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Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 4, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Olympiacos

3-2

Pirlo (19'), Roberto (65' og.), Pogba (68')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Botia (24'), N'Dinga (60')

Live Commentary: Juventus 3-2 Olympiacos - as it happened

Sports Mole's live text commentary of the Champions League Group A match between Juventus and Olympiacos.
2

Juventus came from behind to claim a 3-2 win over Olympiacos in their Champions League match in Turin.

Andrea Pirlo gave the hosts the lead with a stunning free kick, before Alberto Botia drew the Greek side level three minutes later.

A header from Delvin N'Dinga put the visitors ahead just past the hour mark, but an own goal from Roberto and a strike from Paul Pogba ensured the Bianconeri picked up the three points.

Find out how the action unfolded below.


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Good evening everyone! It's the fourth matchday of this season's Champions League and the margin for error is slim as clubs bid to reach the knockout stages. Two teams with aspirations of making the last 16 will meet in Turin, as Juventus take on Olympiacos.



When these sides met two weeks ago in Athens it was Olympiacos who came out on top claiming a 1-0 victory. Pajtim Kasami fired the winner that night, but a lot of the credit must go to goalkeeper Roberto, who produced a stunning display to ensure Juventus returned home to Italy empty handed.

A quick glance at the Group A table will show you that Olympiacos are level with Atletico Madrid on six points after three games. Juventus have only picked up three points after losing two games already and if they want to make it into the last 16 there can be no more slip ups this evening.

JUVENTUS XI: Buffon, Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Asamoah, Pirlo, Vidal, Pogba, Marchisio, Morata, Tevez

OLYMPIACOS XI: Roberto, Maniatis, Botia, Elabdellaoui, Abidal, Masuaku, Milivojevic, Afellay, N'DInga, Doninguez, Mitroglu

JUVENTUS SUBS: Storari, Ogbonna, Padoin, Pereyra, Coman, Giovinco, Llorente

OLYMPIACOS SUBS: Megyeri, Avlonitis, Salino, Kasami, Bouchalakis, Fuster, Diamantakos

So, that's how each team lines up this evening. Let's start with the home side, who have made three changes from the side that beat Empoli at the weekend. Stephan Lichtsteiner, Paul Pogba and Carlos Tevez all return, with Sebastian Giovinco, Angelo Ogbonna and Roberto Pereyra dropping to the bench.

It is also a very special night for Andrea Pirlo, who will be making his 100th appearance in the Champions League. Elsewhere, Alvaro Morata has done enough to keep his place upfront, with Fernando Llorente having to settle for a place among the substitutes.

Meanwhile, there is no place in the Olympiacos starting XI for Pajtim Kasami. The Swiss international scored the winner against Juventus two weeks ago, but is on the bench tonight. Ibrahim Afellay is chosen to start instead and will provide support for lone striker Kostas Mitroglou.

You can hardly say that there is a crisis going on at Juventus, but three defeats in the past month has certainly been a cause for concern. Two of those losses were in the Champions League away to Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos as their poor form in Europe continued.



Since their last European match the club has lost their unbeaten run in the league after falling to a surprise 1-0 defeat against Genoa. Despite dominating the match and having plenty of chances to score they were punished by a goal from Luca Antonini deep into stoppage time.

They responded to that setback at the weekend by earning a 2-0 win over Empoli, with Andrea Pirlo curling in a trademark free kick and Alvaro Morata firing in his second goal for the club. With Roma losing against Napoli, it means that they are three points clear at the top of Serie A and still well on track for a fourth successive league title.

Aside from a victory this evening, fans of the Old Lady will want to see their team find some goalscoring form in Europe. Only Lazio and Napoli have scored more than them in Italy, but they have drawn blanks in their last two Champions League matches. They actually had 18 shots on goal against Olympiacos, but paid the price for lacking a clinical touch in the final third.

Moving on to Olympiacos and the Greek champions will be delighted at where they stand in Group A. They kicked off their campaign with a 3-2 win over last year's finalists Atletico Madrid, but stumbled to a 2-0 defeat against Malmo on the second matchday. They made up for that defeat last time out by beating Juventus and moving to the top of the table.

