• Alfonso Pedraza – 6. Allowed a lot of freedom down the left wing while Juventus sat back. Attempted several crosses, but they didn’t threaten. AP Photo
    Alfonso Pedraza – 6. Allowed a lot of freedom down the left wing while Juventus sat back. Attempted several crosses, but they didn’t threaten. AP Photo
  • Raul Albiol – 6. Defended well when Juve attacked. Solid performance with strong, simple passing out from the back. EPA
    Raul Albiol – 6. Defended well when Juve attacked. Solid performance with strong, simple passing out from the back. EPA
  • Alberto Moreno – 4. Dummied the pass which led to Vlahovic’s 33-second goal, and his wasteful passing caused Villareal issues throughout. Subbed off for Manu Trigueros after 79 minutes. AFP
    Alberto Moreno – 4. Dummied the pass which led to Vlahovic’s 33-second goal, and his wasteful passing caused Villareal issues throughout. Subbed off for Manu Trigueros after 79 minutes. AFP
  • Dani Parejo – 7. Dispossessed Morata early in the game, which led to a period of Villareal pressure. Found himself in the attacking third often and got a deserved goal from Capoue cross. Reuters
    Dani Parejo – 7. Dispossessed Morata early in the game, which led to a period of Villareal pressure. Found himself in the attacking third often and got a deserved goal from Capoue cross. Reuters
  • Etienne Capoue – 5. Looked frustrated by Juventus’ defensive shape as he attempted multiple shots from outside the area in the first half. AP Photo
    Etienne Capoue – 5. Looked frustrated by Juventus’ defensive shape as he attempted multiple shots from outside the area in the first half. AP Photo
  • Samuel Chukwueze – 6. Didn’t make his first touch of the game until 15 minutes, but managed to show off his dribbling and crossing abilities. AFP
    Samuel Chukwueze – 6. Didn’t make his first touch of the game until 15 minutes, but managed to show off his dribbling and crossing abilities. AFP
  • Giovani Lo Celso – 6. Missed a golden chance to score following a square ball from Pedraza in the penalty area. EPA
    Giovani Lo Celso – 6. Missed a golden chance to score following a square ball from Pedraza in the penalty area. EPA
  • Arnaut Danjuma – 4. Kept quiet by the Juventus defence. Had a backheel attempt saved. AFP
    Arnaut Danjuma – 4. Kept quiet by the Juventus defence. Had a backheel attempt saved. AFP
  • SUB: Pervis Estupinan (Pedraza, 79’) – 6. Came on and immediately made a strong on Weston McKennie, who unfortunately had to be subbed off. AFP
    SUB: Pervis Estupinan (Pedraza, 79’) – 6. Came on and immediately made a strong on Weston McKennie, who unfortunately had to be subbed off. AFP
  • SUB: Manu Trigueros (Moreno, 79’) – 5. Bought on to bolster Villareal’s attack but failed to make any impact. AP Photo
    SUB: Manu Trigueros (Moreno, 79’) – 5. Bought on to bolster Villareal’s attack but failed to make any impact. AP Photo
  • JUVENTUS RATINGS: Wojciech Szczesny – 7. Saved Danjuma’s backheel attempt following a whipped pass from Chukwueze. Conceded to Parejo, who found himself in the Juventus box completely unmarked. AFP
    JUVENTUS RATINGS: Wojciech Szczesny – 7. Saved Danjuma’s backheel attempt following a whipped pass from Chukwueze. Conceded to Parejo, who found himself in the Juventus box completely unmarked. AFP
  • Alex Sandro – 6. Quiet first half but played his part in Juve’s stubborn defence. Subbed off for Leonardo Bonucci at the start of the second half, a statement of Juventus’ intent to not lose their lead. EPA
    Alex Sandro – 6. Quiet first half but played his part in Juve’s stubborn defence. Subbed off for Leonardo Bonucci at the start of the second half, a statement of Juventus’ intent to not lose their lead. EPA
  • Danilo – 7. Filling in at centre-back due to Juventus’ long injury list. Held his position well and prevented Villareal from posing any real danger. AFP
    Danilo – 7. Filling in at centre-back due to Juventus’ long injury list. Held his position well and prevented Villareal from posing any real danger. AFP
  • Mattia De Sciglio – 6. Seemed somewhat limited by the defensive outlook and failed to produce any strong crosses from the wing. Linked well with Cuadrado. EPA
    Mattia De Sciglio – 6. Seemed somewhat limited by the defensive outlook and failed to produce any strong crosses from the wing. Linked well with Cuadrado. EPA
  • Weston McKennie – 8. Cut inside to pass and linked well with his forwards. Subbed off due to an injury, which brought an unfortunate end to a good game for the midfielder. Juventus’ second best attacking threat after Vlahovic. AFP
    Weston McKennie – 8. Cut inside to pass and linked well with his forwards. Subbed off due to an injury, which brought an unfortunate end to a good game for the midfielder. Juventus’ second best attacking threat after Vlahovic. AFP
  • Manuel Locatelli – 6. Excellent passing intent showed but not matched by technical skill. Attempted to get the ball forward at almost every opportunity but largely ineffective. Subbed following Villareal’s equaliser. EPA
    Manuel Locatelli – 6. Excellent passing intent showed but not matched by technical skill. Attempted to get the ball forward at almost every opportunity but largely ineffective. Subbed following Villareal’s equaliser. EPA
  • Juan Cuadrado – 7. Lively down the right wing and switched between carrying the ball further himself or passing to progress. AP Photo
    Juan Cuadrado – 7. Lively down the right wing and switched between carrying the ball further himself or passing to progress. AP Photo
  • Dusan Vlahovic – 9. Scored within 30 seconds of his Champions League debut with a finish across Rulli with his weak foot. Flashes of flair throughout the game and a first touch unparalleled by anyone else on the pitch. EPA
    Dusan Vlahovic – 9. Scored within 30 seconds of his Champions League debut with a finish across Rulli with his weak foot. Flashes of flair throughout the game and a first touch unparalleled by anyone else on the pitch. EPA
  • Alvaro Morata – 5. Lacked finesse in his finishing, hitting one first-half shot over the crossbar and another wide in the second half. EPA
    Alvaro Morata – 5. Lacked finesse in his finishing, hitting one first-half shot over the crossbar and another wide in the second half. EPA
  • SUB: Leonardo Bonucci (Sandro, 45’) – 6. Cleared up following a sloppy Juventus’ pass which led to a dangerous Villareal move. Failed to continue Juventus’ strong defensive performance from the first half. AP Photo
    SUB: Leonardo Bonucci (Sandro, 45’) – 6. Cleared up following a sloppy Juventus’ pass which led to a dangerous Villareal move. Failed to continue Juventus’ strong defensive performance from the first half. AP Photo
  • SUB: Arthur (Locatelli, 71’) – 6. Played a good pass to move Juventus forward, and followed with a foul on Lo Celso during his 20-minute appearance. AFP
    SUB: Arthur (Locatelli, 71’) – 6. Played a good pass to move Juventus forward, and followed with a foul on Lo Celso during his 20-minute appearance. AFP
  • SUB: Denis Zakaria (McKennie, 81’) - N/A. Came on to replace the injured McKennie and failed to make an impact in the scrappy final phases of play. AFP
    SUB: Denis Zakaria (McKennie, 81’) - N/A. Came on to replace the injured McKennie and failed to make an impact in the scrappy final phases of play. AFP

