Bragging rights in Champions League Group G were on offer tonight at the Camp Nou, with both Juventus and Barcelona having already earned progress to the Knockout Rounds. It ended with the Bianconeri taking home a shocking 3-0 win and grabbing the top spot in the group.
After an inconsistent start to the campaign, Andrea Pirlo has steadied the Old Lady. They are in Serie A top-four, edging out Sassuolo to make their place. On the other hand, Barcelona’s woes on and off the pitch continue. Last weekend, they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Cadiz and slumped to ninth in La Liga.
However, both sides have been comfortable in the Champions League. They have separated themselves from Dynamo Kyiv and Ferencvaros and already booked their place in the Round of 16.
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— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 8, 2020
Juventus started brightly at the Camp Nou, attacking the Barcelona final third with intent. They were rewarded for their efforts as Ronaldo Araujo brought down Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese stepped up from the spot and fired straight down the barrel as Marc-Andre ter Stegen dived to his left.
The Old Lady would double their lead seven minutes later as they piled misery on the out of sorts Blaugrana. With CR7 threatening the box and having Barcelona defenders’ attention, Juan Cuadrado passed to Weston McKennie. The American midfielder sent a flying scissor-kick into the back of the net to make it 0-2.
Lionel Messi had been quiet so far this evening but let his presence known. McKennie did not close him down in time, and La Pulga tested Gianluigi Buffon with a long-range effort. Buffon was alert to the danger, and straightaway reminded the goalscorer about his duties.
#Culers! Here's YOUR starting XI for #BarçaJuve!
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 8, 2020
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The scores would not change in the first period, but there will be goal-mouth action in the second half’s opening exchanges. Ter Stegen denied Aaron Ramsey a certain goal.
Cuadrado was ready to take the resulting corner but was stopped by the referee. Clément Lenglet had handled the ball before the Welshman got to it, and a VAR penalty check was made. It was a decisive moment as the French defender was already on a yellow card.
Interestingly, the Old Lady were awarded a penalty after the check was complete, but Lenglet was not punished. With Juve players asking for a second yellow for Lenglet, Ronaldo took the ball and thought about his decision. The Portuguese stepped up in his trademark style and hit the back of the net. The ball was planted into the bottom right corner while the Barcelona custodian again dived to his left.
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— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 8, 2020
The scoreboard read 0-3, and with it, the Old Lady took pole position in the group. As the game progressed, Barcelona soon get their own penalty shout. To their detriment, Antoine Griezmann was adjudged to be in an offside position. Meanwhile, Leonardo Bonucci bungled home from the corner but, like Griezmann, was offside.
The only good thing from this passage of play was the growing influence of Messi in the game. Like in the first half, the Argentine tried his luck from long-range shots and free-kicks while also showing his creative side. He tested Buffon’s resolve, but the Italian did not allow anything to pass him.
When referee Tobias Stieler blew for full time, Juve were top of the pile in Group G. It also marked the end of Catalans’ record of going without a defeat in 38 home Champions League games. Interestingly, it was the first European fixture in which CR7 scored against the Blaugrana.
MATCH REPORT
December 8, 2020 – Champions League 2020-21 Group Stage
BARCELONA-JUVENTUS 0-3
SCORERS: 13′ Cristiano Ronaldo (pen.), 20′ McKennie, 52′ Cristiano Ronaldo (pen.)
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BARCELONA (4-2-3-1): Ter Stegen; Dest, Araujo (82′ Mingueza), Lenglet (55′ Umtiti), Jordi Alba (55′ Junior Firpo); Pjanic, De Jong; Trincao, Messi, Pedri (66′ Puig); Griezmann (Neto, Inaki Pena, Busquets, Alena, Braithwaite, Coutinho, Matheus, De La Fuente) Coach: Koeman |
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JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Buffon; Danilo, Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Cuadrado (85′ Bernardeschi), Arthur (71′ Bentancur), McKennie, Ramsey (71′ Rabiot); Morata (85′ Dybala), Cristiano Ronaldo (92′ Chiesa) (Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Dragusin, Frabotta, Portanova, Kulusevski, Da Graca) Coach: Pirlo |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Jordi Alba, Lenglet, Umtiti, Junior Firpo (B), Ramsey, Morata, Danilo (J); Extra Time: First Half 2′, Second Half 4′
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