The sense of occasion was inescapable as kickoff time approach, the domestic struggles of Manchester United doing little to reduce the feeling that a game against Juventus was between two European heavyweights. Jose Mourinho’s men might have arrived (eventually, after their bus was delayed in traffic) at Old Trafford sitting tenth in the Premier League, but a visit from the Italian giants ensured the atmosphere around the stadium was one that only the biggest Champions League nights can deliver.
Sadly for the home side however, that pre-match buzz was short-lived. United kicked off and lost the ball almost immediately, retreating into their defensive shape as Juventus slowly began to build an attack. With 4,000 Bianconeri supporters in one corner of the ground making themselves heard above the rest, the game quickly began to feel as if, somehow, those in red were the away team and they surrendered any sense of belonging.
Dominated from start to finish, it was exactly the kind of game that Mourinho’s critics use to lambast him. His side shrank in the moment, lacking the quality, game plan or ability to stand toe-to-toe with such a top class opponent, United were not united; they were disjointed, unadventurous and timid. Their fans might have occasionally launched into their usual “attack, attack, attack, attack, attack” battlecry, but the players never truly looked like they could go forward with any real conviction.
In stark contrast, Juve used the 95 minutes to highlight their absolute quality in all areas. At the back they ran very few risks, prompting Mourinho to say that Bonucci and Chiellini “could teach classes about defending at Harvard University” during his post-match press conference. Up front, Cristiano Ronaldo was inevitably looking to impress and it was his cross that led to the game’s only goal after 17 minutes.
Juan Cuadrado saw his initial effort blocked, but Paulo Dybala was on hand to convert the rebound and Juve never looked back. As time wore on, Douglas Costa and Federico Bernardeschi replaced the South American duo, underlining the quality available to Max Allegri despite Mario Mandzukic, Sami Khedira, Emre Can and Leonardo Spinazzola all being out injured.
United had a lengthy list of absentees themselves which limited their attacking options, but even without Can and Khedira, it was in midfield where Juve truly ran the show here. Enjoying 60.4% of possession – and an even more outlandish 72% in the opening 45 minutes – Blaise Matuidi and Miralem Pjanic were consistently excellent. Protecting the backline and supplying the forwards, the duo fulfilled their roles perfectly, rarely misplacing a pass and seemingly always in the right place at the right time.
Given their experience that is perhaps to be expected, but to see Rodrigo Bentancur shine alongside them served to show just how talented the Uruguay international truly is. Lining up directly opposite Paul Pogba and playing in such a high profile encounter, the 21-year-old could be forgiven for struggling, but instead he delivered an undeniably outstanding performance.
The graphic in the tweet above underlines just how well he did, but seeing a player that young and inexperienced thrive in those circumstances was a pleasure to witness. Speaking after the game on BT Sport, Rio Ferdinand said the clash was “men against boys,” but the one youngster in black and white more than held his own. That he did so in just his 13th start for Juventus bodes extremely well for his future, and serves to explain why Allegri was undaunted about naming him to the starting XI.
His first half was arguably flawless, and when two or three mistakes did creep in after the break, there was always a team-mate on hand to recover the situation. Allowing Bentancur to make those errors without publicly criticising him or sending on a substitute to replace him will do wonders for his confidence too.
While highlighting such an individual performance is worthwhile, more than anything this was a game and a result that proves just how impressive this incarnation of Juventus is as a collective unit. Writing in Wednesday’s edition of the Corriere dello Sport newspaper, Alberto Polverosi admitted he “struggles to remember an Italian team that dominates like this in a stadium like Old Trafford,” and they were not alone in their admiration.
“Juventus is a different level of quality, I have to be honest. A level of quality, stability, experience, know-how,” Mourinho told reporters after the final whistle, so effusive in his praise of an opponent that was jarring. Such a response was laudable, the Portuguese boss – just like his team on the pitch – struggling for any answer other than complete submission; he was soundly beaten and could make no excuses for it.
With Ronaldo not at his best, the Bianconeri still had too much quality throughout the side and proved it on an impressive stage. Bigger challenges are yet to come as the Champions League progresses, but the Old Lady showed here that she will not be daunted by them and instead will relish every one. Juventus are just that good.
