Juventus 0-3 Villarreal (1-4 agg): Allegri´s men suffer third straight last-16 exit

Juventus were dumped out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage for the third consecutive season after a dismal 3-0 second-leg defeat to Villarreal on Wednesday. 

The two sides drew 1-1 in the first leg in Spain three weeks ago and Juve looked the more likely side to progress to the quarter-finals for much of the match at the Allianz Stadium. 

Unai Emery’s side produced a sensational final 12 minutes, though, sealing a memorable win thanks to penalties from Gerard Moreno and Arnaut Danjuma either side of Pau Torres’ close-range finish. 

Massimiliano Allegri’s men looked crestfallen at the end as their 12-game unbeaten run came to an end in spectacular circumstances.

9 – @VillarrealCFen‘s Gerard Moreno has scored nine goals between @ChampionsLeague (2) and Europa League (7) since last season, more than any other Spanish player in European competition. Star. pic.twitter.com/nBRCp3RYRa

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 16, 2022

The hosts went agonisingly close to going ahead midway through the first half when Dusan Vlahovic’s first-time effort from Mattia De Sciglio’s low cross crashed back off the crossbar.

Giovani Lo Celso whipped narrowly wide at the other end as Villarreal belatedly flexed their muscles, yet neither side was able to find a way through before the interval.

Adrien Rabiot stung the palms of Geronimo Rulli with an ambitious effort shortly before the hour mark, while Juan Cuadrado flashed wide from long range as Juve continued to look the more threatening. 

That counted for little come the 78th minute when Moreno stroked home from the penalty spot after Daniele Rugani had brought down Francis Coquelin in the penalty area, the spot-kick given by referee Szymon Marciniak after he had been encouraged by VAR to review the pitchside monitor. 

They doubled their advantage seven minutes later when Torres stole in at the back post from a corner to bundle into the roof of Wojciech Szczesny’s net.

Juve’s dismal exit was completed in stoppage time when Danjuma slotted in from the spot after Matthijs de Ligt had handled his goal-bound shot.