Atlético Madrid recorded an important win at home to Juventus on Wednesday.
A late goal from Arda Turan ensured Atlético Madrid bounced back from an opening day Champions League defeat with a win over Italian champions Juventus. It took 74 minutes of a very even game for the deadlock to be broken, with Atléti left hanging on for their lives by the whistle.
The first half of the match was a pretty uneventful affair, with neither side able to carve out any clear-cut opportunities. Juventus were allowed to dominate possession, but Atléti's defence was sturdy enough to prevent them doing any damage high up the field. At the other end, the Italians used their numerical advantage at the back to prevent their hosts causing problems on the counter-attack.
The only time either goalkeeper was really tested in the first half came 25 minutes into the match, when Arturo Vidal gave the ball away cheaply on the edge of his own penalty area. Mario Mandžukić pounced and drilled a shot towards the Juve goal, though Gianluigi Buffon batted it to safety.
Juve came under much more regular pressure early in the second half, with Atléti's introduction of winger Antoine Griezmann adding some welcome pace to their attack. The hosts almost broke the deadlock on the hour, though Juve defender Martín Cáceres narrowly avoided netting an own goal after a low cross was deflected up against his arm.
Eventually, with just over 15 minutes remaining, Atléti finally did score. A surging run by right-back Juanfran culminated in a deep cross into the Juve box, which was met at the far post by Arda Turan. He was left with a simple tap past Buffon, with Juve wing-back Lichtsteiner completely beaten to the ball.
Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri looked to avoid his first competitive defeat as bianconeri coach by throwing on offensively-minded midfielder Roberto Pereyra and strikers Álvaro Morata and Sebastian Giovinco, though it was all in vain, and Atléti hung on for an important victory.
Atlético Madrid: Moyà; Ansaldi, Godín, Miranda, Juanfran; Turan (Siqueira 89'), Ñíguez (Griezmann 53'), Tiago, Koke; García; Mandžukić (Suárez 84').
Goals: Turan (74').
Juventus: Buffon; Chiellini, Bonucci, Cáceres (Pereyra 78'); Evra, Pogba, Marchisio, Vidal (Morata 85') , Lichsteiner (Giovinco 89'); Llorente, Tévez.
Goals: None.
3 Things
1. Juventus' back three worked well
Juventus would have played a back three today regardless of their opponent -- after all, they've used it to sweep up three Serie A titles in a row. However, it worked especially well in nullifying Atléti's famously dangerous attack for most of the match, ensuring the Italians always had a numerical advantage in their defensive zone. Unlike sides who play Atléti and are sometimes caught with just two centre-backs protecting their goal, Juve always had three men to prevent Atléti's front two breaking through, and Gianluigi Buffon had little to do for much of the match.
2. ... but the visitors were less impressive going forward
It has often been said over the past year that Atlético Madrid are the best team in Europe without the ball, and they showed their defensive prowess again in this match. They played typically compact, affording Carlos Tevez no room to drop into, and keeping both Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba -- two of the finest box-to-box players on the planet -- away from their goal. Instead, Juve were often forced into playing the ball wide, where it was easier for Atléti to press high and win the ball back.
3. Juve should still make it through into the knockout stages
Had Olympiacos won away at Malmö today, Juve's chances of qualifying for the knockout stages would have taken a pretty significant hit. The Greeks may not be one of Europe's giants, but they're still a very strong team. As it was, they suffered a stunning defeat away at minnows Malmö, ensuring Juve are still favourites to make it through into the next round. They just need to be sure to do the business when they come up against Míchel's side in their next Champions League match.
from SBNation.com - All Posts http://ift.tt/YOJPJh
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