Claudio Marchisio’s penalty and a late Leonardo Bonucci volley saw Juventus win 3-1 away to 10-man Sevilla and qualify for the Champions League Round of 16.
See how it all unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
Claudio Marchisio’s penalty and a late Leonardo Bonucci volley saw Juventus win 3-1 away to 10-man Sevilla and qualify for the Champions League Round of 16.
See how it all unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
The Spaniards had a two-point advantage at the top of Group H, so this was a head-to-head for not only qualification, but also the prestigious leadership role and in theory better draw going forward. Juve had huge injury problems, missing Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala, Andrea Barzagli, Medhi Benatia and Marko Pjaca, while Giorgio Chiellini was only fit for the bench. They adapted to a 4-3-3 formation. Samir Nasri and Joaquin Correa weren’t even in the squad after failing late fitness tests, but hoped to rely on the defensive solidity that saw them not concede a single goal so far in the tournament.
Sevilla took the lead with their first chance of the game, as a corner wasn’t cleared effectively and Nico Pareja’s sensational volley from the edge of the box zipped through a sea of legs into the near bottom corner.
Escudero also blasted a scorching strike just over the bar, while Juan Cuadrado stung Sergio Rico’s gloves at the near post with a powerful cross-shot.
Mario Mandzukic failed to make the most of a promising counter-attack, curling well wide, but Sami Khedira’s first-time strike skimmed the near top corner.
There was a turning point on 37 minutes when ex-Palermo star Franco Vazquez foolishly received his second yellow card from English referee Mark Clattenburg, leaving Sevilla down to 10 men.
Juve continued to be poor, Khedira over-hitting a pass for Cuadrado to waste another promising move.
On the stroke of half-time, Clattenburg pointed to the spot after Leonardo Bonucci appeared to be pulled down on a corner by Gabriel Mercado, though Sevilla and Juve players alike seemed stunned by the decision. Claudio Marchisio stepped up and converted the penalty, even though Rico got his hand to it. It was the midfielder’s first Champions League goal since 2013, but also the first goal conceded by Sevilla in this tournament after five clean sheets.
The half-time whistle was met with loud jeers and a furious Jorge Sampaoli, as Clattenburg needed a police escort to leave the pitch.
Adil Rami nodded a corner wide from five yards, but Sampaoli continued to protest angrily at every decision and was eventually sent off.
It was very difficult to tell that Sevilla were down to 10 men, though Rico did get down to fingertip away a Miralem Pjanic daisy-cutter from distance.
Stefano Sturaro replaced Patrice Evra, moving Alex Sandro into defence, but Juve were frustratingly sluggish and slow. They dominated possession without causing real danger to the hosts. Moise Kean was introduced, becoming the first Champions League player born in the year 2000.
They did finally get the breakthrough with a moment of magic, as the ball was knocked down to the edge of the D, where on-rushing Bonucci hit a left-foot missile into the far bottom corner.
Sevilla weren’t going down without a fight and spent the remaining minutes pouring forward. They were left open on the counter and with practically the last kick Mandzukic placed a snooker shot into the far bottom corner.
Sevilla 1-3 Juventus
Pareja 9 (S), Marchisio pen 45 (J), Bonucci 84 (J), Mandzukic 94 (J)
Sevilla: Rico; Mercado, Pareja, Rami; N’Zonzi; Mariano Ferreira (Kranevitter 77), Iborra, Vitolo, Escudero; Vazquez, Vietto (Sarabia 46)
Juventus: Buffon; Dani Alves, Bonucci, Rugani, Evra (Sturaro 72); Khedira, Marchisio, Pjanic (Kean 84); Cuadrado (Chiellini 87), Mandzukic, Alex Sandro
Ref: Clattenburg (ENG)
Sent off: Vazquez 37 (S)