08/07/2020 - 18:09
- Clarín.com
- sports
What was given to Juventus in his dream of once again being the absolute king of Europe is over. Cristiano Ronaldo's double, once again phenomenal, was not enough to eliminate the surprising Olympique de Lyon, who was among the eight best who will go for the Orejona in Lisbon thanks to the visitor goal and the 1-0 of the first leg far away and long ago when the coronavirus had not yet swept. It was 2-1 for Vecchia Signora , who also lost through injury to Paulo Dybala, who had entered the second half.
For the first time in 28 years it was played on a Friday in the Champions League. And it was a cursed Friday for the giants: because not only did Juventus, the highest scorer in the history of the competition, say goodbye. The greatest champion in history, Real Madrid, also said goodbye. And it was against two teams that never raised the trophy, Manchester City - now sitting at the table of millionaire clubs - and this Lyon that dared to leave more emptiness in the emptied stadium on Gaetano Scirea Street.
It was clear: Cristiano alone is not enough to win the Champions League. Against the French team he played a game to applause: he was the leader, unbalanced, scored a double (number 36, record of the competition that distributes the most money). But he had no company. The actions of the rest were not up to CR7 or the circumstances.
Dybala came in and only played 13 minutes. He suffered from the injury. Photo: AP
In the first half there were two peculiarities that defined the meeting: the astonishment and the controversy. Without an audience in the stands, Juventus did not seem so local in the game. Especially in the initial section, in which Lyon cheered up as if they were at home. He did not inhibit him against that Vecchia Signora who this season obtained his ninth successive Scudetto.
Lyon was adept at cutting spaces and preventing Juventus from passing him. Even development and even a certain speed difference in favor of the French team, which in Ligue 1 (which had 10 fewer dates due to the pandemic) finished seventh and, consequently, will not participate in international competitions in its next campaign (unless it wins this Champions that places him among the surprises along with Atalanta and RB Leipzig). Another impression remained: the 1-0 in the first leg brought tranquility and confidence to Lyon.
The antecedents were of no use. Everything very even. Beyond the possession of the ball favorable to Maurizio Sarri's team (63% after 90 minutes).
Look also
Lyon eliminates Juventus in the second round: images of the match
The other detail in which they were alike at that stage: their goals came under the cover of controversial penalties.
First, an alleged lack of Bernardeschi to Aouar. Gol, with minced included, from Depay. They went 12 minutes. Curious details: it was 11 years since they had charged him a penalty at home in the Champions League and 21 years since the last time they had scored a penalty goal in a knockout phase of the Champions League.
You have to score the penalty to make sure you pass Juventus in the round of 16 of the #ChampionsLeague. What do you do? The spades a la Panenka: Depay pic.twitter.com/SFBHkwx913
- Pizarra Sports (@PizarraSports) August 7, 2020Second, a hand on the visiting barrier after a free kick from Pjanic. Only the German referee Felix Zwayer saw it. Cristiano's goal, the highest scorer in the history of the Champions League - he reached 127, of which 17 were from 12 steps. It was 43 minutes. One by one.
Juventus drew 1-1 with Lyon (1-2) and who scored the goal? you hit, Cristiano Ronaldo, from penalty #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/MqxNAjoLO1
- Pizarra Sports (@PizarraSports) August 7, 2020The second half was something else: Juventus resembled - although not so much - that overwhelming and feared team that usually plays in Serie A. But only occasionally, in the face of urgency.
He continued being Deportivo Cristiano. The left-handed goal from outside the area, at 14 minutes, corroborated that concept. On top of that, without Dybala as a partner - he entered and suffered from the injury to his left thigh; He played 13 minutes - he found no alternatives to share his football. Higuaín, for example, never gravitated.
Unstoppable in Serie A!
'Superfly' with goal and two assists
Dybala goal with his impeccable left
foot Higuaín scores with a taquito pass from Cristiano Ronaldo
They are leaders at the moment with 7 points of advantage and the ninth consecutive title seems imminentpic.twitter.com/pxRgPfVkkc
After the 2-1, the predictable: Juventus, the ball always to Cristiano, the doubts to risk from Sarri, the inaccuracies, the nerves; Lyon, the will to defend with everyone behind the line of the ball, a team tenacity without stage fright and the counterattack as a resource. Thus, between the one who could not and the one who did not give him a loophole, the outcome came: that defeat that was qualification for Lyon and that victory with a sense of failure for Juventus. Nothing less. All that.
MFV