VLAHOVIC SCORES ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DEBUT

One of the reasons why DusanVlahovic made the step up from Fiorentina to Juventus last month was to play Champions League football and he had a first taste when the Old Lady travelled to face in-form Spanish La Liga team Villarreal in their last 16 first leg clash at the El Madrigal on Tuesday night. Vlahovic was named in the starting line-up for the game and it took him just seconds to make his mark.

Vlahovic showed why he's one of the best young strikers in world football when he found the back of the net in 32 seconds after receiving a long ball from Danilo in the Juventus defence. The Serbian international shot into the back of the net on the half-turn after bringing the ball from Brazil international Danilo down on the touch. It was a dream start for the player who was still on the books of fellow Italian football team Fiorentina around a month ago.

Italian football giants Juventus were the preferred destination for Vlahovic despite the interests of Premier League teams such as Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur. The Italian football heavyweights paid around €75m to sign Vlahovic from Fiorentina and they are already reaping the rewards of their investment on the Serbian national team attacker. His goal gave Juventus a lead at the end of the first 45 minutes.

Juventus manager Maximiliano Allegri brought on experienced defender and Euro 2020 winner Leonardo Bonucci at the start of the second half in place of Brazilian fullback Alex Sandro to shore up his defence for the remainder of the game, but the Italian international was unable to lead his team to a clean sheet after Dani Parejo scored an equaliser for hosts Villarreal on 66 minutes to setup an interesting second leg in Turin. After the first leg ended 1-1, Italian football giants Juventus will have to win the second leg either in normal time, extra time or on penalties to qualify for the last eight in the Champions League this season after the away goals rule was removed.