- Juventus end Gladbach's last-16 ambitions after resilient second-half display
- Juve play last 37 minutes with ten men after Hernanes is sent off
- Stephan Lichtsteiner finds net on return from heart surgery a month ago
- US defender Fabian Johnson scores first UEFA Champions League goal
- Next games: Mönchengladbach v Sevilla, Juventus v Man. City (25 November)
Stephan Lichtsteiner scored on his return following heart surgery as ten-man Juventus drew with Borussia Mönchengladbach, whose hopes of qualifying for the last 16 ended at Borussia-Park.
Stephan Lichtsteiner scored on his return following heart surgery as ten-man Juventus drew with Borussia Mönchengladbach, whose hopes of qualifying for the last 16 ended at Borussia-Park.
Roared on by their vociferious supporters, Gladbach began positively without posing a threat to Gianluigi Buffon's goal. They almost took the lead in spectacular fashion, though, when Mahmoud Dahoud's sweetly-struck shot from the edge of the area cannoned off the crossbar with Buffon rooted to the spot.
The veteran custodian was picking the ball out of his net just five minutes later. Giorgio Chiellini failed to clear a low cross into the box, allowing Raffael to pick out Fabian Johson, who slid the ball into the far corner.
Having struggled to gain a foothold, Juventus began to claw their way back into the match and restored parity five minutes before the interval. Paul Pogba lifted a beautiful ball over the Gladbach defence, allowing Lichtsteiner to volley into the bottom corner for his first goal in 52 European appearances.
Massimiliano Allegri's side started the second half as they ended the first, with Leonardo Bonucci and Álvaro Morata both going close with powerful headers. The visitors' hopes of completing the comeback were dealt a blow, however, when Hernanes was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Álvaro Dominguez.
Seemingly undeterred, Juventus continued to push forward and almost went ahead when Pogba's free-kick was deflected into the side-netting by Dahoud. Allegri's side tired, though, and Buffon was forced into a spectacular save to prevent Lars Stindl's point-blank header from finding the back of the net.
With time ticking away, the 37-year-old Buffon did brilliantly to tip Thorgan Hazard's dipping effort onto the crossbar and deny André Schubert's side the three points that would have kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages. The UEFA Europa League is now their goal.
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Paul Pogba: a calm head on young shoulders
Key player: Paul Pogba
The French international's assist for Lichtsteiner's equaliser epitomised his performance at Borussia-Park. The 22-year-old was a thorn in the hosts' side throughout – even after Hernanes' dismissal – and went within a whisker of finding the bottom corner with a curling free-kick.
The French international's assist for Lichtsteiner's equaliser epitomised his performance at Borussia-Park. The 22-year-old was a thorn in the hosts' side throughout – even after Hernanes' dismissal – and went within a whisker of finding the bottom corner with a curling free-kick.
Lichtsteiner back with a bang
After Lichtsteiner complained of breathing difficulties against Frosinone in September, the Italian champions decided that heart surgery was the best course of action. A month later, the Swiss international enjoyed a dream return to action as he earned the Old Lady a share of the spoils with a volley that Pogba himself would have been proud of.
After Lichtsteiner complained of breathing difficulties against Frosinone in September, the Italian champions decided that heart surgery was the best course of action. A month later, the Swiss international enjoyed a dream return to action as he earned the Old Lady a share of the spoils with a volley that Pogba himself would have been proud of.
Schubert's Foals on the rise
They were unable to make their numerical advantage count, but Gladbach's display at Borussia-Park was further proof of their improvement under Schubert. They exit the competition with heads held high, and will be determined to finish the group strongly against Sevilla and Manchester City.
They were unable to make their numerical advantage count, but Gladbach's display at Borussia-Park was further proof of their improvement under Schubert. They exit the competition with heads held high, and will be determined to finish the group strongly against Sevilla and Manchester City.
Borussia Monchengladbach 1-1 Juventus: Hernanes sent
off as Bianconeri are held in Germany
The midfielder was shown a red card in the second half as Massimiliano Allegri's men missed the chance to seal their place in the last-16 of the Champions League
Hernanes was sent off as 10-man Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw by Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Juve would have qualified for the knockout stages with a victory, but the midfielder's second half sending off for a rash challenge ended their hopes of a win.
Gladbach, who went into the game on the back of three consecutive victories across all competitions, took the lead inside the first 20 minutes through Fabian Johnson, but Stephan Lichtsteiner's equaliser ended their hopes of qualifying from Group D with two games left to play.
There had been doubts over whether Lichtsteiner would play football again when he was forced to undergo heart surgery to correct a defect at the start of October, and he was a surprise inclusion in Allegri's starting line-up.
His selection proved decisive in a tightly contested match, and his finish from Paul Pogba's exquisite pass put the final touch on a fabulous goal.
Last season's runners-up Juve will seal their place in the last 16 if they defeat Manchester City next time out, while the best Gladbach can hope for now is third place in the group and a spot in the Europa League.
Wearing their striking pink change strip, Juve started on the front foot and almost opened the scoring when Giorgio Chiellini headed a free-kick down for Patrice Evra, who shot narrowly over with the outside of his left foot.
Gladbach soon began to find their flow, and Mahmoud Dahoud almost struck one of the goals of the tournament when he controlled a clearance and thumped a wonderful swerving drive that crashed into the crossbar with Gianluigi Buffon well beaten.
Shortly afterwards, the home side were ahead courtesy of an error by Chiellini, who slipped as he tried to clear Oscar Wendt's cross, allowing Raffael to play in Johnson to get away from Evra and fire an angled shot into the left corner of the net.
Chiellini almost atoned for his error when he out-jumped Granit Xhaka to head narrowly wide from a corner, and Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer then had to be alert to keep out Evra's powerful downward header with a fine save.
Just before half-time, Pogba conjured a moment of magic for Juve, scooping a sensational lobbed pass into the path of Lichtsteiner, and the Switzerland international lashed a first-time volley beyond Sommer to level.
Pogba fired narrowly wide shortly after the restart as Juve maintained the momentum that Lichtsteiner's equaliser had given them, and Alvaro Morata had a shot deflected wide as they probed for a winner.
The visitors were in the ascendancy when Hernanes slid into a challenge with Alvaro Dominguez two-footed with his studs up, and referee Bjorn Kuipers showed the Brazilian a straight red card.
Despite the setback, Juve continued to press and Pogba went close again with a free-kick that swerved narrowly wide of Sommer's near post.
The home side then came agonisingly close to scoring the winner when Lars Stindl was denied by Buffon, and the veteran goalkeeper made another brilliant late save from Thorgan Hazard to earn Juventus the draw and send Gladbach out.
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