09 October 2021
A severely depleted Juventus side overcame Alessandria 2-1 in a training-ground friendly on Saturday morning.
The Serie B outfit provided a decent test for Massimiliano Allegri's troops, minus the sizeable international contingent involved in 2022 World Cup qualifiers and Nations League matches around the globe.
The game was the perfect opportunity to give Arthur and Kaio Jorge their first start of the season, after the pair were named in a matchday squad for the first time this season against Torino last weekend.
Both turned in a positive displays on their return to the starting line-up, with the former pulling the strings in midfield and the latter causing problems for the opposition backline and managing to fire off a few shots.
Besides the Brazilian duo, the team consisted of the few senior players who remained in Turin (Mattia Perin, Carlo Pinsoglio, Luca Pellegrini, Mattia De Sciglio and Daniele Rugani) and a host of youngsters from the Bianconeri U19 and U23 sides, who were given the chance to impress.
17-year old Tommaso Maressa certainly did that when he opened the scoring with an unstoppable effort five minutes before the break.
Before then Juve had largely been in control and went close through Kaio Jorge, Pellegrini, Marley Ake and Matias Soule but found the stubborn visitors tough to break down.
In the second half Alessandria upped the pressure seeking an equaliser and the Bianconeri found themselves having to fend off their attacks in the final minutes.
The visitors eventually made the breakthrough in the 90th minute, when Simone Corazza turned home following a corner.
However, in the dying seconds of stoppage time Ange Josue Chibozo won the ball off a defender by the touchline, drove into the box and dinked his finish over the keeper at the near post to make it 2-1.
The squad will now enjoy a two-day break before reporting back for work on Tuesday with their sights set on the following Sunday's match against Roma at Allianz Stadium.
