Good evening and thank you for joining
Sports Mole for live text commentary of the
Europa League semi-final second leg between
Juventus and Benfica at the Juventus Stadium. It is advantage Benfica following their 2-1 win in the first leg, but Juventus will feel that their away goal could make all the difference in what should be a pulsating match.
The sides met the same time a week ago in Portugal with
Ezequiel Garay heading Benfica into the lead inside of two minutes. Chances were few and far between in a tight contest, until
Carlos Tevez ended his European goal drought in the second half. It looked like the game was heading for a draw, before
Lima found the top corner in the final minutes to put his team in the driving seat.
JUVENTUS XI: Buffon, Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah, Llorente, Tevez
BENFICA XI: Oblak, Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Siqueira, Amorim, Perez, Markovic, Gaitan,
Rodrigo,
Lima
JUVENTUS SUBS: Storari, Barzagli, Padoin, Marchisio, Giovinco, Osvaldo, Vucinic
BENFICA SUBS: Artur, Jardel, Almeida, Sulejmani, Cavaleiro, Salvio, Cardozo
There are two changes to the Juventus side that were beaten last week, as
Arturo Vidal and
Fernando Llorente replace
Claudio Marchisio and
Mirko Vucinic in the starting lineup. They are almost at full strength with the likes of
Carlos Tevez,
Andrea Pirlo and
Paul Pogba playing, with the only exception being the inclusion of
Martin Caceres in the back three instead of
Andrea Barzagli.
Meanwhile, Benfica have made four changes to their team from last week's first leg. Goalkeeper
Jan Oblak replaces
Artur Moraes,
Ruben Amorim and
Nicolas Gaitan return to the midfield in place of the suspended
Andre Gomes and Miralem Sulejmani, while top scorer Lima takes
Oscar Cardozo's place upfront alongside
Rodrigo.
Juventus actually trailed after the first leg the last time these teams played in this competition. Back when the Europa League was called the UEFA Cup, they met at the quarter-final stage in 1993. Benfica had won 2-1 in Portugal, but goals from
Jurgen Kohler,
Dino Baggio and
Fabrizio Ravanelli saw Juventus romp to a 3-0 victory in Turin to book a semi-final spot. They eventually went on to win the tournament following a two-legged final against Borussia Dortmund.
Benfica made it through to their second cup final of the season at the weekend, following a penalty shootout victory against rivals Porto in the Taca de Liga. They are already in the Taca de Portugal final and will face Rio Ave in both competitions as they seek a domestic treble. Juventus were in action on Monday evening and moved a step closer to the Serie A title with a
3-1 win against Sassuolo, which means that a victory in their next match against Atalanta will guarantee them a third-consecutive Scudetto.
Antonio Conte has said that he feels his side should not have lost the first leg and is backing his players to turn the tie around with the support from their home fans. "I repeat that for me, the result in the first leg was absolutely wrong, considering we were playing such a good team. We need to be very good going forward, but even better at not allowing Benfica to play what is essentially a counter-attacking game. We must be very good in our interpretation of the game, given that we lost the first match 2-1. We know what we have to do. I am confident, given that we are at Juventus Stadium and that we will have our fans giving us strong support."
Meanwhile, Benfica manager
Jorge Jesus has said that his team are not going to change their attacking style of play this evening and will be targeting a goal. "We firmly believe we must score," he told reporters at his pre match Press conference. "We have players who can help us to do that. Thanks to their great characteristics and technical qualities, we can think about playing an offensive game. Juventus know how good Benfica's attack is. Juventus' tactics are tactics that we are not used to playing against, so we are obliged to come up with different ways to stop them."
PREDICTION: Juventus can expect a passionate home crowd this evening, who will be desperate to see their team progress to the final which is taking place at this stadium. Conte will want his side to put the pressure on their opponents from the start and take command of the tie. Benfica have shown that they are more than a match for any team, but they face a Juventus side who have an incredible home record this season and know how to raise their game when it matters most. It will be tight, but I am going to go for a 2-0 win to Juventus that will see them claim an overall victory in the tie.
The players are making their way out of the tunnel alongside referee
Mark Clattenburg, who is taking charge of the match tonight.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Juventus Stadium!
The visitors are close to taking the lead inside the opening minute as Rodrigo meets a long throw at the back post, before seeing his effort blocked by the body of Lichtsteiner.
We've seen a really fast start to this match, with both teams looking to get the ball forward quickly. It looks like Benfica are going stay true to their attacking style of play and not allow Juventus any time to settle.
Benfica look especially dangerous on the counter attack as Rodrigo charges through the midfield. He has runners either side of him as he approaches the box, but he tries to go alone before being stopped by a strong challenge by Chiellini.
