Juventus secured their fourth consecutive win in Serie A with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cagliari, thanks to Dušan Vlahović's decisive goal just 12 minutes after kickoff. This match marked Vlahović's return as a starter following seven matches where he remained on the bench across Serie A and Champions League competitions. The Serbian forward's early goal solidifies Juventus' position among the top four teams, lifting the club to fourth place with 49 points, two points clear of Lazio. Meanwhile, Cagliari continues to grapple with relegation concerns, sitting at 15th place with 25 points.
The match took place at the Unipol Domus Stadium, and Vlahović’s goal came from a defensive error by Cagliari, where Michel Adopo's misguided back pass was seized upon by the striker. He expertly outmuscled Yerry Mina and rounded the goalkeeper, Elia Caprile, to find the back of the net. This goal marks Vlahović's 50th goal involvement for Juventus, as he now stands with 42 goals and 8 assists over 95 Serie A appearances.
Following the match, Juventus coach Thiago Motta praised Vlahović for his strong mentality and professionalism, stating, “He plays because he deserves it. We have an extraordinary relationship. He has a strong character and mentality. Today, he showed great professionalism and helped his teammates.” Motta's confidence in Vlahović may be pivotal as the striker develops under pressure from new signing Randal Kolo Muani, who has affected Vlahović's playing time. The competition has sparked discussions about Vlahović's potential future with the club as his contract runs until 2026, yet there has been no movement on renewal talks.
Despite the win, Juventus struggled to capitalize on numerous chances, particularly during the dominant first half where they failed to convert their control of the game. Motta expressed his concerns, remarking, "We had so many chances in the first half, we went to the break knowing it would be a problem not finishing it off, and inevitably we then suffered." The balance of power shifted slightly after halftime as Cagliari began to assert themselves, but Juventus was able to maintain their lead through disciplined defensive organization.
With this victory, Juventus not only reestablishes its bid for top-four placement but also finds refreshed motivation following their earlier elimination from the Champions League. The club remains eight points off the leaders, Inter Milan, and will look to build on this record of success as they continue their Serie A campaign.
Cagliari, on the other hand, needs to regroup quickly, as they have now succumbed to three defeats in their last eight matches. The pressure is mounting as they strive to avoid relegation, and today’s result reflected the tight competition at the bottom of the league. Manager Davide Nicola will need to rally his squad to regain form as the season approaches its final stretch.
Overall, Vlahović's return to form not only adds depth to Juventus’s attack but has broader implications for the team's ambitions and morale. His performance on field can serve as both inspiration and reminder for the Bianconeri as they navigate through this challenging phase of the season.