In Search Of The 50th Winning Debut

During Sunday’s match against Chievo Verona, Juventus will not only be searching for the first three points of the 2009/10 Serie A but also for a small historical record. If they manage to win against the gialloblu, the bianconeri will have registered their 50th victory on the first day of the championship.

The current total, as from 1929/30 (the year of establishment of the single round) sees 49 victories, 23 draws and just 5 defeats, the last of which in the distant 1982 against Sampdoria. The total number of goals is 176 in favour (the last one scored by Pavel Nedved during last season in Florence) and 69 conceded.

Forty-nine victories amongst which there were some important extensive victories, like for example the last one against Livorno in 207: 5-1 with a hat-trick by Trezeguet and two goals by Iaquinta. The absolute record is shared between two matches : Pro Patria-Juventus 0-7 in 1959 (two goals each by Karl Hansen and Praest and a goal each by John Hansen, Muccinelli and Boniperti) and Juventus-Ascoli 7-0 in 1983 thanks to a hat-trick by Penzo, two goals by Rossi and a goal each by Platini and Boniek. There was also a 6-0 victory against Foggia in 1977, a 6-1 against Cesena in 1981 (hat-trick by Bettega) and a 5-1 victory against in 2004 with two goals each by Del Piero and Trezeguet.

The captain and the Frenchman often marked the score sheet on the first match day. Both are part of a special table which is still headed by Roberto Bettega with 13 goals. Trezegol scored 9, Del Piero 7 (just like Boniperti), all in the four seasons between 2000 and 2003.

Chievo Verona, who will be coming to the Olimpico on Sunday, have already played against the bianconeri once on the first match day. This occurred exactly 4 years ago, when Juventus won by 1-0 thanks to a goal by the usual Trezeguet. Lazio lead the table having played against Chievo 5 times on the debut.

Finally a superstitious bit of curiosity, a small jinx to break, one linked to the current year or rather 2009. Juventus has never won on the debut in the years ending in 9 since 1969, when they beat Palermo 4-1. In 1979 and 1989 it was Bologna on both occasions to walk away with a 1-1 tie at the Comunale while in 1999 Reggina emerged unhurt from the Delle Alpi with the same result.

Juventus.com