Benfica and Juventus played out a 1-1 draw, but it was the Italian giants who prevailed 2-4 on penalties in their International Champions Cup meeting.
Both teams, playing at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, were evenly matched in a game that always threatened to end with both sharing the spoils.
However, it looked as the 36-time Portuguese champions were going to be triumphant after their Spanish defender Álex Grimaldo had put them in front courtesy of a stupendous free-kick.
Anything he could do, so could Juve’s young gun Luca Clemenza, with his stunning effort ensuring it would go to a shootout.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men were spotless as Benfica missed twice meaning Juve remain unbeaten as the Eagles suffer their first defeat of the series.
As ever, there are winners and losers from every game, and this one is no exception.
Winner: Joao Cancelo
It might have gone under the radar, but Juve recruited more than Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, the Portuguese forward was by far their most expensive acquisition – a place below was his compatriot João Cancelo who arrived from Valencia.
The 24-year-old right-back joined as the long-serving Stephan Lichtsteiner departed for Arsenal, meaning competition for Juan Cuadrado, and on this showing the former Benfica academy graduate doesn’t look out of place.
Loser: Benfica’s end product
No question who the better side in the opening salvo was. Benfica, who looked fit and fresh, had Juve on the ropes. They moved the ball crisply, dragging their opponents from side to side, and subsequently created a number of chances – notably Gedson Fernandes who pulled his shot wide after going through on goal – but they were unable to make it count.
Even in pre-season there’s no excuse for bad finishing. Rui Vitória, who is preparing his side for a Champions League qualification date with Fenerbahçe, was understandably agitated on the sidelines.
Winner: Alejandro “Álex” Grimaldo
If you can’t score in open then set-pieces all the way. Benfica, as mentioned above, found it hard to breach Juve whilst the game was in full swing but it didn’t mean the score line was always going to stay 0-0.
#SLBJFC | 1-0 | ⚽ 65' GOOOOOLOOOOOO! GRIMALDOOOOOO! GOLAÇO! Revê no nosso Game Hub ➡ https://t.co/2B9S4ngRMI #PSPlus #Reconquista pic.twitter.com/sHeR8CVoiD
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) July 28, 2018
Around the 66th minute mark Vitória’s men won a free-kick just outside the Italian penalty area. Up stepped former Barcelona academy graduate “Álex” Grimaldo and from a near central position curled a left footed shot past the rooted Mattia Perin.
It was a rare moment of genius in a game bereft of magic.
Loser: Miralem Pjanić
In recent says the Bosnian playmaker has been linked with a move away from Juve with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain strongly linked. Chances are he will remain in Turin, but today was one of his lesser performances, the conditions was the same for everyone but Pjanić seemed off.
His presence on the pitch lasted 45 minutes, having played the first half, and Allgeri will be hoping the man dubbed ‘pianist’ finds his groove asap.
Winner: Odysseas Vlachodimos
Benfica have enjoyed some excellent goalkeepers down the years, most recently Jan Oblak and Ederson, same could also be said for the German national team. Their summer acquisition Odysseas Vlachodimos, signed from Panathinaikos, is a while away from troubling Manuel Neuer but the Eagles’ number one jersey could be his.
There’s a reason why he was scouted and recruited, keeping 34 clean sheets across 63 appearances for the Athens-based club, and making an impression during pre-season will go a long way. He did just that, pulling off two stunning saves early in the second half, denying Andrea Favilli and then Sami Khedira. It earned a nod of approval from his manager as well as boost his confidence as he looks to follow in some big footsteps.
Loser: Those on the fringes of Juve’s first team
As we are still in pre-season mode, it goes without saying Benfica and Juve were not at full strength, focusing on the latter: a number of their first-teamers are still on holiday, so it’s up to those coming in to make Massimiliano Allegri’s life difficult, but on this showing it’s safe to say those absent stars are not under any serious threat. Then again, the likes of Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa are untouchables, but from a squad point-of-view you want competition for places.
Winner: Luca Clemenza
Saying that… Wow, Luca Clemenza, remember the name! It was going to take something out of this world to beat the inspired Vlachodimos and for it to come from the 21-year-old Clemenza, who has yet to make an official first team appearance, it only goes to illustrate what some mean by seizing opportunity by the scruff of the neck.
The exceptionally talented attacking midfielder bamboozled those in front of him, before cutting inside onto his left foot, then unleashing a powerful shot into the Benfica goal. It’s a moment the former Juve academy graduate will never forget.
The post From Clemenza to Pjanic, the winners and losers of as Juventus win friendly v Benfica appeared first on Squawka News.
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