Juventus claimed a 2-1 win over Lyon at Allianz Stadium on Friday evening, but were unfortunately eliminated from the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 due to the away goal rule. The overall scoreline finished 2-2.
TALE OF TWO PENALTIES: DEPAY FIRST
The start of the game saw two of Juventus’ attacking chances blown for offside, before then seeing Lyon lay on the attack. Szczesny was forced into making a fingertip save on Aouar with nine minutes on the clock, before then being awarded a penalty kick after Bentancur was judged to have made a late challenge in the box a minute later. Depay stood up to take the penalty and he chipped it into the back of the net to hand Lyon a 1-0 lead at Allianz Stadium. Bernardeschi had a shot blocked from point blank range, while Ronaldo directed his header from nine yards out off target.
RONALDO SECOND
Anthony Lopes was only really called into action in the 37th minute when he was forced to make a free-kick off Higuain’s glancing header. The Lyon shot-stopper was tested just minutes later when Ronaldo struck a free-kick, and he pulled off a one-handed save to push it away from the goal frame. Juventus were laying on the attack and they were awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute after a handball on Depay in the box. Ronaldo stood up to take it, and he made no error in slicing it past Lopes to put the teams level at the break.
RONALDO BULLET BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH
The second half saw both teams on edge as they knew what was at stake, and scrappy play took place by both teams. However, it was Juventus who managed to get a crucial second goal when Ronaldo picked up the ball on the edge of the box and struck it into the top right corner to put the scoreline at 2-1 (2-3 on aggregate). Ramsey, Dybala and Danilo were all introduced into the game, as Ronaldo saw his glancing header skim just over the crossbar by inches. Lyon were itching to get the equalising goal and they had several half chances in the box, but each time the Bianconeri defence persevered. Dybala couldn’t last the remainder of the game and he limped off in the 84th minute due to injury. Juventus tried with all their might to get that last-minute goal, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
Juventus: Szczesny; Cuadrado (Danilo 70’), Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Bentancur, Pjanic (Ramsey 62’), Rabiot; Bernardeschi (Dybala 70’ Olivieri 84’), Higuain, Ronaldo
Juventus bench: Pinsoglio, Buffon, Chiellini, Ramsey, Dybala, Danilo, Matuidi, Rugani, Demiral, Olivieri, Muratore
Lyon: Lopes; Denayer, Marcelo, Marçal; Dubois, Caqueret, Bruno Guimarães, Aouar, Cornet; Ekambi, Depay
Lyon bench: Tatarusanu, Diomande, Andersen, Rafael, Dembele, Traore, Mendes, Reine-Adelaide, Jean Lucas, Tete, Bard, Cherki