Morata double will get Pirlo’s Juventus off the mark in Kiev

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Alvaro Morata struck twice on Tuesday as Juventus made mild of Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence to get their Champions League marketing campaign off the mark with a 2-0 win at Dynamo Kiev.

Spain’s Morata opened the scoring simply after the break when he tapped in off a rebound and nodded in a second with six minutes to place Juventus second in Group G behind Barcelona who beat Hungarian minnows Ferencvaros 5-1.

Portugal captain Ronaldo and US midfielder Weston McKennie each missed the journey to the Ukraine after testing optimistic for coronavirus, with Alex Sandro and Matthijs de Ligt out injured.

However Andrea Pirlo, 41, received his European teaching debut off to a successful begin towards veteran Dynamo coach Mircea Lucescu who gave the Italian his first Serie A begin as a Brescia participant 25 years in the past.

“One step at a time. It was vital to play a stable match in comparison with Saturday towards Crotone,” stated Pirlo of the 1-1 league draw.

“We managed to attempt one thing (in coaching) on Monday and we had been extra organised for at this time.”

The Italian champions had little to point out for his or her early domination towards the younger Ukrainian aspect with Dynamo goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan denying early efforts from Federico Chiesa and Dejan Kulusevski.

Juve skipper Giorgio Chiellini additionally nodded huge earlier than the veteran defender was changed by Merih Demiral after 18 minutes after limping off clutching his leg.

Morata’s first purpose got here after Bushchan parried Kulusevski’s effort, permitting the striker to complete off the rebound, in entrance of a crowd of 15,000 within the Ukrainian capital.

Paulo Dybala got here on for Kulusevski 10 minutes after the break for the Argentina ahead’s first begin this season.

But it surely was former Chelsea striker Morata who had the ultimate phrase with a robust header from a Juan Cuadrado cross which gave him a 3rd purpose in per week since shifting on mortgage again to Juventus from Atletico Madrid.

– ‘Go all the best way’ –

“(Chiellini’s) harm compelled us to vary the playing cards however Demiral did very effectively,” stated Pirlo. 

“The strategy I had from the start was to have extra gamers in assault. 

“Chiesa has attacking duties and may play on both flank, Kulusevski and Ramsey can come inside and with Cuadrado on the proper our huge males can actually push up. 

“Let’s not overlook that we’re with out Ronaldo and Dybala is just not 100%, so our attacking set-up can change. 

“Paulo must play to succeed in peak health. He is getting again to his finest slowly however absolutely.

“Chiellini felt a twinge in his thigh so we’ll want to check out him.”

Pirlo took over this season after Maurizio Sarri was sacked after the Italian champions’ final 16 exit to Lyon final season.

“These are three vital factors,” stated Morata.

“Yearly there’s the likelihood to win and we need to combat to go all the best way.”

Juventus are chasing a 3rd Champions League title after 1985 and 1996, with seven runners-up finishes, together with in 2015, with Pirlo taking part in, and 2017.

Juventus subsequent play Barcelona on October 28 in Turin, with each groups on three factors.

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