Without a real striker, still fighting and struggling, extracting an important point from a treacherous English away match which still weighs heavily on the misstep against Stuttgart, a true negative turning point in this European campaign for Juventus. Aston Villa thanks Dibu Martinez and his Buffonesque save on Conceicao and his sure-footed header, the Bianconeri thank the wrist of Gil Manzano who referees with style and deprives the English of an irregular goal for a foul on Di Gregorio in full recovery: you need hair on your stomach and great level, as a top. Yet another injury hurts, leaving Motta even more in an emergency: the coach clings to the return of the reviled Vlahovic, to at least find an outlet for this team that holds its own against all but needs ideas, and lots of them, from threequarters up. If there is a flaw that can be started to be highlighted to the coach, it is that a profound confusion prevails up front, which nullifies the offensive production: and this is why the technical leadership was changed, not to defend well…
Pressing, yellows, Loca, Gatti and Digne cross
Aston Villa leaves the maneuver to Juve to steal the ball aggressively and become dangerous, practically starting from the opponent's front midfield. When the pressing becomes rough, however, Gil Manzano immediately makes it clear that the rough play will not be forgiven: yellow card Tielemans and then also to Bailey for protests. The most dangerous opportunity of the quarter of an hour belonged to the Villans: Pau Torres sent shivers with a corner, a foray to the near post and a header that whizzed off Di Gregorio's crossbar. Yildiz responds with one of his percussions to center, but denying the legacy of the curling shot to finish at the near post doesn't pay. But the English suffer quite a bit if pressed, a couple of recovered balls scare Villa Park but there is no precision in the last pass and the Dibu Martinez he has a good way of going out and neutralizing the Juventus ambitions. On shields Locatelliboth in the defensive and pressure phases, e Gatti which in tackle takes away a Watkins a very dangerous ball that would have only brought him in front of the goalkeeper.
Bad, very bad for the Bianconeri up front, no idea other than dumping them on Conceicao but if they don't fill the area it's balls and actions thrown away. The end of the half lights up: Di Gregorio puts a patch on Watkins with a sure shot in the area, Juve's counterattack concluded by Weah with a torpedo into the top corner just barely. The third English detective story also arrives Pau Torres and the left of Conceição in the area, replay attempt of the winning play against Leipzig but the Argentine goalkeeper is a world champion not only of provocation, ball blocked on the ground. It ends 0-0 at half-time also thanks to the crossbar, on which Digne's free-kick rests after the yellow card Rabbit for the strong manner on Watkins at the limit.
