Young Boys 2-1 Juventus: 3 reasons why Juventus lost to Young Boys | UEFA Champions League 2018-19

A totally unexpected result
A totally unexpected result

In a totally unexpected result, reigning Italian champions and European heavyweights, Juventus, fell to a 2-1 defeat against Group H bottom placed Young Boys in Bern, Switzerland.

Young Boys are the defending Swiss champions, and currently sit 19 points clear at the top of the Swiss Super League table, winning each of their last 6 domestic matches consecutively.

However, this is only their maiden Champions League campaign, and in Juventus, they came up against a club in a much different league, and the history of the Italians as well as the difference in the calibre of players on display for both clubs made fans and pundits alike see this as a walkover for the Italians.

Juve have been one of the in-form teams in Europe this season, losing just one of their 20 matches this season in all competitions (their 1-2 reverse to Manchester United on Matchday 4 of the UCL), while they have won 18 of the rest, with the only other blemish coming in their 1-1 draw against Genoa in the Serie A.

Juve currently sit 6 points clear at the top of the Serie A table, and are all but certain to retain the league title they have won consecutively for the last 7 seasons.

The Old Lady had booked their spot in the next round coming into the match, but their coach Massimiliano made it clear that the Italians were all out to win the match, and his starting line-up buttressed that view, with Allegri fielding his strongest team in Switzerland.

Manchester United’s loss to Valencia meant that Juventus retained their lead at the top of Group H, and will be seeded for the round of 16 draws, but the defeat in Bern was shocking to say the least.

Juve had won each of their last 5 away UCL matches, and were gunning for the record of 7 currently held by Ajax and Bayern Munich, but that was not to be as Young Boys pulled off one of the biggest results in their history. In this piece, we take a look at 3 factors which made Juve lose the match.


#3 Ronaldo uncharacteristically off-form

Ronaldo was off color in Switzerland
Ronaldo was off color in Switzerland

After 9 stellar seasons in Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo completed a shock move to Juventus in the summer, in a record breaking deal which not many foresaw.

The Portuguese is a premium player considered by many to be the Greatest Of All Time, and with 121 goals, he is the all-time record goalscorer in the Champions League. With him Juve would fancy their chances of ending their 21 year wait for continental success.

Ronaldo has hit the ground running in Serie A, scoring 11 goals in 15 matches to sit top of the scorers chart, but things have been a bit slower for him in the competition where he has made his name.

Heading into the fixture, Ronaldo had just 1 goal from 4 matches, and his luck did not improve much in Switzerland.

His first big chance of the night came on 15 minutes, as he was played in through on goal with only Woelfli to beat in the Young Boys goal. In uncharacteristic fashion, Ronaldo dragged his shot wide, and It was to be the first of 4 big chances he had throughout the match, which on another day could have seen him have at least a brace.

He made amends somewhat by laying on the ball perfectly for Paulo Dybala to half the deficit, but Ronaldo’s ill-luck continued when he became the man responsible for denying Dybala a brace and Juve an equaliser, when he flicked on the ball from a sweet strike by Paulo Dybala in the dying embers of the match.

Ronaldo will undoubtedly kick into full gear once the knockouts commence, but his poor form on the night played a huge role in seeing Juventus fall in Switzerland for the second time consecutively.

#2 Guillaume Hoarau was in inspired form

Hoarau got a brace in the match
Hoarau got a brace in the match

Unlike his more established and famous Portuguese opponent, the 34-year-old was on his game, and proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the Italians throughout the match.

He came into the match with a feel good feeling, having scored an injury time winner in the weekend clash with Thun to help Young Boys complete a remarkable comeback victory, and against Juve, he needed just 30 minutes to open the scoreline, burying from the penalty spot (despite Sczezny's best efforts) after Douglas Costa had been penalised for a clumsy tackle in the box.

He also came into play at the wrong end, as he inavertedly sliced a clearance against the bar before shooting wide when presented with a good opportunity (at the right end).

He made amends moments later, showing great composure to beat Leonardo Bonucci and shoot past Sczezny to give Young Boys some leverage ahead of the expected onslaught by the Bianconerri.

The goal gave Hoarau his 100th goal for Young Boys, and took him to 4 for the UCL campaign, and the former PSG striker can hold his head high after a wonderful performance in the 2018-19 Champions League group stage.

#1 The artificial turf

Juventus' players took time adjusting to the artificial turf
Juventus' players took time adjusting to the artificial turf

The quality of play in professional football is greatly affected by the playing surface, and it is with this in mind top clubs do their utmost to ensure that their playing fields are in great conditions, with professional groundsmen being hired to keep the pitch in pristine state at all times.

Natural grass is the preferred turf of play for professional footballers, and as such almost all the biggest clubs in the world have natural fields, with artificial turfs becoming a thing of the past, as the dangers associated with the laid out artificial surface include high risk of injuries to players, as well as difficulty in controlling the tempo of the ball.

However there are still middle level clubs in Europe who make use of artificial pitches, and Young Boys happens to be one of those, and the turf could be seen to affect Juventus, particularly in the early stages of the match where the players struggled to take charge of proceeding until they settled into their rhythm, with Juventus losing Juan Cuadrado to injury early on.

Juventus lost fair and square against Young Boys (although there could be some debate about the penalty), but the Italians might feel that the result could have been different had the match been played on a natural surface.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.