Fewer evenings will leave an aura of frustration than tonight for the Juventus faithful as they watched their side huff and puff but fail in their attempts to blow down an obdurate Borussia Mönchengladbach team who remain rooted to the bottom of Group D in the Champions League.
Trading blows
The signs for the visitors were ominous within three minutes when Mario Mandzukic was inches away from connecting with Alvaro Morata’s zipped cross.
Andre Schubert’s side monopolised possession during the opening exchanges but, aside from Raffael’s snapshot from the edge of the area, failed to fashion a menacing shot at Gianluigi Buffon’s goal.
Juve, too, were guilty of overplaying in midfield, with Lars Stindl pilfering Paul Pogba of possession as the Frenchmen strode forward. Borussia, meanwhile, were obdurate in their defending and retained possession well during the opening quarter.
Morata’s movement throughout, however, was promising and the Spaniard almost engendered an opener when he collected Pogba’s pass on the edge of the area and curled his effort inches over the crossbar.
The hosts began to crank up the pressure and Pogba’s influence, namely, was growing. The midfielder collected Andrea Barzagli’s lofted ball with consummate ease and teed up Mandzukic whose effort was thwarted. Juan Cuadrado then went close from the subsequent corner.
Schubert, though, will have been pleased by his side’s start, even if Borussia's forays into enemy territory were to no avail, given the simplicity in which they were maneuvering the Juve midfield in possession.
Juve in the ascendency
Still, Juve looked menacing when venturing forward and were unfortunate not to break the deadlock when Pogba’s effort from distance tricked agonisingly wide. Giorgio Chiellini threatened minutes later from a corner.
Referee Craig Thomson was then propelled into limelight when Alvaro Dominguez surrendered possession and upended Morata while the Spaniard was breaking through on goal. A yellow was awarded but, on closer inspection, the visitors were handed a reprieve.
Pogba’s authority transcended beyond the interval as the Frenchman drew fingertips from visiting goalkeeper Yann Sommer within minutes of the restart.
Juve, however, were threatening on the break. Pogba had troubled Sommer previously after Borussia’s pressure was expertly countered and the coveted midfielder was central to another promising counter from the hosts. His final pass to Morata may have been lacking but, once the Frenchman had retrieved possession, he played the most adroit of dinks into Morata who was swiftly thwarted by Dominguez before he could release his effort.
Massimiliano Allegri then sent for Roberto Pereyra to capitalise on his side’s superiority after Pogba had, again, worked Sommer from a set-piece.
The referee was once more forced to wave away Juve protestations when Mandzukic tumbled down inside the penalty area with the sense of vexation around the Juventus Stadium palpable as Juve tried, and failed, to pierce through the stringent 'Gladbach backline.
Lack of invention from the hosts
Mistakes were manifold from Schubert’s men, however, with Simone Zaza profiting from an Andreas Christensen error minutes after his introduction. Pogba manufactured what seemed his umpteenth attempt of the evening, but it posed no threat to the 'Gladbach goal.
The desperation among the Bianconeri was synopsised by Chiellini’s attempted overhead and, in keeping with the theme of the evening, his effort was blocked by a green shirt.
The game came to a lacklustre end, with the hosts frustrated despite keeping their place at the top of Group D by a point. Mönchengladbach, on the other hand, registered their first point of the campaign and one that they will be pleased with, having worked hard to thwart last season's runners-up on their own patch.