Rediscovered Vlahovic shoots Juve top with double at fan-less Genoa

Juventus are a point ahead of Torino, AC Milan and Inter Milan, who were 3-2 winners at Udinese earlier on Saturday, after Vlahovic settled a match played in an atmosphere that harked back to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Serbia striker has struggled for form in the early weeks of the season, only netting in one of his previous six Juventus appearances. But he opened the scoring from the penalty spot two minutes after half-time before rifling home from Teun Koopmeiners' fine pass in the 55th minute.

Thiago Motta's team, who also scored in the final minutes through substitute Francisco Conceicao, are yet to concede a league goal this season and snapped a run of three consecutive goalless draws with a professional display. Juve could have won by more as Koopmeiners somehow failed to push home Conceicao's low cross in the 64th minute, hitting the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.

The away side's task was made easier with Genoa's passionate support shut out of the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in the aftermath of the encounter with their second-tier neighbours Sampdoria. Prolonged clashes between the hardcore ultras before and after Wednesday's fraught derby cup tie led to dozens of injuries to fans and police and a crackdown by Italy's security authorities.

On Thursday, Italy's interior ministry said its public security department would evaluate the two clubs for four matches as it decided whether to ban fans. It asked Serie A and Serie B to tell the clubs not to sell tickets for those fixtures. A third defeat of the season left Genoa in 16th place and one point above the relegation zone.

Bologna host Atalanta in the day's late match ahead of Wednesday's daunting Champions League trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool. Both Torino and Napoli have a chance to take the league lead from Juve in their respective home matches against Lazio and Monza.

 

September 28, 2024