MY ACCOUNT
Juventus were dumped out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage for the third consecutive season after a dismal 3-0 second-leg defeat to Villarreal on Wednesday.
The two sides drew 1-1 in the first leg in Spain three weeks ago and Juve looked the more likely side to progress to the quarter-finals for much of the match at the Allianz Stadium.
Unai Emery’s side produced a sensational final 12 minutes, though, sealing a memorable win thanks to penalties from Gerard Moreno and Arnaut Danjuma either side of Pau Torres’ close-range finish.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men looked crestfallen at the end as their 12-game unbeaten run came to an end in spectacular circumstances.
The hosts went agonisingly close to going ahead midway through the first half when Dusan Vlahovic’s first-time effort from Mattia De Sciglio’s low cross crashed back off the crossbar.
Giovani Lo Celso whipped narrowly wide at the other end as Villarreal belatedly flexed their muscles, yet neither side was able to find a way through before the interval.
Adrien Rabiot stung the palms of Geronimo Rulli with an ambitious effort shortly before the hour mark, while Juan Cuadrado flashed wide from long range as Juve continued to look the more threatening.
That counted for little come the 78th minute when Moreno stroked home from the penalty spot after Daniele Rugani had brought down Francis Coquelin in the penalty area, the spot-kick given by referee Szymon Marciniak after he had been encouraged by VAR to review the pitchside monitor.
They doubled their advantage seven minutes later when Torres stole in at the back post from a corner to bundle into the roof of Wojciech Szczesny’s net.
Juve’s dismal exit was completed in stoppage time when Danjuma slotted in from the spot after Matthijs de Ligt had handled his goal-bound shot.
What does it mean? Juve downed by ruthless visitors
Quite how Juventus managed to capitulate so spectacularly in the closing stages will remain a mystery for some time.
Remarkably, Villarreal had just three shots on target in the entire game and scored with all three of them.
The shock defeat brought to an end Juve’s run of six consecutive home wins in the Champions League and ensured Emery’s men would contest a quarter-final tie in the competition for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
Moreno on the spot
Despite cutting an isolated figure for much of the match, Moreno showed no rustiness when presented with the chance to open the scoring for Villarreal. The Spain international has now either scored or assisted in all four of his appearances in the Champions League this season, scoring twice and providing three assists.
Morata struggles
Moreno’s compatriot, Alvaro Morata, had no such luck up front for Juve. He had four shots – the most of any player on the pitch – before his substitution for Moise Kean late on.
Key Opta Facts
– Villarreal boss Emery has progressed from a tie in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time, having previously been eliminated in the round of 16 in each of his previous three attempts (with Valencia in 2010-11, and PSG in 2016-17 and 2017-18).
– Juventus boss Allegri has lost each of his last two home games in the knockout stages of the Champions League (previously 1-2 v Ajax in 2018-19), after only losing one of his first 10 such games in charge of the club (W7 D2).
– Villarreal equalled their biggest margin of victory in the Champions League, winning by three goals for only the third time – this was the first time they have done so in the knockout stages of the competition.
– Danjuma has scored five goals for Villarreal in the Champions League this season; the most by a player for the club in a single season in the competition.
– Moreno has either scored or assisted in all four of his appearances for Villarreal in the Champions League this season, scoring twice and providing three assists in total.
What’s next?
Both sides return to domestic action on Sunday, with Juve at home to Salernitana and Villarreal away at Cadiz.
