When this season's Champions League kicked off, there were question
marks over whether Juventus had what it takes to compete with the best
the tournament has to offer. The Turin side have dominated Serie A in
recent years yet they have been to unable to replicate their best form
in European club football’s elite competition. However, in dismantling
of Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, they finally showed what they are
capable of at this level as Goal wrote.
One could not help but wonder whether replacing Antonio Conte with
Massimiliano Allegri ahead of the 2014-15 campaign was indeed the answer
to the problems that have restricted Juve from moving forward. Their
unimpressive performances in the opening rounds of fixtures in the group
stages did little to boost hopes that this could be their year.
But the first leg of this round of 16 tie showed a glimpse of Juventus’ progress since the start of the season, with Allegri’s men recording a vital 2-1 home win even after star man Andrea Pirlo was forced off due to injury. The real test awaited in Germany and Allegri's side passed in emphatic fashion.
Their first-leg advantage allowed them to focus on defending in Dortmund and they performed their task to perfection. Jurgen Klopp’s men never even came close to troubling Gianluigi Buffon as Juventus happily sat back and conceded possession, with Dortmund having zero shots on target in the opening 45 minutes.
The Bundesliga side seemed to lack a clear gameplan and were devoid of ideas. Dortmund’s main dangerman, Marco Reus, was hardly involved, while fellow attackers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Kevin Kampl were all anonymous.
"Juve were extremely clever with all their experience. We didn't create enough chances and were too rarely present in the danger zone," Kampl admitted.
Juve never let them get into their stride. Not only was the performance and eventual outcome proof that they have learned from their mistakes of the past, it was also a defensive masterclass that Italian teams have come to be known for over the years. The Bianconeri might not have defenders like Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini or Fabio Cannavaro, but they got everything right here.
Going forward, meanwhile, Carlos Tevez once more proved to be the difference maker he has already shown to be on more than one occasion since joining Juventus from Manchester City.
The Argentina international has not always been on top of his game in the Champions League, scoring just three times in his first 28 appearances in the competition, but he has been key to Juve’s resurgence this term.
Tevez not only scored twice on Wednesday to make it four from his last four UCL games, but he also set up Alvaro Morata for his side’s third, while causing the Dortmund defence all kinds of trouble in a man-of-the-match performance.
"I think the team played a great game. I just do my job, but the team is what wins the game, always," the satisfied Argentine commented.
"We know Juve have always found the Champions League tricky, but we are on the right track."
This week’s encounter by no means turns Juventus into one of the favourites to win the competition, but they have without a doubt shown that they are a force to be reckoned with once more.
No longer is there a difference between the dominant Juventus from Serie A and the insecure Juventus from the Champions League. Allegri’s men are a threat, one that no team will enjoy facing.
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| Teves Scored at Dortmund |
But the first leg of this round of 16 tie showed a glimpse of Juventus’ progress since the start of the season, with Allegri’s men recording a vital 2-1 home win even after star man Andrea Pirlo was forced off due to injury. The real test awaited in Germany and Allegri's side passed in emphatic fashion.
Their first-leg advantage allowed them to focus on defending in Dortmund and they performed their task to perfection. Jurgen Klopp’s men never even came close to troubling Gianluigi Buffon as Juventus happily sat back and conceded possession, with Dortmund having zero shots on target in the opening 45 minutes.
The Bundesliga side seemed to lack a clear gameplan and were devoid of ideas. Dortmund’s main dangerman, Marco Reus, was hardly involved, while fellow attackers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Kevin Kampl were all anonymous.
"Juve were extremely clever with all their experience. We didn't create enough chances and were too rarely present in the danger zone," Kampl admitted.
Juve never let them get into their stride. Not only was the performance and eventual outcome proof that they have learned from their mistakes of the past, it was also a defensive masterclass that Italian teams have come to be known for over the years. The Bianconeri might not have defenders like Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini or Fabio Cannavaro, but they got everything right here.
Going forward, meanwhile, Carlos Tevez once more proved to be the difference maker he has already shown to be on more than one occasion since joining Juventus from Manchester City.
The Argentina international has not always been on top of his game in the Champions League, scoring just three times in his first 28 appearances in the competition, but he has been key to Juve’s resurgence this term.
Tevez not only scored twice on Wednesday to make it four from his last four UCL games, but he also set up Alvaro Morata for his side’s third, while causing the Dortmund defence all kinds of trouble in a man-of-the-match performance.
"I think the team played a great game. I just do my job, but the team is what wins the game, always," the satisfied Argentine commented.
"We know Juve have always found the Champions League tricky, but we are on the right track."
This week’s encounter by no means turns Juventus into one of the favourites to win the competition, but they have without a doubt shown that they are a force to be reckoned with once more.
No longer is there a difference between the dominant Juventus from Serie A and the insecure Juventus from the Champions League. Allegri’s men are a threat, one that no team will enjoy facing.
