This should have been all very routine based on the simple amount of chances that Juventus had to put things away well before the final stretch of Wednesday night’s matchup at the Juventus Stadium arrived. But here we were,
deep into the second half,
watching Maccabi Haifa pushing hard for a potential game-tying goal and probably in deserved fashion, too.
Watch Juventus goals today against Maccabi!!
On the back of an Adrien Rabiot brace and a trio of fantastic assists from Angel Di Maria,
Juventus was able to claim its first three points in the Champions League this season with a 3-1 win over Maccabi Haifa. it wasn’t totally decided until Rabiot
got his second goal of the night with an 83rd-minute header off a Di Maria corner kick,
and that most certainly had more than a few people sweating about Juventus’ chances of actually closing things out.
Why? Because they weren’t looking great and Juve were most certainly pinned back as the 70th,
75th and then 80th minutes came and went.
But then we got the Rabiot goal to relieve the nervousness that was taking over the J Stadium as Juve’s
slim one-goal advantage became more and more at risk in the second half.
It almost makes you want to sing about the man who scored the first and third goals on this night when Juve can actually be happy with the European result.
Ah, but at this point,
Juventus getting a win in the Champions League this season is what matters most here. Sure,
it would have been nice if one of Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica actually gotten a win Wednesday night rather than the other two members of Group H
sharing the points in Lisbon. But Juve can’t be greedy right now as they try to dig themselves out of this early-season hole they have put themselves in.
Juventus 3-1 Maccabi Haifa: Adrien Rabiot double secures comfortable win for Serie A strugglers to give Massimiliano Allegri’s side first Champions League win of the season
- Juventus secured their first points in the Champions League this season tonight
- Adrien Rabiot netted a fine double to ease pressure on Massimiliano Allegri
- Dusan Vlahovic also scored for the hosts, with Dean David netting for Maccabi
Juventus secured their first points in the Champions League this season after Angel Di Maria got a hat-trick of assists and Adrien Rabiot netted twice in a 3-1 home win over Maccabi Haifa in Group H on Wednesday.
The game marked a return to form for Argentine Di Maria,
who had struggled with injuries and suspension this season.
Dusan Vlahovic’s early header wide showed that Juve
were determined not to lose four consecutive matches in the Champions League for the first time.
Haifa reduced the deficit in the 75th minute when substitute Din David
rounded Juve keeper Wojciech Szczesny and put the ball in the open net after a through-ball from Tjaronn Chery.
Juve seemed shocked by the goal and only a great save from Szczesny in the 81st minute prevented the Israeli side from equalising.
Juve put the game to bed, however,
when Di Maria’s corner in the 83rd minute was headed home by Rabiot.
Juventus remain third in the group, behind Benfica and Paris St Germain,
Juventus got off the mark in the Champions League with Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Maccabi Haifa powered by an inspired performance from Angel Di Maria.
Argentina winger Di Maria set up Adrien Rabiot’s
brace and a further strike from Dusan Vlahovic to give Juve their first points in Group H.
They sit four points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica in the group and next week have a trip to Israel where they will again be favourites.
