UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: JUVENTUS 0-0 ATLETICO MADRID December 10, 2014 03:45 Juventus Stadium, Torino Referee: W. Collum LIVE COMMENTARY With the draw, Atletico advance as group winners, with Juventus following through as runners-up. I am Alex Moretto and I would like to thank you all for joining me today. Good bye! FULL TIME: JUVENTUS 0-0 ATLETICO MADRID. It is a predictable result considering the layout of the group, but a draw certainly did not look assured through the first hour or so. Buffon made some key saves early on to keep Juventus from falling behind, and the hosts pressed hard for an opener, but could not solve the Atletico defence. 90 + 1 The one minute of stoppage time is a bit puzzling, but with both teams settling for a draw, there are no protests. The referee blows his whistle and we have reached the end of the match! 90 There is absolutely nothing doing now. Juventus are passing it around 10 yards inside their own half, with Atletico doing nothing to try and pressure them in possession. The inevitable seems likely now, as the assistant referee holds up the board for just ONE minute of added time. 88 We have reached a stalemate now. Juventus gave it a good go to try and find a winner, but have too much to lose by conceding late. They pass it around at the back as the final minutes running off the clock. 86 STAT ATTACK: Juventus have scored at least a goal in 14 of their last 15 Champions League matches at home, while keeping just five clean sheets. 84 The Bianconeri are passing it around now at the back. A long ball forward is intercepted by Godin, who returns the favor, sending a searching ball into attack for Mandzukic. The striker cannot get onto it and again play slows to a halt. 82 Juventus continue to keep possession in the final third as tension rises inside the stadium. Anticipation build as the hosts pass it around in attack. It comes to Pogba from no less than 35 yards out, and the midfielder drives a shot towards goal, but it rolls harmlessly wide of the far post. 80 Both teams appear to be settling in for the final 10 minutes, with the draw looking ever more likely. A share of the spoils would ensure Juventus advance ahead of Olympiakos, while Atletico would go through as group winners. Can - or will - anyone break the deadlock? 78 Nasty looking injury as Llorente is down and bloodied after taking an accidental elbow to the face from Gimenez. The striker will be forced to leave temporarily to get patched up, and Allegri make take him off permanently, with a few substitutes up and warming up now on the sidelines. 76 STAT ATTACK: Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone played a part in Juventus winning the Serie A title in 2002, scoring for Lazio in a 4-2 victory over Inter on the final day of the season, allowing the Bianconeri to leapfrog them into first place. 74 Excellent work from Pirlo to dispossess Mandzukic in midfield. He runs forward and picks out Vidal with a pass. The Chilean wastes no time going for goal, but Moya is up to the task, falling to his right to make a comfortable catch. 72 Mario Suarez commits a foul, this time it is Llorente winning the free kick for his side. The hosts have had a number of chances from set pieces on the night which have come to nothing, and this is not any different as Pirlos delivery strays too close to Moya who punches clear. 70 Surely Atletico are playing for a draw, if it was not already clear. Juventus take a rushed free kick and the ball rolls to Moya inside the area. The keeper holds the ball, dribbling to the byline before picking it up at the last possible moment with Llorente finally applying the pressure. 68 Turan is penalized for a foul on Lichtsteiner, as Simeone gives a shake of the head and a sigh of disapproval from the sidelines. He looks none too impressed at the run of play at the moment, and is perhaps considering a change for the final 20 minutes. 66 The hosts are doing a great job of sustaining the pressure on Atletico, who appear to be content on playing for a draw. They have posed little to no threat in attack during this second half, and now find themselves pinned inside their own end with Juventus looking for a winner. 64 SPECTACULAR STRIKE! As he is known to do so often - and well - Pogba takes a pass in midfield, turns and does not hesitate to have a go at goal. His strike from over 30 yards out has great movement to it, which gives Moya a great deal of trouble. The keeper just keeps the shot out and Atletico scrable clear with Tevez nearly pouncing on the rebound. 62 STAT ATTACK: Atletico Madrid have not allowed a goal in the group stage since losing their opening match 3-2 at Olympiakos. Miguel Angel Moya started the next four matches in goal, in place of Jan Oblak, and is the only keeper yet to concede a goal in the competition. 60 Juventus seem to have found a good balance to their approach. They look dangerous when they push forward, with some strong movement off the ball, but are careful to keep their shape at the back as not to concede. This does appear to hinder their full-backs ability to get forward, but it seems to be working for them. 58 FANTASTIC SAVE! The game opens up for just a moment, and Atletico are nearly made to pay. Pereyra picks out Tevez, who lays the ball off for Vidal. The Chilean tries a shot from 25 yards out, driving the ball low and towards the far corner, but Moya dives across to deflect it behind for a corner. 56 Diego Simeone appears to have made one important tactical switch at halftime, as Turan is back in support of Siqueira as the left-back struggled throughout the opening 45 minutes to deal with Lichtsteiner. The Swiss defender is finding it much more difficult to get into space now, as the tactical change appears to be working already. 