UEFA Champions League: Juventus Vs Chelsea

 

Group H, matchday 2, Groupstage, Juventus hosts Chelsea at Home.....

Its the fifth time in the history of the competition, when both teams face each other. Previously, both the teams have won one each. Juventus won the most recent fixture back in 2012-13.

Juventus made three changes for the home fixture of group H, matchday 2. Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata were out due to injuries who were replaced by Danilo and Rabiot. While Szczesny comes back by replacing Perrin. On the other side, Chelsea also made three changes for their away UEFA Champions League Groupstage fixture against Juventus. Kante missed the match due to Covid-19 contraction while Reece James got injured against City last week. Timo Werner was benched to make space for Kai Havertz while Ziyech and Silva also made to the squad to fill the boots of the absentees. 

The match started at 9:00 pm local time on 29th of September. In the seventh minute of the game, Chelsea won a corner and Alonso took it by finding Lukaku in the box.The Belgian maestro strikes the ball but Szczesny was quick to make a SAVE! The game went on typically until 18th minute when Chelseas number 3 Alonso made a tackle on Cuadrado and drived him into the side boards. He was booked for that offense.

Right after that tussle Juve took over Chelsea, when in the 20th minute Kovacic made an error and Chiesa cashed on that opportunity to run into the opposition box to make an attempt on goal but somehow he managed to put it wide of the post. Later after 30th minute Rabiot fired a shot at Chelseas post, he managed to get a clean strike but it went just over the bar. After 40th minute Juve got a freekick and Bernardeschi went for a blast but his own teammate, Rabiot got in the way of the ball to block the attempt on goal.

In the last minute of the first half Chelsea managed to win a corner. Alonso put the ball into the box targeting Silva but his header was blocked and he again attempted on the rebound but his shot was blocked by De Ligt. In this way the first half ended nil nil.

At the start of the second half Chelsea made their first change by replacing Marcos Alonso with Ben Chilwell. In the very 46th minute, Juve caught Chelsea napping at the back when Bernardeschi played Chiesa, who puts the ball in the left top corner of the net leaving no chance for Mendy. Finally, the better side had their reward.

In the 61st minute, Ziyech caught Chiesa in a late challenge and got himself a booking.In the very next minute he was replaced by Callum Hudson-Odoi. Jorginho was taken off to introduce Trevoh Chalobah, while Azpilicueta was called off to make space for Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Right after back to back changes from Chelsea, Bernardeschi missed a sitter when cuadrado guided a low ball towards him, he only had to beat the keeper but he missed his chance by putting the ball wide of the right post.

Rudiger was booked for protesting against the Referees decision, when Chelsea were not awarded a free kick in the 65th minute. Juve made their first change in the 66th minute when Bernardeschi was replaced by Dejan Kulusevski. After that Chelsea had their first chance of the 2nd half in 74th minute. When Odoi sent the cross in the box where Lukaku and Havertz were lingering to put the ball in the net. Havertz jumped into the air to send the ball towards Lukaku and he put his header wide off target. Chelsea made their fifth and final change in the 75th minute when Ross Barkley was introduced in place of Andreas Christensen.

Juve got to make their second change in 77th minute because Rabiot was struggling due to an earlier challenge and Weston Mckennie was brought in. Chiesa was also replaced by Moise kean in the same minute. after few minutes Chiellini was brought in for Bentancur. right after Chiellini entered the field Chelsea had a chance but Lukaku puts it over the bar. Now Chelsea were trying hard to find an equaliser but it was way too late to get one. In the 89th minute Cuadrado was booked for time wasting. After 90 minutes 6 extra minutes were awarded but Juventus held strong to their slender one goal lead and got a well deserved win at the Allianz Arena.

After their comfortable win at home, now Juventus sits atop of Group H, of Champions League. They are the only team in group H to win both of their first two matches.