Massimiliano Allegri’s “short-nosed” approach has officially been put to rest as Juventus continues to impress. Following their three-goal display against Como, the club replicated that performance against Verona, thanks to a brace from Dusan Vlahovic—one of which was a penalty—and a goal from the young debutant, Savona. With six goals in two matches and a solid defensive record under goalkeeper Di Gregorio, Juventus sits alone at the top of the Serie A table.
Although we are still in August, it’s clear that the team has undergone a significant transformation over the past couple of months, changing in coaching style, philosophy, and player personnel—many of whom are unavailable due to injuries and last-minute signings. This upward trend will need to be confirmed in their upcoming big match against Roma on Sunday. Meanwhile, Verona, despite their previous excitement against Napoli, faced a tough defeat against the Old Lady.
Coach Paolo Zanetti opted to play Mosquera as the central striker, while Thiago Motta gave a chance to young Savona in defense for his first Serie A start. Mbangula was also retained in a three-man defense alongside Yildiz and Cambiaso, stationed behind Vlahovic. The game started slowly, likely influenced by the sweltering conditions at Bentegodi, but began to spark into life thanks to Manuel Locatelli’s long-range effort after 15 minutes. Verona’s goalkeeper, Montipò, was on alert, which allowed Juventus to gain confidence with both their possession and pressing.
It wasn’t long before Juventus took the lead, with Locatelli’s critical interception in midfield leading to a swift counter-attack. After dispossessing Duda, Locatelli found Vlahovic in the box, who coolly slotted the ball past Montipò with his left foot. Juventus’ first goal seemed to liberate the players, while Verona struggled to recover. The second goal came just before halftime, following a beautiful team move featuring Locatelli, Savona, Cambiaso, and Mbangula, resulting in Savona’s powerful header from Mbangula’s cross. Vlahovic, showing his team spirit, was quick to credit the goal to Savona, marking a perfect debut for the young talent.
Juventus’ quick one-two punch left Verona without a shot on target as they went into the break. Any hope of a comeback for the visitors was dashed early in the second half when Tchatchoua fouled Mbangula in the box, resulting in a penalty. Vlahovic converted from the spot, adding to his tally and pushing Juventus further ahead.
Although Zanetti made three substitutions to try to shift the momentum with players like Frese, Tengstedt, and Alidou, Juventus retained control of the game. The introduction of playmaker Douglas Luiz, along with other new faces like Kalulu and Danilo, helped manage the final stage of the match. Although Luiz is still adjusting to life in Turin, and newcomers like Nico Gonzalez and Conceicao have yet to feature, Juventus fans have every reason to feel optimistic about the season ahead. With more signings, including Koopmeiners reportedly on the way, the enthusiasm around the club is growing stronger.