CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Toure’s late strike condemns Juve to first defeat of term
TURIN: Stuttgart enjoyed an impressive 1-0 win at Juventus in the Champions League thanks to El Bilal Toure’s stoppage-time strike inflicted the hosts’ first loss this season.
The German side, who claimed their first Champions League victory, had been more aggressive throughout and got their reward in the 92nd minute when substitute Toure finally beat Juve’s back-up goalkeeper Mattia Perin, who despite the defeat was named player of the match.
Stuttgart had wasted a golden chance to take the lead four minutes from time when Perin saved Enzo Millot’s penalty after a VAR check for a Danilo foul on Anthony Rouault, with the Brazilian defender picking up a second yellow card.
The visitors also saw Deniz Undav’s effort disallowed early in the second half for handball by the Germany striker but ultimately managed to end a four-match winless run in all competitions. Juve stay on six points and Stuttgart have four. It was the first defeat for Juventus under coach Thiago Motta.
He said: “Stuttgart certainly deserved it, they were better than us from the first minute. We must digest this as quickly as possible then get back on our feet to prepare for Inter.”
Milan relief
AC Milan secured Champions League with their first points after a 3-1 home win over Belgian champions Club Brugge. Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders scored twice in the second half.
The seven-time European champions had been one of eight sides winless after two games, having lost 1-0 at Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month and 3-1 at home to Liverpool in the competition opener.
Christian Pulisic put Milan ahead in the 34th minute, scoring directly from a corner kick, before Brugge were reduced to 10 men in the 40th when midfielder Raphael Onyedika was sent off for a foul on Reijnders following a lengthy VAR check.
Kyriani Sabbe levelled for last season’s Conference League semi-finalists Brugge after the break with a low strike into the far corner. Reijnders restored the lead for the hosts in the 61st minute with a simple first-time finish from near the penalty spot, before sealing the win with a similar effort 10 minutes later.
Milan, who last year were eliminated in the group stage, next travel to champions Real Madrid on November 5. Brugge, who won 1-0 at Austria’s Sturm Graz after losing 3-0 at home to Borussia Dortmund in their two opening fixtures, host Aston Villa a day later.
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