Juventus fightback frustrates Bayern
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
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Juventus 2-2 Bayern
Thomas Müller and Arjen Robben put Bayern in charge, but first UEFA Champions League goals for Paulo Dybala and Stefano Sturaro levelled the tie.
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- Juventus come from two goals down to draw with Bayern
- Thomas Müller and Arjen Robben put visitors on top
- Paulo Dybala and Stefano Sturaro score first competition goals to level tie
- Juve now unbeaten in 17 European home games, since Bayern's 2013 win in Turin
- Second leg takes place at Fußball Arena München on 16 March
A stirring Juventus fightback, and first UEFA Champions League goals for Paulo Dybala and Stefano Sturaro, denied Bayern München a round of 16 first-leg victory in Turin despite strikes either side of half-time from Thomas Müller and Arjen Robben.
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Juventus had kept nine successive clean sheets but that record was under threat within four minutes, Gianluigi Buffon beating away a swerving volley from former team-mate Arturo Vidal. Robert Lewandowski then unselfishly squared for Müller, yet Leonardo Bonucci was on hand to clear the underhit shot off the line.
Buffon then denied Juan Bernat and Lewandowski, though the goalkeeper was finally beaten two minutes before half-time. When Andrea Barzagli prevented Douglas Costa's left-wing cross reaching Lewandowski, his clearance merely fell to Müller who made no mistake.
Ten minutes into the second period it was 0-2, Bayern breaking at pace again. Lewandowski played in Robben down the right and the Dutchman duly cut inside onto his favoured left foot to bend a delicious strike beyond Buffon.
That goal at last sparked the Bianconeri into life and within eight minutes they had a foothold in the tie thanks to a slip by Joshua Kimmich. Mario Mandžukić supplied Paulo Dybala and suddenly Juve had hope.
With Mandžukić increasingly influential, Juventus were beginning to threaten Bayern's makeshift defence, with Álvaro Morata's 75th-minute introduction bringing immediate dividends. Sixty seconds later, the Spaniard nodded across goal to fellow substitute Sturaro, whose finish was high past Manuel Neuer. Both teams had chances to win it but now head to Germany with nothing between them.
Key Player: Arjen Robben (Bayern)
The Dutchman was at his lively best at the Juventus Stadium, covering more than 10km and managing four solo runs and the same number of shots on target. The two facets combined for his goal as he dribbled across the Juve defence before bending a sumptuous shot into the far corner.
Fortress Turin
Müller and Robben looked to have inflicted Juve's first European home defeat in 17 fixtures, since Bayern's last visit in 2013, as they gave the visitors a two-goal cushion. Juventus, however, have not lost in any competition since matchday six – the sole reverse in their last 23 games – and showed exactly why with a stirring fightback.
Juve substitutes make difference
Morata's five knockout goals in the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League highlighted his appetite for the big occasion and the Spaniard was quickly into the thick of the action here, his square header setting up Sturaro. The 22-year-old had just three Juve goals to his name before tonight, but got ahead of Kimmich and made no mistake to change the complexion of the tie.
