Socrates

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Juventus' Italian Super Cup Win over Lazio Hints That Gulf Remains in Serie A http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2543061-juventus-italian-super-cup-win-over-lazio-hints-that-gulf-remains-in-serie-a? Aug 9, 2015 Two months after losing the Champions League final to Barcelona, Juventus returned to competitive action in the Italian Super Cup on Saturday. The showpiece event usually pits the Serie A winner against the team that triumphs in the Coppa Italia, but the domestic double achieved by the Bianconeri meant this year’s edition would be a little different. Taking place at Shanghai Stadium in China, the 2015 game saw cup runners-up Lazio provide the opposition once again, hoping to give a better account of themselves than they had managed back in May. In the months since they tasted defeat in Berlin, much has changed for Juventus as Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez decided to move on. That situation was addressed by Beppe Marotta earlier this week, with the director general giving a lengthy interview to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “We are optimistic for this season, but the truth is we changed three players and must cover that gap with renewed motivation,” the official said (h/t Football Italia). Marotta went on to say that Massimiliano Allegri “is a modern and versatile coach” who would “adapt his tactics” to suit new arrivals. As a result of those exits, it was a very different starting XI that took to the field for this encounter, although Allegri opted to start just one of his team’s new acquisitions as Mario Mandzukic started alongside Kingsley Coman in attack. All summer there has been the feeling that the gap between the champions and the trailing pack had been narrowed, with Italy under-21 coach Gigi Di Biagio telling La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) that “as things stand, Juve have become weaker.” Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti echoed those thoughts, telling Lazio Style Radio 89.3 (h/t Football Italia) that his side “have to exploit” the uncertain position of their opponents. When Saturday’s match got underway it seemed that those doubts about the champions may have had some substance as the Biancocelesti seized the initiative. On a poor playing surface, Lazio’s front three of Antonio Candreva, Felipe Anderson and Miroslav Klose caused Allegri’s men serious problems in the first half, with the absences of Giorgio Chiellini and Sami Khedira undoubtedly taking a toll. After the break, however, the team that has dominated Serie A for the past four seasons raised the tempo, with Mandzukic and Paul Pogba both coming close to breaking the deadlock. Moments later the Croatian would net his first competitive goal for the club, heading home following a great cross from Stefano Sturaro. Eddy Onazi and Anderson both had opportunities but could not beat Gigi Buffon in goal, and Mandzukic then played a part in the Bianconeri doubling their lead. His run down the right saw the ball cleared to Pogba, who in turn laid it off for Paulo Dybala to smash home from around 12 yards out. Lazio had chances to net themselves before the final whistle, but in the end Juve’s superiority was apparent once again, just as it had been in the Coppa Italia final and has been since they were transformed in the summer of 2011. Clearly not the same side they were then and likely to find the going much tougher when they return to Champions League action, it appears the Bianconeri are still much too strong for their domestic rivals. “We’re building a Juve side with a future for the next four to five years,” Allegri told the club’s official website at full-time, and on this evidence they have certainly made a strong start. That bodes well for 2015/16, though greater challenges undoubtedly lie ahead as the Old Lady heads into the new campaign.

Allegri: Pogba's best is yet to come The 22-year-old is already regarded as one of Europe's top midfielders and his coach expects him to mature even more this term. http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2015/08/09/14292452/allegri-pogbas-best-yet-to-come?ICID=TP_HN_1 Aug 9, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri believes Paul Pogba will grow in stature this season following the departure of several big names at Juventus. The 22-year-old is already regarded as one of Europe's top midfielders and has been the subject of bids from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona this summer. While Juve look set to hold on to Pogba for this season at least, several other key players have left the club, with Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal all departing. Their exits means the France international will have greater responsibility this term, but Allegri has backed him to flourish under the additional weight of expectancy. "I think that he has the capability to play as a top player, to understand the flow of the game," said the Juve boss. "Lest we forget that Pogba has played a lot of games for Juventus in the last few years since he arrived. "He has grown a lot. And this season we expect a leap from him in terms of presence on the pitch so that his team mates can lean on him." Allegri was speaking after his side secured the Supercoppa Italiana with a 2-0 win over Lazio in Shanghai, with the performance of goalscorer Mario Mandzukic - a close-season arrival from Atletico Madrid - particularly pleasing the head coach. He added: "I think that Mandzukic is a great player otherwise I would not give my approval to bring him in. "Apart from his character, I think that he moves very well in attack. Apart from the goal, I think he has also showed some good individual skills for our second goal. "Its normal that he still needs to know his team-mates but I would say that I am very happy about his performance especially because he missed a great chance but then recovered immediately after by scoring the opener."

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Supercoppa Italiana: An Embarrassing Own Goal By Lega Serie A? The Supercoppa Italiana clash between Juventus and Lazio was an ideal opportunity to promote Serie A, David Lee Wheatley asks did the organisers blow it? http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/supercoppa-italiana-an-embarrassing-own-goal-by-lega-serie-a/? Aug 9, 2015 Optimism within Italian football hasn’t been this high since the extravagant 1990s when Serie A ruled the footballing world. Juventus dominated domestically once again last season, but crucially reached the Champions League final against all the odds to bring Calcio back into focus. Adding to the burgeoning enthusiasm are a plethora of top new signings who have joined up with clubs including Roma, AC Milan and Inter, as administrators of the peninsula’s favourite sport attempt to regain its previous level of global popularity. Therefore, it’s baffling that decisions were made by Lega Serie A to stage the showpiece curtain-raiser 4700 miles away from the Italian capital, in a nation that traditionally suffers its worst climactic conditions during the month of August. In fact, the fixture was even in doubt prior to the day of the contest, with a typhoon hitting Taiwan to the south of the country earlier in the week. Furthermore, they chose the Shanghai Stadium as the host venue, where several pre-season friendly matches had already taken place. Italian authorities were said to be absolutely furious at the playing surface and made a formal complaint, but their appeal was dismissed. According to various reports, they had been afforded a chance to inspect the pitch on August 5 and could have taken action, but elected not to. The wet and windy weather, coupled with the other games that had gone on before, left the pitch in a truly awful, sub-standard state. Bianconeri midfielder Claudio Marchisio pointed out the difficulties faced by both sides when speaking with the media at half-time. “It’s a balanced and difficult game because of the conditions, as it’s very windy and the pitch isn’t great,” Marchisio told Rai Sport. At that point, the match was still goalless. Probably in line with expectations, double winners Juve eventually ran out comfortable 2-0 victors in the end. However, the players’ best efforts on the field couldn’t mask the mistakes made off it. Scheduling the Super Cup clash ahead of time in such a potentially atrocious atmospheric situation smacks of pure greed in order to exploit the Chinese market, which the Lega already know to be a very strong avenue for them to pursue. The Far East is Calcio-crazy, but they – along with the many viewers around the world – should feel short-changed by the overall entertainment on offer. Possibly the silliest move of all was to earmark the very same day when the English Premier League opening weekend was set to take place. Surely the strategy should have been to completely avoid clashing with the most-watched domestic competition on the planet, whose finances still dwarf those of Serie A? Though China has a huge Italian football following, there are still many more fans of the English game in that area, which would’ve prompted the majority of television viewers to tune into Manchester United versus Tottenham Hotspur instead. Despite the increased interest in the Italian top flight, with a Phoenix-like rise from the flames led by the Old Lady’s European success, the league is simply not ready to take on the might of the Premier League just yet. Those in charge should have been proactive in choosing an alternative date – and they’ll undoubtedly realise that now. The TV production service within the host country also left a lot to be desired, thus causing further embarrassment to the Lega hierarchy, which all moulds together to create an overriding sense that a prime opportunity has passed them by. Rather then chasing big bucks from far-flung regions, they could aim to build their brand in a more considered fashion, focusing on giving home-based supporters a realistic chance to attend such big occasions instead. And, even if they continue to take the Supercoppa abroad, why go somewhere that is a near-impossible place meteorologically to stage top-class football when entrenched in the height of summer? There are a great amount of factors for Lega Serie A to ponder in relation to next year and beyond, but hopefully the fare served up in Serie A and by Italian clubs in Europe next term will make up for the glaring own goal scored by the governing body.

