A dominant second half at the Allianz Stadium sends Juventus through in the Champions League as Benfica falter from the spot.
Juventus booked their place in the Champions League playoffs with a convincing 2-0 home win over Benfica, turning a tense and cautious first half into a commanding second-half display. Goals from Khéphren Thuram and Weston McKennie sealed qualification and left José Mourinho’s Benfica on the brink of elimination from the competition.
The opening 45 minutes were marked by nervous football and limited quality, with both sides clearly aware of what was at stake. Juventus came closest through Kenan Yildiz, whose trademark right-footed effort toward the far post was denied by a combination of Anatoliy Trubin and slightly off-target finishing. Benfica gradually grew into the game, forcing Michele Di Gregorio into two key saves from an enterprising Sudakov, who was the visitors’ brightest spark before the break.
Luciano Spalletti was visibly unhappy with the first-half display and made a bold move at halftime, withdrawing Miretti for Conceição. The change immediately injected pace and intent into Juventus’ play. After Trubin denied McKennie at close range, the breakthrough arrived in the 55th minute: Thuram found space in the box and squeezed his shot in at the near post to put Juventus ahead.
The goal lifted the Allianz Stadium and boosted Juventus’ confidence. Just nine minutes later, the Bianconeri doubled their lead. McKennie combined neatly with Jonathan David before calmly slotting past Trubin one-on-one, punishing Benfica’s defensive hesitation—particularly from Araújo.
Benfica attempted to respond, with Aursnes hitting the post with a header and Juventus nearly benefiting from an own goal by Dedić, saved by Trubin with help from the woodwork. The visitors were then handed a lifeline when Bremer fouled Barreiro in the box, but Pavlidis squandered the chance spectacularly, slipping at the moment of contact and sending the penalty wide.
That miss summed up Benfica’s night. Juventus closed out the match with maturity, securing a clean sheet and a vital win that confirms their place in the Champions League playoffs.
Match Report
Juventus 2-0 Benfica
Goals:
55’ Thuram (Juventus)
64’ McKennie (Juventus)
Juventus (4-2-3-1):
Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso (Cabal 70’); Locatelli (Koopmeiners 86’), Thuram; McKennie, Miretti (Conceição 46’), Yildiz (Kostić 82’); David (Openda 70’).
Coach: Spalletti
Benfica (4-2-3-1):
Trubin; Dedić, Araújo, Otamendi, Dahl; Barreiro, Aursnes; Prestianni (João Rego 77’), Sudakov (Barrenechea 69’), Schjelderup (Ivanović 69’); Pavlidis.
Coach: Mourinho
Referee: Gözubüyük (Netherlands)
Yellow cards: Locatelli, Kelly (Juventus)
Red cards: None
Note: Pavlidis (Benfica) missed a penalty at 81’
