Juventus beat Benfica 2-0 in Turin to book their place in the Champions League knockouts and keep automatic qualification hopes alive.
Juventus kept their Champions League campaign firmly on track with a deserved 2-0 victory over Benfica at the Allianz Stadium, a result that guarantees their place in the knockout rounds and keeps faint hopes of a top-eight finish alive.
The Bianconeri started at a high tempo and almost made the perfect opening when Anatoliy Trubin was forced into a full-stretch save to deny Kenan Yıldız’s curling effort from distance. The young Turk was again the architect minutes later, finding space on the edge of the box before seeing another effort drift narrowly wide.
As the half wore on, Benfica began to settle and enjoy more possession, fashioning their first clear opening through Georgiy Sudakov. His powerful strike required a sharp save from Michele Di Gregorio, before Lloyd Kelly reacted quickest to clear the rebound and preserve the deadlock.
Despite the score remaining level, the contest was open and entertaining. Juventus went close again late in the half when Fabio Miretti rose unmarked inside the area, only to guide his header over the bar when Trubin should have been tested.
Luciano Spalletti’s message at the break clearly landed, as Juventus emerged with renewed intensity. Trubin stood firm to deny Weston McKennie early in the second half, but the pressure finally told moments later when Khephren Thuram drilled a low effort into the corner to give the hosts a deserved lead.
Benfica barely had time to regroup before Juventus struck again. McKennie combined neatly with Jonathan David, and the American showed composure to slot home his third Champions League goal of the season, putting the Old Lady firmly in control.
Benfica were handed a lifeline late on when VAR awarded a penalty, but Vangelis Pavlidis slipped at the crucial moment and sent his effort wide, drawing huge roars from the home crowd.
Juventus now makes it three straight Champions League wins and head into the final matchday with hope, while Benfica must beat Real Madrid and rely on other results to keep their European hopes alive.
