Juventus secured their second consecutive victory at the start of the Serie A season, overcoming Genoa with a 1-0 win. Dusan Vlahovic's decisive header proved to be the difference, continuing Igor Tudor's positive influence on the team.
The Serbian striker, Vlahovic, has been subject to transfer speculation in recent months, with Newcastle United and Atletico Madrid reportedly interested in acquiring his services. Despite the rumours, Vlahovic showcased his importance to Juventus, coming off the bench to secure the victory at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris. This win builds upon Juventus's 2-0 triumph over Parma the previous week.
The first half was a tightly contested affair with limited clear-cut opportunities. Juventus struggled to register a shot on target until the 41st minute when Federico Gatti tested Genoa's goalkeeper, Nicola Leali. Moments later, Leali was called into action again, denying Kenan Yildiz with a crucial save. Genoa nearly capitalized on the rebound, but Jonathan David's shot sailed over the bar, ensuring the teams entered halftime level.
Genoa emerged with renewed vigour after the break, and Mikael Ellertsson was presented with a golden opportunity to put his side ahead. However, Bremer's timely intervention prevented Ellertsson from breaking the deadlock. Juventus, seeking to inject fresh impetus into their attack, made a triple substitution in the 62nd minute, including Vlahovic. The change proved instrumental as Vlahovic connected with a pinpoint corner from his international teammate, Filip Kostic, to head home the decisive goal.
Genoa almost snatched a late equaliser in the dying moments of stoppage time, but Patrizio Masini's header struck the crossbar, denying them a point. Juventus's victory sees them join Napoli and Roma at the top of the Serie A table with the maximum number of points.
Data Debrief: Vlahovic's Impressive Start
Juventus's strong defensive start to the season, with two clean sheets in their opening two matches, marks a significant achievement. The last time they accomplished this feat was in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, both of which saw them finish top of the table, although those titles were later revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal.
Since Igor Tudor took charge, Juventus have demonstrated remarkable consistency, losing only one of their 11 Serie A matches (against Parma in April), while winning seven and drawing three.
Vlahovic's goalscoring record in August is also noteworthy. He has now scored 11 goals in 14 Serie A appearances during the month, showcasing his ability to perform consistently early in the season.
Among players with at least 10 Serie A appearances in August during the three-points-for-a-win era, Vlahovic boasts the highest goals-per-game ratio, averaging 0.79 goals per game. This statistic highlights his efficiency and clinical finishing in front of goal, making him a valuable asset for Juventus.
This victory underlines Juventus's ambition to compete at the highest level and marks a promising start to the season under Tudor's guidance. With Vlahovic in fine form, Juventus will be confident of maintaining their momentum and challenging for the Serie A title.
