Dusan Vlahovic and Denis Zakaria: the photograph of their embrace was not just the moment that captured the magic of Juventus-Verona. With each scoring a goal on their debut, they wrote themselves into a chapter of Bianconeri history that was already full of moments of unforgettable emotion produced by illustrious predecessors.
STEPHAN & ARTURO
Two goals from two debut-makers, on the first day of the Stadium. Swiss like Denis Zakaria, Stephan Lichtsteiner, on his first appearance for Juventus, scored a goal that in some way resembled Vlahovic’s, but with Andrea Pirlo rather than Paulo Dybala in the role of playmaker providing the defence-splitting pass. As if that weren’t enough, in the second half against Parma in 2011 another new signing, Artuto Vidal, also put his name on the scoresheet.
MARIO & PAULO
The law of goals and two debut-makers also applied in China. It took Vlahovic thirteen minutes to put his name on the scoreboard, just like Dybala on his debut in Shanghai against Lazio. The Argentine came on in the second half of the Italian Super Cup and with a trademark left-foot shot gave Biancocelesti goalkeeper Federico Marchetti no chance. The opening goal of the 2-0 victory was also scored by another player making his Bianconeri bow, Mario Mandzukic, as Juventus raised the trophy to the Shanghai skies.
CARLOS
The Italian Super Cup, opponents Lazio, a debut and a goal: a combination that also worked for Carlos Tevez, on hand to make his contribution in the 4-0 success in the 2013 final at the Olimpico in Roma - again Marchetti was on the receiving end in the Lazio goal. The Apache became a first-time wonder, leaving his mark on his Serie A at Sampdoria, his first at the Stadium again versus the Biancocelesti.
GONZALO
Speaking of Argentine strikers making debuts to remember, Gonzalo Higuain’s first appearance for Juventus was highly anticipated, and he didn’t disappoint. Higuain scored the decisive goal against Fiorentina just nine minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute and El Pipita celebrated for the first time, and certainly not the last, in the shirt of Juventus.
OMAR & JOHN
Such was the depth of their renown, they had fans dreaming even before they took to the field. Omar Sivori and John Charles did not betray expectations in the summer of ‘57, immediately displaying their finishing prowess. As fate would have it, their debut was also against Verona, in a 3-2 win, with Omar the Argentine scoring the second goal and John the Welshman the third.