Simeone follows father's footsteps against injury-hit Juventus

It was a bad weekend for Serie A leader Juventus, which lost 3-1 at Genoa and suffered more injuries with Dani Alves (fractured fibula) and Leo Bonucci (thigh strain) facing lengthy layoffs. With Paulo Dybala, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli already injured, coach Max Allegri will be without his B-B-C back three for next week’s encounter against high-flying Atalanta, which has now won six in a row.

Bonucci was at fault for Genoa’s first goal, which was scored by Diego Simeone’s son Giovanni. Diego himself scored a winner against Juventus for Lazio back in 2000; Giovanni, nicknamed Cholito, scored two as Genoa blitzed the visitor with three goals inside the first half hour.

Soccer Managers: When they were players

Antonio Conte, Chelsea

Antonio Conte celebrates a goal for Juventus against Rangers in the Champions League in 1995.

Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern Munich

AC Milan's Carlo Ancelotti, right, goes head-to-head with Napoli's Diego Maradona when both played in Italy in October 1990.

Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid

Argentina's Diego Simeone shakes hands with England's David Beckham after their match at the 2002 World Cup, four years after Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Simeone.

Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone celebrates scoring a goal for Lazio against Vicenza in a Serie A match in April 2001.

Jurgen Klinsmann, U.S. men's national team

Jurgen Klinsmann celebrates after scoring Germany's lone goal in a 1-0 win over Bolivia in a 1994 World Cup match in Chicago.

Jurgen Klinsmann, U.S. men's national team

Jurgen Klinsmann celebrates after scoring the first Stuttgart goal in the 1989 UEFA Cup final second leg against Napoli in May 1989.

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp, right, makes a play on the ball while playing for Mainz against St. Pauli in 1999.

Luis Enrique, Barcelona

Luis Enrique scores for Barcelona against Arsenal in the group stage of the Champions League in October 1999 at Wembley Stadium.

Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham

Argentina's Mauricio Pochettino takes down Engand's Ashley Cole in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup in Japan.

Joachim Low, Germany

Joachim Low, playing for Karlsruher against Werder Bremen in a November 1984 Bundesliga match.

Patrick Vieira, New York City FC

While starring at Arsenal, Patrick Vieira goes head-to-head with a young Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gunners' win over Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup final.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City

Pep Guardiola mans the midfield for Barcelona in a February 2001 match against Athletic Bilbao.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City; Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola stands side-by-side with Zinedine Zidane in a Euro 2000 quarterfinal between Spain and France.

Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane escapes away from Michael Ballack in Real Madrid's 2002 Champions League final triumph over Bayer Leverkusen, in which Zidane scored the winning goal.

Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane led the European All-Stars, while Brazil's Ronaldo led the World All-Stars in a star-studded match in France prior to the 1998 World Cup draw.

Didier Deschamps, France

Didier Deschamps lifts the Champions League trophy with Marseille after captaining the squad to a triumph over AC Milan in 1993.

Ronald Koeman, Everton

Ronald Koeman, front, celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the 1992 European Cup final for Barcelona against Sampdoria at Wembley Stadium.

Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine

AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko, right, is mobbed by Clarence Seedorf and Kaka after a goal against city rival Inter Milan at the San Siro in 2004.

“We knew Genoa were tough and we’d have to play on their level physically, but the first half was very bad. The second was better and it was too late by then,” a furious Allegri told Sky Sport Italia. “There were 25 Genoa fouls and eight from us. When those are the stats, it is impossible to win a football match.”

Juventus seemed to assume its now-regular place as champion-elect just a few weeks ago, but the injury crisis and this patchy form makes the December fixtures crucial: after Atalanta is a derby against Torino and a top-of-the-table clash against Roma–three tough games for Allegri to navigate.

As for Cholito, his dad had apparently told him he was going to score that day.

“I heard from my father, who told me he had scored against Juventus and therefore it was in our blood, so I had to do the same,” he said.