14 September 2016
Juventus’ first Champions League group game of 2016/17 ended in a goalless stalemate on Wednesday night, as they were ultimately unable to make their supremacy count at Juventus Stadium.
Cheered on by a vociferous home support, the Bianconeri began brightly and created two good chances in the first 15 minutes, both of which fell to Sami Khedira who hooked a volley wide before dribbling into the box and shooting into the arms of Sergio Rico.
A cagey half an hour would follow, however, with scoring opportunities few and far between until the interval, Sergio Rico intercepting Paulo Dybala’s potentially dangerous run into the area after 30 minutes the only standout moment as the interval beckoned.
The hosts stepped up a gear or two after the break and were very nearly celebrating what was proving to be an elusive opener on 59 minutes when Gonzalo Higuain’s bullet header from Dani Alves’ right-wing cross clattered off the underside of the crossbar.
An energetic Alves would play another menacing ball into the box shortly afterwards, only for Sergio Rico to palm inches away from the reach of an onrushing Dybala.
Higuain would again be in amongst the action, as he poked wide Khedira’s centre before Nicolas Pareja blocked Miralem Pjanic’s cross which was destined for the Argentine striker lurking a matter of yards from the goalline.
The Bianconeri continued to knock on the door right up until the final whistle, Sergio Rico clawing out Alex Sandro’s downward header in injury time with sections of the home fans already off their seats in premature celebration.
Allegri and company will look to put in a more clinical attacking performance next time out in Europe, when they travel to Dinamo Zagreb’s Maksimir Stadium on 27 September, but first they turn attentions back to the Serie A season and Sunday’s showdown with Inter at the San Siro.
JUVENTUS
Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Dani Alves, Khedira, Lemina, Asamoah (Pjanic 67), Evra (Alex Sandro 67); Dybala (Pjaca 86), Higuain
Unused substitutes: Neto, Benatia, Cuadrado, Mandzukic
Coach: Allegri
SEVILLA
Rico, Kranevitter (Mariano 78), Iborra, N’Zonzi, Sarabia (Correa 63), Escudero, Vitolo, Nico Pareja, Vázquez (Carriço 90), Rami, Mercado
Unused substitutes: Sirigu, Vietto, Kiyotake, Ganso
Coach: Sampaoli
