Juventus 4-2 Torino: Paul Pogba returns as Bianconeri climb to seventh in Serie A with win over rivals

Juventus had to twice fight back from behind to beat rivals Torino 4-2 in a Derby della Mole thriller that saw both sides hit the bar and Paul Pogba make his long-awaited second debut for the Old Lady.

Yann Karamoh put the visitors ahead inside two minutes as Toro came flying out of the blocks in search of their first victory over their rivals in eight years.

Juan Cuadrado and Danilo then struck either side of an Antonio Sanabria goal, as the teams went in level after a helter-skelter first half.

Both sides were denied by the woodwork after the break but Juve eventually pulled away thanks to goals from Gleison Bremer and Adrien Rabiot in the final 20 minutes.

Home fans were given another big reason to cheer when Pogba stepped off the bench midway through the second half, his first appearance since returning to the club last summer.

The result sends Juve into seventh, six points behind Atalanta, but a 15-point deduction has left them with a mountain to climb in their bid for Champions League qualification.

Karamoh struck after just 92 seconds, gathering a knock-down from a corner before swivelling to fire home from close range in what was the fastest Turin Derby goal in Serie A history.

The visiting fans weren’t celebrating for long, though, as Cuadrado got on the end of a Filip Kostic cross to fire home the equaliser in the 16th minute for his first league goal of the season.

Torino fired a warning when a glancing Sanabria header was palmed away by Wojciech Szczesny, but the Paraguayan made his next chance count when he tucked in a neat finish at the near post.

Danilo’s powerful header rattled the post on its way in to draw Juve level on the brink of half-time, but the woodwork came to Torino’s rescue early in the second half when Vlahovic curled a shot off the bar with only the keeper to beat.

Torino responded in kind when Karol Linetty’s curler struck the woodwork, but Massimiliano Allegri’s decision to bring on Pogba, Federico Chiesa and Mattia De Sciglio paid off almost instantly.

Within two minutes of the changes, Chiesa swung in a cross and Bremer was left unmarked to guide a header past Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, and 10 minutes later Rabiot tucked in a close-range finish from a free-kick to put the result beyond doubt and end Toro’s spirited challenge.

Talking point – ‘Pogback’ finally arrives

The moment everyone at the Allianz Stadium was waiting for came in the 69th minute. For all the thrills and spills that were on offer in Turin on Tuesday night, with the two sides sharing six goals in a compelling contest, there was always an eye on the touchline as well as the pitch.

The first swell of anticipation came when Pogba stepped out for a light warm-up after Nicolo Fagiolo suffered a minor knock in the first half. By the time the crowd saw him stripped off in his No.10 shirt for the first time, there was palpable excitement.

Pogba’s return on a free transfer after six years at Manchester United was their showcase summer move, but fans have had to wait this long to see him on the pitch due to a serious knee injury.

The Frenchman’s return at this crucial part of the season will be a huge boost to supporters and team-mates alike as they bid to climb up the table despite their points deduction, and win Coppa Italia and Europa League crowns.

Player of the match – Filip Kostic (Juventus)

While Bremer also had a strong claim for the award, Kostic was a constant menace down the left wing all night and came up with decisive moments when Juve needed him.

It was the Serbian who had the guile to pick out Cuadrado for the early equaliser, and it was his delivery again that resulted in a crucial fourth goal for the Bianconeri that helped them swerve a nervy finish.

Player ratings

Juventus: Szczesny 6; Danilo 7, Bremer 8, Alex Sandro 6; Cuadrado 7, Fagioli 6, Barrenechea 7, Rabiot 7; Kostic 8; Di Maria 7; Vlahovic 6

Subs: De Sciglio 6, Chiesa 7, Pogba 6, Kean N/A, Bonucci N/A

Torino: Milinkovic-Savic 5; Djidji 6, Schuurs 6, Buongiorno 6; Singo 7, Linetty 7, Ilic 7, Rodriguez 6; Miranchuk 7, Karamoh 8; Sanabria 7

Subs: Radonjic 5, Vojvoda 6, Seck 6, Ricci 6, Gravillon N/A

Match highlights

2’ GOAL, TORINO TAKE AN EARLY LEAD!

What a start! Torino win an early corner. It’s swung in by Miranchuk and nodded to the back post, where Karamoh is lurking unmarked to control on his chest, swivel and fire home from close range!

16’ GOAL! CUADRADO EQUALISES FOR JUVE!

What a start to this game! Kostic is again a nuisance down the left and sets up the equaliser with a lofted cross to the back post for Cuadrado, who thumps a finish off a defender and into the roof of the net.

43’ GOAL, SANABRIA RESTORES TORINO’S LEAD!

Fantastic goal from Toro! Ilic puts a low cross into the box and Sanabria gets in front of his marker and guides a finish in at the near post. Brilliantly created, brilliantly finished. Torino are back in front!

45’ GOAL! JUVENTUS RESPOND IMMEDIATELY

Juve respond immediately from a corner, as Danilo’s powerful header cannons off the inside of the post and crosses the line. There is a moment of confusion as Milinkovic-Savic manages to claw it out before recovering the ball, but replays show it was comfortably over the line.

71′ BREMER HEADS JUVE IN FRONT!

Chiesa makes an instant impact! The winger is barely on the pitch before he whips a cross into the box, where Bremer is left completely unmarked to steer home a header against his former club.

81′ GOAL! RABIOT EXTENDS JUVE’S LEAD

Torino are caught out from a set piece again as a free-kick from the left wing is whipped across the box and reaches Rabiot at the back post for a tap-in.

KEY STATS

• In a 1st half between Juventus and Torino have been scored 4+ goals for the first time since 25th January 1995: Rizzitelli’s brace and one Angloma’s goal for the Granata and a Vialli’s brace for the Bianconeri in that case.
• Yann Karamoh’s goal after 1 minute and 32 seconds is the fastest goal scored in a derby between Juventus and Torino in Serie A’s history.