Max Allegri has nowhere to run after Juventus were humiliated 2-0 by Maccabi Haifa in Israel, lost Angel Di Maria to yet another injury, and have no Champions League hopes left.
This game in Israel was a must-win for Juventus after their 2-0 Serie A loss to Milan on Saturday. They already trailed the joint group leaders PSG and Benfica by four points. Due to injuries to Mattia De Sciglio, Federico Chiesa, Kaio Jorge, and Arkadiusz Milik, along with a domestic suspension, Angel Di Maria has returned to the match. Suf Podgoreanu, Yosef Raz Meir, Dolev Haziza, and Mahmoud Jaber were all missed by Maccabi Haifa.
Wojciech Szczesny denied Frantzy Pierrot’s header from six yards away to give the hosts the ball. Later, after several crosses from the left flank found Omer Atzili’s head, Szczesny was powerless to tip the ball over the line and into the far bottom corner.
On minute 12, Chery’s free kick went over the wall and off the top of the crossbar, and Szczesny reached out to tip an Atzili curler around the far post while it was nearly 2-0.
Angel Di Maria was running after a pass when he suddenly stopped, pulling up, and limping off to be replaced by Arkadiusz Milik. This made things even worse for Juventus.
Atzili doubled his tally and Maccabi Haifa’s lead with an outstanding goal, but his volley from yet another cross from the left flashed narrowly wide.
Alex Sandro and Szczesny were taken aback when he collected the ball on the right side of the penalty area and feinted a curler to the far top corner before smashing it fiercely into the near top corner.
On the cusp of halftime, Juventus finally had a chance, but Dusan Vlahovic’s header from a Juan Cuadrado cross was palmed away, and Milik was unable to tap in the rebound.
After the restart, they added Manuel Locatelli and Filip Kostic, at least increasing the tempo. Daniele Rugani’s header was fingertipped out of the top corner.
Juan Cuadrado appeared to have been shoved over by Cornud in the box, but VAR rejected his very strong appeal for a penalty.
Their most productive player, Cuadrado, had an angled drive parried, and Milik’s long strike was blocked.
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