Neto: 'I didn't insult Fiorentina' http://www.football-italia.net/70794/neto-i-didnt-insult-fiorentina? Aug 9, 2015 Juventus goalkeeper Norberto Neto apologised to Fiorentina fans after fake Twitter controversy. Viola fans were furious when an image of a tweet circulated after the Italian Super Cup on Saturday, a game that saw Neto sit on the bench. “I’ve won more trophies in zero games with Juventus than in 72 with the Viola.” However, this morning Neto took to his official account to clarify the situation. “I am happy to have won a title with Juve, but have great respect for Fiorentina. The tweet that is circulating is fake. “I’m sorry if someone felt offended. We will try to find who is responsible as soon as possible.” There is a huge rivalry between the two clubs and Neto caused controversy when he refused to extend his Fiorentina contract, allowing him to join Juve this summer as a free agent.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Barzagli: 'Pressure off Juve' http://www.football-italia.net/70789/barzagli-pressure-juve? Aug 9, 2015 Andrea Barzagli feels the Super Cup victory over Lazio is above all important to take the “pressure” off Juventus. The Bianconeri changed a great deal over the summer, but started where they left off by lifting their third trophy of 2015. “It was important to get off on the right foot, start the season with a trophy and continue the winning streak,” Barzagli told reporters after a 2-0 victory. “It was not easy, because Lazio made life difficult for us, especially in the first half. We also played in less than ideal conditions, as it was very hot and windy. “Now we have 15 days ahead of us to prepare for a season that won’t only be long, but also very difficult. “It was therefore very important to get off on the right foot. It means we can work without pressure.”