54 Fantastic block! Great build up play from the hosts, as Vidal picks out Tevez, who puts the ball into the path of Pogba with a clever back-heel. The Frenchman opens up and tries to hit it first time, but Gimenez runs across to get a block in, turning it behind for a corner. 52 STAT ATTACK: Juventus have lost just two of their last 29 Champions League matches at home, both against Bayern Munich. They have kept 16 clean sheets over that span, while managing to win 18 times. 50 Atletico break on a counter and Arda Turan wins his side a corner with Pirlo defending. Gabis delivery is nowhere near the crowd of bodies in the centre, but it forces Buffon to react quickly, punching clear at the near post with the ball appearing to be curling in! 48 It is another encouraging start for Juventus, who immediately get into the attacking half and keep possession. There is not much intent to their play on the ball, but with a draw being enough for them to advance, they can afford to be taking this patient approach. 46 Juventus get the second half underway in Turin! It is a massive 45 minutes for the hosts, who could go out with a loss and if the other result in Group A stands. HALF TIME: JUVENTUS 0-0 ATLETICO MADRID. The hosts the better of play in large part throughout the first half, but could not muster much in terms of chances. Atletico were able to smother Juventus in attack, which Allegri was wary of coming into the match. The hosts had most of their success when attacking along the flanks, but the best chances of the match went to the visitors, who made the most of their time on the ball. 45 Thats it for the first half! The referee sounds his whistle at 45 minutes on the dot, as the two teams head to the break scoreless. 44 Another save! Atletico are really growing into the game now. The corner is delivered by Gabi and after Juventus again fail to clear, they keep the pressure on. A bouncing ball into the area is met by Raul Garcia, but his overhead kick is kept out by Buffon, one of the simpler saves he has had to make. 43 POOR DEFENDING! It is the best attacking spell of the match from Atletico as they put some pressure on Juventus at the back. An ambitious ball into the area should be easily dealt with by the defence, but they make a meal of it. A giveaway sees Turan pick out Raul Garcia, but his shot from just outside the box is pushed behind for a corner by Buffon. 41 Vidal spurns a chance in attack as he is forced into making an errant pass under pressure from Atletico. The visitors look to break and the Juventus midfielder is in turn penalized for a foul as he takes out Arda Turan. 39 STAT ATTACK: Atletico Madrid have gone 386 minutes without conceding across all competitions, since Roque Santa Cruz scored a consolation goal in Malaga’s 3-1 defeat at the Vicente Calderon. 37 Yellow Card Guilherme Siqueira 37 Lovely running from Lichtsteiner! The right-back takes a pass and charges forward, looking to send in a cross. Siqueira struggles to deal with his pace, sticking a leg out with a mistimed challenge. That will earn the defender a yellow card, and present the hosts with another opportunity from the set piece. 35 Arda Turan is down and in some pain after a coming together with Pirlo in midfield. He goes hard to ground, but the injury does not appear to be anything serious. The midfielder took a blow to the stomach and likely just had the wind knocked out of him. 33 Juventus win a corner now as again they get onto the front foot. Again they fail to take advantage of the set piece, as Atletico are able to head clear. Gimenez and Godin have been very sharp at the back, ensuring not to slip up and allow the hosts the opening goal. It will take something special from Juventus to break down this defence. 31 Sensational cross from Pogba! The Frenchman has been everywhere in attack, this time he is afforded little space by Garcia and Juanfran, but manages to deliver a brilliant ball in with the outside of his foot. Llorente rushes to meet it, but mistimes his jump as he fails to trouble Moya in goal. 29 There is an excellent pace to this match, and although the play is largely being contained in midfield, it is a real spectacle to watch. Players are lunging into clean, hard challenges, showing the importance of this match to both teams. 27 Mario Suarez becomes the latest name in the referees book, as he is penalized for a foul on Tevez just over 30 yards out from goal. Atletico protest the call, which delays the taking of the free kick. Finally the wall gets set and Pirlo is able to take. He tries to loft a ball into the top corner, but does not get enough dip on his shot as it sails over the bar. 26 Yellow Card Mario Suárez 25 STAT ATTACK: Atletico Madrid won the reverse fixture against Juventus at the Vicente Calderon, the only previous meeting between the two clubs, as Arda Turan secured three points with the lone goal of the match in the 75th minute. 23 After a yellow card is given out to Vidal for a foul on Raul Garcia, Atletico manage to put the hosts under a bit of pressure at the back. Gabis delivery comes to nothing, but Koke keeps possession. He crosses into the area, and Llorentes poor defensive header is met by Jimenez who forces a smart save from Buffon. 22 Yellow Card Arturo Vidal 21 Juventus are passing the ball around wonderfully in the attacking half. Pogba again finds Lichtsteiner along the right, who has offered great width to the hosts through the opening 20 minutes, and the defender wins a free kick as Siqueira takes his legs out with a standing challenge. 19 MAGNIFICENT BLOCK! Bonucci, who has been ever present at both ends of the pitch early on, has a shot from distance that takes a slight deflection on its way into the area. It falls for Tevez, who lashes a shot towards goal, but Godin dives in fearlessly to block the effort. 