Serie A | Juventus 2-0 Genoa: Di Gregorio makes heroic return

Juventus secured a 2-0 victory over Genoa, narrowing the gap to fourth-placed Como to just one point. Goals were scored by Gleison Bremer and Weston McKennie, with substitute Michele Di Gregorio making a heroic return by saving a crucial penalty.

The "Bianconeri" felt the pressure after a 1-1 draw against Sassuolo left them in fifth place. However, Como's draw in Udine offered Juventus an opportunity to close the gap on the fourth spot. Despite finally having a full squad, Dusan Vlahovic and Arek Milik started the match on the bench. Genoa was without Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Maxwel Cornet, and Benjamin Siegrist, as their run of three wins in four games was halted by a home defeat to Udinese.

The hosts broke the deadlock in just four minutes. After Gleison Bremer's initial header was blocked, Khephren Thuram and Lloyd Kelly delivered the ball back into the box, allowing Bremer to score with a second header. The shot deflected off Johan Vasquez, wrong-footing goalkeeper Justin Bijlow.

Thuram's shot went just wide, and Ruslan Malinovskyi's powerful free-kick was deflected for a corner. Nevertheless, Juventus soon doubled their lead with a well-executed team move.

Weston McKennie initiated the attack from the center circle, sending Francisco Conceicao down the right flank. McKennie then continued his run and was perfectly positioned to finish the move, expertly striking the return pass from 12 yards out.

However, McKennie was soon booked for a clumsy sliding tackle on Vasquez, which means he will be suspended for the crucial match against Atalanta.

Kenan Yildiz had a couple of weak shots directly at Bijlow, but McKennie squandered an astonishing opportunity just before halftime. Following Conceicao's cross to the far post, Kenan Yildiz acrobatically knocked the ball back from the byline, but McKennie inexplicably missed from point-blank range. Moments later, Conceicao took a shot himself; his angled drive flashed across the face of the goal, narrowly skimming the far post.

Michele Di Gregorio entered the match for the second half, replacing Mattia Perin, who had sustained a slight calf issue.

Juventus continued to press forward: first, McKennie slid in but couldn't quite connect with Thuram's knockdown from a free-kick routine, and then moments later, Jonathan David's powerful shot from the edge of the box rattled the inside of the far post.

Tommaso Baldanzi shot directly at Di Gregorio, while Vasquez's strike was blocked, as was Vitinha's volley from a corner.

Vlahovic was preparing to come on as a substitute but felt a calf twinge during the warm-up, so Milik was introduced instead.

Bremer fouled Aaron Martin, earning a yellow card. VAR confirmed the contact was on the penalty area line, leading to a penalty kick. Martin stepped up, but Di Gregorio marked his unexpected return with a superb double save, first denying Martin's spot-kick and then the subsequent volley. This means Genoa has failed to convert four of their eight Serie A penalties this season, with four different players missing.

Baldanzi, who came on as a substitute, significantly impacted Genoa's play and was fouled by Thuram just inches outside the penalty box this time.

Arkadiusz Milik spotted Bijlow off his line and attempted an audacious lob from the center circle, which the Genoa goalkeeper scrambled back to claw away.

Final Score: Juventus 2-0 Genoa

• Bremer 4' (J)
• McKennie 17' (J)

Missed Penalty: Martin 75' (G)