Between injuries, episodes from VAR against, an expulsion and an infinite whirlwind of emotions, Juventus returns from Leipzig with a success that weighs like a boulder on the second day of the Champions League. At the Red Bull Arena ends 3-2 thanks to Conceicao’s play after Vlahovic managed to respond twice to Sesko’s goals. A crazy victory for Thiago Motta’s team, forced to make two substitutions in the first few minutes of the game and remained numerically inferior for over half an hour due to the red card given by Di Gregorio (handball outside the area on exit). A lot of suffering but also enormous heart and character for the Bianconeri, with full points after two rounds, while the Germans remain stuck at 0 after their debut defeat against Atletico Madrid. It’s a very unfortunate start to the match for the Bianconeri, not in reference to the result but in terms of the physical aspect: in ten minutes, in fact, Thiago Motta is forced to do less before Bremer (concern for an unnatural twisting of the left knee) and then by Nico Gonzalez, out due to a right thigh problem. Despite this, the Juventus team did not lose their composure and tried to play the game, although they did not create any major dangers near the opponent’s area.
The first ever arrived at the half-hour mark with a deflection by Vlahovic on Fagioli’s shot (Gulacsi saved), but the Germans’ potential 1-0 advantage incredibly came from the guest’s potential advantage with a lightning-fast restart: Openda throws for Sesko who controls with the right and with a left-footed ground-to-air shot he beats Di Gregorio, also hitting the crossbar. In the robust recovery of the first half, Juve pushed for an equaliser, but the only attempts from outside by Fagioli and Conceicao went out wide. The Bianconeri’s start to the second half was almost perfect and, after hitting the post with Koopmeiners, the guests made it 1-1 with a nice strike from Vlahovic, who was very good at turning left-footed into a counter-ball on Cambiaso’s cross from the left. After that, absolutely everything happens: Openda hits a post, then Di Gregorio is sent off for a touch with his hand outside the area (VAR’s intervention was decisive) and on the following free kick, again thanks to VAR, a penalty is awarded to Leipzig for another touch of the arm of the new substitute Douglas Luiz. SEsko scores a brace from the spot, putting the Germans back ahead, but three minutes later, despite the man less, Juve equalized again with a gem from Vlahovic who immediately responds to his Slovenian rival.
The whirlwind of emotions does not subside and in the 53rd minute Openda hits the second woodwork of the evening with a shot deflected by Kalulu, missing a great chance on the continuation of the action with a right-footed shot from an inviting position. The former Milan defender will also be providential in the 80th minute with a crazy and desperate intervention on Nusa, while on the other side he thinks about it Conceicao to invent the play that turns everything around and puts Juve ahead at 3-2. In the final and in the very long injury time (9′) there was still a lot to suffer for the Bianconeri, who were very good at gritting their teeth and defending with their nails a victory of enormous specific weight.