Two goals in the first half were more than enough for Juventus to note the victory in the Serie A first round. The newly-promoted Como didn’t stand a chance. Juve’s triumph was sealed already in the first 45 minutes thanks to the 20-year-old Samuel Mbangula, who scored on his debut, and Timothy Weah, who netted in the added time. Andrea Cambiaso set the final score in the 91st minute, while Dusan Vlahovic had several chances, hit the post twice, but eventually failed to find the net.The clash of two “new clubs” was supposed to bring down the curtain on the first Serie A round in the 2024/2025 season. On one side, Juventus were “new” because of the new boss, Thiago Motta and three newcomers in the starting lineup – Michele Di Gregorio, Khephren Thuram, and Juan Cabal. Juve’s gaffer surprisingly left Douglas Luiz on the bench while the 20-year-old Samuel Mbangula was set to debut in the top flight of Italian football.Worst case scenario for Juve: Chiesa to Inter?!On the other hand, Como were “new” in Serie A, which they had longed for 21 years. Como coach Cesc Fabregas included Pepe Reina, Alberto Moreno, and Andrea Belotti in the starting 11, while Raphael Varane was out of the squad due to a knee injury.Although many expected Juventus’ domination from the start, Como coped quite well with the favourites, keeping the ball in the midfield and attacking through the flanks. However, the Old Lady had the first chance when Dusan Vlahovic’s header after Andrea Cambiaso’s cross went slightly wide of the left post.And then, in the 23rd minute, everyone who wondered what Mbangula was doing in the starting lineup got the explanation! Thiago Motta’s perfect choice! The young Belgian’s strike from the edge of the box after a solo effort was elusive for the experienced Reina – 1-0! After 15 minutes of no excitement, we got two in one minute – both times, Vlahovic was at the centre of attention. First, Reina superbly saved his free-kick attempt, and then, after Como’s lost ball, the Serb hit the post from the box.However, that was only a preview of what was to happen. In the added time, the new Juve’s No. 10, Kenan Yildiz, crossed the ball in, Vlahovic skipped it, and Timothy Weah smashed it into the goal off the crossbar, making it 2-0 in the first-half dying minutes! 1 – Samuel #Mbangula (20 years and 216 days):• Scored with his 1st career shot in #SerieA• Is the youngest Belgian goalscorer in the history of Serie A• Is the 1st Belgian player to score in Serie A for #Juventus Debut.— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) August 19, 2024 Almost as soon as the players left the locker rooms, Juventus netted the third time, but Vlahovic was unlucky once more since Cambiaso was caught offside. The 24-year-old forward kept trying but in vain. In the 53rd minute, Reina stopped him one-on-one, the deflection landed on Vlahovic’s head, but his effort hit the post again! Juve continued controlling the rhythm and playing as well as necessary. The rivals were simply on a different level, with no idea of finding the net for the first time in Serie A after 21 years. Fabregas stood by the pitch with his hands in his pockets as if he were aware that his team couldn’t threaten the favourites.##NAJAVA_MECA_8276703##Until the end of the game, both coaches made several substitution to refresh their lineups, and those were the only notable moments from the last 20 minutes, apart from Cambiaso’s fantastic goal from outside the box in the 91st minute. Otherwise, it seemed that both waited for the referee’s final whistle – the Old Lady to celebrate the initial three points, and Como to turn to their next rivals, Cagliari, against which they would have better odds to win. Juventus, on the other hand, travels to Verona, which sent a warning to the entire league by crushing Napoli 3-0.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 1SaturdayGenoa- Inter 2-2 (1-1)/Vogliacco 20, Messias 90+5(p) – Thuram 30, 82/Parma – Fiorentina 1-1 (1-0)/Man 22 – Biraghi 75/AC Milan – Torino 2-2 (0-1)/Morata 89 Okafor 90+5 – Thiaw 30(og), Zapata 68/Empoli – Monza 0-0SundayBologna – Udinese 1-1 (0-0)/Orsolini 57 pen – Giannetti 68/Verona – Napoli 3-0 (0-0)/Livramento 50, Mosquera 75, 90+4/Cagliari – Roma 0-0Lazio – Venezia 3-1 (2-1)/Castellanos 11, Zaccagni 44 pen, Altare 81 og – Andersen 3/MondayLecce Atalanta 0-4 (0-2)/Brescianini 35, 66, Retegui 45, 57 pen/Juventus – Como 3-0 (2-0)/Mbangula 23, Weah 45+1, Cambiaso 90+1/
