Juventus-Barcellona: 0-2 - Champions 2020/2021. Final result and commentary from the game

Where the match is played:
Stadium: Allianz Stadium
City: Torino
Capacity for: 41507 people20:22

Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League clash between Juventus and Barcelona at Allianz Stadium.20:22

Juventus defeated Dynamo Kiev in their opener by a 2-0 scoreline to kick off their Champions League campaign on the front foot. Maurizio Sarri was sacked after their defeat to Lyon last season, therefore it was crucial for Andrea Pirlo to begin a victory. The Bianconeri earned the three points courtesy of a brace from Alvaro Morata to match Barca's start in Group G, but they face a challenge tonight against the Spanish outfit.20:29

Barcelona have endured a torrid week, suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in El Clasico. They were soundly beaten by their rivals at Camp Nou before club president Josip Maria Bartomeu announced his resignation along with other members of the board. It has left the Catalan side in bizarre position off the field, but Ronald Koeman has to put that to one side to help his team get back to winning ways.20:31

JUVENTUS (4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szcesny; Juan Cuadrado, Merih Demiral, Leonardo Bonucci, Danilo; Rodrigo Bentancur, Adrien Rabiot; Dejan Kulusevski, Paulo Dybala, Federico Chiesa; Alvaro Morata.20:35

JUVENTUS SUBS: Arthur, Aaron Ramsey, Weston McKennie, Carlo Pinsoglio, Federico Bernardeschi, Koni de Winter, Gianluca Frabotta, Manolo Portanova, Alessandrio Pio Riccio, Gianluigi Buffon.20:36

BARCELONA (4-2-3-1): Neto, Sergi Roberto, Ronald Araujo, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Frenkie de Jong, Miralem Pjanic; Pedri, Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele; Antoine Griezmann.20:38

BARCELONA SUBS: Sergino Dest, Sergio Busquets, Carles Alena, Martin Braithwaite, Riqui Puig, Trincao, Ansu Fati, Junior Firpo, Inaki Pena, Arnau Tenas.20:39

Juventus are still without Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese returned a second positive coronavirus test. The Bianconeri are also without defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Matthijs de Ligt, although Dybala and Bonucci are available for Pirlo. There are three changes from their side that drew 1-1 against Hellas Verona as Ramsey, Arthur and Bernadeschi drop to the bench and Bentancur, Kulusevski and Chiesa start.20:41

Barcelona also have a slew of injuries to contend along with Gerard Pique's suspension. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Samuel Umtiti and Philippe Coutinho are all injured, resulting in Neto starting once again between the sticks. Araujo gets the nod to start in the backline in place of Pique. Busquets, Dest and Fati all drop to the bench from the side that was beaten by Real Madrid. Griezmann, Dembele, Sergi Roberto and Pjanic are all inserted into the line-up.20:44

This will be the 14th match between Juventus and Barcelona in competitive football, with the Italian giants failing to score in their last three meetings with the Spanish outfit (D2 L1).20:45

We're underway at Allianz Stadium.21:00

BLOCK! Demiral gives the ball straight to Messi in the left inside channel. The Argentine fires at goal, but Bonucci denies him with a last-ditch block.21:02

OFF THE POST! Barca keep the pressure on from the corner. Pjanic sees his strike from the edge of the box saved before Griezmann pounces on the rebound. He blasts a left-footed effort towards the net, only to see his strike clatter of the post.21:03

Juve are half asleep to begin the contest, but the visitors are unable to capitalise.21:04

Pjanic gives the ball straight to Chiesa in the final third, but Lenglet bails out his team-mate with an inch-perfect challenge to dispossess the forward.21:04

Bonucci sends a long ball over the top, aiming for Dybala's run. However, it skips off the surface and into the hands of Neto in his box.21:07

Juve are trying to get their foot on the ball to calm the game down. Barca will be content to find space on the break.21:10

Barca win a corner down the left flank that Messi whips into the box, but Demiral rises highest in the box to head clear.21:11

Cuadrado has space on the right flank and he sends a low cross into the box. Chiesa sticks out a leg and tries to flick it up for himself, but he fails to pull off the piece of skill. 21:13

Messi releases the run of the winger, who does the rest as his strike from 20 yards is deflected past Szczesny.21:16

DISALLOWED GOAL! Morata surges through on goal after being played through by Cuadrado. He sees his first strike saved by Neto, but he bundles the rebound home. However, the referee spots a handball against the Spaniard, who was also offside in the build-up.21:17

VAR! The referee doubles checks the Morata decision with VAR. It proves that there was both offside and handball infringements. It didn't have much going for it.21:18

The referee has a word with Alba following a strong challenge on Cuadrado on the right flank.21:18

