A party atmosphere greeted Juventus for their first outing since last Saturday’s Super Cup victory over Napoli.
The traditional friendly fixture between the first-team and emerging Bianconeri prospects, contested in Villar Perosa, finished 5-1 after goals from Quagliarella, Matri, Giaccherini, Giovinco and Ruggiero sealed a comfortable win for Antonio Conte’s men.
The exhibition game, however, proved to be a pleasant sideshow to the day’s main attraction – the chance to celebrate the team’s triumphant return from Beijing and see the fruits of their labour on proud display.
President Andrea Agnelli and John Elkann - flanked by Conte - received warm applause as they made their way around the pitch with the Super Cup and Scudetto trophies. These were subsequently passed over to Gigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini, who were treated to an equally rapturous ovation whilst acknowledging the 6,000 strong crowd packed into Villar Perosa’s Stadio Comunale.
Over to the action. With just one further test remaining before next weekend’s big Serie A kick off, Conte and Carrera opted to test out youngster Rugiani at the heart of the three-man backline, while Pogba made his first start since completing a free transfer switch from Manchester United.
And the French youngster seized his opportunity to stake a claim for a first-team place with both hands, providing a steady and cultured presence in midfield from the starting whistle. The crowd were on their feet when he lofted a delightful pass into the path of Giaccherini, but Branescu did well to anticipate the danger and dive bravely at the winger’s feet.
The Romanian prospect was soon made to work for the second time, sprawling to his left-hand side to ensure Pogba’s curling free-kick drifted harmlessly out of play.
Yet there was nothing the goalkeeper could do about Juventus A’s opener on 25 minutes. After winning a free-kick on the edge of the area, Quagliarella stepped up to drill a low strike home to perfection.
Juve B had the opportunity to restore parity just a minute later, but saw Alcibiade’s effort cannon back off the woodwork.
Marco Baroni made widespread changes at the break, changing eight of the eleven who started the encounter, and almost saw his youngsters on level terms when Magnusson’s whipped free-kick flashed just wide of the upright.
Back came Juve A, bolstered by the introductions of Storari, Gouano and Garcia Pol in place of Buffon, Lucio, and Bonucci. Matri was sent through on goal by Pazienza’s defence splitting pass, but the striker was left to rue a decent opportunity to double the lead after sending his strike straight into the arms of Branescu.
The Milan-born frontman, however, made no mistake on 56 minutes, steering a left-footed shot under Branescu after being played in by Pogba’s intelligent slide rule pass.
A spell of increased pressure by Baroni’s youngsters was rewarded when Bonatini halved the deficit following good work by Tavanti down the right flank.
Moments later, the first team restored their two-goal cushion. There seemed to be little danger when Giaccherini collected the ball on the edge of the area, only for the winger to catch Branescu unawares by crashing home an unstoppable 20-yard drive that flew into the top corner.
Three became four on the stroke of 74 minutes. Giovinco, who joined Vidal, Marchisio, Ruggiero and Padovan in coming off the bench in the latter stages, created space for himself before bending in a low strike that gave Costantino no chance.
Ruggerio joined the former Parma striker in making an instant impact, cutting in off the right-hand flank to seal a 5-1 victory with a precise finish on 76 minutes.
JUVENTUS A 5-1 JUVENTUS B
GOALS: Quagliarella 25, Matri 56, Bonatini 62, Giaccherini 64, Giovinco 74, Ruggiero 76
JUVENTUS A
Buffon (Storari 46); Lucio (Gouano 46), Bonucci (Garcia Tena 46), Rugani; Padoin (Ruggiero 71), Pazienza, Pogba (Vidal 71), Giaccherini (Marchisio 71), De Ceglie (Balbis 81); Matri (Giovinco 71), Quagliarella (Padovan 71).
Substitutes not used: Chiellini
JUVENTUS B First half
Branescu; Carlos Garcia, Alcibiade, Gerbaudo, Mattelli; Baldis, Alcibiade, Bianco; Bouy, Bonatini (Ilari 30); Beltrame (Josipovic 30).
Substitutes not used: Gagliardini, Penna, Magnusson, Emmanuello, Owusu
JUVENTUS B Second half
Branescu (Costantino 75); Tavanti, Magnusson, Penna, Laursen; Kabashi, Lanini, Emmanuello; Beltrame, (Ceria 75) Mattiello; Bonatini (Owusu 75).
