Dybala sends message with double as Ronaldo-less Juve seal 3-1 friendly win

Paulo Dybala scored twice with Juan Cuadrado also on target and a Merih Demiral own goal in the traditional Juventus A-Juventus B game.

This friendly in Villar Perosa is the curtain-opener to the new season, played on the outskirts of Turin in the Agnelli family homestead.

It sees the senior squad take on the Primavera youth team and this afternoon Juventus A won 3-1.

Dybala took centre-stage, earning and converting a penalty, then firing a right-foot finish under the bar.

La Joya was cheered with great acclaim by the fans, despite reports he is on his way out for Paris Saint-Germain.

Merih Demiral had temporarily allowed the youth team to equalise with a chaotic own goal, as he tried to chest it back to Wojciech Szczesny and over-shot.

Before the first half, Dybala scored his second goal of the game with a sublime pace and finish to ignite with crowds.

Cuadrado completed the scoring after the restart with an audacious back-heel flick finish. As is traditional, the game was abandoned early with a pitch invasion from the fans.

There was some tension before the friendly game, as Coach Maurizio Sarri – who had been in doubt to attend at all due to a bout of flu – was taken ill.

He was seen to by medical staff on the team bus after the players had left, but eventually took his place on the bench.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Matthijs de Ligt missed out on the match due to slight injuries.

Juventus A starting XI: Buffon; Danilo, Demiral, Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Pjanic, Matuidi; Dybala, Higuain, Douglas Costa