Juve, great first for Pirlo: 5-0 in Novara

The new Juve book is more interesting than the cover. The cap is in the result, banal: a 5-0 victory against Novara in the first friendly of the season, therefore in Pirlo’s career, with an opening goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. More predictable than that, difficult. Juve, however, is more alternative, because the other scorers tell stories of redemption (Ramsey and Pjaca, eternally limited by injuries, plus the double of the young Portanova) and especially because Pirlo has gone from words to deeds.

In the presentation press conference he promised dribbling, aggression, set-up with three defenses and a defensive phase with four. Obviously Juve-Novara is only a friendly in the middle of the preseason, but it can be said: it remained. Juve dribbled a lot, took many men to the edge of the area, showed the players in good shape. Above all, the Ronaldo-Kulusevski couple, who looked for and found each other in the first half, and Douglas Costa, who entered with enthusiasm. For DC11, the best play of the match – Ramsey’s assistance to the goal, to look for and review -, the action that gave rise to Pjaca’s 3-0 and a number in the style of Falcao. Not the former Porto striker, the myth of futsal.

Playing style

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Pirlo, in a shirt and cap, alternated all the available players, with some constants in the set-up: a three-way defense in the configuration, a midfielder (first Ramsey, then Nicolussi Caviglia) and a couple of attack. Juve in the first half dribbled from below with Danilo, Bonucci and Chiellini, plus McKennie in front of Bonucci in playing position to close the din. On the outside, Cuadrado and Alex Sandro. In the non-possession phase, Alex Sandro was once again a pure full-back, with Danilo wider and central partner Bonucci-Chiellini. It’s easy to imagine that it will often be like this when Chiellini is on the field. Without the captain, however, Alex Sandro will climb between the three defenders, as happened in the second half, when Pirlo defended with Danilo-Demiral-Alex Sandro, with Pellegrini out on the left.

The new ones

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McKennie and Kulusevski decidedly positive in the first half, Arthur more ordinary in the second. Kulusevski struck out for dynamism and attendance research, while Weston McKennie began to populate his float – several fans excited about his first outing, as a generous player as demonstrated at Schalke and beyond. For Arthur, once a central midfielder close to Bentancur, a mixed bag that will likely be seen often in midfield.

Curiosity

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Two numbers revealed. Kulusevski kept the 44 used with Atalanta and Parma, chosen as a child in honor of Januzaj, seen one day on television and taken as a reference. Luca Pellegrini, on the other hand, played with 17, in Juve the number of forwards (Mandzukic, Trezeguet) and left backs like him (Pessotto, De Ceglie). On the other hand, Marjo Pjaca, who had not played full time with Juve since 2017, and the bracelet of Alex Sandro and Rugani, who alternated in the role of captain in the second half. Seeing everything from the rostrum, Gabriela Sabatini … and this was not expected. The former tennis player is the aunt of Oriana Sabatini, Dybala’s girlfriend. Juve received her and gave her a jersey with 10. On the eve of international tennis matches, where Gabriela is revered for years, it is a flashback.

Formations

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Juve in the first half: Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, Chiellini; Square, Rabiot, McKennie, Ramsey, Alex Sandro; Kulusevski, Ronaldo.
In contrast, in the second: Buffon; Danilo (from 18 ‘Rugani), Demiral, Alex Sandro (from 18’ De Sciglio); Square (from 18 ‘st Portanova), Bentancur, Arthur, Ramsey (from 18’ st Nicolussi Caviglia), Pellegrini; Douglas Costa, Pjaca.