Juventus kept their UEFA Champions League (UCL) automatic qualification hopes alive with a composed 2–0 victory over SL Benfica at the Allianz Stadium. Goals from Khéphren Thuram and Weston McKennie sealed a crucial win for the Bianconeri, who are now on a three-match UCL winning streak.
For Kenyan football fans following Europe’s biggest stage, this was a classic Champions League night—intense, tactical, and full of drama.
First Half: End-to-End but Goalless
The match exploded into life early on as Kenan Yıldız nearly broke the deadlock twice within the opening 15 minutes. Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin had to stretch at full length to deny his curling shot before watching another effort fly inches wide.
Benfica slowly grew into the contest, and their best chance of the half came through Georgiy Sudakov, whose powerful strike forced a sharp save from Michele Di Gregorio. Defender Lloyd Kelly then cleared the rebound to keep the score level.
Juventus came close again when Fabio Miretti headed narrowly over from inside the box. Despite the chances, the first half ended 0–0, with both sides showing attacking intent.
Second Half: Juventus Step Up
Luciano Spalletti’s halftime talk clearly worked.
Just nine minutes into the second half, Trubin denied Weston McKennie, but Juventus did not relent. Moments later, Khéphren Thuram drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to finally break the deadlock.
The Allianz Stadium erupted.
Benfica barely had time to regroup before Juventus struck again. McKennie combined brilliantly with Jonathan David and calmly slotted home to make it 2–0, his third UCL goal of the season.
Late Drama: Penalty Miss Seals Benfica’s Fate
Benfica pushed hard for a lifeline and hit the woodwork through Fredrik Aursnes. Their most significant chance came after a VAR review awarded them a penalty in the final 10 minutes.
But Vangelis Pavlidis slipped as he struck the ball, sending the spot-kick wide. The Juventus fans roared as their side saw out the win.
What This Means
- Juventus now has three straight UCL wins
- They travel to AS Monaco next, with a chance to finish inside the top eight.
- Benfica must beat Real Madrid and hope for favourable results elsewhere
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Final Verdict
Juventus delivered when it mattered most. With confidence rising and momentum on their side, the Italian giants are now just one result away from automatic qualification. For Benfica, the road ahead is steep—but in the Champions League, anything can happen.
