The 2020-21 UEFA Champions League began the second leg of the pre-quarters on Tuesday. As two matches were held on the day, one of the most critical games turned out to be heart-breaking, especially for some Italian fans.
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Italian champion Juventus was knocked out by a brave FC Porto, as the latter managed to pull off a miracle in Turin. The visitor was already leading 2-1 from the opening leg in Porto.
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It all began with the opening goal from Sérgio Oliveira, through a penalty in the 19th minute, while Federico Chiesa levelled it in 49th. Nonetheless, Porto’s Mehdi Taremi was sent off following two yellow cards in the 54th minute.As Chiesa extended handed Juventus the lead in 63rd, things went to extra time, where Oliveira scored the equaliser for Porto. Although Adrien Rabiot put Juventus in the lead again before the full-time whistle, it was not enough, as Porto qualified, based on away goals.
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“I am not happy to be working with a full week, as I’d have preferred to stay in the Champions League. Now that we’re in this situation, we can work on various aspects in training, which we haven’t had time to do so far this season, and try to improve on those,” said Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo after the game to Sky Italia.
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Meanwhile, German giant Borussia Dortmund, too, was engaged in a strict home encounter against Spanish giant Sevilla. Although Dortmund led 3-2 from the away leg, it had to settle for a 2-2 draw at the Signal-Iduna-Park.
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It all began with Erling Håland putting the host ahead in 35th, while a penalty at 54th helped him complete his brace. Nonetheless, Youssef En-Nesyri pulled one back through a penalty in 69th, followed by his brace in the 96th.Nevertheless, Sevilla failed to add one more to its tally to take the game into extra time, as Dortmund barely made it past. Furthermore, Håland became the youngest player to score in six consecutive UCL games, at 20 years and 231 days, overtaking Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.
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“It’s been turbulent. We are just happy. It feels really cool. It’s not a matter of course for us to get this far. Now, to be among the best eight in Europe makes us very happy. Erling Haaland is just outstanding,” said Dortmund manager Edin Terzic after the game.
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