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Juventus 4-2 Zenit: 3 key takeaways as Juve continue perfect Champions League start

By Jyotirmoy Halder

TURIN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 02: Paulo Dybala of Juventus celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Juventus and Zenit St. Petersburg at Allianz Stadium on November 2, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 02: Paulo Dybala of Juventus celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Juventus and Zenit St. Petersburg at Allianz Stadium on November 2, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images) /
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2. The training retreat and its fruits!

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Massimiliano Allegri (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP) (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images) /

The past week — where Juve lost two league games back-to-back — will live in the memories of Juventini as a dark spot in the recent history of Juventus football club. But what followed that ominous week could change the course of the Bianconeri’s 2021/22 season.

As reported earlier, the whole Juve squad, following the abysmal defeat to Hellas Verona last Saturday, were put into a week-long training retreat by Allegri, meaning the players could not return to their homes and would have to train together and prepare for the upcoming matches. If the collective performance of Bianconeri players against Zenit this time is considered an indication, then the said training retreat has started producing its fruits.

From the very beginning of the game on Tuesday evening, the Juventus players were playing with renewed enthusiasm and greater intensity. They were pressing the ball high. Led by the shrewdness of Paulo Dybala, the whole Juve side was performing in a way as if they only meant business. Such an intense opening has been hard to observe in Bianconeri’s gameplay of late.

Dybala was at his very best, hitting the post early on with a weaker right-footed shot to frighten the visiting defence. A few minutes later, La Joya hit the target, and the subsequent celebration from the Argentine emulated former Juve great Michel Platini. Going into the second half, Zenit were fortunate to be level and from the visitors’ point of view, the half-time scoreline was indeed flattering.

Dybala and his teammates took the second half by storm, with the Argentine bagging a brace, Federico Chiesa putting the match to bed, and Alvaro Morata breaking his cursed goal drought with a fine finish in the 11th hour of the game.

Now, whether or not the team can show the same sort of intensity against far more intimidating opponents and replicate such scintillating form on a more consistent basis remain to be seen. Juventus’ training retreat, on the other hand, ends next Saturday. Against Fiorentina, we will have more answers.

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