14 August 2021
Juve returned to Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening and with them the fans, finally able to take their seats and enjoy the Bianconeri in action. Massimiliano Allegri's men didn't disappoint, as Paulo Dybala, Federico Bernardeschi and Alvaro Morata ensured victory in the final pre-season friendly before the league begins.
PAULO OFF THE MARK
The first goal came just eight minutes in as Cristiano Ronaldo and Federico Chiesa orchestrated a counter-attack and Dybala – named captain for the occasion – finished off the job, sliding in to send the ball into the net via the post. Allegri's attacking trio were looking the part.
MURIEL FROM THE SPOT
Atalanta were the usual tireless runners but Juve's ability to break at pace caused them no end of problems, and another jet-heeled foray forward by Chiesa ended with his shot fizzing just over.
A few minutes later the visitors found an equaliser, Luis Muriel converting from 12 yards after Leo Bonucci had fouled Remo Freuler in the box.
Muriel almost added a second immediately after the restart but was denied by Wojciech Szczesny.
On the half-hour mark the Colombian had another opportunity but failed to find the target, then Szczesny was called into action once more to deny Josip Ilicic.
BERNARDESCHI ROCKET
Juve were putting together some fine moves themselves and five minutes before the interval one of these presented Bernardeschi with a shooting opportunity from 20 yards out. The Italian didn't need asking twice and he unleashed an unstoppable strike to restore Juve's lead heading into the break.
MORATA WRAPS IT UP
Atalanta came out fired up after the interval and before long Matteo Pessina's cross-shot caused a bit of a panic in Bianconeri box.
Juve were soon cutting through Atalanta on the counter-attack again though, as Ronaldo saw an effort saved by Juan Musso.
Dybala and Chiesa were applauded off as Morata and Dejan Kulusevski came on to replace them, followed by Mattia De Sciglio and Weston McKennie, with Bernardeschi and Ronaldo making way.
Atalanta made plenty of changes of their own and the pace inevitably dropped.
Ilicic played in Pessina with a clever ball but Szczesny darted off his line to cut down the angle.
Giorgio Chiellini, 37 today, then replaced Bonucci while Carlo Pinsoglio took Szczesny's place between the sticks.
The third goal came courtesy of Kulusevski and Morata in stoppage time when the Swede set up the Spaniard for the easiest of finishes.
Next week it's the real thing as we start our Serie A campaign with a trip to Udine.
JUVENTUS 3-1 ATALANTA (HT 2-1)
SCORERS: Dybala 8, Muriel 18 (pen), Bernardeschi 39, Morata 90+3.
JUVENTUS
Szczesny (Pinsoglio 83); Cuadrado, Bonucci (Chiellini 70), De Ligt (Rugani 71), Alex Sandrro (Pellegrini 70); Bentancur (Ranocchia 83), Ramsey (Fagioli 79), Bernardeschi (De Sciglio 62); Chiesa (Kulusevski 54), Dybala (Morata 54), Ronaldo (McKennie 62).
Subs not used: Perin, Danilo, De Winter.
Coach: Allegri.
ATALANTA
Musso (Sportiello 84); Palomino (t Scalvini 84), Demiral (Lovato 84), Djimsiti (Toloi 59); Maehle (Sutalo 71), Pessina (Da Riva 84), Freuler (De Roon 59), Gosens (Pezzella 71); Pasalic (Del Prato 84); Ilicic (Piccoli 71), Muriel (Malinovskyi 59).
Sub not used: Rossi.
Coach: Gasperini.
REFEREE: Abisso.
ASSISTANTS: Imperiale, Rossi.
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Bitonti.
BOOKED: Djimsiti 57.
