Juventus and Dušan Vlahović started the new season ‘violently’. They overcame Sassuolo at home 3:0 with two goals from the Serbian striker. However, in that match, the Bianconeri were led by Angel Di Maria, who was not in the protocol tonight due to injury. Without the Argentine, the ball rarely reached Vlahović, who was brilliantly guarded by Omar Colley. There were no goals, so the Old Lady did not deserve more than a point against Sampdoria – 0:0.3 – Juventus failed to win in both first two matches of a Serie A campaign for the third season in a row, after the Bianconeri have won the first 2 games of the season in all the previous 4 campaigns. Difficulty.#SampJuve pic.twitter.com/AwsfbisMyO— OptaPaolo 🏆 (@OptaPaolo) August 22, 2022 The question is, however, how the match would have unfolded if the team from Genoa had taken the lead in the seventh minute. Fortunately for the guests, Mattia Perin flew out in time, cut the corner to a lonely Mehdi Leris, saved his shot from the penalty area and deflected the ball into the crossbar. In the finish, the hero of Torino could have been Filip Kostic, but his shot in stoppage time managed to be tamed by Doria’s goalkeeper Emil Audero. Smalling’s header brings joy to 60.000 fans at OlimpicoAllegri’s team struggled to create any chances. Vlahović was completely cut off in the first half. He had only three contacts with the ball, five fewer than any participant in the match (including goalkeepers). They did not manage to pass the ball to the Serbian goal scorer, which was exactly what Sampdoria coach Marco Giampaolo’s wanted. Not much has changed in the second half. Sampdoria defended patiently, Colley was Vlahovic’s ‘shadow’, and the visitors’ midfield managed to produce little, apart from a bore draw. SERIE A – MATCHDAY 2Saturday Udinese – Salernitana 0-0Torino – Lazio 0-0Sassuolo – Lecce 1-0 (1-0)/Berardi 40/Inter – Spezia 3-0 (1-0)/Martinez 35, Calhanoglu 52, Correa 82/Sunday Empoli – Fiorentina 0-0Napoli – Monza 4-0 (1-0)/Kvaratskhelia 35, 62, Osimhen 45+2, Kim Min-jae 90+4/Atalanta – Milan 1-1 (1-0)/Malinovsky 29 – Bennacer 68/Bologna – Verona 1-1 (1-1)/Arnautovic 21 – Henry 43/Monday Roma – Cremonese 1-0 (0-0)/Smalling 65/Sampdoria – Juventus (0-0
