Champions League | Benfica 4-3 Juventus: Old Lady crashes out

Juventus are out of the Champions League, but the fightback from 4-1 down to 4-3 against Benfica was powered by their youth team players.

The Bianconeri knew anything less than a victory here would exclude them from the Round of 16, having managed just three points in four games. Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes, Gleison Bremer, Mattia De Sciglio, Federico Chiesa and Paul Pogba were injured, while the hosts missed Morato and Julian Draxler. Alex Sandro also pulled out at the last minute, so Federico Gatti got his Champions League debut.

Juan Cuadrado made a decisive early interception to prevent Ramos nodding in a Joao Mario cross from six yards, as Benfica took control and went in front when a corner was taken short for the cross, nodded in from close range by Antonio Silva.

Juventus did get an equaliser in chaotic fashion, not aided by the fact goal-line technology was not working this evening due to a fault.

A corner was flicked on by Danilo for Vlahovic at the back post, his header was parried from point-blank range, but a combination of Vlahovic and Moise Kean managed to bundle the rebound over. It took a very long VAR check for both the goal-line and a potential offside, until it was eventually given.

Moments after play finally resumed, Benfica were awarded a penalty for Cuadrado’s handling offence, converted with power into the top corner by former Inter midfielder Joao Mario.

Vlahovic wasted a good opportunity from a promising position by firing wide on Filip Kostic’s cross and moments later Benfica added a third in real style. Rafa Silva created it with a run through the centre, completed a give-and-go with Joao Mario down the right and completed the move totally unmarked with a cheeky back-heel flick from six yards.

Never before in their Champions League history had Juventus conceded three goals in the first half of a game.

Arkadiusz Milik replaced Moise Kean, but it didn’t improve matters, as only a desperate Danilo interception prevented Rafa Silva going clear on goal and soon after he did complete his brace with a dinked finish over Wojciech Szczesny, but Leonardo Bonucci’s awful pass to Alejandro Grimaldo had started the move.

Szczesny kept the scoreline down with a double save on Rafa Silva and the rebound, while Danilo was fortunate to only get a yellow card for his ridiculously high foot on Fredrik Aursnes, but it still means he’s suspended for the final game with PSG.

Goncalo Ramos grazed the far post with his header on a corner and Rafa Silva really should’ve completed his hat-trick when volleying the Joao Mario cross over unmarked from 12 yards.

Instead, Juventus suddenly woke up, largely thanks to their teenage substitute Samuel Iling-Junior. In three minutes he set up two goals with crosses from the left, the first volleyed in by Milik, the second fumbled by the goalkeeper until Weston McKennie turned in the rebound.

Rafa Silva wasted another incredible chance for his treble, but on the counter from a Juve corner, thumped the upright.

The Bianconeri also could’ve made it 4-4, but Matias Soule side-footed the finish wide from eight yards on yet another Iling-Junior pull-back, while Gatti’s header from a corner shaved the far post.

Benfica 4-3 Juventus

Antonio Silva 18 (B), Kean 22 (J), Joao Mario pen 28 (B), Rafa Silva 35, 50 (B), Milik 77 (J), McKennie 79 (J)