Juventus fight back from two-goal deficit to stun Bayern
Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben scored vital away goals Tuesday night, but Paulo Dybala and Stefano Sturaro replied in a stunning Juventus fight-back that left their UEFA Champions League playoff battle neatly poised at 2-2 heading back to Bavaria on March 16.
Mario Mandzukic helped set up both goals as the Italian League leaders shrugged off a two-goal deficit with under a half-hour to play and gave themselves every opportunity to produce something special in the second leg after a remarkable draw.
Juventus was riding a string of nine consecutive shutouts and veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had allowed just one goal in 2016, but Bayern went on the attack from the start and seemed to be in complete charge when Robben scored their second.
Then came the Juventus answer as they extended a run of 17 home unbeaten matches in Champions League. The away goals do give Bayern the edge their first hour's play deserved, but the defensive concerns they had coming into the match proved ultra costly in a battle between two of Europe's most storied sides.
Juventus was able to extend its scoreless defensive run for 42 minutes but they were always fighting a first half rearguard action and Muller actually should have scored 30 minutes before he did open the account.
That opportunity had come in the 13th minute when a Robert Lewandowski pass was just marginally behind Muller, preventing a finish when Bayern had created a virtual 2-on-0 chance. Muller lost his balance as he tried to control the pass and Leonardo Bonucci was able to sweep the weak attempt away to safety. Juan Bernat and Lewandowski also had tested Buffon before the deadlock was broken.
Muller helped to start the decisive first half attack, finding Robben free on the right with a pass from central midfield. The Dutch international's cross went beyond the far post to Douglas Costa, whose return ball into the danger area was only partially cleared by Andrea Barzagli. Barzagli's attempt went straight to Muller with time to pick his spot from 12 yards out.
Bayern then struck again, Robben providing his trademark finish in the 55th minute at the end of a whiplash counter attack that split the home defense. Lewandowski took Thiago's raking pass in position to manage a 3-on-1 opportunity with Muller in close support and Robben surging down the right.
The Polish international chose Robben, then stepped aside for the patented left-to-right run across the box that resulted in a typical strike that gave Buffon no chance.
Given that platform Bayern might have been able to dictate the end game, but their injury-hit defense suddenly came under pressure and everything changed.
The 21-year old Joshua Kimmich was victimized on Dybala's goal. Forced into the starting lineup beside David Alaba in central defense because of injuries to Javi Martinez (knee), Jerome Boateng (groin) and Holger Badstuber (ankle), Kimmich's short clearing pass in the 63rd minute never was going to reach Alaba. Mandzukic nipped in to intercept and sent Dybala in alone against Manuel Neuer.
Juventus had another good chance four minutes later when Mandzukic set up Juan Cuadrado, but Neuer got both hands up to turn the attempted shot for a corner. The former Bayern wasn't done tormenting his ex-teammates, however.
It was his pass to Alvaro Morata which set up the equalizer came in the 77th minute. Morata had broken in behind Philipp Lahm to received the pass before heading across goal. Sturaro got on the end, sliding to meet the ball and thumping it past Neuer.
Information from Goal.com was used in this report.
