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

Juventus secured a crucial 2-0 home victory against Genoa, narrowing the gap to fourth-placed Como to just one point. Goals from Gleison Bremer and Weston McKennie, along with a decisive penalty save by substitute goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, sealed the win for the Bianconeri.

Following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Sassuolo, Juventus, sitting in joint fifth, capitalized on Como's recent draw to improve their position in the race for a top-four spot. Despite finally having a more complete squad available, key attackers Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik started the match on the bench. Genoa, whose three-game winning run was recently halted by Udinese, were missing Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Maxwel Cornet, and Benjamin Siegrist. The match also saw a touchline reunion between Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti and his former Roma player Daniele De Rossi.

The home side opened the scoring early, with Gleison Bremer heading in from close range in the fourth minute. The goal came after an initial header by Bremer was blocked, and then Khephren Thuram and Lloyd Kelly recycled the ball, allowing Bremer to score with a deflection off Johan Vasquez that deceived Genoa goalkeeper Justin Bijlow.

Thuram narrowly missed with a shot just wide, and Ruslan Malinovskyi's powerful free-kick was deflected for a corner. Juventus soon doubled their lead with a finely executed team play. Weston McKennie initiated the move from midfield, distributing the ball wide to Francisco Conceicao on the right. McKennie then continued his run into the box, receiving the return pass and clinically finishing from 12 yards with his right foot.

However, McKennie's contribution was marred shortly after when he received a yellow card for a clumsy sliding tackle on Vasquez, ruling him out of Juventus's upcoming crucial fixture against Atalanta.

Kenan Yildiz had a couple of tame shots saved by Bijlow. Just before halftime, McKennie inexplicably squandered a golden opportunity. A cross from Conceicao found Yildiz at the far post, who acrobatically hooked the ball back across goal, only for McKennie to fire over from point-blank range. Moments later, Conceicao then tried his luck with an angled shot that narrowly missed, grazing the far post.

Michele Di Gregorio replaced Mattia Perin in goal at halftime due to Perin's minor calf injury.

Juventus maintained their attacking pressure in the second half. McKennie couldn't quite connect with a Thuram knockdown from a free-kick, and moments later, Jonathan David unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box that rattled the inside of the far post.

For Genoa, Tommaso Baldanzi tested Di Gregorio with a direct shot, while efforts from Vasquez and Vitinha (a volley from a corner) were blocked by the defense.

Dusan Vlahovic was preparing to enter the game, but a calf twinge during his warm-up meant Arkadiusz Milik was brought on as a substitute instead.

Bremer received a yellow card for fouling Aaron Martin, leading to a penalty after VAR confirmed the incident occurred on the edge of the box. Martin took the spot-kick, but substitute goalkeeper Di Gregorio emerged as the hero, making an impressive double save—first denying Martin's initial penalty, then quickly reacting to block the follow-up volley. This marks Genoa's fourth missed penalty out of eight in Serie A this season, with four different players failing to convert.

Tommaso Baldanzi, a lively substitute for Genoa, continued to influence the game, earning a free-kick just outside the box after being fouled by Thuram.

Arkadiusz Milik attempted a speculative lob from the center circle, noticing Bijlow off his line, but the Genoa goalkeeper scrambled back to tip it over. The match concluded with a 2-0 scoreline in favor of Juventus, with goals from Bremer (4') and McKennie (17'). Martin's penalty for Genoa was saved in the 75th minute.