LIPSIA (GERMANY) (ITALPRESS) – At the end of a crazy match full of episodes, Juventus beat Leipzig 3-2, accomplishing a heroic feat at the Red Bull Arena. Vlahovic’s double and Conceicao’s pearl in the final gave the Bianconeri their second win in the Champions group: for the Germans, Sesko scored twice. Injuries, Di Gregorio’s expulsion and Leipzig’s offensive liveliness did not deter a Juve, never tamed and always fearless. The start of the match for the Bianconeri proves somewhat traumatic: already after eleven minutes, Motta is forced to make two substitutions, due to physical troubles first of Bremer, then of Nico Gonzalez. In spite of a psychologically traumatic first quarter of an hour, Motta’s boys make themselves preferable to Leipzig, on the level of the game proposal. At Juve’s first blunder, however, the home side thanked and scored the 1-0 goal: on a restart, Openda served Sesko who, after a splendid left-footed hook, powerfully slotted the ball under the crossbar. At 36′, Juve protested to referee Letexier, following contact in the box between Vlahovic and Lukeba: not even the Var detected the hammer foot of the French defender. In the second half, Juve re-entered the field with more ferocity and Koopmeiners’ 49′ post was anticipatory of the Bianconeri goal. A minute later, Vlahovic stamped the 1-1, slotting into the box and deflecting Cambiaso’s cross into the net. Just when the game seems to be turning in favor of the bianconeri, two ingenuities complicate the situation again. At 59′ Di Gregorio caught the ball with his hands outside the area and was sent off after a Var call. At 65′, however, newcomer Douglas Luiz commits a hand foul on Simons’ free kick from the limit: from the penalty spot Sesko makes it 2-1. It is not, however, over, because Vlahovic does not take it lying down and loads the team on his shoulders, equalizing again with a great left-footer from outside. The numerical inferiority does not discourage Juve, which maintains a courageous attitude, but risks at more resumption to suffer a new disadvantage. Openda is simply uncatchable and hits two posts. When you least expect it, however, at 82′ a Conceicao flare-up is worth the resounding 3-2 for Juve: the Portuguese skips past Raum dryly and then coldly beats Gulacsi. The final is one of pure suffering, but Motta’s rearguard holds. A dream night for the Old Lady, able to react even to negative episodes.- Photo Image -(ITALPRESS).
