Juventus, Atletico through



Posted Wednesday, December 10, 2014 by Foxsports.com

Juventus reached the Champions League last 16 for the first time in two years after a 0-0 draw at home to Atletico Madrid.

The Italians secured the point they needed to hold off chasing Olympiakos - 4-2 winners over Malmo - and join last year's finalists in the last 16, though Diego Simeone's side finish top of Group A and will be among the seeds for Monday's draw.

Massimiliano Allegri's men had enjoyed the better chances of a largely uneventful encounter, but theytook almost an hour to first test Atletico goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya.

Andrea Pirlo - making his 101st appearance in the competition - announced himself with an early free-kick that bounced back off the wall.

But Juventus were served the first real scare as Leonardo Bonucci's mistake allowed Koke to cut inside and test Gianluigi Buffon with a powerful drive.

The Italy goalkeeper soon saved his side again by tipping Mario Mandzukic's close-range header over the crossbar.

Juve finally made Moya work when Fernando Llorente got his head to Paul Pogba's pinpoint cross shortly before the break.

And though Gabi nearly caught out Buffon with an inswinging corner, Moya was soon back in action, called upon to push a fearsome Vidal strike to safety.

The hosts were firmly in the ascendancy but the breakthrough remained elusive, another Vidal effort - this time from Pirlo's pass - caught comfortably.

Pogba fizzed a shot wide of the post in the closing stages and the clock ran down on a listless contest, both sides content with progress.

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