How Juventus Impressed Despite Champions League Draw With Lille

LDusan Vlahovic celebrates scoring against Lille (Photo by Filippo Alfero - Juventus FC/Juventus FC ... [+] via Getty Images)

Juventus went into this past week knowing results would be vital, but acutely aware that a UEFA Champions League trip to the Pierre Mauroy Stadium to take on Lille would be no easy feat.

The Bianconeri had lost their last European outing 0-1 to VfB Stuttgart, and followed up that defeat with draws against Inter and Parma. A win over Udinese at the weekend put them back on track, but Thiago Motta explained to reporters that the French side would be a very different proposition.

“Lille have a strong first press, they can also defend deep and leave space to counter-attack,” the Juve boss said at his pre-match press conference on Monday. “They are well-drilled and well-organised, so we need a great performance to get what we want at the end of it.”

However, even as they sought a much-needed win, Juve were without a number of key players, including suspended defender Danilo, plus injured trip Gleison Bremer, Nico Gonzalez and Arkadiusz Milik.

Lille came into this tie having already recorded wins over both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, their quality evident once again when the game got underway as Jonathan David had an early effort charged down by Federico Gatti.

Dusan Vlahovic was offside when Teun Koopmeiners put the ball in the net, and shortly after that was ruled out, the Ligue 1 side struck on a counter attack. Winger Edon Zhegrova went by Juan Cabal on the right and put David through on goal where he would beat Michele Di Gregorio from a tight angle.

Juve came close to equalising no fewer than four times, a brilliant save from Lucas Chevalier denied a Vlahovic volley after a Manuel Locatelli cross, while defender Aissa Mandi somehow blocked Kenan Yildiz’s effort at the back post on the resulting corner.

Koopmeiners then saw another goal disallowed, this time because Yildiz was offside in the build-up, while Chevalier denied Khephren Thuram after a dangerous cross from Francisco Conceicao.

It would be the tricky Portugal winger who finally got the Bianconeri a way back into the game, a run from Conceicao eventually resulting in a penalty which Vlahovic duly dispatched.

Juve went in search of a winner but couldn’t find one, leaving Motta frustrated at the final whistle even as he took time to praise the display his side had delivered over the 90+ minutes.

“We wanted a different result and created the opportunities to get that, but I am happy with the performance,” he told Sky Italia. “We certainly could’ve done better in the final third, though the quality of our football improved in the second half.

“It was clear from the start that they would defend and try to counter-attack, so we had to stop them doing that. Lille know what they are doing and are full of confidence at the moment, but it was a great performance from my lads.”

It was certainly more positive than their previous Champions League outing, and now Motta must prepare his men for this weekend, where a derby against crosstown rivals Torino awaits.