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Juventus beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in what was the headline fixture of this week's Champions League action.
Cristiano Ronaldo made an anticipated return to the club that nurtured and thrust him into the spotlight, whereas Paul Pogba faced his former side after he left them in 2016 for a then world-record fee.
Paulo Dybala opened the scoring on 17 minutes, as he pounced on Ronaldo's deflected cross to beat David De Dea from close range. Juventus controlled large parts of the game but failed to add to their lead. United did ramp up the pressure in the closing stages, but they couldn't make a dent in the scoreline.
Here are 5 major talking points from the game.
#5 Manchester United only starting playing after the interval
The referee got proceedings underway at 8 pm local time, but it seemed as though the home side were unaware of the same. United were completely listless in the first half, and Juventus were in total control of the tie.
The Serie A leaders had it too easy in the first half, as they maintained possession with ease. United sat back, which allowed the likes of Miralem Pjanic to dictate play. Jose Mourinho's men had just 30% of possession before the interval, a number which rose to a healthy 49% in the second half.
The possession was backed up with forays at the Juve goal, and their shot tally went up from 1 to 5 in the second half. Despite the marked improvement, United were unable to alter the score. They have been better in the second half in quite a few of their games this season, notably, in recent games against Newcastle and Chelsea. But why they are not starting off with the same intensity, is a problem for Mourinho to ponder upon.
#4 Juve dominate the midfield to counter United's formation
Mourinho has ditched the 4-3-3 in recent games, a formation which he used for large parts of last season. Just like at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, he opted for a 4-2-3-1, as Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic were deployed in a double pivot.
Juan Mata played just behind Romelu Lukaku, and wingers Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford played quite wide due to the presence of the Juventus full-backs. Both Alex Sandro and Joao Cancelo are a force to reckon with in the final third.
As a result, United clearly lacked numbers in midfield, and Juve took full advantage. Their trio of Pjanic, Matuidi and Betancur circulated the ball well, and even Ronaldo and Dybala were dropping quite deep to get on the ball. Especially in the first hour of the game, Juventus maintained their midfield dominance, which set them on course for an impressive victory.
#3 United and Mourinho have too many problems to deal with
It has not been a bright season at Old Trafford, and the reasons for that are manifold. Against Juventus, a host of problems were clearly visible, and Mourinho has a lot on his plate as a result.
Their attack has been suspect all season, and the likes of Rashford and Lukaku confirmed that today. Lukaku should be given the benefit of the doubt due to the sheer volume of minutes he has played, but the lack of a second striker won't change the situation any time soon.
Nemanja Matic has endured a drastic dropoff in form, and the entire team is suffering as a result. Even though Victor Lindelof impressed today, United's central defenders have not shown the kind of consistency required of them, which suggests that some January recruitment is needed.
Furthermore, the futures of Paul Pogba, David De Gea and Anthony Martial are not secure, which is not particularly assuring for United fans. Lots to sort out, right Jose?
#2 Bonucci and Chiellini imperious at the heart of Juve defence
Juventus have traditionally had a strong defensive record in recent years, and barring last season, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are the major reasons why. They have been vital components of a hugely successful Juve outfit.
Any striker would be intimidated by the Italian duo, and, despite his mammoth figure, Romelu Lukaku struggled to cause Wojciech Szczesny any problems. Chiellini is the gritty one of the two, who leaves no ball unturned with a never-say-die attitude. Bonucci is arguably technically more accomplished, but no lightweight at the basics either.
Coupled with the dynamic full-backs Cancelo and Sandro, the Juve backline successfully stifled the likes of Lukaku, Rashford, and Martial. Sadly for the strikers in European football, the Bonucci-Chiellini duo is like a classic Pinot Noir, it's getting better as they age.
#1 Gulf in class painfully visible for United
Ten years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo was lighting up Old Trafford regularly, he was a few weeks short of his first Ballon d'Or, and United were beginning their journey to become European champions. How the times have changed.
Currently, United are on the cusp of the bottom half in the Premier League, and they were outclassed by the Serie A leaders tonight. Juventus were superior in every aspect, and the close scoreline was kind to the home side.
The Italian side cruised through large parts of the game, and despite some late United pressure, thoroughly deserved to clinch the three points. The Old Lady faithful is hopeful of recording an European triumph this season, whereas a lot of United fans would accept a top-four spot if it were offered to them now, such is the current gulf in class between the two sides.
