Juventus dominated, hit the bar and forced numerous saves, but Fabio Quagliarella only got them a 1-1 draw in Copenhagen.
In the other Group B game, Real Madrid earned a resounding 6-1 victory away to Galatasaray.
Juventus dominated, hit the bar and forced numerous saves, but Fabio Quagliarella only got them a 1-1 draw in Copenhagen.
In the other Group B game, Real Madrid earned a resounding 6-1 victory away to Galatasaray.
The Bianconeri began their Champions League campaign in Denmark, where last season they were held to a 1-1 draw by Norsdjaelland. Mirko Vucinic, Kwadwo Asamoah and Andrea Barzagli were rested in favour of Fabio Quagliarella, Federico Peluso and Angelo Ogbonna, while Claudio Marchisio, Martin Caceres and Simone Pepe were injured. Copenhagen were champions of Denmark, but had a terrible start to their domestic season, managing only seven points from eight games.
It was Copenhagen who broke the deadlock with Nicolai Jorgensen, who was able to bundle the ball over the line from four yards after a Pierre Bengtsson free kick was not dealt with properly.
There was almost an equaliser moments later, but Johan Wiland spilled a Carlos Tevez shot and Quagliarella tested him on the follow-up.
Juve had a double scoring opportunity denied by amazing Wiland saves. First the 32-year-old goalkeeper fingertipped Giorgio Chiellini’s header over from point-blank range, then from the resulting corner used his knee to deflect a Paul Pogba effort over the bar from a couple of yards.
Tevez curled off target and Pogba’s header was inches wide, while Stephan Lichtsteiner scuffed his volley from a very promising position.
After the restart Wiland was again forced into heroics in the Copenhagen goal. Tevez sprung the offside trap on a ball over the top and was one-on-one when Wiland stuck out a foot to parry the low shot.
Juve finally found a way through when Peluso’s low cross was let through by a Tevez dummy and Quagliarella blasted under the bar from 10 yards. Quagliagol had also scored an equaliser in last season’s Champions League opener away to Chelsea and this was his fifth strike in eight games in this competition for the Bianconeri.
Another fine Peluso cross from the left set up Lichtsteiner, but the scissor-kick volley was well over, as he had the time to control it. Moments later a long-range Andrea Pirlo snapshot was beaten away at the base of the near post.
Quagliarella was very unlucky on 63 minutes, as his glancing header looped up to land on the crossbar with Wiland beaten.
Copenhagen spent most of the second half pinned back, but had a chance too when Jorgensen drilled inches over the bar from distance.
Wiland rushed off his line to close down Arturo Vidal, then the goalkeeper parried a fine Tevez strike and from the corner Pogba’s header glanced just past the far post. Wiland used his legs again on substitute Sebastian Giovinco, as Juve had 22 attempts on goal (nine on target) compared to Copenhagen’s eight.
In stoppages Tevez had the chance to win it, but poked wide from Mauricio Isla's assist from six yards.
Copenhagen 1-1 Juventus
Scorers: Jorgensen 14 (C), Quagliarella 54 (J)
Copenhagen: Wiland; Jacobsen, Mellberg, R Sigurdsson, Bengtsson; Bolanos (Toutouh 79), Claudemir (Margreitter 85), Delaney, Braaten; Adi (Gislason 69), N Jorgensen
Juventus: Buffon; Bonucci, Ogbonna, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner (Isla 85), Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Peluso (De Ceglie 73); Quagliarella (Giovinco 76), Tevez
Ref: Bebek (CRO)