Genoa’s Old Lady killer
Son of Atletico coach Simeone strikes twice to stun Juventus
MILAN: A quickfire brace from Giovanni Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego, opened up the Serie A title race as Genoa claimed a stunning 3-1 win over leaders Juventus.
Juve’s third defeat of a season in which they are hoping to secure a record sixth consecutive “scudetto” left the Turin giants just four points ahead of on-form AC Milan, with several other challengers close behind.
Juventus travelled to the Luigi Ferraris Stadium yesterday without a number of key players, with forwards Paulo Dybala and Marko Pjaca and defender Andrea Barzagli notably all in the treatment room.
Experienced defender Giorgio Chiellini was on the bench recovering from a knock, meaning an inhabitual start in the back three for Swiss wing-back Stephan Lichtsteiner.
With Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain in the same straits due to a muscle problem, coach Massimiliano Allegri was forced to play attacking midfielder Juan Cuadrado up front alongside Mario Mandzukic.
Genoa – who stunned Juve 1-0 at home two seasons ago when Antonio Conte was still in charge of the Turin giants – sensed an upset, and were 2-0 up by the 13th minute thanks to a fine Simeone double.
Lichtsteiner was oufoxed by Diego Laxalt in midfield and the fleet-footed Uruguayan motored away to set up Luca Rigoni for a drive that Gianluigi Buffon did well to parry.
But Lucas Ocampos was quick to the rebound and when Buffon stopped the ball again, Simeone pounced to beat the goalkeeper at the second time of asking.
When Simeone was left unmarked on the edge of the box by Moroccan defender Mehdi Benatia, it left the 21-year-old Argentine free to get down low and direct a diving header past Buffon, although Darko Lazovic deserved plenty of credit for turning Alex Sandro inside out prior to the cross.
Genoa were looking dangerous every time they moved upfield, and a nervous Juve conceded a third before the half-hour.
A chaotic corner was knocked down for Rigoni to fire a volley goalwards and when Sandro attempted a clearance, the Brazilian managed to only shin the ball over the line and into the roof of his own net.
Juve played with more purpose following the restart, but Genoa were in no mood for charity.
Goalkeeper Mattia Perin was out quickly to collect a long ball aimed at the head of Mandzukic and eight minutes after the restart, Sami Khedira fired a low volley just wide of Perin’s near post.
Despite Higuain nursing a muscle problem, Allegri capitulated to replace Lichtsteiner with the Argentine striker.
Juve avoided a total whitewash when Miralem Pjanic stepped up to curl a superb free-kick past Perin eight minues from the end.
Elsewhere, Crotone moved off bottom spot thanks to a 1-1 home draw with Sampdoria, thanks also to Palermo’s earlier 1-0 defeat to Lazo that sent the Sicilians to rock bottom.
Lazio, who host AS Roma in the city derby next week, are up to third, just five points behind Juve.
Atalanta’s fine form continued with a 2-0 win at Bologna thanks to goals from Andrea Masiello and Jasmin Kurtic either side of the interval that moved the Bergamo-based side up to fourth, also just five points off the lead.
Cagliari had Marco Sau’s 58th-minute goal to thank for a 2-1 win at home to Udinese after Seko Fofana’s superb 51st-minute strike levelled for the visitors following Diego Farias’ 35th-minute opener from the spot. — AFP