Juventus brought the Allianz Stadium to life with a 2-0 victory over Benfica, a result that flips the script on their Champions League campaign and plunges their Portuguese opponents into a precarious position. After a stumbling start in Group A, this triumphant performance has rekindled Juve’s hopes—not just for survival, but for progression deeper into the competition. Could this be the spark that reignites the Old Lady's European ambitions?
Turning the tide: Thuram and McKennie lead the charge
As the match began, Juventus sat nervously in 17th place, the knockout rounds just a distant dream. Everything changed in a dynamic second-half display, fueled by two midfield maestros:
- Khephren Thuram, in his 17th Champions League outing, finally opened his account with a coolly-taken finish, dancing through the defense and slotting home with finesse.
- Weston McKennie followed suit nine minutes later, orchestrating a stylish one-two with Jonathan David before powering in Juve’s second, putting the game beyond doubt.
Their combined efforts vaulted Juventus to 15th in the standings—breathing down the necks of the top eight teams, with just a single point now separating them from automatic knockout qualification. For context:
- The top eight teams qualify automatically for the Round of 16.
- Teams ranked 9th to 24th enter the knockout-round play-offs.
- Juve are now nestled within that crucial group, a testament to their newfound momentum.
Benfica’s agony: a penalty miss that changed it all
For Benfica, the night was a harsh lesson in missed opportunities. The visitors held on during a tense first half, with goalkeepers Anatoliy Trubin and Michele Di Gregorio trading spectacular stops. But when their chance for redemption arrived—a penalty in the closing stages—fate turned its back.
Vangelis Pavlidis stepped up, but his unfortunate slip saw his shot skid wide. It was Benfica’s first missed penalty in the Champions League since November 2012, breaking a streak of 14 consecutive spot-kicks converted. Sometimes, fine margins make all the difference at this level.
Despite ending the match with a marginally better expected goals (xG) value—1.38 to Juve’s 1.36—Benfica walk away empty-handed, their hopes now dangling by a thread as they slip to 29th in the overall rankings, two points shy of the crucial knockout threshold with just one game left.
Accelerating momentum: history-making performances and records broken
Juventus’ resurgence in this season’s Champions League is nothing short of remarkable. After failing to win any of their first four games, they’ve now racked up three straight victories—matching a run they haven’t seen since November 2021. Key highlights from their performance:
- Thuram’s first Champions League goal comes after a long wait, hinting at more to come from the talented midfielder.
- McKennie makes history as the first Juve player since Federico Chiesa over five years ago to score in three consecutive matches in the competition.
On the other side, Frederik Aursnes came agonizingly close to scoring for Benfica, rattling the frame of the goal from a well-worked corner kick. Yet, it was a night of slim margins and missed chances—a story all too familiar in football’s grandest tournament.
With one round remaining, the stakes have never been higher. Any slip-up could spell disaster—or offer a dramatic lifeline. Juve stand on the threshold, their destiny back in their own hands. Benfica, meanwhile, must summon a flawless finish and hope results elsewhere fall their way.