Skip to content
Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Juventus vs Parma. Italian Serie A.

Delle AlpiAttendance37,000.

Juventus 2

  • S Lichtsteiner (54th minute)
  • A Pirlo (58th minute)

Parma 0

    Juve make flying start

    Image: Claudio Marchisio shakes off a challenge

    Juventus began the defence of their Serie A title with a 2-0 win over Parma.

    Juventus began the defence of their Serie A title with a 2-0 win over Parma, although they had their goalkeeper Marco Storari to thank for helping them to victory. Arturo Vidal missed a penalty in the first half but the Bianconeri took the lead through Stephan Lichtsteiner in the 54th minute. A disputable goal from Andrea Pirlo four minutes later looked to have wrapped up victory but it took some sterling saves from Storari to prevent Parma from finding a way back into the game and upsetting the fans, who were already celebrating inside the Juventus Arena. With Massimo Carrera in charge on the Juventus bench following the upholding of Antonio Conte's 10-month ban for failing to report match-fixing while at Siena, there was little other difference to the Serie A title-holders at the start of the new season. With the lively Sebastian Giovinco up against the side he represented while on loan last season, they harried and hassled the Parma defence, showing why they did not lose a single game last term. Mirko Vucinic went close to opening the scoring in the 18th minute but sent his header over the crossbar. Juve should have taken the lead 10 minutes before the break when the referee awarded them a penalty, Antonio Mirante adjudged to have brought down Lichtsteiner inside the penalty area. However, Vidal's spot-kick was saved by the Parma goalkeeper, who got away with only a booking for the initial foul. Lichtsteiner put Juventus ahead in the 54th minute when he met Kwadwo Asamoah's low cross from close range to tuck the ball in. Pirlo made it two four minutes later, delivering a punishing blow to Parma. The Italy international's direct free-kick was grasped by Mirante, who slid over the goal line but tried to keep the ball out. According to the referee, though, the ball had crossed the line fully and the goal was given. Parma did not lose heart and the pacy Jonathan Biabiany proved to be a thorn in the side of the Juve defence. Jaime Valdes missed the best chance for Parma in the 78th minute when he took too long with the ball and allowed Leonardo Bonucci to get back and make the tackle. Marco Storari did well numerous times to keep a resurgent Parma out, most notably in the 87th minute when he first denied Sotiris Ninis and then got up to block Massimo Gobbi's effort.

    Around Sky