Juventus made a strong statement in their Champions League return, defeating PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in their opening match of the group stage. The Italian giants, who had been held to two consecutive scoreless draws in Serie A, found their attacking form in spectacular fashion.
The highlight of the night came from 19-year-old Kenan Yildiz, who opened the scoring with a goal reminiscent of Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero. Cutting in from the left, Yildiz curled a stunning right-footed shot into the top corner, becoming the youngest Juventus player to score in the Champions League at 19 years and 136 days.
Weston McKennie doubled Juventus’ lead before halftime, capitalizing on good work from Dusan Vlahovic and Nico Gonzalez. The American midfielder finished from close range after a well-worked team move.
Nico Gonzalez added a third goal after the break, calmly slotting home after being set up by Vlahovic. The goal showcased Juventus’ improved attacking fluidity under new manager Thiago Motta.
PSV, who entered the match in excellent domestic form, struggled to break down a resolute Juventus defense. The Dutch side managed to score a consolation goal through Ismael Saibari in the final moments, ending Juventus’ run of clean sheets this season.
The result puts Juventus in a strong position in their Champions League group, with Motta’s tactics and the emergence of young talents like Yildiz providing optimism for their European campaign. PSV, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly as they face a challenging path in the competition’s new expanded format.
Goals: Yildiz 21 (J), McKennie 27 (J), Nico Gonzalez 52 (J), Saibari 93 (P)
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti (dal 57′ Danilo), Bremer, Cambiaso; Locatelli (dal 57′ Thuram), McKennie (dal 75′ Douglas Luiz); Nico Gonzalez (dal 69′ Fagioli), Koopmeiners, Yildiz (dal 69′ Weah); Vlahovic.
PSV (4-3-3): Drommel; Ledezma (dall’86’ Nagalo), Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams (dal 77′ Mauro Junior); Til (dal 62′ Lang), Schouten, Veerman (dal 62′ Saibari); Bakayoko, L. De Jong (dal 77′ Pepi), Tillman.
