Juventus was so close.
They nearly managed to take 3 points a match in Madrid, but they blew a multiple goal lead in the second half for the second time in their last 3 matches.
It was a relatively uneventful first half as both teams felt each other out, not wanting to make a mistake that could make the difference in the match. The second half was different story.
It didn’t take long for Juve to open the scoring after halftime. In the 48th minute, Gonzalo Higuain played a ball across the box to Juan Cuadrado, who took one dribble and buried the ball in the far corner of the net. They would add a second 17 minutes later when Alex Sandro played in a perfect cross that Blaise Matuidi headed past Jan Oblak.
Unfortunately, that lead wouldn’t last long. Atletico Madrid needed only 5 minutes to take a corner kick that would be headed back across the face of goal by Jose Gimenez and headed into the net by Stefan Savic to cut Juve’s lead to 2-1.
20 minutes later, off of another corner, substitute Hector Herrera headed past Wojciech Szczesny to tie the match at 2. That is where the match would finish, leaving Atletico and Juve tied for second in their group with a point each.
GK: Wojciech Szczesny 7/10
The 2 goals allowed that will show up on Wojciech Szczesny’s record really aren’t indicative of his performance in this match. He made some nice saves, including one that prevented Joao Felix from opening the scoring early in the match after a fantastic run. There was really nothing he could do to stop either of the goals that got past them as one was perfectly placed and the other was a header from point-blank range while Szczesny was trying to get back across the goal. It was another solid day for Szczesny, but it may be time for him to get a rest this weekend while Juve takes on newly promoted Hellas Verona.