Big-Game Leonardo Bonucci Leads Juventus Past Sevilla in Champions League

Needing to beat Sevilla in order to regain top spot in their UEFA Champions League group, it was an injury-ravaged Juventus squad that travelled to Spain for Tuesday night’s meeting at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri could name only 20 players for the trip, with the club’s official website revealing that Gonzalo Higuain (thigh) and Medhi Benatia (knee) had been added to the lengthy list of absentees.

It was therefore no real surprise when the Bianconeri allowed their opponents an early goal, with the home side punishing the visitors with their first real chance of the game. Juve failed to clear a corner properly, and Nico Pareja dispatched a superb volley through a sea of legs and into the bottom corner.

Nicolas Pareja Goal – Sevilla vs Juventus 1-0 All Goals //Champions League 22.11.2016 HD https://t.co/xB9imzEHXP

— مدونة ناصرللمعلوميات (@brothers_bd) November 22, 2016

Gigi Buffon stood little chance of stopping the effort, and Sevilla’s defensive record meant the Italian champions knew they were in for a difficult night. The Liga side had yet to concede a goal in the competition this season, with their 2016/17 tally of four clean sheets including one at Juventus Stadium back in September.

But with half-time fast approaching, the Bianconeri were awarded a corner, and as Miralem Pjanic whipped the ball into the box, Gabriel Mercado refused to let go of Leonardo Bonucci’s shirt.

Mark Clattenburg had already sent off ex-Palermo star Franco Vazquez for two bookable offences, and the English referee was clearly in no mood for foul play, pointing to the penalty spot and incensing both Sevilla’s players and the vociferous crowd.

Bonucci’s shirt clearly pulled. Good call from Clattenburg. pic.twitter.com/LUrNXc4uoC

— Tarek Khatib (@ADP1113) November 22, 2016

Claudio Marchisio was making just his third start of the campaign but was the coolest man in Andalusia as he promptly thumped the spot-kick beyond impressive goalkeeper Sergio Rico. It was the midfielder’s first Champions League goal since a February 2013 meeting with Celtic, but it was also just what the Old Lady needed: a route back into the game that she had otherwise struggled to find.

Allegri had few substitutes capable of providing a spark off the bench as his side continued to labour early in the second half, but he eventually opted to send Moise Kean into action once again.

Having already become the first 2000s-born player to feature in Serie A in the recent win over Pescara, his introduction here saw the 16-year-old take the same honour in UEFA’s elite competition.

Even so, the absences certainly seemed to be taking their toll—long-term injury victims Paulo Dybala, Marko Pjaca and Andrea Barzagli were joined by …

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