Sports

Juventus ‘had luck on their side’ in 2-0 win over Pafos

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1 hour ago

11 December 2025

MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Fabio Capello attends the Sporting Mixed Zone ahead of Laureus World Sports Awards Madrid 2025 at Palacio De Cibeles on April 20, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images for Laureus)

Former coach Fabio Capello is very critical of Juventus’ first-half performance despite a 2-0 win over Pafos: ‘They had luck on their side.’

Juventus secured their second win in the 2025-26 Champions League on Wednesday, beating Cypriot side Pafos 2-0 in Turin.

Weston McKennie and Jonathan David provided the goals for the Bianconeri in the second half, but the Serie A giants were lucky not to concede in the opening 45 minutes.

Capello: Lucky Juventus in 2-0 win over Pafos

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Former Milan and Juventus coach Fabio Capello of Italy managing the Red Team during a charity match for the Slovenian flood victims on September 15, 2023 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In August 2023 major floods occurred in two-thirds of the Slovenian territory due to heavy rain. Deemed as the worst natural disaster of the country. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images) (Bayern-Inter) — Fabio Capello (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)

“Juve won and that’s fine, but it’s definitely not the Juve we all know. They were flat,” Capello told Sky Sport Italia via Corriere dello Sport.

“The opponents created much more in the first half, and the Bianconeri had luck on their side. They had four huge chances. Then, in the second half and after some substitutions, Juventus managed to win but I repeat, I really didn’t like them in the first half.”

Spalletti comments on Juventus 2-0 Pafos

NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 07: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 07, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) — NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 07: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 07, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Safe to say that Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti agreed with Capello’s analysis as the Italian tactician admitted seeing “embarrassing things” from his players before the break.

Juventus sit 17th in the Champions League table with nine points in six matches and will meet Benfica and Monaco in the last two games of the league phase.

Both matches will be played in January 2026.

They’ll first host Benfica on the 21st and then visit Monaco on the 28th.