Juventus took a small step in direction of the final 4 of the Europa League as Federico Gatti’s second-half objective secured the hosts a 1-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon within the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday.
Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri modified the formation that misplaced 2-1 to Lazio in Serie A on Saturday to a extra attacking one with three forwards, however with restricted success.
“I all the time say that soccer will not be a mathematical equation. I made a decision to make use of these three upfront, we had been typically left unbalanced in opposition to a powerful opponent like Sporting,” he advised Sky Sport Italy.
The primary likelihood fell to Federico Chiesa who fired an angled shot from contained in the field that Sporting goalkeeper Antonio Adan parried away.
Sporting dominated a lot of the match and had possibilities to attain within the first half. Captain Sebastian Coates had a shot saved by Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny earlier than Gleison Bremer cleared a Nuno Santos effort off the road.
Juve needed to substitute Szczesny shortly earlier than the break, the Poland worldwide holding his chest earlier than being changed by Mattia Perin.
“I’m positive, I used to be just a little anxious, however we did all of the assessments and every thing is okay,” Szczesny mentioned.
“I used to be scared, it had by no means occurred to me earlier than, I used to be struggling to breathe and it actually frightened me.”
Substitute Dusan Vlahovic’s 73rd-minute header was blocked on the road by Coates and Gatti bundled the rebound in from shut vary.
Juve midfielder Paul Pogba made his first look outdoors of Serie A this season when he got here on as a late substitute for Angel Di Maria and he made an outstanding double intervention in stoppage time to cease Sporting from scoring.
“We made just a few errors, the lads can enhance, above all within the ultimate cross when Perin made two essential saves, we should always’ve sensed the hazard earlier,” Allegri mentioned.
The outcome continued Sporting’s winless run in Italy. 4 of their 16 video games within the nation have resulted in attracts and 12 in defeat.
The second leg is subsequent Thursday at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon. The winners will face both Sevilla or Manchester United within the semi-finals.