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Super Juve silence doubters Juventus cast aside pre-season doubts to win the Italian Super Cup against Lazio. It bodes well for Luca Cetta. http://www.football-italia.net/70785/super-juve-silence-doubters? Aug 9, 2015 The chasing pack hopes this could be the season. Juventus have lost three talismanic individuals and if they are to relinquish a grip on the Scudetto, they feel, the time is surely now. It was a different looking Bianconeri to the one which last contested for a trophy in June’s Champions League Final. This was a side shorn of summer departures Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez. Had the desire of past seasons diminished? Amid the change and uncertainty, Juventus fired a warning to the hopefuls in Shanghai. Not that they’ll get carried away. The Super Cup is, after all, not a season defining trophy. The 2014-15 campaign wasn’t stained by the penalty shootout failure against Napoli. The Shanghai Stadium hosted a lacklustre affair. Both teams complained of difficult pitch conditions not conducive to productive football. Juventus started slowly and grabbed the goals through clinical finishes. That’s why it carries with it an air of caution. But in the first competitive setting of the new season, Massimiliano Allegri has some gauge of what to expect. He can walk away pleased to have guided Juve to a third trophy in 2015. “It was important to win today because we had some new players who need to settle in and were missing some others.” Questions surrounded Lazio’s near-winless pre-season, while the Old Lady were hampered by injuries. Allegri responded with a surprise, handing Kingsley Coman a place in attack ahead of Paulo Dybala. It was a show of faith to the young Frenchman after Bayern Munich offers, just as starting him in Week 1 last term at Chievo was. Stefano Sturaro and Marin Caceres also took the field from the opening whistle as Juventus went with a 3-5-2. The inclusions hardly hampered the Bianconeri, instead reaffirming their strength in depth. It’s an advantage they hold over other Scudetto contenders. In Shanghai, Allegri had the options to ensure each position was adequately covered. Like last season, that depth will be critical for a side aiming to go far in three competitions. Also fitting in was the new attacking brigade. Mario Mandzukic told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport on Saturday he felt no pressure in replacing Tevez and, like the Argentine, netted on his debut against Lazio in the Super Cup. Two seasons ago Tevez sealed a four-goal rout. Here Mandzukic broke the deadlock – scoring in his third different Super Cup after Germany and Spain – with 20 minutes to play, his timed leap and precision header getting the better of Federico Marchetti. Dybala had replaced Coman on the hour and four minutes after the Croat he made his mark on proceedings. Paul Pogba, complete with the No 10 on his back, squared the ball for a shot which was too hot for Marchetti to handle. The sweetly struck drive meant there was no way back for the capital club. Allegri then demonstrated he is not happy with the team resting on their laurels. With the Turin giants heading towards victory, a Dybala nutmeg was met with scorn on the sideline. “A young player is joyful and enjoys his football, but also lacks experience, so these are the pros and cons of his characteristics,” Allegri reminded afterward. It was a scene reminiscent of substituting the substitute Morata in Marseille a week earlier. Allegri wants a squad hungry for success. The mantra is to forget last season. This is a new ball game. Captain Gianluigi Buffon echoed those sentiments: “If we were to lack the desire to win, then it would be a huge mistake on our part and ensure we’d never be top again.” The tactician can be pleased with the outing, a fortnight before Serie A commences. Not only is another trophy heading for Turin, but his players responded to summer doubts. The quality is there. Depth too. The new players have already made key contributions. It’s a boost ahead of a campaign in which the hunters feel they are closing in on the top dog.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti PLAYER RATINGS: Juventus 2-0 Lazio New strikers Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala chipped in with the goals for the Bianconeri, while Leonardo Bonucci kept things tight at the back and Paul Pogba caused problems. http://www.goal.com/en/match/juventus-vs-lazio/2036710/ratings Aug 8, 2015 Juventus 1 G. Buffon - Had nothing to do other than respond to loose balls in the first half, but made several easy saves after the break. 15 A. Barzagli - Blocked a dangerous first-half cross and marshalled Felipe Anderson quite well whenever he cut inside. 19 L. Bonucci - Key in halting several dangerous Lazio attacks before the interval and made a fantastic double-block to deny Candreva late on. 4 M. Cáceres - Dispossessed Candreva well on a couple of occasions and hacked away several important clearances. 26 S. Lichtsteiner - Offered width on the right-hand side and kept Felipe Anderson quiet after the 20-minute mark. Linked up with Sturaro. 27 S. Sturaro - Whipped in a great cross to allow Mandzukic to net the opener and offered plenty of energy in midfield. 8 C. Marchisio - Kept possession moving and sat at the base of the midfield after Pirlo's departure. Unspectacular but neat. 10 P. Pogba - Confident and skilful on the ball and linked up well with Coman early on. Provided an intelligent assist with a cut back for Dybala. 33 P. Evra - Keen to try and break forward whenever possible, but didn't affect the game too much in the final third. 17 M. Mandžukić - Struggled to win his aerial battles against De Vrij and was quiet until scoring. Diverted a powerful header beyond Marchetti. 11 K. Coman - Bright in the opening 20 minutes, but then faded quite badly. Replaced by Dybala early in the second half. Substitutes 21 P. Dybala - Thumped home a close-range finish after good work from Pogba to wrap up the game. 37 R. Pereyra - Introduced for the final few minutes. 14 Llorente - Didn't have the pace to cause problems in behind. Lazio 22 F. Marchetti - Didn't have a save to make before the break and was generally not troubled other than picking the ball out of his own net. 8 D. Basta - Tried to clip a couple of crosses in from the right, but they were futile, though the Serbian wasn't asked many questions defensively. 3 S. de Vrij - Strong in the air and hooked away several good clearances before half time, but struggled after the interval. 6 S. Gentiletti - Was untroubled and rarely turned up until the hour mark, before Lazio's defence fell apart for a 10-minute period. 26 Ş. Radu - Didn't permit Lichtsteiner to bomb on down the right-hand side as he normally would for Juve and was neat in possession. 23 O. Onazi - Hung up a couple of crosses into the box and saw a shot from the edge of the area narrowly zip over Buffon's goal. 20 L. Biglia - Looked to sit in and do the simple things right, but ended up just being fairly anonymous in the Lazio midfield. 32 D. Cataldi - Looked to burst beyond his forwards at times, but didn't get the service into his path. Failed to muster up last season's form. 87 A. Candreva - His mazy runs caused problems on the break and the Italian was denied brilliantly by Bonucci on several occasions. 11 M. Klose - Rose well to flick on a couple of crosses for others, but didn't create any chances for himself. 10 Felipe Anderson - His pace and dribbling at speed worried his marker throughout, but the final ball was lacking from the Brazilian. Substitutes 7 R. Morrison - Introduced for the final few minutes to make his Lazio debut. 88 R. Kishna - Showed neat footwork but struggled to play any telling passes when Juve kept it compact. 9 F. Đorđević - Fired a late chance straight at Buffon and got the ball caught up under his feet on a couple of occasions.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Max Allegri trying to build Juventus to contend for the next '4 or 5 years' http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2554681/max-allegri-wants-to-build-juventus-for-next-4--5-years? Aug 8, 2015 Juventus manager Max Allegri said he's trying to build a team for the next "four or five years" after his side captured their first trophy of the season on Saturday. New signings Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala scored as Juventus beat Lazio 2-0 to win the Italian Supercoppa in Shanghai. "We made some good summer signings, it takes patience for the team to gel completely," Allegri told Rai Sport after the game. "I can only thank the lads for their performance today." The goal scoring duo were just part of Juventus' busy transfer window that has also seen Simone Zaza, Roberto Pereyra and Sami Khedira join the club, among others. And Allegri said after Saturday's game that he's still not resting on his laurels in the final weeks of the transfer window as he looks to the future. "It depends on the players worthy of Juventus who we can get, then we must evaluate their characteristics," Allegri said. "We are building a Juve that can have a future for the next four or five years, otherwise we may as well stick with the team we've got." Allegri hailed his side's character in the win over Lazio, last year's Serie A runners-up. "I'm very happy for the lads, who adapted well to the terrible conditions of the pitch. We needed a performance of character," Allegri said. "We had some good chances, one we wasted horribly and two that we took well. It was important to win today because we had some new players who need to settle in and were missing some others. "The Super Cup is an important trophy and it's always a pleasure to win."

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Juventus 2 - Lazio 0: Bianconeri grab Italian Super Cup with second-half show in Shanghai Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala scored second-half goals to give Juventus a 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Italian Super Cup. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/8/9/9121263/juventus-lazio-2015-italian-super-cup-final-score-result-match-recap Aug 8, 2015 Juventus and Lazio played for the Italian Super Cup in Shanghai on an awful pitch with windy weather due the Typhoon Soudelor. The initial surprise was Kingsley Coman starting. Everyone believed it was going to be Paulo Dybala who complemented Mario Mandzukic, however Max Allegri preferred the French youngster instead of the Argentinian. Juventus began with a 3-5-2 and Lazio chose their dangerous 3-4-3. The first half brought few emotions and was played at a slow tempo. Lazio looked dangerous on the counterattack at the beginning, but Juventus took control of the ball and the match, however they couldn't capitalize their superior possession. The only threatening action was the shot made by Stephan Lichtsteiner on the 25th minute sending a long-range effort just over the crossbar. The second half begun livelier. Just at the start, Paul Pogba fed Mandzukic brilliantly, but the Croatian striker missed a 1-on-1 chance against Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti. Allegri decided to make his first substitution by replacing Coman with Dybala at the 60th minute. Eight minutes later, Stefano Sturaro curled a great cross into the box for Mandzukic, who bullied Dusan Basta to score on a close-range header. Right after, Mandzukic crafted a beautiful play on the right flank before crossing the ball to the back post where Pogba was waiting. The French star assisted Dybala, who beat Marchetti with a violent shot to the ceiling of the net. Lazio tried to comeback, however Gigi Buffon and the second version of Juventus’ BBC closed the game as always. It was an important triumph for the Bianconeri in a tricky environment; with this victory Juventus has won seven Italian Supercups and became the leader in that category. AC Milan has six and Inter has five. LE PAGELLE Buffon 6 — Our Captain was barely tested. That said, one of the many qualities of Gigi is to make plays look easy. It is never easy for a goalkeeper to deliver in such bad weather. Barzagli 6.5 — Trademark match for the "Great Wall of Barza" who never took a false step and manage Felipe Anderson appropriately. Bonucci 6.5 — How about that save in the final minutes? Leo was all over the defensive line and by now is clear that he is one of the pillars of the team. Caceres 6 — He started a little shaky against Antonio Candreva, but he recovered form and performed correctly Lichtsteiner 6 — The Swiss Express was involved on attack early in the game and displayed chemistry with Sturaro. He was accurate on defense. Marchisio 6 — Il Principino was very quiet offensively, maybe it was justified by the conditions of the pitch. However, he showed smarts and determination defensively. Sturaro 6.5 — Arturo Vidal gone and Sami Khedira injured? No problem, release the Sturaro! The industrious midfielder was everywhere and even assisted the first goal with a lovely cross. Pogba 6.5 — I really liked Paul in this match. He lacked finesse but he wasn't afraid to be the leader of Juventus’ offense. He easily could have had one more assist in the game. Evra 6 — A quiet night for the veteran Frenchman who could not find his rhythm offensively. That said, he played with his usual composure without the ball. Coman 5.5 — I really like the kid and I was glad to see him starting. He needs to gain some weight and play more minutes. His future is bright but he is still raw. Mandzukic 6.5 — He wasted a great opportunity at the beginning of the second half, but showed short memory. He scored with a header and cooperated heavily in the second goal. This guy is a killer. Substitutes Dybala 6 — He scored with great class. However, he needs to play with more discipline. Lost a lot of balls in the final minutes of the game. That said, the sky is the limit for "La Joya." Llorente s/v Pereyra s/v

