Beleaguered Barcelona beats Ronaldo-less Juventus 2-0 in CL

Barcelona played some of its best soccer in a while to win 2-0 at Juventus on Wednesday in a Champions League match that offered plenty of entertainment even though absence of Cristia Ronaldo prevented a highly anticipated matchup between him and Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo was out for game, more than two weeks after Juventus forward initially tested positive for coronavirus. Álvaro Morata, who scored twice against Dynamo last week, again replaced Ronaldo but frustratingly had three goals ruled out for offside.

Messi converted a late penalty for Barcelona after Ousmane Dembélé had given visitors lead in 14th minute.

Barcelona took sole lead of Group G, three points above Juventus. Dynamo Kyiv and Ferencváros have one point each after drawing 2-2 on Wednesday.

Barcelona has been in turmoil this week after losing “clásico” 3-1 at home to Real Madrid last weekend, while club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his entire board resigned on Tuesday.

But scoreline could have been worse for Juventus if visitors had been more clinical with ir chances.

Barcelona almost took lead with less than two minutes on clock as former Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanić forced a save from Wojciech Szczęsny before Antoine Griezmann’s follow-up bounced off left post.

It didn’t take visitors much longer to break deadlock. Messi played a great ball over top to Dembélé on right flank and he cut inside before unleashing a shot which was deflected into far top corner.

Juventus thought it had leveled instantly but Morata’s effort was ruled out for offside.

Barcelona almost doubled its lead in 23rd minute when Griezmann played a delightful backheeled flick to release Messi but Argentina international fired wide of right post.

Morata had ar effort ruled offside and Szczęsny again came to his side’s rescue late in first half with two saves in quick succession to deny first Messi and n Griezmann.

Morata finally appeared to get his goal 10 minutes into second half when Juan Cuadrado acrobatically volleyed Federico Chiesa's cross back into box and former Real Madrid forward turned it into back of net.

But after a lengthy check by video assistant referee, and with both teams back in center of pitch waiting to kick off, that too was ruled out for offside.

Juventus defender Merih Demiral was sent off with five minutes remaining following a second yellow card and Barcelona sealed result shortly after when Federico Bernardeschi crashed into back of Ansu Fati and Messi fired penalty into top left corner.

Im credits: AP