Despite bad luck and VAR: Juventus turns the game against Leipzig

Despite a benevolent video referee, a currently awarded Benjamin Sesko and a half-hour advantage, RB Leipzig missed its first victory in the new Champions League on Tuesday. The Bundesliga club from Saxony led 2-1 against Italy’s record champions Juventus thanks to two goals from the Slovenian center forward – and then not only had to accept the equalizer, but also the 3-2 winning goal from Francisco “Chico” Conceição. Previously, Juve’s Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic had made up for all the misfortunes and accidents that had befallen Juve in the evening.

Leipzig couldn’t complain about the luck of the game against Turin, and it wasn’t just because of the refereeing team. Because at the start of the game it was as if Juve coach Thiago Motta had angered some gods when he declared the evening before that he was prepared for all adversities. “What’s my plan B? Improve plan A!”, the Italo-Brazilian shouted on Monday. And lo and behold: Less than ten minutes had been played before Plan A was in ruins. First the Brazilian central defender with the North German name – Bremer – said goodbye to the dressing room injured, then the former Stuttgart striker Nico González followed. Federico Gatti and the later winner Conceição came.

Midway through the second half, Motta also lost starting goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio to a red card. The VAR discovered that Di Gregorio had touched the ball with his hand outside the penalty area during a defensive action.

The game blossomed after half-time like a desert after rain, almost suddenly. Despite the failures, Juventus had a greater share of the game, neutralized Xavi Simons and Lois Openda and circulated the ball more thoughtfully than RB. But it didn’t result in much more than half chances. One of them resulted in Leipzig taking the lead after half an hour: Vlahovic dangerously deflected a shot from Teun Koopmeiners, and after RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi’s save, Leipzig quickly switched gears. And that ultimately meant that Openda served his strike colleague Sesko. The Slovenian delivered a dry dropkick in the penalty area that was tough: the ball flew powerfully to the bottom edge of the crossbar – and from there behind the line to make it 1-0. Six minutes later it seemed as if the video referee wanted to be cautious. Because when Castello Lukeba put his foot over Dusan Vlahovic’s shot in the penalty area, the referee did not receive a signal from the VAR. Leipzig could hardly complain about a penalty for Juventus.

After the break, Juventus increased their tempo – and took advantage of RB Leipzig reshuffling their defensive midfield. Koopmeiners hit the right post from eleven meters, and Vlahovic was more precise in the 50th minute when he pushed a cross from Cambiaso over the line with the tip of his left foot. Not only did Openda hit the post (53′), but the VAR made a big appearance.

First the VAR decides on a red against Juventus, then on a penalty for Leipzig

During a counterattack, Openda tried to pass the ball past Juve keeper Di Gregorio, but the ball flew off his thigh and onto his hand. According to the TV pictures, the referee showed no mercy – red (59th). Juve’s coach Thiago Motta was forced to make changes, not only bringing in substitute goalkeeper Mattia Perin, who was supposed to show a few good interventions, but also Douglas Luiz. During the free kick, which was decreed because of the handball, he kept his arm in the path of the ball. The VAR called in again, the referee was convinced again, this time there was a penalty. Sesko converted safely (65th). His tenth goal in the tenth competitive game of the current season, across all competitions.

What no one suspected was that Juve refused to raise the white flag. First Vlahovic shot the ball into the corner to equalize (68′). Openda missed a great chance. Then Conceição followed up. The Portuguese almost effortlessly beat DFB defender David Raum in the penalty area – and pushed the ball into the far corner to make it 3-2. The Leipzig team ran against the impending defeat, André Silva, who was substituted late, still had a huge chance. But in the end, the Leipzig team – like in the opener against Atlético Madrid – were left with no points. They are now under pressure to reach the knockout phase they are aiming for.