Juventus kick-started their season with a dominant 3-0 victory over Bologna, as Filip Kostic got his first goal, Dusan Vlahovic was on target and Arkadiusz Milik scored a stunning volley.
There was tension in both camps, as the Bianconeri were desperate after a dismal start to the season, going into the break for international duty with defeat to Monza. Angel Di Maria started his two-match ban with Federico Chiesa, Paul Pogba and Kaio Jorge injured, but Arkadiusz Milik, Wojciech Szczesny, Manuel Locatelli, Alex Sandro and Adrien Rabiot returned. Bologna missed Musa Barrow and new coach Thiago Motta stuck to the 4-2-3-1 formation despite losing his debut, giving a surprise start to 20-year-old Joaquin Sosa.
Weston McKennie turned a free header straight at Lukasz Skorupski from 12 yards, but Juve broke through when Milik won it back in midfield and sent Dusan Vlahovic through the centre, he spread it down the left for his Serbian teammate Filip Kostic to place a left-foot angled drive in off the inside of the far post.
It was almost 2-0 when Milik swung the boot at an Alex Sandro cross from 10 yards, but Skorupski managed to parry with one hand.
Charalampos Lykogiannis blasted just over from a huge distance and Milik couldn’t keep the finish down on a Kostic cross.
Juve scored their second on the counter-attack from a Bologna corner, McKennie whipping in the cross from the right for a Vlahovic header at the back post.
Moments later, Juve made it 3-0 with a sensational strike from Milik, as a corner was not cleared very far, so he hit a ferocious volley with his left foot into the roof of the net from 14 yards. It was the first time since April 2021, with Andrea Pirlo as coach, that the Bianconeri scored three goals from open play at home in Serie A.
There was almost another, Milik’s through ball sending Vlahovic clear only to fire wide, then Milik’s header on a corner thumped the upright.
Alex Sandro could’ve added another, but he blasted across the face of goal with Vlahovic who wanted the assist.
Juventus 3-0 Bologna
Kostic 24 (J), Vlahovic 59 (J), Milik 62 (J)
Legend, Scholar and tactical genius. PhD Max must have used his coma calcio spell on Bologna as they played like the 7/9 usually do. 3 goals. Man, that has broken a decade long run and the Allegrisaurus can rubber stamp his name to that record. Dusan is making progress and touched the ball at least 5 times. Now the deluded fans criticising the legend of bronze age scripture will be singing her name into the night. Back, back, down, down to return very soon and coming to the San Siro next week.
got to give it to him, he did well today – well done, hope this continues – turns it to regular wins
Reborn against the might Bologna, lol. GTFOH