Juventus beat Chievo 1-0 at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi in Verona in the opening match of the 2014/15 Serie A season.
An early own goal by Chievo defender Cristiano Biraghi was enough to separate the sides but it didn’t tell the full story as the away side completely dominated the game and should have won by more on Massimiliano Allegri’s debut on the Juventus bench.
Juventus could have opened the scoring in the first minute of the game when a Stephan Lichtsteiner cross found Carlos Tevez free in the box but he dragged his shot wide of Francesco Bardi in the Chievo goal.
Just five minutes later the away side did take the lead as a corner from Tevez found Martin Caceres, who rose high at the back post and headed the ball down and it seemed to go in off the back of Biraghi in to the Chievo goal.
Not long after continued pressure by the away side nearly resulted in a second as Arturo Vidal was denied by a clearance a yard out after his twice hit shot was scrambled away by the home defense.
Juevntus were completely dominant all over the pitch at this stage and went close to extending their lead once again on 34 minutes as new signing from Paris Saint-Germain, Kingsley Coman had a wicked shot brilliantly saved by Bardi, who denied the young Frenchman his first goal for the Old Lady.
Just before the half time whistle the Bianconeri had two great chances to increase their lead, as first Tevez struck the crossbar after been picked out by Lichtsteiner and then a corner was meet by Caceres but again his header hit the crossbar to the relief of Bardi.
Just after the break it was the debutante Coman who went very close to adding a second as he hit a superb 25-yard shot but it just flew wide of the Flying Donkeys goal.
Mid-way through the half the away side continued to control the game and a lovely move down the right between Lichtsteiner and Vidal saw the Chilean’s floated cross meet by the incoming Coman but his header drifted over the bar.
Moments later substitute Fernando Llorente had a header well saved by Bardi and from the resulting corner Caceres had a shot deflected over six yards out as the ball seemed destined to hit the back of the net.
It wasn’t until the 76 minute that the home side created their first chance of the game and what a chance it was as substitute Alberto Paloschi blocked shot fell into the path of Maxi Lopez but his shot was well smothered by Gianluigi Buffon in the Juventus goal.
No more clear cut chances were created and the Old Lady will go back to Turin happy with their winning start to the new campaign.
