Juventus failed to make their dominance count after being held to a goalless draw by Borussia Monchengladbach in their Champions League clash.
The Bianconeri took control from the start, but they struggled to create any clear-cut chances and did not manage a shot on target in the first half.
After the break, Paul Pogba saw two attempts from range saved by Yann Sommer, but the breakthrough proved elusive and they were unable to stretch their lead at the top of Group D.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone! We're into the third matchday of this season's Champions League, and already we have seen plenty of excitement and stunning goals in the group stages. Two teams who have been no strangers to the drama go head-to-head in Turin this evening, as Italian champions Juventus play host to Borussia Monchengladbach.
It has been a strange couple of months for Juventus, who have endured a miserable start to the new Serie A season. They have struggled for consistency and have already lost big games against their title rivals, but in Europe it couldn't any more different, after winning their opening two matches to top the group.
Borussia Monchengladbach also suffered a poor opening to their Bundesliga campaign and lost each of their first five games. However, a change in manager has seen them get back on track on the domestic front, although they have lost both of their fixtures in the group.
Right, there's still plenty to talk about before kick off, but first let's check out which players will be starting tonight's match, as the team news has arrived!
JUVENTUS XI: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba, Cuadrado, Mandzukic, Morata
MONCHENGLADBACH XI: Sommer, Korb, Christensen, Dominguez, Wendt, Dahoud, Xhaka, Traore, Johnson, Stindl, Raffael
JUVENTUS SUBS: Neto, Rugani, Evra, Hernanes, Pereyra, Dybala, Zaza
MONCHENGLADBACH SUBS: Sippel, Jantschke, Nordtveit, Hazard, Hahn, Drmic, Hrgota
So, there we have our teams for this evening's match. Juventus have made two changes from the side that drew against Inter Milan at the weekend, Mario Mandzukic has recovered from a thigh injury to return to the attack in place of Paulo Dybala, while Alex Sandro is given the nod at left-back ahead of Patrice Evra.
Meanwhile, there have been no changes made by the visitors, following their 5-1 victory over Frankfurt on Saturday. Brazilian midfielder Raffael scored two goals in that match and will be his team's biggest threat, while the likes of Granit Xhaka and Lars Stindl also join him in the starting lineup.
Lets continue our build up to tonight's match with a look at the two teams, starting with our hosts Juventus. The Bianconeri impressed many with their run to the Champions League final last season, and a repeat of that looks within their grasp after opening with two wins in Group D this time around.
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A victory didn't look on the cards in their first match against Manchester City, as an own-goal from Giorgio Chiellini saw them fall behind at the Etihad after nearly an hour of play. However, Mario Mandzukic guided in a cross from Paul Pogba to level the scores, before Alvaro Morata fired in a superb late winner to seal the three points.
Three weeks later they welcomed Sevilla to the Juventus Stadium, and Alvaro Morata found the net again to give them the lead. Simone Zaza then added a second goal late on to secure a 2-0 victory, leaving the Old Lady sitting pretty at the top of the group.
Despite their positive form in Europe, it has been a completely different story on the domestic front. They are currently 14th in the Serie A table, having won just two of their opening league games, and they are already nine points behind early leaders Fiorentina.
Since the beginning of October they do seem to have found some form, as a 3-1 victory over Bologna was followed up by a goalless draw at Inter Milan on Sunday evening. The return from injury of midfield duo Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio has also provided a huge boost, and a kind run of fixtures over the next month should see them climb further up the standings.
It's fair to say that Monchengladbach are certainly more in need of a positive result this evening after a poor start to their first-ever Champions League campaign. They have previously played in the European Cup, and were runners-up to Liverpool in 1977, but in the tournament's current guise a repeat of that this season looks a long way off.
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They were given a tough start in their group stage opener against Sevilla, and despite going into the break level with the Europa League holders, they eventually succumbed to a 3-0 defeat. In their next match they welcomed Manchester City to Borussia-Park, where a last-minute penalty from Sergio Aguero saw them lose again.
A poor start to their Bundesliga season didn't help, as they lost their opening five games of the season, which promoted Lucien Favre to step down as manager. Andre Schubert has since taken over, and he has guided the club to four straight league wins, including a 5-1 routing of Frankfurt at the weekend.
These teams have only been drawn together on one previous occasion in the European Cup, and that came during the second round of the 1975-76 season. Monchengladbach came out on top by winning the first leg 2-0, before fighting back from two goals down to draw the return meeting and secure a 4-2 aggregate victory. The Germans went out in the next round on away goals, after a 3-3 draw on aggregate with Real Madrid.