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Juventus 2-0 Lazio: Mandzukic and Dybala score in Supercoppa win New signings Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala scored as Juventus beat Lazio 2-0 to win the Italian Supercoppa in Shanghai on Saturday. http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11854/9942313/juventus-2-0-lazio-mandzukic-and-dybala-score-in-supercoppa-win? Aug 8, 2015 The goals came in a five-minute spell midway through the second half as Juve claimed the traditional Serie A curtain raiser for the third time in four years. As Juve won both the Serie A and Coppa Italia titles last season, their opponents for this match were cup runners-up Lazio in what was a repeat of the 2013 Supercoppa. Juve beat Lazio 4-0 in that match and they were again too good for their opponents on Saturday, although they had to wait until the 69th minute to get their noses in front at the Shanghai Stadium, with Mandzukic making the breakthrough. The Croatia international, who joined from Atletico Madrid this summer, climbed between two defenders to glance home a header from Stefano Sturaro's right-wing cross. Dybala then wrapped up the win when he made it 2-0 in the 74th minute - less than quarter of an hour after coming on for Kingsley Coman. Lazio failed to deal with Mandzukic's ball into the area and Paul Pogba's lay-back was smashed into the roof of the net by 21-year-old Dybala, who joined from Palermo in June. Juve begin the defence of their Serie A title at home to Udinese next Sunday while Lazio host Bologna on Saturday.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Lazio showed great heart against Juventus - Pioli The coach was happy with his side's performance despite their 2-0 defeat to the Bianconeri in the Supercoppa Italiana on Saturday. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/08/08/14281782/-? Aug 8, 2015 Stefano Pioli has heaped praise on Lazio for their performance in the Supercoppa Italiana on Saturday, despite losing 2-0 to Juventus. Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala were on target for the Serie A champions as they beat the Coppa Italia winners to lift the trophy in Shanghai. However, Pioli was pleased with the way his team played and believes Massimiliano Allegri's men were simply better at seizing their chances. "The match was always in balance, even though we knew from the beginning that it would be a difficult test," he told reporters. "I saw the Lazio I know, a team with great spirit and big heart. "I am confident about our future. The pitch did not allow us to play a fast game. "Juventus were good at closing the spaces and taking advantage of our sloppiness, like the back pass that led to one of the goals. "We played against strong opponents. They play with intensity and quality, but we can also have our say this season." Lazio have been drawn with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League play-offs, with a place in the group stage at stake. "Now we must think about the Champions League, which for us is a very important goal," Pioli added. "Leverkusen are a complicated, physical and aggressive opponent. It will not be easy."

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti JUVENTUS 2 – 0 LAZIO SUPERCOPPA ITALIANA REVIEW http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-2-0-lazio-supercoppa-italiana-review/? Aug 8, 2015 Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic were on hand to provide the goals for Juve’s 2-0 win over Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana. What a match; A first-half hampered by a dreadful broadcast from RAI, topped off by a thoroughly lacklustre display from both teams. Did you have a random Chinese guy interrupting the match every 10 minutes? No? Just me then. Rather than dwell on the negatives, I thought i’d jump in with some positive moments from today’s match: 1.Mario Mandzukic What a performance from the big-man. Dominant, powerful and commanding in the box. I’ve heard a lot of people say he’s too anonymous and does nothing to contribute in the build-up. Based on today’s performance, nothing could be further from the truth. While he may have spurned a glorious chance early on, his opening goal was a perfectly taken header, beating two defenders in the process before nodding past Marchetti. He even played his part in the second goal, pulling wide and shrugging off a challenge before crossing into the box. A very positive display 2. Paulo Dybala It’s been a few hours since the game ended and I’m still watching highlights of Dybala’s strike, over and over. Watch his movement. Perfect positioning, doesn’t lash at the ball, he meets it just right to put it into the roof of net. His introduction into the game gave Juve some added pace and creativity and ultimately, it sealed the result. A brilliant start to his Juve career. 3. Paul Pogba I wasn’t a fan of handing the ’10’ shirt to a player who may well be leaving the club a year from now. As much as I love Pogba, and I do love the guy dearly, I couldn’t understand the rationale behind it, other than it being a cynical marketing ploy to sell more shirts. In hindsight, I think those comments about Paul wanting the ’10’ shirt probably ring true and perhaps it was all down to him wanting the added responsibility. He turned in what I can only describe as a ‘mature’ performance. Fewer flicks and tricks, more intelligent runs, passes and dribbles. I’m pretty sure he completed more tackles than anyone else on the pitch today, before laying the ball off for Dybala to score Juve’s second. Maybe, just maybe, Allegri, Marotta and Agnelli know what they’re doing. Honourable mentions should go to the defence, especially Leonardo Bonucci who worked tirelessly to help Gigi Buffon keep a clean sheet. Very impressed by Stefano Sturaro as well. A few mistakes early on quickly gave way to a more industrious display in the second half, including the assist for Mandzukics’ goal. Statistics Man of the Match: Paul Pogba Flop of the Match: N/A Fouls: 10 Corners: 0 Pass Accuracy: 70% Shots on Target: Total Shots: 6 Ball Possession: 45% Formation: 4-3-1-2 Formation Lineups Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Caceres; Lichtsteiner, Sturaro (Pereyra 89), Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Coman (Dybala 60), Mandzukic (Llorente 79) Lazio: Marchetti; Basta, De Vrij, Gentiletti, Radu; Onazi, Biglia, Cataldi (Kishna 74); Candreva, Klose (Djordjevic 61), Felipe Anderson (Morrison 86) Ref: Banti

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Bonucci: 'For Juve doubters' http://www.football-italia.net/70763/bonucci-juve-doubters? Aug 8, 2015 Leonardo Bonucci pointed out Juventus “replied to the doubters” with their 2-0 Super Cup triumph against Lazio. The Bianconeri did the Double last season and reached the Champions League Final, but made big changes over the summer with Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal leaving. “It was very important for us to win today, also so this new Juve could reply to the doubters,” smiled the centre-back in Shanghai. “When has not changed is our hunger for success. We put in a great performance in really not good conditions. “It was a difficult match, but we did well in the key moments and allowed little to a Lazio side that has three excellent forwards.”

