It was a winning start for the Bianconeri in their 2018/19 Champions League campaign after two penalties from Miralem Pjanic gave Juve a 0-2 win on Matchday One. Despite losing Cristiano Ronaldo to an early red card, La Vecchia Signora pulled through to secure all three points.
- JUVE UP AND RUNNING!
Juventus take maximum points in their opening Champions League game. The result leaves them second in Group H after Manchester United's 0-3 win away to Young Boys. Next up the Swiss side will visit Turin on Tuesday 2 October (18:55 CEST) on Matchday Two, whilst United will host Valencia at Old Trafford.
- DOUBLE PENALTIES, DOUBLE PJANIC
Three penalties awarded during the entire match, with two being decisive, perfectly slotted away by Miralem Pjanic.
The first arrived in the 44th minute when Joao Cancelo was fouled in the box, Pjanic stepped up and converted, firing past former Juventus goalkeeper Neto. The second was awarded just five minutes into the second half, after Leonardo Bonucci was brought down. Once more Pjanic stepped up, and once more the Bosnian scored.
It was Pjanic's first brace in a Juventus shirt, capping off a night where he recorded 42 total passes with an accuracy rate of 88%.
- CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS
- Juve recorded 61% possession of the ball in their favour in the first 45 minutes and 31% in the second half.
- In an attempt to get back into the game Valencia fired 28 shots, but with the hosts only recording six on target. This compared to the Bianconeri's 10 shots.
- Last night's was the first Champions League match since Sevilla vs Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2015, in which three penalties were awarded.
- It's also the first game that Juventus have scored two penalties in the Champions League.
- FOUR ON THE BOUNCE
After last night's win in Spain, the Bianconeri have now won their last four consecutive Champions League away matches:
Valencia 0-2 Juventus
Real Madrid 1-3 Juventus
Tottenham 1-2 Juventus
Olympiacos 0-2 Juventus
This is Juve's joint best streak.
- CLEAN SHEET FOR Szczesny
Wojciech Szczesny put in a commanding performance for Juve between the sticks last night, with the Polish international first to ever cross and every shot.
Above all else Szczesny was undeterred when the host were awarded a 95th minute penalty that the Bianconeri keeper kept out with a stunning stop!