Aside from that result, Juventus tend to have a good record against German teams in European competition. They have won 25 of their 47 games against opposition from the Bundesliga, losing 15 of those. Monchengladbach have only played against Italian opposition 12 times, and they have won four and suffered three defeats.
Here's how the Juventus Stadium was looking a short while ago, before the fans started to make their way into the ground.
All quiet inside this magnificent arena earlier on. Suspect that won't last once the @juventusfcen fans arrive! #UCL pic.twitter.com/zVXVRkko0z
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 21, 2015
Don't forget that we've got all of this evening's Champions League action covered for you, including the other Group D match between Manchester City and Sevilla. You can catch every minute of that clash at the Etihad right here.
We've just head the Champions League anthem ring out around the ground, and there is a great atmosphere here in Turin. There are just a couple more pre-match formalities to sort out, and then we will finally be ready to start!
KICKOFF! We are underway in Turin!
Juventus have begun the match on the front foot and they look dangerous in these early stages. Mandzukic is also nearly on the scoresheet when he arrives at the near post to meet a low cross from Morata, but he fails to make contact with the ball and the visitors are able to clear.
The hosts are still very much in charge here and they are seeing plenty of the ball. They seem happy to keep possession and wait for their chance to break, knowing that there is plenty of pace for them to threaten down each flank.
SHOT! It's the visitors who threaten with the first shot of the match as Raffael unleashes a speculative effort from range. However, his strike flashes comfortably wide of the far post, with Buffon happy to just watch the ball drop wide of the target.
Although Juventus have dominated the early exchanges, Monchengladbach have done a great job of pressuring their opponents. They are making sure that the likes of Pogba have no time and space on the ball, and their forward players are tracking back well.
It does appear that Juventus are going to see a huge amount of the ball and the possession statistics will be interesting at half time. They are comfortably passing it around between their defenders and midfielders, but Sommer has still not had any work to do.
SHOT! More fine possession play from Juventus sees them advance deep into the Monchengladbach half, before Morata is fed the ball out wide. The Spaniard then looks to bend a strike past Sommer from a long way out, but his effort flies a few yards over the bar.
We've just seen the pass of the evening from Pogba, who sprays a superb long-range ball over the top for Cuadrado to chance. The Colombian then gets to the ball ahead of Wendt, before he appears to be barged over by the full-back, but the referee waves play on much to the home side's disgust.
CHANCE! Juventus are well on top and they create another opening when Pogba controls a long ball inside the box on his chest. He then takes a couple of touches and works it out wide to Mandzukic, but the Croatian's attempt is deflected behind for a corner.
SHOT! Cuadrado has been in good form since his move on loan from Chelsea and he registers another shot on goal for the hosts. He receives the ball from a corner, before cutting inside and firing in a powerful drive, but he gets underneath the strike and smashes it high into the stands.
Monchengladbach will be delighted if they can get to the break without conceding, as they are starting to come under a huge amount of pressure from the hosts. Even though Sommer has not had any saves to make, they are on the back foot and are dropping far deeper than their manger would like at this stage.
SHOT! A training ground routine almost comes off for the Italians, as Cuadrado picks out Pogba on the edge of the box from a corner. The Frenchman then hammers in a fierce attempt that looks headed for the back of the net, but a crucial block sees it turned behind for a corner.
SHOT! Pogba is running the show for Juventus now and he comes close again with a superb strike on the turn from long range. The ball ends up heading inches wide of the post, with Sommer at full stretch, but it was another good sign for the hosts.
CHANCE! The attempts on goal keep coming for Juventus, as Chiellini meets a corner before heading the ball wide of the post. Allegri will be pleased at how his team are playing, but he must be frustrated that their dominance has not yet been rewarded.
CLOSE! How many more chances will it take for Juventus to score this evening? They threaten again as Cuadrado bursts down the right, before finding Morata just outside the box. The Spaniard then drills in a shot with his left foot, but it heads wide of the post, with Sommer untroubled once more.
For the first time this evening, Monchengladbach get deep into the Juventus half before winning a corner. The set piece is then headed behind at the back post by Bonucci, who felt that he was being fouled, before the second delivery is easily dealt well, and almost ends with a dangerous break from Pogba, that is well cut out.
It's another good moment for the visitors, as Traore bursts clear down the left and whips a dangerous cross into the box. However, the situation is read well by Chiellini, who clears the ball behind, with the resulting corner headed away to safety.
YELLOW CARD! Dominguez finds himself in huge trouble when he gives the ball away to Morata just outside the box, before bringing down the Spaniard. As there was a covering defender, he is only shown a yellow card, but the Juventus fans and their players feel that he should have been sent off.
