After a third successive 0-0 draw Juventus were trying everything to get their attack firing properly again. They travelled to Genoa this afternoon to try and end their scoring drought. Whatever Motta did in training this week obviously worked as they came away with a comprehensive 0-3 win as the goals flow again for Juventus.
Bizzare Build Up
The game was played behind closed doors after violent clashes between Genoa and Sampdoria supporters during the week that saw 8 arrests made. The Rossoblu lost that Coppa Italia game on penalties so their was plenty of motivation to get back to winning ways.
In a bizzare turn of events a fire started in the VAR room pre-game at the Luigi Ferraris stadium. While talk of the game being postponed died down it was still unclear if referee Andrea Colombo would be able to use the pitchside monitor.
Covid-escque First Half
This was the throwback to Covid no one wanted, the referee’s whistle piercing the silence to start this duel.
Genoa won a free kick just outside the area five minutes in but ex-Juve man Fabio Miretti smacked his shot against the wall.
Juventus enjoyed the majority of posession while Genoa sat back but, as is becoming habit, struggled to break down the opposition.
The Genoa midfield took a hit with 24 minutes on the clock when captain Milan Badelj pulled a muscle and had to be replaced by Emil Bohinen.
The Bianconeri took encouragment from this and created a handful of half chances. Kenan Yildiz and Nico Gonzalez put in dangerous crosses from opposite wings but nobody was there to put them away.
This was a slight improvement by Thiago Motta’s men but they were still blunt in attack going into the break.
Vlahovic Vanquishes Genoa
Juventus got the break they were hoping for two minutes into the second half when they were awarded a penalty. Koni De Winter obviously handled the ball to take it out of Yildiz’s path and the referee was well placed to see the action.
He pointed to the spot and Dusan Vlahovic stepped up to blast Juve in front and get their first league goal since August.
The Bianconeri kicked on from there. With 55 minutes on the clock Vlahovic doubled their lead as he took on a brilliant crossfield ball from Teun Koopmeiners with one touch and found the corner with his left foot. Suddenly it was all coming together for Juventus.
Without their fans present Genoa lacked the fight needed to get back into the game and were chasing shadows for large portions of the game.
Motta was confident enough to make two changes with half an hour to play, Douglas Luiz and Francisco Conceicao being introduced.
Conceicao Makes His Mark
The latter immediately caused trouble out wide, putting in a great ball that Koopmeiners smacked against the underside of the crossbar from close range.
With a lot of tired bodies on the pitch the home side made a triple substitution with twenty minutes remaining but none of those introduced could make a mark.
Képhran Thuram also had a cameo, heading a corner over after coming on with 15 to play. Vlahovic also headed off target as he hunted for his hat-trick.
Goals Flow Again for Juventus
A late surge from Genoa saw a Bohinen shot blocked and a fantastic save from Mattia Perin on a well-struck Andrea Pinamonti effort. It was only the second save he had to make all afternoon.
Juventus wanted to put the cherry on top and with a minute left Conceicao did just that when he drifted in off the right to confidently stroke home a Thuram pass. The Portuguese attacker put in a great performance today and got the goal he deserved.
Motta will be a relieved man as the goals flow again for Juventus in Serie A. He’ll be hoping this wasn’t a one-off from Vlahovic either as both team and player look to build momentum.