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Kenan Yildiz (left) gave Juventus the lead after 21 minutes. (AP Photo)
Champions League regulars Juventus have returned to Europe’s elite club competition following a one-year absence when they missed out for the first time since 2011-12.
Juventus made a perfect return to the Champions League as they beat Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven 3-1 at home on Tuesday, helped by two quick-fire goals from Kenan Yildiz and Weston McKennie in the first half.
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Yildiz and McKennie put Juve 2-0 up at the break in coach Thiago Motta’s debut leading a side in European competition and Nicolas Gonzalez added a third after the break before Ismael Saibari pulled one back for PSV in stoppage time.
Champions League regulars Juventus have returned to Europe’s elite club competition following a one-year absence when they missed out for the first time since 2011-12 after having points docked in a case centred on the club’s transfer dealings.
They were also banned from European competition last term for breaching UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play rules, although Juve denied any wrongdoing.
PSV, who lead the Eredivisie standings with a perfect record of 15 points after five games, were left without first-choice goalkeeper Walter Benitez hours before the clash as he left Turin to be with his family following the birth of his son.
Two former European champions, meeting for the first time in a competitive match, ensured an energetic start to the game.
Yildiz gave Juve the lead after 21 minutes with a stunning curling shot from just inside the box, leaving goalkeeper Joel Drommel helpless as the ball went in off the inside of the post.
With two early kick-offs on Tuesday, the Turkish teenager opened the scoring in the new Champions League format in which clubs play eight games in the 36-team league phase that has replaced the former group stage.
Aged 19 years and 136 days, Yildiz also became Juventus’ youngest goalscorer in the Champions League, breaking the record held by Alessandro Del Piero, who scored against Borussia Dortmund in 1995 aged 20 years and 308 days.
McKennie doubled Juve’s lead in the 27th, netting inside the right-hand post from close range, after he had a great chance blocked by Drommel minutes earlier from a similar position.
PSV intensified their efforts after the break but winger Gonzalez wrapped up the win for the hosts with a strike into the far top corner in the 52nd minute.
Dusan Vlahovic won the ball near the middle of the pitch and played a neat low cross into the box for Gonzalez to score his debut Champions League goal.
Saibari got a consolation for PSV in added time as Juve, unbeaten so far in their Serie A campaign after four games, conceded their first goal of the season.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Reuters)