29 August 2014
With the new Serie A campaign kicking off this weekend in Verona and Juventus ready to plan their assault for a fourth straight Scudetto title, what better way to prepare for the 2014/15 season than by revisiting some of the Bianconeri’s most memorable away opening day successes.
Season: 1950/1951
Game: Pro Patria 0-7 Juventus (K. Hansen (2), Praest (2), Muccinelli, J. Hansen, Boniperti)
Date: 10 September 1950
Location: Stadio Comunale, Varese
Under the tutelage of English manager Jesse Carver, the Bianconeri put seven past Pro Patria and in the process scored their record number of goals in an away league match. Karl Hansen got the ball rolling prior to half-time before three goals in 11 second half-minutes from Karl Age Praest, Ermes Muccinelli and John Hansen saw Juventus roar into a 4-0 lead. Giampiero Boniperti’s strike was sandwiched in between both Praest and Karl Hansen’s second goals to put the icing on the cake as the visitors romped to victory.
Juventus XI: Viola, Bertuccelli, Manente, Mari, Parola, Bizzotto, Muccinelli, K. Hansen, Boniperti, J. Hansen, Praest.
Manager: Jesse Carver
Season: 1976/1977
Game: Lazio 2-3 Juventus (Bettega (2), Boninsegna)
Date: 3 October 1976
Location: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Matches between Lazio and Juventus are known to be high-scoring affairs, and this game was no different. Bianconeri legend Roberto Bettega’s near-post finish put the away side ahead before Roberto Boninsegna slid his effort under the onrushing Felice Pulici to double the visitors’ lead. Cecconi pulled a goal back but Bettega’s fortuitous effort midway through the second-half trickled into the net to re-hand his side the initiative. Giordano scored late on but it was too little too late for the Biancocelesti and Giovanni Trapattoni’s men, who would later go on to be crowned Serie A champions, held on for a fine win.
Juventus XI: Zoff, Cuccureddu, Gentile, Furino (Gori 57’), Morini, Scirea, Causio, Tardelli, Boninsegna, Benetti, Bettega.
Manager: Giovanni Trapattoni
Season: 1998/1999
Game: Perugia 3-4 Juventus (Davids, Tudor, Pessotto, Fonseca)
Date: 13 September 1998
Location: Stadio Renato Curi, Pergia
Whilst all eyes were on Hidetoshi Nakata’s debut for the home side, the Bianconeri certainly took the spotlight away from the Japanese international with an impressive attacking display. Edgar Davids got Marcello Lippi’s men off to a great start with long-range free-kick before goals from Igor Tudor and a blockbuster effort from Gianluca Pessotto gave the Old Lady a 3-0 half-time lead. The start of the second-half saw Nakata’s brace haul Perugia back into the game but Daniel Fonseca’s close-range half-volley on 65 minutes established Juventus’ two-goal cushion. There was still time for a Perugia penalty in the closing stages but Lippi’s side held on for an important win.
Juventus XI: Peruzzi, Birindelli, Tudor (Mirkovic 48), Iuliano, Pessotto, Tacchinardi, Deschamps, Davids, Zidane (Fonseca 24), Del Piero (Di Livio 67), Inzaghi.
Manager: Marcello Lippi
Season: 2000/2001
Game: Napoli 1-2 Juventus (Kovacevic, Del Piero)
Date: 30 September 2000
Location: Stadio San Paolo, Naples
Carlo Ancelotti’s side spoiled Napoli’s return to the big time with a 2-1 win at the Stadio San Paolo on the opening day of the 2000/01 Serie A campaign. Roberto Stellone gave the Partenopei a half-time lead, bundling in from close range. However, two quick-fire goals from Darko Kovacevic and Alessandro Del Piero turned the game on its head in the second-half and the Bianconeri came away from Naples with three hard-earned points.
Juventus XI: Van der Sar, Zanchi (Birindelli 66), Ferrara, Tudor, Bachini, Conte (Kovacevic 66’), Tacchinardi, Pessotto, Zidane, Inzaghi (Brighi 80), Del Piero.
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
Season: 2013/14
Game: Sampdoria 0-1 Juventus (Tevez)
Date: 24 August 2013
Location: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genova
The Bianconeri’s record-breaking 2013/14 campaign began with a victory in Genoa. Debutant Carlos Tevez finished off a fantastic team move just shy of the hour mark after unselfish work from Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba put the ball on a plate for the Argentine. The grit and determination shown from Antonio Conte’s men on a rainy night in Liguria was a sign of things to come during another successful season for the Old Lady.
Juventus XI: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah, Tevez (Giovinco 89), Vucinic (Llorente 89).
Manager: Antonio Conte
