Morata brace helps Juventus to 4-1 win at Ferencvaros

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:12 am
Alvaro Morata of Juventus celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with teammate Federico Chiesa during the UEFA Champions League Group G stage match between Ferencvaros Budapest and Juventus at Groupama Arena on November 04, 2020 in Budapest, Hung
Alvaro Morata of Juventus celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with teammate Federico Chiesa during the UEFA Champions League Group G stage match between Ferencvaros Budapest and Juventus at Groupama Arena on November 04, 2020 in Budapest, Hung
Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images

Alvaro Morata scored twice before two defensive mistakes helped Juventus to a 4-1 Champions League win against Ferencvaros on Wednesday as the Italian side looked to bounce back from last week's defeat at the hands of Barcelona.

The Serie A side were too slick for their spirited opponents, who are back in the group stage after a 25-year absence, and cantered home at the Puskas Arena to go second in Group H with six points from three games. Ferencvaros have one point.

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"Games can become easy only if you play well," said Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini. "In the first half we were a bit slow with possession, we raised our tempo in the second half, and we managed to earn another important win."

Juve got the ideal start when defender Leonardo Bonucci threaded a pass down the right touchline to set Juan Cuadrado away and the Colombia international's low cross was tapped in by Morata at the far post after seven minutes.

Despite the early setback, Ferencvaros acquitted themselves well with Tokmac Nguen and Oleksandr Zubkov both having chances but sending shots wide.

Cristiano Ronaldo was always a danger for Juve, however, and nearly added a second after combining with Morata but the ball was taken off his foot by Miha Blazic as he was about to shoot.

The Portugal international set up Juve's second on the hour with a low pass into the area which Morata swept home after a Weston McKennie dummy.

The Italian champions were gifted the third as goalkeeper Denes Dibusz failed to control Blazic's awkward back pass and substitute Paulo Dybala slipped the ball into the empty net in the 73rd minute.

Eight minutes later, Dibusz's attempted pass was intercepted by Dybala and Lasha Dvali turned the ball into his own net as he tried to clear.

Franck Boli pulled one back in the 90th minute, scoring at the second attempt after Wojciech Szczesny saved his first effort.