David and Vlahovic steer 10-man Juventus to opening triumph

Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz set up Juve’s two hot-shots as Juve picked up maximum points to kick off their Serie A campaign in style.
Jonathan David, left, and Dusan Vlahovic both netted as Juventus beat Parma
Jonathan David, left, and Dusan Vlahovic both netted as Juventus beat Parma | ISABELLA BONOTTO/GettyImages

It was a stuttering scoreless first half inside the Allianz Stadium in Turin, but the excitement ramped up after the interval with Jonathan David and substitute Dusan Vlahovic on target plus Andrea Cambiaso sent off.

Canada international David was the only summer signing that Juventus boss Igor Tudor introduced to his starting line-up to tackle Parma, and netted on his Serie A debut.

Parma, coached by 30-year-old former Juventus youth team coach and ex-Arsenal assistant manager Carlos Cuesta, came close to conceding in the third minute but Khephren Thuram headed Francisco Conceicao’s cross wide of the target.

Juve make early impression

Vice-captain Bremer and Lloyd Kelly fluffed their chances before a diving header from Conceicao forced keeper Zion Suzuki to make the first save of the contest on 13 minutes. The lively Portuguese then directed his effort on the half-hour mark straight at Suzuki, who recently rejected a chance to move to Manchester United.

With the contest going stale, and Juventus looking toothless in attack with some tame finishing, Tudor shook things up with a double substitution on 57 minutes, just after Conceicao’s shot deflected off Lamine Keita to hit the outside of the right post. 

Skipper Manuel Locatelli was surprisingly replaced by Teun Koopmeiners, with Joao Mario on for Federico Gatti.

This change immediately resulted in David breaking the deadlock just before the hour-mark. Yildiz turned his markers to glide the ball into the box, with David cleverly guiding the ball past Suzuki and into the bottom right corner for a real poacher’s strike.

Cambiaso sees straight red

After Cambiaso foolishly lashed out by hitting Martin Vitik in the face with his arm to receive his marching orders for violent conduct on 83 minutes, it was Vlahovic who swiftly secured victory for the Bianconeri.

Yildiz was twice denied by Suzuki, before setting up the Serbia striker who picked his spot to make the scoresheet on 83 minutes having just arrived in place of David. Vlahovic started and finished the counterattack.

Parma came close to reducing the deficit with a thunderous strike from Adrian Bernabe, which Michele Di Gregorio palmed away from soaring into the top right corner.

Tudor revealed in his post-match press conference: "There is always a bit of tension at the start of the season because of all the unknowns, so the lads deserve credit. Parma defended well and we did well not to concede any counterattacks, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"It is normal to encounter some difficulties in the early stages of the season. We could have moved the ball quicker on the wings, but I am confident and I think we will continue to improve."

JUVENTUS: Di Gregorio - Gatti (Mario), Bremer, Kelly - Kalulu, Locatelli (Koopmeiners, 57), Thuram, Cambiaso - Conceicao (N.Gonzalez, 80), Yildiz (McKennie, 89) - David (Vlahovic, 80). Subs: Adzic, Kostic, Pinsoglio, Rugani, Rouhi, Fuscaldo.