22 November 2017
It was all square on Wednesday night at Allianz Stadium as Juventus and Barcelona finished goalless on matchday five in the UEFA Champions League group stage. A stoppage time effort from Paulo Dybala nearly won it for the Bianconeri but Marc-Andre ter Stegen incredibly turned the shot around the post leaving the teams to split the points.
The result, coupled with Sporting CP’s 3-1 win against Olympiakos, means the Bianconeri can secure passage to the knockout round with a win at Olympiakos on the final matchday or if Sporting fails to win at the Nou Camp against Barcelona.
A raucous Allianz Stadium was nearly brought to their feet in just the second minute as Douglas Costa and Juan Cuadrado combined down the wing with the ball eventually coming back to Costa. The Brazilian’s shot force a smart save out of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The rest of the half was a cagey affair with both sides earning half chances with Cuadrado’s volley on a headed pass from Paulo Dybala the best chance late for Juventus, but the shot was sent over.
In the second half, Barca nearly took the lead in the 50th minute as Luis Suarez stepped up to a free kick from 30 yards out but the Uruguayan’s effort was just over the bar. In the 55th minute, the Blaugrana brought in Lionel Messi with the Argentine creating multiple chances for Barcelona over the next 15 minutes.
Juve would have one final chance at a match-winner as Dybala’s shot from the top of the box in stoppage time was spectacularly tipped around the post by ter Stegen. Juve will have to wait until the final group stage matchday to secure passage into the knockout round as the showdown of two titans of world football ended 0-0.
Juventus returns to the Allianz Stadium pitch on Sunday at 20.45 hosting Crotone in Serie A while the final matchday of the Champions League group stage is set for 5 December in Greece against Olympiakos.
