Juve into Last 16

Juventus qualified for the Last 16 of the Champions League after snatching a 1-2 win over Lokomotiv Moscow to claim three points and see the team progress into the next round of competition. Douglas Costa snatched the winner deep inside stoppage time, after Aaron Ramsey grabbed the opener in the opening minutes of the first half.

Maurizio Sarri opted for a different looking line-up to his usual tried and tested, with Rugani stepping in for de Ligt, who stayed at home due to an injury, while Danilo took the place of the suspended Cuadrado. Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot were also handed starts.

RAMSEY SCORES, MIRANCHUK RESPONDS

The Bianconeri took just three minutes to get onto the scoresheet when they were awarded a free-kick from a foul on Rabiot. Cristiano Ronaldo stood up to take the spot kick, and he fired in an angled drive that went straight for Guilherme in goal, the shot-stopper fumbled it and it fell between his legs allowing for Ramsey to tap it over the line for certainty. It took just nine minutes for the hosts to respond with an equalizer of their own. A cross was delivered in from the left and it was Miranchuk who first saw his header rattle the upright before then being quickest to tap it home on the rebound.

PIPA CHANCE

That equalizer gave Lokomotiv an extra spring in their step and they were testing the Juventus backline with their high-pressure plays. Juventus started finding their rhythm again around about the half hour mark of the game, and they went very close to regaining the lead when Khedira sent a looping ball into the box, Higuain beat the offside trap perfectly and tried to tap it past the goalkeeper from two-yards out, but this time he made no mistake and pushed it out for a corner.

There were only two minutes on the clock in the second half when Ronaldo threatened off a free-kick that he bulleted straight down the middle, but Guilherme palmed it away. The goalkeeper then denied CR7 in the 56th minute when he shot a powerful drive at goal, which saw Guilherme brilliantly fingertipped the attacker’s ball away from danger.

BONUCCI SAVE OFF THE LINE

Miranchuk managed to break through down the middle and he fired at goal, only for Szczesny to make the save. Rodrigo Bentancur was introduced into the game in the 64th minute in place of Ramsey, while Douglas Costa was brought on in place of Khedira. Juventus tried to slow the tempo down in order to gain control, but they lost possession in the 77th minute which saw Szczesny rush off his line. He made the same, but Joao Mario connected onto the end of the rebound, which saw Bonucci make an important clearance off the line! Sarri then made the decision to substitute Ronaldo in place of Dybala with 10 minutes to go, and he nearly made an immediate impact as he toe-poked Rabiot’s cross just wide of the near post.

WHAT A SAMBA-GOAL!

The game almost looked destined to end in a draw, but it was Douglas Costa who snatched the victory in the most beautiful of manners. The move started when he got involved in a give-and-go with Higuain, before then taking over everything by dribbling past three defenders to slot the ball between Guilherme’s legs for a 92nd minute match-winner, that would ensure qualification into the Last 16 of the Champions League.

Lokomotiv Moscow: Guilherme; Ignatyev, Höwedes, Corluka, Rybus; Zhemaletdinov, Krychowiak, Barinov, Joao Mario; Al Miranchuk, Eder

Substitutes: Kochenkov, Zhivoglyadov, Idowu, Kolomeytsev, Murilo, Magkeev, Tugarev

Juventus: Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, Rugani, Alex Sandro; Khedira (Douglas Costa 70’), Pjanic, Rabiot; Ramsey (Bentancur 64’); Higuain, Ronaldo (Dybala 80’)

Substitutes: Buffon, De Sciglio, Dybala, Douglas Costa, Matuidi, Demiral, Bentancur