Benfica 2-0 Juventus (29 January 2025) Game Analysis

On By Littum

Orkun Kokcu scored 10 minutes from time to seal Benfica’s place in the playoffs.

Benfica secured their place in the Champions League playoffs with a 2-0 win at JuventusWhich was already assured that their playoff site went into the last league phase game on Wednesday.

Benfica ended 16. On the position, at 13 points, and will either meet Like Monaco or Brest In the final game, while Juventus, at 12 points, ended up 20. And meet AC Milan or PSV Eindhoven.

The opening target came from Vangelis Pavlidis In the 16th minute and after the sides returned to the track after the interval to the sound of Metallica’s Enter Sandman, Orkun Kökçü‘s Measure 10 minutes from time sealed the victory.

Juventus came in the match very unlikely to get a top-eight place to qualify automatically for the last 16, even with a win, while Benfica had everything to play for.

Benfica was on the attack from off, with Ángel di María Whipping the ball over the target of goals that Pavlidis just missed siding in the back post.

The hosts answered with a header from Samuel Mbangula as keeper Anatoliy Trubin palm away before Benfica had a new chance when Andreas Schjelderup‘s effort called Juventus keeper Mattia Perin to action.

Juventus Manager Thiago Motta went with the more attack -minded Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah In the back four and lost Pierre Kalulu to detriment after 15 minutes, replaced by another midfielder, Manual Locatelli.

The website still reorganized the back when the visitors took the lead.

Federico Gatti Could not deal with a long Benfica ball forward, allowing Alexander Bah Get possession and nip into the area before squeezing a passport to the unmarked pavlidis that split his shot past Perin.

Benfica could have doubled their lead on the break during the break after a slurry pass from Gatti allowed Pavlidis for another shot, but Perin drew an important rescue, but it doesn’t spare from home from getting booed off the pitch during the break.

The hosts seemed to get the upper hand in the second half and pressed for an equalization, but when Pavlidis went to Kokcu, he took the ball undisputed into the area and fired low past Perin to pack the victory.