Di Maria stars as Juve secures 3-1 win against Maccabi Haifa

Juventus have returned to winning ways in the UEFA Champions League against Maccabi Haifa with a 3-1 win at the Allianz Stadium.

Juve got the maximum points through a brace from Adrien Rabiot and Dusan Vlahovic.

Meanwhile,  it was Angel Di Maria that ran the show with a hat-trick of assists. The hosts would have scored more, but the woodwork was rattled thrice.

Following defeats in their opening two Champions League games to PSG and Benfica, Juve were desperate for a result to get them off the mark. 

In making a statement, Juve got the first chance through Vlahovic, who nodded over early in the game.

The striker later forced the goalkeeper into a fingertip save at the far bottom corner on a Juan Cuadrado lay-off.

His third effort at goal saw his shot go wide. After Filip Kostic had opted for the pass rather than go for goal himself, then Di Maria fired over when off balance.

Juve eventually scored when Di Maria placed a through ball to release Adrien Rabiot, who blasted into the roof of the net from a tricky angle.

Di Maria got his second assist after the restart. Through an absolutely inspired and perfectly weighted slide-rule pass, the forward sent Vlahovic clear on goal to beat the ‘keeper one-on-one.

A high chance came Maccabi Haifa’s way when Omer Atzili unleashed a long-range scorcher that Wojciech Szczesny palmed onto the frame of the goal.

Vlahovic would have also got a brace when had the ball in the net from a tight angle on another Di Maria pass, but the offside flag was up.

Maccabi Haifa then reduced the deficit with a wonderful through ball from Tjaronn Chery to release Din David. Szczesny, who came rushing out, missed. This allowed the striker to deposit into an empty net.

Since the goal have given them a route back into the game, Maccabi threatened an equaliser, but Leonardo Bonucci made a big block on David from another Chery assist.

Szczesny was alert again when he stretched to reach the Atzili free kick but was rescued again by the frame of the goal.

After surviving the scare, Juventus consolidated their lead with a Rabiot header on a corner, giving Di Maria his third assist of the match.

Moise Kean also had an opportunity to add the fourth, but he fired straight at the goalkeeper.

Written by Oladipupo Mojeed