Juventus beat Lechia Gdansk 2-1 at the PGE Arena Gdansk on Wednesday afternoon in a friendly, where coach Massimiliano Allegri tested his squad, and Sami Khedira and Daniele Rugani made their debut for the Bianconeri.
Paul Pogba scored the opener after just four minutes, then Lechia Gdansk played with more vigour from the end of the first half onwards, scoring the deserved equaliser with Adam Buksa on 80 minutes. Substitute Mario Mandzukic fired home the winning goal with one minute to go, giving Allegri the first win of the season.
Only three minutes after Pogba’s goal bad news arrived for Juve, as Giorgio Chiellini had to abandon the game for a muscle injury, with Martin Caceres replacing the number three.
In the first 30 minutes the Bianconeri dominated, with a very active Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right and with Dybala distributing assists left, right and centre.
In the 30th minute Dybala was one on one with the Polish keeper Lukasz Budzilek, who saved the 21-year-old’s attempted lob.
Afterwards, Lechia started putting pressure on Juve, culminating with Adam Dzwigala’s shot following a corner kick touching the outside of Juventus’ left post.
Allegri changed immediately five men for the second half. Luca Clemenza, Patrice Evra, Claudio Marchisio, Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata came on for Lichtsteiner, Leonardo Bonucci, Pogba, Dybala and Zaza at half time.
Another change on the 57th minute, with Buffon making space for Neto, who was immediately operative, saving a close range shot from Michal Mak.
Allegri brought on four youngsters at different points, Mattia Vitale, Giulio Parodi, Roman Macek, Alberto Cerri and Andres Tello, for Caceres, Khedira, Morata, Simone Padoin and Stefano Sturaro, while the game slowed down.
On 70 minutes Neto brilliantly saved a right foot shot by Maciej Makuszewski, as Lechia tried to put pressure on the Bianconeri.
Lechia’s efforts delivered the well deserved goal with Adam Buksa firing a left foot shot past Neto with ten minutes remaining.
It was the Bianconeri who had the final laugh, though, with Mandzukic keeping his cool in the Polish area and scoring his first goal for his new team, and giving a superficial Juventus more than deserved, with Lechia Gdansk who really gave the vice-European champions an unexpected tough time.
