Report: Juventus vs Palermo

Yildiz breaks the deadlock before half-time

Juventus took control at Optus Stadium with Kenan Yildiz's 44th-minute opener, a goal that shifted the entire complexion of the friendly. Zeki Celik provided the assist as Juventus went into the interval with the lead - the decisive moment that separated two evenly matched sides in the opening period.

The goal came at a crucial juncture. Until that point, Palermo had competed without embarrassment, but Yildiz's finish gave Juventus the platform they needed to manage the remainder of the match. The timing mattered. A half-time advantage meant Juventus could dictate terms in the second half without chasing the game, while Palermo faced the uphill task of mounting a comeback.

Milik seals it late

Any hope Palermo harboured of a second-half revival evaporated in the 87th minute when Arkadiusz Milik added a second. Manuel Locatelli set up the finish, and with just three minutes remaining, the contest was settled. Milik's goal came when Palermo's resistance had worn thin, confirming Juventus's superiority across the 90 minutes.

The scoreline flattered neither side excessively. Juventus earned their victory through efficiency rather than dominance - two clear chances converted, two goals scored. Palermo offered resistance but lacked the cutting edge required to trouble Juventus seriously. The second goal was the punctuation mark on a performance that had been controlled from Yildiz's breakthrough.

This was pre-season football at its most straightforward: one team executed when it mattered, the other did not. Juventus depart Perth with a clean sheet and two goals to their name. For Palermo, the defeat offers lessons ahead of their own season preparations, though a friendly loss carries limited weight. The real work for both sides begins when the competitive calendar opens.