Juventus finally broke their scoring drought as Dusan Vlahovic netted twice and Francisco Conceicao added a late goal to secure a 3-0 victory against Genoa at an empty Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
The match was played behind closed doors due to recent fan violence, but that didn’t stop the Bianconeri from putting on a show. After three consecutive goalless draws, Juventus came out determined to find the back of the net.
The first half remained goalless, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances. However, the game sprung to life immediately after the break when Koni De Winter handled the ball in the box. Vlahovic stepped up and emphatically converted the penalty, ending Juventus’ 5-hour goal drought in Serie A.
The Serbian striker wasn’t done yet. He doubled Juventus’ lead with a powerful left-footed drive into the far corner after shrugging off defender Mattia Bani. This goal showcased Vlahovic’s strength and finishing ability, reminding everyone of his potential.
Genoa, already struggling with injuries, rarely threatened the Juventus goal. Their best chance came late in the game when Andrea Pinamonti forced a flying save from Mattia Perin.
The victory was sealed in the closing stages when Francisco Conceicao, making his return from injury, fired home from inside the penalty area after a clever dummy from Teun Koopmeiners.
This win will come as a relief to Juventus manager Thiago Motta, who had been under pressure due to the team’s recent goal-scoring struggles. The performance of Vlahovic, in particular, will be encouraging as the Bianconeri look to climb up the Serie A table.
For Genoa, this defeat adds to their woes in what has been a challenging start to the season. They’ll need to regroup quickly as they aim to distance themselves from the relegation zone in the coming weeks.
Goals: Vlahovic pen 48, 55 (J), Conceicao 89 (J)
Genoa (3-5-2): Gollini; De Winter, Bani (85′ Sabelli), Vasquez; Zanoli, Frendrup, Badelj (26′ Bohinen), Miretti (69′ Kasa), Ahanor (69′ Matturro); Pinamonti, Vitinha (69′ Vitinha).
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Perin; Danilo, Kalulu (74′ Savona), Bremer, Rouhi (74′ Cambiaso); McKennie (62′ Douglas Luiz), Fagioli; Nico Gonzalez (62′ Conceiçao), Koopmeiners, Yildiz (74′ Thuram); Vlahovic.
