Juventus started slowly but soon took control of their season opener, scoring three goals against Sassuolo with Dusan Vlahovic and Angel Di Maria on the scoresheet.
Juventus
Perin: Kept busy in the first half, making a couple of handy saves and was often tested from range. Solid on the set-pieces and looked in control, making a great stop 1 v 1 on Pinamonti. 7.0/10
Danilo: Pushed forward at regular intervals to put pressure on the Sassuolo backline and looked a real threat when linking up with the Juve attackers. 6.5/10
Bremer: Seemed untroubled, slotting into De Ligt’s role and immediately had a good command of the Sassuolo attacking threat. Great interceptions and clearances. A beast. 7.0/10
Bonucci: Dictated well from deep with some nice crosses and marshalled the back line with real control. 6.5/10
Sandro: Good early movement, fired in a great cross that Vlahovic put over, but his second ball was expertly converted by Di Maria. A vintage Sandro display. 7.0/10
Cuadrado: A little off the pace at times but had a decent attempt on goal at the end of the first half and grew into the game. 6.5/10
Zakaria: Looked a little static in the first half but was better in the second as Juve controlled things better. Unfortunate to come off injured. 6.0/10
Locatelli: Some good early passes but a needless yellow card that could have been avoided. Good distribution but still the feeling he could be better further up the pitch. 6.0/10
McKennie: Made some very decent runs into the box to create some half chances but still lacks in decision making in the opposition half. 6.0/10
Di Maria: Constantly moving and got his reward with the opening goal. Capitalised on a Sassuolo mistake to set up Dusan for the third. Scintillating. 7.5/10
Vlahovic: A few half chances in the opening ’45 and finally took his opportunity from the spot to double Juve’s lead. Right place, right time to put Juve three up and looked a menace throughout. 8.0/10
Substitutions:
Kostic: Made his presence felt right from his introduction with some quick runs down the flank and in support of Vlahovic. 6.0/10
De Sciglio: Came on and immediately bought some surprising touches and a little flair. 6.0/10
Miretti: Got a solid 30 mins to make an impact and perhaps should have done better when he got in the box. 6.0/10
Rovella: A solid little cameo N/A
Soule: A solid little cameo N/A
Sassuolo
Consigli: Weathered the early pressure but could have done better on the goal. Made a decent stop to deny Cuadrado but could do nothing on Vlahovic’s 2nd. 6.0/10
Muldur: Injured early on. N/A
Ayhan: Tested Perin from distance in the first half but made a dreadful mistake to let Juve in for the third. 5.0/10
Ferrari: A solid presence in the opening exchanges but was all at sea on the Vlahovic penalty. 5.0/10
Rogerio: Made some important runs into the Juve box but nothing to create a real threat. 6.0/10
Frattesi: Hard working and combative sort of opening ’45 mins for the midfielder and he was at the heart of their midfield threat. 6.5/10
Henrique: Quiet opening half but tested Perin from distance early in the second. 6.0/10
Thorstvedt: Restricted to shots from distance which didn’t really trouble the Juve backline. 5.5/10
Berardi: Relatively quiet apart from one shot from distance in the opening half and a decent cross for Defrel which should have been converted. 6.0/10
Defrel: Had a decent connection with Berardi’s cross and probably should have done better. 5.5/10
Kyriakopoulous: Struggled to really impose himself on the Juve backline and faded out of the match. 6.0/10
Substitutions:
Toljan: One of the better channels of attack for Sassuolo with his runs down the flank. 6.0/10
Pinamonti: Probably should have done better when 1 v 1 with Perin. 5.5/10
Raspadori: Replaced Defrel but failed to make any kind of telling impact. 5.0/10
Ceide: N/A
Harroui: N/A
