Juventus 2-0 Benfica Player Ratings: A Dominant Performance At Home Sees the Old Lady Triumph Over Mourinho's Men

The game at the Allianz Stadium between Juventus and Benfica had it all in its store. Both teams spent the first 45 minutes sizing each other up. The affair was a bit cagey, maybe too respectful of each other's ability to turn the game on its head.

The magic arrived after the first half break. Juventus came out with a completely different energy, pressing higher and moving the ball with real purpose.

It paid off handsomely for them as Khéphren Thuram broke the deadlock with a composed finish just ten minutes into the second half that changed the entire complexion of the match.

Weston McKennie, who was everywhere, deservedly got his goal in the 64th minute to make it 2-0. Benfica had their moments, but failed to capitalize on them.

Vangelis Pavlidis's shocking miss from the spot summed up As Águias' frustrating evening, allowing the Old Lady to see out a comfortable win in this UEFA Champions League clash.

Here are the Juventus vs Benfica Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Khephren Thuram put the hosts ahead with a brilliant run and finish from inside the penalty area in the 55th minute.
• Weston McKennie doubled the lead with a neat strike in the 64th minute.
• Benfica missed an opportunity to reduce the deficit in the 81st minute as Vangelis Pavlidis hit his penalty way off target.

Juventus Player Ratings vs Benfica

Have a look at the Juventus Player Ratings from the Juventus vs Benfica Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Michele Di Gregorio - 7.0: A very solid performance from the keeper. He wasn't tested constantly, but made three important saves when called upon. What stood out to us was his confident claim in the box. Kept a clean sheet, which is all you can ask for. A reliable presence between the sticks.

Defenders

Bremer - 6.5: A decent outing for the Brazilian, who made five clearances and was strong in his duels. However, he was the one who gave away the penalty late in the game. That mistake blemishes an otherwise solid defensive shift. He'll be relieved it wasn't converted.

Lloyd Kelly - 7.0: From our perspective, Kelly was quietly excellent. He was composed on the ball with a 91% pass accuracy and was a rock at the back. He made six clearances and won most of his duels. Didn't put a foot wrong all night. A very reassuring display.

Pierre Kalulu - 7.0: A good all-round game from the defender. He was solid at the back but also provided an outlet going forward, creating two chances for his teammates. He read the game well and seemed comfortable throughout. A performance he can be happy with.

Andrea Cambiaso - 6.5: Played for 70 minutes and put in a steady, if unspectacular, shift. He was tidy in possession and did his defensive duties without any fuss. Didn't offer a huge threat going forward but was a reliable part of the backline. A classic 6.5/10 performance.

Midfielders

Manuel Locatelli - 7.5: The captain led by example in the heart of midfield. He was immense, winning eight duels and making a staggering five blocked shots. He screened the defense brilliantly and dictated the tempo. The yellow card was the only negative on a commanding performance.

Kenan Yıldız - 6.0: A frustrating night for the young midfielder. He got into some good positions and had a shot on target but was also wasteful, losing possession 21 times. You could see the effort was there but the final product was missing. Subbed off after 82 minutes.

Khéphren Thuram - 8.0: Scored the all-important opening goal with a smart finish. Beyond the goal, his passing was crisp and he was a constant presence in the final third. He missed one chance earlier but more than made up for it. A really influential display.

Fabio Miretti - 5.5: A day to forget for Miretti. He really struggled to get into the game and missed a big chance in the first half. He was hooked at halftime, and it wasn't a surprise to us. He just couldn't make an impact.

Weston McKennie - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a doubt. An all-action performance capped with a well-taken goal. He created a big chance, had two shots on target, and his energy was infectious. He was the engine room for Juventus and drove them to victory.

Forwards

Jonathan David - 7.5: He didn't score, but David was crucial to the attack. He provided a brilliant assist for McKennie's goal and created another big chance. His movement and link-up play were excellent. A very clever and unselfish performance before being substituted.

Substitutes

Francisco Conceição - 6.5: Came on at halftime and provided some spark. Looked lively but his final ball was lacking.

Loïs Openda - N/A: Didn't have enough time to make an impact.

Juan Cabal - N/A: Came on late to help see out the game.

Filip Kostic - N/A: A late substitution with the game already won.

Manager

L. Spalletti - 7.5: His decision to bring on Conceição at halftime changed the game's momentum. His team was much improved in the second half, showing more aggression and quality. A perfectly managed European night from the experienced coach.

Benfica Player Ratings vs Juventus

Check out the Benfica Player Ratings from the Juventus vs Benfica Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Anatoliy Trubin - 6.0: He was left exposed for both goals and couldn't do much about either. Made three saves to keep the scoreline from getting worse. It's tough to give a high rating when you concede two, but he wasn't personally at fault.

Defenders

Amar Dedić - 7.5: A fantastic defensive performance in a losing team. He won eight of his nine duels and was a tackling machine. He was one of the few Benfica players who can hold their head high. A really impressive individual display.

Samuel Dahl - 6.0: A quiet and difficult evening for the fullback. He struggled to contribute offensively and was occupied with Juventus's attacks. He held his position reasonably well but didn't stand out. An average performance.

Nicolás Otamendi - 6.5: The veteran captain was incredibly busy, making a game-high 10 clearances. He fought hard, but his defense was ultimately breached twice. He tried to organize his backline but they were second best on the night.

Tomás Araújo - 5.0: A really tough night for the young defender. His error directly led to a goal, a moment that completely deflated his team. Beyond that mistake he looked shaky and lost possession too often. A learning experience for him.

Midfielders

Fredrik Aursnes - 7.5: Benfica's best player on the pitch. He was so unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork with a header. He created three chances and was a bundle of energy, making four tackles. He deserved more from this game.

Georgiy Sudakov - 7.0: He was Benfica's main creative spark for much of the match. With three key passes and a couple of shots on target, he looked dangerous whenever he had the ball. Faded a little as the game went on and was subbed.

Leandro Barreiro - 6.5: A tireless worker in the midfield. He showed great determination to win the penalty for his team. However, his passing was a bit inconsistent and he lost possession a few too many times. A mixed performance.

Andreas Schjelderup - 5.5: We barely noticed he was on the pitch. He was a passenger for most of the game, unable to make any real impact. He completed only 15 passes before being substituted. A very anonymous display.

Gianluca Prestianni - 6.0: Showed some neat touches and had a couple of shots, but ultimately struggled to influence the game against a strong Juventus midfield. Worked hard but lacked the cutting edge. An okay performance, nothing more.

Forwards

Vangelis Pavlidis - 4.5: It just wasn't his night. He had the golden opportunity to get his team back into the game from the penalty spot and missed. He also missed another big chance and seemed to snatch at his shots. A performance he will want to forget immediately.

Substitutes

Franjo Ivanovic - 6.0: Came on and tried to get involved, but couldn't change the course of the match.

Enzo Barrenechea - 6.0: Brought on to add some stability, but the game was already slipping away.

João Rego - N/A: A late sub who had little time to make an impression.

Manager

José Mourinho - 6.0: His team created enough chances to get something from the game, including a penalty. Ultimately, his forwards let him down. Tactically, his side was too open in the second half and couldn't cope with Juve's intensity. A frustrating night for the Portuguese manager.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's man of the match from the Juventus vs Benfica game was Weston McKennie.

Worst Performer

Vangelis Pavlidis was the worst performer in this Juventus vs Benfica fixture.