Juventus 2-0 Verona: Bianconerri break stubborn Verona

Juventus returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win at the Allianz stadium against a stubborn Verona.

Juventus had gone into the match on the back of a knockout from the Coppa Italia by Empoli.

Khephren Thuram eventually broke down Hellas Verona to give Juventus their fifth straight Serie A victory.

After the Coppa Italia disappointment, the Bianconeri were subjected to angry fan protests. This stemmed from their elimination from the Champions League to PSV Eindhoven, then the Coppa Italia on penalties to Empoli midweek.

The first chance came when Juventus’s Manuel Locatelli blasted over the bar. Tomas Suslov and Amin Sarr both fired immediately, firing straight at Michele Di Gregorio from the edge of the area.

Federico Gatti had the chance to open the goal chart but followed to volley m just wide after Lorenzo Montipò fumbled a Kenan Yildiz free kick, but the goalkeeper was remarkable with the low one-handed save to deny Thuram from 12 yards.

After Randal Kolo Muani failed to connect with the Nico Gonzalez pass from close range, Juventus thought they had taken the lead through McKennie 36 minutes, as the header from a corner came after Lloyd Kelly fouled the ‘keeper.

Montipò was called into action again as his gloves stung by first Locatelli, then McKennie on the resulting corner before sticking out a boot to deny the Kenan Yildiz low drive.

Verona also had the ball in the net during first-half stoppages with a stunning Suslov screamer from 30 yards out off the underside of the bar. However, it was chalked off because Marco David Faraoni was offside earlier in the build-up.

Montipò again made a safe with his boots, parrying the scuffed Kolo Muani effort from just inside the area, while Sarr’s header flashed just wide at the other end.

Juventus scored from a well-worked team goal. Locatelli sent Cambiaso down the left, and he pulled back for Thuram to sweep in first with his left foot from 12 yards.

Koopmeiners, jeered by some in the crowd when coming off the bench, added a second goal. He ran onto the Samuel Mbangula through ball and surprised Montipò at the near post from a tight angle.

The result took Juventus to the first four in  Serie A and within six points of leaders Inter.