Buffon: 'Juve changed at right time' http://www.football-italia.net/70762/buffon-juve-changed-right-time? Aug 8, 2015 Gigi Buffon lifted the seventh Italian Super Cup for Juventus and felt they “changed at the right time.” Many expected the Bianconeri to struggle after releasing Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, but new buys Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala scored in today’s 2-0 win over Lazio. “We changed three fundamental figures like Andrea, Arturo and Carlos, so a small price has to be paid for that,” Buffon said in his Press conference. “However, if there was a moment when the team had to be renewed and risks taken, then this was it. We laid the foundations to win many more times over the years. “If we were to lack the desire to win, then it would be a huge mistake on our part and ensure we’d never be top again. “We must always have this mentality and approach. It was not an easy game against an excellent Lazio side, who are well organised and started training 10 days earlier than we did. “We did well to have patience and keep the tempo slow in certain moments, so we could have more energy over the 90 minutes.”

New Juventus Forward Delighted With Debut http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/new-juventus-forward-delighted-with-debut/? Aug 8, 2015 Mario Mandzukic is delighted to have played his first game for new side Juventus. The Croatian international scored the first goal in Juve’s 2-0 Supercoppa Italiana victory over Lazio in Shanghai and Mandzukic is confident ahead of the new season. “I am really pleased to have made my debut for this great club,” Mandzukic told reporters after the game. “The most important thing was that Juventus won. “I believe in Juve and I am sure will we have a great season. “I dont feel any pressure playing for Juventus. “I have played at big clubs before like Bayern so I am used to it. “I have always respected and admired Juventus. “From time to time there was contact between us but never a deal. “I always wanted to play for the club and I am delighted to be part of the team.”

Dybala: I’m Very Emotional After Juventus’s Supercoppa Italiana Win http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/dybala-im-very-emotional-after-juventuss-supercoppa-italiana-win/? Aug 8, 2015 Juventus striker Paulo Dybala spoke of his emotions after coming off the bench to score the second goal in Juve’s 2-0 win over Lazio as the Bianconeri claimed a record seventh Supercoppa Italiana in Shanghai. The former Palermo man previously spoke of his intention to repay the Old Lady’s faith in him and he also revealed what coach Massimiliano Allegri told him to do before sending him on. “I’m very emotional after I was able to score in my first official game,” said Dybala to Juve’s official website after the win in China. “The coach asked me to play as I know how. “Luckily, I started well and was able to score. “The goal? I went over to thank Paul Pogba for the assist. “We always want to win, now we want to start well in the league.”

