Di Gregorio's Penalty Save Steals the Show as Juventus Grind Out 2-0 Easter Win Over Genoa

Picture this: you're at the Allianz Stadium on Easter Monday, pint in hand (well, maybe a coffee for the early kick-off), watching Juventus chase that elusive top-four spot. They hosted Genoa, three points off fourth-placed Como with eight games left. A win would've closed the gap, and boy, did they deliver – but not without some proper drama.

Luciano Spalletti's lads edged it 2-0, thanks to headers from Gleison Bremer and Weston McKennie. But the real hero? Michele Di Gregorio, who came off the bench and pulled off a massive penalty save. As reported by Peter Young and Susy Campanale at Football Italia, this was no stroll in the park.

Pre-Match Nerves and Lineup Tweaks

Going in, Juventus were on a mission. Dusan Vlahovic was back from injury but unlikely to start – Spalletti reckoned he might 'give us a hand' from the bench. Up top, it was a toss-up between Jonathan David and Jeremie Boga, with Mattia Perin the safe bet in goal over the benched Di Gregorio.

Genoa, sitting 14th under Daniele De Rossi, fancied an upset to leapfrog to 12th. They missed Brooke Norton-Cuffy to a hamstring knock, shuffling their backline, while Vitinha, Junior Messias, Tommaso Baldanzi, and Caleb Ekuban scrapped for forward spots. Predicted Juve in a 4-2-3-1 with Perin behind Pierre Kalulu, Bremer, Lloyd Kelly, and Andrea Cambiaso; midfield Locatelli and Thuram, attack Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz, and David. Genoa eyed a 3-4-2-1.

Kick-off at 17:00 BST, live on DAZN in the UK or Paramount+ in the USA. Roma's 5-2 tonking by Inter meant no overtake risk for Juve, easing the pressure a tad.

Half-Time Shocker and Second-Half Grit

First half ticked along, but halftime brought chaos. Perin, who'd nicked the No.1 shirt after Di Gregorio's wobbles (benched six straight games post-Como loss), felt a calf twinge. Off he went, Di Gregorio on – his first action in five matches.

Sky Italia called it a precaution, but it flipped the script. Genoa got a pen in the second half, but Di Gregorio – the ex-Monza man with Juventus teammates buzzing about him post-match – denied it stone dead. Bremer nodded home first, McKennie doubled up, and that was that. 2-0, Juve now one point shy of the top four.

Spalletti had rotated keepers amid form dips – Perin starting the last four Serie A games – but Di Gregorio proved why he's still in the mix. Vlahovic stayed glued to the bench, easing back gently.

What It Means for the Run-In

For Genoa, it's stagnation at 14th – no Easter bunny for De Rossi's boys. Juve? Massive boost, especially after Sassuolo before the break. With Roma slipping, the chase intensifies.

As Peter Young noted at Football Italia, Di Gregorio's mates were full of praise, celebrating like he'd won it single-handed. Fair play – from outcast to saviour in 45 minutes. Next up, who knows? But for now, Old Lady fans: crack open that Easter egg. You've earned it.

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