It was a lovely match between Villarreal and Juventus. Villarreal played at home and I expected how they play but I didn't know Juventus would struggle this bad against them. I saw how Manchester United struggled against them last season with the Europa League final and how it took Ronaldo's last gasp finish to break their will in the group stage.
Villarreal has the quality and a lot of people are beginning to see the work Emery is doing with these lads but sadly he wasn't able to do that when he was in charge of Arsenal. Juventus has been struggling for form, yes, and it shows in their league position, how they are further behind table topper, AC Milan but they've had a decent form in Europe, I felt they should manage to win this but Villarreal showed their quality regardless of Juventus' quality.
They have exciting players and it is funny how they transformed a lot of players who were not that recognized in the Premier League to players every team would love to have with the likes of former Tottenham players; Capoue and Le Celso. Alberto Moreno too isn't left behind with the former Liverpool player staking his claim in the team. Villarreal plays exciting football and it would be a mistake to write them off. If they managed to get past Juventus for the second leg, then they would grow more in confidence.
They didn't allow the early mistake in the game to dampen their spirits. They went behind Juventus in the game as early as the first minute yet they responded so well and took the game to Juventus. Juventus' £62.8 Million man was the one that got the game rolling in the first minute after he scored with his trademark which has trailed his career since he was at Fiorentina. He raced onto the long ball, controlled it enough to smash home the effort with a half turn. It was a lovely goal from Dušan Vlahović as he caught Villarreal's defence napping. It was also his first UEFA Champions League goal for Juventus in his first appearance for them in the same competition.
I love how Villarreal responded and in less than 12 minutes, Le Celso should have scored brilliantly after lovely teamwork when he received the pass from the side of the box. With his attempt to wrap his feet around the ball in the box, he was denied by the frame of the goalpost to warm Juventus of what's to come.
Just when you think Villarreal would roll over, they had another attempt through Danjuma after Chukwueze's low ball delivery into the box found him and his clever back-heel flick was saved by Wojciech Szczęsny. Not to be denied for long, Villarreal responded in like fashion as they caught Juventus defence napping with a clever pass from Danjuma finding Parejo who beat Rabiot for pace as he slotted the ball into the back of the net and Szczęsny was unable to do anything about it.
It was all Villarreal and Juventus tried to get another goal so they can tilt the advantage in their favour for the second leg but it wasn't meant to be. Vlahović tried a long-range strike hoping to beat the goalkeeper to it but with a smart low save by Rulli denied him. The game ended 1-1 and Juventus can console themselves with the away goal but they should be worried especially if this same Villarreal turns up at Turin for the second leg.
Juventus have injury concerns too with McKennie going out injured and it looked like his ankle... He is definitely a major doubt for the second leg and Juventus would have to look for a suitable replacement for him so they can advance to the second leg.
It's hard to know what the second leg would bring but if Villarreal plays like they played tonight, Juventus should be worried and at this stage, there should be no margin for error. Villarreal could have won it but for the defence and particular De Ligt. Let's see what the second leg holds for us by next month. It should be exciting.
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.
