Juventus got their Champions League campaign off on the right foot, as they secured an impressive and controversial 2-0 victory over Valencia on Wednesday.
Miralem Pjanic netted twice from the penalty spot for the away side, who were forced to play with 10 men after Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for a tussle with Jeison Murillo.
The Portuguese star appeared to grab the Colombian’s hair, and while the validity of the red card will be debated in the weeks to come, nobody will question how dominant the Bianconeri were despite the adversity.
Juventus were aggressive out of the gate, as Mario Mandzukic and Sami Khedira both fired high from close range. The German’s miss was the more shocking of the two, as he was left completely unmarked in the box.
Chaos erupted in the 29th minute, as Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in 154 Champions League matches in controversial fashion. The Juventus striker and Murillo were engaged in a battle off the ball, which resulted in the Colombian falling to the ground.
Replays appeared to show Ronaldo grab Murillo’s hair ever so slightly, and after a discussion with his goal-line assistant, referee Felix Brych decided it was enough to send off the Juve man. It wasn’t taken well, as Ronaldo was reduced to tears after the decision.
Barring an unlikely appeal, it also means the Portuguese striker will miss the Bianconeri’s match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 23.
The sending off seemed to galvanize Valencia, as Michy Batshuayi turned past Giorgio Chiellini and stung the gloves of Wojciech Szczesny.
Juventus weren’t dismayed by the temporary pressure, and took the lead late in the half from the penalty spot. Joao Cancelo hit the crossbar from close range, and after collecting the rebound, he was taken down by a high boot from Dani Parejo in the penalty area.
Pjanic stepped up and fired past Neto, giving Juventus the 1-0 advantage heading into the break.
It was 2-0 right after the restart, as the Bianconeri were handed a second penalty for a Murillo tug on Bonucci. Just like the first attempt, Pjanic fired to the left and past Neto for the Serie A giants.
The goal all but killed off the game, as Juventus easily dealt with Valencia’s tepid response. Szczesny found time to deny Parejo from the spot in the final moments, allowing the Italians to secure a dominant and impressive victory.
Joao Cancelo worth the investment
The Portuguese full-back looked comfortable at the Mestalla Stadium, a place he used to call home. Sold by Valencia over the summer, Cancelo showed his former employers why he is viewed by many as a star in waiting.
He bossed the right side of the field before and after Ronaldo’s sending off, and he played a key role in earning the Bianconeri their first penalty.
The crossbar was all that kept him from writing his name on the scoresheet, and it would have been a fitting cap to a spectacular performance.
No Ronaldo, no problem
While Ronaldo’s sending off will certainly make headlines, Juve’s ability to win the contest despite being a man down shows that they are a force to be reckoned with.
Even without the Portuguese star, they have demonstrated they are one of Europe’s top sides in recent seasons, and that was the case once again on Wednesday.
Valencia failed to make the most of the numerical advantage, allowing the Bianconeri to secure three points in rather comfortable fashion.