Things are looking good for them domestically as well, as they followed up that win over Juventus with a 1-0 victory over city rivals Panathinaikos. In their last two matches they have drawn against Panionios and Asteras Tripolis and sit five points behind leaders PAOK Salonika in the Super League table.

Olympiacos manager Michel revealed in his pre-match press conference that he is confident of claiming another victory over Juventus. "If we think back to that game then I believe that for the whole match we played very well, against a tough and strong opponent. This gives us the desire to repeat the result tomorrow, and we will always try to give more than we did in the first leg."

Tonight will mark the 10th meeting between the sides. Olympiacos have only won twice, but they did manage a 2-1 victory in Turin during a UEFA Cup match in 1999. Juventus have come out on top on five previous occasions and recorded a 7-0 win when they last met in the group stages of the Champions League eleven years ago.

One of the most interesting aspects of tonight's match will be seeing how Juventus perform with a 4-4-2 formation. Massimo Allegri and his predecessor Antonio Conte have usually plucked for a 3-5-2 system, but that is all changed tonight. On first glance it appears that Paul Pogba will play just behind the two strikers, with Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal occupying the wider roles.

I have already mentioned that it will be a big night for Andrea Pirlo, who is set to join the Champions League century club. The midfielder didn't have his best match in Athens last time out, but he looks to have refound his form and is still such a crucial player for his club.



PREDICTION: This is a game that Juventus really need to win and I can't seem slipping up for the second time against Olympiacos. The Greek champions will be full of confidence after getting the better of their opponents last time out, but they were helped by a combination of poor finishing and stunning goalkeeping from Roberto. So I am going to tip the hosts to get their Champions League campaign back on track and win by a 2-0 scoreline.

The two teams are making their way onto the pitch and we are now around three minutes away from kick off. They are led out by tonight's referee Martin Atkinson, who is fresh from taking charge of Southampton's win over Hull City at the weekend.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Juventus Stadium!

It's been a quiet start to the match, with both teams still feeling each other out. We are yet to see a shot on goal, but the home side are dominating possession and are looking to play their way through from the back.

Juventus are making the early running here and they are unlucky to see the flag go up on the far side when Pirlo plays a wonderful ball over the top for Tevez. The Argentine was standing just slightly offside, but it is certainly an area that the hosts will want to exploit.

The hosts are well on top at the moment and are pushing Olympiacos back deep inside their own half. The Greeks look very nervous at the moment and they have given the ball away cheaply in some dangerous positions, but as yet they have not been punished.

The visitors have their first chance to put some pressure on Juventus when they win a free kick in their opponents half. Dominguez plays it into the box, but his delivery is cleared behind. The Argentina then takes the corner, but again Juventus manage to clear the danger.

It's still all Juventus at the moment and they are playing it around patiently outside their opponents' area. Following a spell of sustained possession, Pogba receives the ball on the edge of the box and tries to curl an effort into the far corner, but he doesn't get enough on the strike and it lands safely in Roberto's arms.

SAVE! Juventus continue to threaten and Marchisio fancies his chances when the ball drops to him 25 yards out from goal. He fires in a powerful effort looking for the roof of the net, but Roberto does well to tip the strike over the bar.

Olympiacos seem happy to play on the counter-attack and after clearing a Juventus corner they break at pace. Afellay is eventually found in space outside the box and he drives in a stinging low effort, but the shot is too central to trouble Buffon who makes a comfortable save.

Pogba is the man that is looking to make something happen and he charges through the midfield before brought down just outside the box by Maniatis. It has given Juventus a free kick in a promising position and Pirlo is standing over the ball.

GOAL! Juventus 1-0 Olympiacos (Andrea Pirlo)

What a way to mark your 100th game in the Champions League. It's a stunning free kick from Pirlo, who curls a beautiful strike into the top corner of the net. It left Roberto with absolutely no chance and has raised the roof here in Turin.