Morata tries to attack a deep cross from Cuadrado into the box, but he fouls Araujo in the process. The Spaniard has to display more nous in the fonal third.21:20

Alba has space and time on the left flank. He tries to angle a cross to the back post, but Szczesny comes off his line to claim ahead of Griezmann.21:22

CHANCE! Messi spurns the opportunity to double Barca's lead. The Argentine works a one-two with Griezmann, who opens up space for his team-mate in the left inside channel with a sublime backheel. Messi lines up the strike, but pulls it wide of the right post.21:23

Chiesa runs at the Barcelona defence down the left flank, but he loses out under pressure from Sergi Roberto.21:25

Chiesa has another dart down the left flank and he fires a low cross towards the near post. There is no Juve player in the vicinity and it allows Neto to gather with ease.21:27

Messi tries to find the run of Pedri down the left flank, but he just overhits his cross-field ball out for a throw-in. 21:28

Szczesny takes a touch from a pass from Demiral and the ball travels dangerously towards the goalline. The Pole gets his clearance away before Griezmann closes in.21:29

DISALLOWED GOAL! Morata is denied for the second time in the game. He converts Cuadrado's cross on the slide, dispatching his effort past Neto. However, the flag goes up late and replays show that he was indeed beyond the last defender.21:30

Dybala angles a cross to the back post for Morata to chase, but Sergi Roberto tracks it and nods back to Neto. He had to make that interception.21:31

WIDE! Alba pounces a deflected cross in the left inside channel as the home side fail to clear their lines. The Spaniard goes for a blast at goal, but he slices his effort wide of the left post.21:33

CHANCES! Messi charges at the Juve backline and works an incisive pass to Dembele. The Frenchman sees his effort saved by Szczesny, but the rebound falls back to him. He cannot get a second strike away and decides offload to Griezmann. The forward misses his initial kick and then sees his second effort charged down by a wall of black and white shirts.21:36

Morata and Kulusevski try to combine in the final third, but Alba does enough to whisk the ball away from the latter just before he can pull the trigger.21:37

Former team-mates collide in the middle of the park as Rabiot brings down Pjanic. Juve are struggling to contain the visitors.21:39

Lenglet sends a searching ball through the Juve defence, but it travels away from Griezmann and into the hands of Szczesny.21:40

Morata runs at the Barca defence and initially fends off Lenglet. However, he overruns the ball and dribbles it out for a goal-kick. Frustration for the Spaniard.21:41

The home side are struggling immensely in the final third. They're not clicking at the moment. Dybala needs to see more of the ball.21:44

Danilo and Kulusevski attempt to combine to release Morata in the box. However, Lenglet steps across to make the interception.21:45

There will be two minutes of added time.21:45

Araujo requires treatment for the visitors, but he appears to be okay to continue.21:46

Danilo goes for a blast from distance, but gets his effort all wrong, sending the ball well over the bar.21:47

Kulusevski catches Alba on his follow through after a challenge and goes into the book.21:48

HALF-TIME: JUVENTUS 0-1 BARCELONA21:48

Barcelona lead Juventus 1-0 at the break in their Champions League clash at Allianz Stadium. Ousmane Dembele put Ronald Koeman's men in front courtesy of a deflected strike from the edge of the box. Barca should arguably be out of sight, but Lionel Messi, Dembele and Antoine Griezmann failed to convert further openings. Alvaro Morata has had two goals disallowed for the hosts, who have been underwhelming in the final third.21:49

Andrea Pirlo will be concerned by his side's performance in the first half. They were lacklustre in the final third, even though Morata did have the ball in the net twice. The Spaniard has been off the pace, being caught offside twice. Paulo Dybala has also been largely ineffectual. The Bianconeri need more from the two players in the second half.21:51

Barca are forced into a change at the break as Araujo makes way for Busquets, who has to slot into the backline.22:05

We're back underway at Allianz Stadium.22:05

Juve work the ball around the edge of the box, but Bentancur slips as he strikes at goal, curling his effort over the bar.22:07

Messi makes a rare mistake with his first touch on the edge of the box, allowing Rabiot to nip in to win possession.22:08

Alba gets forward down the left flank and fires a low ball towards the near post that Demiral has to turn behind.22:08

Lenglet goes down under pressure from Demiral, handing Barca a free-kick on the right edge of the box.22:09

Messi angles the free-kick towards goal, but Bonucci rises in the middle to head it clear of danger.22:10

Sergi Roberto feeds Dembele in space down the right flank. He hammers a low ball towards the middle that Bonucci has to divert away from the lurking Pedri.22:11

Bonucci has to act in the box to steer away a loose ball from Griezmann after Demiral breaks up an attempted ball over the top to Messi. Juve are having to defend deep at the start of the second half.22:12

Morata has the ball in the net for a third time, but the goal goes to a VAR check for a potential offside.22:17

