Juventus moves past Freiburg to book quarter-finals ticket

Juventus has secured passage into the quarter-finals of the Europa League with a 3-0 aggregate win.

Max Allegri’s men have made it easier for themselves, having defeated the Bundesliga side a week ago 1-0 last week courtesy of Angel Di Maria’s goal in Italy.

Juve secured the win courtesy of goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa.

Vlahovic scored from the penalty spot as Freiburg went down to 10 men before half-time, while Chiesa scored in stoppages to help the Turin club book their spot in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Ritsu Doan, who returned to the XI after an injury, had a big chance early on the counter-attack, which he scuffed wide when Wojciech Szczesny was well off his line.

Manuel Locatelli had a chance, but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

Later in the game, Szczesny had to work hard to palm a towering Matthias Ginter header off the line from a corner.

 Vlahovic’s first goal of 5hr match was chalked off for offside in the 27th minute after VAR intervention. The Serbian scored when a free kick found Gleeson Bremer’s header, palmed onto the crossbar, and Moise Kean knocked it down for him to fire in from five yards. 

Mark Flyards stopped Kean’s angled drive with his legs, while Federico Gatti’s shot was cleared off the line by Ginter. 

Juve were, however, awarded a penalty as VAR showed that Manuel Gulde’s raised arm first charged down Gatti’s effort, and he was already booked. The referee then pointed to the spot and sent Gulde off for early showers with his second yellow card.

 Vlahovic stepped up, and his shot squirmed past the legs of Flekken.

After Gregoritsch’s free kick went not far wide of the far top corner,  Szczesny was called into action again as he made a tough save on Lucas Holer after a scramble on a free kick.

With an advantage of the extra man in the second half, Juve failed to impress as the hosts continued to push for at least an equaliser on the night.

Infuriated, Max Allegri brought on Chiesa, whose solo effort was pushed onto the crossbar by the goalkeeper.

The striker eventually scored moments later on Adrien Rabiot’s assist by sweeping in from 12 yards, taking the tie beyond their hosts.

Written by Oladipupo Mojee