SC: Four-star Juve demolish Lazio

By Football Italia staff

Juventus demolished Lazio 4-0 in the Italian Super Cup, scoring three in as many second-half minutes, including Carlos Tevez’s debut goal.

This traditional clash awards the first silverware of the season and is between the Scudetto winners and Coppa Italia holders. Mirko Vucinic partnered new buy Carlos Tevez and Andrea Barzagli shook off an injury, while Lazio had Argentina international Lucas Biglia supporting Miroslav Klose. Although the Stadio Olimpico is the Biancocelesti’s home venue, it is considered ‘neutral’ for this tournament as the arena for the Coppa Italia Final.

In the third minute Tevez took a free kick quickly to surprise the defence, but Vucinic blasted over. Arturo Vidal intercepted a Cristian Ledesma free kick before Andre Dias could nod in at the back post.

Claudio Marchisio suffered a knock to the knee in a collision with Stefan Radu and was visibly frustrated as he hobbled off to make way for Paul Pogba.

The Frenchman was only on the field for under three minutes when he broke the deadlock. Andrea Pirlo rolled a free kick to Stephan Lichtsteiner, whose deflected cross landed into the path of Pogba and the Under-20 World Cup winner spun round to score from 12 yards. It was a well-worked set-piece, as everyone was expecting Pirlo to curl it over the wall.

Antonio Candreva pulled back from the by-line just past the waiting Senad Lulic and Hernanes was booked for a very late tackle on Andrea Barzagli.

Gigi Buffon needed a sensational fingertip save with his trailing hand to turn a Stefan Radu rocket out of the far top corner on 33 minutes.

Juventus doubled their lead after the restart with a classic counter-attack. Lichtsteiner sprinted up from the centre-circle and rolled across for Giorgio Chiellini to tap in from eight yards. It was his fourth career goal past Lazio, confirming them as his favourite targets.

Moments later it was 3-0, as Lazio seemed to be completely stunned. Lichtsteiner sprung the offside trap with a wonderful give-and-go pass with Vucinic and rolled it past the on-rushing Marchetti.

It turned into a rout, as Tevez scored on his official Juventus debut for the fourth. Marchetti acrobatically parried a Lichtsteiner strike, then Pogba from close range until Tevez sidefooted in the rebound from seven yards.

Lazio were torn apart and Marchetti needed a shin to deny Arturo Vidal’s shot and Tevez’s spectacular volley was over the bar.

Candreva blasted from distance, but Buffon had his body behind it to smother. Klose, who has never scored against Juventus, got between defenders for a free header but turned Candreva’s cross over.

Klose dribbled between three defenders to find a gap in the Juve defence, but Buffon rushed off his line and got just enough on it to deflect wide. The goalkeeper also smothered an Ederson attempt. In the final minutes some racist booing was heard from the Lazio end, so a warning message was read over the loudspeaker.

Curiously, referee Gianluca Rocchi blew the final whistle just shy of the 90th minute, so no stoppages were awarded.

Juventus 4-0 Lazio

Scorers: Pogba 23 (J), Chiellini 52 (J), Lichtsteiner 54 (J), Tevez 56 (J)

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli (Caceres 75), Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner (Ogbonna 82), Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio (Pogba 20), Asamoah; Tevez, Vucinic

Lazio: Marchetti; Cavanda, Biava, Dias, Radu (Ederson 57); Biglia (Onazi 71), Ledesma (Floccari 57); Candreva, Hernanes, Lulic; Klose

Ref: Rocchi

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