Allegri: Juventus still need more quality signings The Bianconeri boss believes it is essential for the Italian champions strengthen further if they are to maintain their position at the summit of Serie A. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2015/08/08/14278092/-? Aug 8, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri watched summer signings Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala fire Juventus to a 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana on Saturday but then called for more new arrivals before the close of the transfer window. Mandzukic, who arrived from Atletico Madrid during the off-season, opened the scoring in Shanghai with a close-range header midway through the second half before former Palermo starlet Dybala promptly doubled the Bianconeri's advantage. Juve saw out the game with the minimum of fuss to underline that they remain the team to beat in Italy but Allegri, who has publicly expressed his desire for a trequartista, still believes the Serie A holders require further reinforcements. "We have played a great game, despite the poor condition of the pitch," the head coach told Rai Uno. "It needed a performance of character. We had our chances and we were organised in defence. It was important to start well - we want to achieve great results this year too. "Mandzukic is a player of a European pedigree. He's a fighter, while Dybala showed the value of boys who are carefree. "At the same time, they lack a little experience in certain moments of the game but Dybala is a bright boy. He will grow quickly. "So, some great players have arrived but the market is still open. We will see what happens. "In order to tackle another big season and build a Juventus that can have a great future, we need the right players; Juventus players." Juventus are reportly also looking for a new midfielder given Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal have departed for New York City FC and Bayern Munich respectively, while summer signing Sami Khedira has been ruled out for two months through injury.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Dybala delights in 'unforgettable' Juventus debut The €40 million signing from Palermo marked his first competitive outing for his new side by sealing a 2-0 win over Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3265/italy/2015/08/08/14275802/-? Aug 8, 2015 Paulo Dybala could barely contain his emotions after opening his Juventus account in their Supercoppa Italiana win over Lazio, admitting that the joy of netting on his debut will live with him forever. The Bianconeri paid Palermo €40 million to snap up the Argentina international and the striker was delighted to have marked his first competitive outing for the Old Lady with a goal in Shanghai on Saturday. Fellow summer signing Mario Mandzukic had already given Juventus the lead with a strike in the 69th minute before substitute Dybala settled the tie just four minutes later. "What emotion! Scoring on my Juventus debut - for me, it's unforgettable," the attacker told Rai Uno. "The club has made a big investment in me. I will try to repay the faith of the coach and the club. "The objective of this club is to always win and everyone has told me that. We have already won a title but now we are already thinking of the next game." Juve kick off their bid for a fifth successive Serie A title when they host Udinese in Turin on August 23.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Juventus 2 - Lazio 0: Initial reaction and random observations http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/8/8/9120431/juventus-lazio-2015-italian-super-cup-final-score-result-initial-reaction-and-random-observations Aug 8, 2015 Who knows what the future — both immediate and long distance — holds, but at least for one day we can say it was money well spent. Juventus' two big summer striker singings came through to deliver Saturday's 2-0 win over Lazio in the 2015 Italian Super Cup and give the Old Lady her 50th domestic trophy in club history. (That's 33 Scudetti, 10 Coppa Italias, and 7 Supercoppas if you're trying to add things up at home real quick.) And once Juventus finally found their range and dialed in their scoring touch, the goals came just the way we had hoped with that kind of talent on the field at the striker position. Stefano Sturaro to Mario Mandzukic — bang. Paul Pogba to Paulo Dybala — bang. It went from 0-0 to 2-0 real quick. Within two minutes, Juventus' drab and relatively uninspiring Supercoppa performance turned into a 2-0 lead that they would never come close to coughing up. And the goals were oh so beautiful in their own unique ways, too. Mandzukic scored a classic kind of prima punta goal as he went up and over the defenders marking him to score the go-ahead goal with a powerful header into the bottom corner. And what about Dybala's first goal in a Juventus shirt? Well, let's just go ahead and watch it because why the hell not. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Bd71f2cZ8 First touch, on the left foot right after he moved into a nice pocket of open space in the penalty area as Pogba finds him open with a nice piece of skill of his own. If that's what Paulo Dybala will continue to do as his Juventus career goes on, well then we're in for plenty more goals to celebrate and post on Vine. (I'm completely okay with that.) I'd also like to imagine Beppe Marotta was sitting back in his seat at the Shanghai Stadium with a pretty content look on his face after Dybala smashed the Pogba pass into the top of the Lazio goal. It wasn't a great team performance by any means, but two summer signings being directly responsible for Juventus' latest trophy has to make the director general feel good about the business he's conducted. And, in the grand scheme of things, I guess taking a trophy back to Turin makes dealing with the wind and terrible field conditions a little easier to handle. And when the medical report upon their return to training has no new names on it, then things will be even better. JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "I'm delighted for the boys. We needed a game like this, with character, good defensive shape and goalscoring chances." If Max says it, then who am I to disagree? He pretty much sums things up right there. Random thoughts and observations Paul Pogba's first free kick as Juventus' No. 10 went about 35 feet wide of its intended target. They should just take back the number right now and give it to somebody else. (Not really.) In all seriousness, Pogba's first game as Juve's No. 10 wasn't spectacular, but it had its moments. He has welcomed the attention and essentially put himself under the microscope even more than before. The highlight was the assist to Dybala on the second goal, and there's no doubting that he will probably have a lot more responsibility in setting up his teammates on top of scoring goals of his own. Basically like the team as a whole, not a bad start for the new No. 10. Gigi Buffon gets a shutout in the first official match of the season. There's the icing on the Supercoppa cake. Way to reward the captain. That cross from Sturaro on Mandzukic's goal ... beautiful, man. There was a moment in the second half where Leonardo Bonucci blocked a shot, then from the seat of his shorts, blocked the follow-up shot and nearly did it twice within about a five-second span. Buffon didn't even touch the ball during this little piece of action right by left goal post. I bring this up because it not only kept the shutout intact, but it's another example of how Bonucci has become so good and so important to Juventus' defense. Seeing Buffon — who is now the only player to have won six Supercoppas in a playing career — lift a trophy over his head while having a look of complete joy on his face will never EVER get old. Well, unless you root for Roma or Inter or somebody else, but I don't, so no need to worry. I said it in the game thread and it bears repeating: I'm not going to overreact in either direction as to how Juventus played against Lazio. The weather sucked, the field sucked, the television broadcast was the worst of them all and it's not the kind of game that can determine something one way or the other. Juventus got the trophy, and that's good. They got out of there healthy (as far as we know now), and that's even better. That should be that. If Juve are playing poorly in the Champions League, that's reason to be upset. But on the eighth day of August? Nah, there's still plenty of time for this team to gel and grow together.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Juventus Coach Full Of Praise After Supercoppa Italiana Win http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/juventus-coach-full-of-praise-after-supercoppa-italiana-win/? Aug 8, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has praised the character of his side after they defeated Lazio 2-0 to win the Supercoppa Italiana in Shanghai. The Bianconeri battled against windy conditions and a poor pitch at the Shanghai Stadium, but secured a record seventh title with second-half goals from debutants Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala. “I am really happy for the lads for how well they adapted to the terrible conditions of the pitch,” Allegri told Rai Sport after the match. “We needed to show a lot of character as it was important to win because we had some new players who need to settle in and we were missing some others. “We are building a Juve that can have a future for the next four or five years, otherwise we may as well stick with the team we’ve got. “We have a few days to prepare ahead of the start of the league and so far the staff working with me have done a great job getting ready for the new season.”

