Igor Tudor made an impressive start as Juventus head coach, guiding his team to a 1-0 victory over Genoa in his debut match. The decisive moment came from Kenan Yildiz, whose stunning goal secured the win and marked a promising beginning for Tudor’s tenure.
Juventus had recently parted ways with Thiago Motta following consecutive defeats to Atalanta and Fiorentina, which left the club struggling in fifth place. Tudor immediately implemented changes, including a shift to a three-man defence and starting Dusan Vlahovic over Randal Kolo Muani. Despite missing key players such as Douglas Luiz, Andrea Cambiaso, Arek Milik, Gleison Bremer, and Juan Cabal, Juventus showed resilience against Genoa.
The match saw early chances for both sides. Genoa’s Stefano Sabelli made a goal-line clearance to deny Yildiz’s diving header, while Michele Di Gregorio managed to save a looping volley from Morten Frendrup. Juventus eventually broke the deadlock thanks to Tudor’s quick thinking on the sidelines. Acting as a ball boy, he facilitated a fast throw-in that led to Vlahovic assisting Yildiz, who scored with a remarkable finish from a tight angle.
Genoa pushed for an equalizer in the second half, with Andrea Pinamonti narrowly missing the target and goalkeeper Nicola Leali making crucial saves to keep his team in contention. Juventus had opportunities to extend their lead but failed to capitalize, including a late chance squandered by Tim Weah after a brilliant run by Khephren Thuram.
This victory was vital for Juventus as they aim to secure Champions League qualification amidst fierce competition in Serie A. Tudor’s debut showcased tactical adjustments and renewed energy within the squad, offering hope for a strong finish to the season.
Goals: Kenan Yildiz 25 (J)
Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Gatti (27′ Kalulu), Veiga, Kelly; Nico Gonzalez (82′ Weah), Locatelli, Thuram, McKennie; Koopmeiners (66′ Conceicao), Yildiz; Vlahovic.
Genoa (4-3-2-1): Leali; Sabelli, De Winter, Vazquez, Matturro; Frendrup, Masini, Onana (71′ Malinovskyi); Zanoli (63′ Venturino), Miretti (80′ Thorsby); Pinamonti (71′ Ekuban).
