Conceicao stunner nets 10-man Juventus win at Leipzig

Juventus lost two players, including captain Gleison Bremer, to injury in the first 12 minutes. They twice fell behind to goals from Benjamin Sesko and twice equalised through Dusan Vlahovic, the second of which was a stunner from well outside the box.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men after 59 minutes when goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio handled outside the box but continued to attack until Conceicao dribbled into the heart of the Leipzig defence and blasted home. The win keeps Juventus' unbeaten start in all competitions under Thiago Motta alive, while making it two from two in the Champions League.

Juventus travelled to Germany as the only side yet to concede a league goal this season, their one strike in the minus column came in stoppage time of their dominant 3-1 Champions League opener against PSV Eindhoven. Juve's ambitions took an early blow when they lost captain Bremer and forward Nicolas Gonzalez to injury inside the first quarter of an hour.

Bremer's injury looked particularly concerning for the visitors, with the Brazilian holding his leg before being helped off the pitch after colliding with Openda. The visitors were strong early and their best chance came in the 30th minute, but the missed opportunity would haunt them. Nicolo Fagioli blasted a shot goalwards and Vlahovic got a touch to the ball but failed to properly wrongfoot Peter Gulasci, who collected and sent Leipzig on the counter.

Gulacsi found David Raum who blasted a gliding direct pass forward, finding Openda who did the same to Sesko. The 1.95-metre tall Slovenian leapt to collect the ball, allowing it to bounce before rocketing his shot in off the underside of the crossbar. Trailing and needing an equaliser, Juventus pushed up and levelled early in the second-half, Vlahovic getting a boot to a low Andrea Cambiaso cross and sending the ball spinning past a helpless Gulacsi.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men and then fell behind again in a bizarre six-minute spell, VAR finding Di Gregorio handled outside the box and then awarding Leipzig a penalty, this time for a handball in the box. Sesko blasted home but the match took a turn just five minutes later when Vlahovic unleashed an incredible curling strike from outside the box and into the top corner.

Conceicao's solo show put the visitors in front and they held on despite waves of Leipzig attacks in nine minutes of stoppage time. Leipzig, despite a spirited showing, have now lost two in two to start their European campaign.

 

October 2, 2024