Juventus earned a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in a friendly at Signal Iduna Park, on a day filled with celebration for the home fans as they bid farewell to Mats Hummels, marking the end of the defender’s illustrious professional career.
Before kick-off, the Bianconeri paid tribute to Hummels with a guard of honor, adding to the emotional and festive atmosphere inside the stadium.
Despite the celebratory mood, Juventus delivered a focused and disciplined performance, reflecting the tactical work being instilled by new head coach Igor Tudor.
Andrea Cambiaso shone as the standout performer, scoring both goals for the visitors and underlining his growing influence within the squad.
The opener came in the 16th minute, sparked by a defensive lapse from Dortmund. Pierre Kalulu intercepted a poor clearance and quickly delivered a precise cross into the box, where Cambiaso was on hand to slot home from close range.
Juventus doubled their lead in the 56th minute through a fluid passing move. João Mário surged forward and found Jonathan David, who laid the ball off to Kenan Yildiz.
The young forward threaded an inch-perfect pass into the path of the onrushing Cambiaso, who, from a tight angle, unleashed a powerful strike into the far corner to secure his brace.
Dortmund pulled one back in the 89th minute following neat interplay on the right flank. Jan Couto combined with Julian Brandt to create space for Maximilian Beier, who eluded Daniele Rugani before rifling a superb shot into the top corner from a difficult angle.
The result gives Juventus a confidence boost in their pre-season preparations, while Dortmund’s fans leave with bittersweet memories of a day that celebrated one of their all-time greats.
The player ratings for Juventus from the match
- Di Gregorio: 6.5 – Made key saves when called upon, proving reliable in goal.
- Kalulu: 6.5 – Solid defensively against Adeyemi and was effective in pushing forward, creating the opportunity for the first goal.
- Bremer: 6.5 – Engaged in physical battles with Guirassy and was a dominant defensive presence before being substituted due to an ankle problem.
- Rugani: 5.5 – Replaced Bremer at halftime but made a late error that led to Dortmund’s goal.
- Kelly: 6 – A diligent performance, contributing in both attack and defense without any major standout moments or mistakes.
- Joao Mario: 6 – Still adjusting to the team’s system but showed his potential during the build-up to the second goal.
- Locatelli: 6 – Excellent in shielding the defense but less effective when initiating attacks.
- Thuram: 6 – His performance was impacted by heavy pre-season training, lacking his usual burst of power and pace.
- Cambiaso: 8 – The man of the match. Scored both goals and was a constant threat, demonstrating his ability to transition from a winger to a playmaker or attacker.
- Conceicao: 6 – Showed flashes of skill but lacked consistency throughout the game.
- Yildiz: 7.5 – A standout performer who demonstrated why he is considered a rising star, earning the admiration of the Dortmund fans.
- David: 6 – Showed signs of fatigue from pre-season training, losing possession at times but also making some useful contributions.
- Tudor (Coach): 7 – His team’s performance exceeded expectations, showing a cohesive and effective tactical approach.
Substitutions (from the 64th minute):
- Pinsoglio, McKennie, Gatti, Djalò, Adzic, Vlahovic, Koopmeiners, Miretti, Douglas Luiz, Kostic.
Following this victory against Borussia Dortmund, Juventus will continue their pre-season preparations with a series of upcoming matches.
Their next friendly will be at home against their U23 team, Juventus Next Gen, followed by another friendly match against Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.
The real competition begins on August 24, when they will open their 2025-26 Serie A campaign at home against Parma at the Allianz Stadium.
This will be followed by an away match against Genoa and a high-profile home game against rivals Inter Milan.
Photos from Signal Iduna Park
