Vlahovic Scores, Chukwueze Shines As Villarreal Play 1:1 Draw With Juventus in Champions League Cracker

• Villarreal vs Juventus saw both sides battle right from the start of the encounter but nothing separates them
• Dusan Vlahovic opened the scoring for the Old Lady as early as the 33rd second, but the hosts equalised through Dani Parejo in the 66th minute
• The draw sets up a mouthwatering second leg in Italy in a fortnight and this particular fixture is still open to either side

Spanish club Villarreal will need to thank Dani Parejo who rescued a point for them in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg clash against Juventus.

The Italian side opened the scoring inside the first minute following a brilliant strike by Dusan Vlahovic.

But Dani Parejo sent the entire Estadio de la Cerámica into the wilds in the 66th when he grabbed one back to ensure they share the spoils as it ended 1-1.

How it all happened

Dusan Vlahovic scored with his first touch after 33 seconds after sprinting between Villarreal's two central defenders to latch on to a long ball from deep.

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He brought it down with his chest and veered a little right having teed up the shot, he squeezed a low diagonal shot into the far corner with his weaker right foot to put his side ahead 0-1.

The Yellow Submarines would have pulled one back in the 14th minute but Giovani Lo Celso missed a sitter, thumping the ball off the angle of upright and cross-bar after being teed up by Alfonso Pedraz.

In the 38th minute, Weston McKennie had a shot from close range blocked by Villarreal skipper Albiol after the ball was squared by the menacing Mattia De Sciglio.

And two minutes into the second half, Alvaro Morata sidefooted a volley wide off the upright when a man of his talents should have at least hit the target.

Villarreal then drew level in the 66th minute with Daniel Parejo sweeping an Etienne Capoue move over the top past Szczesny on the half volley with his left foot from about 10 yards out.

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He was completely unmarked as he ran between defenders to make it 1-1. Both sides battled to win it on the night, but there were no further goals.

Manchester United interested in Mauricio Pochettino

Meanwhile, Sports Brief earlier reported that Spanish giants Real Madrid are reportedly interested in hiring Mauricio Pochettino as they are ready to rival Premier League club Manchester United.

The Argentine tactician only joined the French club a little over a year now, but there are doubts the job at the French club suits him.

In his first-half season, he failed to lead PSG to the Ligue 1 title as they also performed poorly in the Champions League.