life into their Champions League campaign.
The defending Serie A champions were knocked out of the
competition in the group stages last term and a repeat looked
on the cards just after the hour-mark on Tuesday.
Juve - who had already lost two of three Group A matches -
trailed 2-1 when Delvin N'Dinga headed Giannis Maniatis' cross
in to silence the home fans.
Alberto Botia had earlier levelled for the Greek giants, cancelling
out Andrea Pirlo's free-kick in his 100th appearance in Europe's
premier club competition.
But Juve produced a spirited comeback as Roberto's
unfortunate 65th-minute own goal was followed by Paul
Pogba's winner a minute later.
Arturo Vidal's failure to score a late penalty meant Massimiliano
Allegri's side remain third in the group, behind Olympiacos by
virtue of the Greek side's two goals at Juventus Stadium,
while both sit three points adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid - wh
won 2-0 at Malmo.
Juve were brighter in the opening stages, but were limited to
efforts from distance - Claudio Marchisio with the best
opportunity as his fizzing strike was smartly palmed over by
Roberto.
It was a strike from outside the box that gave the hosts the lead,
though, as Pirlo netted his second free-kick in four days.
The 35-year-old - who opened the scoring from a set-piece for
Juve in their 2-0 win at Empoli on Saturday - curled into the top-
left corner from 25 yards in trademark fashion in the 21st
minute.
But Olympiacos quickly drew level after Gianluigi Buffon turned
an Ibrahim Afellay cross behind for a corner instead of catching
it - something he could have done comfortably.
Buffon's unorthodox piece of goalkeeping cost Juve as Botia
beat Giorgio Chiellini and saw his glancing header hit the net
from Alejandro Dominguez's corner.
Juve could have gone ahead again from another Pirlo free-kick,
but Leonardo Bonucci headed over, and while the visitors
remained a threat on the counter-attack, the chances kept
coming for Allegri's men.
Alvaro Morata first poked wide of the onrushing Roberto before
Marchisio somehow missed the target from close range after
Kwadwo Asamoah's excellent cross from the left.
Juve turned the screw after the break but Vidal's attempted
square for a free Carlos Tevez was blocked, while the Chilean
also nodded wide.
Olympiacos then took the lead in the 61st minute as a
Dominguez free-kick was hooked back into the box by captain
Maniatis, with N'Dinga reacting quickest to direct it into the top
right corner.
The goal could have floored Juve, but they showed impressive
resolve and drew level when Botia's inadvertent flick-on hit
Llorente, and the ball ricocheted off the post and in via the
unwitting Roberto's back.
Pogba then crowned his 100th Juventus appearance with his
first Champions League goal as his attempted back-heel hit Botia
and came back to him, the Frenchman lashing home from the
edge of the penalty area.
Llorente - who made a significant contribution off the bench -
had a header blocked before Tevez turned wide, while the
Spaniard also fired over in the closing stages.
Vidal had the chance to add gloss to the scoreline in the 95th
minute, after Tevez was brought down in the area, but saw his
penalty superbly kept out by Roberto. Three goals proved
enough for Juve, though, as they claimed an important victory.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
0 comments:
Post a Comment