Francisco Conceicao’s brilliant solo goal with just eight minutes remaining sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory for 10-man Juventus over RB Leipzig in a thrilling Champions League clash on Wednesday.
Juventus suffered early setbacks, losing captain Gleison Bremer and forward Nicolas Gonzalez to injury within the first 12 minutes. Despite twice falling behind to goals from Benjamin Sesko, Juventus equalised both times through Dusan Vlahovic, with his second strike coming from a stunning long-range effort.
Juventus were reduced to 10 men in the 59th minute when goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio was sent off for handling the ball outside the box. Leipzig capitalised, retaking the lead through Sesko’s penalty shortly after. However, Juventus continued to push forward, with Vlahovic’s incredible curling strike and Conceicao’s dazzling solo run sealing a remarkable win.
The victory keeps Juventus’ unbeaten run alive under Thiago Motta, and they now have two wins from two in the Champions League.
Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli praised his team’s resilience, saying, “We played a wonderful match with a lot of heart,” and expressed optimism for the future, calling the game just the beginning.
Leipzig’s Nicolas Siewald lamented his side’s missed opportunities, acknowledging that they had played against a “top team” but failed to take their chances.
Juventus’ defence, which had only been breached once in their previous matches this season, faced early challenges after Bremer’s injury, but they managed to withstand Leipzig’s relentless pressure, holding firm during nine minutes of stoppage time.
Leipzig’s European campaign has now started with two defeats, leaving them struggling to find form in the competition.
