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Conceicao stunner nets 10-man Juventus win at Leipzig

Football

By AFP | Oct 03, 2024

**Francisco Conceicao celebrates after scoring the winner for Juventus.** [AFP]

A superb solo goal from Francisco Conceicao with eight minutes remaining claimed 10-man Juventus a 3-2 win at RB Leipzig in a wild match on Wednesday.

Juventus lost two players, including captain Gleison Bremer, to injury in the first 12 minutes. They twice fell behind to goals from Benjamin Sesko and twice equalised through Dusan Vlahovic, the second of which was a stunner from well outside the box.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men after 59 minutes when goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio handled outside the box but continued to attack until Conceicao dribbled into the heart of the Leipzig defence and slotted home.

The win keeps Juventus' unbeaten start in all competitions under Thiago Motta alive, while making it two from two in the Champions League.

Juventus' Nicolo Fagioli praised his side's second half, telling Amazon Prime: "In the second half we made it 1-1 right away. We were always on point and we played a wonderful match with a lot of heart."

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Asked if he had played his best match for Juventus, who he has represented since coming through their youth set-up, Fagioli said: "Probably -- but this is just the beginning."

Leipzig midfielder Nicolas Siewald struggled to hide his disappointment.

"We played against a top team today," he said. "If we had used our chances better, we'd have won."

Juventus travelled to Germany yet to concede a league goal this season, with the only time their defence had been breached coming late on in the 3-1 win over PSV Eindhoven two weeks ago.

Their ambitions took an early blow when they lost captain Bremer and forward Nicolas Gonzalez to injury inside the first quarter of an hour.

Bremer's injury looked particularly concerning for the visitors, with the Brazilian holding his leg before being helped off the pitch after colliding with Lois Openda.

Juventus were strong early and their best chance came in the 30th minute, but the missed opportunity would haunt them.

- Curling strike -

Fagioli blasted a shot goalwards and Vlahovic got a touch to the ball but failed to fully deceive Peter Gulacsi, who collected and sent Leipzig on the counter.

Gulacsi found David Raum who clipped forward to Openda, with the Belgian doing the same to pick out Sesko.

The 1.95-metre tall Slovenian stretched to control the ball, allowing it to bounce before rocketing his shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Trailing and needing an equaliser, Juventus pushed up and levelled early in the second half, Vlahovic getting a boot to a low Andrea Cambiaso cross and sending the ball spinning past a helpless Gulacsi.

Juventus were reduced to 10 men and then fell behind again in a bizarre six-minute spell.

Di Gregorio saw red after a VAR review for handling outside the box before Leipzig were awarded a penalty, this time for a handball in the area.

Sesko slammed home but the match took a turn just five minutes later when Vlahovic unleashed an incredible curling strike from outside the box and into the top corner.

Conceicao's solo show put Juventus in front and they held on despite waves of Leipzig attacks in nine minutes of stoppage time.

Leipzig, despite a spirited showing, have now lost two in two to start their European campaign.