This Wednesday, Benfica practically said goodbye to qualifying for the play-off to reach the round of 16 of the Champions League, after losing 2-0 at Juventus, in the seventh round of the league phase.
The Frenchman Khephren Thuram, in the 55th minute, and the North American Weston McKennie, in the 64th minute, sealed the fifth defeat in the competition for the Reds, who missed a penalty by the Greek Vangelis Pavlidis, after slipping when taking the maximum penalty.
At the Allianz Stadium, in Turin, the first shot on goal belonged to Benfica, Sudakov fired a shot from the edge of the area towards Di Gregorio. In response, Trubin threw himself onto the pitch to deflect a shot from Yildiz with his left hand. Shortly afterwards, Yildiz again moved from the left to the center and shot across, with the ball passing close to the left post of the red goal.
In a loss of ball by the Italian defense, Sudakov shot low for a great save by Di Gregorio. The first goal of the match was in sight. In yet another recovery of the Red ball, Prestianni shot crookedly and over the Juve goal.
In the 36th minute, and after Sudakov’s nonsense with a late ball that gave Juventus a corner, Miretti appeared loose in the area and headed over the crossbar of Trubin’s goal.
On the brink of half-time, good offensive design from Juventus with McKennie gaining the final line and crossing for Jonathan David, with time and space, to head wide.
The first half was balanced and divided, with few scoring opportunities and great strategic rigor in the defensive process of Juventus and Benfica.
For the second half, the Juve coach brought on Francisco Conceição to replace Miretti, but it was Benfica who created some danger, but Di Gregorio resolved it.
Juventus began to put high pressure on the Red defense and scored in a ball recovery. Tomás Araújo lost the physical duel with Jonathan David, the ball fell to Thuram, who shot hard and low from inside the penalty area, making the ball enter Trubin’s right post. Trubin had previously denied McKennie the goal. The North American player shot just inside the penalty area after a cross from the right.
The Turin team was better in the match and McKennie, after threatening the red goal, extended the score. The North American player crossed the line with Jonathan David at the edge of the area and shot Trubin with no chance of defense.
José Mourinho operated a double substitution. Ivanovic and Barrenechea came on to replace Schjelderup and Sudakov, but shortly before Aursnes’ header hit the left post of Di Gregorio’s goal.
Juventus were better in the match and came close to scoring the third. Thanks to Trubin for preventing another goal for the Italian team. Clumsy play in the Benfica area with Dedic deflecting a cross into his own goal. Trubin, on the ground, made an excellent save.
In the 79th minute, a penalty for Benfica. Leandro Barreiro is knocked down in the area. The referee went to VAR and had no doubts. Pavlidis, when marking the penalty, slipped and the shot went wide of Di Gregorio’s goal.
In the standings, Benfica fell to 29th place, remaining with six points, two behind 24th, the last place to qualify, when all they need to do is host Real Madrid. Juventus has 12 points and secured a place in the play-off to reach the round of 16.
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