Juventus staged a thrilling comeback to defeat RB Leipzig 3-2 in a captivating Champions League encounter in Leipzig.
Despite RB Leipzig leading twice through Benjamin Sesko, Juventus battled back, with Dusan Vlahovic scoring twice and substitute Conceicao netting the winner.
It was a night of drama, with Juventus showing remarkable resilience to secure back-to-back wins in the tournament.
The game started with both teams eager to make an early impact, but it was RB Leipzig who struck first.
In the 30th minute, Benjamin Sesko fired the hosts ahead with a powerful half-volley, giving them the upper hand.
Despite Juventus holding 70% of the early possession, RB Leipzig’s high pressing and fast counterattacks put the Italian side under pressure.
However, Juventus refused to back down. Dusan Vlahovic equalized early in the second half, finishing off a low cross from Cambiaso to make it 1-1.
Sesko restored RB Leipzig’s lead with a calm penalty, but Juventus fought back once again. Vlahovic scored his second with a superb long-range effort, making it 2-2.
The defining moment came when Chico Conceicao, a second-half substitute, netted the winner with a deflected shot to make it 3-2 for Juventus.
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The win was even more impressive considering Juventus were down to 10 men after Di Gregorio’s red card. Juventus’ xG (expected goals) of 1.23 highlights their ruthlessness in front of goal, while RB Leipzig’s xG of 3.61 shows how many chances they missed.
Benjamin Sesko was a standout player for RB Leipzig, scoring twice to give his team the lead on two separate occasions.
His first goal came from a brilliant counterattack, smashing the ball off the crossbar and into the net. He followed that up with a cool penalty to put his team ahead again in the second half.
Sesko’s movement, finishing, and ability to find space were key elements of RB Leipzig’s attacking play.
However, despite Sesko’s heroics, RB Leipzig was unable to hold on to their lead. Their xG of 3.61 showed how much they created but also how wasteful they were in front of goal.
Missed chances, including several from Openda and a crucial miss from Simons, ultimately cost them the game.
Dusan Vlahovic proved to be Juventus’ main man, scoring twice to keep his team in the game.
His first goal, a sharp finish from Cambiaso’s cross, was followed by a stunning long-range effort to make it 2-2. Vlahovic’s clinical finishing was a reminder of his ability to make the most of limited chances.
Their resilience, even after going down to 10 men following Di Gregorio’s red card, was impressive. Substitute Conceicao provided the winning goal, making the most of Raum’s defensive error to score the third and final goal for Juventus.
RB Leipzig will need to regroup after this tough defeat. Despite dominating large parts of the game and creating plenty of chances, they were unable to finish off Juventus. They will be looking to bounce back in their next Champions League match and will need to sharpen their finishing if they are to compete at the highest level.
Juventus, on the other hand, will return to Turin with maximum points from their opening two Champions League matches. Motta’s men have shown they can grind out results, and they will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming fixtures.
