Tonight’s Champions League clash between Benfica and Juventus will be played without the use of goal-line technology due to technical issues, UEFA announced.

“Ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between SL Benfica and Juventus, the home club – without the knowledge of UEFA and UEFA’s goal-line technology supplier – commissioned works in the Estádio do SL Benfica, which made the installed goal-line technology system dysfunctional,” UEFA said in an official statement.

“Unfortunately, it will not be possible to replace and install a new system in time for the match and therefore the match will go ahead without the use of goal-line technology as per the UEFA Champions League regulations.”

Serbian referee Srdjan Jovanovic will officiate the match at the Estadio Da Luz tonight. He has overseen just one Juventus game in his career when the Bianconeri lost 4-0 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Juventus hope tonight’s game will end differently given that they must secure a victory in Portugal to keep their qualification hopes alive.

However, even two victories against Benfica and PSG next week may not be enough for the Bianconeri to go beyond the group stage as their two opponents will qualify for the next phase if they beat Maccabi Haifa.

Juventus have collected three points in the opening four games in the Champions League Group H, winning against Maccabi in Turin, but losing in Israel and against PSG and Benfica.

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