[CL] Manchester United 0-1 JUVENTUS [October 23rd, 2018] (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Hust
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Wasn't me 
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Juventus step back in time
Manchester United vs Juventus was the defining fixture of the late 1990s, but Gaby McKay feels the gulf has never been bigger.
“We lost 1-0, but it could have been 10-0. It was the biggest battering I’ve ever had on a football pitch. They took us to school, boys against men. We didn’t have a proper chance in the whole match. Manchester United played ninety minutes without a shot, without a sniff of a chance. It’s the only time that happened in my 602 games.”
So said Red Devils legend Gary Neville in his 2011 autobiography. The team he was describing? Marcello Lippi’s Juventus. That match took place in Turin in 1996, but swap some names and move 22 years into the future and it could easily describe the Bianconeri’s win at Old Trafford tonight.
When the two old rivals were drawn together in Group H of the Champions League there was much discussion of the famous duels of the 1990s, when Lippi and Sir Alex Ferguson regularly pitted their wits against one another; the urbane, cigar smoking Italian and the volcanic, brilliant Scotsman.
Neither man was on the touchline last night, but what unfolded on the pitch harkened back to the early days of those famous duels.
From the first whistle Juventus controlled proceedings, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci knocking the ball around between them like two 19th Century aristocrats enjoying a particularly placid game of lawn tennis. Over on the croquet pitch, Rodrigo Bentancur and Miralem Pjanic strolled merrily to-and-fro, Blaise Matuidi snarling around them to deter any intruders.
What was billed as a titanic tussle was barely even a contest, and when Paulo Dybala converted the only goal of the game it looked as though it was simply a question of how many Juventus would score.
That they managed only one was in part due to an improved second half performance from Jose Mourinho’s side, and perhaps more down to some sloppy second half play from the visitors. A few dropped passes in the final 20 minutes will be of concern to Coach Massimiliano Allegri, but in truth Manchester United created nothing, their best chance coming via a long-range Paul Pogba effort which cannoned off the post and then Wojciech Szczesny’s head.
Strangely, the man of the hour, Cristiano Ronaldo, was rather quiet. Instead the most impressive attacking player was his strike partner, Dybala, whose movement and intelligence bamboozled the United defence for the first hour of the match.
After that 1996 match, Neville described Alessandro Del Piero as “a class act, so sharp and elusive and intelligent”, but he could easily have been talking about Dybala, who showed guile and finesse which none of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford or Romelu Lukaku could come close to on the night.
Ferguson’s Manchester United would go on to match Juventus, eventually surpassing them on the way to a famous treble in 1999. The fact Jose Mourinho spent the final few minutes goading the visiting Bianconeri about his own treble, achieved eight years ago, said much about the direction of travel for the two contemporary sides.
- - - Updated - - -
Juventus step back in time
Manchester United vs Juventus was the defining fixture of the late 1990s, but Gaby McKay feels the gulf has never been bigger.
“We lost 1-0, but it could have been 10-0. It was the biggest battering I’ve ever had on a football pitch. They took us to school, boys against men. We didn’t have a proper chance in the whole match. Manchester United played ninety minutes without a shot, without a sniff of a chance. It’s the only time that happened in my 602 games.”
So said Red Devils legend Gary Neville in his 2011 autobiography. The team he was describing? Marcello Lippi’s Juventus. That match took place in Turin in 1996, but swap some names and move 22 years into the future and it could easily describe the Bianconeri’s win at Old Trafford tonight.
When the two old rivals were drawn together in Group H of the Champions League there was much discussion of the famous duels of the 1990s, when Lippi and Sir Alex Ferguson regularly pitted their wits against one another; the urbane, cigar smoking Italian and the volcanic, brilliant Scotsman.
Neither man was on the touchline last night, but what unfolded on the pitch harkened back to the early days of those famous duels.
From the first whistle Juventus controlled proceedings, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci knocking the ball around between them like two 19th Century aristocrats enjoying a particularly placid game of lawn tennis. Over on the croquet pitch, Rodrigo Bentancur and Miralem Pjanic strolled merrily to-and-fro, Blaise Matuidi snarling around them to deter any intruders.
What was billed as a titanic tussle was barely even a contest, and when Paulo Dybala converted the only goal of the game it looked as though it was simply a question of how many Juventus would score.
That they managed only one was in part due to an improved second half performance from Jose Mourinho’s side, and perhaps more down to some sloppy second half play from the visitors. A few dropped passes in the final 20 minutes will be of concern to Coach Massimiliano Allegri, but in truth Manchester United created nothing, their best chance coming via a long-range Paul Pogba effort which cannoned off the post and then Wojciech Szczesny’s head.
Strangely, the man of the hour, Cristiano Ronaldo, was rather quiet. Instead the most impressive attacking player was his strike partner, Dybala, whose movement and intelligence bamboozled the United defence for the first hour of the match.
After that 1996 match, Neville described Alessandro Del Piero as “a class act, so sharp and elusive and intelligent”, but he could easily have been talking about Dybala, who showed guile and finesse which none of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford or Romelu Lukaku could come close to on the night.
Ferguson’s Manchester United would go on to match Juventus, eventually surpassing them on the way to a famous treble in 1999. The fact Jose Mourinho spent the final few minutes goading the visiting Bianconeri about his own treble, achieved eight years ago, said much about the direction of travel for the two contemporary sides.
Even with Utd attacking and playing with more intensity in 2nd half, we didn't need to "close down" the game, esp that early. They still weren't that good. It seemed like Allegri used it as training. Bentancur's and Pjanic's passing/errors aside, they ran their drills well. Bonucci-Chiellini pair: 
. And in 1st half, really should've scored another.
Watching Mou's Utd in 1st half was interesting. All kinds of awkwardness. Lost the game before they entered the field.
. And in 1st half, really should've scored another.Watching Mou's Utd in 1st half was interesting. All kinds of awkwardness. Lost the game before they entered the field.
Not overly impressed with our performance in the second half. We gave away so many balls and our weakness in stamina was beginning to show. We should have scored more than 1 today after such a great 1st half, but then we switched off for the second. Shame ronaldo didn't score
Having said that, that chant by the juve fans towards mourinho at the end was hilarious
Having said that, that chant by the juve fans towards mourinho at the end was hilarious
Was at the game.
Poor game. Worst United ive ever seen we were pretty wasteful and should of crushed them.
Cuadrado is to blame for most of the wasted chances. Pjanic and Bonucci despite making a few great passes were really sloppy at times and nearly got us in trouble.
Cancelo, Dybala, Ronaldo and Alex Sandro were out best players and it was really great to see just how much work Matuidi does i appreciate him so much more after seeing him live.
Chiellini had little to do but was solid as always
Poor game. Worst United ive ever seen we were pretty wasteful and should of crushed them.
Cuadrado is to blame for most of the wasted chances. Pjanic and Bonucci despite making a few great passes were really sloppy at times and nearly got us in trouble.
Cancelo, Dybala, Ronaldo and Alex Sandro were out best players and it was really great to see just how much work Matuidi does i appreciate him so much more after seeing him live.
Chiellini had little to do but was solid as always
Great performance. Plenty of chances with very good link up play. Our finishing was the only thing lacking but apart from that 10/10. They had one chance only which was a long shot from Pogba. We dominated them at their home. I want to see more of this. We played like a top team and they struggled to adapt to us.
This year might be fun to watch.
This year might be fun to watch.