Substitutes not used: Curti, Braccini, Gerbaudo
REFEREE: Colosimo
ASSISTANTS: Alibrandi, Vayr
Source: Juventus.com
The traditional friendly fixture between the first-team and emerging Bianconeri prospects, contested in Villar Perosa, finished 5-1 after goals from Quagliarella, Matri, Giaccherini, Giovinco and Ruggiero sealed a comfortable win for Antonio Conte’s men.
The exhibition game, however, proved to be a pleasant sideshow to the day’s main attraction – the chance to celebrate the team’s triumphant return from Beijing and see the fruits of their labour on proud display.
President Andrea Agnelli and John Elkann - flanked by Conte - received warm applause as they made their way around the pitch with the Super Cup and Scudetto trophies. These were subsequently passed over to Gigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini, who were treated to an equally rapturous ovation whilst acknowledging the 6,000 strong crowd packed into Villar Perosa’s Stadio Comunale.
Over to the action. With just one further test remaining before next weekend’s big Serie A kick off, Conte and Carrera opted to test out youngster Rugiani at the heart of the three-man backline, while Pogba made his first start since completing a free transfer switch from Manchester United.
And the French youngster seized his opportunity to stake a claim for a first-team place with both hands, providing a steady and cultured presence in midfield from the starting whistle. The crowd were on their feet when he lofted a delightful pass into the path of Giaccherini, but Branescu did well to anticipate the danger and dive bravely at the winger’s feet.
The Romanian prospect was soon made to work for the second time, sprawling to his left-hand side to ensure Pogba’s curling free-kick drifted harmlessly out of play.
Yet there was nothing the goalkeeper could do about Juventus A’s opener on 25 minutes. After winning a free-kick on the edge of the area, Quagliarella stepped up to drill a low strike home to perfection.
Juve B had the opportunity to restore parity just a minute later, but saw Alcibiade’s effort cannon back off the woodwork.
Marco Baroni made widespread changes at the break, changing eight of the eleven who started the encounter, and almost saw his youngsters on level terms when Magnusson’s whipped free-kick flashed just wide of the upright.
Back came Juve A, bolstered by the introductions of Storari, Gouano and Garcia Pol in place of Buffon, Lucio, and Bonucci. Matri was sent through on goal by Pazienza’s defence splitting pass, but the striker was left to rue a decent opportunity to double the lead after sending his strike straight into the arms of Branescu.
The Milan-born frontman, however, made no mistake on 56 minutes, steering a left-footed shot under Branescu after being played in by Pogba’s intelligent slide rule pass.
A spell of increased pressure by Baroni’s youngsters was rewarded when Bonatini halved the deficit following good work by Tavanti down the right flank.
Moments later, the first team restored their two-goal cushion. There seemed to be little danger when Giaccherini collected the ball on the edge of the area, only for the winger to catch Branescu unawares by crashing home an unstoppable 20-yard drive that flew into the top corner.
Three became four on the stroke of 74 minutes. Giovinco, who joined Vidal, Marchisio, Ruggiero and Padovan in coming off the bench in the latter stages, created space for himself before bending in a low strike that gave Costantino no chance.
Ruggerio joined the former Parma striker in making an instant impact, cutting in off the right-hand flank to seal a 5-1 victory with a precise finish on 76 minutes.
JUVENTUS A 5-1 JUVENTUS B
GOALS: Quagliarella 25, Matri 56, Bonatini 62, Giaccherini 64, Giovinco 74, Ruggiero 76
JUVENTUS A
Buffon (Storari 46); Lucio (Gouano 46), Bonucci (Garcia Tena 46), Rugani; Padoin (Ruggiero 71), Pazienza, Pogba (Vidal 71), Giaccherini (Marchisio 71), De Ceglie (Balbis 81); Matri (Giovinco 71), Quagliarella (Padovan 71).
Substitutes not used: Chiellini
JUVENTUS B First half
Branescu; Carlos Garcia, Alcibiade, Gerbaudo, Mattelli; Baldis, Alcibiade, Bianco; Bouy, Bonatini (Ilari 30); Beltrame (Josipovic 30).
Substitutes not used: Gagliardini, Penna, Magnusson, Emmanuello, Owusu
JUVENTUS B Second half
Branescu (Costantino 75); Tavanti, Magnusson, Penna, Laursen; Kabashi, Lanini, Emmanuello; Beltrame, (Ceria 75) Mattiello; Bonatini (Owusu 75).
Substitutes not used: Curti, Braccini, Gerbaudo
REFEREE: Colosimo
ASSISTANTS: Alibrandi, Vayr
Source: Juventus.com
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