Arsenal
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F12%2Fraphinha-2-693dbddda1b15970105023.jpg?w=360&resize=360,180&ssl=1 "Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Raphinha scores brace for Blaugrana")
Saturday night in Bergamo proved to be one remaining check and measuring stick for Juventus supervisor Igor Tudor earlier than issues begin to rely for actual subsequent weekend. And similar to the earlier weekend through which they confronted among the finest in Germany, the journey to face some of the aggressive groups in Italy for the higher a part of the previous decade was about as a lot of a gown rehearsal as Tudor may have gotten.
(No offense to the Subsequent Gen, in fact. However that pleasant is at all times going to be slightly one-sided at minimal.)
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So, how did Juventus look eight days earlier than their season begins for actual?
There’s extra than simply a few commonalities between final weekend’s win over Borussia Dortmund and this one. The ultimate rating, for one, was the identical, with Juve recording one other 2-1 victory. The cut-off date when Juve allowed their lone objective of the sport was across the identical, with Atalanta scoring proper getting ready to second-half stoppage time quite a bit like Dortmund did. However not like seeing a shock objective scorer in Andrea Cambiaso pop up, it was Juve’s largest summer season signing so far this 12 months, Canadian striker Jonathan David, get on the scoresheet for the primary time since shifting to Turin after which Dusan Vlahovic discovering the again of the web for the third time through the pleasant calendar inside a five-minute span to offer Juve the win and shut out the preseason.
With it got here the Trofeo Achille e Cesare Bortolotti. Who stated this group gained’t win silverware this season!
OK, so I say that absolutely in jest. A preseason trophy doesn’t imply a lot of something, if ever.
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However on the very least, ending the preseason with wins over Dortmund and now Atalanta may give this group slightly additional pep of their step as they head into a brand new season through which the roster nonetheless appears quite a bit just like the one which struggled to barely end in fourth place and qualify for the Champions League.
Oh, and in case you’re questioning, the primary time David has scored in a Juventus jersey — yeah, yeah, it’s a pleasant and it gained’t rely on his official tally, however no matter — regarded slightly one thing like this:
That’s fairly good! I’m wholeheartedly in favor of David doing that as a lot as he needs. They don’t all should be of the bicycle selection, however slightly additional fashion factors have by no means harm anyone if you happen to’re scoring frequently.
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However hey, no matter you need to do is ok with me, JD.
Simply as was stated after the win over Dortmund, there have been good issues apart from the targets to take out of this one. It was good to see David make an impression with that sort of objective after a considerably quiet sort of recreation within the Atalanta penalty space. It was very refreshing to see Cambiaso have one other sturdy displaying after such an injury-hampered second half of final season. Teun Koopmeiners was stable if not unspectacular. A number of the dribbling from Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceição was simply completely dizzying. And, for all of his faults, João Mário has proven us within the small pattern measurement with Juve so far that he’s very a lot a menace going ahead, together with his help on Vlahovic’s objective being fairly the spectacular run.
Plus, Juventus taking the ultimate pleasant of the summer season severely and enjoying — the primary half particularly — with some critical zip won’t ever not be a optimistic.
All in all, for all the faults this group has and possibly hasn’t completely been capable of tackle but on the switch marketplace for very apparent causes I gained’t rehash right here, it does really feel prefer it’s been extra optimistic than unfavorable summer season on the sphere for Juventus. The developments on the subject of the summer season mercato are one other matter, however on the subject of how Juve have performed of their to friendlies towards top-flight opposition, I undoubtedly come away with the sense that it’s been extra optimistic than one thing we will simply blow off and scoff at.
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We clearly have completely no clue what is going to occur eight days from now when Juventus open their 2025-26 season on the Allianz towards a Parma squad who simply bought arguably their most beneficial asset. That’s at all times the catch with summer season friendlies — you may look nice after which the season begins and issues simply go to hell. So, for all we all know, Juventus may wrestle towards Parma and it’s a season-opening draw. Or, David may very properly rating one other overhead kick and we’re off and working this season. Solely time will inform, my pals.
RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS
Gotta say, that captain’s armband regarded fairly good on Bremer’s bicep. (Then once more, what wouldn’t look good on Bremer? Properly, most likely the jersey of the membership that was near signing him earlier than Juve swooped in a number of summers in the past.)
One other Bremer be aware: It was a pleasant, however that battle with Gianluca Scamacca was a fairly good one for this one not really counting for a lot aside from match health. That’s simply two very giant and powerful people going up towards each other and a fairly good gauge to see the place Bremer is at in his journey again from his ACL surgical procedure final October.
Yet another Bremer be aware: That was a rattling sturdy 80 minutes of recreation time for him. For him to look the best way he did and present some stamina all through is a large step as we sit right here per week out from his much-anticipated to an official match. Juve actually have performed it proper on the subject of how they’ve managed his complete rehab course of.
Truly, now yet another Bremer be aware: I’m so comfortable he’s again.
You all can relaxation slightly simpler as a result of I simply learn that Tudor stated Federico Gatti got here off late in Saturday’s pleasant resulting from cramping. No damage. No want for a prayer circle. We are able to all maintain that for anyone who wants it extra.
Identical as Bremer on the subject of Gatti — figuring out that he’s handled health points ever because the spring, seeing him get almost a full recreation’s value of minutes in his legs is an enormous deal forward of a brand new season. Certain, it ended with cramps, however Gatti regarded fairly good earlier than he needed to come off with a couple of minutes to go.
All that being stated, why did Kenan Yildiz play into second-half stoppages? That’s the one participant not named Bremer you may’t danger in any respect with some kind of late-game weirdness. Fortunately, nothing occurred. Fortunately — and I can’t emphasize that sufficient.
Personally, I’m not a fan of Juventus permitting these late-game targets it doesn’t matter what the rating is. Hopefully that is one thing that’s left prior to now and the shuffling in of a complete new backline is a motive for all that.
These lengthy and ranging Khephren Thuram runs ahead won’t ever get outdated. Now we simply have to him to show them into extra targets and assists, proper? That certain can be good on the subject of a participant who many really feel like has the prospect to take an enormous step ahead this season.
Chico Conceição discovered himself surrounded by three Atalanta gamers late within the first half and juked the residing hell out of all of them. That was nifty as hell.
Guessing Lloyd Kelly might be going to be comfortable that there’s a number of weeks earlier than Juve play Atalanta of their first Serie A matchup of the season as a result of Charles De Ketelaere certain did give him the shakes a few instances.
Credit score the place credit score is due: Vlahovic performed with the sort of fireplace lit beneath him that it looks like we haven’t seen shortly. Who is aware of why that was the case, but when there’s the prospect of him really staying at Juventus, hopefully he performs like that going ahead. (One can solely hope, proper?)
Additionally glad Dusan determined to shoot together with his left foot based mostly on what occurred final weekend when he tried a shot from across the identical space of the 18-yard field together with his proper foot.
Douglas Luiz approaching within the 89th minute in what appears to be his final Juventus efficiency earlier than he heads off to Nottingham Forest certain does really feel acceptable for a way his 14 months in Turin went.
That David objective. Nonetheless enthusiastic about it.
Iceman. Air Canada. No matter you need to name him works.
The season is nearly upon us. It’s been a bizarre summer season contemplating we’ve handled the Membership World Cup, an abbreviated break for the gamers and a switch market that has been something however spectacular. However in eight days, the video games rely within the standings and hopefully we’re capable of take some positivity out of dealing with Parma like we’ve been capable of do towards Borussia Dortmund and now Atalanta.
