Federico Bernardeschi scores dramatic late winner as Cristiano Ronaldo draws blank on debut
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Updated 18/08/2018 at 18:33 GMT
Serie A, Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi - Chievo Verona 2 (Stepinski 38', Giaccherini P 56') Juventus 3 (Khedira 3', Bani OG 75', Bernardeschi 90+3')
Federico Bernardeschi of Juventus celebrates his goal with his team-mates during the serie A match between Chievo Verona and Juventus at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi on August 18, 2018 in Verona, Italy.
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Federico Bernardeschi came off the bench to score a dramatic late winner for Juventus as they started their 2018/19 Serie A season with a 3-2 win over Chievo Verona.
All eyes were on new signing Cristiano Ronaldo as he made his debut for the Bianconeri, but the current Ballon d'Or holder failed to find the net in his first appearance for the Italian champions, spurning a couple of chances.
Juventus had taken an early lead through Sami Khedira before Mariusz Stepinski levelled matters. Chievo took a surprise lead in the second half through a penalty from Emanuele Giaccherini, giving Juve a mountain to climb.
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Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus celebrates his goal during the serie A match between Chievo Verona and Juventus at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi on August 18, 2018 in Verona, Italy.
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But after relentless pressure, Juventus hit back. Leonardo Bonucci got on the end of a Paulo Dybala corner kick to bundle home an equaliser via Mattia Bani, before Bernardeschi struck in stoppage time to give his side the win.
Mario Mandzukic had a goal of his own ruled out between those two strikes when the referee decided that goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino was fouled before the Croatian scored.
TALKING POINT
Cristiano Ronaldo already looks the part at his new club. He might not have marked his Juventus debut with a goal, but Ronaldo looks to have settled into his new team pretty well. The 33-year-old started off leading the line, before drifting out to the left wing following the introduction of Mario Mandzukic off the bench in the second half. In both roles, Ronaldo looked sharp. There were signs of burgeoning relationships with some of his new team-mates, particularly Dybala. On this basis, Ronaldo will thrive at Juve. Did we really expect anything else?
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Cristiano Ronaldo - Chievo Verona-Juventus
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MAN OF THE MATCH
Stefano Sorrentino (Chievo) Technically, Sorrentino didn’t lose to Juventus. The 39-year-old veteran was being stretchered off the pitch as Juventus scored their stoppage time winner. Had Sorrentino remained on the pitch, he might just have dragged his side to a point, such was the standard of his performance until he was forced off through injury. Juventus found it so difficult to beat the Chievo keeper. He deserved better than to finish his game on a stretcher.
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Stefano Sorrentino (L) of Chievo Verona makes a save during the Serie A match between Chievo Verona and Juventus at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi on August 18, 2018 in Verona, Italy.
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PLAYER RATINGS
Chievo - Sorrentino 9, Cacciatore 7, Bani 6, Rossetini 7, Tomovic 6, Rigoni 5, Radavanovic 6, Hetenaj 6, Depaoli 5, Stepinski 7, Giaccherini 8. Subs - Djordevic 5, Obi 5.
Juventus - Szczesny 6, Cancelo 5, Bonucci 7, Chiellini 6, Sandro 7, Khedira 7, Pjanic 7, Cuadrado 5, Dybala 7, Costa 7, Ronaldo 7. Subs - Mandzukic 7, Can 5, Bernardeschi 8.
KEY MOMENTS
2’ GOAL! Chievo 0-1 Juventus: The defending champions have the lead within the first few minutes! Pjanic's freekick caused mayhem inside the Chievo box and Khedira was on hand to turn a half volley into the back of the net. What a start!
38’ GOAL! Chievo 1-1 Juventus: Chievo have an equaliser completely against the run of play! They have barely crossed the halfway line in this first half, but Stepinski gets on the end of a Giaccherini cross to direct a header past Szczesny in the Juve goal.
54’ PENALTY KICK TO CHIEVO! Cancelo brings down Giaccherini inside the box and the referee points to the spot.
55’ GOAL! Chievo 2-1 Juventus: The hosts take a shock lead! Giaccherini won the penalty kick, going over the leg of Cancelo inside the box, and he steps up to send Szczesny the wrong way from the spot! What a cool penalty from the former Juve man.
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Juventus' Portuguese forward, Cristiano Ronaldo (L) reacts after missing a shot during the Italian Serie A football match AC Chievo vs Juventus at the Marcantonio-Bentegodi stadium in Verona on August 18, 2018.
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69’ RONALDOOOOOOOO! My word, what a save from Sorrentino to keep out the Juventus number seven. Ronaldo creates the space for himself and wraps his foot around a shot. It was heading for the bottom corner, but somehow the save was made!
75’ GOAL! Chievo 2-2 Juventus: Bonucci has scored an equaliser on his Juventus return! The pressure had been building and Bonucci heads home from close range after a wonderful corner kick delivery from Dybala! Wicked! It might have been an own goal from Bani.
86’ OFF THE LINE! Mandzukic believes that his header crossed the line! The referee says that it didn't, though. And now Sorrentino is out cold. The Chievo goalkeeper is in trouble here.
87’ VAR REVIEW! We're going to VAR to decide whether this was a goal. Meanwhile, Sorrentino is receiving some treatment on the pitch. This is a strange mix of emotions for these two teams.
88’ GOAL! Chievo 2-3 Juventus: The VAR review is used to determine that Mandzukic's header crossed the line and Juventus are awarded the goal. Sorrentino still looks to be in trouble. Was there a handball from Ronaldo in there as well? What drama this is!
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Juventus' Portuguese forward, Cristiano Ronaldo (C) collides with Chievo's goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino (Bottom) during the Italian Serie A football match AC Chievo vs Juventus at the Marcantonio-Bentegodi stadium in Verona on August 18, 2018.
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89’ GOAL DISALLOWED! Incredible! What is going on here. First, the goal wasn't given. Then it was given. Now VAR has been used to take another look and it has been disallowed!
92’ GOAL! Chievo 2-3 Juventus: Juventus have scored a stoppage time winner! What an end to this match! Sandro got to the byline and smashed a cross into the box, where Bernardeschi was on hand to turn home from close range! That is surely the winner.
KEY STATS
Before today, Juventus hadn’t conceded more than once in their Serie A opener since September 1998 (4-3 against Perugia).
Sami Khedira has now scored in three of the four Serie A season openers he has played in.
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