Nico González inspires Juventus to 2-0 win over Parma as they go joint top

Juventus keep rolling. The Turin side beat Carlos Cuesta's Parma 2-0 in the second round of Serie A and went to sleep as joint leaders, level on six points with AC Milan. After a sluggish first half against a deep defensive block, Nico González came off the bench to unlock the match, and Teun Koopmeiners sealed the win in the closing minutes.

• Juventus have won their opening two Serie A matches and share top spot with AC Milan.
• Nico González was named MVP after scoring the opening goal and causing constant problems for Parma's defense.
• Koopmeiners, also a substitute, made it 2-0 in the 88th minute after a pass from Locatelli.
• Carlos Cuesta's Parma held firm defensively until the hour mark before eventually crumbling.
• Guglielmo Vicario made two crucial saves to protect Juventus' lead after the first goal.

Carlos Cuesta's defensive wall frustrates Juventus in the first half

The absence of Kenan Yildiz, who underwent surgery on a fractured left foot, forced Juventus to look for different attacking solutions from the start. Parma, coached by Carlos Cuesta, set up a patient game plan: a deep block, tight lines and very little space for the home side's forwards to turn. Randal Kolo Muani barely touched the ball in the first half, well marshalled by the visiting center-backs.

Only an individual piece of skill from Francisco Conceiçao broke the monotony before the break. The Portuguese winger drove through the middle and fired a low shot from the edge of the box that hit the base of the post in the 33rd minute. It was the clearest warning from a Juventus side that went into the dressing room without finding a way through Parma's defensive setup.

Nico González, the game-changing substitute who turned it around in half an hour

Luciano Spalletti turned to his bench after seeing the script stay stubbornly the same. The introduction of Nico González, back at the club after his loan spell at Atlético Madrid, had an immediate impact. The Argentine playmaker came on full of energy, and his first left-footed strike forced goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi into a superb save. Moments later, a second effort from outside the box rattled the post, but the rebound fell back to his feet and his next long-range shot found the net after a deflection off defender Mariano Troilo in the 62nd minute.

Just past the hour mark, Parma, who had not managed a shot on target until then, suddenly woke up. A double effort from David Romero tested Guglielmo Vicario, who produced a brilliant stop to deny the Argentine striker's header. The Juventus goalkeeper held the lead at the most delicate moment of the match for the home side.

Koopmeiners seals it late with a low left-footed strike

Juventus did not lose their composure after the scare and kept creating danger with Nico González pulling the strings. A through ball from the Argentine left Kolo Muani one-on-one, but his shot was kept out by Corvi. The game remained open until another substitute, Teun Koopmeiners, who had come on for the injured Andrea Cambiaso, put the contest to bed in the 88th minute. The Dutchman received the ball from Manuel Locatelli on the edge of the area and placed a low, left-footed shot inside the far post.

What this win means for Juventus in Serie A

The 2-0 win over Parma confirms an encouraging start for a Juventus side coming off a disappointing sixth-place finish last season. With six points from a possible six, Spalletti's team are level with AC Milan at the top of the table and have sent a clear message to the other title contenders. The impact of the substitutes, led by Nico González and Koopmeiners, reinforces the feeling that this squad has the depth to compete on multiple fronts.

The schedule rolls on, and Juventus will need to maintain the level shown in these first two rounds to cement their place near the top. After his display off the bench, a return to the starting lineup for Nico González looks like an inevitable decision for Spalletti in the coming games.