It was the perfect debut for Juventus signings Dusan Vlahovic and Denis Zakaria, as both were on target in a 2-0 victory over Verona that sent them into fourth place.

Watch the highlights here.

Serie A Highlights: Juventus 2-0 Verona

The Bianconeri threw January buys Vlahovic and Zakaria straight into the starting XI for a 4-3-3 formation. Manuel Locatelli was suspended, with Federico Bernardeschi, Alex Sandro and Federico Chiesa out of action, while Juan Cuadrado and Leonardo Bonucci were not 100 per cent fit. Verona top scorer Giovanni Simeone sat out a ban, with Gianluca Caprari, Marco Davide Faraoni, Gianluca Frabotta and Pawel Dawidowicz injured.

It took just over six minutes for Vlahovic to get his first shot on goal, stinging Lorenzo Montipò’s gloves from the edge of the box after a Paulo Dybala back-heel flick started the move.

Liveblog: Serie A inc Atalanta-Cagliari, Venezia-Napoli, Juventus-Verona

The goal did arrive after 13 minutes with some real style. Vlahovic started the move with a header in midfield, Dybala timed the pass over the top perfectly and the Serbian drew Montipò out before dinking it delightfully into the empty net.

Vlahovic had penalty appeals rejected for a Koray Gunter challenge, then was inches away from scoring a second with his cushioned finish off his right foot on an Alvaro Morata cross.

Verona saw plenty of the ball in the first half and stepped up the pressure after the break. Kevin Lasagna forced a save from Wojciech Szczesny’s legs at the near post, then the goalkeeper flapped at a Darko Lazovic cross.

Just as Juve seemed to be pinned back, they struck with a classic counter-attack and another debutant on target. Morata’s through ball found Zakaria in acres of space down the right, enough to wait and pick his spot, sweeping into the far bottom corner from eight yards.

Dybala wanted to get in on the act, forcing a save at the near post on Danilo’s back-heel assist, then trying to curl in directly from the corner flag.

Adrien Rabiot also stung the goalkeeper’s glove from distance, while Szczesny pushed another Lazovic cross away from Fabio Depaoli and Montipo’ got one hand to a Weston McKennie daisy-cutter.

Juventus 2-0 Verona

Vlahovic 13 (J), Zakaria 61 (J)

8 thought on “Serie A | Juventus 2-0 Verona: Dream Vlahovic and Zakaria debuts”
  1. Dream start for both. And what a performance by Morata and Dybala.

    You can tell the spirits are high already and boy do we need that.

  2. Surprising how well Morata played today, running and showing some grinta for once. Man of the match today for sure. Juve played really well in the first half, but the problems are still there to see. and it will take time. After getting the goal, PhD Max put the team into sit back and wait mode. Verona played really well and without Simeone and Caprari they looked quite dangerous. Against a bigger or better team this team will still get punished as they lost the ball too cheaply, and gave it right back in the second half. There is still a lot of junk that needs tossing in the skip. Danilo panic hoofing the ball in the second half, Arthur who cannot keep the ball and Rabiot being Rabiot. The midfield will need a total revamp, new wing backs and another defender. Sadly grandad Max is still stuck in the mindset that if you go one up, sit back invite pressure and play the waiting game. Credit to De Sciglio at least he is better then Sandro who should never put that shirt on again.

  3. @Lord allegri
    Actually rabiot was not that rabiot today. He was uncharacteristicly good. But arthur is still arthur 🙂

    Not sure about the 3 forward formation btw with two of them playing the final couple of months in this shirt. Especially losing hope for our “3 seconds captain” dyabala, who just fails to provide anything effective when not exactly 16.5 meters away from the goal.

  4. Allegri he had to start Vlahovic otherwise ….If allegri was at Barca Gavi and Pedri would be playing in a lower division of spain football. He dont no how to manage young players especially homegrown players. Just look at Fagioli and Ranocchia both playing in serie B. Both already 20 years old.

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