Genoa vs. Juventus: Winners and Losers from Serie A Game
Juventus travelled to Genoa on Sunday afternoon, the Bianconeri in the unfamiliar position of needing a first Serie A win some four weeks into the season. They would do just that, however, comfortably seeing off Gian Piero Gasperini’s men 2-0 and finally getting their title defence properly underway.
The visitors were undoubtedly boosted by an impressive midweek victory, collecting all three points in a difficult encounter with Manchester City. Speaking after the game, Alvaro Morata told reporters that he believed the Champions League result should provide the spark they had lost in their previous few outings.
“The most important thing is that we got the win we dearly needed, and that gives us something to build upon,” the Spanish striker said, per the club’s official website. “Our season begins now.”
He was proven correct, with Genoa providing little resistance to Massimiliano Allegri’s side. What follows is a look at the winners and losers from this clash, highlighting the best and worst performances from both teams.
Winner: Paul Pogba (Juventus)
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Over the first few games, Paul Pogba had looked a little out of sorts, failing to match the impact he had previously been able to provide for the Juventus midfield. Massimiliano Allegri believed that came as a result of attempting to take on too much responsibility after a summer of upheaval.
“In the end, Pogba is a 22-year-old guy,” the coach said at a recent press conference. “A 22-year-old cannot act and play like a 30-year-old. So he must play as he knows how to play and exploit his skills, of which he has many.”
On Sunday he would do just that, forcing Genoa goalkeeper Eugenio Lamanna into conceding an own goal to break the deadlock, then doubling Juve’s advantage with a confidently taken penalty.
Loser: Armando Izzo (Genoa)
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While Pogba was everywhere here, it was an afternoon to forget for Armando Izzo, as the Genoa defender endured a horrible outing against the reigning champions. The 23-year-old was shown his first yellow card shortly before the half-hour mark and was subsequently sent off after 43 minutes for pulling down Juan Cuadrado.
According to statistics from WhoScored.com, Izzo failed to register a single tackle or interception but committed four fouls before the referee gave him his marching orders and effectively ended the game as a contest.
Winner: Mario Lemina (Juventus)
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Playing alongside Pogba and Stefano Sturaro in midfield, Sunday saw Mario Lemina make his debut for Juventus. The Frenchman arrived from Marseille on transfer deadline day, and the Bianconeri appear to have another fine young player in their midst after he turned in an impressive display.
Shielding the defence well, Lemina anchored the side and played with a maturity beyond his years, while also showing how the team might look when Sami Khedira returns from injury to fulfill the same role.
Loser: Simone Zaza (Juventus)
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While Lemina’s fine debut deserves much praise, sadly the same cannot be said of Simone Zaza, the striker also making his first appearance for Juventus against Genoa.
Brought on in place of Mario Mandzukic, he was given just 10 minutes to show his ability but failed to do so in what should have been comfortable circumstances.
Despite the visitors being two goals ahead against 10 men, Zaza managed to pick up a needless booking and incensed his coach, Massimiliano Allegri remonstrating with his player after a particularly wasteful shot.
The Bianconeri need him to rediscover the form he showed at Sassuolo as quickly as possible, and with three competitions to play for, there will hopefully be plenty more opportunities for him to do just that.
Winner: Juan Cuadrado (Juventus)
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For the third straight match, Juan Cuadrado was vital to Juventus, his running with and without the ball causing endless problems for the opposition defence. He also worked hard defensively, turning in the kind of display that Chelsea never seemed to draw from him during his short stint at Stamford Bridge.
His presence in Turin affords Allegri the kind of tactical flexibility he did not have last term, providing the versatility to play in a number of roles and in a number of different formations.
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