Paul Pogba returned to fitness just in time to inspire Juventus to their first Serie A win of the season as they ran out 2-0 winners against 10-man Genoa.
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Alvaro Morata, the scorer of the victor at Santiago Bernabau last season in UCL semi’s is hinted to re-sign for his old club most probably in January after a blip in his recent form.Reports even suggest Real are willing to activate a release clause for him, though Morata has denied any links to Madrid.
Juve in contrast are eight points behind the early season pace setters, although they did secure their first league win of the campaign against Genoa last time out.
With the prospect of a fifth consecutive title far from certain, Allegri told reporters: “It is clear that the value of the players has increased”.
But Juventus took the lead when Morata’s replacement Roberto Pereyra flashed the ball across the face of goal, where Pogba was sliding in, and the France midfielder’s shot struck the crossbar before bouncing down and into the net off the thighs of the hapless Lamanna. Starting off with an away triumph over the group favourites and a side tipped to win the competition outright is a good result for everyone.
“But today’s win was important because the lads wanted it, they went out and battled for it and it’s our first of the season”.
Still, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri should be able to handle that challenge. A 2-0 win against Verona is the only game where they have earned points and it finds them 13th in Serie A. A win over the defending champions would be a big boost for the club moving forward. Right now, the favourites are Inter and Roma.
Genoa went close in the 12th minute, when Diego Capel’s powerful header from Diego Perotti’s cross went over the bar. We are realists and we will take it one step at a time.
“I do not know if it’s an advantage, you have to look at the table for now”.
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“It will be a great game in which we have to give everything to move up the table, because we haven’t started in the best way”.
