Borussia Monchengladbach drew with Juventus 1-1 at Borussia-Park on Tuesday night in Group D of the Champions League, sending the Bianconeri to touching distance of the knockout rounds.
Fabian Johnson scored the game’s opening goal with a smart finish across goal following a Giorgio Chiellini error. Stephan Lichtsteiner announced himself back on the football scene with a belting leveller following life-threatening surgery a month ago. Hernanes was later sent off for a dangerous tackle in the second-half.
The German home side began the better of the two sides with the first chance arriving at the feet of Mahmoud Dahoud, who in turn spanked a wonderful effort that left Gianluigi Buffon flatfooted with the ball striking the crossbar.
Monchengladbach took their early dominance to their advantage when the deadlock was broken just after the quarter of an hour mark. It was Johnson who was on hand to give his side the lead following a shockingly poor defensive clearance from Chiellini.
Patrice Evra went close soon after when searching for an equaliser but had his effort kept out. Yann Sommer’s fingertips were enough to keep the home side ahead for all of three minutes.
Lichsteiner wrote his own headlines with a memorable volley after a truly sumptuous ball from Paul Pogba to get the Italian’s level going into half time.
Juventus started off as they ended the first-half but things took a turn following a needless challenge from Hernanes who received a straight red card for his foolish two-footed tackle.
The loss of a man didn’t look to deter the Bianconeri but Johnson came close to restoring Monchengladbach’s lead with a fierce shot that just cleared the crossbar by a few inches.
Buffon then did well to thwart Lars Stindl’s header and push Thorgan Hazard’s onto the bar to keep the match at 1-1.
Stephan did NOT have life threatening surgery. He did not, in fact, have any surgery. I know exactly what he had because I had the same thing last year. Great to see him back – one of my favourites. Great goal too.
Juve were played out of the park the first 25 min. and Hernanes lost his brain. Allegri is not up to the task.