Bremer and Daniele Rugani help Serie A leaders Juventus edge past Cagliari

Second-half goals from Bremer and Daniele Rugani helped Juventus move to the Serie A summit with a 2-1 home win over Cagliari.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side struggled to break down the visitors during a tense first half, but finally made the breakthrough when Bremer headed home a free-kick by Filip Kostic in the 60th minute.

Kostic created the second 10 minutes later when Rugani bundled his delivery over the line, but there would be no seventh consecutive clean sheet for the hosts after Alberto Dossena reduced the deficit to set up a grandstand finish.

Juventus secure all three points at home #JuveCagliari pic.twitter.com/x0cl0fmtA1

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) November 11, 2023

Juventus were able to hold on to at least temporarily take over at the top from previous leaders Inter, who play Frosinone on Sunday before the title rivals do battle in a fortnight after the upcoming international break.

Adrien Rabiot was suspended for Allegri’s side in Turin, which meant Andrea Cambiaso was drafted into the starting line-up as a result.

Chances during the opening exchanges were few and far between with more focus off the pitch with 24-time tennis grand-slam champion Novak Djokovic in attendance at Allianz Stadium.

It was Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari who fashioned the first opportunity, but Nicolas Viola dragged wide from a promising position in the 10th minute.

The hosts responded soon after with Federico Chiesa curling a free-kick harmlessly over before the visitors threatened again when Dossena headed wide from a corner.

Chances remained limited in a tight first half, but Weston McKennie went close to a superb goal on the cusp of half-time.

McKennie started the move deep inside Juventus’ half and got on the end of Kostic’s cross, although he could only flick off target to ensure it stayed goalless at the break.

Allegri’s men came out with better intent after the interval and Chiesa tested Simone Scuffet inside 60 seconds, but the Cagliari goalkeeper was equal to the effort.

Chiesa was in the mood now and sent an ambitious volley over before he rifled wide after a dangerous cross from Kostic.

Kostic’s delivery was beginning to cause the away side problems and the opener finally arrived on the hour mark.

A free-kick from the wing-back picked out Bremer, who powered a header into the far corner for his first goal of the campaign.

One quickly became two when another Kostic set-piece resulted in Rugani bundling the ball into the net from close range in the 70th-minute.

74’ | GOOOOOOOLLL

Dossena accorcia le distanze! #JuventusCagliari 2-1 pic.twitter.com/YIp30Lo8Sy

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) November 11, 2023

The goal was not without controversy after Rugani first diverted Kostic’s corner onto the crossbar with his hand in close proximity before he was able to chest the loose ball in to make it 2-0.

A VAR check allowed the goal to be given, but Cagliari reduced the deficit with 16 minutes left.

Jakub Jankto’s corner was powered home by Dossena to give Ranieri’s side hope of earning their veteran manager his 700th point in Serie A.

There would be no happy ending for Ranieri at the home of his old club Juventus after Dossena’s late header hit a post and Gaetano Oristanio sent another effort wide.