Malmö FF’s defensive game hardly showed itself from its best side during the first half of yesterday’s Champions League premiere. After a fine MFF start, Juventus took the lead in the 23rd minute when Alex Sandro nodded in Rodrigo Bentancur’s hat-trick.
Juventus had bids for more goals, including missed Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala each free during the first half. After that, the home team Juve offered a penalty when Lasse Nielsen wrestled down Morata, and Dybala scored from eleven meters in the 45th minute.
A minute later came the next blow for the home team. Nielsen won a header duel but the ball ended up with Adrien Rabiot and then bounced against midfielder Franz Brorsson – who unfortunately steered it in the wrong direction. There, Morata tricked and lobbed in 0-3 behind goalkeeper Ismael Diawara.
That was the end result after MFF pulled up again after the break.
– They are far too cheap the other two goals. Then it will be tough too, to let in such simple goals and have 0-3 in the back just before the halftime break. 0-1 there had felt much better. It was a little too easy, says Franz Brorsson.
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How did you experience the situation at the 0-3 goal?
– It goes very fast. I think we lose the first duel, then he comes in front of me and it bounces right to their players in behind us. I have not seen the goal afterwards.
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Was Juventus as good as expected, because you stood up well first?
– Yes, but absolutely. It felt like we got good pressure on them – they played simple balls to throw and we won the ball high up. Then they get 1-0 from nowhere it feels like, but teams like this are effective. If they get an okay chance, it is a goal in nine times out of ten almost. You can not give them many chances, because then they put it there. Otherwise it feels very good the first 25 minutes. Then 0-3 in the butt before half time is not optimal.
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In Group H’s second match, Chelsea defeated Zenit 1-0. Franz Brorsson is aiming for a match with the Russian champions behind Chelsea and Juventus.
– We aim for third place, I think that is entirely reasonable. It was nice that they also got zero points, and a win against them opens up great chances – they are really the ones we are going to pick points from.
In two weeks, Zenit and Malmö FF will meet in St. Petersburg.
This season is being streamed all matches from the Uefa Champions League exclusively at Telia and C More.
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