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Juventus 2 - Real Madrid 2: Initial reaction and random observations

By Danny Penza
Claudio Villa

Well, for a team that entered such a huge game in need of points, coming away with a draw isn't exactly what you want to happen. And for the second straight game against Real Madrid, we're left here thinking one simple thing: "What if?"

What if Martin Caceres had passed the ball forward instead of to an empty hole for Real Madrid to jump on and turn it into their first goal just a few short seconds later?

What if Juventus actually knew how to play a full 90 minutes rather than coming out completely flat in the second half?

What if Giorgio Chiellini wasn't unjustly sent off and was the one play as a left back on Tuesday night?

And with Juve now sitting at the bottom of Group B with three points in four games, what if they didn't come away with just a draw against Copenhagen on Danish soil?

All of these are legitimate questions, but the reality is that Juventus' 2-2 draw against Real Madrid has left Antonio Conte's men looking up at everybody else in Group B. Did Juve deserve more than just a point? Yeah, you could probably say they did. If it wasn't for Iker Casillas channeling his inner San Iker once again, Juve easily would have scored more than two goals.

But you can't just blame it just on poor luck. Juve shot themselves in the foot with a defensive mistake — again. And while a mistake or two might not be crucial against somebody like the teams Juve have played the last few weekends, Real Madrid — especially on Cristiano Ronaldo's goal — showed just how quickly they can make you pay.

All isn't loss, though. Two wins and they're in. Easier said than done, of course, but even though the result against Real Madrid was frustrating as all can be, Juve still has their destiny in their hands.

The 27th of November at Juventus Stadium and Dec. 10 in Turkey. Two decisive games and everybody knows what needs to happen.

Random thoughts and obsercations

  • What a roller coaster ride of a game for Caceres. He was one of Juve's best players when the two teams played in Madrid, and just as it looked he was really starting to settle into the game, his errant back pass gift-wrapped Real their opener. But much to his credit, he was able to recover from a mistake every single person will be pointing to as a match-altering moment. And if it wasn't for Caceres' cross to the back post, maybe Fernando Llorente doesn't score the game-tying goal.

  • Iker Casillas: Still one of the best goalkeepers in the world. That was a truly unbelievable performance. They weren't just difficult saves, but a good number of them were at point-blank range. It's even that much more impressive when you consider how little he plays these days.

  • Fernando Llorente: Two games against Real Madrid in the Champions League, two goals. They're not things of beauty, but they're definitely coming up big.

  • A sign of just how much things changed in the second half? Arturo Vidal had six tackles before intermission, he had all of one after the break. It's tough to impose your kind of game when Real Madrid was controlling the pace of things.

  • Another sign how things changed in the second half? Paul Pogba was EVERYWHERE in the first half, it seemed like his name was barely even mentioned after halftime.

  • General opinion on Kwadwo Asamoah the left back: Mostly okay. Other than getting absolutely shook by Gareth Bale on Madrid's second goal, he was a little better than I thought he might be. I mean, he's played as a left wingback for a season and two months now, but his game wasn't anything spectacular.

    That being said: Can Juve please sign a natural left back soon? That'd be nice.

  • Two games to go and there's no more room for error. Win and you're in. It's as simple as that.

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