Arsenal 1 Juventus 0
A late purpose from Lina Hurtig ensured Arsenal booked their place within the knockout levels of the Champions League as they continued their mini-renaissance beneath interim supervisor Renee Slegers.
Having run out 4-0 winners within the away fixture the earlier week, this could have been an easy train however the hosts made onerous work of victory.
On a bitterly chilly evening, Arsenal lacked creativity and had been responsible of enjoying too laterally.
In a largely uneventful first half, they did not register a shot on course. Their possession-based recreation is at occasions pleasant to observe, nevertheless it rapidly turns into redundant if it doesn’t translate into targets.
Juventus had been well-drilled defensively – they someway managed to outlive a goalmouth scramble on the hour when Caitlin Foord blasted the ball straight at a wall of our bodies – as Arsenal pressed for a winner. Hurtig had two wonderful alternatives late on, heading agonisingly extensive on the far put up earlier than squandering one other probability from shut vary, earlier than bundling house Stina Blackstenius’s move moments later.
Frida Maanum has been one in all Arsenal’s most constant performers however the Norwegian was at fault for not placing her facet forward – she skied over from shut vary within the first half after Paulina Krumbiegel was dispossessed within the penalty space. Alessia Russo struggled to make an affect up entrance, whereas Katie McCabe’s harmful cross-cum-shot floated over.
Juventus had been each well-drilled and decided. The guests virtually went forward when Sofia Cantore’s glancing header drifted inches extensive and they’d have performed so had Daphne van Domselaar not parried Arianna Caruso’s low effort with 1 / 4 of an hour remaining, as Arsenal rode out some bumpy moments to proceed their unbeaten run beneath Slegers.
Arsenal Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Walti, Little (Kafaji 86), Caldentey, Maanum (Blackstenius 65), Foord (Mead 65); Russo (Hurtig 80).Substitutes Zinsberger (gk), Williams (gk), Wubben-Moy, Codina, Kuhl, Wienroither, Cooney-Cross, Reid.
Juventus Payraud-Magnin; Lenzini, Calligaris, Cascarino; Bergamaschi (Bonansea 65), Schatzer, Bennison (Boattin 65), Krumbiegel (Thomas 82); Caruso; Cantore (Beccari 73), Vangsgaard (Girelli 73). Substitutes Capelletti (gk), Proulx (gk), Kullberg, Lehmann, Rosucci, Bragonzi, Gallo. Booked Cascarino.
Referee Eva Augustyn (Pol). Attendance 9,963.