23 April 2017
Another 90 minutes of clinical football, three goals and three points closer to the Scudetto title.
A superb Juventus performance made light work of Genoa on Sunday night as an own goal from Ezequiel Munoz and further brilliantly taken goals from Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Leonardo Bonucci set up a 33rd consecutive home victory for the champions elect.
Massimiliano Allegri described Sunday’s visit of Genoa as a game that would decide the fate of the Scudetto title, demanding the same intensity and concentration demonstrated four days earlier at Barcelona’s Camp Nou from his team.
A steady start – which saw Giovanni Simeone drag wide of the target after a slip from Bonucci – soon gave way to one of the Bianconeri’s most convincing victories of the campaign, Allegri’s men bulldozing through the Rossoblu at ease.
In truth, there was more than a touch of fortune about the opening goal on 17 minutes of the sort from which only those in top form at the business end of the season are capable of benefitting.
A flighted ball over the top of the Genoa defence was plucked from the air by captain for the night Marchisio whose touch ricocheted off covering defender Munoz and into an empty net to hand the home side a deserved early advantage from which they never looked back.
Juve would add a second no more than a minute later, this time relying rather on the brilliance of Paulo Dybala than lady luck. A sight now familiar to all regulars at Juventus Stadium, the Argentine swivelled on the spot in a packed penalty area to unleash an unstoppable left-footed shot into the corner leaving keeper Eugenio Lamanna stranded.
The Rossoblu stopper was left in the same situation four minutes before the interval. Mandzukic’s usual tenacity carried him to the left side of the danger zone but it was his unerring eye for goal that did the rest.
After an attempted cross had fallen kindly back at his feet, the Croatian steadied himself before smacking a stinging half-volley inside the far post, a timely reminder that, while operating admirably as a left winger for now, the big man is still and will always have a centre-forward’s killer instinct.
On to the second half, and with the Bianconeri in cruise control, it was centre-back Bonucci’s turn to show his own finishing prowess. The number 19’s defensive qualities were there for all to see in Europe in the past few weeks but Juve’s fourth of the night was all about Leo’s ability on the ball.
A confident stride out of defence and a lightning change of pace took him to within shooting distance. A flash of the right boot sent him celebrating towards the corner flag, the ball nestling into the top corner via a minor deflection.
Four almost became five moments later with the Bianconeri cursing the bounce of the ball for the first time; Higuain’s deft lay-off teed up Marchisio to thump a half-volley onto the bar before the Argentine’s own firmly struck effort came off the post.
There was still time for Kwadwo Asamoah to strike the upright himself and Dybala to go close once more after yet another penetrating run, yet the damage had long since been dealt by Juve who continue to remain on course for a spectacular end to the season.
