By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 19, 2025 08:12 AM • 90 views
Under the bright lights of Audi Field and in front of a buzzing Washington crowd, Juventus made a thunderous statement of intent in their Club World Cup opener — a ruthless 5-0 demolition of UAE's Al-Ain, powered by braces from Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceição. In a match billed as a potential banana peel for the Italian giants, it turned instead into a showcase of swagger and surgical execution. Kolo Muani struck twice in the opening 45 minutes, Conceição dazzled with goals on either side of halftime, and Turkey's Kenan Yildiz added his name to the scoresheet with a piece of individual brilliance. It was Juventus at their most electrifying — youthful, fearless, and unforgiving.
Turbocharged from the Start
Manager Thiago Motta, in his first full season in charge, rolled the dice on his younger core — and the gamble paid off handsomely. The midfield was commanded by the elegant Khephren Thuram, who dictated the tempo with authority from deep, while the flanks buzzed with invention thanks to the relentless energy of Conceição and the composed buildup of full-back Alberto Costa.
In the 11th minute, Costa combined with Yildiz in a flowing triangle before whipping in a perfect far-post cross that Kolo Muani buried with a thumping header — a finish that set the tone for the evening.
Barely ten minutes later, Costa again featured prominently, this time cutting the ball back for Conceição, whose deflected strike soared past Rui Patricio for 2-0.
Yildiz added a third before the half-hour mark, slicing in from the left and curling his finish off the inside of the post — a moment that drew gasps of admiration from the crowd and left Al-Ain's backline completely undone.
A Ruthless Edge
Just before the break, Juventus punished Al-Ain for pushing too high. Thuram picked the perfect pass between defenders, and Kolo Muani, timing his run expertly, finished coolly with the outside of his foot — his fifth goal in his last six games. That strike all but sealed the contest at halftime, but Juventus weren't done. In the 58th minute, Conceição — relentless all night — breezed past his marker and fired a low shot past Patricio for 5-0. Even as the tempo dipped, substitute Douglas Luiz nearly added a sixth late on, while Kolo Muani was only denied a hat-trick by a sharp Patricio save. Al-Ain, the twice Asian champions and 2018 Club World Cup runners-up, were outclassed. Their lone bright moment came early in the second half when Kodjo Laba drew a fine save from Michele Di Gregorio. A disallowed goal moments later only deepened their frustrations.
What It Means
With Manchester City also winning their Group G opener against Wydad Casablanca, Juventus sit joint top, but with a superior goal difference. Their next match — a clash with Wydad in Philadelphia — could all but secure a place in the knockout stage. For Juventus fans, this was more than just a win — it was a glimpse into the club's future. From Thuram's elegance to Conceição's flair and Kolo Muani's killer instinct, this new generation looks ready to carry the torch in style.
Next Fixtures:
Juventus vs Wydad Casablanca – Sunday, June 22 (Philadelphia) Al-Ain vs Manchester City – Sunday, June 22 (Atlanta)
