Gonzalo Higuain converted a penalty and missed an open goal, as Lyon snatched a late 1-1 draw at the Juventus Stadium.
See how it all unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
Gonzalo Higuain converted a penalty and missed an open goal, as Lyon snatched a late 1-1 draw at the Juventus Stadium.
See how it all unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
The Bianconeri knew a win would put them through to the Round of 16, having won 1-0 in France with Juan Cuadrado’s screamer. However, they have to wait for the next two games and see Sevilla break away at the top of the group after a 4-0 victory over 10-man Dinamo Zagreb.
Mario Lemina was sent off and therefore suspended here, while Claudio Marchisio had his first Champions League appearance since February. Miralem Pjanic was moved into a trequartista role in the new 4-3-1-2 system, as Paulo Dybala, Giorgio Chiellini and Marko Pjaca were sidelined. Lyon missed Mathieu Valbuena and Christophe Jallet.
Pjanic was incorrectly flagged offside when his angled drive was cleared off the line in the opening couple of minutes.
Gigi Buffon marked his 100th Champions League appearance and was called into an early save with his legs at the near post on Maciej Rybus, while Mario Mandzukic’s strike was smothered.
Lyon gave away an entirely avoidable penalty when Higuain threaded through for Stefano Sturaro, only to be barged over by clumsy Mouctar Diakhaby. Higuain stepped up and converted the spot-kick to put Juventus in front.
Marchisio’s fierce daisy-cutter clipped the outside of the post and Nabil Fekir’s free kick was blasted well over.
It should’ve been 2-0 to Juve on 40 minutes when Mandzukic dispossessed a defender and surged into the box, rolling across for Higuain, who incredibly fired over an empty net from 14 yards. It was an incredible miss.
Rachid Ghezzal drilled just wide from the edge of the box after shrugging off challenges. After the restart, Pjanic knocked down a searching Leo Bonucci pass for Mandzukic to scuff wide.
Andrea Barzagli was decisive to intercept a roll across for Lacazette on the counter-attack and Lyon poured on the pressure, albeit with uninspiring finishing.
Bonucci went off after a slight thigh problem and Alex Sandro replaced Pjanic, returning to a 3-5-2 for the final 23 minutes. Alex Sandro made an immediate impact, squirming between two defenders down the left to set up Higuain for a deflected strike.
Sturaro gave the ball away cheaply in midfield and Barzagli made a crucial full-body block on Maxwell Cornet’s effort. For all the pressure, Buffon was completely undisturbed, at least until the equaliser.
A long Ghezzal free kick had three players ready to nod it in and Corentin Tolisso got his head to it from six yards, leaving Buffon with no chance. It was the first goal Juve had conceded in the Champions League this season at the 32nd shot on target.
Lyon seemed more likely to win in stoppages, as with practically the last kick Lacazette sprinted on to a through ball past Barzagli, but Buffon narrowed the angle to force him wide.
Juventus 1-1 Lyon
Higuain pen 13 (J), Tolisso 85 (L)
Juventus: Buffon; Dani Alves, Bonucci (Benatia 67), Barzagli, Evra; Khedira, Marchisio, Sturaro; Pjanic (Alex Sandro 67); Mandzukic, Higuain (Cuadrado 83)
Lyon: Lopes; Rafael, Diakhaby, Mammana, Morel; Ghezzal, Gonalons, Tolisso, Rybus (Cornet 70); Fekir (Darder 77), Lacazette
Ref: Kuipers (NED)