February 17, (THEWILL) – Italian giants, Juventus, were held to a 1-1 draw against Nantes in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off on Thursday.
The hosts took the lead in the 13th minute when Dusan Vlahovic tapped in a cross from Federico Chiesa. Despite dominating the match, Juventus failed to capitalize on their early advantage, and Ludovic Blas scored a vital equaliser for Nantes in the second half.
The game was marred by controversy after a late VAR check ruled that Andrei Girotto had not handled the ball in the dying minutes, denying Juventus a penalty. With everything to play for, both teams will meet again at the Beaujoire Stadium on February 23.
Despite the draw, Juventus looked impressive and will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing UEFA Champions League campaign. Nantes, on the other hand, will be looking to continue their momentum in the return leg.
Juventus will now shift their focus to Serie A, where they face Spezia on Sunday, while Nantes will travel to Lens for their Ligue 1 fixture.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
