19 January 2018
BIANCONERI KEEPING PACE WITH THE TOP
Juve are still just one point behind currently leaders Napoli heading into the weekend and again have the chance to go top should they defeat Genoa and the Partenopei fail to beat Atalanta. Napoli face Atalanta at 12.30 on Sunday while Juve and Genoa are set for a 20.45 kick-off on Monday night.
In their last encounter before the winter break Juve won a hard-fought match against Cagliari in Sardinia, with Federico Bernardeschi scoring the game’s only goal in the 74th minute in a 1-0 win.
Bernardeschi was able to make the most of some excellent work from substitute Douglas Costa’s quick movement and precise centre on the right-hand side of the opposing box in order to turn home.
The Bianconeri are now unbeaten in their last seven league games, winning six, and having scored 12 goals while conceding just once.
BALLARDINI TURNING FORTUNES AROUND
After a slump in results, Genoa decided to dispense the services of coach Ivan Juric and replace him with experienced manager, Davide Ballardini in early November. Since Ballardini’s appointment, the club has overseen a change in form with the Rossoblu losing just one of their last eight league games, winning four and drawing three.
They have also been able to count on a new signing in the form of Italy stiker, Giuseppe Rossi after his recovery from a long injury lay-off. Rossi signed for his new club as a free agent in December, and made his Genoa debut in the second half of their TIM Cup match against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium.
Genoa’s last game before the winter break saw them defeat Sassuolo at home 1-0, courtesy of a Andrey Galabinov goal 10 minutes from time.
LAST TIME VS GENOA
The Old Lady played Genoa in the league on the second matchday away from home where they were able to record an impressive 4-2 victory. However, things didn’t go all their own way as Juve found themselves 2-0 down after just seven minutes of play but the Bianconeri rallied and got back into after a first half brace from Paulo Dybala to make it 2-2 at half-time.
Into the second half and Juan Cuadrado capped off a fine team move with a well taken left-footed strike to beat Mattia Perin and put Juve ahead for the first time. Then in stoppage time, Dybala beat Perin with a shot at the near post to complete his hat-trick.
The two sides met in Turin last month for their TIM Cup quarter-final match, and it was again Dybala to score the Bianconeri’s first goal of the game when he turned two defenders with a bit of skill outside the box before firing the ball into the back of the net. Gonzalo Higuain made the game safe when he held off the Genoa defence to fire in a low-angled shot and secure the match at 2-0 to Juve.
#JUVEGENOA MATCH STATS
- In 101 Serie A matches Juve have beaten Genoa 61 times, drawn 20 and lost 20.
- Juve have won 39 out of 50 matches played in Turin.
- The Bianconeri have kept a cleansheet in six out of their last seven league games, conceding just once.
- Juventus have recorded the most cleansheets this term, keeping a total of 11.
- Genoa haven't conceded in their last four consecutive league games, their best record since 1964.
- The Old Lady have scored the most goals in the second half of matches in the championship (28).
- The Rossoblu haven't dropped points from winning positions or gained points from losing positions away from home.
- Douglas Costa has attemped the most dribbles in Serie A, with an average of 7.7 attempts every 90 minutes.
- In the total 460 minutes (in all competitions) that Khedira, Pjanic, Matuidi have all been on the pitch Juventus haven't conceded a single goal.
- Genoa have commited the most fouls this season with 331 to their name.
