The Andrea Pirlo era starts with goals from Dejan Kulusevski, Leonardo Bonucci, and Cristiano Ronaldo off to a sparkling start, defeating Sampdoria 3-0.
Pirlo made his competitive debut as a coach, against Claudio Ranieri, who was marking his 400th Serie A match.
Kulusevski got the first goal of the Pirlo period with a finish of exquisite precision. The ball dropped kindly after a tackle and the former Parma winger steered it into the far bottom corner with the inside of his left boot. Ronaldo attempted to burst in. It was the sixth touch for the Swede in a Juventus shirt.
Cristiano Ronaldo almost got a second, but his powerful shot from a close angle hit the crossbar, when McKennie was sent running down the left.
Samp made a triple substitution at the break, but it was Juve who forced a save with Frabotta from Emil Audero, again on a wild card Ramsey pass.
The corner of Kulusevski saw both Bonucci and McKennie go for the header, Audero saved the American’s shot from close range, who was unable to do anything when Bonucci finished the rebound.
Quagliarella again challenged, his finish skimming the far post after an inspired slide-rule pass by Valerio Verre.
However, when Ronaldo was released down the right by Ramsey’s through a pass Juve made it 3-0, driving it hard and true through Audero into the far bottom corner.
This time CR7 lost its foothold and was unable to get the tap-in, Ramsey almost created a fourth moment later.
JUVENTUS 3 – 0 SAMPDORIA
Goals:1-0 Kulusevski 13′, 2-0 Bonucci 79′, 3-0 Ronaldo 88′
Yellow cards: Tonelli (S); Frabotta (J)
Juventus: Szczesny; Bonucci, Chiellini (Demiral 82), Danilo; Cuadrado (Bentancur 78), Rabiot, McKennie, Frabotta (De Sciglio 67); Kulusevski (Douglas Costa 82), Cristiano Ronaldo, Ramsey
Sampdoria: Audero; Bereszynski, Tonelli (Yoshida 46), Colley, Augello; Depaoli (Ramirez 46), Thorsby (Damsgaard 70), Ekdal, Leris (Quagliarella 46), Jankto; Bonazzoli (Verre 70)
