Juventus players, including Cambiaso and Mbangula, celebrate in front of jubilant fans during their 3-0 victory over Como in the Serie A opener.
In a commanding start to the Serie A season, Juventus secured a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Como at the Allianz Stadium. Under new head coach Thiago Motta, the team showcased a blend of youthful joy and tactical discipline. The match featured standout performances from young talent Samuel Mbangula and a debut Serie A goal for Tim Weah as the Bianconeri began their campaign in style.
Juventus’ Lineup Surprises with Mbangula’s Inclusion
Motta’s decision to start 20-year-old Samuel Mbangula, a Juventus’ Next Gen product, over the experienced Douglas Luiz raised eyebrows before kickoff. However, the youngster quickly justified his inclusion, becoming the unexpected hero of the match. Juventus were without key players Federico Chiesa, Filip Kostic, and Arkadiusz Milik, forcing Motta to rely on his squad’s depth. Additionally, captain Danilo needed to be fully fit, leading to a reshuffled defense and a midfield anchored by Manuel Locatelli.
First Half: Mbangula Shines and Weah Doubles the Lead
Juventus began the match aggressively, with Dusan Vlahovic narrowly missing an early chance when he nodded an Andrea Cambiaso cross just wide of the near post. Como, already struggling after their early Coppa Italia exit, suffered a significant blow when Daniele Baselli was forced off with an adductor injury.
The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Mbangula, cutting in from the left wing, unleashed a precise right-footed shot that curled into the far bottom corner, leaving Como goalkeeper Pepe Reina helpless. The goal sent the home crowd into a frenzy and marked a dream start to Mbangula’s Serie A career.
Juventus continued to press, with Kenan Yildiz testing Reina from a distance and Vlahovic nearly doubling the lead with a powerful free-kick that skimmed the post. Como’s defense struggled to cope with Juventus’ high press, and just before halftime, the pressure told. Yildiz made a surging run down the left and cut the ball back from the by-line, and Vlahovic’s clever dummy allowed Tim Weah to fire in a left-footed shot off the underside of the crossbar from 13 yards. Weah’s first goal in Serie A was giving Juventus a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.
Second Half: Juventus Control and Cambiaso Caps Off the Win
The second half started with Juventus maintaining their momentum. Within 30 seconds, Vlahovic thought he had scored with a glancing header from a Juan Cabal cross, only for VAR to disallow the goal due to an offside in the buildup. Vlahovic was denied again minutes later as Reina pulled off a point-blank save, with the rebound bouncing off the upright.
Motta made a tactical switch, moving Andrea Cambiaso into a more advanced role after substituting Weah due to a muscular issue. The move paid off as Cambiaso continued to threaten Como’s defense. However, it was not until stoppage time that Cambiaso finally got his reward, cutting inside from the right and curling a left-footed shot into the far bottom corner, sealing the victory at 3-0.
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Como’s Struggles and Injury Woes
For Como, it was a match filled with frustration and bad luck. The visitors lost Baselli early on and later saw Oliver Abdilgaard, making his Serie A debut, limp off just six minutes after coming on as a substitute. Como’s defense was under constant siege, and they struggled to create meaningful chances. Despite brief moments of hope, such as Gabriel Strefezza’s long-range effort that went wide, Como was largely kept at bay by Juventus’ disciplined backline.
Key Highlights
- Samuel Mbangula: The 20-year-old Next Gen talent was the show’s star, scoring the opening goal and justifying his surprise selection.
- Tim Weah: Opened his Serie A account with a well-taken goal, highlighting his potential in Juventus’ attack.
- Dusan Vlahovic: Despite not scoring, Vlahovic was a constant threat and unlucky not to find the net, with a disallowed goal and two close attempts.
- Thiago Motta: Made a strong start as Juventus head coach, with his tactical decisions paying off, particularly in integrating young players into the squad.
