Morgan Rogers had a goal ruled out in second-half stoppage time as Aston Villa and Juventus played out a goalless stalemate in the Champions League.
Rogers scored with virtually the last kick of the game but VAR deemed their had been a foul on Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio in the build up.
Villa welcomed the Italian juggernauts to the West Midlands for the first time in four decades, hoping to end a run of six games without a win in all competitions. The result leaves Unai Emery’s team in ninth place in the Champions League table.
Juventus came into the game unbeaten in Serie A, conceding just seven goals in the league this season. The Old Lady, however, have been plagued by injuries of late.
Weston McKennie, Dusan Vlahovic, Arkadiusz Milik, Nico Gonzalez, Vasilije Adzic, Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal and former Villa player Douglas Luiz were all absent, meaning manager Thiago Motta was without a recognised centre forward and could only name four outfield players on the bench.
With an average age of 24 years and 142 days, it was the youngest starting eleven Juventus had ever named for a Champions League tie.
And there was something of a teacher versus student feel to the opposing dugouts, given that Motta was coached by Emery when the pair were at PSG together.
A point apiece on matchday five in the Champions League. #AVLJUV || #UCL pic.twitter.com/rtjBsmYsO7
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 27, 2024
How it happened
A roar erupted from the home crowd as the Champions League theme crescendoed around Villa Park.
The singing quickly turned to frustrated jeers, however, as Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey both picked up early bookings.
While Juventus started the brighter of the two sides, Villa steadily grew into the game. Pau Torres almost connected with a Bailey corner while Luca Digne crashed a free-kick into the wall.
At the other end, Andrea Cambiaso blasted a shot high over the bar following some neat play by the lively Francisco Conceicao.
But the best effort of the half fell to the hosts when Ollie Watkins made room for a shot but Di Gregorio was equal to it.
Torres then went into the book as the contest began to open up after a cagey first half-hour.
However, the game – a largely even affair – remained goalless going into the break.
Special club 🎇 pic.twitter.com/j7w1nixRkC
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 27, 2024
Shortly after the restart, Juve had a penalty shout turned down when Concecaio’s cut-back struck Torres’ arm but it was ruled he was unable to stop the ball coming in.
With his pace and low centre of gravity, Conceicao was increasingly becoming the instigator of everything the visitors created.
And it was the young Portuguese playmaker’s header on 65-minutes that went closest to breaking the deadlock. From Teun Koopmeiners’ corner, Conceicao’s goalbound effort was somehow kept out by Emi Martinez.
The Argentina international dropped down low to his right and clawed away the ball on the line. It was an astonishing stop that served as a reminder of why the Villa keeper has been awarded the Yashin Trophy two years running.
How has he kept that one out?! 🤯
Emi Martinez with an INCREDIBLE save to keep it goalless at Villa Park ⛔️
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/OkcWHB7YIk
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024
John McGinn and Tielemans then both had good chances for Villa but neither could beat Di Gregorio.
Shortly after, Ross Barkley and super-sub Jhon Duran were thrown on in place of Watkins and Boubacar Kamara.
And Villa thought they had snatched victory right at the death when, deep into stoppage time, Morgan Rogers pounced after Di Gregorio dropped the ball from a free-kick.
However, the goal was chalked off following a VAR check after the Juve keeper was deemed to have been fouled.
Emery said before the match that a draw would not be the worst result. But on a night when they went so close to grabbing all three points against one of Europe’s biggest names, it may well have felt like a defeat.
