We’re about to succeed in the tease of each new Serie A season, people.
“Why do you name it that?” chances are you’ll be asking your self. Effectively, for this reason: We’re about to go into the second weekend of the 2025-26 season. And as soon as Sunday passes, it’s the primary worldwide break of the brand new marketing campaign. Meaning we get 180 minutes of Juventus being formally again in our lives and people outcomes counting within the standings, after which now we have to attend one other two weeks for the subsequent 90 minutes. (That one out of the September break certain is a giant one, too.)
So, as Juventus get set for his or her first away fixture of the 2025-26 season, higher get your repair now since you’re going to have to attend one other two weeks earlier than it’s the primary Derby d’Italia of the brand new marketing campaign.
Loads like final season, Juventus head out on the highway after a profitable Matchday 1 seeking beginning 2-for-2 and going into the primary break of the brand new marketing campaign with some good vibes. It comes in opposition to the identical Genoa facet that Igor Tudor managed his first recreation at Juventus after taking on for Thiago Motta final March, however this time it’s on the Luigi Ferraris somewhat than the pleasant confines of the Allianz Stadium. This time, nevertheless, there isn’t any interim tag hooked up to Tudor’s job standing, with the previous Juve defender now the full-time man in command of making an attempt to get the Bianconeri to be a way more aggressive facet in opposition to each the highest groups in Serie A in addition to the doubtless troublesome provincial golf equipment than they had been below Motta.
Then once more, as I’m penning this sentence, the membership that simply went high of the Serie A desk is … Cremonese?!
Ah, these foolish little quirks of the early league desk. They’re amusing, if nothing else.
For Juventus, it’s easy: Two wins within the first two video games of the season is a pleasant constructing block figuring out what lies forward after the worldwide break. As a lot because the efficiency in opposition to Genoa was comparatively strong general, there’s nonetheless loads of room for enchancment throughout these early days of the brand new marketing campaign. Tudor is aware of this regardless of how a lot reward he had for his staff throughout his pre-match press convention, saying “It’s been a optimistic week, with good vibes and many vitality.”
However he additionally is aware of that Genoa, particularly because the second half final season, haven’t at all times been a straightforward out.
“We all know we’re dealing with an opponent that doesn’t give something away simply and can be very organized,” Tudor mentioned. “Enjoying on the Marassi is at all times difficult, so we’ll have to be at our greatest to get 3 factors.”
Genoa, coming off a 2024-25 marketing campaign wherein former Juve midfielder Patrick Vieira got here in and turned issues round to forestall any form of relegation worries come the spring, had been a part of the 4 attracts that occurred in Serie A final weekend. Of these 4 attracts, solely Genoa-Lecce was scoreless, with Vieira squad capable of generate a mere 5 photographs in whole in opposition to a Lecce facet that was one of many worst protection in Serie A final season.
It resulted in a whopping xG whole of 0.34.
For a comparability, Juventus had an xG of 1.01 … within the first half final weekend in opposition to Parma.
So with their greatest defender again within the fold and searching a bit bit like his outdated self once more, Juventus head to genoa trying to hold them as quiet as they did in opposition to Lecce every week in the past. If Juve can do this, then there’s a great probability of Matchday 2 trying like Matchday 1. That’s a great way to enter the worldwide break — particularly with a giant month of September looming on the horizon.
Juventus can be with out Genoa native Andrea Cambiaso, who can be serving the primary half of his two-match ban for his purple card in opposition to Parma final weekend. Cambiaso may even miss the Derby d’Italia that comes proper after the September worldwide break.Relating to who steps in for Cambiaso, the Italian media consider that Filip Kostic has a slight edge over Weston McKennie for the beginning spot as Juve’s wingback on the left wing.Nonetheless lacking in motion resulting from damage are: Mattia Perin, Juan Cabal, Fabio Miretti and Arek Milik. Perin has returned to coaching this week, so he’ll possible be again after the primary worldwide break of the season.Pierre Kalulu is being tipped by many within the Italian media to get his second straight begin at proper wingback. Tudor added that Kalulu “has proven excellent motion in midfield, offering solidity and focus, qualities that assist the entire staff.”For the second straight week, Matteo Fuscaldo has been known as as much as substitute Perin on the matchday squad. Carlo Pinsoglio, as he he did all preseason and in final weekend’s season opener, will function the backup to Michele Di Gregorio.Tudor mentioned that Nico González, one of many final remaining gamers being linked with a possible exit forward of Monday’s switch deadline, is a participant he has “at all times admired” and that he’s “delighted to have him with us.”Tudor mentioned that, sooner or later, Teun Koopmeiners will return to the beginning lineup, including that the Dutchman — who’s coming off a tricky first season in Turin — is “heading in the right direction” as he works his method again to one thing resembling his greatest type that he confirmed at Atalanta.
Popping out of the primary weekend of the Serie A season, there may be one participant who leads the league in assists.
It’s a tall and good-looking 20-year-old younger man who simply so occurs to put on black and white a great quantity of the time.
So that you most likely guessed the place we’re going with this. Let’s speak about Kenan Yildiz as a result of there’s by no means actually a foul time to do one thing like that. (Until it entails him getting despatched off in opposition to Monza final season, I suppose.)
Getty Photos
The season-opening win over Parma was Yildiz exhibiting a few of his greatest qualities. He was a menace with a head of steam behind him as he charged towards opposing defenders, establishing each objectives Juve scored final Sunday evening and staking declare to the title of being the one participant in Serie A with two assists to his identify after Matchday 1.
In order the highlight on Yildiz solely appears to get greater by the week and with each passing main efficiency, it’s solely pure to consider the place he’s going from right here.
Trace: It’s most likely one thing that entails an ever-improving skillset.
Or it may look lots like what Yildiz has accomplished when it comes to manufacturing ever since Tudor took over as Juventus’ supervisor again in March. It seems a bit one thing like this:
Twelve whole appearances12 aim contributions (six objectives and 6 assists)
One thing tells me that’s good. In all probability as a result of it’s — and the type of tempo in the case of each objectives and assists that all of us hope that Yildiz continues to supply as we head into the primary large assessments of the 2025-26 season adfter the September worldwide break.
No higher method than to proceed the place he left off within the season opener as Juventus head out on the highway for the primary time throughout the brand new marketing campaign. And if which means one other help or two that retains him atop the chart, then so be it. Both method, Yildiz being Juventus’ greatest hazard man is turning into one thing that we’re going to say much more than we did throughout his first season sporting the No. 10 — and that’s an thrilling prospect certainly.
When: Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025.
The place: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy.
Official kickoff time: 6:30 p.m. native time in Italy and throughout Europe, 5:30 p.m. in the UK, 12:30 p.m. Jap time, 11:30 a.m. Central time, 9:30 a.m. Pacific time.
Tv: CBS Sports activities Community, Fox Deportes (United States); TLN (Canada).
On-line/Streaming: Paramount+, DAZN USA, Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Foxsports.com, Fox Sports activities app (United States); DAZN Canada; fuboTV Canada; Amazon Prime Video; Fubo Sports activities Community Canada (Canada); DAZN UK (United Kingdom); DAZN Italia, Sky Go Italia (Italy).
Different stay viewing choices may be discovered right here, and as at all times, you too can comply with together with us stay and all of the silly issues we are saying on Twitter. Should you haven’t already, be part of the group on Black & White & Learn All Over, and be part of within the dialogue under.