Juve Stuck! Dusan Vlahovic Saves the Old Lady’s Face in the Champions League

Gilabola.com – Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus again failed to win in the Champions League, even when appearing in Turin against Sporting Lisbon.

Juventus had to settle for sharing the 1-1 points after Dusan Vlahovic saved his team with a goal in the 34th minute, using Khephren Thuram’s low pass which he managed to grab from close range. The goal canceled out Sporting’s quick lead scored by Maximiliano Araujo in the 12th minute with a powerful shot that touched the post.

Sporting actually almost doubled their lead a few minutes after the opening goal. Francisco Trincao fired a shot that hit a Juventus player and the wild ball hit the crossbar, leaving the home fans silent for a moment.

Juventus’ revival was only seen after that moment. Vlahovic was the main threat, twice having chances before scoring his seventh goal of the season.

This draw means Juventus has not won in four Champions League matches this season. They have now only collected three points and are just above the elimination zone.

Meanwhile, Sporting is in a more comfortable position. Rui Borges’ team has seven points and is in the play-off position, just short of goal difference from qualifying directly for the round of 16 — at least until the next night’s game is played.

Vlahovic is one of the big issues in Turin. Juve tried to release the Serbian striker in the summer transfer market, and his contract will expire next summer. However, Giorgio Chiellini, a club legend who now serves as strategic director, emphasized that the opportunity for a contract extension is still open and “the door is not closed”.

The match was tight after Vlahovic’s equalizing goal. A golden opportunity arose in stoppage time when Jonathan David, who came on as a substitute, had a chance to head from close range. Unfortunately the ball went straight to Sporting goalkeeper, Rui Silva, and the chance of victory was lost.