DISALLOWED GOAL!!! Morata is denied for the third time of the game. The Spaniard believes that he has finally found the back of the net, converting Cuadrado's cross at the back post. The goal is awarded on the field, but VAR spots that his trailing leg is offside and disallows the strike. 22:16

Sergi Roberto slides in hard on Chiesa down the left flank and goes into the book.22:18

WIDE! Messi pounces on a loose ball on the edge of the box and curls a low strike towards goal. However, his effort creeps inches past the left post. So close for a second for the visitors.22:21

BLOCK! Messi runs at the Juve defence and offloads towards Pedri in space in the right inside channel. The teenager cuts inside on his left foot to shoot, but Danilo does well to deflect it wide of the target. Messi just fails to react in time to steer the loose ball towards goal.22:23

The goalscorer Dembele is withdrawn for Fati in the final third.22:25

OVER! Kulusevski works the ball into the path of Morata and the Spaniard offloads back to his team-mate in space on the edge of the box. Kulusevski goes for a left-footed strike, but he clips his effort over the bar.22:27

WIDE! Morata threads a pass through to Rabiot on the charge in the left inside channel. The Frenchman goes for goal with a first-time effort, but he fails to hit the target.22:28

Demiral gets beaten by Messi and has to bring down the Argentine with a lunge from behind. He rightfully goes into the book.22:28

Pjanic works the ball to Fati in the box and the teenager creates space for himself to shoot at goal, but his effort is charged down by a wall of Juve defenders.22:30

Messi takes a touch to beat Bonucci and lines up a strike at goal. However, Danilo gets across just in time with an inch-perfect challenge to deny the Argentine.22:31

Cuadrado tries a trick to beat Alba, but he goes down under no pressure in the box. The referee books the Juve man for simulation.22:33

McKennie replaces Kulusevski in the Juve midfield for the final 15 minutes.22:34

INCHES AWAY! Messi threads a pass through to Griezmann in the left inside channel. The forward has space and time to fire at goal on his left foot, but he sends his effort just wide of the right post. Agony for the Frenchman.22:34

Danilo is the man on the spot once more for Juventus in the box with another block to deny Messi.22:35

WIDE! McKennie runs at Sergi Roberto down the left flank and cuts inside to shoot on his right foot. The American can only send his effort wide of the right post.22:36

Rabiot is left in a one-on-one situation with Messi and has to bring down the Argentine. The Frenchman is booked by the referee.22:38

Dybala tries to take on Alba down the right flank, but he loses out to the Barca full-back. It has not been Dybala's best night for Juve.22:39

Morata chases a ball down the left flank and he cuts a pass back to Dybala on the charge. However, the ball rises up and strikes the Argentine on the arm, handing Barca a free-kick to clear their lines.22:41

Bernardeschi replaces Rabiot for the closing stages of the game.22:41

Arthur comes on against his former club to replace Bentancur in the Juve midfield.22:42

OFF! Demiral lunges in on Pjanic and does not win the ball. He catches the midfielder late and receives his second booking before the red card is brandished by the referee.23:01

Juve have been far from their best this evening. Pirlo will be disappointed with their performance to say the least.22:46

Junior Firpo comes on to the field to shore up the Barca defence for the closing stages, replacing Griezmann.22:47

PENALTY TO BARCELONA! Bernardeschi clumsily barges over Fati in the box and the referee points to the spot.22:48

Pedri makes way for Braithwaite for the closing stages of the game.22:50

Morata tries to latch on to a corner from Bernardeschi to force a strike towards goal, but the ball strikes his arm and a free-kick is awarded to the visitors. It has not been Morata's night.22:51

WHAT A MISS! Fati has acres of space in the Juve box to fire at goal, but he decides against shooting and tries to play in Braithwaite. However, he sends his offload straight out for a goal-kick. What was he doing there?22:52

Busquets brings down Dybala on the edge of the box to hand Juve a free-kick in a dangerous position. However, Dybala fires his delivery straight at Fati, which ends the game.22:53

FULL-TIME: JUVENTUS 0-2 BARCELONA22:54

Barcelona ease to a 2-0 victory over Juventus in their Champions League Group G clash at Allianz Stadium. A first-half strike from Ousmane Dembele and a stoppage-time penalty from Lionel Messi were enough to secure the three points for the visitors. It was a perfect tonic for Ronald Koeman's men to get back to winning ways after their El Clasico defeat. Juve had a night to forget as Alvaro Morata had three goals disallowed for offside, while Merih Demiral was dismissed for two bookable offences. 22:58

Juventus are next in action in Serie A on Sunday on the road to Spezia. Barcelona are away in their next outing on Saturday in LaLiga against Deportivo Alaves.22:59

Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.23:00