25 October 2022
Juventus were knocked out of the Champions League after a roller-coaster of a match at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. The Bianconeri and Benfica shared seven goals with the hosts edging the contest 4-3 in a match that in the end could have gone either way.
DOWN BY TWO AT THE BREAK
The first goal of the game arrived in 17 minutes. Benfica worked a corner from the left and the cross into the middle picked out an unmarked Antonio Silva, who headed home from close range.
Juventus responded and from a corner kick of their own five minutes later pulled level. Danilo met the inswinging cross, his header was diverted towards goal by Vlahović, who scrambled it over the line, with Moise Kean there to make sure. Over two minutes of analysis by VAR were needed before the goal was awarded after it was initially ruled out for offside.
However, three minutes later Juan Cuadradro handled inside the area under pressure from Frederik Arusnes. For the second time in the two matches against Juve, João Mário converted from the spot.
Then, one of the many turning points. Vlahović was picked out by Filip Kostić but the number nine placed his shot wide from an excellent position. The next action saw Benfica break up the pitch, Rafa Silva fed the ball out to João Mário who crossed in for Rafa Silva, who back-heeled the ball past Wojciech Szczęsny.
HOPE REKINDLED
At half-time, Juventus needed three goals without reply in the second period to stay in the Champions League. That task became even tougher when Rafa Silva flicked the ball home for his second and his side’s fourth in 51’.
On 76’ another of those turning points. Rafa Silva blasted a volley over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Juventus broke up the field through Samuel Iling-Junior, on his European debut. The Next-Gen winger’s cross was volleyed home by Arek Milik. Two minutes later, another Iling cross dropped at the feet of Matias Soulé. His shot was blocked as far as Weston McKennie who drilled his shot into the net.
With more than 10 minutes to play, Juve trailed by just one goal.
On 86’, with Juve pushing everyone in attack, Rafa Silva ran half the length of the pitch and with only Szczęsny to beat, slammed his shot against the post. This time though, Juve could not take advantage of the let-off - even if they created to gilt-edged chances to tie the encounter.
On 88’, Soulè was picked out in the area by Iling, but the Argentine dragged his shot wide. And the action was still not over. In the first minute of stoppage time, Federico Gatti outjumped the Benfica defence but somehow the ball bounced the wrong side of the far post.
A gallant Juve bowed out of the Champions League in a seven-goal thriller.
BENFICA 4-3 JUVENTUS (HT: 3-1)
Scorers: 17’ Antonio Silva (B), 21’ Kean (J), 28’ João Mário (B), 35’ & 50’ Rafa Silva (B), 77’ Milik (J), 79’ McKennie (J).
BENFICA: Vlachodimos; Bah (81′ Gilberto), Antonio Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Enzo Fernandez, Florentino; Aursnes, Rafa Silva (87′ Musa), Joao Mario (90’+3′ Chiquinho); Ramos (87′ Neres). Subs not used: Leite, Verissimo, Gonçalves, Ristic, Brooks, Victor, Araujo, Bernardo. Coach: Schmidt.
JUVENTUS: Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci (59′ Alex Sandro), Gatti; Cuadrado (59′ Miretti), McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic (60′ Iling-Junior); Kean (46′ Milik), Vlahovic (70′ Soulé). Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Perin, Rugani, Fagioli. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Jovanović
BOOKINGS: 63′ Danilo (J), 84′ Fernandez (B).
