Once again, it was one of those nights a whole club had yearned for. The BayArena was completely clad in red for the last group match in the Champions League – 'Finally Red' was the setting for a real final encounter. It was clear before the kick-off that a win against the Italian serial champions was a basic requirement for Bayer 04 to progress to the Round of 16. Taking account of the situation, Peter Bosz opted for a more attacking line-up compared with the 2-1 victory over Schalke 04 by bringing in Kerem Demirbay in place of Julian Baumgartlinger in holding midfield. The left side was rejigged: Daley Sinkgraven and Moussa Diaby started instead of Wendell and Leon Bailey.
In spite of already having qualified for the Round of 16 as group winners, Juventus did not field a B team. The five-time World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo was not rested and he played from the start and the goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon was in goal.
The Werkself were quickly out of the blocks and soon threatened the goal of the 41-year-old with a volley from Moussa Diaby that flew just wide of the right-hand post (4'). Buffon then had to intervene to cut out a cross from Charles Aránguiz as Lucas Alario was about to pounce (9').
The game developed into an an intense encounter with both teams having a great chance within a very short space of time: For the Italians, Ronaldo just failed to connect with a pass from Higuain in a counter-attack with the goal at his mercy. Diaby then had a powerful long-range effort that hit the post (11').
Over the course of the rest of the first half, the Werkself remained solid in challenges, were the livelier side going forward and had a slight advantage in terms of using space. However, Juventus again and again posed problems with their transitional play. Both Ronaldo and Cuadrado put chances wide (21'). A minute later, Karim Bellarabi tested the visitors’ keeper Buffon with a powerful right-foot shot.
The Bosz team were mostly disciplined and very well organised in defence even if they were unable to prevent occasional goalscoring opportunities for the visitors – above all when they showed their individual class as with Higuain who demonstrated impressive technique but then hit his shot over the bar (36'). Bayer 04 did produce good moves going forward but were unable to finish effectively. Just before the end of the half, Buffon twice faced real difficulties: A deflected shot from Lucas Alario dipped over the bar (41'), Bellarabi put Havertz through brilliantly but an outstanding tackle by the Juve defender Merih Demiral (44') prevented a shot on goal. The 0-0 score line at half-time was too little for the Werkself despite their notable efforts particularly as Atletico were 1-0 up in the other game in the group.
The Werkself had a scare shortly after the restart when Ronaldo was clearly offside as he netted what would have been the opening goal (51'). Juve now upped the pressure going forwards and Sinkgraven was then forced to make a last-ditch tackle to prevent Federico Bernardeschi from shooting (53').
In contrast, the Werkself dropped off in comparison to the first half and were unable to attack with tempo and precision that was due to the growing strength of the central midfield of the Old Lady. Peter Bosz reacted by making a double substitution: Bellarabi and Demirbay were replaced by Bailey and Baumgartlinger. For the visitors, Paulo Dybala came on and his first touch the ball was a chance on goal but his effort went wide (67').
The Werkself did have more of the game after the double substitution but it was Juventus who made the crucial breakthrough. The Italians demonstrated their class as a top European team with an excellent move down the left that ended with Miralem Pjanic feeding Dybala who had plenty of space and was able to pick out Ronaldo in the middle. The Portugal international slotted the ball into the empty net to give the visitors the lead (75').
The prospects of Bayer 04 going through to the knockout rounds were rapidly disappearing as Atletico were clearly on top in the other game that they finally won 2-0. Even a win against the Italian side would have not been enough for the Werkself. Nevertheless, Bayer 04 stuck to their task and came close to equalising with a shot on the turn from Aránguiz just missing the target after a move involving Havertz (88'). It was the Italians who wrapped up the game: Dybala again passed to Higuain and the striker hit a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner (90+2').
There was not really an atmosphere of sadness at the BayArena. All in all, the Werkself gave a good account of themselves and are now in the Europa League after the winter break. Plus, there is another prestigious clash at the weekend: The Werkself are away to FC Köln in the Rhine derby on Saturday (15.30 CET).
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky – L. Bender, Dragovic, S. Bender, Sinkgraven – Aránguiz, Demirbay (Baumgartlinger 66’) – Bellarabi (Bailey 66’), Havertz, Diaby – Alario (Volland 82’)
Juventus: Buffon - Danilo, Demiral, Rugani, De Sciglio - Pjanic, Cuadrado (Muratore 90+3’), Rabiot (Matuidi 85’)- Bernardeschi (Dybala 66’) - Higuain, Ronaldo
Goals: 0-1 Ronaldo (75’), 0-2 Higuain (90 +2’)
Referee: Benoit Bastien (France)
Attendance: 29,542 (sellout)
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