25 August 2017
STRONG START
The Bianconeri made a confident start to their Serie A campaign, dispatching Cagliari 3-0 in the opening game.
Mario Mandzukic put the home side 1-0 up after 13 minutes, volleying Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross accurately inside the near post.
Cagliari were then awarded a penalty towards the end of the first half via a decision by VAR, however Gianluigi Buffon produced the goods as ever to save from Cagliari’s Diego Farias.
Juventus doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when a superb ball from Miralem Pjanic on the halfway line found Paulo Dybala in space, which La Joya controlled with his chest before unleashing a shot into the roof of the net.
In the second half, a well-worked passing move was finished off by Gonzalo Higuain in space, to hand La Vecchia Signora a commanding win.
GENOA AIM TO IMPROVE
Last season Genoa found themselves finishing in 16th place and avoiding relegation by four points. This time around Il Grifone will be hoping not to have as difficult a term, and will look to coach Ivan Juric as a source of inspiration.
Juric, who was dismissed part-way through the last campaign, was eventually re-instated in April, and ensured the club’s survival after claiming seven points from their last seven games.
Despite the departure of last season’s top-scorer Giovanni Simeone, Genoa have added to their squad, with the most high-profile arrival arguably being AC Milan’s Gianluca Lapadula on loan.
Genoa started their season early with a game against Cesena in the third round of the Coppa Italia, which the Rossoblu won 2-1 after extra-time.
Last weekend they kicked off their Serie A campaign with a 0-0 draw away to Sassuolo.
RECENTLY AGAINST THE ROSSOBLU
Juventus had mixed fortunes against Genoa in the previous campaign. Away from home, Juve went down 3-1, the Rossoblu racing into a 3-0 lead before Miralem Pjanic replied with a free-kick late on.
The Italian champions fared much better in the return fixture however, as Juve took a 3-0 half-time lead of their own, thanks to an own goal, Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic, while Leonardo Bonucci completed the rout in the second half to make it 4-0 to the Bianconeri.
KEY #GENOAJUVE NUMBERS
- Genoa and Juventus have faced each other 100 times in Serie A so far – Juventus have 60 wins, Genoa 20 wins and there have been 20 draws between them.
- In the last 27 games at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, the Bianconeri have won 17, drawn seven, and lost just three.
- Juventus have won the first two league games in five of the last six seasons.
- In 15 of the last 18 seasons, Juventus have won their first away game.
- Stephan Lichtsteiner and Alex Sandro are the only defenders who provided an assist on the opening day of the Serie A season.
- Miralem Pjanic will make his 50th appearance for Juventus if he plays in this game.
- Massimiliano Allegri has faced Genoa 17 times in Serie A and his record stands at 10 wins, two draws and five defeats.
