid deployment of technical skill culminated in the assist sequence for Yildiz’s goal. His final, decisive move—a deft turn with the sole of his boot inside the box to evade Caracciolo—did not just bypass a defender; it literally «flung the door wide open» for his teammates to seal the victory.
«I am not the one who changed the game; the players always change it through their conduct,» Spalletti humbly deflected in the post-match interview.
While the coach may defer credit, the tactical outcome was irrefutable. The struggle was erased, replaced by efficiency and clinical execution. The three substitutions were not random acts of desperation but calculated transfers of momentum, confirming that Luciano Spalletti`s understanding of his «long bench» is now complete. The true strength of this Juventus side is perhaps not the starting line, but the arsenal waiting patiently on the sidelines.