BIRMINGHAM, England — Aston Villa and Juventus drew 0-0 in a nail-biting Champions League clash on Wednesday, a match that saw a questionable cancellation of a goal that could have been decisive for the home team.
Emiliano Martinez, Villa’s heroic Argentinian goalkeeper, was the key player, demonstrating striking reflexes that kept the score level throughout the match. With chances rare for both teams, Martinez proved to be the pillar of Villa’s resilience.
As the match entered injury time, it looked like Morgan Rogers had scored a dramatic goal for Villa, recovering a loose ball that ignited the home fans. However, the jubilant celebrations were brought to a halt when the referee ruled out the goal, ruling that Diego Carlos had fouled Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Read more:
Lewandowski and His 101 Joys
Manager Unai Emery, despite the late heartbreak, expressed satisfaction with the point secured, telling TNT Sports he thought the contact that caused the disallowed goal was “light”. “The last action is clear, it’s the referee’s interpretation,” he said. “We know here in England that 80% of contacts are not fouls, whereas in Europe the perspective changes.”
This match marked a stark contrast to Villa’s strong start to the group stage, where they won their opening three matches. However, they now find themselves on a disappointing run of seven matches without a win in all competitions.
Emery previously said a draw against the prestigious Italian side would be an acceptable result as they look to emerge from a difficult group stage.
Read more:
Gareth Bale criticizes Madrid as McManaman warns ‘Press will be ruthless with Mbappé’
Juventus, who did not have a real striker in this match, had most of the possession but struggled to pose a real threat. The first significant attempt came in the 37th minute when Ollie Watkins took advantage of a cleverly measured pass from Boubacar Kamara, but was stopped by Di Gregorio’s intervention.
As the second half rolled around, both teams showed greater urgency, much to the delight of the home fans who were supporting their players. Juventus missed a golden opportunity in the 65th minute when a corner landed past Conceicao at the far post. He shot at goal, but Martinez produced a stunning save, sticking out his arm to prevent what appeared to be a sure goal, with the ball barely grazing the line.
Villa continued to press in an attempt to find the gap, but luck was not on their side as Leon Bailey’s cross found John McGinn, but his shot was deflected off the outstretched foot of Manuel Locatelli.
Read more:
Wycombe Wanderers: The unexpected contenders in League 1
In a thrilling finale, Villa thought they had secured a late triumph, but fate had it otherwise on what proved to be a frustrating evening for the Claret and Blues.
