Although Juventus have secured a Europa League spot, they suffered another home defeat against Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
This ends an adventure where the Turin club lost five out of the six games.
Despite their win, it was nothing to celebrate for Paris Saint-Germain, as they lost out on the top spot to Benfica. Both teams ended the group with the same points, but the Portuguese giant scored more away goals, winning 6-1 in Haifa.
Having lost four out of five games, the Bianconeri were already out of the Champions League.
All they needed was to equal or improve on the Maccabi Haifa result to at least get third place and the Europa League play-offs, and they achieved that.
They will be joining the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal, and Manchester United in the tournament.
Juventus started brightly as the first chance came to Manuel Locatelli, who drilled wide from the edge of the area.
When it was PSG’s turn, Kylian Mbappé resisted Federico Gatti, dragging him back by the shirt and still thumping a rocket into the net from just outside the box.
Locatelli went close again, but his curler went inches wide of the far top corner.
I’ve continued their quest for a win against their top opponent as Juan Cuadrado blasted just past the near stick.
Fabio Miretti could not take his chance as he lost his balance to turn wide. His other shot was charged down by Marquinhos, while Wojciech Szczesny spilled a Lionel Messi attempt.
After Kylian Mbappe had put the visitors in the lead, Juve deservedly equalized. Locatelli’s free-kick was taken short, and Locatelli floated a ball over the top that Cuadrado’s diving header knocked across for Leonardo Bonucci to slide in at the back post. It was the defender’s first Champions League goal since November.
After a surging run from midfield, Mbappe fired straight at Szczesny.
PSG would later restore their lead through substitute Nuno Mendes. The scorer m placed an angled drive into the far bottom corner within seconds of coming off the bench.
Juventus would be happy despite the result as Federico Chiesa, for the first time since tearing his ACL in January, immediately drilled wide of the target.
Locatelli thought he had leveled for Juve on 79 minutes, only to be ruled offside on the rebound as Gianluigi Donnarumma parried Filip Kostic’s strike.
Despite PSG’s win they still finish second in the group. This is because Benfica secured a remarkable 6-1 away against Maccabi Haifa. Hence, although they are tied on points and goal difference, Benfica has more away goals and therefore, top the group.
Writte by Oladipupo Mojeed
