Genoa vs. Juventus: Winners and Losers from Serie A Game

Juventus travelled to Genoa on Wednesday evening, the Italian champions knowing they had opened up a three-point lead over the rest of Serie A. Their 2-0 win over Palermo on Sunday stretched the gap to nearest rivals AS Roma, but the Bianconeri were aware they were facing a difficult opponent.

The Grifone began the day in ninth place, losing just twice so far in 2014-15 and unbeaten in their three previous fixtures. Massimiliano Allegri was prepared for a tough encounter, noting in his pre-match press conference that “Genoa are a team which has lost only once in the last seven games,” per the club’s official website.

The coach went on to add that they “play attractive football, like to attack and show decent movement up front” under former Juve youth team boss Gian Piero Gasperini. With Alessandro Matri telling La Gazzetta dello Sport the Genoa fans would be “a weapon on our side,” (h/t Football Italia), the Bianconeri faced a difficult test.

Eventually that would prove to be the case, the home side netting an injury time winner, leaving the Turin giants hugely disappointed to have failed to meet that challenge. Over the following pages in a look at the winners and losers from the match, focusing on the performances of some key individuals.

Winner: Gigi Buffon (Juventus)

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

The storyline in the build-up to the game was undoubtedly the fact it represented Gigi Buffon’s 500th appearance for Juventus, becoming only the fourth player in history to surpass that milestone. The club captain moved to Turin back in 2001, his £32.6 million transfer fee still a record sum for a goalkeeper.

He enjoyed a relatively quiet match, Genoa rarely getting forward and mustering only three shots on target during the 90 minutes. The result may not have gone his way, but Buffon should still be proud of his incredible achievement.

Winner: Mattia Perin (Genoa)

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

If Buffon deserves credit for his remarkable career, his opposite number draws praise for his performance on the night. Mattia Perin made a string of saves to deny Juventus, turning in an excellent display in front of the Italy legend.

While Gasperini was reluctant to compare the two goalkeepers, he did praise Perin at his pre-match press conference. The Genoa coach told reporters (h/t Football Italia) that the 21-year-old was “a real protagonist in Serie A.”

Winner: Rolando Mandragora (Genoa)

Matej Divizna/Getty Images

While their was a familiar air to the Juventus line-up, Gasperini sprung a major surprise by opting to start Rolando Mandragora in midfield for Genoa. In making his debut against the reigning champions, the 17-year-old became the youngest player to feature in Serie A this term.

He did well too, WhoScored showing he made four tackles and one interception, and won two aerial duels. Certainly a player to watch as the season unfolds, he looks like a promising prospect in midfield.

Loser: Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus)

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Had Perin not been in such great form, Juventus would surely have emerged from this encounter with all three points. Sadly for them he was, and the blame for this defeat is likely to fall upon the shoulders of Massimiliano Allegri.

The Juventus boss has continued to persevere with the 3-5-2 formation so beloved by Antonio Conte, but within that framework the team appears to lack a cutting edge. He switched to a 4-2-3-1 against Palermo and instantly saw a much more potent looking attack, yet retreated for the familiar shape here once again.

The change away from the back three seems essential, and the 47-year-old can expect to be heavily criticised in the coming days.