Juventus cling to second spot after draw with Barcelona

Share this with Email Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Whatsapp

Barcelona earned qualification to the Champions League knockout stage with a 0-0 draw against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday.

Advertisement

Barca star Lionel Messi started the Group D clash from the bench, marking the first time since Oct. 16 of last year he had not begun a Barca match by manager's choice.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had played the full 90 minutes in Barca's 3-0 win at Leganes on Saturday, and was held out until the 56th minute in Turin, when he entered for Gerard Deulofeu.

Juventus' Paulo Dybala vies with Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti in the Champions League. Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

And the match suffered from Messi's absence and the table situation for both sides, with a draw suiting both teams stay 1-2 atop the group.

Advertisement

Lucas Digne flubbed his lines after a defensive mistake from Juan Cuadrado left him free in the box in the 69th minute, but his unconvincing cross was easily cut out by the Juve defence in what was the best chance of the second half.

The result ensures Barca will finish atop the group with one match still to play, while Juve are three points back in second.

Source: espn.co.uk