Juventus boosted their chances of progressing in the UCL with a 2-0 win over Pafos 2-0
Juventus has boosted their hopes of progression from the UEFA Champions League (UCL) league phase with a 2-0 win over Pafos at the Allianz Stadium.
The hosts were made to work hard for the victory, with Pafos giving them a tough game.
Pafos started the game at a rapid tempo, coming close to taking an early lead through Anderson Silva’s audacious back-heeled effort, which rolled inches wide of the post.
Juventus responded with a surge of pressure, but the Cypriot champions held firm, threatening with lightning-quick counter-attacks.
The game was evenly matched, with chances coming and going, until Weston McKennie scored the opener midway through the second half. Cambiaso picked him out, and McKennie promptly rifled the ball into the top corner.
Six minutes later, Jonathan David sealed the win, slotting the ball past Michail after a perfectly weighted pass from Kenan Yildiz.
The win takes Juventus into the top 20 of the league phase, and they will face SL Benfica at home in their next UCL game.
Despite the loss, Pafos can take positives from their performance and still have a chance of advancing beyond the league phase, one point off the pace with two games remaining.
Juventus’ head coach Luciano Spalletti was pleased with the win, having made some key substitutions, including bringing on Francisco Conceição, who came close to scoring.
The win is a significant boost for Juventus’ UCL campaign, and they will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures.
