With Igor Tudor having conducted just a handful of training sessions with his new Juventus squad before their match against Genoa on Saturday evening, there was a lot of uncertainty about how the Bianconeri would perform. Although we had some insight based on Tudor’s previous teams, the unpredictability of Juventus after their recent international break left fans guessing until the kickoff.
A few hours later, one could conclude a few things:
- The performance wasn’t always aesthetically pleasing.
- It lacked effectiveness at times.
- However, it was a significant improvement compared to the final 180 minutes of Thiago Motta’s brief spell as manager.
A moment of brilliance from Kenan Yildiz midway through the first half was the key to Juventus clinching a 1-0 victory over Genoa, marking Tudor’s debut as manager. The team previously appeared lackluster in losses to Atalanta and Fiorentina, but showed a remarkable organizational structure in this match, even with limited training time under their new coach. Most notably, they displayed a determination to minimize Genoa’s attacking threat, resulting in Juventus securing their first clean sheet since March 3.
Ultimately, a win is a win, and given the current circumstances, this victory is all Tudor needs in the next series of games he manages.
With Bologna winning their match just an hour prior by the same 1-0 score, Juventus needed to keep pace. The biggest question was how the squad would adapt in Tudor’s first match amidst all these changes. The formation aligned with expectations, as he deployed his typical 3-4-2-1 setup, effectively reintegrating players who had either been played out of position or sidelined under Motta.
Nico Gonzalez shifted from the left-wing position, Dusan Vlahovic was reinstated in the starting lineup, and Kenan Yildiz returned to play on the left behind Vlahovic.
This approach made much more tactical sense than the decisions made under the previous manager.
Despite some lingering issues from Motta’s tenure—like inconsistent passing and signs of disorganization in the attack—it’s understandable given the team’s adjustment to Tudor’s new strategy, which emphasizes a three-man backline and reduced possession reliance. Some mistakes were excusable, considering it was their first match under Tudor.
Nevertheless, it was evident throughout Saturday’s game that this Juventus team is in a better position compared to their last home outing.
Despite the areas needing improvement, Juventus successfully contained Genoa to a mere 0.27 expected goals (xG), and goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio was not significantly tested. Of the nine shots by Genoa, five were from outside the penalty area, and those on target failed to truly challenge Di Gregorio, which is encouraging given this was their first game with a back three this season.
While it wasn’t an overwhelming debut victory like Motta’s in August, Juventus needs to secure as many wins as possible in the coming months to contend for a top-four finish.
One match down, one win for Tudor. If this continues for another seven or eight matches, Juventus will find themselves in the Champions League next season.
So, although a colossal leap forward isn’t evident yet, it’s still a positive step from where they were just weeks earlier.
