UCL | Bodo/Glimt 2-3 Juventus: Yildiz inspiration for first victory

Kenan Yildiz came off the bench and transformed the match, as Juventus fought back for their first Champions League win of the season, 3-2 away to Bodo/Glimt.

The Bianconeri were still without a win in Europe after three draws and a defeat to Real Madrid, but also struggled with Luciano Spalletti’s three consecutive stalemates in all competition. Federico Gatti was ruled out by flu symptoms, remaining behind with Gleison Bremer, Daniele Rugani and Carlo Pinsoglio, while there was some heavy squad rotation including Fabio Miretti in a more advanced role. Bodo/Glimt and their artificial pitch have tripped up quite a few clubs in Norway, and there was heavy snow in the build-up too. Defender Jostein Gundersen was suspended and Haitam Aleesami injured, with former AC Milan winger Jens Petter Hauge not at 100 per cent due to illness.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Andrea Cambiaso plays for Juventus in the Champions League game away to Bodo/Glimt. (@juventusfc)

Francisco Conceicao saw his sudden snapshot palmed wide in the opening minutes, with Vasilije Adzic also testing the goalkeeper.

Adzic tried a rather audacious volley at the back post on the Conceicao cross that landed on the roof of the net, when he had more time than he realised to control it relatively unmarked.

Ole Didrik Blomberg’s strike was deflected just wide after a well-worked Bodo/Glimt move, while Andrea Cambiaso charged down the dangerous Isak Dybvik Maata angled drive.

The hosts scored from the resulting corner, which was flicked on by Kasper Hogh for Blomberg to blast in at the back post, despite Mattia Perin’s attempt to parry on the line with a boot.

Juventus tried to respond with Lois Openda on the counter-attack setting up Francisco Conceicao for an angled drive, deflected inches wide of the far stick, then Adzic’s header on a Conceicao cross was palmed away by Nikita Haikin.

Bodo/Glimt had penalty appeals when the Hogh effort struck Manuel Locatelli’s ribs first and then onto his arm, but the referee and VAR ruled it involuntary.

Kenan Yildiz plays for Juventus away to Bodo/Glimt (@juventusfc)

Conceicao completed a give and go with Weston McKennie only to prod a weak finish straight at the goalkeeper.

Kenan Yildiz replaced the struggling Adzic at half-time, moving Miretti into midfield, and he made an immediate impact. There appeared to be a foul on Miretti in midfield, but the move continued, the Yildiz effort was deflected into the path of Openda to fire in.

Lois Openda scores for Juventus against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League (@juventusfc)

Juve had the ball in the net again soon after following a well-worked move involving Yildiz and the Miretti finish, but Openda was offside in the build-up and it didn’t count.

The Bianconeri were pushing hard, though, and did indeed turn the game around when Yildiz picked the perfect through ball for Miretti down the left, he stood up the cross for a McKennie header from six yards.

Conceicao threatened another wen he cut inside from the right and saw the left-foot curler brilliantly fingertipped away by Haikin.

However, they didn’t make those chances stick and Juan Cabal gave away a late penalty with his clumsy, late and high tackle on Auklend’s ankle. Sondre Brunstad Fet stepped up and fired it through the middle, as Perin went down.

It was suddenly wide open, as Cabal charged down another Brunstad Fet effort from 12 yards, but Juventus restored their advantage moments later. Kenan Yildiz controlled the long ball with a wonderful first touch, twisted and turned to force a fingertip save out of the goalkeeper, into the path of Jonathan David to tap in.

There was almost a fourth deep into stoppages, as Yildiz pulled back from the by-line for another David tap-in from six yards, denied by a desperate Odin Bjortuft clearance.

Bodo/Glimt 2-3 Juventus

Blomberg 27 (B), Openda 48 (J), McKennie 59 (J), Brunstad Fet pen 87 (B), David 91 (J)