An impressive midweek win over Napoli has put Juventus in a favorable position in the battle for a top-four finish and Champions League football next season.
On Sunday afternoon at the Allianz Stadium, the Old Lady hosted Genoa, who were unbeaten in their last three Serie A outings prior to the trip to Turin. The defending champions claimed their second win in five days after another impressive attacking display that saw them put three past Genoa.
The game started with Juventus dominating possession from minute one and dictating the tempo, trying to catch Genoa off guard with fast play down the wings. Such a quick start and early pressure down the flanks quickly paid dividends for Juve.
? ?????’? ???? ⚪️⚫️#JuveGenoa #FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/7ptDhbdrwS
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 11, 2021
Juan Cuadrado received the ball deep inside Genoa’s defensive third and did superbly well to beat one of their defenders by turning inside and out. The Colombian then carried the ball a few more yards and squared it to Dejan Kulusevski, who beat Mattia Perin with a brilliant shot into the left side of the net.
After taking the lead, Andrea Pirlo’s men continued to push forward in search of the second goal. Serie A top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo made a good run with the ball, looking for his 26th goal of the season, but his shot from the edge of the penalty box went just wide of the right post.
On the opposite side, it took Genoa almost 15 minutes to find their way into the game and sustain longer periods of possession. The biggest threat came from the left side, where Davide Zappacosta found himself deep in the final third on several occasions, but the Italian left wing-back struggled to create much danger with his teammates barely able to help him.
The visitors’ efforts to find an equalizer were quickly undone as Davide Ballardini’s men were caught off guard out on the break. It began with a fine individual effort from Federico Chiesa, who won the ball back inside Juventus’ half and carried it half the length of the pitch.
The Italian winger got all the way through to the keeper and struck a shot to the left side of the goal, but Perin brilliantly anticipated the direction of the ball and was able to keep it out. Ronaldo reacted quickly to get to the rebound, but his close-range attempt hit the left post and bounced into the path of Alvaro Morata, who finished it with a precise strike into the middle of the net.
The last 15 minutes of the first half saw Juventus in full control they tried to kill the game off with a third goal just before half-time. Two consecutive goal attempts within minutes from Adrian Rabiot and Dejan Kulusevski tested the Genoa goalkeeper once again, but the 28-year-old Italian showed great resilience to deny the Juventus pair.
Nevertheless, on the brink of half-time, Genoa had a glorious chance to get themselves back into the game. Gianluca Scamacca stormed into the box, beat two defenders and produced a fine strike from the penalty spot, but it hit Wojciech Szczesny straight through the middle and the Polish goalkeeper made a comfortable save.
?? Gli undici Grifoni per #JuventusGenoa
— Genoa CFC (@GenoaCFC) April 11, 2021
? Forza Genoa! pic.twitter.com/EpvL6sb4iI
After a solid end to the first half, Ballardini’s side carried their attacking momentum over to the start of the second period, and it immediately benefited the visitors from Genoa.
Nicolo Rovella sent in a great cross from the corner that reached Gianluca Scamacca completely unmarked. The Genoa striker connected with the ball cleanly and finished it into the top left corner, giving Szczesny no chance.
After scoring an early goal in the opening exchanges of the second half, Genoa grew in confidence and had a wonderful chance to level the score.
Marko Pjaca received a precise pass inside Juventus penalty area and attempted to place the ball towards the roof of the net, but his strike went just over the bar, much to the relief of the Bianconeri.
If you do not take your chances, you get punished – a golden rule of football that can be applied to the circumstances of this game.
The substitute Weston McKennie received a delightful through ball from Danilo, with Genoa trying to play the American into the offside trap, but the midfielder did brilliantly to stay onside and showed a top-class composure by firing the shot into the right side of the net, which wrapped up all three points for the hosts.
? ???️?? ?????????⚽️? ?#JuveGenoa #FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/apAJRwatyq
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 11, 2021
MATCH REPORT
April 11, 2021 – Serie A 2020-21 Round 30
JUVENTUS-GENOA 3-1
SCORERS: 4′ Kulusevski (J), 22′ Morata (J), 49′ Scamacca (G), 70′ McKennie (J)
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JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Szczesny; Cuadrado, De Ligt, Chiellini, Danilo; Chiesa (75′ Arthur), Bentancur, Rabiot (84′ Ramsey), Kulusevski (68′ McKennie); Morata, Cristiano Ronaldo (Buffon, Pinsoglio, Alex Sandro, Demiral, Di Pardo, Dragusin, Dybala, Fagioli, Frabotta) Coach: Pirlo |
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GENOA (3-5-2): Perin; Masiello, Radovanovic, Criscito; Zappacosta, Behrami (46′ Pjaca), Badelj, Rovella (62′ Zajc), Biraschi; Pandev, Scamacca (70′ Melegoni) (Marchetti, Paleari, Destro, Ghiglione, Goldaniga, Onguene, Shomurodov, Zapata) Coach: Ballardini |
REFEREE: Mr. Di Bello from Brindisi
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Cuadrado, Kulusevski, Alex Sandro (J), Behrami, Rovella, Criscito (G); Extra Time: 1st Half 0′, 2nd Half 4′