Juventus 1-0 Sporting: Gatti gives hosts the advantage

Juventus 1-0 Sporting Lisbon: Federico Gatti’s second-half strike gives Italian giants narrow advantage heading into next week’s Europa League quarter-final second leg

  • Juventus will take a one-goal lead to Lisbon after defender Federico Gatti’s goal
  • The centre half’s strike saw the Italian giants beat Sporting Club de Portugal 1-0 
  • Juve will defend a small advantage in the Europa League quarter final second leg

Juventus took a small step towards the last four of the Europa League as Federico Gatti’s goal in the second half secured the hosts a 1-0 victory over Portuguese side Sporting Club de Portugal in the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday.

Sporting dominated much of the match and had chances to score in the first half. 

Captain Sebastian Coates had a shot saved by Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny before Gleison Bremer cleared a Nuno Santos effort off the line a few minutes later.

Juve’s injury woes were further exacerbated by the replacement of Szczesny shortly before the break. 

The Poland international seemed unwell and held his chest before walking off and being replaced by Mattia Perin.

Juventus beat Sporting Club 1-0 in the Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday night

Federico Gatti (second left) rifled home from close range to score the only goal of the match

Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve side will take a narrow advantage to the second leg in Lisbon

Substitute Dusan Vlahovic helped turned things around for the hosts after 73 minutes with a header that was blocked on the line by Coates, with Gatti bundling the rebound in from close range.

Perin became the hero of the night after a superb double save in stoppage time, first stopping a tap-in before parrying the rebound away from danger.

The second leg is next Thursday at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon. 

The winner will face either Sevilla or Manchester United in the semi-final. 

Match Facts: Juventus vs Sporting 

Juventus (3-4-3): Szczesny (Perin 44); Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cuadrado, Locatelli (Paredes 86), Rabiot, Kostic (Fagioli 62); Di Maria (Pogba 86), Milik (Vlahovic 62), Chiesa.

Subs not used: Pinsoglio; Bonucci, Rugani, Miretti, Kean.

Goals: Gatti 73. 

Yellow cards: Rabiot 24, Vlahovic 65.

Manager: Massimiliano Allegri.

Sporting Club (3-4-3): Adan; St Juste (Diomande 45+4), Inacio, Coates; Esgaio (Bellerin 77), Morita, Goncalves, Santos (Reis 62); Edwards (Essugo 77), Chermiti (Arthur 62), Trincao.

Subs not used: Israel, Paulo; Neto, Alexandropoulos, Rochinha, Tanlongo, Fatawu.

Yellow cards: Inacio 20,  

Manager: Ruben Amorim. 

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