Motta lauds ‘compact’ Juventus in Aston Villa stalemate

Thiago Motta left Villa Park happy after scoring a point in a goalless draw against Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Injury-hit Juventus, with only 14 outfield players available, held their ground for most of the match but were helped late by VAR intervention.

Morgan Rogers thought he had given Unai Emery's side another league win in second-half stoppage time.

However, his smart finish was disallowed when the video assistant referee ruled that Diego Carlos had fouled goalkeeper Michele di Gregorio in the air.

Juventus were perhaps lucky to leave the West Midlands with a point, having amassed an expected goals total (xG) of just 0.44 compared to Villa's 1.23.

Despite the Serie A side keeping a clean sheet in the Champions League for the first time since December 2021, Motta admitted his side did not create enough chances.

“A point secured, the team continues to play compactly and with balance,” Motta told Amazon Prime Video.

“Aston Villa started very quickly and they looked for their striker, but we conceded little. Obviously we didn't create much either, not giving Aston Villa what they were looking for.

FT | | It ends goalless in Birmingham.#AVLJuve #UCL pic.twitter.com/yL4wZwDIRS

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) November 27, 2024

The result leaves Juventus 19th in the new 36-team standings after playing consecutive matches in the competition for the first time since November 2017.

They are on eight points from their opening five games, with the opportunity to play in the play-offs to seal their qualification for the last sixteen.

“We have great games to play between the league, Coppa Italia and Champions League,” Motta said.

“Another good performance, a point, and we continue to look for qualification. We will always go on the field with our ideas and try to win.”

The Bianconeri will look to move up the Serie A table this Sunday when they travel to the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero to take on Lecce.