Juve opens defense in style
MILAN — Goals from Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain handed Juventus a 3-0 win over Cagliari on Saturday, as the Italian champion overcame a video assistant referee (VAR) penalty decision to open its Serie A campaign in commanding fashion.
Juventus, which sealed a record sixth straight Serie A title last season but lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid, takes a familiar spot at the top of the fledgling standings.
Napoli also enjoyed a positive start with a comfortable 3-1 win at promoted Verona, where Arkadiusz Milik repaid Maurizio Sarri for a first start of the season with Napoli’s second.
Referee Fabio Maresca made Serie A history at Juventus newly named Allianz Stadium by awarding a penalty following consultation with the VAR, but not even that could help an outplayed Cagliari as Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon saved the spot-kick.
Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri, opting to play Dybala up front alongside Higuain with Mandzukic operating just behind, was quick to praise Buffon in what is scheduled to be the 39-year-old’s final season.
“I expected the referee to give the penalty, luckily we have Buffon, the No 1, in goal. He got us out of a sticky situation,” Allegri told Premium Sport.
A week after a 3-2 Super Cup final defeat to Lazio that saw Dybala hit a brace, the Juve coach was mostly satisfied.
“The lads interpreted the game well, so I’m happy,” added Allegri, who also had a special mention for hard-working Mandzukic.
“He’s a big physical presence. When we’re in difficulty, we rely on him. He can’t do it all, but he’s a big help.”
A neat midfield move saw Mandzukic hold off his marker and half-volley Stephan Lichtsteiner’s ball past Alessio Cragno on the half-hour mark.
When Cagliari carved out its first real chance of the game, Juventus had Buffon to thank for stopping Diego Farias’ curling drive from eight yards out.
Farias was gifted an immediate chance to make amends, but after Maresca took just over one minute to consult video footage following Alex Sandro’s foul on Duje Cop, Buffon guessed right to save the Brazilian striker’s 39thminute effort.
Dybala doubled Juve’s lead in first-half injury time, controlling Miralem Pjanic’s brilliant ball over the top before firing past Cragno.
Juve spurned two chances in quick succession before Higuain made up for earlier misses from Dybala and Mandzukic by latching on to Alex Sandro’s angled delivery to beat Cragno down low for his first goal of the season in the 66th minute.
Higuain received a standing ovation when he was replaced by midfielder Blaise Matuidi, the France international who signed from Paris Saint-Germain in midweek for $23.5 million, before on-loan Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa also made his Serie A debut.