A first-half goal scored by Spain international Álvaro Morata paved the way for Juventus, and a late-strike from substitute Simone Zaza sealed the deal for the Old Lady as the current Serie A champions had no problems to secure the three points against Sevilla.
In a game Juventus controlled from start to finish and where the Spaniards looked pretty poor, a goal in each half was everything the favourites required to maintain their unbeaten streak through the first two games of the UEFA Champions League.
Morata and Dybala led Juventus in the first half
Juventus was clearly the more positive side in this game and that was reflected from the start of the first half. With Sevilla opting to sit back looking to hit their rivals on the counter, the Serie A side was in full control of the possession and they wasted no time to generate scoring chances. Paul Pogba, Hernanes and Patrice Evra all had decent efforts before the 15th minute but they were either inaccurate or easily stopped by the opposing defence and Sergio Rico.
Sevilla didn't offer much in the final third and the absence of Ever Banega due to injury certainly affected their attacking performance. With the exception of some attacking runs created by Evgen Konoplyanka, the Spanish side was a non-factor on offense, as evidenced by their zero shooting attempts in the first half. Juventus kept moving the ball forward and Paulo Dybala came close to find the back of the net near the 20th minute but his effort went a few inches away from the post.
Dybala and Sami Khedira were constantly testing the opposing keeper while Juan Cuadrado was a nightmare matchup on the right wing. Juventus never ceased to attack and their pressure finally gave the expected results when the hosts found the back of the net in the 41st minute. A cross from Andrea Barzagli was lifted into the box and the ball was met by Morata's head. The Spaniard rose higher than everybody else to nod the ball hom into the far post and while Rico could've done a bit more to prevent the goal, the effort found the back of the net so Juventus managed to secure a one-goal advantage just before the break.
Juventus cruised in the second 45 miuntes
The second half showed a Sevilla side that tried to play with a more attacking approach but they didn't fare any better, probably a mix of their lack of ideas and Juventus' ability to move the ball around. Dybala had a clear chance to score from close range but missed it in the 50th minute and one minute late Pogba would try with a strike from outside the box but the French star sent his effort high and wide. Sevilla managed to string some interesting movements as the game progressed but they couldn't pose much of a threat near Gianluigi Buffon's goal.
Dybala was arguably Juventus' biggest threat in the game and the former Palermo starlet continued to create havoc on Sevilla's defensive line. After the Argentinean was fouled in the edge of the box. he smashed a free kick that was parried away by Rico in the 62nd minute and a few minutes later he deflected a low cross that went to the left of the post. Sevilla looked to spark things up on the attacking third and the manager sent Ciro Immobile and Vicente Iborra to replace Kevin Gameiro and Steven N'Zonzi but the moves didn't have much of an impact on the outcome of the match.
Juventus continued to dominate the possession in the final 20 minutes of the match and instead of taking unneccesary risks, they opted to move the ball forward and they only tested the keeper when they found enough space. An outside-shot from Cuadrado forced Rico to make another great save but the keeper was helpless when substitute Zaza went clear on goal to capitalise a counter attack with a low shot that went between his legs to add Juventus' second goal. Hadn't it been for the goalkeeper, Sevilla would've likely ended with more goals against them.
The 2-0 result might have looked a bit unfair considering how the game happened and perhaps Juventus deserved to win by a bigger differential considering their dominance in this match. It was good enough to give the team their second win in the tournament so far and they are sitting firmly at top of the standings in Group D after the first two weeks of the tournament have been completed.
Juventus will look to maintain their perfect run in the tournament on October 21st when they host Borussia Monchengladbach while Sevilla will have a tough matchup hosting Manchester City at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.