GOAL! Juventus 1-1 Olympiacos (Alberto Botia)

This is some response from Olympiacos, who have drawn level just three minutes after falling behind. Botia is the man who scores, as he meets Dominguez's corner to power a header into the corner of the net.

It's shaping up to be quite some game and that goal has really given Olympiacos a huge boost in confidence. They look much better on the ball and from set pieces they look a danger.

CHANCE! The hosts almost grab a second as Pirlo whips a great free kick into the box that is met by Bonucci, but the defender cannot keep his header down and the ball drops just over the bar.

CHANCE! Morata has missed a huge chance to put Juventus back into the lead. The striker is slipped in by Tevez and has just the keeper to beat, but he can only place his effort wide of the post. A striker of his quality really should have found the net from that position.

Over the last couple of minutes the hosts have had a decent spell in the game and have had plenty of possession. They then cause a moment of panic in the Juventus box as Afellay whips in a cross that misses everyone and heads just wide of the far post.

Tevez hasn't had too many opportunities to get a shot away in this first half, but after being found in space he fires in a powerful effort. However, his effort is just slightly too high and Roberto watches it sail over.

Juventus have a possible shout for a penalty as Vidal latches onto a ball over the top and goes down in a tussle with Abidal. At first glance the defender appeared to get the ball, but the replays show otherwise.

CHANCE! I have no idea how Juventus haven't been able to find the net here. Asamoah is found in space on the left wing and delivers a wonderful cross into the middle. Marchisio is the man who meets it, but from just a few yards out he ends up diverting the ball wide of the far post.

CHANCE! The hosts have had a number of great chances to double their lead, but again they fluff their lines. This time it's Pogba with the miss, as he drives towards the edge of the box and ends up placing an effort wide of the post.

There is going to be one minute of stoppage time.

HALF-TIME: Juventus 1-1 Olympiacos

A very watchable first half is brought to an end with the scores level in Turin. Andrea Pirlo curled the hosts in front with a brilliant free kick, but Alberto Botia brought the game level when he headed in just a few minutes later.

Let's take a look at the statistics after the first 45 minutes and it's Juventus who have seen the most possession, with a commanding 64% of the ball. They have also had seven attempts on goal to their opponents' five efforts, but they have missed a number of big chances to score a second.

Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo celebrates after scoring a goal with Juventus french midfielder Paul Labile Pogba and Juventus midfielder of Ghana Kwadwo Asamoah during the UEFA Champions League Group A football match Juventus vs Olympiakos at the Juvent© Getty Images


The moment of the first half was undoubtedly Pirlo's free kick. That was his 16th goal for Juventus and 14 of them have now come from set pieces. He has had a great game so far and his team will be hoping for some more inspiration after the break.

In tonight's other Group A match Atletico Madrid are 1-0 up against Malmo. As things stand, Koke's goal on the half-hour mark has lifted the Spanish champions to the top of the group and they will be very much favourites to make it through to the last 16.

Juventus take the kick off and get the second half started.

Juventus are very much in the ascendancy at the start of the half and Olympaicos have nearly everyone back on the edge of their own box. Their defence are holding on under increasing pressure and they do well to clear away dangerous crosses from Pogba and Pirlo.

YELLOW CARD! Tevez is the first player to pick a card this evening for a poor challenge from behind on N'Dinga. It has left the midfielder needing to go off and receive some treatment on the sidelines.

Olympiacos have found their feet in recent moments and they are showing some signs of an attacking force. Their latest chance sees Masuaku attempt a strike from out wide on the left, but his powerful effort is gathered in by Buffon.

CHANCE! Once again Juventus have failed to make the most of another wonderful opening. They break quickly and Tevez charges through the midfield. He then slips Vidal into the box, but instead of going for goal, the midfielder tries to find Tevez again, with his pass across the box blocked by Abidal. The ball then bounces back up to him, but his header is blocked by Roberto.

SUBSTITUTION: Juventus have made their first chance of the match, with Llorente coming on for Morata.

The hosts have played some great stuff this evening, but time after time there is no end product. Just moments after Vidal plants a header wide, Lichtsteiner is slipped in behind, but sees his cross cut out by the keeper at the front post.

