Boss Motta lauds Juve performance

TURIN, Italy — Juventus coach Thiago Motta appeared pleased with his new team after it strolled to a 3-0 home win against newly promoted Como in its Serie A opener on Monday.

Juve pulled off a confident performance, with Samuel Mbangula, Timothy Weah and Andrea Cambiaso all on target in the first game of the season at the Allianz Stadium.

"I was satisfied with the performance, but above all with the result. We deserved to win," Motta told a postgame news conference.

"Today, I liked the defensive phase, understanding the moment to press, recompose, the willingness of the attackers, of Dusan (Vlahovic) to start the pressing.

"I'm satisfied. We can improve there, too, and we'll try to do it in everything. I think this team should, and can, do it."

Juve, who won nine consecutive championships between 2012 and 2020, is hoping for a fresh start under the Brazilian-Italian coach, whose main objective will be to secure a first Serie A crown for the Turin club in four years.

"Humility is always needed," Motta said.

"Dusan showed great humility to track back and help his midfield, the defenders communicated well.

"Como had a fantastic Serie B campaign, and arrived with such enthusiasm.

"We faced them with the same respect as always.

"When we needed to defend, we did, and, with the ball, we have a lot of quality players who made smart decisions."

Motta, 41, had more words of praise for Serbian Vlahovic, who had a series of chances, and a goal ruled out for offside.

"Dusan had a great game with and without the ball, he is an important player for us," Motta said.

Vlahovic could have doubled Juve's advantage just before the break from a freekick.

Como keeper Pepe Reina dived to make a save, before the 24-year-old striker rattled the far post seconds later.

"We need to recover from this game, regain our energy and focus on Hellas Verona," Motta added.

"Verona are a tricky team, they demonstrated that in their first game, and we have to do a good job."

For Como boss Cesc Fabregas, in charge of his first league game since taking over as the club's head coach in the summer, it was an eyeopener.

"Today was a reality check. We need to be better," Fabregas told DAZN. "What we saw today was a difference in quality, and a bit of confidence. They were devastating when they took the ball off us, and we gave the ball away too easily.

"That's not down to tactics, that's down to individual quality."

Debutants grab goals

It was a good day for debutants in Italy's Serie A on Monday, as new faces at both Juventus and Atalanta gave their teams a winning start to the league season.

Motta surprised fans by handing a debut to youth academy graduate Mbangula, and the 20-year-old winger responded by scoring the opening goal.

Mbangula cut in from the left in the 23rd minute and slotted a low drive into the far corner to give Juventus the lead.

US international Weah scored Juve's second, when he smashed a shot in off the underside of the bar just before halftime. It was the American's first league goal for the club. Cambiaso then added a third in injury time to pad out the scoreline for Motta's side.

For Atalanta, new signings Mateo Retegui and Marco Brescianini both scored twice as it routed Lecce 4-0 in a blistering start to its campaign.

Brescianini joined last season's Europa League winner from Frosinone just three days ago, and Retegui was signed last week from Genoa.

Brescianini got the opener when the midfielder pounced on a parried save by goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone after 35 minutes, before Retegui doubled Atalanta's lead with a powerful header on the stroke of halftime.

Retegui got the third from the penalty spot 12 minutes into the second period, and then Brescianini took advantage of the lackluster Lecce defense to make it four after 65 minutes.

The result means the Bergamo club sits top of the Serie A table on goal difference after one round.

"It's better than even I could have imagined," said Brescianini, a Bergamo native.

"I'm really happy to be wearing this jersey and I hope to repay the faith the club and fans have shown in me."

Agencies