The annual showcase, between the senior side and emerging talent from the Juventus Next Gen, used to be played at the Villar Perosa training camp.
Juve’s Allianz Stadium was jam-packed for yesterday’s encounter, with the contest abandoned at 2-0 after 52 minutes following the customary pitch invasion from avid supporters.
Brazilian midfielder Luiz headed home on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, and then set up Serbia striker Vlahovic to double their tally on 33 minutes.
Yet Vlahovic refused to celebrate his goal, as a large section of fans jeered him for an error just before scoring. The boos continued for the 25-year-old wantaway star, who has finished as the club’s top scorer for the past three seasons.
Tudor defends industrious Vlahovic
Head coach Igor Tudor fumed to reporters after the match about this mistreatment to Vlahovic: “It’s disappointing, he is still a Juventus player. He trains very professionally, he worked hard today, as did everyone.”
Before kick-off Tudor and skipper Manuel Locatelli addressed the fans about Juve’s winning mentality, which is part of the club’s DNA.
“The boys will give everything, always. Because as Gianluca Vialli used to say, only with teamwork do you win. And our goal is to get back to winning, together.”
Shock Juve starting XI
Victory was always expected, however short-lived the contest became, with Tudor surprisingly starting with eight players that he wishes to offload.
Defensive duo Lloyd Kelly and Daniele Rugani, midfielder trio Luiz, Weston McKennie and Fabio Miretti, wingers Filip Kostic and Nicolas Gonzalez plus center forward Vlahovic all began the match.
Miretti suffered a muscular injury on 38 minutes, which throws his potential transfer to Serie A champions Napoli into jeopardy.
Tudor swapped the rest of his squad at half-time, but they were only given a 17-minute runout with goal poacher Jonathan David still yet to score in a Juve jersey since last month’s arrival as a free agent in Turin.
Luiz, whose single season in the Italian top tier was a flop, seems destined to return to the Premier League if a deal can be brokered. While Vlahovic, who keeps finding the back of the net even in friendlies, has AC Milan and Villarreal seriously interested in landing him.
Back-to-back Juventus wins
This was another polished performance and a confidence-boosting success, having impressed overall despite some blatant flaws in the win at Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, far superior to the recent dismal draw behind closed doors to Serie B minnows AC Reggiana.
Tudor enthused: “It was a good training session. It was a celebration, an afternoon that stands for tradition, family, a connection between all of us.
“It was great to see the love that the fans who came to the stadium showed us today. It was a pity we didn’t get to have at least 20 minutes in the second half.”
JUVENTUS: Pinsoglio (Di Gregorio, 45) - Gatti (Kalulu, 45), Rugani (Djalo, 45), Kelly (Cambiaso, 45) - Gonzalez (Conceicao, 45), Koopmeiners (Thuram, 45), McKennie (Locatelli, 45), Kostic (Mario, 45); Miretti (Rouhi, 38), Luiz (Yildiz, 45); Vlahovic (David, 45).