🤩Juve win 2-0 over Mou, dream of top 8️⃣, Spalletti fumes at fan🤬 | OneFootball

Juventus struggles, at times plays poorly, but wins and reaches Inter in the overall standings of this first phase of the Champions League. Only good news from the cold evening in Turin, where the Bianconeri effectively put their eternal rival, José Mourinho, at serious risk of elimination.

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The Portuguese, stuck at 6 points, now need a miracle to cling to the playoffs, and considering their next opponent is Real Madrid, the situation becomes more complicated for them.

For Juve, however, it's a nice boost of confidence. Against Monaco, in the final round, there is even hope for something more, but already the arithmetic qualification for the playoffs is a result that should make them happy.

It wasn't an easy match, as we said. In the end, it was the usual McKennie who reignited the spark with a shot early in the second half, favoring Juve's reaction. Spalletti smiles, although he experienced a nervous evening. Before Thuram's goal, the coach was involved in an argument with a fan, while after the second goal, the "victim" was Openda, who received a playful slap from his coach.

For the Bianconeri, a victory that certainly boosts self-esteem, just before a small tour de force: in just over a month, Yildiz and his teammates will face, in sequence, Napoli, Monaco, Parma, Atalanta (in the Coppa Italia), Lazio, Inter, Como, and Roma. Much of the Old Lady's season will pass through here.

‼️ Benfica penalty, but Pavlidis slips!

Incredible chance for the Portuguese to reopen it! Bremer kicks Barreiro, who cleverly anticipates the Brazilian. The referee doesn't see it, but the VAR rightly calls him back.

From the penalty spot goes the specialist Pavlidis, but he slips dramatically at the moment of impact with the ball or sends it wide!

A huge sigh of relief for the Allianz Stadium, which perhaps avoids a heart-stopping finale...

❗️ Benfica hits the post, then Juve!

Out of nowhere, Benfica at the 68th minute risks reopening it! Corner from the left for the Portuguese, Aursnes jumps unchallenged and puts the ball on the far post. Di Gregorio is beaten, but fortunately for him, the ball hits the post!

Six minutes pass and on Conceicao's cross, it's once again the punctual McKennie who gets there first, but his shot from just a few steps away hits the crossbar!

🤬 Spalletti argues with a fan and... with Openda!

Nervousness at Juve, as confirmed by an episode recounted by Alessandro Alciato on Prime Video. Spalletti, in fact, before Thuram's goal, would have had an argument with a fan, telling him to "stay home next time". After the Frenchman's goal, the coach from Certaldo would have added fuel to the fire, first celebrating with Thuram, but then addressing the fans again, this time with much more emphasis...

Then, after McKennie's goal, the cameras capture a curious scene, with Spalletti trying in every way to motivate Openda, first giving him a playful slap and then telling him: "You need to wake up!".

⚽️ McKennie, always him!

Juve doubles the lead at the 64th minute! A confused action, with McKennie managing to free himself at the edge, exchanges again with David and in front of Trubin, he sends him the wrong way.

All too easy for the American, the real extra man for Juve since Spalletti took charge of the team.

⚽️ Thuram! Trubin beaten

Juventus dangerous at the 53rd minute, with McKennie calling for a miracle save by foot from Trubin! A minute passes and this time the Ukrainian goalkeeper can do nothing against Thuram's right-footed shot, who brilliantly recovers high, exchanges with David, and then fires a strong and precise ball at the near post.

Juve ahead probably at the most difficult moment of their match!

🤔 Juve in trouble

Not a great start to the second half for the Bianconeri, closed in their own half by an excellent Benfica.

Locatelli has to deflect a shot from Pavlidis into a corner, but the Stadium starts to murmur...

❗️ Miretti from the corner!

Juve dangerous at the 36th minute! Corner gifted by Sudakov, McKennie flicks it with his heel at the near post towards the far post, where Miretti arrives but can't direct the header on target.

😮?💨 Benfica dangerous twice

Juve creates, but also takes a lot of risks! Benfica's chance at the 23rd minute, with Di Gregorio called to a super open-hand save again on Sudakov! Then Kelly is providential in anticipating the possible tap-in from Pavlidis.

Two minutes pass and the Portuguese shoot again, this time with Prestianni. The Italo-Argentinian recovers a good ball and advances, but from the edge, he shoots high.

⚡️ Yildiz, always him! Ball just wide

At the 19th minute, it's Yildiz again, who else! The Turk dances in his area of the field, on the left, faces the man, and cuts inside on his right.

The number 10 then unleashes a thunderbolt that grazes the post! Trubin dives, but the feeling is he would never have reached it...

💨 Juve right away!

First 10 minutes of excellent Juve, with the Bianconeri led by the usual Yildiz who immediately push on the accelerator and pin the guests in their own half!

But watch out, because the Portuguese on their first advance challenge Di Gregorio with Sudakov trying from the edge! All easy for the former Monza.

Seconds pass and this time it's Yildiz trying, but here too Trubin has no difficulty diving.

💣 Chiellini: "We're looking for a striker"

Giorgio Chiellini, Director of Football Strategy at Juventus, spoke to Sky microphones:

"Market? It's difficult to improve a group like this in January. We're keeping an eye out, we're evaluating in a role where we had Dusan Vlahovic, who unfortunately suffered a serious injury. There's nothing imminent, but there are two weeks left and we're there: if we can lend a hand to Spalletti, we will."

😍 Spalletti: "I'd pay to live nights like this"

Luciano Spalletti spoke to Prime Video and Sky Sport before Juventus-Benfica:

"The players must be free and have the confidence to play this type of match, they need to have courage, and show it. Then they talk about contracts sometimes... I would pay a contract to live nights like this. […] They, like Portuguese football, are masters at creating spaces between the lines as well as going deep, because they have a forward who attacks depth very well."

✅ The official lineups

JUVENTUS (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly; Cambiaso, Thuram, Locatelli, McKennie; Miretti, Yildiz; David

BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Barreiro, Aurners; Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

📸 ISABELLA BONOTTO - AFP or licensors