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Juventus vs. Lazio: Winners and Losers from Italian Super Cup http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2542641-juventus-vs-lazio-winners-and-losers-from-italian-super-cup? Aug 8, 2015 Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala scored in the second half to lead Juventus to a 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Italian Super Cup in Shanghai on Saturday. Following a first half that featured few clear-cut chances, Juve took the lead in the 69th minute as Mandzukic headed in a Stefano Sturaro cross. Just four minutes later, Dybala powered in the second with a high shot, his first touch after entering the match as a substitute. The win means it's a record seventh Super Cup title for Juventus, one more than Milan. The Bianconeri will hope the triumph sets the stage for another successful season. Last season, Massimiliano Allegri's men won Serie A and the Coppa Italia and also advanced to the final of the UEFA Champions League. After seeing veterans Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez depart the club in the transfer window, Juve will have to settle on the right formula in order to claim a fifth straight league title. Ahead, B/R chooses winners and losers from the match. Winner: Juventus' Transfer Business As previously noted, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez left Juventus over the summer, leaving coach Massimiliano Allegri with holes to fill in his squad. In a bid to replace Tevez, the Bianconeri signed strikers Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala from Atletico Madrid and Palermo, respectively. One match is too little evidence to draw conclusions about either player, but both scored for Juventus on Saturday. Players and the club alike will be pleased with that. Mandzukic started alongside Kingsley Coman at the top of Allegri's 3-5-2 formation but contributed little over the first 45 minutes. He had a big chance early in the second half, running onto a fine Paul Pogba pass, but he was unable to beat Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti one-on-one. The Croatian made up for the miss with his goal in the 69th minute, a fine header. Dybala entered the match in the 61st minute, replacing Coman, and needed only 12 minutes to find the net. Pogba served as provider, slipping a pass into the middle for Dybala to finish powerfully with his first touch. Writing for B/R recently, Adam Digby argued that Dybala could turn into a star for Juventus: Clearly far from realising his vast potential, there is huge scope for Dybala to improve substantially over the course of his initial contract with the club, and he could one day blossom into the kind of talismanic star that Tevez so clearly was. One major facet the latter brought to the pitch was his infectious work ethic, harassing defenders and looking to win back possession as quickly as possible. According to WhoScored.com, the Boca Juniors star averaged 0.8 tackles and 0.3 interceptions in his final season in Italy, with the same source showing Dybala registered 0.7 and 0.5 in those respective categories. That hints at a similar willingness to work and is a trait which Allegri is almost certain to demand the younger man delivers every time he steps on the field. Both Mandzukic and Dybala will soon face further tests, and Mandzukic in particular left plenty of room for improvement with his performance on Saturday. But with goals in the Super Cup, both players have made a strong start to the season. Loser: Lazio Lazio were losers in an obvious and literal sense on the scoresheet, but they also failed in another respect. The final stats, recorded by WhoScored.com, show Lazio outshot Juventus 7-6, but onlookers will have noted that Stefano Pioli's side struggled to threaten Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon regularly. Buffon was called into action three times to make saves, but he was rarely, if ever, troubled in the Bianconeri goal. Wide attacker Felipe Anderson served as the key man for Lazio last season, registering 11 goals and seven assists in all competitions. On Saturday, the Brazilian was crucial to his side's forward forays again, creating danger with attacks down the right. Antonio Candreva posed a threat on the left, with both players trying to pick out target man Miroslav Klose in the middle. Though Lazio occasionally caused problems for Juventus, the Biancocelesti lacked the requisite quality in the final third to break their opponents down. If they are to improve upon last season's third-place league finish, Lazio must improve. Winner: Paul Pogba Juventus underlined the importance of Paul Pogba to the squad by giving the French midfielder the No. 10 shirt over the summer. The number carries symbolic weight, and in his first competitive match wearing it, Pogba lived up to the billing. In the first half, when both teams struggled to make an attacking impression, Pogba was one of the few bright spots. But as he orchestrated attacks, Juventus' front line of Mario Mandzukic and Kingsley Coman struggled to make an impact on the game. Pogba freed Mandzukic with a perfect through ball early in the second half, serving up a glorious chance for the Croatian to score. Mandzukic missed, but Pogba's influence on the game was unmistakable. The Frenchman went on to record the assist for Dybala's goal to cap a fine overall display. With Andrea Pirlo gone, Pogba will take on even more of a starring role for Juventus this season. Great things have been expected of the 22-year-old for some time now, and perhaps this is the season he will take another step forward in his career. Euro 2016 is on the horizon, with France set to play host. If all goes to plan, Pogba could be one of the stars of the tournament on home soil. First, though, is the business of guiding Juventus to further glory in Italy. Loser: Shanghai As always, the Supercoppa carried with it a feel-good factor as Juventus claimed another trophy and the season got underway. But as hosts, Shanghai left plenty to be desired. Most obviously, the pitch at Shanghai Stadium was poor. Even on the grainy television feed, one could see the extent of the uneven playing surface. In addition, the match appeared lightly attended, hardly an ideal situation if Serie A is hoping to grow in Asia. Saturday marked the first time the Supercoppa had been played in Shanghai. One has to wonder if it will return.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Juventus Clinch Italian Super Cup http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2542961-juventus-vs-lazio-score-and-reaction-from-2015-italian-super-cup-match? Aug 8, 2015 Summer signings Mario Mandzukic and Paolo Dybala opened their Juventus accounts Saturday to give the Bianconeri a 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Italian Super Cup. Massimiliano Allegri's side had to wait 69 minutes before Mandzukic bagged their opener, with Dybala netting his debut goal for the club just four minutes later in the shutout in Shanghai. It marks a bright start to their respective careers in Turin, with OptaPaolo detailing how successful former Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid striker Mandzukic has been in Super Cup fixtures: OptaPaolo ✔@OptaPaolo 3 - Mario Mandzukic has scored in the Super Cup in 3 different countries: Germany, Spain and now Italy. Giant. One of the biggest talking points prior to kick-off was the conditions at Shanghai Stadium, with a bobbly surface making for extra entertainment as the Super Cup took its fanfare abroad. It would come to have its hand in the opening exchanges, too, as Juve and Lazio came to grips with the difficult turf, with Felipe Anderson looking to make his mark for the Eagles. Antonio Candreva also looked like one of the more dangerous assets for Stefano Pioli's side, but Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres stood firm in a Juventus back three. The first half struggled to produce many clear-cut chances, though, as the Chinese audience made for quite a dull atmosphere. Bleacher Report's Adam Digby questioned the decision to hold the match on the same day England's Premier League gets underway: Joe Pagnelli @joepagnelli @Adz77 @worldfootballcm 80k at the stadium, many more watching on TV. Juventini in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, HK & rest of Asia all Adam Digby @Adz77 @joepagnelli @worldfootballcm can see it & for the love of everything holy, why go head to head with PL opening day? Zero thought. Newly crowned Juve No. 10 Paul Pogba tried to make an impact from range and wing-back Stephan Lichtsteiner was also restricted to distanced attempts, but neither side could open their account before half-time. Thankfully, the second period brought about an increase in tempo and Dybala's introduction on the 60th minute promised to give Bianconeri fans something to get excited about. The Argentinian didn't take long to inject some pace into the Serie A champions' attack, with Mandzukic rising to head home Juve's opener just minutes after his new partner came into play. Soccer writer Simon Harrison had noted just prior to his score that Mandzukic looked absent from the fixture, with Lazio's defence standing up well to the threat prior to that score: Simon Harrison @simonhfootball Mario Mandzukic is being shut out of the game by Gentiletti and De Vrij, with Coman disappearing after a bright first 15 minutes or so. Things quickly went from bad to worse just minutes later when the ball found its way to Dybala at short range, with the youngster firing into the roof of Federico Marchetti's net with just 15 minutes remaining. Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez may be departed from the club, but Calcio Direct correctly asserted there may be a new No. 10 and No. 21 combination to get excited about: Calcio Direct @CalcioDirect Pogba as a #10 and Dybala as #21 linking up in the box for a goal...if that doesn't give you nostalgia and excitement at the same time... Candreva had a double chance as the clock ticked toward full-time, but Bonucci and Juve No. 1 Gianluigi Buffon were equal to the threat as Juve saw out their result. Defending from a winning position was a trademark theme of Allegri's run to the Scudetto last season, and keeping Lazio at arm's length ultimately proved light work for the victors. Juve now have a little over a fortnight until they open their Serie A title defence against Udinese in Turin, with this victory giving them reason to be excited about the season to come. Seeing Mandzukic and Dybala both get on the scoreboard will undoubtedly allay fears the club will suffer due to Tevez's summer departure, with the future holding much promise for the new-look forward lineup.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Allegri: 'Juve have character' http://www.football-italia.net/70747/allegri-juve-have-character? Aug 8, 2015 Max Allegri said Juventus showed “character” to beat Lazio in the Italian Super Cup and are building “for the next four or five years.” The Bianconeri started the season as they mean to go on, beating Lazio 2-0 in Shanghai. “I’m very happy for the lads, who adapted well to the terrible conditions of the pitch. We needed a performance of character,” the Coach told Rai Sport. “We had some good chances, one we wasted horribly and two that we took well. It was important to win today because we had some new players who need to settle in and were missing some others. “The Super Cup is an important trophy and it’s always a pleasure to win.” New buys Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala were on target, highlighting how well Juve operated on the transfer market. “Khedira and Mandzukic are European quality, unfortunately Sami got an injury. We made some good summer signings, it takes patience for the team to gel completely. I can only thank the lads for their performance today.” Dybala was shouted at by Allegri towards the end for an unnecessary nutmeg. “A young player is joyful and enjoys his football, but also lacks experience, so these are the pros and cons of his characteristics.” Juve aren’t done yet on the market and are also looking for a midfielder as well as a left-back. “It depends on the players worthy of Juventus who we can get, then we must evaluate their characteristics. We are building a Juve that can have a future for the next four or five years, otherwise we may as well stick with the team we’ve got.” The Serie A season begins on the weekend of August 22 against Udinese, then Juve take on Roma. “We have to face all 38 games with the right approach and so far the staff working with me have done a great job preparing for the season.”

