Juventus player ratings vs Valencia: Mario Mandzukic sends Juve through to knockout stages

Juventus needed one more game than expected to get there, but with their win over Valencia they are headed to the Champions League round of 16.

For anybody who has watched Juventus throughout the season, this match was a pretty familiar sight. They came out and took control of the match right from the start, but were unable to turn their dominance into a lead throughout the first half. As has happened too many times throughout the season their inability to take advantage of their control of the match nearly led to them falling behind just before the half. In first half stoppage time Mouctar Diakhaby nearly turned a corner into a lead for Valencia, but Wojciech Szczesny made a great save to keep the match level at halftime.

Juve would finally find their breakthrough in the second half. In the 59th minute Cristiano Ronaldo put the moves on Valencia’s defense to create enough room to send in a cross. Mario Mandzukic got on the end of that cross and put Juve in the lead with his first Champions League goal of the year.

Juve created a couple of chances from there, but nothing came of them. Valencia never threatened the Juve lead the rest of the way and now Juventus is just a win or a Manchester United loss or draw away from winning Group H.

GK: Wojciech Szczesny 7/10

Wojciech Szczesny must wish he played Valencia every match. Two of his best performances of the year have come against the Spanish club. On Tuesday he saved a Mouctar Diakhaby header right before the half that kept the game level and made sure that Juve didn’t end up having to chase a win. Szczesny has been fantastic since his poor finish against Manchester United and these recent performances should keep him firmly in possession of the starting job.