Kenan Yildiz made history with a sensational solo goal before Weston McKennie and Nico Gonzalez completed the rout, as Juventus crushed PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in the Champions League opener.
The Bianconeri needed a boost to begin their European campaign after back-to-back 0-0 Serie A draws, although they had yet to concede this season. Francisco Conceicao and Arkadiusz Milik were injured, with Weston McKennie chosen ahead of Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuram in midfield. The Dutch side missed ex-Napoli man Hirving Lozano, Armando Obispo, Fredrik Oppegard and long-term absentee Sergiño Dest. Goalkeeper Walter Benitez had to leave for the birth of his child, so Joel Drommel took the gloves.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Joey Veerman fired straight at Michele Di Gregorio and Guus Til volleyed off target early on, while Matteo Dams made a decisive block to prevent Nico Gonzalez’s diving header on an Andrea Cambiaso cross.
Juve took the lead thanks to a moment of pure magic from Kenan Yildiz. The 19-year-old’s hero is Alessandro Del Piero and it was a goal worthy of that legend, cutting inside from the left and curling right-footed in off the inside of the far top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance. He also became the youngest Juve player to score in the Champions League at 19 years and 136 days, overtaking Del Piero’s record of 20 years and 308 days against Borussia Dortmund in September 1995.
Kenan Yıldız gets his first Champions League goal with an INCREDIBLE strike to give Juventus the lead against PSV 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/AN7McIkHc3
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 17, 2024
It could’ve been 2-0 moments later, but first Drommel stuck out a leg to deny McKennie’s first-time finish, then the move continued and Teun Koopmeiners volleyed wide of the far post.
That was only a warning, as McKennie did score soon after when Nico Gonzalez battled to get away from Dams and the assist was touched on by Dusan Vlahovic to find the American unmarked from eight yards.
Weston McKennie gets another for Juventus to give them a 2-0 lead over PSV 😮💨
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/JmMKyHPqMc
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 17, 2024
There was a third after the break, as Koopmeiners won it back in midfield and Vlahovic flashed a ball across from the left for Nico Gonzalez, who had enough time and space to take a touch before beating the goalkeeper at the far post.
Juventus are in cruise control now 👀
Nicolas Gonzalez gives them a 3-0 lead over PSV 📈
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/P53cQ4FJ12
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 17, 2024
Michele Di Gregorio was right behind a couple of Ismael Saibari efforts from distance, while Drommel came flying out to use his body against the Vlahovic tap-in from Koopmeiners low cross.
Saibari did eventually score the first goal Juventus have conceded this season with the last kick of the game, gathering from Johan Bakayoko and drilling under the goalkeeper.
Juventus 3-1 PSV Eindhoven
Yildiz 21 (J), McKennie 27 (J), Nico Gonzalez 52 (J), Saibari 93 (P)
Player statistic
| Christian Pulisic (Assist: Álvaro Morata) |
 |
3' | ||
| Davide Calabria |  |
22' | ||
| 23' | |
Ibrahima Konaté (Assist: Trent Alexander-Arnold) | ||
| Youssouf Fofana | |
31' | ||
| 41' | |
Virgil van Dijk (Assist: Konstantinos Tsimikas) |
| 53' | |
Alexis Mac Allister | ||
| 67' | |
Dominik Szoboszlai (Assist: Cody Gakpo) | ||
| 80' | |
Ibrahima Konaté |
Match statistic
DV9 is the biggest problem, relegation team level, to say the best
More points for Serie A. Now lose against Giallorossi.
Sorry, I mean against Conte.