26 July 2024
Juve bid farewell to Germany after a week's work in Herzogenaurach, with a friendly test against FC Nurnberg, won by the hosts, who are further along in their pre-season preparations and very close to the start of their league campaign.
THE FIRST HALF
The first Juve team of the season was obviously still experimental, as many players have yet to join the group and the Bianconeri are still in the pre-season preparation phase: however, two of the three new arrivals did play with Di Gregorio between the sticks and Képhren Thuram in midfield.
Nurnberg started strongly because, as mentioned, they are set to kick of their 2.Bundesliga campaign in a few days. Only two minutes had passed before Schleimer called Di Gregorio into action as he made a diving save.
Juve immediately tried to put into action tactics based on building the game when in possession and on high pressing when recovering the ball. The rhythm of the game was obviously lacking and Nuremberg struck in the 19th minute: Jander took advantage of some indecisiveness by the Bianconeri, before beating Djalò and getting the better of Di Gregorio in a one on one.
Six minutes later, the hosts looked to strike again: Jeltsch found Hofmann, whose right-footed shot deflected just past the post.
Juve grew into the game after the half-hour mark, taking more control of the game and in the 37th minute Hasa struck a beautiful left-footed free-kick, which the Nuremberg goalkeeper punched away.
From save to save: in the final minutes of the half Nurnberg were again looking dangerous through Hofmann who, from a similar position to the previous attempt, struck a powerful effort, but Di Gregorio was prepared.
THE SECOND HALF
Juve made several changes during the half-time interval: Di Gregorio, Locatelli, Thuram, Miretti, Barbieri, Embalo Djalo, Rouhi, Gonzalez, Comenencia, Hasa and Sekulov, were replaced by Perin, Gatti, Vlahovic, Adzic, Weah, Fagioli, Cambiaso, Cabal, Savona, Nicolussi and Mbangula.
The Bianconeri immediately went in search of an equaliser: in the 48th minute, Weah found Nicolussi Caviglia whose first-time effort was saved. Two minutes later it was Cambiaso who had a similar effort having been set up by Mbangula.
Juve dominated possession during this period of the match even though the pace was not high and the game was quite stop-start. In the 70th minute, Adzic injected some pace into the game on the right and teed up Weah who was brought down in the penalty area. Vlahovic took the penalty, but hit the post.
As it turned out this was the last chance of the match for the Bianconeri, although there was still time for two close-range goals from the hosts through Forkel in the 86th minute and Janisch in the 88th minute.
Juve will now return to Turin after a week of intense and, despite the match result, very useful work.
Their next match will be against Brest in Pescara at 21:00 (CEST) on Saturday, 3 August.
THE TEAMS
FC Nurnberg 3-0 Juventus
Goalscorers: 19' Jander, 87' Forkel, 89' Janisch
Nurnberg: Reichert (62' Mathenia); Hofmann, Knoche (39' Karafiat), Jeltsch (62' Seidel), Danilo Soares (78' Valentini); Flick (78' Joachims), Jander (78' Lubach), Okunuki (62' Tzimas), Castrop (78' Sevcik), Pick (53' Forkel); Schleimer (78' Janisch). Coach: Klose
Juventus: Di Gregorio (46' Perin); Barbieri (46' Savona), Gonzalez (46' Gatti), Tiago Djaló (46' Cabal), Rouhi (46' Cambiaso); Thuram (46' Nicolussi Caviglia), Locatelli (46' Fagioli); Comenencia (46' Weah), Miretti (46' Adzic), Hasa (46' Mbangula); Sekulov (46' Vlahovic). Coach: Thiago Motta
Referee: Petersen (Germany)
