Juventus 2-0 Sevilla: Morata and Zaza net in narrow win
The Italian outfit move into top spot in Group D
with a home win over their La Liga opponents
thanks to a first half header from their in-form
Spanish striker
Alvaro Morata made it two goals in as
many Champions League games this season as
he scored in Juventus’ 2-0 defeat of Seviila .
The victory was deserved after an all-action
Juventus performance that barely gave Sevilla a
look in, and Morata's effort saw him equal
Alessandro Del Piero's record of having scored in
five consecutive Champions League matches for
the club.
Despite managing just one win in their first six
Serie A games, Juventus are now two-for-two in
the competition, Morata adding a second crucial
goal to the winner he hit at Manchester City two
weeks earlier.
The Spaniard rose above two defenders to score
with a placed header four minutes before half-
time, and Simone Zaza netted a second with a
solo run and finish three minutes from the end.
Sevilla might have hoped the setting of Juventus
Stadium would inspire them, following their
2014 Europa League final victory at the same
venue, but the Spanish outfit were given a lesson
in Champions League football by their Italian
opponents.
Paul Pogba was gifted the game’s first shooting
chance within 30 seconds of kick-off when played
in by Morata, but the Frenchman lacked his usual
composure and lofted his shot over the bar.
In a cauldron of noise, the home side started the
game at a frenetic pace and Hernanes bent a shot
just wide of Sergio Rico’s net with the Sevilla
goalkeeper at full stretch.
The presence of Sami Khedira, making his
Juventus debut, seemed to energise the home
crowd and he made a good first impression when
he received a pass from the marauding Juan
Cuadrado and played a perfect lay-off to Paulo
Dybala, who whipped a wicked, curling shot just
wide from 20 yards.
Cuadrado was constantly involved, and his wing
play down the right - along with that of Patrice
Evra down the left - stretched Sevilla, who barely
got out of their own half for much of the first
period.
Juventus’ high line allowed Khedira to play in an
advanced role, and he bombed into the box where
he cut the ball back to Dybala, but his shot was
well blocked by Marco Andreolli.
But just before half-time, Sevilla's previously
steadfast defence was broken when Andrea
Barzagli’s high cross found the leaping Morata,
who rose above Grzegorz Krychowiak and
Andreolli to place a header into the corner of the
net.
There was no let-up in Juventus attacks after the
break, and Dybala drew a good save from Rico
when he looked to finish a brilliant, expansive
passing move with a quick run and shot.
By the hour mark, the tempo had dropped, but
Juventus continued to control the game, and
Sevilla struggled to find Jose Antonio Reyes in
attack, despite the constant energy and effort of
Yevhen Konoplyanka.
A foul by Steven N'Zoni on Dybala gave Juventus
a free-kick right on the edge of the box, and
Dybala blasted a powerful shot that Rico could
only parry away for a corner.
Dybala was denied again moments later when he
slid in to meet Evra’s cross, only for Krychowiak
to get there ahead of him and clear the danger.
Cuadrado stung the palms of Rico with a fierce
drive from distance as Juventus used attack as
an effective strategy to defend their lead,
before Zaza, who came on as a substitute for
Morata, broke clear and ran all of fifty yards
before slotting the ball past Rico to seal a clinical
victory for Juventus.
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