Juve held to goalless draw by Genoa

Juventus were held to a second consecutive draw at the Allianz Stadium as the Bianconeri failed to breakdown Genoa.

The Bianconeri struck the woodwork twice in the second half, first from Samuel Iling jr., the second from Moise Kean. Both the substitutes’ shots rebounded off the post.

In stoppage time Dusan Vlahovic was shown a red card for dissent.

THE MATCH

With Dusan Vlahovic and Filip Kostic back in from kick-off, Juventus fielded the same starting line-up as the reverse fixture. Genoa, instead, played three in attack with Vitinha making his first Serie A start.

It was the visitors that created the opening chance. On seven minutes, Albert Gudmundsson’s free kick was flicked goalwards by Mattia Bani. Wojciech Szczesny sprung to his left to parry the header for a corner.

The Bianconeri were finding openings hard to come by even though Fabio Miretti was playing intelligently between the lines. In fact, it was the midfielder that was at the hub of Juve’s forward play and was instrumental in the move that led up to a shot from the edge of the area from Federico Gatti, saved by Josep Martinez.

Gatti again pushed forward in attack five minutes later when a first-time passing move that involved Miretti, Cambiaso, Vlahovic and Kostic set up the defender inside the penalty area. This time Johan Vazquez slid in to deflect the shot for a corner.

A triple change by Massimiliano Allegri before the hour mark signalled the intent to find the key to breakdown the visitors’ solid defence.

One of those substitutes almost found the breakthrough. Samuel Iling jr. cut in from the left and released a low shot that bounced over Martinez’s outstretched hand but struck the base of the post.

Two minutes later Vlahovic twisted a header just wide of the far post. The number nine came close again on 75 minutes with another header, this time from close range, that spun over the crossbar.

The striker’s frustrating afternoon would eventually see him sent off after continuing to remonstrate with the referee deep into stoppage time.

Just as the game entered added-on time, Moise Kean became the second Juve player to hit the frame of the goal. The forward looking for his first goal of the season watched in disbelief as his crisp strike bounced back off the upright.

For only the second time in the last 17 meetings Juventus failed to score against Genoa.

JUVENTUS 0-0 GENOA (HT: 0-0)

JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiaso (82′ Kean), McKennie (58′ Rabiot), Locatelli, Miretti (77′ Weah), Kostic (58′ Iling Jr.); Vlahovic, Chiesa (58′ Yildiz). Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, De Sciglio, Alex Sandro, Rugani, Djalo, Nicolussi Caviglia, Nonge. Coach: Allegri.

GENOA: Martinez; De Winter, Bani (84′ Cittadini), Vasquez; Spence, Messias, Badelj (84′ Bohinen), Frendrup (69′ Strootman); Gudmundsson (69′ Malinovskyi); Retegui (78′ Ankeye), Vitinha. Subs not used: Leali, Sommariva, Thorsby, Vogliacco, Pittino, Haps. Coach: Gilardino.

Referee: Giua

Bookings: 38′ Danilo, 57′ Cambiaso , 64′ Vitinha, 92′ Vlahovic

Sending off: 92′ Vlahovic