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Dybala and Mandzukic score as Juventus beat Lazio for Super Cup http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-super-cup/match/427876/juventus-lazio/report? Aug 8, 2015 New signings Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala scored the goals as Juventus beat Lazio 2-0 to win the Italian Supercoppa in Shanghai on Saturday. Both goals came in a five-minute spell midway through the second half as Juve claimed the traditional Serie A curtain raiser for the third time in four years. As Juve won both the Serie A and Coppa Italia titles last season, their opponents for this match were cup runners-up Lazio in what was a repeat of the 2013 Supercoppa. Juve beat Lazio 4-0 in that match and they were again too good for their Roman opponents on Saturday, although they had to wait until the 69th minute to get their noses in front at the Shanghai Stadium, with Mandzukic making the breakthrough. The Croatia international, who joined from Atletico Madrid this summer for £13.6 million, climbed between two defenders to glance home a header from Stefano Sturaro's right-wing cross. Dybala then wrapped up the win when he made it 2-0 in the 74th minute -- less than quarter of an hour after coming on for Kingsley Coman. Lazio failed to deal with Mandzukic's ball into the area and Paul Pogba's lay-back was smashed into the roof of the net by 21-year-old Dybala, a £24m signing from Palermo in June. Juve begin the defence of their Serie A title at home to Udinese next Sunday while Lazio host Bologna on Saturday.

JUVENTUS - LAZIO 2 - 0 Mario Mandžukić (69') Paulo Dybala (73') FINAL ITALIAN SUPERCUP Saturday, August 8th, 2015 - 01:00 P.M. Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Referee:‬ Luca Banti Player Ratings: Juventus 2-0 Lazio http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/player-ratings-juventus-2-0-lazio-2/? Aug 8, 2015 Juventus saw off Lazio 2-0 to lift the Supercoppa Italiana at Shanghai Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Two quick-fire second half goals from debutants Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala were enough to lift the Bianconeri to first piece of silverware of the nascent season. Mandzukic expertly headed home following good work from Stefano Sturaro and moments later Dybala was able to smash home from inside the box. Juventus Gianluigi Buffon – 6.5 – Comfortable - Barely called into action before the break and did not have a shot in anger to save until he comfortably handled Onazi’s effort midway through the second half. Andrea Barzagli – 6.5 – Reliable - Did well to neutralise the threat of Candreva down the left flank, another reliable display from the 34-year-old. Leonardo Bonucci – 7 – Solid - As solid as ever leading the Juventus back three, rarely looked like be in beaten in the air. Martin Caceres – 6.5 – Dependable - Slotted in for the injured Giorgio Chiellini and made several decent interventions early on when Lazio had the upper hand. Saw plenty of the ball and helped the Bianconeri control possession when required to do so. Stephan Lichtsteiner – 7 – Convincing - One of the most lively players before the break, asked several questions of Radu. The Swiss was convincing more convincing going forward but had no trouble in defence either. Stefano Sturaro – 6.5 – Exploitative - Managed to exploit the overlap with Evra after the interval and was on hand to assist Mandzukic with his right-wing cross, otherwise a quiet game from the former Genoa man. Claudio Marchisio – 6.5 – Efficient - The Italy international had a quiet game, but was efficient as ever in possession and enabled others around him to prosper. Paul Pogba – 7.5 – Combative - The new number ten was combative as ever. Came within inches of scoring a stunning strike from distance. His energy rubbed off on his team-mates and provided the assist for Dybala’s first goal in the Bianconeri shirt. Patrice Evra – 6.5 – Shadowing - Busy at both ends of the pitch, the 34-year-old won 5 tackles and ensured that Anderson remained in the periphery of the game, will be disappointed with his distribution in the attacking third. Kingsley Coman – 5.5 – Willing - Always a willing runner, the promising Frenchman was incapable of finding any space on a difficult playing surface. Mario Mandzukic – 7 – Convincing - Often isolated, when his chance arrived in a one-on-one with Marchetti, the Croatian planted the ball straight at the goalkeeper. Rose highest to convincingly head home from Sturaro’s perfect cross. Substitutes Paulo Dybala – 7 – Promising - Replaced Coman to make his competitive debut, took him all of twelve minutes to find the net with a rasping strike from inside the box. Fernando Llorente – N/A - Replaced Mandzukic with ten minutes to play Roberto Pereyra – N/A - A late substitute for Sturaro. Lazio Federico Marchetti – 6.5 – Blameless - Like his opposite number, had nothing to do until after the break when he was alert to deny Mandzukic. Had little chance with either of the goals. Dusan Basta – 5.5 – Culpable - Endured a tricky afternoon, often facing off against Pogba. Allowed Mandzukic to have space in the box to head home and was nowhere to be seen when Pogba was on hand to to deliver to Dybala who then fired home the second goal. Stefan De Vrij – 6 – Lacking - A generally solid outing for the Netherlands international, aside from a five minute period when Juve scored twice. Didn’t impose himself as much as he would have wanted to. Santiago Gentiletti – 6 – Much like his centre-back partner, did well for the majority of the game apart from when the Bianconeri ran riot and scored two in quick succession. Stefan Radu – 5.5 – Struggled - Had a difficult time in the second half, with both goals stemming from right wing crosses. Ogenyi Onazi – 6.5 – Competitive - The bustling midfielder had his side’s first effort on target after 56 minutes and his competitive nature saw him win 4 tackles. Easily Lazio’s best player on the day. Lucas Biglia – 6 – Committed - Wasn’t able to impose himself on the game as much as he wanted to. Committed 3 fouls as he tried to keep the Juventus engine room at bay. Danilo Cataldi – 6 – Tired - The youngster enjoyed a good start to the game, but his energy levels dropped as the game went on and was promptly replaced by Kishna after the second goal. Antonio Candreva – 6 – Waning - Found space early on as Lazio were on top, however found himself exerting less of an influence as the game progressed. Miroslav Klose – 5.5 – Isolated - The veteran German endured a difficult game, often barely involved in the game before being replaced by Djordjevic. Felipe Anderson – 6 – Subdued - Not up to his usual high standard, struggled to find the killer pass and was subdued by the Juventus back three and the back-tracking Evra. Substitutes Filip Djordjevic – 5.5 – Invisible - Had half an hour to make an impact but barely made an impact. Ricardo Kishna – N/A - The 20-year-old made his Lazio debut but was unable to make a telling contribution. Ravel Morrison – N/A - Made a cameo appearance to mark his first game for his new side.