Europa Conference League: Juventus held by Nantes

Nantes have been able to hold Juventus to a 1-1 draw in a match in the Bianconerri were unlucky.

This was the case in a match where Max Allegri’s men could not secure a win after Dusan Vlahovic. They rattled the woodwork three times.

The visitors restored parity through Ludovic Blas from the counter.

Nantes were also denied a last-gasp penalty. This result has no doubt put their Europa League progress in the balance.

They will now have to find a way to defeat their Ligue 1 opponent in the second leg of this play-off on Thursday, February 23.

Having had a dreadful Champions League campaign, the Turin club finished third, dropping to the Europa League. 

Juventus hit the ground running as Angel Di Maria stung Alban Lafont’s gloves.

The host eventually got their reward with the influential magic trio, resulting in an excellent opening goal. 

After Di Maria floated the ball over the top for Federico Chiesa to nod down for Dusan Vlahovic, who beat the keeper from six yards.

Juventus were stopped from doubling their tally when Jean-Charles Castelletto risked an own goal as he tried to acrobatically prevent Vlahovic from turning in a cross. At the same time, Moussa Sissoko won the ball back from Nicolò Fagioli and nodded wide, combining with Ludovic Blas.

Another chance went begging for the hosts again when Di Maria hesitated in the box.

They will later be punished by a rapid counter-attack from Mohamed, who timed the pass perfectly for Blas to shoot past the onrushing Wojciech Szczesny.

Chiesa thought he had scored the match-winner when he gathered from Vlahovic at a tricky angle, but his ferocious strike cannoned off the underside of the bar, hit the line, bounced off the inside of the far post, and back out again.

Juventus were not given the goal as goal-line technology showed that all parts of the ball didn’t cross the line, but most of the ball was over.

In the dying minute, Juve hit the woodwork again when Di Maria’s in-swinging corner thumped the crossbar.

Written by Oladipupo Mojeed