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Juventus player ratings vs Valencia: Juve overcomes Ronaldo red card

By John Vaccaro

19th September 2018, Mestalla, Valencia, Spain; UEFA Champions League football, Valencia versus Juventus; Miralem Pjanic of Juventus Turin scores for 1-0 from a penalty kick in the 43rd minute (photo by Pedro Salado/Action Plus via Getty Images)
19th September 2018, Mestalla, Valencia, Spain; UEFA Champions League football, Valencia versus Juventus; Miralem Pjanic of Juventus Turin scores for 1-0 from a penalty kick in the 43rd minute (photo by Pedro Salado/Action Plus via Getty Images) /
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Juventus’ Italian goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny stops a penalty kicked by Valencia’s Spanish midfielder Daniel Parejo during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Valencia CF and Juventus FC at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on September 19, 2018. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)
Juventus’ Italian goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny stops a penalty kicked by Valencia’s Spanish midfielder Daniel Parejo during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Valencia CF and Juventus FC at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on September 19, 2018. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images) /

Juventus started their chase for that elusive Champions League trophy impressively against Valencia.

After absorbing an early flurry from Valencia Juve took over the game. They created chance after chance, but were unable to find the back of the net. Then tragedy struck.

No, I’m not talking about Sami Khedira’s injury. It’s unfortunate any time a player gets hurt, but the tragedy I’m referring to is the ridiculous red card given to Cristiano Ronaldo.  He was sent off in the 29th minute for touching Jeison Murillo’s head and yelling at him for diving. After suffering an injury and a red card early in the match it would have been easy for Juve to suffer a letdown. However, that wasn’t in the cards on Wednesday.

Juve came back strong from these disappointments and even managed to take the lead before halftime. Joao Cancelo took a cleat to the face (which wasn’t a red card) and earned Juventus a penalty right before 1st half stoppage time. Miralem Pjanic stepped up to the spot and buried the ball in the back of the net to put Juve ahead.

Juve got out to a quick start in the second half, needing just six to earn another penalty when Leonardo Bonucci was taken down (or just fell down) on a corner. Once again Pjanic delivered for Juve and the Bianconeri were on their way to a victory in their Champions League opener.

From there Juve focused on just maintaining their clean sheet and did so mostly without incident. The only time Valencia came close to cutting into the lead was when they drew a penalty of their own own in stoppage time. Wojciech Szczesny was having none of that though and stopped the penalty, securing 3 points and the clean sheet in Juve’s Champions League opener.

GK: Wojciech Szczesny 9/10

Szczesny was fantastic against Valencia. He wasn’t asked to do much for the first 90 minutes, but he came up big when called upon. He saved all 6 shots on target that he faced and preserved the clean sheet with his penalty save. This was one of the best performances of his Juve career and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Even with Mattia Perin available, this performance should keep him safely entrenched in this position for a while.

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