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Summer signings send Juve into seventh heaven

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Summer signings send Juve into seventh heaven
Summer signings send Juve into seventh heaven
Summer signings send Juve into seventh heaven

Juventus claimed the seventh Super Cup of their history after second-half goals from summer signings Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala proved the difference between Massimiliano Allegri’s men and Lazio in Shanghai.

A swirling wind and poor pitch conditions made for a tough affair, not especially easy on the eye for spectators, as both sides struggled to keep possession of the ball or launch many meaningful attacks for much of the encounter.

It took until the 69th minute for the match to come well and truly to life, as Mandzukic rose highest to emphatically head the opener from Stefano Sturaro’s accurate delivery.

Only five minutes later, fellow summer recruit Paulo Dybala would join in on the act, doubling the Bianconeri’s lead with a venomous drive past Federico Marchetti to all but seal the Super Cup for his new side.

As the teams took time to get used to a bobbly pitch, Lazio launched their first meaningful attack in the sixth minute, when Felipe Anderson made an incisive run into the penalty area, but Martin Caceres was at hand to sniff out the danger.

Paul Pogba too managed a majestic slalom forwards moments later, feeding the ball to the right before bombing into the box and glancing Stephan Lichtsteiner’s whipped cross wide of the target.

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The Swiss international had an effort of his own on 27 minutes, cutting inside onto his left foot and sending a vicious drive inches over Federico Marchetti’s crossbar, in what proved to be the only strike for the remainder of the half.

The start of the second period saw an increase in tempo, with the Bianconeri beginning particularly strongly. First, Pogba put through Mario Mandzukic in on goal with only the keeper to beat, but the Croatian struck directly into the feet of an onrushing Marchetti.

Moments later the Frenchman was again at the centre of the action, unleashing a thunderous effort from outside the box that sailed just wide of the mark.

After another lengthy spell that produced few clear-cut openings, the match finally came to life on 69 minutes with the first goal of the match. Mario Mandzukic it was who nodded in Stefano Sturaro’s pinpoint cross to send the Bianconeri support into raptures.

And it would not take long before Juventus’ fervent Far East following were up on their feet again. Pogba did well to control an inswinger on the edge of the box and neatly laid the ball into the path of Paulo Dybala who swept home a venomous drive high into the roof of the net.

The goal provoked a mini-reaction from Stefano Pioli’s men. Leonardo Bonucci did well to block a late Candreva effort from within the penalty area, but, in truth, the Bianconeri rearguard were never really troubled by a Lazio outfit dealt their second consecutive final defeat by Allegri’s men.

For Juventus, on the other hand, Saturday’s victory has ensured a first taste of silverware for a new-look side, in what is the perfect tonic ahead of the first Serie A match against Udinese in a fortnight’s time.

JUVENTUS

Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Caceres; Lichtsteiner, Sturaro (Pereyra 90), Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Coman (Dybala 57), Mandzukic (Llorente 80).
Subs: Neto, Rubinho, Isla, Rugani, Padoin, Parodi, Tello, Vitale, Zaza.
Manager: Allegri

LAZIO

Marchetti; Basta, de Vrij, Gentiletti, Radu; Onazi, Biglia, Cataldi; (Kishna 75) Candreva, Klose (Djordjevic 62), Felipe Anderson (Morrison 87).
Subs: Berisha, Guerrieri, Patric, Konko, Mauricio, Hoedt, Milinkovic, Oikonomidis, Keita.
Manager: Pioli

Referee: Banti
Linesmen: Cariolato, Meli
4th Official: Damato
Goalline Officials: Rocchi, Tagliavento

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