17 September 2024
It was good. Great, in fact.
Juve are off to a great start in their 2024/25 Champions League campaign after beating PSV Eindhoven, who returned to the Netherlands after conceding three goals. On this night, the star of Kenan Yildiz shined bright, as he played a fantastic game and scored a goal in his debut. It’s the stuff dreams are made of. Other noteworthy performances were excellent games by Weston McKennie and, very deservedly, by Nico Gonzalez, also making his debut for Juventus in European competition.
But let’s go in order.
FIRST HALF: NOTHING BUT JUVE
Excitement abounded at the Allianz Stadium during the Champions League anthem, which - as Locatelli said yesterday in the press conference - we can finally hear there again. So did caution, as PSV arrived in Turin with an aggressive playing philosophy.
The game started on equal footing, with both teams trying to find a rhythm. The visiting team was the first to prove dangerous. In the 7th minute, Joey Veerman tried a shot from outside the box, but Michele Di Gregorio was ready and pushed it aside without difficulty.
The Bianconeri began to push with greater intensity, and in the 10th minute the first real chance for Juventus came with a cross from Pierre Kalulu to Gonzalez, but the PSV defence managed to neutralise the attack. Shortly afterwards, at the 19 minute mark, Andrea Cambiaso served Gonzalez another dangerous cross, but Matteo Dams managed to clear it in time.
THEN CAME KENAN
The first goal came in the 20th minute. And we can call it an epiphany.
Kenan Yildiz received the ball and, with a splendid finish, sent the ball from the inside of his foot to the upper-right corner, beating the PSV goalkeeper and putting the Bianconeri ahead 1-0.
If it reminds you of anything, you are not the only one.
JUVE PRESSES AGAIN
The second goal came just seven minutes later, at the 27th minute: McKennie took advantage of fine hold-up play by Dusan Vlahovic after a great play by Gonzales and beat Joel Drommel from a few steps, putting the Bianconeri up 2-0. Thiago Motta's team began to manage the two-score advantage, keeping control of the game and not risking much.
At the end of the first half, PSV tried to reorganise, but Juventus managed to defend neatly, lowering their pace and keeping the ball away from their own area. Not only that: Teun Koopmeiners was close to scoring a third in the 45th minute, with the ball going just wide and the first half ending in a deserved 2-0 advantage.
RECOVERY AND JUVE ALL THE WAY
It started again with another goal from a rookie: Nico Gonzalez, in the 52nd minute. After a perfect ball recovery by Koopmeiners, it was Vlahovic who provided the decisive assist for Nico, who beat Drommel with a precise right-footer, extending the Bianconeri's lead to 3-0.
The match then entered a more controlled phase, with Juventus administering ball possession without conceding space to their opponents. In the 62nd minute, PSV made the first substitutions, with Lang and Saibari coming in to freshen up the attack, but the Juventus defence was solid. Juve, for its part, began to rotate its men: Nicolo Fagioli and Timothy Weah took over from Yildiz and Gonzalez, respectively, who received a well-deserved and warm standing ovation from the Stadium crowd.
Despite a few attempts by the Dutch, such as Ismael Saibari's shot in the 74th minute, well saved by Di Gregorio, Juventus maintained their supremacy. In the 87th minute, it was Vlahovic again who came close to scoring the fourth goal with a shot on an assist from Fagioli, which just missed its target.
Near the end of the match, in the 92nd minute, PSV managed to shorten the gap, as Saibari scored the only goal for the guests.
And this goal is the only “flaw” that kept Juve from their fifth consecutive clean sheet. But little harm was done. The debut was practically perfect, and now the focus is on Napoli, who arrive here in a few days.
JUVENTUS 1 - 3 PSV EINDHOVEN
Goals: 21' Yildiz (J), 27' McKennie (J), 52' Gonzalez (J), 90+3' Saibari (P)
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Gatti (57' Danilo), Cambiaso; McKennie (75' Douglas Luiz), Locatelli (57' K.Thuram); Gonzalez (69' Weah), Koopmeiners, Yildiz (69' Fagioli); Vlahovic.
Coach: Thiago Motta
PSV Eindhoven: Drommel; Ledezma (86' Nagalo), Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams (77' Mauro Junior); Schouten, Veerman (62' Saibari); Bakayoko, Til (62' Lang), Tillman; De Jong (77' Pepi).
Coach: Peter Bosz
Referee: Alejandro Hernandez (Spain)
NEXT MATCH: Juventus-Napoli
Serie A
Saturday, 21 September 2024 at 18:00
Allianz Stadium
