Juventus began their Serie A campaign in style under new manager Thiago Motta, securing a comfortable 3-0 victory against newly-promoted Como at the Allianz Stadium. The match showcased Motta’s willingness to trust young talent, as 20-year-old Samuel Mbangula made a surprise start and opened the scoring.
Despite missing several key players due to injuries and fitness concerns, including Federico Chiesa, Filip Kostic, and Danilo, Juventus dominated the game from the outset. Mbangula justified his selection by cutting inside from the left and curling a beautiful shot into the far corner to give Juventus the lead in the 23rd minute.
Tim Weah doubled the advantage just before halftime, sweeping home a Kenan Yildiz cross off the underside of the crossbar. Andrea Cambiaso sealed the win in stoppage time with a well-placed left-footed finish from the edge of the box.
Dusan Vlahovic was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet, hitting the woodwork twice and having a goal disallowed for offside. Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, struggled to make an impact and suffered further setbacks with injuries to Daniele Baselli and Oliver Abdilgaard.
The result marks a promising start for Motta’s tenure at Juventus, showcasing an attractive style of play and the integration of young talent. For Como, it was a tough introduction to Serie A football after a long absence from the top flight.
Goals: Mbangula 23 (J), Weah 45 (J), Cambiaso 90 (J)
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Cambiaso, Bremer, Gatti, Cabal; K Thuram (Fagioli 66), Locatelli (Douglas Luiz 79); Weah (Savona 46), Yildiz, Mbangula; Vlahovic
Como: Reina; Sala, Goldaniga, Barba, Moreno; Strefezza, Braunöder, Baselli (Engelhardt 21), Da Cunha (Abdilgaard 55) (Verdi 62); Belotti (Gabrielloni 55), Cutrone (Cerri 62)
