Álvaro Morata of Juventus celebrates his Champions League goal against Borussia Dortmund with his team-mates. Photograph: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
Juventus settled for a narrow 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie to leave it all to play for in the return fixture in Germany.
Carlos Tevez fired Juventus ahead in the 13th minute but Dortmund soon levelled through striker Marco Reus following a terrible slip by Giorgio Chiellini. Álvaro Morata, who had set up the opener, then restored Juve’s lead shortly before half-time to provide a slender advantage for the second leg on 18 March.
Along with Dortmund’s away goal, there was more disappointment for Juventus as Andrea Pirlo was forced off by an injury in the first half. The result meant Juventus preserved their proud home record, having lost one of 15 European fixtures since moving to the purpose-built Juventus Stadium in 2011.
Juventus are dominating Serie A, where they have a nine-point advantage, but are seeking only their second Champions League last eight appearance since 2006 – the year they were relegated for match-fixing.
Dortmund had stormed through the group stage, losing only one match to finish ahead of Arsenal, but have struggled domestically. However, they came into the match on the back of three successive Bundesliga victories as it recovered from its worst ever start.
Juventus took an early lead when Morata raced down the left flank and the Dortmund goalkeeper, Roman Weidenfeller, could only parry his cross-come-shot straight into Tevez’s path and he made no mistake from close range.
However, Juventus gifted their opponents the equaliser five minutes later. Marco Reus, who had scored three goals in his previous three matches, stroked the ball into the bottom left corner after Chiellini’s slip had put the Germany international clean through on goal.
Morata and Leonardo Bonucci both headed off target as Juventus tried to restore their advantage, while Dortmund looked dangerous on the counter. The away side lost defender Lukasz Piszczek to injury but there was worse news for Juventus as Pirlo limped off and had to be replaced by Roberto Pereyra.
Juventus went in front two minutes before half-time when Morata was left unmarked to poke Paul Pogba’s cross into the bottom right corner. Morata volleyed over from a promising position on the edge of the area shortly after the break but the offside flag went up to spare the Spaniard’s blushes.
The former Juventus forward Ciro Immobile almost came back to haunt his old club but fired straight at Gianluigi Buffon, who was able to make a comfortable save. Dortmund went closer in the 67th minute with a Nuri Sahin free-kick from a dangerous position which Stephan Lichtsteiner headed out at the far post.
Juventus had several chances to seal the win, with an effort by Tevez being deflected just past the left upright before a great stop from Weidenfeller denied the Argentinian at point-blank range. From the resulting corner, Chiellini almost atoned for his slip but headed narrowly over the bar. Pereyra also put an angled drive just past the far post as Juventus ended the match as the stronger side.
source:theguardian.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 