Dusan Vlahovic emerged as the hero for Juventus, firing them to the top of Serie A with a brace in their convincing 3-0 victory over Genoa on Saturday. The match, played behind closed doors as a punishment for Genoa’s fan disorder in their midweek Italian Cup defeat to rivals Sampdoria, saw Vlahovic break his scoring drought in style.
Juventus, now a point ahead of Torino, AC Milan, and Inter Milan, dominated the match. Vlahovic, who had struggled for form in the early weeks of the season, silenced his critics by converting a penalty in the 47th minute and adding a second goal just eight minutes later, capitalizing on a brilliant pass from Teun Koopmeiners.
“People talk, say that you’re the best when you score goals and a flop when you don’t. I do my talking on the pitch,” said Vlahovic to DAZN. “I know very well that there is a lot expected of me and I am not running away from that.”
The match was a testament to Juventus’s determination, as they continued to press for more goals throughout the game. Thiago Motta’s Genoa team, yet to concede a league goal this season, proved to be a formidable opponent, but ultimately succumbed to the pressure of Juventus’s attacking prowess. Juventus could have even added more goals to their tally, but Koopmeiners missed a golden opportunity in the 64th minute when he hit the crossbar from close range.
The match also highlighted the impact of fan behavior, with Genoa forced to play behind closed doors due to the violence that erupted during their derby clash with Sampdoria. This unfortunate incident served as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful atmosphere at football matches.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan bounced back from their Milan derby defeat with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Udinese. Lautaro Martinez, who had endured a goal drought, finally found his scoring touch, bagging two goals in the first half. His first goal came just moments before half-time, while the second was a deft finish shortly after the break.
Davide Frattesi’s early goal in the 43rd second set the tone for Inter Milan, who showcased their attacking intent throughout the match. Martinez’s brace was a welcome sight for coach Simone Inzaghi, who will be hoping his team can carry their momentum into their upcoming Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday.
“After the derby we kept quiet and worked hard and I think you saw that on the pitch,” said Martinez to DAZN. “It is definitely important for me because a striker is always on the hunt for goals. I always say that first I work for the team, and if I manage to score then so much the better.”
The weekend’s Serie A action saw a thrilling display of football, with both Juventus and Inter Milan showcasing their quality and resilience. Vlahovic’s return to form and Martinez’s goal-scoring prowess are sure to be exciting developments for their respective teams as they look to challenge for the Serie A title.
In other Serie A action, Atalanta secured a late 1-1 draw against Bologna after Lazar Samardzic’s brilliant 90th-minute equalizer. The match saw Bologna play with a numerical advantage for most of the second half following a red card to Jhon Lucumi in the 51st minute.
With this draw, Atalanta remains ninth in the table, level on points with Bologna, who face a challenging Champions League trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool on Wednesday.