CHANCE! Juventus are starting to get into their stride and they have their first shot of the evening when Pirlo latches onto a loose ball on the edge of the box before firing in an effort that is tipped over the bar by the keeper.
From the resulting corner, the ball is played to Vidal on the edge of the box, but the midfielder ends up smashing his effort high over the bar.
Benfica are committing a lot of players forward at every opportunity they get and it is clear their manager wants them to get on the scoresheet. Even from long throws their defenders are coming forward from the back, with the home defence dealing with the threat so far.
We are yet to see Pirlo really get into this match, apart from his effort on goal a few minutes ago. He is such a key player for the Italians and was well marked last week by Benfica, who made sure his impact on the match was relatively limited.
Juventus start to pile on the pressure and Pirlo's ball into the box is well defended as Llorente looks to get a header in on goal. It is then cleared to Lichtsteiner, who tries to deliver a ball to the back post, but it is too close to the keeper who claims with ease.
CHANCE! Vidal has a half-chance for the home side as he is picked out at the back post by Pirlo, before trying to volley an effort over the keeper and into the far corner, but he gets too much on the strike and puts it over the bar.
Pereira comes forward from the back and tries his luck from range for the Portuguese side, but his effort is wildly overhit and flies over the bar.
CHANCE! Juventus are the team looking most likely to find the net and they come close when Llorente flicks on a header that is met by Tevez on the volley inside the box. The striker made decent contact with the ball, but can't keep his effort down and sends it just over the bar.
UPDATE: In tonight's other match in Spain, Valencia are leading 2-0 against Sevilla, which means that the scores are now level on aggregate at 2-2.
The Bianconeri have yet another attempt on goal, but it is a poor effort from Pogba, who collects the ball in plenty of space around 25 yards out, before scuffing his low shot well wide of the post.
It is Juventus who are making all of the running at the moment, but the Benfica defence are holding firm so far. Pirlo and Pogba are seeing much more of the ball, with plenty of gaps opening up down the wings to exploit.
Just as it looks like the Italians are in command, they are nearly caught out on the counter attack, as Rodrigo's ball from out wide is well turned behind by Asamoah. From the corner, Benfica are unable to cause any danger as the home defence clears comfortably.
Pirlo shows just what he can do, as he plays a wonderful first time ball over the top for Vidal. The Chilean picks out Llorente in the box, but the striker sees his effort blocked. Soon after Vidal meets a cross at the back post, but can only loop his header across goal narrowly wide.
Juventus are definitely the side who are on top at the moment, but they have been frustrated by a Benfica outfit who have defended strongly, with Tevez and Llorente being given very little in terms of support up front.
Pirlo has become more influential as the half has gone on and he goes for goal with a long range effort that goes just past the far post.
CHANCE! Juventus are getting closer to the breakthrough and are inches away from scoring as Bonucci heads a free kick from Pirlo just wide.
We are going to have two minutes of added on time.
OFF THE LINE! Vidal is so close to giving Juventus the lead as he meets a cross from Asamoah at the back post, before seeing his downwards header cleared off the line by Luisao.
HALF-TIME: Juventus 0-0 Benfica
Juventus have dominated the first half and had the better of the chances, but it is goalless here in Turin, with Benfica still ahead in the tie. Conte will be pleased of the effort from his team, who have been spurred on by a passionate home crowd.
It's quite clear from the stats who has been the more progressive side, as Juventus have had 10 shots to their opponents two efforts on goal. They have had the majority of the possession, seeing 57% of the ball and certainly look like scoring at some point this evening.
As the half has gone on, Pirlo has become more of an influence on the Juventus team. He is seeing a lot of the ball and has played a couple of outstanding passes. Another key man for them has been Vidal, who has got in behind the Benfica defence on numerous occasions and was desperately unlucky to see his header cleared off the line at the end of the half.
In tonight's other semi-final it is also half time and goals from Sofiane Feghouli and Jonas has seen Valencia take a two goal lead against Sevilla. That tie is now level at 2-2, in what looks like another remarkable comeback from Valencia, who were 3-0 down against Basle in the quarter-finals, before coming back to win 5-0 in the second leg.
There are plenty of options for both managers if they look to switch things around in the second half. Juve have Pablo Osvaldo and Sebastian Giovinco to come on, while Oscar Cordozo is more than capable of finding the net for the visitors.
Benfica take the kick off and get the second half started in Turin.
It has been a decent start to the second half by Juventus who have seen all of the ball. They have had a couple of dangerous moments in their opponents' half, with a Tevez strike deflecting wide and Llorente being penalized harshly for what was seen to be a handball inside the box.
CHANCE! Big chance for Rodrigo. The ball drops kindly for the Benfica forward inside the box, but he blazes his strike high over the bar. His side will be hoping that doesn't come back to haunt them if they lose the match.
