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Match reports

1-1: A LATE BLOW, WITH EXTRA TIME HAVING ALREADY BEEN PLAYED, BUT EVERYTHING IS STILL TO PLAY FOR

11/05/2023
Entradilla
After a first half where we scored and were the better side, Juventus ended the match by scoring a heartbreaking equaliser, after a second half where they had dominated possession but hadn't caused any real concern for Mendilibar's men
Cuerpo Superior

There was a lot of talk before the game about whether a draw would be a good result at the Juventus Stadium, or not. At the end of the game, we are left feeling downbeat even though we managed to get a result at a stadium where very few sides leave with a victory. Sevilla FC travel back home after a brave 1-1 draw, and will face the same opponent in six days time at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. However, a bitter taste is left in the mouth with the manner in which the home side equalised. Gatti equalised from a corner that was taken when the extra time period had been played, cancelling out the advantage that En-Nesyri had given us in a dominant first-half performance from our side. We were under pressure in the second half but Juventus would score in the 96th minute, with their second and final shot on target.

Most were expecting Juventus to be dominant at the start as they sought to mark their territory, but the first 15 minutes were very even. Until then, the only action of note was an elbow that Gudelj received to the face from his international teammate Vlahovic, that meant our player needed to receive medical attention. Kostic was the first to have a chance in the box but his shot went wide, yet Sevilla wouldn’t wait to return fire as Ocampos had two chances in quick succession, forcing Szczęsny into action. The match looked to be opening up more than Mendilibar would want and Vlahovic made the most of it, with Bono’s great double stop keeping the ball out of the net, before the offside flag would go up.

With both teams having chances, it was En-Nesyri who would be clinical

Juve looked to grow into the game, but the danger on the counter from Sevilla made Allegri's men put the handbrake on. Midway through the first half, Sevilla were beginning to show their dominance and went close through Acuña’s shot, and a first-time shot from Ocampos after a slight touch by En-Nesyri. Ocampos' started a counterattack on the right, puting the ball in the centre for En-Nesyri. Bryan's faint pass made it even easier for the Moroccan, who, despite not shooting with much power, deceived Szczęsny to open the scoring. Sevilla tried to take advantage of this blow to the Italian’s confidence and a change in possession in the opponent's half almost led to a goal for Ocampos. However, the Argentine would be forced off injured, an unfortunate end to his night.

Juventus were rewarded at the end of their game having faced a well-organised Sevilla side

He was replaced by his international teammate Montiel, while Jesús Navas moved to the wing. Although the team lost energy and speed in the last part of the first half, they regained control of possession and went into the break with an advantage. It’s also worth noting that Rakitic and En-Nesyri, the latter’s shot going just wide of the post in extra time, could have could have extended our lead before halftime. After the break, the team from Turin came out all guns blazing, chasing up their backline consisting of three central defenders, and introduced a more threatening attack with Chiesa and Iling. The former almost got onto the end of a quick cross into the middle of the box and the latter had, after the hour mark, the Italians' first shot on target, with an effort from some distance. Sevilla lost the ball, but looked very serious and tried to find space between the lines. Allegri ran out of changes with half an hour to go, bringing on Pogba, while Mendilibar opted for Papu and Lamela to freshen up the attack.

The game was losing its fluidity as the end approached and the Juventus fans urged their team to take more risks, but everything was under control for the away side… until the last play of the game. The equalising goal came from a corner that was awarded when the six minutes of extra time thad already been played. Gatti was on hand at the far post to head in after two previous headers sent the ball his way. and after two previous shots. This sent the home fans still in the Juventus Stadium into a frenzy. The final blow, of course, but everything is still to play for… and Nervión will host the deciding fixture. Before that though, on Sunday, there is a league game in Valladolid to try to maintain our chances of qualifying for Europe next season through the domestic route.

Cuerpo Inferior

MATCH SUMMARY

1. JUVENTUS FC: Szczęsny; Danilo, Bonucci, Alex Sandro, Cuadrado, Kostic (Iling Junior, min. 46), Miretti (Chiesa, min. 46), Locatelli, Rabiot, Di María and Vlahovic.

1. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Jesús Navas, Badé, Gudelj, Acuña, Fernando, Rakitic, Ocampos (Montiel, min. 34), Óliver Torres (Papu Gómez, min. 74), Bryan Gil (Lamela, min. 82) and En-Nesyri.

GOALS: 0-1, minute 26: En-Nesyri; 1-1, minute 90+7: Gatti.

REFEREE: Daniel Siebert, from Germany. Yellow cards shown to Rabiot, Locatelli, Chiesa, Rakitic, Bryan Gil, Badé and Lamela.