The Bianconeri’s first pre-season friendly took place behind closed doors at the Continassa, with Juventus fielding two different line-ups for each half against AC Reggiana.
Reggiana lived up to their billing as a test to evaluate both Juve’s fitness and form, although they were not the pushover they were expected to be.
New goal poacher Jonathan David came close to opening his Juventus account, but was denied by the woodwork. The Canada international missed his next opportunity, with Conceicao and Teun Koopmeiners also failing to break the deadlock for the hosts.
The Bianconeri were punished for their woeful finishing midway through a lively opening half, when Natan Girma slotted past keeper Michele Di Gregorio for a surprise lead.
Juventus bounce back
Reggiana had looked solid at the back, but were caught napping when Conceicao immediately levelled matters within a minute, his long-range effort beating Edoardo Motta between the sticks.
Juve pushed to take a lead into the half-time interval, but Manuel Locatelli and another David attempt failed to materialize into anything special.
Igor Tudor switched the entire line-up after the turnaround, with wantaway striker Dusan Vlahovic making an instant impact.
The Serbia star, Juve’s top scorer every season since he signed for them in 2022, was doing what he does best by adding his name to the scoresheet to give the club a 47th-minute lead.
Vlahovic rescue mission
Vlahovic, who has turned down extending a deal with the Turin titans, is in talks with AC Milan but on the radar of Villarreal.
The 25-year-old came perilously close to adding a second goal, and at least one of his team-mates’ efforts should have been scored but Vasilije Adzic, Daniele Rugani, Khephren Thuram and Kenan Yildiz all missed out.
Livewire Girma almost equalized, but it was Cedric Gondo who took the honors with his 72nd-minute strike. The visitors pressed for a winner to no avail, troubling the Juve defense.
Tudor, who will surely have been frustrated about the club’s lack of activity in the summer transfer market, now has more to worry about with his current squad.
The attack needs sharpening, with hot-shot Vlahovic anticipated to exit soon, The rhythm in the midfield was lacking while the defense requires more cohesion and organization to succeed.
Test for Tudor's troops
Tudor said at the post-match press conference: “It was a good test for us. Physically, as is normal at this stage, some of the guys are a bit ahead and others a bit behind, so today was a useful session for us.
“I’m pleased with these first few days [of] training, they’ve been full of good work, and the new arrivals have settled in well immediately. There’s a real desire in the squad to have things done right.”
With mixed signals from the display and result against a team that Juventus should have brushed aside, things are not looking particularly positive for their pre-season friendly at Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund on 10 August.
Juventus (1st half): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly; Gonzalez, Locatelli, Miretti, Kostic; Conceicao, Koopmeiners; David
Juventus (2nd half): Pinsoglio; Gatti, Rugani, Djalo; Joao Mario, Thuram, McKennie, Cambiaso; Yildiz, Adzic; Vlahovic