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Juventus 2-0 Hellas Verona: 3 takeaways as new boys enjoy dream debuts

By James Cormack

TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Denis Zakaria of Juventus FC and Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus FC celebrate a second goal during the Serie A match between Juventus and Hellas Verona FC at Allianz Stadium on February 6, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Denis Zakaria of Juventus FC and Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus FC celebrate a second goal during the Serie A match between Juventus and Hellas Verona FC at Allianz Stadium on February 6, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images) /
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How ’bout that front three?

Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala were both brilliant alongside Dusan Vlahovic. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala were both brilliant alongside Dusan Vlahovic. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images) /

Vlahovic will understandably grab the headlines for his sumptuous debut goal, but the Serbian has his majestic partners in attack to thank for his impressive beginning to life in Turin.

The prolific Serb functioned as the focal point in Allegri’s front three with the second coming of Mario Mandzukic, Morata, and the free-spirited Dybala working off him almost telepathically. The triumvirate blossomed on Sunday with the proximity at which they operated aiding their connectivity.

It was Dybala who teed up Vlahovic for the game’s opener with a quite majestic first-time pass in behind Verona’s defence before the Serbian striker missed a big chance later on in the first half from a Morata cross. Nevertheless, Vlahovic’s capacity to perform the much-needed target man role for Allegri allowed Morata and Dybala to shine. The pair combined for seven shot-creating actions and an expected assist haul of 0.7.

The Argentine’s display was littered with sequences of trademark majesty. He was the player the Juventus defence sought to help them escape pressure, with his technical security and ability to effectively play off one-touch compromising Verona’s man-oriented press in the opening period.

Morata, meanwhile, was a man on a mission. While we suspected the Spaniard to benefit from Vlahovic’s arrival and potentially playing a new role, we certainly didn’t project such a stark and immediate upsurge in form. The 29-year-old was typically dogged out of possession, but he played with a Dybala-like swagger in possession as well. He was making third man runs that helped him combine with Vlahovic, and his stellar performance was topped off with an assist for Zakaria’s goal.

This was his best performance of the season, and the dynamic between Juventus’ front three on Sunday was the most positive aspect of the victory.

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