It wasn't pretty, but Juventus turned in a clinical performance against a stoic Porto side to put themselves in the driving seat in their Champions League last 16 tie. The Portuguese team produced a backs-to-the-wall defensive display, but were finally broken by two smart Max Allegri substitutions.
Unlike the free-flowing, attacking football fans were treated to on Tuesday night, this game started in a much more cagey fashion, with the best chance of the opening exchanges coming when Brahimi struck a free kick over the bar from close range. That, sadly, was as good as it got for the home team.
A moment of insanity from Telles ultimately cost Porto the tie. He was booked in the 25th minute after a nasty stamp on Cuadrado's achilles. Then, just 74 secondslater, the Brazilian came flying in with a needless slide tackle on Juve's right backLichsteiner which was nowhere near the ball. Both were needless, dirty challenges and the left back was quite rightly given his marching orders.
But the Old Lady struggled to capitalise on their man advantage, content to take pot shots from long range which Casillas continuallygathered with ease. Porto dug in and it took 40 minutes for the Italians to fashion a real chance, withCasillasbeing forced in to a smart save down to his right after Higuain swept a low cross in to the near post.
Juve then camecloseagain as Dybalathundered an effort off the post after teeing off from 25 yards. Casillas was scrambling across but was never coming close to saving it.
CLOSE! @PauDybala_JR hits a superb long range strike which evades Casillas but comes back off the woodwork. Still 0-0. #UCL pic.twitter.com/GgH8YUYr9D
The fractious,lacklustrefirst half mercifully ended with referee Felix Brych being roundly booed by the home fans andharassedby Porto's playersas he walkeddownthe tunnel.
The second half started in more lively fashion, with Dybala incorrectly being flagged for offsideaftersmashing a chipped through ball in to the roof of the net.
But after thatinitialscare, Nuno Santo's sideonce again tightened up, restricting a ponderous Juventus side to long range efforts that were all to comfortable for Iker Casillas to handle. Higuain came closest on 65 minutes when some nice jinking feet opened up some space for the Argentineon the edge of the box, but his shot curled agonisingly wide.
The deadlock was finally broken with 20 minutes to play, when substitute Marco Pjaca pounced on a loose ball in the Porto box and smashed it in to the bottom corner. Pjaca scored after just five minutes on the field.
The floodgates then opened, with a second substitute, former Barcelona full backDani Alves, sweeping home Alex Sandro's cross from the edge of the six yard box less than two minutes after Pjaca had put the away side ahead. The Brazilian took only 80 seconds to score after coming on.
The two goals in quick succession proved to be a sucker-punch from which the home side could not recover. They hobbled over the line without much resistance, fatigue evidently a factor. Juventus were happy to maintain control and possession, contentedly passing the last 15 minutes out.
Juventus: Only Real Madrid (4) have had more goals from sub appearances in the Champions League this season than Juve (3) #FCPJuve
With a multiple away goal advantage, Juventus are firm favourites to progress to the last eight. Although this was not a banner performance from the visitors, they were clinical when they needed to be and have essentially put this tie to bed already.The Old Lady are currently unbeaten at home since last season, a stat that does not look likely to change over the coming months.
Porto: Casillas; Maxi Pereira, de Almeida Monteiro, Marcada Sierra, Telles; Danilo; Herrera, da Silva Neves (Corona, 61'), Brahimi (Jota, 73'); Valente Silva (Layun 30'), das Chagas Soares dos Santos.
Juventus: Buffon; Lichsteiner (Dani Alves, 73'), Barzagle, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Panic; Cuadrado (Pjaca, 67'), Dybala (Marchisio, 86'), Mandzukic; Higuain.