It seemed like it was going to be a good day but in the end it was all a nightmare, especially for Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, the target of harsh criticism in the Champions League.
Benfica scored at home in a show of sharp and fast football, but slackened towards the end and ended up protecting a 4-3 that could have been a draw, if football were a matter of justice.
Things started badly with Benfica, the Portuguese leader, who went over the Italian goal and at 17 Antonio Silva punished with an impeccable center and an equal definition.
Vlahovic excited with a partial draw, at the request of the VAR, in another good service for Moise Kean who also had the Serbian in the photo of the celebration.
It seemed that it was a new life for Juventus but then the Colombian Cuadrado failed: at 26 minutes he wanted to reject the ball but hit him in the arm, because he tried to increase the volume, and he paid dearly for it. He swore it wasn’t a handball, he even fought with his teammates, but the penalty was Joao Mario’s goal.
Rafa Silva’s show would come with a cue goal at 35 minutes and a new celebration at 50 minutes and then Allegri took out all the generals, Cuadrado, Kostic, Vlahovic and Bonucci included, and Silva, Mireti, Malvano and Iling changed the reality of Juventus.
Iling, especially, shredded the left wing and that’s how Milik (77) and MacKenie (79) arrived who put the Portuguese on the ropes. It took time to change reality, to scratch a tie, and in the end Benfica not only won but also knocked Juventus out of the Champions League. Now it depends on an exhibition and almost a miracle to stay, at least, in the Europa League.