Villarreal vs Juventus player ratings: Danjuma 4, Lo Celso 6; Vlahovic 9, McKennie 8


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Dusan Vlahovic scored the second-fastest goal ever for a Champions League debutant as his Juventus side were held to a 1-1 draw at Villarreal in a last-16 first-leg tie on Tuesday.

The Serbian striker, who joined the Turin side from Fiorentina in January, needed only 33 seconds to net a perfect cross shot.

Juventus dominated the game until a mistake by their defence in the 66th minute gave Dani Parejo the chance to score the equaliser.

Etienne Capoue spotted Parejo alone and unmarked behind defenders and sent a perfect pass over the top for the Spanish midfielder to tap into the net.

After the goal, Villarreal had a couple of clear opportunities and could have gone ahead if their forwards had been more efficient.

"I have a bittersweet taste in my mouth, I believe we deserved more," Capoue told reporters.

"It's not a bad result because of the end of the away-goal rule. We are confident that we can go there and get the result we need to advance."

The 22-year-old Vlahovic lived up to expectations, posing a constant danger to the Villarreal defence and hitting Juve's only two shots on target in the game. On the second one, late in the second half, goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli made a great save.

"He is very young, was making his debut and managed to score. That says everything about who he is," Juventus striker Alvaro Morata said of Vlahovic.

"One can only imagine the career he has in front of him. He is an extraordinary kid; in one week he has completely adapted to the club. It looks like he has been with us for months now. We are delighted to have him."

Juventus could have ended the game with 10 men after a bad, studs-up foul by midfielder Adrien Rabiot on Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze but the Video Assistant Referee took the controversial decision to let a yellow card stand.

Updated: June 09, 2023, 11:57 AM