17 August 2017
The annual Villar Perosa curtain-raising friendly was full of sun, fun and Bianconeri, but no goals in the far northwest of Italy. Both Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain would hit the woodwork for Juventus, but after 50 minutes, the fans flooded the pitch as tradition and the match would end 0-0.
The first chance of a one-sided half fell to Juventus A as Mandzukic nearly headed home a cross from Mattia De Sciglio in the 10th minute. Next it was Federico Bernardeschi’s turn to get in on the action as he broke into the box but was denied by Primavera goalkeeper Mattia De Favero.
Juventus A were just inches away from taking the lead in the 22nd minute as Mandzukic rose to head a cross from De Sciglio off the post.
At the half-hour mark, Massimiliano Allegri made wholesale changes bringing on an almost entirely new lineup and it was a member of that new formation that perhaps came closest of the half.
Higuain found his way into the box, cut on to his left foot and sent an effort that easily beat Del Favero, but crashed off the crossbar in the 32nd minute as the match remained scoreless through half-time.
Just five minutes into the second half, the Villar Perosa crowd couldn’t wait any longer to have some fun and the pitch quickly became invaded with many of the nearly 5,000 Bianconeri in attendance abandoning the match.
Juventus now turn their sights to the beginning of the Serie A season as Allegri’s men open the 2017/18 campaign on Saturday at the Allianz Stadium against Cagliari.
