ROME (AP) — Thiago Motta was supposed to bring flair and new ideas to Juventus in the wake of Massimiliano Allegri’s old-school defensive tactics. Five rounds into Serie A, the Juventus defense has been perfect without a single goal conceded. The attack, however, is stalled following three straight 0-0 draws.
Part of the problem is a slump for center forward Dusan Vlahovic, who has scored in only one match this season — his brace at Hellas Verona a month ago — combined with Federico Chiesa’s departure to Liverpool. “Juventus isn’t conceding goals but it’s not scoring them, either. And that’s become a problem,” Fabio Capello, who played and coached at Juventus, said in a Gazzetta dello Sport editorial on Thursday.
Capello added that against Napoli last weekend — when Juventus produced only one shot on goal — the team was “really boring.” But the Bianconeri could be poised for a breakout performance on Saturday at a tired Genoa side coming off a penalty-shootout loss to Sampdoria in an Italian Cup derby. Attacking midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, who was signed for 55 million euros ($61 million) from Atalanta, and forward Nico Gonzalez, who was loaned from Fiorentina, are still settling in.
“I’m expecting a reaction from Juve,” Capello said. “After such a big market campaign, it’s one of the teams that can contend for the title. .
.. (Motta) has ideas but maybe the (players) haven’t learned them well enough yet.
” Two more clean sheets and Ju.