Despite smelling the chance to claim back-to-back Serie A victories on Monday night, Juventus had to settle for a sluggish 0-0 stalemate away at Sampdoria.
While the Old Lady might have opened the 2022/23 campaign with a 3-0 romp against Sassuolo on August 15th, the Italian giants showed many of the issues that haunted them last season.
Coming up against a Sampdoria side who only just hung onto their Serie A status back in May, Massimiliano Allegri will regard Monday’s meeting at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris as a missed opportunity.
In a showdown between two sides who are expected to be battling it out at opposite ends of the table this season, we have taken a look at the main talking points.
Juventus’ inconsistencies are on display again
Laying down an early-season marker at home against Sassuolo as they breezed their way to a 3-0 victory in Turin, Allegri was calling on his side to keep up that momentum on Monday night.
Just about managing to scrape themselves a Champions League finish last season, the Old Lady will know that they must mount a legitimate title charge this time around.
Eventually finishing a staggering 16 points adrift of winners AC Milan, Allegri will be more than aware that he will find some growing pressure on his shoulders at the Allianz Stadium.
Signing off the 2021/22 campaign with a 2-0 loss away at Fiorentina and failing to win any of their final four domestic appearances, the former Italian champions have also won just a pair of their last seven Serie A outings continuing on from last season.
Likewise, enduring a tricky summer while on their pre-season tour of America last month, Allegri will be calling on an immediate response from his side later in the week.
However, in what is a mouth-watering affair in Turin on August 27th, Juventus will be next seen when they meet Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
A toothless outing for Vlahovic and co
Spearheading Juventus’ charge on the opening weekend and bagging a brace in their 3-0 victory against Sassuolo, all eyes were on a certain Dušan Vlahović on Monday night.
However, after having to settle for a silver medal finish in the race for last season’s Golden Boot, the ex-Fiorentina marksman struggled to ask many questions at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
After drawing a blank in Genoa here, Juventus did gain somewhat of a reputation last season for their struggles in the final third.
Only racking up 57 Serie A strikes during the 2021/22 campaign, no team that finished in the top-nine last season bagged fewer goals than the Italian giants.
While Allegri might have handed summer arrival Filip Kostic a first start on Monday night after the Serbian international arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth €17million, the Old Lady are still on the lookout for more attacking options.
Along with it looking like Barcelona’s Memphis Depay could make the move to Italy before the window slams shut on September 1st, it was also announced that Arkadiusz Milik has agreed on a season-long loan move from Marseille.
Positives to take away for the Blucerchiati
Although Sampdoria might have managed to drag themselves over the finish line and extend on their Serie A status back in May, the Blucerchiati had made it clear over the summer that improvements were needed.
However, opening the 2022/23 campaign with a deserved 2-0 loss at the hands of Atalanta on home soil, Marco Giampaolo’s men couldn’t have wished for a tougher task on Monday night.
Nevertheless, despite being tipped as a landslide underdog in Genoa, La Samp will be desperate to build off of what was a largely gritty display at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Getting their first point on the board and next seen making the trip to Salernitana on August 28th, the one-time Spezia boss will now be calling on his side to find some much-needed stability.
Signing off last season with a 3-0 drumming at the hands of Inter Milan, Monday’s hosts managed to win just a trio of their final 12 Serie A appearances during the 2021/22 campaign.
With attacking talisman Francesco Caputo still waiting for his first strike after racking up 11 goals last season, Giampaolo’s side will know that there are easier tests down the road.
Match Report:
Sampdoria: Audero, Bereszyński, Ferrari, Colley, Augello, Vieira, Leris, Rincon, Sabiri, Duricic, Caputo
Subs: Villar, Verre, Depaoli, Quagliarella, Murru
Juventus: Perin, Danilo, Rugani, Bremer, Sandro, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Cuadrado, Vlahovic, Kositic
Subs: De Sciglio, Kean, Rovella, Miretti
Goals: N/A
Yellow Cards: Sampdoria: Leris, Duricic, Verre – Juventus: Sandro, Rovella
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Rosario Abisso
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
