Juventus won their first friendly under Max Allegri, beating Cesena 3-1, as the coach told Weston McKennie he has to ‘score 10 goals this season.’
The Bianconeri starting XI was packed with youngsters and players who probably won’t be in Turin once the campaign kicks off.
Allegri had dropped Gianluca Frabotta, Nicolò Fagioli and Alessandro Di Pardo as punishment for turning up late to a training session, while Luca Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala were injured.
The first goal of the pre-season was scored by 19-year-old defender Koni De Winter, who has been linked with a loan move to Club Brugge, on a McKennie assist.
Felix Correia forced a save moments later and then created a chance that Marko Pjaca missed horribly at the back post.
McKennie doubled Juve’s lead with a splendid solo effort, as he flicked up the ball on the edge of the box, dribbled between defenders and drilled into the bottom corner.
Allegri was certainly impressed and from the touchline was heard shouting: ‘You’ve got to score 10 goals this season!’
Cesena got one back when Mattia Perin only parried the Shpendi effort from close range back into his path, but McKennie went off at half-time and was spotted with strapping to his knee as he watched from the touchline.
Juve switched to a three-man defence in the second half, Pjaca again trying to over-complicate simple chances, but Matias Soulé capped off an impressive display with a goal, aided by a big deflection.
Alejandro Marques thumped the woodwork after combining with Hamza Rafia.
Juventus: Perin (Pinsoglio 46); De Winter (Demiral 46), Dragusin (Hajdari 67), Rugani (Mule 76), De Sciglio (Stramaccioni 73); McKennie (Peeters 46), Miretti (Rafia 58), Ranocchia (Clemenza 73); Soulé (Marques 67), Pjaca (Ake 67), Felix Correia (Brighenti 58)
FT |⏱| First friendly ✅ First win 💯#JuveCesena (3-1) #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/zmaq3MiiGc
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 24, 2021