23 January 2018
Back with three point
The boys said all week that it’s never easy to come back from the winter break and we certainly saw some rust being shaken off, but three hard-earned points is the most important thing. When things weren’t clicking 100 percent on the offensive end, the Bianconeri got back to the basics with a hard-nosed defense that stood strong and stymied the Rossoblu all night to make Douglas Costa’s goal a match-winner.
Douglas Costa the live-wire
You can’t get an assist on your own goal, but Costa certainly helped to get it done on both ends never giving up on a ball to send it out wide to Mario Mandzukic before continuing his run to finish the goal. That makes it goals in two straight home games for Costa who is certainly looking more and more comfortable in the Bianconeri. He was active all night down the wings for Juve putting in a solid shift.
Home shutout streak intact
Make it seven straight without a goal allowed at home for Massimiliano Allegri’s side who kept Genoa from putting a shot on goal on Monday night. When Juventus hosts Sassuolo in their next home match on 4 February, it will have been two months since the last time an opposition team celebrated on our ground.
Depth on display
Missing quite a few players, the Bianconeri dug deep to secure the result tonight with all eleven players on the pitch giving their all on both ends of the field. Solid minutes from Stefano Sturaro in his first league appearance since November help to seal the win while the front line put in the hard yards as well.
The start of a long run
After the winter break, the matches come thick and fast for the Bianconeri from here. Up next is a Saturday night tilt in Verona against Chievo while Juventus will play eight matches in the five and a half weeks between now and the end of February spread across Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League.