The rain is pouring down in Turin as Juventus look to increase the pressure. They have a good chance to get players forward as Asamoah bursts down the left and wins a corner.
The corner is played short, with Vidal's ball eventually closed down and cleared behind again. Their next set piece isn't great either, as it is played too close to the keeper who comes and claims.
YELLOW CARD! Rodrigo is booked after appearing to catch Buffon as the keeper came out to claim the ball at the striker's feet.
Benfica win a corner down by the right hand corner flag after Markovic is fouled by Asamoah. The resulting delivery into the box is good, but after a few nervy moments the Juve defence manage to get the ball clear.
YELLOW CARD! It's a second booking for the visitors, as Perez bundles Tevez to the ground, around 25 yards out from goal. This is a great chance for Pirlo from the free kick which is well within his range.
CHANCE! Pirlo does indeed go for goal from the free kick and sees his powerful effort beaten out by Oblak.
YELLOW CARD! Mark Clattenburg hands out the third booking of the evening to Asamoah for his clumsy foul from behind.
Brilliant defending from Benfica, who stop Llorente making clean contact from Vidal's whipped in cross, before Garay gets in front of Tevez to deny the Argentine from getting a shot on goal.
RED CARD! Benfica suffer a huge blow as Perez is sent off for picking up a second booking for a foul on Vidal. It is going to be a tough end to the game for the 10 men as they attempt to cling on to their narrow lead.
SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make their first change of the evening with Almeida replacing Rodrigo.
There is a lot more space opening up now for Juventus thanks to their man advantage and Tevez manages to weave his way to the edge of the box, before curling in a strike which is well hit, but too close to the keeper who makes the save.
SUBSTITUTION: It is Juventus's turn to make a change and they bring on Giovinco in place of Bonucci.
SUBSTITUTION: Jorge Jesus makes his second change of the evening with Salvio coming on for Benfica in place of Gaitan.
Benfica are really struggling to see any of the ball, with Juventus completely dominating now. The Portuguese outfit have everyone back behind the ball which is making it difficult for Juventus to get in behind.
SUBSTITUTION: It's a double switch for Juventus, with Osvaldo and Marchisio coming on for Vidal and Llorente.
What a huge moment for Juventus. Marchisio floats a stunning pass over the top for Lichtsteiner, who has got away from the defence, but the Austrian takes his eye of the ball and allows it to drift out of play.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Juventus feel that they have scored, as Pogba keeps the ball in down the right, before playing it back across goal for Osvaldo to slot into the net. The goal is correctly ruled out though, as Pogba was standing in an offside position.
Chiellini is incredibly lucky not give away a penalty after dragging down Markovic inside the box. The referee was standing close to the action, but felt that there was no foul.
SUBSTITUTION: Benfica make their final substitution of the evening, as Sulejmani comes on for Markovic.
Benfica are soaking up a huge amount of pressure at the moment but are still managing to hold off the constant barrage of Juventus attacks. There is a real sense of desperation around the ground, as the home fans urge their team on to make the final.
Things are getting heated on the sidelines as the two camps come together with Vucinic and Markovic both shown red cards by Clattenburg. I'm not entirely sure what happened between the pair, but they will both be banned from the final.
Pogba tries a spectacular overhead kick in the box, but only manages to make contact with Garay, who is down and in need of treatment. Things don't look good for the defender, who is being stretchered off the pitch, and it looks like he won't be able to continue.
We are going to have six minutes of added time following the stoppage in play to treat Garay, with Benfica now down to nine men.
Tevez goes for goal with a stinging drive from 20 yards out, but his effort is too close to Oblak who holds on to his strike.
Juventus are pushing everyone forward now, but they are caught offside again when Marchisio heads on Pirlo's chipped ball over the top.
YELLOW CARD! Salvio is booked for Benfica after a handball from Asamoah's strike, with Juventus given a free kick in a great shooting position for Pirlo.
Pirlo's free kick hits the wall and goes out for a corner. This will surely be the last chance for Juventus and Buffon is up.
Caceres meets the corner and sees his effort saved by the keeper, but it wouldn't of counted had he found the net as the flag is up on the far side.
FULL-TIME: Juventus 0-0 Benfica (Benfica win 2-1 on Aggregate)
After eight minutes of stoppage time Mark Clattenburg brings the game to an end, with Benfica holding on to go through to the Europa League final. They finished the game with nine men, but somehow clung to their first leg lead to set up a showdown with Sevilla.
Juventus will be devastated that they couldn't make it through to the final at their home ground, but they couldn't break down a well drilled Benfica defence. As for the Portuguese side, they now have the chance to win the quadruple and claim victory in the tournament they lost last season to Chelsea.
That's all we've got time for here. Make sure you stay with Sports Mole for all of tonight's news, but from me, it's goodbye!