GOAL! Juventus 1-2 Olympiacos (Delvin N'Dinga)

We may very well have an upset on the cards as Olympiacos take the lead! A free kick is whipped into the box and it is only cleared to Maniatis, who does well to hook the ball back into the middle, where N'Dinga meets it to power a header into the top corner.

GOAL! Juventus 2-2 Olympiacos (Roberto own goal)

This time it is Juventus who come up with a quick response, but they have been dealt a huge slice of luck. Pirlo whips in a cross that Llorente heads onto the post, but the ball comes back out and hits Roberto before finding the net.

GOAL! Juventus 3-2 Olympiacos (Paul Pogba)

The game has been turned on it's head, as two goals in two minutes has given Juventus the lead. It's Pogba who scores, as he fails to slip through a teammate on the edge of the box. The ball then rebounds back to him kindly and he rifles a low effort into the bottom corner. What a great response this has been from the Italian champions.

SUBSTITUTION: The hosts make their second change of the evening, with Padoin coming on to replace Marchisio.

SUBSTITUTION: Olympiacos have also changed things around, as Fuster is on to replace Afellay.

Olympiacos look absolutely deflated after conceding two goals in such a short space of time. It will take some effort for them to draw level again, as the hosts are looking confident in possession and are trying to take the sting out of this game.

CHANCE! This game is far from over, as Olympiacos come within a whisker of levlling things up. Elabdellaoui does brilliantly on the right wing and shows great skill to drive into the box. He then tries to fire an effort into the far corner, but his strike goes agonizingly wide of the post.

SUBSTITUTION: It's another change for the visitors, with Kasami coming on for the goalscorer N'Dinga.

CHANCE! Bonucci put a header over the bar in the first half and now he directs an effort wide of the post after meeting Pirlo's free kick. Juventus will be hoping that these missed chances don't come back to haunt them by the end of the night.

SUBSTITUTION: Olympiacos make their third and final change of the match, with Diamantakos replacing Maniatis.

SUBSTITUTION: Juventus have also made their final change, as Pereyra is on for Asamoah.

CHANCE! Yet again, Juventus have missed another chance to put this game beyond any doubt. Lichtsteiner whips a great ball into the middle, that is met by Llorente, but his header is blocked. It then drops to Tevez, but the Argentine ends up firing his shot on the turn wide of the target.

SUBSTITUTION: Botia is the first Olympiacos player to pick up a booking for a foul on Vidal.

CHANCES! The hosts have two more chances to find the net, as Pereyra sees a low effort from out wide blocked by the feet of the keeper and moments later Llorente is found by Tevez inside the box, before turning and blazing a shot over the bar.

There are going to be four minutes of stoppage time.

PENALTY TO JUVENTUS! The hosts will have the chance to make sure of the three points now, as Tevez bursts into the box before being brought down by Milivojevic. It was a clear penalty and Atkinson was well placed to give it.

PENALTY SAVED! It's still not over yet, as Roberto pulls off a fantastic save to deny Vidal from the spot. The keeper turned the ball onto the bar and Pogba was unable to get to the rebound.

FULL-TIME: Juventus 3-2 Olympiacos

It's finally over in Turin and Juventus have not been made to pay for that missed penalty. A gripping and pulsating match ends with them claiming a 3-2 win and has given their hopes of reaching the last 16 a huge boost.

Olympiacos will be disappointed that they were unable to hang on after taking the lead and it means that they are now joined on six points in Group A by Juventus. Atletico Madrid are top of the table on nine points, having claimed a 2-0 win over Malmo this evening.

I'm afraid that's all we've got time for, after a fantastic match in Turin. Please stay with us as we bring you the reaction and results from each of tonight's games in the Champions League. Until next time, goodbye!

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Olympiacos' Eric Abidal fights for the ball with Juventus' Carlos Tevez during the Group A Champions League football match Olympiacos vs Juventus at the Karaiskaki stadium in Athens' Piraeus district on October 22, 2014
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