Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez gave Juventus a precious 2-0 win in Malmo, so a draw against Atletico Madrid will qualify them.
Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez gave Juventus a precious 2-0 win in Malmo, so a draw against Atletico Madrid will qualify them.
There was good news from elsewhere, as Atletico Madrid comfortably beat Olympiacos 4-0.
The Bianconeri had lost both their previous away games at Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos, both 1-0, so this was a must-win game. Kwadwo Asamoah, Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres missed out, while Patrice Evra and Angelo Ogbonna returned for a spot on the bench. Arturo Vidal was picked as the trequartista supporting Carlos Tevez – who scored both goals in the 2-0 victory in Turin – and Fernando Llorente. Malmo missed Johan Hammar, but Markus Rosberg had scored four of their last five Champions League goals.
The playing surface was very poor and Juve complained to UEFA before kick-off, stopping short of a formal protest. The Italians wore their all-green strip, which had only been used before in Madrid.
Isaac Kiese Thelin fired a couple of early half-chances well off target. Juventus created their first opportunity after 15 minutes when Stephan Lichtsteiner charged down the right and pulled back for Vidal, whose powerful but central shot was beaten away.
Andrea Pirlo chipped a pass over the top and at full stretch Claudio Marchisio only got a stud to it, not enough to direct the ball past the goalkeeper.
Marchisio had an even better chance on 36 minutes in a similar situation, this time sent through by Vidal, but the volley forced a sensational reaction save out of Robin Olsen.
Kiese Thelin fired straight at Gigi Buffon after Juve failed to clear a corner, while Emil Forsberg hit the side-netting when sent clear by Rosenberg.
Pirlo hit a free kick into the wall and sparked a Forsberg counter-attack, but he scuffed his shot under pressure from Lichtsteiner.
Within seconds of the restart, Marchisio’s half-volley was parried by Olsen, then Tevez was inches away from poking in Vidal’s cross-shot at the back post.
The deadlock was broken by Fernando Llorente, who until then had barely made an impact. He ran on to a Marchisio through ball and sprinted towards goal, keeping his cool to go round the goalkeeper and deposit into an empty net despite attempted goalline clearances.
Remarkably, that was Juve’s first away goal of the Champions League campaign after 32 attempts.
Marchisio tested Olsen again after a long period of Juventus pressure and Llorente nodded wide from a free kick, but Buffon also smothered an Enock Adu snapshot.
Llorente’s weak header was straight at Olsen and Rosenberg attempted an overhead kick from a knocked on set play.
It somehow wasn’t 2-0 on 86 minutes, as Roberto Pereyra rolled across for Alvaro Morata who incredibly hit the underside of the bar from a yard. It seemed easier to score than miss.
Buffon smothered a Rosenberg effort, but Juventus finally got their second. Morata shoved Johansson, sparking a Pogba counter and Tevez scuffed his finish, but it still dribbled past Olsen into the empty net. Johansson was furious and received two yellow cards for dissent.
Rosenberg had a good chance in stoppages, but Buffon denied him with a smart one-handed save at the near post.
Malmo 0-2 Juventus
Scorers: Llorente 49 (J), Tevez 88 (J)
Malmo: Olsen; Tinnerholm (Rakip 85), E Johansson, Helander, Ricardinho; Eriksson, Adu, Halsti, Forsberg; Rosenberg, Kiese Thelin (Cibicki 70)
Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Padoin; Marchisio (Pereyra 84), Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Llorente (Morata 72)
Ref: Proenca (POR)
Sent off: Johansson 89 (M)