Juventus took a step towards the semi-finals of the Europa League after securing a 1-0 win over Portuguese side sporting in the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday.
Federico Gatti’s goal in the second half was enough to give the hosts a narrow victory, despite Sporting dominating much of the match and creating several chances to score.
Captain Sebastian Coates came closest for Sporting in the first half, with his shot saved by Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Nuno Santos also had an effort cleared off the line by Gleison Bremer. Szczesny was replaced shortly before halftime, adding to Juventus’ injury woes.
However, substitute Dusan Vlahovic helped turn the game around for Juventus in the second half. Coates blocked his header on the line, but Gatti was on hand to bundle the rebound into the net from close range.
The game was not without drama, as Juventus goalkeeper Mattia Perin became the night’s hero with a superb double save in stoppage time. He first stopped a tap-in before parrying the rebound away from danger to ensure Juventus held on for the win.
The second leg of the quarter-final tie will occur next Thursday at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, with the winner facing either Sevilla or Manchester United in the semi-final. Juventus have had a difficult season, with the club being deducted 15 points due to their transfer dealings.
They currently sit in seventh place in Serie A with 44 points, eight points behind the fourth-placed team, which could qualify them for the UEFA Champions League next season. As a result, the club aims to win the Europa League to advance to the UEFA Champions League next season.
Juventus took an essential step towards the semi-finals of the Europa League with a hard-fought win over Sporting. Despite being dominated for much of the game, Juventus secured a crucial away goal, which may prove decisive in the second leg. The club hopes to build on this result and secure its place in the semi-finals, with the ultimate goal of winning the Europa League and securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League next season