Benfica secured a 2-0 victory over Juventus at the Allianz Stadium, ensuring their progression to the Champions League playoffs.
The win placed them 16th in the standings with 13 points, setting up a playoff fixture against either AS Monaco or Brest. Juventus, who had already qualified for the playoffs, finished in 20th place with 12 points and will face either AC Milan or PSV Eindhoven.
The opening goal came in the 16th minute following a defensive lapse by Juventus. A long ball forward was misjudged by Federico Gatti, allowing Alexander Bah to gain control and make a run into the penalty area. Bah then delivered a precise pass to an unmarked Vangelis Pavlidis, who calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Mattia Perin. Despite Juventus increasing their attacking intensity in the second half, Benfica remained solid. In the 80th minute, Pavlidis turned provider, setting up Orkun Kökçü, who advanced into the area before driving a low shot beyond Perin to double the lead.
Juventus manager Thiago Motta admitted his side fell short, stating that Benfica were more effective in both creating and converting their chances. He acknowledged that his team did not deserve the win and emphasized the need for improvement ahead of their upcoming match. The victory was an important one for Benfica, particularly after their recent 5-4 loss to Barcelona in a previous Champions League fixture.
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