UCL | Juventus 2-0 Benfica: Old Lady keep Champions League hope alive

Juventus thanked midfielders Khephren Thuram and Weston McKennie when beating Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, and a Vangelis Pavlidis penalty miss, to keep Champions League ambitions alive.

The Bianconeri managed only three draws in the first four games of the Champions League, but were revitalised by back-to-back victories over Bodo/Glimt and Pafos. However, Serie A form took a hit at the weekend with an unexpected defeat to Cagliari. Dusan Vlahovic and Daniele Rugani were still out of action. Benfica similarly lost the first four in Europe, then beat Ajax and Napoli 2-0, but coach Jose Mourinho was missing injured Dodi Lukebakio, Richard Rios, Alexander Bah, Joao Veloso, Nuno Felix, Samuel Soares and Joshua Wynder.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Georgiy Sudakov tested Michele Di Gregorio on an early counter-attack, but Trubin had a much tougher one-handed save on the Kenan Yildiz right-foot curler from the edge of the box.

Yildiz tried again from a similar position, this time flashing the finish just wide, but Juve made a mess playing out from the back, forcing Di Gregorio into another tricky save on Sudakov, with Lloyd Kelly lunging in to prevent Vangelis Pavlidis scoring on the rebound.

Prestianni also ballooned over after the Bianconeri gave it away again, while Fabio Miretti’s header was just over on a corner.

Jonathan David really should’ve done better just before half-time with a weak and off target header on Weston McKennie’s cross.

Francisco Conceicao replaced Miretti for the restart, but Di Gregorio rushed off his line to smother at the feet of Aursnes, then Pavlidis had his effort deflected just wide off Kelly, as the Bianconeri continued to give it away playing out from the back.

McKennie forced a difficult save from Trubin with a first-time sweep of the boot on Pierre Kalulu’s low cross, but Juve finally broke the deadlock.

Thuram gathered outside the area, combined with David to dribble just inside the box, and drilled low into the near bottom corner with the right boot.

Khephren Thuram brilliantly gives Juventus the lead over Benfica

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They doubled their advantage just nine minutes later, as McKennie and David combined with a quick double one-two to break into the area, the American scoring for the third Champions League game in a row.

3⃣ games
3⃣ goals

Weston McKennie is on fire in the Champions League at the moment

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Benfica were unlucky not to get back into it, as the Frederik Aursnes header on a corner thumped the far post, while Locatelli charged down a Pavlidis attempt and Trubin struggled to parry a deflected Francisco Conceicao cross-shot at the back post.

VAR spotted a Gleison Bremer foul on Barreiro in the final minutes, when he went to kick the bouncing ball and only caught the ankle. However, Pavlidis stepped up to take the penalty and slipped on the turf, sending the kick a long way wide.

Juventus 2-0 Benfica

Thuram 55 (J), McKennie 64 (J)

Missed penalty: Pavlidis 81 (B)