What a performance by Juve.
For the second time in seven days, the Bianconeri end the match with three goals to their name, three points, and an impressive statistic: Thiago Motta's side has faced the fewest shots on their goal (one) out of any team in the top five main European leagues so far this season.
And more fantastic news: rather than Dusan Vlahovic, who is used to putting the ball in the back of the net, scoring a brace, the second goal has been awarded to Nicolò Savona. He becomes the second Juve player in a row to score on their debut; after Samuel Mbangula found the net against Como, Savona does the same in Verona.
THE FIRST HALF
It was a tough match at the Bentegodi against a Verona side full on confidence following their 3-0 win away at Napoli on the opening day of the season. It took Juve a few minutes to get into gear and some wayward passes out from the back led to some chances for the Scaligeri, who threatened to open the scoring. In the 14th minute, Mosquera attempted to open up the Juventus defence with a back-heel but Bremer read it well and was on hand to snuff out the danger.
The Bianconeri rallied well and in the 18th minute Manuel Locatelli saw his strike from range saved by Montipò and then just four minutes later Kenan Yildiz was also denied.
DUSAN MAGIC AS JUVENTUS LEAD GOING INTO THE BREAK
Juventus found their rhythm as the half went on and created more and more opportunities as half-time edged nearer. The Bianconeri pressed well, battled hard in duels, were compact defensively and expansive when in possession. They thought they had broken the deadlock through Savona but the goal was ruled out for offside.
SPOILER: watch out for Nicolò Savona, we'll talk about him again in a moment.
In the 28th minute Juve went ahead: Locatelli won back possession and worked a great ball out to Yildiz who found Vlahovic on the edge of the box. Vlahovic showed excellent control under pressure before quickly moving it onto his left foot and firing past a helpless Montipò. One-Nil.
Juve controlled the game well and seemed to be enjoying themselves. In the 39th minute, Andrea Cambiaso found Mbangula who stood the ball up to the back post where Savona was waiting to guide his header home, and this one counts. It is quickly becoming a habit for Juve debutants to get on the scoresheet.
THE SECOND PERIOD AS JUVE NET A THIRD
The match continued in the same vein in the second period, with Juve fighting hard in every challenge and Juan Cabal, who had an excellent evening, always on hand to provide support for his teammates, whilst Mbangula was at times unplayable on the left wing.
It was one of Mbangula’s moments of magic that led to Juve winning a penalty in the 52nd minute, as the winger burst into the penalty area before being brought down by Tchatchoua. Vlahovic stepped up and tucked away the penalty to put Juve 3-0 up for the second match in a row.
Juve were now in total control of the game and could afford to take a breather: on the 61st minute, however, Yildiz tried to score a fourth, bearing down on goal before being denied by Montipò.
As the game neared its end Verona pushed for a consolation goal but Juve’s defence stood strong, thanks in part to the magnificent efforts of Locatelli in midfield in front of them. There were only two moments where Verona looked as though they might find a goal; in the 81st minute when Bremer made a last ditch tackle to prevent Harroui in the area, and then two minutes later when Michele Di Gregorio did well to keep out Tchatchoua’s deflected cross off of Federico Gatti.
That brought the game to an end, Juventus return triumphant 3-0 winners from their trip to Verona, with the same smiles on their faces as last Monday. The race has only just begun, but we are very much in it.
THE TABLE
VERONA-JUVENTUS 0-3
Scorers: 28‘ Vlahovic, 39’ Savona, 53’ Vlahovic
Verona: Montipò; Tchatchoua, Coppola, Dawidowicz, Magnani (56’ Frese); Belahyane, Duda (85’ Silva); Livramento (56’ Alidou), Suslov, Lazovic (64’ st Harroui); Mosquera (56’ Tengstedt). Coach. Zanetti.
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Savona (77’ Kalulu), Bremer, Gatti (85’ Danilo), Cabal (77’ Rouhi); Locatelli, Fagioli; Cambiaso (85’ Anghele), Yildiz, Mbangula (68’ Douglas Luiz); Vlahovic. Coach: Thiago Motta.
Referee: Antonio Giua
Booked: 52‘ Tchatchoua, 52’ Duda