Juventus' two new strikers both scored on their debut as the Turin club beat Lazio 2-0 to lift the Italian Super Cup in China on Saturday. Croatian international striker Mario Mandzukic and Argentine Paulo Dybala, signed this summer for a reported 19 million euros and 32 million euros respectively, breached Lazio's net in the second half with two well-taken goals.
Both sides fielded strong sides in a match played in front of a large crowd at 60,000-capacity Shanghai Stadium, but there was little entertainment on offer for much of the evening, save for a half-time performance by a trio of Chinese traditional musicians. It took until the 26th minute before either goalkeeper was called into action, when Juventus' Stephan Lichtsteiner unleashed a long range shot which flew over the Lazio bar. The first half was a torrid midfield battle which saw Juventus' Paul Pogba heavily involved in much of the action, but he was unable to create any clear-cut chances for his side.
In the second half, the teams appeared to toil somewhat in the humid 32-degree evening heat. But not long after the restart Pogba again made his presence felt with a spectacular 30-yard drive which flew just wide of Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti's right post. The deadlock was finally broken in the 69th minute when Mandzukic rose majestically to head home a dangerous cross. An unperturbed Lazio almost equalised just moments later when Brazilian playmaker Felipe Anderson unleashed a powerful half volley from edge of box which Juventus' Gianluigi Buffon saved well. However Juventus wasted no time in extending their lead, when in the 73rd minute Pogba neatly controlled a high ball and laid it off in the box to Dybala. The Argentine striker, who joined Juventus from fellow Serie-A side Palermo, then scored by smashing the ball into the net from the middle of the box.
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