Arkadiusz Milik gave Juventus a commanding early lead; however, Benfica quickly turned the tide and ended Juventus’ Champions League run.
Juventus both of their opening group games in this tournament for the first time ever, and they are now six points back of the leaders.
The Bianconeri needed a lift after their opening 2-1 loss to PSG and three draws in their first five Serie A games, including a contentious 2-2 tie with Salernitana in which a last-second winner was wrongly disallowed by VAR. While Sandro joined Rabiot, Locatelli, Szczesny, Pogba, Chiesa, and Jorge on the treatment table, Angel Di Maria was back on the bench. Despite the absence of Joao Victor, Lucas Verissimo, and Morato, Benfica had won 11 straight games.
The breakthrough came after just four minutes when Milik glanced a Paredes free kick into the far bottom corner of the goal. A Miretti shot flashed across the six-yard box beyond Milik after Filip Kostic’s volley was deflected just wide of the far post.
Fortunately for Juventus, Goncalo Ramos was able to leap relatively unimpeded, and his header was directed directly at Mattia Perin. Benfica were unfortunate on the counterattack when Rafa Silva’s effort beat Perin but smacked the upright.
It served as a warning because shortly after that, Miretti was given a VAR penalty for trotting on Goncalo Ramos’ foot while winning a tackle at the byline. Joao Mario, a former Inter midfielder, successfully converted the ensuing penalty by slamming the ball into the goal’s roof.
Milik witnessed a long-range rocket take a tiny deflection and nearly catch the goalkeeper off guard as he raised a trailing hand to parry.
Since Juve’s early goal, Benfica has been pressing harder. The game was turned around when Perin stopped Rafa Silva, but was powerless to stop Neres’ rebound after Enzo Fernandez’s move set him up.
A last-ditch deflection by Leonardo Bonucci from 10 yards away prevented a third goal, and Perin then palmed a Rafa Silva shot out from under the crossbar.
Perin was keeping the score low by stopping Neres, but after coming off the bench, Angel Di Maria threatened an equalizer by slamming the base of the near post off a cross-shot from Moise Kean.
When Dusan Vlahovic did put the ball in the net from close range, Mattia De Sciglio was adjudged to have been offside on the assist.
Bremer missed an opportunity to equalize when his first touch on a ball over the top was a little heavy and he then shot over from close range.
Benfica eventually took control of the game after falling behind early on and surviving a 20-minute assault on the goal, earning three crucial points in the process. In order to subjugate their opponents, whose direct approach faltered as the game went on, the Eagles patiently passed and followed up their equalizer at the end of the first half with a well-deserved victory after the break. Benfica extends their winning streak this season to 12 games, while Juventus’ most recent loss only adds to the depressing atmosphere in Turin.
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