It has taken a while for the free kick for that foul on Morata to be taken, but it is not worth the wait, as Pogba smashes the ball straight into the wall. Juventus have not made the most of their opportunities in this first half and it looks as if the teams will be heading into the break on level terms.
HALF-TIME: Juventus 0-0 Borussia Monchengladbach
So, we are still waiting for our first goal of the evening in Turin, as Juventus fail to make the most of their dominance against Borussia Monchengladbach. The Italian champions have been in complete control, but a real lack of composure in the final third has cost them so far.
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Juventus have slightly edged the possession statistics, and they saw 52% of the ball in the opening 45 minutes. They also had 12 attempts on goal, compared to just four from the visitors, but none of those shots have found the target.
In the other group match, it is currently level between Manchester City and Sevilla. Yevheniy Konoplyanka had given the Spaniards the lead, but an own-goal from Adil Rami, who deflected a strike from Wilfried Bony into the net, has ensured that it is all to play for at the Etihad.
RESTART! The match is back underway at the Juventus Stadium!
SAVE! The Bianconeri have made an imposing start to the second half and they finally manage an attempt on target. Unsurprisingly, it's Pogba who is involved, as his long-range drive towards the far corner is palmed behind by Sommer.
The pressure is really starting to build now from the hosts and Sandro sees a volley blocked on the edge of the box. Moments later Khedira drives down the right and skips by a couple of challenges, but he is denied by a crucial last-ditch tackle as he attempts to cross the ball.
Pogba has been brilliant at times this evening, but after a storming run through the middle he loses the ball on the edge of the box. However, he does well to win it back, and chips a delightful pass over the top for Morata, who sees his close-range strike blocked behind for a corner.
SAVE! Surely if anybody is to make the breakthrough this evening then it is going to be Pogba. The midfielder has another attempt with a free kick from just outside the box that forces Sommer to fly across his line and beat the ball away to safety.
SUB! Juventus make the first change of the match, as Pereyra comes on to replace Cuadrado.
YELLOW CARD Wendt is shown the second booking of the match for Monchengladbach after a foul on Khedira.
SHOT! It may take something spectacular to break the deadlock and Morata tries to provide it when he attempts an audacious overhead kick from Barzagli's cross, but he can only direct the ball well wide of the post.
PENALTY APPEAL! Juventus scream for a penalty when Mandzukic races into the box to latch onto Khedira's pass, before going down under pressure from Dominguez, but nothing is given by the referee. There did seem to be slight contact between the players, but not enough to make the Croatian go down so easily.
I just wonder if we will see Dybala and Zaza brought on by Allegri, as Juventus are still struggling in the final third. Their front two have not caused enough problems for the visitors, and only Pogba has been able to find the target this evening.
SUB! Juventus do change things around up front, and it's Zaza who is brought on to replace Mandzukic.
SUB! It's a change for Monchengladbach, as Hazard comes on to replace Raffael.
We may not have seen a goal this evening, but there is something to celebrate for Juventus, as Buffon has just broken Del Piero's record of minutes played in the Champions League. It is another great achievement for the keeper, who has had such a remarkable career for club and country.
YELLOW CARD! Xhaka can have no complaints about being shown a card here, as he cynically brings down Morata, leaving the Spaniard in a heap on the pitch. We may well see some more tough tackles, as the visitors look to hold on in the closing stages.
SHOT! Juventus work another shot on goal with Pogba looking to curl an effort into the top corner. His effort from just outside of the box ends up heading wide of the post, though, with Sommer left untroubled once again.
SUB! It's a last throw of the dice for Juventus, as Morata is replaced by Dybala.
SUB! Monchengladbach are also making a substitution, with Hahn on to take Traore's place.
SHOT! Monchengladbach are going to have a lot of defending to do in the final minutes, and they somehow manage to scramble a couple corners away. From the latest of those set pieces, the ball is eventual whipped back into the box and met by Chiellini, who can only head his effort over the bar.
SUB! Monchengladbach make another late change, as Nordtveit comes on for Dahoud.
There are going to be at least three minutes of stoppage time.
YELLOW CARD! Chiellini is shown the first yellow card of the match for Juventus after a late challenge on Stindl.
FULL-TIME: Juventus 0-0 Borussia Monchengladbach
The final whistle blows and Juvetus have been unable to find a late winner in stoppage time, as the match finishes in a goalless draw. Borussia Monchengladbach will be absolutely delighted with their first point in this season's Champions League, although they still have plenty of work to do if they are to make it through to the knockout stages.
That's all for our coverage this evening. Make sure you stick with us though, as there will be plenty of reaction to tonight's Champions League games to come. There is also more live action tomorrow night from the group stage of the Europa League. Until then, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
