Thuram, McKennie revive Juve's Champions League hopes
Juventus defeated Benfica 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium to revive its hopes of progressing in the Champions League and severely dent their opponents' in the process.
Luciano Spalletti's side started the day in 17th place, but goals from Khephren Thuram and Weston McKennie moved it up to 15th, with the teams between ninth and 24th going through to the knockout-round play-off phase.
Juve are just one point off the top eight and automatic qualification, meanwhile, but Benfica – who missed a late penalty through Vangelis Pavlidis – are now down in 29th and two points outside the cut-off point with one round of games to play.
Fine saves from Anatoliy Trubin and Michele Di Gregorio, to keep out Kenan Yildiz and Heorhiy Sudakov respectively, were the highlights of a low-key first half in Turin.
The host side found the all-important breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half as Thuram dribbled into the box, composed himself and picked out the bottom-left corner from 15 yards.
A second goal followed nine minutes later through fellow midfielder McKennie, who brilliantly exchanged passes with Jonathan David just inside the box and made no mistake in finishing past Trubin.
Frederik Aursnes hit the frame of the goal from a corner, shortly before Gleison Bremer was penalised for a foul on Leandro Barreiro inside the box, but Pavlidis slipped when taking the resulting spot-kick and sent it wide.