17 Juventus enjoy a memorizing spell in possession in the attacking half, and seem to have lulled Atletico to sleep. Pogba slips Lichtsteiner in along the right and the defender sends a good cross into the area. Jose Gimenez shows his strength, however, getting good positioning on the towering Fernando Llorente, before heading clear. 15 Gabi delivers it into the area, and it is a great, flat cross in, but Juventus do well to deal with it as Bonucci heads clear. Atletico keep possession, but an improvised flick on from Garcia is intercepted by Vidal and the pressure is relieved. 14 The attacking intent from both teams appears quite clear early on, with the ball constantly being worked towards the flanks. Arda Turan and Garia link up well along the right, and the former wins a free kick as Evra commits a foul near the corner flag. 12 STAT ATTACK: You have to go all the way back to April of 2013 to find the last time Juventus lost a match at home, 2-0 against eventual winners Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They have gone 38 games unbeaten since (W33, D5). 10 This match promises to be a chess match in midfield, with the two sides both so strong tactically. Space is hard to come by in the early going and that is very unlikely to change throughout the match. Both teams are playing with a real purpose in the early going and the quality out on the pitch has really jumped to the forefront. 8 WHAT A CHANCE! Paul Pogba takes a pass along the left and finds himself in a lot of space as he cuts back onto his right. He sends a teasing ball into the area, behind the defence, which Llorente chases. The striker gets there but fails to change the direction of the cross, which fools Moya, who has to react smartly to keep it out at the near post. 6 BRILLIANT SAVE! The legend lives up to his name, after a nicely worked free kick which Juventus fail to deal with. A string of one-touch passes atop the area sends Koke through on goal, but Buffon charges off his line and sprawls out to make the save! That was a great chance for Atletico. 4 Anticipation builds through the stadium as Andrea Pirlo lines up the free kick, with Miguel Moya frantically trying to adjust his wall. The result is rather anti-climactic, however, as the Italians free kick is blocked by the wall before being cleared by Atletico. 3 Early chance for Juventus as Carlos Tevez, who looks incredibly lively early on, charges towards the penalty area and wins a free kick off a foul by Koke. The midfielder impeded the Argentines path to goal and the referee wasted no time bringing play to a halt. 1 Atletico Madrid kick-off and we are underway in Turin! The visitors, moving left to right, are in their all yellow away strip, with Juventus sporting their classic black and white striped tops. -The always delightful Champions League anthem echoes through the Juventus Stadium ahead of this colossul fixture. Two star-studded line ups face off with first place still up for grabs, which should make for quite the enjoyable fixture. -STAT ATTACK: As the coach of Milan, current Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri won just one of his 12 matches in the Champions League against Spanish opposition. -Diego Simeone has made two changes following their 4-0 victory over Olympiakos in the last match. Guilherme Siqueira gets the start at left-back in place of the injured Cristian Ansaldi, while Mario Suarez replaces Tiago in midfield. Miranda remains out with a hamstring injury picked up during international duty. Gabi and Diego Godin are a booking away from suspension. -ATLETICO MADRID SUBS: Tiago, Griezmann, Oblak, Saul, Jesus Gamez, Rodriguez, Cerci. -ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2): Moya; Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Siqueira; Turan, Mario Suarez, Gabi, Koke; Raul Garcia, Mandzukic. -Massimiliano Allegri has instituted two changes to his team which beat Malmo in their last match. Patrice Evra slots in at left-back in place on Simone Padoin, while Roberto Pereyra gets the start ahead of Claudio Marchisio in midfield. The Bianconeri have no new injuries or suspensions to worry about, however, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Paul Pogba are in danger of missing the next match should they pick up a booking today. -JUVENTUS SUBS: Ogbonna, Pepe, Morata, Giovinco, Padoin, Storari, Mattiello. -JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Vidal, Pirlo, Pereyra, Pogba; Llorente, Tevez. CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS: -Atletico Madrid have already booked their place in the knockout stages, but will be hoping to clinch first place in the group with a victory, draw, or loss by one goal when they take the pitch at the Juventus Stadium this evening. Diego Simeones club are hungry for more, after falling in the final to their inner-city rivals last season, and a finish atop Group A would be a good place to start for them. -Juventus will book their ticket to the last 16 with a draw or victory today, or a loss coupled with an Olympiakos draw or defeat. With the Greek side hosting bottom-dwellers Malmo, the Bianconeri will not want to take any chances, ensuring they pick up at least a point against the defending Spanish champions. Massimiliano Allegris side can still advance as group winners, but would need to win by two goals or more this evening, a tall order considering the recent good form of their opposition. -Hello and welcome to Italy, as we kick-off another lovely evening of Champions League football! Juventus will look to avenge a defeat to Atletico Madrid in the reverse fixture when they play host to the defending La Liga champions tonight in Turin. I am Alex Moretto and I will be your in-game host, guiding you through the match LIVE as it happens!
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 04:26:19 +0000
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