Kenan Yildiz made history with a sensational solo goal before Weston McKennie and Nico Gonzalez completed the rout, as Juventus crushed PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in the Champions League opener.
The Bianconeri needed a boost to begin their European campaign after back-to-back 0-0 Serie A draws, although they had yet to concede this season. Francisco Conceicao and Arkadiusz Milik were injured, with Weston McKennie chosen ahead of Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuram in midfield.
The Dutch side missed ex-Napoli man Hirving Lozano, Armando Obispo, Fredrik Oppegard and long-term absentee Sergiño Dest. Goalkeeper Walter Benitez had to leave for the birth of his child, so Joel Drommel took the gloves.
Joey Veerman fired straight at Michele Di Gregorio and Guus Til volleyed off target early on, while Matteo Dams made a decisive block to prevent Nico Gonzalez’s diving header on an Andrea Cambiaso cross.
Juve took the lead thanks to a moment of pure magic from Kenan Yildiz. The 19-year-old’s hero is Alessandro Del Piero and it was a goal worthy of that legend, cutting inside from the left and curling right-footed in off the inside of the far top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance. He also became the youngest Juve player to score in the Champions League at 19 years and 136 days, overtaking Del Piero’s record of 20 years and 308 days against Borussia Dortmund in September 1995.
