Barcelona: Barcelona ended the Champions League group stage in the second position in Group G owing to a 0-3 loss to Juventus at Camp Nou, thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo brace. The Catalans looked clueless from the beginning, gave away balls easily and lacked the hunger to win this very anticipated game.
Juventus played using a 3-5-2 formation while Barça were tormented with their width, they moved the ball quickly from side to side and pressed high when they lost possession. Ronaldo and Álvaro Morata vacated space in the box and came up short to the ball, with runners from midfield bringing constant danger to the Barça defense.
The Bianconeri scored twice during the first half. Ronaldo opened the scoring after he won a controversial penalty converting it on 13 minutes. Weston McKennie doubled the lead for Juventus from a sensation volley on 20 minutes. Lionel Messi was the only player, who showed intent, his shots were easily grabbed by Gianluigi Buffon and were the only highlight of Barça’s attacking output.
Barca coach Ronald Koeman brought on Martin Braithwaite in place of Francisco Trincao to try and change things, but soon after Clément Lenglet was called for a handball inside the box and Juve got their second penalty of the game on 52 minutes.
Ronaldo scored his second of the day to make it 3-0 and effectively killed the game just seven minutes into the second half. The rest of the half saw the Catalans trying to get back into the game, but in vain except for a moment or two of Messi’s masterclass which forced a save out of Buffon.
“I think we lost the game in the first half-hour, as we got off to a bad start, didn’t play well defensively, were lacking aggression in midfield, and Juventus played well,” Koeman said to the media. “Who else’s fault could it be other than the players? We’re the ones who go out there and play,” Antoine Griezmann said.
“We were missing everything: desire, attitude, a willingness to run. Everything was bad. We’ve left a really bad image here tonight, for ourselves and for the fans.”
