JUVENTUS FC VS FC BARCELONA.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.29/10/20,JUVENTUS STADIUM, TURIN, ITALY. AS IT HAPPENED.

Three points see the club stand on first position as Goals from Dembele & Messi decimate a Ronaldo-less Juve.

FC Barcelona travelled to Turin, Italy for their second group match against Juventus coming from a Classico defeat last Saturday. A lot of hype circulated this contest as everyone expected Leo Messi to lock horns with Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo was tested positive for COVID-19 therefore sidelining him for the match. It also meant Homecoming for Barcelona's Miralem Pjanic, who had joined Barca from Juve this season. Arthur - who was exchanged for Miralem- was going to face his former club too.

The stage was set as two former players, now managers, were ready to face each other. Both Andrea Pirlo and Ronald Koeman went for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann spearheading their sides attacks respectively. As soon as the match began, Barca tried attacking with Griezmann's shot going straight on the sidepost.

14 minutes into the game and Lionel Messi produced an astounding pass to Ousmane Dembele who shot through the Juve defence which rebounded off Cheisa and into Szczęsny's net giving the visitors an early lead

Juventus restarted the game and Alvaro Morata seemed to have levelled the scoreline within 2 minutes, only to have his goal cancelled because of a handball.

Morata was denied a goal again at 31' as he converted a Cuadrado pass into a shot that crossed Neto but was disallowed as he was already offside.

Both sides pushed to score but it was the Catalan who saw more of the ball and had more chances than the Turin outfit. At the half-time whistle it was still 0-1 to Barca.

Second half saw Sergio Busquets take place of the injured Ronald Araujo thus forcing Frenkie De Jong to partner with Clement Lenglet at the back. Soon Barca made their second change bringing in Ansu Fati in for Goalscorer Dembele. Juve made their first changes bringing the American McKennie ,former Culer Arthur Melo and Federico Bernardeschi into play as they tried to break through Barcelona's defensive wall.

Towards the last 15, Demiral was sent off for the harsh challenge on former teammate Pjanic. Juve had to play on with 10 men remaining on the pitch. They failed to match up to the offensive prowness of the Catalan outfit.

Two minutes into extra-time and Ansu Fati was brought down by Bernardeschi inside the penalty area and the referee immediately pointed to the spot, giving Barcelona a chance to wrap things up. It was the Captain Lionel Messi as he slotted the ball into the 

Top-left corner of the goal, thus sealing an all important victory for his team

With a big win at the Allianz, Barca have strengthened their grip on the top spot in Group G. This was the perfect tonic for Ronald Koeman and his team after the El Classico defeat. Juventus on the other hand, had a night to forget as underwhelming performances, three disallowed goals from Alvaro Morata and Demiral being sent off for two bookable offences is what costed Andrea Pirlo and his team.

Juve will be playing in Serie A next as they hit the road to Speiza. Barcelona will be facing Deportivo Alaves away from home in the La Liga.

Asher Collin Alex Dias.