Juventus – Benfica: Juve beat Benfica for the first time in Champions League history (2-0)

Juventus and Benfica faced each other in Champions League round 7 and a historic taboo was broken. The Italian side continue a strong run as they recover form and beat the Portuguese team at home, while Benfica struggle in the standings, in a clash of identities between two different footballing schools represented by two important coaches.

Tactical analysis and match report by Marcus Arboés.

Juventus are living their best moment of recent years in both performances and results since the arrival of Spalletti. The coach lines the team up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, but the system itself is not the most important aspect given how the team play. With Rugani and Vlahovic unavailable, the Italian sent out Di Gregorio in goal; Bremer and Kelly as center backs, Kalulu and Cambiaso as fullbacks; Locatelli and Thuram forming the double pivot, while McKennie played wide on the right, Yildiz on the left, and centrally Jonathan David acted as the striker with Miretti floating between sectors.

With only two wins in the Champions League and a squad not fully built to his profile, Mourinho was without Bah, Richard Ríos and Lukebakio. He therefore lined the team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Trubin in goal; Dedic, Tomás Araújo, Otamendi and Dahl in the back line; Aursnes and Barreiro as holding midfielders; Schjelderup on the left wing, Prestianni on the right, Sudakov as the attacking midfielder inside and Pavlidis as the target man.

A clash of playing principles

Juventus are one of the teams that recover possession most often in the Champions League. Up to the start of round . . .