Turin, November 3 (BNA): Juventus booked their place in the Champions League round of 16 ahead of two group matches after Argentine striker Paulo Dybala’s double led them to a 4-2 victory over Zenit St Petersburg on Tuesday.
Knowing they only needed one point against Zenit to secure qualification for the knockout stage in Group H, Juventus took a deserved early lead through Dybala, who fired the ball into the net in the 11th minute, Reuters reported.
The hosts had several chances to make it 2-0 before Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci netted in the 26th minute to equalize Zenit.
Dybala took advantage of his good fortune to put Juventus ahead in the 58th minute, converting a penalty at the second attempt, after the referee ordered his first effort, which dragged him away, and retrieved it.
Federico Chiesa and Alvaro Morata’s goals secured a late victory as Juventus racked up four wins out of four in this season’s competition to top Group H, three points clear of champions Chelsea in second place.
Sardar Azmoun scored the consolation of Zenit in injury time, who must win each of his remaining group matches to have any hope of reaching the knockout stages.
“The team played a good game and we were great technically,” coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “Our courage and bravery were important and we didn’t lose our flow when we conceded the goal.
“It was almost all positive. We passed the ball, but the last five minutes are where we need to improve. Those minutes are our motto – we did three counter-attacks and conceded a goal.”
While things have not gone well in Serie A this season for Juventus – they are ninth in the standings, 16 points behind leaders Napoli – Allegri’s side have had no problems on the continent.
Three wins out of three, including a 1-0 win over Chelsea in September, put them on their way to the last 16 before visiting Zenit, and it looked like it would be a comfortable progression after Juventus got off to a great start.
Dybala and Kiza were denied by clever saves from away goalkeeper Stanislav Kritciuk in the opening exchanges, before Dybala made his 50th Champions League appearance.
Morata missed a fantastic opportunity to double Juve’s lead before Zenit took the lead in the competition and leveled things off, with Bonucci trying to pass a cross into his own net.
But from that moment on, Juventus was everything, and Dybala and Chiesa were a constant threat.
Chiesa’s trick beat Juventus with a penalty kick to give his team the opportunity to regain the lead, which Dybala seems to have missed.
However, the referee insisted that Zenit’s players penetrated the penalty area, giving Dybala another chance he did not miss.
Chiesa scored the goal his performance deserved as he raced into the penalty area before moving into the bottom corner and Morata finished well under pressure to keep Juventus out of sight.
Juventus have now won each of the opening four Champions League group stage matches for a third time, having also done so in 1995-96, when they won the tournament, and 2004-05.