Champions League: Juventus hold Aston Villa to goalless stalemate

Juventus survived a late scare against Aston Villa as they left England with a precious Champions League point.

There were huge scares at both ends, including a last-gasp disallowed goal.

With a decimated squad, the Bianconeri arrived in Birmingham with a point as they aim to qualify for the next round. This will be a huge boost to Thiago Motta, who is missing Dusan Vlahovic, Weston McKennie, Arkadiusz Milik, Nico Gonzalez, Vasilije Adzic, Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, and former Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz. 

Due to their injury crisis, Tim Weah was used as a False nine against the English side, which had won the first three Champions League games, including against Bayern Munich. They lost their last match 1-0 to Club Brugge, which had just two points from the last six competitive matches, which also affected their confidence.

The hosts’ first chance came when Pau Torres’s glancing header skimmed the crossbar on a corner. Juve’s Kenan Yildiz drilled wide from outside the area, as they dominated possession without creating many chances.

As both sides looked for maximum points, it became an attack from end to end. Manuel Locatelli made a huge block by throwing himself in the way of a dangerous John McGinn half-volley while Andrea Cambiaso’s shot went over from the edge of the area.

Ollie Watkins called Michele Di Gregorio to action, as the goalie made a fine save at the near post. The resulting corner saw Matty Cash’s strike charged down by Federico Gatti. Juve then went to the counter, but Weah fired his shot over.

After Francisco Conceicao drew out a save from Martinez at the base of the near post,  Villa had a great chance to go ahead on the stroke of half-time as Lucas Digne’s free-kick floated over the wall to thump the top of the crossbar.

Juventus thought they had scored the opening goal in the 65th minute when Francisco Conceicao met a corner at the back post with his header, but Martinez was able to claw the ball off the line with one hand from point-blank range.

Bailey pulled back from the by-line for McGinn a few moments later, only to be denied from close range by a combination of Di Gregorio and Manuel Locatelli.

Aston Villa thought they had scored a winner with the final attack, leading to a huge scare. Morgan Rogers turned the ball into an empty net when Di Gregorio dropped the Youri Tielemans free kick. 

However, VAR intervened, ruling out the goal as  Diego Carlos had elbowed the goalkeeper in the ribs, and the goal was disallowed.