02 October 2024
What a night. What a performance. What a team. What a winner. What a victory.
This could be the end of the match report for RB Leipzig-Juve, a match with an incredibly eventful second half.
Juventus, despite being reduced to ten men and going behind twice, demonstrate an excellent display of character to take all three points thanks to three excellent goals (two by Dusan Vlahovic and one by Francisco Conceicao), as well as putting in an excellent defensive display.
But let's start from the beginning.
Juventus began the match with a good level of intensity, but it was Leipzig who took the lead in the 30th minute via a counter-attack as, following a dangerous effort by Dusan Vlahovic at one end, Leipzig flew forward as Benjamin Sesko latched onto the end of Lois Openda’s pass before firing past Michele Di Gregorio.
Juve showed an instant reaction and shortly after the opener Vhalovic came very close to equalising, but goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi was on hand to deny him. Before half-time, Juventus continued to threaten through Teun Koopmeiners and Vlahovic, but they were unable to create any clear cut chances. The first half ended with Leipzig leading 1-0.
AN EVENTUFL SECOND HALF
Juventus began the second half with a steely determination. In the 50th minute, Vlahovic guided home Andrea Cambaiso’s cross to equalise for the Bianconeri, but this was just the beginning of the evening’s events.
In the 59th minute, Di Gregorio was sent off. After a bravely coming out to try and deny Openda, the Juventus goalkeeper touched the ball with his hand outside the area; and referee Letexier, after consulting VAR, decided to show the Juventus goalkeeper a red card.
With a man down, Thiago Motta was forced to change tactics: off came Nicolo Savona and Kenan Yildiz to be replaced by Mattia Perin and Douglas Luiz. Leipzig, with the numerical advantage, poured forward and began to put the Juventus defence under pressure.
Penalty as Juve face an uphill struggle
In the 61st minute, Leipzig’s pressure reached its crescendo: Xavi Simons’ shot was blocked by Douglas Luiz, who used his arm to protect his face, but the referee, after initially only giving a corner, was again called back by VAR and then awarded a penalty kick to the German side. Sesko took the spot kick, beating Perin to make it 2-1 to Leipzig in the 65th minute.
The Bianconeri reaction
It was do or die time for the Bianconeri, but Juventus' reaction was immediate and showed great character. Barely four minutes had passed before Vlahovic pulled a spectacular goal out of his hat. In the 68th minute, the Serbian received the ball from Weston McKennie and, with a perfect strike, curled his effort into the far corner. Gulacsi was helpless and it was 2-2. Juventus were back in the game.
Leipzig didn't take it lying down and again tried to regain the lead, hitting the post in the 70th minute through Openda, who was once again decisively thwarted by Pierre Kalulu, one of the Bianconeri's best players on the night. The German team failed to capitalise on their territorial dominance, while Juventus were organised defensively and tried to cause problems on the counter-attack.
A moment of magic from Conceicao
In the 82nd minute came the moment of the match, Francisco Conceicao scored a magnificent goal. The Bianconeri winger, who had come on for Nico Gonzalez early in the first half, picked up the ball on the flank, skipped past David Raum with a brilliant piece of skill and then drove inside. He squared up Gulasci before slotting ball into the far corner, unbelievably giving Juventus a 3-2 lead. Dreamland for the Bianconeri.
Heroic finish
In the closing minutes, Leipzig through everything at Juve, including Yussuf Poulsen and Andre Silva, in an attempt to find the equalising goal. But Juventus, despite being outnumbered, pulled together with a stoic defensive display. Kalulu and McKennie through themselves in front of everything, making several decisive interventions that extinguished the hopes of the German attackers.
Perin became a key player, denying Sesko and Willi Orban with two exceptional saves. Cambiaso put in another fantastic block in the 94th minute to deflect Andre Silva’s shot away from danger.
It ended with a group hug that, an image that will stick with us for a long time.
RB LEIPZIG 2-3 JUVENTUS
Red Bull Arena Leipzig, Wednesday 2 October, 2024 at 21:00 (CEST)
Goals: 30’ Sesko (RB), 50’ Vlahovic (J), 65’ Sesko (pen) (RB), 68’ Vlahovic (J), 82’ Conceicao (J)
RB Leipzig: Gulasci, Geertruida (87’ Vermeeren), Orban, Lukeba, Raum, Baumgartner (46’ Henrichs), Seiwald (87’ Poulsen), Haidara (75’ Nusa), Simons, Openda (91’ Silva), Sesko.
Unused Substitutes: Bitshiabu, Elmas, Klostermann, Vandevoordt, Gebel.
Coach: Marco Rose.
Juventus: Di Gregorio, Savona (61’ Douglas Luiz), Kalulu, Bremer (7’ Gatti), Cambiaso, McKennie, Fagioli, Nico Gonzalez (12’ Conceicao), Koopmeiners, Yildiz (60’ Perin), Vlahovic.
Unused Substitutes: Locatelli, Danilo, Thuram, Pinsoglio, Cabal, Rouhi, Mbangula.
Coach: Thiago Motta.
Referee: François Letexier
Assistants: Cyril Mugnier, Mehdi Rahmouni
Fourth Official: Jérémy Stinat
Bookings: 79’ Raum (RB), 85’ Conceicao (J), 99’ Perin (J)
Sent Off: 59’ Di Gregorio (J) - Handball
Next Match:
Juventus-Cagliari
Serie A
Sunday, 6 October, 2024 at 12:30 (CEST)
Allianz Stadium
