Juventus’s Misfortune: Vlahovic and David Score in Rapid Succession

Juventus once again showed all its struggles on offense in Cagliari. Luciano Spalletti’s team controlled the game but failed to capitalize on the chances it created, leaving Sardinia with a bitter draw. Randal Kolo Muani and Nick Woltemade squandered at least four clear-cut scoring chances, infuriating the Tuscan coach on the bench, who displayed several signs of frustration after the game.

The Old Lady fired 22 shots on the Sardinians’ goal compared to their 4, yet managed to score just one goal. Since the start of the year, Kolo Muani has scored only one league goal, while Woltemade is still at zero.

The problems up front are even more evident when you look at the incredible form of the two strikers sold in the summer, Dusan Vlahovic and Jonathan David. Both have completely reinvented themselves after their bitter stints with Juventus: the Serbian striker has scored 6 goals in 5 games with Italiano’s Besiktas, averaging a goal every 62 minutes.

Having left Turin as a free agent, Vlahovic has redeemed himself in Turkey. “I don’t know why he couldn’t find a spot at Juve anymore; I’ve had excellent players up front, but someone like him shows me something different,” said the Turkish team’s coach, Vincenzo Italiano.

The other big Juventus castoff, Jonathan David, is making a difference at Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid. The Canadian forward has scored three goals in four games with the Colchoneros and has been praised by his coach: “When he arrived, we told him we didn’t want the player from Juventus, but the one who had performed so well in France that he ended up playing for Juventus. He has something in his game that we didn’t have; he does a great job for the team defensively,” Simeone gushed.